CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, ENTRY BOOKS OF WARRANTS AND BILLS OF NECESSARIES

Sub-series within E 197

1727-1783

These are entry books of warrants for the period 1727 to 1783, with gaps 1732-1735, 1742-1756, 1766-1768 and 1775-1779. Their contents include from 1760 appointments to disqualifying Office of resigning members of Parliament. These books also feature messengers' travel bills and ushers' bills of necessary expenses, which for the period 1825 to 1849 are to be found in E 197/10 and E 197/11.

E 197/30 and E 197/31, also entry books, are confined to copyhold warrants, 1768-1773 and 1782-1783. These warrants were issued in consequence of petitions from Crown copyholders of the Duchy of Cornwall estates, most of whom sought reversions of their leases. For example, (E 197/30, p 100), Ann Templeman widow, 'holding for her own life by copy of court roll of the manor of Ryme, parcel of the Duchy of Cornwall in the county of Dorset', petitions for 'a reversionary copy of the said tenement' for the lives of her sons John and Thomas Templeman of Ryme Intrinseca. This petition, passed on to the surveyor of the Duchy, was approved by him insofar as it requested an unchanged annual rent, but the 'fine' on the property was raised to £157 5s, such enhancements forming a regular feature of these documents. The surveyor's adjudication being received, the Chancellor of the Exchequer then referred the case to the royal steward of the manor in question.

A few petitions here relate to royal appointments, such as gamekeeperships, in the duchy, or attempts to amend the terms of copyhold leases. There are indexes to petitioners' names at the end of both books, though the second has few entries, as the book relates only to January 1782 - July 1783.

See also E 197/1