The Qvale Family The history of the Qvale Family was first printed in 1936 under the name “Slekten Qvale”. It was subsequently brought up to date in Norway and reprinted in 1950. For the benefit of the American branch of the family the book was translated into English and published in 1980. The growth of the family, both Norwegian and American, demanded an update and subsequently it was published again in 2002. With the arrival of the internet the ability to communicate with family members is greatly enhanced, therefore, the book is now offered on a website and available to everyone. BJARNE F. QVALE 1 The Kvaale farm (also variously spelled Kvale, Qvaale and Qvale)* is located in the southern part of Norway, near the sea, by a fjord arm that the Lyngdals Fjord sends into the mountains. This arm goes as far as Drange and is called Drangefjord. Another fjord arm coming from the Lyngdals Fjord is called Oftefjord. Near this fjord on the east and a place called Framvaren on the west side is the peninsula which includes most of Herod County. Near the inner part of this peninsula is the Kvaale farm. The now self-sustained farm called Kvalshei, which originally belonged to the Kvaale farm, was supposedly a summer farm. There were three tenants at Kvalshei in 1666. In 1949 there were five. Until the year 1829, Herod County was annexed to the Vanse Parish. Records show that a Reverend Nils Hansen Budding received an order in 1631 reading that the parish should administer the Kvaale farm, and this order was confirmed by His Majesty King Christian lV's open letter of 1635. (See Norwegian Official Archives Vll, page 53). The Kvaale farm was evidently sold during the 1760's to the tenants living there at that time. According to the Lister County census taken for the years 1647- 1648, the Drange farm was one of the four truly independent farms then existing in Herod County. A great number of persons from Herod County mentioned in this book must have been quite prosperous. The reason for this, in spite of the difficult agricultural conditions, was the sea trade and, especially, Norway's connection with the Netherlands during this period in history. Einar Qvale 1950 *Many changes have occurred in the Norwegian language over the years, hence the various spellings. Current maps show the following place names changed to Kvale, Herad, Aftafjord, Trondheim, etc. 2 A.1. Anders Drange was born in the 16th century, date unknown. He is first mentioned in the Tax Census Book of 1617-1618 (pg. 201), as the owner of one-third of the farm ''Drange". He is later noted in the Landowner's Book as the owner of the farm and many other properties. This Landowner's Book is dated back to approximately 1620. Anders Drange is later mentioned in the Tax Census for 1622 and in the Sheriff's Accounts at Lister from 1630 to 1632. In the Public Records Office, there is a letter dated Herod, October 12, 1586, in which Bodvorde Drange and seven other farmers from the Herod district are applying to get the income from Briseid Church in order to maintain the church. In Oscar A. Johnsen's book ''Aktstykker til de Norske Stendermøters Historie" there are mentioned many different documents in connection with King Christian IV receiving homage in Oslo, June 18, 1591. On pg. 89 is printed the authority of the sheriff of Vanse and two judges, and signed by ninety-nine farmers from Vanse, including a Bodvar Drange and Oluff Drange. The proxy is dated Listerlen, April 24, 1591. Oluff Drange is to have paid forty halfpennies in real estate tax for the years 1600 and 1601 as noted in Akershus tax records (pg. 245). In the records of the War Tax of 1611-1612 (pg. 195) an Aslak Drange is mentioned, together with the proprietors of all farms and tenant farmers. Whether Oluff Drange or Aslak Drange was the father of Anders Drange is not known. 3 Anders Drange must have been married to Aadsene Thorleifsdatter. The Land Commission records for Lister of 1661 show that Aadsene Thorleifsdatter is the owner of parts of the farm Drange, which her son Torkel Andersen used to support his old mother. B.1. Torkel Andersen Drange was born about 1611. He is mentioned in the census of 1666 as 55 years old. He must be the son of Anders Drange and was in 1666 the owner of one-half of the farm Drange. He died about 1695. An estate division after his death was held August 30, 1695. In federal property tax records and accounts, there is mentioned a Mads Drange who had many sisters and brothers. As Mads Drange is also recorded as being connected with the same parts of the farm and other properties as Torkel Andersen Drange, the probability of Mads Drange being a brother of Torkel is great. Torkel Andersen Drange was married twice (1) Married to Anne Nielsdatter from Slevdal, the daughter of Niels OIsen at Strømsland, born about 1591. Anne was the sister of Børge Nielsen who was married to Anna Hansdatter Elle. The estate division after her death was held May 13, 1678. (2) Married to Torbor Finkelsdatter in 1679. Estate division held after her death at Drange, February 1, 1725. She had been married before to Søren Christensen and when she died, she left three children from that marriage. (See page 91) D.6 Torkel’s son, Ole, became insane and was locked up at Drange. Two relatives from Kvinesdal came to let his blood and let him out of the room. He set fire to his father's farm in 1687, by which Torkel became a ruined man. Torkel had nine children, and all from his first marriage. (See page 93) C. 2-9. C.1. Anders Torkildsen Qvaale (Drange) must be the Anders who in 1666 is owner of part of the farm Drange. In the Partition after his father's death, he is mentioned as Anders Qvaale. Anders Qvaale must have been living at Kvaale when his father died. Anders was born about 1642. He is mentioned in the census of 1666 as 24 years old. He died about 1687, as the estate division was held August 10, 1687. He was married to Ragnhild Hansdatter Elle, who died before June 8, 1737 as on this date, her son Peder commissioned his brother Jacob to meet at the Estate Division after their mother's death, which was held at lower Kvaale, November 3, 1738. (Record of 4 settlement of Estate 25, 1735-1739). Ragnhild Hansdatter Elle was the daughter of Hans Bjørnsen at Elle. He died in 1699, 90 years old. Married to Edel Pedersdatter born in 1620, died 1708. Six children. D.1-6. D.1. Jacob Andersen Qvaale, born September 22, 1666, died November 28, 1762, 96 years, 2 months, 6 days old. He lived in 1738 in Drange. Married to Torborg Larsdatter, born 1684, died 1746. She was the daughter of Lars Madsen of East Eiseland, Spind, and Randi Salvesdatter, Nine Children. E.1-9. E.1. Anders Jacobsen Qvaale, born in 1705 (baptized May 15, 1705). Was a master miner at the Kvikne Copper Mines. An assessor at the mines in Trondheim appointed by the King, June 24, 1752. Married March 20, 1736 to Johanne Cathrine Meintz, born about 1700. Died 1773. Partition Oct. 17, 1773. No children. E.2. Lars Jacobsen Kvale, born 1708, died 1745. Married (engaged December 2, 1741) to Anna Nielsdatter Aamodt*. Daughter of Nils Sørensen Drange and Anne Andersdatter Kvale. Two children. F.1-2. F.1. Jacob Larsen Qvale born 1742 (baptized September 29, 1742). Died 1748. F.2. Nils Larsen Qvale, born at the farm Drange, baptized August 22, 1744. Died 1776 in Stenkjær when he was ''drunk". He was brought up by Judge Anders Jacobsen Qvale (E.1.). Was in 1763 a servant, in 1775 a clerk. Nils lived at Lilleby in Stod where also a Dorthea Bing lived, and he had a son by her who was two or three years old when Nils died. *Anna Nilsdatter Aamodt was married a second time to Ole Madsen Angersmyr of Lyngdal, who was a solicitor in Christiansand. She had eight children F.3-10. F.3. Vilhelm Resen Matsen, born 1752. F.4. Anders Qvale Matsen, born 1754. F.5. Mathias Tobias Matsen, born 1756. F.6. Lars Kristian Matsen, born 1760. F.7. Anna Katrine Matsen, born 1761. F.8. Mogens Ulrik Matsen, born 1763. F.9. Soren Matsen, born 1766. F.10. Anna Matsen, born 1770. E.3. Hans and E.4. Salve were twins and were buried in Herod Parish, December 7, 1710, thirteen days old. 5 E.5. Hans, buried in Herod parish 1713. Four months, two days old. E.6. Maren Anne Jacobsdatter, died May 20, 1749. Married to Torsten Øystensen Eigeland, who outlived his wife, Maren. Eight children. F.1-8. F.1. Ulrik Torstensen, became of age in 1749. F.2. Sara Torstensdatter, married to Torsten Hoschuedsøn Gullestad in Kvinesdal. Two children. G.1-2. G.1. Henrik Torstensen, birthdate unknown. G.2. Edel Torstensdatter. Birth date unknown. Married to Hans Olsen Slimestad in Kvinesdal. F.3. Torborg Torstendatter married to Gunder Rasch in Lyngdal. F.4. Engel Torstensdatter, born about 1728 married to Simen Briseid. F.5. Jacob Torstensen, born about 1730. F.6. Rebecca Torstensdatter, born about 1735. Married to highly regarded shipmaster, Jacob Bueland. F.7. Anne Torstensdatter, born about 1740. Married to esteemed Bersvend Bjørnstad.