Division of odal land at Tufn between Alv and Amund
DN 10/110 · 3 August 1410 · [Raade?]
The letter concludes the agreements about Tufn between the Bolt knights Alv Haraldsson and Amund Berdorsson. Alv was married to Katarina Jonsdatter, sister of Sigurd Jonsson, who later won Giske.
What the letter says
Vigleik Arnesson, Jon Gregardsson, Torlak Bjørnsson, Tore Trydriksson and probably one more man, whose name is illegible, declare that they were present on the later St Olaf's Day, 3 August 1410, when Sir Alv Haraldsson and Sir Amund Berdorsson made a settlement with a handshake. Amund was to have and own the northern farm at Tufn, and he released Alv from his claims. According to the editor's summary Alv received Myre and other land near Tufn. The letter is damaged, and several passages cannot be read.
The letter in modern English
To all men who see or hear this letter, Vigleik Arnesson, Jon Gregardsson, [illegible], Torlak Bjørnsson and Tore Trydriksson send God's greeting and their own. We make known that we were in [illegible] on the later St Olaf's Day (3 August) [illegible] and heard that Sir Alv Haraldsson and Sir Amund Berdorsson made a settlement between them with yes and handshake, so that the said Sir Amund shall have and own the northern farm in Tufn [illegible] as they best could [illegible]. The said Sir Amund declared the said Sir Alv quit and free of Sir Amund's [illegible], except [uncertain reading] in Myre and in other land nearest there in [illegible] Tufn. In truth we set our seals to this letter, which was made on the day and at the place stated above, in the twenty-first year of the reign of our worthy lord King Erik (1410). [Endorsement on the back: «Deed of division about Tufn between Sir Alv and Sir Amund». Later endorsements: «Deed of division about Tum between Sir Alv and Sir Amund» and «Letter about odal land in Tum».]
Original text
Ollum monnum þæim sæm þættæ bref sea ædær høyra sendæ Viglæikær Arnæson Jon Gregardson . . . . . . . . . . Þorlaker Biornson och Þorer Þrydrykson q. g. och sine kunnikt gerandæ at mer varum j . . . . . . . . sancte Olafs dag sidæræ . . . . . . . . . . . . . høyrdum a ær herra Alffwer Haraldson oc herra Amundæ Berdorson giordæ satmall millum sin med ja och handerbandæ j sa matæ at fyrnemdæ herra Amundæ skal haua och æigæ nordæ gardenæ i Þufnn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . huorræ . .
Background
The letter concludes a series of agreements from 1405 between the two Bolt knights Alv Haraldsson and Amund (Ogmund) Berdorsson about the farm Tufn in Råde (DN 5/441 and 5/442). A division of odal land was a sharing of land the family owned with odal right, and it mattered to have the division written down, because odal land could be reclaimed by kinsmen. The endorsements on the back call the letter a deed of division about Tufn or Tum, and this is probably the farm Tomb in Råde. The later St Olaf's Day, 3 August, commemorated the placing of the saint king's remains in a shrine, as distinct from the day of his death on 29 July. Alv Haraldsson was a knight and councillor of the realm and was married to Katarina Jonsdatter, sister of Sigurd Jonsson, who later won Giske.
People: Alv Haraldsson (Bolt)