1776 Lease at Toll Down
Ref: GLS
Date: 1776 Jan 31
Transcribed by: Geoff Roberts, Marsha Stringer
Courtesy of the Meere Family
THIS INDENTURE made the Thirty first day of January in the Sixteenth of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Third and in the year of our Lord Christ One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Six BETWEEN William BLATHWAYT of Dirham in the County of Gloucester Esquire of the one part and William MEERE of Dirham of aforesaid innholder of the other part, WITNESSETH that as well for and in consideration of the sum of Two Hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to the said William BLATHWAYT by the said William MEERE in hand at and before ensealing and delivery hereof well and truly paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged as of the yearly rent heriotts Covenants conditions and Agreements hereinafter reserved and contained on the part and behalf of the said William MEERE his extors admors and assigns to be paid observed done and performed he the said William BLATHWAYT HATH demised granted and to farm letten and by these presents DOTH demise grant and to farm lett and sett unto the said William MEERE his extors admors and assigns ALL THAT messuage tenement or dwelling house commonly called or known by the name of Toll Down House and Sign of the Crown together with the stables outhouses garden and outlett thereunto adjoining and belonging and
ALL THAT close of arable ground called little field adjoining the said house containing by estimation three acres two roods and eighteen perches (be the same more or less) ALL which said messuage or tenement stables outhouses garden outlet close of ground and premises are situate lying and being in the parish of Dirham aforesaid and were late in the possession of [blank here where previous tenant’s name should have been inserted] and now of the said William MEERE as tenant to the said William BLATHWAYT together will all ways waters and water courses easements profits commodities advantages and appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises belonging or in any wise appertaining (Except and always reserved out of this present demise and grant unto the said William BLATHWAYT his heirs and assigns all timber trees and trees likely to become timber and all other trees now standing growing or being or which during the said hereby demised term shall or may stand grow or be in or upon the said hereby demised premises or any part thereof with free Liberty at all times for the said William BLATHWAYT his heirs and assigns Servants and workmen with horses carts and carriages to enter on the said premises or any part thereof to fell cut down and carry away the same without paying any acknowledgement or satisfaction for the damages occasioned thereby
AND ALSO except all quarrs quarries and mines and veins of stone or coal and minerals of what nature or kind soever with free liberty as aforesaid to enter upon the said premises or any part thereof to dig mine delve search for Land quarry and bring away the same paying reasonable satisfaction for the damages occasioned thereby AND ALSO free Liberty of hunting hawking fishing and fowling in and upon the said premises any part thereof and all royalties whatsoever TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said messuage or tenement and dwelling house garden outlet close of ground and premises above mentioned and hereby demised and granted or intended so to be and every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances (Except as before is excepted) unto the said William MEERE his extors adminors and assigns from the date hereof for and during and unto the full end and term of fourscore and nineteen years from thence next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended if William MEERE son of the said William MEERE the lessee aged about twenty one years christened at Mangotsfield in the county of Gloucester aforesaid Elizabeth MEERE aged about eighteen years christened at Westerliegh in the same county and Mary MEERE aged about nine years christened in Dirham aforesaid both daughters of the said William MEERE the lessee or any or either of them shall happen so long to live
YIELDING AND PAYING therefore yearly and every year during the said term hereby granted (determinable as aforesaid) unto the said William BLATHWAYT his heirs or assigns the yearly rent or sum of Ten Shillings of lawful money of Great Britain clear of all taxes deductions and reprizes whatsoever at the two most usual feasts or days of payment in the year (that is to say) the feasts of Saint John the Baptist and the Nativity of our Lord Christ by even and equal portions the first payment thereof to begin and be made at and upon the said feast of Saint John the Baptist now next coming (and also) YIELDING AND PAYING unto the said William BLATHWAYT his heirs and assigns at and upon the several and respective deceases of them the said William MEERE the son Elizabeth and Mary MEERE the sum of one guinea of like lawful money clear of all deductions whatsoever for and in the name of an heriott
PROVIDED ALWAYS and if it shall happen that the said yearly rent and heriotts hereby reserved or any or either of them or any part of them shall be behind and unpaid in part or in all by the space of twenty days next after either of the said feasts or days or times of payment whereon the same is and are hereby reserved and ought to be paid as aforesaid (being lawfully demanded) and no sufficient distress or distresses in or upon the same premises or any part thereof can or may be had or found whereby to levy the same Rent and heriotts and the arrears of them or either of them (if any) and all costs and charges thereabouts that then and from thenceforth it shall and may be lawful to and for the said William BLATHWAYT and his heirs and assigns into and upon the said demised premises or any part thereof in the name of the whole wholly to reenter and the same to have hold possess and enjoy as in his or their first and former estate anything herein contained to the contrary thereof and anywise not withstanding
AND THE SAID William MEERE for himself his Extors admors and assigns doth Covenant promise and agree to and with the said William BLATHWAYT and his Heirs and assigns by these presents so that he the said William MEERE his Extors admons or assigns shall and will well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said William BLATHWAYT his Heirs and assigns the said yearly rent and heriotts hereby reserved at the days and times and in manner and form above expressed and according to the purport true intent and meaning of these presents
AND ALSO that the said William MEERE his Extors admors and assigns shall and will from time to time and at all times during the said term hereby granted (determinable as aforesaid) at his and their own proper costs and charges well and sufficiently repair amend maintain fence and keep the messuage or tenement dwelling house and all the outhouses now built or hereafter to be built on the said premises together with the hedges ditches walls mounds and bounds and fences of and belonging to the said hereby demised premises in and by with all needful and necessary reparations and amendments whatsoever when and as often as need shall require having and taking in and upon the said demised premises competent and sufficient boots for the doing thereof to be spent used and employed in upon and about the same premises only and not elsewhere without committing any waste or spoil and the same messuage tenement or dwelling house outhouses and premises so well and sufficiently repaired amended fenced and kept at the end or other sooner determination of the said term hereby granted unto the said William BLATHWAYT his Heirs and assigns shall and will peaceably and quietly leave surrender and yield up
AND FURTHER that the said William MEERE his Extors admors and assigns shall and will from time to time and at all times during the said term hereby granted (determinable as aforesaid) upon all and every lawful and reasonable summons and warning to be given to him or them in that behalf do his and their several and respective suits and services at unto and in all and every the Court and Courts of him the said William BLATHWAYT his heirs and assigns to be from time to time for the said manor of Dirham holden and kept and all and every such Court and Courts shall and will serve and be sworn in the homage of the said Courts and do and perform all and every such other lawful and reasonable service and services there as by the steward of the said Courts of the said Manor for the time being shall be lawfully tendered or required to be done and performed
AND ALSO shall and will at all times during the said term hereby granted (determinable as aforesaid) on his and their parts and behalfs well and truly observe obey perform and keep all and every such lawful and reasonable Bye Laws and Orders and as shall be from time to time at the said Courts or either of them by the homage sworn in the same Courts for the time being or the greater number made and ordained and in default thereof shall and will pay all such amerciaments pains penalties and forfeitures unto the said William BLATHWAYT his Heirs and assigns Lords of the said Manor as shall be at any time during the said term hereby granted sett or forfeited or lost by him them or any of them for or by a reason or breach of the nonperformance of the said Bye Laws and Orders or any of them
AND THE SAID William BLATHWAYT for himself his Heirs and assigns doth Covenant promise and grant to and with the said William MEERE his Extors admors and assigns by these presents that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said William MEERE his Extors administrators and assigns by and under the rent heriotts reservations Covenants Conditions and agreements herein before Reserved and contained on his and their parts and behalfs to be paid observed done and performed from time to time and at all times during the said Term hereby granted as aforesaid peaceably and quietly to enter into and upon have hold use occupy possess and enjoy all and singular the said premises hereby demised and granted or intended hereby so to be and every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances (Except as before is Excepted) without any manner of Lett trouble hindrance molestation interruption or denial of him the said William BLATHWAYT his Heirs or assigns or of any other person or persons whatsoever lawfully claiming or to Claim by or under him or them IN WITNESS whereof the parties above named have to these present indentures interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
Signed: William MEERE, seal of child's head in red
Sealed & delivered (being first duly stamped) in the presence of Charles GUNNING
Rent £0.10.0
Hereditament £1.1.0
Notes:
| William MEERE | "brick wall" for over 35 years of family
research (by other cousins) Granted this lease to The Crown Inn, Tolldown, 1776 |
| Mary MEERE | Wife; nee CANTER; m 25 Jul 1754, Winterbourne, GLS; d 1806, bur Dyrham |
| William MEERE | Son, bap 1754, Mangotsfield; m Ann BUSH; d 1829,bur Bitton |
| Elizabeth MEERE | Dau, bap 1757, Westerleigh; m Joseph HIGNELL |
| Mary MEERE | Dau, bap 1767, Dyrham; d 1825, Keynsham; bur Dyrham |
| Hester MEERE | Dau, bap 1772, Dyrham; d 1825, Keynsham; bur Dyrham |