Manorial records

his is a transcribed copy of the Subsidy Roll talken of Penkhull in 1327.

This Subsidy was granted by the First Parliament of King Edward III. to meet the expenses of the Scotch War. The Statute has been lost, but the King’s Commission, dated 23rd November, 1 Edward III., recites that the Earls, Barons, Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the Kingdom, had granted to him a twentieth part of all moveable goods for the defence of the Kingdom against the Scots.

The Collectors and Taxers for co. Stafford were John de Acton and Richard de Hampton. The Commission directs them to summon before them the most loyal and best men of each vill, from which they were to elect four, or six, or more if they thought it desirable, by whom the assessment could be best accomplished. These were to be sworn to fully and loyally make inquiry into the goods possessed by every man of the vill on Michaelmas Day, 1 Edward III.

Court record 1307-1327 Henry lV  one page

This extensive document containing twenty-seven pages was a huge project in extracting from the court rolls entries between the year 1414 and 1806.
The variety of court cases that appeared before the manorial courts – first at the castle at Newcastle and then at what is now the Greyhound Inn, Penkhull is fascinating and here just a few of the items covered as an example: Frankpledge Reports for each of the areas within the manor, names and details of the Open Fields within the former Manor of Penkhull, The Great Court entries, over-stocking the common, attempted murder, occupants of Shelton Mill, Village Stocks and the uses they were used for by law, The Commonwealth period and Maj. Gen Thomas Harrison and the rebel’s army and his home at Newcastle under Lyme, encroachment of cottages, the use of payne’s for fines for work not completed, Twyfords and the Greyhound in 1729.
This is not a complete list but illustrates just what is included and a perfect introduction for manorial studies for schools, colleges and universities.

FENTON’S LAW BOOK  Compiled largely in the early 17th Century,
The original purpose of the book was a draft for a legal textbook on copyhold tenure. The author has not been specifically identified, but there are clues to suggest that it was probably started soon after 1600. Subsequent owners of the book used it for a variety of purposes up to the middle of the 18th century, in particular:
A record of the service of the office of Reeve in the Manor of Newcastle. Contains also a record of the service of the office of Reeve in the Manor of Newcastle under Lyme from 1577 to 1752. Amongst the notes added by subsequent users of the book are contributors to parts of the Collections of Rates in the Manor of Newcastle under Lyme. The remainder of the book comprises other miscellaneous notes which include a few 17th century extracts from the records of the Manor of Newcastle under Lyme, and personal accounting notes by various contemporary owner of the book.
This book was discovered hidden in the archives at Stafford, almost by accident. It should be held along with all other manorial material in the National Archives. However, the contents over seventy-tree pages are truly a treasure-trove waiting to be studied and placed into contacts. Wonderful study for a Masters or Phd student or even a local group. This is a mid-blowing history book never before used or perhaps seen since its deposit at Stafford.

Court Record 1423 – 1461 2p x A4 pages

All transcribed from Latin from the original rolls