Post by trencrom on Nov 19, 2007 4:08:12 GMT -5
These strange-sounding documents are actually records of land sales. In order to avoid various feudal charges and complications in the medieval system of land dealings, one strategy used to convey land without too much additional expense was to instigate a fictitious lawsuit whereby the "querent" or purchaser "sued" the "deforciant" or vendor for the land in question, and then the parties "settled" the suit before the case came to court, with a description of the terms of settlement being lodged with the Chancery as a record of the outcome.
The "final concord" so arrived at was described in a document which was written out in tripilcate on one sheet pf paper, of which one part was retained by the querent, another by the deforciant and the bottom copy or the "foot" was lodged with the court. Hence the name "feet of fines".
The Feet of Fines for Devon and Cornwall have been transcribed and published in a series of volumes published by the Devon and Cornwall Record Society (DCRS)
They often have genealogical information not available elsewhere, although the amount of this can vary greatly from fine to fine. In some cases it is minimal, in others extensive.
Much of the genealogical information therein is contained in the portion of the fine that describes the "remaindermen", i.e. those who would inherit the land after the deaths of the original querents. There is usually a series of such potential heirs listed in order. So we might read that John Richards was to hold three acres of land at St. Ives and with remainder to John's children by Mary his wife, and in default of such heirs to William brother of John, and his heirs, and in default of the same to Richard another brother of John and his heirs, and so on. We therefore learn that John's wife was Mary, and he had brothers William and Richard, who were all living at the date of the fine, which is always included on the record.
The "final concord" so arrived at was described in a document which was written out in tripilcate on one sheet pf paper, of which one part was retained by the querent, another by the deforciant and the bottom copy or the "foot" was lodged with the court. Hence the name "feet of fines".
The Feet of Fines for Devon and Cornwall have been transcribed and published in a series of volumes published by the Devon and Cornwall Record Society (DCRS)
They often have genealogical information not available elsewhere, although the amount of this can vary greatly from fine to fine. In some cases it is minimal, in others extensive.
Much of the genealogical information therein is contained in the portion of the fine that describes the "remaindermen", i.e. those who would inherit the land after the deaths of the original querents. There is usually a series of such potential heirs listed in order. So we might read that John Richards was to hold three acres of land at St. Ives and with remainder to John's children by Mary his wife, and in default of such heirs to William brother of John, and his heirs, and in default of the same to Richard another brother of John and his heirs, and so on. We therefore learn that John's wife was Mary, and he had brothers William and Richard, who were all living at the date of the fine, which is always included on the record.
