A detailed knowledge of the lives and characters of earlier owners always adds immeasurably to the charm of an old house.
Research in the appropriate sources can often lead not only to a clearer picture of life in the house, but sometimes to precise information about the original construction and alterations of the building.
The people who lived in the houses are always interesting and the best records for finding out about these people, whether they be worthy and upright citizens, or knaves and scoundrels, will be those of the Chancery court, where conversations between family members are sometimes given verbatim, occasionally with reference to individual rooms such as ‘the chamber above the hall’.
Chancery records will help to bring the former owners and inhabitants of the house to life.
Previous ProjectsSusan Moore specialises in manor houses and farmhouses although the history of a medieval house in the heart of the city of Wells was an enjoyable, and successful, aberration. Projects have included identifying the construction date of a large 17th century manor house in Oxfordshire, the history of the owners and occupiers of the earlier houses on the site of a Dorset public school (which involved smuggling!), and the history of a 16th century farmhouse in Kent which identified the date of renovation in the 1720s.
Example extract from Chancery Records
The complainant John Breedon was very much in beer and fuddled when he came into the pantry which the deponent noticed by his staggering and by his talk, and he could scarcely go out of the pantry when he was in it, therefore he believes he was very much distempered with the liquor or fuddled when the settlement was sealed and therefore could not understand the endorsement.
That same day the complainant John Breedon and Mr. Deane and the rest of the company at the said house with his master drank very hard of stale beer before John Breedon the complainant came into the pantry.
He did not perceive his master John Breedon of Bear Court to be disguised in drink. He knows all this to be true as he was then butler to John Beare of Bear Court and carried the liquor as it was called for. He thinks the complainant John Breedon took horse for Reading that night.
It is often said that you can trace your family history using online sources.
To a certain extent you can, but you will be missing a vast array of potentially useful sources held in local and national archives.
Susan Moore can help with these, and will search deeds, maps, court cases and other records that can help distinguish between different members of the family, or just to find out more about the lives of your ancestors.
It is in family history that Chancery records are really essential as they can recite several generations of a family with cases starting with the words ‘my great grandfather’. Not only will each generation be described, but absolute clarity will be given between ‘my grandfather John’, ‘my uncle John’ and ‘my brother John’.
Many manorial histories have been compiled by Susan Moore, usually for those who have recently become a Lord of the Manor, and wish to know more about their particular manor.
Maps of course are a fundamental part of any village or manor history.
Chancery cases can also include signatures, birth dates, marriage dates, ages, or as in the example image.
Edward Badcock of the age of thirteen years or thereabouts, Thomas Badcock of the age of ten years or thereabouts, Lavinia Badcock of the age of eight years or thereabouts and Georgiana Badcock of the age six years or thereabouts.
Chancery cases can also provide much information on a much wider family
Anthony Wickham (the late husband and administrator of Jane his late wife deceased, late Jane Newman and the widow and executrix of the said Henry Newman deceased), Francis Newman Esq., (another of the brothers of the said Henry Newman deceased), Thomas Brodrep and George Dodington Esqs (the trustees named in the marriage settlement of the said Henry Newman Esq.) Thomas Wickham clerk and Elizabeth his wife (mother of the said Jane Newman formerly Jane Wickham), Francis Newman the younger, Ann Newman, Charles Newman and Henry Newman (who are all and only the sons and daughter of Charles Newman gent deceased who was also another of the brothers of the said Henry Newman deceased, and Eleanor Newman widow (the mother and administratrix of the said Charles Newman deceased).
Apart from the ‘run of the mill’ sources referred to above, a recent project involved detailed searches of the East India Company records to identify pieces of furniture brought back from India to London that are still in the family.
The history of a house or family can often be expanded into the history of the whole village or manor.
This can be huge undertaking, but Susan Moore can help with identifying and reading the deeds, court records, early tax records, so that gradually a complete history can be created, often far more informative and detailed than anything there may be in print.
Projects have included the history of a Somerset village and manor from the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the early 16th century, the history of village and its inhabitants in a remote part of Kent during the medieval and early modern periods, and the history of a small settlement in Cardiganshire for the same period.
A number of projects have involved research in the records of the Crown Estate, which are complicated for the novice, but have now become something of a speciality for Susan, such as the 17th century Parliamentary Surveys of all Crown lands.
Many manorial histories have been compiled by Susan Moore, usually for those who have recently become a Lord of the Manor, and wish to know more about their particular manor.
Maps of course are a fundamental part of any village or manor history.
Local history is an area that has always interested Susan, particularly in relation to the records of the Chancery court.
Research into the origins of a firm of silversmiths in Sheffield resulted in a history of the town’s early industrial revolution.
In contrast to urban history, rural history cannot ignore Chancery records, with their recitation of field names in deeds that have long since been lost, along with detailed schedules of the land values including details of the landowners and their tenants.
Susan Moore has always had a number of academic clients who need research using the records held in the National Archives.
Recently projects have included using Chancery records to identify an 18th century author’s involvement with the publication of a newspaper, and detailed research in the Court of Wards and Liveries for evidence of the late medieval descent of a Welsh barony. These research requests are usually very specialised, and take full advantage of Susan’s familiarity with the records held in the National Archives for the late medieval and early modern periods.
Many projects have been undertaken on behalf of lawyers.
These include locating relevant documents and maps to clarify a boundary dispute, tracing the current and past ownership of lordships of the manor and carrying out research prior to the registration of manorial rights. Recent research has involved the ownership of mining rights in Wales following a Chancery dispute in the 1860s.
It must be made absolutely clear that any research undertaken or documents provided are purely from a historical perspective, and do not in any way constitute a legal opinion.
Testimonials
I must congratulate you on your systematic approach to your research and presentation of the records and report findings, and also the speed and promptness with which you produced your Report.
Susan, thank you for the excellent transcript of the will. I've been staring at the will for years wondering what it all meant - and now everything is crystal clear. Many thanks.
Good morning, thank you very much for your note and all the documents attached. There is so much interesting reading we have learnt quite a bit more about our maternal grand-parents, I know my mother will also be very interested.
Commissioning Your Project
Get in Touch
Contact Susan outlining your request, with full details of the information you already have and what you hope to find
Develop Strategy
A research programme will include an ongoing list of potentially relevant sources
The Research
All work is charged on a time basis, and most research tend to extend to several days, in some cases weeks
The Report
In two parts: full research notes, and a detailed explanation of what has been found, with image of relevant document
