jan 1, 1663 - keeper

Description:

An officer with responsibility for a forest or woods, a term in use long before gamekeeper. 1258 <i> Geoffrey le Kepur </i>, Pontefract (YRS12/50). An Act of 1488-9 referred to <i> Foresters and other kepers within the Kynges Forest </i> (OED). In 1599-1600 George Dodsworth was<i> bayliffe of the mannour & deputy keper of the woodes under George Blenkoe </i>, Settrington: he was doubtless of the same family as James Dodsworth who 21 years earlier <i> was keper of the woods by reason Symond Dodesworth his father had a lease of the under woods </i>(YRS126/30,87). In <i> c </i>.1565 it was alleged in a court case that <i> Sir Richard Cholmeley Kepers selles the Quenes Majesties woodes at theyre pleasure </i> Pickering (NRR1/207). A survey of Roundhay Park in 1503 referred to <i> William Nettylton which was keper there </i> (Th2/233) and in 1663 a payment was made <i> to the Keeper of the parke </i>, Ripon Minster (YRS118/102). The office was referred to as a keepership, as in 1539 when Edward Man of Bramley Grange was granted the <i> keipershipe </i> of the woods by Fountains Abbey (YRS140/259). In 1609 Robert Smith of Grassington was paid 10s <i> in parte for his kepershipp there </i> (Whit2/319). See fence time, paliser, palisership.

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