Probate of estate of Gunder Andreas Nilsen - he died a poor man

My great great grandfather Gunder Andreas Nilsen was born on the farm Øvald in Eidanger, Telemark, Norway. The farm had been worked by his family since the 1600's. Øvald, located on a desirable piece of property at the head of the Eidanger Fjord, was owned by the state church and was sold late in the 19th century. Gunder Andreas died at 87 years of  Aareforkalking / Atherosclerosis on the farm Muhle in an old folks home.

Below is the probate of his estate:

from the Digitalarkivet, Telemark fylke, Eidanger, Dodsfallsprotokoll  1893-1933 pg 165

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His "heirs" were the Eidanger poor-law authorities (welfare agency, poor relief). The deceased had been supported by Eidanger parish for several years. Any little bit he had remaining was owed to the parish.

Gunder died a poor man.

my Great Great Grandfather

Gunder Andreas Nilsen

b: 11 Apr 1843 Øvald, Eidanger, Telemark, Norway

d: 24 Aug 1930 Mulen gamlehjem, Eidanger, Telemark, Norway

To work hard your whole life as a tenant farmer and die with nothing? It makes perfect sense to me why so many of Gunder Andreas' contemporaries and family chose instead to take a chance on "the dream of Amerika".