North Durham Mortuaries

[gloveg]

Im not sure whether to put this request under Durham or Northumberland because it really relates to what used to be known as North Durham but is now part of Northumberland.

In the Account Rolls of the Proctor of Norham printed in Raine's "North Durham - Parish of Norham" p. 281-282, there are a number of mortuaries recorded as given by different members of the Selby family. For example -

1489-90 For the mortuary gown of Mundana Selby xvi.
1492-3 Mortuaries. A horse for Gawyn Selby.
1493-4 Mortuaries. the horse of John Selby, ... his gown.
1496-7 Mortuaries for ... Gerard Selby, a horse ... a gown.
1500-1 Mortuary oxe of Thomas Selby.
1504-5 Mortuaries. Young oxe of Tho. Selby ... his tunic.
1520-1 Mortuaries. the tunic of Roger Selby ... his oxe.

From what I've read, it was fairly common place for mortuaries to be paid in lieu of tithes forgotten, etc. and that the best animal, possession or wearing apparel was normally paid as a mortuary.

What I would like to know is if it is likely that all of those named above were adults or were mortuaries paid for children as well?  I would have said that they were all likely to be adults, but would just like an educated opinion.

Thanks, Gerelle Lovegrove.

[KGarrad]

A note of explanation.
Norham lies on the River Tweed which forms the boundary between England and Scotland.

BUT Norham was a detached part of County Durham.

It would appear that all records are in Northumberland Archives.

[fiddlerslass]

This article mentions several mortuaries given for babies and young children, though not specific to Durham/Northumberland.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/continuity-and-change/article/mortuary-dues-in-early-sixteenthcentury-england/236F758F08916523C7BDD38BFA53D4B1

Makes for an interesting read, and it may be worth following up some of the references eg

"Margaret Harvey has found that, in the dioceses of Durham and Carlisle (though not York itself), both an animal and an object were widely due.Footnote 23"