Before lands became enclosed and tenants enfranchised, the manor needed a system of regulation. How were resources to be shared and disputes settled? At the top of the system was the HEAD COURT (the 'Court Leet' or 'Court Baron'). This was presided over by a Steward (or similar title) and consisted of a JURY of yeomen. The jury had the power to make decisions, create local law and punish. They were judge, jury and executioner. Only yeomen could become jurymen, and only a minority were regular members. The manor was, in other words, ruled by an oligarchy. The Head Court dealt with two types of things. First, it dealt with the 'feudal' relationships between the Lord of the Manor and the tenants. The Lord couldn't stop a yeoman from succeeding to the tenancy of his father or from selling his tenancy, but the court could confirm the status quo. This provides valuable evidence to support what you find in parish registers, for the decision of the jury would be recorded as [names/places invented]: "We find John Tyson deceased since the last Court holden, and we find Robert Tyson his Son, heir to his father, of one messuage & tenement called Moorside, being of the Annual Rent of Six Shillings and Eightpence" or "We find Matthew Taylor purchased from his father Cuthbert Taylor of one half messuage and tenement at Bogyeat being at the Annual Rent of One Shilling and Sixpence Halfpenny according to the Indenture" The last example might suggest that Cuthbert was making sure that both his sons inherited and that both remained yeoman, entitled to all manorial privileges. Maybe they actually ran the farm together, or maybe Matthew earned his living as a tailor or some such. And the second job of the Head Court? Well, I'll deal with that in another post. to be continued ... [Comments, additions and criticisms welcomed] Chris chris@dickinson.uk.net