I have just found some really interesting documents on TNA Discovery catalogue, from the late 1500s and early 1600s, which others might be interested in.
Part of the Duchy of Lancaster records in DL 4.
Some academics have been using them for research, and have very kindly put very detailed transcriptions, with a great deal of the information contained in them, as the ‘precis’ on the relevant page on TNA. (It says they were researching 2017/2018, so I assume they have not been on Discovery for very long).
Seemingly mostly concerned with the commons enclosures, the ‘perambulations’ of the bounds, and mining rights.
Places I have seen mentioned are Hartington; Earl Sterndale; Wirksworth; Taddington and Priestcliff; Eyam; Stoney Middleton; Hope; Monyash; Youlgreave and Stanton; Little Longstone; Brushfield; Longnor.
I have found some 10 documents so far - there may be more I’ve not found yet. Unfortunately the numbering of the documents I
have found is of little help, the reference numbers are fairly randon within DL 4,
What is really great about them is all the dozens of names of the people involved - men called to give their ‘depositions’.
But not only do they give the names of lots of the locals, but also their ages, and often their place of residence.
And it’s not just miners that are mentioned. All my ancestors were farmers or yeomen, but I’ve found at least half a dozen of their names mentioned so far, (which has given me a better idea of when they were born - all those missing baptisms.)
Here’s an example from 1584:
D4 /26/33
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C5916012memory goes back 50 years [to 1534]; William Fletcher of Longnor, Staffordhsire, husbandman, aged 86, whose memory goes back 60 years or more [to 1524]; George Stadon of Hartington, webster, aged 72, whose memory goes back 40 years or more 'as long as he can remember' [to 1544]; Raphe Bradbury of Hawkesyore [Staffordshire], husbandman, aged 75, whose memory goes back 40 years or more 'as long as he can remember' [to 1544]; Nicholas Chadwick of Leelowe, Staffordshire, husbandman, aged 66, whose memory goes back 50 years [to 1534]; Robert Bradbury of Boothesley, Staffordshire, husbandman, aged 70 whose memory goes back 40 years or more [to 1544]; Hugh Manyfold of Watterhouses, Staffordshire, husbandman, aged 66, whose memory goes back 50 years [to 1534]; Henry Kyley of Bohesley, Staffordshire, husbandman, aged 60, whose memory goes back 40 years [to 1544]; James Buxton of Kingssterndale, husbandman, aged 74, whose memory goes back 'always' [to 1510]; John Oliver alias Smith of Longnore, Staffordshire, husbandman, aged 84, whose memory goes back 'always' [to 1500]; Edward Fox of Longnor, Staffordshire, webster, aged 80What strikes me is what great ages a lot of these people reached!
Apart from the names, ages and places contained in them, it’s all great background stuff if you had any ancestors in that part of Derbyshire at that time.