Alv Knutsson buys Moskerud in Brunlanes
DN 1/915 · 13 July 1476 · Manvik
What the letter says
Olav Laurensson and his wife Margareta Jonsdatter sell 12 øresbol in Moskerud in Tanum parish in Brunlanes to the knight Alv Knutsson. They confirm that they have received full payment. The letter was written at Manvik on 13 July 1476, and two members of the lawcourt at Nes set their seals to it together with Olav.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
I, Olav Laurensson, and my wife Margareta Jonsdatter acknowledge this: We have sold to the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson, knight, our land, 12 øresbol (land rent of twelve øre a year), which is called Moskerud, and which lies in Tanum church parish at Nes (Brunlanes), with all the shares and appurtenances (everything that belongs to it) that lie and have lain with it from old and new. The land passes from me and my heirs to Sir Alv Knutsson and his heirs. We also acknowledge that we have received the first penny and the last and all in between that were part of the purchase. For further proof of this I ask for the seals of these good men together with my own: Jon [illegible] and Tore Torgilsson, members of the lawcourt at Nes, under this letter. Written at Manvik on the Saturday after St Sunniva's Day (8 July) in the year of our Lord 1476.
Original text (excerpt)
Thet kendes jak Olaff Lavrensson och min hwstru Magrette Jonsdotter ath vi haffwe solth velboren man her Alff Knwtsson riddher jordh vare xii øres bol som hedher Moskerwdh leginnis i Tonnims kirke soken leginnis a Nesse med alle lwttom och lvnnen som ther tiil liggher och legidh hafwer fro fvnne och nye fro megh och mine erwingh wndher her Alff Knutsson och hans erwingge soo kendes vi och hafve op borid første peningh och sisthe och alle ther i melle som i køp warth kom. Til yther mer bevissingh
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor inherited Giske in 1490 and in the years before was an active buyer of land in eastern and western Norway. The letter is a deed of purchase, made so that the buyer would have proof of ownership if anyone later made a claim. An øresbol was a share of land that yielded one øre in yearly land rent, rent from the person who farmed the land, and 12 øresbol equals one and a half marks. Brunlanes lies near Larvik, and the purchase shows that Alv had landed interests all along the Oslofjord. The letter does not mention Giske and is included because it concerns a later owner of the estate.
People: Alv Knutsson