For the years just after 1348, the impact of the Black Death may be noted, but the records are not explicit. For example, they may state that land has been passed to someone from another who has died.

For courts baron, there is a list of disputes to be dealt with, with names, detail of offence and penalty paid by the offenders. There may also be a list of the court jury and officials present. Court rolls for Ruislip Manor, for example, show that in 1246, Isabella, Peter’s widow, was fined 18d for her son John’s trespassing in the lord’s wood. Hugh Tree’s beasts were in the lord’s garden and he was fined 6d, whilst Walter Hill and Hugh Slipper stood as his securities. In a later court roll, it was stated that Lucy Mill had committed adultery and had her property seized by the manor.

A court roll for the manor of Northolt for 1508 reads as follows, and shows the information that can be obtained therein.

Headboroughs say that John Hacche, and Edward Romyn owe suit of Court and are in default, each fined 2d.

John Rous is a brewer of ale and break the assize. 4d.

John Gybbes has allowed his beasts to trespass in the corn fields of the tenants of the manor, fined 3d.

A ram has been found straying, a proclamation to be made.

Alice Tonnell, widow who holds copyhold land of two half virgates, one called ‘Shepards’ and the other ‘Hillers’ lying diversely in the common fields of Northall has surrendered them to the use of John Gybbes who does not attend, ordered to attend the next court under penalty.

Humfry Hegger, brother of John Hegger, son of William Hegger aged 11 years wishes to be admitted to a messuage and a virgate of land which was held by John Hegger when he died. Humfry is admitted but the land is to be held by George Hegger until Humfry is aged 24 years. Fine 20d.

George Stevyns who holds of the lord a tenement and 3 acres of land, one acre in ‘Tymlowe feld’, one acre in ‘Estfeld’ abutting on ‘Longe Furlong’ and three acres lying next to ‘Shirwyns croft’ has surrendered to the use of John Rous. Fine paid.

Margery the wife of John Cokke has a ditch containing 30 perches, fine 6d.

Apart from these court records, known as court rolls, there were less common documents.

Rentals and Extents

These are far less common than court rolls. Rentals and surveys of the manor which were only made from time to time, often when the manor changed hands, and these documents, as with the court rolls, often list people, describe the nature of their tenure, the services they rendered to the lords and describe their holdings. For urban parishes, street names are often given. Property descriptions are sometimes given.

Minute books and draft court rolls can be useful substitutes when the original court rolls do not exist. Suit books and call books list those who attended.

Other manorial records include accounts, but these rarely mention individuals, rather the sums of money accruing from various agricultural products. Custumals might be more useful, for they list the rents, services and obligations owed by tenants to the lord. However few were created after the mid-fourteenth century; and in many manors, oral testimony was relied on instead of the written record.