Alv Knutsson buys Fagernes in Eidsvoll
DN 3/982 · 13 March 1492 · Oslo
What the letter says
The Oslo burghers Gunnar Håkonsson and Guttorm Torleivsson make known that on 13 March 1492 at Toregården in Oslo they witnessed Niels Amundsson selling the farm Fagernes in Eidsvoll parish to Sir Alv Knutsson. The sale covers everything Niels, his brother Torleiv and their siblings owned in the farm, and it goes to Alv, Lady Magnhild and their heirs as their property for ever. Niels acknowledged that he had received the whole purchase price.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Gunnar Håkonsson and Guttorm Torleivsson, burghers in Oslo, send God's greeting and their own. We make known with this our open letter that we were at Toregården in Oslo on the Tuesday in the first full week of Lent in the year 1492 (13 March). We saw and heard the purchase and handshake between the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson, knight, on the one side and Niels Amundsson on the other. Niels Amundsson acknowledged and confessed that he had sold to Sir Alv Knutsson everything that he and his brother Torleiv Amundsson and their siblings owned in Fagernes, which lies in Eidsvoll parish. The sale is free and warranted against all men, with all things and benefits that belong and have belonged to it from old and new, inside the fence and outside. It passes from them and their heirs to Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild and their heirs as their property for ever. Niels Amundsson also acknowledged that he had received the first penny and the last and all in between that were agreed in the purchase. In witness of this we hung our seals on this letter, which was made in the year and on the day stated before. Endorsement: On the back, in a contemporary hand: Letter about Fagernes in Eidsvoll parish.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollom monnom thøm som thette breff see eller høre sender Gwnnar Hokensson oc Gwttorm Torlefson borgher j Oslo quedie guds oc sine giør vitterlicth med thette vore opne breff at vy vorom j Thoregard j Aslo tisdaghen j første fwlle vekw j langefaste anno dominj mcdxc 2. sagom oc hørdom a kop oc handerband there aff ena halffuo velborne man her Alff Knwtsson ridder en aff andre halffuo Niels Amwndsson. swa at Niels Amwndsson kendes oc tilstod at han hadde sold for her Alff Knwtsson swa myket som ha
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor (died c. 1496) owned Giske and had inherited large properties after the Sudreim family in Romerike. The letter is a deed of purchase, a witness letter in which two men confirm the sale with their seals so that the buyer can prove his ownership. Such letters were kept in the estate archive and were the most important evidence in later disputes. The letter shows that Alv went on buying land near the old family seat, and that he gathered whole shares from groups of siblings. Deeds of purchase like this are the main reason the Giske estate can be followed through the centuries.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter