Disclaimer & Bowles DNA Project |
Back to The Early Bolles of Lincolnshire and The Bolles of Swineshead
Viewable online at
https://archive.org/stream/publicationslinc22lincuoft#page/152/mode/2up
Assize Roll 479 -
Pleas of the Crown at Lincoln, Trinity, 1202
The Kirton Wapentake included the communities of Swineshead, Bicker, Wigtoft,
Surfleet, Algarkirk, Donington, Fosdyke, Quadring & Gosberton.
There were a number of cases heard from the Kirton Wapentake.
Entry
922 was on a case brought by a Cristiana, widow of William son of John
against Radolph (Ralph) and Richard sons of Aggi for the death of her husband
and does not appear to me to relate to the following hearings.
Entries 923 and 923a are a separate trial concerning the concealment of the death of Osbert son of Wigan.
Entry 923 refers to Nigel of Wyberton
denying that he took a bride to conceal the death of Osbert but paying a fine
of 20s to end the accusation.
Entry
923a refers to a John, the parson (the rector or vicar) of Swineshead
who was charged with the same and also paid a fine of 1 mark by pledge of Walter
of Pinchbeck and was also cleared of the charge.
Entry 924 is an appeal, or criminal prosecution, for the murder of one
Reynold, brought by Reynold's brother Joce son of Picot (sometimes called John)
against William de Netelham and Ralph his brother and William's servant Henry
(in those days there were few public prosecutions and most victims or their
relatives had to bring private prosecutions, called 'appeals'). Joce withdrew
his appeal, and William then sued Joce for having brought it. Eventually they
settled out of court. Roger Bolle's participation was to act as a pledge for
Joce [anyone starting a lawsuit had to provide pledges, men who guaranteed that
he would prosecute the case and would be responsible for any amercements, or
fines, which he might incur].
924 says: Joce son of Picot appealed William de Netelham and Ralph his brother concerning the death of Reynold his brother, and Henry the man of William concerning 'ui' [not sure what this word is, possibly 'vi', meaning 'force' or 'violence']. And John came and withdrew [his suit] and placed himself in mercy. And William [was] quit and Henry likewise. Ralph the clerk was convicted in an ecclesiastical court and is defrocked. Joce's pledges: Robert son of John, Roger Bolle, Thomas son of John, William de Biker. (In the margin: They are kept [?]. John found pledges afterwards.)
924a says: The aforesaid William appealed the same John/Joce son of Picot
concerning the plea he made against him. And afterwards they both came and
placed themselves in mercy for permission to agree. William's pledges for the
amercement: Theobald Hautein and Roger Norensis. Joce's pledges: Robert son of
John, Roger Bolle, Thomas son of John, William de Bikere. (Margin: amercements.)
Note: 'is/are' in mercy' means is/are guilty of an offence and so liable to a punishment, to be determined by the court (usually a small cash fine ). To place oneself in mercy was to acknowledge an offence and submit to the court's punishment. Starting a lawsuit and then withdrawing it, or settling it out of court, was an offence.
927 refers to an Allan son of Osbert who may be the same Osbert whose death
was the root of the cases of interest above.
936 may be interesting as it mentions Lecia daughter of Robert of Algerkirke which is also a community in the Kirton Wapentake. While this is slightly on the early side to be the same Robert, we know from the close rolls of Edward I that a Robert Bolle held land at Algarkirk. At a stretch this could be the Robert son of John Bolle mentioned above.
Close Rolls of Edward I vol. 1 1272-79
#558 April 4, 1279
The Lincolnshire Lay Subsidy of 1332 (a land value assessment
for tax purposes) lists an Isabel Bolle at Algarkirk assessed to pay 12s
5 ½ d which was one of the larger sums in the list.
That figure represented one fifteenth of her assessed annual income from
her lands.
945 was the last hearing for Kirton Wapentake in this assize session.
These are extracts from the record of all the fines and amercements imposed during the assizes.
Entry 1066
From Nigel of Wyberton a 20s fine to end the charge against him (as was stated
in session 923).
From John of Swineshead 1mark for the same by the pledge of Walter of Pinchbeck
(as in 923a).
From Joce son of Picot because he withdrew, 4 marks, by pledge of
Robert son of John, Roger Bolle, Thomas son of John and William of Bicker.
Entry 1069
From Robert son of John Bolle for wine sold against the assize (?) 1 mark