The Manor Court at Dulcote and Chilcote

Chilcote and Dulcote ¹	The Court of the Manor of Anne Dodington, Infant Landlady of the Manor² aforesaid there held the 2nd day of May 1655 by Thomas Trenchard Esquire³, Uncle and Guardian unto the aforesaid Anne, to and for her life	1 the manors of Chilcote and Dulcote were joined at this time under one landholder. Click here for more information. 2 Anne Dodington was 15 years old at this time. She inherited the manor of Dulcote at the age of 4 years 3 Thomas Trenchard was one of Anne's uncles who served as guardian in this instance; other guardians who represented her at court were her other uncles George Trenchard and John Bulkeley
Free Tenants ⁴	Edward Waldegrove knight, burgess⁵and doctor of divinity, and Anthony White, church gentleman, free tenants of this Manor, who upon this day at this Court owe their suit and service, have made default thereof. But by the labour of the Court they are not amerced⁶ because they had not lawful warning	4 Freemen and customary tenants had a duty to participate in this court 5 "burgess" in this case refers to a member of Parliament 6 "amerced" meaning penalized -- this seems to be a standard statement in all the court rolls to excuse the freeman from duty.
Homage⁷	Richard Hodges John Gray Robert Pointing Henry North Walter Holmes John Teek George Howlett William Dodderdale Roger Perrey John Ellis Sworn ⁸	7 homage seems to refer to the people participating in the court -- freemen and customary tenants 8 all participants of the court are sworn in -- the names here are court officers, jurors, witnesses and offenders
The Presentment Of the Homage Penalty set	The Homage aforesaid being sworn, come and by Richard Hodges there, foreman, presented that the dwelling house of Richard Hardwicke is still not repaired for want of the thatching.⁹ Therefore he is again remanded well and sufficiently to repair and thatch the same by or before the next Court, under the order of a penalty of 20s	9 a concern of the court is to help the land proprietor to ensure that his tenants keep their properties in good repair
Penalty set	Also it is ordered that whosoever ¹⁰ shall turn the water stream corrupt for his own cattle, out of its usual course and current, from the washing pool to the park stile, they forfeit and lose to the Lord 4s every time they so offend	10 a new law is being established here for the manor, no doubt in the interest of the health and safety ; the new law is to stop the practice of letting cattle loose in clean water reserves and so spread disease
Penalty set	Also they present that the widowed Teek and Robert Pointing do let their copyhold¹¹ tenements without license contrary to the custom. Therefore they are remanded to appear at the next Court to be held for the Manor, and to agree with the Lord for their heriot¹², under the penalty of 20s apiece	11 "copyhold" land is held by a grant from the lord without lease but established at court and noted on court rolls; so should not be leased out for the profit of anyone but the lord 12 a "heriot" refers to a compensation of money, possessions or services to the lord of the manor; also given at the death of a tenant.
Penalty set	Also it is commanded that William Dodderdale do lay a hanger¹³ at “Mausmead”, against the land of John Teek, by Midsummer Day next, upon penalty of 10s.	13 "hanger" is likely referring to a wooded slope of ground which would create a boundary line; fields were by this time separated by markers, hedges, etc. so that one tenant didn't take more than his due
Penalty set	Also it is commanded of Robert Pointing that he doth replace and set boundary stones¹⁴ at “Magges' Way”, by the 20th of March next, upon penalty of 10 s.	14 another concern was that ancient boundaries or landmarks not be removed
Penalty set	Also they present again the Widow Young, John Ellis and Henry Turner, for casting of earth¹⁵ into the land called Eastland. Therefore they are commanded not to cast any more henceforth, under the penalty of 40 s.	15 this is a concern essentially of littering, blocking, or interfering with public lands or travel routes
	Also they present that since the last Court, Christian Fuller who held of the Lady aforesaid during her life 131/2 acres of overland, died upon whose death the said land is passed into the said landlady’s hands¹⁶	16 should anyone die without heir, their land reverts back to the lord of the manor
	Also they present that since the last Court, Mrs. Anne Westley a customary tenant¹⁷ of the Manor died, upon whose death there of was the view that Thomas Westley, her son is the next to her and ought to be admitted Court	17 as a "customary tenant", she was granted use of the land by copyhold (see above); thus her heir would have to be approved to succeed her by court roll as well
	John Gray Steward¹⁸	18 as Steward, John Gray traveled around to the various courts with one or other of the guardians of Miss Dodington, organizing and producing records of the sessions

May 2, 1655
	"Court is in Session" The following transcript is a composite of portions of 3 Dulcote court sessions held between 1655 and 1660.The words are translated into their modern use and spelling. ¹