Our family history at the Bøen farm goes back to Ole Tordson Bøen born in about 1612. He had a son named Engebret Olsson Bøen born about 1638. His daughter, Kari Embreksdotter Bøen (born in 1677), married a man named Hermann in 1704. It was said that he came “from north of the mountains” and was referred to as “Sogne-Hermann” because he came from the fjord called Sognefjord. He purchased part of Kari’s home farm in 1709 (map showing location of farm) and more of it in 1723. Bøen translates to meadow or homestead. Bø is a very old Norse word for farm. Bøen sounds like “burn”. From Google Translate: AUDIO SAMPLE
See the Søvde page to learn about where “Sogne-Hermann” came from.
In 1696, before Hermann married Kari, he worked for Ola Ivarson Ølmhus for a year. Hermann and Ola were both born in 1668. Turns out, 93 years later, Ola’s granddaughter would marry Hermann’s grandson. See the Ancestors of Guri for details on our Ølmhus lineage. Hermann worked on the neighboring Øyhus farm for 12 years starting in 1697. These farms are along the Begna River about 8 miles from Reinli.
Looking at the Bøen farm from near the church
Looking at the Bøen farm with the church in the background
GENERATIONS ON THE BØEN FARM
Hermann Sjugurdson Bøen (1668)
& Kari Embreksdotter Bøen (1677)
Sjugurd Hermannson Bøen (1705)
& Guri Aslaksdotter Brattrud (1710)
Hermann Sjugurdson Bøen (1736)
& Kari Olsdotter Hoftun (1740)
An Unusual Ancestor – A Love Story
Sjugurd Hermannson Bøen (1762)
& Guri Olsdotter Ølmhus (1771)
Hermann Sjugurdson Bøen (1790)
& Kari Knudsdotter Dølve (lineage)
(Purchased Nørdre Klemmetsrud in 1820)
Click on the tree to see how this Bøen lineage connects with other branches of the family.
Read the dramatic story about Hermann & Kari
getting together in the mid 1700s!
“An Unusual Ancestor – A Love Story“
SHORT VERSION
(Sjugurd sometimes appears as Sjur or Syver. The dialect in Reinli uses “son” and “dotter” while others, as nearby as Hedalen, use “sen” and “datter”. There are spelling variations of most names. When in doubt, the Norway history books are used as a guide.)
Looking at Bøen from the Reinli Church
Bøen Location: 60°49’49.3″N 9°29’15.7″E
The Reinli church was built in the 1300s, but two other Christian churches that burned down existed previously and a Norse pagan temple was there before that. The key and keyhole plate were used for all three churches and may have been even used for the temple. The plate includes Odin and Thor.
Before you enter a stave church sanctuary you cross a hallway called the våpenhus, meaning weapon house or weapon hall. This where you had to leave your swords and axes.
The modern-day Valdres logo design was inspired by the Valdres Rose (5 hearts circular image on Home page) and the dragons on the sides of the Reinli church.
Reinli church mythology tells of a giant on the highest peak of Langeberg (long mountain) with a lur (ancient horn). He blew a clear and beautiful tune that was so harmonious and gripping that all who heard it never forgot. The melody has been passed down by Valdres fiddlers.
Langeberglåtten: Synth Horn & Wind | Elisabeth Kværne’s Version
Two generations later, we have a dramatic story about another Herman & Kari getting together. “An Unusual Ancestor – A Love Story” includes a map and pictures of a silver chalice.
The next generation: In 1803, Sjugurd Hermannson Bøen (1762) sold his half-share of the Bøen farm to his younger brother, Hermann Hermannson, and went NE to the Gudbrandsdal region. In 1810, he lived on the Tofte farm in Fron of Dovre. There is a letter that explains what happened in Tofte before the eventual purchase of Nørdre Klemmetsrud.
The descendants of Sjugurd’s brother, Hermann Hermannson, settled on the north part of the Bøen farm and use the name Bøhn, and they are still there today. The names Johan Bøhn and Knut Bøhn have been used repeatedly. Bøhn also sounds like “burn”. From Google Translate: AUDIO SAMPLE
The Nørdre Klemmetsrud farm was purchased in 1820 (see Home page) by Hermann Sjugurd Bøen (1790) & Kari Knudsdotter Dølve (1797).
