Norway Business and Occupations: Difference between revisions

There are records not often used that can be of great help and interest for the researcher, and they are:  

<br>A new idea, that resulted in little used record show up in Oslo during the 1300’s. <br>A man could apply for “borgerskap” in a specific city, and if granted would be given certain rights, as well as certain responsibilities. As a “borger” or citizen he would be able to set up shop in town; as a merchant, skipper, master craftsman with apprentices etc.<br>He would also be expected to pay taxes and accept different city assignments from the government.<br>The word “borgerskap” can have many different meanings. In modern times we talk about having citizenship in a country, or the word can refer to a specific social group in society; “borgerskap” versus the working class or nobility.<br>In earlier years the word “borgerskap” describes the judicial relationship a person had with the city he lived in, (“borgerskap” was not made available to women in earlier times). <br>In the 1600’s it became required that the new “borger” swore allegiance to the King and city, and paid a licensing fee. He was then recorded in the city’s “borgerbok”, and given a “borgerbrev” as a proof that he was a “borger”.<br>The eldest known “borgerbok” today is from mid 1551-1751, and is found in Bergen city. <br>The “borgerbøker” can be very helpful to the genealogist, especially during the time period before the parish registers were kept. <br>Information about a person’s name, birth place, address, and farm name if connected to a farm is given. His particular job is also listed. Used with other genealogical records it can be very helpful to researchers, adding information not usually found in church records.