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The following is a description by Giles Jacob of the requirements for holding a Court Baron in 1781:
Objectives of Court Baron
YOU that are the Lord’s Tenants, and are sworn of the Homage, are to inquire of such Things as do relate to the Court Baron of this Manor; and they are either between Lord and Tenant, or between Tenant and Tenant.
And first, You shall inquire what Advantages have happened to the Lord since the last Court, either by ha Escheats or Forfeitures.
As if any Freeholder of this Manor hath committed Felony, and thereof hath been lawfully convicted; in such Case the King shall have Year, Day, and Waste, and afterwards the Lands will fall to the Lord hat by Escheat.
If a Bastard, having purchaſed any Land within this Manor, be dead without Issue of his Body lawfully begotten ; in such Case also the Lord shall have his Land by Escheat.
If any Copyholder of this Manor hath committed Felony, and thereof hath been lawfully convicted; it is a Forfeiture of his Copyhold.
If any Copyholder of this Manor hath leased out his Copyhold for more than a Year and a Day without the Lord’s Licence, it is a Forfeiture of his Copyhold : Or if for a lesser Term he hath let it out to an Under-tenant, and hath not retained enough thereof in his own Hands, whereby the Lord’s Dues may be fairly and justly answered, he is here to be amerced.
If any Copyholder of this Manor hath suffered the Buildings upon his Copyhold to be in Decay, and to fall down for want of Reparation, or hath committed Waſte in felling down Timber-trees without Aſſignment, or in lopping them at unseasonable Times in the Year, whereby they die, or in ploughing up of an ancient Meadow, commonly called S. Mead; they are Forfeitures of his Copyhold Estate.
If any Copyholder within this Manor, having two Copyholds, hath impaired the one to improve the other, it is a Forfeiture of the Copyhold so impaired.
You shall inquire, whether there be any Rent, Service, or Custom withheld from the Lord; what it is, from whom due, and what Lands are chargeable with it.
You are also to inquire, whether there be any Freeholder of this Manor dead, or that hath alienated his Estate; or any Copyholder dead since the last Court, or before, and his Death not yet presented; what hath happened to the Lord upon his Death, and who is the next Tenant.
If any Bound, Stones, or Land-Marks, between this Lordſhip and another, or between Tenant and Tenant, have been removed; or if any Incroachment hath been made upon the Lord’s Waſte, or any of the Lord’s Lands be unjustly with-held from him; or any Trespasses upon the Lord’s Royalties, by Fishing, Fowling, Hawking or Hunting.
If any Houses want repairing; Hedges, Gates, Stiles, or Bridges, want mending ; or Ditches want scouring.
Or it any hath impoveriſhed his Tenement by carrying the Compost or Soil there made, or by penning his Sheep upon other Lands, to the Prejudice of his Tenement.
You are likewise to inquire, whether the several Tenants of this Manor be now here to do their Suit of Court, and who have made Default.
You are also to take Notice, whether the Orders of the last Court, or any other preceding Court, have been duly observed or not; and wherein, and by whom, Default hath been made.
And if there be any Thing else that concerns the Lord’s Interest, or any Thing unjustly done or omitted betwixt Tenant and Tenant, you have it in Charge to present,
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| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 20/7/25 | Published |
Deopham History 