Orders of the Commissioners of the Court of Requests ordering the arrest of certain persons for non-appearance at court; and to commit to prison in one of the City Compters Robert Weddall, throster, for failing to appear in court.
Court of Requests , Corporation of London x Sheriff's CourtRecords of the Court of Requests, City of London, 1595-1853, including committee reports; petitions; regulations; appointment of Commissioners; accounts ledgers; cash books; record of fees; summons books; warrant books; bonds and promissory notes, and other administrative papers.
Corporation of LondonManuscript volume containing transcripts of documents relating to the Court of Wards, [1620], namely a selection of decrees from 1553 made by John Hare, headed 'Le Court des Gards', dated [12 Jul] 1581; reports of cases of the Court of Wards, dated 1605-1610; 'Instructions for the Master of our Wards and Liveryes', [by James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough, dated [Dec, 1618]; an account [by William Rastell] of procedure in the Court of Wards, with a table of fees and a table of contents, dated [1622].
UnknownRecord of the Court of Wards and Liveries, comprising examinations of defendants in a court case concerning commodities in a court yard adjoining the Bull Head Tavern in Cheapside, October-November 1631.
Court of Wards and LiveriesManuscript volume of extracts from the record of the Court of Queen's (and King's) Bench, and also from the Court of Common Pleas, for proceedings from the 15th century to the reign of Elizabeth, probably compiled c1590-1600. The extracts include pleas, posteas and memoranda of the 15th and 16th centuries, with marginal notes describing the subjects of the pleas, and perhaps acted as a lawyer's precedent book. References to the original court rolls are sometimes given.
UnknownCollection of documents relating to courts and legal proceedings in London, including notes on jurisdiction and procedures; historical notes; reports on cases; briefs, case notes and proceedings; correspondence and financial accounts for various courts including the Court of Star Chamber, the Court of Exchequer, the Court of Chancery, the Court of King's Bench and Queen's Bench, and legal institutions such as Furnival's Inn, the King's Bench Prison, the Old Bailey and Marshalsea Prison.
Various.Records of various City of London Courts of Law, 1301-1965, including the Royal Courts, Nuisance Assizes, Court of Judicature, Borough Court of Record, Southwark, the Central Criminal Court, Assize of Bread and Possessory Assizes.
Records of the Royal Courts include plea rolls, escheat rolls, inquisitions post mortem, writs, proceedings, and articles relating to the history of the court, while the records of the Possessory Assizes, comprising the Assizes of Novel Disseisin, Fresh Force and Mort d'Ancestor, include rolls of assizes and precedent books.
Records of the Civic courts (Nuisance Assizes, Court of Judicature, Borough Court of Record, Southwark) include pleas of nuisance, Southwark fire decrees and court books.
Records of the Central Criminal Court include registers of felons' gods, petitions for return of goods, auction catalogues, prints and photographs, financial accounts, statistics and papers relating to civil defence duties during World War Two.
Records of the Assize of Bread include mealweighters books, including quantities of wheat sold and delivered; register of bakers and cornfactors, prices of wheat and flour and papers of the Committee on the Assize of Bread.
Also papers relating to cases of bankruptcy and debt, papers of the London Chamber of Arbitration and other legal records and administrative papers.
Corporation of LondonRecords of the Quarter Sessions for London and Middlesex, including certificate of conviction; examination book of vagabonds apprehended in the City of London; Newgate gaol calendars; and petition for victualling licence.
London Quarter Sessions of the Peace Middlesex Quarter Sessions of the PeaceRecords of the Manor of Cowley Peachey, Colham, Hillingdon; comprising court book for views of frankpledge with courts baron; rental and survey; and statement of quit rents.
Manor of Cowley PeacheyPapers collected by the solicitors in the course of their work, comprising admission of John Durham, junior of 10 Great James Street, Bedford Row, as solicitor in court of Chancery, 8 May 1863, signed by John Romilly, Master of the Rolls; admission of John Durham as solicitor in Court of Queen's Bench, 8 May 1863. Also leases for 108 Stroud Green Road (formerly called Osborne House), Hornsey, 1887 and 1895.
Davis, Foster and Finlay , solicitorsRecords of John Dence relating to properties in Sydenham, Lewisham, the City of London, Holborn, and the Strand.
Various.Records of the Deputy for the Chief Rabbi, 1942-1950, comprising correspondence with various individuals and organisations, including provincial congregations in Wales and England and congregations in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Palestine, Russia, South Africa and the United States of America.
PLEASE NOTE: Records can only be accessed with the written permission of the depositor. Contact the Chief Executive, Office of Chief Rabbi, 735 High Road, North Finchley, London NW12 OUS.
Lazarus , Harris Meyer , 1878-1962 , rabbiRecords of the Dewell family of Brentford, relating to property in Old Brentford, New Brentford, Hanwell, Chiswick and Isleworth, including wills, leases, extracts from court rolls and legal opinion.
Various.Records of the Diocese of London, 1467-1976, held at the London Metropolitan Archives include:
- records of the Archdeaconry of Hampstead (induction mandates, visitation papers)
- records of the Archdeaconry of Hackney (visitation papers)
- records of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (assignation books, churchwardens' presentments, financial papers, calendars, probate books and probate inventories, caveat books, registers of wills, administration bonds, renunciations, warrants, original wills, visitation books)
- records of the Consistory Court of London (Acts of Court, assignation books, deposition books, Vicar General's books, registers of wills, original wills, matrimonial and testamentary cause papers, appointments of proctors, caveat books, Chancellor's notebooks, statistics)
- papers of various rural deaneries (Paddington, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green, Saint Pancras, Enfield, Chelsea, Tottenham, Shoreditch, Saint Marylebone)
- bishop's transcripts from the County of Middlesex and the County of London
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papers relating to tithes (maps, apportionments, altered apportionments, certificates of capital value, awards of exchange, redemption certificates).
Records of the Diocese of London, 1306-1996, (held at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section but currently accessible through the LMA) include:
- Bishops' registers
- Vicar Generals' books
- Bishops' Act books
- Ordination papers and Ordination registers
- Licensing papers for curates, lecturers, institutional chaplains, parish clerks, midwives, physicians and surgeons, schoolmasters
- Marriage allegations and marriage bonds
- Parish files (of church deeds, consecration papers, plans and so on.)
- Faculty papers, by parish.
- Subscription books.
- Parish register transcripts
- Episcopal visitation records
- Records of jurisdiction:-
- Commissary Court records including court books, probate records, original wills, probate and administration act books, probate inventories
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Estate records for property and manors in the City of London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex, Westminster and Worcester.
Also papers relating to the Bishop of London's jurisdiction overseas. The Bishop of London was held to exercise responsibility for Anglican churches overseas where no other bishop had been appointed. He retained responsibility for churches in northern and central Europe until 1980, but his jurisdiction in southern Europe ceased in 1842 on the creation of the diocese of Gibraltar. In 1980, the Bishop of London divested himself of all overseas jurisdiction and a new diocese of 'Gibraltar in Europe' was established. Records include:-
- Ordination and licensing records
- Consecration papers and chaplaincy deeds
- Foreign register transcripts
- issues of the "Gibraltar and Fulham Diocesan Gazette"
- Foreign chaplaincy archives for the chaplaincies of:
Adelboden, Switzerland
Aix les Bains, France
Alassio, Italy
Archangel, Russia
Athens, Greece
Balestrand, Norway
Biarritz, France
Bologna, Italy
Bordighera, Italy
Boulogne, France
Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest and Lower Danubian ports, Romania
Burgenstock, Switzerland
Calais, France
Cannes, France
Cap d'Antibes, France
Cartagena, Spain
Champery, Switzerland
Chantilly, France
Corfu, Greece
Davos, Switzerland
Ferrol, Spain
Florence, Italy
Fray Bentos, Uruguay
Geneva, Switzerland
Ghent, Belgium
Grindelwald, Switzerland
Haarlem, Netherlands
Hamburg, Germany
Helsinki, Finland
Hughesovka, Russia
Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Leghorn, Italy
Leysin, Switzerland
Libau, Latvia
Lisbon, Portugal
Lucerne, Switzerland
Lyons, France
Messina, Sicily, Italy
Minas de Riotinto, Spain
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Moscow, Russia
Nantes, North West France
Odessa and South Russia
Oporto, Portugal
Ostend, Belgium
Palermo, Italy
Pisa and Bagni di Lucca, Italy
Ponta Delgada, Azores
Riga, Latvia
Rigi-Kaltbad, Switzerland
Saas Fee, Switzerland
St Servan, France
Seville, Spain
Spiez, Switzerland
Stockholm, Sweden
Stresa, Italy
Syra, Greece
Tamaris sur mer, Toulon, France
Taormina, Sicily
Trieste, Italy
Ulvik, Norway
Versailles, France
Viareggio, Italy
Vitznau, Switzerland
Wengen, Switzerland
Zermatt, Switzerland
Records of the Diocese of Winchester, 1480-1936. The archive collections relate mainly to parishes in the ancient county of Surrey, now in the dioceses of Guildford and Southwark and include: the records of the Archdeaconry of Surrey which had jurisdiction over the parishes in the ancient county of Surrey excluding 13 peculiars (administrative areas outside the jurisdiction of the bishop), including Bishop's Transcripts for parishes in the archdeaconry, the issue of licences including marriage bonds and allegations and clergy's licences, registry material, church consecrations and dedications, dissenters' meeting house certificates, and terriers of church property in each parish.
Also the records of the Archdeaconry Court of Surrey, consisting of court probate material including wills; the records of the Commissary Court of Surrey, including the bishop's commissary court probate records including wills and cause papers in court proceedings; and a small collection of office papers of the Archdeaconry of Winchester relating to parishes in Hampshire.
Diocese of Winchester, Church of EnglandRecords of the Duchy of Lancaster Coroner's District, comprising case papers, 1884-1932.
Coroner for the Jurisdiction of the Liberty of the Duchy of LancasterRecords of the Manor of Dunsford, Wandsworth, including court books, conveyances, declarations, mortgages, enfranchisements, maps and plans.
Manor of Dunsford , WandsworthRecords of the Manor of Durants and Garton, Enfield, 1689-1905, including Court Baron and Special Court book with minutes.
Durants and Gartons Manor , Enfield , MiddlesexPapers of Edward Trevor Dyson on his time in the Ceylon Civil Service, 1910-1929; comprising report 'The Spirit of Trincomalee', a description of Trincomalee at the end of 1910, including comments on visit by the Crown Prince of Germany, Prince Wilhelm; report 'The Bo Tree Incident', describing events after the cutting down of a sacred Bo Tree at Anuradhapura, 1929; letters to Bertha [the future Mrs Dyson], 1911, including description of journey to Kantalai, and the area around Kantalai, and account of journey from Trincomalee to Batticaloa, with account of his first visit to the prison at Batticaloa in his capacity as Assistant Inspector of Prisons, and of a case in court where he presided as magistrate.
Dyson , Edward Trevor , b 1886 , civil servant in CeylonRecords of the Manor of East Smithfield, City of London. The records comprise: court leet books, 1728-88; and court rolls, 1763-1862.
Manor of East Smithfield , City of LondonPapers relating to V Adm Sir John Wilson Musgrave Eaton's life and career, 1945-1972, including typescript copy of Night Order Book, HMS SHEFFIELD, May-Jun 1945; photographs, press cuttings and printed material relating to Eaton's service as Capt of HMS ST VINCENT, RN Boys Training Establishment, Gosport, Hampshire, 1947; typescript volume entitled 'Naval Staff Handbook', Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, 1950; texts of lectures by Eaton, RN Staff College, Greenwich, including 'Grand strategy: its background and application in a future war' and 'The principles of war', 1950-1951; typescript texts of speeches and lectures, [1952]-1960, including Empire Day speech to the Royal Yacht Sqn, Australia [1952], and lecture on the capture of Gibraltar, 1704, to the RN Club, 1960; newspaper cuttings relating to the Court Martial of Able Seaman James McNiven McSporran for an assault on V Adm Eaton during an inspection, 1955; Civil Defence manuals and naval publications, 1956-1958; edition of Log of the President's cruise in the USS CANBERRA (CAG2), edited by Capt E P Aurand, US Navy, Naval Aide to US President Dwight David Eisenhower, 14-20 Mar 1957; photographs of Eisenhower with Eaton and US Adm Jerauld Wright, Supreme Allied Commander's Headquarters, Norfolk, Virginia, USA [1957]; typescript letters to retired senior officers from the First Sea Lord, 1959, 1970 and 1972, from AF Louis (Francis Albert Victor Nicholas) Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, 23 Apr 1959, Adm Sir Michael Le Fanu, 1 Jun 1970, and Adm Sir Michael (Patrick) Pollock, 2 Nov 1972; printed plan of Admiralty organisation, Jan 1960; typescript statement of evidence by Eaton, as then commanding destroyer HMS SOMALI, on Cdr (Jack) John Egerton Broome's command of convoy PQ.17, 4 Jul 1942, statement prepared for a libel action brought by Broome against David John Cawdell Irving, Jan 1970, in relation to his book The destruction of convoy PQ.17 (Cassell, London, 1968).
Eaton , Sir , John Wilson Musgrave , 1902-1981 , Knight , Vice AdmiralRecords of the Manor of Edgware Boys, including schedule of houses in the manor; papers relating to quit rents and fines; list of tenants; papers relating to the appointment of a steward; copies of court rolls; and papers relating to property in Edgware.
Manor of Edgware BoysRecords of Edmonton County Court, 1894-1944, comprising plaint and minute book and ordinary action book.
Edmonton County CourtCopy of certificate issued by Richard Hassell to William Spencer of South Mimms relating to the privileges of tenants of the Duchy of Lancaster (including exemption from tolls).
Richard Hassell, Justice of the Peace for Edmonton HundredRecords of Edmonton Petty Sessional Division, comprising minutes of summary proceedings held at Watch House and Angel Inn, Edmonton, 2 Jan 1837 - 21 Dec 1838. Cases heard include felonies, assault, larceny, highway offences, retailing beer etc. without licence, obstruction, injury to property etc. Volume records detailed statements by witnesses, statutes governing cases, outcome of each case. At rear of volume is a summary of cases heard with details of fines etc. Name index at front of volume. Volume also includes records of medical prescriptions prepared for named persons, January 1859.
Edmonton Petty Sessional DivisionResearch papers [1940s] of John Fage on the development of Southern Rhodesia (presumably for his PhD), largely covering the period from the 1890s to the 1930s, comprising notes, largely manuscript but including some typescripts, of primary and secondary sources including official sources, among them British parliamentary papers, Colonial Office correspondence, records of the Executive and Legislative Councils of Southern Rhodesia and its High Court, also including a bibliography. The subjects include pre-history, geography and geology, colonial administration, the British South Africa Company, economics, indigenous affairs, labour, and land tenure.
Fage , John Donnelly , b 1921 , Professor of African historyA Minute Book, 1766-92 of the Water Court of the Manor and Hundred of Faversham.
Manor of Faversham , Water CourtRecords of Finsbury Petty Sessions Division, 1841-1956, comprising court minutes, court registers and licensing registers.
Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate. Court minute books or notebooks are rough notes of the proceedings recording the gist of the evidence given.
Finsbury Petty Sessional DivisionProceedings of the Fire Judges' Court, in the case of John Wall and Sir Paul Niele and others.
Fire Court x Court of Judicature , Corporation of LondonPapers of the Fire Judges Court, comprising decree in the cause of Sir Richard Betenson, petitioner, against Richard Betenson, his son, and others, concerning burnt houses in Cheapside, in the parish of St Mary le Bow.
Fire Court x Court of Judicature , Corporation of LondonManuscript justification written by Admiral John Forbes of his attitude in refusing to sign the warrant for the execution of Admiral Byng on a charge of neglect of duty in the face of the French fleet off Minorca in 1756. Signed 'J.F.' 16 February 1757.
Forbes , John , 1714-1796 , Admiral of the FleetPapers of Adml Thomas Francis Fremantle. They consist of three logs, 1793 to 1796, two signal notebooks, undated, two memoranda on naval discipline, 1806, and some printed material relating to the French and Spanish navies.
Papers of Cpt Stephen Grenville Fremantle. They consist of logs, 1828 to 1829, 1839 to 1841; letter and order books, 1839 to 1842, 1852 to 1857, and a private record of letters sent and received, 1847 to 1848. There is also a privately-printed statement in answer to the charges made against him as Captain of the JUNO.
Papers of Sir Edmund Robert Fremantle. They cover Fremantle's career well, especially the Maori and Ashanti war periods They include logs, 1849 and 1859, 1856 to 1857 and 1873 to 1881; letterbooks, 1862 to 1876, 1879 to 1880; personal letters written mainly between 1864 and 1866 and papers relating to his commands, 1889 to 1895. There is also a section which deals with his court martial for grounding the Eclipse in 1866.
Papers of Adml Sir Sydney Robert Fremantle. They consist of a memorandum on the war in the Aegean, 1916 to 1917, detailed minutes compiled while he held office as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and other papers relating to this post. There are also collected essays and articles written by Fremantle, 1904 to 1919.
Fremantle , Sir , Thomas Francis , 1765-1819 , Knight , Vice-Admiral Fremantle , Stephen Grenville , 1810-1860 , Captain Fremantle , Sir , Edmund Robert , 1836-1929 , Knight , Admiral Fremantle , Sir , Sydney Robert , 1867-1958 , Knight , AdmiralPostmortem reports for London coroners' courts, 1907-1913.
Freyburger , Ludwig , d 1934 , physicianRecords of the Manor of Friern Barnet, comprising a court roll of view of frankpledge with court baron, 1528-32.
Manor of Friern BarnetRecords of Gaol Delivery Sessions for Middlesex prisoners, held at the Old Bailey, 1754-1887. The series OB/C/J is an index of charges (indictments); OB/C/P is a list of prisoners. OB/REB contains lists of fines (estreats) and bonds (recognizances) imposed in court; OB/SB are the minutes, and OB/RSB the rough minutes, of proceedings in court; OB/SP are the loose administrative papers (sessions papers) relating to the business happening in court - exisiting for the years 1755 - 1759, 1761, 1764-1790, 1792, 1796; OB/SR are the sessions rolls, the official documentation of the judicial procedure at the sessions. Some of the sessions papers are uncatalogued at present (Feb 2010).
Clerk of the Peace , Old BaileyPersonal papers of Erich Arp mainly concerning his membership of political and student organisations; Military Government Court indictments of Geissler and Arp and notes relating to indictments, 31 May 1945; Enclosures including reports regarding the history of Nazi support and ant-Nazi activity in Elmshorn; pamphlets produced at the end of the war by the Antifaschistisches Deutsches Kampf Komitee, Hamburg.
British Military CourtRecords of Hendon Magistrates' Court, 1873-1992 and Harrow (Wealdstone) Magistrates' Court, 1889-1934. Records of Hendon Magistrates' Court include: court registers (Hendon, Edgware and Harrow Courts); registers of juvenile, income tax and matrimonial cases; court minute books; licensing registers and bail forms. Records of Harrow (Wealdstone) Magistrates' Court include: court registers; Justices' Quarterly Meeting minute books and petitions.
Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate. Court minute books or notebooks are rough notes of the proceedings recording the gist of the evidence given.
Domestic / matrimonial cases: A married woman under the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction (Married Women) Act 1895 and subsequent Acts could go to a magistrates' court and apply for orders which in certain circumstances would enable her to separate from her husband, have custody of any children and receive maintenance from him. Under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1844 a mother expecting a bastard child or who had given birth to one could obtain a maintenance order against the putative father.
Hendon Magistrates Court Harrow Magistrates CourtRecords of the Greater London Eastern Coroner's District, comprising case papers, 1965-2000. Please note these papers are subject to a 30 year closure period.
For the closed period researchers are advised to consult local newspapers for references to inquests. In very rare cases where medical or legal questions are involved, information from closed records may be made available. It will be necessary to contact the Coroner currently in charge of the court concerned, who has the power to release transcripts or details of inquests to suitable applicants.
Coroner for the Jurisdiction of Eastern District of Greater LondonRecords of the Greater London Inner North District Coroner's Court, comprising case papers, 1965-2000. Please note these papers are subject to a 30 year closure period.
For the closed period researchers are advised to consult local newspapers for references to inquests. In very rare cases where medical or legal questions are involved, information from closed records may be made available. It will be necessary to contact the Coroner currently in charge of the court concerned, who has the power to release transcripts or details of inquests to suitable applicants.
Coroner for the Jurisdiction of Inner Northern District of Greater LondonRecords of the Greater London Inner South Coroner's District, comprising case papers, 1965-2000. Please note these records are subject to a 30 year closure period.
For the closed period researchers are advised to consult local newspapers for references to inquests. In very rare cases where medical or legal questions are involved, information from closed records may be made available. It will be necessary to contact the Coroner currently in charge of the court concerned, who has the power to release transcripts or details of inquests to suitable applicants.
Coroner for the Jurisdiction of Inner Southern District of Greater LondonRecords of the Greater London Inner West District Coroner's Court, comprising case papers, 1966-2001. Please note these records are subject to a 30 year closure period.
For the closed period researchers are advised to consult local newspapers for references to inquests. In very rare cases where medical or legal questions are involved, information from closed records may be made available. It will be necessary to contact the Coroner currently in charge of the court concerned, who has the power to release transcripts or details of inquests to suitable applicants.
Coroner for the Jurisdiction of Inner Western District of Greater LondonRecords of the Greater London Northern Coroner's District, comprising case papers, 1965-2001. Please note these records are subject to a 30 year closure period.
For the closed period researchers are advised to consult local newspapers for references to inquests. In very rare cases where medical or legal questions are involved, information from closed records may be made available. It will be necessary to contact the Coroner currently in charge of the court concerned, who has the power to release transcripts or details of inquests to suitable applicants.
Coroner for the Jurisdiction of Northern District of Greater LondonRecords of the Greater London Southern Coroner's District, comprising case papers, 1965-1999. Please note these records are subject to a 30 year closure period.
For the closed period researchers are advised to consult local newspapers for references to inquests. In very rare cases where medical or legal questions are involved, information from closed records may be made available. It will be necessary to contact the Coroner currently in charge of the court concerned, who has the power to release transcripts or details of inquests to suitable applicants.
Coroner for the Jurisdiction of Southern District of Greater LondonRecords of the Greater London Western Coroner's District, comprising case papers, 1965-1997. Please note these records are subject to a 30 year closure period.
For the closed period researchers are advised to consult local newspapers for references to inquests. In very rare cases where medical or legal questions are involved, information from closed records may be made available. It will be necessary to contact the Coroner currently in charge of the court concerned, who has the power to release transcripts or details of inquests to suitable applicants.
Coroner for the Jurisdiction of Western District of Greater LondonRecords of Greenwich Magistrates Court, 1914-1968, 1974-1975, including court registers; maintenance arrears cases; motoring offences and civil debt cases.
Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate.
A married woman under the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction (Married Women) Act 1895 and subsequent Acts could go to a magistrates' court and apply for orders which in certain circumstances would enable her to separate from her husband, have custody of any children and receive maintenance from him. Under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1844 a mother expecting a bastard child or who had given birth to one could obtain a maintenance order against the putative father.
Greenwich Magistrates CourtExtract of the Court Roll for the Manor of Hampstead, regarding a tenement with garden and stables on 24 rods of ground on Hampstead Heath.
Manor of HampsteadRecords of Hampstead Petty Sessional Division, 1867-1991, including court minute books; court registers; registers of summonses and orders; registers of offenders placed on probation; juvenile court registers; adoption registers; licensing registers and justices signing-in books.
Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate. Court minute books or notebooks are rough notes of the proceedings recording the gist of the evidence given.
Hampstead Petty Sessional DivisionPapers of the Manor of Hampton Court, including extracts from court rolls; leases; and legal documents relating to property ownership. Also extracts from court rolls for the Manor of Isleworth Syon.
Manor of Hampton CourtCourt roll for the Manor of Harmondsworth, 1717-1728, with transcription and index.
Manor of HarmondsworthManor of Harrow alias Sudbury and Manor of Harrow Rectory Court Rolls. Each membrane has been flattened and inserted between the leaves of five large leather bound albums or "tomes". There is evidence that this was done in the early nineteenth century. The membranes, however, still bear the numbers which correspond with an index prepared in the early seventeenth century, when the rolls were still in their traditional form of rolled files. The rolls for the two manors are usually separate, although there are several cases where Rectory membranes are filed on Harrow (alias Sudbury) rolls, especially in the earlier period.
Most of the Harrow Court Rolls remain in the form of files or bundles of parchment membranes of varying lengths, fastened together at the head and rolled. One roll usually covers one reign, although occasionally two or more rolls have been made as with the reign of Henry VI, (Ref. ACC/0076/2416, 2417). The indexer of the rolls (see above) has noted that "For the tyme of Henrie the VI Their arre 2 Rolles or Bundells The one comprehendings of leaves of parchment longe and short greate and small besides the cover, 75 leaves" and the other 63 leaves. He also notes that "their is 2 folied 40", 41, 66, 97, 106, 116 etc. The second roll is endorsed "H. 6; 17, 18, 19, 20 ..." etc. The court rolls have membranes numbered, possibly, by the seventeenth century indexer, usually beginning at number 1 for each sovereign's reign (not by roll). Those Rectory rolls now in ACC/0974 Tom I, however, are numbered 1-128 running through from 1378-1602 and not by reign, although endorsements show that they were originally filed in smaller rolls. Some of the membranes on the medieval rolls of Acc. 76 are defective or rubbed near the bottom so that the numbers have been lost. Most of the rolls have parchment wrappers and are labelled in a seventeenth century or later hand, although the last membranes of many earlier rolls bear endorsements in an early hand. Some of the roll covers are parts of deeds of the early 17th century. The rolls also have a reference number written on the covers, 1-12, 15 and 16 being Harrow and 22, 23, 26 being Rectory rolls.
Not all numbers can be verified as some rolls have lost their covers. Tom V (ref. ACC/0643) is similar to ACC/0974, except that the leather binding has been used as a portfolio and there is no evidence that it was ever made up as an album. It contains flattened membranes for the manor of Harrow (alias Sudbury) from the years Oct. 1648 (part) to Oct. 1675. It also contains 4 pieces of parchment, being halves of deeds of 1618 and 1621, two of which were wrappers and bear endorsements for rolls `No. 15' 1 James I to 1 Charles I and "No. 16' 5-12 Charles I now ACC/0974 Tom III. Rolls exist for Harrow Manor 1315-1337 when there are none for the Rectory, while there are rolls for Rectory 1349-1369 but none for Harrow. The reason for this is not known. There are possibly one or two courts which are not clearly identified as one manor or the other. Rectory rolls of this period are sometimes headed "Rectoria de Harrowe" but often only "Harrowe" and are distinguishable only by the name of the Rector which is sometimes given. Harrow rolls bear the heading "Harrows" or "Hargh" and in only one case is the name of the Archbishop, Lord of the Manor, given. The Edward II and Edward III period rolls which were indexed have all been identified and there are apparently none now missing which were present when the index was made soon after 1600.
Manor of Harrow alias Sudbury Manor of Harrow Rectory alias Harrow-on-the-Hill