Sigurd Havtoresson receives property in Romerike and Agder
DN 1/284 · 12 April 1343 · Gryting
What the letter says
Eight men testify that on 12 April 1343 at Gryting they saw the handshake between Sigurd Havtoresson and the married couple Gunnar Erlendsson and Jartrud Pålsdatter. Gunnar and Jartrud gave Sigurd all the land that Sigurd Erlendsson and Gudrun Ivarsdatter had owned in Romerike and Agder, with the salmon fishery in Soknedalen. In return Sigurd gave up all other claims to the inheritance after Sigurd Erlendsson and Gudrun.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Sira Audun Kolbeinsson, Holte Gunnarsson, Jon Erlendsson, Gudmund Sløg, Hallvard Staur, Sigurd Finnsson, Bård på Odin and Bård på Tosin send God's greeting and their own. We make known to you that we were at Gryting, in the sleeping house on the southern farm, and saw the handshake and heard the words between Sir Sigurd Havtoresson on the one side and Gunnar Erlendsson and his wife Jartrud Pålsdatter on the other. The condition was that Gunnar and Jartrud gave and handed over to Sir Sigurd Havtoresson this named property: first all the lands that Sir Sigurd Erlendsson and his wife Lady Gudrun Ivarsdatter owned in Romerike, and likewise all the lands they owned in Agder, with the salmon fishery in Soknedalen, in Hadeland and in Hedmark. In return Sir Sigurd gave up to Gunnar and his wife Jartrud Pålsdatter all the right and claim he had to the inheritance after Sir Sigurd and Lady Gudrun, and he gave it up entirely, wherever he may trace it, except for the said property and lands. Gunnar and Jartrud made it part of the terms that they and their heirs shall never have any claim on the said gift or settlement. But should Gunnar or Jartrud or any of their heirs break or cause to be broken this settlement, Sir Sigurd shall himself step back into the said inheritance after Sir Sigurd and Lady Gudrun, and Gunnar and his wife Jartrud or their heirs shall never have right or claim to the inherit
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum monnum þeim sem þetta bref sea edr hœyra senda sira Audun Kolbeins son Holte Gunnars son Jon Erlendz son Gudmundr slœghr Halfuuardr staur Sigurdr Finsson Bardr a Odhin ok Bardr a Þozsini Q. G. ok sina. Mer gerom ydr kunnict at mer varom a Grytingh a Frone j suemfstofuonne j sydra gardenom saghom handerband þeira ok høyrdum ord þeira af einni halfuu herra Sigurdar Hafþores sonar ok annare halfuu Gunnars Erlendz sonar ok Iarþrudu Paalls dottor kono hans vndir þui skillorde at þau Gunner ok I
Background
Sigurd Havtoresson of Sudreim was a grandson of King Håkon V through his mother and later married Ingeborg Erlingsdatter, who received Giske from her father in 1354. The letter is a letter of testimony about an inheritance settlement: instead of dividing the whole inheritance after Sigurd Erlendsson and Gudrun, Sigurd Havtoresson received specific properties and gave up the rest. This suggests that he was related to the deceased, but the letter does not say how. Such settlements were written down and sealed to prevent the heirs from reopening the matter later, and the letter has a clause saying that Sigurd gets the whole inheritance back if the settlement is broken. The salmon fishery was a valuable right, and the fact that it is mentioned specially shows what river fishing was worth. The property Sigurd gathered in eastern Norway and Agder later became part of the great mass of estates that the Sudreim family and Sigurd Jonsson held.
People: Sigurd Havtoresson