Jon Marteinsson buys the farm Räfkil in Dalsland
DN 2/470 · 22 January 1382 · Tangaland
What the letter says
Twelve men, among them the knight Knut Algotsson and the parish priest of Färgelanda, make known that they were witnesses at the thing in Tangaland on 22 January 1382. There Jon Marteinsson bought the property Räfkil in Brålanda parish in Sundal hundred from Gunnulf Salesson. Jon paid in full on the spot, and the property was formally conveyed to him and his heirs to own for ever.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Be it known to all good men, both those who come after and those who live now, that we Knut Algotsson, knight, Tord Bonde, Torbjørn, parish priest in Färgelanda, Jon Jonsson, Olav Ormsson, Håkon Sture, Jon Vebjørnsson, Einar Brims, Klaus in Stigen, Tomas in Stigen, Alv in Högsäter and Niklis the priest's son were present, heard and saw at the thing in Tangaland in the year after God's birth 1382, on St Vincent's Day (22 January). At this thing the honourable and upright man Jon Martensson lawfully bought from Gunnulf Salesson a property called Räfkil in Brålanda parish in Sundal hundred, with all the rights that lie with it and of old have lain with it, outside and inside the fence, in wet and dry, nothing excepted. Gunnulf said that he had lawfully bought this property from Monaam in Skogen for two oxen and twenty [uncertain reading]. Jon Martensson paid Gunnulf in full, whole penny and half, at the same thing on the same day, so that Gunnulf declared himself satisfied with the payment for the property Räfkil. Then Gunnulf Salesson had Asgrim in Bandene lawfully convey the property at the same thing with skaft og skjell (the old formal conveyance) from himself and his heirs to Jon Martensson and his heirs to own for ever. We who are named were witnesses to the agreement and the conveyance, and several men of the hundred were present. For more confirmation and witness we who are named hang our seals to this letter, which was written at the same place and on the day, year a
Original text (excerpt)
Thæt se allom godhom mannom viterlikit swa them som æfter koma. som them som nu æræ at vi Knut Alguzson riddare. Thordh Bonde. Thørbiorn kirkiopræstær j Firghelanda. Jon Jonsson. Olaf Ormsson. Haquon Sture. Jon Væbiornsson. Enar brims. Clauus i Stighenom. Thomas j Stighenom. Alf j Høghæsætær. ok Niclis præstson nær varom hørdhom ok saghom a thingheno j Tangalanda aret æfter gudhz byrdh thusanda arom thry hundradha ok attatighi arom a adhra are a sancti Vincencii dagh at hedherlikin man ok ærliki
Background
Jon Marteinsson (Rømer) was married to Agnes, daughter of Sigurd Havtoresson of Sudreim and Ingeborg Erlingsdatter of Giske. Their son was Sigurd Jonsson, who later won Giske in the inheritance dispute and became drottsete and regent. The letter is a letter of testimony about a purchase, made so that the buyer could prove his ownership later. Räfkil lies in Dalsland, which now belongs to Sweden, and the letter shows that the family had land and interests on both sides of the border. In the 1300s Norway and Sweden had common kings for periods, and the magnate families married and owned property across the realms. The purchase was made at the thing with many witnesses, as was the custom when land changed hands.
People: Jon Marteinsson