Act Books

Contains mainly draft volumes of 'Instance Acta' recording judicial cases which were brought by one private person against another (instance cases) in the Consistory and Archdeacon's Courts.

Act books record the judicial business of the court and the hearing of cases under Canon Law. The courts dealt with the moral standards and conduct of the clergy, church officials and parishioners, church attendance, payment of parish dues, and the state of church buildings and churchyards. The proceedings (such as if defendants had been called, if the cause was to be carried to the next court sitting and if costs had been paid) were recorded in brief and included the parish, the names of the parties and often the charge against the defendant. Extracts from the evidence are rarely included.

For example: entries for Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury proceedings held at Saint Margaret, Canterbury, Kent (reference DCb/J/A/43), include:

12 April 1733 'Chambers against Longley: Upton owns the costs are paid.'

9 January 1734/1735 'Anna Davis against Joseph Potter for Defamation: The penance to be performed in this church on a Wednesday first at the end of Morning Prayer, certified.'

For example: more detailed entries for Consistory Court of Canterbury proceedings (reference DCb/J/A/48) include:

30 May 1754 Mary Thompson, wife of William, of Deal, Kent against Mary Pears, wife of John, of Deal, Kent in a cause of defamation: on 'which day Plomer appeared and exhibited his proxy for the said Mary Thompson and made himself a party for her etc and then returned the original citation against the said Mary Pears who being called appeared and then the said Plomer alleged that the said Mary Pears speaking to for or against his clients on or about the 16th of April last in the parish of Deal with intent to defame the said Mary Thompson said thou art you are or she is a whore which words the said Mary Pears denied whereupon the Judge at the petition of the said Plomer monished her to appear by herself or proctor at next court'.

The earlier volumes pre 1733 are in Latin.

The books are arranged in chronological order.

<p>The draft books in this series complement the registered fair copies in the Consistory and Archdeacons' Court Books (DCb/J/Z/2/4-9) and (DCb/J/Y/6/14-19).</p>