The History of Lincoln Waites

Definitions

Alphabetical index of terms used on this site that may be unfamiliar to you.

B  C  F  H  J  K  M  P  Q  S  T  V  W

• B
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• Beadle: From the Middle English 'bedel' and the Old English 'bydel' (a messenger). 'Bedel' is related to the Old High German 'butil' (bailiff) and the Old English 'bEodan' (to command). The Saxon Beadle summoned householders to council. Parish Beadles, had charge of parish property and were responsible for enforcing discipline in the area, especially preserving order at church services and civil functions. Later duties could include responsibility for the workhouse and for apprentices and protecting the Mayor during public appearances. Many Beadles acted as Mace bearers, attending on the Alderman of the Ward, but in the Parishes, the Beadle's place was taken by Churchwardens, who became responsible for parish property, and the "New" Police force took care of the enforcement of discipline. In the City of London, during the reign of King John, the Beadle recorded attendance at the three "Chief Folk-Moots" (meetings at which officials were elected) per year. Any Freemen not attending were subject to large fines, with no more evidence required but the Beadle’s word.
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• C
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• Conduit: Outlets where underground springs are piped to the surface in order to provide clean water for drinking, washing etc. It was common to house these outlet pipes within small structures, usually of stone. These structures may contain a storage tank for unused water. The tank fills gradually from the spring, but provides increased pressure at the outlet when the outlet tap is turned on. One conduit can still be seen in Lincoln High Street in front of the Church of St Mary le Wigford.
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• Cordwainer: A worker in cordwain (or cordovan) leather, the name deriving from Cordova, Spain, where this leather was originally processed. The term came to be more specifically applied to a shoemaker, as this type of fine, soft, leather was much used for shoes worn by the higher classes during the Middle Ages.
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• F
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• Fellmonger: A dealer in fells or sheepskins, who separates the wool from the pelts. One who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for making leather, parchments, vellums and chamois.
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• Freeman: Someone who held the full rights of citizenship, such as voting and engaging in business (as opposed to an indentured servant or apprentice). In medieval times, a freeman, (a franklin) was a man, not of noble birth, who held his land in free socage as compared to one who held in base or villein socage.
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• H
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• Hereditament: Property or real estate that was inherited and/or could be inherited.
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• J
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• Jacobin: Member of an extremist republican club of the French Revolution founded in Versailles 1789. Helped by Danton's speeches, they proclaimed the French republic, had the King executed, and overthrew the moderate Girondins 1792-1793. Through the Committee of Public Safety, they began the Reign of Terror, led by Robespierre. After his execution in 1794, the club was abandoned and the name 'Jacobin' passed into general use for any left-wing extremist.
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• Jury for the Price of Corn: An Act of 1723 required the Sheriff of each Borough to call assemble courts at which a jury was to establish a fair price of corn. In Lincoln, although a section of the body corporate, this "Jury to Enquire the Price of Corn" was not a sub-committee composed of councillors but it's members were appointed by the Council. Their task was to visit local markets to survey grain prices (including wheat, barley, rye, oats and beans). Individual findings were then compared to compile a list of "best" (i.e. top) prices. The resulting data was used in the computation of tithes, grain rents, feuduties and other valuations.
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• K
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• Kalendar: A list of bills, resolutions, or other matters to be considered before committees. In the Council Minute Books of Lincoln City, the word "kalendar" usually refers to a list of candidates for a particular job or role. Council members chose the successful applicant by vote.
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• M
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• Messuage: A house with a small plot of land [and possibly out-houses too] for the use of its occupant(s).
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• Michaelmas: The Christian feast of St. Michael the Archangel, celebrated on 29th September. The Roman Catholic Church uses it's full name - the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels; in the Church of England, it is known as the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. Also one of the English Quarter Days.
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• P
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• Perriwig: A highly styled wig worn by both women and men. Fashionable in the 17th and 18th centuries and retained by judges and barristers as part of their professional dress.
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• Pinioning: Pinioning [pertaining to birds] is the act of surgically removing the pinion joint of the wings to prevent flight. The pinion joint is the last joint in the wing, furthest from the bird's body. Pinioning is normally done when the chicks are a few days old, as it is less stressful then, and the younger chicks tend to bleed less than older birds.
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• Q
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• Quarter Days: The English quarter days (also observed in Wales) are: Lady Day (March 25) Midsummer Day (June 24), Michaelmas (September 29), Christmas (December 25). Until 1752, Lady Day was the first day of the year in the British Empire. In Britain and Ireland, the quarter days were the four dates in each year when servants were hired, and rents and rates were due. They fell on four religious festivals roughly three months apart.
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• S
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• Socage: A kind of feudal tenure in which the land was held in return for money rent. Although no knight service was required, the tenant still had to do fealty to the King. Also called Scutage (shield money) where the owner of the land paid instead of fighting for the king. Land tenure by agricultural service or payment of rent; not burdened with military service.
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• Staiths: A Wharf or landing stage (Original Teutonic). Also used to mean a bank or shore (Old Saxon) or any land bordering on water. i.e. An embankment. Variants include: Staith, Staithe, Stathe, Stath, Stayth, Steath, Steeth, Stæp, Stape, Stay, and Step.
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• Stubble Goose: A goose eaten for Michalemas Dinner was supposed to protect against financial need for the next year. It was called a Stubble Goose, because it was eaten at harvest time.
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• T
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• Tenement: Any house or building subject to tenure (with a tenant).
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• V
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• Villein: A person who was not a free man, owing heavy labour service to a lord, subject to his manorial court, bound to the land, and subject to feudal dues. In the feudal system, a villein is a member of the class of serfs tied to the land, distinguished from those in actual slavery, but restricted by law from exercising the rights of a free man. The word, identical in origin to villain, derived from the Latin villanus, pertaining to the landed estate or villa.
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• W
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• Ward: (1) Ward: A person who is in the custody of another. (2) Warding: Keeping the Peace as in the daytime duties of police (as oppossed to Keeping the Watch at night). (3) Warder: A Guard, perhaps in a prison.
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• Whitesmith: (1) One who works with white or light-colored metal. (2) A tinsmith. (3) One who does finishing work, such as filing or polishing, on iron to remove black oxides, but who does not forge it.