14th through 16th Century Documents from Agecroft Hall
Deeds & Misdeeds
is the premier exhibition of ancient documents pertaining to Agecroft
Hall. Dating from the early 14th through 16th centuries, this exhibit
is a look back at life in England from a legal perspective. Beautiful
to behold, these well-preserved deeds show that social standing
influenced the interpretation of the law. Spanning 400 years, these
documents are an unusual way to see history revealed.
"Registering land ownership" by Susan Bradbrooke, Guest Curator
Before there was any office for recording ownership of property, the best method was to involve not only the clergy, but also the local community. Memories were long, and local people would recognize any changes. The exhibit deeds show how the Radcliffe family “registered” their ownership/tenancy of the Manor of Prestwich. December 1348. Richard de Radcliffe “gives, grants and confirms” his manor of Prestwich with the advowson of the Church of Prestwich* to Thomas de Clipston, the Rector of Radcliffe Church “With clause of Warranty” This is Radcliffe’s guarantee. The deed is witnessed by at least seven of the local gentry. * The advowson gives the owner - Radcliffe - the right to appoint the priest and is very valuable.
December 1348 (same day as above). Radcliffe appoints Thomas de Strangeways as his attorney “to deliver seisin” to Thomas de Clippston. This would be done in public before as many of the local people as possible - probably on market day. The lawyer, Thomas de Strangeways - would take a section of turf or a handful of soil from the land being granted, and publically hand it over to the clergyman with the first deed. Thus all the local people would be able to confirm the grant.
March 1349. Thomas de Clipston, the rector, grants the property back to Richard de Radcliffe in front of witnesses, but with the following addition “and Isabel his wife and the heirs between them lawfully begotton.” This establishes the legality of Richard’s - probably - second wife and his wishes for the inheritance by her children.
These transactions were just after the first outbreak of The Black Death when an average of one in three people died. It was probably important to establish exactly what the Radcliffes owned and who the heirs were.
NB. If only the first deed survives, inexperienced genealogists may assume that Radcliffe really did give all his land to the Church.
