The Stannary Courts were a separate system than the county courts or Assizes and came from the Middle Ages with a quasi-independent system granted to the tin miners and the towns (such as Lostwithiel) where tin was the major industry. In all but the most serious cases, anyone associated with tin mining was governed by the Stannary Courts and Stannary Parliament. It was peculiar to Cornwall and Devon, but the independence and influence waned as the tin mining declined within the last 200 years or so. The UK parliament passed an act abolishing the Stannary Courts in 1896. Rule nisi is a latin legal term. Generally, a rule nisi is an order "to show cause" , meaning that the ruling is absolute unless the party to whom it applies can show cause why it should not apply. David Coppin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Meli" <melibob4@texasbb.com> To: <cornish-gen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 2:52 PM Subject: [CORNISH-GEN] Stannaries Court and Rule Nisi > > > > > Here is another article that I don't understand. What was the Stannaries > Court, what does "rule nisi" mean, and what could the case have been > about? > Would this have been a court in Redruth or Truro? My interest is with > Hugh > Phillips mentioned in the second case. Was the second item also referring > to the Winn & Others v. Spargoe and Others? If so, was Mr. Simmons the > lawyer for John Smith and William Richards...and would they have been > affiliated with Spargoe and others? And then would a different lawyer, > Mr. > Roberts have been representing Charles Fox and Hugh Phillips in the same > case? > > > > west briton advertiser cornwall > 1843 NEWS ARTICLE > 5 MAY 1843, Friday > > THE STANNARIES COURT. > WINN & OTHERS v. SPARGOE & OTHERS. Mr. G. N. SIMMONS said that this was a > case which was heard the sittings before last, when his Honour gave the > plaintiffs till the next sittings to amend their petition. That not having > been done, Mr. Simmons now moved, on behalf of the defendants, John SMITH > and William RICHARDS, for an order to dismiss the petition with costs. > Rule > nisi granted. > > SAME v. SAME. Mr. ROBERTS, on behalf of the defendants, Charles FOX and > Hugh > PHILLIPS, made a similar application. Rule nisi granted. > ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ > > This is all very confusing to me and I do appreciate any insight a list > member might be able to contribute. > > Blessings...Meli in Texas > > > > ------------------------------- > Listmom: ybowers@gmail.com or CORNISH-GEN-admin@rootsweb.com > > Visit the OPC (Online Parish Clerk) web page for transcription information > http://www.cornwall-opc.org/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CORNISH-GEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >