House history research - old indentures and deeds

[CarolineTheChemist]

I’m doing some research into the history of our house and have been able to get some copies of some old indentures and wills from the early 17th and 18th Centuries from our local archives. Some of the stuff is interesting, but most of it is very hard to accurately decipher. Lots of “aforesaid” this and “thereof” that, bizarre handwriting, inconsistent spellings and very old fashioned phrasing.
Does anyone have any experience with this type of old house research. Any contacts or recommendations on how I can get some help in transcribing/understanding what the docs say?

 

[Drayton]

I'm not at all up to speed with online sources but this looks as though it has a useful list of both printed and online information

Land and Property Records including Title Deeds - GenGuide

Documents recording various methods of conveying property or land proving entitlement to ownership. Up to 1926...

www.genguide.co.uk

and this looks as though it might be helpful (though I haven't gone through it):

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manusc...searchguidance/deedsindepth/introduction.aspx

Others with more recent experience will doubtless be along soon.

Otherwise ask at the local archives if you have not already tried this.

 

[Kearn]

Last time I did this for our previous house, the local records office where I was trawling had someone who was capable to translate - for a fee. There’s an art to not just reading, but interpreting in context of the history rather than just reading the script. If your local records office can offer documentary research, then that’s the starting point…

 

[Willsa]

I have the original deeds of my house. Not as old as some of your properties - 1870.
But what a beautiful piece of paper scroll to behold! Calligraphy handwriting, stamps, coats of arms.
I shall not boil soap, take up leather-working, dig for clay, fire bricks or dispose of night soils in my garden. Solicitor should have pointed that out during the purchase - no hobbies, no life now.

 

[paulc]

II shall not boil soap, take up leather-working, dig for clay, fire bricks or dispose of night soils in my garden. Solicitor should have pointed that out during the purchase - no hobbies, no life now.

I can not keep pigs, brew or sell alcohol, or run a brothel... One of those conditions, I have broken on multiple occasions

 

[Mrs McG]

It might be worth checking if there’s anything published on your area too, if so then it might reference sources that you could use.

 

[Zebra]

I tried in my local archives, and found a listing in the census of c.1850, but nothing earlier unfortunately, and there's no deeds before 1928.

 

[CarolineTheChemist]

Thanks gang! I will contact the local archives to see if they can translate.

 

[LadyArowana]

Now I'm all upset again. Any time original deeds get mentioned I'm reminded that the people we purchased from had them and our not very good solicitor didn't follow up on getting them returned from Land Registry. Gutted. We have a bunch of later ones, but the 1767ish all gone. I wondered if they were somehow kept somewhere but no idea how to check. I did an online request but just modern Land Registry things, nothing historic

 

[philpjuk100]

" the house beyond the smithy" well there was only one and hats where we live. Dated by buildings archeologist as a 1350/1400 medieval thee bay hall house, Not seen any headless spooks, the house then became a wheelwrights James WrightMedieval & Tudor Period Buildings Group
·
"It is not possible, in words that sit soberly on a page of print, to express the moment of sheer excitement of seeing for the first time a medieval building hitherto unrecognized." ~ Maurice Barley
A sentiment that I know only too well from Blacksmiths Lane, Kelham, Notts (smoke-blackened rafters pictured). Listed as being a seventeenth century building, intensive survey of this private house yielded significant evidence of a three-bay, early fifteenth century hall house.
Looking forward to giving the Maurice Barley Lecture this evening in the great man's honour