Catalogue description Papers and correspondence in William Knight of West Dean v Joseph Mercer of Sedlescombe in chancery

Introduction

Before January 1710 Joseph Mercer of Sedlescombe, yeoman, obtained judgement in in the court of Queen's Bench against John Taylor of Battle, mercer, for a debt of £1000 and £3 3s 0d costs. In the Hilary term of 1710 he sued out a writ to have Taylor's assets seized; on 18 January 1710 Edward Purfeild of Battle, bailiff of the Rape of Hastings, seized the goods and had them valued at £324 17s 10d. Mercer and Taylor ordered Purfeild to stay the sale, on the pretence that Matthew Gibson would purchase them all. Before the return of the writ, William Knight became sheriff; the writ was returned by his deputy endorsed that goods to the value of £250 had been seized, making the sheriff liable to the court in that sum. The sheriff alleged that Mercer, Purfeild and Taylor, with his two daughters Mary and Sarah Taylor, had conspired to sell the goods without his knowledge, that some had been sold to Henry Sheather and hops, hop-poles and tallow to Mercer himself, rendering Knight personally liable for the difference.

No further action took place in the cause after July 1711, and the bill was dismissed with costs on 19 February 1714.

At the same time, Mercer was involved in another suit against John Taylor himself, only one order in which survives with these papers.

Hove Library Accession 1835 Flint