Gifting ‘A Shoppe’
[INDENTURE.]
Between Edward and Adam Bates and Humphrey Clayton and Samuel Bates. Thornton, Yorkshire, 20 March 1593/4.
Manuscript on vellum, in Latin, c. 215 x 370 mm, 25 lines in brown ink in a neat charter hand, calligraphic eight-line initial ‘O’ (Omnibus) incorporating a branch with acorns(?) and the date ‘1593’, signed at foot ‘per me Edward Bates’ and ‘by me Abraham Bates’, endorsement in Latin signed by four witnesses, indented at head, two vellum tags with two red wax seals both stamped with the initials ‘R. H.’; creases from folding, small tear to left edge, a few light marks; in very good condition.
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Between Edward and Adam Bates and Humphrey Clayton and Samuel Bates.
An interesting Elizabethan indenture detailing the gift of property in the West Yorkshire village of Thornton – later home to the Brontës – to a local clothier. The attractive decorative initial opening the text is unusual in carrying the date of the deed within it.
Under the terms of the indenture, Edward Bates of Wilsden in Bradford Dale, and Abraham Bates of Thornton, his son and heir, grant to Humphrey Clayton of Thornton, clothier, and to Samuel Bates of Sowerby, the eastern end of ‘le house floore’ in Thornton; a house called ‘a Shoppe’; the southern end of a garden; a cottage called ‘a Stable’; a yard; a close of land and meadow called ‘le Crofte’; another called ‘further ynge’; another called ‘Dickfeild’; another called ‘nether Sowden’; and half a close of land, meadow and pasture called ‘Rydinge’; together with all their associated ways, passages, and water courses.
The witnesses are Rycharde Haylye, whose seals are appended; Edward Brokesbanke, who has signed with his mark; Robert Clayton; and John(?) Midgley, who signs in an elegant hand. The Midgleys were an important local family who built the fine Elizabethan house of Headley Hall.