Old Deeds
Snt,—A short while ago I too received a parcel of old deeds, and I was therefore most interested to read Mr. C. Henry Warren's article on this subject. My oldest deed was written with an exquisite hand " in the sixte year of the Raigne of Our Soveraigne Lord Charles," (1630). I took the trouble of transcribing it, and, having done so, I found the others comparatively easy to manage. But it does upset one's spelling. For this work, the 'Oxford Dictionary proved to be invaluable, and when I stumble upon words like " covin," " Turbaryes,". etc., it never failed me.
Mr. Warren points out that the little personal knowledge he had of Thurstons Farm added' greatly to his interest in the documents. It therefore surprised me that he now wishes to separate the deeds from the farm. It would, of course, be useful for the Record Office to have a list of ancient documents, to know where they are and possibly to have transcripts of them. But it seems to me to be unkind to deprive small communities of the materials of their ancient history, and to be unfair to criticise them for showing little interest in their own history when the very things that would stimulate that interest have been taken from them. A reversal of the present policy would alio, I think, encourage scholars to visit the country more often, study their materials in their proper setting and possibly throw light on points that vex the local historians. I do not think for a moment that Mr. Warren con- sciously wants to denude the countryside still more of its treasures, and I, for one, should be glad to find him insisting that documents and monuments " shall all wayes and at all times for ever stand remaine enure bee and continue " in the parishes where they belong.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully, J. JONES-DAVIES. Llywel Vicarage, Trecastle, Breconshire.
Previous page
