Legal cases: Archer of Tanworth

Description

Papers relating to an Chancery case : Edward Field, Kings Norton, yeoman and William Field his son against John Serjeant and Isabel his wife re Stapletons and Stoney Croft in Tanworth: John Isabel Serjeant sold the lands for £159 to the Fields by deed 10 March 1605, assuring Fields that the premises were free from encumbrance. They have hitherto enjoyed the lands peaceably. Now: the said John Serjeant the elder, Thomas Greves, Thomas Field and Elizabeth Taylor, widow have combined to defraud the Fields by holding back the deeds and claiming that there are prior conveyances of the estates and attempting to dispossess Fields. Defendants answer Sergeant admits sale to Fields (although gives date as 10 March 1604) but denies any creation of secret estates subsequently or any confederacy with other defendants. Replication of Fields: repeat claims