Legal Definitions - court roll

A court roll was a historical document, essentially a detailed ledger maintained by the lord of a manor. It served as the official record of all landholdings within the manor, meticulously documenting who held which parcels of land and the specific conditions, duties, and obligations associated with those tenures. These records were crucial for managing the manor and establishing the rights and responsibilities of both the lord and the tenants.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of a court roll:

• Inheritance and Succession: Imagine a tenant farmer named Elara, who held a plot of land within the Manor of Oakhaven. When Elara passed away, her son, Finn, wished to take over the tenancy. To formalize this transfer and ensure continuity, the manor court would consult the court roll. This record would show Elara's original agreement, detailing the size of her land, the rent or services she owed, and the established rules for transferring the tenancy upon death. The court roll would then be updated to reflect Finn as the new tenant, confirming his rights and obligations according to the manor's customs.

• Resolving Land Disputes: Consider two neighboring tenants, Arthur and Beatrice, who both held land within the Manor of Willow Creek. A dispute arises when Arthur begins to graze his sheep on a section of pasture that Beatrice claims is part of her tenure. To resolve this, the manor court would refer to the court roll. The court roll would contain the precise descriptions and terms of both Arthur's and Beatrice's landholdings, including any specific rights or restrictions regarding grazing areas, thereby clarifying whose tenure included the disputed pasture.

• Manor Management and Revenue Collection: The Lord of the Manor of Stonebridge needed to assess the total annual revenue expected from his tenants, which included various rents, services, and fees. He would regularly consult the court roll. This comprehensive record listed every tenant, the specific parcel of land they held, and the exact obligations (e.g., monetary rent, days of labor, specific goods like grain or livestock) associated with each tenure. This allowed the lord to accurately track his income, manage the manor's resources, and ensure all tenants were fulfilling their agreed-upon duties.