Short title: Bowne v Knyveton. Plaintiffs: George Bowne and others. Defendants:...

Short title: Bowne v Knyveton.

Plaintiffs: George Bowne and others.

Defendants: William Knyveton or Knyfton and others.

Documents: depositions concerning Bonsall, Derbyshire.

Taken 27 August, 32 Eliz I.

Deponents for plaintiffs: John Holehouse of Bonsall, husbandman, aged 3 score and 4 [64 years], deposed that Knyveton currently occupies a parcel of land on Bonsall moor that was enclosed around 30 years ago by whom he cannot remember. The enclosure was around 20 acres and stopped a common highway. Prior to it being enclosed inhabitants of Bonsall passed through it during rogation time and commoned their cattle on a ditch. The greatest number of sheep he recalls on the common was around 500, 20 years ago. The Knyvetons has such a large number of sheep on the common because they had hired a number of beastgates. Matthew Knyveton, father to William, was fined for keeping too many sheep on the moor. The family had placed by right as many sheep as they wanted on Tunstead moor; John Goodenough of Bonsall, husbandman, aged 3 score [60 years]; Edward Clarke of Bonsall, husbandman, aged 4 score [80 years]; Henry Bowne of Bonsall, yeoman, aged 48.

Deponents for defendants: Henry Jackson of Winster, aged 70, whose memory of Bonsall Grange goes back 50 years [to 1540], deposed that it was part of the dissolved monastery of Bildewas [Buildwas Abbey, Shropshire]. The Knyvetons as lessees of the Grange have the right to put any number of sheep on Brassington and Bonsall moors; Richard Greatrex of Aldwark, husbandman, aged 76; John Lane of Winster, husbandman, aged 74.

32 Eliz

Topics

Religions

Crown lands and estates