I had written a number of folks in the area of Kings Cliffe, UK, and got a very nice note back from a woman in the Northamptonshire Record Office. She explained what the document is - it's actually quite interesting, and not a deed. Though that's a bit odd, because the back of the document sure sounds like a deed. (Perhaps the citizens of Northampstonshire don't want me moving in. :-)
You can see the latest transcribed version of the document here, and below is the email from the record office:
Dear Mr Aravosis,
Thank you for your e-mail of 17 March 2005.
The document you have is a View of Frankpledge. Frankpledge was an ancient system that required men of each manor to be part of a group of 10 or 12 men (a Tithing). The group would be responsible for the good behaviour of each other and if one was found guilty of an offence all the frankpledge members would be fined.
Your document is the Manor Court Baron (the part that dealt with legal matters) record that ensured that eligible men and boys that were approaching adulthood were involved in a frankplpedge group.
Having seen the copies you have put online your document looks genuine. It would be made out of parchment - a stretched and treated sheep or cow skin.
You and the people who have seen it have done very well in deciphering the names - the handwriting of the period is difficult to read! The letter c was often written to resemble an r so it is easy to misread, particularly when the writer has put a tail on it. Similarly an open letter 'a' looks very much like 'e' so we think the name is Thomas Percivall rather than Persiviell. You have correctly identified the Latin form of the name Egidius as Giles.
It may be possible to find out more about the people named, but this would be a job for out Research Service who would charge £14 (pounds sterling) per hour to investigate. They would begin by searching Kings Cliffe parish registers which survive from 1590 and may find a reference to a baptism. Because of the age of the record it is unlikely that they would find any detailed information so we would not want to advise you to commission a search that may yield nothing further. However, if you feel you would like to pursue this you will find full details of our Research service on our website www.northamptonshire.gov.uk the click on Community and Living.
We hope the information we have given is of interest to you.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny Moran
Public Services Manager
Northamptonshire Record Office
Northampton
