Sigurd Jonsson confirms gifts from Margrete Eilivsdatter
DN 1/677 · 8 January 1422 · Hisingby
What the letter says
In an open letter written at Hisingby in Odensjö, dated by the editor to 8 January 1422, Sigurd Jonsson confirms the gifts his kinswoman Margrete Eilivsdatter has given his brother-in-law Jens Hjerne and his sister Lady Katarina Jonsdatter. He promises to uphold everything she has given them, as her letter shows. Two well-born men, among them Henrik Skåt, set their seals with his.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Be it known to all good men that I, Sigurd Jonsson, acknowledge with this my open letter that I confirm the gifts which my kinswoman Margrete Eilivsdatter has given the well-born man Jens Hjerne, my brother-in-law, and my sister Lady Katarina Jonsdatter. I shall uphold everything she has given them, in all clauses and points, as her letter shows. In witness of this, these well-born men, named [illegible] Karlsson and Henrik Skåt, set their seals together with my seal under this letter, which was made at Hisingby in Odensjö on the Thursday before Bretti[ve]messe [uncertain reading] in King Eric's twenty-third regnal year (dated by the editor to 8 January 1422).
Original text (excerpt)
Thet see allom godom monnom kunniktt ath jak Sigurdher Jons son kenis mædhr thesse mino offeno brefe thet jak stadfæster thæ sæma gaua sæm min frænkona Margareta Elifs dotter hafuer geuit velbornom manne Jenes Hiærna min maagh ok mine syster fru Katerina Jons dotter. skal jak alt thet halda sæm hon hafuer geuit thæim j allom sinom grenum ok arthiculis som henner bref vtuisar ok til sanninde her vm tha sæitia thesse velborner men sæm swa æitha . . . . Karls son ok Henrik Skaat sin jnsigle mædher
Background
Margrete Eilivsdatter was a daughter's daughter of Erling Vidkunsson, and in the same year she declared Sigurd Jonsson her only living heir. When a person gave away land, the heirs could later challenge the gift, and so it was common for the heir to confirm the gift in writing. By doing so, Sigurd made sure that his sister Katarina and her husband Jens Hjerne could keep what they had received. Katarina Jonsdatter is important to the history of Giske, because her daughter's son Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor later inherited the Giske estate. Odensjö lies in Småland, and the fact that the letter was written in Sweden shows that the family had connections on both sides of the border in the union period.
People: Sigurd Jonsson, Katarina Jonsdatter