Bedford Borough Records before c.1650
Charters and Letters Patent: The oldest document in the archives of known date is a Charter of Henry II of c.1166 confirming to the Borough "all the liberties and free customs which they had in the time of Henry I" [Ref: BorBA1/1]. Charters and later open letters (Letters Patent) were grants or instructions from the monarch, in this case to the Borough of Bedford. The mayor, aldermen, freemen and burgesses could run their own courts, levy their own tolls and be free of other tolls throughout England. Some of these documents illustrate Bedford's involvement in our national history. In 1381 a copy of Richard II's repudiation of the grants made during the Peasants' Revolt was sent to Bedford. In 1402 the Borough was instructed to send all its knights to fight against Owen Glendower's rebellion in Wales. In 1447 the Borough was allowed to pay less money for its privileges because of the large number of houses destroyed and uninhabited. This series continues into the 17th and 18th centuries, being increasingly concerned with the regulation of the Borough's Constitution. During the Civil War an attempt was made by a group of pro-Parliament freemen of the Borough to give the town more democratic government. In 1684 Charles II granted a new Charter in an attempt to get a more submissive Council.
Other Mediaeval Documents: In 1327, Edward II was deposed. In these dangerous times, 25 men from outside Bedford made an agreement with 24 from the Borough that men from the county might come into Bedford without disturbance and vice versa [Ref: BorBA5]. There is also a late 14th century roll listing the names of tradesmen owing money to the Borough for their market stalls [Ref:BorBD4]. There are six tax rolls, called Lay Subsidies, dating from the start of the 15th century. These documents give long lists of names and some occupations [Ref: BorBD1/1-6]. With the main archive came W.N. Henman's magnificent collection of mediaeval documents dating from the 1270s.
The Black Book of Bedford: In the Black Book of Bedford, started in 1562 [Ref: BorBB1], were written the "Constitutions" for regulating the Town. They include detailed instructions for the cleaning of Butchers' Row and the removal of entrails of dead animals to Offal Lane (now the Broadway) on the day they died. Other regulations insisted that all houses near "High Streets" had chimneys. People setting up shop for the first time had to pay a fine to the Borough. Those who had been apprenticed in the town could set up their own business provided that they gave the mayor and aldermen a gallon of wine. These Constitutions were periodically updated to 1649 [Ref: BorBA4/10. They show how Bedford dealt with the problems of urban life as well as the regulation of the area of agricultural land around the town. The Black Book also includes transcripts of Final Concords levied in the Borough in the 17th century at the Court of Common Pleas. These fictitious legal cases were designed to help improve an owner's title to his land. The descriptions of the property are made in general terms. There are also a number of transcripts of actual deeds included. Together they give a good idea of land ownership in the town and are therefore especially useful to the family historian.
Chamberlain's Accounts: This is the main series of accounts of the Borough from the 16th to the mid-19th century [Ref:BorBD6). They cover the years 1508-1734 (gaps) and 1803-1855. The earlier ones include the accounts of the bridgewardens, including payments towards the repair of the Bridge House and Putnoe Bridge.
Court of Pleas: These records are mainly concerned with numerous actions for debt. By the 17th century these records include detailed inventories of debtors and the appeals of those imprisoned to be let out. They date from 1496-1789, with gaps. As they sometimes give occupations they can be of considerable use to the economic and family historian. Occasionally there are indexes of cases tried within a year (e.g. 1659)
Court Leet: This Court dealt with all offenders against the Town Constitutions. Brewers or innkeepers who disregarded the Assize of Ale were fined. In the 1650s numerous people left muck heaps in the street. Even a man drawing blood in a fight was fined by this court. Records of the transfer of free burgage land (entitling the owner to a vote) are recorded and thus provide a useful source for the town's topography in the 17th century.
Sessions of the Peace (later Quarter Sessions): The Borough held sessions to try offenders against the peace. Royal Commissions of the Peace survive from 1556 [Ref:BorBF2/1]. Minutes start in 1586 and continue with some gaps until 1651. A typical case is that of William Beckett junior of the brewing family who in 1651 was accused of profane swearing and tippling and with two others of attacking William Yeomans of Bedford. He was found not guilty on all counts [Ref: BorBF11/4a-b and F 11/7-11]. Unfortunately there is a large gap until 1750 when the Quarter Sessions Rolls start and to 1771 for the minute books. These records provide a good insight into the crimes committed but detailed accounts of the evidence only occur in the Quarter Sessions rolls.
Apprenticeship Registers and Freemen's Rolls: A register of apprentices was kept from 1614-1843 [Ref:BorBC1/1-3] giving details of the apprentice and master. An indexed calendar is available in the searchroom (Classification 130). A Freemen's List for St. Mary and St. Paul parishes dates from c.1620 [Ref: BorB7/1].
Conclusion: Many of the above documents are in Latin but some transcripts have been made (see the catalogue or, for early deeds, the X67 catalogue). Documents from 1653 to 1660 are normally in English and in a legible hand. Schedule of the Records & Other Documents of the Corporation of Bedford edited by Theed William Pearse, 1883, is still useful. Genealogical Sources in the Bedford Borough Archive by C.J. Pickford (Beds. Family History Society Journal, Volume 9, Issue 3, pps. 20-23, 1994) provides a conspectus.