October 1654

The names of the four and twentie being the Capital Burgesses of the Burrough or towne of Preston, etc

The rest of the elected officials are missing from the original

A meeting of the Great Court Leet was held on the 20th of October, 1654, before Richard Sumpner (Mayor), Roger Sudell^* and George Woodhouse (Bailiffs), and Evan Wall (Steward of the Court). The names of the four and twenty "Capitall Burgesses of the Burrough," forming the "Common Councell" for the year ensuing, are specified.

^*DX 1615 notes that Roger Sudell was a draper in Preston.

The names of ye Jury to enquire aswell for his highnes[s] ye Lord Protector as for ye Maior, Bailiffes and Burgesses of ye Burrough or Towne of Preston.

Presentments:-

1. Artillery is not used or exercised within this Towne accordinge to the forme of the Statute in that case made and provided, And therefore that the pnte [present] Bailiffes shall put the Butts in repaire before ye 2nd of ffebr. next, upon paine of vjs. viijd.

2. The assize of Bred and Ale is not observed and kept accordinge to the Statute in that case made and provided.

3. Mr. Major shall cause his officials to try ye weights and measures within this Towne accordinge to the Statute in that case made and provided before 2nd of Febr next.

4. That the Pinfold called the sheep ffould is gone to decay and ruinated, and that the now Bailiffes do repaire the same with Breecks before 25th of March next upon paine of xxjs iijd.

5. Mr. William Banaster hath not erected a Burgage wch hee suffered to goe to ruin upon the Townes land, at the east end of this Towne, according to the former pntemts of the Inquest of office and Jury of ye Leete in October, 1650, and October, 1653, and to pay ye fine of xxs. already forfeited, and to erect a house there before ye 24th of June next, upon paine of xls., and for every month after, in default, xxs.

6. Mr. Seth Morte shall erect and build upp a Barne, in St. John's Weend, where formerly his Barne stood, upon the Townes land, accordinge to the xxth pntement of ye Leet, in Obr [October], 1653, and that hee shall pay ye fine of xls. already forfeited, accordinge to the said xx^th pntment, And shall also erect one before ye 24th of June next, upon paine of 40s., and for evy month after, in default, xxs.

7. The nowe Bailiffes shall sufficientlie repaire and clense and cause to bee kept cleanse ye well called minspitt well, and ye well call[ed] Goose well, fower tymes in the year, upon paine of evy tyme neglectings vjs. viijd.

8. Lawrence Cowper for a Tusle and blood wipe upon the body of Richard Bayley of this Towne amerce him the said Lawrence in vs.

9. Roger Tomlinson accordinge to the 18th psentmt of the last Leet in that hee hath not removed his stoopes and rails and Asse middinge before the 24th of June last and therefore wee amerce him vjs. viijd. for ye tyme past and that hee shall remove them before 2nd ffebry next upon paine of vjd. viijd and for evy month after soe neglectinge vjs. viijd.

10. John Nicholson & his wife & one child harboured by Geoffrey Lomax at Spittle Mosse who keepeth Alehouse & of evill report and that Geoffrey Lomax shall pay ye fine of xs already forfeited for not removinge them accordinge to the 22th prsentmt of ye last Leet And that hee shall remove them before the first of May next upon paine of vjs. viijd. And that the said Geoffrey Lomax shall pay for every month hee harboureth them after ye said 1st of May 6s. viijd.

11. Mr. James Gorton, Roger Woodroffe, John Higham, John Sudall, Joyner and Richard Turner - that whereas they were Elected Jurors and summoned by ye srt [Serjeant] for ye tyme being to appeare at the Court Leet, holden within this Burrough the xx^th of October, 1654, And did not appeare accordingely, to ye bad Example of the ffree burgesses of this Towne, Therefore, in pursuance of the sevall ordrs of the Guild Merchants, they for their contempt are to bee fyned by the afferors.

13. The Copps along ye weend Leadinge to Minspitt well are slidden downe, wch is a great Annoyance to the Highway and well, from Willm Rydings house downe to the Steele, All wch occupiers of those gardens, vizt, George Berchall, Mr. John Marsh, Bartho. Worthington, Willm Bushell, and George Clarkson, are to repaire and Cleanse their Copps, soe slidden downe, fower tymes in the yere, the first tyme to begin ye 2d of ffebr. next, upon paine of evey one offendinge xijd.

14. Whereas Edward Eccles was Elected and chosen to bee ye Viewer of fflesh and ffish within this Towne for this pnte yere, by the Councell of this Towne, or the major part of them, And that upon Information to us given hath refused to Execute the said office, to the priudice [prejudice] of this Incorporation, Tendinge to ye breach of his oath and the bad example of ohers [others] to offend in the like kind, contrary to sevall orders of guild merchants, Therefore wee referr the same to Mr. Maior and his Bretheren the Councell of this Towne, to fyne him and to doe therin as to their judgements shall seeme right.

15. Roger Tomlinson that he hath incroached upon ye Land of Mr John Marsh by setting a staff hedge at the end of Mr Marshes garden now in the possession of George Burchall wch formerly lay open to the house end of Roger Tomlinson now in possession William Rydinge, And that the said Roger Tomlinson shall remove the said hedge from ye weend to ye Corner of his house next to Mr Werdens hedge being in length 6 yards & a quarter before ye second of ffebruary next upon paine of 6s. 8d unles hee show good cause to ye contrary.

16. Mr James Hodgkinson hath made an Incroachmt at his house in the weend in the possession of Edward Eccles six yards in length & one brick bredth & be rented at ye discration of Mr Maior & his Brethren.

17. Ye psons following shall make rayles and hange yates before their sellars or stayres at or before ye 25th of March next upon paine of 6s. 8d. a piece.

Chrofer Santer, Symon Hynd, Mr Jai Hodgkinson, Sath Mort, Thomas Werden, Mr Jai Gorton, Tho: Orde, Mr John Langton.

18. Ye psons hereafter named are fforayners & that they shall compound & agree wth the Town or bee removed forth of the Town upon paine of evy one making default to forfeit for evy month vjs. viijd.

Geoffrey Taylor & his wife harbored by Tho: ffoole

James Marsden & his brother harbored by Tho: Catterall

Wm Aspinall, his wife & a child harbored by Jo: Worrall

Jo: Short & his wife & 2 children harbored by Wm Blacow

19. Ye supvisors of ye highway suffereth ye Cawsey from ffryergate Barrs to Mr Preston house on both sides is farr out of repair & yt it bee before 2nd of ffebr next well repaired & amended upon paine of xs.

20. Ye sevall psons hereunder written are fforaynors and unfitt members to continue within this towne, and therefore to bee removed before 25th March next, upon paine of evy one makinge default vjs. viijs. :- Margaret ye wife of Geo. Catterall, with child, harbored by J. Crook. Grace Clough and her son, harbored by Luke Hodgkinson. Geo. Preston, his wife, and child, harbored by Tho. Hodgson.

21. Ye psons hereunder written, who being noe free burgesses, and yet havinge inhabited along tyme within this Towne, and cannot conveniently bee removed, to bee caused to give bond accordinge to ye ord'rs of this Towne, and to be stallenged at ye discrecion of Mr. Maior and his bretheren.

22. Anne Ingham shall remove her midinge, lyinge at ye syde of ye Church-gate Barrs, nere ye Myery weend yate, and shee shall remove it before 2d of ffebr next, upon paine of vjs. viijd.

23. Mr. Maior shall cause all ye Inhabitant Burgesses within this Towne, being age 21 yeres and upwards, and as yet hath not taken ye oath of a Burgesse, to bee sumoned to appeare before him to bee sworne accordinge to ye Custome of this Towne. And as many of them as shall refuse soe to doe they to be fyned accordinge to custome.

24. Margeret, ye wife of George Berchall, for lookinge and herkinnge [hearkening] at the windowe of William Dobson, to bee fyned at ye Discretion of ye Afferors. [Fined 1s 6d]

25. Willm. Dobson, for a Chamber pott emptied and throwne out of his windowe into ye backside of Geo. Berchall, to ye great Annoyance of ye said George, to be fyned by ye Afferors. [Fined 1s. 6d.]

26. Yt ye now Maior of this Towne that hee see all theis prsentmts fairly executed accordinge to there intent & meaning through orders to forfeit xls.

Affeered by Edward ffrench, Willm Werden, James Hodgkinson, John Marsh.