The Black Death in Norton, 1348

35% of the population dead

By Sue Flood

Norton Court Roll (65514)
Herts Archives & Local Studies
Norton Court Roll (65514)
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Even small country parishes such as Norton did not escape the ravages of the Black Death.  Sixteen tenants are reported to have died (mortuus est) on these pages alone.  It has been estimated that Norton lost at least 35% of its population (Ada Levett).  The manorial court continued to admit new tenants to take over the vacant properties and allow widows to marry.   

See the second entry on the top page relating to John Neweman who has died holding a messuage and a cottage.  It is possible that the Mabil Neweman (second entry on the bottom page) is his widow seeking the permission of the court to marry again.

This page was added on 17/09/2009.

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  • There are currently no plans to do this.

    By Daphne Knott (HALS) (17/09/2013)
  • Some years ago I did a bit of research into Norton manor at HALS but never asked to see any of the court rolls (just the translations made by WBJohnson). Are there plans to digitise these and other manorial rolls and put them online on a subscription basis?

    By William Johnston (13/09/2013)