Court Rolls of EnglandCourt Rolls of England

Of the Manor of Tillingham, EssexOf the Manor of Tillingham, Essex

By: Beth AlamoBy: Beth Alamo

Tillingham, EnglandTillingham, England

Today’s Stats:Today’s Stats:Population: 959Population: 959Church: St. NicholasChurch: St. NicholasJunior SchoolJunior School2 Public Houses2 Public HousesRailway StationRailway StationMobile LibraryMobile Library

Where is Tillingham?Where is Tillingham?

Map of Tillingham (1881)Map of Tillingham (1881)

Tillingham FactsTillingham FactsKing Ethelbert ceded it to Bishop Mellitus King Ethelbert ceded it to Bishop Mellitus

of St. Paul about AD 610of St. Paul about AD 610The oldest manor owned by St. Paul’s The oldest manor owned by St. Paul’s

CathedralCathedral

St. Nicholas ChurchKing Ethelbert

Tillingham Walk

St. Paul’s Cathedral, LondonSt. Paul’s Cathedral, London

Famous Happenings in Cathedral:Famous Happenings in Cathedral: Funeral of Sir Winston ChurchillFuneral of Sir Winston Churchill Princess Di weddingPrincess Di wedding Queen Mother’s 100Queen Mother’s 100thth b-day b-day

A little review of history…A little review of history… 1642–1660 Civil War. Charles I executed in 1649. 1642–1660 Civil War. Charles I executed in 1649.

Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of England. Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of England. Bishop’s courts abolished. Many other changes affect Bishop’s courts abolished. Many other changes affect record-keeping. record-keeping.

1660 Charles II restored as monarch, ending civil 1660 Charles II restored as monarch, ending civil strife. Bishop’s courts restored. strife. Bishop’s courts restored.

1688–1689 William of Orange from Holland crowned 1688–1689 William of Orange from Holland crowned King of England. King of England.

1707 England and Wales unite with Scotland to form 1707 England and Wales unite with Scotland to form the United Kingdom. the United Kingdom.

1733 English replaces Latin in official records. 1733 English replaces Latin in official records.

Manorial Court RollsManorial Court Rolls

Kept in Latin until early 18Kept in Latin until early 18thth century centuryGive local historical, topographical, Give local historical, topographical,

genealogical, and demographic clues.genealogical, and demographic clues.Two types held:Two types held:

The Court BaronThe Court Baron Every 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks

The Court LeetThe Court Leet Every 6 monthsEvery 6 months

See chapter 5 of See chapter 5 of StuartStuart for more for more information on searching court records.information on searching court records.

Common VocabularyCommon Vocabulary

Essonia……………….……..Excuses for non-attendance presented by a proxy

Liberi……………………………………...…free tenants of the Lord of the Manor

Villani………………………...…………………………..unfree tenants of the Lord

Afferatores………………………………………………………………....assessors

Ideo [est]…………………………………...…..”Therefore he/she is” or “they are”

Querens…………………………………………………………………….....plaintiff

Ad prosequendum………………………………...…plaintiff’s prosecuting case

Defendens…………………………………………………………………defendant

Ad respondendum……………………………….defendant’s reply to the charge

Vadio legem………………….wagering the law (i.e. brining in compurgators to ………………………………….…………vouch for the truth of their statements.)

Common PhrasesCommon Phrases

In misericordiaIn misericordia…………………….”he is in mercy” (accused party is found guilty)…………………….”he is in mercy” (accused party is found guilty)

Ad opus et usum…………………………………………...……….”Ad opus et usum…………………………………………...……….”use and behoof”use and behoof”

Per virgamPer virgam………………………………”by the rod” (shows transfer of tenement)………………………………”by the rod” (shows transfer of tenement)

Fecit fidelitatemFecit fidelitatem……………………………oath of allegiance made by new tenant……………………………oath of allegiance made by new tenant

Factum et renovatumFactum et renovatum………………………...when a rental is made and renewed………………………...when a rental is made and renewed

Ad hanc curiamAd hanc curiam…………………………………………………………”To this court”…………………………………………………………”To this court”

Letter SamplesLetter Samples

The DocumentThe Document

TranscriptionTranscription

Ad hanc curiam venit Sara Stevens nuper uxor Isaaci Stevens defuncti Ad hanc curiam venit Sara Stevens nuper uxor Isaaci Stevens defuncti nuper Tenens custumare Manarii perdiet et profeut hicin Curia sub nuper Tenens custumare Manarii perdiet et profeut hicin Curia sub sigillo testimentum et ultimum voluntatem perefatum Isaaci Stevens sigillo testimentum et ultimum voluntatem perefatum Isaaci Stevens ___ dat vicesimo primo die Decembris ultime perterito Curius tenor ___ dat vicesimo primo die Decembris ultime perterito Curius tenor sequit_ in har verba, sequit_ in har verba, HENCE I give and bequeath unto Sara my HENCE I give and bequeath unto Sara my loveing wife all that my tenement and landes called and taking with loveing wife all that my tenement and landes called and taking with the Marsh containeing by estimation ffourz acres with all and the Marsh containeing by estimation ffourz acres with all and singuler there appurtenances lying and being in Tillingham in the singuler there appurtenances lying and being in Tillingham in the county of Essex to have and to holde to her and her assigned during county of Essex to have and to holde to her and her assigned during the tenure of her naturall life.the tenure of her naturall life. SUPERQUO perefatum Sara SUPERQUO perefatum Sara praesentis fuit in curiam petit se inde ad permissa ___ admitti cuiria praesentis fuit in curiam petit se inde ad permissa ___ admitti cuiria ___ Sin ___ sun_ perdeliba ei inde semia permissorum per virgam ___ Sin ___ sun_ perdeliba ei inde semia permissorum per virgam Habendum premissa perdiiteum fuit per__ ___ perfates Sara per et Habendum premissa perdiiteum fuit per__ ___ perfates Sara per et durant termino vita sua naturalis tenendum de dominis ad volunt durant termino vita sua naturalis tenendum de dominis ad volunt deiorum fidelitatem Manarii p_ per fidelitatum fuit in Curia reddidit deiorum fidelitatem Manarii p_ per fidelitatum fuit in Curia reddidit per Anna etaba servitia inde primo debita et druirteon fuit a et dat per Anna etaba servitia inde primo debita et druirteon fuit a et dat ___ de fuit pertali statii suam de Gabeudo putgo__ Et admissa est ___ de fuit pertali statii suam de Gabeudo putgo__ Et admissa est tenens fecit fidelitatem suam. tenens fecit fidelitatem suam. : : /./.

TranslationTranslation

To this court comes Sara Stevens, not long ago wife of Isaac Stevens, To this court comes Sara Stevens, not long ago wife of Isaac Stevens, not long ago worn out [died recently], to the custom of the Manor not long ago worn out [died recently], to the custom of the Manor gives the 21gives the 21stst day of December the final wishes through the day of December the final wishes through the declaration of Isaac Stevens, the following is uninterrupted his declaration of Isaac Stevens, the following is uninterrupted his words: words: HENCE I give and bequeath unto Sara my loving wife all that HENCE I give and bequeath unto Sara my loving wife all that my tenement and lands called and taking with the Marsh containing my tenement and lands called and taking with the Marsh containing by estimation forty-four acres with all and singular there by estimation forty-four acres with all and singular there appurtenances lying and being in Tillingham in the county of Essex appurtenances lying and being in Tillingham in the county of Essex to have and to hold to her and her assigned during the tenure of her to have and to hold to her and her assigned during the tenure of her natural lifenatural life.….MORE OVER Sara’s wishes were presented in court, .….MORE OVER Sara’s wishes were presented in court, herself seeking thus by permission “by the rod” [transfer of herself seeking thus by permission “by the rod” [transfer of tenement] to have and to hold by permission having lost a very tenement] to have and to hold by permission having lost a very familiar friend [her husband] Sara for until the end of her natural life, familiar friend [her husband] Sara for until the end of her natural life, by the will of the Lord [Judge] solumnly swear faithfulness to the by the will of the Lord [Judge] solumnly swear faithfulness to the Manor…was faithful in court…by Anna who was a servant thus a Manor…was faithful in court…by Anna who was a servant thus a prior debt and was hired out……………..…and did fealty and was prior debt and was hired out……………..…and did fealty and was thereupon admitted tenant. ( 2 lbs. 1 shilling charged)thereupon admitted tenant. ( 2 lbs. 1 shilling charged)

More about Isaac StevensMore about Isaac Stevens

Essex, Hertfordshire: Chelmsford - Wills, 1620-1720 Essex, Hertfordshire: Chelmsford - Wills, 1620-1720

Index To Wills Now Preserved In The Essex Record Index To Wills Now Preserved In The Essex Record Office Chelmsford 1620-1720Office Chelmsford 1620-1720

Isaac Stevens, yeoman, 1627Isaac Stevens, yeoman, 1627

SourcesSources

http://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/stpauls.htmlhttp://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/stpauls.html http://www.stpauls.co.ukhttp://www.stpauls.co.uk http://www.francisfrith.com/archive/england/essex/tillinghhttp://www.francisfrith.com/archive/england/essex/tillingh

am/maps/am/maps/ http://paleo.anglo-norman.org/court1.htmlhttp://paleo.anglo-norman.org/court1.html

http://http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/guide/man.shtmlwww.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/guide/man.shtml Stuart, Denis. Stuart, Denis. Latin for Local and Family HistoriansLatin for Local and Family Historians. .

England: Phillimore & Co., 1995.England: Phillimore & Co., 1995.