Collection of manuscript fragments and local ephemera from Nottinghamshire, 14th century-1887

The collection includes the following items:

• Leaves from a legal text book referring to royal writs applicable in various cases including that of mort d'ancestre and uses of the will 'Precipe in capite'. Undated, c. 14th century (MS 17/1);
• Fragment of suit concerning a third part of the Manor of Lynley regarding the inheritance of Ralph Barton from his father Robert Barton. Undated, c. early 17th century (MS 17/2);
• Indenture between Charles Henry of Nottingham, gentleman, and John Story of Kneeton, Nottinghamshire regarding the release of land in Castlegate, Nottingham. 1696/7 (MS 17/3);
• Fragment of a petition. Late 17th century (MS 17/4);
• Agreement between Charles Henry of Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham, gentleman, and John Slacke of Edingley, Nottinghamshire, yeoman, regarding a conveyance of land called the 'Belsingers', Edingley. 1703 (MS 17/5);
• Indenture between John Smyth of Kimoulton, Nottinghamshire, yeoman, and Charles Henry of Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham, regarding the release of land in Houndgate, Nottingham. 1706 (MS 17/6);
• Bond between John Chapman of Worksop, Nottinghamshire, gentleman, and Joseph Champion of Bilby, Nottinghamshire, gentleman, regarding legacies set out in the will of Joseph Harvey. 1723 (MS 17/7);
• Declaration by an unnamed person concerning his rights regarding a spring rising on his estates. Undated, c. late 18th century (MS 17/8);
• Printed particulars of valuable freehold estates on Long Row, Market Place, Nottingham to be sold by auction. 1801 (MS 17/9);
• Letter from John Hoskins of Cuckney, Nottinghamshire to W. and S. Parsons of Nottingham regarding land on South Circus, Nottingham. 1844 (MS 17/10);
• Printed bill regarding the sale by auction of a freehold estate in Arnold, Nottinghamshire. 1844 (MS 17/11);
• Printed address of William Sharp to the municipal electors of St. Ann's Ward, Nottingham. 1887 (MS 17/12).

Little is known of the history of the manuscripts and printed ephemera which have been brought together in this small artificial collection. None of the items apparently has a common origin, but they seem all to have been at one stage in the hands of a Nottingham firm of solicitors, Messers Hunt, Dickins and Willatt. This firm, originally was known as Hunt, Williams and Dickins, was formed in 1894 and by 1932 had become Hunt, Dickins and Willatt of Clumber Street, Nottingham.

The items have been arranged chronologically.

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.

LANGUAGE: English, Latin

• This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright on the description belongs to the University of Nottingham.

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: Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk).

The papers in this collection were given to the University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts in about 1949 by a Nottingham firm of solicitors, Messers Hunt Dickins and Willatt. It is assumed that they were drawn from collections handled by the firm.