Alv Knutsson buys the farm Drang in Agder
DN 1/874 · 16 May [1466.] · Grefsheim
What the letter says
With the consent of his son, Kolbjørn Herleiksson sells the farm Drang in Otternes parish in Ve ship district (skipreide) in Agder to Sir Alv Knutsson. The land goes to Alv and Lady Magnhild and their heirs to own for ever, and Kolbjørn confirms that he has received full payment. The letter is written at Grefsheim on 16 May 1466 and sealed by, among others, the lawman of the Uplands, Ingemar Jensson.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all who see or hear this letter, Kolbjørn Herleiksson sends God's greeting and his own. I make known that I, with the consent of my son, have sold to the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson, knight, my land called Drang. It lies in Agder in Otternes parish in Ve ship district, with all [illegible] against anyone at all, with all the parts and rights that lie with the land or have lain with it from old and new times, inside the fence and outside, without any skyld (rent) being held back. The land passes from me and my heirs and over to Sir Alv and Lady Magnhild and their heirs, to own for ever and with full right of disposal. Further, I acknowledge that I have received the first penny and the last and all in between, as was agreed in our purchase, so that I am well content. For further certainty and security I ask these good men to set their seals under this letter together with mine: Ingemar Jensson, lawman in the Uplands, Gudleik Jensson [illegible]. The letter was written at Grefsheim the day after St Hallvard's Day (15 May), that is 16 May, in the year of our Lord 1466.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollom monnom þeim som þetta bref sea eder høra sender Kolbiorn Herleiksson q. [g. ok sina kunnigt gerande] at jek hafer selt velbornom manne her Alf Knwtzsyni riddere med samtykt sonar my[ns jord myna som] Drangh heitir liggiandes a Agdom j Otternessokn j Wææskipreidho med allo re . . . . . . . . . fore hwariom manne med allom þeim lutom ok lunnindom som til fornemde jord li[ggia eder legit hafa fra forno] ok nyio jnnan gardz ok vtan engho vndan skildo, fran mik ok mynom [erfwinghiom vnder her A
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor was a daughter's son of Katarina Jonsdatter, the sister of Sigurd Jonsson, and became heir to the Giske estate after the death of Junker Hans Sigurdsson in 1466. This is a deed of purchase from the same year, and it shows that Alv also gathered land in southern Norway. Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter was his wife. The son's consent was important because under Norwegian law the heirs had the right to redeem odal land that was sold out of the family, and the consent made the purchase safe. A skipreide was an old district that had to provide and equip a ship for the king's leidang (naval levy). That the letter was written at Grefsheim in Hedmarken, far from Agder, shows that the bargain was probably made where Alv was staying.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter