Second Generation

E2. probably[1] male SYDNOR (William Sydnor1), born circa 1400?,[2] probably[3] of Leeds in Kent.

+ E5. possibly[4] STEPHEN, born circa 1425?, will dated 4 July 1466, probably died by 1478; married circa 1445? unknown.

†E3. probably[5] male SYDNOR (William Sydnor1), born circa 1400?,[6] probably[7] of Egerton and Boughton Malherbe in Kent.

† E6. probably[8] WILLIAM SR, born circa 1435?, will dated 15 September 1483; married circa 1460? Katherine ____.

+ E7. probably[9] JOHN SR, born circa 1440?, will dated 20 July 1504 and probated 10 October 1504; married circa 1455? Joan [possibly Jane[10]] ____.

E4. WILLIAM SYDNOR JR [SEDNOR, SEDNORE, SEDENOR, SETNOR, SETENOR, SETENORE, SIDENOR, SIDENORE, SYDORNIE] (William Sydnor Sr1), of Barham[11] in Kent, born circa 1410?,[12] will dated 6 February 1462/3 with probate date not given,[13] died by 21 September 1463. [14] His will was the simplest possible, and there were no children mentioned in the will.[15] William also remembered Denton[16] in Kent in his will, but no other parishes. William remembered only his wife Isabel in his testament and will, and he made her his executrix.[17] Peter Ellis, the vicar* at Boughton under Blean in Kent was made his supervisor*.[18]

This William Sydnor Jr probably was the William who acquired or held the land or manor* of Madekin [Maydekin, May Deacon] shortly after 1422.[38]

William Sydnor held land of the manor* of Knowlton in Kent. At a court* there held on 20 December 1424, William paid the relief*[39] for the land formerly of Alice Turk[40] and took the office of beadle*[41] for the year as attorney*[42] of Richard Schreve [Scherreve].[43]

On 20 August 1425 in the hundred* of Baldslow [Baldeslowe] in Sussex, there was a “grant by John Bartlett[44] [Bartelott] of Denne Hill [the Denne], to Wm Sydornie Jun,[45] John Bartlett [Barttelot],[46] of Stopham [in Sussex], and others, of all his lands in North Stoke [in West Sussex] that he, together with John Bartlett [Barttelot],[47] of Coates [Cotes] [in West Sussex] as of the deceased, purchased of Geoffry Wepham.”[48]

William Sydnor Jr was made beadle* again on 30 October 1425. He paid rent “after dinner” of six shillings* and eight pence* out of total receipts delivered to the lord* of the manor* of Knowlton of eighteen shillings* and two pence*.[49] Thus by paying about a third of the rents collected that evening, he appeared to have been a significant land holder within those lands of the manor*.

At the court* of 13 March 1425/6, William Sydnor paid rent for the common* suit of court of fourteen pence* for Alice Turk [Turke] and four hens*.[50] When court* was held on 15 October 1426, he again paid the major portion of the rent, ten shillings* out of nineteen shillings* and nine pence* received for the lord*.[51] Between 24 September 1426 and 25 February 1426/7, it was noted he “remains in debt for two years for rent and for hens*[52] three pounds, five shillings* and eleven pence*.”[53] Certainly, his holdings of the manor* of Knowlton were greater than just those shown in Gasthurst.

On 5 May 1427, he, together with Richard Schreve [Scherreve] and Thomas Pettit [Pette], paid three pence* for “distraint*[54] for default of common* suit of court.” At the court* of 22 December 1427, William together with William Pettit [Pette],[55] Annabelle Pettit [Anabil Pette], Richard Schreve [Scherreve], and others were found in distraint* for defaults of common suit.[56]

“William Sidenore” was listed as one of the “Gentry of this Land [Kent]” in 1433.[57]

In 1437, “William Sedenore” of Barham was shown as one of eleven men in the county who aided in the collection of a fine*[58] for King Henry VI.[59] John Diggs, knight*, was one of two knights of Kent shown in the same roll.[60]

In the 1444-5 account of the rentals of the lands of Gasthurst [Gattridge] near Denton held of the manor* of Knowlton, a William Sydnor, probably this William Jr, held parcels called Tapton Hill, North Gasthurst, Sydnor Homage Gasthurst, South Gasthurst, Langley Heath, Rook’s Pool [Roxpole Wood], Canter's wood [Canterworth] Valley and South Canter’s Wood [ South Canterworth].[61]

William lived in Barham parish in 1458. At some time before that date, William, his son John who was deceased, and a Henry Capron[62] had owned a tenement*[63] on Harnet [Arneys] Street and an alley leading to King's Street at Sandwich in Kent.[64] The three men had made a gift of the property to Simon Ruddock.[65]

Probably as a result of William's death and in accordance with provisions of his will, there was a document dated 21 September 1463 showing “release from Hamo Beale [Bele][66] of Canterbury to Isabel, who was wife of William Sedenore, late of Barham [Berham], of nineteen acres of land, parcel of the lands and tenements* called Barton [Berton] lying in the parish of Barham in a certain croft*[67] called [Walderchain] . . .; also the third part of the fifth part of five acres and one virgate*[68] of land at Walderchain [Walderchyn]; also third part of the fifth part and a half of land in le Drove Wey, et cetera. The whole to remain to Isabel for term of life, remainder to Thomas Petyte, et cetera.”[69] A related document[70] showed “demise*[71] by William Sedenor and Isabel [Isabella] his wife to Thomas Pettit [Petyt],[72] son of William Petyt, for life, of all their lands,[73] etc, in Barham, except eight acres in the parish of Barham called ‘Lamplands,’ which are specially reserved.” Thomas Petyt to pay to the said William and Isabella ten marks*[74] a year, to allow them and their servants food and drink on Sundays and special feast days, to allow them pasture for one cow and the use of a riding horse, and to keep for their use six capons* and one ‘bacon hogge,’ and to pay yearly in kind two bushels* of hard fruit* and half bushel* of pears called ‘Wardens’.”[75]

+ E8. probably daughter, born circa 1430?, probably died by 1478; probably married circa 1450? possibly Steven Barrett.

E9. probably[77] JOHN, born circa 1430?, died by 1458 when a Sandwich deed showed him as deceased;[78] marriage uncertain. John probably had no children surviving after 1462. At a court at on 21 October 1429, a John Sydnor owed two pence* “in mercy*[79] for default of suit of court from three weeks to three weeks” at Knowlton.[80]

+ E10. AGNES,[81] born circa 1430?, living 1478 and probably died by 1484; probably married circa 1450? William Pettit.

+ E11. possibly JULIANA, born circa 1535?, living 1493; married possibly William Lott [Lot].

+ E12. probably PETRONILLA, born circa 1440?, possibly died by 1478; married circa 1460? Nicholas Evering.

[1] This unnamed Sydnor has been shown here to serve as the connection with the later Sydnors shown below. There easily, even likely, could have been other children.

[2] This unnamed Sydnor would have been born about this time to fit with the children given here.

[3] The children of this unnamed Sydnor held land here.

[4] Since Stephen probably was older than the two surviving children of the Sydnor line shown above and since he apparently did not succeed to the primary messuage* of Elmhurst of the Sydnors in Kent as would be expected of the eldest son, he has been shown under this unknown parent.

[5] This unnamed Sydnor was shown here to serve as the connection with the later Sydnors shown below. Since the messuage* of Elmhurst probably was passed to the eldest male children of this line, they have been shown here.

[6] This Sydnor would have been born about this time to fit with the children given.

[7] The children of this unnamed Sydnor held land here.

[8] William Sr was placed here for convenience with this unknown person who had connections with property in the Egerton area, as well as the Denton area. Both William Sydnor Sr and John Sydnor Sr gave their children very similar names which might indicate close kinship.

[9] John Sr was shown here for convenience with this unknown person who had connections with property in the Egerton area, as well as the Denton area.

[10] Joanna and Johanna were the Latin forms of Jean, Joan and Jane.

[11] An unanswered puzzle was why this William Sydnor was removed a distance from Charing, Egerton, and Boughton Malherbe where the first Sydnors of Kent were found. One reason could have been a fortuitous marriage to Isabel for which the dower was significant.

[12] William's son John had predeceased him by 1458 and had been old enough to hold property at the time.

[13] William Sydnor's will was found at Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Probate Records 17, v.1, f.121. See Appendix.

[14] William Sydnor was shown as deceased in a document of this date. See Descriptive Catalog of Documents Belonging to the Kent Archaeological Society: Oxenden Evidences and Other Deeds (Archaeologia Cantiana), v.25 (1902), p.263, which is discussed below.

[15] It was peculiar that no children were mentioned in William's will. He left everything, other than bequests relating to body, soul, and church, to his wife.

Perhaps he had already delivered his real property to his sons. After all, Madekin manor* was not mentioned in his will (nor specifically in the will of his widow Isabel); nonetheless, it was sold about 1540, almost eighty years later, by his kinsman Paul Sydnor [E43].

Even if it were the case that his real property had been transferred, it remains a serious puzzle that there was no mention of any items of personal property. Perhaps his death was anticipated and that part of his estate had been delivered, thereby resulting in the very simple will. What personal property that might have been left was for his wife to hold and bequeath to children.

It was possible that William had been a younger son and had not been given much property by his father and that the property he and Isabel held was from her family.

[16] William’s wife, Isabel, held lands in several other parishes. It was curious that William did not mention them.

[17] Isabel perhaps was a woman of some business skills, because this position was not a compliment and was somewhat unusual for a wife, particularly when no other provisions for heirs were made. Perhaps much or most of the land was held through his marriage to Isabel.

[18] The use of a priest from a parish in which William held no interests suggested a relationship other than spiritual.

[19] The name Isabel was a variant form of Elizabeth, probably with French origins. The name was not common, but not rare. There may have been kinship with the Isabel Diggs, considering other relationships between the families, whose will of 1509 was found at Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Probate Records 17, v.2, f.483.

[20] Isabel's will was found at Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Probate Records 17, v.3, f.181r. See Appendix. There were no heirs surnamed Sydnor mentioned in her will.

[21] These bequests to churches indicated that she had held property in those parishes.

This Robert Monings of Waldershare, son of Stephen, was found at The Visitation of Kent, 1574, Robert Cooke, (Publication of the Harleian Society, ed. W. Bruce Bannerman), pt.2, v.75 (1924), pp.136-137

The will of a Richard Moyne of Bethersden in Kent, dated 20 March 1477/8 and probated 29 April 1478, was found at Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Probate Records 17, v.3, f.80. Richard appeared to have no sons, but had daughters Petronilla and Beatrix. His widow was named Alice. Of interest here was that the name Petronilla was used and that the name of feofee* was Stephen Pettit.

Isabel's probable grandson John Evering [E37] married a woman surnamed Elizabeth Monings.

[22] This "son of John Diggs" would have been one of the descendants of John Diggs, knight, one of two knights who represented the county of Kent, together with other good men of the county, in the collection of one of fines*. See the See Calendar of Fine Rolls, Henry VI, v.16 p.357, membrane 7, as noted below. The relationship with John Diggs may have been one of kinship or friendship, and it would have been certainly helpful.

There was one Diggs will found for this time and place. There were three others found slightly later in Kent. None of these wills provided a connection with Sydnors.

[23] No information on any Shakfeld was found in the testaments and wills of Kent.

[24] A Robert Monings [Monyn] of Waldershare in Kent was named in the will of Simon Monings Moyne of St Margaret's at Cliffe in Kent, dated 24 August 1471 and probated 18 September 1471, which was found at Consistory Court of Canterbury, Probate Records 32, v.2, f.224. Although not certain, it appeared that Robert was perhaps the brother of Simon and that they were both the sons of Stephen Monings [Monin]. In Simon’s will, Robert received from his father lands at Deal plus Tenterden, Holden, and elsewhere in the weald*. This was the only Robert found so far in Kent who might have the godson* of Isabel Sydnor.

Isabel's probable grandson John Evering [E37] married a woman surnamed Elizabeth Monings.

[25] These bequests indicated a special relationship that was not shown in the will.

[26] This John Evering was probably the grandson of Isabel Sydnor or the son-in-law who had married Petronilla Sydnor, although the connection was not clearly shown.

[27] Lynch was undulating sandy ground; a ledge of plowland on a hillside; an unplowed strip between fields.

[28] This John Evering was probably the grandson of Isabel Sydnor or the son-in-law who had married Petronilla Sydnor, although the connection was not clearly shown.

[29] These Barrett men were probably grandsons of Isabel Sydnor, and they have been treated as such under the listing for an unknown daughter of William Jr and Isabel Sydnor.

[30] The wording of the will indicated that Steven Barrett held a different relationship and was senior to William and Robert. Isabel apparently intended that the property distributed in her will go to William and Robert only and not to any other heirs of Steven, perhaps children of a second marriage.

[31] George Pettit probably was one of the older sons of Agnes (Sydnor) Pettit who did not survive until the time the will of his father William Pettit was formed. A search of the wills and pedigrees of Kent has shown no George Pettit.

[32] Although the relationships were not at all clear, it seems probable that George did not, nor was he likely to, have any heirs of his body. Further, it appeared that Thomas Pettit was deceased.

[33] The evidence also suggested that these Pettits were heirs of Agnes (Sydnor) Pettit.

[34] Steven Barrett was probably a son-in-law of Isabel Sydnor. He has been shown as such under the listing for an unknown daughter of William Jr and Isabel Sydnor.

[35] The act of administration for a Nicholas Angood dated 1513/4 was found at Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, v.4, f.33. There was nothing to indicate kinship with the Sydnors in the document. No other information about the Angood family has been found.

[36] No other information about the Smith family has been found.

[37] See History of Kent, John Harris (1719), p.96; also The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, Edward Hasted, v.9 (1806), p.356. Hasted gave the date as the beginning of the reign of Henry VI, who ruled from 1422 until 1461.

It was not certain that this Sydnor held the property; nevertheless, the purchase fell within his lifetime and he remembered the two parishes, Barham and Denton, in which the manor was situated in his will. Unfortunately, the will of this William did not give a name for his principal messuage*.

Madekin manor* was sold about 1540, almost eighty years later, by kinsman Paul Sydnor [E43].

[38] Madekin manor* was sold about 1540, almost eighty years later, by kinsman Paul Sydnor [E43]. It is a curiousity as to how this property might have been transferred to him

[39] Relief* (or Relevium) was an entry fee paid by the purchaser of property or incoming tenant by inheritance to the feudal tenant-in-chief, typically a year's rent; an arbitrary incident of every feudal* tenure in recognition of the seigniory* of the lord* by way of fine to succeed in property or an estate* which was lapsed or fallen in by the death of the last tenant; originally used while feuds* were life estates* and continued after feuds* became hereditary; provided the heaviest grievance of tenure when used to ask an exorbitant fine* to disinherit rightful heirs. The use of relief could sometimes be circumvented by a freeholder conveying the property to several people who were technically the owners but who held it for the use of the original owner. This practice was ended by law in 1535 because it limited the revenue collected by the crown. The same year saw another law which required conveyances to be enrolled and thereby prohibited secret conveyances.

[40] No other information about the Turks family has been found.

[41] The beadle*: was a herald; mace-bearer; or officer of a court who delivered or carried out orders and who made certain that those required to be in attendance were at the sessions; an oftimes onerous duty for which a substitute would be found or the office avoided if possible.

[42] Attorney* (or Attenatus) was simply one appointed or ordained to act for another; one who was substituted, or attorned, for another.

[43] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library at Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill, (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), p.81.

Schreve* has taken several modern forms, just as the name was shown several ways in these records. No information has been found to establish kinship of the Schreves with the Sydnors.

[44] The Bartlett genealogy referenced in the footnotes above does not show a John Bartlett of Denne [Danehill] in Sussex. There were many John Bartletts at the time of this transaction, and that popular first name was probably the reason for showing the parishes of the two John Bartletts who were party to this grant. Because this John was not of Stopham, the family seat, he was probably of a cadet* line.

[45] It cannot be certain that this transaction should be attributed to this William Sydnor Jr. The grant was shown here because this Sydnor appeared to be the most probable due to wealth and influence. Perhaps the proper Sydnor was of Egerton or Boughton Malherbe?

The use of "Jun." signified that this William Sydnor Jr probably had a father also named William, probably still alive or only recently deceased, who might be confused, although the elder William Sydnor might have been an older kinsman such as an uncle. It was interesting that William Sydnor of this transaction was the only party for which a parish was not given.

For William Sydnor Jr to be a partner with a Bartlett in a transaction with two other Bartletts was a strong indication of family ties, perhaps through a relatively recent marriage.

[46] The second John Bartlett, who was of Stopham in Sussex and who died in 1428, was perhaps the treasurer and executor for Thomas Fitzalan, earl of Arundel. More likely, that person was the son John Jr who died in 1453, and this John Jr was he who fought at Agincourt and served in parliament for the county.

[47] John Bartlett of Cotes was not found in the Bartlett genealogy, and therefore was probably of a cadet* line.

[48] The copy of this grant was found at Stopham, C. J. Robinson (Sussex Archaeological Collections), v.27 (1877), p.39; original reference: Burrell ms, ff.122-123, pp.268-269, now held in the British Library.

It has been interesting to speculate why William Sydnor Jr was involved in this transaction. Perhaps the property was land that this William Sydnor had inherited through a marriage to a Bartlett since the land at North Stoke was at some distance (for its day) from those held by Sydnors in Kent. This William could have been from another line of Sydnors, although there was no other record for this time or area.

This was the only discovered ownership of lands in Sussex by a Sydnor.

[49] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library at Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), p.82.

[50] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library at Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), p.82. These rents of Alice Turk were connected with the use of the common*, that is, the lands held in common* by the manor. For more information about common lands, see Custumnals of the Sussex Manors of the Archbishop of Canterbury, ed. B. C. Redwood and A. E. Wilson (1958).

[51] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library at Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), pp.82-83.

[52] Hens were really used as part of payments.

[53] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library at Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), p.83. The debt noted here was significant, considering the amounts of rent noted during other court sessions.

[54] Distrain (Distraint, or Distress) was a summary remedy by which a person may without legal process take possession of the personal chattels of another and hold them to compel the performance of a duty or satisfaction of a debt, such as rent to the lord of the land or payment of damages.

[55] This William Pettit was probably the father of Thomas Pettit who married William Sydnor's daughter Agnes. For references and discussion, see the listing for Agnes Sydnor in the next chapter.

[56] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library at Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), p.85.

[57] See The History of the Worthies of England, Thomas Fuller, v.1 (1662), p.513, col.3; reprinted by John Nichols (1811). As with several references applied to this William Sydnor, there may have been others who were notable William Sydnors in the county at this time to whom this reference applied.

[58] A fine (or relief), from the word finish, was a money payment made to the manorial lord by an incoming tenant; a money payment due by a feudal tenant to the lord; payment due to the King on every conveyance to a third party for tenure in capite (chief) by knight service; or payment due to the lord on every conveyance to another party for tenure in copyhold.

[59] See Calendar of Fine Rolls, Henry VI, v.16, p.357, membrane 7. Although collecting taxes would never be a pleasant task, the role seemed to be important and somewhat exclusive.

[60] It was probably an heir of this John Diggs who was remembered as a godson* in the will of Isabel Sydnor.

Roll simply reflected the custom of keeping documents in rolls.

[61] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library at Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), pp.118-121. See also p.xi for interesting background information. See Appendix.

These several parcels of land amounted to a substantial holding for the time, and it was possible that he held other lands of other manors*.

From the account, it was clear that this William Sydnor Jr held land of the heirs of an earlier William Sydnor, probably his father.

[62] Was it possible that Capron and the Sydnors were acting as feofees* for Ruddock? No testaments or wills were found for Henry Capron. Other Capron info?

[63] Tenement, from the Latin for holden, denotes the holding of all forms of proprietorship or occupation of real property.

[64] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library of Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), pp.41-42. King Street exists, but Arneys is now Harnet. The deed was confusing because "Arneys Strete" does not lead into King Street. Charles Wanostrocht, a historian of Sandwich, after careful search of local records found no other reference to the surname Sydnor. Other characters shown in the citation were well known. The purchase at hand took place immediately following the disastrous raid on Sandwich, senior of the Cinque Ports, by the French in 1457 when a large portion of the town was burnt during the bitter fighting.

[65] The will of Simon Ruddock dated 1459 was found at Consistory Court of Canterbury, v.2,, f.118. Other Ruddock info?

[66] The will of Hamo Beale dated 1492/3 was found at Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, v.5, f.338. Other Beale info?

[67] A croft was an enclosed meadow or arable land, usually adjacent to a house and almost invariably enclosed; a small farm worked by a tenant.

[68] A virgate: in Kent, was a measure of land that consisted of one-fourth of an acre; otherwise known as a hide in other counties.

[69] See Descriptive Catalog of Documents Belonging to the Kent Archaeological Society: Oxenden Evidences and Other Deeds (Archaeologia Cantiana), v.25 (1902), p.263. This Thomas Pettit was probably the grandson of William and Isabel Sydnor.

[70] The document Descriptive Catalog of Documents Belonging to the Kent Archaeological Society: Oxenden Evidences and Other Deeds (Archaeologia Cantiana), v.25 (1902), p.265, showed the date of 4 September 1546 in the catalog in which it was found. William and Isabel Sydnor were alive at the time, and the year that William drafted his will was 1463. The documents that appeared before and after the citation were of the same period, although the list may have been collated by date after a misscription of the date of the reference or perhaps in error by the date of acquisition.

The reference to "Thomas Pettit, the son of William Pettit," offered considerable help in connecting the Pettits and Sydnors as shown in the entry for Agnes (Sydnor) Pettit [E10].

[71] Demise was to convey a property by lease; a deed, lease, conveyance of the fee or of a life estate; to make a grant of land; to convey property by a lease.

[72] The Thomas Pettit was probably the son of William and Isabel Sydnor's daughter Agnes, with William Pettit being the husband of Agnes. See the references and discussion under the listing for Agnes Sydnor in the next chapter.

[73] It has been difficult to know how to interpret the use of the expression "all their lands."

[74] The mark was never an English coin but a unit of accounting That denoted a weight of metal, originally 128 silver pence*, or 53 1/3 pence*, later revalued at 66 2/3 pence*.

[75] See Descriptive Catalog of Documents Belonging to the Kent Archaeological Society: Oxenden Evidences and Other Deeds (Archaeologia Cantiana), v.25 (1902), p.265. The original document has been held at Chillington House in Maidstone by the Kent Archaeological Society.

[76] From extant records, William had one male child for certain, a son John who predeceased him. He and Isabel also had daughters.

[77] John Sydnor was probably the son of William Sydnor Jr [E4] since they owned a tenement* together in Sandwich. See the reference given above. He also appeared briefly in the Knowlton manor records in a lesser role. Alternatively, it was possible that William was serving as a mentor for a nephew or cousin, particularly if he had no direct male Sydnor heirs.

[78] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library at Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), pp.41-42.

[79] Mercy (or amerciment) was the position of a plaintiff who failed in a suit and was at the mercy of the court with regards to a fine which could be imposed for a false claim; also the money penalty imposed by an officer of a court for misconduct or neglect of duty, the object being to insure promptness and fidelity to duty and to furnish a plaintiff with an opportunity to collect debts, damages, or costs in a speedy fashion.

[80] See East Kent Records: A Calendar of Some Unpublished Deeds and Court Rolls in the Library of Lambeth Palace, ed. Irene Josephine Churchill, (Kent Archaeological Society), v.7 (1920-1922), p.87.

[81] Agnes was the only child of Isabel Sydnor named as such in her will.