Janus: Deeds of title to University property and related papers

University/D contains:
<-- See earlier
D.VII	John Crane's House deeds and related papers
D.VIII	Deeds and related papers of the Cheshire estate of Rev. John Hulse, died 1790
D.IX	Deeds and related papers for property in Essex and Hertfordshire
D.X	Deeds and related papers for property in Overton and Smallwood, Cheshire
D.XI	Deeds and related papers for an estate at and near Thurleigh, Bedfordshire
D.XII	Deeds and related papers for an estate at Balsham, Cambridgeshire
D.XIII	Deeds and related papers for property in Eastcheap, London and in Neatham, Kilmeston and Pyle Hill, Hampshire
D.XIV	Deeds and related papers for property at Raveningham, Thurlton and Norton, Norfolk
D.XV	Deeds and related papers for the manor and lordship of Barton, Cambridgeshire
D.XVI	Deeds and related papers for the rectories of St Mary and St Andrew, Burwell, Cambridgeshire
D.XVII	Deeds of a messuage in Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
See later -->

Deeds of title to University property and related papers

Title	Deeds and related papers for an estate at Balsham, Cambridgeshire
Reference	D.XII
Covering Dates	1561–1883
Extent and Medium	2 boxes; D.XII.1-14, 23-4 are badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production.

Content and context

The revenue from the estate endowed the Plumian Professorship of Astronomy (and Experimental Philosophy), founded in 1704 in pursuance of the will of Thomas Plume, DD. The bequest was to cover the cost of the erection of an observatory, and the stipend, residence and instruments of the Professor.

Index Terms

Balsham

Plume, Thomas (1630-1704) clergyman and educational benefactor

University/D.XII contains:

D.XII.1

Bargain and sale by Richard Allington of Lincoln's Inn, esquire, to Thomas Lyndesell of Lyndesell, Essex, yeoman, of land in Balsham; with copy. The property comprises a messuage with the adjoining nine acres of pasture, four and half acres of meadow, six and half acres of coppice, with various other pieces of land measuring 170 acres, commonly called the Chantry Lands. RA reserves a messuage, a pightle, a half acre of land in Wratting, and six acres arable land in fields of West Wickham, late in the tenure of the Balsham churchwardens to provide a light in Balsham church, and formerly of Balsham Chantry. Consideration: £320. Witnesses: Peter Leonarde, John Tyrlinge, William Herde.
2 membranes; parchment; These items are badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

20 Mar. 1561

D.XII.2

Will (a) of John Lindsell of Balsham, yeoman, 9 Sept. 1612 and will (b) of William Lyndsell, the elder, of Balsham, yeoman, 25 Nov. 1659.
3 membranes; parchment; These items are badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

1612–1659

D.XII.3

Copy of court roll of Balsham Manor recording admission of John Lindsell, gentleman, to four acres of pasture called Patricks.
1 membrane; parchment; This item is badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

17 June 1661

D.XII.4

Copy of court roll of Balsham Manor recording admission of John Lindsell, son and heir of late John Lindsell, gentleman, to a parcel of pasture called Copt Hall. Annual rent: 3s 4d.
1 membrane; parchment; This item is badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

30 Apr. 1663

D.XII.5

Copy of court roll of Balsham Manor recording admission of John Lindsell, son and heir of late John Lindsell, gentleman, to a close of six acres called Sewalls. Annual rent: 3s 4d.
1 membrane; parchment; This item is badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

30 Apr. 1663

D.XII.6

Copy of court roll of Balsham Manor recording admission of John Lindsell, son and heir of late John Lindsell, gentleman, to Patricks and other lands on his father's death. The property comprises Patricks measuring four acres, rent 3s; customary tenement and garden at Flyes Green, Balsham, rent 2d; parcel of pasture called Copt Hall, rent 3s 4d; close called Sewalls measuring six acres, rent 3s 4d; tenement occupied by John Thompson, rent 2d.
1 membrane; parchment; This item is badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

30 Apr. 1663

D.XII.7

Marriage settlement concluded between John Lindsell of Balsham, gentleman, and Jeffry Flacke of Horseheath, gentleman, on the marriage of JL to Elizabeth Flacke; with copy. Includes property schedule. The property settled comprises Ditchfield, Cotsoe field, Portwaye field, Broad field, Gatherowe field, Place Bushfield, all in Balsham.
4 membranes; parchment; These items are badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

22 Apr. 1665

D.XII.8

Copy of court roll of Balsham Manor recording admission of John Lindsell to Thurnow meadow and one and half acres in Ashley.
1 membrane; parchment.

31 May 1680

D.XII.9

Mortgage for £900 (a) of two messuages, 185 acres of arable, 10 acres of meadow, 12 acres of pasture, 200 acres of heath in Balsham and 'foldage' for 300 sheep; with two copies of fine (bi-ii) and bond in £1800 (c) for performance of covenants. The parties to (a) are: 1) John Lindsell of Horseheath, gentleman and Elizabeth, his wife 2) James Wortham of Royston, maltster 3) William Worts of Cambridge, esquire.
3 membranes, 1 sheet; parchment, paper; These items are badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

1 May 1697–7 June 1697

D.XII.10

Mortgage for £100 (a) of two messuages, 185 acres of arable, 10 acres of meadow, 12 acres of pasture, 200 acres of heath in Balsham and 'foldage' for 300 sheep; with bond (b). Recites terms of D.XII.9. The parties to (a) are: 1) John Lindsell of Horseheath, gentleman 2) James Wortham of Royston, maltster.
1 membrane, 1 sheet; parchment, paper; These items are badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

31 Mar. 1699

D.XII.11

Mortgage for £100 (a) of two messuages, 185 acres of arable, 10 acres of meadow, 12 acres of pasture, 200 acres of heath in Balsham and 'foldage' for 300 sheep; with bond (b). The parties to (a) are: 1) John Lindsell of Horseheath, gentleman 2) James Wortham of Royston, maltster.
1 membrane, 1 sheet; parchment, paper; These items are badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

12 Mar. 1700

D.XII.12

Mortgage for £200 (a) of two messuages, 185 acres of arable, 10 acres of meadow, 12 acres of pasture, 200 acres of heath in Balsham and 'foldage' for 300 sheep; with bond (b). The parties to (a) are: 1) John Lindsell of Horseheath, gentleman 2) James Wortham of Royston, maltster.
1 membrane, 1 sheet; parchment, paper; These items are badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

26 May 1701

D.XII.13

Assignment of mortgages (see D.XII.9-12) of two messuages, 185 acres of arable, 10 acres of meadow, 12 acres of pasture, 200 acres of heath in Balsham and 'foldage' for 300 sheep. The parties are: 1) Sarah Winder of Royston, spinster, executrix of James Wortham, late of Royston, deceased 2) John Lindsell of Horseheath, gentleman 3) Sir Isaac Newton 4) James Plume of Lambeth, scarlet dyer, executor of Thomas Plume, late of East Greenwich, deceased 5) University. Mortgages are assigned to Newton in trust for the University.
2 membranes; parchment; This item is badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

16 Jan. 1706

D.XII.14

Bargain and sale to the University of Plume estate. The parties are: 1) John Lindsell the elder of Horseheath, gentleman, and John Lindsell of Babraham, gentleman, his son and heir apparent 2) James Plume of Lambeth, scarlet dyer, executor of Thomas Plume, late of East Greenwich, DD, deceased 3) University. Recites will of Thomas Plume. Estate to be purchased to provide observatory and maintain a professor. Consideration: £1845.
2 membranes; parchment; This item is badly damp damaged, fragile and currently unfit for production..

16 Jan. 1706

D.XII.15

Statutes of Plumian Professorship.
1 sheet, rolled; paper; Though now conserved and stable, this document is lacking areas of text at the edges..

14 Jan. 1706

D.XII.16

Deed of covenant by University to James Plume of Lambeth, scarlet dyer, relating to purchase of land in Balsham. Recites will of Thomas Plume of East Greenwich, DD, dated 2 September 1704.
1 membrane; parchment backed with linen.

21 Dec. 1705

D.XII.17

Copy indenture of defeasance by Sir John Ellys and others to John Lindsell of Horseheath, gentleman, and John Lindsell of Babraham, gentleman, son and heir of John Lindsell the elder.
3 sheets; paper.

16 Jan. 1706

D.XII.18

Bond in £2000 by John Lindsell of Horseheath, gentleman, and John Lindsell of Babraham, gentleman, son and heir of John Lindsell the elder, to Sir John Ellys and others.
1 membrane; parchment backed with paper.

16 Jan. 1706

D.XII.19

Copy of court roll of Balsham Manor by which John Lindsell the elder, gentleman, surrenders land in Balsham to Richard Bentley, DD, Master of Trinity College. The property comprises two acres called Turnow meadow; one and half acres in Ashley; pasture called Copt Hall; close of six acres called Severalls; close of four acres called Patrick.
1 sheet; paper.

17 Jan. 1706

D.XII.20

Copy of court roll of Balsham Manor recording admission of Richard Bentley to lands as described in D.XII.19.
1 membrane; parchment backed with paper; This item is illegible in places..

17 May 1706

D.XII.21

Copy of court roll of Balsham Manor recording admission of Robert Smith, Professor of Astronomy, to lands as described in D.XII.19.
1 membrane; parchment back with paper; This item is badly rubbed and almost illegible..

14 June 1718

D.XII.22

Copy, made 1721, of the 'constitutions' of the professorship and agreement relating to the observatory at Trinity College, 1705.
1 item; paper.

26 June 1721

D.XII.23

Copy of the Lord Chancellor's decree respecting the professorship.
1 gathering; paper; This item is damp damaged, very fragile and currently unfit for production..

8 May 1711

D.XII.24

Copy report of J. Lightborn, Master in Chancery, respecting the professorship.
1 gathering; paper; This item is damp damaged, very fragile and currently unfit for production..

27 July 1723

D.XII.25-6

Lease (25) and copy release (26) by Dr Richard Bentley and William Whiston to William Towers, Thomas Gooch, Nicholas Sanderson and Robert Smith, Professor Astronomy, of property in Balsham, late of the Lindsells. Recites will of Thomas Plume and orders and decrees of Court of Chancery. Surrender is to be made of copyhold lands for admission in trust.
1 membrane, 1 item; parchment, paper; The parchment lease is badly damp damaged and fragile..

26 July 1723–27 July 1723

D.XII.27

Copy report of J. Lightborn, Master in Chancery (original catalogued as D.XII.24).
1 item; paper.

27 July 1723

D.XII.28-33

Copies of admissions to Balsham property of Professors Bentley (1706), Smith (1718), Sheppart (1763), Vince (1797), Woodhouse (1824), Airy (1830) and Challis (1842).
1 item, 5 membranes; paper, parchment.

1706–1842

D.XII.34

Bargain and sale by Mrs Sophia Lagden and Revd William Benson, trustees for sale of land under will of Revd H.A. Lagden, deceased, to Professor Airy, of four enclosures called Cobshall and New Englands in Balsham, held of the manor of Balsham; with copy.
1 membrane, 1 item; parchment, paper.

19 Nov. 1832

D.XII.35

Case for the opinion of Sir William Follett upon the right of the Plumian Professor to copyhold estates.
1 item; paper.

July 1842

D.XII.36

Counterpart lease for 14 years by the University to William Purkis of Horseheath, farmer, of Balsham estate. Annual rent: £380.
3 membranes; parchment.

29 Oct. 1874

D.XII.37-8

Letters and statement of rent account relating to Mr Perkis' tenancy.
3 double sheets; paper.

1873–1874

D.XII.39

Counterpart lease for 14 years by Rev. James Challis, Plumian Professor, to William Purkis. Includes schedule. Annual rent: £329.
1 double sheet; paper.

31 Oct. 1859

D.XII.40

Order for the enfranchisement of Balsham estate.
1 item; paper.

1872

D.XII.41

Deed of enfranchisement.
1 membrane; parchment.

8 Nov. 1872

D.XII.42

Letters and receipt relating to enfranchisement.
1 item; paper.

1872

D.XII.43

Plan of Balsham estate. Scale: six chains to one inch.
1 sheet; waxed linen; This item has been stained by water..

17 May 1873

D.XII.44

Description of Balsham estate to accompany plan (catalogued as D.XII.43).
1 double sheet; paper.

May 1873

D.XII.45

Covering letter to plan and description (catalogued as D.XII.43-4) with report on Mr Perkis, tenant.
1 double sheet; paper.

16 May 1873

D.XII.46

Conveyance by Professor James Challis to the University of the Balsham estate, upon trust for the Plumian Professor. Includes schedule.
3 membranes; parchment.

2 Jan. 1873

D.XII.47-52

Deeds of Long Crofts, Balsham, added to the Balsham estate in 1875.

1875–1876

D.XII.53

Two draft leases and counterpart lease from year to year by University to William Purkis of Balsham and Thomas Purkis of Horseheath, farmer, of the Balsham estate.
3 items; parchment, paper.

1882–1883