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Citizens of Rochester. King. The people of Rochester make four requests:1) They request...

Catalogue reference: SC 8/219/10939

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This record is about the Citizens of Rochester. King. The people of Rochester make four requests:1) They request... dating from [? c. 1331] in the series Special Collections: Ancient Petitions. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.

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Full description and record details

Reference
SC 8/219/10939
Date
[? c. 1331]
Description
Petitioners
Citizens of Rochester.
Addressees
King.
Nature of request
The people of Rochester make four requests:1) They request the confirmation of their charters, and that they might be able to bequeath their tenements within the walls on their deathbeds, as the city is so badly ruined by the usages of gavelkind that the Keeper of the city is having to pay the farm out of his own purse.2) They complain that, since their town is a sea port, many merchants pass through with their goods to other places rather than remaining in Rochester, and ask that the merchants might be compelled to remain in Rochester for a certain time, and to sell their merchandise there if they can find a merchant to buy it.3) They request exemptions for certain sales in the city, as happens elsewhere in the realm.4) Since the town is poor and unable to aid the king, they ask that markets held within three or four leagues of the city be transferred into the city.
Nature of endorsement
[None]
Places mentioned
Rochester, [Kent]
Newehuyde (New Hythe), [Kent]
Maidstone, [Kent]
Aylesford, [Kent].
People mentioned
Henry, King of England
Henry de Coleham (Coldham).
Note
An inquisition into the grievances of the people of Rochester was held in 1331 (CIM 1307-49, no.1256), and although there is no obvious direct connection between the two, both refer to Coldham as warden, suggesting that the petition probably dates to around the same time.
Related material

For another version of this petition see SC 8/137/6804

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
French
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Publication note(s)
Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous, vol. II, Edw II - 22 Edw III, (Public Record Office, 1916), no.1256 (inquisition regarding the grievances of the people of Rochester)
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C9334498/

Series information

SC 8

Special Collections: Ancient Petitions

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Citizens of Rochester. King. The people of Rochester make four requests:1) They request...

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