Cause Papers for the Courts of the Archbishopric of York

The Cause Papers of the Courts of the Archbishopric of York have been indexed. http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/causepapers/

Even the basic search has lots of information available.  The site offers a searchable catalogue of more than 14,000 cause papers relating to cases heard between 1300 and 1858 in the Church Courts of the diocese of York. The original records are held in the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York, and are the most extensive records of their type in the United Kingdom. They offer an extremely valuable resource for family and local historians and scholars interested in social, ecclesiastical, economic and legal history.

A good example is the following entry for neighbours of mine in Bishopdale:

TEST.CP.1853/13 Repository:Borthwick Institute GB 193 Court:Prerogative Case:Testamentary (Validity of will) Details:21 Pieces; Has deposition; Has libel; Has sentence

Outcome:Plaintiff Wins Date: 1853 — 1854

Participant:Mary   Hazelden[Hesletine] Role:testator  Details:female; Spinster  Location:Aysgarth ( North Riding)  Place(s): Mires Garth

Participant:Ralph   Lodge Role:plaintiff Details:male; 67; [Disputed] Executor of the testator;  Gentleman Location:Aysgarth (Yorkshire North Riding) Place(s):New Houses  (Newhouses) : undefined

Participant:William   Purchas  Role:plaintiff Details:male; [Disputed] Executor of the testator

Participant:Richard   Smith  Role:defendant Details:male; [Disputed] Cousin German, once removed, of the testator; Gentleman Location:London : undefined Place(s):298 Holborn (298 Holborn) : habitation

Participant:William   Hudson  Role:prosecution proctor Details:male Employment:Notary Public

Location:York (York) : city

Participant:George   Lawton  Role:defence proctor Details:male; The Elder Employment:Notary Public Location:York (York) : city

Participant:Thomas   Simpson  Role:prosecution proctor Details:male Employment:Notary Public

Participant:John   Hammond  Role:witness Details:male; Gentleman Location:Aysgarth (Yorkshire NorthRiding) Place(s):West Burton (West Burton) :

 

Participant:Elizabeth   Lodge  Role:witness Details:female; 72; Sister of Ralph Lodge; Spinster Location:Aysgarth (Yorkshire NorthRiding) Place(s):New Houses (Newhouses)

 

Participant:Isabel   Routh Alternate name:Isabel   Dent  Role:witness Details:female; 36; Wife of Richard Routh, Farmer Employment:Formerly servant to the testator Location:Aysgarth (Yorkshire NorthRiding) Place(s):Mires Garth (Mires Garth) Location:Aysgarth (Yorkshire  North Riding) Place(s):Bishopdale