The text is written in a faint hand in a bound volume, and extends to 183 pages. The title 'Precedents in Special Pleading' is given on the first page. This is followed by pages headed 'Venues', being locations where cases took place, and 'Index', a list of contents of cases recorded in the volume. The text itself opens under the heading 'Assumpsit', the legal action which seems to be the particular subject of concern. Notes and glosses in the margin add details of precedents in actions involving debt, bankruptcy and other civil cases. Actions are cited from a variety of courts. The names of plaintiffs and defendants are commonly given.
Manuscript text of legal precedents belonging to D'Ewes Coke (1774-1856), barrister, undated, c.1800
This material is held atUniversity of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections
- Reference
- GB 159 MS 63
- Dates of Creation
- 1800
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English.
- Physical Description
- 1 volume
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
D'Ewes Coke (1747-1811) was born at Mansfield Woodhouse, the son of George Coke of Kirkby Hall, Nottinghamshire. He was educated at Repton School and St John's College, Cambridge. Entering the church in 1771, he held the rectorship of Pinxton and South Normanton, Derbyshire from 1771 to 1811 and in 1790 was ordained as a deacon for Coventry and Lichfield. He married Hannah, daughter of George Heywood of Brimington Hall, Nottinghamshire. Coke spent his later years at Brookhill Hall, Nottinghamshire.
His son, also D'Ewes Coke (1774-1856), was educated at Westminster School, Glasgow University and Cambridge University. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1789 and called to the bar in 1797. He lived at Brookhill Hall and was a Justice of the Peace for Nottinghamshire. Coke was agent for the Duke of Rutland's estates and also served as recorder of Newark, Nottinghamshire and deputy recorder for Grantham, Lincolnshire. In 1797, he married Harriet, daughter of Thomas Wright of Mapperley Hall, Nottinghamshire.
Arrangement
No archival arrangement has been necessary.
Access Information
ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.
LANGUAGE: English
Other Finding Aids
This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright in the description belongs to The University of Nottingham.
Conditions Governing Use
REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.
COPYRIGHT: Permission to make published use of the volume must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the reader.
Custodial History
Details of the provenance or acquisition of the volume by the University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections are not certain. 'D'Ewes Coke' is written on the title page. On the inside cover appears also the name H.W. Bingham. The volume seems to have formed part of the University Library collections by 1948.