Chancery: Petty Bag Office: Writ Files

Files of writs which Chancery issued from the Petty Bag Office.

A large variety of writs is present, reflecting the scope and variety of the work of the Petty Bag Office. These include

• writs of dedimus potestatem, such as for the taking of oaths of allegiance from the heirs of deceased persons;
• writs to elect to, and the taking of oaths from, positions such as sheriff, escheator, justice of the peace, coroner, mayor, recorder, returning officer, commissioner for oaths, commissioner of sewers, verderer, and certain customs officials;
• writs of ad quod damnum, from the reign of James I, referring mainly to highways, footpaths and fairs;
• writs of capias ad satisfaciendum, which directed the sheriff to take and produce a person in court to the satisfaction of the plaintiff, following a judgement against that person in a case of damages or debt;
• and from 1833, writs of postponement of assizes.

The series consists both of writs and returns, together with attachments and annotations denoting the action taken. Some entry books and indexes are also included.