Manorial Records

The manor was essentially an administrative unit of a landed estate, varying greatly in size from a few acres within a single parish to manors covering many square miles and several whole parishes. Its records are a vital source for local, social and economic history and for pre-16th century genealogy but the manorial system never covered the whole country and so there are not necessarily records for the place in which you are interested. Until 1733, the records are likely to be in Latin with difficult handwriting.

Manorial courts (courts baron or halmote courts) regulated the administration of the manor by enforcing local customs and agricultural practices, settling minor disputes and debts and transferring property rights, notably copyhold tenure, where a tenant's legal title was based on a copy of an entry on the court roll. All tenants of the manor were meant to attend and could be fined for not doing so. Courts known as courts leet had certain rights of criminal jurisdiction that otherwise were dealt with by the hundred (sub-division of a county) court and of appointing some local officials. Proceedings of both types of court may be recorded on the same roll.  When copyhold tenure was abolished in 1922, the manorial court system effectively ended.

Hollinsclough was within the estate of the Harpurs of Calke Abbey. The Court Baron met twice a year at Hayesgate, near Hulme End. To be headborough or frankpledge for your parish was a duty, not a privilege. The spellings are all copied from the original documents. Holesclough and its variants are early spellings of Hollinsclough.

Matlock Record Office

Harpur Crewe Archive

Extracts from Manorial  Court Rolls – Hayesgate Court relating to Hollinsclough.

Mostly to do with agricultural disputes & duties -roads, fences etc

HB = Headborough

FP = Frankpledge

Frankpledge -The system by which each member of a tithing was responsible for the good conduct of, or damage done by, every other member.

Headborough – representative, leader of their village

Lay a pain – warn a transgressor of what their punishment will be

Amercy – impose the penalty

D2375M/57/1

Early ledger starting in the late 1500s.  Mainly in Latin & hard to read. I found it hard to make any sense of it, even as to the year.

Manors Evidence of Alstonfield Warslow & Longnor

John Harpur anno reign Elizabeth

Court in Alstonfield

Recognisable names Laurentius Naden Thomas Naden Laurentius Redfern Roger? Francis Chapman John Bennet William Wardle  & John Wardle  of ????? ex hamlet ?? tenants of ? residents….

1587 FP Thomas Naden hamlet of Heathylee & Holesclough

1588  ״

1589 Joseph Frost

1590 George Goodwyn & Joseph Frost

1591 Joseph Frost

1592 Joseph Frost & Hugo Tonycliffe

1593 ״

1594 Jacob Goodwyn Hugo Tonycliffe

1595 Thomas Bagshawe Jacob Goodwyn

1596 ״

1597 ״

1598 _____

1599 Robithus Redfern Roberthis Wood

Item That John Naden of Holesclough Francis Naden & John Bennett shall make their fence between the little field & the lane in ?????? called Colyshawe sufficiently before the 10^th day of May ??? the same upon payne any of them for any default ?s ?d

1600 42^nd year of reign  Joseph Johnson

1601 Joseph Naden Joseph Sutton

Obit Thomas Naden tenent of Holesclough heriot

1602 ״

1603 ? Dranfield & Humphrey Naden – jurors

Thomas Brunt FP for High Frith

Obit and Heriot  Helena Naden wid tenent of Holesclough

1604 William Naden Thomas Hayfield? George Chrystlow

Joseph Bennet FP

Richard Naden jun Holesclough to make sufficient way through the encroachment late made or to pay 6s

1605 Francis Naden and Joseph Bennett

1606 Richard Bestwicke          

1607 George Chrystlow of Holesclough

1608

1609 William Naden and Robertus Harrison

1610 Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee William Yate

1611

1616 10^th April Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee Thomas Bagshaw

October Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee Thomas Johnson and Humphrey Naden

1617 October Humphrey Naden

1618 April Humphrey Naden

1619 Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee Roger Booth and Robert Brough

1620 May Robert Brough

October Robert Brough

1621 October Thomas Mellor

1622

1623 April Joint Frankpledge with Quarnford Franciscus Naden

Heriot John Naden tenant Holesclough

We lay a paine that William Brunt shall remove John Hadfield? And his familie from Wilshaw before Pentecost next upon paine to forfeit 10s

October Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee Thomas Bagshawe

We lay a payne that Ffrancis Naden surveyor of the highways for Hollisclough that part of the wall at Longnor Bridge allotted unto the inhabitants of Hollisclough to be sufficiently made before the second day of November upon payne to forfeit 20s

1624 April Hugo Tonnicliffe Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee

October Hugo Tonnicliffe Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee

1625 May John Fox Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee

1626 William Goodwin Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee

1627 William Cheshire Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee

1628 Laurentius ?

1629 ? Oliver Joint Frankpledge with Heathylee

D2375M/57/2

A manorial document

Court Book

1674 FP High Frithe Joseph Brunt

1675 FP High Frithe William Brunt jun

1676 Joseph Hurdsfield Richard Slacke jun

D2375M/90/2/5

The manor of Alstonfield

To the bailiff of the manor aforesaid and also to German Pole and Edward Green 12^th May 1685

For making default at the Court Leet and Court Baron all 4d

Holesclough: William Cellors, William Moss, John Shaw, Robert Salt, Thomas Wilson, Richard Sutton, Ralph Coates, John Coates jun, ffrancis Chapman, Cornelius Chapman, ffrancis Naden and Thomas Yate jun.

At Michaelmas (same year) all the same people were in default plus Joseph Findlow, Ralph Lomas, William Browne, James Clowes, Samuel Redfern jun and John Waterhouses

April 1686

All fined 4d for breaking the Assize of Ale

Alstonfield: Anthony Mellor, Elizabeth Smith, James Sheldon, Elizabeth Robins

Hope: Henry Bayley

Stanshope Elizabeth Marton?

Above Bridge (Archford) : Richard Harrison

Fawfieldhead : William Yates

Holesclough: Thomas Chapman, Rowland Beswick

Colshaw: Thomas Bagshaw

Quarnford: Elias? Redferne, Edward Bennett, John Greene, John Critchlow

D2375/174/1-2

1697 Rich Coats of Winterside Hollesclough farmer

Amert ffrancis Naden for sleating in Holesclough field unlawfully 3s 4d

Amert William Redferne for the same offence 3s 4d

Lay a pain that Rowland Bestwick and ffrancis Naden turn the water into

it anshant (ancient?) course att Holesclough Bank att or before 24^th November next ? we amercy them 10shillings

1697 April 29^th We amert? George Redferne to be pinner for Holesclough

1698 May 12^th We present William Naden Jun to serve the office of Headborough for Hollinsclough for the year coming.

1700 April 26^th We present Jacobus Clowes to serve the office of Headborough for Hollinsclough for the year coming.

17?? June ?? William Redferne Jun etc

17?? William Slack etc

17?? James Clowes etc

1701 ?? 24^th William Redferne Jun etc

1702 James Clows etc

1703 ?? 25^th ffrancis Naden Jun etc

4^th May 1704 We appoint Andrew Wilshaw to be pinner for Holesclough for this year ensuing. We lay a pain that that the pinfold at Holesclough be repaired before the 20^th day of May or to forfeit 3s 4d. To be repaired at Liberty’s expense.

We lay a pain that they inhabitant within Holesclough shall not tedder (tether?) no cattell within these fields after St. John’s Day. Neither shall they brooke ? for the share of one month and shall forfeit 3s 4d.

We amercy all those persons that belong to grinde their corne at Frith Mill. Who have gone otherways contrary to their custom for every sack 12d

We amercy

1704 Samuel Yates of Moscar in the Liberty of Hollesclough Constable

1704 October Thomas Harrison etc

1705 25^th May Headborough Thomas Hall etc

                        ffrankpledge James Crichlow jun etc

1705 Headborough Joseph Clowes     etc

         frankpledge of Hollesclough ffrancis Hudson etc

1706 19^th April Headborough Joseph Clulow etc

                          ffrankpledge Joseph Clulow etc

We lay a pain that all pinners within the manner of Austonfield doe not exceed twopence A horse A penny A beast and 4d A score for sheep and if anyone exceed these rates to forfeit 40 s to the Lord of the Manner.

1706 23^rd Oct Headborough Tho Salt etc

                       ffrankpledge Tho Crichlow etc

1707 23^rd Oct HB Tho Crichlow jun etc

                       FP Tho Crichlow jun and Tho Hall etc

1708 21^st Oct HB Wiliam Frost and Samuel Plant (Richard Cotes HB Quarnford) etc

                       FP Tho Crichlow etc

1709    21^st Oct HB William Naden etc

                       FP ? Frost jun and Samuel Plant etc

1710    23^rd Oct HB Wm Olliver  etc

                       FP Wm Naden jun etc

1711    25^th Oct HB James Clowes sen etc

                          FP William Olliver jun etc

1712    23^rd Oct HB James Clowes sen etc

                          FP Nicholas Chapman etc

1713 2^nd Nov     HB Joseph Gilbert etc

                           FP Nicholas Chapman jun etc

1714 22^nd Oct HB James Clowes etc

            FP Joseph Gilbert etc

1715 21^st Oct HB Tho Naden etc

                       FP James Clowes jun etc

We lay a pain that Tho Naden shall betwixt now and ? next  make or cause to be made a good and sufficient pare of stocks in ye libertyof Holesclough or else forfeit to ye Lord of the Manor 40s

1716 26^th Oct HB Tho Naden sen for Wid Yate etc

                       FP Tho Naden sen etc

1717 14^th Oct HB Tho Naden jun etc

                       FP Tho Naden jun etc

1718 24^th Oct  HB William Findlow Tho Naden in his place etc

                        FP Tho Naden sen etc

1719 21^st Oct HB Joseph Finlow etc

1720 24^th Oct HB Thomas Crichlow etc

We lay a payne that Richard Cotes shall not sleat no neighbours sheep upon Winterside Bank. If he does he forfeit for every sack of flour to ye Lord of the Manor

1721 24^th Oct HB Thomas Crichlow for John Cheshire etc

We lay a paine that Daniel Browne make a way sufficient at his fields Head neare Wash Gate betwixt now and ye 25^th day of December next or to forfeit 10 s

1722 23^rd Oct HB William Naden etc

We lay a pain upon Charles Bestwick to make the way sufficient at ye head of his fields near ye wash gate betwixt now and ye 10^th of May or to forfeit 20s to ye Lord of the Manner

We lay a pain upon Aron Salt that he repair the road upon Colshaw Side betwixt ? and the 7^th May next or els to forfeit 10s to the Ld of the Mannor.

1723 7^th May HB William Naden etc

We lay a paine on George Lomas to make his fence at Collshaw sufficient before ye 12^th day of June next ensuing or to forfeit 5s to ye Lord of the Manor.

Upon the oath of William Naden Headborrow for Holesclough and According to a former pain in the last verdick wee amercy George Goodwyn Arin Salt Samuell Salt Elias Tonisclif John Nollow severally 10s for not making there fences at Colshaw good and sufficient according to the sd payne.

1723 22^nd Oct HB William Olliver etc

We lay a pain on John Chapman that he either fling? out the encroachment he has lately taken adjoining Richard Bestwick upon Holesclough Moor  or make good and sufficient road through the same for the passing and repairing not only of the neighbours cotts but also for carriage with ? and all other means or shall without molestation to any person that shall have occasion to use the same on or before the 10^th day of June next or forfeit to the Lord of the Manor £1-19-11d

1724 15^th Oct HB James Clowes etc

1725 21^st Oct HB John Chapman etc

We lay a paine upon John Chapman for plowing upon Wardles? Land lying in Holesclough Township that if he does not lay it to his land again before 25^th day of March he shall forfeit 20s to ye Lord of the Manor

We lay a pain upon any person who do teather any horse in Hollesclough Townfield after 25^th day of July for every such offence shall forfeit 10 shillings to the Lord of this mannor.

1726 HB Joseph Gilbert etc

1727 27^th April HB James Clowes etc

1727 9^th November HB James Clows

We lay apayne on every Headborrow that he brings in a list of those in their specific liberties that make use of the Common being Certificate men either by turning on cattle and getting Turves and Peats contrary to a former payne and to give it up to Jury the next Court Leet and Baron to forfeit to the Ld Manner 10s each

1728 May 16^th We amercy those persons that come in with certificates within ???? liberty of Holesclough viz ???? Richard Mottram Roger Naden Moses Chapel Cristopher ffinney Abraham Ros having no right ????? every one of them severally three and fourpence A piece.

1728 14^th October HB Thos Naden

1729 23^rd October HB George Lomas

1730 22^nd October HB Abell Mellor

1731 7^th October HB Thomas Naden

We lay a paine upon Arthur Slack overseer of ye Highways for ye Liberty of Holesclough that he repaire the high ways within the Liberty of Holesclough before the twentieth day of October or else to forfeit to the Lord of the Manor ten shillings

1732 23^rd October HB William Brunt

1733 25^th October HB Joseph Brocklehurst

1734 21^st October  ″                   ″

1735 23^rd October HB John Naden

1736  HB William Oliver

1737 3^rd October HB James Clowes

1738 5^th October HB John Chapman Houlscluf

1739 HB Francis Chapman

1740 21^st October HB James Clows

Also We Lay apain upon Francis Chapman & John Beswke Butchers in Holesclough that they Do  of Waste Garbage or Entrails of any kind in    ?????? or shall suffer any Blood from their slaughterhouse to run into a in a Brook within this     ???????? called Holesclough Wood if they or either of them doth this person so doing to forfeit to the Lord of the Mannor 2-0-0

Also Wee Lay apain upon all the Inhabitants of Holesclough that have Dunghills in the Town   within this Mannor That they Remove their respective Dunghills lying within the Townway in Holesclough aforesaid (which be reason of the Steepness of the said Townway wash away and render it impassable) on or before the 1st Day of May next or else to forfeit respectively to the Lord of this Mannor 0 — 10 — 0

Also Wee amerce Francis Chapman & John Beswick for permitting blood & Gerbige from out of their House at Holesclough to the Constant annoyance of all passing along the road and Three shillings & 2d each

1741 26^th October HB Thomas Naden

1742 26^th October HB Saml Yates

1743 20^th October HB William Olliver

1744 11^th October HB Ralph Frost

1745 April 17^th We farther agree that any person who keeps a Dog or a Bitch and dwells only in a cottage Shall pay the Lord of this Manor 5 shillings.

1745 22^nd October Joseph ffinlow  Hollinsclough

We lay a pain of Samuel Yates of Mosker that he make his fence betwixt Mosker Carr and Eld Bottom between now and May Day next or else to forfeit twenty shillings to ye Lord of the Mannor

1746 30^th September HB Parmenius Hurdsfield

1747 5^th October HB Wm Olliver for John Brocklehurst

1748 21^st October HB Wm Olliver

We present George Holmes for the common pinner for Holesclough

1749 12^th October HB John Nadin

1750 10^th October HB  William Olliver

1751 24^th October HB Thomas Naden

1752 We lay a pain upon Rowland Bestwick for forstalling the Rode at Rake Head within Hollisclough Liberty if he do not make it good betwixt now and candlemas next he is to forfeit to ye Lord of the Manner twenty shillings

We lay a pain upon Samuel Naden of Hollisclough if he do not repair his fence between his hay bottom and ye Great Carr in seven days time he is to forfeit ten shillings

1753 HB John Brindley

We amercy Rowland Bestwick of Hollins Clough Liberty twenty shillings by a pain lay’d the last court

1754 October 22^nd  Samuel Naden of Hollinsclough to serve ye office of Headborough for ye year ensuing.

1755 October 14^th  We present William Clows to serve the office of Headborough for Hollinsclough for the year coming.

We lay A pane of William Bennit for Incroaching And Forstalling the High Roade at Brand Top one pound ten shilling if he do not pull it Down in one Month time We Agree of this Virdict

1756 April 12^th  We present Thomas Limer, Pinner of Hollinsclough.

Also we lay a pain on all and evry person and persons within this manor who shall cut or get Fuel on any of the Commons within this Manor before the tenth day of May next of Ten shillings each person who shall so offend

Also we lay a pain on all and every person and persons within this Manor who shall turn on any of the Commons therein any Scab Horse or Horses Mares or Geldings each of them one pound and ten shillings for every Scabbed Horse Mare or Gelding which shall be so turned thereon

1756 November 2^nd We present Obadiah Tunnicliffe to serve the office of Headborough for Hollinsclough for the year coming.

1757 October 17^th We present Samuel Salt of Holles-Clough etc

1758 October 10^th We present Aaron Salt  of Holles-Clough etc

And whereas a pain of one pound and tenshillings was by a verdict of this Court bearing date on or about the fourteenth day of Oct­ober one thousand seven hundred and fifty five laid upon William Bennet for incroaching & forestalling the Highroad at Brandtop if he did not pull it down in one months time then next And whereas the said Grievance hath not as yet been removed we do therefore amercy the said William Bennet one pound and ten shillings for not removing the said Grievance before the end of the said Month altho he had Notice of the said pain to be paid to the Lord of this Manor within one week from the date hereof

1759 October 26^th We present Joseph Findlow of Holles-Clough etc

Also Aaron Salt lays pain of a gate being made not lawful betwixt ye said Aaron Salt and John Lomas and to be repaired betwixt May Day next or to be amerted 10 shillings.

1760 October 24^th We present John Moss of Holesclough etc

1761 October 22^nd We present George Wood of Holesclough etc

1763 October 26^th We present William Clues for  Hollinsclough etc

1765 October 24^th We present Joseph Brunt for Hollinsclough etc

1766 October 24^th We present William Lomas for Hollinsclough etc

Also We lay a pain upon evry person or persons that shall for the future Build upon or Enclose any part of the Common within the parish aforesaid unless such person or persons shall have 4 Acres or more of his own Freehold Estates within the said parish The pain to be Ten pounds to the King & Forty Shillings per month to the Lord of the Manor to be paid by the offendr so long as he shall keep possessiion of the said Encroachments

Also We lay apain upon every Officer of Township where they usually have Town Stocks & Pounds that do not keep the same in proper Repair every Officer or any other Person that shall be found deficient in his duty belonging to the aforesaid The Pain is 5 Shillings for each Offence committed by the Offenders

Also We lay apain upon any person or persons that dig for stone or any thing else whereby a pit is made & left open & not filld up within 40 days from opening the same The pain for such offence is 10 shillings to be paid by the Offender as often as he is found guilty

1768 October 24^th We present Samuel Naden for Hollinsclough etc

1769 October 25^th We present Samuel Naden for Hollinsclough etc

We lay a pain upon the Headway leading from Hollins:clough to the Carrs if William Clowes and Joseph Robinson do not scour and clean their ditches in 14 days from the date hereof, they are each of them to pay 15 shillings to the Lord of the Manour . Likewise if the said road is not sufficient repaired before the first day of May next ensuing by the parties concerned therein each offender to forfeit Ten shillings to the Lord of the Manour.

1770 October 24^th We present Samuel Naden serving for William Brunt, Winterside etc

Wm Brunt fined 10 s for non appearance.

1771 We present Samuel Naden of Hollinsclough serving for Joseph Salt etc

1772 October 23^rd We present John Lowe of Hollinsclough serving for Isaac Cotes etc

1776 October 24^th We present Richard Brocklehurst for Hollinsclough etc

1777 October 24^th We present Samuel Naden  for Sam’l Salt for Hollinsclough etc

1778 May 1^st

We present the following persons for having incroached on the Lord’s Waste within this Manor Viz Thomas Salt William Smith Isaac Nadin Jonah Tunnicliffe James Clewe Widow Kidd William Brockleyhurst John Brindley John Bellfield

Francis Dale Richard Bestwick Isaac Tunnicliffe Joseph Tunnicliffe Joseph Brockleyhurst Ezekiel Wood John Lomas Isaac Coates Joseph Gates George Belfield William Brunt George Redfern Francis Nadin Widow Clews & Widow Robinson within the Liberty of Hollinsclough

1778 October 22^nd We present the following person for being encroached on the Lord’s Waste Isaac Lomas of Hollinsclough Liberty.

Samuel Naden Headborough

1779 October 23^rd We appoint Ja? Limer as pinner for Hollinsclough

Samuel Naden Headborough

1780 October 27^th Samuel Naden Headborough

1781 October 26^th Samuel Naden Headborough

1782 October 25^th We lay a pain 3s upon Sarah Clowes of Hollinsclough if she does not repair a piece of fence betwixt her and Sam’l Naden call’d Carrs

Nathaniel Bagshaw Headborough

1783 October 24^th James Clows Headborough

1784 October 22^nd John Salt Headborough

1785 October 27^th Joseph Brunt Headborough

1786 October 25^th John Low Headborough

We Lay amercement of Richard Naden and William Shrigley Junior of Five Shillings Each for Getting Peat & Turf before the 21st of May

We Lay apain of Twenty Shillings on every person who gets Peat or Turf on any of the Waste Lands within this manor if the same is sold or disposed of to any person who is not an Inhabitant of the Manner

1787 October  25^th  John Sellers Headborough

We lay apaine of Twenty Shillings upon any person or persons that keep Geese upon the Common without puting yokes upon the old ones

1788 October 22^nd Isaac Lomas Headborough

1789 October 29^th George Lomas Headborough

We lay Apain upon any person or persons of Twenty Shillings that shall get Turf or peat before the Twelfth day of May

We lay a Pain on all Persons that Oppress the Common by Chase or rechase or Surcharging (viz) by laying Sheep out of the Parish in the Winter and bringing them to the Common the Summer following (Lambs only excepted) Unless they keep as many within Ground the Summer following as they laid out the preceding winter Twenty Shillings for the First Offence

We lay a Pain on any Person who shall keep any Tup or Rigil on the Common between the first of September and Saint Lukes Day Ten Shillings for every such offense

We Lay A Paine upon all persons that shall mark out more ground then they can get in on one day before them peat or Turf A pain of Ten shillings

1790 November 2^nd Henry Pickeril Headborough

1791 September 27^th Joseph Bennet Headborough

1792 September 28^th Abraham Brocklehurst Headborough

For persons who owe suit or service to this court fine 4d for not appearing

1793 October 1^st Jno Milner Headborough

1794 September 22^nd Ezekiel Wood Headborough

Bailiffs Warrant 1794

These 4d fines are for persons who owe suit or service to the court and didn't appear 

To the Bailiff of the Manor of Alstonfield in the County of Stafford

          You are hereby authorized & required to estreat & collect the following Amerciaments made at the Court Leet & Court Baron of Sir Henry Harpur Bart for the Manor aforesaid, held at Hays Gate on the 22^nd Day of September 1794

     Signed by Robert Clynave?

Hollinsclough

1795 October 12^th Joseph Bennet Headborough

1796 October 28^th George Needham Headborough

1797 November 1^st Joseph Wardle Headborough

We lay a pain on a certain ditch between a piece of land called Days eyre and Black Hugh belonging to John Lomas Ten shillings if not opened before Christmas

1798 May 22^nd We present Daniel Bradbury to be pinner for the Township of Hollinsclough.

We lay a pain on Joseph Bennet if he shall not repair a road lately confined by him at Wicken Low or else remove the fence which so confined it or show sufficient cause to the contrary before the 6^th of July next. One pound 15 shillings for such offence.

1799 November 13^th Joseph Findlow Headborough

1800 William Brunt Headborough

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