Source document description
The Court Leet Records of the Manor of Manchester Part D
Period covered: from 1787 to 1805
World location: UK & Ireland
Country location(s): England
'Region' and/or city location(s): Lancashire, Manchester
Town/locale:
The court leet was a court held at regular intervals within the jurisdiction of a manor.Orignally it's most important function was the "view of frankpledge", by which tenants were held responsible for the actions of others within a grouping of ten households. The court leet was a court of record, and its duty was not only to view the pledges (the freemen's oath of peacekeeping and good practice in trade) but also to try by jury, and punish, all crimes committed within the jurisdiction. It also developed as a means of proactively ensuring that standards in such matters as food and drink etc were adhered to and to deal with those creating a public nuisance such as rubbish, offensive smells etc. Punishments invariably took the form of a fine, though it was usually not collected if the culprit did not offend again.
The Manchester Court Leet met twice a year in April and October. In October the court officers were elected or nominated for the year including a borough reeve, two constables, market lookers or tasters for flesh and fish, for bread, and for ale to confirming the quality and accurate measure of the three types of produce, as well as inspectors of weights and measures and "muzzlers of mastiff dogs and bitches", who also dealt with stray animals. The officers of the court had to be burgage plot holders not tenants. There was a deputy constable and four beadles, who were the only paid officers of the court. A glossary of terms used in the records can be viewed by clicking on the "additonal info" link at the bottom of the page.
Unusually for a town of its size, Manchester was not a corporate town and lacked a mayor or corporation, resembling instead an overgrown market town. In 1788, the Steward of the Leet commented on the increasing difficulty of operating with the growth of population and the reluctance of people to act as voluntary officers. Manchester finally gained corporate status in 1835 by 1846 the town council had taken of the responsibility for the market from the Court Leet. The final meeting of the Court Leet was held on 1 May 1846.
The records follow the same format throughout. At each meeting of the Court a number of jurors and a foreman are selected from those attending and sworn in and their names are listed. The names of those traders who have contravened the regulations and a description of their offence is given along with the amount of their fine. At the end of the record for each meeting is a list of the names of the offenders and the amount their fine. In addition, in the October meeting of the court the names of the various officers elected or nominated for the following year are listed. At the end of the record set is a list of the names of all the borough reeves and constables for the period covered.
The commonest offence brought before the court in this period was having a dangerous cellar hole in the path or street outside one's premises. Other offences include not appearing to serve on the Court Leet jury, using incorrect weights or measures or selling goods in short measure, obstructing the paths or streets in various ways, selling bad meat, selling meat at night time, overflowing drains with foul water, leaving manure in the street, not keeping fences in good repair and extending a building to encroach on the street.
Names given in the records are universally written with Christian name first, followed by surname. As the information on a particular person may continue on to the next page in the orginal text, purchasing a record will also give the purchaser access to the preceding and following pages.
Merchant: Genhound
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