The Municipal Records of Tenterden. Part II

( 91 ) THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS OE TENTERDEN. PART II. BY A. H. TAYLOR. THE second record book* is a well-preserved volume bound in limp parchment having the remains of a metal clasp. On the cover is a faded inscription of which only the date 1642 can be deciphered, and on the back—it has been commenced at each end—" Register of proceedings in the Corporation Courts up to 1762." On the inner cover may be seen, " Bought of John Besouth in pater noster Roe att the Gray hownd. This Booke beeing 8 qrs of Demy paper ffor yis is Receued 8s and I doe promise to Re pay ye mony if itt bee nott approved by yose whome it may concerne. Jo. Besouth." I t contains the proceedings at the annual Common Hall for 130 years—29th August 1641—1762, and records many interesting phases of civic and municipal life in Tenterden during that period. A selection of extracts illustrating such is here given. The period immediately following the restoration of Charles II. was one of much trouble for the town. There were controversies and heartburnings between Rye and Tenterden as to the annual payment of the composition; the Court Hall was burnt down; and a certain Robert Gibbon harrassed the Corporation with a series of actions on account of the escape of a prisoner from the common gaol. The fire took place on the 19th March 1660-1, and according to Hasted, was caused by some prisoners who were confined in * For a booke of Record 0 8 0 for bringinge of the same booke from London . .006 (Chamberlain's Account, 1641.) 92 THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS OF TENTERDEN. the room above it. The loss occasioned thereby may be estimated by the following- extracts :— Common Hall, 29 August 1660. At the election of Mayor. Memoranda Delivered to the pnte Mayor, viz' The Chres of H. 7, Edw. 4, and of Q. Elizabeth, the coppy of the Chre of King James, and the coppy of the Chre of the late King Charles. Ve 2 composicons with Rye and Winchelsea; fower keys of y° presse; fower seales of office (whereof one of silver) and three maces of silver (whereof one is guilt) ; fower keys remaine, one with Mr Mayor, one with John Plomer Juratt, one with William Aldcroft comon clerke, and ye 4th with the Chamberlaine, John Adams. Common Hall, 29 August 1661. All that remained was :— Delivered to the pnte Mayor, viz' The coppy of the Chre of the late King Charles, the composicon with Rye, fower seales of office of Mayoralty (whereof one of silver) and three maces of silver (whereof one is guilt). At an assembly or Common Hall held the 12th April 1661 the matter of a new hall and gaol was debated and recorded:— Q. Whether the Courthall and prison shalbe built together in one structure, or whether they shalbe built asunder in severall places. A. That they shalbe built asunder in severall places. I t is now ordred, That it bee referred to Mr Mayor, p. tempore, Peter Short, William Stretton and Captaine Plumer, juratts, Thomas Iggulden, Richard Kyte, William ffurby, Henry Girdler, John Adams, and Stephen Huckstepp, comon1'8, or any five or more of them (whereof Mr Mayor and one of the Juratts to be Two) to consult with such workmen as they shall thinke fitt touching the erection of a Courthall and goale here and to report there sence (sic) of the same at the next Comon Hall. And it is further ordred that the before named psons or any five or more of them (whereof M1' Mayor and one of the Juratts to bee two) shall and doe advise with couucell learned, what is requisite to bee done conc'ninge the Chres of this Towne and Hundred, and to make their report at the next Comon Hall. THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS OF TENTERDEN. 93 A fortnight later the Mayor issued a commission to his Sergeant-at-Mace to summon a meeting of all the Jurats (12) and Freemen (50) of the town to meet—in default of a Court Hall—at his " now dwelling house," when the matter was further debated and a letter drawn up by counsel seeking assistance:— To Mathew Greenland, S'jeant at the Mace and Minister of the Court of our Lord the King there, greeting : These are to require you forthwith to sumon all the Juratts and ffreemen of the Towne and Hundred of Tenterden aforesaid hereunder named psonally to bee and appeare at the now dwelling house of Richard King Esq., Maior, on Saturday beeing the fourth day of May next ensuing by one of the clock in the afternooue. And hereof neither they nor you are to faile at yor p'ill. Dated at Tenterden aforesaid under the seale of office of Maioralty there, the Three and Twentieth day of Aprill anno dni 1661. The order then made as to the rebuilding, etc., ends thus:— And it is hereby further ordred and Decreed that they (as aforesaid) if they shall thinke fitt, shall and may make use of the old Timber of the late Courthall and Goale, and of the pnte Markett Crosse or any part thereof towards the building of the said new Goale to bee erected as aforesaid. The business of the meeting concluded with the following resolution:— Item, it is by this house desired That Edward ffinch, esq., councello 1' at Law, wilbe pleased forthwith to direct and assist William Aldcroft Comon Clerke here in drawing of a Letter thereby to represent our Late disaster and great Losse in having our Comon Goale and Court Hall together with our Charters and Records (then therein beeing) lately burnt and consumed, the same letter to bee written in such language and to bee directed to such gent, as the said Edward ffinch shall thinke fitt. And it is hereby ordred that the said William Aldcroft shall in the name and by the direccons of the Mayor, Juratts, and Coialty of the Towne and hundred of Tenterden aforesaid signe the said Letter as Comon Clerke there, 9 1 THE MUNICIPAL RECOKDS OF TENTERDEN. Additional items of interest on the subject are taken from— " The Accompt of John Adams, Chamberlaine of the Towne and hundred of Tenterden aforesaid, made and yeilded up the 29th day of August, 1661." Receipts. Itm. Left of Iron formerly had for the repaire of the late Comon Goale, 64lb at l a ob. pr lb. . . 00 08 00 Itm. Saved when ye late Court hall & Prison was on fire in Armour & other old rubbish, Iron, 324l h at 1<" pr lb 01 10 00 Itm. Saved at the same time of spikes, 70lh at 2dpr lb. 00 11 08 Itm. Saved alsoe at the same time in Lead & drosse, 200 weight at 1« pr lb 00 18 08 Att ye pulling downe of Timber there saved, 190"' of Iron at ld ob. p1' lb. . . . . . . Itm. More of spikes then saved, 84,b at 2d pr lb. Payments, ffeb. 7 (166y). ffor Iron Worke used about the late Comon Goale of this Towne and Hundred, p1' bill ffor 900 of Bricks used to underpinn yD late prison . ffeb. 11. To Wm Goateley for Timber & for workemanshippe about repairing of the late Comon Goale, pr bill 17 02 00 To Thomas Page and Edward Stockden for watchinge the said Goale beeing then open . . . 00 02 00 March 19. To 12 men to secure the Timber & Iron about the Court hall beeing then on fire . . 00 08 00 Then for bread, beere & candles for them . . 00 05 06 Then to Stockden & Evernden to watch on Rich. Burdon the first night 00 01 00 March 25. Given to Mr Kilburne* for coming • hither & for prsing our Chre & advising M1' Maior & Juratts what then best to be done (Mr ffinche beeing then very sicke) and for his dinner . . 01 02 00 * There is nothing to indicate who this Mr. Kilburne was. It would be interesting to identify him with Richard Kilburne our Kentish Topographer, and it is not unlikely that it was he. He had associations with Tenterden, having been married there by one of the Jurats of the Corporation in 1658, and his abode was at Hawkhurst, some twelve or thirteen miles distant. Perhaps his fame as one learned in old writings led to his being invited to peruse the charter. 01 00 08 00 03 14 01 18 09 00 08 00 THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS OF TENTERDEN. 95 July 11. To Thomas Candy for carrying the greate sell (sic) to the late Court hall, and Timber to yD sd bridge at Preston Hill 00 04 00 August 29. Paid to Widdow Rampkin for ye use of her Parlor at ye Angell* for our Court of Guard & for fire and candles p' bill 00 19 00 Paid for sev'all times cleaning of ye Gatehouse Chamber (our pnte Court Hall) att M1' Maior his house 00 05 00 This last entry shews that the Mayor, Richard King, allowed the Corporation to use a part of his residence in which to hold their meetings. And there was no doubt a " full house " at that of May 4th, as out of the total number of Jurats and Freemen summoned to attend, not more than three are marked " exc." The actions brought by Robert Gibbon were against the Corporation and other persons of the Town and Hundred "for suffering the escape of Edward Caister, late of Tenterden, joyner, comitted unto ye prison of this Corporacon by ye Court of Plees at y8 suite of y° said Gibbon," which escapet led to the following resolutions duly recorded at various Common Halls :— 28 July 1662. Decree that Robert Gibbon's suite shall be defended att ye charge of this Corporacon, & that William Aldcroft shalbe sollicitor therein. 15 December 1662. Decree that Robert Gibbon's second suite, & all other pnt agt this Corporacon shalbe defended (as before). 19 October 1663. Q. Whether the Corporacon shall give an app'ance in the suite of Robert Gibbon in the Chanc'y Court at Dover. A. That this Corporacon shall forthwith write a letter of thanks unto Mr Leiutenant of Dover Castle for his civility to this Corporacon at his last being here; and that in returne of those his * Afterwards called the Six Bells, and in 1770 changed to Eight Bells, by whioh name it is at present known. t Matthew Greenland, the first Sergeant at Mace, appears to have been actually responsible for the prisoner's escape, for which the Corporation sued him, but it was not till 1668 that his son Joseph Greenland finally paid thirty pouuds to the Corporation in settloraent of all suits and actions touching the said escape. 9 6 THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS OF TENTERDEN. civilitys this Corporacon will give order to an Attorney there to give a voluntary app'ance for them in the said Chanc'y Court att the next Court to bee there holden att the suite of the said R. G. 30 November 1663. Decree that Robert Gibbon's third suite & all other agt this Corporacon shalbe defended (as before). 15 January 166|. Decree to indempnifie John Plumer, gent., George Tilden, gent., and Edw. Croydon, gent,, upon yc Bond they entred into for this Corp'acon to p'forme y° decree that hereafter shalbe made by ye Chanc'y Court att Dover in secta Robt. Gibbon, etc. 20 January 166J. Resolved upon ye question that Mr Aldcroft our Sallicito1' shall the next Hillary Terme retaine Sr Wm Wylde, S'jeant att Law, to be of councell for this Corporacon at the tryall of ye accon in ye Court at ffav'sham, coffienced by Robert Gibbon agst this Corporacon. 20 March 166-£. Resolved upon ye question that William Aldcroft our Sollicitor shalbe forthwith ffurnisbed with moneys by ye Chamberlaine here for ye suing out of co^pies of yc two peculiar charters belonging to this Corporacon, videlt, the Ch1' of Henry the Sixth, and ye Charter of Queene Elizabeth for the better enabling us to make our defence at ye tryall of Robert Gibbon his accon against this Corporacon in ye Court at ffaversham. 14 August 1668. Resolved upon the question, That this Corporacon of Tenterden shall before they pay the 35u lately taxed for costs of suite for Robert Gibbon agt this Maior, Juratts & Coialtie in the Chancery Court at Dovor, first p'sent their humble addresse or peticon unto his Royall Highness the Duke of York our Lord Warden att the next Court of Shipwey on the first day of September next, to have the illegall & irregular p'ceedings of attachments forth of the said Court of Chancery to attach the Mayor, Juratts and CSialty by their sev'all bodies wch is contrary to Law (as they are informed by their Councell) referred unto the grave Judgement & eonsideracon of the Judges att Westm1' or unto some of them to be debated before them some time yc next Michas terme and that such member or members of this Corporacon as shall in the meane time be for that cause attached, arrested, or carryed away prisoner unto Dover Castle, shall have fforty shillings of lawfull money of England a peece forthwith paid into his or their hands by y° Chamberlaine of this Corporacon for the time beeing towards defraying his or their respective charges / * . i 1 •'• v. • , • • •••^•- .:•• *? A/ j S 'A 4 . ' / : . Ill . ••_) ...• ,r v . ":)-»:y TENTERDEN SEALS: 1. Bailiff's Seal. 2 and 3. May. THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS OF TENTERDEN. Ill for 1880, pt. i., 66, and in "English Municipal Heraldry" by W. H. St. John Hope in the Archceological Journal for 1896, vol. 54, p. 179. The latter account is of interest, and is quoted here because it supplies an expert account of the heraldry:— " On the reverse of the Tenterden seal, which dates from the charter of 1449, is a shield in base where the arms of the Corporations are usually placed, bearing on a bend between four lions' heads erased, three estoiles of eight points. These are the arms of Thomas Petlesden, who was the first bailiff under the new charter. Despite their obviously personal character, it is curious to find that their position in the place of the corporate arms should have led to their subsequent use as the arms of the town ; at any rate they are displayed as such on the sail of the ship which forms the device of the seventeenth- century mayoralty seal. On the seal of 1449 the ship has on the sail the arms of the Cinque Ports, of which Tenterden was a dependency." P. 105. This "single sheet" has reference to a curious incident. John Plummer and Anthony Bodle were each chosen Jurats on the same day, 29th August 1656. Plummer was first elected, but being absent through sickness, did not take the oath till the 15th September following. Bodle was then elected, and being present was " sworne accordingly." A few years later, when their turn came to fill the Mayoral chair, a question of seniority appears to have arisen, and was referred to counsel for his opinion ; which was, that Plummer being first elected Jurat should be Mayor first, to which office he was accordingly chosen 29th August 1661. Bodle in the normal course should have served the year following, but on the 28th August 1662—the day before he was to have been chosen Mayor—he was with three others (see Arch. Cant., Tol. XXXII., p. 299) displaced from the Corporation for refusing to take an oath declaring the Solemn League and Covenant to be void. He never served as Mayor of Tenterden, whereas John Plummer occupied the chair six 112 THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS OF TENTERDEN. times, dying during his term of office in 1680, in which year Mr. Bodle also died. In the first portion of this article (see Arch. Cant., Yol. XXXII., p. 295) I gave the name of Edward Boys as having re-written the list of the earlier Bailiffs in 1632. I was led to do this through finding the following entry in the Churchwardens' Accounts : " Payd Edward Boyce for writing the booke . . . 0 3 0," but have since found numerous papers in the same writing as the list shewing that E. B. was Edward Bradshaw, who was one of the Sergeants-at- Mace 1639—1652. He was a man of ability and intelligence and was employed in the Town Clerk's office in writing accounts, including the Chamberlain's Account for the year 1652, which the Town Clerk endorsed "Written fairely and formally by M1' Edw: Bradshawe." The credit of having preserved the civic roll of Tenterden is therefore due to Edward Bradshaw. I desire to express my acknowledgement of the courtesy of the Town Clerk, J. Munn Mace, Esq., who has on more than one occasion favoured me with opportunities of seeing the records; and latterly, during his absence on active service (being Lieut.-Col. commanding the 5th Buffs in Mesopotamia), his brother, H. B. Mace, Esq., the Deputy Town Clerk, has continued the like courtesy. I am also much indebted to the Vicar, Churchwardens and Yestry Clerk for their kindness in permitting me to inspect the contents of the old chest standing in the church.