Title Deeds

[BrianBS]

Hello from a sunny South Africa

I am not sure if this is the right forum but I am trying to find out how I can get title deeds for Oven Back and Rough farms in Croft. I think my 2g great grandfather, William Sumner, owned one or both of these farms in 1841 and I suspect that his father, also William, and maybe earlier generations may have had prior ownership.

Any assistance will be most welcome

Brian BS

[MaryA]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Unless you can prove ownership of a property it is unlikely that you would be able to obtain Title Deeds to it. However, the place to enquire nowadays is https://www.gov.uk/get-information-abou ... s-of-deeds as the majority of deeds no longer exist as registration has become digital.

[Bertieone]

Hi Brian and welcome,

Below a couple of snippets from the newspapers, likely to be your connections. If William was a tenant farmer I suspect he wouldn't show on the ownership deeds, more likely to show on the tenancy agreements, if any exist.

Manchester Times, September, 1850.



Marriage, Liverpool Mercury, January 14, 1856.

[MaryA]

Good thought Bert.

You might enquire with the Manchester Archives whether they hold any tenancy agreements, rent books etc. that might help.

[BrianBS]

Thank you, Mary and Bert.

The information I had was that William Sr and William Jr (the one that married Maria Simpson) farmed Oven Back and later Rough farm. Tenant farmers makes sense as I imagine that in those days one had to be pretty wealthy (or titled) to own land.

I'll approach the Manchester archives as suggested.

Thanks once again
Brian

[MaryA]

Good luck.

[Hilary]

One way to find out who owned the land William was farming would be look at the tithe schedule for the area. This lists the proprietor and the tenant. This will probably be held at Lancashire Record Office and you will need a researcher to access it as it is a little far for you to make a day trip.

Another way that may help find out the family's time in the area would be the Land Tax schedules from 1781- 1832 as again they list the land owner and the tenant. These records are also held at Lancashire Record Office. Land Tax records are covered in an article I have written for the next society Journal.

Croft was in the parish of Winwick and many of their church records are on http://www.lan-opc.org.uk and they may help in your search.

You could also look for wills of your ancestors which may contain vital information. Post 1858 the probate index is on Ancestry. On the Cheshire pages on Find my Past there are wills and probate information.

PS I can put you in touch with a society member who does paid research and is used to looking at tithe and land tax information.