The fifteenth-century inquisitions post mortem : a companion / edited by Michael Hicks.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Hicks, Michael, 1948-

Constance L. Rosenthal Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Inquisitiones post mortem--England--History--15th century--Sources.

Inquisitiones post mortem.

History.

Great Britain--History--Lancaster and York, 1399-1485--Sources.

Great Britain.

England.

Physical Description:

253 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Woodbridge : Boydell Press, 2012.

Summary:

The Fifteenth-Century Inquisitions Post Mortem

The Inquisitions Post Mortem (IPMs) at the National Archives have been described as the single most important source for the study of landed society in later medieval England. Inquisitions were local enquiries into the lands held by people of some status, in order to discover whatever income and rights were due to the crown on their death, and provide details both of the lands themselves and whoever held them. This book explores in detail for the first time the potential of IPMs as sources for economic, social and political history over the long fifteenth century, the period covered by this Companion. It looks at how they were made, how they were used, and their "accuracy", and develops our understanding of a source that is too often taken for granted; it answers questions such as what they sought to do, how they were compiled, and how reliable they are, while also exploring how they can best be used for economic, demographic, place-name, estate and other kinds of study. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introduction / Michael Hicks Hicks, Michael 1

2 Crossing Generations: Dower, Jointure and Courtesy / Michael Hicks Hicks, Michael 25

3 The Lesser Landowners and the Inquisitions Post Mortem / Christine Carpenter Carpenter, Christine 47

4 Tables of Idiots, Signifying Something: Evidence of Process in the Inquisitions Post Mortem / Kate Parkin Parkin, Kate 79

5 The Value of Fifteenth-Century Inquisitions Post Mortem for Economic and Social History / Christopher Dyer Dyer, Christopher 97

6 'Notoriously Unreliable': The Valuations and Extents / Matthew Holford Holford, Matthew 117

7 The Descriptions of Land Found in the Inquisitions Post Mortem and Feet of Fines: A Case Study of Berkshire / Margaret Yates Yates, Margaret 145

8 Re-assessing Josiah Russell's Measurements of Late Medieval Mortality using the Inquisitions Post Mortem / L.R. Poos Poos, L.R., J. Oeppen Oeppen, J., R.M. Smith Smith, R.M. 155

9 A Great Historical Enterprise: The Public Record Office and the Making of the Calendars of Inquisitions Post Mortem / Sean Cunningham Cunningham, Sean 169

10 Writs and the Inquisitions Post Mortem: How the Crown Managed the System / Claire Noble Noble, Claire 183

11 'Thrifty Men of the Country'? The Jurors and Their Role / Matthew Holford Holford, Matthew 201

12 Place-Names and Calendaring Practices / Oliver Padel Padel, Oliver 223.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Constance L. Rosenthal Book Fund.

ISBN:

1843837129

9781843837121

OCLC:

748334027

Publisher Number:

99949519603