Reference code: GB-0036-RAN
Title: Catalogue of the Thomas Randall Manuscripts
Dates of creation: mid to later 18th century
Extent: 14 volumes, numbered 1-14
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library
Origination: Rev Thomas Randall (1711-1775), creator
Language: Predominantly English, with some Latin
Thomas Randall, the son of a cordwainer, was born at Eton and educated there and then at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from 1731. He graduated MA in 1735 and became a schoolmaster at Durham School, being appointed second master there in 1733
and then headmaster in 1761. He lived in the North Bailey, Durham and had a great enthusiasm for the area's antiquities, assiduously copying many of its historic documents. Christopher Hunter assisted him in this and gave him a number of his papers.
In his later years, Randall also became a considerable intimate of the antiquary George Allan (1736-1800). Afflicted by gout, in 1768 Randall had to resign the headmasterhip and his living of Whitworth which he had held since 1760. He was then
presented to the vicarage of Ellingham, Northumberland. He died on 25 Oct 1775 and was buried at St Mary-le-Bow, Durham.
Transcripts by Randall of
inquisitions post mortem, deeds and other sources concerning the civil and ecclesiastical history of Co Durham, also notices about Durham and Northumberland churches, Co Durham hospitals,
lists of Co Durham officers and other notes on the history and antiquities of Durham School, Co Durham and Northumberland. (These are generally fair copies of his transcripts and notes (now Sharp 48-58) which were also bequeathed to George Allan but
which were given by his son George to Cuthbert Sharp whilst the fair copies were sold to Durham Dean and Chapter (from a note in Sharp 48 by Sharp).)
Sold by George Allan, son of the antiquarian, along with his father's collection, to Durham Dean and Chapter in 1823 for £150.
Randall's manuscripts were bequeathed to George Allan (1736-1800), along with his printed books labelled “The Gift of the Rev Mr Thomas Randall of Durham to George Allan of Darlington” (other books went to Thomas
Gyll).
Open for consultation. For opening hours see the Cathedral Library's web page at http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Librarian (e-mail Library@durhamcathedral.co.uk). The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility
for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
Arranged in the arbitrary order of the volume numbering.
Catalogued by Michael Stansfield January 2016.
None expected.
List published in T. Rud,
Codicum Manuscriptorum Ecclesiae Cathedralis Dunelmensis Catalogus Classicus (Durham 1825), p.419-422.
Randall's original transcripts and notes, of which these are in the main fair copies, are now Sharp 48-58 having also been bequeathed to George Allan; they were then given by his son George to Sharp rather than being sold to Durham Dean and
Chapter. Allan 20 is one of Randall's books which ended up with John Dampier before coming to Durham Dean and Chapter in 1830.
Durham University Library has 2 books which were formerly his: XL 274.206 BAS (Isaac Basire's
Funeral Sermon on the Bishop of Durham 1673) and XL 274.2 (
Simeon of Durham 1732).
Randall 1 [mid-later 18th century]
DURHAM Inquisitions Vol. 1transcripts of inquisitions
post mortem from the bishop's exchequer in Durham from the 1st year of Bishop Louis Beaumont to the 4th year of Bishop Robert Nevill,
made by Thomas Randall
Inside front cover: book plate of George Allan of Darlington and label: “The Gift of The Rev. Mr. Thomas Randall of Durham, to George Allan of Darlington”
ii. Dates of bishops Louis Beaumont to Walter Skirlaw
iii. Book of inquisitions from Beaumont to Nevill. Description of the original volume in the exchequer by Randall; he presumes that inquisitions for the last 15 years of Nevill are lost.
iv. Alphabetical index of inquisitions in the time of Bishop Louis Beaumont.
1-5. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Louis Beaumont.
6. Alphabetical index of inquisitions in the time of Bishop Richard Bury.
7-40. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Richard Bury.
p.41-42. Alphabetical index of inquisitions in the time of Bishop Thomas Hatfield.
p.43-154. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Thomas Hatfield.
p.155. Alphabetical index of inquisitions in the time of Bishop John Fordham.
p.156-169. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop John Fordham.
p.170. Alphabetical index of inquisitions in the time of Bishop Walter Skirlaw.
p.171-222. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Walter Skirlaw.
p.224-225. List of sheriffs and escheators of Co Durham from Bishop Louis Beaumont to Walter Skirlaw.
p.229-232. Chapter 15; about the death of Bishop Robert of Holy Island and the dispute of the prior and convent with the archbishop with the see vacant.
p.233-236. Chapter 13; about the discord between Archbishop William Wickwane, Bishop Robert of Holy Island and Richard of Claxton prior and the chapter of Durham.
Paper book, iv + 236p, in parchment covered pasteboards, boxed
Randall 2 [mid-later 18th century]
DURHAM Inquisitions Vol. 2d, transcripts [by Thomas Randall] of inquisitions
post mortem from the bishop of Durham's exchequer.
Inside front cover: bookplate of George Allan of Darlington.
On the back cover: “George Allen Darlington”.
Contents:
p.iii. Dates of bishops of Durham from Thomas Langley to William Dudley.
p.v-vi. Alphabetical index of inquisitions in the time of Bishops Thomas Langley and then Robert Nevill.
p.1-169. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Thomas Langley.
p.170-210. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Robert Nevill.
p.210. List of sheriffs and escheators of Co Durham in the time of Bishops Thomas Langley and Robert Nevill.
p.211. Description of the original volume of inquisitions for Bishops Booth and Dudley in the exchequer.
p.212. Alphabetical index of inquisitions in the time of Bishops Lawrence Booth and then William Dudley.
p.1-80. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Lawrence Booth.
p.81-107. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop William Dudley.
p.108-134. Blank.
p.135-139. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Richard Neale.
p.140-142. Inquisitions in the time of Bishop Thomas Morton.
Paper book, paginated i-vi + 1-212 + 1-142, in parchment covered pasteboards, spine damaged, boxed
Randall 3 [mid-later 18th century]
Collectanea ad Statum Civilem et Ecclesiasticum Comitatus Dunelmensis Spectantia, Ex variis Codicibus tam Manuscriptis, quam Impressis, sine ordine congesta vol. I, transcripts [by Thomas Randall] of mostly medieval
original charters and other documents, preserved in public and private repositories, relative to numerous estates, churches, and monasteries, in the northern counties, with copious extracts from the close rolls and other records of the see of
Durham, on subjects connected with the palatinate and prior and convent of Durham. Title page with George Allan's private press bookplate. Manuscript transcripts and extracts [by Randall], with seals noticed and occasionally depicted, and the
location of the original usually recorded.
On the inside front cover is a printed extract of Randall's will bequeathing his manuscripts so indicated to George Allan, and a printed notice appealing for any heir at law of Thomas Randall.
Contents include (noticed in print):
Paper book, paginated i-x + a-b + 1-376, with occasional inserts, in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
p.3p.3 [?1127 before August]
Notification or purported notification by Bishop Ranulf [Flambard] that he has granted Eighton, Ravensworth (both in the chapelry of Lamelsey) and Blakiston (parish of Norton) in fee to his nephew Richard, to hold by the service of half a
knight.
Witnesses: Ranulf the archdeacon, Papa the monk, Osbert nephow of the bishop, Robert his brother, William son of Ranulf, Urricus, Richard de Untedune and Pagan nephew of Ranulf.
Original: Northumberland Record Office, Ravensworth Deed No.1.
Printed: R. Surtees,
History of Durham II, p.210; H.S. Offler ed., Durham Episcopal Charters 1071-1152, (Surtees Society 179, 1968), p.100-106.
p.4p.4 [?late August 1127]
Notification by King Henry I that he has granted to Richard, nephew of Ranulf [Flambard] bishop of Durham, the lands of Eighton, Ravensworth and Blakiston, as the bishop granted them.
Date: Portsmouth.
Original: Northumberland Record Office, Ravensworth Deed No.2.
Printed: R. Surtees,
History of Durham II, p.210; H.S. Offler ed., Durham Episcopal Charters 1071-1152, (Surtees Society 179, 1968), p.106-107.
p.4p.4 [late February x 3 March 1195]
Confirmation by Hugh [of Le Puiset] bishop of Durham for God and St Cuthbert and the prior and monks of Durham of land called Hwiterig between Shoreswood and Norham, with the turbary of Shoreswood; of boundaries as at
the bishop's accession between the vills of Boldon and Hedworth, [East] Rainton and Houghton[-le-Spring], and Pittington and Sherburn, also in Aycliffe, with newly-won meadow there; and of forest privileges for themselves and the clerks who hold
churches of them.
(First two sentences only)
Original: DUL DCD 4.1.Pont.5.
Printed:
English Episcopal Acta 24 Durham 1153-1195, ed M.G. Snape (Oxford 2002), p.42-44.
p.7p.7 [1154 x 1195]
Confirmation by Hugh [of Le Puiset] bishop of Durham of privileges for the burgesses of Gateshead.
Another copy: DUL DCD Reg.I f.ii 47r-v.
Printed:
English Episcopal Acta 24 Durham 1153-1195, ed M.G. Snape (Oxford 2002), p.54-55.
p.12a [20 April 1197 x 26 March 1200]
Confirmation by Philip [of Poitou] bishop of Durham of the gift by Hugh [of Le Puiset bishop of Durham] to Walter of Caen and Robert [of Caen] son of Roger, nephew of his dilectus Simon the chamberlain, and their
heirs, of the vills of Cornsay and Hedley [Hill], rendering annually 4s.
Witnesses: B[ertram] prior of Durham, [Aimeric archdeacon,] Reginald venar sheriff, Jordan Escoland, Geoffrey son of Richard, Henry of Farli[ngton, William son of Thomas,] Walter of the monastery, Roger de Audr', Peter Harpin, Simon of Hawthorn,
William Escoll'.
Mid 18th century copy.
Other copies: TNA Durh 3/44 m.26; (abridged) DCL Hunter 4, p.157.
Printed:
English Episcopal Acta 25: Durham 1196-1237, ed M.G. Snape (Oxford 2002), p.198-199.
p.28p.28 [c.1190 x 1195]
Confirmation by Hugh [of Le Puiset] bishop of Durham for Humphrey the carter and his heirs of 6 acres of land with a toft and croft in Escomb.
Witnesses: William Hansard, Ralph of Binchester, William Gilbert, Robert of Amundeville, Gilbert Hansard, Henry de Broc, Simon hostiario, Reginald de Aldent, Robert son of Meldred.
Other copies: Hunter MS 38/3; Hunter MS 4 p.50.
Printed: H. Conyers Surtees,
History of the Parish of Escombe, (1922) p.35; English Episcopal Acta 24 Durham 1153-1195, ed M.G. Snape (Oxford 2002), p.66.
Randall 4 [mid-later 18th century]
Collectanea ad Statum Civilem et Ecclesiasticum Comitatus Dunelmensis Spectantia, Ex variis Codicibus tam Manuscriptis, quam Impressis, sine ordine congesta vol. II, transcripts [by Thomas Randall] of mostly medieval
original charters and other documents, preserved in public and private repositories, relative to numerous estates, churches, and monasteries, in the northern counties, with copious extracts from the close rolls and other records of the see of
Durham, on subjects connected with the palatinate and prior and convent of Durham. Title page with George Allan's private press bookplate. Manuscript transcripts and extracts [by Randall], with seals noticed, and the location of the original usually
recorded, and two indexes at the back.
On the inside front cover is a printed notice of Randall's gift [of this volume] to George Allan, and George Allan's bookplate, and printed images of the seals of Sherburn and Greatham hospitals.
On the inside back cover are printed images of the seals of the borough of Barnard Castle and Bishop Hugh le Puiset.
Contents include (noticed in print):
Paper book, paginated 1-xi + 1-384, in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
p.11p.11
Counterpart inspeximus by Prior Thomas [Melsonby] and the convent of Durham of the following ordinance.
Originals: DCD Misc.Ch. 491 and 492.
Printed: W. Hutchinson,
History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham i, (1785) p.197.
[7 December 1235]
Ordinance by Richard [Poore] bishop of Durham concerning the church of Chatton and its vicarage in settlement of a dispute between Peter abbot and the convent of Alnwick and Dom Richard de Vescy vicar of Chatton and canon of Beverley, retaining
the collation of the vicar to the bishop, with the vicar to have the tithes and land of Doddington with a manse there and the abbot and convent of Alnwick to have the rest of the tithes.
Sealed with the seals of the bishop and the chapter of Alnwick.
Witnesses: Masters Simon the bishop's penitentiarian, William of Arundel, Geoffrey vicar of Woodhorn, Michael vicar of Benton, Hugh de Gahirst, Stephen of Burton, Roger de la Leye, bishop's clerks.
Date: [Bishop] Auckland, by the hand of Henry, bishop's chaplain, morrow of St Nicholas Pont.8.
Printed:
English Episcopal Acta 25: Durham 1196-1237, ed M.G. Snape (Oxford 2002), p.272-273.
Randall 5 [mid-later 18th century]
Randall's Farrago 1 (on the spine), and
Collectanea ad Statum Civilem et Ecclesiasticum Comitatus Dunelmensis Spectantia, Ex variis Codicibus tam Manuscriptis, quam Impressis, sine ordine
congesta inside, with George Allan's private press bookplate. Further transcripts [by Thomas Randall] of various documents, including patents of officers, extracts from copyhold books, inquisitions
post mortem,
grants of lands by early bishops of Durham, and copies of deeds in private hands, mostly with the originals identified.
On the inside front cover is a printed notice of Randall's gift [of this volume] to George Allan.
Contents include:
p.181-183 “An History of the Rise & Progress of the Caritable Stock of ye City of Durham, ex copia penes” John Dixon.
Paper book, pagiated 1-222 interleaved between unnumbered pages, in quarter leather bound marbled pasteboards
Randall 6 [mid-later 18th century]
Randall's Farrago 2 (on the spine), and
Collectanea ad Statum Civilem et Ecclesiasticum Comitatus Dunelmensis Spectantia, Ex variis Codicibus tam Manuscriptis, quam Impressis, sine ordine
congesta inside, with George Allan's private press bookplate. Further transcripts [by Thomas Randall] of various documents, including patents of officers, extracts from copyhold books, inquisitions
post mortem,
grants of lands by early bishops of Durham, and copies of deeds in private hands, mostly with the originals identified.
On the inside front cover is a printed notice of Randall's gift [of this volume] to George Allan, and George Allan's bookplate.
Paper book, foliated 1-114 interleaved between unnumbered pages, in quarter leather bound marbled pasteboards
Randall 7 [mid-later 18th century]
Randall's Farrago 3 (on the spine), and
Collectanea ad Statum Civilem et Ecclesiasticum Comitatus Dunelmensis Spectantia, Ex variis Codicibus tam Manuscriptis, quam Impressis, sine ordine
congesta inside, with George Allan's private press bookplate. Further transcripts [by Thomas Randall] of various documents, including patents of officers, extracts from copyhold books, inquisitions
post mortem,
grants of lands by early bishops of Durham, and copies of deeds in private hands, mostly with the originals identified.
On the inside front cover is a printed notice of Randall's gift [of this volume] to George Allan.
Paper book, paginated 223-404 interleaved between unnumbered pages, in quarter leather bound marbled pasteboards
Randall 8 [mid-later 18th century]
Durham Churches Vol. I, containing an account [by Thomas Randall] of each benefice, its foundation, endowment, and history, with lists of incumbents, interspersed with biographical notices, extracts from parish
registers (some no longer extant), ecclesiastical visitations, church notes, drawings of armorial bearings, epitaphs, notices of enclosures of commons, proceedings in tithe suits, and traditionary information etc. Not all churches have entries (for
instance, Bishop Auckland is blank); the completed parishes begin with Billingham vicarage and end with Wearmouth curacy, and are ordered alphabetically; all are Co Durham.
Inside the front cover: printed notice from Randall's will bequeathing manuscripts so indicated to George Allan.
Paper book, foliated i-ii + 1-189, in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
Randall 9 [mid-later 18th century]
Durham Churches Vol. II, containing an account [by Thomas Randall] of each benefice, its foundation, endowment, and history, with lists of incumbents, interspersed with biographical notices, extracts from parish
registers (some no longer extant), ecclesiastical visitations, church notes, drawings of armorial bearings, epitaphs, notices of enclosures of commons, proceedings in tithe suits, and traditionary information etc. The churches are all titled as
being archdeaconry of Durham, but are not otherwise in any obvious order, except that they are ones not included in Vol. I. There is an incomplete index at the back.
Inside the front cover: printed notice from Randall's will bequeathing manuscripts so indicated to George Allan.
Paper book, foliated i-ii + 1-211, in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
Randall 10 [mid-later 18th century]
Northumberland Churches Vol. I, containing an account [by Thomas Randall] of each benefice, its foundation, endowment, and history, with lists of incumbents, interspersed with biographical notices, extracts from parish
registers (some no longer extant), ecclesiastical visitations, church notes, drawings of armorial bearings, epitaphs, notices of enclosures of commons, proceedings in tithe suits, and traditionary information etc, by deanery (Alnwick, Bamburgh,
Corbridge, Morpeth) and then benefice. in the archdeaconry of Northumberland.
Inside the front cover: printed notice from Randall's will bequeathing manuscripts so indicated to George Allan, and some notes.
Inside the back cover: Thomas Kitchin's map of Northumberland [?1764].
Paper book, paginated i-vii + 1-413 witj occasional insertions, in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
Randall 11 [mid-later 18th century]
Northumberland Churches Vol. II, containing an account [by Thomas Randall] of each benefice, its foundation, endowment, and history, with lists of incumbents, interspersed with biographical notices, extracts from
parish registers (some no longer extant), ecclesiastical visitations, church notes, drawings of armorial bearings, epitaphs, notices of enclosures of commons, proceedings in tithe suits, and traditionary information etc, for Newcastle deanery, th
epeculiar of Hexhamshire, Allerton and Allertonshire, Cleveland and the rest of Yorkshire, followed by lists of knights of the shire for Northumberland and high sheriffs of Northumberland.
Inside the front cover: printed notice from Randall's will bequeathing manuscripts so indicated to George Allan, with a notice of its gift by Randall to Allan.
Paper book, foliated i-ii + 1-186, in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
Randall 12 [mid-later 18th century]
Hospitals County of Durham, extracts [by Thomas Randall] from copyhold books, close rolls, charters, cartularies, wills etc, re the hospitals of Spittal House, Trinity in Gateshead, St Edmund's in Gateshead, Sherburn
(with a printed title page at p.45), Greatham, Kepier and St John's in Barnard Castle, with lists of masters, statutes, regulations and historical remarks.
Inside the front cover: printed images of the seals of the hospitals of Sherburn, Greatham and King James in Gateshead.
Contents include:
Paper book, paginated i-xiv + 1-358, in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
p.99-103 [18 June 1184 x 31 July 1189]
Foundation and endowment of Sherburn leper hospital by Hugh [of Le Puiset] bishop of Durham.
Original copy: DCD Reg.II f.322v-323r.
Printed in:
Collections relating to Sherburn Hospital in the County Palatine of Durham, [ed. G. Allan] ([Darlington] 1771), (unpaginated) and W. Hutchinson, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine
of Durham, 3 vols. (1785-1794), vol. II, p.591-601.
Randall 13 [mid-later 18th century]
Offices of the Palatinate of Durham, being lists [by Thomas Randall] of the high sheriffs of Co Durham, guardians of the see of Durham (when vacant), escheators, under-sheriffs, temporal chancellors, constables of
Durham castle, stewards of the halmote courts, registrars of the diocese, attorney and solicitor generals, knights of the shire, burgesses for the city of Durham, with references to authorities and occasional biographical notices.
Inside the front cover: printed notice from Randall's will bequeathing manuscripts so indicated to George Allan.
Paper book, foliated i-ii + 1-141, in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
Randall 14 [1774]
Miscellanea ad Statum Dioces. Dunelm. Spectantia tum e variis Manuscriptis, cum impressis Libris sine Ordine Collecta & Congesta Ad Annum MDCCLXXIV, transcripts and extracts [by Thomas Randall] of documents re
estates in Co Durham and Northumberland, and especially re schools in Durham p.178-264, prefaced by various lists of abbies, priories, colleges and hospitals in Co Durham and Northumberland, the ecclesiastical taxation of Co Durham and
Northumberland, and procurations payable to the archdeacon of Northumberland.
Inside the front cover: printed notice from Randall's will bequeathing manuscripts so indicated to George Allan, with a notice of its gift by Randall to Allan.
Paper book, paginated i-xx + 1-270 (including 13a & 14a), in a goatskin binding with some stamps on the spine and on the reverse of the covers
