elizabeth an  Times

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The drudgery of farming in the 16th century. For more information and images of Tudor times, click on this image
Land Survey Conducted About 1595

The following survey conducted in Dulcote profiles a tiny community of seemingly less than 10 households who make their livings primarily farming with some lumbering also evidenced.

"My Lord and Sir William Petre have released their term herein to Sir William Dodington"...


Copyholders in Dulcote . . .  (1)
  1. David Donkerton .......... 2  December, 37 Elizabeth I (1595); (2)   one tenement heritable and 18 acres of land meadow and pasture belonging on the lives of himself and John Brock. (Note added at later date both dead.) Annual rent = 7s 9d
  2. Edith Tike.......................... 28 May, 23 Elizabeth I (1581);   widow; one cottage heritable to which belongs 15 acres to have during her widowhood the remainder to John Tike her son for the term of his life. Annual rent = 7s 9d.
  3. William Tither .................2 November, 18 Elizabeth I (1576 );  one tenement heritable and 26 acres of land meadow and pasture for the term of his life only.  Annual rent = 13s 9½d.
  4. Richard Robyns................15 May, 33 Elizabeth I  (1591);  holds by copy one tenement heritable and 12 acres of ground belonging on the lives of himself and his sons John and Richard.  Annual rent = 7s 9d.
  5. Robert Culbery.................15 August, 22 Elizabeth I  (1580 );  one tenement heritable to which belongs 32 acres of land meadow and pasture on the lives of himself and his daughter Agnes. (Note added at later date they have surrendered and the premises were granted again to them and his son Henry by copy 13 July 4 James I. (1607) Annual rent = 13s 4d.
  6. Robert Carie.......................1587; inherits land, including grist mill, from Joanne Gallington, his mother Annual rent = 21s 5d.
  7. Robert Wilkins (alias Lamparte) 1587;  one cottage heritable to which belongs 15 acres of land meadow and pasture on the lives of himself and his daughter [unnamed]. Annual rent = 7s 9d.
  8. Elizabeth Hardwike......... 15 August, 22 Elizabeth I (1580);  one tenement heritable to which belongs 20 acres of land meadow and pasture to have during her widowhood with remainder to John Hardwike. Annual rent = 12s 9d.
(1)   "copyhold" land was granted at the will of the lord without lease; the grant was established at court and could not be re-leased 
(2)   dates in legal documents at this time in history were listed according to the number of years into the reign of the current monarch  
      eg. 1580 would be depicted as "22 Elizabeth I", (that is, 1558, the start of the reign of Elizabeth I + 22 years) 

Freeholders in Dulcote . . . (3)
  1. Lady Powlett (4) certain free lands in Dulcote. Annual rent = 7¼d.
  2. The Vicars of St Andrews certain free lands in Dulcote. Annual rent = 14½d.
(3)  while all land was owned by the Crown, land held by "freehold" was as close to land ownership as possible; it could be leased at the will of the freeholder.
(4)   Earl and Lady Powlett made their home in Sampford Barton, Devonshire.  There is a monument to Lady Powlett at St. John Church, Samford-Peverall, dated 1602.

Property to be Let . . .
  1. Eight acres of pasture in Torhill;  Annual rent = 6s 8d
  2. 8 acres of arable land in the field now in Elizabeth Hardwik’s tenure; Annual rent = 16d
  3. One acre of meadow and 35 acres in Torhill in Thomas Lovell’s tenure; Annual rent = 26 8d

Woods . . . (5)
  1. Richard Hodges, resident of record of Kings Castle wood by estimation 35 acres; Tor wood 40 acres; Chilcote woods by estimation 40 acres;   Annual rent = £6 13s 4d.
(5) The said Hodges sells yearly certain acres limited on his lease.  It is thought he sells about 200 loads of hard wood for 6s the load and the brush for 3s 4d the load.