Scope and Content
1) copyholders of the manor of Stevington: Robert Tole, gent, John and William Ashburne, Noah Law, cordwainer, Thomas Crane, apothecary, Thomas Morris, mason, Steven Estwick, victualler, Daniel Hipwell, Mark Warner, John Bull, yeoman, John Lovell, grocer, Thomas Cooch, yeoman, John Barratt, butcher, Richard Gilbert, yeoman, of Pavenham; Jonathan Gascoigne, yeoman, John and Edward Mascom, Israel Wheaton, mason, John Wheaton, yeoman, William Bowyer, gent., Thomas Ashton, yeoman, Benjamin Lawrence, cordwainer, Whitbread Cox, yeoman, Daniel Stratton, victualler, William Bunney, horse-dealer, William Smith, labourer, John Odell, yeoman, Sarah Clarke, spinster, John Rubithon, ploughwright, David Stratton, labourer, Thomas Stratton, George Cox, James Lawrence, yeoman, John Pake, John Poole, baker, Daniel Rawbones, Elizabeth Odell, Robert Page, blacksmith, John Cranfield, yeoman of Stevington; Thomas Steffe of Stagsden, yeoman, and Robert Skevington of Stagsden, yeoman; Charles Bithrey of Carlton, gent; John Arch of Thurleigh, yeoman; Thomas Odell of Oakley, yeoman; Martha Stoakes of Biddenham, widow; Lewis Pake of Clapham, blacksmith; George Maddey of Bedford, gent; Thomas Watford of Clophill; John Page of Wellingborough; - Goodman of Wellingborough; Anthony Chester, servant; Robert Taylor of Stonely, Hunts, gent; Edward Reynolds of Marston, Northants, gent.; William Ashton gent of Pavenham [Signature of Ashburn;
2) Thomas Bithrey senior of Carlton, gent, executor of Gideon Bithrey deceased late a copyholder of the same manor.
- The copyholders of the manor of Stevington agree to share, according to the value of their respective holdings, any legal costs that may be incurred by Thomas Bithrey in respect of the heriot due to the lord of the manor on the death of Gideon Bithrey; the lord of the manor having demanded 3 geldings for 3 heriots because Gideon’s holding had been purchased of 3 distinct persons; while ‘by the usage and custom of the said manor time immemorial one heriot only ought to be yielded.’