the cleft follows a subterranean course for nearly a mile. Mr. Farrer's Caves are on the line, and have been explored for half a mile. A long account will be found in Phillips' Yorkshire. Alum Pot, near Selside, Hull Pot and Hunt Pot, near Horton, with others of that district, must be treated of in another paper. KING'S MANOR HOUSE, YORK.-About a hundred years ago, part of this house was a well known ladies' school, and daughters of county families were pupils. Lady Mexbro' (Miss Stephenson) was a great beauty, grandmother of the present Lord Mexbro'. The following lines are written on panes of glass: B. Duncombe came to the Manor, 1786. Ann Robson came to the Manor, July 31st, 1789. Jane Robson came to the Manor, September 3rd, 1789. Kitty Collins left the Manor, June 21st, /92. Wharton. I love Miss Parker and Miss Walker. A. M. Armytage. Ann Coates, Stokesley, 1813. Sweet Mr. Orde. Had I been Paris & Miss Senhouse there Had I been Paris & Lady Mexbro' there Richardson & Duncombe if you love me as I love you, I never shall be forgot by two, I hope Dame means to let me go to another play this winter. Nothing is so disagreeable to me as Croft's silly humour. Askew. A Musgrave came to the Manor, 1813. M. Seaton came 1810. Shun all men. E. T. A. Coates, 1813. Records of the West Riding. The steps recently taken by the Court of Quarter Sessions in connection with the records of the West Riding in the custody of the Clerk of the Peace have brought to public notice how extensive and important is the collection possessed by the riding. Mr. Francis Darwin moved some time since for the appointment of a committee to report as to these records. Upon the request of the committee the Historical Manuscript Commission deputed Mr. J. Cordy Jeaffreson, who is well known as an antiquarian expert, to investigate the subject. We learn from his report that the records comprise the following documents, viz: 1. Sessions rolls from the year 1669 to the present time. 2. Indictment books from the year 1637 to the present time, in 109 volumes. 3. Order books for the same period, in 65 volumes. 4. Registers of estates pertaining to Catholics in the 18th century, and of awards under Acts of Parliament for enclosures and other public works, with indentures touching the same. 5. Plans and reference books touching turnpike trusts, public roads, canals, railways, bridges, and other public works. Following Mr. Jeaffreson's suggestions, the magistrates have caused a catalogue to be made of the entire series of sessions rolls and their contents. Referring to the catalogue, we find that the sessional rolls are about 2400 in number. Throwing as they do a great amount of light upon our local, and indeed, we may say, our national history for the past 200 years, we think some account of the contents of these rolls will not be without interest to our readers. Among the most important classes of documents to be found in the rolls may be mentioned indictments and the various papers relating thereto, convictions, orders, with petitions and various other documents bearing upon them, sacramental and other certificates. In addition to these there are numerous other papers too varied for any brief classification. Referring to the indictments, it is remarkable how great a variety of subjects were formerly dealt with. The ordinary classes of crime are common to all periods, but we find that matters of what are now thought to be of domestic or private concern were once considered proper to be tried by a court. It would appear that the morals and manners of our ancestors were much better cared for than is the case now; thus, there are presentments for non-attendance at church, and records as to the observance of various religious ordinances, the swearing of profane oaths, and the like. Among similar orders it is recounted that one Sarah (we forbear giving her full name) was some 200 years back found to be a common scold," and ordered to be set on the Market Cross at Wakefield, with a paper on her forehead signifying her offence. Of a different class are the numerous indictments relating to the decay of bridges and highways. Their importance even at the present day is very great, and they have to be referred to not unfrequently when questions as to the liability to repairs have to 66 be decided. Those whose business it becomes to make a search for the more ancient indictments will doubtless welcome the assistance of the catalogue. Turning to the orders and petitions much curious and interesting matter is met with. Here are petitions for relief by townships and persons desiring grants of public money under various circumstances. Townships complaining of the heavy burden of maintaining their own poor and seeking assistance, or again asking for relief by reason of the destruction of roads and bridges by storm and tempest, or for briefs to enable them to raise contributions towards the rebuilding of churches, &c. Private individuals supplicating for gratuities where they had lost goods or stock through divers untoward events, such as accidents by fires, flood, or drought, or on account of illness or poverty, plagues to man or beast, and indeed in case of almost every species of misfortune which might betide. It is needless to point out that this species of what may almost be called paternal jurisdiction has now in a large measure passed away, its place having been taken by other agencies; but these accounts are interesting as illustrating the gradual growth of our institutions and the way in which justices have been found to accommodate themselves to progressive advances of the times. The difficulties connected with Papists are demonstrated by the mass of petitions, informations, recognisances, and other documents concerning them, and by the references to proceedings at conventicles and unlawful assemblies. The numerous records of fines, penalties, and other punishments indicate the severity of the Papist persecution as carried on at the close of the 17th century. Passing on to a later period we meet with documents bearing upon the troublous times prior to the Restoration, aud shedding much light upon the history of bygone days. Coming to the 18th century, when so much alarm was created by the Pretender, the justices and other authorities appear to have been very active, and we find various papers touching the rebuilding of beacons, the setting of watches, and of grants of money to compensate for losses incurred in assisting (sometimes under compulsion) in the transmission of baggage and troops. At an earlier date there appear to have been frequent petitions from "lame and disabled soldiers" for grants of pensions, their claim being generally that, having been disabled or wounded when serving under Charles I. against Cromwell, they had since fallen into destitution; the pension granted was usually forty shillings per annum, raised by special estreat upon the respective wapentakes. These petitions set forth interesting particulars of service, and of the actions and sieges in which the petitioners had been severally engaged. At this period, too, there are numerous papers dealing with the farming of monopolies and other imposts for replenishing the exchequers of embarrassed royalty. The invention and introduction of a new tax must oftentimes have been a source of grave perplexity to the financier of that day. Some few years back our readers will recollect the outcry there was at a suggestion for taxing matches, but what would now be thought of a tax on hearths, such as was formerly exacted? The justices have now decided, on the recommendation of the committee before mentioned, that an alphabetical index shall be prepared giving a description of such of the Orders of Sessions as are of permanent interest or importance. Such an index, as affording a ready means of reference to the whole series of 65 voluminous order books, will be of great practical utility; and although antiquarians may perhaps regret that the quarter sessions have not undertaken the compilation of a complete and comprehensive calendar index to the whole of the indictments and sessions orders as was suggested by Mr. Jeaffreson, the justices have probably exercised a wise economy, so far as the interests of the ratepayers are concerned, in limiting the scope of the index in accordance with the advice given by their committee. A perusal of these rolls would well repay the antiquarian or historian, and we cannot but think that as the contents of the collection become better known and more easily accessible man y will be glad to avail themselves of so valuable and interesting a source of reference. It is gratifying to learn that the public records of the West Riding have been well preserved by their custodians, and that our magistrates are taking so active an interest in the matter. Yorkshire Post, May, 1882. [The late Mr. Fairless Barber worked diligently in urging the Magistrates to arrange, and publish extracts from the sessions rolls, and it is probably due in no small measure to his urgency and Col. Brooke's advocacy, that the beforementioned report was prepared. The Editor has already given specimens in these pages from the sessions rolls, culled in 1872. Other excerpts will follow.] COUNTY RECORD OFFICE.-Now that County Boards are the order of the day, the Editor suggests that all Yorkshire Historical and Genealogical Manuscripts should be gathered into a County muniment room, open gratuitously under same conditions as the British Museum and the Rolls Office, London, at York. The following appeared in the Athenaum, in July, 1882: Will you kindly allow me to suggest through your columns the desirability of establishing County Record Offices; and I may mention the materials we have in Yorkshire as illustrative of the utility of such offices: (1) Wills from 1300; (2) Parish Registers from 1538; (3) Bishops' Transcripts, from 1538; (4) Sessions Rolls from 1640; (5) Nonconformist Registers to be recalled from Somerset House, where they have been buried for nearly two generations; (6) Institution, Presentation, and Act Books, now carefully preserved at York, along with other valuable ecclesiastical documents, dating from 1200; (7) Churchwardens' and Constables' Books, dating often from 1600; (8) Manor Rolls, as such may be deposited by favour; (9) purely Yorkshire muniments at the Record Office and British Museum, e.g., the Calverley Evidences; (10) bequests of deeds, &c. A custodian (who could employ his spare hours in transcribing and indexing,) and sufficient accommodation would not require more than 300l. per annum, exclusive of desks and bookcases. Those who sought information for general historical purposes should be able to obtain access freely, by making application by letter previously; others should be charged ten shillings per day; official certificates to be paid for as usual. The income would probably average 2007. As convener of the meetings in Yorkshire at which resolutions were passed (1) disapproving of Mr. Borlase's Bill unless due provision was made for local requirements, and (2) forming a Yorkshire society for the publication of parish registers, I should like to suggest that similar action should be taken in other counties. J. HORSFALL TURNER. |