17th Century Courts, etc.

Many Killick Society records stem from information gleaned from Court records. Some of these data sources are outlined below together with details of the current location of records where known.

Manorial Courts

Often in two forms:

Court Leet - dealing with misdemeanours often now dealt with by the police

Court Baron - dealing with land transfers, etc.

Lists of surviving Manorial Court Records were maintained by the Historical Manuscripts Commission. This organisation is now part of the National Archives. Lists for Hampshire, including the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Wales & Yorkshire can be viewed online at www.na.gov.uk ?????

Ecclesiastical Court

Church Courts, but with much wider powers compared to modern times, dealing with:

Wills

Prerogative Courts of Canterbury & York (PCC & PCY)

Diocesan Courts

Archdeaconry Courts

Parish Records

Bishop's transcripts forwarded by Parishes to the Diocese

The three 'B's'

Bigamy, Blasphemy & Bastardy

Equity

Civil Courts dealing with:

Money

Land

"Fair play"

Chivalry

Courts dealing with:

Armetigeous matters

Visitations

Copies of Visitations have been published by the Harleian Society, Marshall, Whitmore & Barrow

Quarter Sessions - Assizes

Criminal and Licensing Courts

Oath Records

In 1695-96 a pledge of loyalty to the Crown was required from all those holding public office in England and Wales. The rolls are held at the national Archives, Kew, London. See Procat at www.catalogue.pro.gov.uk, also Jeremy Gibson's Book, Hearth tax Returns, other Stuart Tax Lists and the Association Oath Rolls, (Publ: FFHS)

Taxation

Hearth Taxes 1662 -1689

1 shilling per hearth (fireplace) every six months.

Collected by Parish Constables on the Ladyday & Michaelmas quarter days.

A copy of the receipts sent to the justices at the Quarter Sessions. These will be held by the relevant County Records Offices, if they survive! A further copy was sent to the Exchequer and surviving copies are at the National Archives at Kew, Ref E179. See Procat at www.catalogue.pro.gov.uk, also Jeremy Gibson's Book, Hearth tax Returns, other Stuart Tax Lists and the Association Oath Rolls, (Publ: FFHS) of what records have survived and where they are kept.

Protestation Returns 1641-1642

This was organised by Parliament as a way of pressurising Charles I. The requirement was for all males over 18 years of age to sign a declaration of belief in the Protestant religion, Allegiance to the King and support for the Rights and Privileges of Parliament. Most of the surviving returns are in the House of Lords Record Office. See Gibson & Dell, Protestation Returns 1641-2 (FFHS). A point to note is that those refusing to sign may also have refused to have their children baptised.