his father: Stener Olsen (b. 1590 Steine nordre, Follebu, Gausdal, Oppland, Norway)
his mother: unknown

*family records by Gunnersen, 1924

This family was laid out in the research of G. F. Gunnersen in 1924 with the help of a Norway archivist E. A. Thomle. The spelling of the farm is varied from Vaalen (as on the 1864 map), Waalen, and sometimes Volen or even Vole.  Gunnsersen uses Vaalen. 
This translation is out of the Norwegian using Google translate and my own inferences. 

Panorama with Vaalen farm on the ridge in Østre Gausdal just to the right of the telephone pole.
photo Elroy Christenson 2016

Ole Madssen Stene (b. abt 1560)"He had 3 sons:  Mads Olsen Stene, Stener Olsen Vaalen, and  Jakob Olsen Stene. From these sons came the families of Vaalen, and Jacob Olsen continued the genealogy of Stene. His son Nils Jakobsen Stene was married to Kirsten Harkildsdatter Reistad, and when they had children, they took to him as their own Axle Svendsen Waalen, son of his marrying Svend Stenersen and his wife genealogy of Ronnag Andersdatter Reistad. These two young were married and the Testament of 12th January 1703 they turned the old farm over to them. Descended from them the present lineage continues of the distinguished Stene...." [Gunnersen. Slegten Stenersen Fra Vaalen I Gausdal,  p.3]

 

Vaalen farm,
(the main buildings of 1924 still exist in 2016)
photo from Gunnersen's history of Stenersen family before 1924, page 4

The history in this source points back to occupation of the farm area from 200 to 500 years by the Stene family. 

 

Ostre Gausdal Kirke, built 1250, Oppland in Sør-Gudbrandsdal rural deanery.
registered landmark. [courtesy of Den Norske Kirke website]

A lensmann historically had been a holder of a royal fief.  In Norway he was typically a respected or "good farmer", often elected to the office by other farmers. He was sometimes used as a lay judge and was subordinate to the bailiffs and the district judge.  [wikipedia.com]

"Lensmand" Stener Svendsen (Vaalen) becomes a "lensmand" or sheriff.  He marries Eli Johnsdatter of Fjerdrum. 
          He has ten children:
                1.   Anne Stenersdatter  (1683-1720)           m. Erland Pedersen Olstad
                2.   Ronnaug Stenersdatter  (1683 - 1738)   m. Ole J. Roxen (Kongsli)
                3.   Eli Stenersdatter (1687-1762)               1m. Lt. Christen Flillet    2m. "Lensmand" Simen Tolstad
                4.   "Lensmand" John Stenersen (1690 - 1716)   m. Ronnaug J. Kongsli
                5.   Svend Stenersen (b. and d. 1694)
                6.   Marit Stenersdatter (1695 - 1746)          m. Gulbrand A. Strande
                7.   Anne Stenerdatter (1695 - 1739)            m. Jorgen A. Elstad
                8.   Foged Svend Stener (1697 - 1737)         m. Soster Cathrine Brun
                9.   Erland Stenersen (1700- 1701)
                10. Erland Stenersen (1702 - 1732)              m. Elisabeth Christine Brun -  dau. of Peter Brun (1732-1752)

Source:
        Den Norske Kirke, history of the churches of Norway. http://www.kirkesok.no/eng/kirker/OEstre-Gausdal-kirke
        Gausdalssleckt (web site for the Gausdal parish, Oppland, Nor. in Norwegian)  http://gausdalsslekt.net
        Gunnersen, G. F.  Slegten Stenersen Fra Vaalen I Gausdal, Samt Andre Slegtgrene Fra Vaalen.  Kommission Hos
            Cammmeyers Boghandel, Kristiania, Norway 1924    - digitized copy from the Nasjonalbiblioteket  - www.nb.no/nbsok
        Norway National Archives /Arkivverket Digitalarkivet  - http://digitalarkivet.uib.no
        LDS Familysearch.org., International Genealogical Records, 1999  -  familysearch.org
        Ringebuslekter by Tore Onshus    http://onshus.no/getperson.php?personID=I16743&tree=tre
        Rootsweb.ancestry.com - Bittman and Davis family Tree.
        Stange Bygdeboka - farm histories  http://www.hedmarkslekt.no/Stangeboka/ 

Oppland History  || Elroy's Family Index || Ancestor Chart #94

---

All information and photos included within these pages was developed by the help of hundreds of researchers. The information here is for the express purpose of personal genealogical research and is freely offered as long as this site is listed as a source. It may not be included or used for any commercial purpose or included in any commercial site without the express permission of Elroy Christenson. Copyright Elroy Christenson 1998-2021.

web pages created by Elroy Christenson- elroy@next1000.com - last updated 2/17//21