Technicalities of the Court
Female depositions: marital status descriptors (e.g. singlewoman, widow, wife) were typically recorded in the brief biographical statement at the beginning of the deposition.
Technicalities of the Court
Male depositions: occupational or social status descriptors (e.g. baker, joiner, yeoman) were typically recorded in the brief biographical statement at the beginning of the deposition.
Interpretation
Cooking: evidence of women's work. It is likely that this took place in an alehouse and that the pilchards were to be sold, rather than consumed by the household.
Interpretation
Serving beer: evidence of women's work. Although it is not recorded, it is likely that Joane and William Friend's house was an alehouse.
Gloss
'Tippling' is a contemporary term for drinking longer than one should simply for sustenance.
Gloss
A faggot is a bundle of wood. Women were engaged in commerce, buying commodities for the house from their neighbours.
Interpretation
As these are court records, it is common to find two parties telling different stories. It is plausible that Thomas Cullyn stole the shirt but equally
plausible that this is an example of a legitimate work activity (the buying and selling of a shirt).
Gloss
Hue and cry was a form of community policing and a key part of law enforcement when something was stolen.
Technicalities of the Court
Signature of the Justice of the Peace.
Technicalities of the Court
Until the Gregorian Calendar was adopted in 1752, the English New Year began on 25th March.
According to our modern dating system, this case actually took place in 1620.
Technicalities of the Court
Occupational or social status descriptors (e.g. baker, joiner, yeoman) were typically recorded for men.
