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Mason Family; Lease for 21 Years, Mason to Smith

Description

Lease for 21 years for the annual rental of £188 between Thomas Mason of Stratford upon Avon, esquire on the first part and Timothy Smith of Stratford uon Avon, yeoman on the second part. Property: Property: eight parcells of land lately enclosed lying in Old Stratford near the town and known as (1) Cox's piece containing 8 acres; (2) Cox's peace containing 9 acres; (3) First meadow containing 9 acres; (4) second meadow containing 10 acres; (5) First Forty Lands containing 11 acres; (6) Second Forty Lands containing 11 acres; (7) Slowhill containing 15 acres; (8) Slowhill Meadow containing 2 acres and Richyard, cart stable, great barn and back and yard adjoining, being near a Farmhouse at Stratford late in the posession of William Manison, deceased and five other pieces enclosed ground in Clopton known as Longley Grounds being 35 acres with barn, stables an yard thereon late in the tenure of said William Manison, except a reservation to Thomas Mason and heirs of all timber trees, maiden trees, fruit trees (but not fruit), underwoods, stones…. Conditions: no more than three crops to be planted without laying dowm to clover and rye. Each year one of Stratford and one of the Longley Grounds to be sown with clover and rye of merchantable quality. All manure, hay, straw etc to be used onland, best efforts to be used to improve the land and not impoverish it. Mason and heirs to repair and maintain tiled buildings and to allow Smith and heirs us of barns and brickyards. Signed by Timothy Mason and Timothy Smith and witnessed by Robert Wheler and Robert Bell Wheler. Note: The seal impression is that of William Shakespear's seal imprint, reputed to belong to Shakespeare, which was found in 1810, purchased by RBW and presented to the Birthplace Trust by Anne Whele.