As a young man, Torbjørn had been a sailor for ten years out of Stavanger, the last four years as a co-captain. He had studied and had papers as a ship’s captain. However, starting in 1881, for the first two years of their marriage, Torbjørn and Mette lived with his mother above the local store and inn she owned. But in 1883 they assumed the responsibility of running the Nervik farm, and in 1902 they became that farm’s owners. In 1889 he had built two sheds and dug for water on two places and in 1894 he built the main house. He was a very intelligent man and he was one of the first to use the modern farming equipment of that time. He had his own mill and also did forestry and delivered wood to build boats. He liked to fish salmon, and he also liked to serve his community by serving on different boards. Attached is a photo showing the first six of their twelve children. It must have been taken in 1890 or 1891.