Alv Knutsson acquires land on Toten by exchange
DN 2/827 · 2 Decbr. 1458 · Balke
What the letter says
Ingemar Jonsson, lawman over Hedmarken, and the lagrettemenn (lay judges) Peder Bentsson and Sigurd Guttormsson make known an exchange of land at Østre Balke on Toten on 2 December 1458. Alv Knutsson, with authority from his wife Magnhild Oddsdatter, received the whole of Mykeness and half of Merdelund on Einastranda from Håkon Trondsson and his son-in-law Tore Havsson. In return Håkon received shares of land in Hvamme in Nes, in Lenum, in Medellass in Ås parish and Pynnerud by Skillingberg in Furnes, and in addition the value of two cows as a balancing payment.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Ingemar Jonsson, lawman over Hedmarken, and Peder Bentsson and Sigurd Guttormsson, lagrettemenn on Toten, send God's greeting and their own, and make known that we were at Østre Balke on Toten on the Saturday after St Andrew's Mass (30 November) 1458. We saw and heard that these gave their yes and struck hands on an agreement: on the one side the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson, knight, with full authority from his wife Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter, and on the other side Håkon Trondsson, with full authority and consent from his wife Haldora Gudbrandsdatter, and Tore Havsson, Håkon's son-in-law, on behalf of his wife Gertrud Håkonsdatter. The agreement concerned a jordskifte (exchange of land) on these terms: The well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson received from Håkon the whole of Mykeness and half of Merdelund, which lie on Einastranda on Toten, free and warranted against every man, from Håkon and his heirs and to Sir Alv, his wife and their heirs, with all parts and rights that lie and have lain with it there from old and new times, outside the fence and inside, to own for ever with full right of disposal. Håkon on his side received from Sir Alv and his wife Lady Magnhild and their heirs in exchange: three havseldebol [uncertain reading: a land-rent measure] of land in Mellomgarden in Hvamme, which lies in Nes in Vllensoff parish; three øresbol (land rent worth one øre a year) in Lenum, in the eastern farm, which Haldora inherited from her mother S
Original text (excerpt)
Ollom monnom thetta breff see eller høra sender Jngemar Jønsøn lagman offuer Hedmarken Peder Beintsøn Sigurd Gottormsøn lagrethemen a Tothne q. g. ok syne kunnuth gørandis at mer warom a østre Balka som liger a Tothne løgardagin nest effter Andres møsse daghin anno domini m cd l octauo saghom ok hordom a jaa ok hander bande there af enæ halffue velborin man her Alff Knvtsøn riddare j fulle ombode fru Mangnilde Odz dotter egne hustru syne en aff annare halffuene Hokon Trondsøn j ffulle ombode Hal
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor was a daughter's son of Katarina Jonsdatter, sister of Sigurd Jonsson, and inherited the Giske estate after Junker Hans Sigurdsson died in 1466. In 1458 he was already a knight and a large landowner in the Uplands, much of it through his wife Magnhild Oddsdatter. The letter is a letter of witness to a jordskifte, an exchange of land in which both parties consolidate their properties. Lagrettemenn were sworn farmers who were witnesses and judges at the thing, and a lawman was the highest judge in a law district. The exchange shows how the large landowners consolidated their estates: Alv gives up scattered small shares and receives whole farms by Lake Mjøsa. Mellomlag was an additional payment when the exchange was not worth the same on both sides. An øresbol is land with a land rent worth one øre a year, and several land-rent measures in the letter are uncertainly read.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter