LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Court rolls for
Chedzoy manor survive for 1330-77, (fn. 72) 1379-
84, (fn. 73) 1403-13, (fn. 74) 1543, (fn. 75) 1652-9, 1665-7,
1679-80, (fn. 76) 1747, and 1756. (fn. 77) In the 1330s, when
up to four courts were held each year, one or
two reeves, a tithingman, a hayward, and aletasters were chosen in the court, and in 1334-5
wickmen, who maintained walls and sluices. (fn. 78) In
the early 15th century the court appointed three
reeves and a hayward. (fn. 79) In the later 16th century,
when two courts leet and two manor courts were
held each year, a reeve, a tithingman, two constables, and two water bailiffs were chosen at the
Michaelmas tourn. (fn. 80) Two haywards were also
appointed in the mid 17th century, (fn. 81) and a reeve,
two constables, a tithingman, and a hayward
were in office in the mid 18th century. (fn. 82)
The court in the 14th century received payments of chevage besides entry and marriage
fines, dealt with breaches of the assize of ale,
strays, and pleas between tenants, and gave
orders for the maintenance of drains and buildings. In the later 16th century the lord claimed
the chattels of felons, waifs, and suicides, deodands, strays, and the assize of bread and of ale.
In the mid 17th century the court supervised the
use of the open fields and commons and the
maintenance of fences, drains, and paths. A
pound was mentioned in 1354 (fn. 83) and 1486, (fn. 84) and
a court house, which the homage of the manor
had to repair, was destroyed by fire before
1360. (fn. 85) Archery butts were recorded in 1576 (fn. 86)
and the place where the cucking stool had stood
was known in 1768. (fn. 87)
From the 17th century two churchwardens,
two overseers, and two highway surveyors administered the parish, (fn. 88) the last two working
with the manor court on roads, bridges, and
drains. (fn. 89) A vestry met regularly in the 18th
century and the poor were relieved in cash and
in kind. (fn. 90) A doctor was engaged to attend the
poor in 1781. (fn. 91) The overseers were probably
using the church house by 1740 to house the
poor; a poorhouse was mentioned in 1762. (fn. 92)
From 1774 until 1802 or later another house was
in use for the purpose, (fn. 93) and that was succeeded
before 1840 by a cottage near Fowler's Plot. (fn. 94)
Chedzoy became part of the Bridgwater poorlaw union in 1836, Bridgwater rural district in
1894, and Sedgemoor district in 1974. (fn. 95)