Alv Knutsson buys land at Voss
DN 1/886 · 26 Septbr. 1468 · Finnen
What the letter says
Ten sworn lagrettemenn (lay judges) at Voss make known that they were at Finne on 26 September 1468. There Alv Knutsson bought six månedsmatsbol of land in Geslene and two and a half in Åse in Evanger parish from Gudbrand Halbjørnsson. The land went to Alv, his wife Magnhild and their heirs to own for ever, and Gudbrand confirmed that he had received full payment.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Orm Ivarsson, Gudmund Askelsson, Binnige Kallesson, Aslak Pedersson, Jon Pedersson, Olav Reidarsson, Tormod Helgesson, Ketil Brynjulfsson, Gudleik Jonsson and Garde Rikolfsson, sworn lagrettemenn at Voss, send God's greeting and their own, and make known: We were at Finne on the Monday before Michaelmas (29 September) 1468. We saw and heard that the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson bought six månedsmatsbol (land rent for six months' food) of land in Geslene and two and a half in Åse in Evanger church parish at Voss from Gudbrand Halbjørnsson. The purchase included all parts and rights that lie and have lain with the land from old and new times, outside the fence and inside. The land passed from Gudbrand and his heirs and over to Sir Alv and Lady Magnhild and their heirs, to own for ever. Gudbrand also acknowledged that he had received the first penny and the last and all in between, as was agreed in their bargain, so that he was well content. In witness of this we hang our seals on this letter, which was made in the year and on the day said before.
Original text (excerpt)
Allom mannom them som thetta bref see aller høra sendher Orm Juarsson Gudmvndh Askelsson Binnigher Kalleson Aslaker Pedersson Jon Pedersson Olaff Rædhersson Thormod Helgason Kætil Brynyulsson Gudleker Jonsson Gardhe Rikolfsson suorner loghretho men a Wos q. g. ok sine kunnvkth gerandhe adh mer varum a Finnine manadaghen nesth fare sancte Mikels dagh anno domini m cd lxviii saghom ok hordom a adh vælbaren man hær Alff Knutsson køpthe vi mamatha bool jardhr j Geslene ok halft tridia j Ase j Æuangh
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor was a daughter's son of Katarina Jonsdatter, sister of Sigurd Jonsson, and after Junker Hans Sigurdsson died in 1466, the Giske estate passed to him. The purchase at Voss two years later shows that he continued to expand the estate in western Norway too. A månedsmatsbol was land that yielded an annual land rent, rent, equal to a month's food, and was the usual way of measuring land in western Norway. Lagrettemenn were sworn farmers who were witnesses and judges at the thing, and ten of them gave the purchase great weight. The letter is an ordinary deed of purchase, made so that the buyer could prove his right of ownership. Such letters were kept in the estate archive and were used again when properties were later disputed.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter