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Schools and poor relief The pietist King Christian VI introduced confirmation in Norway, and from 1739, community schools were established throughout the country with religious instruction and simple reading instruction. It was common to have community schools, where teaching took place around the farms and was limited to a few weeks a year. However, Vestfossen got a permanent community school as early as 1747, and at the Hassel ironworks in Skotselv a vocational school was established in 1757. A permanent school probably also came to Haugsund (Hokksund) during the 18th century, but the rest of Eiker still had a community school. The parish priests were responsible for the school system, and the main emphasis was placed on religious education. In public documents we see that it was still common for most people to write their name "with a pen" - they could not spell their own name. Poor people who were unable to earn a living, usually because they were old or disabled, were paid "legd". This was part of the tax system and meant that a group of farms were jointly responsible for providing food and shelter for a poor person. During the 18th century, several decrees on the poor were passed, in 1741, 1742, 1755, 1789 and 1790. Poor committees were introduced, led by the parish priest and the sheriff, who also included the local farmers and two men appointed by the county governor. But during this period, the population also grew, and when the harvest failed, there was a famine: "People eat everything they could get their hands on: Bark bread, roots, moss porridge, etc. and they drank water for it month after month. Pine bark, roots from the ground, aspen and silje leaves were collected, dried and ground into flour. Bread was baked from this, which was fried on flat iron roofs." A rich village like Eiker also attracted many poor beggars. In 1741, the king decided that this should be prohibited and that beggars should be put to forced labor at the "Tugthuset" in Christiania. It was not until the very end of the 18th century that priests came who were concerned with improving schools and the poor: Hans Strøm, who became parish priest in 1779, and Frederik Schmidt, who succeeded Strøm in 1797.

The Church and the Parish Priests Since the Reformation in 1537, the church in Denmark-Norway had been part of the state, with the King as head, and the priests were royal officials. The church service and the church acts – baptisms, weddings and funerals – were an important part of people’s daily lives. But during the 18th century, the church also gained an expanded social mission, with the introduction of confirmation in 1736 and a community school three years later. It also played an important role in the development of a poor system, and royal laws and decrees were announced on the church grounds after the services. Thus, the parish priest became a cornerstone of the absolute monarchy’s civil service. The main church and rectory at Eiker were geographically centrally located, close to the sound site of Haugsund. There were several homesteads here, and the "Egerske Company" had a practice area at the church. In 1741, the Nøstetangen glassworks was also built on the rectory grounds. Between 1741 and 1776 there were four parish priests at Eiker. Peder Anchersen had held the office since 1720, and previously he had been ship's chaplain for Peter Wessel Tordenskjold. He is described as He was parish priest until 1749, when he was succeeded by Christian Grave He was a poet and antique collector, very interested in history and was appointed Peder Jespersen NyropLorentz Schnitler The tombstones of Nyrop and Schnitler can still be seen in the cemetery at Haug Church, where they are among the oldest tombstones.

Ub c - Sameia Interview Archive This is an archive of around 200 interviews that are not currently publicly available, but which trusted employees can access, for example to record or write down the content. Contact Bent Ek - bent.ek@eikerhistorie.no - if you would like access. L 0116 Margit Bolstad Interviewed by Arne Thorkildsen 28/8-1991. 3 soundtracks - total 1 hour 35 min. Download audio files Contents

The farming community at Eiker In the latter half of the 18th century, most of the farmers on Eiker had become freeholders. A hundred years earlier, they had been tenants, either under the crown estate or on estates belonging to nobility and civil servants. The estate economy on Eiker reached its peak under the governor Hannibal Sehested, who was also the lord of Eker county in the years 1648-1652. When he fell from grace, his large estate was taken over by the Crown. This estate was first mortgaged and later sold to private individuals to cover the state's debt. Thus, most of the old estates disappeared, and the Eiker farmers became owners of the farms they lived on. Although the farmers were freeholders, most of them were in considerable debt. The creditors were often merchants involved in the lumber trade and sawmill operations in the district. Instead of paying land taxes as tenants, they had to pay interest and installments to the creditors, and in addition many burdensome taxes and fees were paid to the state. In practice, the difference may not have been that great. But at the same time, the new industries opened up new opportunities for the Eiker farmers. A few owned their own sawmills and were directly involved in the lumber trade. Far more were involved in the transport and delivery of goods to sawmills, mines and other industries. Driving for the Magasinet at Kongsberg was important, and coal was burned that was delivered to the Sølvverket, Nøstetangen glassworks, Hassel ironworks and other businesses. Those who managed to take advantage of these opportunities could become debt-free and in some cases set up as owners of several farms. Not everyone was able to share in the prosperity that the new industries created. The forest at Eiker was being cut down quite a bit, and the authorities introduced restrictions on forestry. It was also not allowed to build new water sawmills that produced for export – that was reserved for the privileged mills, which largely belonged to the bourgeoisie in Drammen. Most of the farmers could not therefore get directly involved in sawmills and the lumber trade and earn income from this. It happened more and more often that farms were divided in connection with inheritance settlements, because the one who had the land did not have the means to redeem the other heirs. The farms thus became so small that the income from forestry and driving became necessary to survive. This in turn affected agriculture and livestock - the oak farmers were not self-sufficient in either grain for food or hay for animal feed, and they bought butter and cattle for slaughter from the valleys and mountain villages. Some of the farms at Eiker were sold to merchants who were involved in the lumber trade and sawmill operations in the district. They were often called "proprietærer", and they usually had their own apartment building at Bragernes, where they mostly lived, while the farm at Eiker was a kind of mixture of industrial farm and pleasure farm. The agricultural community at Eiker thus ranged from such wealthy proprietors to small farmers and householders who lived on a subsistence minimum and who were dependent on wage labor to feed their families.

Jens Hofgaard at Hoen - a proprietor and his use Jens Hofgaard was among Drammen's largest lumber merchants for several decades. He owned sawmills in Ringerike, Modum and Eiker, but chose to concentrate his business on the Hoenselva to an increasing extent. He is known for having built the large cart at Hoensbruket, and it was he who commissioned the famous "Hoenspokal" from Nøstetangen glassworks. But he was also behind an extensive regulation of the Hoensvassdraget, including through the construction of Himsjødammen. The last decades of the 18th century were a golden age for lumber trade and sawmill operations in Eiker. It was the heyday of the "trading patriciate", also called the "plank nobility". Perhaps the best known is Jørgen von Cappelen, who built Fossesholm Manor as a memorial to himself. Another of the great lumber merchants was Jens Hofgaard, owner of the farm Øvre Hoen with underlying delights, including the water rights in the Hoenselva. His predecessors had also expanded the sawmill operation quite significantly by transferring quota grants from sawmills they owned further up the Drammensvassdraget. But Hofgaard continued this strategy, and he ensured sufficient water flow through a purposeful and comprehensive regulation of the entire watercourse.

Inns and Guesthouses Many of those living along the main travel routes were likely able to host travelers, serve food and drink, and offer lodging for a small fee. However, if such activity was to be conducted on a somewhat larger scale, a royal license was required. These licenses were issued by the Rentekammer (Treasury Chamber) in Copenhagen, likely based on recommendations from local officials. At the same time, the innkeepers and guesthouse operators were required to pay an annual fee, which the bailiff was responsible for collecting. Therefore, the archive of the County Governor in Buskerud contains considerable information about who was engaged in such activity. From the Rentekammer’s order, dated 3 November 1759, to the bailiff Egger Madsen Fisker: Since it has graciously pleased His Royal Majesty to grant the following Royal Licenses for the operation of inns and guesthouses within the jurisdictions of Hurum, Røyken, Eiker, Lier, and Buskerud, entrusted to him, subject to payment of an annual fee in addition to what has previously been ordered or may be ordered henceforth, namely: Eiker Parish 16. Nils Sutterud from the settlement of Sutterud –                     1 rigsdaler 17. The widow of the late citizen Augustinus – from Lille Steenset –            48 skilling 18. Peder Augustinusen – from the settlement Sanden under Temte –        18 skilling 19. The resident of the holding Frognes under Haug Vicarage –              48 skilling 20. Lars Thosen from the settlement Bacherud near Vestfossen –           24 skilling 21. Tore Clausen, innkeeping on the Fossesholm side –                    1 rigsdaler 22. Rasmus Schiestad on the Semb side –                           1 rigsdaler 48 skilling 23. Peder Augustinussen – likewise –                                   1 rigsdaler 24. Ingeborg Sperren – likewise –                                    1 rigsdaler By Hokksund on the eastern side of the river 25. Richardt Gram –                                            1 rigsdaler 26. The widow of Peder Andersen –                                1 rigsdaler

The village between Bergstaden and the lumber town Kongsberg, Bragernes and Strømsø To the west, Eiker bordered Kongsberg, which in the latter half of the 18th century was the country's second largest city – only Bergen was larger. At the opposite end were Bragernes and Strømsø. Both were formally subordinate to Christiania, but still had full market town privileges and were one of the country's most important export ports, especially for lumber. The proximity to these two large cities influenced the farming community in Eiker. Kongsberg Bragernes Stromso Royal road and waterway "The Silver Road" is a new name for the important road that was built between Kongsberg and Drammen in the 1620s. It has had many different names, but the most common was probably "The King's Road". Transport along this route, especially to the Kongsberg Silverworks warehouse, was an important industry for many in Eiker. Much of this transport was also provided by "røyerter", who transported goods on the Storelva and Vestfosselva rivers. All this traffic, both by land and by water, provided the basis for coach stations, guesthouses and inns. The magazine run Inns and guesthouses Mines at Eiker Large parts of the village lay within the circumference of Kongsberg Sølvverk, which operated a sharpening plant and had several mining areas on Eiker. The most important was the Skarragruvene, which was a workplace for between 60 and 100 miners. In addition, there was a significant ironworks at Skotselv - Hasselverket - and at the other end of Eikeren was Eidsfos ironworks. The Silverworks mines at Eiker Hassel and Eidsfos Ironworks

Milestein School circa 1920 Class picture at Milestein School circa 1920. The teacher is Anders Martinius Knudsen, who started at the school as a substitute in 1920, shortly after he had retired. In 1923 he celebrated his 60th anniversary as a teacher, aged 76 - see: Buskerud and Vestfold, Tuesday 27 November 1923 . The picture was submitted by Kari Næss, daughter of Knut Arne Næss, born 1910, standing farthest to the right in the third row (second from the back).

What did it cost back then in the 18th century? In the Danish-Norwegian coinage system, the rigsdaler species was the main coin from 1544 to 1813, and in Norway it was usually called daler or species. In 1625, 1 rigsdaler = 4 ort = 6 marks = 96 shillings Skilling was a unit of currency used in Norway between 1505 and 1875. Converted to today's exchange rate, one skilling was worth approximately 1.50 NOK. Courant or kurant means small coin. 10 kroner for us was equivalent to 3,655 kroner in 1701. This corresponds to a price increase from 1701 to 2012 of 36,450%. The krone was introduced in 1875 in both Norway and Denmark. Salaries A servant who worked for a farmer earned 10-12 rigsdaler a year, but also had room and board. A maid had half the salary, 5-6 rigsdaler. In a year, a miner could earn 50 rigsdaler. In Norway, glass workers became a high-wage group. Cabin manager Christian Fillion at the crown glass cabin (window glass) in Hurdal 288 rigsdaler a year Blows away 192 rigsdaler a year in the same place Starts at the same place 120 rigsdaler a year In addition, various bonus schemes came in the amount of 3 - 6 riksdaler per month. Schoolmaster in the same place in 1776 28 rigsdaler a year Unskilled Norwegian workers 36-72 rigsdaler a year Salaries compared to Kongsberg Sølvverk The salaries are based on the Silver Works' accounts during the years the Skarra mines were in operation (1770-1798). 1st class miners: Exceeds 120 rigsdaler a year Sharpens 120 rigsdaler a year Prices Beef, 14-15 kilos: 1 rdl Clipfish, 8-20 kilos: 1 rdl Herring, 1 barrel: 3 rdl Sugar, 1 kilo: 1 tbsp Butter, 4-5 kilos: 1 tbsp Tobacco, 3 kilos: 1 rdl Barley flour, 1 barrel (139 liters): 3 rdl Spirits, simple, 1 pot (1 liter): 16 shillings/1 mark (1/6 daler) Wild boar, large: 1 1/2 rdl Young sheep: 1 place Goose, 3 pieces: 1 rdl Cow, 1 pc: 2-5 rdl Horse, old: 5-6 rdl Bricks, 144 pieces: 1 rdl Brass kettle: 1/2 rdl Silver bowl, large: 30 rdl Plate, 2 shillings Coffin, painted and well-studded: 1 rdl Chest with carvings: 15 rdl Duvet cover and duvet cover, used: 3 rdl per piece Sheet, fine canvas with "knippel", used: 1 3/4 rdl Sheets, striped, used: 1st place Bible, large: 8 pages Hat, "high-polled", black: 1/2 rdl Shoes or boots, one pair: 1 1/2 ort Hose, one pair: 12 shillings Paddy flour, gray, a cubit: 12 shillings Skirt, purchased (used): 2-3 1/2 rdl Cemetery space: 2 rdl Wax candles that burned on the altar during a funeral: 4-6 rdl For a blood donor to open a vein for bloodletting: 8 shillings

Setre og boplasser Rogndalsbråtan Arne Thorkildsens store registrering av boplasser, som ble gjennomført på 1980-tallet, har blitt fulgt opp av andre frivillige og koordinert av Eiker Arkiv. En oversikt er lagt ut på lokalhistoriewiki og oppdateres etter hvert som nye opplysninger kommer inn: Boplasser på Eiker .