Estreats

Estreat of the manor court of Derwentfells, 1759

Source: Cumbria Record Office, Whitehaven, D/Lec, box 85

Commentary:

An estreat summarised the amercements levied at a sitting of the manor court and authorised the bailiff to gather in the sums due to the lord from those who had been amerced.

In this late example, chosen for its legibility, only three amercements are recorded, one for failure to keep a gate in repair and two for failing to attend court: the township of Rogersett (now Newlands, near Keswick) were amerced for not sending a representative (or 'turnsman') to the court; John Barne was amerced for refusing to serve on the jury. The estreat is signed by the steward of the court, Robert Baynes, the Cockermouth lawyer who managed the Percy estates, and addressed to Wilfrid Clementson, a surgeon and apothecary who was keeper of Cockermouth Castle and bailiff of the manor of Derwentfells. Clementson has added a note explaining why the turnsman of Rogersett failed to appear and excusing the amercement.

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