Not what you're looking for?

Click on the button to search the site

 

Edwards and Skeath: Arbitration Award 12 November 1642

Centre for Kentish Studies reference CKS U47/11 E27

Link to summary and background

To all Christian people to whom this present writing of award indented shall come. Thomas Walter of Darent, James Hawes of the same, Thomas Funer of East Mal-linge and John Nordash of Cobham in the county of Kent, gentlemen, send greetings in our Lord God everlasting. Whereas certain controversies have been had, moved, depending between Alexander Skeath of Hartley in the said county of Kent, yeoman, and John Edwards of Ridley in the said county yeoman; for pacifying, ordering and ending whereof they the said Alexander Skeath and John Edwards have bound themselves either to the other in two several obligation of the several sums of £20, bearing dated the 9th day of this instant November, with condition to stand to, abide, perform, fulfil and keep the order, rule, final determination and judgement of the said Thomas Walter, James Hawes, Thomas Furner and John Nordash indifferently elected, named and chosen by the mutual consent and earnest request [................] said parties to arbitrate, order, rule, finally determine and judge of all and all manner of actions, debts, bills, bonds, specialities, controversies, discords, variance, strifes, debates, claims and demands whatsoever, which now are or heretofore have been between the said Alexander Skeath and John Edwards from the beginning of the world until the day of the date of the said recited obligations. So that the said arbitrators delver up their award in writing under their hands and seals, on or before the 19th day of this instant November.

Now know ye, that the said Thomas Walter, James Hawes, Thomas Funer and John Nordash, as well for the ordering, ruling and ending of all variances, discords and controversies whatsoever between the said Alexander Skeath and John Edwards. As also for their future peace and quietness, taking upon them the charge of the said award and having heard the allegations of both the said parties, do by these presents arbitrate, award, order, deem and judge of and concerning the premisses in manner following, viz:

That the said Alexander Skeath or his assignee or assignees shall hold and enjoy all that one messuage or tenement, wherein he the said Alexander Skeath now dwelleth, with the orchard and one parcel of meadow land to the said orchard adjoining, two parcels of arable land and one parcel of pasture land, to the said messuage belonging. And also all that messuage or tenement with the close and orchard thereunto belonging in the occupation of John Gardner, together also with one bay of and in the barn near adjoining to the said messuage in the occupation of the said John Gardner, during and unto the feast of St Michael the Archangel next ensuing the date hereof. And that the said Alexander Skeath, his assignee or assignees shall therefore during the said term pay or cause to be paid unto the said John Edwards or his assigns the sum of £10 of lawful money of England in manner following (viz) the sum of £5 on the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary next coming, and the like sum of £5 on the said feast of St Michael the Archangel. And shall keep and maintain the said messuage and barn well and sufficiently repaired and amended during the said term. And also that he the said Alexander Skeath nor his assignee or assignees shall not plough, dig, break up or sow with any corn or grain whatsoever the abovesaid two parcels of meadow or pasture land, or any part or parcel of them during the said term. And that the said John Edwards or his assignee or assignees shall pay or cause to be paid unto the said Alexander Skeath or his assigns [...............] the date hereof the sum of 11 shillings of lawful English money. And lastly they the said Alexander Skeath and John Edwards shall on the day of the date hereof seal and definer (?) either to other one good and sufficent general release of all actions and causes of actions whatsoever, which now are or heretofore have been had, moved or depending between the said parties from the beginning of the world until the day of the date of the said recited obligations.

In witness whereof the said arbitrators to this their award have set their hands and seals the 12th day of November in the 18th year of the reign of our sovereign lord King Charles of England etc., and in the year of Our Lord 1642.

Thomas Walter (S) James Hawes (S) John Nordash (S) Thomas Furner (S)

Read, signed, published and sealed by the above named Thomas Walter and James Haues in the presence of John Woodland (S)

Read, signed, published and sealed by the above named Thomas Furner in the presence of William Gyer (S).