Public records: Inquisitions post mortem
Inquisitions post mortem (sometimes known as escheats)
are among the most 'genealogist-friendly' of records,
and were a mainstay of traditional medieval genealogy. These were inquiries, undertaken
after the death of a feudal tenant in chief (that is, a direct tenant of the crown),
to establish what lands were held and who should succeed to them.
They survive from around 1240 until the Restoration in 1660,
when feudal tenure was abolished.
After the death of a tenant in chief, a writ (of 'diem clausit extremum') would
usually be issued to the local escheator, the official responsible for taking
possession of the dead tenant's estate. He would then convene a local jury and conduct an inquiry -
usually a separate one was held in each of the counties where the deceased had held land.
The earliest inquisitions are less detailed,
but generally the information recorded would include the date when the tenant died,
the names of the manors held and details of the services performed in return for them,
and also the name, age and relationship of the heir (or of each coheir).
The ages might well be approximate, particularly if given in 'round figures', and for older heirs;
if the heir were a minor, however, accuracy would be important.
Further records might be made of the assignment of dower (part of a husband's estate,
to be held by his widow for her lifetime). If the heir were a minor, the crown had the right to his or her
wardship - the heir would not take possession of the estate until his or her majority was attained,
and at this point proof of age might be recorded.
From 1540, in cases where the heir was a minor (or in cases of lunacy),
further information may be found in the records of the Court of Wards and Liveries
(letter-code: WARD).
One shortcoming of this system, genealogically speaking, is that it applied only
to tenants in chief. No such record would be taken for anyone who was, technically speaking,
a sub-tenant, no matter how rich or powerful he might be. On the other hand,
many other people are mentioned incidentally in the inquisitions.
Those of higher status appear as sub-tenants or as trustees ('feoffees') of the
deceased; feoffees were often related to the tenant, although the relationships are not
usually stated. Humbler people appear as jurors, or may give evidence about the age of the heir,
and detailed manorial surveys might also be made.
There are published abstracts of the inquisitions post mortem (and the associated documents),
from the earliest records up to the early 15th century (in progress),
and also for the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509). (These abstracts do not generally
include detailed manorial surveys, but do include the names of jurors from volume 22 onwards
- i.e. from 1422 onwards.)
For the intervening period there are older printed calendars,
which include the names of the manors held, but few genealogical details.
Links and bibliography for inquisitions post mortem
For source material on the internet,
click here
The following are available online:
Discussion
- H.E. Bell, An Introduction to the History and Records of the Court of Wards and Liveries
(Cambridge, 1953)
- R.F. Hunnisett,
The Reliability of Inquisitions as historical evidence
(in D.A. Bullough and R.L. Storey, eds, The Study of Medieval Records;
Oxford, 1971)
- R.E. Latham, Hints on interpreting the Public Records.
III Inquisitions post mortem
(pp.77-81 in Amateur Historian vol.1(3), 1953)
- M. McGuiness, Inquisitions post mortem
(pp.235-42 in Amateur Historian vol.6(7), 1965)
- Inquisitions Post Mortem and Manorial Extents, chapter 3 in J. West,
Village Records (2nd edn, Chichester, 1982)
Published lists and abstracts
The following are the main sequences of published lists and abstracts covering whole classes of records.
In addition, many local collections have been published, some including more detailed information.
Chancery Inquisitions
C132-142. These editions cover the main series of Chancery inquisitions post mortem (and copies
in the Exchequer and the Court of Wards and Liveries). A number of local selections have also been published,
as well as the series relating to separate administrative jurisdictions, mentioned below.
- The National Archives online catalogue includes details of name, county and year for:
- C132 (Henry III)
- C133 (Edward I)
- C134 (Edward II)
- C135 (Edward III)
- C136 (Richard II)
- C137 (Henry IV)
- C138 (Henry V)
- C139 (Henry VI)
- C140 (Edward IV)
- C141 (Richard III)
- C142 (Henry VII-Charles I)
- WARD7 (Court of Wards and Liveries; Henry VIII-Charles I)
(Where available, relevant details can be found either by using the "search the catalogue" option,
or by clicking "browse". In browsing mode, type the series name ("C138", for example) into the
"Browse from reference" text box and click "go", then select the "View by ... Reference" option.
Details of individual documents should now be visible.)
See below for Exchequer inquisitions: E150.
- J. Caley and J. Bayley, eds, Calendarium inquisitionum post mortem sive escaetarum
[Henry III to 1485]
(4 vols; Record Commission; [London,] 1806-28)
Latin calendars. Superseded by volumes of abstracts to 1418;
the modern name index to 1485 is more accurate and complete, although the Record Commission volumes
include place names as well as personal names. Note also that they include other types of inquisitions,
which can cause confusion
(Volumes 1 and 4 are included in the RootsWeb list of
Books We Own,
which can be searched by volunteers.)
- C. Roberts, ed., Calendarium genealogicum, Henry III and Edward I
(2 vols; London, 1865)
Largely Latin extracts from inquisitions; superseded by the detailed abstracts below
- Calendar of inquisitions post mortem and other analogous documents preserved in the
Public Record Office [1236-1447]
(26 vols; London, 1904-2010)
English abstracts of inquisitions post mortem, and also inquisitions concerned with
assignments of dower, proofs of age etc. Generally, the abstracts include genealogical information, and the
names of principal sub-tenants and feoffees. The names of jurors are included from volume 22 onwards
- i.e. from 1422 onwards.
- Lists of Inquisitions post mortem, Henry V-Richard III;
Inquisitions ad quod damnum and miscellaneous inquisitions, Henry VII-Charles I (C138-C142)
and Name index to Chancery Inquisitions post mortem, Henry V-Richard III (C138-C142) [1413-1485]
(List and Index Society 268, 269; Kew, 1998)
The lists give the name, year and county for each inquisition post mortem; for the other
inquisitions there is a brief note as to the subject
- Calendar of inquisitions post mortem and other analogous documents preserved in the
Public Record Office [2nd series: 1485-1509] (3 vols; London, 1898-1955)
English abstracts, similar to the first series above
- Index of inquisitions preserved in the Public Record Office [1509 onwards]
(Lists and Indexes 23, 26, 31, 33; London, 1907-1909)
Indexes, giving name, county and year only
- Inquisitions post mortem, Henry VIII-Charles I [1509 onwards]
(Genealogist, new series 9-19, 25-36; 1892-1903, 1908-1920)
Very brief genealogical abstracts, including details of the deceased tenant in chief and the heir(s).
Alphabetically arranged by tenant's surname, from A to Peytre
Exchequer Inquisitions
E149, E150. Most Exchequer Inquisitions are duplicates of the Chancery Inquisitions,
and are indexed in the volumes listed above; but for a few there are no copies in the Chancery.
- The National Archives online catalogue includes details of name, county and year for:
- E150 (Henry VII-Elizabeth I)
(Where available, relevant details can be found either by using the "search the catalogue" option,
or by clicking "browse". In browsing mode, type the series name ("E150") into the
"Browse from reference" text box and click "go", then select the "View by ... Reference" option.
Details of individual documents should now be visible.)
- Ancient compotuses of the Exchequer (Escheators' Accounts and Inquisitions)
in the Tenth Report of the Deputy Keeper of
the Public Records, Appendix II, pp.1-222 (London, 1849)
Latin list of names - some with places also given - arranged chronologically within each county (unindexed);
also covers escheators' accounts (E136)
- Exchequer inquisitions are abstracted in both series of the
Calendar of inquisitions post mortem ... (see above)
Palatinate of Chester
CHES3 (c.1277 to c.1645), including some for Flintshire:
- Welsh Records. Index to Inquisitions, &c. Counties of Chester and Flint
in The Twenty-Fifth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix, pp.32-60 (London, 1864)
List, arranged alphabetically by surname, of inquisitions post mortem and other inquisitions,
with associated documents
- Inquisitions post mortem: Palatinate of Chester: Henry VIII to Charles II
pp.381-395 (Appendix I) in Lists and Indexes 33 (London, 1909)
List arranged alphabetically by surname
Palatinate of Durham
In DURH3 (1318-1637):
- Durham records: Cursitor's records: Inquisitions post mortem [earliest to Charles I]
in The Forty-Fourth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix,
pp.310-542 (London, 1883), and The Forty-Fifth ..., Appendix I, pp.153-282 (London, 1885)
English abstracts. Grouped chronologically for each initial letter of the surname (unindexed)
- Inquisitions post mortem: Palatinate of Durham: Henry VIII to Charles II
pp.397-413 (Appendix II) in Lists and Indexes 33 (London, 1909)
List arranged alphabetically by surname
- Palatinate of Durham - Chancery: Additional Inquisitions
pp.32-35 in Lists and Indexes 40 (London, 1914)
List arranged alphabetically by surname, of nos 182-193,
transferred to the Public Record Office in 1911
Palatinate of Lancaster
1297-1637, of which about 40 survive in PL4, for the period 17 Richard II-30 Henry VIII.
The surviving inquisitions in this class - post mortem and others - are listed in the online
National Archives online catalogue.
(Where available, relevant details can be found either by using the "search the catalogue" option,
or by clicking "browse". In browsing mode, type the series name ("PL4") into the
"Browse from reference" text box and click "go", then select the "View by ... Reference" option.
Details of individual documents should now be visible.)
- W. Langton, ed., Abstracts of Inquisitions post Mortem made by Christopher Towneley and Roger
Dodsworth [Lancashire inquisitions, 1297-1637] (Chetham Society 95, 99; [Manchester,] 1875, 1876)
Full Latin extracts, most from inquisitions since lost; with illustrative quotations from Towneley's
copies of the Patent Rolls
- Duchy of Lancaster: Calendar of Lancashire Inquisitions post mortem, &c [Richard II to Elizabeth I]
in The Thirty-Ninth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix, pp.532-549 (London, 1878)
English abstracts of inquisitions, arranged alphabetically by surname (unindexed).
Towneley's abstracts are included, but a few of the surviving documents in PL4 are omitted
Duchy of Cornwall
E306/9 (17 Henry VI to 9 Henry VII). The 12 inquisitions are listed in the
National Archives online catalogue.
(Where available, relevant details can be found either by using the "search the catalogue" option,
or by clicking "browse". In browsing mode, type the series name ("E306/9") into the
"Browse from reference" text box and click "go", then select the "View by ... Reference" option.
Details of individual documents should now be visible.)
Duchy of Lancaster
DL7 (Henry III to Charles I):
- R.J. Harper, J. Caley and W. Minchin, eds, Ducatus Lancastriae. Pars Prima: Calendarium
Inquisitionum post mortem &c ... [Edward I to Charles I]
(Part 1, in vol.1; Record Commission; London, 1823)
Brief Latin abstracts, including place names; indexes of personal and place names
- Inquisitions post mortem: Duchy of Lancaster: Henry VIII to Charles II
pp.415-449 (Appendix III) in Lists and Indexes 33 (London, 1909)
Alphabetical index; nearly all from Lancashire - other counties indicated