| Located At | Staffordshire Record Office |
| Level | Item |
| Alt Ref No | D1810 |
| Title | Lord Stafford's estates record book |
| Arrangement | The volume was probably rebound at some period in the nineteenth century and end papers inserted. These end papers have now been numbered i-xxvii. Page iv. contains a note on Hentry Lord Stafford, and page xv. a brief index of names of places.The folios of the actual manuscript have two series of numbers, in ink and roman numerals, and probably near-contemporary, the folios are numbered iii. to ccclxix. plus a final folio whose number is illegible.In addition, the folios are numbered in pencil 1-366, and folio 1 also bears the number 117.The inside cover has a small piece of paper gummed to it with 'Heirloom' typed upon it, and 72 in ink. It also has inside a coat of arms (lion rampant, supporters Dexter a lion gorged with a collar with three mullets, sinister a griffin. Motto: Nec Inferior Sequor.Underneath a scroll inscribed Crewe Hall. The Coronet is that of a Baron. The Crewe Barony was created in 1863 and the Earldom in 1895). |
| Description | The documents in this volume may be divided into three types:- 1. Demises of lands. 2. Rentals and accounts. 3. Miscellaneous. 1. Demises of land for various terms and occasionally sales. The "Demises" are of five types, distinguished by their opening phrases:- a. Hec Billa facta apud castrum ... testatur quod ...b. Ad curiam ... venit ...c. Ad auditum ... venit ...d. Ad castrum ... testatur quod ... e. This indenture made ... between ... witnesseth ...a.-d. Would appear to be admissions to lands listed under 'per Copiam' in some rentals, although only b. and at times c. sealed by the sign manual of Lord and Lady Stafford' 'huic presenti copie apposuimus', the others being sealed 'huic presenti scriptum apposuit'. 2. Rentals and Accounts Rentals The rentals vary in the amount of detail given, but most give the name of the tenant and the rent. The tenement is also commonly named, and free tenants, tenants by charter and by copy are distinguished. Acreage is less frequently given. Accounts The accounts are those of the Receivers General of Lord Stafford. The detail given varies from brief summaries to fairly full analyses, but none of them appear to be the accounts of individual Bailiffs or Ministers. 3. Miscellaneous Documents This group includes the following:-D1810/f.83d. Nominations to the Churches of Church Eaton and Castle Church. 1509-1536 D1810/f.117d. Lease of Stafford manor and castle, together with a list of farm equipment, and a detailed inventory of the furniture in Stafford Castle. 1537 D1810/ff. 176-218. [passim] Inquisitions post mortem. 1274-1521 D1810/f.204d. List of the children of Henry Lord Stafford. 1520-1541 D1810/f.219. Patent for the Lordship of Cannock. 1533 D1810/f.221d. Patent for the Lordship of Stafford and Essington. 1531 |
| Extent | 1 volume |