This map of Valderøy is dated 10. Aug. 1612, about 350 years old, and is posessed by the Museum of Aalesund. The Museums director Ola Kvalsund points out that Jangaarden is one of the few farmnames on the map, and the drawer may therefore have had relations to the farm. The name "Zinklar" is mentioned on the frame of the map - 1612 was the year that the scotsman Sinclair went through Møre on his way to the Gudbrandsdalen. In 1612 the dutch captain Jan van Monkhoven with his soldiers also came to Valderøy. In the old days they believed that the name Jangaard was of dutch origin, and maybe it is just as right that the name comes from Jan van Monkhovens as from Jahn Jørgensens time at the farm. JANGARDEN The family seat of the Jangaard family, locally called Jangarden, is situated on the south eastern point of the island of Valderøy, opposite Aalesund across the Valderhaugfjord. On the Jangaard is an old gravemound called "Kongshaugen" - The Kings Mound - where according to the legend King Valder was buried, after whom Valderøy got its name. The position of the Jangaard, close to the inshore channel with a controlling view both north and south, makes it reasonable to believe that this was the home of King Valder. In any case it is certain that far back and long before the present Jangaardfamily took over, the Jangaard was the most important place on the island. At the time from which we start this family album, around year 1700, the Jangaard was still the only trading place (Handelshus) on Valderøy, established around year 1600 by Jahn Jørgensen after whom the farm was called Jangaard. From this time the entire Valderhaugstrand belonged to Jangaard until 1752 short before the present Jangaard family took over the farm. Usually family books are based on propagation through father and son down the line, but this book is not based strictly on such a system. Engaged in the dangerous work as pilots and fishermen, some of the Jangaard men perished at sea and therefore we are also tracing the women who remained on the farm. When widows of the owners or their daughters were left alone, men from other places married them and took their names. These men who stepped in and continued the family and the family traditions on Jangaard were all men of good family from neighbouring communities. We can follow their families far back in time, but that is not our purpose here. The Jangaard family continues and the object of this history is that new generations shall know that they come from good people, a fact that gives them strength but also obligations. This album is made, therefore, in a way that each new generation can continue it for their own families. Another reason why new generations should know their origin is because the way of life is so rapidly changing. Because of the growing population, the towns are expanding and requiring more building space and old family sites are disappearing. With the rapid expansion on Valderøy the Jangaard family site will also disappear. The way of life of our forefathers is so entirely different from ours, - houses, boats gear and tools are changed, and the new generations which are taking into use every day's most modern tools, should know the way of life of the old folks. This album is, therefore, illustrated with maps and drawings from the years past, and new generations continuing the album can insert similar illustration of their own times.