Legal Definitions - hundredor

A hundredor was a historical term used in England to describe an individual who held a specific role within a "hundred," an ancient administrative division of land. These roles were primarily connected to the local justice system and governance of that particular hundred. A hundredor could be:

• A significant landowner (freeholder) within the hundred who was eligible to participate in, or even preside over, the local hundred court.
• A resident of the hundred who was qualified to serve on a jury for legal cases that originated within that hundred.
• An official, such as a bailiff, responsible for administering the hundred and overseeing its court.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of a hundredor:

• Scenario: A Local Landowner Presiding Over a Dispute
  Imagine a time in medieval England where two farmers from the Hundred of Chiltern are in a dispute over a boundary line. Sir Reginald, a prominent landowner with extensive property within the Chiltern Hundred, is called upon to help mediate and decide the case in the local hundred court. In this capacity, Sir Reginald acts as a hundredor, leveraging his status as a freeholder to administer local justice.

• Scenario: A Villager Serving on a Jury
  In the Hundred of West Derby, a case arises concerning a merchant accused of selling underweight goods. Thomas, a respected carpenter who lives and works within West Derby, is selected from among his peers to serve on the jury for this trial. Because he is a resident of the hundred where the alleged offense occurred and is empaneled for the jury, Thomas is fulfilling the role of a hundredor.

• Scenario: An Appointed Administrator of the Hundred
  The King's local representative appoints Lord Edward to oversee the collection of taxes, maintain order, and manage the administrative affairs of the Hundred of Offlow. Lord Edward is also responsible for convening and presiding over the hundred court to address minor local grievances and enforce customary laws. In this official capacity, Lord Edward functions as a hundredor, acting as an officer with jurisdiction over the hundred.