Earls Colne Manor Records

Once again, I've been wading into waters that were only vaguely familiar to me beforehand: this time it's been those of the Medieval manorial system that developed after 1066 and lasted until the Tenures Abolition Act of 1660.  It was dissolving with the development of a money-based market economy by the late Middle Ages, but the vast quantity of records kept in the form of "Manor court rolls" that have survived are the source of much information on many aspects of life during this time.  Manors were the primary administrative units in England in the Middle Ages, and it is from these records that family researchers and historians alike can glean some very good information.

According to the Earls Colne records site, about two fifths of the two manors in the study were let to copyhold tenants, and  our Brewer relations appear to have been in this category.  Copyholders, so called because of the practice of giving a copy of the manor court's record to the tenant as a title deed, had property rights protected by law, but could not transfer their lands without license of the lord of the manor and payment of a fine, as a freeholder could.

Section of Earls Colne map showing "Francis" tenement 103 and 104 across from the old priory.

Here are the entries into the Earls Colne Manor Court Rolls and Fine Book that trace the passing of the land from one generation to the next through the family, starting with Adam Brewer.  I have left the text exactly as it was transcribed onto the Earls Colne website, without punctuation, etc.

Earls Colne Manor Court Rolls (ERO D/DPr79)

(Tuesday 12 July 1664)

document 39402316

whereas at a court here held 20.10.1624 Eliz Somerson afterwards wife of Wm Garrett took for herself and her heirs one cottage with a way and place belonging there and one yard parcel of a tenement called Francis and whereas at a court here held 2.4.1662 it was presented by the homage that after the then last court the said Eliz died seised thereof without heirs of her body and that Thos Somerson is her brother and heir but no one came then etc now to this court came the said Thos Somerson and sought admittance as tenant of the lord for the premises to whom the lord by the said steward granted and delivered seisin thereof by the rod to have and to hold the said premises with appurtenances to the said Thos Somerson his heirs and assigns from the lord by the rod at the will of the lord according to the custom of the said manor by the rents services and customs thereunto belonging and by right accustomed and he gave to the lord his fine etc and afterwards in the same court and in open court the said Thos Somerson came and by the rod surrendered into the hands of the lord by the hands of his said steward the said cottage way and yard with appurtenances to the use and behoof of Adam Brewer his heirs and assigns forever who present in court humbly sought admittance as tenant of the lord for the premises to whom the lord by the said steward granted and delivered seisin thereof by the rod to have and to hold the said premises with appurtenances to the said Adam Brewer his heirs and assigns from the lord by the rod at the will of the lord according to the custom of the said manor by the rents services and customs thereunto belonging and by right accustomed and he gave to the lord his fine etc
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Earls Colne Manor: Fine Book (ERO D/DPr100)

(1664)

document 24200269

Adam Brewer 1664 admitted to the same cottage of the surrender of Thos Somersom fine given
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Earls Colne Manor: Fine Book (ERO D/DPr100)

(1676)

document 24201380

Thos Brewer 1676 admitted to a cottage and a garden parcel of Francis after the death of Adam Brewer his father worth 15s per annum fine 1li

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Earls Colne Manor Court Rolls (ERO D/DPr80)

(Friday 27 December 1676)

document 39801039

fine 20s

whereas at a court here held 12.7.16Chas2 Adam Brewer was admitted to him and his heirs to one cottage with a way parcel of a tenement called Francis now at this court it appeared to the homage that the said Adam Brewer died after the last court so seised and that Thos Brewer is his son and next heir who present in court petitioned admittance etc to whom the steward delivered seisin to have and to hold the said cottage to the said Thos Brewer his heirs and assigns of the lord etc and he gave the lord for fine etc

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Earls Colne Manor: Fine Book (ERO D/DPr100)

(1678)

document 24201656

Thos Brewer and Kath his wife 1678 admitted to a cottage called Francis worth 13s4d per annum fine 1li

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Earls Colne and Colne Priory rental (ERO D/DPr113)

(Tuesday 19 March 1678)

document 22500678

Brewer Thos holds by copy a little tenement called Francis sometime Fuller's rent 1d1h (103a) Thos Hutton (inserted)

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Earls Colne and Colne Priory rental (ERO D/DPr113)

(Tuesday 19 March 1678)

document 22501945

Grimston Dan gentleman doth hold by copy 30a of land with a barn called Morlands late of Jn Brewer in the tenure of Thos Brewer rent 12s (165) (166) (167) (168) (171) (169) (170) Edw Harrington Jn Lay in right of his wife(inserted)

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Earls Colne Manor Court Rolls (ERO D/DPr80)

(Monday 28 October 1678)

document 39900484

whereas at a court here held 27.12.1676 Thos Brewer was admitted to him and his heirs to one cottage with a way and a yard parcel of a tenement called Francis now at this court came the said Thos Brewer and in full court surrendered by the rod into the lord's hands by the hands of the steward the said cottage and yard with appurtenances now in the occupation of the said Thos to the use of the said Thos Brewer for the term of his life and after his decease to the use of Kath Brewer his wife for the term of her life and after her death to the use of the right heirs of the said Thos forever who present here in court humbly petitioned admittance to whom the steward delivered seisin etc to have and to hold the cottage and yard aforesaid to the said Thos Brewer and his assigns for the term of his life and after his death to the said Kath and her assigns for the term of her life with the remainder as in the surrender aforesaid of the lord etc and gave the lord for fine etc

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Earls Colne Manor Court Rolls (ERO D/DPr83)

(Tuesday 28 April 1713)

document 41001155

at this court first proclamation of three was made that heirs of Thos Brewer or others who had right to his customary tenement of which said Thos died seised should come into court and lay claim etc but nobody comes etc

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Earls Colne Manor: Fine Book (ERO D/DPr100A)

1725  document 24401741

Thos Belcham son and heir of Sarah Belcham and Jeremiah Waller son and heir of Mary Waller which said Sarah and Mary were sisters and coheirs of Thos Brewer admitted by moieties to a cottage in Holt St fine    

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Earls Colne Manor: Fine Book (ERO D/DPr100A)

(1725)  document 24401767

Thos Belcham 1725 admitted on surrender of the said Jeremiah Waller to his moiety of the said cottage and paid fine for the whole in all 1li

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Earls Colne Manor Court Rolls (ERO D/DPr84)

(Friday 9 April 1725)  document 41600270

at this court appears to homage that Thos Brewer a customary tenant of this manor died since last court seised of a customary cottage or tenement with appurtenances lying and being in Holt Street parcel of a tenement called Francis and that Jeremiah Waller son and heir of Mary Waller deceased and Thos Belcham son and heir of Sara Belcham which Mary and Sara were the sisters of said Thos Brewer are next heirs to said Thos Brewer which Jeremiah Waller and Thos Belcham present here in court lords by steward granted delivery of seisin by the rod to have and to hold etc giving lords fine etc

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Earls Colne Manor Court Rolls (ERO D/DPr84)

(Friday 9 April 1725)  document 41600304

to this court comes Jeremiah Waller son and heir of Mary Waller who was one of the sisters of Thos Brewer late deceased and in open court surrendered by the rod into hand of lord by permission of said steward all his half of a customary cottage or tenement with appurtenances lying and being in Holt Street being parcel of a tenement called Francis to which premises said Jeremiah and Thos Belcham son and heir of Sara Belcham who was another sister of said Thos Brewer at that court were admitted to half as next heirs of Thos Brewer all his right title interest and claim of said Jeremiah therefore to use of said Thos Belcham his heirs and assigns forever which Thos Belcham present here in court lords by steward granted delivery of seisin by the rod of half said cottage with appurtenances etc.
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 Rental of the Manors of Earls Colne and Colne Priory (ERO D/DPr118)

(1854) document 80000605

title to portion marked b (on sketch plan) 1725 Thos Belsham surrender of heirs of Thos Brewer ( Waller and others).



This is part of a map that shows how the Holt Street tenement had been divided by 1725