The Family

 

Between 1652 and 1661 Øvre Ullestad belonged to the farm Finnegodset. By then our oldest known ancestor, Knut Magneson Ullestad, was one of two tenant farmers at Øvre Ullestad. Knut was together with some others sued in 1662 for picking nuts in the forest. There are documents showing that Knut in 1691 and 1695 was the only tenant farmer at Øvre Ullestad. Knut had at least three children. One of them, Guro Knutsdotter Ullestad was married to Torgils Arnfinnson Ullestad in about 1685. In those days you added the farm name, i.e. your address, as an extra "surname".
 


Owners marks used by Torgils Arnfinnson Ullestad. The first between 1710 and 1713, the second between 1711 and 1728

 

In 1701 Øvre Ullestad was split into two "bruk" (=small-holdings). Knut was tenant farmer at bruk 2, while his son-in-law, Torgils Arnfinnson Ullestad, was tenant farmer at bruk 1. Knut died in 1704, and since then our family was only living at bruk 1. Torgils and Guro had at least eight children. The eldest son Arnfinn, was born in 1691 and became the next tenant farmer. All other children left the farm Ullestad and therefore no longer used the name Ullestad.
 


Owner's mark used by Arnfinn Torgilsson Ullestad between 1727 and 1737

 

Arnfinn Torgilsson Ullestad was married in 1722 to Rannveig Sjursdotter from Øvre Himle. In 1723 the farm is described: "There was a small field for hops but no mill and no fishing, and hardly enough of firewood. The farm was very easy cultivated and had quite good soil for growing barley". Arnfinn and Rannveig had at least seven children. Their third son was born in 1729 and was named Torgils like his grand-father.
 


Owner's marks used by Torgils Arnfinnson Ullestad. The first in 1768 and 1773, the second in 1780, the last in 1782

 

Torgils Arnfinnson Ullestad was married in June 21, 1757 to Marta Sjursdotter from Kinne. They had nine children of which 6 lived to be adults. Torgils took over the tenant farming from his parents in 1759. He bought an option of 1½ laup in 1759 and then he bought the land in 1763. During the 1770-ties he was in court several times due to fighting. Probably due to this he had to sell Ullestadteigen in 1775 and had to exchange Ullestad for the minor farm Bauthus in 1782. His third son Jon, born in 1766, entered his military service at the Royal Life guards in Copenhagen in 1782 at the latest.
 

When Torgils died in 1785 his oldest son Arnfinn inherited Bauthus which he exchanged for Fagnastølen in 1786. Arnfinns mother Marta and his three brothers and one sister moved to Fagnastølen. Arnfinn sold his part in 1792 and moved to Bratåker and when Marta died in 1796, the second son Sjur sold Fagnastølen and moved to Helleve.

Jon Torgilsson Ullestad stayed in Copenhagen where he married Caroline Lindberg and they had two children. In the census of the population 1801, Ullestad has become his surname.