Bondegjeld og skogsameie i Nord-Østerdalen 1770–1819

Abstract

Which role did the farmers play in the replacement of the jointly owned forests between 1770 and 1819 in Northern Østerdalen in Norway? The task at hand is testing a hypothesis regarding the relationship between the farmers’ finan-cial status and the need for replacement. The main sources of information are settlement minute books and regis-tered documents. The farmers in this area became freeholders historically early, a fact that provided opportunities for shared use. They needed income-generating work to purchase the necessary food and other commodities. Hard times resulted in high levels of debt. The farmers were pressured to enter into long-term, fixed-price coal contracts during financially unstable periods. In sum, this created a need for replacement. The farmers attempted to amicably negotiate agreements for the replacement of the jointly owned forests, but they also requested assistance from the conciliation board.