Freedom registers for 1700s

[wurding]

I presume the land TR farmed was that of Wimbledon Manor House completed by Duchess of Marlborough. Should I include that in my search terms?

Two suggestions:

(1) Use TNA Discovery Advanced Search

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/advanced-search
Select the tab Search for Record Creators
Enter Marlborough Wimbledon
Click Spencer Family
Use Ctrl+F to find references to Wimbledon

OR

(2) Search the Manorial Documents Register

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/manor-search
In Search by Manor, enter Wimbledon

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F237680
Scroll down to find the relevant dates

None of these records is likely to be online – you will need to contact the various record offices to ask if there is any indexing, and whether copies of records can be supplied.

Thank you for this detailed set of instructions.

I found this manorial map of wimbledon in 1787
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13631797
Wimbledon (Surrey) manorial court rolls 1669-1729 and accounts 1788-98
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13607314

and finally this, for some reason in the Northamptonshire Archives, but includes the Surrey (Wimbledon, etc) deeds, legal and trust papers, manorial records, rentals, accounts, estate and Spencer family papers 12th-20th cent and deeds
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13730735

Do you think all of these are worth chasing up? or perhaps just the last one?


Perhaps of relevance, so sorry I did not mention it before, but in addition to Thomas Rowsell snr farming the Duchess of Marlborough's land in 1735, I know John Spencer 1st Earl inherited that land in 1744 and the Spencer family seems to have 'looked after' the Rowsells beyond that date because  throughout the 1780's and 90's Thomas' son John resided at a property in Wandsworth owned by Earl John Spencer.

[Bookbox]

I found this manorial map of wimbledon in 1787
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13631797

Wimbledon (Surrey) manorial court rolls 1669-1729 and accounts 1788-98
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13607314

and finally this, for some reason in the Northamptonshire Archives, but includes the Surrey (Wimbledon, etc) deeds, legal and trust papers, manorial records, rentals, accounts, estate and Spencer family papers 12th-20th cent and deeds
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13730735

Do you think all of these are worth chasing up? or perhaps just the last one?

Manorial map (Wandsworth Heritage Service)
I doubt this will show names of tenants, more likely layout and boundaries, perhaps field-names. Why not email the archive, tell them what you are trying to find out, and ask them what the map shows? In my experience the staff at Wandsworth are extremely helpful ...
https://www.better.org.uk/library/london/wandsworth/wandsworth-heritage-service

Court rolls and accounts (Surrey History Centre)
The rolls are listed by date in the SHC catalogue here ...
https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_369 (click the Browse tab)

Court rolls can be a great source, and very name-rich. If your family were copyhold tenants of the manor, the rolls may contain useful family information if properties were passed down generations of the family.

The SHC has a basic introduction to manorial records on their website
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/guides/manorial-records

But this is an extensive collection, and unless these Wimbledon rolls have been name-indexed, you will not be able to order copies of specific entries. You can email the SHC and ask if there is any indexing. If not, and if you can’t go and research them yourself, you can use the SHC’s research and copying service, which is excellent, or engage an independent researcher to visit and search the rolls for you.
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/research-service

As these court rolls pre-date 1733, you may also want to ask if they are in English or Latin.

These rolls have been digitised by FamilySearch, but they can only be accessed at an LDS Family History Centre or Affiliated Library (which includes the National Archives).
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/635169?availability=Family%20History%20Library

Spencer papers (Northamptonshire Archives)
Some of the Wimbledon records will be held at Northampton because the Spencer family seat was at Althorp, and the Northamptonshire County Record Office is likely to be the main repository for the family’s papers.

They will probably be time-consuming to research, unless there is detailed indexing. As to how useful they are, it will depend how much there is for the Wimbledon estates in particular. Rentals can be a particularly good source, but it isn’t clear from the catalogue whether rentals survive specifically for Wimbledon. I’m not having much luck with Northampton’s own online catalogue, which seems to get stuck mid-search.
http://nro.adlibhosting.com/search/expert

It may be best to email the archive and ask. Again, they offer a research service – see here ...
https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/councilservices/archives-and-heritage/northamptonshire-archives/Pages/archives-research-service.aspx

[wurding]

I found this manorial map of wimbledon in 1787
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13631797

Wimbledon (Surrey) manorial court rolls 1669-1729 and accounts 1788-98
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13607314

and finally this, for some reason in the Northamptonshire Archives, but includes the Surrey (Wimbledon, etc) deeds, legal and trust papers, manorial records, rentals, accounts, estate and Spencer family papers 12th-20th cent and deeds
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13730735

Do you think all of these are worth chasing up? or perhaps just the last one?

Manorial map (Wandsworth Heritage Service)
I doubt this will show names of tenants, more likely layout and boundaries, perhaps field-names. Why not email the archive, tell them what you are trying to find out, and ask them what the map shows? In my experience the staff at Wandsworth are extremely helpful ...
https://www.better.org.uk/library/london/wandsworth/wandsworth-heritage-service

Court rolls and accounts (Surrey History Centre)
The rolls are listed by date in the SHC catalogue here ...
https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_369 (click the Browse tab)

Court rolls can be a great source, and very name-rich. If your family were copyhold tenants of the manor, the rolls may contain useful family information if properties were passed down generations of the family.

The SHC has a basic introduction to manorial records on their website
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/guides/manorial-records

But this is an extensive collection, and unless these Wimbledon rolls have been name-indexed, you will not be able to order copies of specific entries. You can email the SHC and ask if there is any indexing. If not, and if you can’t go and research them yourself, you can use the SHC’s research and copying service, which is excellent, or engage an independent researcher to visit and search the rolls for you.
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/research-service

As these court rolls pre-date 1733, you may also want to ask if they are in English or Latin.

These rolls have been digitised by FamilySearch, but they can only be accessed at an LDS Family History Centre or Affiliated Library (which includes the National Archives).
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/635169?availability=Family%20History%20Library

Spencer papers (Northamptonshire Archives)
Some of the Wimbledon records will be held at Northampton because the Spencer family seat was at Althorp, and the Northamptonshire County Record Office is likely to be the main repository for the family’s papers.

They will probably be time-consuming to research, unless there is detailed indexing. As to how useful they are, it will depend how much there is for the Wimbledon estates in particular. Rentals can be a particularly good source, but it isn’t clear from the catalogue whether rentals survive specifically for Wimbledon. I’m not having much luck with Northampton’s own online catalogue, which seems to get stuck mid-search.
http://nro.adlibhosting.com/search/expert

It may be best to email the archive and ask. Again, they offer a research service – see here ...
https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/councilservices/archives-and-heritage/northamptonshire-archives/Pages/archives-research-service.aspx

This advice is very valuable and saves a lot of time, thank you

[wurding]

Is this 1750 record of any interest? It mentions Merton, so there's a possible Wimbledon connection.

Reference:   QS2/6/1750/Xms/54
Title: Report of Thomas Rowsell, inspector of cattle, notifying outbreaks of distemper in Merton and Battersea, and reporting on his activities in general
Date:   1750
Held by:   Surrey History Centre, not available at The National Archives [TNA]

Link: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/8bb1fd0c-fdf3-4854-91f7-c3b278f1cb90

Below is the Surrey History Centre's link for the above, plus a related 1748 record:

https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_QS_16_145_48

https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_QS_16_140_15

I acquired two of these and transcribed them. I am posting them here for anyone else to reference in case they might be useful. I very much suspect it is the same man, although I cannot confirm it except I find it unlikely two men of the same name occupied similar roles in the same region simultaneously.

Petition 1746

To the worshipfull His Majesties of the Peace for the County of Surrey at their … sessions at Kingston now assembled. The humble petition of Thos Rowsell sheweth that the contagious distemper appearing among the horned cattle in the West Division of the hundred of Brixton … the County, so long since as February 1746, your petitioner was conformable to His Majesty’s proclamations appointed by George Medcalfe and Zachery Chambers Esq, two of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace (acting in and for the the said Division, as appears by an appointment bearing date 18th February 1746) under the hand and seals of said George Medcalfe and Zachary Chambers Esq and your petitioner humbly makes known to your worships that he hath been at extraordinary expense and trouble in the due execution of his said Office to this past time for the fruit of which, your petitioner refers himself to His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace acting for the said Division, now present. He therefore humbly hopes your Worships now assembled will be pleased to grant him such an allowance as so you shall deem meets for his extraordinary care and trouble for the due performance of his said Office. – and your petitioner as is duty bound shall ever pray …

Report of 1750

To the worshipful his majesties justices of the peace now assembled at their general quarter sessions held at st. Margarets hill in Southwark in the county of Surrey –

the humble report of Thomas Rowsell – Inspector –

Do humbly certify and report to your worships that between 5th of December and 3rd of January last the contagious distemper appeared amongst the horned cattle of Mr Berryman of the parish of Morton, and said Mr Berryman caused four cows And 1 heifer which were infected to be killed and 5 cows that died of the said this temper. All of them as well those that were killed as those that died to be buried conformable to his majesty’s orders in (Lawneshll ??) made concerning the killing and burying the distempered cattle and I also certify that the said distemper also appeared amongst the horned cattle of Mr Amery at Battersea and that between 29th of December and 6th of January last three of his cows died of the said distemper and were buried agreeable to his majesties said directions: and that Mr Lans of the said parish of Battersea hath one cow now infected with the contagious distemper and I likewise further most humbly beg leave to inform your worships that during the time the said Mr berryman’s cattle continued ill, I daily visited them and took special care that the directions given in his majesties orders of council were in all respects punctually obeyed. And in order that his majesties last orders might be strictly obeyed, I did so soon as I was made acquainted there with inform all the graziers, farmers and other people who now owners of cattle that live in the division of which I am so happy as to be appointed inspector of the said order and the purpose thereof and I further certify that all the other cattle in the said divisions are hearty and well, it being my first and principal care to to ride round the division twice a week, at least, to visit the cattle and prevent as much as may be any irregularities in the management of the distempered cattle and as I have hitherto made it my principal business to discharge the duty of my office with the greatest diligence so I will continue to do so as long as it is your worships’ pleasure to continue me in the said office of inspector.

All which I humbly certify and report to your worships, Thomas Rowsell