Hjellum Farm

The Hjellum farm is located on a plateau on a steep hillside overlooking the beautiful town of Undredal and the Aurland fjord (aurlandfjorden). This area is referred to as Norway's "fjord country" and this area is a popular tourist destination.

Name History And Meaning

So what does Hjellum mean? The name Hjellum evolved from the ancient name Hjødlo. Other names the farm can be traced to in historical documents include: Hjødlo, Hiallum and Jeldum as early as (1624). Hjell basically means ledge or plateau on a mountainside. The "um" was possibly added to differentiate it from other mountainside farms. In Norway you the name is pronounced as yell-um. My family (in America) has always pronounced the "j" as in jell-um.

Naming Trends

The gård was so important in Norwegian society that people would use the gård name as a surname. This in unique in naming traditions and causes confusion among Americans as they trace their heritage. If you have the name of Hjellum, not only are you lucky, but you most likely have ties to this gård. However, I know of two other Hjellum's in Norway. One in the Flykke of Telemark, around Lillehammer, and the other more north of Aurland I understand.

History

Our family history can be directly traced back to the beginning of the sixteen-hundreds. The family of Kari's was from the Aurland or Uhrland regions of Norway, while Anders' forefathers came from the Aurland and Voss regions. There are relevant farms in our family history such as Dyrdal, Flåmsdalen, Raundalen, Undredal, Kleivane, and Hjellum. Other farms with family historic meaning include: Geisme, Berekvam, Fretheim, Holum, Flåm, Steine, Kolve, and Skiple which are located in the Voss region.

The Hjellum farm is located on a plateau on a steep hillside overlooking the beautiful town of Undredal and the Aurland fjord. Other names the farm can be traced to in historical documents include: Hjødlo (ancient translation: terrace), Hiallum and Jeldum (1624).

The farm is first mentioned in the first half of the 1300's. It is believed the farm was vacated during the black plague in 1348 - 1350. There is an Aurland legend that only 7 people survived in Undredal. For nearly 100 years there is no signs of life until someone scribes 1447 into the rafter of the Undredal church. Gården Hjellum was first mentioned in a document in 1597.

A list of some of the documented owners or farmers who inhabited the farm: Torstein in 1603, Johans in 1626, and Gunder and Ole in 1645. The farm was eventually bought by Simon Larsen who came from the perched mountain farm of Stegen or Stigen, close to Undredal. His daughter Sigrid married a Sergeant Gunder Anderson.

Sergeant Gunder Anderson Hjellum (1688 - 1772) is one of the first ancestors linked to the Hjellum farm. Unfortunately we have no history of where he came from however he has the title of sergeant. Gunder Anderson married into the farm to the only daughter of Simon Larsen possibly in 1718. Sigrid Simonsdatter who died in 1722 possible giving birth to their 3rd child, and Gunder took over ownership from Simon in 1725. Gunder re-married in 1623 to Gertrud Endresdatter Bøthun (1701 - 1779). Together they bore twelve (12) children between the years of 1724 and 1744. The eleventh child was a son by the name of Endre Gunderson (who is Kari's great-great-great-grandfather). This is interesting because the farm is documented on both my Great Grandmother and Great Grandfathers' side.

Endre Gunderson Hjellum (1747 - 1810) and Brita Jonsdatter Flåm (1742 - 1810) were also Kari's great-great-great-grandparents. They lived on the Hjellum farm and at the time of the 1801 census of Norway, Endre was 59 years old and lived as a pensioneer. Endre had 4 children from his first marriage:

Children of Endre from first marriage:

Anna was married to a tenant in Undredal by 1801, they had 2 children. She also had 1 child outside of marriage.
Johan took over a farm in Undredal and married Anna Pedersdatter from Dyrdal. In 1801 they had two (2) children: Britha and Christopher. Anna died in 1804 at the age of 26.
Ole is referenced in the census as a 22 year old servant and as a national soldier. The farm also had a 22 year old female servant.
Christopher was a tenant with some farm land and he married Ingeborg Nielsdatter. By 1801, they had one child. From other marriages Endre had 3 children: Hans, Jens and Britha whom were all minors in 1801.

The farm seems to have left the family until it was purchased by Jon Sjursen Kleivane Kolve Hjellum. Jon was the father of Anders Jonson Hjellum and was born in Kleivane. In 1857 he purchased the farm Kolve. Jon and his wife Tora Olsdatter Gjesme Mulhus bore 8 children. Possibly in 1863, Jon and Tora moved to Melhus and then possibly in 1872 he purchased Hjellum. Jon and Tora's son: Ole took over the farm. Then his son, Torstein took possession of the farm, and finally his son Sven Hjellum lives there today.

Jon and Tora bore 8 children:

Marta had a son Ole before she was married to Ivar Erikson Undredal. Ole (surname unknown) immigrated to the United States and married Ingeborg Larsdatter Ohnstad.
Tora married Anders Olsen Melhus and immigrated to the United States in 1869. In America they bore 5 children. One of their children was a son named Ole who may have been the "O. Hjellum" who is referenced in the Anders Biography, however this cannot be verified.
Sjur immigrated to the United States and died unmarried in America.
Ole took over the Hjellum farm and married Brita Larsdatter Undredal. They bore 10 children one of which was named Torstein. Torstein assumed the farm from his parents and today his son Sven Hjellum owns it (see Hjellum farm).
Jensina married Saua and moved to Voss.
Jon immigrated to the United States when he was 24 years old and married Mathilda Løne.
Ingeborg married Øystein Underdal, the brother of Kari (as referenced in Kari biography).
Anders Jonson Hjellum (biography) (children) (pedigree)