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The Commissioners of Sewers for the East Riding were created under the Statute of Sewers 23 Hen. VIII c.5 (1531), which authorised the appointment of commissioners charged with the drainage of low-lying land liable to flooding. The Court of Sewers, which consisted of the commissioners meeting with a jury, conducted their business in a judicial manner. The jurisdiction of the Court was over the repairs of sea-walls and sea-banks, the cleaning of public rivers, streams and ditches, becks and drains, and any other watercourse used for the draining of land. Their Courts heard complaints of nuisances; of failure to clean and clear drains and ditches, resulting in the flooding of neighbouring properties; and they had the power to arrest carts and horses, take trees for repairs, and appoint workmen, bailiffs and surveyors. They could fine for neglect, or for contempt, and levy a drainage tax to fund all work.

The Court minutes are difficult to trawl through if looking for people. A much richer source are the jury lists in class CSR/63, which spans 1725-1840, although there is one much earlier for the wapentake of Harthill, for 1646, in CSR/6/2. A second series, in class CSR/64, covers the period 1828-1834. The Jury Lists in the class CSR/63/2 covering 1725-1806 have been examined and the relevant entries extracted, but those in CSR/63/3 covering 1807-1840 have yet to be examined. Those in CSR/64 have all been checked, and the relevant entries extracted.

Other classes found to have references to Aughton, East Cottingwith and Latham include: CSR/62/1; CSR/62/2; CSR/64/4; CSR/64/5; CSR/67/13; CSR/67/28; and CSR/68/8, all of which are extracted below.

Extracts

CSR/63/2

CSR/64/4

Warrants for jurymen for Ouse and Derwent, Howdenshire, Hunsley Beacon, Holme Beacon and Wilton Beacon

1831

William Hemingway, East Cottingwith, carpenter

CSR/64/5

Warrants for jurymen for Ouse and Derwent, Howdenshire, Hunsley Beacon, Holme Beacon and Wilton Beacon

1832

John Tasker, East Cottingwith, miller

CSR/67/13

Presentment and amercement against James Brabbs of Latham and the constable of Ellerton, to dress, clean and scour Moor Dyke Drain, Foggathorpe

1 May 1830

CSR/67/28

Presentment and amercement against William Nottingham of East Cottingwith relating to Old Derwent Drain from Clough Bridge in Storthwaite

13 Jul 1833

CSR/68/8

Petition of Simeon Webster and other land owners relating to drains and embankments in Melbourne, Thornton, Storthwaite, Sutton upon Derwent, East Cottingwith, Ellerton, Aughton and Bubwith

1834

CSR/62/1

Minutes of business for the chairman

25 Jul 1840

Includes details of cases against Robert Pacey of East Cottingwith; Simeon Webster the younger of Aughton; William Bell of East Cottingwith; Elizabeth Barker of East Cottingwith; William Blanshard of East Cottingwith; and Thomas Buttle of Aughton.

CSR/62/2

Minutes of business for the chairman

19 Sep 1840

Includes details of cases against Robert Pacey of East Cottingwith; Simeon Webster the younger of Aughton; William Bell of East Cottingwith; Elizabeth Barker of East Cottingwith; William Blanshard of East Cottingwith; and Thomas Buttle of Aughton.