Fru Inger gives away the farm Borg in Skogn
DN 1/1108 · 5 July 1547 · Österaat
What the letter says
Fru Ingerd Ottesdatter, widow of Sir Nils Henriksson, announces at Austrått on 5 July 1547 that of her own free will and in good health she gives the farm Borg in Skogn to Master Henrik Nilssøn, canon in Trondheim, and his legitimate heirs in perpetual ownership. The farm yields 8 spann in annual land rent. The gift is made with the consent of Jens Tillufsson and her daughter Lucie Nilsdatter. If Henrik and his descendants die out without lawful heirs, the farm is to return to Inger or her heirs. She asks her sons-in-law, daughters and several good men to seal the letter.
The letter in modern English
I, Ingerd Ottesdatter, widow of Sir Nils Henriksson, knight, God have mercy on his soul, declare and make known to all with this my open letter that of my own free will and with well-considered mind, in good health and full strength, I have granted and given, and now with this my open letter grant and give, to the honourable and well-born man Master Henrik Nilssøn, canon in Trondheim, with the free will and consent of the honourable and well-born man Jens Tillufsson and my dear daughter Lucie Nilsdatter, a farm I own in Skogn named Borg. It yields in annual land rent 8 spann, with all that rightly belongs to it, out and at home [uncertain reading], on land and water, as it now stands. It shall pass from me and my true heirs to the said honourable and well-born man Master Henrik Nilssøn and his true legitimate heirs in perpetual ownership and possession. But on this condition: that if Master Henrik Nilssøn, his dear children or grandchildren, by God's providence, should pass away or die childless and without any lawful heirs, then the said farm Borg shall without any objection or legal action come back to me or my true heirs.
Original text
Jegh Ingerdtt Otthis datther Her Nels Henrichssøns ridders efftherleuerske hues siell gudtt naadhe, kendis oc giør wittherliigtt for alle medtt thenne mytt opne breff att iegh mett myn frii wilge oc welberodtt modtt wthj myn swndhiedtt oc wellmagtt haffuer wnnth och giiffuitt och nw mett thenne myn opne breff wndher och giiffuer erliig oc welbyrdiigh mandtt mesther Henrich Nellssenn kannich wthj Thrwndhiem, medtt erliig oc welbyrdiigh mandtt Iens Tiellofssenn oc myn kiere datther Lucie Nels
Background
Austrått on Ørlandet was fru Inger's main estate, and by this time she was an elderly widow and one of the largest landowners in Trøndelag, with property such as Borg in Skogn in what is now Levanger. That her daughter Lucie and Lucie's husband Jens Tillufsson (Bjelke) had to consent shows that they were heirs who could have a claim to the farm. Lucie was the sister with whom Nils Lykke was accused of having had a relationship, and she later married Jens Tillufsson. The letter also names the sons-in-law Peder Hansson, commander of Akershus, Erik Ugerup of Allinge and Jens Splid of Brøen, and the daughters Margrete, Anne and Ingeborg Nilsdatter. The letter does not say why Inger gave the farm to the canon Henrik Nilssøn. The condition that the farm should return if his line dies out keeps the land within fru Inger's family in the long run. Spann was a unit of land rent used in Trøndelag.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)