Skeletons in the Closet

While researching my family history,

a little bit of "scandal" was

found.   When we first heard about

this scandal, my aunt Esther was

very upset and didn't want to hear about it.

But. . the following events happened

365 years ago (more or less) and

even though these men are somehow related,

it is very distant.  But none-the-less,

I will share the stories with you:

My ancestor, Laurtis Bjornson,

had been charged with murder.  

 At midsummer (St. Olav's Day, July 29),

Laurtis stabbed a man named Gudbrand Gudbrandson.

Since Gudbrand eventually died,

Laurtis was charged with murder.

But. . .On his deathbed, Gudbrand swore that

he was dying of tar disease, and not from the

knife wound.  Gudbrand's brother wrote the

testimony down and had it delivered to court
after Gudbrand's death.

Laurtis was then cleared on the murder charges.

The testimony was dated July 13, 1655.

Another ancestor named Lars Andrison

was a repeat offender - and it sounds like

he was a pretty violent man!

In 1632-33 he had to pay $12.00 in

blood money after he

"accidentally happened" to beat

Johannes Oelgorn to death at a

Baptism party at the Hamre farm.

(Really?  at a BAPTISM party???)

In 1641-1642 Lars  had to pay another fine

for stabbing Eivind Grovi with a knife

I guess some of those Vikings weren't so wonderful!

(This information was received from my niece, Lora,

who lives in Norway.)

Sorry, no pictures of Laurtis or Lars,

no pictures of the crime scene,

no DNA, no finger prints.