| Description | Sheriffs' books contain both administrative and judicial business. A large amount of the sheriffs' administrative work concerned the taking of tolls at the port, hence the name 'Customs Entry Books' at one stage applied to these volumes. Persons making an entry or exit with horses or carts and their payments as well as customs paid by merchants for goods in ships (named), usually coming from Ireland, are recorded. In addition, sheriffs' books contain appointments of people to make judgements in another's place (see mayors' books (MB)); inquisitions held before the sheriffs in the pentice court and before the mayor in the portmote court; fines from the four streets (Bridge Street, Eastgate Street, Northgate Street and Watergate Street) for such offences as trespasses and affrays; fines of fishermen; and valuations of articles given as sureties, declared on oath before the sheriffs. There are also county court pleas; presentments at quarter sessions (after 1506); and in 1555, a note of the election of members of parliament. Sheriffs' books were repaired and rebound in the 1930s, but are still in a fragile condition. Chester Customs Accounts 1301-1566, edited by K P Wilson, was published as volume.111 of the Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire in 1969. It makes extensive use of the sheriffs' books.
There are gaps in the series. |