St Albans City Archive Catalogues - Transcription Introduction The St Albans City Archive is one of the main sources of primary material for anyone researching the history of the city. However, understanding what is in the archive is daunting as the key finding aid, the catalogue produced by William Le Hardy in the 1940s, does not match the standard of modern catalogues. Improvements are underway. The City Archive has been held at Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies (HALS) in Hertford since the 1990s. HALS are currently engaged in an extensive project to improve access to its catalogues via the internet. The City Archive is part of this project but it is likely to be several years before the fully revised catalogue is available on-line. In light of this and with HALS’ agreement, the St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society (SAHAAS) has opted to publish the following transcription of Le Hardy’s catalogue together with relevant material from the ‘Interim’ catalogue. (The latter represents a further deposit by St Albans City Council in the 1990s). For the benefit of SAHAAS members, most of whom live closer to St Albans than to Hertford, we have noted on the transcript the following additional information: 1. Microfilm numbers: much of the pre-1830 archive has been microfilmed. Copies of these films are held in the Local Studies filing cabinets at St Albans Central Library. (See column marked Microfilm/Book) 2. A transcription of the St Albans Borough Quarter Sessions Rolls, 1784-1820, was published by the Hertfordshire Record Society (HRS) in 1991. (See column marked Microfilm/Book) Finally, some of the items catalogued by Le Hardy were not subsequently deposited by the City Council. Where we are aware of these, we have noted the fact as “Not Transferred” in the same column in the transcript. Additionally, Le Hardy himself described some items as being missing. We have annotated the transcription to reflect this by adding in the same column “Missing (per WLH)” If you find material you wish to look at, please follow this process for ordering material from the staff at HALS: 1. Check if it has been microfilmed or published as a book. If it has then you can access the relevant microfilm or book at St Albans Central Library. 2. If it has not been microfilmed or otherwise published, then phone HALS (currently 0300 123 4049) and quote the following details: a. Accession reference number OFF ACC 1162 b. The reference numbers of the item(s) you wish to view. See Column marked “No.”. HALS will confirm if the items are available to view and produce them for you on the day of you visit. 3. Pre-ordering items is recommended as HALS requires 24 hours notice to produce some items. Lastly, although all reasonable steps have been taken to produce a true copy of Le Hardy’s catalogue, you may well encounter errors with this transcription. If you do, please notify us via [email protected]. John Cox Member of SAHAAS and formerly Hon. Archivist, St Albans City Council Jon Mein Volunteer, SAHAAS Library October 2012 St Albans City Archives Catalogues Transcription Cat. Start End Microfilm/ Page Category Cat. No. Date Year Year Description Book Plea of trespass by Edward Bensted, Thomas Knyghton, Richard Sevyer, George Grauncays, George Ginston, Richard Bull, William Mynerd, John Camswell, Robert None, John Bereby, Thomas Master and William Lathbury against John Lathbury Miscellaneous and Joan his wife, Edward Lathbury, Joan Hold, Joan Dey, William Hold, Robert 1 papers 145 Trinity 1513 1513 Butler and Robert Goodshepe for breaking into their close and house at Hertford A1 Miscellaneous Inventory of the goods of Richard Rainshawe esquire of St Albans (HMC 5th report, 1 papers 148 18-Jun 1572 1572 p.565) A1 Commission to Sir Nicholas Bacon, knight, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, William Lord Burleigh Treasurer of England, Ralph Saler, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Mayor of St Albans, and Sir Richard Read, knight, Sir John Butler, knight, John Brockett, George Hersey, and William Doddes, esquires, and John Puckeridge, esquire, Steward of the said town, and John Lockey and John Sibley, burgesses of the town, to muster soldiers in the town. Attached is "a direction for Miscellaneous the Commissioners for the musters in the town of Saint Albones now they shall 1 papers 149 25-May 1573 1573 proceed in the execution of the said Commission". Great Seal (damaged) A1 Notes of various properties given to the Mayor and Burgesses: a messuage in the Flesh Shambles, and Clock House, Richard Martyn's house (for the use of the Usher of the Free School), two houses given by Agnes Leverocke, Thomas Miscellaneous Beeston's house, two tenements given by Mr Latheburie for the use of the poor, a 1 papers 139 - 1582 1587 rent for drawing water at the Counter house well, and a tenement in Fishpool Street A1 Copy of letters patent to Sir James Crofte, knight, comptroller of the household, Miscellaneous granting him authority to search out what manors etc should, by attainder or any 1 papers 109-113 10-Aug 1583 1583 other reason, have descended to the Crown A1 Letters to the Mayor & Burgesses of St From Charles Morryson to continue to Mr Comforte (sic Comporte) in the office of 1 Albans 47 18-Feb (1580s) (1580s) Chamberlain and clerk of the papers, in the absence of Mr Rydley. Undated A1 St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society 1 www.stalbanshistory.org Cat. Start End Microfilm/ Page Category Cat. No. Date Year Year Description Book Letters to the Mayor & From John Thomas "Hylocymius" (ie of Bois le Duc. Holland, Master of the Burgesses of St Grammar School, St Albans) to ask permission for the parson to beg a collection for 2 Albans 21 21-Nov 1583 1583 "Goodman Kente" (HMC 5th Report p.566) A1 Letters to the Mayor & Burgesses of St From John Richards, vicar of Thornborough (co. Buckingham) and twelve 2 Albans 5 08-Dec 1583 1583 inhabitants concerning swine stolen. 13 seals A1 Letters to the Mayor & From Paul Dayrell to the Mayor and to Mr Goodridge of the Black Bull commending Burgesses of St the bearers, his neighbours of Thornborough, who have had 21 hogs stolen from 2 Albans 6 08-Dec 1583 1583 them (HMC 5th Report, p.567) A1 Letters to the Mayor & Burgesses of St 2 Albans 48 22-Dec 1583 1583 From John Rede commending the bearer, his servant A1 Letters to the Mayor & Burgesses of St From William Lee asking that Robert Smith, in prison in St Albans, may be allowed 2 Albans 20 16-Feb 1583/4 1583/4 bail A1 Letters to the Mayor & Burgesses of St From Sir John Brockett and Sir John Cutts concerning a licence for Roger Be?he 2 Albans 22 02-Mar 1583/4 1583/4 "to kill Fleshe this lente" (HMC 5th Report p.567) A1 Letters to the Copy of a letter of request signed by Thomas Bramley, chancellor, Francis Earl of Mayor & Bedford and others asking for collections to be made for the inhabitants of Burgesses of St Nantwich, co. Chester, whose houses have been destroyed by fire. (HMC 5th 2 Albans 15 11-Mar 1583/4 1583/4 Report, p.566) A1 Letters to the Mayor & Burgesses of St 2 Albans 88 28-Mar 1584 1584 From William Jakeman concerning John Woode, his servant, who has left him A1 Letters to the Mayor & Burgesses of St Contemporary copy of letter of William Lord Burleigh and others concerning 2 Albans 45 12-Apr 1584 1584 musters A1 Letters to the Mayor & Burgesses of St From Robert (?) Bagsha concerning a debt due to the bearer, a brother of William 2 Albans 48a 29-Apr 1584 1584 Bartlat A1 Miscellaneous Receipt by John Puckeringe to the Mayor and Burgesses for his half year's rent or 2 papers 118 30-Apr 1584 1584 annuity A1 St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society 2 www.stalbanshistory.org Cat. Start End Microfilm/ Page Category Cat. No. Date Year Year Description Book Agreement by John Clarke, one of the principal burgesses of the borough of St Albans, that he will pay certain monies to John Comport of the same in connection Miscellaneous with the keeping of post horses. Endorsed "The Post Masters agreement for 3 papers 1 25-May 1584 1584 keeping Horses" (HMC 5th Report p.566) A1 Miscellaneous Letter from Thomas Haule with addition by William Cocke concerning "those poore 3 papers 14 28-May 1584 1584 cottages" apparently the subject of a lawsuit A1 Miscellaneous 3 papers 18 11-Jun 1584 1584 Letter from William Cooke excusing himself from attending a meeting A1 Miscellaneous 3 papers 2 21-Jun 1584 1584 Letter from Francis Heydon concerning the "money collected for Nantwiche" A1 Miscellaneous Letter from Sir John Cutts concerning a collection made on the marriage of one of 3 papers 13 12-Aug 1584 1584 this servants (HMC 5th Report p.567) A1 Miscellaneous 3 papers 18a 16-Aug 1584 1584 Letter from L. Rydley complaining of his losses in various lawsuits A1 Miscellaneous "A Remembrance of those that have payd William Warren, that payd not to the 3 papers 108 - (1584) (1584) constables towards the traynynge in Mr Babbes tyme" A1 Miscellaneous "The note of ye chargis of ye ministars that doths preche one of the sattardays 3 papers 28 - 1584 1584 sence ye xi of Jenyary to mychelmas" A1 Miscellaneous Letters from Sir John Brockett suggesting that Roger Dudley be appointed 3 papers 3 21-Jan 1584/5 1584/5 Chamberlain and Clerk of the papers A1 Miscellaneous 7, 8, 11, Letters from Sir John Brockett and Sir John Cutts concerning the training and 3 papers 12, 24 28/5 - 10/7 1584 1586 equipment of soldiers in St Albans (HMC 5th Report, p.567) A1 Miscellaneous 3 papers 26 19-20 Jul 1585 1585 Account of charges of training soldiers at St Albans A1 Miscellaneous Precept by Reginald Basse, Under-sheriff, for the election of burgesses to serve in 4 papers 93 10-Oct 1585 1585 Parliament A1 Writ to the sheriff of Middlesex to cause John Turke, M.A., and Thomas King of Miscellaneous Moreton, co.