MANOR OF MIDLETON CHENY

In Northamptonshire

COURT BARON  of Thomas Ward,
gentleman, farmer of the manor by demise of John late Bishop of Rochester, held
Wednesday 30th October 1696

The HOMAGE:

George Williams,
Matthew Shelleswell,  John Merrivale,  James Jarvis,  Thomas Wilkins,  Thomas Penn,  Matthew Neale,  William Williams,  Richard Cross,  James Hopkins,  Fulk Neale,
Richard Goffe and William Tocty.

At this court it was recorded that Thomas Penn, a customary
tenant of the said manor, and who holds to himself and his heirs of the said
manor ONE hereditable messuage or tenement and one virgate and three quarters of a virgate
of customary land in the tenure or occupation of Robert Penn or his assigns,
died at the time the previous court was held and Robert Penn is his son and
heir and holds the premises... and he came to this court and sought admission
to the premises... and was granted admission to the premises to have and to
hold forever according to the customs of the said manor, paying a yearly rent
of 28s 6d....

To this court came James Dumbleton
a customary tenants of the manor and sought license to demise his customary
lands held of this manor for a term of 99 years to whomseoever
he wished. For this he paid a fine of 2s 6d.

Examined by John Welchman
steward there.

COURT BARON   of Thomas Ward, gentleman, farmer
of the manor by demise of John late Bishop of Rochester held Wednesday 7th
October 1698

The HOMAGE:

George Williams,
William Williams,  Robert
Wise,  John Osborne,  Richard Penn,  William Tooly,  John Evans,  Thomas Mudden,  John Merrivale,  John Tew,  James Dumbleton
and William Gullifer.

To this court
came George Armitt one of the customary tenants
of this court and returned into the hands of the lord of the manor the  moiety of le northside and one selion
pasture in ley in Lippett leyes with the
land of Valentine Evans to the north and a moiety or the eastern part of le yerd  in crumpwell and the land of Joseph Dumbleton on the east part  thence with half a ley
in Merrivales
leyes, with half a yerd
in Springhill in le Cowpasture, and half a yerd in Sladeacre, with half mower in le meadows and common fields,  half of                quarter
part of one virgate land ... to the use and behoof of Thomas Ward, gentleman, farmer of the manor, his
heirs and assigns forever according to the customs of the manor and the rents
thence due and by services there by right accustomed....

At this court  it was presented by the homage
that Thomas Bromitcham who held to himself and his
heirs as a customary tenant of the manor and of the farmer thereof one
customary messuage and half a virgate
of land in Midleton Cheny,
and that after the last court he had died and that a heriot
is owed to the farmer of the manor valued at £2-7-6 and that it be paid
by Elizabeth Bromitcham his widow and afterwards Elizabeth
came to this court and was admitted tenant to the property

To this court  came Elizabeth Bromitcham
a customary tenant of this manor widow and surrendered one quarter part of a virgate of land late of William Bull in Midleton
Cheny to the use and behoof
of Elizabeth Bromitcham, spinster, her daughter.. and afterwards to this court came Elizabeth the daughter and
was admitted to the premises.

Examined by John Welchman, steward
there.