as to people and places of bygone days, than the land charters and court rolls covering the period from the Domesday survey to the reformation.

Many bundles of old title deeds, unopened for centuries, yet lie hidden in out-of-the-way corners and on inaccessible shelves; it should be part of the work of every archæological society to extract from all available deeds, relating to its own district, whatever useful history they may contain.

Every countryside, every village and every town becomes a more interesting place to its inhabitants, when its history is known. The names of persons and places become intelligible, dates and letters on buildings can be accounted for, disused bridle roads and paths can be traced, the heraldry of the stained glass in the church and of the tombstones in the churchyard can be read with understanding, local genealogies can be extended and long cherished family traditions can often be verified or explained.

It is therefore of importance that whenever these ancient writings make their appearance, there should be some person or association of persons ready and willing to examine them, not only with the object of extracting any local history they may contain, but also of recording it in a form suitable for future reference.

T. Walter Hall.

Photo Ethel Eadon

Before 1290. Charter of Jordan de Pickeburne. (Brodsworth near Doncaster)

The Brooke Taylor Collection.

13th century. Prior to the statute Quia Emptores, 18 Edw I (1290). Charter (Lat) confirming a grant from Jordan son of Thomas de Pickeburne to Gilbert Cook of Rickehale, for a certain sum of money, which he gave to the grantor by hand as a fine (in gersumma), of one acre of land and a half, with the appurtenances, in the north field of Pickeburne at the green hill, lying between the proper land of the grantor on the one part and land which Jordan Wlm' formerly held on the other part; of which one end butted upon the field of Hanepol and the other end on land of Sir Marmeduke Darel; and also a plot of meadow ground in the meadows of Pickeburne; to wit, it lay in length and in breadth one rod and three quarters, between the meadow of the fee of Rockelay and the meadow of Robert Knouẏs, of which one end butted upon the south cave (antrum australe) and the other end upon the north cave (antrum boreale); to hold and to have of the grantor and his heirs to the said Gilbert and his heirs or whomsoever; and howsoever and whatsoever time he should wish to give, to bequeath, to assign or to sell, in fee and inheritance free quietly peacefully and entirely; with all rights of common, easements, liberties and appurtenances, without reservation; paying thenceforth annually to the grantor and his heirs one halfpenny of silver on the day of saint John the baptist, for all secular services, exactions, taxes, suits of court and demands; warranty of title etc. Witnesses: Helias de Scauceby, Thomas his son, Henry of the same place, William Joye of Pickeburne, Hugh son of Beatrice, Thomas Fossard of the same place (sic), William de Fonte. Vellum: one skin 6½ × 4, seal missing. Notes: this interesting charter, of which a photographic reproduction is given as a frontispiece, is in perfect condition, except that the seal is missing. It is a subinfeudation of lands in the township of Pickburn-with-Brodsworth, in the parish of Brodsworth and wapentake of Strafforth, four miles north-west of Doncaster; for which Gilbert Cook paid a gersuma or fine to Jordan de Pickburn. In the reign of Edward the confessor, Pickburn was part of the lands of Alsie the Saxon lord; but after the conquest it was held by Nigel Fossard under the earl of Morton, who accompanied William from Normandy in his successful invasion of England. The earl subsequently forfeited his English possessions and Nigel Fossard, his subinfeudatory, came to be acknowledged tenant of the crown. Gilbert Cook may have been descended from Alberus de Coci (Cook), who after the conquest held Hickleton and part of Cadeby. No trace of Rickehale can be found. Jordan Wlm' is clearly written, probably it is a contraction of Woolmer?

Hanepol is mentioned in Domesday, it was a manor before the conquest, belonging to Swein. The modern name is Hampole and it lies about two miles north of Pickburn.

Sir Marmeduke Darel was living 31 Hen III (1247), in which year he had a charter of free warren at Brodsworth. The Darels got Brodsworth from the de Buslis; they continued in possession from the beginning of the 13th to the beginning of the 16th century; the last of the Darels being Sir Thomas, who died without issue 23rd November 1505; see “South Yorkshire” vol I, page 315.

The fee of Rockley was in Worsborough and this land near Pickburn must have adjoined part of that fee. The Rockleys were settled in Worsborough at the time of the conquest and continued in undisturbed possession until the civil wars. Knouẏs may in later times have been Knovis. Scauceby now Scawsby, lies two miles south-east of Pickburn. It appears to have been a more important place in Saxon times than it is to-day. It is mentioned in Domesday as Scalchebi. Helias may mean Ellis. The surname Joye has a small i for the initial letter.

Nigel Fossard above mentioned was, after the death of the earl of Morton, one of several landowners in the deanery of Doncaster who held direct from the crown; his fee included lands at Brodsworth and he also had a house at Doncaster; but his baronial seat was Mulgrave Castle in north Yorkshire.

William de Fonte was probably the prior of Ecclesfield, which priory belonged at the date of this charter to the abbey of Fontenelle or saint Wandrille in Normandy.

Probably William de Fonte engrossed this charter and added his name as the last witness, which was a common practice of monks and scriveners.

Judith, niece of William I and wife of earl Waltheof lord of Hallam, placed a colony of monks from Fontenelle at Ecclesfield; probably in the 11th century, as she was married in 1070; see “Archæologia” vol 26, page 352. From charter-evidence it is certain that the priory was in existence in 1141. From this it may be assumed that this beautifully written charter had its origin in Ecclesfield priory, and was taken by prior William to Pickburn, where the other witnesses would meet, to see possession of the land given and the grant confirmed by deed.

Genealogy deduced.

(i)

(ii)

13th century. Prior to the statute Quia Emptores, 18 Edw I