Extracts from court books and rolls: appointment of officers

Appointment of officers at Lazonby, 1638

Source: Cumbria Record Office, Carlisle, D/Mus/1/8/1

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Commentary:

The appointment and swearing in of manorial officers was an important aspect of a court's responsibilities, as these officials oversaw different aspects of the community's life across the following year. Constables and 'assessors' (taxatores) were public officials, township officers who formed part of the local government system.  Constables were responsible for keeping the peace, collecting taxes etc.  They were appointed by courts leet and were part of the national peace-keeping system.  The 'assessors' were probably responsible for setting local rates, though their role is rarely spelt out.  The 'pinders' or 'pounders' (imparcatores) and 'hedge lookers' (supervisores sepinorum) were manorial appointments: the former drove stray livestock to the manorial pound; the latter ensured that hedges were maintained and presented offenders to the court.  Note the apparent reluctance of some to serve: Edward Walker's refusal to serve as constable and Richard Ewbank's failure to appear suggest that office holding was not always a welcome duty.

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