local. Forms: α. 4 tol(l)seld, 5 tollsell, (o tollsill, towllsill, 7 toll(e)shell, towlsell, towsell, towelshill, towellshell, 7–8 tholsel(l), (7 tolser, towlsher); β. 5– tolsey, 8– tolzey. [ME. tolseld, tollsell, f. OE. TOLL sb.1 + OE. seld seat, or sæl, sęle hall: cf. OE. tollset ‘tolbooth, custom-house.’]
The ancient name in some English and Irish towns for the guildhall, tolbooth, or borough court-house; also for the local court of justice (more fully tolsel or tolzey court) there held.
The original form, long retained in Ireland, has been reduced in some English towns to tolsey (sometimes only the traditional name of the building), or tolzey, as in the existing Tolzey Court of Bristol: see quots. 1883–4, 1906.
α. [1344. in Litt. Red Bk. Bristol (1900), I. 41. Constabularii, ballivi et alii ministri tenentes placita in Tols[eto].]
1373. Charter Edw. III., 8 Aug. (Seyer, Charters Bristol, 1812, 50). Placita, quæ in curia nostra in dicta villa Bristolll vocata Tollseld coram senescallo et aliis ministris nostris … teneri consuevere.
1486. Galway Arch., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 385. His matter or suite be pledid and tried in the Tollsell or Courte-housse befor the Mayor. Ibid. (1584), 435. To appeare in the Towllsill or court howse. Ibid. (1621), 469. The Towsell or Courthowse of Galwey. Ibid. (1632), 48. The Mayor … and Comonaltie of Galwey … assembled in their Towelshill. Ibid. (1680), 505. The concerne of the Corporation formerly acted by Tholsell was vested in the Council by charter. Ibid. (1701), 515. Nor doe they enjoy any houses … except the Tholsell and gaole thereunder.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3721/3. Dublin.… The Lord Mayor, with the Aldermen,… and Commons of the City, assembled at the Tholsell at Four a Clock.
1769. Wesley, Jrnl., 15 June. I … preached in the Tholsel [Kilkenny].
β. 1479. in Eng. Gilds, 421. The Maire and the Shiref of Bristowe … to assemble with all the hole counseill, at the Tolsey.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Tolsey or Toldsey is a place in the City of Bristow, answerable to the old Exchange in London, where the Merchants meet.
1697. Lond. Gaz., No. 3336/3. Hereford, October 26…. Being returned to the Tolsey, the Mayor gave the Gentry an Entertainment. Ibid. (1701), No. 3709/4. The Fair will be kept [at Westbury] … on the first Friday in Lent, as formerly; and a Tolsey duly kept. Ibid. (1706), No. 4289/3. The Tolzey or Benefit of the Fair of Wellow aforesaid.
1883. Wharton’s Law Lex., Tolsey,… a local tribunal, usually spelt ‘Tolzey,’ for small civil causes held at the Guildhall, Bristol.
1884. Arrowsmith’s Dict. Bristol, 278/1. In this Court of the Tolzey all actions of debt, assumpsit, covenant, trespass, trover, and other civil actions arising within the City [of Bristol] could be prosecuted by action, or by foreign attachment…. The trial of the Court is by Jury.
1898. J. A. Gibbs, Cotswold Village, 190. The ancient building in the centre of the town [Burford] is called the ‘Tolsey.’
1906. Daily Chron., 22 Aug., 4/6. Some quaint local courts which have survived innumerable Judicature Acts, such as the Tolzey Court of Bristol and the Court of Passage at Liverpool: courts which for expedition can put all others to the blush.
