A HISTORY enthusiast is sharing years of research through his latest book which translates material about Saddleworth from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Peter Hurst first came across the historic Almondbury Manor Court Rolls from 1590-1760 while he was tracing his ancestors from America and the UK.
During his research, he found relative Joshua Beaumont who was born in Netherton and moved to Saddleworth in 1679, marrying Elizabeth Lees at Saddleworth Church.
After looking through the Latin court rolls for Saddleworth, Peter became so interested he decided to translate documents for Huddersfield, Meltham, Honley, Slaithwaite and South Crosland as well.
He explained: “Anciently, constables of Saddleworth and their four assistants had to be elected at Almondbury Manor every year, and residents of Quick, as Saddleworth was often then known, also had to appear at these courts for various misdemeanours.
“I began by extracting records just for Saddleworth and after a time I had so much material I decided to translate the whole set of records for all seven townships who were required to attend the courts.”
The court records include names of the elected constables and assistants, as well as those guilty of various offences including affrays, not maintaining hedges or fences, hunting hares in the snow, and building cottages illegally.
The records have been translated in three parts by Peter, with Part One ‘In mercy of the Lord’ covering 1627-41, Part Two ‘Homagers for the Lord Protector’ spanning 1641-60 and Part Three ‘Lady of the Manor’ 1660-90.
And Peter’s fourth book ‘Garsomes, geld rents and gould’ records more extracts for Saddleworth up to 1760, along with extracts from the Ramsden family accounts from 1590-1630.
Peter, a retired lecturer in Economics, added: “There are very many Saddleworth residents and places named and some unusual entries, including one murder and hue and cry, and Garsomes pre-dates the Parish registers and so is very important.
“For anyone interested in local history or genealogy these books would be of great interest.
“They are the result of many years painstaking research. I do not do this to make money, just to spread the information to those interested who would never be able to access Latin records.”
The books each contain more than 250 pages filed with inserts and indexes of thousands of names, places and subjects.
Peter Hurst’s books, which cost £16 each, can be bought directly by contacting him on 01457 876947 or email: phurst9north@yahoo.co.uk
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