Tithes were a tax of a tenth of the income from the agricultural yield of the land and livestock, which was paid to the etablished church for the support of the clergy, or for religious and charitable uses. When Henry VIII disestablished the monasteries in 1537, these tithes, which were mainly collected centrally by monasteries and churches, were effectively sold to the highest bidder and most of them passed into the hands of wealthy, and often absentee, landlords.
The Court of Common Council forms part of the governing body of the City of London, along with the Court of Aldermen and the Court of Common Hall, and is responsible for local government and administration. Common councillors were first appointed during the reign of Edward I, and were formed into the Court of Common Council in 1384. The Court comprises the Lord Mayor, aldermen and councilmen, the latter two being elected from each ward of the city by local government electors.
The Court Baron was the principal type of manorial court, and was the court of the chief tenants of the manor. It was responsible for the internal regulation of local affairs within the manor, and was attended by all those free tenants whose attendance at court was a condition of their tenure, and by customary tenants. Customary tenants held land by an agreement made at the manor court which was entered on its roll, a 'copy' of which was his regarded as proof of title.
A jury is a group chosen from the citizenry of a district to try a question of fact. It is the standard jury used in civil and criminal trials.
The system of weights and measures in Great Britain had been in use since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Following a reform begun in 1824 the imperial standard yard was adopted in 1855. The imperial standards were made legal by an Act of Parliament in 1855.
Members of the Commission appointed in 1838 'to consider the steps to be taken for the restoration of the standards of weights and measures', included Sir George Biddell Airy (Astronomer Royal), Francis Baily, Sir John George Shaw-Lefevre and Sir John William Lubbock. A report was issued in 1841.
The Exchequer was responsible for receiving and dispersing the public revenue. The lower Exchequer, or receipt, closely connected with the permanent Treasury, was an office for the receipt and payment of money. The upper Exchequer was a court sitting twice a year to regulate accounts. The business of the ancient Exchequer was mainly financial, though some judicial business connected with accounts was also conducted.
No information was available at the time of compilation.
Hamburg is Germany's largest port and commercial centre and one of the largest and busiest ports in Europe, with this growth beginning in the medieval period.
This diplomatic paper may have had something to do with Dutch support for the United States during the American War of Independence (1775-1783).
Jonathan Carter Hornblower (1753-1815) was the British inventor of the double-beat valve, the first reciprocating compound steam engine. Hornblower's invention, patented in 1781, was a steam engine with two cylinders, a significant contribution to efficiency. The firm of James Watt (Boulton & Watt) challenged his invention, claiming infringement of patent. With the decision against him, Hornblower lost the opportunity to further develop the compound engine. Hornblower patented other inventions, a rotative engine and a steam wheel, or steam engine, and amassed a fortune in engineering. Hornblower died in 1815.
The Exchequer was responsible for receiving and dispersing the public revenue.
The Roman Emperor Justinian I attempted to increase the unity of the Roman Empire by collecting and codifying the scattered laws, imperial edicts, decisions of the early Roman Senate, and opinions of learned jurists and organizing them into a written law code. The result was the Corpus Iurus Civilis (Body of Civil Law), issued in three parts. These parts were the Codex Justinianus (529), which compiled all of the extant imperial constitutiones from the time of Hadrian; the Digest, or Pandects, (533), which compiled the writings of the great Roman jurists such as Ulpian along with current edicts; and the Institutes, which was intended as sort of legal textbook for law schools and included extracts from the two major works.
An accord (?1801) between Russia and England during the Napoleonic Wars permitted the inspection of cargo on board the ships of neutral nations; in addition, England and Russia declared their right to demand a ship's papers and even seize and detain a ship with or without provocation. Under duress, Sweden and Denmark also signed the agreement.
Though first proposed in 1825, the Exeter and Exmouth Railway was finally completed in 1861.
A letter of attorney is a written authority from one person empowering another to transact business for him.
The Exchequer was responsible for receiving and dispersing the public revenue. The lower Exchequer, or receipt, closely connected with the permanent Treasury, was an office for the receipt and payment of money. The upper Exchequer was a court sitting twice a year to regulate accounts. The business of the ancient Exchequer was mainly financial, though some judicial business connected with accounts was also conducted. In time the upper Exchequer developed into the judicial system, while the lower Exchequer became the Treasury.
Gallicanism is the term used to designate a certain group of religious opinions for some time peculiar to the Church of France, or Gallican Church, and the theological schools of that country. These opinions, in opposition to the ideas which were called in France 'Ultramontane', tended chiefly to a restraint of the pope's authority in the Church in favour of that of the bishops and the temporal ruler.
Charles de Marillac was Archbishop of Vienne and a member of the French Privy Council. His nephew, Michel de Marillac (1563-1632) was a French politician who acted as Minister of Justice in 1626. He published an ordinance reforming the legal administration in 1629.
Excise are inland duties levied on articles at the time of their manufacture, notably, alcoholic drinks, but have also included salt, paper and glass. In 1643 a Board of Excise was established by the Long Parliament, to organize the collection of duties in London and the provinces. Excise duty was settled by statute despite widespread aversion in 1660. A permanent board of Excise for England and Wales was established in 1683 with separate boards for Ireland in 1682 and Scotland in 1707.
In 1712, Norwich was one of the earliest cities to set up a poor law incorporation by special act of parliament. It comprised 44 parishes and was presided over by a Court of Guardians. There were two workhouses, one formerly a palace of the Duke of Norfolk, and the other a former monastery.
Sir Patience Ward (1629-1696) was Lord Mayor of London, 1681; a Fellow of the Royal Society, 1681; and a Lieutenant of the City of London, 1690.
Titus Lucretius Carus was a Roman poet and philosopher. He was probably born in 98 or 96 BC, though few other details of his life are known. Carus was said to have been driven mad by a love-philter, and to have finally committed suicide in 55BC. He left one work, the De Rerum Natura, a didactic poem in 6 books setting forth the Epicurean system of philosophy, especially relating to the origin of the world and operations of natural forces.
The Russell family were a prominent English noble family, who played an important part in the government of England, especially from the reign of Henry VIII onwards, when John Russell (1486-1555) was created 1st Earl of Bedford.
A tax on households employing male servants was levied in Britain from 1777-1852.
The Court of King's Bench exercised a supreme and general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases as well as special jurisdiction over the other superior common-law courts until 1830.The Court of Common Pleas was the main court for cases between individuals about land and debt rather than prosecutions by the crown.
A Negro slave was not allowed to go beyond the confines of his owner's plantation without written permission. On this "pass" was written the name of the Negro, the place he was permitted to visit, and the time beyond which he must not fail to return.
Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville (1794-1865) was a member of a younger branch of the family of the Earls of Warwick. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, before beginning his career as private secretary to Earl Bathurst. He was Clerk to the Privy Council from 1821 to 1859, where he came into contact with all of the leading politicians of the time. This knowledge informed his diaries, which are recognised as the best contemporary political commentary of the period. Greville's diaries were published with omissions between 1875 and 1887, and a full publication edited by Lytton Strachey and Roger Fulford was made in 1938.
A sequentiary is a book, or portion, of a Gradual or Troper containing sequences (extended melodies) sung by a soloist between the Alleluia and the Gospel lesson at Mass.
The royal household originated as the sovereign's retinue, and had a purely domestic function until the 12th century, after which it became a mainspring of government. The government departments of the Treasury, the Exchequer and the common law courts all originated there.
A patent for an invention is granted by government to the inventor, giving the inventor the right for a limited period to stop others from making, using or selling the invention without the permission of the inventor. Patents cover products or processes that possess or contain new functional or technical aspects.
Azov is a sea port and one of the oldest towns in the esturial region of the River Don, Russia. There is no confirmation that the Azoff and Don Gas Company ever came into being.
In the 13th century, under Henry III and Edward I, the Royal Wardrobe became a major financial institution. Used as a war treasury, it acted as paymaster to the major military expeditions commanded by the king. It subsequently declined in importance, being replaced by the Chamber. Separate from the King's Wardrobe was the Great Wardrobe, for army clothing and military stores, peripatetic until 1361 and then at Baynard castle, and the Privy Wardrobe, for bows, arrows, pikes, and other weapons, in the Tower of London.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Torcy (1665-1746) was a French diplomat and foreign minister who negotiated some of the most important treaties of Louis XIV's reign. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Torcy drafted the famous manifesto in which the king called on the nation to make a supreme effort to win the War of the Spanish Succession, 1708. Torcy was also the guiding spirit at the innumerable conferences that resulted in the treaties of Utrecht (1713) and Rastatt (1714). He wrote Mémoirs pour servir à l'histoire des négotiations depuis le Traité de Riswick jusqu'à la Paix d'Utrecht (1756).
The Exchequer was responsible for receiving and dispersing the public revenue. The lower Exchequer, or receipt, closely connected with the permanent Treasury, was an office for the receipt and payment of money. The upper Exchequer was a court sitting twice a year to regulate accounts.
For a reference to Carpenter as messenger in 1577, see Cal.S.P.Dom. 1547-1580, 569.
Robert Walpole's new position as Prime Minister was strengthened by his handling of a Jacobite conspiracy (known as the Atterbury plot after one of the main protagonists) uncovered in April 1722 and intended to take control of the government.
John Wilkes (1727-1797) was a politician and journalist who bought a seat in parliament in 1757. His outspoken attacks on King George II and his ministers in his journal the North Briton led to his arrest for seditious libel. He eventually served 22 months in prison, and, though repeatedly elected to Parliament from Middlesex, was refused his seat by the King's party. Wilkes was also elected Sheriff (1771) and Mayor (1774) of London.
The Emancipation rebellion of Western Jamaica was the largest rebellion in the British West Indies, involving some 20,000 slaves and led by the Baptist preacher Sam Sharpe whose main plan was a 'General Strike' against slavery. This led to widespread arson and military attacks, which ended with the death of 201 rebels during fighting and the trial and conviction of 750 slaves and 14 free persons.
The Privy Council is descended from the Curia Regis, which was made up of the king's tenants in chief, household officials, and anyone else the king chose. This group performed all the functions of government. About the time of Edward I (reigned 1272-1307), the executive and advising duties of the Curia Regis came to be handled by a select group, the king's secret council, which later came to be called the Privy Council.
A diurnal gives the divine office for the 7 day Hours of the Catholic Church - namely Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline.
A Breviary is a book furnishing the regulations for the celebration of Mass or the canonical Office. It contains the Psalter, the Proper of the Season, Proper of the Saints, the Common, and certain special Offices.
Son of the deposed King James II of England, James Edward Francis Stuart made several abortive attempts to regain the English throne. In 1715 John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, raised a Jacobite rebellion in Scotland, and the Pretender landed at Peterhead, Aberdeen, on 22 Dec 1715. By 10 Feb 1716, the uprising had collapsed and James had returned to France.
Very little is known about Johannes Gratian, who was born in Italy, possibly in Chiusi, Tuscany. He became a Camaldolese monk, and taught at Bologna. At a date some time after 1139 (probably 1140), Gratian compiled the Church laws (`canons') from all available sources and called the collection Concordia Discordantium Canonum (the harmonizing of discordant canons). The collection became known as the Decretum Gratiani. He died before 1179, some say as early as 1160. Although the Dectretum was not an official collection, it was, for a time and for all practical purposes, accepted as the fundamental text of Church law.
The North Midland Railway to Masborough opened on 11 May 1840.
Unknown.
The 1811 prospectus for the Regent's Canal describes the ill-fated Paddington to Wapping Canal project:
"The great Distance of the Thames from the Northern Boundary of the Town has been always considered an Inconvenience from the Expense of Land Carriage, and the crowding the intermediate Streets with Carts and Waggons: as the Town has extended itself Northwards, those Inconveniences have been more severely felt, and so long ago as the year 1773 a Canal was contemplated along the back Part of the Metropolis, between its Northern Boundary and the High Grounds of Hampstead, Highgate and Islington.
The Paddington Branch of the Grand Junction Canal, executed about ten years since, formed a Communication with the River Thames at Brentford but the Distance from Paddington to Brentford being 20 miles, and from thence by the River Thames to the Shipping at Limehouse and the different Docks at Wapping, Blackwall etc. upon the Average 20 miles more, is so circuitous and the Passage through the different Bridges is so hazardous, that no Sort of Accommodation has been afforded by that Connection with the River Thames to the Neighbourhood through which the intended Canal is proposed to pass, and the Accommodation it has afforded to Paddington itself is very little.
In the Year 1802, a Canal from Paddington to the Limehouse Dock, at Wapping, was projected on a line through Ground, much of which was then allotted for building upon, and in the Course of which many and valuable Buildings then erected must have been necessarily taken down. A large subscription was then raised to carry the Scheme into Effect, but it was afterwards abandoned from the very heavy Expence likely to be incurred by it and by the great Opposition made by the Land Owners through which it was to pass."
Source: Website "When London Became an Island" about the building of the Regent's Canal. See http://www.whenlondonbecame.org.uk/new_page_5.htm (accessed Aug 09).
A bond was a deed, by which person A binds himself, his heirs, executors, or assigns to pay a certain sum of money to person B, or his heirs.
From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".
The 'Adina' (No. 41651), was registered in 1861 at London. Its owner and master was J. Leutz of Cardiff.
The 'Fontabelle' (No. 3908), was registered in 1855 at London. Its owner was C.C. Dawson, and its master was E. Nixon.
The 'Shalimar', (No. 24057), was registered in 1869 at London. It was 1557 tons, and was owned by John Grigor of Yokohama. Its master was F. Walker.
The 'S.S. Newburn' (No. 29761), was registered in 1861 at London. It was 449.82 tons; and was owned by J. Fenwick and Son, of 57 Gracechurch St., London. Its master was W. Payn, of 39 Eastbourne Grove, South Shields. It frequently coasted between the Elbe and Brest.
The 'Wood Park' (No.11410), was registered in 1883 at London. It was owned by Explosives Trading Co., of Gresham House, Old Broad Street and its master was T.J. Mabley of Pentewan, Cornwall. It frequently sailed from Plymouth to London, but was later used as a dynamite magazine, lying at Hole Haven, Essex.
The parish of Saint Sepulchre, Holborn, was situated partly within the City of London (the church building is in Holborn) and partly within Middlesex (now Islington). Cowcross Street is near Farringdon Tube Station.
Teddington common was part of Hounslow Heath. It was situated to the west of Park Road and Stanley Road. When enclosed in 1800 it comprised 450 acres.
From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 66-69.
54 Hunter Street, in Bloomsbury, was owned by John James Ruskin, a sherry importer. It was here in 1819 that his son, the art critic and writer John Ruskin, was born. The family moved away in 1823, and the house was demolished in 1969.
The parish of Hillingdon lay in the north west of Middlesex, bordered by the river Colne, Harefield, Ickenham, Hayes, Harlington, West Drayton and Harmondsworth. Hillingdon, Uxbridge, and Cowley are very closely related; for example Uxbridge and, later, the manor of Hillingdon were included in Colham manor; while Uxbridge hamlet extended into Hillingdon parish and parts of Cowley village lay in Hillingdon. In 1841 Hillingdon parish, including the township of Uxbridge, contained 4,944 acres and Cowley parish 306 acres.
The Victoria County History of Middlesex notes that "by the time of the first parliamentary inclosure in 1795 approximately three-fifths of Hillingdon parish had already been inclosed. Inclosure of small parcels of waste probably proceeded steadily from the late medieval period onwards: some open-field land had been inclosed before 1636, and the process accelerated during the 17th and 18th centuries. Under the 1795 Act Cowley Field, comprising 331 acres in Hillingdon and Cowley parishes, was inclosed. A second Act, passed in 1812 and executed in 1825, inclosed a further 1,400 acres and completed the inclosure of open-field and waste land, save for 15 acres of Uxbridge Common which were reserved as an open space."
From: 'Hillingdon, including Uxbridge: Introduction', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 55-69 (available online).
The Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, designed by Christopher Wren, opened on 26 March 1674. In 1747 the theatre and a patent renewal were purchased by renowned actor David Garrick and partner James Lacy. Garrick served as manager and lead actor of the theatre until roughly 1766, and continued on in the management role for another ten years after.
Garrick commissioned Robert Adam and his brother James to renovate the theatre's interior, which they did in 1775. Their additions included an ornate ceiling and a stucco facade facing Bridges Street.
Garrick left the stage in 1776 and sold his shares in the theatre to the Irish playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Source: http://www.theatre-royal.com
The account book includes details of clients in Hornsey, Wood Green, Ponders End, Holloway, Stepney, Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Hoxton, Finsbury, Mile End, Peckham and Lambeth.