Sigurd Havtoresson grants Erling Einarsson farms and woodland in Sogn
DN 1/448 · 9 June 1378 · Bergen
What the letter says
In Bergen on 9 June 1378 Sigurd Havtoresson writes that on his own behalf and for his son Håkon and his daughter Agnes he has granted Erling Einarsson the farms Aslevoll, Kinsedal, Krok and Hval with the woodland belonging to them. This is done on terms set out in another letter, and his representatives shall not hinder Erling. Parts of the letter are illegible.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Be it known to all good men that I, Sigurd Havtoresson, acknowledge with this my open letter that I have granted Erling Einarsson, on my own behalf and on behalf of my son Håkon and my daughter Agnes, Aslevoll, Kinzudal and Krok, Hval and all the other woodlands that have belonged there of old and new. This is done on the same condition as [illegible] letter bears witness to [illegible], and [I forbid] all my representatives to hinder or oppose this arrangement or these lands for Erling [partly illegible]. In truth of this I set my seal to this letter, which was made in Bergen on the Wednesday after Whit Sunday in the 23rd year of my worthy lord Håkon, by the grace of God king of Norway and Sweden, that is 9 June 1378.
Original text (excerpt)
Þat se ollum godhom monnum kunnikt at ek Sighwrdir Hafthorsson kænizt þat med þesso mino opno brefe. at ek hefver vnt Ællinghe Æinars syne. a mina wæghna. ok Hakonar sonar mins ok Aghneasar dottor minnar wæghna [A]sla wallir. Kinzudal ok Krok. Hwala ok alla adrha skogha sem til [þ]æs hafva leighit fra forno ok nyio med þy samma skilorde sem fy . . . d bref watta vm . . or . . . fyrb . . . . . ok allom minom vmbodis monnum fyrnæmda s[kipan] ædha iardir at hindra ædha talma fyrir adhir nemdom Elle
Background
Sigurd Havtoresson was married to Ingeborg Erlingsdatter, the heiress of Erling Vidkunsson, and he managed a large body of property. Hval is probably the same farm of which Erling Vidkunsson received a third in 1333, and the farms probably lay in Sogn, where Kinsedal lies in Luster. That Sigurd acts for his children Håkon and Agnes suggests that the land was an inheritance from Ingeborg. The letter does not say who Erling Einarsson was, or whether he received the land as property or as a fief. The terms were in another letter which is not preserved here. The letter is a deed of gift or transfer and shows how the owners of Giske also controlled land and woodland far from Sunnmøre.
People: Sigurd Havtoresson, Håkon Sigurdsson, Agnes Sigurdsdatter