The name [HÆRSTAD] is interpreted from the man's name Hedinn, and the farm is regarded as one of the oldest in Fyresdal.

The first user we find at the farm was Gunleik Levordson. In 1587 he got a mortgage on ¼ of Midtbø in Nissedal from Olav Gunnarson for 19 dalar [money]. At that time he was used a great deal as a lagrettemann [sheriff]. A 1601 document tells that Gunleik received 8 markebol at Dale in Vrådal from Olvar Gunnuvson Lauvvik in return for 4½ markebol at S.Lauvvik and 28 dalar [money].

In 1603 he was owner of 3 tnK at Hærstad and 3 tnK at Tortveit, but died not long after. We cannot determine anything other than he must have been married to Gro Gunleiksdtr whose probate was held as late as 1669. She must have then been dead for many years, but the probate tells that she was aged and outlived all her daughters. There was 2 tnK skyldgods [assessed land value] after she died and a debt of 140 rd. There was no personal property since she was old and frail and lived for a long time at her grandchild's home.

After Gunleik died, his widow perhaps was married again to Tarald or Halvor who had the farm a while. She is said to have been married to sheriff Rolv Gjermundson of Døli 6 in Skafså, but rather it was a daughter who was married to him. In 1615 collected land property was divided between a son-in-law and a daughter who was not married. Gunleik may have owned 1 tn 4 mK at Dale in Vrådal, 4 tnK at Oppsund in Nissedal(?), 4 mK at Lie and 2 tnK at N.Tveiten in Skafså in addition to the land at Hærstad, Songedal and Tortveit. This is over 16 tnK!

Northeast of Valebjørg, down to Fyresvatn, we find Momrak. We also have included the Nape farms within the same group of farms. They lie by Napevatn on the hill to the east towards Nissedal.

The farm is not well known before 1540. Then Tarjei Såvison gave the farm Momrak, assessed for 16 mark gull, to the brothers Gunnar and Gunstein Aslakson because he had the misfortune of harming their father. It was probably murder. These brothers were from Austad in Bygland. In 1559 they traded away Momrak with Lislemomrak and got back Lauvdal in Bygland from Olav Talleivson. This Olav may have been he who lived at Valebjørg. It was his son Kjetil Olavson who inherited Momrak. A document mentions Gunnar and Gunstein Aslaksøner of Austad. In 1567 they got N.Lauvdal in Bygland from Talleiv Tarjeison Y.Ramse in place of Momrak. These two documents are almost identical. Olav Talleivson may have inherited Lauvdal from his father-in-law, Talleiv Ramse.

Kjetil was a well-to-do man and is some years mentioned as lensmann [sheriff] in Fyresdal. He is known from a deed from 1570 when he bought 4 markebol land at Håtveit in Nissedal from Juri Skomedal and Orm Ormson. In 1575 he bought 4 new markebol at Håtveit from Gunner Talleivson. Later, his son Jørund Kjetilson had to pay a surcharge of 51 rd to the heirs after Gunnar died.

In 1603 we find a Sissel at Momrak. She was a major land owner with 2 tn 1 mK at the farmer in addition to 2 tnK at Aslestad and ½ tnK at "Flodden" (Floten i Mannås?). For that she paid 4½ ort [1/5 spesiedaler] 4 skilling [1/120 spesiedaler] in allodial tax. The same years Gunleik Graver also had 1 tnK at Momrak. Ånund Kjetilson took over the farm. From 1611 he is listed as the freeholder on the tax rolls. That year he had 1 tnK at Momrak, 1 tnK at Hærstad, ½ tnK at Tortveit, ½ tnK Songedalstveiten, 4 mK at Håtveit, 4 mK at Oppsund and 1 mK at Lie. Of these only Lie and Momrak were allodial property. In time Ånund grew this land property to nearly 7 tnK, so he got along fine.

Ånund had only a small part of the whole farm. In 1615 Gunleik Graver, Talleiv Lundehall and Jørund Flekstveit were joint owners with their own tunne [tunne = about 1 acre] wheat at the farm. Nils Skattør had ½ tnK. The group owned about the same in 1624, but Gunnuv Graver had his father's inheritance, and Nils was living at Songedal. His ownership was then only ½ tnK at each. Gunhild Spokkeli also had a half tunne of land. Probate was held after Ånund died, as late as 1668. His wife was Torbjørg Gunleiksdtr, and she had 2 tnK at Momrak, 2 tnK at Songedal, 1 tnK at Lie in Veum and ½ tnK at Håtveit in Nissedal.