Hertfordshire Genealogy:

Windmill Hill, Sandridge

Conditional Surrender, 1762

Report and transcript of a document loaned by Jon Harries

This paper document relates to a dwelling house and its outbuildings known as Windmill Hill, or Woodcock Hill, in the parish of Sandridge, Hertfordshire, together with 14 acres of land.

This property was part of the Manor of Sandridge and John Gladman senior had held the property by right of a copy of the relevant entry in the official manor court records. (i.e. he was a copyhold tenant).

John Gladman had died and had been succeeded by his only son, John Gladman junior who used the property to raise a short term loan of Ł60 with Thomas Weathered on 10th July 1762, repayable with interest on 10th January 1763.

This document is a receipt signed by John Gladman junior to confirm he has received the Ł60 from Thomas Weathered, and agreeing the transfer of the property if the capital and interest are not paid by the due date.

Transfers of copyhold property needed to be approved by the manorial court - but the courts were held infrequently and so two approved parishioners, John Smith and John Pixley agreed to the conditional transfer of the property to Thomas Weathered on behalf of the Lord of the manor. (One was probably the Lord's steward.)

At a time when most people could not read and write, and photocopiers had not been invented, it was essential that reliable handwritten copies were made by the local solicitor - which explains the first set of witness signatures of George Ambrose and William Archer.

Extract from Dury & Andrew's map of 1766 showing the location of Windmill Hill

The following is a transcription of the document - with the key words highlighted. Much of the rest is legal phraseology to cover all eventualities.

The Manor of Saundridge with Walmonds in the County of Hertford		To with
	Be it Remembered that this Tenth day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Two John Gladman of the Parish of Saundridge in the County of Hertford Yeoman (Only son and Heir at Law of John Gladman Deceased) a Customary Tenant of the Manor aforesaid Did out of Court Surrender by the Rodd into the Hands of the Lord of the said Manor by the hands of John Smith and John Pixley two other Customary Tenants of the said Manor according to the Custom thereof All that Messuage called Windmill Hill als' Woodcock Hill with all the Appurtenance and certain Land by Estimation Fourteen Acres more or less with their and every of their Appurtancies All which said Messuage or Tenement Lands and Hereditaments Above mentioned are Customary Premises lying within and holden of the said Manor by Copy of Court Roll and now are in the Tenure or Occupation of the said John Gladman his undertenants or Assigns wheresoever otherwise the same Premises or any of them now are or heretofore have been Known Described Tenanted or Enjoyed And All other the Customary Messuages Land Tenements and Hereditaments of him the aforesaid John Gladman lying within and holden of the said Manor by Copy of Court Roll and the Revertion and Revertions Remainder and Remainders of the said Premises and all the Estate Right Title Interest Property Claim and Demand whatsoever of him the said John Gladman of in and to the same Premises every or any Part or Parcel thereof To the Use and Behoofe of Thomas Weathered of the Parish of Saundridge aforesaid Yeoman and of his Heirs and Assigns for ever Provided always and upon Condition Nevertheless that If the said John Gladman his Heirs Executors or Administrators or any of them Do and Shall well and truly pay or Cause to be paid unto the said Thomas Weathered his Executors Administrators or Assigns the full sum of Sixty Pounds together with lawful interest for the same of lawful Money of Great Britain on or upon the Tenth Day of January next Ensuing the Date hereof and which will be in the year of out Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty three without any Fraud Default or Abatement on any Account or Pretence whatsoever Then this surrender to be void otherwise to be and remain in Force. John Gladman
Taken the day and year first within written (being first duly stamp^d) by us
	John Smith
	John Pixley
This is a true copy of the Original Surrender (taken on paper duly stamp^d) Examined by us
	George Pembroke
	William Archer
Received the day and year first within written of and from the within named Thomas Weathered the sum of Sixty Pounds being the consideration Money within mentioned too be paid me by him on making and passing the Surrender of which the within written is a Copy I say rece^d the said sum of ...			l s d 60 .. 0 .. 0
		by me John Gladman
Witness hereby
	George Pembroke
	William Archer