Five deeds relating to properties in Shropshire
The first two items relate to the same transaction, and the 1663 item may well refer to the same property in Ternhill: the name of the owners in all cases being Hill. The 1620 and 1631 leases relate to property in different places but both include the general proviso that the lessor may retain the right to the timber and fruit trees on the land (oak, ash and crab trees).
In addition, the lessor in the 1631 lease includes the stipulation that should a war arise, the lessee should provide for a man to serve the lessor, should he be called up to serve. The lessor in this case, Sir Andrew Corbet, of Moreton Corbet, was an important local figure: he owned significant estates in the county and served as Member of Parliament in 1624, 1625 and 1628; he died in 1637 before the Civil War broke out. In the lease he granted the rights, dating back to feudal times, for the lessor to take timber enough for making and repairing his plough and cart and to supply his fire.
These deeds give a glimpse of life and custom in 17th century Shropshire and would be useful to complement other material held at Shropshire Archives in Shrewsbury.