Morley Documents_01 : A property complaint in 1675

Some time ago,our friend, Steve Thompson of Get Technology Together, Leeds, gave us an old document, dated 1675. Our specialist at MCA in transcribing such material is Jane Sheehan.  Here are her comments and the result of her comprehensive study.

She says it deals with a property complaint over some 'seiling' in a house. This may be 'ceiling' but the note appears to be a dispute about poor workmanship. The matter was referred to John Hallway and Thomas Mottley and it was agreed that Robert Hall should pay John and Elizabeth Mettcaffe £1 5s. The document is the signed acknowledgment that this has been paid. It is signed by John and Elizabeth (with their marks as they couldn't write) and by Matthew Aveyard (who also has a mark) and John Hallway.

Jane says she has transcribed it exactly as it appears in the document,including two words which have been crossed out. She has also underlined any word extensions so that Rob becomes Robert and ye becomes the. She says that there is one word on line 17 which she cannot read. It begins with 'p' and ends with 'nall' but she can't make out the letters in between.

The Transcription and the Document itself:

1.         Whereas (upon difference ariseing between Robert

2.         Hall and John Metcaffe both of Morley about some

3.         seiling in a house Robert Hall bought of him) it was

4.         referred by them to John Hallway & Thomas

5.         Mottley who agreed it thus that in consideration

6.         of the sume of one pound five shillinges for goods

7.         the sayd John Metcaffe & Elizabeth his wife

8.         should ingage themselves to acknowledge a fine

9.         at the pleasure of Robert Hall after he have payd

10.       them the sayd sume of one pound five shillings

11.       without demanding any thing therefore

12.       Now know the that I John Metcaffe & Elizabeth

13.       my wife doe acknowledge the receipt of the sume

14.       of one pound five shillinges from Robert Hall and

15.       in full satisfaction for whats left in the house

16.       and the acknowledgement of a fine and doe hereby

17.       ingage in the p_nall sume of ten poundes that

18.       that the fine shall acknowledged without any

19.       further demands In Wittnesse wherof wee have

20.       hereunto set our hands & seales this twentieth day

21.       of Aprill one thousand six hundred seventy five

22.       sealed & delived in

23.       the presence of us

Matthew Aveyard his mark MA                           John Mettcaffe his mark I

John Hallway                                                        Elizabeth Mettcaffe her mark LM