Testimony about Nidberg's meadow on Sudreimsneset
DN 5/888 · 14 January 1475 · Nidberg
What the letter says
The priest Anund Tordsson at Skedsmo and three members of the lawcourt in Sudreim tredjung make known that on 13 January 1475 they were at Nidberg and heard Åsa of Nidberg on her deathbed. She explained that the meadow called Nidberg's meadow on Sudreimsneset had always belonged to Nidberg. She had also heard it told that Peder Ulvsson, when he lived at Sudreim, said that the other farmers should be allowed to use their meadows on the headland in peace.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all who see or hear this letter, Anund Tordsson, priest at Skedsmo, and Alv Torsteinsson, Olav Saksesson and Gaute Toresson, sworn members of the lawcourt in Sudreim tredjung, send God's greeting and their own, and make known that we were at Nidberg, which lies in this parish, on the Saturday after the twentieth day of Christmas (13 January) in the year of our Lord 1475. There we heard that Åsa of Nidberg, who lay on her deathbed, while the priest was with her and heard her confession, told this before us and several other good people who were present. She said that in all her living days she had never heard anything else about the piece of land that Amund Magnusson and those who live at Nidberg, on both farms, are now disputing, than that it has belonged to Nidberg for as long as she has lived. The piece is called Nidberg's meadow and lies on Sudreimsneset. In the same statement she said that she had heard a woman called Sigrid, who had her home at Sudreim with Olav the farmer, say this: that she was at Sudreim at the time when Peder Ulvsson lived there, and that there was talk then about Nidberg's meadow and about the property of several other worthy men which lies on Sudreimsneset. Then Peder Ulvsson answered: «Use my property and meadow well, and let other worthy men enjoy their meadows and property that lie on Sudreimsneset.» For greater certainty we hang our seals under this letter, which was made on the day and in the year stated before. Endorsement: On the back: Letter about Nidberg's meadow, which lies on Sudreimsneset.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum mannum them som thetta bref se edher høyra sendher Anundh Tordsson presther a Skizmo oc Alfuer Torsteinsson Olafuer Saxason oc Gaute Toresson suorne lagrettes men j Sudremz tridiongh q. g. oc sina konnokt gørande at vy varom a Nidberge som ligger (j) for sokn vm laugherdaghen nesth æpther xx dagh jule anno domini mcdlxxv hørdum vy thet at Asa a Nidberge som lagh a sinne sothasengh som presthen var til henne oc scriptade henne tha hermdhe hon thet for oss oc flere andre godo folkæ nervarand
Background
Sudreim in Romerike was the manor farm of the Sudreim family, the family of Sigurd Havtoresson, who married Ingeborg Erlingsdatter of Giske. This letter concerns an ordinary neighbours' dispute over a meadow, and the family is not a party to the case. It was probably included in the search because Sudreim is mentioned. Peder Ulvsson was a later occupier or owner of Sudreim, and the letter says nothing about any family connection to the Sudreim family. A witness letter like this was made to secure oral knowledge of property boundaries for later use in court. Members of the lawcourt (lagrettemenn) were sworn farmers who sat in the local court and bore witness to agreements and statements. A statement given on the deathbed, while the priest was present to hear confession, was regarded as especially credible because the dying person would not want to go to the grave with a lie.