The deserted farm Kleiv is named in a document from 1569 and 1586. At first Bjørn Alvson Felle got among other things Kleiv from Salomon Bjørguvson Væting. In the document from 1586 the nephew [sic, grandson] of Bjørguv, Jon Tallakson, got Espelia and Kleiv back from Herbjørn Øysteinson in return for payment of 20 rd.

The first syllable valr comes from falk [falcon]. So, the name means "Falkefjellet" [the falcon mountain].

In 1446 Hølje Jonson acquired by trade 7 markebol at Valebjørg from Torjus Torbjørnson in exchange for 5 markebol at Lislestog and 2 markebol at Arnbjørnsbrokke. Hølje was the owner of Valebjørg and bought 5 markebol at the farm from Åni Tovson in 1459.

A 1520 document mentions Åsne Torovsdtr, who was married to Olav Tormodson. She had 2½ markebol at Valebjørg, which was her inheritance after Talleiv Jonson died. She sold this to Kjetil and Talleiv Olavson. At the same time Kjetil and Talleiv gave 3 cows and a "kettle" each to Olav and Gunnar Talleivson because theÿ "wished" them the property. In the same document we also find that Orm Gunnarson sold 11½ (1½?) markebol at Søndre Valebjørg, which he had inherited himself after his infant daughter died. It was Kjetil and Talleiv who also bought this. 11½ markebol is all too high a number, probably it is an error in the translation of the document.

The next user of the farm was Olav Talleivson. He was probably a son of Talleiv Olavson from the 1520's document. In 1559 he traded Momrak and Lislemomrak with Gunnar og Gunstein Aslaksøner in return for Lauvdal in Bygland. Lauvland was inheritance of his wife, Sigrid Talleivsdtr Y.Ramse.

One part of the farm was the priest's place at Holla which he owned. In recent taxrolls there was 1½ pdS. In 1562 Olav had to go to court when the priest Nils would take more in landskyld [land tax] than had been usual from old times. The judgement was that Olav would give as much as his parents had given.

Olav probably died around 1570. In 1573 his children bought one part of the Valebjørg inheritance from the children and grandchildren of Hølje Jonson Y.Ramse at Tovdal and gave them 16 lodd [1 lodd = 14.6246 grams] silver.

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.

The name comes from Napi, which means high and pointed mountain. There are some old documents about the Nape farms, but to place them at the right farm is not so easy.

Ragnhild Nape was one of those who paid tax for allodial land in 1603. For 2 tnK at Nape, 1 tnK at Sitje and 1 tnK at Øverland she paid one dollar tax. She had the same land property also in 1611, but died probably right after.

After Ragnhild died, her daughter [sic, granddaughter] Signe Tarjeisdtr inherited the rest of the farm. What happened later was that Signe died without siblings and without children. The mother [of Signe] Gunhild Olavsdtr then inherited it, but the other heirs would not have any of it after Ragnhild [sic, Gunhild] Nape died. Accordingly they went to court about the inheritance. Gunhild was a widow a second time, and remained there in 1624 with marital property 4 tnK at Nape, allodial property in Svalestog and Snarteland 2 tnK and Moghus 1½ tnK.

The judgement in 1624 was that Gunhild should get to have Nape to use the rest of her life, but after that the allodial folks would have the farm rights once again.

At probate in 1676 after Jon Åse of Mo died, the estate had ½ tnK skyldgods [assessed land value] at "Vestre Naper in Østgården".

We know the Nape farms from several old documents. The oldest is from 1450 and tells that Neri Gjermundson and Torjus Torbjørnson sold 7 markebol at A.Nape and 4 laupsland [unit of rent, similar to markebol] at "Rydænæ" (Reine) at Tveit in Nissedal to Olav Torjusson.

It has been interpreted from this document that Torjus and Olav were father and son, but no proof of that can be found. It can also be believed that the deed of conveyance deals with Vestigard Nape.

Bjug also bought 3 markebol at the farm from Torjus Såvison [Torjus Olavson?] in 1560.

From old times the name may have been Vætingr, taken from vatr or vatn [lake or water]. This indicates that the land was swampy and marshy.

A document from 1564 mentions Ingelev (Bjørguvsdtr Væting?), who tried to get land in Brokke back from Torbjørn Brokke. She had been married to Jakob "Grøningen" and had lost Brokke to the king on account of a disagreement between them.

In a uheilt [record damaged and difficult to read] probate from 1576 after Bjørguv died we find land in Væting and Brokke. His sons Salomon and Tallak Bjørguvson are mentioned already in 1557 when they allow their sister Helga, who was married to Torbjørn Brokke, to get all the land they had purchased from the king at Brokke. Helga gave them back 1 mark gull for Væting. In a document from 1561 Salomon and Tallak signed that they had received what they were entitled to in money and land at Væting from their stepfather.

Tallak Bjørguvson was dead around 1580, and his widow married again to Gunnar Gunnuvson. In 1582 Gunnar sued Øyuv Talleivson on behalf of his stepson for the land deal which is mentioned above. This Øyuv was no doubt from Tveitane in Nissedal. The lawsuit came up again in 1586. The court found that the old arrangement should remain in effect. Salomon had received 6 dalar [money] for the allodial rights to Nape, (and) Gunnar should pay them back.

As late as 1668 a lawsuit came up in court in Fyresdal. It was Talleiv Metveit, Olav Landsverk, Gunleik Hærstad, Orm Fardal Nøra and Bjørguv Kleivi who believed they had not received full inheritance after the grandmother of their "mother" died, who was called Gunhild Helgesdtr. After so long a time it is difficult to place Gunhild in time, but early 1500's might be likely. The allodial property of Gunhild was 12 markebol at Væting and 4 tnK at Metveit with Landsverk and Slåttedalen. The opposition was Jon Nordbø and Anstein Tveitane from Nissedal and Olav Bergland and Jon Væting.

Jon Nordbø and the others replied that they wanted to prove that the heirs after Levord Levordson died had sold their inheritance. The lawsuit was postponed, and we hear no more about it.

We find descendants after both these brothers died in the before mentioned lawsuit from 1668. Levord Levordson may have been married to one sister, and the last sister may have been grandmother [Bjørguv's mother] of the other. In this manner Gunhild Helgesdtr may have been the mother of Bjørguv or his wife except that we can see almost nothing about that.

From the lawsuit in 1668, where Levord Levordson lived, we do not know. It is believed that he probably was married to a daughter of Bjørguv Væting and had with her two sons we know of. A Levord Levordson was lagrettemann [sheriff] of Valebjørg in 1578.

It was Tallak's child who got Væting. Jon Tallakson bought Espelia and Kleiv in 1586 from Herbjørn Øysteinson for 20 dalar [money]. It was his uncle [sic, father] Bjørguv who had farmed this out to Bjørn Felle. Jon was the user from the first skattelistene [tax roll] in 1593 and was a much used lagrettemann [juror]. In a testimony from 1595 Vetle Gåstjønn would lay out 40 rd to Sigurd Levordson Haugen. Jon Væting wished to have Greivstad, but would not receive it.

Jon was probably not so old when he died, his widow Asbjørg or Asgjerd had taken the farm already in 1602. According to the 1603 odelsmanntalet [census of allodial owners] Talleiv Valebjørg is said to be owner 1½ tnK at Væting. So most likely he was a guardian for Jon's child.

In more recent time we find Nikuls and Asbjørn, who probably were tenant farmers. First with Tallak in 1611 we will believe we have a son after Jon dies. The 1615 Matrikkelen [tax rolls] reports Tarjei Væting as the owner of 2 tnK at the farm while Gunhild Nape had 2 mK.

There is no more to find about Tallak after this. Perhaps he died without heirs. Tarjei Jonson took over Væting. He had the farm from 1626. Tarjei was among the 14 farmers in Fyresdal who in 1636 paid to the "chaplain's subsistance in the north lands". From the 1640's we can see that he paid tax for 3 tnK at Væting and 1 tnK at Eiken. It is therefore likely he used Eiken along with Væting.

Tarjei was a skysskaffar [a person who provides transportation by horse-drawn wagon] several years and over time accumulated more and more land. In this way, he had 1 tnK at Eiken, ½ tnK at Nape, 1 tnK at Austjord, ½ tn 1 mK at Fjalestad and 2 tn 4 mK at Væting in 1657. It was Olav Halvorson Ringestoga who had the rest of the farm, (and) later Åse in Mo. The Olav who was co-user and owner of Væting about 1647, may have been Olav Halvorson. Olav's wife was named Kristi Tarjeisdtr and could have been the daughter of Tarjei.

Not long before the 1664 census Tarjei Jonson died. The farm was then divided into two equal large parts between his son Jon and his nephew Jon Kjetilson.

The name [Sitje] was called unique by Rygh's "Norske Gaardnavne" ["Norwegian Farm Names"] without him being able to interpret it with certainty. It probably has a connection with "to sit".

We find the brothers Olav Brekke og Knut Sitje in 1624 in a lawsuit about the inheritance after Ragnhild Nape died. They believed their mother was first in line to it [the inheritance] inasmuch as the daughters of Tarjei Nape were deceased without children. After the law of succession the court found that the widow Gunhild Nape would have Nape as long as she lived. The petition was denied.

From several inherited residences well into the 1600's we hear about Såvi and Ragnhild of Nape. They owned among other things 3 tnK at Sitje including Lie. Såvi died early, but we find Ragnhild several times. She wrote in support of Sitje in a 1588(?) document and then testified about the allodial farm Lie. Her son-in-law Folke had leased it for 9 years. It should therefore be certain that it was Folke Tjodgeirson from Straume who was the first owner we find in the skattelistene [tax rolls]. Some time after he moved home to Hylestad, we find the other son-in-law [Tarjei Folkeson] of Ragnhild.

Tarjei Folkeson from S.Rygnestad was married to Gjertrud Såvisdtr. Ragnhild of Nape had 1 tnK at Sitje in 1603, but probably already lived at Sitje then. A document from 1605 tells that Ragnhild Tarjeisdtr had lived with her son-in-law Tarjei Folkeson several years. The children of her son were minors. Tarjei would get all she had in payments due and land rents of the 4 tnK she had for her lifetime in return for bestowing her pension.

Tarjei probably died around 1610. After that we find a line of names at the farm, probably his children and grandchildren. From that we hear in the dispute about Nape and other places, there may have been many children. Owners in 1615 were Olav Svalestog with 5 mK and Torkjell Lindem of Nesherad with 2½ tnK.

Gjertrud was still alive in 1624. She had then 2 tnK at Sitje as property, 1 mK at Bergland as allodial property and 1 mK at Austad in Nednes [Aust-Agder] as marital property. Olav Svalestog had 5 mK marital property. Gjertrud probably died around 1630 and must have then been an old woman.

The farm name is said to come from the tree name "eik" [oak]. The farm probably lay in shambles until close to the 1600's.

Not before 1623 we find a user by the name Tarjei. In the first year Eiken was a deserted farm, later a half farm. We learn in 1624 that Tarjei was the owner and had wed himself to his land. The same year he had to pay 6 dalar [money] for not having obeyed an injunction.

Up to the 1640's we find Tarjei Væting with 1 tnK at Eiken, it is most likely that he ran both the farms. In the mid-1650's his son Jon Tarjeison came for several years. He had land at Haugerud, Årak and Trontveit. About 1664 he moved home to Ø.Væting, and we find his brother Åni Tarjeison at Eiken. He also only lived there several years, then a third brother took Eiken. He was Tallak Tarjeison and was thrifty and in a different way a very active man.

In 1693 Tallak was sued for having stabbed Alv Rinden with a knife, and after that he was brought before the court.

The name Lundehall comes from Lund on a slope/incline.

It was Gunleik Graver who had the farm in 1603, and probably it was also he who was user in the first skattelistene [tax list]. In any case it was his son Talleiv Gunleikson who took over. He had all of Lundehall, 2 tnK, and allodial property in both Graver and Momrak. He owned ½ tnK at the farms in 1624.

Talleiv [Gunleikson] is named owner of the farm until 1641, but probably died many years before that. Already in 1627 his son Auver is named the first time as lagrettemann [juror]. Not before 1642 Auver received a property deed to half the farm from his brother Talleiv [Talleivson] and then gave 332 rd.

It was Auver who had the farm in 1647, but in 1653 he had only 1 qK, as recorded earlier. Ånund Brokke had 5 qK, Olav Bergland had 1 qK and Olav Gåstjønn 1 qK. Already in 1654 Jon Tjøstovson was the owner of it all, but in 1661 it was Åsmund Fjalestad and Tarjei Fjone who owned it. Heggland church had 1 mK, and we can read in the appraisal that there was some forest with the farm.

How Jon got entry here is unknown. Perhaps he was a brother of the son-in-law of Auver. In 1664 Jon purchased the farm Åse in Mo and moved there several years later. According to probate after he died in 1674 he had, among other things, ½ tnK in Vestigard Nape.

The name comes from grav, which is a hole in the ground prepared by people. Probably there were animal graves here for hunting in old times. Some old documents exist which mention Graver. The first is probably from 1457 and names lagrettemannen [sheriff] Åsmund Folkeson "i Grefue". The document deals with an inheritance from Høye Momrak and was regarded as a forgery.

Reidar is not known from other sources. The user in the earliest skattelistene [tax rolls] is called Gunleik and may have been the father or brother of Reidar. In 1603 he had 3 tnK at Graver, 2 tnK at Lundehall and 1 tnK at Momrak. At the same time Talleiv Valebjørg had 1½ tnK at Graver. This resulted in a large debt at Graver, but these two families simultaneously shared ownership in Momrak and Graver together.

We know of two sons after Gunstein [sic, Gunleik] died. Talleiv got Lundehall, and Gunnuv Gunsteinson [sic, Gunleikson] got Graver. The skattelistene [tax rolls] mention Gunnuv all the way from 1603, and from 1609 he is an often-used lagrettemann [sheriff]. In 1611 he is written "Gunhild" and had then 3 tnK at Graver and 1 tnK at Momrak. The 1615 Matrikkelen [church records] still has Gunleik as owner, but then had Alv Fjalestad 8 mK. According to the 1624 odelsjordeboka [allodial land book] Gunnuv had 2½ tnK and his brother Talleiv Lundehall ½ tnK. Gunnuv also had ½ tnK at Momrak.

Up on the hillside, north of the river we find Aslestad, a place Atli or Asleifr built.

We do not hear much about the farm before 1583. Kjetil Eivindson Aslestad then gave 6 markebol at Aslestad and half of Buine to Halvor Herjusson Bilstad and got back 9 markebol at Bilstad.

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!