Espeset
Sub-farms: Strande, Westli, Vestrom, Kvednatn, Hagin, Steinsrud,
Bakken, Bråten, Dokken, Berglund, Beritstue
Mountain Farms: Nørre Kjerringstølen, Øystølen, Gamlestølen,
Sørre Blesen
The early history of Espeset is a mystery. There is no archeological
material that can help us determine when the farm was first
settled. We do know that there was nobody here before 1620
and that the farm was Krongods until 1669 when Laurits Christensen
from Drammen purchased it from the king.
Some of the earliest inhabitants of Espeset were Ole Espeset
in the mid 1620s;Østen Espeset followed Ole and Kristoffer
Andersson had a hut here in 1628; Jørger Espeset was here
from about 1634 until 1639.
The name Espeset is a combination of "esp" (aspen) and "seter"
(mountain farmhouse). Since 1748 Espeset has been divided
in two farms, Nerre (lower) Espeset and Øvre (upper) Espeset.
The farms are located down in the valley, five miles north
of Bruflat.
The farmland itself is hilly, but at one time the riverland
was part of the farm as well. Espeset was one of the biggest
farms in the area, but most of it was forest land.
On the west side of Etna river we find Strande and Westli
with many acres of forest. These farm seperated from Espeset.
Likewise, up the hill to the east thousands of acres were
Espesetland, mostly forest and four mountain farms. These
units were gradually sold out and appear today as independent
farms.
Source: Gard og Bygde i Etnedal Book B, pages 192-193
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