Alv Knutsson buys Torestad in Tretten
DN 1/977 · 23 Oktbr. 1493 · Grefsheim
What the letter says
Three members of the lawcourt at Nes in Hedmarken make known that on 23 October 1493 they were at Grefsheim and saw Arne Pålsson Klave sell his lands in Tretten in Øyer in Gudbrandsdalen to Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter. The sale covers Torestad with two deserted farms and a mill site. Arne confirms that he has received full payment.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, we, Torstein Ulvsson, Jon Gudbrandsson and Engelbrekt Eriksson, members of the lawcourt at Nes in Ullenhov parish in Hedmarken, send loving greeting with God. We make known that in the year of our Lord 1493 on St Severinus' Day (23 October) we were at Grefsheim in the said parish. There we saw and heard that the trustworthy man Arne Pålsson Klave sold and transferred to the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson and the honourable woman Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter his lands in Øyer parish in Gudbrandsdalen, at Tretten. First Torestad with two deserted farms [illegible] with a mill site and all other shares and benefits that lie under these lands and have belonged to them from old and new, outside the fence and inside. The lands are free and warranted (with lawful title) against any man, and pass from him and his heirs to the said Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild and their heirs as their property for ever and at their full disposal. The same day the said Arne acknowledged before us and several good men who were present that he had received the first penny and the last and all in between that they had agreed in the purchase, to his full satisfaction, for the said lands with appurtenances, wherever they lie. In witness of this we pressed our seals on this letter, which was written on the day and in the year stated above. Endorsement: On the back, contemporary: Letter about Torestad with appurtenances in Gudbrandsdalen and two deserted farms with a mill site,
Original text (excerpt)
Allom mannom theim som thette breff se eller høræ helssom vi Torsten Vlfson Jon Gudbranzson oc Engelbrekt Erikson lagrettesmen pa Nes i Vllenhoff sokn pa Heidmarken kerlig met gud kungø- rendes at anno domini m cd nonagesimo tertio varom vi pa Gressen i forscreffin geld sancte Seuerins dag sagom oc hordom at beskedelig man Arne Palson Klavæ selde oc affhendede velbyrdegom man her Alff Knutson oc heiderligæ quinne fru Magnild Odzdotter jerder sina liggendes i Øyorsokn i Gudbranzdalen pa Trøtten s
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor owned the Giske estate from the late 1460s, but he also had land and farms in eastern Norway, and Grefsheim at Nes was one of the family's seats. Members of the lawcourt were farmers who sat in the local court and were used as witnesses to purchases, so that the deal could be proved later. A deserted farm (ødegård) was a farm that had been abandoned, probably after the Black Death and the later plagues, when many farms were left empty. After the plagues land was cheap, and the nobility could buy up many small farms, as Alv does here. The letter thus shows the building of the estate by the owners of Giske, even though the land lies far from Sunnmøre.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter