It has been a privilege, and for me somewhat of a miracle, to have been able to write the genealogical section for Sømna’s bygdebok. Both Norwegians and Americans probably wonder how someone living in the United States could do such a project. Pages 20-23 of Volume I (translated in the English Introduction) tell about the sources used. I would like to tell in more detail, however, how the many families were put together, and tell more about the churchbooks as a source of information.

All of the information found in the "slektshistorie" before 1916 was taken from original Norwegian documents. I ordered microfilm copies of the churchbooks, probates, and census records from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. Other sources such as the military rolls, parts of court cases concerning family relationships, the 1891 census, the 1755 prestemanntall, and copies of old family papers, were sent to me from Sømna. Information after 1915 came to both Tor Mathisen and me from people living today.

Most of the data for those who emigrated to America was obtained from descendants of those emigrants. Some of that information, especially from Chippewa County, MN and Ashwaubenon, WI, was obtained by Tor Mathisen, who ordered microfilm copies of American churchbooks from the emigrant museum in Hamar Norway.

Handwritten churchboolcs for Sømna kept from September 1677, include births (only baptismal dates were given before 1820), introductions of the mothers after a birth (until 1820), confirmations (from 1779), marriages, deaths (only burial dates were given before 1820), movement into and out of the parish (from 1820), as well as other miscellaneous entries. These records were available to me through 1915. The following dates are missing: September 11, 1679 to April 6, 1682, two pages from 1700. parts of 1722, 1723, and 1724, and all from 1725 to 1752. an A

Churchbooks for the surrounding parishes of Brønnøy, Velfjorden, and Bindalen (Vassås and Solstad parishes) were copied and used extensively. Over 100 rolls of microfilm from other parts of Norway were also examined.

Each churchbook entry for Vik parish (Sømna) was copied, sorted, and placed into a family like a giant jigsaw puzzle. When this was done, the other sources were examined, and that information was added to the picture. Any leftover pieces have been placed at the end of each farm under "uplasserte" (unplaced).

I have tried to trace each family as accurately as possible, as if it were my own. Nothing has been recorded as fact unless proof was obtained; therefore question marks, and words such as trolig (probably) and circa have been generously used.

Although I have spent over 20,000 hours on this project, one can never be finished with this kind of work. There can always be one more way to try to prove a relationship, or one more source to check. Perhaps more clues will surface later. Consequently, this work is meant to be a good strong foundation for further research.

Tor Mathisen has been a extraordinary collaborator, and I wish to thank him for all of his help and encouragement. Thanks too to all who helped gather information. I am grateful for the late Bergen Hansen!s notes and for his probate extracts after 1845, to L. U. Pedersen for his notecards dealing with the time before 1800, to Jann Kvalø for the 1891 census, and to Leif Dyngeseth, through whose friendship I became acquainted with this project. In America, thanks to my family and friends for their constant support.

All of my great grandparents came from different parts of Norway, but for some reason, Sømna has captured my heart. This work was done in memory of my great-great grandparents, Syrak Pedersen and Lene lohansdatter Bjorge (Bjøru 1 :10). They and their homeland have not been forgotten.