Appendix
APPENDIX 12
Full transcription of the Commission of Lunacy document
Dated 12th June 1849
Commission to enquire of the Lunacy of Ann Sercombe
The execution of this Commission appears by the Inquisition hereunto annexed
[signed] E. Winslow
Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith
To her beloved Francis Barlow and Edward Winslow Masters in Lunacy
Greeting
Know ye that we have assigned ye or one of ye to enquire by the oath of good and lawful men of our County of Surrey as well within liberties as without by whom the truth of the matter may be better known whether Ann Sercombe Spinster now residing at No.16 Carter Street is a Lunatic or enjoys lucid intervals so that she is not sufficient for the government of herself her manors messuages lands tenements goods and chattels and if so from what time after what manner and how
And if the said Ann Sercombe being in the same position hath alienated any lands or tenements or not and if so what lands and what tenements to what person or persons where when and after what manner and how and what lands and tenements goods and chattels as yet remain to her and of what person or persons as well the lands and tenements so alienated as the lands and tenements to her retained are held and by what service after what manner and how and how much they are worth by the year in all issues and who is her nearer heir and of what age
And therefore we command ye or one of ye that at certain days and places which ye shall for this purpose appoint ye diligently make inquisition in the premises and the same distinctly and plainly made to us into our Chancery under the seals of ye or one of ye and the seals of those or persons by whom it shall be made without delay ye send and these our letters patent
For we command by the power of these present our Sheriff of our County of Surrey aforesaid that at certain days and places which ye shall make known to him the cause to come before ye or one of ye so many and such good and lawful men of this Bailiwick as well within liberties as without by whom the truth of the matter in the premises shall be better known and enquired into
In testimony whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent
Witness ourself at Westminster the twelfth day of June in the twelfth year of our reign
Dated June 26th 1849
Surrey to wit
An Inquisition situate at Kennington Common in the County of Surrey commonly called or known by the name or sign of the Horns Tavern this twenty fifth day of June in the thirteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine
Before Edward Winslow Esquire one of the commissioners of our said Lady the Queen by virtue of Her majesty’s own Commission in the nature of a
de Lunatico Inquirendo under the Great Seal of Great Britain bearing the date at Westminster the twelfth day of June instant
To Francis Barlow and Edward Winslow the Esquires the Masters in Lunacy directed and to this Inquisition annexed to enquire amongst other things the Lunacy of Ann Sercombe Spinster now residing at No.16 Carter Street Walworth in the County of Surrey upon the oath of
William Thomas Logan. John Jalland. Thomas Wills Buck. John Henry Watchorn. Henry Edward Cox. John Wisby. Thomas Greathead. Robert Adolphus Farmer. Thomas Cook. James Hawkins. James Beagle. John Archbut. Samuel Henton and William Briant.
good and lawful men of the said County who being sworn and charged upon their oath say that the said Ann Sercombe is a person of unsound mind so that she is not all sufficient for the government of herself her manors messuages lands tenements goods and chattels and that she the said Ann Sercombe hath been in the same state of unsoundness of mind from the twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight but how or by what means she the said Ann Sercombe so became of unsound mind the jurors aforesaid know not unless by the visitation of God
And the Jurors as aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid further say that whether the said Ann Sercombe being in the same condition hath alienated any lands or tenements goods and chattels as yet remain to the said Ann Sercombe the Jurors aforesaid know not
And the Jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid further say that who is the nearest heir of the said Ann Sercombe they know not
In testimony whereof as well the said Commissioner Edward Winslow Esquire us the Jurors aforesaid have to this Inquisition set the Seals of the day and year first above written
Dated 12th June 1849
Commission to enquire of the Lunacy of Ann Sercombe
The execution of this Commission appears by the Inquisition hereunto annexed
[signed] E. Winslow
Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith
To her beloved Francis Barlow and Edward Winslow Masters in Lunacy
Greeting
Know ye that we have assigned ye or one of ye to enquire by the oath of good and lawful men of our County of Surrey as well within liberties as without by whom the truth of the matter may be better known whether Ann Sercombe Spinster now residing at No.16 Carter Street is a Lunatic or enjoys lucid intervals so that she is not sufficient for the government of herself her manors messuages lands tenements goods and chattels and if so from what time after what manner and how
And if the said Ann Sercombe being in the same position hath alienated any lands or tenements or not and if so what lands and what tenements to what person or persons where when and after what manner and how and what lands and tenements goods and chattels as yet remain to her and of what person or persons as well the lands and tenements so alienated as the lands and tenements to her retained are held and by what service after what manner and how and how much they are worth by the year in all issues and who is her nearer heir and of what age
And therefore we command ye or one of ye that at certain days and places which ye shall for this purpose appoint ye diligently make inquisition in the premises and the same distinctly and plainly made to us into our Chancery under the seals of ye or one of ye and the seals of those or persons by whom it shall be made without delay ye send and these our letters patent
For we command by the power of these present our Sheriff of our County of Surrey aforesaid that at certain days and places which ye shall make known to him the cause to come before ye or one of ye so many and such good and lawful men of this Bailiwick as well within liberties as without by whom the truth of the matter in the premises shall be better known and enquired into
In testimony whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent
Witness ourself at Westminster the twelfth day of June in the twelfth year of our reign
Dated June 26th 1849
Surrey to wit
An Inquisition situate at Kennington Common in the County of Surrey commonly called or known by the name or sign of the Horns Tavern this twenty fifth day of June in the thirteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine
Before Edward Winslow Esquire one of the commissioners of our said Lady the Queen by virtue of Her majesty’s own Commission in the nature of a
de Lunatico Inquirendo under the Great Seal of Great Britain bearing the date at Westminster the twelfth day of June instant
To Francis Barlow and Edward Winslow the Esquires the Masters in Lunacy directed and to this Inquisition annexed to enquire amongst other things the Lunacy of Ann Sercombe Spinster now residing at No.16 Carter Street Walworth in the County of Surrey upon the oath of
William Thomas Logan. John Jalland. Thomas Wills Buck. John Henry Watchorn. Henry Edward Cox. John Wisby. Thomas Greathead. Robert Adolphus Farmer. Thomas Cook. James Hawkins. James Beagle. John Archbut. Samuel Henton and William Briant.
good and lawful men of the said County who being sworn and charged upon their oath say that the said Ann Sercombe is a person of unsound mind so that she is not all sufficient for the government of herself her manors messuages lands tenements goods and chattels and that she the said Ann Sercombe hath been in the same state of unsoundness of mind from the twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight but how or by what means she the said Ann Sercombe so became of unsound mind the jurors aforesaid know not unless by the visitation of God
And the Jurors as aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid further say that whether the said Ann Sercombe being in the same condition hath alienated any lands or tenements goods and chattels as yet remain to the said Ann Sercombe the Jurors aforesaid know not
And the Jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid further say that who is the nearest heir of the said Ann Sercombe they know not
In testimony whereof as well the said Commissioner Edward Winslow Esquire us the Jurors aforesaid have to this Inquisition set the Seals of the day and year first above written