Written sources have included printed materials such as reference books, local historical works, genealogical books, etc. The unprinted materials are mainly from Riksarkivet or from Statsarkivet in Trondheim.

First we mention the most important sources from the 1400’s and 1500’s. Aslak Bolt’s jordebok (a book setting forth lands and rights) is from the middle of the 1400’s. From the century of the reformation we have the tax list from 1521, Olav Engelbrektsson’s jordebok from 1533, the ships’ tax from 1563, and the military census from 1567.

The main source for the slektshistorie is the churchbook. Churchbooks for Vik parish begin in 1677, but unfortunately there a few "holes," among others a long period from the 1700’s (1725-1752). The churchbooks include information about births / baptisms, confirmations, engagements / marriages, deaths / burials, godparents, and other miscellaneous things. Ages given are often arbitrary. The emigrant museum in Hamar has been helpful in obtaining microfilm of churchbooks from Norwegian churches in America.

The oldest census is from 1665 and includes names and ages for almost all men over 12 years of age. The ages given must be looked at a little skeptically since there was a tendency to round off to the nearest 10 years. In the census from 1701, we meet the whole country’s male population. From 1755 we have a census of males (over 17 years) conducted by the priest.

The census records we have for the total population are from 1801, 1865, 1875, 1891, and 1900. They give information about age and occupation. From 1865, birthplaces are given. The 1801 census gives just the name of the main farm, not each bruk or husmannsplass.

Statistical counts from 1815, 1825, 1835, 1845, and 1855 are also available. These tell us about livestock and planting and how many people lived on the farm. There has long been a doubt about the numbers presented on the counts from 1835 and 1845. It is reasonable to believe that the estimate for seed and crops were too low. People were afraid that the true numbers would result in increased taxes and fees. The oldest preserved probate records for Helgeland begin in 1686. Here we have a source which casts light on life in Sømna in the old days. They are comprehensive and have been of great use for the period during the 1 700’s where we are missing churchbooks. In addition to family relationships, these probates can give us a picture of the economic situation on the farm. One problem is the fact that we have probates for just some of those who lived before us. Public settlement was only ordered in certain cases as, for example, when the deceased left behind minor children or had no heirs. Many of the probates also tend to give an incomplete picture of what people actually had. Furniture, clothes, and everyday items were seldom mentioned, as these things had so little value that they were not worth including.

The tingbøker (court registers) for Helgeland are preserved from 1690. Through these books we can look closely at the lives of past Sømna folk.

The military system gives us some sources. From around 1660, we have military rolls in a time that otherwise has little information about the population. From 1809- 1835 there are a few military rolls which, besides names and ages, give birthplaces (farms) for all males .

For land affairs in older times such as conveyance or leasing, pantebøker (mortgage books) are our best source. The oldest preserved pantebok for Helgeland is from 1700. Church accounts for Vik (1626-1678) and Sund/Solstad (1626-1700) can give us information about the leasing of church properties.

Some agricultural sources are available. The 1661 Landkommisjonens jordebok (Land Commissioner’s book) and the 1723 Matrikkelframlegg (tax proposals) give information about the number of tenant farmers, the owners, forests, mills, fishery, crops and animals. The Jordtakstkommisjonen’s work of 1802 gives some information about the farms. From 1866 we have the preliminary tax rolls. Here, for the first time, we hear about the size of the fields and pastures.

Oluf Rygh’s Norske Gaaidnavne (Norwegian Farm Names) has been used to help interpret farm names. Information about the soil and forests were given by Alfred Brekk, Brekkeidet (born 1916). Norges Geografiske Oppmaling’s topographic maps have been useful in finding out about the mountain areas. Arealregistret of January 1, 1973, together with maps, have been used to estimate the area of the farms. Tables for planing, crops and livestock refer to the bruk of the farm. For husmenn, the information is found under "Folket pa Cården."

As we see, the materials available throughout the 1 600’s are quite sparse, while the sources for the 1 700’s grow considerably. Women and children now come fully into the story through the church books, court registers, and through the probates. As we go through the 1 800’s, the quantity of sources gradually becomes so great that choices must be made of all that is found in the archives.

But even through all of these sources are available, they must be interpreted, and questions arise. How accurately did the priest keep the churchbooks? Are all the leaseholders included in the older tax lists, or are the poorest omitted? These are examples of some of the many problems one has with the material which is being used to tell about the people from Sømna