Millennium Project
William Sturch, the owner of Winmour Cottage, was buried in Deddington on May 8th 1698. The property then passed to his son William who quickly sold it to his mother for twenty shillings in an Indenture dated February 18th 1698. This appears to be three months before his father's death because, until 1752, the English new year started onl Lady Day, March 25th so January 1st to March 24th were actually part of the "old" year. One hangover of this is that English tax year still ends on April 5th. Why that’s 11 days past Lady Day is another story.
This document is a fairly standard second part, or Release, of a two-stage conveyancing process known as Lease and Release. The Lease appears to be missing. Click here for more details on the Lease/Release process.
The sum of twenty shillings is clearly a token payment. As the Indenture states, William is selling the property to his mother for her “better provision and maintenance”.
Summary
[Apart from a few minor differences, this document is almost word-for-word tthe same as the Release's that appear in the Deeds more than one hundred years later. All the interesting information comes at the beginning. The final two thirds are mostly repetetive legalese]
This Indenture made the eighteenth day of February in the eleventh year of the reign of our sovereign Lord William the third by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the faith (and so on) one thousand six hundred ninety eight
between William Sturch of the city of London carpenter son and heir apparent of William Sturch late of Deddington in the County of Oxon yeoman decd of the one part and Mary Sturch of Deddington aforesaid wido[w] Relict of the said William Sturch dec[ease]d of the other part
WITNESSETH that the said William Sturch party to those presents for and in consideration of the sum of twenty shillings of lawful English money to him in hand well and truly paid by the said Mary Sturch at and before the ensealing and delivery of those presents the receipt whereof he the said William Sturch doth hereby acknowledge and thereof and of every part thereof doth acquitte release and discharge the said Mary Sturch her heires Executors Administrators and assignes and every other of them forever by those presents as also in consideration of the natural love and affection which he the said William Sturch hath and beareth unto the said Mary Sturch his mother and for her better maintenance and provision
And for diverse other good causes and consideration the said William Sturch hereunto moving Hath granted bargained sold aliened demised released and confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien demise release and confirm unto the said Mary Sturch in her actual possession now being by virtue of one indenture of bargain and sale to her thereof made by the said William Sturch bearing date the day next before the day of the date hereof to commence from the day next before the day of the date thereof [yesterday!] and by virtue of the statute for transferring uses into possession and to her heires and assignes forever.
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and for her better maintenance
in a certaine Street there called Phillcock Street |
ALL that cottage or tenement together with the outhouses and backside thereunto belonging with the appurtenances situate and being in Deddington aforesaid in a certain street there called Phillcock Street and now in the possession of one Richard Clary or his assignes together with all and singular houses outhouses yards backsides mounds….