• Reference
    AD961
  • Title
    Indenture of Composition
  • Date free text
    12 Mar 1638 [1639]
  • Production date
    From: 1639 To: 1639
  • Scope and Content
    Indenture of Composition. (i) John Burgoyne of Sutton esq., lord of the manors of Potton regis, Much Manured and Rectory. (ii) 'The freeholders, copyholders, cottagers, tenants and inhabitants' of Potton: list of 69 names given given, including Ralph Bromsall gent., Ric. Parratt gent., Hen. Godfrey gent., Geo. Shires clerk, and Tho. Sheppard clerk. Rec. that Burgoyne as lord of the manors is owner 'of the soyle of a great heath or warren ground' in Potton cd. Potton Warren, which warren 'hath in former times been suffered by the lords of the said manors to lie for a warren of conies'. The inhabitants of Potton 'have used to have common of pasture as well within the sd. warren (except the ground called the Frith) ... at all times of the year for their cattle as also in the common fields .. which said heath or warren ground hath of late years, by composition between the lords of the manors and the inhabitants ... been converted used and occupied in tillage and taken by lease ... since which composition and leases ended .. the said John Burgoyne hath reduced the said grounds into warren grounds and doth use the same for warren for conies ... and since the converting of the said heath or warren into tillage hath heretofore much redounded to the benefit and wealth of all the inhabitants of Potton ...' Burgoyne agrees to allow the warren to continue in tillage. Clauses as to letting, and destroying conies with 'hayes, ferrets and engines'.
  • Level of description
    item