Chart Manor court (1591)

Post date: Sep 30, 2020 4:6:48 PM

Translated from Latin by Elizabeth Finn of Kent Archives (September 2020). Although recorded in Latin the actual proceedings would have been in English. Notes thereto by Terry Bird. Held in Kent Archives asDocument reference: U71/36

Notes:

1. Held on same date and before same steward as Westbury Manor Court . Westbury has same lord of manor-Roger Twysden.

2. Tutsham is a district of the parish of West Farleigh (by River Medway upstream of Teston Bridge).

3. Mercy: a tenant was obliged to attend the manior court and if he did not he could be fined (in mercy). 4 fines of 6d (old pence) were 2s. (shillings). This level of fine was 3 times that imposed the same day by the same steward at Westbury Manor Court, presumeably reflecting different customary usage but in subsequent Chart courts level of fine reduced to 2d. in line with that at Westbury.

4. Mary Palmer is one of only two female free tenants revealed in the records of Chart and Westbury manor courts. The other is Mary Kent who appears in the 1608 court record. In 1601 Mary Palmer is stated to be a widow.

5. John Hopper was assesssed in the 1586 Poor rate assessment for 6d per month (one of 19 contributing in the village) indicating a perceived level of wealth. Roger Twysden was one of the justices involved and whose names appeared on the document.