Evan Foss (1580)

Born 1580 in Horg, Støren, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Horg, Støren, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway

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Biography

Born apr 1580 at Lower Foss in Horg, farmer and marshall. Effuen (Even) Foss was marshall and farmer at Lower Foss in Horg. The wife is unknown. He is mentionned in the tax-lists 1626 and 1628, and in the year 1634 he is listed as marshall of Fos and Grinnie parish. Effuine is appraised as a “complete”-farmer. One of his sons, Steen Evensen, was priest in Meldal. The tradition in the family claims his father was a poor farmer from Horg in Gauldalen, born apr 1580. In an ombudsman-family it might look like that, but Even Foss was rather well of compared to other farmers. He was marshall in addition to the farming and owned enough to give away presents to the church. In a churchprotocol 1646-1689 there is a list of inventory in the Foss church and accounts for the years 1646, 1647 and 1648 mentionning at the end: a brass cup (somewere in the church), which Effuinde Foss had paid 3 ort to buy, was given to the church. As marshall he attended one incident at Kvam in Meldal 23 Oct 1634 and another in Tronddheim 29 Oct 1634.

Being marshall at that time was to be a representative on behalf of the public administration in the local area. In the beginning he was more or less a private servant to the bailiff, but from 1600’ and 1700’s he became more and more a sivil servant. One of the best farmers in the area was usually apponted marshall. The position was often inherited from father to son. The marshall had a lot of tasks. He represented the police and prosecution in the local area. At the same time he operated together with the jurymen, ie he became judge. The marsall also had to maintain a prison. A person sentenced for a minor crime, was often kept at the marshallfarm. That person was then often used as a servant. The marshall also helped the bailiff with his tasks to collect taxes and duties, he also made distrains when necessary. At auctions he was an auctioneer on behalf of the district stipendiary magistrate. The marshall maintained all these duties unntill end of 1800’.

Sources

• Bygdebok Horg v.2 - page 400 Foss Lian