Kristiane Hansdatter Holmene Gullerød, born November 12, 1852 in Holmene, Vestre Borg, Skjee in Stokke, married Morten Hartvig Mathisen. Her sister was Hella Holmene, married to Lars Helgesen.

Her father was Hans Gutormsen Holmene, born 1776 Vestre Borge in Skjee in Stokke, married the third time to Martha Marie Andreasdatter. He was the son of Gutorm Gutormsen, born 1735 in Borge Vestre, Stokke and Christine Gulliksdatter, born 1737.

The Tinn Sjø Ferry: Kristiane’s sister Hella’s daughter, Hulda Helgesen born May 25, 1880, married Ole Engbretsen. Ole died during the war. He was the machinist on a ferry boat which the Nazies were using to ship heavy water to Germany.

The Milorg (Norwegian Resistance) sabotaged the ship with a bomb, which Ole certainly knew of, and the whole ship, with all aboard went down in the Tinn Lake. If the shipment had gotten to Germany, they would most likely have made the A-bomb first and history would have been quite different. A Kirk Douglas movie was later made of the story I think- or least it would have made a great Kirk Douglas movie. Hulda was a special person in our family and we would like to know more about this story.

Kristiane's youngest son was Jørgen Mathissen. We know he was born a couple years after 1884 in Horten and died between 1914 and 1936; likely closer to 1936. He is thought to be buried in Tønsberg.

Jørgen worked at the South Georgia Island whaling station until about 1913. He is remembered by his family as a great violin player and always ready to play at merry gatherings at the farm in Slagen and in America. Jørgen visited the family over here many times and then disappeared, as far as the American side of the family was concerned, until they learned of his death. We would like to know more about him and what happened to him as it has always remained a sad family mystery needing to be laid to rest.

Jan Michelsen Boveng: (aka Jean Bouvin) born 1632 in Bourdon, Gironde, France, died October 19, 1692 in Hagenes, Hedrum. He married Maren Stensdatter, born 1640 Tveitane, Brunlanes Parish. They are buried in the Hedrum Parish Church Yard and the iron grave marker can be seen here in the photo.

In the 1670's, Jan was living on Vestfossen in øvre Eiker parish in Buskerud county. He moved to Hedrum and became the Master of the Hagenes Hammerverk in Hedrum. This is one of our oldest Bjerke ancestors. We would like to learn more about his life in Hedrum, why he came from France to Norway and perhaps his ancestry in France. I just can't imagine why someone would leave France at that time in the 1600's and come to such a remote place in Norway. It is just a good mystery to work on...