Eyvindr Jonsson
Eyvindr Jonsson
John Evanson's Grandfather
John Evanson's Grandfather
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Born: 1783 Austurlandeyum, Rangwallie Syslu, Iceland
Death: 1849 Kross, Rangarvalla, Iceland
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Birth Place of Eyvindr 1783
Austurlandeyum (or Austur-Landeyjar) in Rangárvalla‑sýsla (also spelled Rangárvallasýsla) is situated in the Rangárvalla district of southern Iceland, not the eastern Austurland region as its name might suggest. Here's a refined overview:
Municipality & Region
Located in Rangárvallasýsla within Southern Region (Suðurland) of Iceland, not to be confused with the eastern region Austurland. is.nat.is+15facebook.com+15facebook.com+15
Nearest Town
Austur‑Landeyjar is near Hvolsvöllur (postcode area 861), a small rural community south of Mount Hekla.facebook.com+1facebook.com+1
Found within the volcanic plains and farmland of Rangárvallasýsla.
The map carousel above shows:
A detailed road map of Southern Iceland along the south coast, including Rangárvallasýsla.
A region-highlight map of Austurland (for comparison).
Satellite and physical imagery of the region to pinpoint terrain and land use.
Farm Name: Austur‑Landeyjar (Austurlandeyum)
District: Rangárvallasýsla (Southern Iceland)
Nearby Town: Hvolsvöllur (postcode 861)
Region: Suðurland (Southern Region)
Environment: Farmland with volcanic plains
Finding Tip: Use mapping tools with the Icelandic spelling
Here's a glimpse of what Kross in Rangarvalla, Iceland would have been like around 1849:
Turf houses and farm clusters
Farms like Kross commonly consisted of turf‑roofed buildings—living quarters, barns, and storage—grouped around a small yard, sometimes with a bath‑stofa (shared warm room) built-inburtoniana.org+13ancestry.com+13ancestry.com+13en.wikipedia.org+4istockphoto.com+4alamy.com+4gov.mb.ca. The turf provided insulation during harsh winters, and the layout reflected a self‑sufficient farming lifestyle.
Livestock-centered subsistence
In the mid‑19th century, about 70–80% of Icelanders lived as farmers, with sheep being the core of the economy and cattle used for dairy and meat en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1. Smaller home gardens produced hardy crops like potatoes, turnips, and cabbage.
Vistarband (Farm labor contract)
Many landless residents had to work as farm laborers (vinnuhjú) under annual contracts due to the vistarband system, which wasn’t abolished until after 1900en.wikipedia.org+1gov.mb.ca+1davidsicelandicblog.blogspot.com+14en.wikipedia.org+14historyinphotos.blogspot.com+14. Even farmers like those at Kross would employ bound labor to help with seasonal tasks like haymaking and shearing.
Scattered parish communities
Kross was part of Rangarvalla-sýsla, a rural parish. Churches typically served several farms, so parish gatherings centered around religious, social, and market functions. Homes were spread across valleys and lowland areas.
Aspect Description
Buildings: Turf-roofed farmstead with connected dwellings and utility rooms
Economy: Sheep and cattle farming, basic vegetable plots
Labor: Dependent on bound laborers via vistarband contracts
Social life: Tied to nearby church/parish, trades and seasonal labor
Climate/terrain: Cold, volcanic lowlands—fertile for grass but tough on crops
1st Marriage
Born: 1783 Austurlandeyum, Rangwallie Syslu, Iceland
Death: 1849 Kross, Rangarvalla, Iceland
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📌 What and Where (Birth Place of Valgerdar 1783)
Austurlandeyum (Dative plural for Austurlandeyjar) refers to one of the historic parish areas within Austur‑Landeyjahreppur, a rural municipality in the district of Rangárvallasýslaflickr.com+6slaegtsbibliotek.dk+6expedia.ca+6.
Rangárvallasýsla (Rangarvellir) is a county in southern Iceland, stretching along the Ring Road between towns like Hella and Hvolsvöllur ravlling.com+2south.is+2south.is+2.
Rangárvallasýsla is known for its pastoral landscapes, volcanic scenery, turf farms (like the famous Keldur), and proximity to attractions such as Skógafoss and Landmannalaugarcampervaniceland.com+8expedia.ca+8south.is+8.
Within this district, Austur‑Landeyjahreppur is one of the ecclesiastical or administrative parishes, and Austurlandeyjar would be a locality or church site within this sub-region.
Country: Iceland
District: Rangárvallasýsla (Rangárvellir), South Iceland
Parish: Austur‑Landeyjahreppur
Locality: Austurlandeyum (Austurlandeyjar)
Drive along Route 1 (Ring Road) between Hella and Hvolsvöllur, then take the gravel roads leading inland towards Austurlandeyjar. Signposts for church or farm names may point the way. The area is typical of Rangárvellir, with sheep farms, low hills, and turf‑roofed farmhouses.
1 Valgerdur Eyvindsdottir
2 Valgerdur Eyvindsdottir
3 Biorn Eyvindsson
5 Thorsteinn Eyvindsson
6 Gudrun Eyvindsdottir
7 Gudmund Eyvindsson
8 Margret Eyvindsdottir
9 Gudmund Eyvindsson
2nd Marriage
John Evanson's Grandmother
Born: 1815 Ey, Breidabolstad, Rangarv., Iceland
Death: 1856 Iceland
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📍 What and Where (Birth Place of Anna 1815)
Breiðabólstaður (often abbreviated Breidabolstad) is a traditional farm area in Rangárvellir, situated between the towns of Hella and Hvolsvöllur, just north of Iceland's Route 1 (the Ring Road).ravlling.com+1reykjavikcars.com+1
Ey (pronounced “ay”) refers to one of the smaller individual farms or parcels within the Breiðabólstaður estate. It's typical in Icelandic rural layouts: a large historical farm (e.g., Breiðabólstaður) subdivided into satellite plots with distinct names like Ey.
The region is characterized by lush farmland with views of surrounding low mountains and distant glacier caps—pictures 0–3 capture the pastoral setting, typical of farms along Route 1 in Rangárvellir.alamy.com+1ravlling.com+1
Driving north from Hella or south from Hvolsvöllur along the Ring Road, you’ll see signs for Breiðabólstaður. A gravel turn-off leads to Ey and its neighboring plots.
Region: Rangárvellir (southern Iceland)
Main farm; Breiðabólstaður
Sub‑farm / plot: Ey
Access route: Gravel road off Route 1 between Hella & Hvolsvöllur
If you're visiting, use Hella or Hvolsvöllur as your base and head inland. The area is known for its traditional turf houses, pastoral beauty, and proximity to heritage sites (like Keldur).
3rd Marriage
1 Thorsteinn Eyvindsson