(In Report, Common Arable Fields and Common Meadows = 1218 acres.)
Parliamentary Proceedings.—December 1, 1767.—Petition for enclosure from Edward Weld, Esq., George Clavell, Esq., Benjamin Thornton, Clerk, William Weston, Clerk, John Felton, Gentleman, and others. Leave given; bill read twice and committed on December 11 to a Committee of 42 members in addition to the members for Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. All to have Voices. January 25, 1768, Petition from persons being Freeholders, Proprietors of Estates or otherwise interested, against the bill stating ‘that if the said Bill should pass into a Law the Estates of the Petitioners and others in the said Parish will be greatly injured, and several of them must be totally ruined thereby; and that some of the Petitioners, by Threats and Menaces, were prevailed upon to sign the Petition for the said Bill; but upon Recollection, and considering the impending Ruin they shall be subject to by the Inclosure, beg Leave now to have Liberty to retract from their seeming Acquiescence in the said Petition,’ and ask to be heard by Counsel against the Bill. Petition referred to the Committee.
January 29, 1768.—Mr. Bond reported from the Committee that there was an erasure in the prayer of the said Petition and asked for instructions. A fresh Committee of 36 members (many of whom were also members of the other Committee) was appointed to examine into the question of how the erasure was made, and whether it was previous or subsequent to the signing. This Committee was ordered to report to the House, but there is no record of its report.
Report and Enumeration of Consents.—February 2, 1768.—Mr. Bond reported from the Committee that the allegations were true, and that the ‘Parties concerned’ had given their consent ‘(except Four Persons who could not be found whose Property in the Common Meadows to be inclosed amounts to Five Acres, Three Roods, Twenty Three Perches and a half; and also except Four other Persons who, when applied to for their Consent to the Bill, refused to sign, though they declared they had no Objection, and whose Property in the Common Meadows to be inclosed amounts to Four Acres, One Rood, Thirty Eight Perches; and also except Six Persons whose Property in the Common Arable Fields and Common Meadows to be inclosed mounts to One hundred and twenty two Acres, Thirty Three Perches, who refused to sign the Bill; and also, except Three Persons, whose Property in the Common Arable Fields and Common Meadows, to be inclosed, amounts to One hundred and seven Acres, Twenty Three Perches, who hold under Copies of Court Roll, granted on Condition that they would join in any Act or Deed for the dividing and inclosing the said Common Fields, and Meadows, and other Commonable Lands within the said Manor, when thereto requested by the Lord of the said Manor; and that the whole Number of Acres in the said Common Arable Fields and Common Meadows is One thousand, Two hundred and eighteen, Twenty Eight Perches and a half, and that the Rector of Winfrith Newburgh and Vicar of Campden, who are intitled to all the Great and Small Tithes arising out of the said Common Arable Fields and Common Meadows have consented thereto).’
February 2, 1768 (same day).—Another Petition against the bill from Freeholders, Proprietors and Persons otherwise interested stating that the Inclosure is ‘contrary to the general Sense of the Persons interested therein,’ and will be ‘injurious to the Property of the Petitioners and others, the smaller Landholders within the said Parish, some of whom must, in the Petitioners’ Judgment, be totally ruined thereby.’ Petitioners to be heard when Report considered.
February 3, 1768.—Report considered. House informed that no Counsel attended. Report read. Clause added settling the expenses to be paid by Copyholders and Lessees for Lives. Bill sent to Lords. February 9, Committed. Same day, Petition against it from various persons as ‘contrary to the general Sense of the Persons interested therein.’ Referred to Committee. February 12, Lord Delamer reported from the Committee without amendment. February 24, Royal Assent.
Main Features of Act.—(Private, 8 George III. c. 18.)
Commissioners.—Seven appointed. (1) John Bond, Esq., of Grange; (2) David Robert Mitchell, Esq., of Dewlish; (3) Nathaniel Bond, Esq., of West Lulworth; (4) Thomas Williams, Esq., of Herringstone; (5) William Churchill, Esq., of Dorchester; (6) George Lillington of Burngate, Gentleman; (7) Joseph Garland of Chaldon, Gentleman; all of Dorset.
Sometimes 3, sometimes 4 a quorum. Vacancies to be filled up by remaining Commissioners from persons not interested in the land to be inclosed.
Survey to be made if Commissioners ‘shall think the same necessary.’