History
Most likely its been settlers at Grønset since late Viking period. The reason we believe that, is because it was typical for that period to end the farms name with -set. The meaning of -set from that period can best be translated into "a seat".
Experts have dated items at Grønset from the medieval age, around 1500.
In 1600 Grønset was a Captains Farm, and before the reformation, the farm was owned by the Church. The living house was then about 4/5th of todays length, and probably less wide.
The first documentations we found that todays Grønset-family took over, is from 1769, when Lars Larsen Grønseth bought the farm from Captein Kristian (Christian) Johannes Brodtkorb - probably a man with Saxen/German heritage. Although, latest information we've got, is that the Captain had a daughter - Marit - who got married to a local guy from the local farm Vinje - maybe she was illegitimate? We can't find here name in the Brodtkorb family records... If that's is the fact, it means that todays family are desiblings from the Captain, and that we are the 9th generation settled in Grønset.
In 1822 the next Lars Larsen Grønseth was born, and he had great impact on the development of the farm. The old barn as you see it today, was build under his supervision. Lars Larsen Grønset - or Gammel-Lars, as the village like to call him, was influenced by the Norwegian missionary Hans Nielsen Hauge - an excellent entrepeneur that walked across most of Norway. Hauges mission was not just to preach from the Bible, but also to start new businesses. The way he organised the businesses was ahead of his time because of the democratic structure and women had a lot to say, which was rather unusual back then.
"Gammel-Lars" took Hauges ideas with him, and that led to among others to shipping activities - trading fish and wood with the Baltic contries and northern part of Russia.
Today we can see the result of that in the trees that surrounds Grønset - with maple and chestnut trees, trees that doesnt grow wild in Norway. They were brought to Grønset by Gammel-Lars.
Experts have dated items at Grønset from the medieval age, around 1500.
In 1600 Grønset was a Captains Farm, and before the reformation, the farm was owned by the Church. The living house was then about 4/5th of todays length, and probably less wide.
The first documentations we found that todays Grønset-family took over, is from 1769, when Lars Larsen Grønseth bought the farm from Captein Kristian (Christian) Johannes Brodtkorb - probably a man with Saxen/German heritage. Although, latest information we've got, is that the Captain had a daughter - Marit - who got married to a local guy from the local farm Vinje - maybe she was illegitimate? We can't find here name in the Brodtkorb family records... If that's is the fact, it means that todays family are desiblings from the Captain, and that we are the 9th generation settled in Grønset.
In 1822 the next Lars Larsen Grønseth was born, and he had great impact on the development of the farm. The old barn as you see it today, was build under his supervision. Lars Larsen Grønset - or Gammel-Lars, as the village like to call him, was influenced by the Norwegian missionary Hans Nielsen Hauge - an excellent entrepeneur that walked across most of Norway. Hauges mission was not just to preach from the Bible, but also to start new businesses. The way he organised the businesses was ahead of his time because of the democratic structure and women had a lot to say, which was rather unusual back then.
"Gammel-Lars" took Hauges ideas with him, and that led to among others to shipping activities - trading fish and wood with the Baltic contries and northern part of Russia.
Today we can see the result of that in the trees that surrounds Grønset - with maple and chestnut trees, trees that doesnt grow wild in Norway. They were brought to Grønset by Gammel-Lars.