What did a retired senior administrator
1
William Hallum sues Norton Priory for his Corrody, January 1360
(Latin)
At the county court of Chester held on Tuesday the morrow of the Epiphany,
33 Edward III (7th January, 1360), William son of John de Hallum arrained an assize
of novel disseisin1 against Walter de Weverham, prior of St Mary of Norton,
concerning a corrody2 in the priory.
According to William the corrody, taken from the cellarer and kitchener,
should have consisted of:
1. Weekly allowance
Ten white loaves of the greater weight, called Miches.
Ten loaves of the lesser weight called Dunloves.
Thirteen gallons of the better conventual ale.
2. Daily allowance
Service from the kitchen in all dishes with, with pottage and
pittance at lunchtime (prandium)3 and also at supper (cena).4 He was to
receive as much as two canons would get. He should also have service from
the kitchen for his servant, to the amount that a servant of the prior would
receive in one day.
3. Lighting, fuel, bedding, etc.
One pound of candle a week.
A piece of turbary5 in a good and suitable place on the prior’s
marsh, for fuel. It was to be taken under the supervision of someone appointed
by the prior. The amount shall be the same as Walter Pacy, William’s
predecessor, received during his lifetime. That is, the right to dig turves or
clods (glebas) as much as one man can dig in four days, or as four men can dig
in one day.
Straw for bedding and other necessaries, as much and as often
as he shall need it.
(TNA CHES 29/67 m. 36)
© PHW Booth, 1990
Note: William Hallum was employed as receiver of the Cheshire lands of Henry of Grosmont,
duke of Lancaster, 1360-61.6 His office was in Halton castle, near the priory, the
headquarters of the Honor of Halton. The corrody reveals a connection between the
2
official and the priory, of which the duke of Lancaster was hereditary founder and
patron. Hallum first appears in the Cheshire records in 1325. 7 By 1349 he had a
daughter, called Goditha.8 On 10th June 1353, he served on a jury to inquire into waste
in the lands of Howel ap Oweyn Voil, a ward.9 The duke granted him an annuity of
twenty marks, payable out of the manor of Halton, by 10th April 1361.10 On 11th May
1365, a safe-conduct was granted to ‘William de Hallum of Warrington’ and others, to
enable them to come to Chester on business.11
1 This was a legal procedure for getting possession of some property that the plaintiff had recently had taken away from
him/her.
2 A corrody was a way of raising money for a Religious House, by giving accommodation, food and drink to an elderly
layman, for life, for a one-off payment. The terms of the agreement were detailed, as can be seen here.
3 The midday meal.
4 The early-evening meal.
5 The defined right to dig turf on the moss.
6 TNA SC 6/772/1 m 2d.
7 Cheshire Recognizance Rolls, p. 214
8 Deputy Keeper’s Report, 28, p. 51
9 Black Prince’s Register, iii, pp. 106-7
10 Cheshire Recognizance Rolls, p. 214
11 Cheshire Recognizance Rolls, p. 478
William Hallum sues Norton Priory for his Corrody, January 1360
(Latin)
At the county court of Chester held on Tuesday the morrow of the Epiphany,
33 Edward III (7th January, 1360), William son of John de Hallum arrained an assize
of novel disseisin1 against Walter de Weverham, prior of St Mary of Norton,
concerning a corrody2 in the priory.
According to William the corrody, taken from the cellarer and kitchener,
should have consisted of:
1. Weekly allowance
Ten white loaves of the greater weight, called Miches.
Ten loaves of the lesser weight called Dunloves.
Thirteen gallons of the better conventual ale.
2. Daily allowance
Service from the kitchen in all dishes with, with pottage and
pittance at lunchtime (prandium)3 and also at supper (cena).4 He was to
receive as much as two canons would get. He should also have service from
the kitchen for his servant, to the amount that a servant of the prior would
receive in one day.
3. Lighting, fuel, bedding, etc.
One pound of candle a week.
A piece of turbary5 in a good and suitable place on the prior’s
marsh, for fuel. It was to be taken under the supervision of someone appointed
by the prior. The amount shall be the same as Walter Pacy, William’s
predecessor, received during his lifetime. That is, the right to dig turves or
clods (glebas) as much as one man can dig in four days, or as four men can dig
in one day.
Straw for bedding and other necessaries, as much and as often
as he shall need it.
(TNA CHES 29/67 m. 36)
© PHW Booth, 1990
Note: William Hallum was employed as receiver of the Cheshire lands of Henry of Grosmont,
duke of Lancaster, 1360-61.6 His office was in Halton castle, near the priory, the
headquarters of the Honor of Halton. The corrody reveals a connection between the
2
official and the priory, of which the duke of Lancaster was hereditary founder and
patron. Hallum first appears in the Cheshire records in 1325. 7 By 1349 he had a
daughter, called Goditha.8 On 10th June 1353, he served on a jury to inquire into waste
in the lands of Howel ap Oweyn Voil, a ward.9 The duke granted him an annuity of
twenty marks, payable out of the manor of Halton, by 10th April 1361.10 On 11th May
1365, a safe-conduct was granted to ‘William de Hallum of Warrington’ and others, to
enable them to come to Chester on business.11
1 This was a legal procedure for getting possession of some property that the plaintiff had recently had taken away from
him/her.
2 A corrody was a way of raising money for a Religious House, by giving accommodation, food and drink to an elderly
layman, for life, for a one-off payment. The terms of the agreement were detailed, as can be seen here.
3 The midday meal.
4 The early-evening meal.
5 The defined right to dig turf on the moss.
6 TNA SC 6/772/1 m 2d.
7 Cheshire Recognizance Rolls, p. 214
8 Deputy Keeper’s Report, 28, p. 51
9 Black Prince’s Register, iii, pp. 106-7
10 Cheshire Recognizance Rolls, p. 214
11 Cheshire Recognizance Rolls, p. 478