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io 


of 


of 


The  Estate  of 
the  late  John  Brundle 


'  f 


HISTORY 


OF 


THE   COUNTY  OF   SUFFOLK, 


TOPOGRAPHICAL  AND  GENEALOGICAL 


THE  COUNTY  OF  SUFFOLK, 


Cmnptlrtl  from  &utljcnttc 


BY    AUGUSTINE     PAGE. 


IPSWICH : 

FREDERIC    PAWSEY,    OLD    BUTTER    MARKET,    AND    ALL    OTHER 

BOOKSELLERS    IN   THE    COUNTY. 

1847. 


9448  4 


SUPPLEMENT 


TO    THE 


SUFFOLK   TRAVELLER. 


SUPPLEMENT 


TO  THE 


SUFFOLK    TRAVELLER; 


OR 


COLLECTIONS, 


CONCERNING  THAT  COUNTY. 


COMPILED  BY  AUGUSTINE  PAGE. 


IPSWICH  : 

PRINTED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  JOSHUA  PAGE, 

FORE  STREET,  ST.  CLEMENT'S. 

LONDON : 

J.  B.  NICHOLS  AND   SON, 

25,  PARLIAMENT  STREET. 
1844, 


ELECTRONIC  VERSION 
AVAILABLE 


SUBSCRIBERS. 


The  RIGHT  HON.  LORD  CALTHORPE,  Ampton  Park. 
The  RIGHT  HON.  EARL  JERMYN,  M.P.,  Ickworth  Park. 
The  RIGHT  HON.  and  REV.  LORD  ARTHUR  HERVEY,  Ickworth. 
The  HON.  FREDERICK  G.  CALTHORPE,  Elvetham,  Hampshire. 
SIR  HENRY  EDWARD  BUNBURY,  BART.,  Great  Barton  Hall. 
The  REV.  SIR  THOMAS  G-ERY  CULLUM,  BART.,  Hardwick  House. 
SIR  WM.  BROWNE  FOLKES,  BART.,  Hillington  Hall,  Norfolk. 
SIR  ROBERT  HARLAND,  BART.,  Orwell  Park. 
SIR  THOMAS  HAMMOND,  K.G.C.,  Plumton,  Whepsted. 
SIR  THOMAS  PHILLIPS,  BART.,  Middle  Hill,  Worcester. 
SACKVILLE  LANE  Fox,  ESQ.,  M.P.,/or  Ipswich. 
JOHN  NEILSON  GLADSTONE,  ESQ.,  M.P.,/or  Ipswich. 
COLONEL  ROBERT  RUSHBROOKE,  ESQ.,  M.P.,  Rushbrooke  Park. 
HENRY  SPENCER  WADDINGTON,  ESQ.,  M.P.,  Cavenham  Hall. 


Adams,  Mr.  W.,  Ipswich. 

Aldrich,  Rev.  W.,  B.D.,  Ipswich. 

Almack,  Richard,  Esq.,  F.A.S., 
Melford. 

Alston,  Rev.  Edward  Constable, 
Cranford  Hall,  Norfolk. 

Anders,  H.  S.,  B.A.,  Caius  Col- 
lege, Cambridge. 

Andrews,  Mr.  J.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 

Anstruther,  J.  H.  Lloyd,  Esq., 
Hintlesham  Hall. 

Bacon,  Edward,  Esq.,  Ipswich. 

Baldiston,  Mr.  Samuel,  Ipswich. 

Barnwell,  Rev.  Fred.  H.  Turner, 
F.A.S.,  Bury  St.  Edmund's. 

Bidwell,  Rev.  George,  Stanton. 

Bosanquet,  Rev.  Edwin,  Denham 

Brewster,  Cardinal,  Esq.,  Stan- 
way  Hall,  Essex. 

Bristo,  Henry  G.,  Esq.,  Ipswich. 

Burrell,  Robert,  Esq.,  Stoke  Park 


Campbell,  Wm.  Frederick,  Esq., 
Birkfield  Lodge,  Ipswich. 

Carthew,  Geo.,  Esq.,  Harleston. 

Carthew,  George  A.,  Esq.,  East 
Dereham. 

Cartwright,  R.  Norton,  Esq.,  Ix- 
worth  Abbey. 

Casborne,  Rev.  W.  I.  S.,  Paken- 
ham  New  House. 

Case,  P.  J.,  Esq.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 

Case,  Rev.Isham,  Metheringham, 
Lincolnshire. 

Cobbold,  Walter  T.,  Esq.,  Fox- 
hall  House. 

Cole,  Mr.  William,  Ipswich. 

Colville,  Rev.  A.  A.,  Livermere. 

Cooke,  Rev.  John  C.,  Ipswich. 

Cooke,  Mr.  J.,  Great  Livermere. 

Creed,  Rev.  Henry,  Mellis. 

Croft,  Mr.  John,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 

Davers,  Rev.  Robert,  Bradfield. 


SUBSCRIBERS. 


Davy,  David  Elisha,  Esq.,  Ufford 
Deck,  John,  Esq.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Dunthorne,  Mr.  E.,  Dennington. 

Edgar,  Kev.  Mileson  G.,  Eed 
House,  Ipswich. 

Evans,  Kev.  Edw.  C.,  Ingham. 

Ewen,  J.  L.,  Esq.,  Vale  Wood, 
Sussex. 

Eitch,  Mr.  William  S.,  Ipswich. 

Fitch,  Mr.  K.,  F.G.S.,  Norwich. 

Eord,  Kev.  James,  B.D.,  Nave- 
stock,  Essex. 

Frewer,  Mr.  Wm.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 

Gedge,  J.,  Esq.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Gilman,  Mrs.  S.  H.  L.  N.,  Hing- 

ham,  Norfolk. 
Golding,  Samuel,  Esq.,  Walsham 

le  Willows. 
Gooch,  Lieut.  Geo.,  Woodbridge 

Road,  Ipswich. 

Gray,  Mr.  W.,  Needham  Market. 
Green,  Mr.  R.,  Framlingham. 

Harrison,  Mr.  Samuel,  Timworth 
Harvey,  Mr.  Jas.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Hasted,  Rev.  H.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Hine,  Kev.  H.T.  C.,Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Hollingsworth,  Rev.  A.  G.,  Stow- 
in  arket. 

Hubbard,  Kev.  Thomas,  Westow. 
Hustler,  Rev.  J.  D.,  Euston. 

Ingram,  Rev.  Geo.,  Chedburgh. 
Ion,  J.  W.,  Esq.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 

Jackson,  J.,  Esq.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Jackson,  Postle,  Esq.,  Ipswich. 
Jackson  &  Frost,  Messrs.,  Bury 
St.  Edmund's. 

Lankester,  Mr.  F.,Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Last,  Mr.  W.  N.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Leggett,  Mr.  William,  Ipswich. 
Lillingston,  C.,  Esq.,  Chauntry, 
Ipswich. 


Lillingston,  A.,  Esq.,  Southwold, 
Lloyd,  Rev.  John,  Hindolveston, 

Norfolk. 
Loder,  Mr.  J.,  Woodbridge. 

Massy,  William,  Esq.,  Watton, 

Norfolk. 
Meadows,   D.    C.,   Esq.,  Little 

Bealings. 
Mills,  Rev.  Thomas,  Stutton. 

Nichols,  J.  Gough,  Esq.,  F.A.S., 
25,  Parliament  street,  London. 

Oliver,  Mr.  G.  I.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Pawsey,  Mr.  F.,  Ipswich. 

Raw,  John,  Esq.,  Washbrook. 
Rickards,  Rev.  S.,  Stowlangtoft. 
Rodwell,  J.  M.,  Esq.,  Little  Li- 

vermere. 

Rodwell,  William,  Esq.,  Ipswich. 
Roe,  Mr.  Owen,  Ipswich. 
Roe,  Mr.  Robert,  Cambridge. 

Scott,  Mr.,  Ipswich. 
Shreeve,  Mr.  Thomas,  Ipswich. 
Stedman,  Mr.  Charles,  Ampton. 
Steward,    Charles,   Esq.,  Blun- 

deston. 
Stuart,  Rev.  James  H.,  Ampton. 

Tollemache,   John,  Esq.,   Hel- 

mingham  Hall. 
Turnor,  Dawson,  Esq.,  F.R.S., 

Yarmouth, 

Tymms,  Mr.  S.,  Bury  St.  Ed's. 
Tyrell,  C.,  Esq.,  Polstead  Hall. 

Warren,  Mr.  Joseph,  Ixworth. 
Wells,  Rev.  E.  C.,  Ixworth. 
Wilson,  H.,  Esq.,  Stowlangtoft 

Hall. 

Woodward,  Rev.  W.,  Sproughton 
Woolby,  Mr.,  Stowmarket. 
Worlledge,  John,  Esq.,  Ingham. 


ERRATA. 

Page  4,  line  32,  and  page  29,  line  38,  for  "  Welnetham,"  read  "  Whelnethatn." 

Page  14,  line  26,  for  "  the  present  Peer,"  read  "  who  died  in  1839,  when  Thomas, 
his  eldest  son,  succeeded." 

Page  16,  line  37,  for  "  Duddon,"  read  "  Derwent." 

Page  20,  line  19,  ARMS,  add  "  RHYMES." 

Page  23,  line  34,  for  "  Chandler,"  read  "  Candler." 

Page  26,  line  30,  for  "  Harvey,"  read  "  Hervey." 

Page  28,  line  23,  for  "  Charles  Spooner  Lillingstone,"  read  "  Charles  Lillingston, 
Esq.,  of  Elmdon,  Warwickshire." 

Page  50,  line  26,  for  "  Richard  Norton  Cartwright,"  read  "  the  Rev.  John  Cart- 
wright,  of  St.  Edmund's,  Bury." 

Page  55,  5th  paragraph,  "  Mr.  J.  Bull"  was  buried  in  Hacheston  church,  in  Loes 
hundred. 

Page  71,  line  3  from  bottom,  after  "  Ipswich,"  DELE  the  residue,  and  add  "  and 
is  now  the  property  of  Charles  Lillingston,  Esq.,  of  the  Chauntry,  Sproughton, 
late  of  Elmdon,  Warwickshire ;  who  married  Harriette,  only  daughter  of  the 
said  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Fonnereau." 

Page  71. — NOTE. — Major  Michael  Turner  is  joint  lord,  with  Mr.  Wrattislaw,  of  the 
manor  of  Tuddenham  St.  Martin. 

Page  222,  line  1,  "  Philip  Bacon,"  read  "  of  Woolverstone." 

Page  448.— NOTE,  line  3,  for  "  Suut,"  read  "  Sunt." 

Page  448,  lines  6,  5,  and  3  from  bottom,  for  "  Autissiners,"  read  "  Antissiners." 

Page  449,  line  12,  for  "  Autiphener,"  read  "  Antiphoner." 

Page  506,  line  27,  for  "  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Mott,"  read  "  J.  T.  Mott,  Esq.  Sir  Edw. 
Kerrison  is  now  lord,  and  R.  K.  Cobbold,  Esq.,  patron." 

Page  531,  line  34,  the  Rev.  G.  J.  Haggitt  is  lessee  of  the  Bishop  of  Norwich. 

Page  797,  line  15,  for  "  1722,"  read  "  1721." 

INDEX  TO  ARMS. — "  Bainard,"  for  page  "  66,"  read  "  266." 
"  Borrett,"  for  page  "  25,"  read  "  425." 
"  Dove,"  for  page  "  98,"  read  "  598." 
"  Metcalfe,"  for  page  "  55,"  read  "  655." 


INTRODUCTION. 


SUFFOLK  is  one  of  those  English  Counties  of  which  no  general 
History,  on  a  satisfactory  scale,  has  yet  made  its  appearance  ;  and 
the  printed  information  which  we  possess,  respecting  it,  must,  upon 
the  whole,  be  considered  as  rather  scanty  ;  which  certainly  does  not 
happen  from  any  want  of  materials,  as  many  able  and  industrious 
Antiquaries  have,  for  several  ages,  employed  themselves  in  making 
collections  ;  but  this  rather,  perhaps,  with  a  design  in  their  researches 
to  gratify  their  own  particular  taste,  than  to  inform  or  amuse  the 
public. 

That  accomplished  scholar,  and  profound  antiquary,  Sir  SIMONDS 
D'EwES,  Bart.,  of  Stowlangtoft,  in  this  county,  appears  to  have  been 
the  first  who  did  so  with  a  view  to  publication,  whose  papers  remain 
among  the  Harleian  manuscript,  in  the  British  Museum ;  among 
which  are  the  following  relative  to  this  county : — "  Collections  for 
the  county  of  Suffolk ;"  the  original  Kegister  of  Bury  Abbey,  en- 
titled— "  Groftis,  for  the  Pietancer's  use ;"  and  another  Eegister  of 
the  same  house,  entitled — "  Werketonc."  Some  extracts  from  his 
manuscript  journal  were  published  by  John  Nichols,  Esq.,  about 
1783,  as  the  xvth  number  of  the  "  Bibliotheca  Topographica  Bri- 
tannica." 

EGBERT  KYECE,  Esq.,  the  friend  and  contemporary  of  Sir  Simonds, 
may  be  also  noticed ;  he  was  a  native  of  Preston,  in  this  county  :  of 
whom  a  manuscript  in  the  Herald's  College,  relating  to  the  county 
of  Suffolk,  gives  the  following  account : — "  In  Preston,  in  the  time 
of  K.  James  and  K.  Charles,  there  lived  Robert  Eiece,  Esq.,  an  ac- 
complished gentleman,  and  a  great  preserver  of  the  antiquities  of  this 
county.  He  was  sonne  of  Eobert  Eiece,  Esq.,  who  lived  at  Preston, 
in  the  daies  of  K.  Edward  6,  Q.  Mary,  and  Q.  Elizabeth ;  and  was 


IV  INTRODUCTION'. 

a  Justice  of  Peace  for  the  county  of  Suffolk.  Robert  Eiece,  Esq. 
(the  subject  of  this  article)  had  his  education  some  years  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Theodore  Beza,  at  Geneva.  He  set  up  in  Preston  the 
Boyall  Armes  of  England,  in  a  fair  table,  and  in  glasse,  the  names 
of  the  most  ancient  Knights  and  Esquires  of  this  county,  of  which 
the  most  remain  this  25th  of  March,  1655." 

The  manuscript  from  which  the  above  was  extracted,  is  a  folio 
volume,  of  about  three  hundred  -pages ;  and  consists  of  church  notes, 
family  pedigrees,  &c.  Lord  Thurlow  presented  it,  in  1803,  to  the 
Herald's  College.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  principally  written 
by  Mr.  Eiece,  but  has  some  entries  made  since  his  decease,  probably 
by  his  nephew,  Eobert  Appleton,  who  has  inscribed  on  a  page  of 
the  same — "  He  (Mr.  Eiece)  was  bountiful  to  the  Poor,  good  to  his 
Friends,  a  Christian  to  his  Enemies,  gentle  to  all,  and  to  me  a  good 
Uncle.  So  I  testify  :  Eobert  Appleton." 

A  collection  of  Suffolk  Antiquities,  very  similar  to  this,  and  in 
many  parts  the  same,  was  in  the  possession  of  the  late  Mr.  James 
Conder,  of  Ipswich,  the  respectable  author  of  a  "  Treatise  on  Pro- 
vincial Coins." 

Another  folio  volume  of  this  gentleman's  collecting,  was  in  the 
library  of  the  late  George  Nassau,  Esq. ;  and  there  is  a  manuscript 
in  the  British  Museum,  entitled  "  A  Breviary  of  Suffolk,"  said  to 
have  been  compiled  by  him  :  it  is  dedicated  to  Sir  Eobert  Crane,  of 
Chilton  Hall,  in  Suffolk ;  signed  "  Eeyece,"  and  dated  9th  Feb.  1618. 
A  letter  that  relates  to  Suffolk  Genealogy,  and  addressed  to  Sir  Si- 
rnond's  D'Ewes,  dated  in  1636,  and  signed  "  Eobert  Eyece,"  is  also 
deposited  in  the  same  place.  The  other  volume  was  formerly  in  the 
possession  of  Arthur  Collins,  Esq.,  author  of  "  The  Peerage  of  Eng- 
land," and  afterwards  of  Nicholas  Eevett,  Esq.,  of  Brandeston  Hall, 
in  this  county :  it  was  illustrated  with  the  arms  of  the  families  of  the 
county,  beautifully  emblazoned. 

Sin  EICHARD  GIPPS,  of  Great  Welnetham,  in  this  county,  Knt., 
and  of  Gray's  Inn,  Master  of  the  Eevels  to  King  Charles  II.,  was  the 
writer  of  "  Antiquitates  Suffolcienses,  or  an  Essay  towards  recovering 
some  account  of  the  Ancient  Families  in  the  County  of  Suffolk ;"  a 
small  work,  which  remains  in  manuscript,  and  of  which  there  are 
several  copies.  Sir  Eichard  died  in  1708. 


INTRODUCTION.  V 

The  collections  of  PETER  LE  NEVE,  Esq.,  and  "  honest  TOM 
MARTIN,"  contain  much  topographical  information  concerning  this 
county ;  to  whom  succeeded  GEORGE  NASSAU,  Esq.,  of  Trimley  St. 
Martin ;  whose  attention  was  early  directed  to  the  elucidation  of. 
the  Antiquities  of  Suffolk,  and  his  collections  in  this,  his  favourite 
department,  were  most  ample,  and  profusely  enriched  with  accurate 
drawings  of  churches,  monuments,  seats,  buildings,  &c. ;  indeed  a 
more  choice  or  valuable  treasure  of  Suffolk  Topography,  and  of 
works  in  illustration  of  it,  has  been  seldom  or  ever  collected. 

Mr.  Nassau  died  August  18,  1823  ;  and  in  the  Gentleman's  Ma- 
gazine for  that  month,  an  excellent  Memoir  of  him  was  inserted, 
from  the  pen  of  the  Kev.  JAMES  FORD,  B.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity 
College,  Oxford,  and  at  that  time  Minister  of  St.  Lawrence,  in 
Ipswich,  now  Vicar  of  Navestock,  in  Essex;  a  gentleman  to  whom 
the  public  are  indebted  for  much  valuable  genealogical  information, 
respecting  many  Suffolk  families,  &c. 

In  the  year  1829,  the  library  of  Craven  Ord,  Esq.,  was  dispersed, 
by  Mr.  Evans,  and  at  the  same  time  were  sold  some  very  valuable 
historical  manuscripts ;  one  of  the  most  important  was  "  Suffolk 
Collections,"  in  twenty  folio  volumes,  and  three  volumes  of  indexes, 
purchased  by  Mr.  Thorpe,  bookseller,  for  200  guineas.  "  Eegistrum 
de  Bury,  temp.  Edw.  III.,"  brought  £126. 

There  were  also  sold  various  Charters,  Chartularies,  Registries,  &c. 
relating  to  this  county.  This  auction  consisted  of  655  lots,  including 
about  50  lots  of  autographs,  and  120  volumes  of  ancient  English 
manuscript ;  and  certainly  no  sale  within  memory,  has  distributed 
so  extraordinary  an  assemblage  of  ancient  and  important  MSS.  re- 
lative to  English  history,  many  of  which  had  previously  belonged  to 
Mr.  Thomas  Martin,  the  Thetford  historian,  and  had  been  acquired 
by  Mr.  Ord,  at  a  very  trifling  expense.  A  lot  of  Escheat  Rolls,  of 
Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  of  the  9th  of  Henry  VII.,  brought  £16  :  this 
manuscript,  and  three  others,  was  purchased  at  Martin's  sale  for  12s. 
It  was  understood  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  MSS.  sold  at 
Mr.  Ord's,  were  afterwards  added  to  the  large  collection  of  Sir 
Thomas  Phillips,  Bart.,  F.S.A. 

The  largest  collection  of  materials  for  a  County  History,  is  now 
deposited  in  the  British  Museum  ;  it  was  formed  by  the  late  HENRY 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

JERMYN,  of  Sibton,  Esq.,  after  whose  death  it  was  purchased  by 
Hudson  Gurney,  of  Keswick  Hall,  Esq.,  and  presented  by  him :  it 
is  in  upwards  of  fifty  folio  volumes. 

These  are  some  of  the  materials  towards  a  General  History  of  this 
county,  scattered,  it  is  true,  in  various  directions ;  but  if  collected 
and  arranged,  together  with  the  various  collections  made  by  other 
individuals,  that  still  remain  in  their  own  possession,  would  be  found 
amply  sufficient.  The  various  publications  of  a  local  nature,  that 
have  appeared  at  different  times,  will  also  certainly  contribute  greatly 
to  the  assistance  of  the  future  historian  of  the  county. 

The  earliest  distinct  work  that  has  appeared  on  the  topography  of 
this  county  in  general,  is  a  small  12mo.  volume,  published  in  1735, 
under  the  title  of  "  The  Suffolk  Traveller ;  or  a  Journey  through 
Suffolk  :  in  which  is  inserted  the  true  distance  of  the  roads  from 
Ipswich  to  every  Market  Town  in  Suffolk,  and  the  same  from  Bury 
St.  Edmund's.  Likewise  the  distance  in  the  roads  from  one  village 
to  another,  with  notes  of  direction  for  Travellers,  as  to  what  churches 
and  gentlemen's  seats  are  passed  by,  and  on  which  side  of  the  road, 
and  the  distance  they  are  at  from  either  of  the  said  towns :  with  a 
short  historical  account  of  the  antiquities  of  every  market  town ; 
monasteries,  castles,  &c.,  that  were  in  former  times.  Ipswich,  1 735." 

This  volume  is  now  become  rare,  and  was  the  result  of  the  labours 
of  Mr.  JOHN  KIRBY,  from  an  actual  survey  of  the  whole  county, 
taken  by  him  in  the  years  1732,  1733,  and  1734  ;  with  which  a 
small  map  of  the  county  was  published.  Mr.  Kirby  was  originally 
a  school-master,  at  Orford,  in  this  county,  but  at  the  time  of  making 
this  survey  occupied  a  mill,  at  Wickham  Market.  He  died  at  Ips- 
wich, December  13,  1753  ;  aged  63  years. 

A  new  edition  of  his  work  was  published  by  subscription,  with 
many  alterations,  and  large  additions,  by  several  hands,  in  1764. 
London :  8vo.  This  volume,  besides  a  folio  map  of  the  county, 
contains  engravings  of  the  principal  roads  in  Suffolk,  on  four  4to 
plates;  and  becoming  scarce  about  thirty  years  since,  frequently 
sold  at  from  20s.  to  30s.  a  copy.  A  re-print  was  shortly  after  issued 
from  Woodbridge,  containing  some  trifling  additions,  which  met 
with  a  ready  sale ;  and  another  edition,  with  additions,  has  since 
been  published  by  Mr.  Munro,  of  the  same  place. 


INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

"  A  Topographical  and  Historical  Description  of  the  County  of 
Suffolk ;  containing  an  account  of  its  Towns,  Castles,  Antiquities, 
Churches,  Monuments,  Public  Edifices,  Picturesque  Scenery,  the 
Kesidences  of  the  Nobility,  Gentry,  &c.,  accompanied  with  Biogra- 
phical Notices  of  Eminent  and  Learned  Men,  to  whom  this  county 
has  given  hirth."  By  Mr.  SHOBERL.  Illustrated  with  thirteen 
engravings  and  a  map. 

"  Excursions  through  Suffolk"  differs  but  little  from  the  above, 
except  in  the  arrangement  and  illustrations,  of  which  it  contains 
one  hundred,  neat  engravings.  These,  if  we  include  an  elegant 
volume  in  4to.,  recently  published,  of  "  The  History  and  Antiquities 
of  Suffolk,  containing  Thingoe  Hundred ;"  by  JOHN  GAGE  ROKE- 
WODE,  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  and  Dir.  S.A.,  makes  the  whole  that  has  ap- 
peared towards  a  General  History  of  this  county. 

The  following  sheets  have  no  pretension  whatever  to  be  termed  a 
History  of  Suffolk,  although  more  ample  than  its  predecessors ;  the 
Compiler  has  neither  leisure  or  ability  for  such  an  undertaking :  but 
merely  a  collection  of  topographical  and  genealogical  facts,  relative 
to  that  county;  for  which  the  only  credit  the  Editor  can  possibly 
hope  to  obtain,  must  arise  from  the  accuracy  with  which  his  ma- 
terials are  collected  and  disposed :  and  he  is  quite  sure  that,  pursuing 
the  same  plan,  with  a  more  extended  investigation,  much  more  might 
be  effected. 

It  remains  to  state  what  has  been  attempted,  and  to  point  out  the 
sources  from  whence  his  principal  information  is  derived.  To  assist 
the  etymologist,  the  names  of  the  different  parishes  are  prefixed,  as 
they  are  written  in  Doomsday  Book,  or  ancient  documents. 

The  manorial  descents,  and  genealogical  information,  have  been 
compiled  from  the  historians  of  neighbouring  counties,  particularly 
Messrs.  Morant  and  Blomefield.  The  old  Peerages  and  Baronetages 
of  Messrs.  Collins,  Wotton,  Kimber,  and  Johnson,  have  been  con- 
sulted, regarding  those  families  since  extinct ;  and  these  authorities 
being  now  scarce,  a  more  ample  detail  of  such  has  been  given :  whilst 
the  accounts  of  existing  families  of  distinction,  may  easily  be  ascer- 
tained, by  a  reference  to  our  modern  publications  on  that  subject, 
such  as  Debrett,  Burke,  and  others. 

For  the  heraldic  information,  he  is  indebted  to  the  same  autho- 


viii  INTRODUCTION. 

rities,  and  other  writers  on  heraldry :  the  monastic,  to  "  Taylor's 
Index  Monasticus,"  for  this  county. 

The  biographical  sketches  are  gathered  from  various  sources, 
amongst  which  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  and  the  "  Suffolk 
Garland,"  ought  to  he  particularly  acknowledged.  The  account  of 
the  different  charities,  and  charitable  institutions,  is  abridged  from 
the  Parliamentary  Commissioners'  Keport. 

It  has  been  thought  in  several  respects  the  more  eligible  mode  to 
publish  in  separate  parts,  and  the  Compiler  proposes  to  adopt  that 
method ;  following  the  order  of  Mr.  Kirby's  arrangement.  The 
continuance  must,  however,  depend  upon  the  reception  given  to  it 
by  the  public  ;  for  although  gain  has  no  part  in  this  production  (for 
if  others  find  that  pleasure  in  reading  which  he  has  done  in  writing, 
he  is  repaid),  nevertheless  he  cannot  profess  himself  so  disinterested 
as  willingly  to  make  any  pecuniary  sacrifice  in  the  undertaking,  did 
his  circumstances  permit,  which  is  not  the  case. 

Mr.  Hutton,  the  historian  of  Birmingham,  in  his  preface  to  that 
work,  observes — "  Although  works  of  genius  ought  to  come  out  of 
the  mint  doubly  refined,  yet  History  admits  of  a  much  greater  lati- 
tude to  the  author:  the  best  upon  the  subject,  though  defective, 
may  meet  with  regard." 


In  Domesday  Book — "  SANFORT." 


This  Hundred  is  separated  by  the  Stour  from  Essex,  on  the 
South  ;  on  the  West,  it  abuts  upon  the  Hundreds  of  Babergh  and 
Cosford;  on  the  East,  it  is  bounded  by  the  Liberty  of  Ipswich,  and 
the  River  Orwell ;  and  on  the  North,  by  Bosmere  and  Clay  don. 

In  the  Fifth  of  King  Edward  IV.,  the  fee  of  this  Hundred  was 
in  Sir  Robert  Willoughby,  Knt.,  who  died  seized  thereof;  when 
it  descended  to  Sir  Robert,  his  son  and  heir,  whose  descendants 
inherited  the  same,  until  their  failure  in  male  issue,  when  Cathe- 
rine, the  heir  general  of  that  house,  brought  it  to  the  Suffolk 
Family,  in  the  20th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  by  her  marriage  with 
Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk.  She  re-married  Richard 
Bertie,  and  by  him  had  a  son,  named  Peregrine,  who,  in  his  mo- 
ther s  right,  was  summoned  to  Parliament  as  Lord  Willoughby, 
of  Eresby ;  and  was  father  of  Robert,  the  first  Earl  of  Lindsey, 
ancestor  to  the  Duke  of  Ancaster. 

The  present  representative  of  this  illustrious  family  is  the 
Right  Hon.  Lord  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  Lord  Great  Chamber- 
lain of  England,  &c.  do. :  Ms  mother,  wife  of  the  late  Lord 
Gwydir,  and  daughter  of  Peregrine,  2>rd  Duke  of  Ancaster,  having 
succeeded  to  the  ancient  Barony  of  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  on  the 
demise  of  her  brother,  kth  Duke,  without  issue,  in  the  year  1779. 
— Lord  Willoughby  is  elder  brother  to  the  Hon.  Lindsey  Burrell, 
of  Stoke  Park,  near  Ipswich. 

The  fee  of  this  Hundred  is  now  in  the  Crown,  and  the  govern- 
ment in  the  Sheriff  of  the  County,  and  his  appointed  officers. 

It  contains  the  following  Parishes : — 


ARWERTON, 

BELSTEAD, 

BENTLEY, 

BRANTHAM, 

BURSTALL, 

CLOPTON, 

CATTIWADE, 

CHATTISHAM, 

CHELMONDISTON, 

COPDOCK, 

EAST  BERGHOLT, 

FRESTON, 

HARKSTEAD, 

HIGHAM, 


And  WOOLVERSTONE. 


HlNTLESHAM, 

HOLBROOK, 

HOLTON, 

RAYDON, 

SHELLEY, 

SHOTLEY, 

SPROUGHTON, 

STRATFORD, 

STUTTON, 

TATTINGSTONE, 

WASHBROOK, 

WENHAM  MAGNA, 

WENHAM  PARVA, 

WHERSTEAD, 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 


.^^ 

ARWERTON. 
ALWARTUNA,  ERWARTON,  EREVELTON,  or  EVERWARTON. 

This  parish,  at  a  very  early  period,  became  the  inheritance  of  the 
De  Anwelhyer's  (or  D'Avilers)  family.  Bartholomew  D'Avilers,  in 
or  about  1227,  left  it  to  his  son,  Richard  ;  whose  possessions,  which 
laid  here,  and  in  Brome,  in  this  county,  and  Shelf  hanger,  in  Nor- 
folk, were  then  worth  £40  per  annum. 

They  were  held  by  the  serjeantry  of  leading  the  foot  soldiers  of 
the  two  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  into  Wales,  as  often  as  the 
King  should  happen  to  resort  into  those  parts  with  his  army ;  for 
which  he  was  to  have  four-pence  of  each,  for  conduct  money,  and 
the  rest  of  their  maintenance  was  to  be  at  the  King's  cost. 

It  continued  in  the  said  house,  after  the  above  period,  for  four 
generations  :  Bartholomew^JD'Avilers  being  the  last  owner,  of  that 
family  ;  on  whose  death,  in  1330,  it  passed  to  that  of  Bacon,  by  the 
marriage  of  Sir  Robert  Bacon,  Knt.,  with  Isabel,  one  of  his  daugh- 
ters, and  co-heiresses,  who  held  Arwerton,  as  her  share  of  the 
property ;  and  ultimately  the  entire  inheritance  of  her  father  de- 
volved upon  this  lady,  her  sisters,  it  is  presumed,  having  died 
without  issue. 

Sir  Robert  Bacon,  and  Isabel,  his  wife,  had  issue  an  only  son, 
Bartholomew,  and  a  daughter,  Isabel ;  who  married  Sir  Oliver 
Calthorpe,  of  Burnham  Thorp,  in  Norfolk,  Knt. 

Sir  Bartholomew  Bacon,  her  brother,  died  in  the  15th  of  King 
Richard  II.,  1392;  and  Isabel,  his  sister,  being  his  sole  heir,  Sir 
Oliver,  her  husband,  inherited  in  her  right,  this,  and  divers  other 
lordships. 

Sir  Oliver  Calthorpe  died  in  the  latter  part  of  the  above  reign,  and 
Isabel,  his  wife,  survived  until  the  12th  of  the  following  reign,  1411. 

Their  descendants  continued  to  inherit  this  property,  until  the 
death  of  Sir  Philip  Calthorpe,  in  1549;  who,  by  Jane  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Boleyn,  of  Blickling,  in  Norfolk,  left  issue 
Elizabeth,  only  daughter,  and  heiress. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

This  lady  became  the  second  wife  of  Sir  Henry  Parker*,  K.B., 
second  son  and  heir  of  Henry  Parker,  first  Lord  Morley,  of  that 
house,  and  lady  Alice,  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John  St.  John,  of 
Bletso,  in  Bedfordshire,  Knt, 

By  this  marriage,  this  lordship,  with  considerable  property  in  the 
county  of  Norfolk,  passed  from  the  Calthorpe  family  to  that  of 
Parker ;  and  Philip,  son  and  heir  of  the  above  Sir  Henry  Parker, 
and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  succeeded  :  he  disposed  of  much  of  the 
Norfolk  property,  and  settled  in  this  parish ;  where  he  built  the 
hall,  the  old  gateway  of  which  still  remains,  as  a  curious  specimen 
of  Elizabethan  architecture. 

Sir  Philip  received  the  honour  of  knighthood  from  Queen  Eliza- 
beth, in  her  progress  through  this  county,  in  1578 ;  and  served  the 
office  of  Sheriff,  in  1580.  His  descendants  continued  to  reside  here 
for  many  generations;  and  Philip  Parker,  Esq.,  his  great  grandson, 
was  created  a  Baronet,  in  1661.  (For  further  particulars  concerning 
whom,  consult  "  Wotton's  English  Baronets,"  edit,  of  1727.) 

This  estate  appears  to  have  devolved  upon  the  heirs  of  Calthorpe 
Parker,  third  son  of  Sir  Philip,  the  first  baronet ;  probably  by  the 
failure  of  male  issue,  in  the  elder  branch  of  that  family.  He  as- 
sumed the  name  of  Long ;  and  it  subsequently  became  the  inheri- 

*  PEDIGREE.— PARKER  OF  ERWARTON. 

Sir  William  Parker,  Knt.= Alice,  daughter  and  heir  of  William,  Lord 

I *       Morley,  juri  uxoris.  Ob.  1518,  set.  60. 

Henry  Parker,  Lord  Morley,  juri  matrix.=Alice,  daughter  of  Sir  John  de  St.  John, 

Ob.  1556,  tet.  80.  j 1     of  Bletsoe.     Ob.  1552,  set.  66. 

Sir  Henry  Parker,  Knt.,  eldest  son  and—Elizabeth,  daugh.  and  heir  of  Sir  Philip 

heir.  Ob.  vita  patris.     \ 1     Calthorpe,  Knt.     2nd  wife. 

Sir  Philip  Parker,  of  Erwarton,  Knt. 1578==  Catherine,  dau.  of  Sir  John  Goodwin. 

I 1 

Sir  Calthorpe  Parker,   Knt.,   M.P.  for=Mercy,  daughter  of  Sir  Peter  Soames. 


Suffolk,  1640. 


Sir  Phil.  Parker,  Bart.,  M.P.  for  Harwich=Dorothy  ,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Robt. 

Gawdy,  of  Claxton,  Norfolk.     Obt. 

I  --  I      Jan.  14,  1638.    Buried  at  Erwarton. 

Sir  Philip  Parker,  Bart.=Rebecca,  daughter  and  heir  of  Walter 

I  --  1     Long,  of  Whaddon,  Wilts. 
Sir  Philip  Parker,  Bart.=Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  Fortrey,  of 
I  ---  1     Ryall  Fenns,  Camb.,  Esq. 

Sir  Philip  Parker,  Bart.      Ob.  Jan.  20,_Martha,  daughter  of  William,  East,  Esq. 
1741,  set.  58.      ,  --  .  --  *  --  ,  --  , 

Martha  Parker.  Elizabeth  Parker. 

Lord  Chedworth.  James  Plunkett. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  5 

tance  of  the  dowager  lady  of  the  Eight  Hon.  John  Thymie  Howe, 
second  Lord  Chedworth,  who  was  one  of  the  daughters  of  Sir  Philip 
Parker  Long,  Bart.  Erwarton  Hall  was  sold,  hy  the  Earl  of  Eg- 
mont,  in  1786,  to  William  Berners,  Esq. 

Sir  Henry  Parker,  the  first  Lord  of  that  house,  died  in  1551,  and 
Lady  Elizaheth,*  his  widow,  remarried  to  Sir  William  Woodhouse, 
of  Hickling,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.  He  died  in  1564,  leaving  several 
children,  the  issue  of  that  marriage  ;  and  she  shortly  after  took  to 
her  third  husband,  Sir  Drue  Drury,  of  Bidlesworth,  in  the  same 
county,  Kilt.,  hut  had  no  issue  by  that  marriage. 

The  statement  that  Sir  Philip  Parker  purchased  this  property  of 
Sir  Drue  Drury,  we  apprehend,  is  not  correct ;  Sir  Drue  held  it  in 
right  of  this  marriage,  and  it  became  afterwards  the  property  of  Sir 
Philip  Parker,  her  son,  by  lawful  inheritance. 

A  branch  of  the  noble,  and  very  ancient  family  of  Cornwallis,  by 
marriage  with  that  of  Parker,  became  connected  with  this  place ; 
several  of  whose  descendants  are  interred  in  this  parish  church. 

Sir  William  Cornwallis,  Kut,  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Sir 
Philip  Parker,  Knt.,  by  Catherine,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Goodwin, 
of  Winchendon,  in  Buckinghamshire,  Knt. 

He  was  eldest  son  of  Sir  Charles  Cornwallis,  Knt.,  Ambassador  to 
King  James  I.,  and  afterwards  Treasurer  of  the  Household  to  his 
Eoyal  Highness  Henry,  Prince  of  Wales,  by  Elizabeth,  his  first 
wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Finch  am,  of  Fincham,  in  Norfolk. 

Sir  William  was  a  learned  and  ingenious  essayist,  on  various 
subjects,  in  which  he  displayed  much  wit  and  judgment. 

Thomas  Cornwallis,  his  grandson,  entered  into  holy  orders,  and 

*  A  Portrait  of  this  lady,  engraved  by  Bartolozzi,  is  given  amongst  the  "  Por- 
traits of  Illustrious  Persons  in  the  Court  of  Henry  VIII."  Published  by  Cham- 
berlaine,  in  1/92  :  and  in  the  "  Genealogical  History  of  the  House  of  Yvory,'' 
2  vols.  8vo.,  1742,  are  engraved  Portraits,  by  Faber,  of 

SIR  PHILIP  PARKER  A  MORLEY,  of  Erwarton,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  Knt., 
son  of  Sir  Henry  Parker,  Knt.,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Henry  Parker,  Lord  Morley, 
and  lineal  ancestor  to  Catherine  Parker,  now  Countess  to  Egmont.  Knighted  by 
Queen  Elizabeth,  1578. 

CATHERINE,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Goodwin,  of  Wincheudon,  in  the  County 
of  Buckingham,  Knt.,  wife  of  Sir  Philip  Parker,  Knt.,  brother  of  Sir  Henry,  and 
half-brother  to  Lord  Morley. 

The  Right  Hon.  CATHERINE,  wife  to  John  Perceval,  Earl  of  Egmont,  eldest 
daughter  to  Sir  Philip,  and  sister  to  Sir  Philip  Parker  Moiley  Long,  of  Erwarton, 
in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  Bart.  ;  the  last  of  that  family.  Born,  1689  ;  married, 
20tli  June,  1710;  now  living,  1744. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

was  instituted  to  the  rectory  of  Erwarton,  in  1686  ;  and  in  1687, 
he  was  appointed  Chaplain  to  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Warwick 
and  Holland  :  on  the  27th  of  June,  in  that  year,  he  was  instituted 
to  the  rectory  of  Bradley  Parva,  in  this  county;  and  on  the  26th  of 
September  following,  he  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Robert 
Cock,  of  Wherstead,  Suffolk.* 

In  the  25th  of  Henry  III.,  Robert  Bacun,  was  petent  in  a  fine, 
and  Joan,  Prioress  of  Campsey,  in  this  county,  tenant,  of  6s.  9d. 
rent  here,  and  in  Thwayt,  in  Norfolk,  granted  before  by  Roger 
Bacun,  brother  of  Robert,  to  that  Priory,  and  now  released. 

ARMS. — D'Avilers  :  argent,  three  escutcheons,  gules.  Bacon : 
argent,  on  a  fess  engrailed  between  three  escutcheons,  gules;  as 
many  mullets,  or.  Parker  :  argent,  a  lion  passant,  gules,  between 
two  bars,  sable ;  thereon,  three  bezants,  two,  and  one ;  in  chief,  as 
many  bucks'  heads  caboshed,  of  the  third. 

CHARITIES. — Two  tenements,  occupied  by  poor  persons,  rent  free. 
— Three  parcels  of  laud,  containing  together,  about  IA.  2R.,  let  at 
rents  amounting  together  to  £7  9s.  a  year.  The  rents  of  the  land 
are  applied,  after  providing  for  repairs  of  the  cottages,  in  the  pur- 
chase of  coals,  which  are  sold  to  the  poor  at  a  reduced  price. 


BELSTEAD  PARVA.— BELESTEDA,  or  BELSTEDA. 

Of  the  Goldingham  family,  who  inherited  property,  Mr.  Kirby 
says,  in  this  parish,  in  the  time  of  King  John,  or  the  following  reign 
at  the  latest,  we  collect  the  following  particulars : — 

In  1206,  William  de  Weston,  released  the  lordship  of  Thorp 
Parva,  in  Norfolk,  to  Allen  Pictaviensis,  afterwards  called  Allen  de 
Goldingham ;  and  in  1256,  Daniel  de  Beccles  held  it  of  the  said 
Allen,  by  the  service  of  one  Knight's  fee.  A  lordship  in  Hethill,  in 
the  same  county,  called  Goldingham's  manor,  was  granted  by  Hugh 
Bigod  to  Allen  de  Goldingham,  with  view  of  frankpledge,  and  assize 
of  bread  and  ale  of  all  the  tenants  ;  and  in  1285,  Alan  de  Golding- 
ham (probably  his  son)  brought  an  action  against  Edmund  de 
Wimundhale,  and  Maud,  his  wife  (Alan's  mother  it  is  supposed), 
for  waste  committed  in  that  part  of  this  manor,  which  the  said 

*For  an  account  of  their  numerous  descendants,  and  more  ample  particulars  of 
this  branch  of  the  Cornwallis  family,  see  Gents.  Mag.  for  1826,  pp.  406,  502. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFOHD.  7 

Maud  held  in  dower,  of  his  inheritance.  In  1315,  John  de  Gold- 
ingham  owned  it ;  and  held  part  of  it  of  the  honour  of  Eye,  and  the 
other  part  of  the  Earl  of  Norfolk.  In  1400,  Kichard  de  Goldingham 
held  it,  who  sold  it  to  the  Appleyards. 

John  Goldingham,*  Esq.,  Lord  of  Belstead  Parva,  died  in  1518, 
and  was  buried  with  Jane,  his  first,  and  Thomasine,  daughter  and 
eo-heir  of  Kobert  Listen,  of  Badingham,  in  this  county,  Esq.,  his 
second  wife,  in  that  parish  church;  and  Weever  mentions  the  fol- 
lowing interments  there : — "  Margaret,  late  wife  of  John  Goldyng- 
ham,  Knt,  died  in  an.  1413."  "John  Goldiugham,  Esquire, 
son  to  John,  dyed  in  an.  1420."  "  Elizabeth,  late  wife  of  John 
Goldingham,  Esquire,  died  in  anno  1429." 

Mr.  Blomefield  gives  the  following  inscription  from  a  brass  plate 
in  Narburgh  church,  in  Norfolk  : — "  Hereunder  lyeth  buried  Eliza- 
beth Goldyngham,  sometime  the  wyfe  of  John  Goldyngham,  Es- 
quire, who  departed  this  present  world  the  4  Day  of  February, 
1556,  whose  Sowle  God  pardon."  And  a  shield  with  the  arms  of 
Goldingham,  impaling  Spelman. 

The  manor  of  Cotton,  in  Cambridgeshire,  belonged  for  more  than 
two  centuries,  to  the  baronial  family  of  Engayne,  and  their  repre- 
sentatives; and  a  co-heiress  of  Thomas  Engayne,  married  to  a 
Goldingham,  who  held  a  portion  of  it  in  the  41st  of  King  Edw.  III. 
Sir  William  Goldingham  left  two  daughters  and  co-heirs,  who 
married  into  the  families  of  Chilterne  and  Mannock,  about  the 
16th  of  King  Edward  IV. 

The  Pierpoints  appear  about  this  time  to  have  had  some  interest 
here,  for  Mr.  Parkin  says,  "Sibilla,  daughter  of  Sir  Simon  Pierpoint, 
of  this  parish,  and  Henstead,  in  this  county,  married  Sir  Edmund  de 
Ufford,  who  died  in  1374,  and  was  buried  in  Langley  Abbey,  in 
Norfolk. 

The  family  of  Eeynolds  appear  also,  to  have  been  interred  here  : 
Henry  Eeynolds,  of  Belstead,  Esq.,  was  patron  of  the  church  of 
Oxburgh,  in  Norfolk,  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign. 

The  manor  of  Belstead  now  belongs  to  Sir  Kobert  Haiiand,  of 
Nacton,  in  this  county,  Bart. 

John  Carter,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  also  many  years  minister 
of  Bramford,  in  this  county,  was  a  native  of  Kent;  and  educated  at 


*  ARMS. — Argent,  a  bend  wavy,  gules  :  with  those  of  Liston,  vert ;    ten  plates, 
4, 3,  2,  and  1,  impaling  Carbouel,  gules;  a  cross,  argent,  iu  a  bordune  engrailed,  or. 


8  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

Clare  Hall,  Cambridge.  Although  he  had  been  often  troubled  for 
non-conformity,  he  took  every  occasion  of  exerting  himself  against 
popery,  armenianism,  and  the  new  ceremonies ;  and  is  spoken  of  as 
a  man  of  great  industry,  charity,  and  piety.  He  died  in  1634,  and 
was  buried  at  Belstead.  There  is  a  portrait  of  him  in  "  Clarke's 
Lives  of  English  Divines,"  and  another  engraved  by  Vaughan. 

CHARITIES. — Charles  Bedingfield,  in  1749,  gave  by  will  £80; 
and  Mary  King,  in  1754,  gave  £15,  in  addition  to  it;  which  was 
expended  in  the  purchase  of  a  double  cottage,  and  4|-A.  of  land,  in 
Belstead,  producing  together  an  annual  rent  of  about  £15:  this 
is  distributed  among  poor  persons,  resident  householders  in  the 
parish,  after  deducting  for  repairs. — Mary  King,  in  1765,  gave  by 
will,  the  residue  of  her  personal  estate,  which  produces  a  further 
sum  of  £6  per  annum ;  and  this  is  distributed  among  such  poor 
industrious  persons,  as  maintain  themselves  without  parish  relief, 
according  to  the  will  of  the  donor. 


BENTLEY. — BENETLEIAM,  or  BENETLEIA. 

The  Hugh  Talleinache,  whom  Mr.  Kirby  says,  paid  a  fine  to 
Ipswich,  for  freedom  from  toll  for  himself  and  his  villains,  in  this 
parish,  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  III.,  was,  most  likely,  the  same 
personage  who  held  of  the  Crown  the  lordship  here,  in  the  25th  of 
the  following  reign ;  and,  in  the  29th  of  the  same  King,  had  sum- 
mons, among  the  Knights  of  this  county,  to  attend  his  expedition 
into  Scotland. 

This  ancient  family,  which  is  of  English  extraction,  has  continued 
in  an  uninterrupted  male  succession,  in  this  county,  from  the  arrival 
of  the  Saxons,  until  the  death  of  the  late  Right  Hon.  Wilbraham 
Tollemache,  Earl  of  Dysart,  in  1821 ;  a  period  of  more  than  thir- 
teen centuries. 

They  were  possessed  of  lands  in  this  parish,  long  before  the 
Norman  conquest,  where,  till  very  lately,  was  to  be  seen,  in  the  old 
manor  house,  the  following  distich  : — 

"  When  William  the  Conqueror  reign'd  with  great  fame, 
Bentley  was  my  seat,  and  Tollemache  was  my  name." 

William  Tallemache  gave  lands  in  Bentley,  and  Dodness,  to  the 
Priory  of  Ipswich ;  which  were  confirmed  in  the  reign  of  King  John. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  9 

In  the  29th  of  Edward  L,  William  and  John  Tallemache,  had 
also  summons  to  attend  the  King  at  Berwick-upon-Tweed,  pre- 
viously to  his  expedition  into  Scotland.  This  John  took  the  Black 
Cross,  and  his  arms  are  now  remaining  in  the  Minster  of  York. 

Sir  Lionel  Tallemache,  of  this  parish,  flourished  in  the  reigns 

of  Henry  VI.,  and  Edward  IV.  He  married  the  heiress  of 

Helmingham,  of  Helmingham,  in  this  county ;  by  which  alliance 
he  acquired  that  inheritance,  which  is  still  the  capital  mansion  of 
a  collateral  branch  of  the  family. 

Jane,  daughter  of Scroop,  of  this  parish,  married  Thomas 

Brews,  Esq.,  father  of  Sir  John  Brews,  of  Wenham,  in  this  county, 
and  Topcroft,  in  Norfolk. 

There  were  several  manors,  in  Bentley,  viz. :  the  manor  of 
Beutley  and  Bentley  Church  House  ;  Bentley  Fastolfe,  alias  Lang- 
stones  ;  the  manor  of  Dodnash  and  Charles :  they  are  supposed  to 
have  merged  into  one ;  and  the  present  lord  is  Charles  Edmund 
Keene,  clerk,  of  Swyncombe,  in  Oxfordshire. 

The  only  CHARITY  named  in  the  Commissioners'  Report  for  this 
parish,  is  a  rent  charge  of  £2  a  year,  upon  a  premises  called  "  the 
Church  House  Estate,"  then  the  property  of  Benjamin  Keene,  Esq., 
and  bequeathed  by  Talmach  Duke,  in  1716,  to  be  distributed  in 
bread  to  the  poor,  by  the  ministers  and  churchwardens. 


DODNASH. — DODNESS,  DUDENASCH,  or  DODENEYS. — A  small 
Priory  in  this  parish,  is  said  to  have  been  founded  by  one  Wymarus, 
or  by  the  ancestors  of  the  Earls  of  Norfolk,  to  whom  the  patronage 
belonged,  from  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  until  the  dissolution. 

Thomas  de  Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  in  the  first  of  Hen.  IV., 
held  the  advowson  of  the  Priory  of  Dodnash,  of  our  Sovereign  Lord 
Eichard  II.,  late  King  of  England. 

By  a  deed  dated  at  Doduash,  the  23rd  of  Edward  III.  (in  the 
possession  of  Mr  Taylor,  author  of  the  Index  Monasticus,  and  to 
whom  we  owe  this  information) ,  it  appears  that,  in  that  year,  Henry, 
Prior  of  the  Church  of  St.  Mary,  of  Dodnash,  and  the  canons  there, 
granted  land  in  fee  farm,  to  Ealph  Lamburn,  and  Margaret  his 
wife ;  which  was  sealed  by  both  parties,  and  witnessed  by  Hugh  de 
Penna,  John  Copin,  Richd.  Curtays,  and  others. 

This  Priory  was  endowed  with  the  tythe  of  barley,  in  Fakenham, 


10  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

in  Oolneis  hundred;  320  acres  of  land,  in  Hemingston,  Coddenham, 
&c. ;  280  acres,  in  Burstall,  Bramford,  &c.,  granted  by  Eoger  de 
Wolveston;  a  house,  and  39  acres  of  land,  in  Bergholt;  and  free 
warren,  rents,  and  lands,  in  fifteen  parishes. 

It  was  suppressed  in  1 524  ;  and  granted  to  Cardinal  Wolsey,  to 
endow  his  college,  at  Ipswich :  upon  whose  fall,  it  was  re-granted  to 
Thomas  Alverde,  in  1531. 


BRANTHAM. — BRAINTHONA,  or  BRANHAM. 

Brantham  Hall  was  the  seat  of  a  branch  of  the  family  of  Edgar, 
of  North  Glemham,  Suffolk.  Sir  Gregory  Edgar  was  brought  up 
to  the  law,  and  was  chosen  King's  Serjeant,  and  Knighted  by  Henry 
VII. :  he  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Simon  Wiseman,  Esq.,  by  whom 
he  had  two  daughters;  the  eldest  married  to  a  son  of  Sir  Humphrey 

Wingfield,  the  other  to Walpole,  of Norfolk.  He 

died  in  1506,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  at  Brantham. 

It  was  afterwards  the  seat  of  the  Wingfields.  Humphrey  Wing- 
field,  Esq.,  resided  there  in  1655  :  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 

and  sole  heir  of Batisford,  of  Chesterton,  in  Cambridgeshire, 

Esq.  He  was  lineally  descended  from  Sir  Humphrey  Wingfield,  of 
Dedham,  Knt.,  who  was  Speaker  to  the  Parliament  in  the  time  of 
Henry  VIII. ,  and  was  the  llth  son  of  Sir  John  Wingfield,  of  Le- 
theringham,  Knt. 

John  Lancaster,  of  Brisingham,  in  Norfolk,  Esq.,  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Sir  John  Braham,  Knt.,  of  Braham 
Hall,  in  Cattiwade,  a  hamlet  belonging  to  this  parish. 

By  the  last  will  of  the  said  John  Lancaster,  dated  in  1469,  John 
and  Henry,  his  younger  sons,  were  to  inherit  his  share  in  Boyton 
Hall  manor,  in  the  parish  of  Capel,  with  lands  there,  and  in  several 
adjoining  parishes;  and,  after  the  death  of  the  said  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  and  William,  his  eldest  son,  they  were  also  to  have  his  share 
of  the  manor  of  Braham  Hall,  in  Cattiwade,  to  them  and  their 
heirs. 

The  said  Elizabeth  lived  until  1478,  and,  it  appears,  re-married 
to  one  Cator,  for  by  that  name  she  was  found  to  die  seized  of  the 
above  estate.  William  Lancaster,  of  Cattiwade  and  Brisingham, 
Esq.,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  William  Not- 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  U 

beme,  Esq.,  of  — — —  in  this  county ;  by  whom  he  had  an  only 
daughter,  Benedicta,  who  married  Edward  Bolton,  of  Boyland  Hall, 
in  Brisingham,  about  the  year  1505. 

In  1551,  Thomas  Fincham,  of  Fincham  Hall,  in  Norfolk,  Esq., 
died,  possessed  of  manors,  lands,  and  tenements,  in  this  parish,  and 
Cattiwade,  East  Bergholt,  Capel,  and  Stutton.  He  married  Martha, 
daughter  of  William  Yelverton,  Esq.,  of  Rougham,  in  Norfolk.  She 
re-married,  after  his  death,  to  John  Heigham,  Esq. 

William  Fincham,  Esq.,  their  son  and  heir,  succeeded,  and  died 
without  issue,  the  14th  of  Queen  Elizabeth ;  having  previously 
conveyed  some  part  of  his  inheritance  to  Charles  Cornwallis,  Esq., 
who  married  his  sister  Anne. 

ARMS. — Braham  :  sable  ;  a  cross  flory,  or.  Fincham  :  harry 
of  six,  argent  and  sable  ;  a  bend  over  all,  ermine. 

Berengarius  de  Sap,  gave  two  parts  of  his  tythe  in  this  parish,  to 
the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew,  in  Thetford. 

Walter  de  Suffield,  alias  Calthorpe,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  1256, 
gave  by  will,  to  repair  the  bridges  in  his  diocese,  two  marks ;  and  to 
Cattiwade  bridge,  one  mark. 

Thomas  Tusser,  one  of  our  earliest  didactic  poets,  and  who  has 
been  styled  "  the  British  Varo,"  exchanged  the  life  of  a  courtier  for 
that  of  a  farmer,  and  settled  at  Katwade  (now  Cattiwade),  in  this 
parish  :  here  he  composed  his  "  Book  of  Husbandry,"  the  first  edi- 
tion of  which  was  published  in  1557. 

In  1805,  Mr.  John  Constable,  of  East  Bergholt,  the  celebrated 
artist,  presented  a  handsome  picture,  measuring  7  feet  by  4  feet,  as 
an  altar  piece  to  this  parish  church :  the  subject,  "  Christ  blessing 
the  young  Children,"  from  the  10th  Chap,  of  St.  Mark. 

In  the  Commissioners'  Report  for  inquiring  concerning  CHARITIES, 
no  mention  is  made  of  any  in  this  parish. 


BURSTALL,  or  BURGHESTALA. 

William  Cage,  Esq.,  a  Portman,  of  Ipswich,  had  a  country  house 

in  this  parish,  which  he  left  to Blosse,  eldest  son  of  Tobias 

Blosse,  Esq.,  and  of  the  sole  daughter  of  the.  said  Mr.  Cage.     He 
lived  in  the  time  of  King  James  and  King  Charles,  and  served  as 


12  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

Burgess  for  the  Borough  of  Ipswich,  in  many  parliaments.     His 
estate  was  considered  about  £300  per  annum. 

The  Priory  of  Dodnash,  in  Bentley,  was  endowed  with  280  acres 
of  land  in  this  parish,  Bramford,  &c.,  granted  by  Roger  de  Wol- 
veston. 


CAPEL. 

Boyton  Hall  manor,  in  this  parish  (not  Eoitwell),  appears  to  have 
passed  as  Cattiwade,  in  Bran th  am :  for  we  find,  John  and  Henry, 
younger  sons  of  John  Lancaster,  Esq.,  by  Elizabeth,  his  wife, 
daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Sir  John  Braham,  of  Braham  Hall,  in 
Cattiwade,  were  to  inherit  their  father's  share  in  this  lordship  ;  with 
lands  in  Capel,  and  several  parishes  thereabouts. 

In  1551,  Thomas  Fincham,  Esq.,  died,  possessed  of  lands  and 
tenements  in  this  parish,  Brantham,  Cattiwade,  East  Bergholt,  and 
Stutton  ;  probably  the  same  estate. 


CATTIWADE,  or  KATWADE. 
See  BRANTHAM,  of  which  parish  this  is  a  hamlet. 


CHATTISHAM. 

Daniel,  second  son  of  William  Meadows,  of  Witnesham,  and 
Agnes,  his  wife,  became  seated  in  this  parish  in  the  early  part  of 
the  17th  century :  he  was  a  direct  lineal  descendant  from  the  very 
ancient  family  of  Meadowe,  who  possessed  lands  in  Witnesham,  in 
the  time  of  King  Henry  II.,  and  was  ancestor  of  the  Earls  Manvers. 

Mr.  Meadows  was  born  at  Eushmere,  in  1577 ;  and  purchased  of 
Sir  Robert  Hitcham,  Knt.,  in  1630,  the  lordship  of  Witnesham. 
He  died  Sept.  7,  1651,  and  was  buried  in  the  nave  of  this  parish 
church,  where  a  latin  .inscription  remains  to  his  memory. 

By  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  he  had  issue  six  sons  and  one  daughter ; 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  13 

of  whom,  Sir  Philip  Meadows,  the  5th  son,  was  baptized  at  Chat- 
tisham,  Jan.  4,  1625.  He  was  educated  at  Cambridge,  and  became 
Latin  Secretary  to  the  Lord  Protector,  Knight  Marshal  of  the 
Palace,  and  Knight  of  the  order  of  the  Elephant,  of  Denmark.  In 
1656,  he  was  sent  Ambassador  to  the  King  of  Portugal,  and  after- 
wards to  the  courts  of  Denmark  and  Sweden.  He  married,  in  1661, 
Constance,  second  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Francis  Lucy,  of  West- 
minster, Esq. ;  and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son — 

Sir  Philip  Meadows,  who  was  also  Knight  Marshal  of  the  King's 
Palace:  he  married  Dorothy,  sister  of  Hugh  Boscawen,  1st  Viscount 
Falmouth.  Their  third  son,  Philip  Meadows,  Esq.,  deputy-ranger 
of  Richmond  Park,  married,  in  1 734,  Frances,  the  only  daughter  of 
William  Pierrepont,  Viscount  Newark ;  only  son  of  Evelyn,  1st 
Duke  of  Kingston. 

Charles  Meadows,  their  second  son  and  heir,  on  the  decease  of 
Elizabeth,  Duchess  dowager  of  Kingston,  in  1788,  succeeded  to  the 
estates  of  his  uncle,  William,  2nd  Duke  of  Kingston ;  and  took  the 
surname  and  arms  of  Pierrepont  only,  by  sign  manuel.  In  1796, 
Mr.  Pierrepont  was  elevated  to  the  peerage,  by  the  titles  of  Baron 
Pierrepont  and  Viscount  Newark;  and,  in  1806,  was  advanced  to 
the  dignity  of  Earl  Manvers.  ARMS  :  argent ;  semee  of  mullets, 
gules  ;  a  lion  rampant,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  Rev.  Thomas  Warren,  in  1797,  gave  by  will, 
;£200,  on  trust ;  to  apply  the  interest  in  educating  poor  children,  at 
the  charity  school  at  Hintlesham,  whose  parents  should  be  resident 
in  the  parish  of  Chattisham,  being  members  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  teaching  them 
to  read  and  write. — This  legacy  having  been  invested  in  the  3  per 
cent,  reduced  annuities,  the  dividends  are  paid  to  the  master  of  the 
Hintlesham  school,  for  teaching  four  or  five  poor  children  of  Chat- 
tisham in  the  manner  directed  by  the  will. 


CHELMONDISTON. 

Thomas  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Thos.  Bedingfield, 
of  Darsham,  Knt,  had,  in  1655,  an  estate  in  this  parish,  in  right  of 
his  wife,  Anna,  daughter  of  Philip  Bacon,  of  Woolverstone,  Esq. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edw.  I.,  both  the  lordship  and  impropriation 


14  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFOHD. 

of  Chelmondiston  were  in  the  Crown ;   and  the  latter  so  continues, 
but  the  former  is  now  the  property  of  Archdeacon  Berners. 

Dr.  John  Henley,  commonly  called  "  Orator  Henley,"  was  rector 
of  Chelmondiston. 


COPDOCK. 

Thomas  de  Grey,  Esq.,  sold  this  lordship  and  advowson  to  his 
younger  brother,  William  de  Grey,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  of  eminence,  who 
was  Solicitor- General  to  Queen  Anne,  und  was  re- appointed  to  the 
same  office  by  King  George  I. ;  constituted  Attorney-General,  in 
1766 ;  and  elevated  to  the  Bench,  in  1771,  as  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  when  he  received  the  honour  of  Knight- 
hood. 

Sir  William  resigned  his  judicial  office  in  1780,  and  was  advanced 
to  the  peerage  the  same  year,  by  the  title  of  Baron  Walsingham,  of 
Walsingham,  in  Norfolk.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1781,  by  his  only 
surviving  sou,  Thomas,  2nd  Baron,  who  for  twenty  years  filled  the 
office  of  Chairman  of  the  Committees  of  the  House  of  Lords  ;  and 
was,  upon  his  retirement,  in  1814,  granted  a  pension  of  £2000  per 
annum,  for  life.  His  Lordship  was  also  Comptroller  of  the  First 
Fruits  and  Tenths. 

He  died  in  1818,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  George 
de  Grey,  3rd  Baron;  who  married,  in  1804,  Matilda,  eldest  daughter 
of  Paul  Cobb  Methuen,  Esq.,  of  Corsham,  but  had  no  issue.  His 
Lordship  having  been  unfortunately  burnt  to  death,  together  with 
lady  Walsiugham,  at  his  house  in  Harley  Street,  26th  April,  1831, 
the  honours  of  the  family  devolved  upon  his  brother,  the  Kev.  Thos. 
de  Grey,  who  died  in  1839,  when  Thomas,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded. 

ARMS. — harry  of  six,  argent  and  azure :  on  a  chief  of  the  first, 
three  annulets,  gules. 

In  Copdock  lived  a  family  of  popish  recusants,  of  the  name  of 
Foster ;  the  estate  was  worth  about  £200  per  annum :  which  was 
sold  to  Sir  Thomas  Bedingfield,  of  Darsham,  Knt.  Henry  Foster, 
of  Copdock,  Esq.,  compounded  for  his  estate,  in  regard  of  his  re- 
cusancy, for  £200  6s.  8d. 

Mr.  Tillotson  mentions,  in  his  "  Church  Notes,"  that  in  the 
church  was  a  monument  for  "  John  Copdocke,  Esq.,  and  Richard 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  15 

Docket,  Esq."  who  died,  1457  ;  and  Joane  that  "  had  been  wife  to 
either  of  them ." 

The  Rev.  Humphrey  Summer,  D.D.,  rector  of  this  parish,  with 
Washbrook,  died  March  23,  1814,  at  Cambridge.  He  was,  in 
1797,  elected  Provost  of  King's  College,  in  that  University;  and 
was  son  of  a  former  Provost.  Dr.  Summer  proceeded,  A.B.  in  1767, 
A.M.  1770,  and  S.T.P.  in  1783.  He  served  the  office  of  Vice- 
Chancellor  in  the  years  1798  and  1802. 


EAST  BERGHOLT,  or  BERCOLT. 

"  The  men  of  Berk-holt,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  say,  that  in  the 
time  of  King  Henry,  grandfather  of  our  Lord  the  present  King 
(Henry  III.),  they  used  to  have  this  custom;  that  when  they  would 
marry  their  daughters,  they  used  to  give  to  the  Lord,  for  license  so 
to  do,  two  ores,  which  were  worth  thirty-two-pence. 

"  Here  these  ores,  which  were  Saxon  coins,  are  declared  to  be  in 
value  of  our  money,  sixteen-pence  a-piece ;  but  after,  by  the  varia- 
tion of  the  standard,  they  valued  twenty-pence  a-piece.  And  this 
fine  for  the  tenants  marrying  their  daughters  (profilialus  suis  ma- 
ritandisj  was,  without  doubt,  in  lieu  of  mercheta  mulierum,  or  first 
night's  lodging  with  the  bride,  which  the  Lord  anciently  claimed  in 
some  manors." — Blount's  Tenures. 

Mr.  Astle  is  of  opinion  that  this  kind  of  intercourse  between  the 
lord  and  his  female  villain  never  existed ;  but  was  a  fine  paid  by  a 
sokeman,  or  a  villain,  to  his  lord,  for  a  license  to  marry  his  daughter, 
to  indemnify  him  for  the  loss  of  his  property ;  and  in  process  of  time, 
this  composition  was  thrown  into  the  aggregate  sum  of  quit  rents.* 

The  family  of  Cardinall  long  resided  in  this  parish ;  and  the  last 
of  the  name  of  this  branch,  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Edge-Hill 
(being  in  the  Life  Guard  of  Robert,  Earl  of  Essex),  in  the  defence 
of  the  Parliament,  in  1042.  Anne,  his  sister,  being  the  heir  general, 
married  to  Henry,  second  son  of  Sir  Calthorpe  Parker,  of  Erwarton, 
Knt.  This  William  Cardinall  married  Anne,  one  of  the  daughters, 
and  co-heirs  of  James  Derehaugh,  of  Gedgrave,  near  Orford,  Esq.  : 
she  died  in  1657. 

East  Bergholt  L~odge  was  formerly  the  residence  of  Sir  Richard 

*  Archseologia,  v.  12. 


16  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

Hughes,  Bart.,  Admiral  of  the  White ;  who  died  there,  Jan.  5,  1812, 
in  the  83rd  year  of  his  age.  The  great  length  of  service  of  this 
gallant  and  illustrious  veteran,  and  his  family,  is  remarkable; — 
he  was  himself,  above  half  a  century,  in  actual  employment. 

Admiral  Hughes  became  a  Post  Captain  in  1755,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  Admiral  in  1780  ;  was  twice  Commander-in- 
Chief  on  different  stations,  also  Governor  of  Halifax,  in  Novia 
Scotia ;  and  during  his  nautical  career,  in  every  quarter  of  the 
globe,  he  had  under  his  command,  at  separate  periods,  the  gallant 
Nelson,  Lord  Collingwood,  and  several  other  of  our  most  distin- 
guished naval  characters. 

He  was  son  of  Sir  Kichard  Hughes,  Bart.,  so  created  July  1 7, 
1773,  by  Joane,  his  wife,  daughter  of  William  Collyer,  Esq,,  Cap- 
tain in  the  Koyal  Navy ;  and  succeeded  his  father,  in  1780. 

Old  Hall,  in  this  parish,  late  in  the  Chaplin  and  Hankey  families, 
passed  to  that  of  Godfrey;  and  Edward,  son  and  heir  of  the  late 
Peter  Godfrey,  Esq.,  now  resides  there.  In  1833,  he  married  Susan 
Elizabeth,  Countess  of  Morton,  daughter  of  Sir  Francis  Buller,  of 
Lupton,  in  Devonshire,  Bart.,  and  relict  of  George,  17th  Earl 
of  Morton,  who  died  in  July,  1827. 

Highlands,  in  Bergholt,  is  now  the  residence  of  Charles  Tyrell 
Oakes,  Esq. ;  who  married  Catherine  Anne,  the  only  child  of  the- 
Eev.  William  Tufnell,  who  formerly  resided  there. 

The  Rectory,  built  by  one  of  the  Hankeys,  is  pleasantly  situated, 
on  an  eminence,  some  distance  from  the  church.  The  present  rector, 
the  Rev.  Joshua  Rowley,  succeeded  the  Rev.  Durand  Rhudde,  D.D., 
in  1819;  he  was  presented  to  this  valuable  benefice  by  his  brother- 
in-law,  Peter  Godfrey,  Esq. ;  who  married  Arabella,  daughter  of 
Sir  Joshua  Rowley,  the  first  Baronet  of  that  house,  and  sister  to  the 
above  reverend  gentleman,  and  the  late  Sir  William  Rowley,  Bart., 
of  Tendring  Hall,  in  this  county. 

The  delightful  situation  of  this  parish,  on  an  eminence  com- 
manding beautiful  and  extensive  prospects,  has  induced  many  other 
genteel  families  to  settle  here  ;  which  gives  the  place  an  appearance 
far  superior  to  most  other  villages  in  the  county.  This  was  also 
the  residence  of  that  pleasing  poet,  the  Rev.  William  Banwhite 
Clarke,  author  of  "  The  River  Derwent." 

In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1788,  p.  850,  is  an  account 
of  a  monument,  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church,  to  the  memory 
of  Edward,  second  son  of  Thomas  Lambe,  of  Trimley,  in  this  county. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  1  7 

who  died  in  1617,  with  the  following  singular  epitaph,  engraved  in 
two  columns,  each  word  beginning  with  the  initial  of  his  name  : — 

EDWARDE  LAMBE 

EVER  LIVED 

ENVIED  LAUDABLY 

EVIL  LORD 

ENDURED  LET 

EXTREMITIES  LIKE 

EVEN  LIFE 

EARNESTLY  LEARNE 

EXPECTING  LEDEDE 

ETERNAL  LIVERS 

EASE  LAMENT 

Which  a  correspondent  in  the  next  month's  Magazine,  thinks  may 
be  read  thus,  by  the  alteration  of  one  word,  ledede,  into  he  died : — 

"  Edwarde  Lambe  ever  lived  envied,  laudably  evil  endured.    Lord,  let  extremities 
like  even  life  learn.     He  died  expecting  eternal  ease.     Livers  lament. 

Mem. — Eobert  Debnam,  of  this  parish,  was  one  of  a  party  of 
four,  who  from  pious  zeal,  travelled  from  Dedham,  in  Essex,  to 
Dovercourt,  in  the  same  county,  and  took  from  that  parish  church 
a  famous  crucifix,  and  burnt  it.  For  this  offence  he  was  indicted 
for  felony,  convicted,  and  hung  in  chains  upon  Cattiwade  causeway. 

CHARITIES. — The  Town  Lands  is  an  estate  purchased  about  1695, 
with  part  of  a  fund  called  the  Town  Stock,  which  had  arisen  from 
contributions  in  and  before  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  for  pro- 
viding victuals  to  be  sold  at  a  cheap  rate,  and  for  other  charitable 
purposes  :  this  consists  of  cottages,  lands,  and  stock  in  the  funds, 
producing  an  income  of  about  £60  a  year ;  which  sum,  after  de- 
fraying charges  for  repairs,  and  necessary  outgoings,  is  laid  out  in 
the  purchase  of  linen  for  clothing,  and  given  to  the  poor. — Edward 
Lamb,  conveyed  by  deed,  in  1589,  to  trustees,  a  school-house,  and 
piece  of  land  in  this  parish,  part  of  the  manor  of  Illarys,  to  the  in- 
tent that  a  free-school  should  be  upheld  in  East  Bergholt ;  and  at 
the  same  time  Lettice  Dykes  conveyed  certain  property  in  Langham 
and  Colchester,  in  Essex,  and  in  this  parish,  for  a  similar  purpose. 
The  property  held  under  these  endowments  is  appropriated  to  the 
payment  of  a  salary  to  the  master  of  East  Bergholt  school,  and  £2 
a  year  to  a  schoolmaster  at  Stratford,  the  same  sum  to  a  school- 
master at  Langham,  and  the  surplus  in  support  of  a  Sunday-school, 
and  a  school  of  industry,  at  East  Bergholt. — Edward  Clarke,  in 
1720,  bequeathed  three  cottages,  and  a  rent  charge  of  £12  a  year, 
out  of  his  estate  in  Tattingstone,  for  the  use  of  three  poor  industrious 


18  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

widows  of  this  parish. — Joseph  Chaplin,  in  1725,  devised,  by  will, 
an  estate  in  East  Bergholt,  to  Henry  Hankey,  and  his  heirs,  to  the 
intent  that  the  rents  thereof  might  be  applied  for  providing  coats 
and  shoes  for  five  poor  men,  and  gowns,  petticoats,  and  shoes,  for  as 
many  poor  women,  in  this  parish,  and  such  as  receive  no  alms ;  to 
be  given  to  them  yearly,  but  not  to  the  same  persons  for  two  years 
successively.  The  charity  estate  producing  an  income  of  £30  a 
year,  which  is  more  than  sufficient  to  effect  the  apparent  intention 
of  the  testator,  the  number  of  its  objects  have  been  increased. — 
James  Mitchell  gave  £3  a  year  to  be  distributed  in  bread  to  the 
poor ;  which  property,  with  an  allotment  awarded  on  an  inclosure, 
lets  for  £10  a  year,  and  the  rents  are  laid  out  in  bread. 


FRESTON. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Thomas  Gawdy,  Esq.,  who  was 
afterwards  a  Knight,  and  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas,  was  owner 
of  Bond's  manor,  in  this  parish ;  and  also  of  Woolverstone  and 
Tattingstone,  into  which  parishes  it  extended. 

Henry  Gawdy,  his  son,  was  created  a  Knight  of  the  Bath,  at  the 
coronation  of  King  James  I. ;  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Robert  Warner,  Esq.,  of  Mildenhall,  in  this  county. 

ARMS. — Gawdy :  argent ;  a  tortoise  passant,  vert. 

The  manor  of  "  Bonds,"  in  Freston,  is  the  property  of  Sir  Philip 
Broke,  Bart.,  of  Nacton. 

The  patroness  of  the  Rectory,  is  Mrs.  Bond,  who  resides  in  the 
parish  ;  and  the  present  rector,  is  the  Rev.  George  Murray. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  objects  upon  the  banks  of  the  Orwell, 
is  Freston  Tower ;  which  was,  in  all  probability,  built  by  one  of  the 
Latimers.  It  is  a  strong,  quadrangular  building,  of  red  brick,  with 
a  polygonal  turret  at  each  angle  :  it  is  six  stories  high,  each  con- 
taining one  room,  communicating  with  each  other  by  a  winding 
stair-case,  on  the  east  side;  and  all  are  of  the  same  dimensions. 
The  best  apartment  seems  to  have  been  on  the  fifth  story,  being 
higher  than  any  of  the  others,  and  the  windows  are  considerably 
larger.  There  being  no  building  connected  with  it,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  but  that  the  object  of  the  founder  was  to  command  the  most 
extensive  view  upon  the  river. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  19 

A  print  of  this  Tower  was  published,  in  1827,  in  the  "  Architec- 
tural Antiquities  of  Suffolk,"  by  Mr.  Henry  Davy ;  and  some 
beautiful  lines  upon  this  interesting  object  of  antiquity,  from 
the  pen  of  Mr.  John  Hannah,  of  Ipswich,  are  printed  in  Clarke's 
"  History  of  Ipswich." 


HARKSTEAD,  or  HERCHESTEDA. 

In  the  Domesday  Book,  Odo  de  Campania,  Earl  of  Albermarle 
and  Holderness,  was  lord  of  this  manor ;  which  was  afterwards 
granted  to  the  Nunnery  of  Dartford,  in  Kent,  by  King  Edward  III. ; 
and  at  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  31st  Henry  VIII.,  it  was 
granted  to  Sir  Percival  Hart.  It  afterwards  belonged  to  a  family 
named  Cocks,  who,  with  the  advowson  and  the  manor  house,  sold 
it  to  Knox  Ward,  Clarencieux  King  at  Arms ;  whose  heir  sold 
it,  the  manor,  and  lands,  to  Thomas  Staunton,  Esq.,  many  years 
M.P.  for  Ipswich ;  and  the  advowson  to  the  Rev.  Richard  Canning, 
who  edited  the  2nd  edition  of  the  "  Suffolk  Traveller,"  printed  in 
1764.  The  property  now  belongs  to  the  Venerable  the  Archdeacon 
Berners,  of  Woolverstone  Park  ;  and  his  second  son,  the  Rev.  Ralph 
Berners,  is  now  rector  of  this  parish,  and  of  Erwarton. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  William  le  Brittone,  was  owner  of 
a  lordship  in  this  parish. 

Robert,  second  son  of  William  Whettell,  Gent.,  citizen  and  mer- 
chant taylor  of  London,  and  younger  brother  of  William  Whettell, 
Esq.,  of  Ampton,  in  this  county,  married  Margaret,  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  George  Sampson,  Gent.,  owner  of  an  estate  and  manor  in 
this  parish,  called  Netherhall ;  which  property  Mr.  Sampson  devised 
to  Margaret,  his  wife,  during  the  minority  of  George,  his  only  son; 
who  survived  only  six  years,  when  it  devolved  to  Elizabeth,  Frances, 
Susan,  and  Margaret,  his  sisters  and  co-heirs 

Robert  Whettell,  and  Margaret,  his  wife,  purchased  the  other 
sisters'  shares ;  whereby  they  became  lawfully  seized  of  this  estate 
in  fee  simple.  He  died  about  1607,  and  his  widow  re-married  to 
Francis  Colby,  Gent.  Some  litigation  took  place  between  the  widow, 
her  second  husband,  and  William  Whettell,  Esq.,  respecting  money 
transactions ;  which  became,  at  length,  amicably  adjusted  by  the 


20  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

sale  of  this  Netherhall  estate,  in  1618,  to  Richard  Sutton,  of  Acton, 
in  Middlesex,  Esq. 

Nicholas  Locke,  A.M.,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  Uggeshall,  in 
this  county,  was  appointed,  by  letters  patent  from  the  Bishop  of 
Norwich,  in  1561,  Commissary  of  Suffolk  Archdeaconry  ;  and  also 
Official  to  the  Archdeacon  of  Sudhury. 


HIGHAM,  or  HEIHHAM. 

The  lordship  of  Higham  was  granted  by  Maud  de  Munchensi, 
in  the  time  of  Henry  III.,  to  the  Priory  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  in 
Ipswich.  In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  John  de  Eeymes  was 
owner  of  this  lordship ;  and  it  afterwards  became  the  property  of 
Michael  de  la  Pole,  who,  being  constituted  Chancellor  to  King 
Richard  II.,  obtained  from  him  a  special  charter  to  hold  a  court 
leet  in  his  lordship  of  this  parish. 

The  family  appears  to  have  descended  from  Roger  de  Reymes  (or 
Reynes),  who  came  into  England  with  William  I.,  or  the  Conqueror, 
and  had  the  honour  and  barony  of  Reynes,  consisting  of  ten  knights' 
fees,  in  Essex,  conferred  on  him.  A  branch  of  this  house  were  seated 
at  Overstrand  (or  Oxstrand),  in  Norfolk,  for  many  generations. 

ARMS. — Reymes :  sable ;  a  chevron  between  three  lions  rampant, 
argent. 

From  this  place,  it  is  supposed,  the  family  of  Higham  did  first 
take  their  name ;  they  had  considerable  property  in  different  parts 
of  the  county,  and  Sir  Clement  Heigham  was  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Commons  in  the  time  of  Philip  and  Mary. 


HINTLESHAM, 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  was  the  demesne  of  John  Talbot  and  Mar- 
garet Pypard ;  and  in  the  31st  of  that  reign,  John  Pypard  paid  to  the 
King,  amongst  other  things,  2s.  for  his  relief  for  06 12  rent  in  land,  in 
this  parish,  held  of  the  King  by  the  service  of  one  sparhawk,  yearly. 
Weever,  in  his  "  Ancient  Euneral  Monuments,"  mentions  inscrip- 
tions in  this  parish  church,  to  the  following  members  of  the  Tim- 
perley  family,  owners  of  this  manor : — John  Timperley,  Esq.,  who 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  21 

died  in  1460,  and  Margaret  his  wife  ;  William  Timperley,  who  died 
March  10,  1527 ;  Thomas  Timperley,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1500,  and 
Etheldred  his  wife,  eldest  daughter  of  Nicholas  Hare,  and  Kathe- 
rine  his  wife ;  also  Nicholas  Timperley,  Esq.,  and  Anne  his  wife, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  William  Markham,  Esq. 

In  1310,  Robert  de  Ray  don,  of  Raydon,  in  this  county,  had  a 
charter  of  free  warren  here  ;  and,  in  1314,  the  said  Robert  had  the 
King's  licence  to  settle  it  on  John,  his  son,  and  Hawise,  his  wife ; 
in  1359,  the  said  Hawise,  then  widow  of  John  de  Wysham,  held 
here.  It  appears  not  long  after,  the  lordship  became  vested  in  the 
Timperley  family ;  and  so  continued  until  King  Charles  the  Se- 
cond's reign,  if  not  later. 

The  hall  and  manor  of  Hintlesham,  was  purchased  of  the  Tim- 
perleys,  by  Richard  Powis,  Esq.,  M.P.  for  Orford,  in  1734  ;  he  sold 
it  to  Sir  Richard  Lloyd,  one  of  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer,  in 
1759  ;  in  whose  family  it  continued  until  the  death  of  the  late  Miss 
Harriet  Lloyd,  who  .bequeathed  it  to  Capt.  Hamilton  Lloyd  Anstru- 
ther,  who  now  resides  there. 

Sir  Henry  D'Oyley,  of  Pondhall,  in  Hadleigh,  married  Margaret, 
natural  daughter  of  John,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  relict  of  Sir  John  Tim- 
perley, of  this  parish,  Knt.  Sir  Henry  died  in  1563,  the  5th  of 
Queen  Elizabeth. 

This  family  descended  from  Thomas  Timperley,  of  Bowden,  in 
Cheshire,  Esq. ;  whose  son  and  heir,  John  Timperley,  married 

Margaret,  daughter  and  heiress  of Raydon,  and  inherited  this 

estate  in  her  right.  They  had  issue,  John,  who  married,  and  left 
an  only  daughter  and  heiress,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Firmin  Rookwood, 
of  Weston,  in  Norfolk. 

Nicholas  Timperley,  Esq.,  their  2nd  son,  died  before  his  father, 
and  is  buried  in  the  church  of  Buxhall,  in  this  county ;  where  he  is 
said  to  have  died  in  1489.  William  Timperley,  of  this  parish,  Esq., 
his  son  and  heir,  died  in  1527,  as  above;  and  Thomas,  his  son, 
married  Etheldred,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Nicholas  Hare,  of  Bruis- 
yard,  in  this  county,  Knt. 

Nicholas  was  their  son  and  heir,  who  married  Anne,  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  William  Markham,  Esq.,  of  Oakley,  in  Northamp- 
tonshire ;  and  Michael  Hare,  Esq.,  his  uncle,  gave  by  will,  in  1609, 
the  lordships  of  Colkirk  and  Gately,  in  Norfolk,  to  his  brother, 
Thomas  Hare,  for  life  ;  and  then  to  this  Nicholas  Timperley,  Esq., 
his  nephew ;  whose  son,  Sir  Thomas,  inherited  the  same. 


22  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFO11D. 

In  the  10th  of  King  Edward  IV.,  Joan,  wife  of  Robert  Timperley, 
was  found  to  be  daughter  and  heir  of  Eobert  Fitz- Simon. 

Charles  Vesey,  Esq.,  lord  of  a  manor  in  this  parish,  formerly 
belonging  to  Bury  Abbey,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Edmund 
D'Oyley,  of  Shotesham,  in  Norfolk,  and  Pondhall,  in  Hadleigh, 
Esq.,  by  Anne  his  first  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Goodwin,  of 
Wiuchendon,  in  Bucks. 

ARMS. — Timperley :  gules  ;  a  lion  party  per  bend,  ermine  and 
ermines.  Vesey :  ermine ;  on  a  cross,  sable,  five  martlets,  or. 

John  Fortune,  blacksmith,  of  this  parish,  died  for  maintaining 
the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  in  Queen  Mary's  reign ;  but  whether  in 
prison  or  at  the  stake,  is  not  certain, 

In  1336,  Thomas  Foxtone,  LL.D.,  was  rector  of  this  parish, 
and  afterwards  of  Thorndon,  in  this  county.  Dr.  Foxtone  was  also 
Chancellor  of  Norwich,  in  1316,  and  of  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, in  1330. 

CHARITIES. — A  school  premises,  consisting  of  a  school-room  and 
play- ground,  of  2R.  12p.,  built  and  given  by  the  Misses  Lloyd,  of 
this  parish,  in  exchange  for  other  property ;  and  an  estate,  con- 
sisting of  a  cottage,  small  barn,  and  about  six  acres  of  land,  in  the 
parish  of  Aldham,  purchased  by  the  parishioners,  with  the  assis- 
tance of  Francis  Colman,  Esq.,  of  Ipswich.  The  rents  are  paid  to 
a  schoolmaster,  for  teaching  seven  poor  children  to  read,  write,  and 
cast  accounts. 


HOLBROOK. — HOLEBROC,  or  HOLBEBROC. 

John,  Lord  Latimer,  who  was  in  the  rebellion  called  "  the  Pil- 
grimage of  Grace,"  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  married — 
first,  Dorothy,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John,  Earl  of  Oxford;  and, 
secondly,  Catherine,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Parr,  Knt. ;  and  the 
said  Catherine  afterwards  married  King  Henry  VIII. 

In  the  35th  of  that  reign,  John  Lord  Latimer,  his  son,  had  livery 
of  this  lordship,  with  Chelsworth,  Walsham,  and  Preston,  in  this 
county ;  with  divers  other  manors  in  various  counties,  most  likely 
through  the  interest  of  the  said  Catherine  with  her  Royal  consort. 

He  married  Lucy,  daughter  of  Henry,  Earl  of  Worcester,  and 
died  the  20th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  1577,  without  male  issue;  so 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  23 

that,  by  the  marriage  of  his  four  daughters  and  co-heirs,  his  largo 
estate  became  divided. 

Katherine,  married  Henry,  Earl  of  Northumberland. 

Dorothy,  Thomas,  Earl  of  Exeter. 

Lucy,  Sir  William  Cornwallis  ;  and 

Elizabeth,  Sir  John  Danvers,  Knt. ;  from  whom  is  descended 
the  present  Duke  of  Leeds,  Viscount  Latimer. 

In  this  parish  was  the  chief  seat  of  the  family  of  Clench.  John 
Clench,  one  of  the  Judges  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  resided  here :  lie 
died  in^lGOT,  and  was  buried  in  the  church,  where  there  is  a  fine 
monument  erected  to  his  memory,  his  wife,  and  children.  Thomas 
Clench,  his  son,  served  the  office  of  Sheriff,  for  Suffolk,  in  1616  ; 
and  John  Clench,  his  son,  served  the  same  office,  in  1639. 

ARMS. — Clench :  gules ;  three  gemel  rings,  or,  pendent,  2  and  1 ; 
a  chief  of  the  second. 

There  is  a  portrait  of  the  Judge,  engraved  by  Hollar,  published 
by  Sir  William  Dugdale,  in  his  "  Origines  Juridiciales,"  1666. 

CHARITIES. — A  fund  of  £30,  the  amount  of  two  benefactions  of 
£5  each,  given  for  the  poor,  in  1662,  and  £20  received  on  the 
sale  of  a  workhouse,  at  interest  of  60s.  a  year ;  this,  together  with 
the  sacrament  money,  and  occasional  contributions,  is  laid  out  in 
the  purchase  of  coals. 


HOLTON,  or  HOLETUNA, 

In  the  time  of  Henry  VI.,  belonged  to  a  branch  of  the  Fastolffes, 
of  Caistor,  in  Norfolk ;  and  was  afterwards  sold  to  the  Mannocks, 
of  Gifford's  Hall,  in  Stoke,  who  sold  the  estate  to  Sir  John  Wil- 
liams ;  it  now  belongs  to  Sir  Joshua  Kowley,  of  Tcndring  Hall, 
Bart. 

This  lordship  became  early  invested  in  the  family  of  Boyton,  and 
William  de  Boyton  held  it  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  King 
Edward  I. 

In  1310,  Robert  de  Reydon,  of  Ray  don,  in  this  hundred,  had  a 
charter  of  free  warren  in  this  parish ;  with  Stratford,  Hiutlesham, 
Wherstead,  and  Woolverstone. 

Anne  Candler,  a  Suffolk  cottager,  author  of  a  small  paraphrase 
on  the  5th  chapter  of  the  2nd  book  of  Kings,  the  History  of  Joseph, 


24  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

the  Life  of  Elijah  the  Prophet,  and  several  other  poetical  pieces, 
died  in  this  parish,  Sept.  15,  1814,  aged  74  years. 

CHARITIES. — Here  are  several  small  benefactions,  given  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor  of  this  parish ;  and  a  charity  school,  established 
and  endowed  by  the  exertion,  and  through  the  pecuniary  aid  of  the 
Rev.  Stephen  White,  a  late  rector  :  25  scholars,  16  boys  and  9  girls, 
are  instructed  as  free  scholars,  in  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  ; 
and  the  girls  are  taught  needle  work. — Mr.  White  conveyed,  by 
deed,  a  piece  of  land,  which  produces  a  rental  of  £Q  per  annum,  to 
be  applied  towards  raising  premiums,  to  be  given  annually  to  the 
children  of  the  said  school,  or  persons  brought  up  in  the  school, 
bringing  certificates  of  good  behaviour,  in  service  or  apprenticeship, 
under  such  regulations  as  may  be  judged  most  conducive  to  the  en- 
couragement of  honesty,  industry,  and  Christian  behaviour.* 


RAYDON,  or  RIENDUNA. 

This  property  appears  to  have  passed  as  the  following  parish  of 
Shelley,  and  to  have  continued  in  the  same  proprietary. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  parish,  and  the  manor  of  Raydon,  be- 
longed to  Sir  William  Beaumauris  Rush,  whose  daughter 

married  to  Dr.  Edward  Daniel  Clarke,  the  celebrated  traveller. 

In  the  church  of  Raydon,  is  a  tablet,  against  the  north  wall, 
erected  to  the  memory  of  John  Mayer,  D.D.,  who  was  rector  of  this 
parish  35  years.  He  was  the  author  of  several  works  upon  the 
English  catechism,  Expositions  upon  the  New  Testament,  &c.  He 
died  March  5th,  1063,  in  the  82nd  year  of  his  age. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Fisher  Belward,  D.D.,  of  this  parish,  was 
Master  of  Gonville  and  Caius  College,  Cambridge,  to  which  he  was 
elected  in  1795,  having  been  many  years  public  tutor  of  that 
society  :  B.A.,  in  1769  ;  M.A.,  1772  ;  and  S.T.P.,  by  mandate,  in 
1796.  Dr.  Belward  assumed  that  name  for  a  family  estate,  in 
the  county  of  Norfolk:  he  died  here,  May  16th,  1803,  aged  57 
years. 

CHARITIES. — The  Rev.  John  Nayler,  D.D.,  in  or  about  the  year 

*  This  we  have  no  hesitation  in  pronouncing  a  most  judicious  bequest,  and 
worthy  the  attention  of  those  who  have  the  management  of  similar  institutions, 
with  a  surplus  fund,  and  demur  as  to  the  best  method  of  applying  it. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  25 

1068,  charged,  by  his  will,  his  lands  in  this  parish,  with  the  pay- 
ment of  10s.  a  year  to  the  minister,  and  40s.  a  year  to  be  laid  out 
in  bread,  and  distributed  among  the  poor. — A  cottage  and  garden,  in 
the  jmrish  of  Higham,  were  given  by  Thomas  Glanville,  in  or  about 
the  year  1725  ;  the  rents  thereof  to  be  divided  between  five  poor  wi- 
dows, of  each  of  the  parishes  of  Kaydon,  Higham,  and  Holton.  These 
premises  are  let  at  £3  a  year,  and  the  rent  distributed  accordingly. 


v       SHELLEY. — SHELLI,  or  SHELLEIGHE. 

The  manor  of  Shelley  belonged  to  the  family  of  Tateshale.  In 
the  1st  of  Edward  L,  Eobert  de  Tateshale  died  seized  of  it ;  and  in 
the  time  of  Henry  IV.,  John  de  Orby  and  Adam  Blyston,  held  it  of 
the  King,  in  capite,  at  the  annual  rent  of  20d.,  as  formerly  belong- 
ing to  Robert  de  Tateshale. 

John  de  Ingham  held  a  lordship  in  this  parish,  about  1272 ;  of 
the  barony  of  Tibenham,  in  Norfolk,  the  inheritance  of  the  Tates- 
hale family. 

In  the  5th  of  King  Edward  IV.,  John  L'Estrange,  of  the  city  of 
Norwich,  Esq.,  grandson  and  heir  of  John  L'Estrange,  Esq.,  of 
Hunstanton,  in  Norfolk,  and  Alice,  his  wife,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Bemant,  of  Pakenham,  in  this  county,  and  of  Maud,  his  wife,  sister 
of  Nicholas  Pike,  deceased,  late  of  Colchester,  in  Essex,  released 
all  his  right  in  this  manor,  to  Sir  John  Howard,  John  Clopton,  and 
others,  in  trust. 

He  died  in  1476,  without  issue ;  and  Henry  L'Estrange,  his 
brother,  succeeded  :  he  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Eoger  Drury, 
of  Hawstead,  in  this  county,  Esq. ;  and  died  in  1483,  seized  of 
manors  in  Pakenham  and  Stowlangtoft,  in  this  county. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  II.,  the  Hall  was  the  seat  of  John  de 
Appleby ;  and  afterwards  it  came  to  the  Knightly  family  of  Tilney, 
who  also  held  considerable  estates  in  Stonham  Aspal,  East  Berg- 
holt,  Cowlinge,  and  Hadleigh.  Sir  Frederick  Tiluey  was  the  last 
of  the  name  in  Shelley :  he  married  a  daughter  of  Sir  Francis 
Needham,  of  Barking,  Knt.,  and  sold  the  estate,  about  1627,  to 
Thomas  Kerrick,  Esq.,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Sir  Martin 
Lumley,  of  Bardfield  Magna,  in  Essex,  Bart.  He  served  the  office 
of  High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk,  iu  1647. 


26  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

It  afterwards  passed  into  the  family  of  Rush,  by  purchase,  and  is 
now  the  property  of  Sir  William  B.  Rush. 

ARMS. — Tateshale :  cheque,  or  and  gules  ;  a  chief,  ermine. 
L 'Estrange :  gules  ;  two  lyoncels  passant,  argent.  Tilney :  ar- 
gent ;  a  chevron  between  three  griffins'  heads,  erased,  gules. 

The  church  was  impropriatcd  to  the  Abbey  of  Battle,  in  Sussex ; 
and,  at  the  dissolution,  the  impropriation,  and  the  lands  called 
"  Kernelscroft,"  and  "  Wytherseys,"  otherwise  "  Gerwayes,"  were 
granted  to  Lawrence  Baskervile  and  William  Blake. 


SHOTLEY. — SCOTELEIA,  or  SCEUELEIA. 

The  very  ancient  family  of  Visclelieu,  became  early  seated  in 
this  parish,  and  continued  here  about  seven  generations. 

William  de  Visdelieu,  in  1300,  married  Rose,  sister  and  heir 
of  Elizabeth  de  Shotisbroke ;  by  whom  he  left  an  only  son,  Sir 
Thomas  Visdelieu,  Knt.,  who  left  two  daughters,  co-heiresses, 
between  whom  his  large  estate  became  divisible. 

This  lordship  descended  to  Margaret,  the  eldest  daughter ;  who 
married  Thomas  Mossells,  Esq.,  and  they,  having  no  male  issue,  it 
descended  to  their  youngest  daughter,  Joan ;  who  married  John 
Felton,*  Esq.,  and  he  inherited  the  property  in  her  right. 

John  Eelton  was  sometimes,  for  his  eminence  as  a  merchant, 
termed  "  John  de  Chapman."  His  son,  Robert  Felton,  Esq.,  mar- 
ried Margery,  sister  and  heiress  of  Sir  Thomas  Sampson,  of  Play- 
ford,  in  this  county,  Knt. ;  and  acquired  that  lordship,  with  several 
other  manors  and  estates  in  that  neighbourhood,  by  this  marriage. 

Robert  Felton,  who  died  in  1506,  by  his  will,  desired  "  that  his 
body  be  buried  in  the  chancel  of  the  church  of  Shotley,  as  near  to 
his  grandfather  as  can  conveniently  be,  and  that  a  stone  be  laid 
over  him,  like  that  of  his  grandfather's." 

This  estate  became  the  inheritance  of  the  Right  Hon.  John 
Hervey,  first  Earl  of  Bristol,  by  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth,  only 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Thomas  Felton,  of  Playford,  in  this 
county,  Bart.,  Comptroller  of  the  Household,  and  Privy  Councillor 

*  Mr.  Rokewode  says,  "  the  pedigrees  of  Felton  will  generally  be  found  incorrect." 
In  the  descent  of  Sir  Thomas  Felton,  we  have  followed  Mr.  Blomefield's  authority, 
which  differs  materially  from  that  of  Mr.  Kirby. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  27 

to  Queen  Anne.  It  still  continues  in  that  noble  house,  Frederick 
William,  Marquess  of  Bristol,  being  the  present  lord  and  patron. 

William  Talmach,  rector  of  this  parish,  in  1538,  and  also  of 
Easton,  Wickhambrook,  and  Helmingham,  all  in  this  county,  was 
appointed,  by  letters  patent  from  the  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  1527, 
Commissary  of  Suffolk  Archdeaconry,  and  Official  of  Sudbury 
Archdeaconry. 

George  Raymond,  M.A.,  rector  here,  and  minister  of  St.  Law- 
rence and  St.  Nicholas,  in  Ipswich,  was,  in  1713,  appointed  to  the 
same  offices.  He  was  interred  in  St.  Nicholas  churchyard,  in  1725. 

The  Eev.  John  Pretyman,  D.D.,  was  also  rector  of  Shotley,  Pre- 
centor and  Archdeacon  of  Lincoln,  Prebendary  of  Norwich,  and  also 
of  Biggleswade,  in  Bedfordshire.  Dr.  Pretyman  was  a  native  of 
Bury  St.  Edmund's  ;  only  brother  of  Sir  George  Pretyman  Tomline, 
Bart.,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  prelate  of  the  most  noble  Order  of  the 
Garter.  He  died  at  Lincoln,  June  5th,  1817. 

The  present  rector  of  Shotley,  is  the  Rev.  Samuel  Forster,  D.D., 
formerly  head  master  of  the  grammar  school,  Norwich. 

ARMS. —  Visddieu  :  argent;  three  wolves'  heads  erased,  gules 
(probably  in  allusion  to  their  name — Wolf's  Face) .  Felton :  gules  ; 
two  lions  passant,  ermine,  crowned,  or. 

CHARITIES. — An  estate  devised  for  six  poor  inhabitants  of  this 
parish,  by  Andrew  Barfoot,  in  1591,  containing  about  five  acres: 
yearly  rent,  £.G  Gs. ;  winch  is  distributed  annually  among  poor 
widows,  and  other  poor  persons. — A  sacrament  fund  of  £.10,  the 
interest  applied  to  the  purpose  of  the  gift. 


SPROUGHTON. 

The  manor  of  Boss  Hall,  in  Sproughton,  was  so  called  from 
Edward  de  Bordeshawe,  who  resided  there  in  the  time  of  Henry  III., 
and  in  whose  family  it  continued  for  some  generations.  It  after- 
wards came  into  the  family  of  Bull :  the  hall  was  built  by  Anthony 
Bull,  portman  of  Ipswich,  in  the  time  of  James  I.  Thomas,  Ins 
son,  left  three  daughters;  one  married  to  Benjamin  Cutler,  of 
Sproughton  ;  another,  to  Charles  Vesey,  of  Hintlesham,  Esq. ;  and 
the  other,  to  Serjeant  Major  John  Moodie,  of  Ipswich,  in  1655.  It 
afterwards  passed  into  the  Broke  family,  of  Nacton ;  and  was  lately 


28  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

sold  by  them  to  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Kersey,  of  Whitton ;   whose 
son  now  resides  there. 

In  the  llth  of  King  Henry  VI.,  1433,  Sir  William  Drowries 
held  one  knight's  fee  in  this  parish ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  Sir 
Thomas  Sampson,  of  Playford,  Knt. :  this  manor  and  advowson 
remains  in  the  same  house,  as  at  the  period  Mr.  Kirhy's  account 
was  published,  Frederick  William,  Marquess  of  Bristol,  being  the 
present  lord  and  patron  ;  having  passed  as  the  lordship  of  Playford. 

The  Chauntry*  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  Metcalfe 
Kussel,  Esq.;  from  whom  it  descended  to  Michael,  son  of  Peter 
Collinson,  Esq.,  the  ingenious  botanist,  and  long  an  eminent  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Society;  the  intimate  friend  of  Franklin,  Lin- 
nseus,  &c.,  and  who  held  correspondence  with  eminent  men  in  almost 
every  nation  of  the  world. 

Mr.  Collinson  came  into  possession  of  the  said  property  upon 

the  death  of  the  above  named  Metcalfe  Russel,  in  1785  ;  and,  like 

his  father,  was  distinguished  for  his  knowledge  in  natural  history, 

and  the  attention  lie  gave  to  botanical  subjects  in  particular.     He 

died  in  1705,  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  in  the 

chancel  of  this  parish  church.    Charles  Streynsham  Collinson,  Esq., 

his  only  son,  who  had  been  long  on  the  civil  service  in  India,  suc- 

Jea.  brrnfaj       ceeded;  upon  whose  death,  in  1831,  this  estate  was  purchased  by 

!&**'   J^      Charles  Spooner  Lillingstone,  Esq.,  who  is  the  present  proprietor. 

The  house  formerly  the  residence  of  Admiral  Sir  Robt.  Harland, 
Bart.,  has  been  pulled  down  ;  but  John  Josselyn,  Esq.,  has  a  neat 
residence  for  a  country  gentleman,  situated  in  this  parish. 

The  Rev.  William  Layton,  a  gentleman  who  devoted  much  of  his 
time  to  topographical  and  genealogical  enquiry,  especially  into  the 
history  of  his  native  county,  was  a  native  of  this  parish. 

He  was  the  only  surviving  son  of  the  Rev.  Andrew  Layton,  A.M., 
for  28  years  rector  of  St.  Matthew,  in  Ipswich  ;  descended  from  a 
very  ancient,  and  highly  respectable  family,  in  Yorkshire ;  and  was 
born  in  the  rectory  house  here. 

At  a  very  early  age  he  was  placed  under  the  care  and  tuition  of 
his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Anthony  Temple,  A.M.,  the  learned  and  eminent 
master  of  the  free  grammar  school  at  Richmond,  hi  Yorkshire  ;  from 
thence  he  was  removed  to  St.  Paul's  school,  London  ;  with  an  ex- 
hibition from  which  school  he  was  entered  a  pensioner  of  Trinity 

*The  Chauntry  has  been  engraved  in  Neale  Scot's  "Excursions,"  and  for 
Clarke's  Pocket  Book. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  20 

College,  Cambridge,  where  he  proceeded  to  the  degree  of  A.B.  in 
1773,  and  to  that  of  A.M.  in  1770.  In  1774  he  was  licensed,  on 
the  nomination  of  George  William,  Earl  of  Bristol,  to  the  perpetual 
curacy  of  Playfurd,  in  tlu's  county ;  and  the  following  year  was  pre- 
sented, by  the  Crown,  to  the  rectory  of  Helraley,  in  the  same  county, 
and  to  that  of  St.  Matthew,  in  Ipswich. 

Mr.  Layton  possessed  a  very  valuable  and  extensive  library,  rich 
in  works  of  topography,  antiquities,  and  genealogy,  to  which  branches 
of  literature  he  was  early  and  ardently  attached  ;  and  in  which  not  a 
book  is  to  be  found  that  does  not  contain  some  marks  of  his  corrective 
hand.  But  Ins  attention  was  chiefly  directed  to  the  ecclesiastical 
liistory  of  his  native  county ;  and  in  this,  his  favourite  department, 
liis  manuscript  collections  were  most  ample,  and  of  great  value  from 
their  extreme  accuracy,  and  minuteness  of  research. 

To  the  6th  volume  of  "  Illustrations  of  the  Literary  History  of 
the  18th  Century,"  published  in  183.1,  is  prefixed  the  following  de- 
dication : — "  To  the  Kev.  William  Layton,  M.A.,  rector  of  St.  Mat- 
thew, Ipswich ;  a  gentleman  to  whom  the  late  Mr.  Nichols  was 
indebted,  during  a  friendship  of  more  than  forty  years,  for  much 
valuable  literary  assistance,  this  volume  is  respectfully  dedicated,  by 
his  faithful  humble  servants,  J.  B.  Nichols  and  Son." 

Mr.  Layton  died  at  his  residence  in  St.  Mary  at  Elms,  Ipswich, 
February  19,  LS31,  in  his  81st  year;  and  his  remains  were  depo- 
sited in  the  family  vault,  in  the  churchyard  of  St.  Matthew,  in  the 
same  town.  Few  persons  ever  passed  a  more  active  and  useful  life. 

We  also  meet  with  the  following,  who  held  the  rectory  of  this 
parish:  in  1525,  William  Kempe,  B.D. ;  who,  in  1519,  was  ap- 
pointed Commissary  of  the  Archdeaconry  of  Suffolk,  by  Kichard 
Nykke,  or  Nix,  Bishop  of  Norwich. 

The  Rev  George  Eogers,  A.M.,  was  a  native  of  Bury  St.  Ed- 
mund's, and  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  at  the  free 
grammar  school  in  that  town,  then  under  the  superintendence  of 
that  accomplished  scholar,  the  Rev.  Robert  Graham,  A.M.  From 
thence  he  was  removed  to  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  of  winch 
society,  on  proceeding  to  the  degree  of  A.B.,  in  1704,  he  was 
elected  a  Fellow;  and,  in  1707,  he  proceeded  to  that  of  A.M. 

In  1766,  he  was  presented,  by  Sir  Charles  Davers,  Bart.,  to  the 

.  Ll     rectory  of  Welnetham  Parva,  which  he  resigned  on  his  presentation, 

by  the  same  patron,  to  that  of  Horningsheath,  both  in  Suffolk,  in 

1767.     In  1784,  Mr.  Rogers  was  presented,  by  Frederick,  4th  Earl 


30  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 

of  Bristol,  and  Bishop  of  Derry,  to  the  rectory  of  this  parish,  wlu'ch 
he  held  for  upwards  of  half  a  century  :  he  died  Dec.  15,  1835,  at 
the  patriarchal  age  of  94  years. 

He  was  the  author  of  several  sermons,  and  edited  those  of  his 
intimate  friend,  the  Eev.  Edward  Evanson ;  to  wliich  he  prefixed  a 
brief,  hut  well  written  memoir  of  the  author.  Mr.  Rogers  was  well 
versed  in  classics  and  theology.  A  private  plate  was  engraved,  for 
the  gratification  of  his  friends,  from  a  portrait  hy  W.  M.  Bennett. 

CHARITIES. — The  annual  sum  of  £.1  6s.  is  paid  as  a  rent  charge 
on  a  field  in  Whitton,  in  this  county ;  and  the  same  is  applied  in 
furnishing  hread,  which  is  distributed  among  poor  widows.  Origin 
unknown. — A  double  cottage,  in  this  parish,  is  occupied  rent  free, 
by  two  poor  widows,  and  is  repaired  by  the  parish  :  it  appears  to 
have  been  settled  by  Elizabeth  Bull,  in  1G18,  for  that  purpose. 


STRATFORD  ST.  MARY,  or  STRATFORT. 

Sir  Edward  Sulyard,  of  Haughley  Park,  had  a  considerable  estate 
in  this  parish ;  wliich  he  sold,  in  1657,  to  Major  General  Sir  Pliilip 
Skippon*,  who  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  army  under  Oliver 
Cromwell,  by  whom  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  Bristol,  and 
commanded  the  infantry  at  the  Battle  of  Naseby,  when  he  was  se- 
verely wounded.  He  was  also  one  of  the  Protector's  Council  of 
State,  and  had  £.1000  per  annum,  in  lands,  assigned  to  him  by  the 
Parliament,  for  his  services. 

Tin's  manor  was  vested  in  the  De-la-Pole  family,  from  the  7th  of 
Richard  II.,  to  the  28th  of  Henry  VI. ;  and  in  the  31st  of  Henry 
VIII.,  it  was  granted  to  Thomas  Cromwell,  Earl  of  Essex,  beheaded 
July  28th,  1540. 

In  the  4th  of  Edward  II.,  Robert  de  Reydon  had  a  grant  of  free 
warren  in  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  and  of  Wenliam  Cornbusta, 
Hadleigh,  Holton,  Leyham,  Hintlesham,  Woolverstone,  and  Bad- 
ingham,  in  this  county. 

William  Dowsing,  of  this  parish,  was  appointed  the  principal  of 
the  Parliamentary  visitors,  in  1643,  to  inspect  and  remove  all  su- 
perstitious images,  paintings,  inscriptions,  &c.,  from  the  churches  in 

*  His  Portrait  was  published  in  Ricraft's  "  Survey  of  England's  Champions,"  1647. 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  31 

this  county  ;  wlu'ch,  to  the  regret  of  all  modern  antiquaries,  he  most 
effectually  did.  The  "  Journal,"  of  this  tasteless  and  fanatical  zealot, 
was  published,  in  1780,  in  4to,  by  Mr.  B.  Loder,  of  Woodbridge. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannica,"  states  that  William  Nichol- 
son, D.D.,  Archdeacon  of  Brecknock,  and  Bishop  of  Gloucester, 
was  a  native  of  this  parish,  the  son  of  a  rich  clothier  here. 

CHARITIES. — The  "  poors'  lands"  here,  consist  of  two  acres  of 
meadow  in  this,  and  the  adjoining  parish  of  Langham,  in  Essex,  let 
at  £A  13s.  a  year,  and  the  rent  is  distributed  in  money  to  the  poor : 
it  is  not  known  when,  or  by  whom,  these  lands  were  given. — A 
house,  yard,  and  garden,  and  two  acres  of  land  in  Stratford,  were 
purchased  by  the  parishioners,  about  1735;  the  rents  of  wliich, 
about  £.5  15s.  6d.  per  annum,  are  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
linen  cloth  for  the  poor. — A  house,  in  two  tenements,  and  a  piece 
of  ground,  containing  about  one  acre,  near  the  church,  are  let  for 
£.7  10s.  a  year;  and  the  rents  are  applied  to  the  reparation  of  the 
church,  agreeable  to  ancient  usage. — A  portion  of  White's  charity 
(see  East  Bergholt),  being  £.2  4s  a  year,  is  given  in  bread  to  the 
poor ;  and  the  yearly  sum  of  ;£.5  is  paid,  by  the  occupier  of  lands 
in  East  Bergholt,  of  the  gift  of  Kobert  Clarke,  in  1731,  and  applied 
in  sending  six  poor  children  to  a  school  in  this  parish ;  and  two 
other  poor  children  are  sent  to  school  under  the  charity  of  Lettice 
Dykes,  of  East  Bergholt,  and  William  Littlebury,  of  Dedham,  in 
Essex. 


STUTTON. 

The  families  of  Braham,  Lancaster,  and  Fincham,  appear  to  have 
been  interested  here  (see  Cattiwade  hamlet,  inBrantham  and  Capel). 
In  1300,  William  de  Visdelieu,  of  Shotley,  was  owner  of  the  lord- 
ship of  this  parish. 

Stutton  Hall  was  for  many  years  the  property  of  the  knightly 
family  of  Jenny.  John,  son  of  Sir  Isaac  Jenny,  resided  there  in 
1055,  and  his  son,  William,  in  1086.  It  was  afterwards  the  pro- 
perty of  the  Mays ;  and  was  sold  by  Mr.  Thomas  May,  to  Lionel, 
3rd  Earl  of  Dysart. 

Crowe  Hall,  in  Stutton,  formerly  belonged  to  the  Bowers ;  but 
now  to  John  Page  Bead,  Esq.,  who  resides  there. 


32  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFOKD. 

The  Kectory  is  the  seat  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Mills,  M.A.,  situated 
upon  the  banks  of  the  Stour,  commanding  an  extensive  view  upon 
the  river  ;  the  grounds  are  studded  with  some  of  the  most  beautiful 
trees,  and  form  altogether  one  of  the  most  delightful  spots  to  be 
found  in  this,  or  any  other  county. 
In  the  church  are  monuments  for — 

Lady  Jane,  wife  of  Sir  Isaac  Jenny,  of  Stutton,  Knt.,  who  died 
January  7,  1 623,  aged  58. 

John,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Isaac  Jermy,  Kiit.,  who  died  in  1062, 
aged  61. 

Susannah,  wife  of  Richard  Enock,  M.A.,  rector  of  this  parish, 
who  died  January  15,  1709-10. 

Mrs.  Bridget  Allan,  daughter  of  Mr.  Alexander  Smyth,  youngest 
son  of  Sir  Thomas  Smyth,  late  of  this  parish,  who  died  January  18, 
1777,  aged  76. 

Wilh'am  Jermy,  late  of  this  parish,  died  Oct.  5th,  1669,  aged  35. 
Sir  Isaac  Jermy,  Knt. 

John  Smythe,  who  died  August  14th,  1530. 
Richard  White,  M.A.,  late  rector  of  this  parish,  died  Feb.  2, 1747, 
in  the  54th  year  of  his  age. 

The  Rev.  Tobias  Rustat,  A.M.,  upwards  of  40  years  rector  of  this 
parish,  who  died  Jan.  14th,  1793,  aged  77. 

Sarah,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Tobias  Rustat,  who  died  May  6th,  1801, 
aged  76. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  somewhat  more  than 
one  acre,  lets  at  £A  4s.  a  year;  and  the  sum  of  £.100,  three  per 
cent,  reduced  annuities,  was  purchased  with  money  arising  from  the 
sale  of  a  cottage,  formerly  belonging  to  the  poor,  and  an  addition 
made  thereto  by  the  parish.  The  rent  and  the  dividend  of  the 
stock  are  added  to  the  money  received  at  the  sacrament,  and  laid 
out,  partly  in  bread,  and  partly  in  coals,  which  are  distributed  to 
the  poor. 


TATTINGSTONE,  or  TADINGSTON. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  and  estate  of  John 
de  Holbrooke,  and  afterwards  of  John,  Earl  of  Oxford ;  who  was 
attainted  by  the  first  parliament  of  King  Edward  IV.,  and  his  estate 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  33 

became  forfeited  to  the  crown.  That  monarch  in  the  llth  year  of 
his  reign  (1471),  granted  to  his  brother  Eiehard,  Duke  of  York 
and  Gloucester,  afterwards  King  Richard  III.,  all  the  manors  and 
lordships  wliich  were  held  by  Richard  Neville,  Earl  of  Warwick ; 
among  others  were  the  manors  of  Tattingstone,  Cockfield,  Aldham, 
Preston,  Lavenham,  and  Mendham,  in  Suffolk ;  and  at  the  same 
time  made  him  Chancellor  for  life. 

The  family  of  Aylmer  appears  formerly  to  have  had  some  interest 
here.  Olive,  daughter  of  Robert  Aylmer,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  married 
Thomas  Brampton,  of  Branipton,  in  Norfolk,  who  died  about  1500.* 

Tattingstone  Place,  late  in  the  Beaumont  and  White  families, 
afterwards  the  property  of  Thomas  Western,  Esq.,  son  of  the  late 
Rear  Admiral  Thomas  Western,  who  died  in  1815,  is  now  the  re- 
sidence of  Sir  George  Crewe,  Bart. 

CHARITIES. — A  house  near  the  church,  consisting  of  four  tene- 
ments, is  appropriated  to  the  use  of,  and  occupied  by,  four  poor 
families ;  and  a  cottage,  in  two  tenements,  with  an  acre  of  land 
adjoining,  are  appropriated  for,  and  used,  one  of  the  tenements  and 
the  land,  by  the  parish  clerk,  and  the  other,  by  the  sexton. 


WASHBROOKE. — GREAT  BELSTEAD,  BELESTEDA,  or  BELSTEDA. 

This  was  part  of  the  estate  and  lordship  of  Odo  de  Campania, 
Earl  of  Champaign,  in  France,  who  was  nearly  related  to  William  I. 
or  the  Conqueror,  and  partook  largely  of  his  bounty.  He  was  made 
by  him,  Earl  of  Albemarle  and  Holderness.  This  Norman  Baron 
left  his  large  possessions  to  his  son  Stephen,  and  his  heirs ;  one  of 
whose  descendants  gave  this  manor  to  the  Abbey  of  Albermarle. 

The  manor  of  Amer  (or  Hamer)  Hall,  belonged  to  the  Abbey  of 
Aumerle,  in  Normandy,  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  III. ;  and  at 
the  dissolution  of  the  alien  priories,  it  was,  together  with  the  im- 
propriation  of  the  church  of  the  hamlet  of  Felchurch,  or  Velechurch, 
granted  to  the  Nunnery  of  Dartford,  in  Kent. 

The  manor,  with  the  rectory  and  advowson  of  the  vicarage  of 

*  Mr.  Blomefield  states,  that  John  Croftes,  D.D.,  Deau  of  Norwich,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Tattingstone ;  which  is  probably,  incorrect,  as  we  have  not  met  with  a 
statement  tending  to  show  that  aoy  of  that  family  held  property  in  this  parish  or 
its  vicinity. 


34  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFOKD. 

Washbrooke,  were  granted  to  Sir  Percival  Hart,  in  the  31st  of 
Henry  the  8th. 

In  the  time  of  King  James  I.,  it  was  the  property  of  the  Beding- 
fields;  and  in  1058,  belonged  to  Sir  Henry  Bedingfield,  of  Dars- 
ham,  Knt. 

The  family  of  De  Grey,  of  Merton,  in  Norfolk,  have,  for  nearly 
a  century,  possessed  this  property.  Thomas  de  Grey,  after  serving 
the  office  of  Solicitor  General,  in  1763,  and  Attorney  General,  in 
1706,  was,  in  1771,  advanced  to  the  dignity  of  Lord  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Common  Pleas  ;  which  place  he  resigned  in  1780,  when  he 
was  created  Baron  Walsingham,  of  Walsingham,  in  Norfolk.  The 
estate  still  continues  in  the  head  of  that  family. 

The  church  is  consolidated  with  Copdock ;  and  the  Hon.  and 
Rev.  Frederick  de  Grey  is  incumhent,  who  has  lately,  at  a  conside- 
rable expense,  repaired  and  ornamented  it. 


WENHAM  MAGNA,  or  WENHAM  COMBUSTA. 

The  Robert  de  Vallibus,  or  Vaux,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Kirby,  gave 
all  the  churches  and  tithes  of  his  demesne,  to  the  Priory  of  the 
Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew,  in  Thetford ;  amongst  which,  Wen- 
ham  was  included. 

At  the  suppression  of  the  monasteries,  the  Prior  of  Leighs,  in 
Essex,  held  lands  in  Great  Wenham,  of  the  annual  rent  of  £.7  5s. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was 
held  by  Petronell  de  Holbrooke  ;  also  the  manor  of  Wenham  Parva. 


WENHAM  PARVA. 

In  1207,  Robert  de  Burser,  of  London,  was  concerned  in  this 
manor,  jointly  with  Emma  his  wife ;  who  appears  to  have  been  one 
of  the  co-heirs  of  Roger  de  Holbrook. 

The  earliest  mention  we  find  made  of  the  ancient  family  of  Breose, 
or  Brews,  as  connected  with  this  parish,  is  in  the  beginning  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  VI. 

Sir  Robert  Brews,  of  Fressingfield,  in  this  county,  died  in  the 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD,  35 

»       • 

second  year  of  the  reign  of  that  king,  mid  Sir  Thomas  Brews,  his 
son,  succeeded ;  who  is  styled,  of  Salle,  in  Norfolk,  and  Wenham, 
in  Suffolk. 

In  the  llth  of  the  same  reign  he  was  found  heir  to  Sir  John 
Shardelow,  who  died  without  issue,  seized  of  the  manors  of  Barton 
hy  Mildonhall,  with  the  mills  of  Cavenham,  Cowlinge,  Straddishall, 
and  Downham,  in  this  county,  and  the  advowsons  of  Flempton 
and  Santon. 

Sir  Thomas  married,  first,  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  Jolin  Calthorpe, 
and  secondly,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Giles,  and  sister  and  heir- 
ess of  Sir  Gilbert  Debenhom.  Sir  William  Brews  was  his  son  and 
heir  by  his  first  marriage ;  who  inherited  Salic  and  Eressingfield, 
where  he  died,  in  1489,  and  was  buried  in  that  parish  church. 

llobert  Brews,  Esq.,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Thomas,  by  his  second 
marriage,  appears  to  have  possessed  the  property  in  this  parish. 
He  married  Katherine,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Wingfield,  of  Lethc- 
ringhum,  in  this  county,  Knt.,  and  was  succeeded  by  Thos.  Brews, 
of  Topcroft  Hall,  in  Denton,  Norfolk,  and  Wenham  Parva. 

He  married  Jane,  daughter  of  -  -  Scroop,  of  Bentley,  in  this 
county,  and  was  father  of  Sir  John  Brews,  of  this  parish,  Knt.,  who 
was  lord  from  1533  to  1582  ;  and  in  15  90,  Thos.  Brews,  Esq.;  whose 
son,  John  Brews,  succeeded  in  1 002,  being  then  six  years  of  age. 

He  was  afterwards  knighted,  and  married  Cecily,  only  daughter 
of  John  Wilton,  of  Topcroft,  Gent. ;  and  soon  after,  the  property 
passed  from  this  family  into  other  hands. 

Penelope,  daughter  of  Thomas,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Brews, 
of  this  parish,  married  here  in  1014,  to  Sir  Edmund  Mundcford, 
who  died  in  1043,  without  issue. 

ARMS. — ]>rews  :  ermine;  a  lion,  rampant,  gules.  Shardelow: 
argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  cross  crosslcts,  fitche,  azure. 

Little  Wenham  Hall  is  considered  as  a  fine  specimen  of  Eliza- 
bethan architecture,  and  is  by  no  means  in  a  ruinous  state.  The 
rooms  wherein  this  ancient  family  resided,  are  now  converted  into 
chambers  for  corn,  &c.  It  was  built  by  Robert  Brews,  as  appears 
from  the  following  inscription,  carved  in  stone  over  one  of  the 
doors  : — "  Cccy  fait  a  false  de  Dieu  Ian  de  Grace,  1509.  R  B."* 

In  the  church  are  several  monuments  for  different  branches  of 
the  Brews  family. 

*  A  view  of  the  Hall  is  engraved  in  "  Davy's  Suffolk  Antiquities,"  1827  ;  and 
two  views  in  the  "  Excursions  through  Suffolk," 


30  HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD. 


WHERSTEAD. — QUERSTEDE,  or  WERVESTEDE. 

Whcrstead  was  for  many  generations  vested  in  the  family  of 
Reymes.  Gilbert  de  Keymes,  who  also  had  large  property  in 
Bramford  and  'Sproughton,  was  lord  of  this  manor  in  the  time  of 
King  John  ;  and  Hugh  de  Reymes  held  it  in  1280.  It  afterwards 
belonged  to  the  Butlers  :  and,  upon  the  attainder  of  James  Butler, 
Earl  of  Ormond  and  Wiltshire,  in  1461,  it  was  granted,  by  the 
Crown,  to  Sir  John  Howard,  the  ancestor  of  the  Dukes  of  Norfolk. 
How  long  it  continued  in  tin's  family  we  have  not  the  means  of  as- 
certaining, but  in  1 G 1 9,  it  was  the  property  of  Sir  Edward  Coke, 
Lord  Chief  Justice  of  England;  and  continued  in  Ms  family  till 
within  a  few  years,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Sir  Eobert  Harland, 
Bart.,  who  built  the  present  mansion.* 

"  In  an  old  deed,  without  date,  to  which  Gerard,  prior  of  Ipswich, 
is  one  of  the  witnesses,  is  mention  of  the  monastery  of  Wervestede ; 
perhaps  some  small  foundation,  of  short  continuance,  united  to  the 
priory  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  in  Ipswich;  to  which  belonged 
the  church  and  manor,  and  several  lands  in  this  village." — Tanner. 
The  Rev.  William  Gee,  vicar  of  this  parish,  and  Bentley,  in  this 
•county,  and  rector  of  St.  Stephen's,  in  Ipswich,  died  April  19,  1815, 
aged  84  years.  Mr.  Gee  was,  for  many  years,  steward  to  the  cha- 
rity of  Grey  Coat  Boys  and  Blue  Coat  Girls,  in  Ipswich,  and  trea- 
surer to  the  Eund  for  the  Belief  -of  poor  Widows  and  Orphans  of 
^Clergymen,  in  Suffolk ;  and  was  ever  distinguished  for  a  uniform 
;and  conscientious  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  sacred  profession. 


WOOLVERSTONE,  or  WOLFRESTON. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  estate  appears  to  have  been 
crown  demesne ;  but  in  the  following  reign,  Sir  Robert  de  Rcydon, 
of  Roydon,  had  a  charter  of  free  warren  therein. 

Richard,  eldest  son  of  Richard  Catelyn,  Esq ,  scrjeant  at  law,  by 
Barbara,  his  wife,  daughter  of  John  Spencer,  of  Rendlesham,  in 

*  A  view  of  the  Hall  is  engraved  in  Neale's  "  Seats." 


HUNDRED  OF  SAMFORD.  37 

this  county,  Esq.,  was  lord  of  Woolverstone  Hall  manor.     He  died 
in  the  40th  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

The  dispute  respecting  tliis  estate  (mentioned  by  Mr.  Kirby), 
after  the  lapse  of  half  a  century,  became  at  length  settled,  by  tho 
Court  of  Chancery;  and  the  property  was  purchased,  about  1773, 
by  William  Berners,  Esq.,  proprietor  of  the  street  in  London 
called  after  his  name. 

In  1770,  ho  erected  upon  it  the  present  stately  mansion,  and  died 
in  1783.  Charles  Berners,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded, 
who  died,  unmarried,  in  1831 ;  and  Henry  Denny  Berners,  Arch- 
deacon of  Suffolk,  his  only  brother,  inherited ;  who  is  the  present 
proprietor. 

An  interesting  monument  of  filial  affection  presents  itself  in  the 
park ;  it  is  a  square  obelisk  of  free  stone,  ninety-six  feet  high, 
surmounted  by  a  globe,  encircled  with  rays,  erected  by  Charles 
Berners,  Esq.,  in  1793,  to  the  memory  of  his  father. 

The  Eev.  Frederick  Wollaston,  L.L.D.,  was  rector  of  this  parish, 
brother  of  Colonel  William  Wollaston,  whom  he  succeeded  in  his 
estates  of  Finborough  Hall,  &c.,  in  1797;  and  grandson  of  Wm. 
Wollaston,  the  learned  author  of  "  The  Keligion'  of  Nature  Deli- 
neated." 

Dr.  Wollaston  was  of  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge ;  and  upwards  of 
twenty  years  lecturer  of  St.  James's,  in  Bury,  which  he  resigned  in 
1778.  He  was  also  one  of  his  Majesty's  Chaplains  in  ordinary, 
and  a  prebendary  of  Peterborough ;  both  which  latter  appointments 
he.  resigned  a  short  time  prior  to  his  decease,  which  happened 
March  0,  1801. 


DE  CARLEFORDA  and  COLENESSE. 


The  fee  of  these  Hundreds  i,s  in  the  King,  and  the  government 
itt  the  Sheriff",  and  his  anointed  officers. 

These  Hundreds  are  bounded,  on  the  South,  by  the  German 
Ocean  ;  on  the  East,  by  the  River  Deben,  which  separates  them 
from  the  Hundred  of  Wiiford ;  on  the  West,  and  North,  by  the 
River  Orwell,  and  the  Liberty  of  Ipswich. 

We  have  continued  the  two  Hundreds  together,  as  in  Kirby, 
and  they  contain  the  following  Parishes : — 


BEALINGS  MAGNA, 

BEALINGS  PARVA, 

BRIGHTWELL, 

BUCKLESHAM,  in  Colneis, 

BURGH, 

CLOPTON, 

CULPHO, 

FALZENHAM,  in  Colneis, 

FELIXSTOW,  in  ditto, 

FOXHAL, 


HASKETON, 
HELMLY,  in  Colneis, 
KESGRAVE, 


KIRTON.,  in  Colneis, 

LEVINGTON,  in  ditto, 

MARTLESHAM, 

NACTON,  in  Colneis, 

NEWBOURN, 

OTTLEY, 

PLAYFORD, 

EUSHMERE, 

TRIMLEY  ST.  MARTIN,  in  Colneis } 

TRIMLEY  ST.  MARY,  in  ditto, 

TUDDENHAM, 

WALDRINGFIELD, 

WALTON,  in  Colneis, 

WlTNESIIAM, 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  &  COLNEIS. 


BEALINGS  MAGNA,  or  BELINGES. 

The  principal  lordship  of  this  parish  was  bought  of  the  heirs  of 
the  Pitts,  of  Crows'  Hall,  in  Debenham,  by  James  (not  George ) 
Bridges,  Esq.,  who  resided  here.  The  hall,  some  years  afterwards, 
became  the  residence  of  the  farmer  of  the  estate,  and  was  at  length 
pulled  down  by  Sir  John  Henniker,  Bart.,  who  at  that  period  was 
owner  of  the  property ;  and  it  now  belongs  to  the  Right  Hon.  John 
Henniker  Major,  Baron  Henniker,  M.P.  for  East  Suffolk,  his  re- 
presentative. 

The  Seckford  Hall  estate,  in  this  parish,  became  the  inheritance 
of  a  family  of  that  name  about  the  time  of  King  Edward  II.,  and 
so  continued  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  Dorothy  Seckford,  in  1C 73. 

In  1359,  Sir  John  de  Seckford  resided  here  ;  he  was  son  of  Sir 
John  de  Seckford,  of  this  parish,  Knt.,  and  Joan  liis  wife,  eldest 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  William  Hakeford;  and  who,  in  1331, 
became  in  her  right,  owner  of  Hakeford  Hall  manor,  in  the  pa- 
rish of  West  Herling,  in  Norfolk.  He  married  Alice,  daughter  of 

,  who  kept  court  at  West  Herling,  in  1372,  Sir  John 

de  Seckford,  her  husband,  being  then  dead. 

Sir  George  de  Seckford  succeeded,  who  possessed  the  said  manor, 
and  in  1401,  settled  it  on  Margaret  his  wife,  daughter  and  heiress 
of  Sir  Thomas  Jenny,  Knt. ;  who  after  the  death  of  Sir  George, 
re-married  to  Augustine  Stratton,  and  this  property  passed  to 
George  Seckford,  Esq. 

He  married  Alice,  daughter  of  Thomas  Rokes,  of  Kidlesworth,  in 
Norfolk,  and  died  in  1450  :  his  widow  re-married  Sir  Henry  Wing- 
field,  Knt.,  who,  in  1470,  joined  with  her  in  a  release  of  Hakeford 
Hall  manor,  to  Thomas  Seckford,  Esq.,  lord  of  Seckford  Hall 
manor,  in  this  parish.  He  was  her  son  by  the  former  marriage. 

This  Thomas  Seckford  married,  first,  Margaret,  daughter  of  John 
Purrey,  of  Aylesham,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  secondly,  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of .  He  died  in  1507,  leaving  Thomas  Seckford,  Esq., 


42  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFOED  AND   COLNEIS. 

of  this  parish,  his  heir ;  who  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir 
John  Wiugfield,  of  Lethcringham,  in  this  county,  Knt.  He  repre- 
sented the  horough  of  Orford  in  several  parliaments ;  died  in  1575, 
aged  80  ;  and  lies  interred  in  this  parish  church,  where  a  monument 
remains  to  his  memory. 

Thomas  Seckford,  Esq.,  one  of  the  masters  of  the  Court  of  Re- 
quest, and  surveyor  of  the  Court  of  Wards  and  Liveries,  the  muni- 
ficent founder  of  the  almshouses  in  Woodbridge,  was  second  son  of 
the  said  Thomas  Seckford,  Esq.,  and  Margaret  his  wife.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Harlowe,  Esq.,  relict  of  Sir 
Martin  Bowes,  of  London,  Knt  ;  died  without  issue,  in  1587-8, 
aged  72 ;  and  was  buried  in  a  vault  which  he  erected  himself,  in  a 
chapel  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  of  Woodbridge  church. 
Erancis,  his  elder  brother,  deceased  before  their  father. 

Charles  Seckford,  Esq.,  succeeded  his  grandfather,  in  the  Seck- 
ford Hall  estate,  and  his  uncle  Thomas,  in  the  Woodbridge  Priory 
estate ;  and  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Steyning,  of  Earl 
Soham,  Esq.,  by  Frances  his  wife,  Countess  dowager  of  Surrey, 
daughter  of  John  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford.  He  represented  the  borough 
of  Aldeburgh  in  parliament,  in  the  14th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  died 
in  1591,  aged  37  ;  buried  at  Woodbridge,  as  was  his  widow  in  1596. 

Sir  Thomas  Seckford  succeeded,  and  married  Amie,  daughter  of 

Brewster:  he  died  in  1010,  leaving  Thomas,  his  only  surviving 

son,  who  died  in  1024,  at  Trinity  College  Cambridge,  aged  10,  and 
lies  buried  in  the  chapel  there,  under  a  handsome  monument,  erected 
by  his  uncle,  Henry  Seckford,  Esq. ;  who,  on  this  failure  of  issue 
male,  of  his  brother  Thomas,  became  seized  of  the  whole  property. 
He  died  in  1026,  without  issue. 

Henry  Seckford,  Esq.,  of  Clerkenwell,  Master  of  the  Pavilion  to 
King  James,  supported  his  claim  as  heir  male,  and  sued  his  livery 
in  the  5th  of  King  Charles,  1029  ;  he  suffered  a  recovery,  and 
being  seized  in  fee  of  the  entire  estate,  settled  the  same  on  himself, 
and  Dorothy  his  wife,  and  their  heirs  in  fee.  He  died  in  1038, 
without  issue. 

Mrs.  Dorothy  Seckford,  his  widow,  was  the  daughter  of  Sir  Henry 
North,  Knt.,  and  sister  of  Henry  North,  of  Sternfield,  in  this  county, 
Esq.  She  died  at  Seckford  Hall,  in  1073,  and  bequeathed  that  es- 
tate to  Seckford  Cage,  Esq.,  the  heir  general  of  the  Seckfords  ;  who 
sold  it  to  Samuel  Atkinson,  Esq.,  of  Croydon,  in  Surrey.  It  is  now 
the  property  of  James  Morrison,  Esq.,  M,P.,  by  purchase. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  4& 

The  inscription  on  the  church  porch,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Kirhy, 
reads  as  follows  : — "  Orate  pro  Animabus  Thomas  Seckeford  Armi: 
ct  Margarcta  uxs;"  and  Mr.  Weever  gives  the  following  memorials 
from  this  church: — "Thomas  Seckford,  esquire,  Elizabeth  and 
Margaret  his  wives,  which  Thomas  dyed  xxiii.  of  Novemb.  in  an. 
1505."  "  Thomas  Sampson,  esquire,  dyed  the  5.  of  February  1507." 
(His  family  resided  at  the  adjoining  parish  of  Playford.) 

ARMS. — Seckford :  ermine ;  on  a  fess,  gules,  tliree  escallops,  or ; 
and  for  their  crest,  a  talbot,  passant,  ermine. 

The  prior  and  convent  at  Woodbridge,  were  seized  of  rent  in 
Bealings  Magna,  5s.,  and  Bealings  Parva,  2s. 

Major  Edward  Moor,  author  of  "  Oriental  Fragments,"  "  Hindoo 
Pantheon,"  "A  Suffolk  Glossary,"  &c.  has  a  neat  seat  in  this  parish. 


BEALINGS  PARVA,  or  PARUA  BELINGES. 

The  advowson  of  Little  Bealings  belonged  to  Thetford  Priory ; 
and  at  the  dissolution,  32nd  Henry  VIII.,  was  granted  to  Thomas 
Ihike  of  Norfolk,  who  sold  it  to  the  Seckford  family. 

The  village  and  its  picturesque  valley  were  little  known,  and  sel- 
dom noticed,  until  Perry  Nursey,  Esq.,  began  to  improve  lu's  estate, 
and  laid  out  the  grounds  in  the  best  style  of  ornamental  planting. 

Tlu's  property,  called  "  The  Grove,"  Mr.  Nursey  sold,  about  the 
year  1824,  to  James  Colvin,  Esq.,  an  active  East  India  director; 
who  has  expended  large  sums  in  further  improving  the  grounds, 
making  other  purchases  of  land,  and  in  erecting  the  greater  part  of 
the  present  mansion,  in  addition  to  the  original  house. 

In  1372,  John  de  Iselford  was  rector  of  this  church,  and  ex- 
changed with  Richard  Ugman  for  the  rectory  of  Moulton  Parva,  in 
Norfolk.  At  that  period  the  prior  of  the  Cluniac  Monastery,  at 
Thetford,  was  patron  of  this  church. 


BRIGHTWELL. — BRIHTEWELLA,  or  BRIHTOLUESTANA. 

In  the  1st  of  King  Edward  II.,  John  Cavell  was  seated  at  Bright- 
well  Hall ;  he  left  Agnes  his  sole  daughter  and  heiress,  who  married. 


44  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND    COLNEIS. 

to  Lampet,  a  descendant  of  whom  is  the  John  de  Lampet 

mentioned  by  Kirby. 

The  Jermy's  were  owners  of  this  lordship  in  the  time  of  King 
Henry  VIII.,  if  not  earlier,  and  appear  to  have  been  seated  here. 

Sir  John  Jenny,  K.B.5/son  of  Edmund  Jermy,  of  Metfield,  in 
Mendham,  Esq.,  was  lord  of  this  manor ;  and  purchased  of  Sir  Thos, 
Pope,  grantee,  the  lordships  of  Foxhall,  Coddeiiham,  Greeting,  and 
Stonham,  which  lately  belonged  to  the  Priory  at  Ipswich.  Sir 
Thomas  Pope  died  in  1558,  the  1st  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

This  Sir  John  Jermy  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
Teye,  Knt.,  by  whom  he  had  Francis  Jermy,  Esq.  (the  person 
whom  Mr.  Kirby  says  held  this  lordship  in  the  time  of  the  said 
Queen.)  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Wm. 
Fitz- Williams,  Knt.,  of  the  kingdom  of  Ireland,  and  had  issue — 

Sir  Thomas  Jenny,  K.B.,  who  married  Jane,  daughter  and  heiress 
of  Edward  Stuart  (or  Styward),  of  Feversham,  in  Cambridgshire, 
Esq.,  and  Jane,  who  married  Sir  Henry  Sidney,  of  Walsingham,  in 
Norfolk;  where  they  were  both  intened  ;  Sir  Henry  in  1612,  and 
his  wife  in  1638. 

Sir  Thomas  had  issue,  by  the  said  marriage,  four  sons :  Thomas, 
Edmund,  John,  and  William.  The  property  about  this  period, 
became  vested  in  the  family  of  Hewett. 

Sir  William  Hewett,  Knt.,  sold  it  to  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield,  of 
Letheringham,  Bart  ;  and  Sir  Richard,  his  son,  sold  it  to  Thomas 
Essington,  Esq.,  who,  in  1655,  was  a  resident  here,  and  repaired  at 
his  own  expense  the  almost  ruined  church*,  rebuilt  the  steeple,  and 
new  seated  the  nave  and  chancel,  in  which  is  a  vault,  the  entrance 
to  the  same  having  a  marble  slab,  with  "  The  Essington's  Vault," 
inscribed  thereon. 

The  chancel  also  contains  two  small  monuments  of  alabaster,  the 
work  of  a  German,  whose  ancestors  were  Italians.  These  are  me- 
morials to  two  of  the  children  of  Thomas  Essington,  Esq.,  and 
Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  John  Janson,  of  Ashbye  Ledger,  in 

*  A  neat  view  of  this  church  and  font,  from  a  drawing  by  J.  G.  Lenny,  is  given 
in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  1829,  Part  ii.  p.  209  ;  accompanied  with  some 
topographical  notes  from  a  manuscript  of  the  time  of  Charles  II.,  presented  to  the 
College  of  Arms,  in  1803,  by  the  late  Lord  Thurlow  ;  and  communicated  by  the 
Rev.  Frederick  Henry  Tumor  Barnwell,  F.R.S.  and  F.A.S.,  with  some  additional 
remarks  from  the  pen  of  that  gentleman  ;  from  which  this  enlarged  notice  of  the 
parish  is  principally  derived. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  45 

Northamptonshire,   Esq.      Their  children,   living  in   1602,  were 
John,  Martha,  and  Samuel. 

The  Barnardiston  family  succeeded  that  of  Essington,  and  con- 
tinued lords  here  several  years.  Sir  Samuel  Barnardiston,  Bart., 
so  created  May  11,  1063,  was  third  son  of  Sir  Nathaniel  Barnar- 
diston, of  Kedington,  in  this  county,  Knt.,  and  Jane  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Sir  Stephen  Soame,  of  Great  Thurlow,  in  this  county, 
Knt.  He  married,  first,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Brand,  of  Edward- 
stone,  in  this  county,  Esq. ;  and  secondly,  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir 
Abraham  Keynardson,  Knt.,  Lord  Mayor  of  London. 

Sir  Samuel  died,  without  issue,  in  1707,  and  the  title,  as  settled 
by  the  patent,  descended  to  Ms  nephew  Samuel,  eldest  son  of 
Nathaniel,  his  elder  brother;  who  also  died  without  issue,  in  1709, 
when  the  title  descended  to  Nathaniel  Barnardiston,  another 
nephew  of  Sir  Samuel,  the  first  baronet,  and  eldest  son  of  his 
younger  brother ;  who  died  in  1711,  without  issue  male,  and  the 
title  became  extinct. 

This  property  afterwards  passed  to  the  family  of  Shaw  ;  then  to 
John  Vemon,  of  Wherstead,  in  this  county,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1818  ; 
when  Sir  Robert  Harland,  of  Nacton,  Bart.,  inherited  in  right  of  his 
wife,  sister  and  heiress  of  Mr.  Vernon,  who  is  the  present  proprietor. 

A  very  curious  and  scarce  print,  from  a  drawing  by  Knyff,  gives 
a  bird's-eye  view  of  the  mansion  here,  the  out-buildings,  plantations, 
and  a  large  piece  of  water,  attached  to  it.  About  the  year  1730, 
tliis  mansion  was  taken  down,  on  the  site  of  part  of  which  a  farm 
house  remains. 

ARMS. — Jermy :  argent;  a  leopard  saliant  guarclant,  gules; 
sometimes  emblazoned,  argent ;  a  lion  rampant  guardant,  gules : 
crest, — a  griffin  passant,  proper.  Wingfield :  argent ;  on  a  bend, 
gules,  between  two  bendlets,  or  cottises,  sable,  three  hawks'  lures, 
or  wings,  conjoined.  Barnardiston  :  azure ;  a  fess  dancette,  er- 
mine, between  six  cross  crosslets,  argent. 


BUCKLE  SHAM,  or  BUKELESHAM. 

But  little  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  this  parish.  In  the 
•3rd  year  of  Richard  II.,  Catherine  Brewse  held  Bucklesham,  with 
many  other  manors  in  this  county,  of  the  King,  in  capite,  and  be- 


40  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

cause  she  had  taken  on  her  the  habit  of  a  nun :  she  held  on 
the  day  of  her  profession,  in  her  demesne,  half-a-knight's-fee  in 
-Foxhall,  Kesgrave,  and  Bucklesham ;  and  William  de  Ufford,  Earl 
of  Suffolk,  the  son  of  Margaret,  the  sister  of  Thomas  de  Norwich, 
the  father  of  the  said  Catherine,  is  her  next  heir.* 

Sir  Philip  Broke,  of  Nacton,  Bart.,  is  the  present  owner  of  this 
lordship,  and  patron  of  the  advowson. 

In  1318,  John  de  Northstrete  de  Buklesham,  priest,  was  collated 
by  John  Salmon,  at  that  time  Bishop  of  Norwich,  to  the  deanery  of 
Thetford. 


BURGH,  or  BURGH. 

In  the  time  of  Charles  I.,  the  Clenches  had  property,  amounting 
to  about  ;£.300  per  annum,  in  this  parish;  and  one  of  the  sons  of 
the  Judge  Clench,  of  Holbrook,  made  it  his  chief  residence. 

Maud  de  Lancaster,  Countess  of  Ulster,  gave  the  advowson  of 
this  church  to  the  chauntry,  which  she  founded  in  1348,  within 
the  chapel  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  in  the  nunnery  of  Campsey, 
in  this  county,  for  five  priests  to  pray  for  the  health  of  the  souls  of 
William  de  Burgh,  her  first  husband,  sometime  Earl  of  Ulster,  and 
of  the  good  estate  of  her  two  daughters,  during  their  lives,  and  of 
their  souls  after  their  death.  In  1354,  this  chauntry  was  removed 
to  Eokehall,  in  Bruisyard.  The  Countess  married  to  her  second 
husband,  Ralph  de  Ufford ;  and  Burgh  church  was  given  to  this 
nunnery,  on  condition  that  it  should  find  some  chaplains  to  cele- 
brate for  the  soul  of  the  said  Ralph. 

Mr.  Barnes,  of  Sotterley,  who  held  a  lordship  in  this  parish  in 
1764,  purchased  the  same,  with  the  advowson,  from  the  family  of 
Betts  ;  and  his  representative  still  owns  it. 

The  prior  and  convent  at  Woodbridge,  were  seized  of  14s.  lid. 
rent,  in  this  parish. 

*  The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia,"  makes  the  demesne  of  this  parish  to  have 
been  in  Sir  William  de  Kerdiston,  who,  he  says,  died  possessed  of  the  same  in  the 
35th  of  King  Edward  III. ;  and  was  succeeded  by  Sir  William  de  Kerdiston,  his 
sou  and  heir.  This  is  an  entire  mistake,  and  relates  to  Bulchamp,  in  Blithing 
Hundred. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFOR1)  AND  COLN'EIS.  17 

June  15,  1814,  died  the  Eev.  Benjamin  Dawson,  L.L.D.,  rector 
of  tliis  parish,  aged  85  years,  and  in  the  54th  of  his  incumbency. 
As  a  divine,  Mr.  Dawson  was  eminent  for  his  extensive  acquaintance 
with  every  branch  of  theology ;  as  a  critic,  for  the  correctness  of  his 
structures,  and  the  perspicuity  of  his  remarks  ;  and  was  not  less 
distinguished,  as  a  philologist,  for  the  accuracy  of  his  judgment, 
and  the  depth  of  his  research. 

He  was  the  author  of  several  treatises  on  various  subjects  of  the- 
ology and  criticism ;  but  the  chief  work,  on  wliich  he  had  been 
long  engaged,  and  of  which  a  small  part  only  is  published,  was  a 
Philological  Dictionary  of  the  English  Language  :  a  work  winch 
evinces  a  profound  knowledge  of  the  theory  of  language,  and  which, 
so  far  as  it  is  completed,  has  extended  the  bounds  of  philological 
science,  and  enriched,  in  no  inconsiderable  degree,  the  stores  of 
etymology, 

CHARITIES. — Three  cottages  occupied  by  poor  persons  rent  free. 
— Certain  inclosures,  containing  altogether  about  dO  acres,  and 
let  at  the  annual  rent  of  £.10  11s.  Gd.  This  property  is  partly 
freehold  and  partly  copyhold,  and  is  situated  in  tliis  parish,  with 
the  exception  of  IA.  2n.,  wliich  lays  in  the  parish  of  Gruudisburgh. 
The  rents  are  applied  in  repairs  of  the  cottages,  repairs  of  the 
church,  and  other  expenses  of  the  churchwardens'  office ;  and  the 
property  is  vested  in  trustees,  chosen  from  time  to  time  by  the  con- 
tinuing trustees,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish 


CLOPTON. — CLOPETUNA,  or  CLEFTUNA. 

The  Clop  ton's,  of  Kentwell,  in  Melford,  derived  their  name  from 
this  village,  from  which  they  were  probably  very  early  detached,  as 
there  is  no  record  of  their  having  any  possessions  here. 

In  the  4  3rd  of  King  Edward  III.,  Bartholomew  deBurghershe  died 
seized  of  a  lordship  in  this  parish ;  and  Edward  Lord  De-spencer, 
Ms  son-in-law,  died  in  the  49th  of  the  same  reign,  seized  thereof. 

Anne,  daughter  of  the  said  Edward  Lord  De-spencer, who  married, 
first,  Sir  Hugh  Hastings,  of  Elsing,  and  Gressinghale,  in  Norfolk, 
Knt. ;  and  secondly,  Thomas  Lord  Morley,  of  Hingham,  in  the 
same  county,  whom  she  survived.,  and  died  in  1426,  seized  of  this 
manor,  and  also  of  Blaxhall,  in  this  county. 


48  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

John  (not  Hugh)  Lord  Bardolf,  is  the  person  said  to  die 
seized  of  a  manor  here,  in  the  45th  of  the  above  reign,  and  William 
was  found  to  be  his  son  and  heir,  aged  14  years.  He  married  Agnes, 
daughter  of  Sir  Michael  Poynings,  and,  in  the  8th  of  King  Richard 
II.,  was  summoned  to  attend  the  King,  with  his  horses  and  arms, 
and  whole  service,  to  march  into  Scotland. 

He  died  the  following  year,  and  Thomas  Lord  Bardolf,  was 
found  to  be  his  son  and  heir,  aged  17  years.  He  gave  his  vote  for 
the  safe  custody  of  the  late  King,  Richard  II.,  in  the  1st  of  Henry 
IV. ;  and  being  in  arms  against  that  King,  in  his  ninth  year,  he 
was  attainted,  and  executed  for  rebellion. 

Sir  William  Bardolf,  his  brother,  inherited  the  estate,  with 
Scroteby,  in  Norfolk,  Clopton,  in  Suffolk,  &c.,  but  not  the  Barony 
of  Wrongey.  He  died  in  the  2nd  of  King  Henry  VI.,  without 
issue  ;  and  in  the  following  year,  Joan  his  widow,  and  Richard 
Selling  her  husband,  released  the  said  property,  for  an  annuity,  to 
the  ladies  Anne  Clifford,  and  Joan  Phelip,  daughters  and  co-heirs 
of  the  Lord  Bardolf  who  was  attainted. 

Anne  was  at  that  time  the  wife  of  Sir  William  Clifford,  and  af- 
terwards married  Sir  Reginald  Cobham  :  Joan  was  the  wife  of  Sir 
William,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Phelip,  of  Dennington,  in  this 
county,  and  Julian  his  wife,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  William 
Clopton,  Knt. 

Sir  William  Phelip  was  a  Knight  of  the  Garter,  and  Treasurer 
of  the  Household  to  King  Henry  V. ;  he  was  also  Chamberlain  to 
Henry  VI.,  who  granted  him  the  honour  of  Wrongey,  and  title  of 
Lord  Bardolf. 

He  died  in  1440,  seized  of  this  lordship,  and  also  of  Ilketshall, 
Brockley,  Brundish,  Cretingham,  Wilby,  and  Dennington,  in  this 
county ;  where  his  remains  were  interred,  and  in  our  notices  of 
which  parish,  some  further  particulars  of  him  will  be  given. 

ARMS. — Bardolf:    azure ;  three  cinquefoils,  or. 

The  Armiger's,  who  resided  at  Ottley,  held  lands  also  in  this  pa- 
rish, in  the  time  of  King  Richard  II.,  about  1388. 

In  Ryce's  M.S.  History  of  Suffolk  Families,  is  the  following 
note: — "In  the  church  of  Clopton,  Sept.  10,  1657,  I  could  not 
see  any  monuments,  except  one  in  the  chancel,  against  the  north 
wall,  for  Mr.  John  Causton,  Bachelier  in  Divinity.  He  was  of  the 
School  of  Walsingham,  and  had  been  Fellow  and  President  of 
Bennett  College,  in  Cambridge  ;  and  afterwards  Rector  of  Ottley, 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  49 

and  Rector  and  Patron  of  Clopton.  He  died  1631,  in  the  G4th 
yeare  of  his  age." 

At  that  time,  in  the  east  window  of  the  chancel,  was  the  ARMS  of 
Touchet :  gules ;  a  frett,  or ;  quartered  with  Revely  :  ermine  ;  a 
chevron,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — A  messuage,  in  four  tenements,  occupied  by  poor 
persons  rent  free. — Certain  meadows  and  inclosures,  containing  al- 
together 14  acres,  lately  let  for  seven  years,  at  £.32  a  year.  The 
above  premises  have  been  held  since  1489,  for  the  repairs  and 
maintenance  of  the  parish  church,  and  the  relief  of  the  poor. — The 
"Bell  Pightle,"  containing  about  l£  acres,  let  at  £.2  5s.  a  year. 
This  was  formerly  given  for  the  repairs  of  the  church  bells.  The 
rents  are  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  &c.,  and  the  sur- 
plus, when  any  remains,  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  winch 
are  distributed  among  the  poor. 


CULPHO,  or  CULFOLE. 

The  church  of  Culpho  was  given  by  Wilh'am  de  Valoines  to  the 
abbey  of  Leiston ;  and  William  Verdon,  who  married  his  daughter, 
confirmed  the  grant. 

The  family  of  the  Verdon's  were  seated,  for  many  generations,  at 
Brisingham,  in  Norfolk,  from  whence  they  removed,  about  1328,  to 
Martlesham,  in  this  county. 

It  afterwards  was  the  lordship  of  the  family  of  Wolferston  (or 
Wolveston),  who  resided  at  the  Hall.  In  1594,  Mr.  Tillotson  saw 
in  glass,  in  the  windows,  the  following  ARMS  : — 

France  and  England,  quarterly. 

argent ;  a  chevron,  gules. 

Wolveston  :  sable ;  a  fess  wavey,  between  three  wolves'  heads 
couped,  or. 

•  argent;    a  fess  dance,   between  two  dragons'  heads 
erased,  sable. 

argent;   on  a  fess  dance  (3  points),  sable,  between 

3  dragons'  (or  griffins')  heads  erased,  of  the  2nd,  5  cinquefoils,  or. 

In  the  19th  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign,  the  impropriation 
was  granted  to  Edward  Grimston,  of  Trimley,  Esq. 

In  1660,  it  was  the  property  of  Sir  William  Blois:   whose  de- 


50  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

scendant,  Sir Blois,  Bart.,  sold  it,  when  they  removed  their 

seat  from  Grundisburgh  to  Cockfield  Hall,  Yoxford,  to  Brampton 
Gurdon  Dillingham,  Esq.,  in  whose  family  the  manor  is  now  vested. 
CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £.5  a  year  is  payable  under  the  dona- 
tion of  Sir  M.  Stanhope,  for  poor  persons  of  this  parish.  The  sum 
actually  paid  is  &A  14s.  ft^d.,  the  residue  being  deducted  on  ac- 
count of  land  tax ;  and  it  is  distributed  among  poor  widows  and 
others,  by  the  parish  officers.* 


FALKENHAM. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  I.,  this  lordship  was  held  by  Sir 
Kobert  de  Sackville,  Knt.,  of  the  honour  of  Eye.  His  descendants 
were  seated  at  Buckhurst,  in  Sussex,  and  were  ancestors  of  the 
Dukes  of  Dorset  and  Middlesex.  This  manor,  with  divers  others 
in  the  county,  were  given  in  exchange  for  the  castle,  manor,  and 
chase  of  Eising,  in  Norfolk,  to  King  Henry  VIII.,  in  the  3Gth 
year  of  his  reign,  by  Thomas  Howard,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  his 
son  Henry,  Earl  of  Arundel  and  Surry. 

The  priory  of  Dodnash,  in  Bentley,  was  endowed  with  the  tythe 
of  barley  in  this  parish.  The  vicarage  was  granted  to  Cardinal 
Wolsey,  for  the  endowment  of  his  college  in  Ipswich,  and  is  now 
vested  in  the  Crown  :  the  present  incumbent  is  the  Rev.  John  Edgar, 
of  Felixstow  ;  who  has  lately,  at  his  sole  expense,  repaired  and 
ornamented  the  church. 

There  are  two  manors  in  Ealkenham,  Dodnash,  and  Eussells, 
formerly  vested  in  the  Barker's,  of  Trimley.  The  former  is  at  pre- 
sent  in  liis  Grace  the  Duke  of  Hamilton  and  Brandon,  and  the 
latter'  in  Eicliard  Norton  Cartwright,  of  Ixworth  Abbey,  Esq. 

CHARITIES.  —  In  1625,  the  Rev.  John  Webb  devised  a  copyhold 
estate  in  this  parish  for  the  poor,  not  receiving  parochial  relief  :  it 
comprises  three  cottages,  in  tenements,  with  a  garden,  and  about 
4  A.  ]R.  of  land,  let  at  rents  amounting  to  £.15  6s.  a  year;  which, 
after  deducting  for  quit  rents  and  repairs,  is  distributed  annually 
among  poor  persons,  by  the  trustees  and  churchwardens. 


*  For  a  more  particular  account  of  the  above  charity,  see  the  parish  of  Sutton 
in  Wilford  Hundred. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  51 


FELIXSTOW. — FYLCHESTOWE,  or  FYLSTOW. 

The  shore  here  is  hold  and  steep,  heing  composed  of  a  hard  snnd, 
intermixed  with  shingle,  and  perfectly  free  from  ooze ;  and  the 
marine  view  delightful.  During  the  late  war  several  martcllo  towers 
were  erected  here,  for  the  protection  of  the  coast,  which  have  since 
teen  removed,  and  the  materials  disposed  of. 

On  the  cliff,  ahout  three  miles  from  Landguard  Fort,  is  situated 
Felixstow  Cottage,  the  residence  of  Sir  Samuel  Fludger,  Bart.  It 
was  formerly  a  mere  fisherman's  hut,  and  was  purchased  by  the  ec- 
centric Philip  Thicknesse,  Esq.,  then  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the 
Fort,  for  .£.55 ;  whose  taste,  aided  by  the  embellishments  of  his 
wife's  pencil,  soon  converted  it  into  a  charming  occasional  retreat ; 
and  here  they  resided  during  the  summer  months. 

On  relinquishing  his  Lieutenant  Governorship,  he  disposed  of 
this  cottage  to  the  dowager  Lady  Bateman,  for  £.400  :  about  half 
the  money  which  he  had  expended  upon  it.  The  grandmother  of 
the  present  possessor  (Sir  Samuel  Fludger,  Bart.),  purchased  it  for 
£.2000.* 

From  the  great  number  of  Roman  remains,  such  as  urns,  rings, 
coins,  &c.,  that  have  been  discovered  here,  it  must  have  been  a 
place  of  considerable  importance  during  the  time  this  country  was 

under  the  Eoman  yoke.     In  1748-5,  the  Rev. Myers,  then 

vicar  of  Walton,  formed  a  considerable  collection  of  nearly  4000,  in 
gold,  silver,  and  brass ;  among  them  was  a  splendid  brass  medallion 
of  Anthony  and  Cleopatra ;  Maximinian,  with  the  reverse  "  Jovi 
Co?iservatori,"  and  Licinius,  "  Ubique  Victoris,"  in  gold;  Denarii 
of  Pescenuius  Niger,  Pertinax,  and  Albinus ;  and  in  large  and  middle 
brass,  from  Augustus  to  the  Constantines.  At  his  death,  his  va- 
luable cabinets  of  coins  and  antiques  were  left  by  will,  to  the  Rev 
William  Brown,  of  Saxmimdham ;  after  whose  decease  they  were 
sold,  by  Mr.  Sotheby,  of  London,  by  auction,  in  1827. 

*  An  engraving  of  the  cottage,  when  inhabited  by  Governor  Thicknesse,  on  a 
reduced  scale,  was  inserted  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine,  for  1816,  Part  ii.  p.  105  ; 
from  a  larger  one,  which  is  now  become  scarce,  and  an  animated  description  of 
this  dwelling,  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Thicknesse,  is  given  in  the  same  publication, 
for  1809,  Part  ii.  p.  1012,  as  extracted  from  the  "  Harwich  Guide  ;"  where  also 
the  present  appearance  of  the  cottage,  and  the  beautiful  marine  prospects  from  it, 
are  noticed. 


52  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND   COLNEIS. 

Felixstow  of  late  has  become  a  place  of  more  general  resort  than 
formerly :  bathing  machines  have  been  provided,  and  lodging  houses 
erected,  for  the  accommodation  of  occasional  visitors,  who  may  wish 
to  enjoy  its  delightful  and  invigorating  sea  breezes  in  quiet  and 
retirement. 

CHARITIES. — The  following  property,  which  is  mentioned  in  the 
parish  terrier  as  having  been  anciently  left  for  the  benefit  of  poor 
widows,  is  copyhold  of  the  manor  of  Walton,  with  Trimley,  and  is 
vested  in  trustees  : — a  cottage,  called  "  Squires,"  and  a  garden  ad- 
joining; two  parcels  of  land,  containing  together  IA.  3R. ;  a  cottage, 
called  "  Knock's  House,"  and  half-an-acre  of  land  ;  a  blacksmith's 
shop,  and  an  annuity,  or  customer,  yearly  payment  of  7s.,  out  of 
land  called  the  "Town  Piece,"  the  rents  of  which  amount  to 
;£.17  6s.  6d. ;  which,  after  deducting  for  repairs  and  necessary 
outgoings,  is  divided  equally  amongst  poor  widows,  in  quarterly 
payments. 


FOXHALL,  or  FOXEHOLA, 

Was  formerly  a  distinct  parish,  but  now  a  hamlet  to  Brightwell. 
About  the  time  of  Henry  II.,  Hugh  de  Dernford  gave  it  to  the 
Prior  and  Convent  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  in  Ipswich. 

The  Holbroke  family  had  property  in  this  parish ;  and  by  inqui- 
sition held  in  the  9th  year  of  Edward  I.,  it  belonged  to  John  de 
Holebroke. 

The  impropriation  was  granted,  in  the  36th  Henry  VIII.,  to  Sir 
Thomas  Pope,  Knt.,  who  sold  it,  with  the  manor,  to  Sir  John  Jenny. 

The  grange,  and  estate  called  "  Dernford's,"  situated  in  Foxhall 
and  Nacton,  belonged  to  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Sibton ;  and 
were  by  them  granted  to  Thomas  Howard,  Duke  of  Norfolk. 

In  1662,  the  manor  and  patronage  of  the  church  belonged  to 
Thomas  Essington,  of  Brightwell  Hall,  Esq.,  and  was  afterwards 
the  property  of  Sir  Samuel  Barnardiston,  Bart. ;  from  whose  family 
it  passed  to  that  of  Shaw,  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  John  Shaw,  of 
Eltham,  in  Kent.,  Bart.,  in  1716,  with  Anna  Maria,  eldest  daughter 
and  co-heiress  of  Sir  Thomas  Barnardiston,  Bart. ;  and  Sir  John 
Gregory  Shaw,  his  grandson,  inherited  the  same.  It  now  belongs 
to  Sir  Robert  Harland,  Bart.,  of  Orwell  Park,  in  Nacton. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  5$ 

GRUNDISBURGH. — GRUNDESBURCH,  or  GRUNDESBURH. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  II.,  Sir  Robert  de  Tudenham  was 
lord  of  this  manor,  and  patron  of  the  living ;  and  in  the  following 
reign  one  of  his  descendants  gave  the  said  advowson  to  Michael 
House  (now  Trinity  College),  Cambridge ;  in  whose  patronage  it 
still  continues. 

In  1392,  the  15th  of  King  Richard  II.,  Sir  John  de  Tudenham 
was  owner  of  this  lordship,  with  Gorton  and  Lound,  in  the  hundred 
of  Lothingland. 

The  family  of  Blois,  who  became  seated  at  Grundisburgh  Hall  in 
the  time  of  King  Henry  VII.,  and  were  owners  of  a  good  estate  in 
tlu's  parish,  were  of  French  extraction,  and  came  into  England  at 
the  conquest;  first  settling  at  Norton,  in  this  county.  Thomas 
Blois,  who  lived  there  in  1470,  was  father  of  Thomas  Blois,  of  the 
same  place,  whose  son  Thomas,  married  Margery,  the  daughter  of 
William  Styles,  of  Ipswich,  and  had  issue  : — 
Richard  Blois,  of  Grundisburgh,  died=Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Roger  Hill,  of 

in  1559.    j |          Needham. 

William  Blois,  died  in  1607.         = Alice,  daughter  of  William  Nottingham. 


William  Blois,  died  in  1621.         = Frances,  daughter  of  John  Tye,  of  Ips- 

j . jj         wich. 

William  Blois,  died  in  1673.         ==Cicely,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Wing. 

T I          field,  Knt. 

Sir  William  Blois,  Knt.  = Martha,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Brooke, 

of  Cockfield  Hall,  in  Yoxford. 

He  married,  secondly,  Jane,  daughter  of  Sir  Nathaniel  Barnardiston, 
relict  of  John  Brooke,  Esq.,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Robert  Brooke,  above- 
named.  Sir  William  died  in  1675;  and  his  youngest,  and  only 
surviving  son,  Charles  Blois,  Esq.,  succeeded ;  and  was  created  a 
Baronet,  in  1686. 

Sir  Charles  served  in  Parliament,  for  Ipswich,  in  1689,  and  for 
Dunwich,  in  1698:  he  removed  to  Cockfield  Hall,  in  1693,  upon 
the  death  of  Mary  Brooke,  his  mother's  sister,  the  only  surviving 
child  of  Sir  Robert  Brooke,  and  died  in  1738.  Brampton  Gurdon 
Dillingham,  Esq.,  purchased  tin's  estate  of  the  Blois's,  and  resided 
here.  It  is  now  the  occasional  residence,  and  estate  of  Brampton 
Gurdon,  of  Letton,  Esq. 

In  the  will  of  Walter  de  Suffield  (alias  Calthorpe),  Bishop  of 
Norwich,  dated  1256,  at  the  Palace  of  Hoxne,  is  this  bequest: — 


54  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

'''  To  Daniel  de  Beccles,  a  standing  cup  and  20  marks,  for  the 
goods  lie  had  of  Master  William  de  Horham,  all  expences  that  he 
did  about  Grundeshurgh  church  heing  deducted." 

In  1375,  Cardinal  de  Alenconio,  an  Italian,  was  made  rector  of 
this  parish,  and  Archdeacon  of  Suffolk,  by  the  Pope's  provisions ; 
"  which  now,"  Fuller  observes,  "  were  grown  to  be  a  general  grie- 
vance to  the  nation,  for  when  any  bishopric,  abbacy,  prebend,  or 
good  living,  was  like  to  be  void,  the  Pope  predisposed  such  places, 
to  such  successors  as  he  pleased.  This  so  displeased  the  clergy, 
that  they  petitioned  the  Parliament  against  such  provisors,  and 
among  others,  against  this  Cardinal,  who  always  resided  at  Rome, 
and  expended  the  revenues  of  his  preferment  there.,  to  the  detriment 
of  this  nation." 

In  1378,  Adam  de  Lakingheath,  priest,  was  rector  of  this  parish, 
which  he  exchanged  for  Banham,  in  Norfolk. 

In  1558,  Alice  Driver,  of  this  parish,  suffered  martyrdom,  at 
Ipswich,  for  her  faithful  adherauce  to  the  doctrines  of  the  reformed 
protestant  religion.  She  had  been  previously  placed  under  confine- 
ment in  Melton  gaol,  with  one  Alexander  Gouche,  of  Woodbridge ; 
who  also  suffered  at  the  same  time  and  place. 

ARMS. — Tudenham:  lozenge,  argent  and  gules.  Blois:  gules; 
a  bend,  vaire,  between  two  fleur-de-lis,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  "  Town  Estate"  here,  comprises  some  cottages, 
and  about  28  acres  of  land,  in  different  closes  in  the  parish  ;  and  it 
appears  from  old  writings,  to  have  been  derived  under  a  grant  from 
the  Rev.  John  Yate,  formerly  of  Burgh,  and  to  have  been  vested  in 
feoffees  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.,  in  order  that  the  rents  and 
profits  should  be  employed  to  the  use  and  benefit  of  this  parish,  in 
such  manner  and  form  as  the  same  had  been  anciently  used  and 
employed.  The  rent  of  the  cottages  and  land  together,  appears  to 
be  about  £.35  a  year,  which  have  been  applied  to  the  reparation  of 
the  church.  But  the  commissioners  found  some  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining satisfactory  information  respecting  this  property,  and  re- 
commended the  appointment  of  new  trustees. — An  annual  sum  of 
52s.  is  paid,  as  a  rent  charge,  issuing  out  of  a  piece  of  land  in  this 
parish  ;  and  it  is  applied  in  furnishing  Is.  worth  of  bread  weekly ; 
which  is  distributed  at  the  church,  among  the  poor.  This  charity 
was  given  by  the  will  of  Robert  Thinge,  who  died  in  1730.  He 
also  bequeathed  an  estate  for  the  erection  of  a  new  steeple  to  this 
parish  church,  the  old  one  having  become  ruinous ;  which  estate 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  55 

was  sold  by  Mr.  Thinge's  executors,  and  the  produce  expended  in 
the  erection  of  the  present  building. — John  Lucock  gave  by  will, 
out  of  certain  monies  therein  mentioned,  to  purchase  .£.300,  5  per 
cent.  Consolidated  Bank  Annuities,  the  dividends  to  be  applied,  in 
the  sum  of  .£.5  a  year  in  the  purchase  of  3d.  loaves,  to  be  distributed 
every  Sunday  in  the  year,  to  poor  people  residing  in,  or  belonging 
to  this  parish  ;  and  £  5  a  year  towards  the  maintenance  of  a  Sun- 
day school ;  the  residue  to  be  laid  out  in  bread  and  coals,  to  be 
distributed  on  Christmas-eve  yearly,  amongst  poor  widows  and 
widowers.  The  produce  of  this  bequest  are  applied  as  the  donor 
directed,  £.11  7s.  2d.  a  year. 


HASKETON. — HASCHETUNA,  or  HASCETUNA. 

David  de  Fletwick  was  early  eufeoffed  in  this  lordship,  and  it  was 
latterly  the  property  of  William  Castle,  Esq.,  an  officer  in  the 
guards  ;  at  about  the  same  period  Edmund  Jenney,  Esq.,  was  pro- 
prietor of  the  tythes,  and  not  the  rector. 

Theobald,  son  of  Kobert  Lord  Valoins,  endowed  the  Priory  and 
Convent  at  Hickling,  in  Norfolk,  which  he  founded  in  1185,  with 
this  parish  church ;  and  also  that  of  Parham,  in  Plomesgate  hundred. 

The  Prior  and  Convent  at  Woodbridge,  held  rents,  or  land,  in  tin's 
parish,  valued  at  19s.  6d. 

In  tin's  parish  church  there  is  yet  extant,  a  very  ancient  and 
ruinous  vault,  under  which  is  supposed  to  be  deposited  the  relics  of 
Mr.  John  Bull,  a  celebrated  champion  in  the  year  1640,  and  many  «/%  cji*^^ 
years  an  opulent  inhabitant  of  the  same  parish.     It  is  related  that     $   /\      / ' 
there  were  inclosed  within  his  coffin  twelve  swords,  and  as  many  ^ 
scabbards,  with  this  motto,  "  Nunc  quics.     Duodecim  mihi  gladii, 
ct  duodecim  mihi  vagina" 

In  1544,  Thomas  Thompson,  domestic  chaplin  to  John,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  held  tliis  living,  with  Garboldesham  St.  John,  in  Norfolk ; 
to  winch  he  was  presented,  in  1539,  by  the  said  Duke,  patron  of 
that  turn,  by  grant  from  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield,  Knt.,  true  patron. 

CHARITIES. — A  cottage,  and  about  five  acres  of  land,  devised  by 
Agnes  Emme,  by  will,  in  1488,  for  repairing  the  church,  let  on  a 
lease,  at  £.13  a  year:  the  rent  is  applied  to  the  general  repairs  of 
the  church. — Thomas  Tymme,  by  will,  in  1614,  conveyed  to  eigh- 


56  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

teen  trustees,  a  house,  barn,  and  18  acres  of  land,  in  this  parish,  in 
trust,  for  the  maintenance  of  two  of  the  most  impotent,  poor,  and 
aged  persons,  of  honest  life  and  conversation,  being  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Hasketon ;  such  as  the  trustees  for  the  time  being, 
should  think  most  fitting.  The  premises  were  let  on  lease  for  four- 
teen years,  from  1826,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £.31  10s. ;  which  sum, 
after  deducting  for  repairs  of  the  buildings,  is  divided  equally  be- 
tween two  aged  poor  women,  chosen  by  the  trustees. — Some  timber 
was  sold  off  the  estate  many  years  ago,  and  the  produce  was  laid 
out  in  the  purchase  of  certain  copyhold  premises,  which  let  for  £.9 
a  year ;  the  rent  is  divided  between  the  poor  people. — Alice  Osborne, 
by  will,  in  1678,  charged  the  Angel  Inn,  in  Woodbridge  (formerly 
the  Black  Boy),  with  the  payment  of  20s.  a  year;  to  be  distributed 
at  Christmas,  amongst  the  most  needy  poor  of  this  parish. — John 
Eutland,  by  will,  in  1776,  charged  Ins  estate  in  this  parish,  with  the 
payment  of  £.3  a  year,  for  three  coats  for  three  poor  men  in  this 
parish. — Mary  Brown,  who  died  in  1820,  bequeathed  the  interest 
of  £.100,  three  per  cent.  Consols,  to  be  given  away  to  the  selected 
poor  here. 


HELMLY. — HALMELEIA,  or  HELMELEA. 

Helmly  Hall  was  the  property  of  the  Kev.  George  Drury,  late 
rector  and  patron  of  Claydon,  and  Akenham,  in  this  county.  It 
still  continues  in  his  representative. 

The  Dukes  of  Norfolk  were  formerly  patrons  of  this  advowson ; 
but  since  1540,  or  thereabouts,  the  Crown  hath  presented. 


KESGEAVE. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  formerly  vested  in  the  Holbrooke 
family.  John  de  Holbrooke  possessed  it  in  the  9th  of  Edward  I. 
It  afterwards  belonged  to  the  Barnardiston's,  of  Brightwell. 

Kesgrave  Hall  was  purchased  about  30  years  since,  by  William 
Cunliffe  Shawe,  of  Singleton  Lodge,  Lancashire,  Esq. ;  and  is  now 
the  residence  of  his  son,  Robt.  Newton  Shawe,  Esq.,  a  Magistrate  and 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEI9.  57 

joint  Chairman  of  the  Woodbridge  quarter  sessions.  The  hall  is 
entirely  re-built,  and  the  grounds  and  gardens  are  most  tastefully 
disposed. 

Tlirough  the  marriage  of  his  ancestor,  Joseph  Shawe,  of  Liver- 
pool, Esq.,  with  Dorothy,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John 
Wingfield,  of  Hazleborough  Hall,  Derby,  Esq.,  Mr.  Shawe  is 
descended  from  Sir  Humphrey  Wingfield,  of  Brantham  Hall,  in 
this  county  ;  who  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  one 
of  the  Burgesses  in  Parliament  for  Ipswich,  in  the  time  of  King 
Henry  VIII. 


KIRTON. — KIRKTON,  KENETUNA,  KALLETUNA,  or  KIRKETUNA,  ' 

The  Dukes  of  Norfolk  were  anciently  patrons  of  this  living,  and 
probably  owners  of  the  lordship  ;  the  former  has  been  in  the  Crown 
since  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII. 

The  Rev.  John  Edgar,  of  Felixstow,  is  the  present  rector  of  this 
parish. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  somewhat  more  than  four  acres, 
was  awarded  under  an  Inclosure  Act,  passed  in  the  45th  Geo.  III., 
to  the  lord  of  the  manor,  the  rector,  churchwardens,  and  overseers, 
as  trustees,  with  power  to  let  the  land  ;  the  produce  thereof  to  be 
distributed  in  coals,  or  other  fuel,  among  the  poor. 


LEVINGTON,  or  LEUESTUNA. 

This  village  gave  birth  to  that  great  and  benevolent  man,  Sir 
Robert  Hitcham,  Knt.,  Serjeant  at  Law;  of  whom  Mr.  Ryce,  in 
his  manuscript  of  Suffolk  families,  gives  the  following  brief  notice : — 
"  In  Levington  was  born  Sir  Robert  Hitcham,  Knt.,  the  King's 
Serjeant,  who  gave  to  good  uses  Framliugham  Castle,  together 
with  the  lands,  and  mannour,  and  advowson,  worth  neere  a  thou- 
sand pounds  per  annum.  He  was  not  borne  to  £.200  per  annum 
(nor  to  £.20,  nor  to  2.,  in  the  margin),  and  rose  to  an  estate  of 
about  £.1,500  per  annu.  He  was  a  passionate  man,  but  had  a 
good  wit,  was  very  learned  in  the  lawes,  and  spoke  to  admiration. 


58  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

He  left  Robert  Butts,  Gent.,  his  sister's  sonne,  heire  to  his  estate 
in  Levington,  which  had  descended  upon  him  from  his  ancestours. 
Mr.  Butts  is  now  living,  this  year  1655." 

To  this  may  be  added,  that  he  acquired  the  rudiments  of  his 
education  at  the  Free  Grammar  School  of  Ipswich ;  and  at  an 
early  age,  removed  from  thence  to  Pembroke  College,  Cambridge ; 
where  he  directed  his  studies,  with  great  success,  to  the  profession 
of  the  law,  and  afterwards  entered  himself  at  Gray's  Inn. 

In  1596,  he  represented  the  borough  of  West  Looe,  in  Cornwall, 
in  Parliament;  in  1603,  he  was  appointed  Attorney  General  to  the 
Queen,  and  became  Lent  Eeader  at  Gray's  Inn  the  following  year : 
in  1616,  he  was  made  the  King's  senior  Serjeant  at  Law ;  upon 
which  he  received  the  honour  of  Knighthood. 

In  the  same  year  he  held  the  office  of  Town  Councillor  for  Ips- 
wich ;  and  was  chosen,  in  1623,  one  of  the  representatives  for 
Orford,  in  this  county,  and  so  continued  until  1628.  He  purchased 
the  Framlingham  property  in  1635,  and  about  the  same  period,  a 
house  in  Ipswich,  formerly  called,  and  well  known  as  "  Seckford 
House,"  or  the  "  Great  House,"  in  St.  Matthew's  (now  occupied  by 
William  Rodwell,  Esq.,  the  present  proprietor),  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Sir  Robert  made  Ins  will  in  the  following  year,  and  devised  his 
lordship  of  Burvalls,  in  this  parish,  to  his  nephew,  Robert  Butts, 
and  his  heirs,  subject  to  certain  payments  to  the  testator's  sister,  to 
whom,  and  to  her  heirs,  he  also  gave  a  certain  farm,  called  "  Wat- 
kins."  He  further  wills,  that  there  be  presently  built,  after  his 
decease,  one  Almshouse,  at  Levington,  for  six  female  persons,  of 
the  poorest  and  impotent  of  Levington  and  N  acton ;  the  same  to 
be  built  upon  his  tenement  near  the  street  there,  and  they  to  have 
the  like  allowance  in  all  things,  as  the  poor  of  Frarnlingham  are 
appointed  to  have :  to  begin  first  with  Levington,  and  so  successively. 

His  will  bears  date  the  8th  of  August,  1636,  and  he  deceased  the 
1 5th  of  the  same  month  and  year.  His  remains  were  interred  at 
Eramlingham ;  and  in  Mr.  Kirby's  account  of  that  parish,  his  be- 
nevolent bequests  to  that  town  are  particularized. 

The  advowson  is  consolidated  with  Nacton,  and  the  patronage  of 
it  belongs  to  Sir  Robert  Harland,  Bart. 

ARMS. — Hitcham  :    gules ;  on  a  chief,  or,  three  torteauxes. 

In  1801,  some  men,  in  digging  gravel,  half-a-mile  above  Le- 
vington  Creek,  discovered  an  urn,  containing  some  hundreds  of 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  59 

Roman  coins,  of  Gordian,  Maximus,  Postlmmus,  and  other  Em- 
perors and  Empresses  of  that  period. 


MARTLESHAM. 

Sir  John  de  Verdon  removed  to  this  parish  in  1328,  from  Bris- 
ingham,  in  Norfolk,  where  his  ancestors  had  resided  for  many  ge- 
nerations. Sir  Thomas  de  Verdon,  his  grandson,  succeeded,  who 
survived  but  a  few  months ;  when  Sir  John  de  Verdon,  second  son 
of  the  said  Sir  John  de  Verdon,  and  Maud  his  wife,  inherited. 

In  1305,  the  said  Sir  John  de  Verdon,  settled  this  estate  upon 
Isabel,  his  second  wife,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Visdelieu,  of 
Shotley,  in  tin's  county,  Knt.  ;  and  by  this  settlement  it  descended 
to  their  only  daughter  Isabel,  who  married  Sir  Imbert  Noon,  of 
Shelfhanger,  in  Norfolk,  in  or  about  1408. 

Sir  Henry  Noon,  Knt ,  succeeded ;  whose  son  and  heir,  Henry 
Noon,  Esq.,  greatly  increased  his  fortune  by  his  valiant  exploits. 
He  was  the  constant  attendant  of  King  Henry  V.,  in  the  French 
wars,  where  he  behaved  so  gallantly,  that  his  Majesty  rewarded  lu'm 
with  a  grant  of  the  castle,  lands,  and  lordship,  of  Tonde,  in  Nor- 
mandy. 

He  died  in  1465,  leaving  his  estate  to  Elizabeth  his  wife,  during 
the  minority  of  Henry  his  son,  and  then  to  him  and  his  heirs.  This 
property  continued  for  several  descents  in  the  said  family,  until  the 
death  of  Henry  Noon,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir 
John  Wingfield,  of  Letheringham,  in  tin's  county,  Knt.* 

ARMS. —  Verdon:  sable;  a  lion  rampant,  argent.  Noon:  or, 
a  cross,  engrailed,  vert. 

The  author  of  Magna  Britannia  makes  the  lordsliip  of  this  parish 
to  belong  to  Richard  Bruce. 

The  Prior  and  Convent  at  Woodbridge  held  rents,  lands,  and  a 
mill,  in  this  parish,  valued  at  79s. 

In  1764,  the  Goodwin's  held  the  lordship  and  advowson  here; 
and  it  is  now  vested  in  Mr.  Doughty,  of  Hoxne. 

Mem. — January  18,  1804,  the  garrison  of  Ipswich  marched  from 
thence  to  this  parish ;  where  they  were  joined  by  the  troops  from 

*  For  a  more  particular  account  of  the  Noon  family,  consult  Blomefield's  History 
of  Norfolk,  under  the  head  of  Shelf  hanger. 


60  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND   COLNEIS. 

Woodbridge,  under  the  command  of  Majors  General  Lord  Charles 
Fitzroy,  Lord  Paget,  and  Major  General  Smith.  The  troops, 
nearly  10,000  in  number,  presented  a  front  of  upwards  of  two 
miles. 

A  few  years  since,  some  labourers  employed  on  the  estate  of  the 
late  Miss  Capper,  in  this  parish,  discovered,  in  removing  an  old 
bank,  a  considerable  quantity  of  ancient  brass  instruments,  called 
"  Celts,"  some  of  which  are  now  deposited  in  the  Museum  of  the 
Literary  Institution,  Ipswich. 


NACTON,  or  NACHETUNA. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  dynasty,  the  Danes, 
who  had  become  a  powerful  people  in  the  north,  turned  their  atten- 
tion southward,  and  at  various  times  infested  these  coasts,  with  a 
view  of  finally  getting  possession  of  the  country.  Suffolk  shared  in 
the  general  calamity,  resulting  from  the  depredatory  incursions  of 
these  lawless  plunderers.  Within  the  space  of  ten  years,  they  pi- 
laged  the  town  of  Ipswich  twice ;  first,  in  or  about  the  year  991, 
and  again  in  1000. 

In  the  latter  period,  Ulfketel,  desirous  of  restoring  the  fortunes 
of  his  degraded  country,  risked  a  battle  with  the  Danes,  at  N  acton ; 
but  his  vigorous  and  persevering  courage  proved  unavailing.  He 
sustained  a  signal  defeat,  and  the  Danish  triumphs  were  complete. 
The  whole  of  East-Anglia  was  over-run ;  neither  towns  nor 
churches  were  spared,  unless  redeemed  by  the  inhabitants  with  large 
sums  of  money,  and  the  most  dreadful  outrages  were  every  where 
committed. 

The  Fastolf  family,  who  were  patrons  of  the  living,  and  probably 
owners  of  this  lordship,  appear  also  to  have  resided  here.  Weever 
gives  two  inscriptions  from  this  church,  to  members  of  that  house, 
namely :  Nicholas,  son  of  Thomas  FastalfF,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1479  ; 
and  Eichard  FastahT,  another  son,  who  died  the  same  year.  There 
were  also  formerly  to  be  seen  in  this  church,  the  ARMS  of  Fastolf, 
of  Suffolk :  quarterly,  or  and  azure ;  on  a  bend,  gules,  three  es- 
callops, argent ;  impaling  Windliam.  Fastolf :  and  gules ;  a 
chevron  between  ten  cross  crosslets,  or : — Kijme.  Also,  Fastolf : 
and  per  pale,  sable  and  argent ;  a  lion  rampant,  counterchanged. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  61 

In  the  clmrch  of  St.  Margaret,  in  Ipswich,  were  formerly  the 
same  arms  ;  and  Fastolf:  and  argent,  three  chevronels  : — Water- 
vile,  quarterly.  The  Suffolk  branch  of  the  family  also  quartered, 
Mandevile,  Bra/tain,  and  Tye ;  and  impaled  Tyrrell. 

The  manor  and  estate  passed  from  the  Fastolf  family  to  that  of 
Broke,  by  marriage,  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII.  Tlu's  family, 
which  has  been  itself  of  great  importance  for  several  centuries, 
traces  its  remote  descent  to  a  common  ancestor  with  the  Brooke's 
of  Leighton;  the  Brooke's  of  Norton  (created  Baronets  in  1662) ; 
and  the  Brooke's  of  Mere  :  namely,  William  de  la  Brooke,  son  of 
Adam,  lord  of  Leighton,  antecedent  to  the  reign  of  Henry  III. 

The  Philip  Broke,  Esq.,  mentioned  by  Kirby,  as  being  at  that 
period  in  possession  of  tlu's  estate,  and  who  had  previously  repre- 
sented the  borough  of  Ipswich  in  parliament,  was  great  nephew  of 
Sir  Eobert  Broke,  Bart.,  of  this  parish,  whom  he  also  mentions. 
Tin's  Philip  married,  in  1732,  Anne,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Martin 
Bowes,  Esq.,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's. 

Philip  Bowes  Broke,  Esq.,  his  only  son,  succeeded.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter,  and  eventually  heiress,  of  the  Rev.  Charles 
Beaumont,  of  Witnesham,  in  this  county ;  and  by  her,  left  at  Ins 
decease,  in  1801, — 

Sir  Philip  Bowes  Vere  Broke,  of  this  parish,  K.C.B.,  his  eldest 
son  and  successor ;  a  distinguished  naval  officer,  who  obtained  a 
baronetcy,  2nd  November,  1813,  in  consideration  of  the  gallant 
victory  he  had  achieved,  the  1st  of  June  previously,  as  Captain  of 
the  Shannon  ship  of  war,  over  the  United  States  frigate,  of  superior 
force,  the  Chesapeake. 

He  married  Sarah  Louisa,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Fowle  Mid- 
dleton,  Bart.,  of  Shrubland  Hall,  in  this  county,  and  died  January  2, 
1841.  His  eldest  son  and  successor,  Sir  Philip  Broke,  Bart.,  is  a 
Commander  in  the  Royal  Navy,  and  now  inherits  this  estate. 

That  brave  English  Admiral,  Edward  Vernon,  Esq.,  who  dintin- 
guished  himself  at  the  taking  of  Porto  Bello,  in  1739,  and  repre- 
sented Ipswich  in  parliament  from  1740  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  took  place  in  1757,  was  a  resident  of  this  parish. 

He  bequeathed  the  chief  of  his  property  to  Francis  Vernon,  Ins 
nephew  ;  who  re-built  the  house  here,  and  enclosed  the  park ;  and 
in  1762,  was  created  Baron  Orwell,  in  1776,  a  Viscount,  and,  the 
following  year,  Earl  of  Shipbroke  :  he  died  in  1783,  without  issue, 
and  the  title  became  extinct. 


62  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

John  Vernon,  Esq.,  his  nephew,  inherited  his  estate ;  who  ex- 
changed the  property  here  for  Wlierstead  Lodge,  in  Samford  hun- 
dred, with  Sir  Robert  Harland,  Bart. ;  who  married  Arethusa, 
daughter  of  the  late  Henry  Vemou,  Esq.,  of  Great  Thurlow,  in  this 
county;  niece  of  Francis,  Earl  of  Shipbroke,  and  sister  of  the 
above  John  Vernon,  Esq. 

Orwell  Park  is  now  the  seat  of  Sir  Robert  Harland,  only  son  of 
Admiral  Sir  Robert  Harland,  late  of  Sproughton,  in  this  county, 
Bart.,  so  created  March  16,  1771. 

ARMS. — Broke :  or;  a  cross  engrailed,  party  per  pale,  sable  and 
gules.  Harland :  or ;  on  a  bend  wavy,  between  two  sea  lions, 
sable,  three  bucks'  heads  cabossed,  argent. 

John  Tudenham,  chauntry  priest,  of  the  chauntry  of  Curties,  in 
the  church  of  Necton,  on  its  dissolution,  received  a  pension  of  £.6 
per  annum.  (Which  Mr.  Blomefield  supposes  mean  this  parish, 
and  not  Necton,  in  Norfolk.) 

Thomas  Peacock,  A.M.,  chauntry  priest  of  St.  Lawrence  church, 
at  Ipswich,  and  rector  of  tin's  parish,  was  installed,  April  23,  1554, 
Prebendary  of  the  fourth  stall  in  Norwich  Cathedral. 

John  Mole,  eminent  for  his  skill  and  knowledge  in  the  science  of 
algebra,  died  at  Nacton,  Sept.  20, 1827,  in  the  85th  year  of  his  age. 
Mr.  Mole  was  a  native  of  Old  Newton,  near  Stowmarket,  in  this 
county.  In  the  above  science  he  was  not  indebted  to  any  in- 
struction from  others,  but  acquired  his  intimate  knowledge  of  this 
difficult  branch  of  arithmetic  solely  from  himself. 

In  1788,  he  published  "Elements  of  Algebra,"  and  the  reviews 
of  that  period  expatiate  largely  on  the  merits  of  this  treatise,  and 
speak  of  it  in  terms  of  the  highest  commendation.  Mr.  Mole  was 
also  a  contributor  to  the  "  Ipswich  Magazine,"  published  in  1799. 
He  was,  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  term,  a  self-taught  genius  ;  and 
in  the  study  and  pursuit  of  his  favourite  science,  had  deservedly 
attained  considerable  celebrity. 


ALNESBOURN  PRIORY,  or  ALVESBRUNNA,  is  situated  near 
the  river,  between  St.  Clement's,  in  Ipswich,  and  Nacton,  in  the 
ancient  parish  of  HALLOWTREE,  now  extra-parochial,  and  is  some- 
times written  ALBORN,  ALNESBURNE,  and  ALENSBORNE  ;  it  was  a 
small  priory  of  Augustine,  or  Black  Canons,  a  cell  to  Woodbridge. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  G3 

The  endowment  consisted  of  the  churches  of  Halghetree  (or  Hal- 
lowtree),  and  Carlton  St.  Mary,  and  the  manor  of  Alveshourne  and 
Nevils,  in  Hethcl,  in  Norfolk  ;  the  revenues  of  tin's  house  were  con- 
firmed to  the  Prior  and  Canons,  ahout  1280.  Kobert  de  Belsted, 
and  Kohert  de  Twait,  occur  as  benefactors,  in  1300. 

Its  history  is  involved  in  obscurity;  but  Albert  de  Neville  is 
supposed  to  have  been  concerned  in  its  foundation,  and  gave  the 
manor  of  Hethel,  and  the  advowson  of  Carlton  St.  Mary.  In  1315, 
the  Prior  here  was  returned  Lord,  and  it  remained  in  tins  priory 
till  1424,  when  John  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  others,  purchased  itr 
and  the  advowson  of  Carlton,  and  298  acres  of  land,  of  John  Tur- 
nour,  Prior  of  St.  Mary,  at  Alvesbourne,  and  the  convent  there,  for 
St.  Giles's  Hospital,  in  Norwich. 

The  valuation  in  Tax.  Eccles.  1291,  in  Suffolk,  in  fourteen  pa- 
rishes, £.5  8s.  9^.;  Norfolk,  in  eight  parishes,  £.6  10s.  O^d.  At 
the  dissolution,  £.7  14s.  4d.  In  1541,  it  was  granted  to  Sir  John 
Wingfield,  as  part  of  the  possessions  of  Woodbridge  Priory :  and 
in  the  same  year  John  Wingfield,  and  Dorothy  his  wife,  are  found 
to  hold  the  manor,  &c.,  of  Alvesburn,  in  tail,  by  the  sendee  of  a 
knight's  fee,  and  £A  4s.  lOd.  rent.  Sir  Philip  Broke,  Bart.,  is  the 
present  proprietor. 


NEWBOUKN. 

In  13G5,  Sir  John  de  Verdon  settled  the  lordship  of  this  parish 
upon  Isabel,  his  second  wife,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas Visdelieu, 
of  Shotley,  in  Samford  hundred,  Knt. ;  and  by  this  settlement,  it 
descended  to  their  only  daughter,  Isabel,  who  married  Sir  Imbert 
Noon,  of  Shelfhanger,  in  Norfolk,  in  or  about  1408  ;  and  it  pro- 
bably passed  with  the  Martlesham  estate  and  manor. 

The  Priory  of  Woodbridge  held  Haspely  manor,  in  this  parish  ; 
which  was  granted,  at  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  to  John 
Wingfield,  and  Dorothy  his  wife.  In  1764,  this  lordship,  with  the 

advowson,  were  vested  in  Western,  Esq.,  and  are  now  the 

estate  of  Sir  Joshua  KoAvley,  Bart. 


64  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

OTTLEY,  or  OTELEIA. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  of  John  de 
Paynell,  hut  afterwards  of  Kichard  Beauchamp,  Earl  of  Worcester, 
who  left  it  to  Elizabeth,  his  sole  daughter  and  heiress.  She  married 
Edward  Neville,  who  in  her  right  became  Lord  Bergavenny. 

They  had  issue  two  sons,  Eichard  and  George :  she  died  before 
her  husband ;  he,  by  the  courtesy  of  England,  enjoyed  this  lordship, 
and  her  other  possessions  for  life,  and  died  seized  thereof,  the  16th 
of  King  Edward  IV. ;  when  George  Neville,  Lord  Abergavenny 
became  seized  thereof,  Eichard,  his  elder  brother,  having  died 
without  issue. 

This  estate  afterwards  became  the  property  of  the  Eebow  family, 
and  now  belongs  to  General  Francis  Clater  Eebow,  of  Wivenhoe, 
Essex. 

The  Eectory  is  in  the  gift  of  the  Earl  of  Abergavenny,  and  the 
present  rector,  the  Eev.  Francis  Stor. 

The  family  of  Gosnold  were  for  many  generations  seated  in  this 
parish,  and  formed  many  honourable  alliances  with  the  Tollemache, 
Naunton,  Wingfield,  and  other  families. 

Ursula,  daughter  of  Anthony  Gosnold,  of  this  parish,  married 
Francis,  second  son  of  Gregory  Pratt,  by  Ann,  daughter  and  co- 
heir of  William  Cocket,  of  Besthorp,  in  Norfolk,  Esq.  Their  son, 
Edward  Pratt,  Esq.,  died  hi  1664,  without  issue. 

The  ancient  family  of  Armiger  were  interested  here.  In  the  1 1  th 
of  King  Eichard  II.,  Eobert  Armiger  held  a  messuage  and  lands  in 
this  parish,  called  "  Armiger's,"  and  lands  in  Clopton,  in  this 
county.  His  descendants  continued  to  reside  here  for  several  ages. 

John  Armiger,  of  Ottley,  died  in  1539  :  Thomas,  his  son,  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Heigham,  of  Heigham  Hall,  in 
Gazely,  in  this  county,  Esq.,  and  was  father  of  Thomas  Armiger, 
of  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  and  lord  of  Monewden,  in  this  county.  He 
married  Jane,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  Eyre,  Esq.,  receiver  of 
the  revenues  of  King  Edward  VI.,  in  Suffolk;  and  had  issue 
Thomas,  his  son  and  heir,  who  resided  at  Tlirandeston,  in  this 
county. 

CHARITIES. — The  yearly  sum  of  £.1,  given  by  Geofiry  Pleasants, 
for  the  poor  of  this  parish,  is  paid  by  the  Corporation  of  Ipswich, 
out  of  the  third  part  of  a  farm  in  Ottley,  belonging  to  Christ's 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  05 

Hospital,  at  Ipswich,  and  is  given  away  in  bread  to  the  most  needy 
poor,  by  the  churchwardens. 


PLAYFORD,  or  PLAGEFORDA. 

In  1227,  Thomas  de  Blumvillo  (or  Blundeville),  Bishop  of  Nor- 
wich, purchased  lands  in  this  parish ;  and  Harvey  Fitz  Peter  gave 
the  rent  of  half-a-mark,  with  certain  homages  here,  to  West  Dereham 
Abbey,  in  Norfolk.  Weever  has  this  notice  : — "  John  Felbrydge 
and  Margery  his  wief  in  the  glasse  windoo."  "  Thomas  Sampson, 
esquyer,  which  dyed  in  anno  1439,  and  Margery  his  wief."  In 
Playford  church. 

The  Felbrigg's  of  this  parish  were  a  junior  branch  of  a  family  of 
that  name,  very  early  seated  at  Felbrigg,  in  Norfolk,  of  whom  Mr. 
Parkin  gives  a  full  account,  in  his  history  of  that  parish ;  from 
which  we  collect  the  following  particulars,  concerning  this  Suffolk, 
or  younger  branch. 

John,  second  son  of  Sir  Roger  Felbrigg  (alias  Bigod),  and 
Cecilia  his  wife,  was  lord  of  Tuttington  Hall,  in  this  county,  in  the 
13th  of  King  Edward  III.,  by  the  gift  of  lu's  father ;  and  Roger, 
his  son,  held  the  same  in  the  41st  uf  that  reign. 

Sir  George  Felbrigg,  Knt.,  was  son  of  the  said  Roger ;  he  mar- 
ried, 1st,  Avice  (or  Amy),  relict  of  Edmund  de  Reedisham,  daughter 
and  heir  of  Sir  Roger  de  Hales,  by  whom  he  had  no  surviving 
issue.  His  second  wife  was  Margery,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir 
of  Sir  John  de  Aspale,  widow  of  Sir  Thomas  Naunton,  Knt. 

In  the  41st  of  Edward  III.,  the  King  wrote  to  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  his  Chancellor,  to  pardon  lu's  beloved  Esquire,  George 
de  Felbrigg,  for  money  due  to  the  Crown,  for  lands  granted  to  him 
on  forfeiture  :  about  the  end  of  lu's  reign,  he  was  Esquire  of  the 
Body  to  that  King. 

In  the  7th  of  King  Richard  II.,  he,  and  Margery  lu's  wife,  held 
the  lordships  of  Wortham  and  Ingham,  in  this  county.  He  was  in 
the  King's  army,  when  he  marched  into  Scotland,  in  his  9th  year ; 
was  Knighted  by  him  on  Ms  entrance  into  that  country,  and  had  a 
grant  of  £.40  per  annum,  for  life,  payable  out  of  the  issues  of 
Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  by  the  Sheriff;  was  appointed  one  of  the 
King's  Proctors,  in  his  10th  year,  to  conclude  a  league  with 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

William  Duke  of  Guelderland,  and  Thomas,  Duke  of  Gloucester 
and  Constable  of  England  ;  and,  in  the  1 5th  of  the  said  King,  one 
of  the  Lieutenants  in  the  Court  of  Chivalry,  to  hear  and  determine 
the  cause  between  the  Lords  Morley  and  Lovell. 

Sir  George  Felbrigg  died  in  1400,  and  was  buried  in  St.  Mary's 
church,  in  this  parish;  and  Margery  his  wife,  in  1419,  who  ap- 
pointed Kichard  Felbrigg,  her  second  son,  executor.  In  a  window 
of  the  church  of  Playford,  which  was  built  by  Sir  George,  was  his 
portrait,  and  that  of  his  second  wife,  with  the  arms  of  Felbrigg, 
impaling  Aspal. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Sir  John  Felbrigg,  his  eldest  son  and  heir, 
by  Margery  his  wife ;  who,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1423,  was  buried 
in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church,  in  which  were  formerly  the 
arms  of  Felbrigg  impaling  Waldegrave,  probably  his  lady. 

Sir  John  left  an  only  daughter  and  heir,  Margeiy,  who  married 
Thomas  Sampson,  Esq. :  he  inherited  this  property,  in  her  right, 
and  died  in  1489,  as  above.  His  quartered  coat  then  was,  Samp- 
son, quartering  Felbrigg,  and  Aspal. 

This  estate  continued  in  the  Sampson  family,  until  the  death  of 

Sir  Thomas  Sampson,  Knt.,  in .     Margery,   his  sister  and 

heiress,  married  Robert,  son  of  John  Felton,  Esq.,  of  Shotley,  who 
inherited  in  her  right ;  and  since  that  period  it  has  passed  the  same 
as  the  Shotley  property.  Frederick  William,  Marquess  of  Bristol, 
is  now  lord  and  patron. 

The  Hall,  which  exhibits  a  curious  specimen  of  ancient  domestic 
architecture,  is  now  the  residence  of  Thomas  Clarkson*,  Esq.,  whose 
benevolent  exertions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  are  well  known 
throughout  the  world. 

ARMS. — Blundeville  :  quarterly  per  fess  indented,  or  and  azure ; 
abend,  argent.  Felbrigg:  or;  a  lion  rampant,  gules,  armed,  azure. 
Sampson :  argent ;  a  cross  flory,  gules,  between  four  escallops,  sable. 


RUSHMERE. — RISCEMARA,  or  RYSCEMARA. 
In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  estate  of  Sir  John 

*  There  is  an  excellent  portrait  of  this  gentleman,  from  the  original,  by  A.  E. 
Chalon,  Esq.,  R.A.,  engraved  by  C.  Turner,  Esq.,  engraver  in  ordinary  to  bi» 
JMajesty  :  published  by  Mr.  Stephen  Piper,  of  Ipswich. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  67 

de  Holbrooke  ;  but  it  appears  to  have  passed  for  many  ages,  as  the 
foregoing  parish  of  Playford,  and  is  now  the  estate  of  the  same 
noble  proprietor,  Frederick  William,  Marquess  of  Bristol. 

A  villa  in  this  parish,  called  the  "  Roundwood,"  built  in  1700, 
was  bought  by  Horatio  Lord  Viscount  Nelson,  in  1798 ;  and  was 
the  residence  of  Lady  Nelson,  and  his  lordship's  venerable  father, 
until  1800,  when  it  was  sold  to  Robert  Fuller,  Gent.  It  is  now 
the  property  and  residence  of  Frederick  William  Shrieber,  Esq.* 

Mem. — October  5,  1807,  the  Duke  of  York,  accompanied  by  the 
Duke  of  Cambridge  and  Cumberland,  with  a  long  train  of  nobility 
and  general  officers,  reviewed  the  troops  in  garrison  at  Ipswich  and 
Woodbridge,  on  Rushmere  heath. 


TRIMLEY  ST.  MARTIN,  or  TKEMLEY. 

Grimston  Hall,  in  this  parish,  was  formerly  the  seat  of  Thomas 
Cavendish,  Esq.,  the  circumnavigator,  who  Mr.  Kirby  says,  was 
born  here,  and  of  whom  he  has  given  some  account  from  Hackluyt's 
"  Collection  of  Voyages." 

The  witty  and  learned  Dr.  Fuller,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Worthies 
of  England,"  gives  also  on  account  of  this  enterprising  seaman,  the 
substance  of  which,  he  says,  is  derived  from  the  same  publication. 
A  more  circumstantial  account  of  Mr.  Cavendish  may  be  found  in 
the  "Harwich  Guide,"  published  in  1808,  which  account  was  re- 
printed in  the  Gent.  Mag.  for  1811,  Part  ii.,  p.  606. 

Dr.  Fuller's  account  of  him  is  as  follows  : — "  Thomas  Cavendish, 
of  Trimley,  in  this  county,  Esquire,  in  pursuance  of  his  generous 
inclination  to  make  foreign  discoveries  for  the  use  and  honour  of 
his  nation,  on  his  own  cost  victualled  and  furnished  three  ships 
(the  least  of  fleets)  as  followeth  :  1.  The  Desire,  admiral,  of  120 
tons :  2.  The  Content,  vice-admiral,  of  60  tons  :  3.  The  Hugh- 
Gallant,  rear-admiral,  of  40  tons.  All  three  managed  by  123  per- 
sons, with  which  he  set  sail  from.  Plymouth  the  21st  of  July,  1586. 

"  So  prosperous  their  winds,  that  by  the  26th  of  August  they 
had  gone  nine  hundred  and  thirty  leagues  to  the  south  of  Africa. 

*  The  descent  of  the  advowson  is  particularized  in  Mr.  Kirby's  account  of  this 
parish,  and  also  Mrs.  Catherine  Cadye's  bequest,  in  1521,  towards  the  erection  of 
the  church  steeple. 


68  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND   COLNEIS. 

Then  bending  their  course  south-west,  January  the  7th,  they  entered 
the  mouth  of  the  Megellan  Straits ;  straits  indeed,  not  only  for  the 
narrow  passage,  but  many  miseries  of  hunger  and  cold,  which  ma- 
riners must  encounter  therein.  Here  Mr.  Cavendish  named  a  town 
Port- famine  ;  and  may  never  distressed  seaman  be  necessitated  to 
land  there  !  It  seems  the  Spaniards  had  a  design  so  to  fortify  these 
straits  in  places  of  advantage,  as  to  engross  the  passage,  that  none 
save  themselves  should  enter  the  southern  sea.  But  God,  the  pro- 
moter of  the  public  good,  destroyed  their  intended  monopoly,  sending 
such  a  mortality  amongst  their  men,  that  scarce  five  of  five  hundred 
did  survive. 

"  On  the  24th  of  February  they  entered  the  South  Sea,  and  fre- 
quently landed  as  they  saw  occasion.  Many  their  conflicts  with  the 
natives,  more  with  the  Spaniards ;  coming  off  gainers  in  most,  and 
savers  in  all  encounters,  that  alone  at  Quintero  excepted,  April  1, 
1587,  when  they  lost  twelve  men  of  good  account,  which  was  the 
cause  that  the  June  following  they  purposely  sunk  the  rear-admiral, 
for  want  of  men  to  manage  her. 

"  Amongst  the  many  prizes  he  took  in  his  passage,  the  St.  Anne 
was  the  most  considerable,  being  the  Spanish  admiral  of  the  southern 
sea,  of  seven  hundred  tons — However,  our  Cavendish  boarded  her, 
with  his  little  ship  (a  chicken  of  the  game  will  adventure  on  a  greater 
fowl,  and  leap  where  he  cannot  reach),  and  mastered  her,  though  an 
hundred  and  ninety  persons  therein.  There  were  in  the  ship  an 
hundred  and  two  and  twenty  thousand  pezos  (each  worth  eight 
shillings)  of  gold  ;  the  rest  of  the  lading  being  silks,  satins,  musk, 
and  other  rich  commodities.  Mr.  Cavendish's  mercy  after,  equalled 
his  valour  in  the  fight,  landing  the  Spaniards  on  the  shore,  and 
leaving  them  plentiful  provisions. 

"  Surrounding  the  East  Indies,  and  returning  for  England,  the 
ship  called  the  Content  did  not  answer  her  name,  whose  men  took 
all  occasion  to  be  mutinous,  and  stayed  behind  in  a  road,  with 
Stephen  Hare  their  master,  and  Mr.  Cavendish  saw  her  not  after. 
But  he,  who  went  forth  with  a  fleet,  came  home  with  a  sliip,  and 
safely  landed  in  Plymouth,  Sept.  9,  1588.  Amongst  his  men,  the 
three  most  remarkable  were  ;  Mr.  John  Way,  their  preacher ;  Mr. 
Thomas  Fuller,  of  Ipswich,  their  pilot ;  and  Mr.  Francis  Pretty,  of 
Eyke,  in  this  county,  who  wrote  the  whole  history  of  their  voyage. 

"  Thus  having  circumnavigated  the  whole  earth,  let  his  ship  no 
longer  be  termed  The  Desire,  but  The  Performance.  He  was  the 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  00 

third   man,   and   second   Englishman,   of  such   universal   under- 
takings. 

"  Not  so  successful  his  next  and  last  voyage,  begun  the  20th  of 
August,  1591,  when  he  set  sail  with  a  fleet  from  Plymouth,  and 
coming  in  the  Hegelian  Straits,  near  a  place  hy  him  formerly 
named  Port-Desire,  he  was,  the  November  following,  casually 
severed  from  his  company,  not  seen  or  heard  of  afterwards.  Pity 
so  illustrious  a  life  should  have  so  obscure  a  death.  But  all  things 
must  be  as  Being  itself  will  have  them  to  be." 

About  this  period  Grimston  Hall  became  the  property  of  Eobert 
Barker,  Esq.,  by  purchase,  who  removed  hither  from  his  house  in 
St.  Matthew's  parish,  Ipswich,  called  "  Esquire  Gawdy's  House,"* 
at  present  the  property  and  residence  of  William  Eodwell,  Esq. 

The  Barker's  became  very  early  seated  at  Ipswich,  several  of 
whom  served  as  burgesses  in  parliament  for  that  borough  :  in  the 
35th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  the  above  Kobert  Barker,  Esq.,  was 
elected  to  that  honour.  He  was  also  made  Knight  of  the  Bath,  at 
the  coronation  of  King  James  I. 

John  Barker,  of  Grimston  Hall,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  by  his  first 
marriage,  was  created  a  Baronet  in  the  1 9th  of  that  reign ;  and 
William  Barker,  of  Booking  Hall,  in  Essex,  Esq.,  a  descendant  by 
his  second  marriage,  was  advanced  to  the  same  dignity  in  1070,  the 
29th  of  King  Charles  II. 

The  descendants  of  Sir  John  Barker,  Bart.,  continued  to  reside 
here  until  the  decease  of  Sir  Jermy,  his  grandson,  who  died  un- 
married ;  and  the  title  and  estate  descended  to  his  brother  John, 
who  married  Bridget,  daughter  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  of  Shrub- 
land,  KB. 

He  removed  to  Ipswich,  and  made  that  place  again  the  residence 
of  the  family,  for  which  borough  he  served  in  several  parliaments, 
temp.  Charles  II.  Sir  William  Barker,  Bart.,  liis  son  and  heir, 
also  represented  Ipswich  in  parliament,  during  the  reign  of  Queen 
Anne,  and  was  elected  a  Knight  of  the  Shire  for  this  county,  1727. 

Sir  John  Barker,  Bart.,  his  only  son  and  heir,  purchased  of  the 
heirs  of  Edward  Ventriss,  Esq.,  an  estate  called  the  Chauntry,  in 
Sproughton,  near  Ipswich,  and  enlarged  the  mansion.  His  son, 
Sir  John  Fitch  Barker,  Bart.,  resided  there :  he  died  in  1706,  without 
issue,  when  this  branch  of  the  family  became  extinct. 

*  A  print  of  this  house  is  given  in  Ogilby's  Map  of  Ipswich,  anno.  1698. 


70  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

George  Nassau,  Esq.,  inherited,  by  will,  his  estate  in  this  parish, 
with  considerable  other  possessions,  and  for  some  time  resided  here. 
In  1805,  he  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  of  this  county,  and 
died  at  his  residence,  in  Charles  Street,  Berkeley  Square,  August 
18,  1823.* 

The  Earl  of  Kochford,  his  half  brother,  inherited  this  estate,  and 
at  his  decease  it  became  the  property  of  his  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Hamilton  and  Brandon. 

ARMS. — Cavendish :  sable;  three  stags'  heads,  caboshed,  argent. 
Barker :  party  per  fess,  nebule,  vert  and  sable  ;  three  martlets,  or ; 
a  canton,  ermine. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  four  acres  of  land,  set  out  for  the 
poor  on  an  inclosure  in  this  parish,  in  1808,  lets  at  the  yearly  rent 
of  £.10  ;  and  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  which 
are  distributed  among  the  poor  at  Christmas,  yearly. 


TRIMLEY  ST.  MARY. 

In  the  reigns  of  King  Edward  IV.  and  Richard  III.,  this  was  the 
lordsliip  and  demesne  of  John,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  he  being  a  firm 
adherent  to  the  house  of  York  ;  but  after  the  battle  of  Bosworth- 
field,  when  King  Henry  VII.  obtained  the  crown,  John  de  Vere, 
Earl  of  Oxford,  whose  estates  had  been  forfeited  during  former 
reigns,  were  now  restored,  and,  amongst  others,  this  manor,  which 
descended  to  his  posterity. 

This  parish  church  stands  in  the  same  churchyard  with  the 
church  that  belongs  to  Trimley  St.  Martin.  The  steeple  now  hangs 
in  ruins,  and  is  overshadowed  with  a  luxuriant  tree,  forming  a  pic- 
turesque object.  The  church  was  probably  built  by  Thomas  of 
Brotherton,  son  of  Edward  I.,  for  his  arms  are  still  to  be  seen  over 
the  door  of  the  steeple. 

CHARITIES. — In  1669,  Ellis  Kindge,  by  his  will,  devised  a  copy- 
hold estate,  held  of  the  manor  of  Trimley  St.  Mary,  for  the  use  of 
the  poor ;  it  comprises  a  cottage  in  two  tenements,  with  a  garden 
adjoining;  a  piece  of  meadow  ground,  containing  2R.  16p.,  and  a 

*  Mr.  Nassau's  extensive  collections  in  elucidation  of  the  antiquities  of  this 
county,  have  been  already  noticed  in  the  introduction  to  this  work  ;  and  for  a  more 
ample  account  of  that  gentleman,  see  Gent.  Mag.  for  1823,  Part  ii.,  p.  178. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  7t 

garden  of  IR.  24p. ;  and  two  fields,  containing  together  about  9 
acres;  which  altogether  brings  a  rental  of  .£.16  12s.  per  annum. 
In  consequence  of  suggestions  from  the  Charity  Commissioners,, 
and  some  animadversion  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  parishioners, 
the  estate  has  since  been  surveyed,  and  a  valuation  made,  which 
amounts  in  the  gross  to  £.21  5s.  per  annum. — A  piece  of  land 
called  the  "  Town  Pightle,"  containing  somewhat  above  half-an- 
acre,  and  on  allotment  of  four  acres,  which  was  set  out  for  the  poor 
on  aninclosure,  in  1804  :  the  rents,  amounting  together  to  £.S  17s. 
a  year,  are  distributed  at  Christmas  among  poor  persons  of  the 
parish. — An  allotment  of  four  acres,  which  was  set  out  for  the  poor 
under  an  inclosure  act,  passed  in  1808,  let  on  a  lease  at  the  annual 
rent  of  £.10  ;  which  is  expended  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  which 
are  distributed  among  the  poor  at  Christmas. — In  the  printed  re- 
turns of  Charitable  Donations,  made  in  1786,  mention  is  made  of 
a  legacy  of  £.20,  given  by  William  Barbour,  but  no  part  of  the 
money  remains,  and  no  account  can  be  given  of  it. 


TUDDENHAM  ST.  MABTIN—  TUDENHAM,  or  TOTHENHAM. 

Hugh  de  Hosdene,  and  Maud  his  wife,  gave  to  the  Prior  and 
Convent  of  Cluniac  Monks,  in  Thetford,  founded  by  Eoger  Bigod, 
Earl  of  the  East  Angles,  and  Alice  his  wife,  all  their  tithes  in  this 
parish ;  and  Kirby  says,  that  Anketil  de  Messange,  and  others, 
gave  the  church  to  Trinity,  or  Christ  Church  Priory,  in  Ipswich,  to 
which  house  he  is  named  as  a  benefactor  before  1204. 

In  1437,  Sir  John  Clifton,  of  Buckenham  Castle,  Knt.,  sur- 
rendered this  manor  to  Master  Thomas  Well,  and  his  assigns,  it 
having  been  long  in  contest  between  them.  It  was  for  many  years 
in  the  family  of  Minter  :  in  1764,  Mr.  William  Miuter  was  owner 
thereof.  It  is  now  vested  in  John  Wrattislaw,  Esq. 

The  rectory  and  advowson  of  this  vicarage  was  lately  in  the  Eev. 
William  Charles  Fonnereau,  of  Christ  Church,  in  Ipswichr  who 
sold  them  to  the  Kev.  William  Burgess,  of  Colchester,  who  is  now 
the  patron. 


72  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

WALDRINGFIELD,  or  WALDINGEFELDA. 

The  author  of  Magna  Britannia  makes  the  demesne  of  this  parish 
to  have  been  early  vested  in  Robert  Bruce ;  and  Mr.  Kirby  says, 
"  all  we  have  learnt  of  this  little  parish  is,  that  Sir  Robert  Hilton, 
Knt.,  was  patron  in  1305." 

The  manor  and  advowson  were  in  the  Barnardiston  family ;  in 
1704,  they  were  the  inheritance  of  the  heirs  of  Sir  Samuel  Barnar- 
diston, of  Brightwell,  Bart. 


WALTON  AND  FELIXSTOW.— WALETUNA. 

The  manors  of  Walton,  Trimley,  Fakenham,  with  the  rectories  of 
Walton  and  Felixstow,  with  divers  other  lordships  in  this  county, 
were  given  by  Thomas  Howard,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  Henry  his 
son,  Earl  of  Arundel  and  Surry,  in  the  36th  of  King  Henry  VIII., 
to  that  Monarch,  in  exchange  for  his  castle,  castle  manor,  and  chase 
of  Rising,  in  Norfolk,  and  its  appurtenances. 

This  property  appears  to  have  passed  as  that  of  Bealings  and 
Seckford  Hall,  by  purchase  from  Seckford  Cage,  Esq.,  the  heir 
general  of  the  Seckford's,  to  Samuel  Atkinson,  Esq.,  of  Croydon, 
in  Surry.  Then  to  the  Barker's,  as  Grimston  Hall,  in  Trimley  St. 
Martin  ;  and  from  Sir  John  Fitch  Barker,  Bart.,  to  George  Nassau, 
Esq.,  the  Earl  of  Rochford,  and  now  Duke  of  Hamilton. 

Roger  Bigod,  first  Earl  of  Norfolk,  founded  a  priory  here,  and 
dedicated  it  to  St.  Felix.  About  the  year  1105,  he  gave  it  as  a  cell 
to  the  monks  of  St.  Andrew,  in  Rochester,  and  the  monks  here  were 
called  "  Monks  of  Rochester."  This  gift  was  confirmed  by  King 
William  Rufus.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  removed  soon  after 
the  destruction  of  the  castle,  and  placed  near  the  church  of  Walton, 
where  some  ruins  are  still  remaining.  Its  valuation  in  "  Taxatio 
Ecclesiastica,"  in  nine  parishes,  was  £.6  16s.  l|-d. 

Walton  is  a  very  ancient  place,  formerly  of  great  note,  even  be- 
fore the  conquest.  The  tower  of  the  church  is  nearly  demolished, 
and  the  wall  of  a  side  aisle  remains  about  a  foot  above  the  ground ; 
that  part  of  the  church  which  is  used,  is  however,  in  good  repair. 

Sir  John  Hayward,  Knt.,  D.C.L.,  was  a  native  of  this  parish. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLl'ORD  AND  COLNEIS.  73 

He  was  author  of  the  Life  of  Henry  IV ,  of  England ;  the  Lives  of 
the  three  Norman  Kings,  William  I.,  William  II.,  and  Henry  I. ; 
the  Life  of  King  Edward  VI.,  and  several  other  works  in  great  es- 
timation at  the  time  they  were  published.  He  married  Jane, 
daughter  of  Andrew  Paschale,  of  Springfield,  Essex,  Esq.  He 
died  Jan.  27,  1627,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  Great  St. 
Bartholomew,  London.* 

In  1641,  John  Novell,  D.D.,  Fellow  of  Pembroke  Hall,  Cam- 
bridge, was  vicar  of  tliis  parish,  and  rector  of  Northwold,  in  Norfolk, 
and  had  been  of  Topcroft,  in  the  same  county. 

These  parishes  afford  a  rich  treat  to  the  lovers  of  geology,  from 
the  numerous  specimens  of  saurian  remains,  and  fossil  shells,  found 
in  the  craig  deposits  in  the  cliffs,  and  along  the  shore.  A  list  of 
the  latter  was  published  in  1830,  by  the  late  Mr.  Samuel  Woodward, 
of  Norwich ;  who  enumerates  different  varieties  of  the  balanias, 
pholas,  mactra,  tellina,  lucina,  astarte,  venus,  cardium,  pccten, 
patella,  natica,  murex,  buccmum,  cypraea,  and  terebratula;  and 
since  the  book  was  published  two  splendid  specimens  of  the  rare  shell, 
cassis  bicatenata,  have  been  found,  which  are  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  W.  S.  Fitch,  of  Ipswich. 

In  1803,  the  skeleton  of  an  enormous  animal  was  discovered  by 
the  falling  down  of  a  piece  of  the  cliff  on  Walton  shore,  near  Har- 
wich, supposed  to  belong  to  the  mammoth  species ;  remains  of 
which  have  been  found  in  North  America,  Tartary,  &c.  Some  of 
the  bones  were  nearly  as  large  as  a  man's  body,  and  six  or  seven 
feet  long :  the  cavities  which  contained  the  marrow,  were  large 
enough  to  admit  the  introduction  of  a  man's  arm  :  the  bones,  on 
being  handled,  broke  to  pieces.  One  of  the  molar  teeth  weighed 
seven  pounds,  was  of  a  square  form,  and  the  grinding  surface  stud- 
ded with  several  zig-zag  rows  of  laminae,  which  seems  to  denote 
that  it  belonged  to  a  carnivorous  animal.  There  were  more  teeth, 
which  were  unfortunately  broken,  one  of  which  weighed  12lbs.f 

*  A  portrait  of  him,  engraved  by  W.  Hole,  was  published  in  one  of  his  works, 
"  The  Sanctuary  of  a  Troubled  Soul,''  1616. 

f  Of  this  animal  Buffon  says,  ''  The  skeleton  of  the  Mammoth  bespeaks  an  ani- 
mal five  or  six  times  the  cubic  volume  of  the  Elephant."  Mullen  has  given  a 
description  of  the  Mammoth.  "  This  animal,"  he  says,  "  is  near  five  yards  high, 
and  about  30  feet  in  length.  His  colour  is  grey,  his  head  is  very  long,  and  his 
front  very  broad ;  on  each  side,  precisely  under  the  eyes,  there  are  two  horns, 
which  he  can  move  and  cross  at  pleasure ;  and  in  walking,  he  has  the  power  of 
extending  and  contracting  his  body,  to  a  great  degree." 


74 

Mem. — LANDGUARD  FORT. — April  18,  1807,  a  detachment  of  the' 
1st  hatallion  of  the  79th,  or  Cameronian  Highlanders,  consisting  in 
all  of  97  persons,  took  their  passage  from  hence  to  Harwich,  in  a 
small  sloop,  and  when  ahout  half  a  mile  from  the  shore,  they  were 
overtaken  by  a  violent  squall  of  wind,  which  overset  the  vessel,  and 
shortly  after  she  went  down  ;  a  boat  from  a  gun  brig,  and  one  from 
the  fort,  saved  fifteen,  the  rest  perished.  The  regret  which  was  felt 
at  the  recital  of  this  dreadful  catastrophe,  was  heightened  by  the 
reflection,  that  these  unhappy  sufferers  had  eminently  distinguished 
themselves  at  Egypt,  and  were  justly  esteemed  for  uniform  good 
conduct. 

CHARITIES. — There  has  been  a  payment  of  £.1  Is.  a  year,  re- 
ceived by  the  overseers  of  the  poor  of  this  parish,  described  in  their 
books  as  the  rent  of  town-land,  or  "  Barber's-land,"  from  the  pro- 
prietors of  certain  land  in  this  parish,  lately  belonging  to  Mr. 
William  Fulcher.  The  payment  was  made  from  the  commencement 
of  the  oldest  account  book,  in  1727,  down  to  1817  ;  since  which 
period  the  proprietor  has  refused  payment,  on  the  ground  that  it 
cannot  be  shown  where  the  land  is,  or  why  the  payment  should  be 
made  by  him  ;  and  as  there  are  no  writings  to  be  found  respecting- 
the  said  land,  or  the  origin  of  the  payment,  it  must  be  lost  to  the 
parish. 


WITNESHAM. 

The  family  of  Meadows  were  possessed  of  lands  in  this  parish 
as  early  as  the  34th  of  King  Henry  II. ;  and  a  very  full  and  minute 
account  of  the  different  branches  of  that  ancient  house,  by  an  emi- 
nent genealogist,  is  given  in  the  Gent.  Mag.  for  1824,  Partii.,  p.  51 8, 
from  which  we  select  the  following  particulars  : — 

William  Meadows,  of  this  parish,  who  died  at  Bushmere,  in  1588, 
left  by  Agnes  his  wife,  two  sons,  namely,  Daniel  Meadows,  of  Chat- 
tisham,  the  ancestor  of  the  Earl  Manvers,  who  was  born  at  Eush- 
mere  in  1577.  He  purchased  of  Sir  Robert  Hitcham,  Knt.,  in 
1630,  the  lordship  of  Witnesham,  and  died  at  Chattisham,  in  1651. 

William,  the  eldest  son  of  William  and  Agnes,  born  in  1559.  He 
resided  at  Coddenham  from  the  year  1597,  to  that  of  1612,  and 
marrying  Grigil,  a  daughter  of Mynter,  of  Witnesham  Hall, 


HTNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS.  75 

purchased  that  mansion  of  his  father-in-law,  and  made  it  his  resi- 
dence. He  died  in  1637,  and  left  issue  three  sons,  viz. : — Thomas 
Meadows,  of  Coddenham,  who  married  and  had  issue;  Daniel 
Meadows,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  this  parish ;  and  Ralph 
Meadows,  born  in  1600.  He  purchased  Henley  Hall,  of  the  Da- 
merons,  in  16CO,  and  was  ancestor  of  the  late  John  Meadows 
Theobald,  of  Claydon,  Esq.,  who  assumed  that  name  in  1776. 

Daniel,  who  inherited  here,  married  Amy,  the  daughter  of  John 
Brame,  of  Campsey  Ash,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  and  a 
daughter,  Daniel  and  Mary.  He  died  in  1675,  and  Daniel  bis  son 
succeeded ;  who  was  succeeded  by  another  Daniel  Meadows,  who 
resided  for  many  years  at  Botesdale,  but  died  at  the  family  mansion 
in  Wilnesham,  in  1771,  at  the  advanced  age  of  90  years. 

John  Meadows,  his  only  son  and  successor,  was  born  in  1 726, 
nnd  in  1751,  he  married  Frances,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Hum- 
phrey Brewster,  of  Wrentham  Hall,  Esq.  Mr,  Meadows  was  ap- 
pointed Coroner  of  the  Liberty  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  bv  Rowland 
Holt.  Esq.,  of  Redgrave  Hall.  He  died  at  Botesdale,  in  1763, 
leaving  issue  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Daniel  Meadows,  the 
youngest  son,  died  a  Captain  in  the  Army,  in  1779,  unmarried. 

Philip  Meadows,  the  eldest  son  of  John  Meadows,  and  Frances 
his  wife,  was  bred  to  the  Jaw,  and  practised  for  many  years  as  a 
solicitor  at  Botesdale,  until  the  year  1801,  when  he  removed  to 
Witnesham.  On  the  death  of  his  mother,  he  purchased  an  estate 
there,  of  the  Earl  of  Westmoreland,  and  in  1810,  erected  ihereon 
the  present  mansion,  "  Burghersh  House ;"  so  named  from  its 
proximity  to  the  ancient  mansion  belonging  to  the  family  of  the 
Burghershes,  of  this  parish. 

The  Rev.  Philip  Meadows,  B.A  ,  of  Burghersh  House,  rector  of 
Bealings  Magna,  who  married  in  1803,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Morgan  Graves,  is  the  present  representative  of  this  ancient 
family.  Philip  Meadows,  Esq.,  his  father,  died  Oct.  16,  1824,  in 
the  73rd  year  of  his  age. 

ARMS. — Meadows:  quarterly:  1  and 4,  sable;  a  chevron,  ermine, 
between  three  pelicans,  vulned  proper  :  in  a  canton,  a  lion,  seiant ; 
and  in  chief,  a  label  of  three  points  :  2  and  3  ;  a  chevron,  ermine, 
between  three  etoiles,  argent  (for  Brewster).  Crest:  a  pelican, 
vulned,  proper. 

William  Latymer  was  instituted  to  tin's  rectory,  in  1538,  on  the 
presentation  of  Edward  Latymer,  Esq. ;  and  in  the  same  year,  the 


76  HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFORD  AND  COLNEIS. 

King  appointed  him  Master  of  the  College  of  St.  Lawrence  Pount- 
ney,  in  London.  In  1547,  he  was  Proctor  for  the  Clergy  of  the 
Diocese  of  Noi  vvich,  and  voted  in  convocation  for  priests'  marriages. 
He  resigned  Witnesham  in  1554,  probably  in  order  to  avoid  being 
turned  out,  for  his  marriage  ;  and  appears  to  have  retired  to  Ipswich, 
where  he  resided  when  the  returns  were  made,  in  the  following  year, 
of  those  who  received  annual  pensions  :  his  was,  £.28  13s.  4d. 

He  appears,  however,  to  have  complied  with  the  times  before  the 
death  of  Queen  Mary,  .if  it  be  correct  that  he  was  instituted  to  the 
rectory  of  Kirkton,  in  Colneis  hundred;  in  1554,  on  the  presentation 
of  Sir  Thomas  Felton,  Knt. ;  and  in  the  return  made  by  the  Bishop 
of  Norwich,  to  the  Archbishop,  in  1563,  he  is  thus  described: — 
"  Kirkton,  Mr.  Will.  Lalymer  rector,  doctus,  non  residet,  degit 
in  Aula  Regia."  He  probably  continued  to  hold  this  rectory  at 
the  time  of  his  decease,  as  there  was  no  other  institution  before 
1583.  But  whether  he  conformed  or  not  in  the  time  of  Queen 
Mary,  he  was  certainly  a  great  favourite  of  her  sister  Elizabeth,  to 
whom  he  became  Chaplain  and  Clerk  of  the  Closet ;  and  soon  after 
her  coming  to  the  Crown,  was  made  Archdeacon  of  the  exempt 
jurisdiction  of  Westminster,  and  Dean  of  Peterborough.  He  died 
in  1583,  and  was  buried  in  Peterborough  cathedral. 

In  1559,  Nicholas  Wendon,  LL.D.,  rector  of  this  parish,  was 
appointed  Archdeacon  of  Suffolk,  and  installed  Prebend  of  the  4th 
stall  in  Norwich  cathedral,  in  1561.  In  Archbishop  Parker's  Me- 
tropolitical  Visitation,  in  1570,  he  was  returned  not  to  be  in  orders, 
although  rector  of  Witnesham,  that  he  lived  at  Lound,  in  Suffolk, 
and  was  no  minister,  having  gone  in  a  cloak  and  a  Spanish  rapier 
by  his  side  ;  on  which  he  was  ejected  out  of  the  prebend,  but  not 
from  his  Archdeaconry. 

Alexander  Chapman,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Norfolk,  about  1577, 
and  admitted  a  Norwich  scholar  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cam- 
bridge, in  1592,  being  nominated  by  the  corporation  of  that  city ; 
and  after  taking  the  degree  of  A.B.,  was  elected  Fellow,  in  1598. 
He  proceeded,  A.M.,  in  1600,  and  quitted  his  fellowship  about  two 
years  after,  for  the  rectory  of  Witnesham.  He  was  installed  Arch- 
deacon of  Stow,  in  1610,  and  Prebendary  of  Lowth,  the  same  year; 
both  in  the  diocese  of  Lincoln :  as  also  Prebendary  in  that  of  Can- 
terbury, in  1618.  He  commenced  D.D.,  in  1610,  and  deceased  in 
1629;  was  buried  in  the  north  transcept  of  Canterbury  cathedral, 
where  an  elegant  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory. 


HUNDREDS  OF  CARLFOKD  AND  COLNEIS.  77 

In  1776,  the  Kev.  John  King,  M.A.,  was  presented  by  his  col- 
lege, to  tliis  rectory.  He  was  a  native  of  Kichmond,  in  Yorkshire, 
and  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  at  the  Free  Grammar 
School  in  that  town.  From  thence  he  removed  to  Cambridge,  and 
entered  of  St.  Peter's  College ;  where  he  proceeded  to  the  degree  of 
A.B.,  in  1760,  was  elected  Fellow,  and  the  same  year,  appointed 
Under  Master  of  the  Free  Grammar  School  of  Newcastle-upon- 
Tyne.  In  1763,  he  proceeded  to  the  degree  of  A.M. 

He  removed  from  Newcastle  to  Ipswich,  in  1767,  having  been 
appointed  Master  of  the  Free  Grammar  School  in  that  town ;  and 
in  the  same  year,  was  chosen  by  the  corporation  the  Town  Preacher; 
which  situation  he  filled  for  a  period  of  23  years.  In  1798,  he 
resigned  the  mastership  of  the  school,  and  retired  to  a  residence  on 
his  rectory,  where  he  closed  his  earthly  career,  Jan.  26,  1822,  in 
the  84th  year  of  his  age.* 

It  has  been  supposed,  from  relics  found  in  the  vicinity  of  this 
parish,  that  some  warlike  encounter  has  happened  here  ;  and  about 
twenty  years  since,  a  human  skeleton,  with  that  of  a  horse  beside 
it,  was  dug  up,  within  six  feet  from  the  surface,  with  several  marks 
of  military  accoutrements,  a  part  of  the  saddle,  stirrups,  &c. ;  which 
confirms  the  supposition.  The  studs  of  the  saddle  were  of  silver. 

*  There  is  an  engraved  Portrait  of  Mr.  King  (a  private  plate),  by  Bond,  from  a 
miniature  by  Dunthorne. 

NOTE. — As  a  "  Supplement  to  the  Suffolk  Traveller,'"  we  wish  to  avoid,  as  much 
as  possible  re-printing  what  has  already  appeared  in  that  work,  but  would  rather 
refer  our  readers  to  the  same  ;  especially  when  the  Editor  gives  more  ample  details 
than  usual,  of  any  place,  which  is  particularly  the  case  in  the  above  and  the  fore- 
going parish. 


Or  LOSA. 


This  Hundred  is  bounded  Eastward,  by  that  of  Plomesgate  ; 
on  the  South,  by  Wilford;  on  the  West,  byBosmere  and  Clay  don; 
and  on  the  North,  by  Hoxne.  The  lords  of  Framlingham  for 
the  time  being,  were  seized  thereof,  with  many  ancient  and  ex- 
tensive privileges  and  immunities  belonging  to  it ;  over  which 
they  appointed  Bailiff's,  in  succession. 

It  is  held  in  the  nature  of  a  franchise,  and  is  exempt  from  the 
ordinary  jurisdiction  of  the  Sheriff";  originally  granted  from  the 
Crown,  with  privileges  for  the  grantee  to  hold  Pleas,  and  Leets, 
or  Courts  of  View  of  Frankpledge  ;  to  enjoy  the  goods  of  felons, 
fugitives,  felons  de  se ;  and  the  return  of  writs,  to  appoint  a 
Coroner,  to  have  estrays,  &c.,  within  certain  limits. 

This  Hundred  contains  the  following  Parishes  : — 


BPANDESTON, 

BUTLEY, 

CAMPSEY, 

CHARSFIELD, 

CRETINGHAM, 

DALLINGHOO, 

EARL  SOHAM, 

EASTON, 

EYKE, 


FRAMLINGHAM, 

HACHESTON, 

Hoo, 

KETTLEBOROUGH, 

KENTON, 

LETHERINGHAM, 

MARLSFORD, 

MONODEN, 

KENDLESHAM, 


And  WOODBRIDGE. 


From  the  time  of  Roger  Bigod,  his  successors,  lords  of  F 
lingham,  have  enjoyed  the  above  privileges,  in  the  several  pa- 
rishes within  this  Hundred,  except  Marlesford  and  Kenton, 
until  the  manors  of  Earl  Soham,  Ash,  Eyke,  Hacheston,  Hoo, 
and  Kettleburgh,  were  sold. 

The  lord  of  this  Hundred  had  the  goods  of  William  Percy,  of 
Framlingham,  who  was  hanged  for  felony,  at  Melton,  in  the  3rd 
and  4th  of  Philip  and  Mary  :  the  goods  of  Robert  Kempster,  of 
Earl  Soham,  for  flight  from  felony  committed  there,  the  20th  of 
Edward  IV.  :  the  goods  of  Roger  Gilbert,  afelo  de  se,  at  Easton, 
the  \±th  of  James  I.;  and  also  estrays  taken  at  Rendlesham,  the 
36/A  of  Henry  VI.,  and  waifs  and  estrays  in  the  23rd  Henry  VII. 
in  other  places. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 


BRANDESTON,  or  BRANTESTUNA. 

The  family  of  Dagworth  held  a  lordship  in  this  parish,  of  the  Ahhot 
of  St.  Edmund's  Bury  ;  and  in  1253,  King  Henry  III.,  granted  Os- 
bert,  son  of  Harvy  de  Dagworih*,  free  warren  in  the  said  manor. 

In  the  5ih  of  King  Edward  I.,  Sir  Thomas  de  Weyland,  gave  to 
Ralph,  Prior  of  Woodbridge,  the  rectocy  of  this  parish  church,  for 
the  souls  of  Herbert  Irs  father,  and  Beatrix  his  mother,  William 
and  John  bis  brothers,  and  Anne  his  wife  ;  with  a  piece  of  meadow, 
a  mill,  and  two  shillings  rent  here  :  and  the  said  Prior  covenanted 
to  find  a  caoon  to  pray  for  them,  in  his  conventual  church.  Sir 
Herbert,  Sir  Thomas,  Sir  Nicholas,  and  Sir  Robert  de  Weyland, 
were  buried  in  the  aforesaid  Priory. 

In  the  22nd  of  King  Edward  III.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Sir 
Saier  de  Rochford.  a  commissioner  of  the  banks  and  sewers  in  Lin- 
colnshire, in  the  ICih  of  that  reign,  and  Joan  his  wife,  and  John 
Cleymond,  of  Kirkton  ;  who  conveyed  lands  in  this  parish  to  Sir 
Saier,  and  Joan  his  wife,  in  tail.  He  appears  to  have  resided  at 
Stivekey,  in  Norfolk. 

In  1565,  Andrew,  John,  and  Anthony  Revet,  made  a  joint  pre- 
sentation to  the  church  of  Great  Moulton,  in  Norfolk;  and  in  1570, 
John  Revet,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  was  owner  of  the  said  lordship 
and  advowson  ;  and  John  Revet,  of  Ipswich,  presented  to  the  same 
church,  in  1581,  and  was  buried  there;  Thomas  Revet,  of  Rendles- 
ham,  Gent.,  in  1673  :  and  the  said  estate  continued  in  this  family 
after  1689,  when  Thomas  Revet,  Esq.,  presented. 

Nicholas  Revett  was  the  second  son  of  John  Revett,  Esq.,  of 
Brandeston  Hall,  and  was  born  there  in  1720.  He  was  an  inge- 
nuous draughtsman ;  fellow  traveller  with  James  Stuart,  Esq.,  and 
joint  editor  of  the  "  Antiquities  and  Ruins  of  Athens,"  where  they 
resided  many  years. 

*  For  a  further  account  of  this  ancient  family,  see  "Dagworth,"  a  hamlet  in 
the  hundred  of  Stow. 


82  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

Mr.  Revett  also  travelled  through  Asia  Minor,  &c.,  with  Dr. 
Chandler,  and  published  the  "Ionian  Antiquities,"  having  been 
engaged  for  that  purpose  by  the  Dilettanti  Society.  He  returned 
in  170G,  and  appears  to  have  passed  his  time  in  preparing  the 
drawings  for  publication,  and  in  superintending  some  works  of 
arcliitecture. 

Among  the  edifices  which  he  designed  are,  at  Lord  le  Despencer's, 
West  Wycomb,  the  eastern  and  western  porticos,  the  temple  of 
Flora,  and  the  temple  in  the  island  ;  the  church  at  Ayot  St.  Law- 
rence, in  Hertfordshire ;  and  the  portico  to  the  eastern  front  of 
Handlinch,  in  Wiltshire,  the  seat  of  James  Dawkins,  Esq.  He 
died  in  London,  June  3,  1804,  and  was  buried  in  the  churchyard 
here,  where  an  altar  tomb,  with  an  inscription,  has  been  erected  to 
his  memory. 

This  lordship  was  purchased  by  Andrew  Revet,  Esq.,  in  1548, 
from  the  Bedingfield  family. 

Among  the  unhappy  sufferers  for  witchcraft  in  Suffolk,  was  an 
aged  clergyman  of  this  parish,  named  Lowes. 

The  Rev.  William  Clubbe,  LL.B.,  who  was  forty-five  years  vicar 
of  this  parish,  and  rector  of  FJowton  for  the  same  period,  was  the 
second  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Clubbe,  B.A.,  rector  of  Whatfield,  and 
vicar  of  Debenham ;  author  of  the  "  History  and  Antiquities  of 
Whatfield,"  an  admirable  piece  of  irony,  levelled  against  modern 
antiquaries. 

He  died  at  Framlingham,  Oct.  16,  1814,  and  was  buried  in  the 
churchyard  of  this  place.  Mr.  Clubbe  was  a  person  of  considerable 
attainments,  and  like  his  father,  possessed  a  rich  fund  of  natural 
humour.  He  was  the  author  of  several  publications,  which  are 
enumerated  in  the  "  Suffolk  Garland,"  with  his  "  Lamentation  of 
Stephen  Spink,  the  Brandeston  Post  Boy,"  inserted  in  that 
pleasing  work. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  about  1  acre  2  rods  (of 
the  donation  of  which,  or  the  particular  trust  respecting  the  same, 
nothing  is  known),  is  occupied  by  a  poor  man,  who  holds  without 
paying  rent,  instead  of  receiving  parochial  relief. — Another  piece  of 
land,  containing  about  one  acre,  is  understood  to  have  been  given 
by  a  Mrs.  Mary  Revett,  for  apprenticing  poor  children.  This  land 
lets  at  a  rent  of  £.1,  or  £.1  Is.  a  year. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  83 

Robert  Hawes,  Gent.,  attorney- at-law,  was  eldest  son  of  Henry, 
second  son  of  Robert  Hawes,  Gent.,  cbief  constable  of  this  hundred 
in  the  time  of  King  Charles  I.,  and  long  afterwards ;  whose  family 
derive  their  descent  from  Robert  Hawes,  Gent.,  the  son  of  Henry 
(formerly  written)  Hawe,  by  Helen  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Orapnall,  of  this  parish :  which  Henry  descended  from  the  Hawes, 
of  Hilgey,  in  Norfolk  ;'  where  one  of  the  same  name,  and  bearing 
the  same  arms,  lies  interred. 

Mr.  Hawes  married  Sarah,  the  youngest  daughter  of  George 
Sterling,  of  Charsfield,  in  this  hundred,  Esq.,  and  succeeded  Mau- 
rice Kendall,  as  steward  of  Framlingham  and  Saxted  manors,  in 
1712.  He  died  in  1731,  and  was  buried  in  Framlingham  church  : 
some  of  his  ancestors  are  buried  at  Brandeston. 

This  gentleman  was  the  industrious  compiler  of  a  history  of  this 
hundred ;  from  which  the  "  History  of  Framlingham,"  was  published 
in  4to.,  with  additions,  in  1798,  by  the  late  Mr.  Robert  Loder,  of 
Woodbridge ;  in  the  preface  to  which  work,  Mr.  Loder  gives  the 
following  particulars : — 

"  The  following  work,  forming  part  of  the  History  of  the  Hundred  of  Loes,  is 
extracted  from  a  very  fair  manuscript,  comprising  upwards  of  700  folio  pages, 
closely  written,  adorned  in  the  body  of  the  history  and  in  the  margins,  with  draw- 
ings of  Churches,  Gentlemen's  Seats,  miniature  Portraits,  ancient  Seals,  and  Coats 
of  Arms  of  the  Nobility,  Gentry,  and  Clergy,  blazoned  in  their  proper  colours ; 
which  was  compiled  by  Robert  Hawes,  Gent.,  and  remains  in  the  collection  of 
John  Revett,  of  Brandeston  Hall,  Esq." 

Mr.  Hawes  presented  another  copy*  of  the  same  to  the  Master 
and  Fellows  of  Pembroke  Hall,  Cambridge ;  which  was  so  well 
accepted,  that  they  presented  him  with  a  large  silver  cup  and  cover, 
adorned  with  the  college  arms,  with  an  honourable  latin  memorial 
engraven  upon  the  same. 

ARMS. — Hawes:  sable;  a  fess  humetty,  ermine,  between  three 
griffins'  heads,  erased,  argent. 


BUTLEY. — BUTELEA,  or  BUTTELAY. 

This  parish  is  situated  in  two  hundreds;  the  church  being  in  this, 
and  the  abbey  in  Plomesgate  hundred,  for  which  see  an  account. 

*  A  transcript  of  part  of  this  manuscript  is  now  before  us,  from  which  we  hope 
to  collect  much  original  matter  concerning  this  hundred. 


84  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

In  a  pastoral  song  written  here  in  1792,  by  the  Eev.  John  Black, 
the  poet  celebrates  the  "  fair  Donegall ;"  Barbara,  the  third  wife  of 
Arthur,  first  Marquess  of  Donegall.  She  was  the  daughter  of  the 
Eev.  Dr.  Godfrey;  was  married  to  his  lordship  Oct.  12th,  1790, 
and  they  both  resided  in  this  parish  occasionally,  for  many  years. 

The  Marquess's  first  wife  was  Anne,  the  only  daughter  of  James, 
Duke  of  Hamilton,  by  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  and  heir  of  Edward 
Spencer,  of  Eendlesham,  Esq. ;  by  whom  he  had  George  Augustus, 
the  present  Marquess. 

Staverton  Park,  in  Butley,  has  long  been  the  property  of  the 
family  of  Barnardiston ;  and  Nathaniel  Bamardiston,  of  the  Eyes, 
near  Sudbury,  Esq.,  is  now  the  owner  of  it. 

The  Eev.  John  Black  was  for  many  years  a  resident  in  Wood- 
bridge,  and  died  there,  August  30,  1813,  in  the  59th  year  of  his 
age.  He  was  licensed  to  the  perpetual  curacy  of  this  parish  in 
1789,  and  to  that  of  Eamsholt  in  1807  ;  was  highly  respected  for 
the  excellence  of  his  understanding,  and  the  amiable  qualities 
of  his  heart. 

Mr.  Black  was  a  good  classical  scholar,  and  possessed  a  consi- 
derable share  of  poetical  talent.  The  pious  resignation  of  a  Chris- 
tian supported  him  in  the  troubles  and  privations  which  it  was  his 
hard  lot  to  encounter  in  domestic  life.  He  published  some  sermons 
preached  on  particular  occasions,  and  "  Solitary  Musings,  in  Verse," 
8vo. ;  in  1799,  "Poems,"  8vo.,  which  were  honoured  by  a  very 
large  subscription,  and  to  which  is  prefixed  his  portrait;  and,  in 
1801,  "The  Free  School,  a  Poem;"  to  which  is  added,  "An  Elegy 
on  the  Death  of  Edmund  Jenney,  of  Bredfield,  Esq.,  and  of  Philip 
Bowes  Broke,  Esq.,  of  Nacton,"  who  both  died  in  that  year.  Also 
"  An  authentic  Narrative  of  the  Mutiny  on  board  the  ship  Lady 
Shore,  with  particulars  of  a  Journey  tlirough  part  of  Brazil,  in 
a  letter  dated  '  Eio  Janeiro,  Jan.  18,  1798,'  "  from  his  son,  one  of 
the  surviving  officers  of  the  ship. 

CHARITIES. — By  deed,  dated  in  1731,  Thomas  Lynd,  conveyed 
to  trustees,  two  pieces  of  land,  containing  by  estimation  one  acre, 
in  trust  for  the  use  and  maintenance  of  the  poor  inhabitants  of  tins 
parish.  This  land  is  let  at  the  rent  of  £.1  5s.  a  year;  which,  with 
10s.  6d.  a  year,  the  rent  of  a  small  piece  of  ground,  on  which  an 
.  old  town-house  formerly  stood,  is  distributed  among  poor  widows, 
and  other  poor  persons. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  85 


CAMPSEY-ASH.— CAPESEA,  CAMPESS,  or  CAUMPES. 

Previous  to  1195,  Theobald  de  Valoines  gave  his  estate  in  this 
parish  to  his  two  sisters,  Joan  and  Agnes,  for  the  purpose  of  founding 
a  nunnery  here,  wherein  they  and  other  pious  women  might  live  to 
the  service  of  God :  this  design  having  been  put  into  execution, 
Joan  de  Valoiiies  became  the  first  prioress  of  this  monastery. 

In  "  Valor  Ecolesiasticus,"  1534,  the  gross  value  is  £.2 13  Os.  5^d. 
It  contained  a  prioress  and  nineteen  nuns,  previously  to  the  disso- 
lution. The  last  prioress  was  Elizabeth  13uttry,  who  died  in  1548, 
and  was  buried  in  St.  Stephen's  church,  in  Norwich. 

Among  the  annual  charges  upon  the  endowment,  according  to 
the  wills  of  the  founder,  and  succeeding  benefactors,  were  these : — 
"  For  three  wax  candles,  of  the  weight  of  three  pounds,  on  the  an- 
niversary of  Lady  Anne  Waylond,  in  the  church  of  Ashe ;  and  at 
the  mass  of  the  blessed  Virgin,  in  the  church  of  Campsey,  3s.  Cd." 
"  For  seven  flagons  of  oil,  for  burning  in  the  lamps  in  the  chapel 
of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Nicholas,  5s.  lOd. ;  and  three 
flagons  of  wine,  for  celebrating  masses  in  the  chantry,  2s.  8d.  per 
annum."  "For  annual  alms  to  poor  persons  on  certain  days,  10s." 
The  sum  of  £.10  was  annually  divided  between  the  prioress,  sacrist, 
camerarius,  almoner,  celarer,  and  infirmarer;  and  £.6  13s.  4d. 
between  nuns  of  this  nunnery,  according  to  ancient  custom. 

At  the  dissolution,  in  1543,  it  was  granted  to  Sir  William  Wil- 
loughby,  Knt. ;  who  sold  the  lordship  of  this  parish  to  Anthony 
Bull,  of  Ipswich,  Gent. ;  and  the  priory,  with  the  demesne  lands, 
to  John  Lane,  Gent.,  who  made  the  Abbey  his  residence,  until  Ms 
death,  which  happened  in  or  about  the  3rd  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

It  continued  in  his  descendants  until  the  time  of  King  Charles  I., 
when  Robert  Lane,  Esq.,  removed  to  Mendlesham,  in  Hartismere 
hundred,  and  sold  this  estate  to  Frederick  Scot,  Gent.,  a  descendant 
from  the  Scots,  of  Glemsford,  in  this  county.  He  resided  here  in 
1655,  but  afterwards  sold  the  same  to  Sir  Henry  Wood,  of  Loudham, 
Knt.,  and  removed  to  Leiston,  where  he  died  in  1662,  and  was 
buried  there. 

From  the  Woods  it  passed  to  William  Chapman,  Esq.,  and  was 
lately  the  property  of  Jacob  Whitbread,  Esq.* 

*  This  Chantry  was  probably  that  founded  by  Maud  de  Lancaster,  and  afterwards 
removed  to  Bruisyard,  where  it  will  be  further  noticed. 


00  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

ASH  HIGH  HOUSE  was  erected  by  William  (not  John)  Glover, 
Esq.,  a  retainer  of  Thomas  Howard,  Earl  of  Suffolk  (not  Norfolk), 
about  the  year  1600  ;  and  obtained  its  present  appellation  from  the 
circumstance  of  its  being  four  stories  in  height.* 

Jn  or  about  the  year  1652,  William  Glover,  Esq.,  his  grandson, 
sold  tlu's  estate  to  John  Sheppard,  Gent.,  a  descendant  of  a  family  of 
considerable  antiquity,  originally  seated  at  Mendlesham,  in  this 
county.  The  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  1830,  at  pages  398  and 
510,  contains  biographical  notices  of  this  respectable  family,  from 
which  account  we  derive  the  following  particulars  : — 

The  John  Sheppard  who  purchased  this  estate,  and  removing 
hither  made  it  his  residence,  was  eldest  son  of  John  Sheppard,  who 
lived  at  Mendlesham,  in  the  reigns  of  James  and  Charles  I.,  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  John  Lane,  of  this  parish,  Gent. 
Their  second  son,  Edmund,  continued  at  Mendlesham. 

John,  only  son  of  John  Sheppard,  of  this  parish,  died  unmarried 
in  1671,  and  devised  this  property  to  be  sold  by  his  kinsman, 
Edmund  Sheppard,  jun.,  who  thereupon  disposed  of  it  to  his  father, 
Edmund  Sheppard,  of  Eendlesham,  Gent.,  who  died  in  1676  ;  and 
this  estate  descended  to  the  above-mentioned  Edmund  Sheppard, 
Esq.,  who,  removing  from  Mendlesham,  made  this  his  future 
residence. 

He  married  Anne,  only  daughter  of  Sir  John  Coell,  of  Depden, 
Knt.,  one  of  the  Masters  in  Chancery,  during  the  reign  of  King 
Charles  II. ;  by  whom  he  had  several  children,  all  of  whom,  how- 
ever, died  unmarried,  excepting  John,  who  survived  him. 

He  died  here  in  1708,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  John 
Sheppard  ;  who,  after  his  father's  decease,  made  great  additions  to 
his  seat  here,  and  considerable  improvements.  He  married  the 
Eight  Hon.  Anne,  Countess  of  Leicester,  relict  of  the  Eight  Hon. 
Philip  Sydney,  fifth  Earl  of  Leicester,  and  one  of  the  daughters 
and  coheiresses  of  Sir  Eobert  Eeeve  (alias  Wright),  of  Thwaite,  in 
this  county,  Bart.,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue.  He  married,  secondly, 
Hannah  Wilmot,  by  whom,  likewise,  he  had  no  issue. 

Mr.  Sheppard  died  in  1747,  and  it  appears  that  he  was  succeeded 
in  his  estates  by  his  kinsman,  John  Sheppard,  a  descendant  from  a 
branch  of 'this  family,  who  became  early  seated  at  Wetheringset,  in 
this  county,  and  a  descendant  of  his  is  the  present  proprietor ;  a 

*  A  view  of  this  house  is  given  in  the  "  Excursions  in  Suffolk.'' 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  87 

son  of  John  Wilson  Sheppard,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1830,  at  Bury 
St.  Edmund's,  during  his  attendance  at  the  assizes,  as  High  Sheriff 
for  the  county. 

The  old  seat  mentioned  by  Kirhy,  as  purchased  of  Theophilus 
Howard,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  by  John  Braham  (or  Brame),  Gent.,  is  the 
manor  of  Ash,  a  member  of  Framlingham  manor,  and  parcel  of  Bi- 
god's ;  formerly  held  by  William  de  Hoo,  at  half-a-knight's  fee ; 
and  in  the  2nd  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  Lord  Abergavenny :  the 
same  property  that  Anthony  Bull  bought,  as  above.  It  continued 
in  that  house  for  several  generations,  until  the  death  of  John  Bra- 
ham,  Esq.,  Banister- at- Law,  in  1700;  who,  by  Jane  his  wife, 
eldest  daughter  of  Sir  John  Duke,  of  Benhall  Lodge,  Bart.,  left 
two  daughters  and  co-heirs,  Elizabeth  and  Jane,  who  in  1764,  were 
residents  therein. 

The  advowson  now  is,  and  always  was,  appendant  to  tlu's  manor. 
In  1312,  the  widow  of  Roger  Bigod,  last  of  that  surname,  Earl  of 
Norfolk,  presented  to  this  church ;  in  1361,  the  relict  of  Thomas  de 
Brotherton  ;  in  1395,  the  Lady  Margaret,  Countess  of  Norfolk,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  de  Brotherton;  in  1447,  John,  Viscount 
Beaumont,  in  right  of  Lady  Catherine  his  wife,  the  widow  of  John 
Mowbray,  Earl  of  Norfolk;  in  1506,  Thomas  Howard,  Earl  of 
Surrey;  in  1533,  Thomas  Howard,  Duke  of  Norfolk;  in  1561, 
William,  Lord  WTilloughby;  in  1607,  Thomas  Howard,  Earl  of 
Suffolk;  in  1637,  Theophilus  Howard,  Earl  of  Suffolk;  in  1671, 
John  Brame,  Gent.;  and  in  1817,  the  Lord  Rendlesham,  whose 
descendant  is  the  present  proprietor. 

The  Rev.  George  Frederic  Tavel,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  Euston 
in  Suffolk,  died  April  26,  1829.  This  amiable  man,  and  accom- 
plished scholar,  was  a  Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  and  in 
1795,  proceeded  to  the  degree  of  A.M.  In  1798,  and  1800,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  Moderators,  and  in  the  latter  year  a  Taxor  of 
the  University :  he,  for  many  years,  filled  the  important  office  of 
Tutor  in  his  College.  In  1811,  he  was  presented  by  the  Society, 
to  the  vicarage  of  Kellington,  in  Yorkshire  ;  and  in  the  same  year 
he  married  to  the  Lady  Augusta  Fitzroy,  the  4th  daughter  of 
Augustus  Henry,  3rd  Duke  of  Grafton,  by  his  2nd  wife,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Sir  Richard  Wrottesley,  Bart.,  and  Dean  of 
Windsor.  Mr.  Tavel  was  presented  to  tin's  living  in  1817,  by  Sir 
Ralph  James  Woodford,  Bait. ;  on  which  occasion  he  vacated  the 
vicarage  of  Kellington.  In  1818,  he  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the 


88  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

Royal  Society;  and  in  1828,  he  was  presented  by  his  brother-in- 
law,  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  to  the  rectory  of  Euston. 

ARMS. — Lane:  argent;  three  chevronels,  sable.  Skot:  argent; 
three  Catherine  wheels,  sable,  within  a  bordure  engrailed,  gules. 
Sheppard:  sable  ;  a  fess  between  three  talbots  passant,  argent. 
Glover:  sable;  a  fess  crenelle,  ermine,  between  three  crescents, 
argent.  Braham :  sable  ;  a  cross  patonce,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  here,  of  which  the  acquisition  is 
unknown,  comprises  a  messuage,  called  the  "  Town  House,"  in  two 
tenements,  with  a  yard  and  a  piece  of  land,  containing  by  estimation, 
two  acres,  which  are  let  together  at  £.10  a  year;  with  a  piece  of 
waste,  containing  about  an  acre,  unproductive,  having  a  sand-pit 
therein.  The  income  is,  by  usage,  appropriated  by  the  churchwar- 
dens to  the  reparation  and  ornament  of  the  church,  and  other  ex- 
pences  of  their  office. 


CHARSFIELD. — CERESFELLA,  or  CERESFELDA. 

In  the  time  of  Tung  John,  this  lordship  was  vested  in  William  de 
Weyland  ;  who  fined  for  his  villains  here,  and  in  Westerfield.  It 
continued  in  that  family  until  the  death  of  Sir  John  de  Weyland,  ill 
the  time  of  King  Richard  II. ;  when  Elizabeth,  his  only  daughter 
and  heiress,  inherited  this  manor.  She  married  John  Harewell, 
Esq.,  of  Warwickshire ;  and  Joan,  their  only  daughter  and  heiress, 
married  John  Stretche,  Esq.,  of  Devonshire. 

This  Joan  Stretche,  it  appears,  died  without  issue,  and  her  pos- 
sessions devolved  upon  the  descendants  of  Margaret  and  Catherine, 
sisters  and  co-heirs  of  the  said  Sir  John  de  Weyland,  grandfather  of 
the  above  Joan.  Margaret  married  to  Sir  John  de  Tudenham,  and 
Catherine  to  Sir  John  deBotetort,  lord  of  Mendlesham,  in  this  county. 

In  1434,  on  the  death  of  Joan  Stretche,  a  fine  was  levied  between 
Sir  Thomas  Tudenham,  grandson  of  the  above  Sir  John  Tudenham, 
and  Margaret  his  wife,  and  Sir  John  Knevet ;  who  married  Joan, 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  Botetort,  and  Catherine  Ms  wife  ; 
by  which  this  manor,  with  Brandeston,  Westerfield,  and  other  lord- 
ships in  this  county,  were  granted  to  the  said  Sir  Thomas  Tudenham ; 
and  the  other  possessions  of  the  said  Joan,  in  Somersetshire,  &c., 
to  Sir  John  Knevet. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  89 

From  the  Tudcnlmms  it  passed  to  the  Bedingfields,  as  in  Be- 
dingfield  parish ;  and  in  the  2nd  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Edmund 
Bedirigfield  held  the  manor  of  Charsfield  Hall,  at  half-a-knight's 
fee,  and  paid  castle  guard  rent  to  Framlingham  Castle ;  in  the  30th 
of  the  same  reign,  Edmund  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  held  the  same. 

Henry  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  kept  his  first  court  for  this  manor  in 
1591  ;  he  was  afterwards  knighted,  and  obtained  a  grant  from  the 
lord  of  the  manor  of  Framliiigham,  that  the  manor  of  Charsfield 
should  riot  in  future  be  holden  of  Framlingham  by  knight's  service, 
but  by  fealty  only.  In  1C  13,  he  sold  the  manor  of  Charsfield, 
Charsfield  Hall,  and  the  demesne  lands  belonging  thereto,  to  Sir 
John  Leman,  Knt.,  and  his  heirs. 

Sir  John  Leman  was  Alderman  and  Lord  Mayor  of  London  ;  was 
Knighted  by  King  James  I.,  in  the  12th  of  his  reign,  and  the  same 
year  kept  his  first  court  for  this  manor.  By  deed,  dated  Apiil  7, 
1629,  he  settled  this  estate  upon  William  Leruan,  Gent.,  (the  eldest 
son  of  John  Leman,  Gent.,  eldest  son  of  William  Leman,  of  Beccles, 
Gent.,  the  eldest  brother  of  Sir  John),  and  his  heirs  for  ever.  Sir 
John  Lemaii  deceased  in  1032,  and  was  buried  under  an  elegant 
monument,  in  St.  Michael's  church,  Crooked  Lane,  London,  having 
been  a  considerable  benefactor  to  that  city. 

William  Leman,  Gent.,  after  the  death  of  Sir  John,  kept  his  first 
court  for  this  manor  in  1640  ;  he  gave  the  said  manor  to  Margaret, 
his  second  wife,  the  daughter  of  Matthew  Trot,  of  Hargrave,  in  this 
county,  Gent.,  for  life  :  the  reversion  thereof,  to  John  Leman,  his 
eldest  son.  He  was  the  first  of  this  family  who  resided  here,  and 
kept  his  first  court  in  1662  :  he  died  in  1668  ;  and  his  eldest  and 
youngest  sons,  after  his  decease,  without  issue,  leaving  William  their 
brother,  who  succeeded  to  Ms  father's  inheritance. 

He  married  Elizabeth,  the  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Bobert 
Sterling,  of  this  parish,  Gent. ;  a  family  of  good  repute  here  for 
several  ages,  descendants  of  the  Sterlings  of  Witnesham  and  Bran- 
deston.  In  or  about  1735,  the  said  Elizabeth,  as  widow  of  the 
above  William  Leman,  Esq.,  inherited  tin's  estate,  and  resided 
here. 

It  was  soon  afterwards  purchased  by  William  Jennens,  Esq.,  of 
Acton  Place,  in  this  county ;  and  subsequently  became  the  property 
of  the  Curson  family.  The  Eight  Hon.  the  Earl  Howe  is  the  pre- 
sent proprietor. 

In  1635,  Robert  Large,  clerk,  held  this  curacy,  from  which  he 


90  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

was  ejected  about  1644,  for  reading  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 
and  for  taking  the  solemn  league  and  covenant  with  limitations ; 
he  became  afterwards  in  such  abject  circumstances,  as  to  accept  of 
an  asylum  in  the  alms-house  at  Letheringham,  where  he  and  his 
family  obtained  a  constant  supply  of  provision  from  the  Abbey.  He 
died  in  1657,  and  was  buried  in  Letheringham  church  yard. 

ARMS. —  Weyland:  argent;  on  a  cross,  gules,  five  escallops,  or. 
Bedingfield:  ermine;  an  eagle,  displayed,  gules.  Leman:  azure; 
a  fess  between  three  dolphins,  embowed,  argent.  Stirling :  azure ; 
a  cross  pattee,  between  four  stars  of  six  points,  or. 

CHARITIES. — Tlu's  parish  has  a  share  in  the  bequest  of  Joseph 
Kersey,  for  an  account  of  which  see  Earl  Soham. 


CEETINGHAM,  or  GRETINGHAM. 

This  parish  was  formerly  divided  into  two,  Great  and  Little 
Cretingham ;  but  have  long  been  considered  as  one  village.  It 
contains  together  four  manors  ;  namely,  St.  Peter's,  as  belonging 
to  St.  Peter's  Priory,  in  Ipswich ;  to  which  house  the  church  was 
also  impropriated. 

2nd.  Cretingham  Tyes,  of  which  manor  John  de  Hoo  was  lord, 
in  1341,  then  the  Tyes  of  Easton,  who  gave  it  the  additional  ap- 
pellation. It  has  since  passed  through  the  families  of  Phelip,  of 
Dennington,  the  Lords  Bardolf,  the  Viscounts  Beaumont;  the 
Wingfield  and  Kous  families  :  it  at  length  became  vested  in  the 
Eevets,  of  Brandeston. 

3rd.  Little  Cretingham ;  which  contained  a  messuage,  76  acres 
of  land,  meadow  and  pasture,  and  £.3  15s.  5d.  rent,  in  this  parish, 
Monewden,  Framsden,  and  Helmingham.  In  the  time  of  King 
Henry  III.,  Nicholas  de  Gretingham  was  owner  thereof;  in  the 
15th  of  the  following  reign,  Simon  de  Gretingham  occurs;  and 
about  1361,  this  property  came,  either  by  sale  or  descent,  to  Wil- 
liam Clare,  Gent. 

4th.  Kettlebars  manor,  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  III.,  was 
held  by  Eichard  de  Kettlebars  ;  who,  by  himself  or  his  ancestors, 
gave  name  to  tliis  lordship,  and  built  the  manor  house,  encompas- 
sing it  with  a  moat ;  the  seat  of  the  family,  the  domain  of  which 
lying  in  that  part  of  the  parish  nearest  Earl  Soham,  contained  100 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  91 

acres  of  land,  meadow,  pasture,  and  wood,  which  were  held  of  the 
honour  of  Chester.  He  was  patron  of  the  church  of  Monewden, 
and  held  20  acres  of  land  in  Kettleburgh,  in  1219,  and  40  acres  in 
Easton :  he  left  issue  John  de  Kettlebars,  his  son  and  heir,  who 
sold  the  advowson  of  Monewden,  and  18  acres  of  land  there,  in 
1263,  to  William  Weyland,  Esq. 

In  1381,  Margaret  de  Kettlebars,  after  the  decease  of  her  two 
brothers  without  issue,  did  homage  for  her  lands  in  Kettleburgh,  at 
Framlingham  Castle ;  and  afterwards  married  Thomas  Mulso,  Esq., 
or  sold  him  the  manor  of  Kettlebars,  in  this  parish ;  which  de- 
scended to  William  his  son,  whose  only  daughter  and  heir,  by  Anne 
his  wife,  married  Lionel  Lowthe,  Esq.,  and  Margaret  their  only 
daughter  and  heir,  married  Richard  Cornwallis,  Esq.,  about  the 
commencement  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign ;  who  in  her  right  in- 
herited this  manor. 

He  was  third  son  of  Sir  John  Cornwallis,  of  Brome,  in  this 
county,  Knt,.  by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Edward  Sulyard,  Esq., 
and  brother  of  Sir  Thomas  Cornwallis,  Comptroller  of  the  House- 
hold to  Queen  Mary,  whom  he  greatly  aided. 

In  this  parish  church  are  monuments  for  Lionel  Lowthe,  and 
Margaret  his  daughter,  relict  of  Richard  Cornwallis,  who  was  buried 
at  Shotley,  in  this  county ;  and  also  memorials  to  some  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Cornwallis  family. 

The  manor  of  Tyes,  in  Cretingham,  was  held  by  a  family  of 
Knight's  degree,  of  that  name,  for  several  generations;  part  of 
which  estate  afterwards  passed  to  the  Daundy's,  of  Ipswich.  Wil- 
liam, son  of  Edmund  Daundy,  Esq.,  a  portman  of  that  borough 
(who  erected  at  his  own  expense  the  market  cross,  in  1510,  during 
his  bailiwick,  and  founded  the  almshouse  in  Lady  Lane),  resided  in 
this  parish. 

He  married  Agnes,  daughter  of  Thomas  Alvard,  of  Ipswich,  Esq., 
by  whom  he  had  issue  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Arthur,  steward  of 
Grays  Inn,  and  one  daughter.  Thomas  Daundy,  Gent.,  their 
eldest  son,  married  Anne,  the  daughter  of  John  Falstaff,  of  Pet- 
taugh,  Gent.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  one  son,  Thomas,  and  nine 
daughters.  He  died  in  1580,  and  was  buried  here. 

Thomas  Daundy,  their  only  son,  succeeded :  he  married  Martha, 
the  daughter  of  John  Poley,  of  Badley,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had 
issue  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  Their  father  removed  from 
this  parish  to  Combes  Hall,  in  Stow  hundred,  where  he  died,  in  the 


92  HUNDllED  OF  LOES. 

reigu  of  King  James  I.,  and  lies  interred  under  a  marble  stone  in 
that  parish  church. 

William  Keene,  in  1466,  was  instituted  to  the  rectory  of  Burston, 
in  Norfolk,  on  the  presentation  of  the  Prior  and  Convent,  atButley. 
By  his  will,  dated  and  proved  in  1472,  he  desired  to  be  buried  in 
the  chancel  of  this  parish  church. 

Robert  Sayer  was  minister  of  this  parish  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
reign  of  King  Charles  I.,  and  expended  a  large  sum  upon  the  par- 
sonage house,  which  he  almost  rebuilt,  and  made  it  a  very  conve- 
nient habitation.  He  died  in  1649,  and  was  buried  in  this  church- 
yard, a  little  southward  from  the  porch,  with  two  of  his  sons: 
Eobert  Sayer,  B.D.,  the  eldest,  was  prebendary  of  York,  and  rector 
of  Westley,  in  Cambridgeshire,  he  deceased  in  1681 ;  and  William 
Sayer,  the  second  son,  was  a  portman  of  Ipswich,  and  died  in  the 
same  year. 

ARMS. — Mulso:  ermine;  on  a  bend,  sable,  three  goats' heads 
erased,  argent,  armed,  or.  Lowthe :  sable ;  a  wolf  salient,  argent. 
Daundy :  quarterly,  azure  and  or ;  on  the  first,  a  mullet  of  the 
second.  Sayer:  gules;  a  chevron  between  three  falcons,  argent ; 
a  chief,  ermine. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands  of  this  parish  were  principally 
settled  or  given,  in  or  about  the  3rd  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  Arthur 
Penning  and  William  Barwick,  for  keeping  the  church  in  good  re- 
pair, and  for  the  general  benefit  of  the  parishioners.  It  consists  of 
two  parcels  of  land,  containing  together  about  1\  acres,  let  at 
aG.19  5s.  a  year ;  the  Bell  Inn,  the  acquisition  of  which  is  unknown, 
rent  £.13  per  annum;  a  cottage  and  blacksmith's  shop,  rent  £.10 
a  year  ;  a  cottage  lately  erected  at  the  expense  of  the  parish,  yearly 
rent,  £.6  10s. ;  one  double  cottage,  and  one  single  ditto,  rent  un- 
certain. The  rents  are  applied  to  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and 
defraying  other  expenses  of  the  churchwardens ;  and  the  surplus  is 
paid  to  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  and  applied  in  reduction  of  the 
parochial  rates. — In  1819,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Jefferson,  late  vicar  of 
this  parish,  settled  two  pieces  of  copyhold  land,  containing  together 
two  acres,  in  augmentation  of  the  glebe  land  belonging  to  the  vi- 
carage, for  the  use  of  his  successors;  subject  to  the  the  payment  of 
40s.  a  year,  at  Michaelmas,  to  the  churchwardens  and  overseers,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  poor.  This  annuity  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are 
distributed  among  poor  people. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

DALLINGHOO,  or  DALINGAHOU. 

This  parish  is  not  entirely  in  this  hundred,  but  part  thereof  lies 
within  that  of  Willford,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Hamlet,  and,  for 
distinctions  sake,  Earl  Dallinghoo ;  but  the  other  part,  in  wliich  the 
church  is  situate,  is  in  this  hundred,  and  called  Dallinghoo,  without 
any  addition.  It  was  held  of  the  honour  of  Eye,  with  three  parts  in 
four  of  the  advowson,  and  Earl  Dallinghoo  held  one  turn  in  four, 
to  the  presentation  of  an  incumbent,  as  of  ancient  right. 

It  formerly  belonged  to  the  Bovils,  of  Letheringham ;  which 
manor,  with  the  said  three  parts  of  the  advowson,  partly  by  descent 
and  partly  by  purchase,  came  through  the  several  families  of  Run- 
geston,  Norwich,  and  Carbonel,  to  the  Wingfields  ;  who,  by  usur- 
pation, or  otherwise,  gained  at  length  the  whole  right  of  presentation,  j 

In  the  reign  of  King  James  I.,  Thomas  Shaw,  Gent.,  lived  in  good 
repute  in  this  parish.  He  married  Elizabeth,  one  of  the  daughters 
of  Thomas  Fernley,  of  West  Greeting,  in  this  county,  Esq.  Mr. 
Shaw  was  steward  to  the  Earl  of  Suffolk,  in  his  manor  of  Fram- 
lingham,  and  several  other  courts  in  this  county. 

He  died  in  1622,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish 
church  ;  Elizabeth  his  wife,  survived,  and  re-married  to  Henry 
Dade,  Esq.,  second  son  of  Thomas  Dade,  of  Tannington,  in  tin's 
county,  Esq.,  and  Anne  Ids  wife,  the  daughter  of  Richard  Corn- 
wallis,  Esq. 

Mr.  Dade  was  Bachelor  of  Laws,  and  Commissary  of  the  Arch- 
deaconry of  Suffolk  :  he  resided  at  Ipswich  until  his  marriage, 
when  he  removed  from  thence,  and  dwelt  in  this  parish.  Elizabeth 
his  wife,  died  in  1624,  and  he  married  secondly,  Thomasine,  the 
daughter  of  John  Lea,  of  Coddenham,  Gent.,  and  widow  of  Samuel 
Sayer,  Gent. 

William  Churchill,  Esq.,  purchased  this  estate  about  1698,  of 
John  Dade,  M.D.,  and  made  it  his  seat.  He  represented  Ipswich 
in  parliament  in  Queen  Anne's  reign,  and  married  Rose,  the  daughter 
of  John  Sayer,  of  Woodbridge,  Gent.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  married  to  Francis  Negus,  Esq.  It  was  lately 
the  estate  of  the  Earl  of  Rochford,  and  now  belongs  to  Mr. 
Archdeckne. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  II.,  Robert  de  Dalynghoo  was 
owner  of  laud  here,  wliich  he  settled  upon  his  daughter,  Isabella  de 


94  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

Pratt :  in  a  window  in  this  parish  church,  was  sable,  three  escallops, 
argent;  supposed  to  be  the  arms  of  Dallinghoo. 

ARMS. — Shaw :  argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  lozenges,  er- 
mine. Dade:  gules;  a  chevron  between  three  garbes,  proper. 
Churchill:  sable;  a  lion  rampant,  argent,  debruised  with  abend- 
let,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  and  poor  lands  in  this  parish,  consist 
of  seven  cottages,  and  several  pieces  of  land,  containing  together 
nearly  13  acres;  the  rents  of  which  amount  to  ;£.30  15s.  a  year, 
subject  to  land  tax  and  quit  rents.  This  is  applied  in  the  repairs 
of  the  church,  and  in  the  purchase  of  bread  and  coals  for  the  poor. 
—The  sum  of  £.8  6s.  7d.  a  year,  is  received  for  the  poor  of  this 
parish,  under  Kersey's  charity  (see  Earl  Soham). — The  several 
sums  of  10s.,  a  rent  charge  for  land  the  property  of  Andrew  Arce- 
deckne,  Esq.,  and  20s.  from  Mill's  charity,  at  Framlingham,  is 
distributed  also  in  bread  and  coals;  and  10s.  is  payable  out  of 
premises  in  Earl  Soham,  called  the  "  Stable  Yard ;"  this  was, 
however,  withheld  for  several  years,  but  whether  ever  resumed,  we 
are  not  informed. 


EAEL  SOHAM,  or  SAHAM. 

This  parish  in  Doomsday  is  called  Saham,  afterwards  Sahara 
Barres,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  adjacent  parish  of  Soham,,  which 
Alfricus,  Bishop  of  the  East  Angles,  gave  to  the  Monastery  of  St. 
Edmund,  whereupon  it  was  called  Monks'  Soham. 

It  was  purchased  by  Hugh  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  in  the  time 
of  King  Stephen,  of  Hubert  de  Munchensi,  descended  from  Mun- 
chensi,  a  Norman  Baron,  lord  of  Edwardston,  in  Babergh  hundred, 
in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror.  Gradually  losing  its  ancient 
name  of  Soham  Barres,  and  continuing,  with  Framlingham,  parcel 
of  the  estates  of  the  Earls  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  it  acquired  the 
name  of  Earl  Soham,  which  it  still  retains. 

Koger  Bigod,  the  founder  of  Thetford  Abbey,  and  Alice  his  wife, 
gave  to  that  Monastery  all  the  right  that  he  had  in  the  churches  of 
his  demesne ;  namely,  that  of  this  parish,  with  Kelsale,  Earl  Ston- 
ham,  Yoxford,  and  the  two  Bradleys,  with  all  the  lands  belonging 
to  the  same ;  all  which  Bishop  Herbert  appropriated  to  the  said 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  05 

Monastery,  after  their  next  vacancies,  reserving  canonical  obedience 
from  the  clerks  that  should  serve  them. 

In  the  7th  of  King  Edward  II.,  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  Earl  of 
Norfolk,  obtained  of  that  Monarch,  licence  for  a  market  in  this 
parish  every  Thursday ;  and  free  warren  in  all  his  demesne  lands  in 
Framlingham,  Hoo,  Stonham,  and  Hacheston.  He  died  seized  of 
the  manors  of  Earl  Stonham,  Hollesley,  Dunningworth,  and  Hoo ; 
which  he  left  to  his  second  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Lord 
Roos,  and  was  buried  in  the  Abbey  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury. 

A  grant  of  this  lordship  from  the  Crown,  was  made  to  Frances, 
relict  of  Henry,  Earl  of  Surry,  son  and  heir  of  Thomas,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  in  the  1st  of  King  Edward  VI.  She  was  daughter  of 
John  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  and  re-married  to  Thomas  Steyning,  of 
Woodbridge,  Esq.,  and  afterwards  of  Earl  Soham,  by  whom  she 
had  issue  a  daughter  Mary,  who  in  1575,  married  Charles  Seckford, 
Esq.,  M.P.  for  Aldeburgh  in  1572.  Mr.  Steyning  was  steward  of 
the  manors  of  Framlingham  and  Saxted,  from  1563  to  1577.  In 
1554,  he  and  lady  Frances*  presented  to  the  rectory  of  this  parish 
church. 

John  Cornwallis,  Esq.,  purchased  of  the  Earl  of  Suffolk,  the 
manor,  advowson,  lodge,  and  park,  of  Earl  Soham,  and  removed  to 
this  parish,  from  Badmgham,  in  Hoxne  hundred.  He  was  trustee 
to  Thomas  Howard,  only  son  and  heir  of  Philip,  Earl  of  Arundel : 
was  twice  married,  1st.  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  John  Blenner- 
hasset,  of  Barsham,  Esq.;  she  died  in  1584,  and  was  buried  in 
Baddingham  church.  His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Wolsey, 
relict  of  William  Tuthill,  Gent.,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue.  Mr. 
Cornwallis  deceased  in  1615,  and  was  buried  at  Cretingham,,  in  this 
hundred. 

Thomas  Cornwallis,  Esq.,  his  eldest  surviving  son,  succeeded. 
He  was  M.P.  for  this  county  in  the  21st  of  King  James  I.,  and 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Edward  Grimstone,  of  Bradfield,  in 
Essex,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue.  By  his  will,  dated  in  1625, 
he  devised  lus  estate  in  this  parish,  to  Elizabeth  his  sister,  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Corderoy,  of  Hampshire,  Esq.  Mr.  Cornwallis  was 
also  buried  at  Cretingham.  Elizabeth  Corderoy  afterwards  married 

*  Her  death  is  thus  recorded  in  the  register  of  Earl  Soham : — "  Anno  Domi 
1577, — Ttem  the  Ladye  Ffrancis  Countys  of  Surrye  dyed  the  last  of  June  in  the 
year  aforesaid,  and  was  burryed  at  Fframlyngham."  No  corresponding  entry  ap- 
pears in  the  Framlingham  register  of  burials. 


9G  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

to  Edward  Nyncliion,  of  Whittle,  in  Essex,  who  sold  this  estate  to 
John  Cotton,  of  London,  Esq. 

He  was  the  second  son  of  Sir  Alan  Cotton,  Knt,  Lord  Mayor  of 
London  in  1626,  and  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this 
county  in  1644.  Mr.  Cotton  had  four  wives,  but  had  no  surviving 
issue,  except  by  the  last,  namely  Anne,  the  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Revett,  of  Brandeston,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  several  children.  He 
died  in  1655,  much  in  debt,  from  having  disbursed  large  sums  in 
support  of  the  Royal  cause,  that  were  never  repaid ;  which  obliged 
Alan,  liis  eldest  surviving  son,  to  sell  this  estate  to  Leicester  Deve- 
reux,  Viscount  Hereford. 

The  executors  of  his  son,  Price  Devereux,  Lord  Viscount  Here- 
ford, sold  it  to  John  Boyfield,  Esq.  It  was  lately  the  property  of 
John  Ayton,  Esq.,  of  Missenden  Abbey,  in  Buckinghamshire. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Philip,  son  of  Robert  Stebbing, 
of  Kettleburgh,  resided  in  this  parish;  whose  descendants  afterwards 
settled  at  Wisset  and  Framsden,  in  this  county.  Oliver  Stebbing,  a 
grandson  of  the  above  Philip,  lived  here  in  the  time  of  Charles  I., 
and  took  the  covenant. 

The  Rev.  Francis  Capper,  M.A.,  died  Nov.  13,  1818,  at  the 
rectory  house  in  this  parish,  in  his  83rd  year,  and  in  the  60th  of 
liis  incumbency.  He  received  the  early  part  of  his  education  at 
the  school  at  Westminster,  from  whence  he  was  removed  to  Christ 
Church,  Oxford.  In  Oct.  1759,  he  was  presented  to  the  rectory 
of  Monks'  Soham,  and  in  December  following  to  that  of  Earl 
Soham.  He  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  sound  and  conscientious 
divine  ;  and  in  private  life,  justly  endeared  to  liis  family,  his  pa- 
risliioners,  and  his  friends. 

Mr.  Capper  was  probably  the  oldest  incumbent  in  the  diocese. — 
He  bequeathed  money  to  purchase  so  much  stock  in  the  four  per 
cent,  annuities,  as  with  the  dividends  thereof,  would  purchase 
twelve  loaves  of  bread,  of  3d.  each,  to  be  distributed  to  the  poor 
every  Sabbath-day. 

ARMS. — Cotton:  azure;  a  chevron  between  three  cotton  hanks, 
argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  here  consists  of  two  cottages,  in 
five  tenements,  which  together  let  for  £.9  10s.  a  year;  and  46 
acres  of  land,  lying  dispersed  in  the  parish,  which  a-  e  let  to  yearly 
tenants,  at  rents  amounting  to  £.62  4s.  per  annum.  These  are 
applied  for  the  benefit  of  such  poor  persons  of  the  parish  as  the 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  07 

trustees  think  most  necessitous  and  deserving. — Robert  Wyard,  by 
will  dated  in  1G77,  charged  his  lands,  called  "Hersewell,"  in  Wor- 
lingworth,  with  £.5  a  year,  to  bo  paid  as  follows  : — For  a  sermon 
at  Earl  Soham,  on  the  25th  Feb.  10s. ;  to  the  poor  of  ditto,  present 
at  the  said  sermon,  £.1  5s. ;  to  the  person  who  ring  the  bell,  5s.; 
for  an  entertainment  to  the  parish  officers,  and  ringers  of  the  bells, 
10s. ;  and  a  like  sum  to  be  applied  in  the  same  manner  and  propor- 
tions, April  23,  the  feast  day  of  St.  George  the  Martyr. — Joseph 
Kersey  bequeathed  by  will,  in  1816,  the  sum  of  £.800,  to  be  applied 
in  the  purchase  of  bank  stock,  the  yearly  interest  thereof  to  be  dis- 
tributed in  bread  and  coals,  to  the  resident  industrious  poor  of  the 
parishes  of  Dallinghoo,  Charsfield,  Marlesford,  and  Earl  Soham, 
for  ever.  The  sum  of  £.8  Gs.  7d.  a  year,  is  received,  and  expended 
in  the  purchase  of  coals,  which  are  distributed  to  the  poor ;  being 
their  portion  of  the  dividends  payable  for  tliis  parish. 


EASTON,  or  ESTUNA. 

i 

The  lordship  and  advowson  of  this  parish  were  anciently  the  in- 
heritance of  the  family  of  Charles,  who  resided  at  Kettleburgh  ;  it 
afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Wingfields,  of  Letheringham,  in 
whose  family  it  continued  several  ages,  until  purchased,  with  the 
remainder  of  the  Wingfields'  estates,  by  the  Earl  of  Rochford. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  III.,  Hugh  Pecke  resided  at  Martle 
Hall,  in  tin's  parish,  and  by  Ide  his  wife,  had  issue  a  daughter  Mar- 
gery, who  married  Roger  de  Celtey,  upon  whom  the  said  Hugh 
settled  the  manor  of  Martle  Hall,  with  a  messuage,  26  acres  of 
land,  2  acres  of  meadow,  2j  acres  of  wood,  and  14s.  rent  in  Ha- 
cheston  and  Easton,  in  tail. 

In  1332,  Nicholas  de  Eston,  and  Alice  his  wife,  were  owners  of 
messuages,  lands,  and  rents,  in  this  parish,  and  Kettleburgh ;  and 
in  1364,  John,  the  son  of  Nicholas  Eston,  occurs. 

Sir  Peter  de  Tye,  Knt.,  married  the  Lady  Dyonise*,  relict  of  Sir 
Edward  Charles,  of  Kettleburgh,  Knt.,  and  lived  in  this  parish 


*  This  lady  was  probably  the  daughter  of  John  de  Hoo,  and  Dyonise  his  wife  : 
by  her  will,  proved  in  the  above  year,  she  desires  to  be  buried  before  the  church 
door  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  in  Barsham. 


98  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

about  the  21st  of  King  Edward  III.  She  survived  him,  and  held 
his  manor  of  Barsham,  in  Wangford  hundred,  during  her  life,  which 
after  her  decease,  in  1375,  descended  to  their  son,  Robert  de  Tye, 
Esq.  He  left  issue  Robert,  who  married  Alice,  the  daughter 
of  Simon,  the  son  of  John  Brook,  of  this  parish,  Gent.,  and  in 
her  right  was  owner  of  Kettleburgh  Hall,  which  Alice  Charles, 
lady  of  that  manor,  granted  to  Simon  Brook,  in  1451.  They  left 
issue,  George  Tye,  Gent.,  who  sold  Kettleburgh  Hall,  about  1527, 
to  William  Stebbing,  of  that  parish,  Gent.,  and  his  heirs. 

In  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  John  Wingfield,  Esq.,  resided 
in  this  parish.  He  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Thomas  Wingfield,  of 
Great  Dunham,  in  Norfolk,  the  son  of  William  Wingfield,  Esq., 
Sewer  to  King  Henry  VIII.,  who  was  fourth  son  of  Sir  John 
Wingfield,  of  Letheringham,  Knt.  He  died  and  was  buried  in  this 
parish  church,  in  1584. 

Several  junior  branches  of  this  knightly  family  were  seated  here. 
Sir  Anthony  Wingfield,  Bart.,  so  created  in  1627,  built  the  mansion 
called  the  White  House,  pulled  down  the  old  seat  in  Hoo,  called 
Goodwin's,  and  removed  hither,  making  this  his  principal  seat.  He 
died  about  1638,  and  lies  interred  at  Letheringham. 

The  old  mansion  at  Letheringham  becoming  ruinous,  the  family 
continued  this  as  their  chief  place  of  residence,  until  the  time  of 
Sir  Henry,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Henry  Wingfield,  Bart.,  and  Dame 
Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Marvyn  Touchet,  Esq.,  afterwards  Earl 
of  Castlehaven ;  who  sold  this  and  his  other  estates  to  William 
Henry  Nassau,  1st.  Earl  of  Rochford.  Sir  Marvyn  Wingfield, 
Bart.,  brother  of  the  above  Sir  Henry,  and  to  whom,  little  more 
than  the  title  remained,  was  the  last  male  branch  of  this  ancient 
house. 

William  Henry  Nassau  de  Zulestein,  was  a  personage  liigh  in 
favour  with  King  William  III.,  whom  he  accompanied  into  Eng- 
land in  1688,  and  in  consideration  of  whose  eminent  services,  was 
by  that  Monarch,  in  1695,  created  Baron  of  Enfield,  in  Middlesex, 
Viscount  Tunbridge,  in  Kent,  and  Earl  of  Rochford,  in  the  county 
of  Essex.  He  was  son  of  Frederick  de  Nassau,  Lord  of  Zulestein, 
in  the  Province  of  Utrecht,  by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Killigrew,  of  the  county  of  Cornwall,  Bart.,  and  Cham- 
berlain to  Queen  Catherine,  the  Consort  of  King  Charles  II. 

His  Lordship  was  Master  of  the  Robes  to  his  Majesty,  and  after 
his  purchase  of  the  Wingfield  estate,  made  this  parish  liis  occasional 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  9!) 

residence.  He  died  at  Zulestein,  in  1708,  and  was  succeeded  by 
William,  liis  eldest  son  and  heir,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Almanza,  in  Spain,  in  1710,  unmarried ;  when  Frederick  Ids  bro- 
ther, succeeded,  as  3rd  Earl  of  Eochford. 

William  Henry,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded,  who  sold  this  estate  to 
the  Hon.  Richard  Savage  Nassau,  his  brother,  who  made  it  for 
several  years  his  constant  residence.  He  married  Anne,  the 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Edward  Spencer,  of  Rendlesham,  Esq., 
and  widow  of  James,  3rd  Duke  of  Hamilton.  By  this  lady  he  had 
issue  William  Henry,  born  in  1754  ;  who,  on  the  decease  of  his 
uncle,  William  Henry,  succeeded  him  in  Ins  honours,  as  5th  Earl 
of  Rochford,  in  1781. 

His  Lordship  deceased  September  3,  1830,  at  his  seat  called  the 
White  House,  in  this  parish,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age,  and  dying 
unmarried,  the  title  became  extinct,  and  the  estates  were  inherited 
by  Alexander  Hamilton  Douglas,  10th  and  present  Duke  of  Ham- 
ilton and  Brandon. 

ARMS. — Nassau:  azure;  a  lion  rampant,  and  semee  of  billets, 
or :  Crest, — in  a  ducal  coronet,  azure,  a  pair  of  bucks'  horns,  gules. 
Tye:  argent;  a  chevron,  gules.  Pccke:  azure;  a  fess,  between 
two  chevronels,  gules. 

In  1821,  died  in  this  parish,  William  Cotton,  Gent.,  the  only 
surviving  male  branch  of  an  ancient  and  respectable  family,  long 
resident  in  this  county,  who  were  of  Cheshire  extraction,  and  bore 
the  same  arms  with  those  seated  at  Cumbermere,  in  that  county. 
He  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  John,  the  second  son  of  Sir  Alan 
Cotton,  Knt.,  of  the  foregoing  parish  of  Earl  Soham. 

On  the  night  of  the  17th  October,  1820,  the  house  of  Mr.  Cotton 
was  broken  into  by  four  men,  with  their  faces  blacked,  who  with 
threats  and  imprecations,  possessed  themselves  of  very  considerable 
property.  Their  sudden  and  terrific  appearance  by  the  bedside  of 
Mr.  Cotton,  together  with  the  idea  of  appearing  against  them  on 
their  trial,  made  such  a  deep  impression  upon  his  mind,  as  to  de- 
press his  spirits,  and  impair  his  health,  that  but  little  doubt  remains 
that  he  was  thus  brought  to  a  premature  grave. 

At  the  ensuing  assizes  for  this  county,  Samuel  Grimwood,  Tho- 
mas Last,  and  James  Rozier,  Avere  capitally  convicted  of  this  burglary, 
and  received  sentence  of  death.  Grimwood  was  executed  at  Ipswich, 
April  28,  1821  ;  the  others  were  reprieved  for  transportation. 


100  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

EYKE,  or  IKE. 

The  lords  of  Framlingham  manor,  were  for  many  ages  owners  of 
the  lordship  of  this  parish,  and  patrons  of  the  church  ;  the  manor 
therefore  assumed,  and  still  continues  the  name  of  Ike  cum  Eram- 
lingham,  although  the  former  was  sold  from  the  latter,  about  the 
commencement  of  the  reiccn  of  King  Charles  I. 

In  the  reigns  of  King  Richard  II.,  and  Henry  IV.,  John  Staverton, 
Esq.,  resided  at  Staverton  Hall,  in  this  parish,  and  was  lord  of  the 
manors  of  Staverton,  Chcsylford,  Cotton,  Newton,  Skeyth,  and  rules 
and  perquisites  of  messuages  and  lands,  in  Ash,  Rendlesham,  Blax- 
hall,  and  Marlesford.  The  manor  of  Chesylford  he  gave  to  the  prior 
and  convent  at  Butley,  to  pray  for  his  soul  and  those  of  his  ancestors. 

Several  of  that  name  and  family  resided  at  Staverton  Hall  long 
before  his  time ;  it  afterwards,  by  descent  or  purchase,  came  to 
Thomas  Alvard,  Gent.,  who  in  the  26th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  died 
seized  thereof.  It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Wood  family, 
of  Loudham,  from  whom  it  passed  to  William  Chapman,  Esq. 

Staverton  Park,  which  lies  partly  within  the  parish  of  Butley,  has 
now  been  long  vested  in  the  Barnardiston  family :  Nathaniel  Bar- 
nardiston,  of  the  Ryes,  near  Sudbury,  Esq.,  is  the  present  owner. 

There  is  a  small  manor  belonging  to  the  rectory  here  ;  and  since 
the  separation  of  the  manor  of  Eyke  from  that  of  Frarnlingham,  the 
following  persons  have  presented  to  this  rectory : — Catherine  Gurdry, 
in  1638;  John  Barker,  of  Thorndon,  in  1673;  Henry  Boughton, 
in  1689  ;  and  lately,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Chilton. 

In  1329,  Robert  Redishall  (or  Redenhall),  was  instituted  to  this 
living,  on  the  presentation  of  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  Earl  of  Nor- 
folk. This  rector,  in  the  32nd  of  King  Edward  III.,  founded  a 
Chantry  in  this  church,  and  endowed  it  with  the  manor  of  Bevants, 
in  Rendlesham ;  having  obtained  licence  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Hol- 
brooke, Knt.,  and  lord  of  the  manor  of  Colvilles,  wherein  the  former 
was  held. 

This  was  called  St.  Mary's  Chantry,  because  the  priest  thereof 
always  officiated  at  St.  Mary's  altar,  and  the  priest  was  in  the  pre- 
sentation and  nomination  of  the  rector  for  the  time  being.  The 
first  was  admitted  in  1351. 

Simon  Saltfletus  was  admitted  21st  September,  1355.  By  his 
will,  made  in  1380,  he  gave  20s.  towards  making  the  porch  of  the 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  101 

chancel,  if  the  parishioners  wished  to  have  such,  if  not,  then  to 
repair  the  church. 

William  Ward,  admitted  September  28,  1537.  He  was  the  last 
Chantry  priest,  who  upon  a  survey  of  the  Chantry  lands  by  the 
Crown,  had  an  annual  pension  of  £.6  allowed  him  for  life  ;  which 
was  paid  him  in  1555.  In  the  2Gth  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  the  lands 
were  valued  at  £.8  per  annum. 

In  1427,  John  May  was  instituted,  on  the  presentation  of  John 
Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk.  He  died  in  1451,  and  was  buried  in 
this  chancel.  He  bequeathed  to  the  fabric  of  a  new  wall  on  the 
west  part  of  the  church,  10  marks,  and  to  the  fabric  of  the  church, 
and  synods  payments  of  quindismo  to  the  King,  a  piece  of  land 
called  Fen  Croft,  containing  4  acres,  and  a  piece  of  meadow  called 
Simondis  Holm,  containing  2  acres ;  also  a  piece  of  pasture  called 
Witford,  in  Bromeswell,  for  ever.  He  was  lord  of  the  manors  of 
Dcbach  and  Cliffs  Burgh,  and  resided  at  tlus  rectory  in  1449. 

Mr.  Francis  Pretty,  of  this  parish*,  accompanied  Thomas  Ca- 
vendish, of  Trimley  St.  Martin,  Esq.,  on  his  first  voyage,  and  wrote 
the  account  thereof,  inserted  in  "  Hackluyt's  Collection  of  Voyages." 

Mem. — In  1821,  a  small  Koman  um,  and  some  glass  vessels, 
were  discovered  in  removing  a  mound  in  this  parish. 

ARMS. — Staverton:  argent;  a  bend,  raguled,  between  two  mul- 
lets, gules. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  about  12  acres  of  land  in  this  parish, 
and  7  acres  in  the  parish  of  Bromeswell,  which  let  at  ^.28  a  year ; 
and  the  rents  are  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  &c. — The 
sum  of  ,£.10  a  year  is  received  from  Sir  Michael  Stanhope's  charity, 
and  is  distributed  by  the  parish  officers  among  poor  persons,  about 
Christmas  (see  Sutton  for  further  particulars). — Three  parcels  of 
land,  containing  together  about  3  acres  2  rods,  were  given  for  the 
poor  of  this  parish,  by  James  and  Henry  Mason,  in  or  about  1G20. 
The  rents  of  these  amount  to  <£.6  19s.  a  year,  and  is  given  away 
with  Sir  M.  Stanhope's  charity. 


FRAMLINGHAM,  or  FRAMELINGAHAM. 

So  much  has  already  appeared  concerning  tlus  town,  that  the 
*  According  to  Fuller,  but  Kirby  says,  "  lately  of  Ey  iu  Suffolke." 


102  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

subject  is  become  fairly  exhausted;  and  we  have  nothing  to  offer, 
but  a  very  summary  account  deduced  from  its  various  historians, 
and  some  brief  notices  from  other  sources. 

It  is  distinguished  for  the  remains  of  its  Castle,  which  was  said 
to  have  been  built  in  the  time  of  the  Saxons.  It  was  one  of  the 
principal  seats  of  St.  Edmund  the  Martyr.  William  Rufus  gave 
this  castle  to  his  favourite,  Eoger  Bigod :  subsequently,  Edward  I., 
gave  it  to  his  second  son,  Thomas  of  Brotherton,  Earl  Marshal  of 
England  :  the  next  grant  was  made  by  King  Henry  IV.,  to  his  son, 
Henry  Prince  of  Wales,  who  kept  his  first  court  here  in  1404-5. 
On  the  attainder  of  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  castle  became  for- 
feited to  King  Henry  VIII.,  and  descended  to  his  son  Edward  VI., 
who  kept  his  first  court  there  :  he  bequeathed  it  to  his  sister  Mary, 
and  it  was  soon  afterwards  restored  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk.  In 
1G25,  it  was  sold,  with  its  manor,  &c.,  to  Sir  Robert  Hitcham,  Knt., 
for  £.14,000  ;  and  he  settled  it  on  the  master  and  fellows  of  Pem- 
broke College,  Cambridge,  who  now  possess  it. 

In  1584,  Thomas  Dove,  D.D.,  was  instituted  to  this  living,  upon 
the  presentation  of  the  assignee  of  Philip  Howard,  Earl  of  Arundel. 
He  was  chaplain  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  whom  she  used  to  call  "  the 
Dove  with  silver  wings." 

Euller  ranks  him  among  his  London  worthies,  and  says,  "  he 
was  born  in  this  city,  as  a  credible  person  of  his  nearest  relation 
hath  informed  me,  bred  a  tanquam  (which  is  a  Fellow's  Fellow),  in 
Pembroke  College,  in  Cambridge.  He  afterwards  became  an  emi- 
nent preacher  :  and  liis  sermons,  substantial  in  themselves,  were 
advantaged  by  his  comely  person,  and  graceful  elocution.  Queen 
Elizabeth  was  highly  affected,  and  anno  1589,  preferred  him  Dean 
of  Norwich ;  advanced  him,  eleven  years  after,  to  the  Bishopric  of 
Peterborough.  He  departed  this  life,  1030,  in  the  thirtieth  year  of 
his  Bishopric,  on  the  thirtieth  of  August ;  who  kept  a  good  house 
whilst  he  lived,  and  yet  raised  a  family  to  Knightly  degree." 

Dr.  Dove  held  this  living  in  commendam  with  his  Bishopric,  and 
Richard  Golty  officiated  as  his  curate,  from  1 024  to  the  time  of  his 
death;  when  Mr.  Golty  was  instituted  to  this  rectory,  upon  the 
presentation  of  Theophilus  Howard,  Earl  of  Suffolk. 

Ryce  furnishes  the  following  account  of  this  much  persecuted 
individual: — "Richard  Goltie,  Master  of  Artes,  late  rector  of  Fram- 
lingham,  married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Samuel  Ward,  Towne- 
prcacher  of  Ipswich.  His  grandfather  came  from  Callice,  in  France, 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  103 

and  was  afterwards  of  Ipswich.  His  estate  worth  £.2,000.  At  the 
time  when  the  engagement  was  pressed  to  be  true  and  faithful  to 
the  commonwealth  of  England,  as  then  established,  and  many  able 
men  were  removed  out  of  their  places  for  not  subscribing  it,  some 
sectaries  articled  against  Mr.  Goltie,  and  he  refusing  the  engagement 
tendered  him,  his  living  at  Framlingham  was  sequestred  from  him, 
and  hereafter  he  resided  and  preached  at  Ashbocking."  This  was 
in  1650,  when  he  was  ejected;  in  1000,  Mr.  Golty  was  restored, 
and  continued  rector  until  his  death,  in  1678. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Nathaniel  Coga,  D.D.,  Master  of  Pem- 
broke Hall,  and  in  1681,  Vice- Chancellor  of  the  University  of 
Cambridge.  Dr.  Coga  was  the  first  incumbent  presented  by  the 
Master,  Fellows,  and  Scholars  of  Pembroke  Hall. 

The  Haberghams  were  a  family  of  much  repute,  and  acquired 
some  extent  of  real  property  in  this  town ;  two  of  whom,  if  not  a 
third  also,  officiated  as  curates  here,  in  succession,  as  appears  by 
the  following  extract  of  baptism  from  the  parish  register  : — "  Law- 
ranc  Habbargam  the  son  of  Lawranc  Habbargam  and  Sewssani 
his  wife  his  grandfather  was  cewarret  of  this  town  by  his  fatheres  syd, 
and  his  grandfather  was  cewarret  by  his  mother's  syd,  in  this  town, 
so  he  is  the  youngeste  of  the  three  Larances  Habargames  that  have 
been  known  in  this  town,  and  he  was  baptized  the  14th  of  May  in 
A.D.  1622." 

Then,  as  relating  either  to  father  or  son,  a  curious  entry  appears 
in  the  churchwardens'  account  for  1648-9  : — "Given  to  Mr.  Ha- 
bergham  a  quart  of  Sack  when  he  preached  on  a  Fast-day  Is.  4d." 
The  senior  Mr.  Habergham,  in  his  entries  in  the  register,  appears 
to  have  been  strictly  exact,  as  the  two  following  will  shew : — "  Ano 
Domene  1 622. — Jhon  Tybneham  was  buryed  the  26  day  of  Marche, 
and  he  was  brought,  withe  a  pass,  the  25th  day  of  Marche,  from 
Param  in  a  cearte,  by  the  OfFesseres  of  Param  with  a  payer  of 
Pothookes  abouglit  his  necke,  and  he  ded  depart  his  lyff  presentle 
after  he  was  layd  downe,  in  the  yere  of  1622,  and  his  pass  was  to 
send  him  to  a  town  whiche  by  the  man  was  named  Stok  Ashe." — 
"  Edward  Clarke,  the  base  son  of  Anne  Clarke,  was  baptized  the 
24  Febrewary,  in  1622,  and  yf  I  myght  have  had  my  mynd  ye 
should  have  been  named  M ay  hew  e  for  the  crestine  name."* 

*  To  those  who  wish  for  more  ample  information  concerning  this  town,  we  most 
cordially  recommend  "  Green's  History  of  Framlingham"  (to  which  little  work  we 
are  indebted  for  the  above  extracts) ;  as  being  not  only  replete  with  every  iuforma- 


104  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  about  32  acres  of  land, 
lying  dispersed  in  this  parish  ;  and  has  been  held  previous  to,  and 
since  the  time  of  King  Edward  VI.,  for  the  general  or  public  benefit 
of  the  town  of  Frainlingham.  The  rents,  amounting  together  to 
56.6!  per  annum,  are  applied  by  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  with  the 
poor  rates. — Sir  Kobert  Hitcham's*  charities  comprise,  among 
other  objects,  an  almshouse  and  school,  of  which  the  Master  and 
Fellows  of  Pembroke  Hall,  Cambridge,  are  trustees;  and  therefore 
the  Parliamentary  Commissioners  did  not  proceed  to  make  enquiry 
respecting  them.  The  following  is  from  Mr.  Green's  account : — 
The  presentation  to  the  school  is  vested  in  the  trustees,  and  the 
limited  number  is  40  boys,  whose  course  of  education  is  confined  to 
reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic ;  and  none  can  be  admitted  but 
those  whose  parents  belong  to  the  parish,  and  are  members  of  the 
church  of  England. — The  almshouse  consists  of  twelve  comfortable 
apartments  for  six  men,  being  widowers,  and  six  women,  being  wi- 
dows. They  are  allowed  six  shillings  a  week  each,  with  a  hat  and 
blue  coat  annually  to  the  men,  and  a  bonnet  and  gown  to  the 
women  ;  which  garments  have  the  arms  of  Hitcham  in  colours  on 
the  left  shoulder :  and  they  are  allowed  one  chaldron  and  a  quarter 
of  coals  each,  for  firing,  during  the  winter  months.  In  time  of 
sickness  they  have  the  best  medical  assistance,  and  if  necessary,  a 
nurse  is  provided  free  of  any  expence. — Thomas  Millsf,  in  1703, 

tion  respecting  Framlingham,  but  also  as  containing  many  interesting  particulars 
respecting  other  parishes  in  that  vicinity. 

*  See  Levingtou  for  some  particulars  concerning  Sir  Robert  Hitcham. 
•f  Mr.  Thomas  Mills,  the  founder  of  the  above  almshouse,  was  in  early  life,  it 
appears,  apprenticed  to  a  tailor  at  Gruudisburgh,  after  which  he  repaired  to  this 
town  in  search  of  work,  when  he  happened  to  call  at  a  wheelwright's  shop,  standing 
upon  the  very  spot  which  afterwards  became  his  own  property,  namely,  the  pre- 
mises where  his  remains  were  interred  ;  and  where,  until  the  last  few  years,  a  stable 
stood,  which  was  originally  the  workshop.  On  seeing  the  master,  some  arrangement 
took  place,  and  he  entered  bis  employ ;  when  having,  after  some  length  of  service, 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  business,  his  employer  ultimately  gave  up  his  trade  to 
him,  and  it  is  stated  left  him  his  whole  property,  which  enabled  him  to  commence 
as  timber  merchant. — He  formed  a  connection  with  a  congregation  of  Protestant 
Dissenters,  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  in  Framlingham,  and  afterwards  became 
a  public  teacher  among  them,  which  drew  upon  him  much  displeasure  and  perse- 
cution. At  the  age  of  about  forty,  Mr.  Mills  married  Alice,  the  widow  of  Edmund 
Groome,  jun.,  of  Petestree,  Gent.,  by  which  marriage  he  acquired  a  considerable 
estate  in  that  parish,  Ufford,  and  Dallinghoo  (part  of  the  charity  property),  with 
other  landed  property.  His  other  property  in  Framlingham,  Dennington,  and 
Parham,  were  acquired,  it  is  supposed,  by  purchase. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  105 

devised  all  his  messuages,  lands,  and  hereditaments,  both  free  and 
copyhold,  within  the  county  of  Suffolk,  with  his  manor  called 
Otley's,  and  the  profits  thereof  in  Ufford,  to  certain  trustees,  for 
the  uses  after  mentioned ;  and  he  devised  a  piece  of  land  called 
Feak's  Pightle,  in  Erarulingham,  for  the  purpose  of  building  an 
almshouse  ;  and  an  almshouse  was  erected  thereon,  and  is  occupied 
by  eight  persons,  of  either  sex,  who  are  allowed  stipends  of  5s.  per 
week  to  each,  and  are  supplied  with  coals  annually,  and  certain  ar- 
ticles of  clothing,  to  the  value  of  about  £.10,  annual ;  and  bread  is 
supplied  for  the  poor  of  several  parishes,  in  the  quantities  mentioned 
in  his  will. — Iii  1701,  Richard  Porter  gave  by  will  eighteen  two- 
penny loaves,  to  be  delivered  weekly  to  as  many  poor  persons ; 
there  are  also  eight  two-penny  loaves  distributed  weekly  with  the 
above,  given  by  a  person  named  Warner,  out  of  an  estate  called 
Parham  House. 


HACHESTON,  or  HACESTUNA. 

This  parish  was  called  Hatcheston  jitsta  Parham,  and  Parham 
Haston,  as  well  as  Hacheston :  the  manor  was  a  member  and  parcel 
of  that  of  Framlingham,  and  both  were  held  by  the  same  lords,  from 
the  time  of  the  Norman  conquest  until  Theophilus  Howard,  Earl  of 
Suffolk,  sold  this  lordship  tu  John  Brame  (or  Braham),  of  Camp- 
sey  Ash. 

The  advowson  was  never  appendant  to  the  manor,  Theobald  de 
Valoins,  founder  of  Hickling  Priory,  having  granted  it  to  that 
monastery  ;  which  grant  was  confirmed  in  the  5th  of  King  John, 
and  continued  in  their  possession  until  the  dissolution  of  that  house ; 
who  granted  a  fair  here  on  the  feast  of  All  Souls,  in  the  reign  of 
King  Henry  III.,  which  is  still  continued. 

John  Bull,  Gent.,  was  owner  of  Glevering  Hall  manor,  in  this 
parish,  which  formerly  belonged  to  the  Priory  at  Leiston.  By 
Margaret  his  wife,  he  had  a  son,  Anthony  Bull,  Esq.,  portman  of 
Ipswich,  and  bailiff  in  1000  ;  he  built  Boss  Hall,  in  Sproughton.* 
Mr.  Bull  died  in  1015,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  tin's  parish 
church,  near  his  parents.  A  good  house  has  since  been  erected  on 
this  manor,  by  the  late  Chaloner  Arcedeckne,  Esq.;  now  the  resi- 

*  See  page  27. 


100  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

dence  of  his  son,  Andrew  Arcedeckue,  Esq.,  who  in  1819,  served 
the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  the  family  of  Colman  resided 
here ;  and  Edmund,  son  of  John  Colman,  Gent.,  a  descendant  of 
the  same,  married  Frances,  daughter  of  Thomas  Lambe,  Esq.,  of 
Trimley,  by  whom  he  had  issue  three  sons,  and  as  many  daughters. 
Francis  Coleman,  the  eldest  son,  was  a  barrister,  and  steward  of  the 
manor  of  Framlingham.  He  died  by  a  fall  from  his  horse,  in  J  G68, 
on  Ms  way  to  Martlesham. 

In  the  14th  of  King  Edward  L,  Roger  Wicklow  lived  here,  on 
an  estate  that  belonged  latterly  to  the  Nauntons,  of  Letheringham ; 
and  John  Wicklow,  Gent.,  died  seized  of  the  same  in  1306,  and  in 
1362,  another  of  the  same  name  died  possessed  thereof. 

The  manor  of  Blomvilles,  in  this  parish,  with  the  lands  belonging 
thereto,  were  purchased  by  John  Rosier,  Gent.,  of  Sir  William 
Willoughby,  to  whom  it  was  granted  by  King  Henry  VIII.,  at  the 
dissolution  of  Campsey  Priory.  He  married  Alice,  relict  of  Robert 
Coleman,  Gent. 

Roger  Rosier,  Gent.,  their  son,  sold  this  estate  in  the  5th  of  King 
James  I.,  to  Jeffery  Langrey,  Gent.  Frances,  daughter  of  the  said 
Roger  Rosier,  died  in  1698,  aged  82,  and  was  buried  in  the  nave  of 
the  church  of  St.  Andrew  the  Apostle,  in  Norwich. 

ARMS. — Rosier:  argent;  on  a  cross  formee,  sable,  five  stars  of 
the  field.  Bull:  argent;  three  bulls'  heads  erased,  sable.  Col- 
man :  party  per  fess,  argent  and  sable  ;  a  cross  flory  between  six 
mullets,  all  counterchanged. 

CHARITIES. — By  the  trust  deeds  relating  to  the  town  lands  in  this 
parish,  it  appears  that  the  rents  and  profits  were  to  be  applied  in 
the  repairs  of  the  liighways,  the  payment  of  fifteenths,  the  relief  of 
the  poor,  and  other  charitable  purposes.  Some  of  the  land  origi- 
nally belonging  to  the  trust  has  heen  exchanged  for  equivalent 
property.  A  workhouse  has  been  erected  on  part  of  the  estate,  and 
the  remainder  of  it,  which  comprises  about  14  acres  of  land  in  this 
parish,  is  let  for  between  J9.20  and  £.30  per  annum.  The  rent  is 
earned  to  the  overseers'  account  with  the  poor  rates,  and  applied 
therewith ;  and  out  of  the  fund  thus  created,  coals  and  clothing  are 
given  to  the  poor,  by  way  of  addition  to  the  relief  ordinarily  given 
out  of  the  poor  rates. — Richard  Porter,  by  will,  dated  in  1701, 
directed  that  a  schoolmaster  should  be  appointed  by  the  church- 
wardens, and  chief  inhabitants  of  Parham  Hacheston,  who  should 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  107 

dwell  in  a  cottage  there  (in  the  will  described),  gratis,  and  have 
£.12  a  year,  to  be  paid  quarterly  out  of  the  testator's  farm  and  lands 
in  Hacheston,  for  teaching  twelve  poor  boys  of  the  parish  of  Ha- 
cheston,  and  of  the  parish  of  Parham,  to  read,  write,  and  cast  ac- 
counts, whose  parents  should  not  be  worth  ;£.30.  The  Earl  of 
Eochford  was  late  owner  of  the  property  charged  by  this  will. 


HOO,  or  Hou. 

This  manor  was  parcel  of  Hugh  Bigod's  barony,  held  of  the  King 
in  capite,  and  the  lords  of  Framlingham  were  owners  of  tliis  lord- 
ship, and  patrons  of  the  church.  In  the  25th  of  King  Edward  I., 
Eoger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  transferred  the  same  to  the  Crown  ; 
it  was  subsequently  granted  by  King  Edward  II.,  to  his  half  brother, 
Thomas  de  Brotherton,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  who  obtained  a  charter  of 
free  warren  in  all  his  demesne  lands  in  this  parish. 

He  died  seized  thereof  in  the  12th  of  King  Edward  III.,  and 
Mary,  his  second  wife,  the  daughter  of  William,  Lord  Eoss,  who 
survived  him,  held  this  estate  as  part  of  her  dowry.  She  died  in 
the  36th  of  the  same  reign;  and  upon  a  division  of  the  estate,  this 
property  became  the  inheritance  of  Joan,  the  daughter  and  heiress 
of  Edward  Montacute,  by  Alice,  the  daughter  and  co-heir  of  the 
said  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  by  Alice  his  first  wife,  the  daughter  of 
Sir  Eoger  Halys,  of  Harwich. 

In  the  20th  of  King  Edward  III.,  Thomas  de  Hoo  lived  in  this 
parish,  and  was  owner  of  considerable  property  here.  He  held  the 
manor  under  the  chief  lord,  and  was  collector  of  the  Earl  of  Nor- 
folk's revenues  :  he  had  issue  two  sons,  William  and  Thomas  ;  the 
former  died  seized  of  lands  in  Cransford,  in  13G2,  and  left  issue 
two  sons,  William  and  Thomas. 

Sir  William  de  Hoo,  Knt.,  the  eldest  sou  and  heir,  married 
Eleanor,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Wingfield,  Knt.,  and  left  issue 
William,  Thomas,  and  Hugo.  Their  father  died  in  the  siege  of 
King  Eichard  II.,  seized  of  the  manor  of  Cransford.  Thomas  de 
Hoo,  Gent.,  the  second  son,  succeeded  to  his  father's  estate  in  this 
paiish.  He  was  a  citizen  and  grocer  of  London:  he  died  in  1413, 
and  was  interred  in  Hoo  church. 

Matilda  his  widow,  had  this  estate  during  her  life,  and  attorned 


108  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

tenant  to  John  Godyn,  who  purchased  the  reversion  thereof  in  1418. 
He  was  a  citizen  and  grocer  of  London,  and  built  the  house  in  tliis 
parish  (which  had  probably  been  the  site  of  the  seat  of  the  Hoo 
family),  since  called  Godyns. 

John  Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  leased  the  same,  with  the 
Hundred  of  Loes,  to  Sir  Robert  Wingfield  ;  and  at  length  the  Earl 
of  Suffolk,  sold  the  manor  of  Hoo  Hall  and  Dunodens,  in  the  time 
of  King  James  I.,  to  Sir  Eobert  Naunton,  of  Letheringham,  Knt. 

Anthony  Wingfield,  Esq.,  removed  from  Letheringham  to  this 
parish,  and  was  created  a  Baronet  the  3rd  of  King  Charles  I.,  by 
the  name  of  Anthony  Wingfield,  of  Godyns ;  he  pulled  down  most 
of  this  house,  and  erected  a  new  one  near  Easton  church,  called  the 
White  House,  where  he  and  his  posterity  afterwards  resided. — 
Godyns  however,  continued  in  that  house  until  1706,  when  Sir 
Hemy  Wingfield,  Bart.,  sold  the  same,  and  the  residue  of  their 
family  estates,  to  William  Henry  Nassau,  1st  Earl  of  Rochford.* 

A  lordship  in  this  parish  is  mentioned  amongst  those  given  by 
Thomas  Howard,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  Henry  his  son,  Earl  of 
Arundel  and  Surry,  in  the  30th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  to  that  Mo- 
narch, in  exchange  for  the  Castle  Rising  estate. 

In  1475,  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Letheringham,  obtained  the 
patronage  of  tliis  parish  church,  by  the  gift  of  John  Mowbray,  Duke 
of  Norfolk,  and  Catherine  his  wife;  and  they  petitioned  Bishop 
Goldwell,  that  as  the  living  would  not  maintain  a  rector,  and  the 
church  being  so  near  their  monastery,  that  the  cure  could  be  well 
taken  care  of  by  one  of  the  canons  of  their  house ;  therefore  that 
he  would  appropriate  the  same  to  their  use :  which  was  done  by  his 
Chancellor,  and  cunfirmed  by  the  Bishop  himself,  reserving  an 
annuity  of  Cs.  8cl.  to  the  Bishop,  in  lieu  of  first  fruits,  to  be  paid 
at  the  two  synods  :  and  the  cure  was  from  that  time  served  by  one 
of  the  canons. 

ARMS. — Hoo:  azure;  a  chevron  between  three  escallops,  argent. 

William  Pitts,  Gent.,  formerly  a  resident  at  Monewden,  died  here, 
June  1,  1819,  in  the  51st  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Pitts  having,  very 
early  in  life,  imbibed  a  fondness  for  mathematical  studies,  attained 
to  great  proficiency  ;  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  appointed,  in 
1791,  Assistant  Astronomer  to  Mr.  Gooch,  in  C apt.  Vancouver's 
voyage  of  discovery.  Mr.  Pitts  was  not  only  conversant  in  the 
different  branches  of  algebra,  but  was  likewise  complete  master  of 

*  See  Easton. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  101) 

the  direct  and  inverse  methods  of  fluxions ;  and  from  the  great  ve- 
neration in  which  he  held  that  science,  it  was  to  be  hoped  that  he 
had  left  some  valuable  documents,  the  result  of  many  years  un- 
wearied application. 


KETTLEBOROUGH.—  KETELBIRIA,  or  KETELBURGH. 

The  Prior  and  Convent  of  Ely  were  seized  of  this  manor  before 
the  conquest,  with  the  advowson  of  the  church ;  but  Alan,  Earl  of 
Bretaigne  and  Richmond,  deprived  them  of  both,  which  descended 
to  his  brothers  and  their  posterity,  until  King  Henry  III.  obtained 
the  possession;  which  he  granted  by  letters  patent,  dated  May  1, 
1241,  to  Peter  de  Savoy  and  his  heirs,  then  created  Earl  of  Rich- 
mond. 

He  was  uncle  to  Queen  Eleanor,  and  in  1257,  settled  on  Irigeram 
de  Feynes,  and  Isabel  his  wife,  nine  score  pounds  per  annum,  in 
tin's  parish,  Nettlestead,  &c.,  and  the  following  year  they  reconveyed 
them  to  the  said  Peter,  with  250  marks,  land,  &c.  In  1261,  Henry 
III.  says,  that  his  beloved  uncle,  Master  Peter  de  Savoy,  surren- 
dered into  his  hands,  to  the  use  of  Prince  Edward  his  eldest  son, 
the  manors  of  Kettleburgh,  Wisset,  Nettlestead,  and  Wyke  by  Ips- 
wich, with  the  fees  of  £A  13s.  4d.  rent  in  Ipswich;  and  the  King 
confirmed  them  to  the  Prince  and  his  heirs,  and  so  to  the  Kings  of 
England  in  succession  for  ever  ;  but  the  Prince,  with  his  father's 
consent,  made  divers  grants  of  the  same. 

Soon  after  tin's  resignation  Sir  William  Charles,  Knt.,  obtained 
a  grant  of  both  the  manor  and  advowson,  with  a  market  and  fair 
here,  to  him  and  his  heirs,  to  be  held  of  the  King  in  capite,  by  the 
service  of  the  twentieth  part  of  a  knight's  fee ;  in  which  family  it 
continued  for  many  generations,  and  then  passed  to  the  Willoughbys, 
lords  of  Eresby,  and  afterwards  to  John  Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk, 
and  from  that  period  it  passed  as  Framlingham  manor,  until  Theo- 
pliilus  Howard,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  sold  it  to  Sir  Robert  Naunton,  of 
Letheringham  :  from  which  time  that  family  were  lords  of  the  manor, 
and  patrons  of  the  church. 

The  Charles  family  derive  their  descent  from  William  de  Jeme- 
muth  (or  Yarmouth).  Sir  William  Charles,  Knt.,  having  obtained 
tin's  estate,  resided  here,  and  erected  a  large  house,  as  appears  from 


110  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

the  scite  of  the  foundation,  at  the  north-west  end  of  the  church.  It 
was  surrounded  with  a  moat,  and  called  Kettleburgh  Hall.  He  was 
also  patron  of  the  church  of  Easton,  and  by  Joan  his  wife,  had  issue 
Edward  Charles,  Esq. 

Joan,  widow  of  the  above  Sir  William  Charles,  married  Sir  John 
Tuddenham,  Knt.,  who  held  this  manor  in  her  right,  and  the  ad- 
vowson  of  this  church  and  Easton,  in  1286  ;  she  survived  him  also, 
and  died  in  1305  ;  Sir  Edward  Charles,  Knt.,  succeeded,  who  was 
36  years  of  age  at  his  mother's  decease. 

To  tin's  Sir  Edward  Charles,  and  Alice  his  Avife,  Henry  de  Hales 
and  Trista  de  Kettleburgh,  surrendered  by  fine,  the  manor  of  Milton, 
in  Northamptonsliire,  remainder  to  William,  their  son.  They  had 
issue,  William,  Eobert,  Edmund,  and  Edward  ;  and  in  1309,  he 
settled  tliis  estate  to  the  use  of  himself,  and  Alice  his  wife,  during 
their  lives,  and  the  reversion  to  his  son  William,  and  his  heirs ;  in 
default  thereof  to  his  son  Robert,  and  his  heirs ;  and  in  default 
thereof,  to  the  heirs  of  his  other  sons  successively. 

Sir  Edward  Charles,  his  elder  brothers  dying  without  issue,  suc- 
ceeded (according  to  the  entail),  about  1329  ;  and  by  Dyonyse  his 
wife,  he  had  issue  Robert,  Edmund,  and  Edward.  Their  father  died 
in  1344  ;  Dyonyse  his  widow,  re-married  to  Sir  William  de  Tye,  of 
Easton,  Knt.,  and  deceased  in  1376.  Sir  Edward  Charles,  the 
younger  brother  (the  two  others  dying  without  issue),  died  Sept.  3, 
1375,  seized  of  this  manor,  and  left  issue  one  sou,  Robert. 

He  succeeded,  and  died  seized  of  the  manor,  and  advowson  of 
tliis  church  and  Easton,  in  1401;  and  devised  the  same  to  Anne 
his  wife,  she  paying  £.20  per  annum  to  Thomas,  his  eldest  son, 
and  to  have  the  education  of  her  other  son,  Edward.  He  was 
buried  in  the  chapel  of  Kettleburgh  church,  by  the  tomb  of  his 
father. 

Sir  Thomas  Charles  succeeded  :  he  married  Alice,  the  daughter 
of  Ralph  Ramsey,  of  Kenton,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  an  only 
son,  Thomas.  He  died  in  1419,  and  Alice  his  wife,  survived;  who 
by  virtue  of  a  settlement  made  by  her  husband,  was  lady  of  the 
manor  of  this  parish,  and  patroness  of  the  church,  and  that  of 
Easton ;  she  granted  that  parcel  of  land,  whereon  Kettleburgh  Hall 
(now  so  called)  stood,  in  trust,  to  Simon  Brook,  of  Easton,  Gent., 
and  his  heirs ;  which  afterwards  came  to  Robert  de  Tye,  of  Easton, 
by  his  marriage  with  Alice  her  daughter;  and  their  son,  George  de 
Tye,  sold  it  to  William  Stebbing,  of  tliis  parish,  Gent.  This  lady, 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  1  1 J 

Alice  Charles,  lived  and  died  in  Kettleburgh,  about  the  latter  part 
of  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VI. 

In  the  above  settlement  no  mention  is  made  of  their  son  Thomas, 
only  that  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  at  his  father's  decease.  It 
appears,  however,  that  this  Thomas,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  about 
the  20th  of  King  Henry  VI.,  conveyed  much  of  their  estate  to  John 
Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  but  held  here  in  the  6th  of  King 
Edward  IV. 

William,  son  of  John  Stebbing,  in  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of 
King  Henry  VII.,  was  proprietor  of  the  above,  and  divers  other 
lands  in  this  parish.  He  had  two  sons,  William  and  Thomas  ;  and 
by  his  will,  dated  in  1500,  charged  a  close  in  Kettleburgh  with  the 
finding  of  a  lamp  in  that  parish,  and.Hoo  chancels,  called  hence 
Lamp  Close. 

William  Stebbing,  his  eldest  son,  increased  the  paternal  estate, 
by  the  purchase  of  New  Kettleburgh  Hall,  of  George  de  Tye,  of 
Easton,  in  the  18th  of  King  Henry  VIII.  He  died  about  1542, 
leaving  two  daughters,  his  co-heirs ;  namely,  Frances,  who  married 
Arthur  Penning,  and  Elizabeth,  who  in  1560,  sold  her  moiety  of 
the  estate  to  the  said  Arthur  Penning,  her  brother-in-law. 

He  resided  at  Kettleburgh  Hall  in  1556,  and  had  issue  a  son, 
John,  who  died  in  1591,  unmarried,  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Simon  Blomfield,  of  Monk's  Eleigh ;  their  mother 
deceased  in  1559,  and  the  said  Arthur  married  Catherine,  daughter 
of  • Brook,  Gent.,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters. He  died  in  1593,  seized  of  the  manors  of  Brockford  and 
Colston  Hall,  in  Baddinghani,  and  was  interred  in  the  chancel  of 
this  parish  church. 

Anthony  Penning,  Esq.,  was  his  eldest  son  by  his  second  mar- 
riage. He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Crofts,  of  Sax- 
ham  Parva,  Esq.,  and  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this 
county,  in  1007.  He  was  in  the  commission  of  the  peace  in  1618, 
when  his  estate  was  valued  at  £.1,500  per  annum. 

Mr.  Penning  resided  latterly  at  Ipswich,  and,  dying  there  in 
1630,  was  interred  in  the  chancel  of  the  parish  church  of  St.  Mat- 
thew, in  that  town,  on  the  north  side  of  which  is  a  handsome  mural 
monument  to  his  memory,  containing  figures  of  liimself,  his  lady, 
and  their  numerous  family.  It  bears  the  following  inscription, 
with  some  commendatory  verses  : — 

"  Here  lieth  the  body  of  Anthonie  Penning,  Esq.  (sonue  of  Arthur  Penning,  of 


112  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

Ketleberge,  in  the  county  of  Suffolke,  Esqr.)  who  had  issue  by  Elizabeth  his  wiffe 
(daughter  of  Thomas  Crofte,  of  Saxham,  in  the  said  county,  Esqr.)  14  sonnes  and 
4  daughters.  He  departed  this  life  the  llth  daie  of  Janvary,  Ano  Dni  1630,  being 
of  the  age  of  65  years." 

His  descendants  continued  proprietors  of  Kettleburgh  Hall  until 
about  1079,  when  Anthony  Penning,  Esq.,  his  grandson,  sold  it  to 
Richard  Porter,  Gent.  The  manor  now  belongs  to  Andrew  Arce- 
deckne,  Esq.,  of  Glavering  Hall. 

The  Rev.  George  Turner,  B.A.,  rector  of  this  parish  and  Monew- 
den,  died  Nov.  9,  1839,  in  his  73rd  year.  Mr.  Turner  was  a  native 
of  Pulham,  in  Norfolk,  and  received  the  early  part  of  his  education 
at  the  Free  Grammar  School  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  under  the  tui- 
tion of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Laurentz ;  after  which  he  was  admitted  of 
Jesus  College,  Cambridge,  and  in  1788,  proceeded  to  the  degree  of 
A.B.  In  1790,  he  married,  and  soon  after  took  upon  Mm  the  du- 
ties of  this  parish ;  settling  himself  in  the  parsonage  house  here, 
which  he  never  quitted  afterwards.  In  1803,  he  was  instituted  to 
the  rectory  of  Monewden,  011  the  presentation  of  the  late  Chaloner 
Arcedeckne,  Esq. ;  and  in  1807,  to  that  of  Kettleburgh,  patron  the 
late  Robert  Sparrow,  Esq.,  of  Worlingham  Hall,  in  this  county. 

Though  qualified  by  nature  and  education  for  any  station  in  life, 
his  habits  were  retiring ;  and,  considering  "  the  post  of  honour  to 
be  a  private  station,"  he  earnestly  entered  upon  the  duties  of  a  parish 
priest,  and  never,  to  the  end  of  his  life,  relaxed  his  efforts  in  the  due 
performance  of  them.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  only  memorial 
which  he  has  left  behind  of  his  literary  attainments,  is  his  edition 
of  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Robert  Forby's,  "  Vocabulary  of  East  Anglia," 
to  which,  indeed,  he  was  himself  a  large  contributor. 

ARMS. — Charles:  ermine;  on  a  chief,  gules,  five  lozenges,  each 
charged  with  an  ermine  spot.  StebMng:  quarterly;  or  and  gules; 
on  a  bend  sable,  three  bezants.  Penning:  gules;  three  stags' 
heads,  caboshed,  argent ;  a  chief,  indented,  ermine. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here  comprises  two  cottages,  divi- 
ded into  five  tenements,  and  4^-  acres  of  land ;  these  are  let  at 
yearly  rents,  amounting  to  ^£.17  10s.  Gd.,  which  is  distributed  in 
coals  and  money,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  inhabitants  of  the 
parish. — There  is  also  a  double  cottage  belonging  to  the  parish,  let 
for  £A  2s.  a  year,  which  is  distributed  with  the  rents  of  the  town 
estate. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOE3.  113 

KENTON. — CHINCTUNE,  or  KENETUNA. 

It  appears,  from  Blomefield  and  Parkin,  the  Norfolk  historians, 
that  about  the  time  of  King  John,  Sir  Peter  Braunch,  Knt.,  married 
Joan,  the  inheritrix  of  a  lordship  within  this  parish,  Comard,  and 
Brandon,  in  Suffolk,  held  of  the  family  of  De  Limesey,  by  knight's 
fees.  It  also  further  appears,  from  the  same  authorities,  that  a 
manor  here  passed  from  Half  Fitz  Half,  who  died  in  1269,  either 
to  Eobert  de  Nevile,  who  married  Mary,  his  eldest  daughter  and 
co-heiress,  or  to  Sir  Eobert  de  Tateshall,  who  married  the  other 
daughter  and  co-heiress  of  the  said  Kalf,  who  was  a  descendant  of 
Eibald  de  Midleham,  a  younger  brother  to  Alan,  sumamed  the 
Black,  the  second  Earl  of  Kichmond. 

The  advowson  of  this  parish  church  was  granted  to  the  Prior  and 
Convent  of  Butley,  by  William  de  Colvile,  about  1230  ;  who  had  it 
impropriated  by  Thomas  de  Blundevil,  Bishop  of  Norwich ;  and 
they  were  seized  thereof  at  the  dissolution,  when  it  was  granted  to 
Francis  Framlingham,  of  Crow's  Hall,  in  Debenham. 

In  the  reign  of  King  John,  Ivo  de  Kenton  resided  at  Kenton 
Hall,  in  this  parish,  was  owner  of  the  lordship,  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  village.  Eobert  de  Kenton,  his  eldest  son,  died  about  1240, 
and  left  Ivo  de  Kenton,  a  minor,  who  became  afterwards  seized  of 
a  messuage,  and  CO  acres  of  land,  in  Kettleburgh,  and  claimed 
before  the  Justices  in  Eyre,  in  1286,  to  have  warren  in  his  manor 
of  Kenton. 

He  died  in  1314,  and  Nigel  de  Kenton,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded, 
being  at  the  time  of  his  father's  decease,  40  years  of  age.  He  died 
in  1324;  and  by  Maud  his  wife,  left  issue  Nigel  de  Kenton,  who 
married  Agnes,  the  daughter  of  Adam  Tastard,  of  Cransford,  Gent., 
by  whom  he  had  issue,  Loo  de  Kenton,  who  died  a  bachelor,  or 
without  issue,  Eobert  and  John. 

He  was  seized  of  lands  and  rents  in  Bramford,  Burstall,  Sprough- 
ton,  Hintlesham,  Whitton,  Broke,  and  Blakenham ;  and,  by  fine, 
settled  his  manor  of  Kenton,  and  lands  there,  and  in  Debenham, 
Winston,  and  Thornham,  upon  himself  and  his  wife  during  their 
lives,  with  remainder  to  his  three  sons  successively,  and  the  heirs  of 
their  bodies.  Sir  Eobert  Kenton,  Knt.,  their  second  son,  by  Alice 
his  wife,  had  issue  an  only  daughter  and  heiress,  Alice,  who  married 
to  Sir  Eoger  Willisham,  Knt.  Sir  Eobert  deceased  in  1382. 


114  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

Sir  Eoger  Willisham,  by  the  said  Alice  his  wife,  had  issue  Alice, 
an  only  daughter  and  heiress,  who  married  Kalph  Ramsey,  Esq.,  "by 
whom  he  had  issue  two  daughters  :  Alice,  the  eldest,  married  to 
Sir  Thomas  Charles,  of  Kettleburgh,  Knt.,  and  Anne,  to  Peter 
Gameys  (or  Garnish),  the  eldest  son  of  Robert  Garneys,  of  Bec- 
cles,  and  Heveningham,  in  this  county :  by  this  marriage  the 
Kenton  Hall  estate  came  into  the  possession  of  the  family  of 
Gamey. 

This  was  for  many  ages  esteemed  one  of  the  principal  families  in 
the  county ;  the  junior  members  whereof  settled  in  different  pa- 
rishes in  this  county,  and  in  Norfolk;  whilst  the  elder  branch 
continued  to  reside  in  this  parish  for  several  ages,  and  intermarried 
as  follows  : — 

Thomas  Garneys,  Esq.,  eldest   son    of=Margaret,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir 

Hugh  Fi-anceys,  of  Giffard's  Hall,  in 


Sir  Peter. 


Suffolk,  Knt. 


John  Garneys,  Esq.,  eldest  son  of  Tho-=Elizabeth,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  John 
mas  aud  Margaret,  died  in  1524.  Sulyard,  Knt.,  died  about  1527. 


Robert  Garneys,  Esq.,  eldest  son  of  John=z Anne,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth.  Bacon,  Esq.,  of  Spectishall,  and  Ba- 

, i      consthorp,  Esq. 

John  Garneys,  of  Kenton.        =Anne,  daughter  of  Edmund  Rookwood, 

t J      of  Euston,  in  Suffolk,  Esq. 

Thomas  Garneys,  Esq.,  eldest  son.  =  Frances,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Sulyardr 

j       of  Wetherden,  Knt. 
Nicholas,  4th  son  of  John  Garnish  and  =  Anne,   daughter   of  ..Charles    Clere,    of 


Anne  Rookwood,  inherited,  and  died 


about  1599. 


Stokesby,  in  Norfolk,  Esq. 


I- 


Charles  Garnish,  eldest  son.     =Elizabetb,  daughter  of  John  Wentworth, 

Esq.,  sister  of  Sir  John  Wentworth, 
of  Somerleyton,  in  Suffolk,  Knt. 

He  removed  to  Boyland  Hall,  in  Moring-Thorp,  Norfolk,  and 
appears  to  have  been  the  last  of  the  family  who  resided  here.  He 
was  High  Sheriff  for  Norfolk,  in  1652,  and  died  in  1057.  John 
Gameys,  their  son,  removed  to  Somerleyton,  after  the  decease  of 
his  uncle,  Sir  John  Wentworth,  Knt.  This  lordship  afterwards 
became  vested  in  the  Stone  family,  and  it  now  belongs  to  William 
Mills,  Esq.,  of  Great  Saxham,  in  this  county. 

John  Parkhurst,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Garnish,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  and  Margaret 
his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Hugh  Francys,  of  Giffard's  Hall,  in 
Wickhambrook,  in  this  county,  Knt. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  115 

The  Rev.  James  Douglas,  F.A.S.,  vicar  of  this  parish,  rector  of 
Middleton,  in  Sussex,  and  Chaplain  in  ordinary  to  the  Prince 
Eegent,  died  Nov.  5,  1819.  He  was  the  author  of  various  publi- 
cations :  his  greatest  undertaking,  entitled  "  Nenia  Britannica  ;  or 
a  Sepulchral  History  of  Great  Britain,  from  the  earliest  period,  to 
its  general  conversion  to  Christianity,"  was  commenced  in  1786, 
and  completed  in  1793.  He  was  also  a  contributor  to  Mr.  Nichols's 
"  History  of  Leicestershire."  The  Earl  of  Egremont  presented  Mr. 
Douglas  to  the  rectory  of  Middleton  ;  but  his  residence,  during  the 
latter  part  of  his  life,  was  at  Preston,  in  the  same  county. 

ARMS. — Blanchard:  gules  ;  a  chevron  between  two  bezants  in 
cliief,  and  a  griffin's  head  erased,  in  base,  or.  Wellisham:  sable; 
two  bars,  in  chief,  three  cinquefoils,  or.  Kenton :  sable  ;  a  chevron 
between  three  cinquefoils,  ermine;  Ramsey:  gules;  three  rams' 
heads,  argent,  armed,  or.  Garneys  (alias  Garnish)  :  argent ;  a 
chevron  engrailed,  azure,  between  three  escallops,  sable.  Wareyn  : 
sable ;  three  cranes'  heads  erased,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — A  double  cottage,  a  pightle  of  half- an- acre,  and  the 
site  of  another  cottage,  taken  down  in  1784,  which  now  forms  part 
of  the  churchyard. — A  messuage  and  six  acres  of  land  in  the  parish 
of  Bedfield,  and  two  closes  of  ten  acres  in  the  parish  of  Monks' 
Soham,  let  at  £.16  a  year  ;  which  is  expended  about  the  repairs  of 
the  church,  and  in  defraying  other  parish  charges. — Wentworth 
Garneys*,  Esq.,  devised  by  will,  in  1684,  a  messuage,  farm,  and 
lands,  in  this  parish,  to  the  minister,  churchwardens,  and  overseers 
of  the  poor  of  this  parish  and  Debenham  ;  the  rents  thereof  to  be 
distributed  amongst  such  poor  people  of  the  said  parishes,  as  they 
should  see  fit.  This  property  consists  of  a  messuage,  farm,  and 
lands,  containing  about  22  acres,  and  a  cottage,  let  at  £.31  10s. 
a  year. 


*  This  Wentworth  Garneys  was  eldest  son  of  John  Garneys,  by  Elizabeth  his 
second  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Stephen  Soame,  of  Great  Thurlow,  Knt.,  and  grandson, 
of  the  above-named  Charles  Garneys  and  Elizabeth  Wentworth,  who  removed  from 
hence  to  Boyland  Hall.  He  married,  1st.,  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Charles  Gawdy, 
of  Crow's  Hall,  in  Debenham,  Knt.,  who  died  in  1681  ;  and,  secondly,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Abdy,  of  Felix  Hall,  in  Kelvedon,  Essex.  He  died  in  1685^ 
without  issue,  and  his  estates  were  devised  between  his  sisters  and  co-heirs. 


116  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

LETHE  RINGHAM,  or  LEDRINGAHAM,  CREW,  or  TREW. 

This  lordship,  it  appears,  was  included  amongst  the  220  manors' 
granted,  with  the  honour  of  Eye,  to  Robert  Malet,  a  Norman  Baron, 
by  William  the  Conqueror.  The  family  of  Glanville  were  very  soon 
after  enfeoffed  in  the  same,  under  the  Lord  Malet;  and  the  Boviles- 
held  under  the  Glanvilles,  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  II.,  with  whom 
they  afterwards  became  allied  by  marriage. 

They  descended  from  Sir  Philip  de  Bovile,  who  gave  lands,  in  the 
reign  of  King  Henry  I.,  to  the  Priory  of  Wykes,  in  Essex,  and 
Paul  de  Bovile,  who  lived  in  the  following  reign.  In  the  year 
1195,  William  de  Glanville  gave  100  murks  to  have  the  custody  of 
the  heir  of  William  de  Bovile,  until  of  age,  with  Ins  lands,  &c. 
This  heir  was,  most  likely,  the  William  de  Bovile  who  married 
Isabel,  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  sister  and  co-heiress  of  Jeffrey 
de  Glanville,  of  Bacton,  in  Norfolk ;  for  in  the  3rd  of  Edward  II., 
William,  son  and  heir  of  William  de  Bovile,  and  Isabel  his  wife, 
was  impleaded  for  the  manor  of  Alderton,  and  the  church  of  Dal- 
linghoo,  in  tin's  county,  by  William  de  Huntingfield,  who  descended 
from  Emma,  the  other  sister  and  co-heir,  wife  to  John  de  Grey; 
being  part  of  the  possessions  of  the  said  Jeffrey  de  Glanville. 

In  the  56th  of  King  Henry  III.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  John 
be  Bovile,  querent,  and  William  de  Bovile,  deforcient,  of  the  lord- 
ship of  this  parish,  with  those  of  Alderton,  Greeting,  Dallinghoo, 
and  Thorp,  in  this  county;  whereby  they  became  conveyed  to  Wil- 
liam, for  life  ;  remainder  to  John,  and  Ins  heirs ;  remainder  to  the 
right  heirs  of  William ;  which  John  was  brother  of  William.  In 
the  5th  of  Edward  I.,  John  de  Bovile  held  these  lordships  of  the 
honour  of  Eye. 

In  the  7th  of  King  Edward  II.,  William  de  Bovile  (probably  son 
of  the  above  John  de  Bovile)  was  lord ;  and  in  the  1 1th  of  the  same 
reign,  a  settlement  was  made,  whereby  the  said  William,  and  Joan 
his  wife,  were  to  be  seized  in  a  moiety  of  their  estate  for  life,  re- 
mainder to  Simon  Eitz  Richard,  and  Nicholaa  his  wife,  one  of  the 
daughters  of  the  said  William  de  Bovile. 

In  the  21st  of  the  following  reign,  Richard  Fitz  Simon,  son  of 
the  above  Simon  Fitz  Richard,  and  Nicholaa  his  wife,  granted  the 
lordship  and  advowson  of  Letheringham,  with  the  advowson  of  the 
Priory  there,  to  Sir  John  de  Ufford,  in  trust,  for  the  use  of  Margery. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  117 

sole  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  John,  son  of  Sir  William  Bovile, 
and  Joan  his  wife. 

This  Margery  married  first,  to  Sir  John  Carhonel,  Knt.,  and 
secondly,  to  Thomas,  second  son  of  Sir  John  Wingfield,  Knt.,  of 
Wingfield  Castle,  and  Elizaheth  his  wife,  the  daughter  and  heir  of 
John  Honeypot,  of  Wingfield,  Esq. ;  hy  which  marriage  the  said 
Thomas  Wingfield,  in  her  right,  hecame  seized  of  the  lordship  of 
this  parish,  ahout  the  36th  of  the  same  King,  where  his  descendants 
of  the  elder  hranch  continued  until  the  time  of  King  William  III. 

This  knightly  family  derived  their  name  from  Wingfield  Castle, 
in  this  county,  of  which  they  were  lords,  and  became  early  divided 
into  various  branches,  furnishing  the  nation  with  men  "  wise  in 
council  and  brave  in  war."  In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VIII., 
there  were,  it  is  said,  eight  or  nine  Knights,  all  brothers,  and  two 
Knights  of  the  Garter,  of  this  house. 

Richard,  youngest  son  of  Sir  John  Wingfield,  K.B.,  of  this  parish, 
was  a  great  favourite  with  that  Monarch,  and  had  the  chief  command, 
under  the  Earl  of  Surry,  of  the  forces  sent  into  France,  in  the  14th 
of  his  reign  :  for  his  services  performed  in  that  kingdom  he  was 
made  a  Knight  of  the  most  noble  order  of  the  Garter. 

He  was  also  Chancellor  of  the  Dutchy  of  Lancaster,  Lord  Deputy 
of  Calais,  and  one  of  the  Privy  Council  to  King  Henry  VIII. ;  was 
Ambassador  to  the  Emperor  Maximilian,  and  was  afterwards  sent  out 
in  the  same  capacity  to  Erance,  and  again  in  the  like  office  of  honour 
into  Spain  ;  where  he  died,  in  1525,  and  was  buried  at  Toledo. 

Sir  John,  the  eldest  son,  succeeded  his  father  here :  he  was  High 
Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  the  1st  of  King  Richard  III.,  and 
served  the  same  office  again  the  8th  of  Henry  VII.  He  married 
Anne,  daughter  of  the  Lord  Audley,  and  had  issue  Sir  Anthony 
Wingfield,  who  for  his  bravery  at  the  battle  of  Spurrs,  was  knighted, 
and  afterwards  installed  Knight  of  the  Garter.  He  was  also  Vice- 
Chamberlain  of  the  Household  to  King  Henry  VIII.,  and  a  member 
of  his  Privy  Council ;  and  was  appointed  by  that  Monarch,  one  of 
the  Council  to  his  son,  and  Executor  of  his  last  will,  by  which  he 
bequeathed  him  a  legacy  of  £.200.  His  descendant,  of  the  same 
name,  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1627,  and  resided  at  that  period  at 
Goodwin's,  in  the  parish  of  Hoo,  from  whence  he  soon  after  removed 
to  E  as  ton. 

William  de  Bovile  gave  the  church  and  tithes  of  this  parish,  to 
St.  Peter's,  in  Ipswich  ;  when  a  small  Priory  of  Black  canons  was 


118  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

settled  here,  as  a  cell  to  that  Monastery.     The  time  at  which  this 
took  place  has  not  heen  ascertained. 

The  tithes  of  the  manors  of  Thorpe,  in  Hasketon,  and  Lethe- 
ringham,  in  this  county;  of  Bawsey,  Leziat,  and  Custhorp,  in 
Norfolk ;  and  the  impropriation  of  the  churches  of  Charsfield,  Hoo, 
Letheringham  or  Trew,  and  a  portion  of  Hasketon,  belonged  to  this 
Priory.  Its  valuation  in  "  Taxatio  Ecclesiastica,"  1291,  in  19  pa- 
rishes, was  £A  6s.  O^d. 

Previously  to  the  dissolution  there  were  20  acres  of  arable  land, 
30  acres  of  pasture,  and  10  acres  of  meadow,  attached  to  the  site  of 
the  Priory,  in  the  occupation  of  the  prior,  valued  at  £.6  13s.  4d. 
At  the  dissolution  it  was  granted  to  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield,  and  in 
1553,  re-granted  to  Elizabeth  Naunton,  his  third  daughter :  in  the 
time  of  King  James  I.,  Sir  Robert  Naunton  converted  it  into  a  good 
mansion,  and  resided  here. 

William  Naunton,  the  last  possessor  of  that  family,  left  this  es- 
tate, after  the  death  of  his  wife,  to  his  next  heir ;  and  it  devolved 
upon  William  Leman,  of  Beccles,  Esq.  The  present  possessor  is 
Andrew  Arcedeckne,  Esq.,  of  Glevering  Hall,  in  Hacheston. 

The  old  mansion  was  pulled  down,  about  1770:  there  was  a 
picture  of  St.  Jerome,  and  an  original  of  King  James  I.,  of  some 
value,  the  others  very  indifferent.  The  church  contained  some 
noble  monuments,  but  it  has  been  suffered  to  go  to  ruin,  and  the 
monuments  are  defaced  and  destroyed. 

Weever  has  preserved  some  account  of  them,  all  of  which,  in  his 
time,  he  says  "  were  fouly  defaced ;"  and  Mr.  Gough,  in  his  "  Se- 
pulchral Monuments,"  has  engravings  of  plates  and  monuments  in 
this  church  :  he  observes  that  "  mere  neglect  and  exposure  to  the 
weather,  could  not  have  reduced  them  to  that  state  of  complete  de- 
solation in  which  they  appeared  in  1780." 

In  Nichols's  "  Leicestershire,"  are  two  engravings  of  figures  in 
the  conventual  church  here;  and  in  Cotman's  "  Sepulchral  Brasses," 
is  an  etching  of  a  brass  plate  upon  the  tomb  of  Sir  Anthony  Wing- 
field,  in  this  parish  church.  The  late  Rev.  William  Clubbe  had  also 
collected  together  many  fragments,  from  this  ancient  church,  its 
brasses,  and  monuments,  and  of  these  a  pyramid  was  erected  in  his 
vicaral  garden  at  Brandeston,  with  appropriate  inscriptions  thereon, 
in  Latin  and  English. 

ARMS. — Glanville:  argent;  a  chief  indented,  azure.  Bovile: 
quarterly;  or  and  sable. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  119 

CHARITIES. — Sir  Robert  Naunton  erected  in  this  parish  an  alms- 
house,  of  brick,  one  story  high,  for  the  reception  of  his  decayed 
servants ;  wherein  were  apartments  for  five  persons,  but  there  being 
no  endowment,  it  has  long  since  become  ruinous  and  useless. 

Mem. — In  1618,  Alice  Caston,  of  Ipswich,  widow  of  Leonard 
Caston,  Gent.,  for  the  fulfilling  of  his  intent  and  desire,  gave  by 
will  an  annuity  of  £.12,  issuing  out  of  divers  lands,  &c.,  in  the 
manors  of  Letheringham,  Hoo  Godwin's,  Westhall,  and  Sturmin's, 
in  this  county;  with  another  of  ten  marks,  out  of  divers  other 
lands,  manors,  and  tenements,  in  Saltisham,  Sutton,  Bawdsey,  &c., 
late  in  the  possession  of  the  Earl  of  Rochford,  for  the  founding  of 
one  Fellowship,  and  one  Scholarship,  in  the  College  of  Corpus 
Christi,  in  Cambridge ;  to  which  she  ordered  those  of  the  names  of 
Caston,  Clenche,  Brownrigge,  and  Amfield,  should  be  preferred. 


MARLSFORD,  or  MERLESFORDA. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  III.,  William  de  Marlesford,  Gent., 
and  Margaret  his  wife,  lived  in  this  parish.  He  was  owner  of  mes- 
suages, lands,  and  rents,  here  and  in  Orford,  Iken,  and  Sudbourn. 

The  manor  to  which  the  advowson  was  appendant,  did  anciently 
belong  to  the  Sackvilles,  then  to  the  Rokes,  afterwards  to  the 
Drurys,  and  latterly  to  Sir  Walter  Devereux,  Knt. ;  since  whose 
time  the  advowson  has  been  sold  from  the  manor,  and  the  following 
persons  have  presented  to  this  church : — John  Mann,  Gent., in  1 670 ; 
William  Wright,  Gent.,  in  1675;  Sarah  Aldhouse,  the  following 
year;  and,  in  1698,  Stephen  Newcomer,  rector  of  Ottley,  in  this 
county. 

Sir  Walter  Devereux  was  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  Edward  Devereux, 
of  Castle  Bromwich,  in  Warwickshire,  Bart.,  by  Catherine  his  wife, 
the  daughter  of  Edward  Arden,  of  Park  Hall,  in  the  same  county, 
Esq.  He  claimed  to  be  Viscount  Hereford,  and  had  that  title 
allowed  and  confirmed  to  him,  by  parliament,  in  1646.  By  Eliza- 
beth, his  second  wife,  the  second  daughter  of  Thomas  Knightly,  of 
Borough  Hall,  in  Staffordshire,  Esq.,  he  had  issue  five  sons :  Robert, 
the  eldest,  with  both  his  children,  were  drowned,  during  his  father's 
life  time  ;  and  Leicester  Devereux  succeeded  to  the  honour  and 
estates  upon  the  decease  of  his  father. 


120  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

He  married,  first,  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  William 
Withipole,  Knt,  in  whose  right  lie  inherited  the  lordship  of  Christ 
Church,  in  Ipswich  ;  his  second  wife  was  Priscilla,  the  daughter  of 
John  Catchpole.  Walter,  the  third  son,  married,  but  left  no  male 
issue  :  Edward  and  John  died  unmarried ;  and  the  heirs  male  of 
the  said  Leicester  Devereux,  late  Viscount  Hereford,  are  long  since 
extinct,  whereby  the  honour  became  lost  to  this  county. 

Sir  Walter  lived  at  Marlsford  Hall*,  in  tliis  parish,  in  the  reigns 
of  King  James  and  Charles  I.,  and  afterwards  sold  his  estate  here 
to  one  Barber,  a  portman  of  Ipswich.  In  1735,  it  belonged  to 
Simon  Dove,  of  Barharn,  Esq.;  and  in  1764,  Fynes  Dove,  clerk, 
was  owner  thereof:  it  now  belongs  to  William  Shouldham,  Esq., 
by  purchase,  who  resides  here. 

About  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  King  James  I.,  William 

Alston,  Gent.,  a  descendant  from  the  Alstons,  of  • Hall,  in 

Newton,  built  a  house  in  this  parish,  where  he  afterwards  resided. 
He  married  Avis,  the  second  daughter  of  Jeffrey  Pitman,  of  Wood- 
bridge,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  three  sons  and  five  daughters. 
His  second  wife  was  Margaret,  the  widow  of  Henry  Groom,  Gent., 
by  whom  he  had  no  issue.  Mr.  Alston  died  in  1641,  and  was 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church. 

Samuel  Alston,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded ;  he  was  a  ma- 
gistrate for  the  county,  and  a  Major  in  the  militia,  in  1667,  in  the 
encounter  with  the  Dutch,  at  Felixstow.  He  died  and  was  buried 
at  Marlsford.  Samuel  Alston,  his  only  son,  sold  the  paternal  estate 
here  to  Sir  Philip  Skippon,  the  son  of  Major- General  Skippon,  a 
commander  in  the  rebel  army,  under  Cromwell ;  and  his  descendant 
removed  to  Bramford,  near  Ipswich. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Charles  I.,  Thomas  Smith,  Gent.,  removed 
from  Walsoken,  in  Norfolk,  to  this  village.  He  married  Frances, 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Simon  Bloomfield,  of  Coddenham,  in  this 
county,  Gent.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  two  sons,  and  as  many 
daughters ;  Frances,  who  married  Allen  Cotton,  Esq.,  and  Eliza- 
beth, John  Sayer,  of  Pulham,  Gent. 

Thomas  Smith,  Gent.,  their  eldest  son,  succeeded ;  he  married 
Margaret,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Leman,  of  Brameshall,  in  We- 
theringsett,  Gent.,  and  by  her  had  issue  Thomas  Smith,  their  only 
son.  He  died  in  1683,  and  soon  after,  his  infant  son  and  daughter; 
and  John  Smith,  of  South  Elmham,  upon  the  death  of  his  nephew, 
"  A  view  of  this  house  is  engraved  in  Davy's  "  Suffolk  Seats." 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  121 

inherited :  he  died  without  issue,  and  devised  his  estate  in  this 
parish,  to  the  above  Allen  Cotton,  Esq. 

He  was  the  eldest  surviving  son  of  John  Cotton,  of  Earl  Soham, 
Esq.,  and  held  a  Captain's  commission  in  the  militia,  in  the  reigns 
of  King  Charles  II.,  James,  and  William  :  at  that  time  he  resided 
at  Easton,  hut  upon  the  death  of  his  hrother-in-law  Smith,  removed 
to  Marlsford,  where  he  died. 

ARMS. — Devereux:  argent;  a  f  ess,  gules ;  in  chief,  three  tor- 
teaus.  Alston:  azure;  ten  stars,  4,  3,  2,  and  1,  or.  Smith: 
argent ;  a  chevron,  gules,  between  three  cross  crosslets,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — Sir  Walter  Devereux,  Knt.,  by  deed,  dated  the  8th 
of  James  I.,  granted  a  yearly  rent  charge  of  £.6,  out  of  a  messuage, 
formerly  called  Mapes's,  and  the  lands  thereto  belonging,  in  this 
parish,  and  Little  Glemham,  now  the  property  of  Mr.  Geo.  Bates, 
to  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  poor  inhabitants  of  Marlesford,  and 
those  of  most  need. — In  or  about  the  year  1693,  the  yearly  sum  of 
52s.,  devised  by  John  Smith,  was  charged  upon  a  messuage,  farm, 
and  lands  in  this  parish,  now  the  property  of  Mr.  Shouldham.  These 
annuities  are  distributed  in  coals  among  poor  families. — The  portion 
of  dividends  from  Kersey's  gift,  to  the  poor  of  this  parish,  is  re- 
ceived, and  applied  according  to  the  donor's  intention. * 


MONODEN. — MONEWDEN,  or  MUNEGADENA. 

A  moiety  of  this  lordship  was  held  of  Framhngham  Castle,  by 
knight's  service,  and  the  other  moiety  of  the  honour  of  Lancaster, 
by  the  same  service.  It  was,  in  the  Conqueror's  time,  the  posses- 
sion of  Odo  de  Campania,  1st  Earl  of  Albermarle  and  Holderness, 
whose  wife,  Matilda,  was  half  sister,  by  the  mother,  to  King  Wil- 
liam I. 

When  it  passed  from  his  family  the  Weylands  became  lords 
thereof;  and  in  1263,  William  Weyland,  Esq.,  purchased  the  ad- 
vowson  of  this  parish  church  of  John  de  Kettlebars,  Esq.,  to  be 
held  of  the  manor  of  Kettlebars  :  from  the  Weylands  both  the 
manor  and  advowson  passed  to  the  several  families  of  Ap-Adams, 
Hastings,  Eeve,  Zouch,  and  Kingsmill,  to  Kichard  Lord  Gorges, 
of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland,  who  held  the  manor,  the  hall,  and  the 
*  See  Earl  Soharn. 


22  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

demesne  lands  for  life ;  but  the  patronage  of  the  church  was  severed 
from  the  manor  before  his  time. 

Near  the  church,  towards  the  north-west,  there  was  anciently  a 
park,  and  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  III.,  Henry  de  Mungehedon, 
who  lived  in  this  parish,  held  land  here  of  John  de  Weyland,  as 
lord  of  the  manor,  by  military  service ;  which  probably  was  this 
park,  for  that  was  not  part  of  the  demesne  of  the  said  manor. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VII.,  John  Kivet,  Gent.,  a  descendant 
of  Sir  Thomas  Ryvet,  of  Chipenham,  in  Kent,  resided  at  Monewden 
Lodge,  in  this  parish,  and  by  Christian  his  wife,  had  issue  Andrew 
Rivet,  afterwards  of  Brandeston  Hall,  and  William  Rivet,  LL.D., 
Archdeacon  of  Suffolk  in  the  38th  of  King  Henry  VIII. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  William  Reve,  Gent.,  was  owner 
of  this  manor,  and  resided  at  the  Hall.  By  Rose  his  wife,  he  had 
issue  ten  sons  and  five  daughters.  He  deceased  in  1567,  and  was 
buried  in  this  parish  church ;  as  was  also  Thomas,  his  fourth  son, 
senior  Fellow  of  Gonville  and  Caius  College,  Cambridge.  He  died 
in  1595,  in  the  35th  year  of  his  age. 

Thomas  Armiger,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  held  a  lordship  in  this 
parish  ;  son  of  Thomas  Armiger,  Esq.,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Heigham,  of  Heigham  Hall,  in  Gazeley,  in 
this  county,  Esq.  He  married  Jane,  the  daughter  and  co-heir  of 
John  Eyre,  Esq.,  Receiver  of  the  Revenues  for  King  Edward  VI., 
in  Suffolk ;  and  had  issue  Thomas,  his  son  and  heir,  who  resided 
at  Thrandeston,  in  Hartismere  hundred. 

Monoden  with  Sulyards  is  now  the  manor  and  estate  of  the  Lord 
Rendlesham. 

In  1375,  Dionysia,  widow  of  Sir  Peter  deTye,  devised  the  manor 
of  Hoo,  in  this  parish,  to  Sir  Robert  de  Tye,  her  son,  in  order  to 
purchase  the  patronage  of  some  church,  of  the  value  of  £.20  per 
annum,  to  appropriate  it  to  the  cathedral  church  of  Norwich,  to 
find  two  secular  priests  to  celebrate  for  the  souls  of  John  de  Hoo, 
and  Dionysia  his  wife,  William  their  son,  and  all  the  faithful.  It 
appears  this  Dionysia  was  the  daughter  of  John  de  Hoo,  and  that 
her  first  husband  was  Sir  Edward  Charles,  of  Kettleburgh,  Knt. 

Randolph,  the  only  son  of  Randolph  Wyard,  the  eldest  son  of 
John  Wyard,  of  Brundish,  Esq.,  High  Sheriff  for  this  county  in 
1658  and  1659,  lived  several  years  at  the  Red  House,  in  this 
parish,  formerly  the  seat  of  the  Stebbing  family ;  who  removed  to 
Pettistrce,  where  he  died  in  1701. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  123 

ARMS. — Reve:    gules;    a  chevron,  wairy,  between  three  roses, 

argent.     Wyard:    argent;    a  chevron  between  three  roses,  gules, 
barbed  and  seeded,  proper. 


RENDLESHAM,  or  RENDILISHAM. 

"  A  remarkable  place,  I  assure  you,"  says  Fuller,  "  which  though 
now  a  country  village,  was  anciently  the  residence  of  the  Kings  of 
the  East  Angles ;  where  King  Redwald,  a  mongrel  Christian,  kept 
at  the  same  time  altare  et  arulam;  the  communion  table,  and 
altars  for  idols." 

There  are  four  manors  in  this  parish,  namely:  Naunton  Hall, 
Caketon's,  Bavent's,  and  Colvylle's.  The  advowson  was  formerly 
appendant  to  the  latter,  but  since  the  time  of  King  James  I.,  the 
Crown  has  presented. 

Sir  John  de  Holbrook,  Knt.,  was  lord  of  Colvylle's,  and  presented 
to  this  church  in  1304;  it  continued  in  that  house  until  about  1387, 
when  Sir  John  Falstaff,  Knt.,  presented,  as  lord  of  Colvylle's  :  in 
1558,  Thomas  Howard,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  presented,  as  lord  of  the 
same  manor. 

The  advowson  afterwards  reverted  to  the  Crown,  and  King  James 
presented  in  1621;  but  this  manor,  with  that  of  Bavent's,  in  the 
time  of  King  Charles  I.,  belonged  to  Eobert  Lane,  Esq.,  who  re- 
moved from  Campsey  Ash,  and  resided  in  this  parish  :  John  Cor- 
rance,  Esq.,  M.P.  for  Aldborough,  afterwards  purchased  the  same ; 
and  William  Long,  of  Dunston,  near  Norwich,  who  married  a 
daughter  and  co-heiress  of  that  house,  afterwards  inherited  them. 

The  ancient  family  of  Naunton  became  seated  in  this  parish  soon 
after  the  Conquest,  and  gave  name  to  the  manor  still  called  Naun- 
ton Hall.  In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  III.,  Henry  de  Naunton 

married  a  daughter  of Tye,  and  by  her  had  issue  two  sons, 

Hugo  and  Richard ;  the  former  resided  here  in  the  time  of  King 
Edward  II. 

He  married  Eleanor,  the  daughter  of  Robert  de  Vere,  Earl  of 
Oxford,  by  whom  he  had  issue,  Hugo  de  Naunton,  from  whom  de- 
scended the  Letheringham  branch  ;  Bartholomew  de  Naunton,  and 
Sir  Thomas  de  Naunton,  Knt.,  who  settled  at  Rougham,  near  St. 


124  HUNDRED  OF  LOES, 

Edmund's  Bury.     Sir  Bartholomew,  their  second  son,  dwelt   at 
Naunton  Hall,  in  this  parish,  in  the  time  of  King  Richard  II. 

He  married  Joan,  the  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  Argeiitein, 
by  whom  he  had  issue  an  only  daughter  and  heiress,  Margaret,  who 
married  Robert  Bokerton;  and  Margaret,  their  only  daughter,  mar- 
ried Bartholomew  Bacon,  Esq.,  whose  only  daughter,  Margaret, 
married  Robert  Fitz  Ralf,  Esq.,  and  a  daughter  of  Fitz  Ralf  married 
a  Harman. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VII.,  Christopher,  the  son  of  Reginald 
Harman,  of  Tunstall,  in  tin's  county,  Esq.,  was  owner  of  Naunton 
Hall;  and  in  1552,  John  Harman,  Esq.,  by  deed  of  bargain  and 
sale,  conveyed  the  said  manor,  with  Caketon's,  to  James  Spencer, 
lus  brother-in-law,  and  his  heirs ;  who  made  Naunton  Hall  his  seat. 
He  died  in  1567,  seized  of  this  entire  estate. 

It  continued  in  the  house  of  Spencer,  until  the  death  of  Edward 
Spencer,  Esq.,  about  1734;  when  Anne,*  his  daughter  and  co- 
heiress, inherited  the  same.  She  married,  1st.,  James,  fifth  Duke 
of  Hamilton,  and  secondly,  the  Hon.  Richard  Savage  Nassau,  se- 
cond son  of  Frederick,  third  Earl  of  Rochford. 

It  descended  to  Lord  Archabald  Hamilton,  the  late  Duke  of 
Hamilton,  by  whom  it  was  sold  :  it  was  afterwards  purchased  by 
Sir  George  Wombwell,  Bart.,  and  by  him  sold  to  the  late  Peter 
Isaac  Thellusson,  Esq.,  afterwards  created  Baron  Rendleshani. 
The  estate  is  now  vested  in  his  representative,  Lord  Rendlesham  ; 
who  is  the  principal  proprietor  in  this  parish. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  III.,  Richard  de  Rendlesham  resided 
here,  and  was  a  trustee  for  divers  lands,  vested  by  that  King's  licence, 
in  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Butley.  He  died  in  1391,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Robert  de  Rendlesham,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  who 
deceased  in  1404,  without  issue  ;  and  was  succeeded  by  Robert  de 
Rendlesbam,  Ins  cousin  and  heir. 

Richard  de  Rendlesham,  his  grandson,  in  or  about  1507,  sold 
part  of  his  estate  in  tin's  parish,  and  Tunstall,  to  Christopher 
Harman,  Esq.,  and  his  heirs,  and  part  thereof  to  Thomas  Alverd, 
of  Ipswich,  Esq.,  who  had  a  considerable  estate  in  Rendlesham, 
and  its  vicinity.  Elizabeth,  his  daughter  and  co-heir,  married 
William  Bamburgh,  Gent.,  who  appears  to  have  inherited  this  es- 

*  Elizabeth,  her  sister,  married  in  1739,  Sir  James  Dashwood,  of  Kirtliogton 
Park,  in  the  county  of  Oxford,  Bart.,  who  died  at  her  house  in  Grosvenor  Square, 
London,  April  19,  1798,  in  the  8 1th  year  of  her  age,  and  was  buried  at  Rendlesham. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES.  125 

tate  in  right  of  such  marriage ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  Head, 
Alexander,  and  Holditch. 

A  farm  in  this  parish,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Hough-Hill, 
said  to  have  heen  formerly  the  residence  of  Edward  the  Confessor, 
was  a  part  of  the  estate  of  the  Earl  of  Bristol,  and  sold  by  him  to 
Mr.  Thellusson.  It  came  into  Lord  Bristol's  family,  by  the  marriage 
of  John  Lord  Hervey,  with  Mary,  daughter  of  Brigadier- General 
Nicholas  Lepel. 

Leonard  Mawe,  a  younger  son  of  Simon  Mawe,  and  Margery 
his  wife,  was  born  in  this  parish,  in  1573;  of  whom  Dr.  Fuller 
gives  the  following  account : — "  He  was  bred  in  Cambridge,  where 
he  was  Proctor  of  the  University,  Fellow  and  Master  of  Peter-house, 
after  of  Trinity  College,  whereof  he  deserved  well ;  shewing  what 
might  be  done  in  five  years,  by  good  husbandry,  to  dis-engage  that 
foundation  from  a  great  debt. 

"  He  was  Chaplain  to  King  Charles  whilst  he  was  a  Prince,  and 
waited  on  him  in  Spain;  by  whom  he  was  preferred  Bishop  of 
Bath  and  Wells,  in  1628.  He  had  the  reputation  of  a  good  scholar, 
grave  preacher,  a  mild  man,  and  one  of  gentle  deportment.  He 
died  anno  Domini,  1629." 

In  this  parish  was  born,  July  28,  1754,  William  Henry  Nassau, 
Earl  of  Rochford,  Viscount  Tunbridge,  and  Baron  of  Enfield ;  son 
of  the  Hon.  Richard  Savage  Nassau,  and  of  her  Grace,  Anne 
Duchess  Dowager  of  Hamilton  and  Brandon,  and  daughter  of 
Edward  Spencer,  of  Rendlesham,  Esq. 

John  Caperon  (or  Capron),  was  instituted  to  this  rectory  in  1349, 
on  the  presentation  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Holbrook.  By  his  will,  dated 
in  1375,  he  bequeathed  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  chancel  here, 
before  the  image  of  St.  Gregory,  and  gave  40s.  towards  making  a 
tabernacle  for  the  said  image,  and  10s.  for  erecting  a  cross,  at  the 
division  of  the  King's  highway,  between  Tunstall  and  Rendlesham. 
An  old  monument  in  the  chancel  of  this  church,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  erected  to  his  memory. 

Lawrence  Echard,  M.A.,  Archdeacon  of  Stow,  was  instituted 
here  in  1722,  on  the  presentation  of  King  George  I.  An  historian 
of  considerable  merit :  his  principal  work  is  the  History  of  England, 
in  3  vols.  folio.  He  died  in  1730. 

Samuel  Henley,  D.D.,  F.A.S.,  was  instituted  to  tlu's  living  in 
1782,  on  the  presentation  of  King  George  III.,  and  died  at  the 
rectory  here,  December  29,  1815.  This  eminently  learned  Orien- 


HUNDRED  OF  LOE3. 

talist,  was  some  time  Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy  at  the  College 
of  Williamsburg,  in  Virginia.  He  was  afterwards  appointed  one  of 
the  assistants  at  Harrow  School ;  and  was  elected  F.S.A.,  in  1778, 
at  which  time  he  was  curate  of  Northall,  in  Middlesex;  and  in  1805, 
presented,  hy  the  East  India  Company,  Principal  of  their  then  newly 
established  College,  at  Hertford.  Dr.  Henley  was  the  author  of 
several  learned  publications. 

Mem. — Some  years  since,  on  opening  a  rise  of  ground  in  the 
church-yard,  on  the  north  side  of  the  church,*  a  great  number  of 
human  bones  were  discovered,  lying  confusedly  within  three  feet  of 
the  surface ;  supposed  to  be  the  remains  of  persons  who  died  of 
some  contagious  disease,  which  rapidly  carried  off  a  large  part  of 
the  population. 

In  1830,  the  princely  residence  of  Piendlesham  House,  f  in  this 
parish,  surpassed  by  few  in  the  kingdom,  was  unfortunately  entirely 
destroyed  by  fire.  It  originated  in  the  conservatory,  which  was 
warmed  by  flues  that  passed  under  a  suite  of  rooms.  The  damage 
was  estimated  at  £.  100,000.  No  part  of  the  property  was  insured. 

ARMS. — Naunton:  sable;  three  martlets,  argent.  Piendlesham: 
gules ;  three  bucks'  heads  caboshed,  argent ;  attired,  or.  Harman : 
azure ;  a  chevron  between  six  rams  accrossted,  counter  tripping, 
argent,  2,  2,  and  2.  Spencer :  quarterly,  argent  and  gules ;  on 
the  2nd  and  3rd,  a  frett,  or ;  over  all  a  bend,  sable  :  three  mullets 
of  the  1st  within  a  bordure,  couiiterchanged.  .  Corrance:  on  a 
chevron,  sable,  between  three  ravens,  proper,  as  many  leopards' 
heads,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  five  roods  of  land,  in 
Eendlesham,  on  part  of  which  four  tenements,  occupied  by  paupers, 
have  been  erected ;  and  the  remainder  is  let  at  2s.  Gd.  a  year. — 
A  piece  of  land,  in  this  parish,  containing  JA.  2R.  26p.,  intermixed 
with  the  glebe  land,  for  which  the  rector  pays  £.1  a  year. — -Several 
pieces  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Snape,  containing  together  HA.  IR. 
33p.,  let  at  £.12  a  year.  These  lands  were  obtained  in  1615,  by 
exchange  with  Thomas  Mawe,  Gent.,  for  other  lands  in  Rendlesham; 
and  the  uses  then  settled  were,  for  the  payment  of  the  King's  taske, 

*  A  neat  engraving  of  this  parish  church,  from  a  drawing  by  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson, 
is  given  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  1821,  accompanied  with  a  full  account  of 
that  building,  its  inscriptions,  rectors,  &c. 

•f-  A  view  of  this  mansion  is  engraved  in  Davy's  "  Suffolk  Seats,"  accompanied 
with  a  particular  description  of  the  structure. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 


the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  maintenance  of  the  poor  :  hut  it 
has  long  been  the  custom  for  the  overseers  of  the  poor  to  receive 
and  apply  the  rents  with  the  poors'  rate. 


WOODBRIDGE. — WUDEBRYGE,  VDEBRIGA,  or  UDEBRIGE. 

The  following  additional  observations  concerning  this  parish,  are 
extracted  from  a  copy  of  the  "  Suffolk  Traveller,"  formerly  belonging 
to  the  Eev.  Thomas  Carthew,  A.M.,  and  F.A.S.,  perpetual  curate  of 
Woodbridge;  which  are  in  marginal  notes,  principally  of  his  hand- 
writing. 

In  the  second  edition  of  that  publication  it  is  said : — "  Wood- 
bridge  took  its  name  from  a  wooden  bridge,  built  over  a  hollow 
way,  to  make  a  communication  between  two  parks,  separated  by  the 
road  which  leads  from  Woodbridge  market-place  towards  Ipswich. 
At  the  foot  of  the  liill  from  this  hollow  way,  about  a  stone's  throw 
from  where  the  bridge  might  stand,  is  a  house,  which  at  this  day 
retains  the  name  of  Dry-Bridge." 

Mr.  Carthew  observes  : — "  This  silly  story  about  the  two  parks, 
accounts  very  well  for  the  house  being  called  Drybridge  House  : 
but  that  an  ancient  town  should  take  its  name  from  so  trifling  a 
circumstance,  and  withal  so  recent,  for  the  bridge  was  standing 
within  a  century,  is  a  supposition  too  foolish  even  for  such  an 
author  as  the  compiler  of  this  book. 

"Were  I  to  hazard  a  conjecture  on  a  matter  so  obscure  as  the 
original  of  a  town's  name,  I  should  think  it  was  originally  Oden, 
or  Woden  Burgh,  or  Bury,  or  Brigg  :  i.  e.  Woden's  Town.  In  the 
Priory  rolls,  in  Henry  VII.  time,  it  is  still  Wodebrigg,  and  the 
spelling  in  the  Confessor's  time,  Udelsbruge,  favours  this  etymology. 
Brigg  and  Burgh  are  synonimous.  See  '  Verstegan/  212.  Thus 
Felbrigg,  in  Norfolk,  is  written  Felbrig  and  Felburgh." 

To  the  account  of  the  Lime-kiln  quay,  where  formerly  the  Ludlow 
man  of  war  was  built,  Mr.  C.  adds,  "  and  where  there  is  still  a  dock 
for  building  of  ships,  wherein  merchant  ships  to  the  amount  of  200 
tons  burthen  are  frequently  built,  besides  small  craft." 

'''  The  Priory  was  granted,  in  the  33rd  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  to 
Sir  John  Wingfield,  and  Dorothy  his  wife,  but  they  dying  without 
issue,  it  was,  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  regranted  to  Thomas  Seckford, 


128  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

Esq.,  and  after  continuing  109  years  in  that  family,  it  came  by  will, 
anno  1698,  to  the  Norths,  of  Sternfield ;  and  from  them  also  by 
will,  about  the  year  1711,  to  the  family  of  Carthew." 

The  manor  which  formerly  belonged  to  this  Priory,  is  now  the 
property  of  Kolla  Kouse,  Esq.,  Barrister  at  Law,  who  purchased  it 
of  Mr.  Dykes  Alexander.  The  lordship  of  Woodbridge  Ufford,  &c., 
is  vested  in  the  Rev.  J.  Worsley. 

"  The  church  of  this  town,  being  only  a  bare  curacy,  was  in  1607, 
augmented  by  Mrs.  Dorothy  Seckford,  who  by  will  did  devise  her 
impropriated  rectory  of  Woodbridge,  to  the  persons  to  whom  she 
had  devised  her  estate  at  Woodbridge,  to  settle  an  orthodox  minister 
to  the  same  during  life." 

Weever  has  these  inscriptions  from  this  parish  church  : — "  Hie 

jacet  Johannes  Albred,  quondam  Twelewever  istius  ville ob. 

primo  die  Maij 1400.  et  Agnes  uxor  eius "  "  This 

Twelewever,  with  Agnes  his  wife,  were  at  the  charges  (people  of  all 
degrees  being  then  forward  to  beautify  the  house  of  God)  to  cut, 
gild,  and  paint,  a  rood  loft  or  a  partition  betwixt  the  body  of  the 
church  and  the  choir :  whereupon  the  pictures  of  the  cross,  and 
crucifix,  the  virgin  Mary,  of  angels,  archangels,  saints,  and  martyrs, 
are  figured  to  the  life :  which  how  glorious  it  was  all  standing,  may 
be  discerned  by  that  which  remaineth." 

Eor  John  Kempe,  who  died  July  3,  1459,  and  Joan  and  Margaret, 

his  wives ;  also  for  "  Robert  Partrich,  botcher who  dyed  on 

Midsomer  day,  1533,  Mariory  and  Alis  his  wyffs  -  -  -  Mariory  the 

6th  of  Henry  VIII.,  Alis on  their  souls,  their  children  souls, 

and  all  cristen  souls,  almighty  Jesu  haue  mercy." 

Robert  Beale  (or  Belus),  if  not  a  native,  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Robert  Beale,  a  descendant  from  a  family  of  that  name,  residents 
in  this  parish.  He  appears  to  have  been  educated  to  the  profession 
of  the  civil  and  canon  law,  and  married  Editha,  daughter  of  Henry 
St.  Barbe,  of  Somersetshire,  and  sister  to  the  lady  of  Sir  Francis 
Walsingham;  under  whose  patronage  he  first  appeared  at  court. 
In  1571,  he  was  Secretary  to  Sir  Erancis,  when  sent  Ambassador 
to  France;  and  himself  was  sent  in  the  same  capacity,  in  1576,  to 
the  Prince  of  Orange.  His  most  considerable  work  is  a  collection 
of  some  of  the  Spanish  historians,  under  the  title  "  Rerum  Hispa- 
nicarum  Scriptores :"  Francfort,  1579,  2  vols.,  folio.  He  died 
in  1601. 

Jeffrey  Pitman,  Esq.,  was  originally  a  tanner  in  this  parish,  and 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

afterwards  High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk,  at  the  decease  of  King  James. 
He  had  two  wives,  Alice  and  Anne ;  hy  the  first,  he  had  seven 
children,  three  of  which  died  in  their  infancy :  William  his  eldest 
son,  and  Jeffrey  his  second  son,  were  both  students  in  the  law,  at 
Gray's  Inn,  and  died  unmarried,  in  the  lifetime  of  their  father,  who 
deceased  in  1G27.  Anne  his  wife,  and  Mary  and  Avis  his  two 
daughters,  survived :  Mary  married  to  Edmund  Burwell,  of  Rougham, 
in  this  county,  Esq.,  and  Avis,  to  Wm.  Alston,  of  Marlsford,  Gent. 
Mr.  Pitman  was  a  liberal  benefactor  to  the  town  of  Woodbridge. 

Nathaniel  Fairfax,  M.D.,  who  practised  in  this  town  for  several 
years,  was  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,  and  brother  to 
John  Fairfax,  A.M.,  vicar  of  Barking,  in  this  county,  and  a  Fellow 
of  the  same  College :  he  was  of  the  same  family  as  General  Fairfax, 
who  headed  the  Parliamentarians  in  the  civil  war.  Dr.  Fairfax  was 

twice  married  :    his  first  wife  was  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  • 

Blackerby,  of  Norwich,  who  died  in  1680  ;  the  second  was  Eliza- 
beth, the  widow  of  Francis  Willard,  of  Woodbridge,  and  daughter 
of  Nathaniel  Bacon,  of  Ipswich,  Esq.,  who  survived  him.  He  was 
author  of  a  whimsical  treatise  of  the  "  Bulk  and  Selvedge  of  the 
World,  wherein  the  Greatness,  Littleness,  and  Lastingness  of 
Bodies  are  freely  handled."  This  was  dedicated  to  Sir  William 
Blois,  Knt.,  of  Grundisburgh  Hall :  published  in  8vo.  London, 
1 674 ;  and  was  presented  by  his  son  Blackerby,  afterwards  MJX  also, 
to  the  library  of  the  above  named  college,  when  a  student  there. 

ARMS. — Pitman:  gules;  two  battle  axes  in  saltier,  or,  between 
four  mullets,  argent.  Fairfax:  argent;  three  bars,  gyronelle, 
gules  ;  surmounted  by  a  lion  rampant,  sable,  armed  and  languid, 
azure ;  with  a  crescent  for  difference. 

NOTE. — The  public  are  indebted  to  the  late  Mr.  Robert  Loder,  the  Framlingham 
historian,  for  much  interesting  information  respecting  this  town,  contained  in  his 
"  Statutes  and  Ordinances  for  the  Government  of  the  Almshouses,  in  Woodbridge  ;" 
which  gives  a  full,  and  correct  account  of  that  noble  institution.  At  the  end  are 
prefixed  notes  relating  to  the  Priory,  the  church,  and  its  ancient  and  modern  mo- 
numental inscriptions. 

In  1796,  appeared  his  second  edition,  enlarged,  of  the  "  Orders,  Constitutions, 
and  directions,  for  and  concerning  the  Free  School  at  Woodbridge."  His  edition  of 
the  "  Woodbridge  Terrier,  exhibiting  an  account  of  all  the  Charities  in  that  Town," 
published  in  1787,  was  followed  by  a  second  impression,  in  1811,  with  notes  and 
explanations.  With  this  edition  it  was  Mr.  Loder's  intention  to  have  connected  a 
History  of  the  ancient  and  present  state  of  the  town,  want  of  materials,  however, 
obliged  him  to  decline  it.  This  is  to  be  regretted,  as  nothing  further  has  since  ap- 
peared concerning  this  place. 


130  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

The  following  is  abridged  from  Mr.  Loder's  account  of  Charities, 
Estates,  and  Town  Houses,  given  in  his  "  Terrier  of  Woodbridge," 
2nd  edition.  1811. 

CHARITIES. — An  almshouse,  and  garden  thereto  belonging,  si- 
tuate in  the  said  town,  founded  in  1587,  by  Thomas  Seckford,  Esq., 
Master  of  the  Requests,  for  the  reception  of  thirteen  poor  men. 
Also  a  messuage  in  the  said  garden,  for  the  reception  of  three  poor 
widows,  nurses  to  the  said  alms-men.  For  the  support  thereof, 
endowed  by  the  founder  with  an  estate  in  Clerkenwell,  in  Middlesex, 
now  let  on  building  leases,  at  the  net  annual  rent  of  £.563  10s.; 
also  a  piece  of  laud  in  Woodbridge,  containing  2A.  3n.,  and  a  small 
tenement  in  the  same  town,  called  Capthall.  The  principal  inmate 
receives  £.27  per  annum,  the  twelve  poor  men  £.20  each,  and  the 
three  nurses  each  £.12.  There  is  an  exhibition  to  the  minister  of 
£.10,  to  the  churchwardens  £.5  each,  and  to  the  poor  of  Clerken- 
well,  £.10  annually.  The  remainder  is  expended  in  clothing,  firing, 
surgery,  repairs,  &c.  The  surplus,  if  any,  to  be  distributed  among 
such  poor  and  indigent  people,  living  in  Woodbridge,  as  do  not 
receive  alms  of  that,  or  any  other  parish. 

Since  the  above  period  the  revenues  of  this  institution  have 
greatly  increased,  so  much  so,  that  the  governors  recently  deter- 
mined upon  the  erection  of  a  handsome  structure,*  for  affording  to 
twenty-four  necessitous  and  decayed  tradesmen,  and  women,  a 
comfortable  asylum  in  their  old  age. 

A  free  school  founded  in  1662,  by  indenture  of  five  parts,  between 
Robert  Marryott,  sen.,  of  Bredfield,  Esq. ;  Francis  Burwell,  of  Sut- 
ton,  Esq.;  Mrs.  Dorothy  Seckford,  of  Seckford  Hall,  in  Great 
[Dealings,  widow;  Robert  Marryott,  jun.,  of  Bredfield,  Esq.;  John 
Sayer,  of  Woodbridge,  Gent.,  and  others,  inhabitants  of  the  said 
town.  To  the  three  first  may  be  attributed  the  establishment  of 
the  school ;  the  latter  being  only  parties  in  the  deed  of  institution, 
on  behalf  of  the  inhabitants,  who,  by  the  settlement,  granted  £.10 
per  annum  from  the  town  estate,  with  a  grant  of  £.5,  chargeable  on 
lands  in  Great  Bealings,  and  a  like  sum  on  lands  in  Bredfield,  and 
ditto  on  lands  in  Sutton,  amounting  together  to  £.25,  with  a  school- 
house,  garden,  &c.,  and  2^-  acres  of  pasture  land,  in  Woodbridge. 
By  the  ordinances  of  this  school,  the  master  is  obliged  to  teach 
boys,  being  children  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  free ;  and  also 

*  A  neat  engraving  of  this  building,  by  D.  Buckle,  from  a  drawing  by  S.  Read, 
appeared  in  Mr.  Pawsey's  Ladies'  Pocket  Book,  for  1840. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOE8.  131 

any  other  like  boy,  for  £.1  only,  since  augmented  to  <£.3,  by  an 
order  of  Chancery. 

The  town  lands  are  situate  in  the  parish  of  Martlesham,  and 
consist  of  the  Lamb  Farm,  comprising  a  cottage,  now  in  three  te- 
nements, with  a  barn,  outbuildings,  and  51  A.  20p.  of  land,  being 
copyhold  of  the  manor  of  Martlesham  Hall.  It  was  given  by  one 
John  Dodd,  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VII.,  to  be  employed  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  poor  people  of  Woodbridge,  and  to  defray 
such  other  charges  as  the  town  should  be  charged  with.  The  Street 
Farm  contains  9 A.  2n.  39p.  of  copyhold  land,  partly  held  of  the 
manor  of  Seckford  Hall,  and  partly  of  that  of  Iken  cum  Framling- 
ham.  This  was  given  by  the  will  of  Jeffery  Pitman,  in  1 027,  to 
feoffees,  to  the  intent  that  the  rents  and  profits  thereof,  should  be 
employed  about  the  reparations  and  maintenance  of  the  church. 
These  together  produce  the  yearly  rent  of  £.55.  The  sum  of  £.10 
is  paid  to  the  master  of  the  school ;  the  residue  is  paid  to  the 
churchwardens,  in  aid  of  a  church  rate. 

In  1037,  John  Sayer  gave  by  will,  unto  the  inhabitants  of  this 
town,  his  close,  called  Garden  Close,  in  Melton,  in  the  county  of 
Suffolk,  and  the  hop -ground  at  the  lower  end  thereof,  containing 
by  estimation  10A.,  and  his  fen  in  Melton,  and  his  hemp-land 
thereto  belonging ;  for  purchasing  bread  and  clothing  for  the  poor. 
This  estate  now  consists  of  five  enclosures,  containing  in  the  whole 
ISA.  2n.  2f>p.;  the  rent  of  the  land  is  wholly  laid  out  in  the  pur- 
chase of  bread,  and  forty-two  3d.  loaves  are  weekly  distributed,  on 
Sundays,  among  poor  persons  attending  the  church. 

There  are  also  several  small  sums  paid  as  rent  charges  and  ground 
rents,  and  a  large  house  in  Pound  Street,  made  use  of  as  a  work- 
house ;  with  several  houses  in  different  streets  belonging  to  the 
town,  where  poor  persons  dwell  rent  free. 


Mem. — In  1066,  the  plague  raged  with  great  violence  here, 
which  carried  off  the  minister,  his  wife  and  child,  and  three  hundred 
inhabitants. 

In  1804,  Messrs.  Alexander  and  Co.  opened  a  banking  house  in 
Stone  Street,  in  this  town. 

In  1807,  February  18th,  a  tremendous  storm,  in  which  four 
vessels  belonging  to  this  port  were  totally  lost,  together  with  most 


132  HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

of  the  crews,  by  which  calamitous  event  upwards  of  forty  persons 
resident  in  this  place,  were  left  widows  and  fatherless.  A  liberal 
subscription  was  raised  for  their  relief. 

February  5th,  1814,  the  new  theatre  in  this  town  was  opened, 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Fisher. 

In  1815,  the  sale  of  the  materials  of  the  barracks  here,  took 
place.  They  were  erected  in  1803,  and  were  capable  of  containing 
724  cavalry,  officers  and  men,  and  720  horses ;  and  infantry,  4165 
officers  and  men. 

October  29th,  1818,  a  new  organ  was  opened  in  this  parish 
church :  most  of  the  respectable  families  attended :  the  sum  of 
£.84  was  collected. 


Of  the  different  persons  appointed  to  the  Mastership  of  Wood- 
bridge  School,  Mr.  Hawes  has  noticed  the  following  : — 

Edmund  Brome,  elk.,  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Clerkenwell, 
London,  in  1642,  and  was  admitted  of  St.  John's  College,  Cam- 
bridge, in  1657,  where  he  continued  until  after  the  restoration  of 
King  Charles  II.  He  was  elected  master  of  this  school,  in  1665, 
and  curate  here  in  the  following  year,  and  soon  after  was  appointed 
chaplain  to  Mrs.  Dorothy  Seckford,  who  granted  him  a  lease  of  the 
great  tithes  of  this  parish  for  60  years ;  and  he  afterwards  held  the 
livings  of  Great  and  Little  Bealings.  Mr.  B.  was  twice  married; 
by  the  first  wife  he  had  issue,  a  daughter  Dorothy,  who  married 
Eichard  Taylor,  vicar  of  Witcham,  in  the  Isle  of  Ely;  and  Edmund, 
President  of  St.  John's  College.  By  his  second  marriage  he  had 
fourteen  children. 

Philip  Gillet  (alias  Candler),  a  descendant  from  an  ancient  fa- 
mily of  that  name,  resident  at  Yoxford,  in  this  county.  He  was 
schoolmaster  here  about  nineteen  years,  and  married  Deborah,  the 
daughter  of  Eichard  Golty,  rector  of  Framlingham,  by  whom  he 
had  issue  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  deceased  in  1689 ;  she 
in  1695. 

Philip  Gillett  (alias  Candler),  their  eldest  son,  succeeded  to  the 
mastership  of  this  school,  and  was  afterwards  instituted  to  the  rec- 
tory of  Hollesly,  in  this  county.  He  married,  first,  Deborah,  one 
of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Samuel  Golty,  rector  of  Denning- 
ton,  by  whom  he  had  no  surviving  issue ;  secondly,  Mary,  one  of 


HUNDRED  OF  LOES. 

the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  John  Clinch,  of  Miselton  Hall,  in 
Burgh,  Gent.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

[Mr.  HAWES  acknowledges  himself  much  beholden  to  this  gen- 
tleman for  the  perusal  of  the  manuscript  collections  of  Mr.  ZACCHEUS 
LEVERLAND,  so  frequently  quoted  in  his  own ;  and  the  ready  aid 
Mr.  W.  S.  FITCH,  of  Ipswich,  has  afforded,  by  the  liberal  use  oi 
his  valuable  transcript  from  Mr.  Hawes*  manuscript,  demands  from 
us  a  similar  acknowledgment,  in  closing  our  account  of  this 
hundred.] 

ARMS. — Brome:  ermine;  a  chief  indented,  gules.  Gillct  (alias 
Candler] :  ermine  ;  on  a  bend  engrailed,  sable,  three  pikes'  heads 
erased,  argent,  double  brassed,  gules.  Crest :  a  pike's  head  erect,, 
erased,  gules,  double  brassed,  or. 


Hundred  is  bounded,  on  the  South  and  Eastward,  by 
the  German  Ocean  ;  on  the  North,  by  the  Hundreds  of  Plomes- 
gate  and  Loes ;  and  on  the  West,  by  the  River  Deben,  which 
separates  it  from  Colneis.  It  contains  eighteen  Parishes,  as 
follows : — 

DEBACH, 
HOLLESLEY, 

LOUDHAM, 

MELTON, 

PETTESTREE, 

BAMSHOLT, 

SHOTTISHAM, 

SUTTON, 


ALDERTON, 
BAUDSEY, 
BING,  a  Hamlet, 

BOULGE, 
BOYTON, 

BREDFIELD, 
BROME  SWELL, 
CAPEL  ST.  ANDREW'S, 
DALINGHOO, 


UFFORD, 


And  WICKHAM-MARKET. 


The  fee  of  this  Hundred  is  in  the  Crown,  and  the  government 
in  the  Sheriff',  and  his  appointed  officers. 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 


ALDERTON. — ALETUNA,  or  ALRETUNA. 

The  ancient  family  of  De  Glanvile  became  very  early  interested 
here :  Jeffrey,  brother  of  William  de  Glanvile,  was  lord  of  this 
parish,  and  Dalinghoo,  in  the  reign  of  King  Richard  I.  At  his 
death  his  inheritance  became  divided  between  his  five  sisters  and 
co-heirs. 

Basilia,  the  3rd  daughter,  married,  and  left  a  daughter  and  heir, 
Isabel,  who  married  William  de  Bovile,  and  brought  her  interest  in 
these  lordships  to  him :  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  I.,  William 
de  Bovile,  and  Isabel  his  wife,  presented  to  the  church  of  Alderton. 
From  the  Boviles  it  passed  to  the  Latimers. 

In  the  3rd  of  King  Edward  II.,  William,  son  and  heir  of  William 
de  Bovile,  and  Isabel  his  wife,  was  impleaded  for  this  lordship,  and 
the  church  of  Dalinghoo,  by  William  de  Huntingfield ;  who  de- 
scended from  Emma,  another  sister  and  co-heir  of  Jeffrey  de  Glan- 
vile, wife  of  John  de  Grey. 

In  the  48th  of  King  Henry  III.,  William  de  Bovile  was  consti- 
tuted Keeper  of  the  Peace,  in  Suffolk,  by  letters  patent ;  and  the 
following  year,  the  King's  Justice  Itinerant,  to  enquire  of  misde- 
meanors in  the  said  county.  It  appears  by  the  Escheat  Rolls,  in 
the  30th  of  King  Edward  I.,  that  William  de  Bovile  held  seven 
fees  and  a  half  in  Letheringham,  Greeting,  and  Thorp,  in  this 
county,  at  Leys,  in  Essex,  and  elsewhere. 

This  William  appears  to  have  been  son  of  John  de  Bovile,  who 
in  the  7th  of  Edward  II.,  settled  the  manor  of  Dennington  on  Richard 
de  Wingfield,  for  life ;  and  the  advowson  of  the  same  parish,  on 
Roger  de  Wingfield,  for  life  ;  remainder  to  William  de  Bovile,  son 
of  the  said  William,  entail,  male ;  remainder  to  Thomas,  son  of 
Thomas  le  Latimer,  entail,  male ;  remainder  to  Simon  Fitz  Richard, 
and  Nicholaa  his  wife ;  remainder  to  his  right  heirs.* 

*  The  manor  of  Badiogham,  iu  this  county,  was  then  settled  in  the  same  way. 
See  Letheringham. 


138  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 

The  manors  of  Naunton  Hall  (or  Alderton  Hall),  Bovile's,  and 
Pechy's,  were  formerly  vested  in  the  Bacons,  of  Friston;  and  Hugh 
Chamberlen,  Esq.,  M.D.,  hecame  possessed  of  the  same  hy  his 
marriage  with  Mary,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Nathaniel  Bacon, 
Esq.,  of  that  parish.  By  this  marriage  he  left  three  daughters,  his 
co-heirs,  viz.: — Mary  (who  died  unmarried),  Anna-Maria,  and 
Charlotte. 

Anna-Maria  married  that  distinguished  statesman,  the  Right 
Hon.  Edward  Hopkins,  M.P.  for  Coventry,  in  the  time  of  King 
William  III.,  and  Queen  Anne,  and  Secretary  of  State  for  Ireland. 
— Charlotte  married  Eichard  Luther,  Esq.,  of  Myles,  in  Essex; 
and  this  estate  continued  for  many  years,  the  undivided  property, 
in  equal  moieties,  of  their  descendants.  Sir  Charles  Egertou  Kent, 
Bart.,  was  lately  owner  thereof.  It  is  now  vested,  hy  purchase,  in 
Andrew  Arcedeckne,  of  Glevering  Hall,  Esq. 

Robert  Naunton,  the  author  of  "  Fragmenta  Regalia,"  was  horn 
in  1563,  being  the  son  of  Henry  Naunton,  Esq.,  of  this  parish, 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ashby.  Of  the 
occurrences  of  his  early  years  no  account  remains  ;  the  following  is 
transcribed  from  "  Fuller's  Worthies  of  Suffolk  :" — 

"  Sir  Robert  Naunton  was  born  in  this  county,  of  right  ancient 
extraction ;  some  avouching  that  his  family  were  here  before,  others 
tliat  they  came  in  with  the  Conqueror,  who  rewarded  the  chief  of 
that  name,  for  his  service,  with  a  great  inheritrix,  given  him  in 
marriage ;  insomuch  that  his  lands  were  then  estimated  at  (a  vast 
sum  in  my  judgment)  seven  hundred  pounds  a  year.  For  a  long 
time  they  were  patrons  of  Alderton,  in  this  county,  where  I  conceive 
Sir  Robert  was  born. 

"  He  was  bred  Fellow  Commoner  in  Trinity  College,  and  then 
Fellow  of  Trinity  Hall,  in  Cambridge.  He  was  Proctor  of  the 
University,  anno  Domini  1600-1,  which  office,  according  to  the 
Old  Circle,  returned  not  to  that  College  but  once  in  forty-four 
years.  He  addicted  himself  from  his  youth  to  such  studies  as  did 
tend  to  accomplish  him  for  public  employment.  I  conceive  his 
most  excellent  piece,  called  '  Fragmenta  Regalia,'  set  forth  since 
his  death,  was  a  fruit  of  his  younger  years. 

"  He  was  afterwards  sworn  Secretary  of  State  to  King  James,  on 
Thursday  the  eighth  of  January,  1617 ;  which  place  he  discharged 
with  great  ability  and  dexterity.  He  died  anno  Domini  1630,  and 
was  buried  at  Letheringham. " 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD.  1 39 

Sir  Robert  married  Penelope,  the  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Sir 
Thomas  Perrot,  Knt.,  by  Dorothy,  the  daughter  of  Walter,  Earl  of 
Essex.  The  only  surviving  offspring  of  this  marriage,  was  a  daugh- 
ter, Penelope;  who  was  first  married  to  Paul  Viscount  Bayning, 
and  afterwards  to  Philip  Lord  Herbert,  fifth  Earl  of  Pembroke. 

In  1510,  George  Mawer  was  rector  of  this  parish,  and  of  Dit- 
chingham  and  Eccles,  in  Norfolk:  in  1512,  he  was  Doctor  of  the 
Degrees,  and  in  1513,  had  a  dispensation  from  Pope  Leo,  to  hold 
several  benefices.  Dr.  Mawer  was  also  Commissary  of  Suffolk 
Archdeaconry. 

John  Walker,  S.T.P.,  Archdeacon  of  Essex,  and  rector  of  this 
parish,  was  installed  third  Prebend  in  Norwich  Cathedral,  in  1569. 

Richard  Frank,  D.D.,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  of  Hardwick, 
with  Shelton,  in  Norfolk,  died  August  18,  1810.  He  was  formerly 
of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge;  and  proceeded,  A.B.,  1766;  A.M., 
1769;  and  S.T.P.,  1704.  Dr.  Frank  was  one  of  his  Majesty's 
Justices  of  the  Peace  for  this  county. 

Mem. — A  portion  of  the  steeple  of  this  parish  church  fell  down 
during  divine  service,  Nov.  4,  1821.  No  actual  injury,  however, 
was  sustained  by  any  one  of  the  congregation. 

CHARITIES. — The  charity  estate  consists  of  a  house  and  garden, 
let  at  £.15  a  year,  and  two  acres  of  land,  at  the  rent  of  £A  10s., 
which  is  laid  out  principally  in  bread,  and  partly  in  wood  and  coals, 
for  the  poor. — The  annual  sum  of  <£.3,  is  also  distributed  in  weekly 
portions,  among  poor  persons,  under  the  will  of  Thomas  Trusson, 
who  died  in  or  about  1687 :  and  is  a  rent  charge  out  of  an  estate  in 
this  parish  belonging  to  Mr.  John  Toppell. 


BAUDSEY. — BAWDRESEY,  or  BALDESIA. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  II.,  the  lordship  and  advowson  of 
this  parish  were  vested  in  Ralph  de  Orlanville,  Lord  Chief  Justice 
of  England;  who,  previous  to  his  joining  the  Crusades,  under  King 
Richard  I.,  divided  his  estate  between  his  three  daughters  and  co- 
heiresses. A  moiety  of  this  subsequently  became  the  estate  of  the 
Prior  and  Convent  of  Butley,  of  which  he  was  the  founder ;  the 
other  moiety,  the  inheritance  of  the  Ufford  family. 

Robert  de  Ufford,  Steward  of  the  Royal  Household,  was  owner 


140  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 

thereof;  and  upon  his  decease  it  was  assigned  to  Cicely  de  Valoines, 
his  widow,  as  part  of  her  dowry.  In  the  llth  of  King  Edward  III., 
their  son,  Robert  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  obtained  a  grant  of  a 
weekly  market,  and  an  annual  fair,  in  this  his  manor  of  Bawdresey. 

He  deceased  in  the  43rd  of  the  same  reign,  when  his  honours  and 
possessions  descended  to  William  de  Ufford,  his  son  and  heir,  who 
died  without  issue,  possessed  of  this  lordship,  in  the  5th  of  King 
Richard  II.,  and  his  estates  became  devisable  between  the  issue  of 
his  three  sisters. 

Cicely,  the  eldest,  married  John,  3rd  Lord  Willoughby  de  Eresby, 
who  deceased  in  the  46th  of  King  Edward  III.,  and  Robert  their 
son,  4th  Baron,  succeeded  to  this  estate,  as  nephew  and  one  of  the 
co-heirs  of  the  above  William  de  Ufford,  upon  the  decease  of  that 
nobleman. 

It  continued  in  their  descendants  until  the  failure  of  male  issue, 
in  William  Lord  Willoughby,  9th  Baron ;  who  died  in  1525,  seized 
of  this  lordship,  with  those  of  Ufford,  Bredfield,  Sogenhowe,  Win- 
derfelde,  Woodbridge,  Orford,  Wykes  Ufford,  Parham,  and  Campsey, 
in  this  county.  He  was  interred  in  the  collegiate  church  of  Met- 
tinghain,  in  Suffolk. 

Catherine,  Baroness  Willoughby  de  Eresby  in  her  own  right,  was 
his  sole  daughter  and  heir,  by  the  Lady  Mary  Salines,  his  second 
wife.  She  married,  first,  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and 
afterwards  Richard  Bertie,  of  Bersted,  in  Kent,  Esq.,  a  gentleman 
singularly  accomplished  and  learned,  attached  to  the  Court  of  King 
Henry  VIII. ;  by  whom  she  had  issue  the  Hon.  Peregrine  Bertie, 
(so  called  from  being  born  in  a  foreign  country),  and  a  daughter, 
Susanna,  who  married,  first,  Reginald  Grey,  15th  Earl  of  Kent, 
and,  secondly,  Sir  John  Wingfield,  Knt. 

The  Dutchess  of  Suffolk*  and  her  husband,  Richard  Bertie,  were 
eminent  for  their  services  in  the  cause  of  the  reformation.  Active 
and  zealous  in  its  promotion,  they  were  obliged  during  the  sangui- 
nary persecution  of  Queen  Mary,  to  provide  for  their  safety  by 
quitting  the  kingdom.  The  hardships  which  they  underwent  during 
their  exile,  were  so  singular  and  severe,  that  they  were  afterwards 
commemorated,  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  a  curious 
old  ballad.f 

*  There  is  a  portrait  of  the  Dutchess,  published  by  T.  Chamberlaine,  in  1792  ; 
engraved  by  Bartolozzi,  from  a  drawing  by  Hans  Holbein, 
f  See  "  Suffolk  Garland,"  p.  149. 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD.  141 

Peregrine  Bertie,  their  only  son,,  was  10th  Lord  Willoughby  de 
Eresby.  He  distinguished  himself  at  the  siege  of  Zutphen,  in  the 
Low  Countries,  in  1586;  and  the  following  year  was  appointed 
General  of  the  English  Forces  in  the  United  Provinces  :  tlu's  gave 
him  an  opportunity  of  signalizing  himself  in  several  actions  against 
the  Spaniards,  one  of  wliich  is  the  subject  of  another  popular  old 
ballad.* 

His  lordship  married  the  Lady  Mary  de  Vere,  daughter  and 
heiress  of  John,  16th  Earl  of  Oxford  ;  by  which  marriage  he  still 
further  increased  the  family  possessions  in  this  county.  Their  son 
Robert,  llth  Baron,  inherited,  in  right  of  his  mother,  the  high 
office  of  Lord  Great  Chamberlain  of  England ;  and  having  greatly 
distinguished  himself  in  a  mili tary  career,  was  installed  a  Knight  of 
the  illustrious  order  of  the  Garter,  and,  in  1626,  created  Earl  of 
Lindsey.  His  descendant  in  the  fourth  generation,  was  created 
Duke  of  Ancaster. 

The  Barony  of  Willoughby  de  Eresby  merged  in  this  Earldom  of 
Lindsey,  and  Dukedom  of  Ancaster,  until  the  death  of  Robert,  4th 
Duke,  without  issue,  in  1779;  when  the  above  ancient  Barony  fell 
into  abeyance  between  his  Grace's  sisters  and  co-heirs,  and  it  so 
remained  until  the  same  was  terminated  by  the  Crown,f  in  1 780,  in 
favour  of  the  elder  co-heir,  Priscilla  Barbara  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of 
Sir  Peter  Burrell,  Bart.,  first  Baron  Gwydyr. 

The  present  representative  of  this  illustrious  house,  is  the  Right 
Hon.  Lord  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  19th  Baron,  Lord  Great  Cham- 
berlain of  England,  eldest  son  of  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Gwydyr, 
and  Lady  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  Baroness  in  her  own  right, 
daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Peregrine,  3rd  Duke  of  Ancaster. 

The  descent  of  this  manor  did  not  continue  in  this  family 
throughout  the  long  line  of  ancestry  above  described,  but  became 
vested  in  that  of  Tallemache,  Earls  of  Dysart;  from  whom  it  passed 
to  the  Sheppard  family.  We  have,  however,  chosen  to  continue  the 
descent  to  the  present  period,  as,  after  the  lapse  of  many  ages,  a 
branch  of  this  ancient  house  (tracing  Royal  descent  from  Edward  I., 

*  See  "  Suffolk  Garland,"  p.  177. 

f  This  is  one  of  the  very  ancient  Baronies,  created  by  Writ  of  Summons,  which 
pass,  being  heritable  by  heirs  male  or  female,  at  different  periods  into  different 
families ;  and  sometimes  remain  for  centuries  dormant :  for  in  the  instance  of 
there  being  no  male  heir,  but  several  female,  the  Barony  does  not  devolve  upon 
the  eldest  daughter,  but  upon  ail  conjointly,  and  cannot,  consequently,  be  inherited 
until  there  be  a  single  heir  to  the  whole,  without  the  especial  interference  of  the 
Crown. 


142  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 

King  of  England),*  has  recently  become  re-planted  in  our  county ; 

*  PEDIGREE.— BURRELL,  OF  STOKE  PARK. 

Edward  I.,  King  of  England,  died  1307.  =Eleanor,    daughter  of    Ferdinand   III., 

I      King  of  Castile. 
L_  _j 

Gilbert  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester  and=Princess  Joan,  of  Acres. 

Hertford,  died  1295.  L—  — i 

Hugh,    Baron  le   Despencer,   beheaded=Eleanor,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Gilbert, 

1326.  Earl  of  Gloucester. 


Richard  Fitz   Alan,     Earl   of  Arundel,=Isabella,  d.  of  Hugh  Baron  le  Despencer. 

K.G.,  died  1375.  I—  _, 

Sir  Richard  Serjeaux,  of  Cornwall,  Knt.=Phi1ippa,  d.  of  Richard,  Earl  of  Arundel. 

ob.  21st  Richard  II.  L 1 

Richard  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  K.G.,=Alicia,  daug.  and  heiress  of  Sir  Richard 

died  4th  Henry  V.     I —  — j       Serjeaux,  Knt. 

Sir  Robert  de  Vere,  2nd  son,  Govern  or  =Joan,  dau.  of  Sir  Hugh  Courtenay,  Knt. 

of  Caen,  slain  1450.  i —  i 

Sir  John  de  Vere,  Knt.=Alice,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Walter 

1 —  '      Kilrington,  Knt. 

John  de  Vere  succeeded,  as  Earl  of  Ox-=fElizabeth,  dau.  and  heir  of  Sir  Edward 

ford,  1527,  died  1539.  \—  — J      Trussell,  Knt. 

John  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  K.G.,y  Margaret,  sister  of  Sir  Thomas  Golding, 

Lord  Great  Chamberlain  of  England,  [      Knt. 

died  anno  4th  Elizabeth.  ' \ 

Peregrine   Bertie,    Lord  Willoughby  de=f  Mary,  aunt  and  heir  of  the  whole  blood 

Eresby,  died  1601.     \ —  — -1       of  Henry  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford. 

Robert  Bertie,  Earl  of  Lindsey,  Baron~Elizabeth,  only  daug.  of  Edward,  Lord 


Willoughby  de  Eresby,  K.G.,  Lord 
Great  Chamberlain  of  England,  killed 
at  the  Battle  of  Edge  Hill,  23rd  Oct., 
1642. 


Montague,  of  Boughton. 


Montague  Bertie,  Earl  of  Lindsey,  Baron —Martha,  dau.  of  Sir  Wm.  Cockayn,  Knt. 

Willoughby   de   Eresby,    K.G.,    died  | 

1666.  i—  — J 

Robert  Bertie,  Earl  of  Lindsey,  Baron  ^Elizabeth,  d.  of  Philip,  Lord  Wharton. 

Willoughby  de  Eresby,  &c.,  died  1701.  I 

Robert  Bertie,   Duke   of  Ancaster   and=Mary,  daug.  of  Sir  Richard  Wynn,  Bart. 
Kesteven,  Marquess  and  Earl  of  Lind- 
sey, Baron  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  &c. 
died  1723.  \ —  — -» 

Peregrine  Bertie,  Duke  of  Ancaster,  &c.=j=Jane,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John 
died  1742.  \ '      Brownlow,  of  Belton,  Bart. 

Peregrine  Bertie,  Duke  of  Ancaster,  &c.= Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Pauton,  of 
died  1778.  [      Newmarket,  Esq. 

L_  _T 

Peter  Burrell,  Baron  Gwydyr,  died  1820.yPrisoilla,  BaronessWilloughbyde  Eresby, 

J       eldest  daughter  and  co- heir. 


L 

Peter  Robert  Burrell, 
Baron  Gwydyr,  suc- 
ceeded as  19thBarou 
Willoughby  de  Eres- 
by, in!828,  Lord  Gt. 
Chamberlain  of  En- 
gland, &c.  &c. 

•  i 
The  Honourable= 
Lindsey  Bur- 
rell, born  1786 

=Frances,  d. 
Daniell, 

of  Jas. 
Esq. 

*e  v  \ 

The  Hon. 
Burrell 
John, 
Clare, 

\T 

Elizabeth 
,    married 
Earl     of 
in  1826. 

T 
I 

Robert  Burrell, Esq.— Sophia,  dau.  of  F.  W. 

born  in  1810.  Campbell,  Esq.  of 

1 —          — -J      Birkfield  Lodge. 
Willoughby  Burrell, 

Esq. bornin  1841. 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD.  14tf 

from  whose  scions,  we  would  hope,  the  future  genealogist  will  be 
able  to  trace,  for  many  successive  generations,  a  long- continued 
descent,  as  famed  for  honour  and  valour  as  its  predecessors. 

The  Hon.  Lindsey  Burrell,  second  son  of  Lord  Gwydyr,  has 
recently  purchased  the  estate  of  Stoke  Park,  near  Ipswich ;  and 
makes  that  charming  spot  his  occasional  residence.  Kobert  Burrell, 
Esq.,  his  eldest  son,  lately  married  Sophia,  only  child  of  Frederick 
Campbell,  of  Birkfield  Lodge,  near  Ipswich,  Esq.,  and  has  issue 
Willoughby  Burrell,  Esq.*  Georgiana,  eldest  daughter  of  the 
above  honourable  gentleman,  is  the  wife  of  Hamilton  Lloyd  An- 
struther,  Esq.,  of  Hintlesham  Hall,  in  this  county. 

ARMS. — Glanvilfe:  argent;  a  chief  indented  azure.  Ufford: 
sable ;  a  cross  engrailed,  or.  Willoughby :  or ;  fretty,  azure. 
Bertie:  argent;  three  battering  rams,  proper,  armed  and  rimed,  or. 
Burrell:  vert ;  three  plain  shields,  argent,  each  having  a  bordure 
engrailed,  or. 

In  1315,  a  sequestration  was  granted  to  Henry,  rector  of  this 
parish,  who  was  Dean  of  the  College  of  the  Chapel  of  St.  Mary  in 
the  Fields,  at  Norwich,  and  also  second  Prebend,  or  Chancellor  of 
the  said  College. 

In  1549,  Richard  Denney,  of  this  parish,  presented  Michael 
Dunning,  LL.D.,  to  the  vicarage  of  Gissing,  in  Norfolk,  as  patron 
for  this  turn  only,  by  grant  from  Thomas,  late  Prior  of  the  dissolved 
house  of  Butley;  the  grant  being  made  prior  to  its  dissolution. — 
This  Michael  Dunning  was  vicar  general,  and  rector  of  North 
Tuddenham,  in  Norfolk,  of  whom  some  account  is  given  in  "  Fox's 
Martyrs,"  and  in  "  Brown's  Posthumous  Works." 

In  1807,  died,  the  Rev.  John  Walker,  vicar  of  this  parish,  and 
one  of  the  minor  Canons  of  Norwich  Cathedral.  He  was  formerly 
Fellow  of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford ;  an  admirable  scholar,  pos- 
sessed of  a  very  brilliant  imagination,  and  a  most  refined  taste, 
which  rendered  him  highly  popular  as  a  preacher.  Mr.  Walker 
also  held  preferment  in  Norwich,  and  was  vicar  of  Stoke  Holy 
Cross,  in  Norfolk. 

Mem. — Nov.  5,  1841,  this  parish  church  was  burned  to  the 
ground.  The  accident  was  occasioned  by  two  men  going  on  the 
steeple  with  a  turpentine  ball  (it  being  the  anniversary  of  the  gun- 
powder treason),  which  they  set  on  fire ;  and  a  part  of  the  ball 

*  Vide  Pedigree. 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFOED. 


falling  on  the  thatch  of  the  church,  it  immediately  ignited  :  all  ex- 
ertions to  put  out  the  fire  were  fruitless. 


BING. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  Sir  John  de  Huntingfield  held 
this  lordship ;  and  in  the  14th  of  that  reign,  a  claim  was  made  of 
a  right  to  hold  a  market  here  every  Thursday. 

It  was  afterwards  granted  to  the  Prior  and  Convent  at  Campsey, 
with  the  impropriation  of  this  parish  church ;  and  at  the  dissolution 
of  that  Monastery,  became  the  inheritance  of  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield, 
as  parcel  of  the  possession  of  the  said  Priory.  It  is  now  reduced  to 
a  small  hamlet,  united  with  the  parish  of  Pettistree. 


BOULGE,  or  BULGES,  with  DEBACH,  DEPEBECS,  or  DEPEBEC. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Queen  Margaret  held  the  lordship 
of  Boulge,  and  Debach;  and  these  manors  and  advowsons  were  part 
of  the  estate  of  the  Seckford  family,  which  descended  to  Dorothy, 
widow  of  Henry  Seckford,  Esq.,  who  deceased  in  1G38,  and  daughter 
of  Sir  Henry  North,  Knt.  She  survived  until  1673,  and  bequeathed 
them  to  her  cousin,  Sir  Henry  North,  of  Mildenhall,  Bart.;  from 
whom  this  estate  descended  to  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  of  the  same 
place,  Bart.,  and  from  him  to  the  Bunbury  family. 

The  present  owner  of  this  property  is  the  Rev.  Osborne  Shribb 
Reynolds,  who  is  also  patron  and  incumbent.  Boulge  Hall  is  the 
estate  and  residence  of  John  Fitz  Gerald,  Esq.,  who  served  the 
office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county,  in  1824. 

The  Prior  and  Convent  of  Woodbridge  were  seized  of  12d.  rent 
in  Boulge,  and  of  lands  and  rent  in  Debach,  valued  at  2s.  lid. 

CHARITIES. — It  appears  from  deeds  respecting  the  town  lands  of 
these  parishes,  that  part  thereof  was  in  old  time  settled,  and  held  in 
trust  for  payment  of  tenths  and  fifteenths,  for  the  village  of  Debach, 
the  sustentation  of  the  poor,  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  for 
the  doing  other  charitable  works  in  the  said  village ;  and  that  other 
part  thereof  was  purchased  with  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD.  145 

eighth  part  of  a  ship  bequeathed  by  Richard  Francis,  in  1044,  upon 
trust,  that  the  produce  thereof  should  be  laid  out  in  land,  and  the 
profits  of  such  land  employed  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  Debach. 
— The  property  consists  of  four  tenements,  with  small  gardens  ad- 
joining, occupied  by  poor  persons  at  low  rents,  and  of  several  closes 
of  land,  lying  in  and  adjoining  to  the  parish  of  Debach,  containing 
in  the  whole,  by  survey,  26A.  2R.  2 IP.,  including  the  gardens  an- 
nexed to  the  cottages :  the  rents  of  which  amount  together  to  £.40 
a  year. — These,  after  defraying  necessary  charges  and  outgoings, 
are  applied  in  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  in  payment  of  other 
expences  incidental  to  the  churchwardens'  office,  in  lieu  of  a  church 
rate  ;  £.1  6s.  a  year  is  paid  to  the  teacher  of  a  Sunday  school,  and 
about  £.G  or  £.7  a  year,  on  an  average,  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which 
are  given  to  the  poor  during  the  winter  season. 


BOYTON,  or  BEGETON. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  anciently  the  property  of  Sir 
Simon  de  Eattlesden. 

Mr.  Kirby  gives  some  account  of  the  foundation  and  endowment 
of  Warner's  almshouse  in  this  parish,  the  revenues  of  which  have 
greatly  increased  since  his  time;  so  much  so,  that  the  trustees  have 
been  enabled  to  augment  the  number  of  inmates  to  sixteen,  and 
contemplate  a  still  further  increase. 

By  the  last  scheme  approved  by  the  Court  of  Chancery,  the  pe- 
titioners proposed  to  increase  the  annual  sum  of  £.10  to  the  master 
of  the  charity  school  at  Stradbrook,  to  £.15  ;  and  to  increase  the 
allowance  to  each  of  the  twelve  poor  persons  in  the  almshouse  at 
Boyton,  to  7s.  a  week;  and  to  allow  them  £.2  5s.  each,  per  annum, 
for  firing;  £.2  15s.  a  year  each,  for  clothing;  the  nurse  who 
attends  upon  them  to  have  the  same  allowance.  It  was  further 
proposed  to  add  four  poor  persons  (two  men  and  two  women),  to 
the  then  number  of  twelve,  and  to  put  them  on  the  same  footing, 
in  every  respect,  with  the  twelve,  with  divers  additional  expenditures 
consequent  upon  that  increase,  such  as  the  erection  of  new,  or  en- 
larging the  present  almshouse. 

The  Master  was  of  opinion  that  the  said  scheme  was  proper  to 


140  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD, 

be  carried  into  effect,  and  that  the  said  increased  allowances  should 
commence  from  the  10th  of  October,  1802. 

The  indenture  of  bargain  and  sale  inrolled  in  Chancery,  for  the 
endowment  of  this  charity,  bears  date  the  22nd  June,  1736.  Mrs. 
Mary  Warner,  of  this  parish,  died  in  or  about  1743,  when  the 
almshouses  were  erected. 

In  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church  is  the  following  inscription : — 

"  SAMUEL  HINGESTON,  A.M. 

FORTY-TWO  YEARS    RECTOR  OF  THIS  PARISH, 

AND  TWENTY  YEARS    RECTOR.  OF  HoLTON 

ST.  PETER, 

IN  THIS  COUNTY, 

DIED  FEBRUARY  8,  1807, 

AGED  77." 

He  was  second  son  of  Kobert  Hingeston,  A.M.,  rector  of  Great 
TBealings,  and  West  Greeting,  in  this  county,  and  twenty-three  years 
master  of  the  grammar  school  in  Ipswich,  and  Katherine  his  wife, 
daughter  of  the  Eev.  Samuel  Buli,  rector  of  Brarnpton,  in  this 
county. 

Mr.  Hingeston  was  of  Caius  College,  Cambridge:  A.B.,  1750; 
A.M.,  1756.  James  Hingeston,  his  brother,  was  of  Emanuel  Col- 
lege, Cambridge:  A.B.,  1755;  A.M.,  1758:  was  vicar  of  Eaydon, 
in  this  county.  He  published,  in  1771,  "Discourses  upon  the 
Covenants,"  8vo.;  and  died  March  30,  1777,  aged  44. 

Mem. — A  few  years  ago  as  some  labourers  were  digging  sand 
from  a  pit  in  this  parish,  one  of  them  found  an  armlet  of  very  cu- 
rious workmanship,  in  pure  gold ;  it  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  Stothard, 
at  the  Antiquarian  Society,  and  an  account  of  it  was  given  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  Society. 


BKEDFIELD. — BREDEFELDA,  or  BREDEFELD. 

This  property  came  to  the  Willoughbys,  as  part  of  the  estate  of 
the  De  Ufford  family ;  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  it  was  the  estate  of  the  Marryotts,  one  of  whom  built  the 
Hall  here :  it  passed  to  the  Jenneys,  by  their  marriage  with  an 
heiress  of  the  Marryott  family. 

The  Crown  hath  presented  to  this  vicarage  since  the  dissolution 
of  Monasteries ;  it  having  previously  belonged  to  the  Priory  of 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFOKD.  '    147 

Butley  and  Campsey,  who  presented  alternately  to  the  vicarage,  and 
divided  the  impropriation. 

The  family  of  Jenney  are  of  French  extraction,  and  were  early 
seated  at  Knodishall,  in  Blithing  hundred.  They  became  possessed 
of  this  properly  in  1683,  by  the  marriage  of  Edmund,  second  son 
of  Sir  Kobert  Jenney,  of  that  parish,  Knt.,  with  Dorothy,  daughter 
and  co-heiress  of  Robert  Marryott,  Esq.,  of  Bredfield. 

The  present  representative  of  this  ancient  house,  and  proprietor 
of  the  estate,  is  Edmund,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  the  late  Edmund 
Jenney,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  and  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Philip 
Broke,  Esq.,  of  Nacton,  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Jenney  succeeded  to  this  property  upon  the  decease  of  his 
father,  in  1801,  and  resides  at  Hasketon,  near  Woodbridge.  Bred- 
field  House,  the  family  seat  here,  is  at  present  in  the  occupation  of 
Frederick  Manning,  Esq. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  land  here  is  copyhold  of  the  manor  of 
Bredfield,  and  consists  of  six  acres,  in  four  pieces,  let  at  rents 
amounting  together  to  £7  10s.  per  annum;  which  is  applied  to 
the  same  purpose  as  the  money  raised  by  a  church  rate. 


BROMESWELL.— BROMES  WELLA,  or  BRAMES  WELLA. 

This  manor  was  included  amongst  those  given  by  Thos.  Howard, 
Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  Henry  his  son,  Earl  of  Arundel  and  Surry, 
in  the  36th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  to  that  monarch,  in  exchange 
for  his  castle,  castle  manor,  and  chase,  of  Rising,  in  Norfolk,  and 
all  its  appurtenances. 

It  subsequently  became  the  estate  of  the  Wood  family,  of  Loud- 
ham,  and  passed  as  that  lordship  did.* 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands  here  comprise  a  piece  of  pasture 
and  marsh  land,  in  this  parish,  containing  about  SA.  2n.,  let  at  ;£3 
a  year. — A  piece  of  grass  land,  of  about  an  acre,  in  the  parish  of 
Ufford,  let  at  £2  2s.  a  year.  It  is  not  known  how  these  lands 
were  originally  acquired.  The  rents  have  been  applied  towards  the 
repairs  of  the  church. — (For  Sir  Michael  Stanhope's  gift  to  the  poor 
of  this  parish,  see  the  parish  of  Sutton.)  The  sum  granted  by  Sir 

*  In  "  Davy's  Architectural  Antiquities"  of  this  County,  is  an  etching  of  the  south 
door  of  thia  parish  church,  forming  a  specimen  of  the  Norman  style  of  architecture. 


148  *  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 

Michael,  is  £5  a  year,  but  a  deduction  being  made  on  account  of 
land  tax,  £4  14s.  8d.  per  annum  is  paid,  and  distributed  among 
poor  persons  of  the  parish. 


CAPEL  ST.  ANDKEW,  or  CAPELES. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia,"  makes  Simon  de  Rattlesden 
owner  of  this  manor.  He  deceased  in  the  1 7th  of  King  Edward  III., 
and  probably  held  it  of  the  Valences,  Earls  of  Pembroke,  as  he  did 
Bokenham-Ferry,  and  Saxlingham,  in  Norfolk 

The  church  was  given  to  Butley  Abbey,  by  Ranulph  de  Glanville, 
Lord  Chief  Justice  of  England,  the  founder  of  that  Monastery, 
and  was  afterwards  impropriated  thereto.  This  Ranulph  married 
Bertha,  the  daughter  of  Theobald  de  Valoins  (otherwise  Valence). 

This  was  a  distinct  parish,  until  about  1580,  when  the  church 
became  ruinous,  and  it  has  since  been  accounted  as  a  hamlet  of 
Butley. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  consists  of  a  cottage,  and  hemp- 
land,  containing,  by  estimation,  IA.  SR.,  in  the  parish  of  Butley, 
being  copyhold  of  the  manor  of  Staverton-with-Bromeswell,  which 
were  last  surrendered  upon  trust,  in  1754,  that  the  trustees  should 
receive  and  pay  the  rents  and  profits  of  the  same,  to  the  poor  of 
Capel,  towards  their  relief  and  support.  It  is  unknown  how  the 
property  was  originally  given  or  acquired  :  it  is  let  at  £6  a  year, 
and  the  rents  are  carried  to  the  account  of  the  overseers,  and  applied 
for  the  general  relief  of  the  poor. 


DALINGHOO,  or  DELINGAHOU. 

That  part  of  this  parish  which  lies  within  this  hundred,  is  known 
by  the  name  of  "  The  Hamlet,"  and,  in  the  29th  of  King  Edward  I., 
was  assigned  in  dower,  to  Lady  Margaret,  sister  to  Gilbert  de  Clare, 
Earl  of  Gloucester,  and  relict  of  Edmund  Plantagenet,  Earl  of 
Cornwall,  whose  ancestors  had  been  owners  thereof;  but  the  said 
Earl  dying  without  issue,  it  reverted  to  the  Crown,  after  the  decease 
of  the  said  Lady  Margaret. 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD,  149 

In  the  4th  of  King  Edward  III.,  John  de  Eltham,  the  second 
son  of  King  Edward  II.,  created  Earl  of  Cornwall,  obtained  a 
grant  of  this  hamlet,  with  others  in  Alderton  and  Thorndon,  in  this 
county;  and  from  the  De  Uffords  and  Delapoles,  Earls  of  Suffolk, 
being  owners  thereof,  the  manor,  for  distinction  sake,  acquired  the 
name  of  Earl  Dalinghoo  ;  and  the  lords,  as  of  right  appertaining 
thereunto,  claimed  one  turn  in  four  to  the  presentation  of  an  in' 
cumbent  to  the  church. 

In  the  31st  of  King  Edward  III.,  Sir  John  de  Norwich  obtained 
a  charter  for  free  warren  in  all  his  lands  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk, 
and  amongst  them  are  the  manor  of  Dalinghoo.  He  died  in  the 
3Cth  of  the  same  reign,  and  was  succeeded  by  John,  his  grandson, 
who  was  lord  of  the  manor,  and  died  in  1358. 

This  estate  now  belongs  to  Andrew  Arcedeckne,  Esq.,  of  Gle- 
vering  Hall,  in  Loes  hundred. 


DEBACH. — DEPEBECS,  or  DEPEBEC. 
See  BOULGE,  in  this  hundred. 


HOLLESLEY.— HOLES,  or  HOLESLEA. 

In  the  18th  of  King  Edward  L,  the  demesne  of  this  place  was 
in  Roger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  who  endowed  Alice,  his  second 
wife,  with  this  and  divers  other  lordships,  at  their  marriage;  which 
she  held  during  her  life,  and  at  her  decease  it  reverted  to  the  Crown. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  III.,  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  Earl 
of  Norfolk,  fifth  son  of  King  Edward  I.,  obtained  a  grant  of  the 
same,  and  died  seized  thereof,  in  the  12th  of  the  same  reign.  Mary, 
his  second  wife  survived,  and  held  this  and  several  other  estates, 
assigned  for  her  dower. 

At  her  decease  it  passed,  upon  the  division,  to  Joan,  the  wife  of 
William  de  Ufford,  as  the  heir  of  Alice,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  the 
above  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  and  wife  of  Edward  de  Montacute ; 
and  so  passed  as  the  Ufford  inheritance. 

It  afterwards  passed  into  the  Wood  family,  as  in  the  next  parish 


150  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 

of  Loudham ;  and,  upon  the  division  of  their  estate,  it  came,  by 
allotment  under  the  Court  of  Chancery,  to  one  of  the  co-heirs  of 
Mary  Cranmer,  elder  sister  of  Sir  Henry  Wood  ;  namely,  Dorothea, 
daughter  of  John  Chester,  Esq.,  and  wife  of  Sir  George  Eobinson, 
Bart.,  M.P.  for  Northampton,  in  1774;  who  inherited  in  her  right. 
We  subjoin  a  list  of  the  lords  and  ladies  of  this  manor,  from 
Edward  III.  to  James  I.,  under  the  impression  that  it  will  be  in- 
teresting to  our  readers,  from  the  illustrious  names  it  contains  : — 
12th  Edw.  III. — Thomas  de  Brotherton,  the  King's  son,  Earl  of 

Norfolk,  and  Earl  Marshall  of  England. 
5th  Richard  II. — Margaret,  Countess  of  Norfolk. 
5th  Henry  VI. — John  Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  Earl  Marshall. 
26th  Henry  VI. — John,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  Humphrey, 

Duke  of  Buckingham,  Feoffees. 
2nd  Edw.  IV. — Alionora,  Dutchess  of  Norfolk,  after  the  death  of 

John,  the  late  Duke  of  Norfolk. 
16th  Edw.  IV.— Elizabeth,  Dutchess  of  Norfolk. 
22ndHen.VII. — Sir  James  Hobart,  and  other  Feoffees,  for  the  use 

of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Surry. 
1 6thHen.VIII. — William  (Warham)  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and 

other  Feoffees,  for  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk, 

son  and  heir  of  Thomas,  the  late  Duke. 
1st  Edw.-  VI. — King  Edward  VI.,  during  the  imprisonment  of 

Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk. 
1st  of  Mary. Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  after  his  release  from 

imprisonment. 
5  &6Ph.&Mary.--Thos.,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  son  &  heir  of  Henry,  Earl 

of  Surry,  the  son  &  heir  of  Thos.,  the  late  Duke. 
1st  Elizabeth. — Thomas,   Duke   of  Norfolk,   and  Margaret  his 

Dutchess. 
llth Elizabeth. — John  Blennerhassett,  Wm.  Dixie,  Wm.  Cantrell, 

and  Laurance  Banister,  upon  lease  for  1 6  years. 
27th Elizabeth. — Elizabeth,  Queen  of  England. 
2nd  James  I. — Thomas,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  and  Henry,   Earl  of 

Northampton,  by  gift  of  the  King;  who  sold  it, 

in  the  same  year,  to  Sir  Michael  Stanhope,  of 

Sudbourne,  Knt. 

Jn  1381,  Thomas  Cobbe  was  rector  of  this  parish;  who  exchanged 
it  for  the  rector}'  of  Burgh,  in  Norfolk,  with  John  Alberd  (alias 
All-Beard.) 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLl'ORD.  151 

Mem. — In  1804,  two  pieces  of  cannon,  of  a  very  singular  con- 
struction, were  picked  up  in  Hollesley  Bay,  by  some  sweepers  for 
anchors  :  a  particular  description  of  them  is  given  in  Mr.  Shoberl's 
history  of  this  county. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £6  a  year,  appropriated  under  the  do- 
nation of  Sir  Michael  Stanhope's  gift,*  is  paid  to  the  churchwardens 
of  this  parish,  after  a  deduction  made  on  account  of  land-tax,  and 
is  distributed  among  poor  persons. 


LOUDHAM. — LUDHAM,  or  LANEBURH, 

A  hamlet  of  Pettistree.  The  family  of  Loudham  held  the  lordship 
for  many  ages,  until  the  death  of  John,  son  of  Sir  Thomas  de 
Lowdham,  and  Maud  his  wife,  in  1418;  who  left  issue  an  only 
daughter  and  heiress,  Joan  ;  she  married,  first,  to  Thomas  Heveu- 
inghani,  Esq.,  and  secondly,  to  Ralph  Blennerhassett,  Esq.,  and  he 
inherited,  in  right  of  such  marriage,  whose  descendants  possessed  it 
for  many  generations. 

This  Joan  survived  her  second  husband,  until  1501,  being  97 
years  of  age  ;  and  John  Bleverhasset,  her  son  and  heir,  succeeded, 
being  77  years  of  age  at  the  death  of  his  mother.  Samuel  Blen- 
nerhassett resided  at  Loudham,  in  1618;  but  how,  or  when  the  estate 
went  from  that  family,  we  are  not  informed. 

It  afterwards  became  the  property  of  Sir  Henry  Wood,  Knt., 
Treasurer  of  the  Household  of  the  Queen  Dowager,  Henrietta,  one 
of  the  Council  of  Queen  Catherine,  and  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Green 
Cloth ;  eldest  son  of  Thomas  Wood,  of  Hackney,  in  Middlesex, 
Clerk  of  the  Pantry. 

Sir  Henry  possessed  considerable  estates  in  this  county,  besides 
the  manor  and  park  of  Loudham,  where  he  resided.  He  died  May 
25,  1671,  and  was  buried  in  the  south  aisle  of  Ufford  church. 

Mr.  Gage  Eokewode  in  his  "History  of  the  Hundred  of  Thingoe," 
has  very  fully  noticed  this  family,  in  Ms  account  of  the  parish  of 
Whepstead ;  by  which  it  appears,  Sir  Henry  Wood  left  issue  an  only 
daughter,  Mary,  who  married  Charles,  Duke  of  Southampton ;  and, 
for  want  of  male  issue  by  this  marriage,  this  estate  devolved  in 
possession  upon  Charles  Wood,  surviving  son  of  Sir  Cffisar  Cranmer, 
*  See  the  account  of  this  charity  in  the  parish  of  Sutton. 


152  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORDr. 

who  died  without  issue,  in  1 743 ;  and  the  estate  descended  in  moi- 
eties, to  the  co-heirs  of  the  two  sisters  of  Sir  Henry  Wood. 

By  a  commission  under  the  Great  Seal  of  England,  the  20th  of 
George  II.,  this  estate  was  allotted  to  one  of  the  heirs  of  Elizabeth 
Wehb,  his  youngest  sister;  namely,  Susan,  wife  of  Robert  Oneby; 
whose  son  Eobert,  died  in  1753,  without  iss-ie,  ard  it  became  the 
inheritance  of  Sir  John,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  William  Chapman, 
Bart.,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  sister  of  Susan  wife  of  the  said  Robert 
Oneby,  Esq. 

It  was  purchased  by  Jacob  Whi thread,  Esq.,  after  the  decease  of 
the  said  Sir  John  Chapman,  Bart.,  without  issue  ;  and  is  now  the 
property  of  Carey  William  Jacob  Whitbread,  Esq.,  and  the  residence 
of  Frederick  White  Corrance,  Esq. 

ARMS. — Lowdham:  argent;  three  escutcheons,  sable.  Blenner- 
hassett :  gules ;  a  chevron,  ermine,  between  three  dolphins  embowed, 
argent.  Wood:  argent ;  on  a  chevron,  azure,  between  three  peli- 
cans, sable,  vulning  themselves,  proper,  as  many  cinquefoils  of  the 
first.  Chapman:  party  per  chevron,  argent  and  gules;  a  crescent 
counterchanged. 

Mem. — In  1810,  a  timber  oak  was  felled  in  Loudham  park, 
containing  altogether  705  solid  feet;  the  body  of  which  was  drawn 
by  sixteen  horses,  to  Mr.  Manthorp  and  Son's  timber  wharf, 
Woodbridge. 


MELTON,  or  MELTUNA. 

The  Dean  and  Chapter  of  the  cathedral  church  of  Ely  are  pro- 
prietors of  this  manor  and  advowson.  There  is  a  curious  octagonal 
font  in  this  church,  which  has  been  engraved  in  the  "  Archasologia," 
published  by  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  London. 

In  this  parish  stood  the  House  of  Industry  for  the  hundreds  of 
Loes  and  Willford,  which  was  built  in  the  year  1768,  and  has  since 
been  converted  into  a  County  Lunatic  Asylum ;  the  whole  expence 
of  which,  to  April  1829,  was  £26,881;  of  this  sum  £26,000  was 
raised  by  loans. 

In  the  year  1764,  Willford  Bridge  being  decayed,  was  pulled 
down,  and  wholly  rebuilt  with  brick,  at  the  cost  of  £175  ;  and  in 
the  year  1798,  this  bridge  was  taken  down,  and  rebuilt  with  white 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFOIID.  153 

brick  and  stone,  at  a  much  more  considerable  cost.  Mr.  Kirby 
mentions  a  bequest  of  £'20,  given  in  1539,  by  Richard  Cook,  of 
this  parish,  and  other  legacies  named  about  the  same  period,  towards 
the  first  erection  of  the  said  bridge,  which  was  probably  built  soon 
after. 

John  de  Diss,  rector  of  this  parish,  gave,  in  1420,  to  the  altar  at 
Diss,  in  Norfolk,  13s.  4d.;  to  repair  the  said  church,  26s.  8d.;  to 
ths  poor,  20s. ;  and  to  St.  Nicholas  chapel,  6s.  8d.  He  was  buried 
in  Woodbridge  Priory. 

Dr.  Joseph  White,  an  eminent  Oriental  scholar,  Canon  of  Christ 
Church,  Regius  Professor  of  Hebrew,  and  Laudian  Professor  of 
Arabic,  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  was  rector  of  this  parish ;  the 
hiving  of  which  he  accepted  about  1790. 

He  was  bom  in  1740,  of  parents  of  low  circumstances,  in  Glou- 
cester, where  his  father  was  a  journeyman  weaver,  and  brought  up 
his  son  to  the  same  business.  Being  however,  a  sensible  man,  he 
gave  him  what  little  learning  was  in  his  power,  at  one  of  the  charity 
schools  at  Gloucester.  This  excited  a  thirst  for  greater  acquisition 
in  the  young  man,  who  employed  all  the  time  he  could  spare  in  the 
study  of  such  books  as  fell  in  his  way. 

His  attainments  at  length  attracted  the  notice  of  a  neighbouring 
gentleman  of  fortune,  who  sent  him  to  the  University  of  Oxford, 
where  he  was  entered  of  Wadham  College,  and  took  his  degree  of 
A.M.  in  1773,  and  about  that  time  engaged  in  the  study  of  the 
Oriental  languages  ;  to  which  he  was  induced  by  the  particular  re- 
commendation of  Dr.  Moore,  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 
In  177o,  he  was  appointed  Archbishop  Land's  Professor  of  Arabic. 
Lord  Thurlow,  then  Lord  Chancellor,  without  any  solicitation,  gave 
him  a  Prebend  in  the  Cathedral  of  Gloucester,  which  at  once  placed 
him  in  easy  and  independent  circumstances.  In  1787,  he  took  the 
degree  of  D.D.,  and  was  looked  up  to  with  the  greatest  respect  in 
the  University,  as  one  of  its  chief  ornaments.  He  died  at  the  ca- 
nonry  residence  at  Christ  Church,  May  22,  1814. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  is  partly  freehold,  and  partly  co- 
pyhold, and  consists  of  six  cottages,  occupied  by  paupers,  and  two 
pieces  of  land,  called  Green  Man  Meadow,  containing  together 
2A.  In.  12p.,  formerly  given  by  one  John  Jenner,  for  the  use  of  the 
poor.  The  rent  of  these  pieces  of  land,  at  the  time  this  report  was 
made,  was  £5  10s.  a  year.  An  offer  of  £12,  or  .£12  12s.  a  year, 
had  been  received,  in  1828,  for  the  same'.  The  rent  is  kid  out  in 


1  54  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFOKD. 

bread,  which  is  distributed  among  the  poor. — The  Church  Lands 
consist  of  several  inclosures,  containing  together  27 A.  3n.  17P.,  the 
rents  of  which  have,  from  ancient  time,  been  appropriated  to  the 
repairs  of  the  church ;  and  several  other  inclosures,  called  the 
Charity  Lands,  containing  together  ISA.  3n.  16p.,  appropriated, 
under  donations  from  persons  named  Halifax  and  Histed,  for  pro- 
viding fuel  for  eight  poor  persons. — These  lands  were  long  held  at 
£36  a  year,  which  sum  has  lately  been  increased  :  and  the  rents 
are  applied,  partly  to  the  purpose  of  repairing  the  cottages,  and 
partly  to  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the  payment  of  other 
charges,  attending  the  celebration  of  divine  service ;  and  the  re- 
mainder, generally  to  the  amount  of  £17  a  year,  is  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  coals,  which  are  distributed  among  poor  persons. 


PETTESTREE.— PETTISTREE,  or  PITEDRE. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  anciently  vested  in  the  De  Uffords, 
Earls  of  Suffolk.  Francis,  third  son  of  Edmund  Bacon,  Esq.,  of 
Hessett,  in  this  county,  resided  here.  He  married,  first,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  -  -  Cotton,  of  Great  Barton,  in  the  same  county,  by 
whom  he  had  an  only  daughter,  Elizabeth  ;  and  secondly,  Mary, 
only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  George  Blenerhaysett,  of  Erense, 
in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  and  widow  of  Thomas  Culpeper,  Esq.,  by  whom 
he  had  no  issue.  He  died  in  1580,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish 
church ;  where  figures  in  brass,  of  himself  and  his  two  wives,*  with 
an  inscription  to  his  memory,  still  remains.  Mary  his  wife,  sur- 
vived until  1587,  and  was  buried  at  Frense. 

The  manor  of  Pestries,  or  Over  Pestries,  is  now  vested  in  Mrs. 
North,  of  Glemham. 

The  family  of  Wyard  were  long  resident  here,  but  became  extinct 
in  or  about  17CO. 

In  1413,  this  church  was  impropriated  to  the  Austin  Nuns,  of 
Campsey;  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage  is  now  in  the  Crown; 
but  the  rectorial  tithes  of  this  parish,  with  the  hamlet  of  Bing,  and 
those  of  Wickham-Market,  became  in  1718,  vested  in  trustees,  by 
the  will  of  Mr.  John  Pemberton,  Portman  of  Ipswich,  who  be- 
queathed them  for  charitable  uses ;  namely,  an  annuity  to  poor 
*  Etchings  of  these  are  given  in  "  Cot  man's  Suffolk  Brasses." 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD.  155 

widows  and  orphans  of  clergymen,  and  the  residue  to  the  charity- 
schools  of  Grey- Coat  Boys  and  Blue- Coat  Girls,  in  Ipswich. 

The  tithes  above  mentioned  lately  let  at  upwards  of  £455  per 
annum  ;  which  sum,  after  deducting  £50  for  the  above  institution, 
is  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  the  said  charity. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  a  house  used  as  a  work- 
house, and  about  1 7  acres  of  copyhold  land,  which  are  let  at  a  rent 
of  £25  15s.  a  year.  It  is  unknown  upon  what  particular  trust  the 
lands  were  first  surrendered  to  trustees,  but  the  rents  are  applied 
conformably  to  old  usage,  in  lieu  of,  and  for  the  same  purposes  as 
a  church  assessment. — The  sum  of  £5  a  year  was  charged,  by  the 
will  of  John  Jessup,  in  1717,  on  land  in  this  parish,  now  the  pro- 
perty of  Mr.  Philip  Dykes;  to  be  laid  out  in  bread,  to  be  distributed 
every  other  Sunday  among  poor  persons  attending  church. — The 
trustees  of  Mill's  charity,  at  Framlingham,  in  conformity  with  the 
directions  of  the  donor,  send  5s.  worth  of  bread  to  be  distributed 
among  poor  persons  of  this  parish,  at  the  church. 


KAMSHOLT,  or  EAMESHOLT. 

Kobert  de  Vaux  gave  all  the  churches  and  tithes  of  his  demesne, 
to  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  St.  Andrew,  in  Thetford ; 
amongst  which  Ehamdona  (or  Kamsholt)  was  included :  Eeginald 
de  Peyton  was  also  a  great  benefactor  to  that  Abbey. 

This  Reginald  was  the  first  we  find  by  the  name  of  Peyton,  and 
was  second  son  of  Walter,  lord  of  Sibton,  in  this  county;  younger 
brother  to  William  de  Malet,  a  Norman  Baron,  lord  of  the  honour 
of  Eye,  in  Suffolk. 

In  1135,  he  held  the  lordship  of  Peyton  Hall,  in  this  parish,  and 
Boxford,  in  this  county,  of  Hugh  de  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and 
held  the  office  of  Sewer  to  that  nobleman.  This  Reginald  had  two 
sons,  William  and  John ;  John  had  issue  four  sons,  John  the  elder, 
Robert,  Peter,  and  John  the  younger. 

Robert  was  Lord  Justice  of  Ireland,  in  the  reigns  of  King  Henry 
III.  and  Edward  I. ;  and  being  lord  of  Ufford,  assumed  that  sur- 
name.* Peter  continued  the  name  of  Peyton,  and  the  manor  of 
Peyton  Hall,  in  this  parish  ;  and  by  that  name  the  surviving 
*  His  descent  will  be  given  in  the  account  of  that  parish. 


150  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 

branches  of  this  family  are  still  known ;  but  it  appears  that  issue 
male  failed  in  his  line  about  the  time  of  King  Edward  III.,  and  was 
continued  in  that  of  his  younger  brother,  John  de  Peyton,  jun.,  who 
sold  to  John,  his  eldest  brother,  all  his  lands  which  he  held  in  Box- 
ford,  and  Stoke  by  Neyland,  which  their  father,  John  de  Peyton, 
and  William,  their  uncle,  anciently  possessed.  In  Eamsholt  there 
still  remains  the  ruins  of  a  large  old  building,  called  Peyton  Hall, 
particularly  the  gateway,  on  which  are  the  arms  of  Peyton.  It  has 
since  been  the  property  of  the  Earls  of  Oxford,  Lord  St.  John,  and 
of  the  family  of  Waller,  and  now  belongs  to  the  heirs  of  the  late 
Robert  Trotman,  Esq.,  of  Ipswich. 

This  ancient  and  illustrious  house  were  honoured  with  the  title 
of  Baronets,  at  the  first  institution  of  that  order ;  Sir  John  Peyton, 
of  Isleham,  in  Cambridgeshire,  Knt.,  being  so  created  May  22,  161 J . 
The  present  representative  is  Sir  Henry  Peyton,  of  Doddington,  in 
the  same  county,  Bart.,  who  in  the  male  line,  is  a  branch  of  the 
Oxfordshire  family  of  Dashwood ;  but  in  the  female,  represents  the 
old  Baronets  Peyton. 

ARMS. — Peyton:  sable;  a  cross  engrailed,  or.  Crest:  a  griffin, 
sejeant,  or. 

The  church  is  remarkable  for  its  tower,  which  is  round,  and  sup- 
ported by  three  buttresses,  which  give  it  a  singular  appearance. 


SHOTTISHAM. — SHOTTESHAM,  SCOTESHAM,  or  SHATSHAM. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  anciently  vested  in  the  Earls  of 
Norfolk;  the  advowson  in  the  Glanvilles;  and  from  the  year  1480, 
in  the  Wing-field  family,  and  so  continued  for  upwards  of  a  century. 
It  is  now  the  property  of  Burwell  Edwards,  Esq.,  of  Suttoii. 

CHARITIES. — A  cottage  and  an  acre  of  land  in  this  parish,  are  let 
at  rents  amounting  together  to  ;£6  10s.  per  annum  ;  which  sum  is 
applied,  conformably  to  usage,  to  the  reparation  of  the  church. — 
In  1708,  Sarah  Clarke,  by  her  will,  charged  her  lands  in  Pettistree 
and  this  parish,  now  the  property  of  Thomas  Waller,  Esq.,  with  the 
payment  of  £2  a  year,  to  the  churchwardens  of  Shottisham,  to  be 
at  their  discretion  distributed  to  and  amongst  poor  persons  of  the 
town  of  Shottisham. 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD.  157 

BUTTON. — SUTTUNA,  or  SUTHTUNA. 

The  demesne  of  this  parish  was  anciently  held  by  Richard  de 
Glanville;  and  in  1764',  was  the  estate  of  Nicholas  Bacon,  and 
William  Chapman,  Esqrs. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  the  manor  of  Fenhall,  in  this 
parish,  was  vested  in  the  B unveil  family,  until  the  middle  of  the 
last  century  :  it  is  now  the  property  of  B  unveil  Edwards,  Esq.,  who 
resides  in  the  manor  house.  The  manors  of  Sutton  Hall,  Talvas, 
Stockerland,  and  Campsey,  are  vested  in  H.  Walker,  Esq. 

In  the  year  1390,  the  church  was  impropriated  to  Bruisyard 
Nunnery ;  and  at  the  dissolution,  granted  to  Nicholas  Hare,  Esq., 
it  subsequently  passed  to  Sir  John  Rous,  Bart.,  and  is  now  the 
property  of  his  representative,  the  Earl  of  Stradbroke. 

A  seal  appendant  to  a  charter  of  Johanna  de  Stanvil,  to  Robert, 
son  of  Robert  Saava,  of  lands  in  this  parish,  undated,  but  supposed 
to  be  temp.  Edward  I.,  is  engraved  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine 
for  1794,  p.  425. 

CHARITIES. — Sir  Michael  Stanhope,  by  deed  dated  the  IGtli  of 
King  James  I.,  granted  to  trustees,  in  fee,  certain  yearly  rents, 
amounting  in  the  whole  to  £48,  out  of  the  demesne  lands  of  the 
manor  of  Valence,  lying  in  Blaxhall,  and  four  other  parishes  in 
this  county,  that  the  same  should  be  yearly  bestowed  upon  the  poor 
people  inhabiting  within  certain  specified  towns  or  parishes,  in  this 
county.  The  rent-charge  particularly  appropriated  to  the  poor  of 
this  parish,  is  ,£4  a  year,  from  which  16s.  is  deducted  for  land  tax. 
— In  1687,  Susannah  Burrell  surrendered  her  lands  and  heredita- 
ments, held  of  the  manor  of  Staverton  with  Bromeswell,  upon 
trust,  that  out  of  the  profits  thereof  her  trustees  should  pay  to  the 
churchwardens  of  this  parish,  £5  4s.  a  year  to  buy  bread,  and 
weekly  distribute  the  same  among  the  poor  of  the  said  parish. — It 
appears  by  the  parish  terrier,  that  a  Mr.  Bloss,  of  Belstead,  gave 
the  sum  of  £1  a  year  to  the  vicar,  for  two  sermons,  to  be  preached 
on  St.  Thomas's  day  and  Good  Friday,  yearly;  and  also  2s.  6d.  to 
be  given  in  bread,  on  each  of  those  two  days,  to  the  poor  of  the 
parish;  and  that  the  said  payments  are  made  by  Sir  Robert  Harland, 
Bart.,  of  Wherstead  Hall. 


158  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 

UFFORD,  or  UFFEWORDA, 

Is  a  parish  of  eminence,  as  giving  name  to  the  illustrious  house  of 
Ufford,  Earls  of  Suffolk ;  whose  possessions  in  this  county  were 
very  extensive,  including  the  castles  of  Orford,  Eye,  Framlingham, 
Bungay,  Mettingham,  and  Haughley. 

Their  descent  is  derived  from  William,  Lord  Malet  de  Greville,  a 
Norman  Baron,  who  accompanied  the  Conqueror  ;  and  whose  de- 
scendants in  their  various  hranches,  have  ever  since  enjoyed  opu- 
lence, rank,  and  influence. 

Robert,  second  son  of  John,  son  of  Reginald  de  Peyton,  was 
Lord  Chief  Justice  of  Ireland  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  HI.,  and 
Edward  I.,  and  being  owner  of  this  lordship,  assumed  the  surname 
of  his  ancestors  here.  He  was  created  K.B.  in  the  31st  of  the  latter 
reign.  Ralph  de  Ufford,  his  second  son,  was  also  Justice  of  Ireland 
in  the  20th  of  the  same  King. 

Robert,  eldest  son  of  the  above  Robert  de  Ufford,  by  Cicely  de 
Valoines,  was  created  Earl  of  Suffolk  in  the  llth  of  King  Edward 
III.,  and  made  Knight  of  the  Garter :  and  for  his  valiant  exploits 
the  King  soon  after  rewarded  him  with  the  honour  of  Eye,  formerly 
belonging  to  the  Malets,  his  ancestors.  In  1536,  he  served  under 
Edward,  the  Black  Prince,  at  the  memorable  battle  near  Poictiers, 
in  France,  where  he  and  the  Earl  of  Salisbury  commanded  the 
rereward ;  and  Dugdale  observes,  "  he  was  seldom  out  of  some 
eminent  action,  and  was  much  employed  by  his  Sovereign  in  im- 
portant affairs  of  state." 

William  de  Ufford,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded  to  his  honour  and 
estates :  he  died  suddenly,  whilst  ascending  the  steps  to  the  House 
of  Lords,  without  surviving  issue ;  and  his  inheritance  became  divi- 
ded between  the  issue  of  his  three  sisters.* 

Thomas  de  Ufford,  K.G.,  and  John  de  Ufford,  were  brothers  to 
the  said  Earl ;  the  latter  was  bred  at  Cambridge,  and  took  the 
degree  of  LL.D.  He  was  promoted  to  the  Deanery  of  Lincoln,  then 
to  the  Chancellorship  of  England.,  and  lastly,  to  the  Archbishoprick 
of  Canterbury,  in  which  he  sat  but  six  months  and  six  days,  being  cut 
off  by  the  plague  before  he  received  either  his  pall  or  consecration, 
June  7, 1348.  Dying  intestate,  Andrew  Ufford,  Archdeacon  of  Mid- 
dlesex, took  out  letters  of  administration  to  his  effects,  as  heir  at  law. 

*  See  Baudsey. 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD.  159 

By  thus  discharging  these  great  stations  and  offices  with  ability 
and  eminence,  they  did  credit  to  the  Courts  of  those  Sovereigns  who 
employed  them ;  and  executing  the  several  offices  in  their  respective 
counties,  in  successive  reigns,  with  honour  to  themselves  and  ad- 
vantage to  the  community,  they  acquitted  themselves  as  useful 
members  of  society. 

This  manor  was  lately  vested  in  the  trustees  of  the  late  Jacob 
Whitbread,  Esq.,  and  now  belongs  to  Gordon  Whitbread,  Esq. 

The  Chapel  of  Sigenhoe,  in  this  parish,  mentioned  by  Kirby,  was 
instituted  into  from  1310  to  1527,  upon  the  presentation  of  the 
Uffbrds  and  Willoughbys ;  and  the  manor  of  Sigenhoe  is  named, 
with  that  of  Baudsey,  &c.,  as  part  of  their  possessions,  with  that  of 
Windervil. 

The  church  Mr.  Weever  describes,  as  the  most  neatly  polished 
little  church  that  he  saw  in  the  diocese ;  and  mentions  memorials 
to  the  family  of  Lamb,  who  were  benefactors  to  this  church,  also 
for  those  of  Brookes  and  Willoughby.  Several  monuments  have 
since  been  erected  for  members  of  the  Wood  family,  of  Loudham.* 

Ufford  Place,  formerly  the  seat  of  the  Hammond  family,  became 
vested  in  Francis  Brooke,  Esq.,  of  Woodbridge,  by  his  marriage 
with  Anne,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Samuel  Thompson,  Esq. 
He  deceased  in  1799,  and  this  estate  devolved  upon  his  third  and 
eldest  surviving  son,  Charles  Brooke,  M.A.,  rector  of  this  parish 
and  Blaxhall. 

He  married,  in  1809,  Charlotte,  third  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Francis  Capper,  late  rector  of  Earl  Soham  and  Monk  Soham,  in 
this  county,  and  deceased  in  1836.  Mr.  Brooke  is  succeeded  in 
the  family  estates  by  his  only  son,  Francis  Capper  Brooke,  Esq. 
This  family  are  of  remote  antiquity,  and  became  early  seated  at 
Aspal,  in  Hartismere  hundred. 

ARMS. — Brooke :  gules  ;  on  a  chevron,  argent,  a  lion  rampant, 
sable,  crowned,  or ;  armed  and  langued  of  the  first. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate,  which  is  appropriated  to  the  ge- 
neral benefit  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  parish,  consists  of  a  double 
cottage,  used  as  a  poor  house,  and  a  cottage  and  about  4 1  acres  of 
land  in  this  parish  and  Melton,  which  are  let  at  rents  amounting 
together  to  £00  a  year.  These  rents  are  applied  to  the  reparation 
of  the  parish  church,  and  in  payment  of  other  expenses  incident  to 

*  In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1788,  p.  702,  is  an  engraving  of  a  stone 
coffin  in  this  parish  church,  with  the  pastoral  staff  surmounted  with  a  cross  dory. 


1GO  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD. 

the  churchwardens'  office. — The  Right  Rev.  Thos.  Wood,*  Bishop 
of  Lichfield  and  Coventry,  in  his  life-time  erected  an  hospital  for 
ancient  and  indigent  men  and  women,  in  this  parish ;  and  by  his 
will,  dated  in  1690,  charged  his  manor  of  Barham,  in  this  county, 
with  the  payment  of  £30  per  annum,  for  the  support  of  eight  an- 
cient poor  men  in  Ufford  and  Wickham-Market,  to  he  equally  divi- 
ded amongst  them ;  each  to  have  a  gown  every  two  years,  with  the 
letters  H.W.  upon  their  shoulders  :  and  he  willed  that  the  repairs 
of  the  hospital,  and  the  charges  of  the  gowns,  should  he  provided 
•out  of  the  said  lands. — The  hospital  in  this  parish  contains  four 
apartments,  which  are  occupied  by  four  poor  men,  belonging  to  the 
same  parish,  appointed  by  the  feoffees.  The  yearly  sum  of  ;£15, 
which  is  paid  by  Joseph  Birch  Smyth,  of  Ipswich,  Esq.,  the  owner 
of  the  manor  of  Barham,  is  received  by  the  poor  men  in  the  hospital, 
and  they  are  each  supplied,  at  Mr.  Smyth's  expense,  with  a  coat 
once  every  two  years.  The  hospital  is  kept  in  repair  by  Mr.  Smyth, 
and  is  at  present  in  good  condition. — A  piece  of  meadow  land,  con- 
taining 3A.  3n.,  called  Smock  Meadow,  was  given  to  this  parish  by 
a  Mr,  Sayer,  but  at  what  time  is  unknown,  to  the  intent  that  out  of 
the  rent,  sixty  dozen  of  bread  should  be  yearly  bought,  and  distri- 
buted to  the  poor  ;  and  that  the  remainder  of  the  rents  should  be 
applied  to  provide  smocks  for  the  poor  of  the  parish.  The  rent  is 
£8  a  year,  which  is  laid  out  partly  in  buying  shifts  for  poor  women, 
and  the  remainder  is  given  in  bread  and  money  among  poor  people. 
— A  rent  charge  of  £3  a  year,  issuing  out  of  three  meadows  in  this, 
parish,  containing  3A.,  now  the  property  of  Mr.  Chas.  Gross.  The 
annuity  is  laid  out  in  bread,  and  distributed  to  the  poor. — The  sum 
of  40s.  a  year  is  received  from  the  tenant  of  a  farm  at  Ufford,  be- 
longing to  the  trustees  of  Mills's  charity,  at  Framlingham,  and  is 
laid  out  in  bread,  and  given  to  the  poor. 


WICKHAM-MARKET,  or  WIKHAM. 
The  nuns  at  Campsey  were  formerly  possessed  of  this  parish 

*  This  Prelate  presided  over  the  above  diocese  from  1671  to  1692,  and  was  of 
Christ  Church,  Oxford.  He  was  third  son  of  Thomas  Wood,  of  Hackney,  in  Mid» 
dlesex,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Pantry,  and  a  younger  brother  of  Sir  Henry  Wood,  of 
Lou-dharo,  in  this  county,  Knt. 


HUNDRED  OF  WILLFORD.  161 

church,  with  the  manors  of  Wickham,  Gelham,  Harpole,  and  Bing: 
these  were  previously  vested  in  the  Ufford  family.  The  latter,  at 
the  dissolution  of  that  house,  were  granted  to  Anthony  Wingfield, 
Esq.,  and  passed  as  their  other  family  estates,  to  the  Nassaus,  Earls 
of  Kochford;  but  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage  remains  in  the 
Crown. 

The  rectorial  tithes  of  this  parish,  Pettistree,  and  Bing,  are  vested 
in  trustees  for  charitable  uses.*  There  is  a  stipend  of  £40  a  year, 
or  thereabouts,  charged  by  Mr.  Sayer  on  his  estate  in  this  parish, 
payable  to  the  vicar, '  for  reading  prayers  that  part  of  the  Sunday 
when  there  is  no  sermon :  it  was  formerly  paid  by  Mr.  Leman,  to 
whom  Mr.  Sayer  devised  this  estate ;  and  since,  by  Mr.  Eobt  Rede, 
to  whom  the  same  had  been  granted  by  his  aunt  Leman,  the  daughter 
and  heiress  of  the  Leman  family. 

Gelham  Hall,  in  this  parish,  is  now  in  the  occupation  of  Mr. 
John  Blake;  Harpole  (or  Thorple),  of  Mr.  William  Thurlow,  of 
Dalinghoo. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands  in  this  parish  appear,  by  a  recent 
survey,  to  contain  39A.  29p.,  of  which  about  one  acre,  called  the 
Chapel  Meadow,  is  freehold,  in  the  parish  of  Hacheston,  and  the 
remainder  is  of  copyhold  tenure,  situate  in  the  parish  of  Wickham. 
— The  specific  uses  for  which  the  Chapel  Meadow  was  held,  do  not 
appear  ;  but  of  the  copyhold  part  of  the  Old  Town  Lands,  one  fifth 
was  anciently  surrendered  in  trust,  for  the  reparation  of  the  church, 
payment  of  the  tax  of  Wickham,  and  the  support  of  the  poor  of  the 
town :  the  other  four-fifths  were  anciently  held  for  the  good  of  the 
town  of  Wickham,  that  is  to  say  (as  expressed  in  the  writings), 
"  for  apprenticing  one  poor  boy,  yearly,  of  the  said  town." — The 
New  Town  Land  was  purchased  for  £320,  or  thereabouts,  of  which 
the  sum  of  £300  was  given  by  the  will  of  Mrs.  Ann  Barker,  in  1730, 
to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  houses  or  lands  upon  trust,  that 
two-thirds  of  the  profits  thereof  should  be  yearly  applied  towards 
the  benefit  of  the  poor,  either  in  a  workhouse  or  otherwise,  and  the 
remainder  to  be  applied  to  the  teaching  poor  children  of  the  parish 
to  read  and  write.  The  rents  of  this  property  amount  together  at 
present,  to  £131  12s.  6d.  a  year. — The  right  Rev.  Thomas  Wood 
erected  another  hospital  at  Clapton,  in  the  parish  of  Hackney, 
Middlesex,  and  for  the  endowment  of  the  same  charged  his  Barham 
estate,  as  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  parish  of  Ufford,  for  the  sup- 

*  Sec:  l>p.  154,  155. 


162  HUNDRED  OF  WILLFOHD. 

port  of  four  poor  persons  in  this  parish.  In  pursuance  of  a  decree 
of  the  Court  of  Exchequer,  the  yearly  sum  of  £21  is  paid  as  a  rent 
charge,  out  of  the  estate  of  Barham  Hall:  coats  are  supplied,  as  in 
the  other  bequest  at  Ufford,  and  the  men  are  at  liberty  to  continue 
to  inhabit  at  Wickham. — The  trustees  of  Mills's  charity,  at  Fram- 
lingham,  send  5s.  worth  of  bread  every  quarter,  to  be  distributed 
among  poor  persons  of  this  parish. 


PLOMEGATA,  or  PLUSMESGATA. 


Hundred  contains  twenty-four  Parishes,  and  two  Ham- 
lets :  it  is  bounded,  on  the  East,  by  the  German  Ocean  ;  on  the 
South,  by  the  Hundred  of  Willford ;  on  the  West,  by  Loes;  and 
on  the  North,  by  Hoxne  and  Bly thing.  It  has  the  following 
Towns  and  Villages: — 

ALDBOROUGH, 

BENHALL, 

BLAXHALL, 

BRUISYARD, 

BUTLEY, 

CHILLESFORD, 

CRANSFORD, 

DUNNINGWORTH, 

FARNHAM, 


FRISTON, 
GEDGRAVE, 
GLEMHAM  MAGNA, 
GLEMHAM  PARVA, 


HASLEWOOD, 

IKEN, 

ORFORD, 

PARHAM, 

KENDHAM, 

SAXMUNDHAM, 

SNAPE, 

STERNFIELD, 

STRATFORD  ST.  ANDREW'S, 

SUDBOURN, 

SWEFFLING, 

TUN  STALL, 

WANTISDEN. 


The  fee  of  this  Hundred,  in  the  time  of  King  Edward  III., 
was  in  Robert  de  Uffbrd,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  and  so  continued  until 
the  death  of  his  son,  William  de  Uffbrd,  in  the  5th  of  Richard  II., 
without  issue  male,  when  it  passed  to  the  De  la  Poles. 


HUNDRED  OF  PLOMESGATE. 


ALDBOROUGH,  or  ALDEBURC. 

The  following  particulars  concerning  this  place  are  collected  from 
**  Aldborough  Described,"  published  in  1819. 

Two  hundred  years  ago,  Aldborough  was  a  place  of  considerable 
importance  ;  but  repeated  incroachments  from  the  sea  reduced  it  to 
the  rank  of  a  small  and  insignificant  fishing  town.  During  the  last 
century,  the  ocean  made  great  ravages ;  and  in  the  recollection  of 
persons  yet  living,  destroyed  many  houses,  together  with  the  market- 
place and  the  cross. 

Depopulated  and  impoverished  by  these  encroachments,  it  was 
hastening  to  complete  decay ;  but  within  the  last  fifteen  or  twenty 
years,  several  families  of  distinction,  wishing  for  a  greater  degree  of 
privacy  and  retirement  than  can  be  enjoyed  in  a  more  fashionable 
watering  place,  have  made  this  town  their  summer  residence ;  and 
in  consequence  of  this  auspicious  event,  its  appearance  has  been 
totally  changed. 

It  does  not  appear  from  any  ancient  records,  that  Aldborough 
ever  contained  public  buildings  of  extent  or  consequence  ;  nor  has 
there  at  any  time  been  discovered  vestiges,  which  could  convey  an 
idea  of  ancient  splendor  or  magnificence. 

The  manor  and  advowson,  many  years  after  the  grant  made  to 
Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  became  by  purchase,  the  property  of  Sir 
Henry  Johnson,  Knt.,  and  by  the  marriage  of  his  grand- daughter 
with  Thomas  Wentworh,  1st  Earl  of  Strafford,  were  carried  into 
that  family.  They  are  now  vested  in  Fred.  William  Thos.  Vernon 
Wentworth,  Esq.,  of  Wentworth  Castle,  in  Yorkshire,  by  descent 
from  his  great-grandfather,  Fred.  Thomas,  3rd  Earl  of  Strafford. 

The  former  importance  of  Aldborough  induced  several  Monarchs 
to  grant  it  extensive  charters ;  the  first  of  which  was  given  by  King 
Edward  VI.,  in  the  second  year  of  his  reign,  tliis  was  confirmed  by 
Philip  and  Mary,  as  well  as  by  Queen  Elizabeth.  James  L,  in  the 
fourth  year  of  his  reign,  granted  the  borough  greater  indulgences, 
and  gave  it  a  new  constitution. 


166  HUNDRED  OF   PLOMESGATE. 

The  interest  in  this  borough  was  long  vested  in  the  Crespigny 
family,  but  was  disposed  of  by  them  in  1818,  to  Samuel  Walker, 
and  Joshua  Walker,  Esqrs. — It  did  not  send  representatives  to  Par- 
liament until  the  13th  of  Queen  Elizabeth ;  a  list  of  which,  conti- 
nued from  that  by  Kirby,  to  the  period  when  this  borough  became 
disfranchised  by  Act  of  Parliament,  in  1832,  is  subjoined.* 

ARMS. — Town  of  Aldborough:  on  the  sea,  a  ship  under  sail; 
on  the  main  shroud,  a  lion  rampant. 

Thomas  Pye  and  John  Mendham,  of  this  town,  convicted  of 
holding  heretical  opinions,  were  sentenced  to  suffer  open  penance, 
or  scourgings,  about  this  parish  church,  before  a  solemn  procession, 
six  several  Sundays  ;  and  three  whippings  about  the  market-place 
of  Harleston,  three  principal  market  days ;  their  necks,  legs,  and 
feet,  bare ;  both  of  them  to  carry  a  taper  of  a  pound  weight,  round 
the  church  and  market  place,  each  time  ;  which  tapers,  when  their 
penance  was  finished,  to  be  humbly  and  devoutly  offered  upon  the 
high  altar  of  the  parish  church  of  Aldborough,  at  the  offering  of 
the  high  mass. 

The  Eev.  George  Crabbe,  LL.B.,  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
poets  of  his  day,  was  a  native  of  this  borough,  where  his  father  held 
a  situation  in  the  customs.  Bred  up  to  the  profession  of  physic, 
he  for  some  years  practised  as  a  surgeon  and  apothecary,  in  this  his 
native  town ;  but  owing,  as  it  is  believed,  to  older  practitioners 
being  already  established  in  the  place,  he  did  not  succeed  so  well  as 
a  sanguine  and  well-informed  young  man  had  every  reason  to  expect. 

Disgusted,  at  length,  with  a  profession  which  afforded  him  so 
small  a  practice,  and  not  a  little  out  of  humour  with  the  scene  of 
his  first  and  unsuccessful  attempt,  he  quitted  Aldborough,  and  re- 
paired to  the  Metropolis ;  where  he  arrived  without  having  formed 
any  particular  plan,  but  where  he  hoped  that  the  exertion  of  his 
talents  would  enable  him  to  succeed. 

Here  he  commenced  literary  adventurer ;  and  had  he  foreseen  all 
the  sorrows  and  disappointments  which  awaited  him  in  his  new 
career,  it  is  probable  he  would  either  have  remained  in  his  native 
place,  or,  if  he  had  gone  to  London  at  all,  engaged  himself  to  beat 
the  mortar  in  some  dispensary.  He,  however,  gave  his  whole  mind 
to  the  pursuit  by  which  he  was  then  striving  to  live,  and  by  which 
he,  in  due  time,  attained  to  competence  and  honour. 

Mr.  Crabbe,  during  the  whole  of  the  time  he  spent  in  town,  ex- 
*  See  p.  168. 


HUNDRED  OF   PLOMKSGATE.  167 

perienced  nothing  but  disappointments  and  repulses,  until  his  cir- 
cumstances became  fearfully  critical ;  absolute  want  stared  him  in 
the  face,  a  gaol  seemed  his  only  immediate  refuge,  when  he  resolved 
to  make  one  effort  more,  and  this  proved  eminently  successful. 

He  ventured  to  address  a  letter  to  that  eminent  statesman  Ed- 
mund Burke,  Esq.,  to  which  the  Eight  Hon.  Gentleman  gave  in- 
stant attention,  and  immediately  appointed  an  hour  for  Mr.  Crabbe 
to  call  upon  him  :  the  short  interview  that  ensued,  entirely,  and  for 
ever,  changed  the  nature  of  his  worldly  circumstances.  He  had 
afterwards  many  other  friends,  kind,  liberal,  and  powerful,  who  as- 
sisted him  in  his  professional  career  ;  but  it  was  one  hand  alone 
that  rescued  him  when  he  was  sinking,  and  through  his  friendly 
exertions  our  author  became  introduced  to  some  of  the  first  cha- 
racters of  the  age. 

Mr.  Crabbe  having  been  admitted  to  Deacon's  orders,  became 
licensed  as  curate  to  the  Eev.  Mr.  Bennett,  rector  of  Aldborough ; 
he  immediately  bade  a  grateful  adieu  to  his  illustrious  patron,  and 
came  down  to  take  up  his  residence  once  more  in  his  native  place. 
He  afterwards  attended  the  late  Duke  of  Rutland,  as  Chaplain, 
when  Viceroy  of  Ireland;  and  in  1789,  Lord  Thurlow  presented 
him  to  the  rectory  of  Muston,  in  Leicestershire,  and  of  West  Al- 
lington,  in  Lincolnshire;  and  in  1814,  he  was  inducted  to  the  living 
of  Trowbridge,  to  which  he  was  presented  by  the  Duke  of  Kutland ; 
where  he  died,  Feb.  3rd,  1832,  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age. 

CHARITIES. — Slauden  Quay  Trust  Estate.  This  property,  which 
consists  of  a  quay  or  wharf,  with  certain  coal  yards,  saltings,  and 
other  premises,  situate  on  the  river  Aid,  is  held  of  the  manor  of 
Aldborough,  under  the  gift  or  grant,  as  supposed,  of  a  former  lord 
of  the  manor,  of  the  family  of  the  Earl  of  Strafford ;  but  there  is 
no  record  of  the  donation  now  extant.  The  premises  are  vested  in 
trustees,  for  the  general  use  of  the  inhabitants.  The  revenues  of 
the  charity  arise  from'  the  tolls  collected  for  loading  and  discharging 
barges  on  the  quay,  which  are  let  at  about  £50  a  year  rent;  and  the 
income  has  been  applied  towards  the  support  of  a  school,  for  the 
education  of  the  children  of  the  poorer  classes,  as  far  as  circum- 
stances will  permit. — In  a  parish  terrier  mention  is  made  of  a  piece 
of  arable  land,  containing  about  one  acre,  the  rent  of  which  is  dis- 
tributed among  the  poor. — The  yearly  rent-charge  of  .£11,  is  paid 
on  land  called  the  Town  Marsh,  and  is  applied  in  apprenticing 
poor  children;  to  the  minister  for  a  sermon  preached  on  Good 


HUNDRED  OF  PLOMESGATE. 


Friday ;  and  the  residue  is  given,  in  bread  and  money,  to  the  poor, 
on  the  same  day. 

Mem. — August  24,  1809.  A  most  beautiful  and  novel  sight 
presented  itself  here  :  it  consisted  of  upwards  of  350  ships,  many 
from  the  Baltic,  and  some  from  Flushing,  with  French  prisoners 
and  wounded  men.  They  anchored  off  this  place,  within  a  short 
distance,  and  remained  the  greater  part  of  the  day. 

November  22,  1818.  Anew  organ  was  opened  in  this  parish 
church,  built  by  Mr.  Bryceson,  of  Long- Acre,  London. 


Kings  Reign.  A.D. 
George  III.       1708 

1774 

1780 
1784 
1790 
1796 
1801 
1802 
1806 
1807 
1812 
1818 

George  IV.  1820 
1826 

William  IV.  1830 
1831 


Members  for  Aldborough. 
Z.  P.  Fonnereau. — Nicholas  Linwood. 
Thomas  Fonnereau. 
Thomas  Fonnereau. — Eichard  Combe. 
Martin  Fonnereau. 

Martin  Fonnereau. — Philip  Claude  Crespigney 
Samuel  Salt. — Philip  Claude  Crespigney. 
George  Lord  Grey. — Thomas  Grenville. 
Sir  John  Aubrey,  Bart. — Mich.  Ang.  Taylor. 

Imp.  Parl.     George  Johnstone. 
Sir  John  Aubrey,  Bart. — John  M'Mahon. 
The  same. 
The  same. 

Lord  Dufferin. — Andrew  Strahan. 
Joshua  Walker. — Samuel  Walker. 
Joshua  Walker. — James  Blair. 
Joshua  Walker. — John  Wilson  Croker. 
Marquis  of  Douro. — John  Wilson  Croker. 
The  same. 


BENHALL,  or  BENHALA. 

In  the  5th  of  King  Eichard  II.  (1381),  William  de  Ufford,  Earl 
of  Suffolk,  was  found  by  inquisition,  to  have  held  the  Manors  of 
Benhall  and  Thorndon,  as  parcel  of  the  honour  of  Eye ;  which 
were  escheated  to  the  King,  through  the  failure  of  male  issue  of 
the  said  Earl. 

In  the  Gth  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  the  Countess  of  Suffolk  held 


HUNDRED  OF   PLOMESGATK. 


tliis  lordship;  and  Sir  Eobert  Southwell  was  found  to  hold  of  the 
said  Countess,  the  manor  of  Upton,  in  Norfolk,  as  of  her  manor  of 
Benhall,  in  Suffolk,  valued  at  £1G  per  annum. 

The  Dukes,  of  this  parish,  derive  their  descent  from  a  family  of 
that  name,  who  were  possessed  of  Brampton,  in  this  county,  ever 
since  the  Norman  conquest,  and  who  hecame  allied  in  marriage 
with  most  of  the  leading  families  in  tin's  part  of  the  kingdom. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Edward  Duke,  Esq.,  purchased 
this  estate  from  the  Glemhams  ;  and  Edward  Duke,  his  grandson, 
the  first  Baronet  of  his  house,  built  the  seat  called  Benhall  Lodge, 
in  1G3H.  The  alliances  of  that  branch  of  the  family  who  became 
seated  here,  will  appear  from  the  following 

PK  1)1  GREE. 

George    Duke,    of=Anne,    clau.  of  Sir 


Brampton,  Esq. 

Thos.Blennerhas- 
set,  of  Frenze,  in 
Norfolk,  Knt. 

-Elizabeth,   daught. 
and    co-heir     of 
AugustinCurties  , 

of  Honington. 

i 

=  Catherine,  dau.  of 
Richard  Braham, 

of  Wands  worth. 

i 

=Elizabeth,  dau.   of 
Robert  Talmach, 
of  Helmingham, 

Esq. 

i 

T  I 

Edward  Duke,  son  = 
and     heir,    who 
purchased    Ben- 
hall,  died  in  1598 

=Dorothy,  daughter 
of  Sir   Ambrose 
Jermyn.of  Rush- 
brook,  Knt. 

j 

=Elizabeth,  daug.  & 
co-heir  to  Barth. 

Calthorpe,  Esq. 

i 

=Ellen,  d.  &  co-heir 
of  John  Panton, 
of  Brunslip,  co. 
Denbigh,  Esq.* 

Sir     John     Duke,r 
Bart.    M.P.    for 
Orford  in  1640. 

I 
George  Duke,  2nd- 

son,  of  Honiog- 
ton,  in  this  co. 

I 
Ambrose  Duke,  Esq- 

son  &  heir,  died 
1610. 

George    Duke,    of- 
Wandsworth. 

I 
Edward  Duke,  ther 

first  Baronet. 

T  

Edw.  Duke,  M.D.= 
of       Middlesex, 
3rd  son. 

T 
=Elizabeth,   daught. 

and     co-heir    of 
Edw.  Duke.M.D 

t                                 T. 

Sir  Edward  Duke,=Mary,  d.  and  sole 
Bart,   only    son,         heir  of   Thomas 
succeeded  1705.          Rudge,   co.  Staf- 
ford,   Esq.,  died 
without       issue, 
25th  Aug.  1732! 
when  the  Baro- 
netcy became  ex- 
tinct- 


1st.  2nd.  3rd.  4th. 

Elizabeth  Jane,  m.  Anne,  m.  Arabella, 


d.  young 


John 
Brame, 

of 

Campsey 
Ash. 


Thomas     m.Mau- 

Tyrell,of  riceShel- 

Gipping     ton,  of 

Esq.       Barning- 

|         ham,  Esq. 


Edmund 

Tyrell,  of 

Gipping, 

Esq. 


Thomas 
Bokenham 
Tyrell,  of 
Belstead.Esq 


*  Blomcficld  makes  Sir  Edward  Duke,  1st  Bart.,  to  have  married  Catherine, 


170  HUNDRED   OF  PLOMESGATE. 

Sir  Edward  Duke,  Bart.,  died  without  issue,  and  this  estate 
passed  to  his  nephew,  Edmund  Tyrell,  of  Gipping,  in  this  county, 
Esq.,  who  sold  it  to  his  brother,  Thomas  Bokenham  Tyrell,  of 
Belstead,  near  Ipswich,  Esq.  ;  who  sold  it  to  John  Rush,  Esq. : 
from  him  it  passed,  in  1767,  to  Samuel  Rush,  Esq.,  his  only  brother 
and  heir;  who  deceased  about  1784,  and  devised  it  to  his  nephew, 
Sir  William  Beaumaris  Rush,  Knt.  In  1790,  he  sold  it  to  his 
cousin,  George  Rush,  Esq.,  and  of  him  (it  was  purchased,  in  1801, 
by  the  late  Admiral  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  Knt.,  who  made  it  his  residence. 

He  was  second  son  of  Admiral  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  Bart.,  who  was 
lost  in  the  "  Cato,"  in  1782,  and  brother  to  the  late  Sir  Harry 
Parker,  Bart.,  of  Long  Melford,  in  this  county.  Sir  Hyde  was 
Knighted  for  his  gallant  services  in  the  American  war ;  and  died 
at  his  house,  Great  Cumberland  Place,  London,  March  16,  1807, 
aged  67  years. 

Edward  Holland,  Esq.,  was  the  next  proprietor,  who  pulled  down 
the  former  house,  and  built  the  present.*  He  served  the  office  of 
High  Sheriff  for  this  county,  in  1814,  and  Nov.  25th,  in  that  year, 
his  seat  here  was  the  scene  of  gay  festivity  :  upwards  of  200  of  the 
nobility  and  gentry  were  present  at  a  splendid  fete,  given  by  that 
gentleman ;  which,  in  point  of  magnificence  and  effect,  surpassed 
any  thing  of  the  kind  ever  offered  in  this  neighbourhood. 

This  estate,  comprising  the  mansion,  park,  with  farms,  containing 
1644  acres;  with  the  manor  of  Benhall,  the  advowson  of  the  vica- 
rage, and  the  impropriation  of  the  parish,  with  the  great  or  corn 
tithes  thereof,  were  brought  to  the  hammer,  May  19,  1830,  and 
knocked  down  at  78,000  guineas.  It  now  belongs  to  the  Rev.  Edm. 
Holland,  of  Grosvenor  Place,  London. 

ARMS. — Duke:  azure;  a  chevron  between  three  sterns  close, 
argent,  beaked  and  membered,  gules.  Parker:  sable;  a  buck's 
head,  cabossed,  between  two  flaunches,  argent. 

Writhington  White,  vicar  of  this  parish,  was  appointed  Archdeacon 
of  Norfolk,  October  28th,  1629.  The  present  vicar  is  the  Rev.  John 
Mitford,  the  editor  of  Gray ;  whose  tasteful  residence,  the  parsonage 

daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Holland,  of  Wortwell,  Knt.  He  probably  had  two  wires, 
as  Wotton  says  he  had  twenty-nine  children,  none  of  whom  survived,  except  Sir 
John,  his  successor. 

*  A  view  of  this  appears  in  "  Davy's  Seats  of  the  Noblemen  and  Gentlemen  in 
Suffolk ;"  and  in  his  "  Suffolk  Antiquities,"  an  etching  of  the  south  entrance  to  this 
parish  church  is  given,  as  a  good  specimen  of  the  Norman  style  of  architecture. 


HUNDRED  OF   PLOMESGATE.  171 

here,  contains  one  of  the  best  libraries  in  the  county,  particularly 
rich  in  the  department  of  old  English  poetry. 

In  1806,  Mr.  J.  S.  Wade,  of  this  parish,  received  at  the  anniver- 
sary meeting  of  the  Society  of  Arts,  a  gold  medal,  for  planting 
onions ;  and  the  following  year  he  received  another  from  the  same 
society,  for  having  planted  15  acres  of  osiers,  between  Oct.  1804, 
and  May  J805,  12,000  sets  per  acre.  In  November  following  they 
were  ready  for  basket-making. 

CHARITIES. — In  1731,  Sir  Edward  Duke,  by  will,  desired  £1000 
to  be  settled  by  his  executors,  for  or  towards  the  maintenance  of  a 
person  able  to  be  a  schoolmaster ;  who  should,  at  the  town  of  Ben- 
hall,  teach  the  several  poor  children  belonging  to  the  same  parish, 
to  read  and  write,  without  any  reward  other  than  the  profits  to  arise 
from  the  said  J61000.  Part  of  this  legacy  was  laid  out  in  purchasing 
and  building  a  school  premises ;  and  the  residue  was  expended  in 
the  purchase  of  stock,  Old  South  Sea  Annuities,  the  dividends  of 
which  are  paid  to  the  schoolmaster. — The  sum  of  £5  a  year  is  paid 
to  the  schoolmaster  here,  for  teaching  four  children  of  Saxmundham, 
agreeably  to  the  bequest  of  William  Corbold,  in  1746. 


BLAXHALL. — BLACTHESHALA,  or  BLAKESALE. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  and  estate 
•of  Kichard  de  Weyland :  and  in  the  23rd  of  King  Edward  III., 
Bartholomew  de  Berghersh  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren  to 
himself  and  Cicely  his  wife,  and  their  heirs,  in  all  his  demesne 
lands  in  this  parish.  He  deceased  in  the  43rd  of  that  reign,  seized 
thereof;  leaving  issue  an  only  daughter  and  heiress,  Elizabeth, who 
married  Edward  Le  Despencer,  and  he  inherited  this  manor  and 
estate  in  her  right. 

Anne,  their  daughter,  married,  first,  Sir  Hugh  Hastings,  of  El- 
sing  and  Gressenhall,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.;  and  secondly,  Thomas, 
Lord  Morley.  He  deceased  in  the  4th  of  Henry  V. ;  she  survived 
until  1426,  and  died  seized  of  this  manor,  and  Clopton,  in  Suffolk: 
it  soon  after  became  vested  in  the  Glemham  family. 

In  1764,  it  was  the  property  of  Dudley  North,  of  Glemham,  Esq., 
by  purchase  from  John  Bence,  Esq.,  who  bought  it  of —  Warryn, 
Esq. 


172  IIUNDllED   OF  PLOMESGATE. 

Weever,  in  las  "Ancient  Funeral  Monuments,"  has  the  following 
from  this  parish  church : — "  John  Glemham,  esquyer,  Anne  and 
Elenor,  his  wyves,  the  which  John  dyed  in  anno  1400.  Anne 
in  anno  1400,  and  lady  Elenor  1404."  Some  mistake  in  these 
dates,  or  they  could  not  both  have  heen  the  wives  of  this  John 
Glemham. 

William  Bulleyn,  of  a  respectable  family  of  the  same  name  in 
this  county,  was  born  in  the  Isle  of  Ely,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
reign  of  King  Henry  VIII.  At  a  proper  age  he  was  sent  to  Cam- 
bridge, which  he  quitted  probably  alter  taking  his  Bachelor's  degree, 
and  went  to  Oxford,  where  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  me- 
dicine, and  read  the  Greek  and  Arabian  writers,  in  both  which 
languages  he  appears  to  have  been  tolerably  skilled. 

While  resident  there  he  made  excursions  through  the  neighbouring 
counties,  paying  great  attention  to  the  plants  that  he  had  found  re- 
commended in  the  cure  of  diseases ;  and  after  taking  the  degree  of 
Doctor,  he  extended  his  excursions,  travelling  over  the  greater  part 
of  England  and  Scotland.  He  afterwards  visited  the  Continent  with 
the  same  view  :  on  his  return  he  was  made  rector  of  Blaxhall, 
through  the  interest  probably  of  his  family,  and  practised  medicine 
there. 

There  are  two  portraits  of  him,  both  cut  in  wood  :  the  one  a 
profile,  with  a  long  beard,  published  with  his  "  Government  of 
Health,"  an  8vo.  volume,  1548;  the  other  a  whole  length,  to  his 
"  Bullein's  Bulwork  of  Defence  against  all  sickness,  soarness,  and 
wounds  that  do  dayly  assault  mankind;"  folio,  1562.  His  last 
work  is  entitled,  "A  Dialogue,  both  pleasante  and  pietifull;  wherein 
is  a  goodlie  Regimen  against  the  Fever  Pestilence  ;  with  a  Conso- 
lation and  Comfort  against  Death;"  8vo.,  1564.  He  died,  Janu- 
ary 7,  1576. 

CHARITIES. — Thomas  Garthwaite,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  gave 
a  messuage  in  Woodbridge,  called  the  Eed  Cross,  the  rents  thereof, 
after  necessary  repairs,  to  be  employed  for  the  clothing  of  poor  men, 
women,  and  children  of  this  parish ;  but  so  as  not  to  lessen  or  abate 
any  sums  of  money  which  ought  to  be  assessed  and  collected  for  the 
necessary  relief  of  the  poor.  This  property  lets  for  about  £18  per 
year,  and  is  laid  out  in  clothing,  which  is  given  to  poor  families  of 
the  parish. 


HUNDRED   OB'   PI.O.MESGATE. 


BRUISYARD. — BURESIART,  or  BURISYERDE. 

The  College  here  was  originally  established  at  Campsey-Ash,  but 
was  removed  hither  by  Maud,  Countess  of  Ulster,  in  1354;  and  the 
priests  had  in  the  manor  place  here,  a  common  refectory,  dormitory, 
and  a  chapel  dedicated  to  the  annunciation  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  At 
the  instance  of  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence,  this  college  was  surren- 
dered to  the  use  of  an  Abbess  and  sisters,  nuns  minoresses  of  the 
order  of  St.  Clare,  in  1366;  and  so  continued,  until  its  dissolution. 

Pope  Urban  V.,  about  1364,  permitted  Maud  de  Lancaster,  to 
enter  the  order  of  St.  Clare,  and  to  leave  the  order  of  St.  Austin 
nuns,  wherein  she  had  made  her  profession,  at  Campsey,  after  the 
death  of  her  husband.  This  lady  is  considered  the  foundress  of  this 
nunnery,  but  by  some  authorities,  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence,  is 
styled  the  founder. 

In  "  Liber  Valorum,"  1534,  gross  value,  £78  2s.;  and  to  thia 
house  were  appropriated  the  churches  of  Bruisyard,  Sutton,  Bui- 
mere,  Burgh,  Rendlesham,  and  Bewenhall :  the  manors  of  Wrabnes, 
of  Hargham,  Winston,  South  Repp,  Rokehall,  Stanford,  Holbrook, 
Tatingstone,  Wilton,  and  Benge. 

The  site,  called  Rokehall,  with  the  manor,  and  patronage  of  the 
vicarage,  is  now  vested  in  the  Earl  of  Stradbroke. 

Sir  Nicholas  Hare,  Knt.,  the  grantee,  was  Master  of  Requests 
to  King  Henry  VIII.,  and  King  Edward  VI. ;  Chief  Justice  of 
Chester  in  the  32nd  of  the  former  King ;  and  Master  of  the  Rolls, 
and  of  the  Privy  Council,  to  Queeu  Mary;  Lord  Keeper  of  the 
Great  Seal,  and  was  twice  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons. He  raised  the  •  greater  part  of  the  estate  the  family  now 
possess.  By  Catherine,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  Bassingbome, 
of  Woodhall,  in  Hertfordshire,  Esq.,  he  left  issue  four  sons,  who 
all  died  without  issue  male,  and  the  principal  part  of  his  estate 
devolved  upon  Sir  Ralph  Hare,  grandson  of  his  brother  John.  Sir 
Nicholas  died  in  1557,  seized  of  this  Abbey. 

Anne,  his  daughter,  married  Thomas  Rous,  Esq.,  of  Henhani 
Hall,  ancestor  of  the  present  noble  proprietor,  who  probably  inhe- 
rits tliis  estate  in  right  of  that  marriage. 

The  Rev.  Matthew  Scrivener,  formerly  of  Catherine  Hall,  Cam- 
bridge; made  an  augmentation  of  £'6  13s.  4d.  to  this  curacy,  and 
laid  it  as  a  rent  charge  upon  an  estate  in  this  parish,  to  be  paid 


174  HUNDRED   OF  PLOMESGATE.. 

annually  to  the  curate,  for  ever.     Mr.  Scrivener  was  minister  of 
Haslingfield,  about  five  miles  south  of  Cambridge. 


BUXLEY. — BUTTELEE,  BUTELAI,  Or  BUTHELE. 

This  parish  is  situate  in  two  hundreds,  the  church  being  in  that 
of  Loes,  but  the  abbey  in  this :  concerning  which  we  collect  the 
following  particulars : — 

The  priory  and  church  were  both  dedicated  to  the  blessed  Virgin 
Mary ;  here  were  also  the  chapels  of  St.  Anne,  St.  Peter,  and  St. 
Paul,  All  Saints,  and  St.  Sigismund.  It  was  of  the  order  of  St. 
Augustine,  or  Black  Canons ;  and  founded  in  the  reign  of  King- 
Henry  II.,  in  1171,  by  Ranulph  (or  Randal)  de  Glanville,  Lord 
Chief  Justice  of  England,  and  founder  of  Leiston  Abbey,  in  this 
county. 

By  Bertha  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  Theobald  de  Valoins,  Lord 
of  Parham,  he  held  the  lands  called  Brockhouse,  on  which  the 
Priory  was  afterwards  built,  in  frank  marriage.  On  his  removal 
from  office,  he  joined  the  Crusades,  and  was  with  King  Richard  I. 
at  the  siege  of  Acre,  having  previously  divided  all  his  lands  between 
his  tliree  daughters. 

The  following  table  shows  the  descendants  of  the  founder,  who 
were  benefactors  and  patrons  of  this  Priory : — 

Ranulph  de  Glanville=Bertha,  d.  of  Theob.  de  Valoi0s. 

I—  —I—  —I 

Matilda=Wm.  de  Auberville.  Amabilla=Ralph  de  Ardern.  Helwisa=R.  FitzRobert 

I—   — T—       —I  L—  —I  L— I —   —I 

Hugh.  William.  Johanna=NicholasKyriel,Knt.    Thos.de Ardern.    Ralph.  Robert. 


Nicholas  Kyriel=Margaret,  dau.  of  Galfridus  Peche. 

In  the  20th  of  King  Henry  III.,  William  de  ^Auberville,  who 
married  Matilda,  eldest  daughter  and  co -heiress  of  the  founder, 
gave  the  advowsons  of  the  following  churches  in  this  county,  to 
Adam,  Prior  here: — namely,  Aspal,  Wattisden,  Capel,  Benhall, 
Baudsey,  and  Finborough ;  with  the  moiety  of  the  church  of  Little 
Glemham,  with  lands  in  Butley  and  Stratford,  by  fine. 

The  church  of  West  Somerton,  in  Norfolk,  was  appropriated  to 


HUNDRED   OF  PLOMESGATE.  175 

this  Priory,  by  John,  of  Oxford,  Bishop  of  Oxford,  and  confirmed 
by  the  said  William  de  Auberville,  who  gave  the  advowson  to  it : 
and  in  the  50th  of  the  same  reign,  the  lady  Cassandra  Baynard 
granted,  by  fine,  to  Walter,  Prior  here,  a  messuage  with  twelve 
acres  of  land,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  Chatgrave,  in 
Norfolk. 

It  was  also  enriched  by  the  contributions  of  various  noble  and 
pious  persons ;  besides  great  possessions  in  this  county  and  Norfolk, 
it  had  interest  in,  or  the  patronage  of,  eleven  churches  in  the  latter 
county,  twenty-three  or  more  churches  and  chapels  appropriated  in 
Suffolk,  one  in  Lincolnshire,  two  in  Essex,  and  one  in  London ; 
fourteen  or  more  manors,  two  rabbit  warrens,  and  a  mill  at  Cliil- 
lesford. 

According  to  the  foundation  deed,  the  appropriated  rectory  of 
West  Somerton,  in  Norfolk,  was  charged  with  the  annual  sum  of 
£10,  to  pay  and  to  find  food  for  two  canons,  in  this  monastery,  who 
should  celebrate  divine  worship  for  the  souls  of  the  founder,  and 
his  father  and  mother,  and  also  of  all  the  faithful  deceased. 

There  was  also  a  distribution  of  alms  at  this  monastery,  to  a 
certain  class  of  poor  people,  to  the  annual  amount  of  £7  12s.  Id. 

Valuations. — Tax  Eccles.,  1291 : — Suffolk,  in  sixty-one  parishes, 
,£89  5s.  l^d. ;  Norfolk,  in  six  parishes,  £4  19s.  lO^d.;  diocese  of 
Lincoln,  £5  12s.  Od.:— £99  17s.  Od.  Valor  Ecclesiasticus,  1534: 
—Clear  value,  £318  17s.  2^-d. 

ARMS  the  same  as  Glanville,  the  founder :  or  ;  a  chief  indented, 
azure  ;  over  all,  in  bend,  a  crosier ;  the  staff,  gules ;  the  crook,  of 
the  first. 

In  1540,  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  had  the  grant  of  this  Priory, 
and  in  1544,  William  Forthe,  of  Hadleigh,  Esq.,  purchased  the 
same :  it  continued  HI  his  descendants,  until  the  decease  of  William 
Forthe,  Esq.,  in  or  about  1643,  when  Anne,  his  only  daughter  and 
heir,  inherited  it.  She  married  to  Walter  Devereux,  Esq.,  the  third 
son  of  Sir  Walter  Devereux,  of  Marlesford,  Bart,,  afterwards  Vis- 
count Hereford. 

In  1660,  he  was  a  Burgess  in  Parliament  for  Orford,  in  this 
hundred:  he  died  in  1683,  and  Elizabeth,  their  eldest  daughter 
and  co-heiress,  inherited  Butley  Priory  for  her  portion.  She  mar- 
ried John  Clyatt,  Gent.,  in  1684,  and  settled  this  estate  upon  him 
and  his  heirs  :  she  died  without  issue.  The  said  John  Clyatt 
survived  until  1691,  and  devised  this  estate  to  Samuel  Clvatt  and 


176  HUNDRED   OF   PLOMESGATE. 

liis  heirs,  who  deceased  in  1693,  and  Frances  Clyatt  his  widow, 
held  a  life  interest  in  the  same. 

In  1737,  George  Wright,  Esq.,  who  married  the  heiress  of  Clyatt, 
inherited  this  estate  ;  the  gate-house  of  which  monastery  he  fitted 
up,  and  converted  into  a  handsome  mansion,  much  of  which  was 
preserved  nearly  entire,  and  of  which  there  are  several  illustrative 
views  extant.  The  trustees  of  Lord  Rendlesham  are  the  present 
possessors,  hy  purchase  from  Lord  Archibald  Hamilton. 

The  manor  of  Tangham,  in  Butley,  was  part  of  the  possessions 
of  Anne  of  Cleves,  wife  to  King  Henry  VIII. 


CHILLESFORD. — CESEFORTA,  or  CHESILFORD. 

In  the  5th  of  King  Richard  II.,  William  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suf- 
folk, died  seized  of  a  lordship  in  this  parish.  John  Staverton  gave 
to  the  Priory  and  Convent  of  Butley,  a  manor  here ;  which  at  the 
dissolution  was  granted  to  John,  Earl  of  Warwick. — The  Marquess 
of  Hertford  is  now  lord  of  this  manor. 

By  virtue  of  the  foundation  deed  of  Ralph  de  Glanville,  the 
founder  of  Butley  Priory,  certain  alms  were  distributed  to  poor 
persons  on  seven  festivals  in  the  year,  amounting  to  £8  16s.  8d. 
per  annum,  chargeable  on  some  lands  in  this  parish.  A  mill  in 
this  parish  also  belonged  to  the  same  Monastery. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £5  a  year,  appropriated  to  the  poor  of 
this  parish,  is  paid,  after  a  deduction  of  land  tax,  from  Sir  Michael 
Stanhope's  charity  (see  Button),  and  distributed  among  poor 
persons. 


CRANSFORD,  or  CRANESFORDA. 

The  lordship  of  Visdelieu,  in  this  parish,  was  anciently  held  by 
Thomas  Visdelieu ;  and  in  the  time  of  King  Richard  II.,  Robert 
de  Rendlesham  paid  Castle-guard-rent  to  Framlingham  Castle,  for 
the  said  manor.  In  the  llth  of  King  Henry  VI.,  Theophilus 
Shardclow  did  the  same  ;  and  in  the  28th  of  King  Henry  VIII., 
Thomas  Rons;  in  1588,  the  30th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Thomas 


HUNDRED    OF   1'LOMESGATE.  177 

Riekthorn ;    and  Francis  Warner,  Gent.,  in  the  Oth  of  Charles  I., 
1081.     It  was  reckoned  at  half  a  Knight's  fee. 

The  above  Thomas  Kous  appears  to  have  resided  in  this  place, 
and  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Robert  Kemp,  of  Gissing,  in 
Norfolk,  Esq.,  by  Eli/abeth  his  first  wife. 

The  manor  lately  belonged  to  —  —  Moore,  Esq.  The  church 
was  appropriated  to  Sibton  Abbey  ;  and  at  the  dissolution  of  Mo- 
nasteries, was  granted  to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk.  Visdelieu 
Hall  was  vested  in  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kilderbee. 

Anne,  daughter  of  Richard  Gardiner,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  married 
Roger  Castell,  jun.  She  died  in  1697,  aged  21  years,  and  was 
buried  at  Raveningham,  in  Norfolk. 

"  In  this  parish,  about  a  mile  and  an  half  up  the  Saxmundhani 
road,  is  a  spot  which  has  always  been  called  '  bloody  Queen  Mary's 
lane,'  at  the  entrance  to  which  there  is  a  pack-gate  still  kept  up, 
though  not  used,  to  denote  the  spot.  The  tradition  is,  that  she 
used  to  walk  there  ;  but  -for  the  few  days  she  remained  in  Fram- 
lingham  this  is  not  to  be  credited  ;  the  greater  probability  is,  that 
on  leaving  the  castle,  she  proceeded  in  this  direction,  with  her  train 
of  adherents,  and  men  at  arms,  for  the  Metropolis.  Another  opinion 
has  been  advanced,  that  it  was  a  road  expressly  formed  to  facilitate 
her  escape  eastward,  towards  the  sea,  in  the  event  of  her  flight  from 
the  castle  becoming  necessary:  this  might  not  be  improbable. "- 
Greens  Framlint/ham,  p.  80. 


DUNNING  WORTH,  or  DUNIWORDA. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states,  that  this  was  the  lord- 
ship and  estate  of  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and  that 
he  died  seized  thereof  in  the  12th  of  King  Edward  III.,  leaving 
Mary,  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  William,  Lord  Roos,  surviving ; 
and  that  the  same  was  assigned  as  part  of  her  dowry  :  after  whose 
decease  it  passed  to  his  daughter  Alice,  who  married  to  Edward 
Montacute ;  by  whose  daughter  and  heir  Joan,  it  came  by  marriage 
to  William  de  UfFord,  Earl  of  Suffolk.  The  manor  is  now  vested 
in  Mrs.  GifTord,  of  Dinton,  near  Aylesbury. 

The  advowson  appears  to  have  been  attached  to  the  manor;  the 


178  HUNDRED  OF  PLOMESGATE. 

church  has  heen  long  in  ruins,  and  the  parish  reckoned  a  hamlet 
of  Tunstall.  The  estate  was  latterly  vested  in  the  Woods,  of  Loud- 
ham  ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Chapman  family ;  and  now  be- 
longs to  the  Sheppards,  of  Campsey-Ash. 

In  1509,  Thomas  Seman,  B.D.,  rector  of  this  parish,  was  Com- 
missary of  Suffolk  Archdeaconry. 


FARNHAM. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  I.,  Sir  Robert  de  Saukville  (or 
Sackville),  ancestor  of  the  Earls  of  Dorset  and  Middlesex,  held 
this  lordship  of  the  honour  of  Eye;  but  in  the  9th  of  King  Edw.  I., 
William  de  Claydon  held  the  same. 

It  was  purchased,  with  the  Glemham  estate,  by  Dudley  North, 
Esq.;  and  in  1764,  it  belonged  to  his  son,  Dudley  North,  Esq., 
and  has  since  passed  with  the  Little  Glemham  property. 

The  advowson  was  in  Butley  Priory,  by  the  gift  of  Ralph  Glan- 
ville,  the  founder.  The  impropriation  was  granted,  in  the  19th  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  to  Edward  Grimston,  and  has  since  belonged  to 
the  North  and  Long  families. 


FRISTON. 

The  lordship  and  advowson  of  this  parish  were  vested  in  the 
Prior  and  Convent  of  Snape ;  and  since  purchased  by  Sir  Henry 
Johnson,  Knt.,  who  built  Friston  Hall,  and  resided  there.  It  af- 
terwards passed  to  Thomas  Wentworth,  Earl  of  Stratford,  who 
married  Anne,  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  said  Sir  H.  Johnson ; 
and  continued  in  that  house  until  the  death  of  Frederick  Thomas 
Wentworth,  3rd  Earl  of  Strafford,  in  1799,  when  the  Earldom 
became  extinct.  It  has  since  been  vested  in  the  house  of  Howard, 
of  Stoke  Poges,  in  Buckinghamshire. 

The  Bacons,  of  this  parish,  were  a  distinguished  branch  of  the 
great  house  of  Bacon,  and  derived  in  lineal  descent,  from  James 
Bacon,  Alderman  and  Sheriff  of  London;  third  son  of  RobertBacon, 
of  Drinkstone,  in  this  county,  and  Isabel  his  wife,  daughter  of  John 


HUNDRED   OF   PLOMESGATE.  170 

Cage,  of  Pakonhoin,  in  the  some  county;  and  younger  brother  of 
Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  the  Lord  Keeper.  He  deceased  in  1573. 

Sir  James  Bacon,  Knt.,  of  Friston,  was  eldest  son  of  the  above 
James  Bacon,  Esq.  Ho  married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Francis  Bacon,  Esq.  (a  younger  son  of  Bacon,  of  Hessctt) ;  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Nathaniel  Bacon,  Esq.,  of  this  parish ; 
who  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  le  Gross,  Knt.,  of 
Sloley,  in  Norfolk,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Charles 
Cornwallis,  of  Broomo,  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Bacon  left  issue  two  daughters,  namely,  Elizabeth,  married 
to  Nathaniel,  second  son  of  Sir  Nathaniel  Bamardiston,  Knt.,  and 
Anne,  who  died  unmarried;  also  a  son  and  successor,  Thomas 
Bacon,  Esq.,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Kobert  Brook, 
of  Yoxford,  in  this  county. 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Nathaniel  Bacon,  Esq.,  of  Friston; 
who  left  at  his  decease,  an  only  daughter  and  heiress,  Mary  Bacon, 
who  married  Hugh  Chamberlen,*  Esq.,  M.D.,  of  Alderton,  and 
Hinton  Hall,  in  Suffolk ;  and  left  three  daughters  and  co-heirs. 

CHARITIES. — In  1802,  the  Kev.  John  Lambert  bequeathed  to  this 
parish  £200 ;  the  interest  thereof  to  be  distributed,  at  Christmas,  to 
poor  housekeepers,  that  do  not  receive  pay  of  the  parish.  This  is 
invested  in  stock,  3  per  cent,  consols;  and  the  dividends  distributed 
in  equal  sums,  as  directed. 


GEDGRAVE. 

According  to  the  foundation  deed  of  Ealpli  de  Glanville,  the 
founder  of  Butley  Priory,  twenty  shillings  each  per  annum,  were 
assigned  to  two  persons  serving  God  in  the  appropriated  church  of 
Gedgravc,  in  this  county. 

By  this  it  appears  the  same  was  granted  by  the  said  Ralph  to  his 
Priory  at  Butley,  with  the  lordship  of  this  parish;  which  were 
granted  and  passed  as  that  Monastery,  through  the  Forthe,  Clyatt, 
and  Wright  families ;  and  at  length  became,  by  purchase,  the  property 
of  the  Marquess  of  Hertford :  it  still  remains  in  that  noble  house. 


'  Dr.  Charaberlea  was  a  physician  of   London,   of    great  eminence   about   the 
Court,  as  Physician  to  Queen  Anue. 


180  HUNDRED  OF   PLOMESGATE. 

GLEMHAM  MAGNA. — GLIEMHAM,  or  NORTH  GLEMHAM. 

The  tithes  of  this  parish,  and  Stratford,  were  granted  by  Ralph 
Fitz  Walter,  and  Maud  his  wife,  to  Thetford  Abbey,  in  the  time  of 
King  Henry  I.;  and  in  1324,  the  priors  and  convents,  manors, 
and  churches,  of  North  Glemham,  Dersham,  and  Jokesford  (or 
Yoxford),  were  seized  upon  by  the  King,  as  belonging  to  an  alien 
Monastery. 

The  ancient  family  of  Edgar  resided  in  this  parish  for  some  cen- 
turies, according  to  an  ancient  pedigree  in  the  possession  of  the 
Kev.  Mileson  Gery  Edgar,  of  the  Eed  House,  Ipswich.  The  first 
mentioned  is  John,  the  son  of  John  Edgar,  of  Dunwich,  Esq.,  who 
lived  at  North  Glemham  Hall,  in  1273;  from  whom  sprang  the 
different  branches  residing  at  Brantham,  Combes,  and  Eye. 

In  the  parish  register  their  names  occur  among  the  births,  mar- 
riages, and  deaths,  from  1559  to  1699;  the  first  was  William  Edgar, 
Esq.,  who  was  buried  in  the  church,  Sept.  3,  1559;  and  the  last  is 
of  Elizabeth,  relict  of  Sir  Lionel  Playters,  Bart.,  who  was  mother  of 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Edgar,  Esq. ;  she  was  buried  in  the 
family  vault,  July  24,  1099. 

In  1621,  Robert  Buxton,  of  Tibenham,  in  Norfolk,  Gent.,  died 
seized  of  a  lordship  in  this  parish,  leaving  Robert,  his  son  and  heir, 
nineteen  years  of  age.  The  Hon.  Nicholas  Herbert,  youngest  son 
of  Thomas,  the  8th  Earl  of  Pembroke,  who  married  Anne,  eldest 
sister  and  co-heiress  of  Dudley  North,  of  Little  Glemham,  Esq., 
possessed  the  estates  late  the  inheritance  of  the  Edgar  family,  in 
this  parish.  He  died  in  1775. 

In  1237,  Ralph  de  Blumville,  Archdeacon  of  Norfolk,  and  rector 
of  Thomham,  in  that  county,  a  near  relation,  if  not  brother,  to  the 
Bishop  of  that  name,  had  two  carucates  of  land  in  Glemham,  set- 
tled on  him  for  life,  by  Stephen,  Prior  of  Thetford  ;  and  the  year 
before,  on  a  suit  brought  against  him  for  Thornham  church,  he 
pleaded  that  he  held  it  of  the  gift  of  Thomas  de  Blumville,  Bishop 
of  Norwich. 

The  manor  passed  from  the  North  family  to  that  of  Long,  of 
Hurt's  Hall,  in  Saxmundham ;    but  Glemham  House  is  now  the 
property  of  John  Moseley,  Esq.,  who  resides  there;    and  whose  fa- 
mily will  be  noticed  in  the  parish  of  Ousden,  in  Risbridge  hundred. 
CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  here  consists  of  about  22  acres  of 


HUNDRED  OF   PLOMESGATE.  181 

land ;  let  for  .£25  a  year.  The  rents  are  applied,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, to  the  repairs  of  the  church  :  the  surplus,  not  so  required, 
used  to  be  distributed  among  the  poor,  but  of  late  years  it  has  been 
appropriated  to  the  discharge  of  a  debt,  incurred  in  the  erection  of 
a  workhouse. 


GLEMHAM  PARVA. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  and  inheri- 
tance of  Sir  William  de  Kerdeston ;  and  subsequently  the  estate  of 
Bartholomew,  Lord  Bergherst,  who,  in  the  23rd  of  King  Edw.  III., 
obtained  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  the  same,  to  himself,  and  Cecily 
his  wife. 

This  parish  gave  name  to  a  family  that  were  seated  here,  and  so 
continued  till  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century;  when  two 
members  of  the  same  raised  themselves  to  great  eminence  in  their 
respective  professions,  as  mentioned  byKirby;  namely.,  Sir  Thomas 
Glemham,  who  defended  Carlisle  for  King  Charles  I.,  and  his  bro- 
ther, Henry  Glemham,  D.D.,  afterwards  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph;  both 
great  sufferers  in  the  Royal  cause.  Sir  Thomas  died  in  Holland,  in 
1649;  Dr.  Henry,  in  1069.  Both  were  interred  in  this  parish 
church. 

The  earliest  member  of  this  family  noticed  is  Sir  John  Glemham, 
of  this  parish,  Knt.,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  co-heiress 
of  John  Bacon,  of  Baconsthorp,  in  Norfolk,  Esq.  He  died  in  the 
29th  of  King  Henry  VIII.  Christopher,  their  son  and  heir,  suc- 
ceeded, and  married  Margery,  daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Wentworth, 
of  Nettlestead,  in  this  county.  He  died  the  4th  of  King  Edw.  VI., 
leaving  Thomas,  his  son  and  heir,  a  minor,  aged  16  years.  This 
Thomas  married  Amy,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Parker. 

Sir  Henry  Glemham  appears  to  have  succeeded,  and  was  probably 
son  of  the  above  Thomas  Glemham,  and  Amy  his  wife.  He  married 
Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  Sackville,  Earl  of  Dorset,  by  whom  he 
had  Sir  Thomas,  and  Dr.  Henry  Glemham,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph, 
above-named. 

Sir  Thomas  left  a  son  Thomas,  who  married  Elizabeth,  eldest 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Knevet,  of  Ashwell-Thorp,  in  Norfolk,  K.B., 
by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Bedingfield,  of  Darsham, 


182  HUNDRED   OF  TLOMESGATE. 

in  'this  county,  Knt.,  who  (Mr.  Kirhy  says)  died  seized  of  this  estate. 
They  had  an  only  child,  Thomas,  who  survived  his  parents,  and  was 
Captain  of  a  company  of  Dragoons,  under  Brigadier  Pepper,  in 
Spain,  in  the  service  of  Queen  Anne.  He  died,  unmarried,  about 
1711,  at  Valladolid;  where  he  was  huried. 

In  him  the  family  failed  of  male  issue  ;  this  estate  had,  however, 
some  years  previous  to  his  decease,  passed  to  the  North  family,  by 
purchase.  The  first  possessor  of  this  lordship  being  Sir  Dudley 
North,  Knt.,  third  son  of  Dudley,  the  fourth  Lord  North,  of  Kirt- 
ling,  in  Cambridgeshire,  by  Anne,  the  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir 
Charles  Montague,  Knt. 

He  was  born  in  London,  in  1641,  and  pursued  for  many  years 
the  highly  honourable  occupation  of  an  English  merchant.  He 
resided  for  a  long  time  in  Turkey,  where  he  realised  a  considerable 
fortune,  and  was  treasurer  to  the  Levant  Company  there.  On  his 
return  to  his  native  country,  he  became  memorable  for  his  city 
contests,  and  in  1682,  was  elected  one  of  the  Sheriffs  of  London; 
and  was  afterwards  appointed  a  Commissioner  of  the  Customs,  and 
subsequently,  a  Commissioner  of  the  Treasury. 

Sir  Dudley  deceased  in  1691.  By  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of 
Sir  Eobert  Cann,  of  the  city  of  Bristol,  Bart.,  and  the  relict  of  Sir 
Eobert  Gunning,  of  Cold  Ashton,  near  that  city,  he  had  issue  two 
sons,  namely,  Dudley  and  Eoger. 

Dudley  North,  Esq.,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  in  1684,  and  re- 
presented the  borough  of  Orford  in  1722.  Pie  married  Catherine, 
the  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Elilm  Yale,  Esq.,  a  native  American, 
who  went  out  as  an  adventurer  to  the  East  Indies,  and  obtained  the 
Presidency  of  Madras.  By  this  lady  he  had  several  children,  who 
died  in  their  infancy ;  and  one  son,  Dudley,  and  two  daughters, 
Anne  and  Mary,  who  survived  him.  He  died  in  1729. 

Dudley  North,  Esq.,  was  bom  in  1706  ;  and  in  1730,  married 
Lady  Barbara,  the  only  daughter  of  Thomas  Herbert,  Earl  of  Pem- 
broke, by  his  second  wife.  She  died,  without  issue,  in  1755  ;  her 
husband,  in  1 764 ;  and  bequeathed,  by  his  last  will,  after  his  legacies 
and  donations  to  charitable  uses,  which  were  very  considerable,  were 
discharged,  the  remainder  of  his  fortune,  real  and  personal,  to  his 
two  sisters,  Anne  and  Mary.  The  former  married  to  the  Hon. 
Nicholas  Herbert,  youngest  son  of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Pembroke;  the 
latter  to  Charles  Long,  of  Saxmundham,  in  this  county,  Esq. 

Mr.  Herbert  inherited  this  estate.     He  represented  Newport  and 


HUNDRED   OF  1'LOMESGATE.  183 

Wilton  in  many  Parliaments,  and  was  a  member  for  the  latter  place 
ut  the  time  of  his  death,  \vhich  took  place  in  1775.  He  was  also 
Secretary  of  the  Island  of  Jamaica.  He  had  issue  one  son,  Elihu, 
who  died  in  his  infancy;  and  two  daughters,  namely,  Ann,  who 
died  unmarried,  in  1751,  and  Barbara,  who  married  Edward 
Stratford,  the  second  Earl  of  Aldborough,  by  whom  she  had  no 
issue. 

The  Countess  deceased  in  1785:  her  mother  survived  till  1789, 
and  bequeathed  this  estate  to  her  nephew,  Dudley  Long,  requesting 
him  to  take  and  use  the  surname  and  arms  of  North.* 

All  the  foregoing  members  of  the  house  of  North  are  interred  in 
the  family  vault  of  this  parish  church,  in  the  chancel  of  which  re- 
mains inscriptions  to  their  memory. 


HASLEWOOD. 

The  demesne  of  this  place  was  anciently  in  Clemence  Titlershall, 
according  to  "  Magna  Britannia:"  it  is  now  considered  a  hamlet  of 
Aldborough,  as  the  church  has  been  long  in  ruins. 


IKEN. 

In  the  38th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield  held  tin's 
lordship  at  one  Knight's  fee  ;  and  in  the  15th  of  Bang  Charles  I., 
1G39,  Sir  Richard  Wingfield,  Bait.,  held  the  same.  It  is  now  vested 
in  the  Marquess  of  Hertford. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consisted  of  a  building  used  as  a 
parish  workhouse,  and  sundry  parcels  of  copyhold  land,  dispersed  in 
different  parts  of  the  parish,  containing  about  29  acres  in  the  whole; 
but  in  1814,  an  agreement  was  entered  into  by  the  then  rector, 
parish  officers,  and  principal  inhabitants,  with  the  Marquess  of 
Hertford,  that  the  premises  should  be  surrendered  to  the  use  of  the 
Marquess,  and  that  he  should  grant  a  lease  of  the  workhouse  to  the 
overseers  of  the  poor,  for  10,000  years,  at  a  peppercorn  rent;  and 
grant  a  rent- charge  of  £36  a  year  to  the  overseers,  out  of  certain 

*  See  Saxmundham. 


184  HUNDRED  OF  PLOMESGATE. 

lands  of  the  Marquesses,  in  this  parish.     The  annuity  of  £36,  is 
paid  to  the  overseers,  and  applied  with  the  poor's  rates. 


ORFORD. 

This  town  and  castle  still  continues  the  estate  of  the  Marquess  of 
Hertford,  hut  has  ceased  to  send  representatives  to  Parliament  since 
1832;  by  an  act  to  amend  the  representation  of  the  people  in  Eng- 
land and  Wales,  passed  in  that  year,  whereby  this  borough  became 
disfranchised. 

The  Austin  friars  appear  to  have  settled  here  about  1294,  for  in 
that  year,  Robert  de  Hewell  gave  them  the  ground  whereupon  to 
erect  their  convent ;  and  Mr.  Taylor  names  the.  following  bene- 
factors: — in  1313,  John  de  Engayne;  Walter  de  Hewell,  in  1336; 
Richard  Valence,  and  others,  in  1350.  Robert  Lord  was  the 
grantee,  in  1544. 

All  that  is  known  of  St.  Leonard's  Hospital  is,  that  in  the  time 
of  King  Edward  II.,  A.D.  1320,  such  an  institution  existed  here  as 
an  hospital  and  chapel  for  a  master  and  brethren,  and  that  it  con- 
tinued till  after  the  year  1586. 

It  is  said  to  have  stood  near  the  park,  and  the  lands  belonging  to 
it  are  thought  to  be  enclosed  within  the  park,  now  the  property  of 
the  Marquess  of  Hertford,  from  whence  a  yearly  payment  of  £30, 
as  a  rent  charge,  is  made  to  this  town.  (See  charities.) 

Orford  Castle  stands  a  small  distance  west  of  the  town.  Neither 
the  builder,  nor  the  time  of  its  construction,  are  positively  ascer- 
tained ;  but  that  it  is  of  Norman  origin  seems  evident,  from  its 
being  coined,  and  in  some  places  cased,  with  Caen  stone. 

The  spot  whereon  the  castle  stands  was,  it  is  said,  formerly  the 
centre  of  the  town.  This  tradition  has  the  appearance  of  being 
founded  on  truth,  from  the  great  quantity  of  old  bricks,  stones,  and 
other  remains  of  buildings,  constantly  turned  up  by  the  plough  in 
the  fields,  west  and  south  of  that  edifice  :  besides  several  of  them 
retain  the  name  of  street,  annexed  to  their  denomination  of  field, 
such  as  West- street-field,  and  the  like,  all  alluding  to  streets  for- 
merly there  situated ;  and  it  is  further  confirmed  by  the  charter  of 
the  corporation,  and  other  authentic  records.  Certainly  Orford  was 
once  a  large  and  considerable  trading  town,  till  the  sea,  throwing 


HUNDRED   OF   PLOMESGATE.  5 

up  a  dangerous  bar  at  the  harbour's  mouth,  it  fell  to  decay.  It  is 
a -corporation  and  manor,  although  no  parish,  its  church  being  only 
a  chapel  of  ease  to  Sudborne.  The  style  of  the  manor  court  is, 
"  Sudborne  cum  capella  de  Or  ford" 

•Of  the  castle  there  remains  at  present  only  the  keep  ;  its  shape, 
a  polygon  of  eighteen  sides,  described  within  a  circle,  whose  radius 
is  twenty-seven  feet.  This  polygon  is  flanked  by  three  square  towers, 
placed  at  equal  distances  on  the  west,  north-east,  and  south-east 
sides ;  each  tower  measuring  in  front  nearly  twenty-two,  and  pro- 
jecting from  the  main  building,  twelve  feet.  They  are  embattled, 
and  overlook  the  polygon,  whose  height  is  ninety  feet,  and  the 
thickness  of  the  walls,  at  bottom,  twenty :  at  the  lower  part  they 
are  solid,  but  above  are  interspersed  with  galleries  and  small 
apartments.* 

In  the  year  1204,  Hugh  Bigod  and  John  Fitz  Robert  were  ap- 
pointed joint  governors  of  this  and  Norwich  Castle;  and,  upon 
•their  removal,  in  1215,  the  command  of  both  were  given  to  Hubert 
de  Burgh.  In  the  45th  of  King  Henry  III.,  the  office  of  Governor 
of  this  Castle  was  conferred  on  Philip  Marmion ;  and  three  years 
afterwards,  when  the  Barons  had  taken  that  King  prisoner,  at  the 
battle  of  Lewes,  they  intrusted  it  to  Hugh  le  Despencer. 

Sir  William  Dugdale  says,  that  the  descendants  of  Peter  de  Va- 
loins,  who  came  over  with  the  Conqueror,  made  the  Castle  of  Orford 
the  capital  seat  of  their  Barony ;  which  probably  must  have  been 
in  the  time  of  Edward  II. ;  for  the  4th  of  Edward  III.,  Robert  de 
Ufford,  who  married  Cecilia,  the  daughter  aud  co-heir  of  Robert  de 
Voloins,  had  a  grant  for  life,  of  this  town  and  castle.  William  de 
Ufford  died  seized  of  it,  the  5th  of  Richard  II.,  and  it  was  port  of 
the  dowry  of  Isabel  his  wife.  Upon  her  death,  the  4th  of  Henry  V., 
Robert,  Lord  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  whose  ancestor  married  Ceci- 
lia, daughter  of  Robert  de  Ufford,  had  livery  of  the  town  and  castle. 
William,  Lord  Willoughby,  died  seized  of  the  lordship  of  Orford, 
the  18th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  and  assigned  it  to  his  wife  for  life. 
It  probably  came  afterwards,  with  the  estate  at  Sudbourne,  to  Sir 
Michael  Stanhope ;  and  descended,  as  that  did,  to  the  Right  Hon. 
Pryce  Devereux,  Lord  Viscount  Hereford,  of  whose  executors  it 
was  purchased,  in  1754,  by  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Hereford. 

*  A  south  view  of  the  ruins  of  the  chancel  of  Orford  church,  i»  given  in  the 
"  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1788,  p.  G6'7;  and  of  the  castle,  in  Mr.  H.  Davy's 
41  Architectural  Antiquities  of  Suffolk,"  in  two  views. 


180  HUNDRED  OF  PLOMESGATE, 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  workhouse,  with  a 
small  garden,  used  for  the  reception  and  habitation  of  paupers,  with 
a  piece  of  ground  near  the  same,  let  at  £3  a  year ;  also  another 
piece  of  ground,  near  the  assembly  room,  let  on  a  building  lease, 
at  the  yearly  rent  of  40s. — A  piece,  of  marsh  land,  containing 
GA.  IR.  20i>.,  adjoining  Orford  Quay,  let  at  a  yearly  rent  of  £21  10s. ; 
also  a  rent  charge,  of  the  yearly  sum  of  <£30,  paid  by  the  Marquess 
of  Hertford,  in  respect  (as  supposed)  of  land  in  his  possession. — 
The  income  derived  from  these  sources  is  received  by  the  overseers 
of  the  poor,  and  applied  by  them,  with  the  funds  raised  by  rate,  for 
the  general  relief  of  the  poor  of  the  parish. — There  is  also  a  pay- 
ment for  poor  persons  of  Orford,  under  Sir  Michael  Stanhope's 
charity,  of  £10  a  year,  which,  subject  to  a  deduction  for  land-tax,  is 
distributed  amontf  them. 


A  list  of  those  burgesses  who  represented  Orford  in  Parliament, 
from  1768  to  1832,  is  annexed: — 
King  s Reign.  A. D.  Members  for  Orford. 

George  III.     1768  Francis  Viscount  Beauchamp. — Edw.  Coleman. 
Vise.  Beauchamp. — Hon.  R.  Seymour  Conway. 
1774  The  same. 
1780  The  same. 

1 784  Viscount  Beauchamp. — Hon.  Geo.  Sey. Conway. 
1790  The  same. — Hon.  Wm.  Seymour  Conway. 

Lord  Robert  Seymour. — Hon.  Robt.  Stewart. 
1796  Lord  H.  Seymour. — Francis,  Earl  of  Yarmouth 

1801  Imperial  Parliament.     The  same. 

1802  Lord  Robert  Seymour. — James  Trail. 

1806  Lord  Robert  Seymour. — Lord  Henry  Moore. 

1807  The  same. 

.1812  Right  Hon.  C.  Arbuthnot. — E.  A.  Macnaghtcn. 

1818  John  Douglas. — Edm.  Alex.  Macnaghten. 
George  IV.     1820  Edm.  Alex.  Macnaghten. — Charles  Ross. 

1826  Sir  Henry  Fred.  Cooke. — Quintin  Dick. 
William  IV.    1830  The  same. — Spencer  Horsey  Kilderbee. 

1831  The  same. 


ARMS. — Town  of  Orford:    a  castle  in  an  hulk,  supported  by 
two  lions.     Another  coat  is  :   a  tower  enclosed  in  a  triple  trench. 


HUNDRED   OF    PLOMESGATE.  187 

PARHAM. 

Theobald,  son  of  Robert  Lord  Valoins,  founder  of  HickLing 
Priory,  in  Norfolk,  in  1185,.  endowed  it  with  the  churches  of  Par- 
ham  and  Hasketon,  in  this  county.  He  was  owner  of  the  lordship 
of  this  parish,  and  a  descendant  of  Peter  de  Valoins,  a  Baron, in  the 
Conqueror's  time. 

Cecily,  the  daughter  of  Robert  de  Valoins  (a  Baron  in  the  reign 
of  King  Edward  L,  the  chief  seat  of  whose  Barony  was  Orford 
Castle,  in  this  county),  and  one  of  his  co-heirs,  married  Sir  Robert 
de  Ufford,  Steward  of  the  Household  to  King  Edward  II.,  and  in- 
herited this  estate  in  right  of  such  marriage. 

It  continued  in  the  house  of  Ufford  until  the  decease  of  Wm. 
de  Uflbrd,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  in  the  5th  of  King  Richard  II.,  when  it 
descended  to  the  issue  of  Cicely,  his  eldest  sister,  who  married  John, 
3rd  Lord  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  and  Robert  their  son,  4th  Baron, 
succeeded  to  this  estate,  as  nephew  and  co-heir  of  the  said  William 
de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk.  Tlu's  Earl  built  Parham  church,  and 
bequeathed  his  body  to  be  buried  at  Carnpsey  Abbey,  under  the 
arch  of  St.  Nicholas  Chapel,  behind  the  tomb  of  his  father  and 
mother. 

Christopher,  8th  Lord  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Jenney,  of  Knottishall,  in  this  county,  Knt., 
and  devised  this  estate  to  his  second  son,  Sir  Christopher  Willoughby, 
Knt.;  who,  by  his  last  will,  dated  1527,  gave  ££  per  annum  to  the 
church  of  Parham ,  in  satisfaction  of  all  tithes  and  offerings  negli- 
gently forgotten.  He  resided  in  this  parish,  and  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Sir  George  Talbois,  Knt. ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  Sir 
William  Willoughby,  Knt.,  his  son  and  successor  ;  who  in  the  1st 
of  King  Edward  VI.,  was  created  Baron  Willoughby,  of  Parham, 
and  in  the  4th  of  that  reign,  was  made  Lieutenant  of  Calais,  and 
the  marches  adjacent. 

He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Thomas 
Heneage,  and  by  her  had  Charles,  Lord  Willoughby,  who  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Edward,  Earl  of  Lincoln.  Their  descendants 
continued  to  enjoy  that  honour  until  the  death  of  Henry,  the  16th 
Baron,  in  1775. 

Parham  House  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Warners  in  the  time 
of  King  James  I.  Edward  Warner,  Esq.,  citizen  and  merchant  of 


188  HUNDRED  OF   PLOMESGATE. 

London,  was  the  second  son  of  Francis  Warner,  of  this  parish,  Esq., 
by  Mary,  his  second  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Edw.  Eous, 
Knt.  He  died  in  1628,  and  made  Francis  Warner,  of  Parham,  Esq., 
his  nephew  and  next  heir,  his  executor,  and  chief  heir  to  his  estate. 
They  are  derived  from  the  ancient  family  of  the  Warners,  who 
inherited  Warner's  Hall,  at  Great  Waltham,  in  Essex,  and  were 
advanced  to  the  dignity  of  Baronets  in  the  reign  of  King  Charles  II., 
July  16,  1660.  Sir  John  Warner,  the  1st  and  only  Baronet  of  his 
house,  married  Trevor,  only  daughter  of  Sir  Thos.  Hanmer,  Bart., 
of  Hanmer,  in  the  county  of  Flint;  and  had  issue  two  daughters, 
who  both  took  the  veil.  At  Sir  John's  decease  the  title  became 
extinct. 

In  1699,  the  estate,  late  Sir  John  Warner's,  Bart.,  was  purchased 
by  John,  son  of  John  Corrance,  Esq.,  of  Eendlesham ;  whose  father 
had  previously  purchased,  between  1680  and  1690,  Parham  Hall,* 
formerly  the  property  and  residence  of  the  Lords  Willoughby. 

Mr.  Corrance  deceased  in  1704,  and  was  buried  at  Parham: 
Clement,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded;  who  represented 
Orford  in  Parliament,  from  1708  to  1714.  He  married,  in  1705, 
Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Eobert  Davers,  Bart.,  of  Kougham,  in 
this  county,  and  made  that  parish  his  future  residence. 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  John  Corrance, 
Esq.,  of  Eougham,  who  died  in  1742;  leaving,  by  a  second  mar- 
riage, an  infant  daughter :  at  whose  decease,  in  1747,  the  estates 
devolved  upon  Elizabeth,  his  sister,  who  married  William  Long, 
Esq.,  of  Dunstan,  near  Norwich. 

Mrs.  Long  deceased  in  1792,  and  devised  her  property  to  her 
cousin  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  Major  John  Corrance,  and  wife  of 
Snowden  White,  M.D.,  of  Nottingham.  This  lady  died  in  1797, 
leaving  an  only  son,  Frederick  White,  Esq.,  of  Loudham  Hall,  in 
this  county,  who  is  the  present  possessor,  and  has  lately  assumed 
the  name  of  Corrance. 

ARMS. —  White:  argent;  on  a  chevron,  between  three  wolves' 
heads  erased,  sable,  a  wolf's  head,  or.  Warner:  or,  a  bend,  en- 
grailed, between  six  roses,  gules. 

John  Tovell,  Gent.,  an  opulent  yeoman,  possessed  of  an  estate  of 
about  £800  per  annum,  a  portion  of  which  he  cultivated  himself, 

*  The  gateway  to  Parham  Hall  remains  tolerably  entire ;  an  etching  of  the  same 
is  given  in  ''  Davy's  Suffolk  Antiquities,"  and  an  engraving,  and  also  a  visw  of  the 
ancient  manor  house,  in  the  "  Excursions  through  Suffolk." 


HUNDRED  OF  PLOMESGATE.  189 

was  formerly  a  resident  in  this  parish  ;  of  whose  dwelling,  domestic 
habits,  pursuits,  and  society,  some  interesting  particulars  are  pre- 
served in  the  "  Life  of  the  Eev.  George  Crabbe,"  the  well-known 
poet.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Elmy,  the  niece  of  Mr.  Tovell,  who 
resided  with  her  uncle  at  Parham,  some  years  previous  to  their 
marriage. 

He  deceased  in  1792,  and  his  only  child  dying  before  him,  he 
bequeathed  the  estate  to  his  two  sisters,  in  equal  shares.  One  died 
unmarried ;  the  other,  Mrs.  Elmy,  of  Beccles,  had  three  daughters, 
who  inherited  the  property  in  three  equal  shares.  Sarah,  the  eldest 
daughter,  married  Mr.  Crabbe. 

At  her  decease,  the  Rev.  George  Crabbe,  the  present  vicar  of 
Bredfield,  and  the  late  Eev.  John  Waldron  Crabbe,  incumbent  of 
Great  and  Little  Glemham,  his  brother,  succeeded  to  their  mother's 
third  share ;  and  the  two  maiden  sisters,  at  their  death,  bequeathed 
their  shares  to  them.  The  property  is  now  vested  in  the  said 
George  Crabbe,  and  the  issue  of  his  late  brother. 

The  old  mansion,  so  pleasingly  described  by  Mr.  Crabbe's  bio- 
grapher, as  the  residence  of  the  late  Mr.  Tovell,  has  since  been 
almost  re-built,  in  the  modern  style ;  and  what  was  formerly  desig- 
nated "  Ducking  Hall,"  is  at  present  known  by  the  name  of  "  Par- 
ham  Lodge." 

Mr.  Joshua  Kirby,  the  talented  author  of  a  splendid  treatise  en- 
titled "  The  Perspective  of  Architecture,"  was  a  native  of  this  parish; 
eldest  son  of  Mr.  John  Kirby,  author  of  the  "  Suffolk  Traveller." 
Emulating  the  example  of  his  father,  he  contributed  to  the  illus- 
tration of  his  native  county,  by  publishing  a  set  of  twelve  prints, 
with  an  historical  account  of  the  same. 

In  the  8th  number  of  the  "  Biographical  Anecdotes  of  Hogarth," 
published  by  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.,  a  genuine  memoir  of  Mr. 
Kirby  is  given,  principally  compiled  by  his  only  daughter,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Trimmer ;  a  lady  so  justly  celebrated  for  her  numerous  pub- 
lications, for  the  religious  instruction  and  education  of  young 
persons. 

By  this  it  appears,  he  was  born  in  1716,  and  settled  in  Ipswich, 
as  a  house  painter,  about  1738.  When  very  young  he  painted  the 
famous  sign  of  the  White  Hart,  at  Scole  Inn,  in  Norfolk ;  from 
which  an  engraving  was  afterwards  published.  Soon  after  the  pub- 
lication of  the  above  print  he  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Gains- 
borough, whose  works  increased  his  taste  for  painting  ;  and  being 


190  HUNDRED  OF  PLOMESGATE.  . 

of  a  very  studious  turn  of  mind,  he  employed  every  leisure  hour  in 
the  acquisition  of  useful  knowledge  ;  hut  the  study  which  led  him 
to  eminence  was  that  of  the  art  of  perspective,  in  his  improvement 
of  which  he  may  almost  be  said  to  have  invented  a  new  art. 

On  heing  admitted  to  the  friendship  and  intimacy  of  Sir  Joshua 
Keynolds,  Mr.  Hogarth,  and  most  of  the  other  eminent  artists  in 
the  kingdom,  he  quitted  Ipswich,  and  removed  to  London ;  where 
he  was  patronized  by  the  Earl  of  Bute,  who  introduced  him  to 
King  George  III.,  then  Prince  of  Wales,  by  whose  special  appoint- 
ment he  was  afterwards  made  Clerk  of  the  Works  at  Kew ;  and, 
under  his  Majesty's  patronage,  and  by  his  munificent  aid,  he  pub- 
lished, in  1761,  the  elegant  work  on  perspective,  above  named; 
the  whole  of  which  is  a  masterly  performance. 

In  1766,  in  conjunction  with  his  brother  William,  then  of  Wit- 
nesham,  attorney- at-law,  he  published  an  improved  edition  of  their 
father's  Map  of  Suffolk,  on  a  larger  scale,  with  engravings  of  the 
arms  of  the  principal  families  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Kirby  was  a  member  both  of  the  Royal  and  Antiquarian 
Societies  ;  and  at  the  first  formation  of  the  Royal  Academy,  he 
was  President  of  the  Society  of  Artists,  from  which  that  institution 
emanated.  He  died  June  20,  1774,  and  was  buried  in  Kew 
churchvard.* 


RENDHAM. — RIMDHAM,  or  RINDEHAM. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes  the  lordship  of  this 
parish  to  have  been  vested  in  John  de  Brussard  (or  Bruseyard),  of 
Shaddingfield,  in  Wangford  hundred,  who  was  living  in  1354,  and 
trustee  to  John  de  Wrotham,  of  Little  Wrotham,  in  Norfolk. 

The  Abbey  at  Sibton,  held  the  manor  of  Barnes,  in  Rendham, 
which,  at  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  was  granted  to  Anthony 
Denney,  Esq.,  and  afterwards  became  vested  in  —  —  Powel,  Esq. 
The  entire  lordship  now  belongs  to  Frederick  White  Corrance,  Esq., 
of  Parham  Hall. 

CHARITIES. — There  belongs  to  this  parish  three  cottages,  built 
upon  waste  land,  formerly  granted  by  the  lord  of  the  manor ;  and  a 

*  There  is  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Kirby,  in  mezzotinto,  by  I.  Dixon,  from  a  painting 
by  Gainsborough  ;  and  an  engraving,  by  D.  Pariset,  from  another,  by  P.  Falconet. 


HUNDRED   OF    PLOMESGATK.  191 

pightle  of  tliree  acres,  or  thereabouts,  purchased  in  1640.  The 
cottages  are  occupied  by  poor  persons,  one  of  them  rent  free,  the 
others  at  low  rents,  which,  however,  are  not  always  obtained  ;  and 
the  land  is  let  at  i'4  10s.  a  year,  usually  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of 
coals,  which  are  sold  to  the  poor  at  a  reduced  price. — Thos.  Neal, 
Esq.,  by  a  codicil,  dated  in  1704,  charged  his  lands  in  the  parish 
of  Bramfield,  with  the  payment  to  the  churchwardens  of  this  parish 
of  ,£2  10s.  a  year,  for  the  support  of  a  free  school  at  Rendham,  and 
10s.  a  year  for  books,  for  the  children  and  other  poor  persons.  This 
is  duly  received,  and  applied  accordingly. 


SAXMUNDHAM,  or  SAXMONDEIIAM. 

In  the  flth  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  of  Thomas 
de  Verley.  The  manor  of  Hurts,  to  which  the  advowson  is  appen- 
dant,  was  formerly  the  possession  of  the  late  Nunnery  at  Marham, 
in  Norfolk;  and  upon  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  in  1535, 
it  was  granted  to  Sir  Nicholas  Hare,  Knt.  It  has  since  passed 
through  several  hands,  to  the  Long  family,  who  purchased  the  same, 
and  became  seated  here  about  the  commencement  of  the  last 
century. 

In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1829,  part  1,  p.  207,  is  in- 
serted a  very  full  account  of  this  family,  from  the  pen  of  an  eminent 
genealogist ;  from  which  we  deduce  the  following  particulars : — 

Samuel  Long,  Esq.,  is  the  first  noticed  ;  who  having  accompa- 
nied the  expedition  under  Penn  and  Venables,  which  conquered 
Jamaica  in  1G65,  as  Secretary  to  Cromwell's  Commissioners,  settled 
there  ;  became  Colonel  of  Horse,  Chief  Justice,  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Assembly,  and  one  of  the  Council  of  the  Island.  He 
died  in  1683,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son, — 

Charles  Long,  of  Longville,  a  member  of  the  Council,  and  a 
Colonel  of  Horse,  in  the  Island.  This  gentleman,  coming  to  Eng- 
land, settled  at  Saxmundham,  and  was  chosen  a  Burgess  in  Parlia- 
ment for  Dunwich,  in  1714.  He  married,  in  161)9,  Amy,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Nicholas  Lawes,  Knt.,  Governor  of  Jamaica, 
by  whom  he  had  issue  one  son  and  one  daughter  ;  he  married,  se- 
condly, Jane,  the  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Wm.  Bceston, 


192  HUNDRED   OF  PLOMESGATE. 

Knt.,  the  Governor  of  Jamaica,  and  relict  of  Sir  James  Molyford,. 
Bart.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  three  sons  and  five  daughters. 

Colonel  Long  deceased  in  1723,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  eldest 
son  of  his  second  marriage,  Charles  Long,  Esq.,  who  married  Mary, 
the  second  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Dudley  North,  of  Glemham, 
Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  two  sons,  Charles  and  Dudley.  He 
died  in  1778. 

Charles,  the  eldest,  was  born  in  1747;  and  married,  in  1786,  his 
first  cousin,  Jane,  the  daughter  of  Beeston  Long,  of  London,  Esq., 
and  by  her  had  issue  two  sons,  Charles  and  Dudley,  who  both  died 
in  their  infancy.  Mr.  Long  died  in  1812. 

The  second  son,  Dudley  North,  Esq.,  was  educated  at  the  Gram- 
mar School,  Bury  St.  Edmund's ;  from  whence  he  was  removed  to 
Emanuel  College,  Cambridge.  He  represented  the  borough  of 
B anbury  in  Parliament,  from  1796  to  1806.  In  1812,  he  was 
returned  for  Eichmond,  in  Yorkshire.  On  the  decease  of  his  aunt, 
in  1789,  and  in  pursuance  of  her  last  will  and  testament,  he  assumed 
the  name  and  arms  of  North;  and  in  1812,  on  the  death  of  his 
elder  brother,  Charles  Long,  of  Hurt's  Hall,  Esq.,  he  took  the  name 
and  arms  of  Long,  in  addition  to  those  of  North. 

He  married,  in  1802,  Sophia,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Charles 
Anderson  Pelham,  the  first  Lord  Yarborough,  by  Sophia,  the  only 
daughter  of  George  Aufrere,  of  Chelsea,  Esq.  Mr.  Dudley  Long 
North  died  without  issue,  at  Brompton,  near  London,  in  1829. 

Charles  Long,  Esq.,  partly  rebuilt,  and  greatly  enlarged  Hurt's 
Hall,*  the  residence  of  this  highly  respectable  family.  He  was  in- 
terred in  the  chancel  of  the  church  of  Saxmundham,  where  a  beau- 
tiful monument,  from  the  chisel  of  Nollekins,  is  erected  to  his 
memory  :  it  consists  of  a  sarcophagus,  over  which  is  the  figure  of 
an  angel,  seated  on  a  rock,  his  right  hand  covering  his  eye,  and  Ins 
left  holding  an  inverted  torch ;  at  the  bottom  of  the  sarcophagus 
are  two  escallop  shells.  There  are  several  other  memorials  to 
members  of  this  family  in  Saxmundham  church. 

His  cousin  Charles,  fourth  son  of  Beeston  Long,  Esq.,  of  Cars- 
halton,  in  Surry,  in  1826,  became  ennobled,  by  the  title  of  Baron 
Earnborough,  of  Farnborough,  in  Kent.  He  was  Joint  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  in  1800;  one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury,  in 

*  An  engraving  by  J.  Lambert,  from  a  drawing  by  Mr.  Henry  Davy,  of  Hurt's 
Hall,  in  Saxmundhara,  is  given  in  his  "  Views  of  the  Seats  of  the  Noblemen  and 
Gentlmen  in  Suffolk." 


HUNDRED   OF  PLOMESGATE.  193 

1804;  and  subsequently,  Paymaster  General  of  the  Forces.  His 
Lordship  was  G.C.B.,  F.R.,  and  A.S.;  a  Director  of  Greenwich 
Hospital,  Official  Lord  of  Trade  and  Plantation,  a  Trustee  of  the 
British  and  Huntcrian  Museums,  and  a  Commissioner  for  the 
Erection  of  National  Monuments.  He  died  in without  issue. 

In  1538,  Thomas  Pindar,  A.M.,  was  Commissary  of  Suffolk 
Archdeaconry,  and  Official  of  Sudbury.  He  was  rector  of  this 
parish  in  1551,  and  of  Witnesham,  in  this  county,  in  1554. 

July  17,  1816,  died  Mr.  Samuel  Burleigh,  of  this  parish,  carrier, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  93  years  ;  being  the  oldest  inhabitant,  and 
having  seen  the  town  renovated  four  times,  within  the  period  of  74 
years,  of  its  inhabitancy.  A  daughter  of  his  was  then  living  here, 
upwards  of  72  years  of  age. 

That  remarkable  character  Lieutenant  John  Shipp,  author  of 
"  Memoirs"  of  his  "  Extraordinary  Military  Career,"  was  a  native 
of  this  town.  He  was  second  son  of  Thomas  and  Letitia  Shipp, 
born  March  16,  1785.  From  his  first  entrance  into  the  army,  at 
the  age  of  nine  years,  he  wore  the  King's  uniform  for  thirty-two 
years,  and,  in  his  almost  unparalleled  perils,  had  received  six  match- 
lock ball  wounds ;  one  on  the  forehead,  two  on  the  top  of  the  head, 
one  in  the  right  arm,  one  through  the  fore  finger  of  his  left  hand, 
and  one  in  his  right  leg,  besides  a  flesh  wound  in  his  left  shoulder, 
and  others  of  minor  consequence. 

His  "  Memoirs"  form  one  of  the  most  entertaining  books  for  any 
reader;  as  full  of  anecdote  and  humour,  as  of  interesting  adventure ; 
and  they  bear  the  impress  of  a  spirit  in  which  loyalty  and  courage 
were  tempered  by  much  honourable  principle,  and  a  deep  sense  of 
religion  as  well  as  duty.  He  was  also  author  of  "  The  Military 
Bijou,"  and  other  works  of  a  similar  nature.  He  died  at  Liverpool, 
in  1834,  aged  50  years.* 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  the  site  of  a  cottage, 
and  a  piece  of  meadow  or  marsh  land,  in  this  town,  containing,  by 
estimation,  three  acres ;  the  rent  of  which  is  appli ed  to  the  ordinary 
purpose  of  a  church  rate,  agreeable  to  custom. — The  charity  lands 
are  vested  in  trustees  ;  and  consist  of  two  pieces  of  arable  land,  in 
this  parish,  containing  about  five  acres,  called  the  "Bread  Land:" 
annual  rent,  £16  5s.  This  land  was  purchased  in  1657,  with  some 
gift  or  benefaction,  of  £16,  and  with  £52  paid  in  satisfaction  of  the 

*  There  are  two  portraits  published  of  Shipp  ;  one  engraved  by  B.  Holl,  and 
prefixed  to  his  "  Memoirs;"  the  other  drawn  by  J.  Buchanan,  eng.  by  W.  T.  Fry. 


HUNDRED  OF  PLOMESGATE. 

charity  of  Edmund  Cutting,  who,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1041,  di- 
rected Is.  worth  of  bread  to  be  distributed  weekly,  among  poor 
persons  of  Saxmundham. — A  piece  of  land  called  the  "Brook 
Meadow,"  containing  about  five  acres  and  a  quarter,  and  a  piece  of 
arable  land,  in  this  town,  containing  about  three  acres  :  rent,  toge- 
ther about  £17  a  year.  £5  4s.  is  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
bread,  and  the  surplus  has  been  applied  in  the  purchase  of  coals, 
which  are  sold  again  to  the  poor  at  a  reduced  rate. — In  1746,  Wm. 
Corbold,  by  will,  charged  his  estate  in  this  parish  and  Benhall,  now 
the  property  of  Dudley  Long  North,  Esq.,  with  the  payment  of  £5, 
yearly;  to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  bread,  to  be  distributed 
weekly  to  eight  poor  persons,  in  and  belonging  to  the  town  of  Sax- 
mundham,  not  receiving  alms  or  collection,  or  chargeable  to  the 
parish.  The  testator,  also,  by  his  will,  charged  his  said  estates 
with  £5  a  year,  for  teaching  four  poor  children  of  Saxmundham, 
at  the  school  at  Benhall. — Stephen  Eade,  in  1716,  gave  by  will, 
40s.  a  year  out  of  copyhold  land  in  Carltou,  now  the  property  of 
Edward  Fuller,  Esq.,  to  be  distributed  to  the  poor  of  this  parish, 
after  divine  service  on  Christmas-day ;  and  Mrs.  Alice  Clarke,  by 
will,  in  1820,  gave  to  the  poor  of  Saxmundham  £50  ;  the  interest 
thereof  to  be  distributed  in  coals,  every  New-Year's-day. 


SNAPE. — SNAPES,  or  SNAPYS. 

In  the  year  1099,  William  Martel,  Albreda  his  wife,  and  Jeffrey 
their  son  and  heir,  gave  the  manor  of  Snape,  with  the  benefit  of 
wrecks  of  the  sea,  from  Thorp  to  Orford  Ness,  to  the  Abbot  and 
Convent  of  St.  John,  at  Colchester,  for  the  purpose  of  founding  in 
this  parish,  a  Priory,  which  should  be  a  cell  to  that  Abbey. 

By  this  deed  of  gift  it  appears  evident  that  the  founder  intended 
to  have  this  design  immediately  put  in  execution,  which  the  monies 
of  Colchester  delayed  until  1155;  at  which  period  a  Prior,  and 
some  Benedictine  monks  from  that  house,  settled  here. 

Isabel,  Countess  of  Suffolk,  and  patroness  of  this  Priory,  pre- 
ferred a  complaint  to  Pope  Boniface  IX.,  which  stated  that  the 
Abbot  and  Convent  of  Colchester  did  not  maintain  a  sufficient 
number  of  religious  here,  according  to  the  intention  of  the  founders;. 


HUNDRED   OF  PLOMESGATE.  195 

when  this  house  was  made  conventual,  and  exempt  from  subjection 
to  Colchester. 

In  1 508,  it  was  in  the  Crown,  but  by  what  means  is  not  known, 
and  was  granted  to  Butley  Abbey;  but  the  Prior  and  Canons  re- 
signed all  claim  to  the  same  in  the  following  year.  It  was  one  of 
those  small  Monasteries  that  were  suppressed  in  1524,  and  given 
towards  the  endowment  of  Ipswich  College. 

It  was  dedicated  to  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary ;  and  its  valuation, 
in  Taxatio  Ecclesiastica,  in  thirteen  parishes,  is  £32  12s.  7^-d., 
but  in  1534,  £99  Is.  ll£d.  In  1532,  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk, 
obtained  a  grant  of  this  Monastery :  it  subsequently  became  the 
estate  of  Sir  Henry  Johnson,  and  passed  as  the  Friston  property, 
to  the  Earl  of  Strafford.  It  was  recently  the  possession  of  Richard 
William  Howard  Vyse,  Esq. 

ARMS. — The  same  as  Colchester  Abbey.  Gules  ;  a  cross,  or ; 
on  a  border  of  the  second,  eight  mullets  of  six  points,  of  the  first. 

CHARITIES. — The  Rev.  John  Lambert,  by  a  codicil,  dated  in  1802, 
bequeathed  to  this  parish  £200 ;  the  interest  thereof  to  be  distributed 
by  the  churchwardens,  at  Christmas,  to  poor  housekeepers  who  do 
not  receive  pay  of  the  parish.  This  legacy  is  invested  in  stock, 
being  £250  three  per  cent,  Consols. 


STERNFIEID,  or  STERNESFELDA. 

The  demesne  of  this  parish  was  anciently  in  John  de  Mundeville, 
and  afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Vestries,  from  whom  it  passed 
to  the  Framlingham  and  Gaudy  families  ;  of  the  latter  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Dudley  North,  Esq. 

The  manors  of  Mundeville  and  Vestries,  in  this  place,  were  lately 
the  estate  of  C.  N.  Bayley,  Esq. 

Mem. — Margery  Beddingfi eld  and  Richard  Ringe,  were  tried  and 
convicted  at  the  assizes,  holden  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  March  24, 
1703,  for  petty  treason,  and  murder  committed  on  John  Bedding- 
Held,  of  this  parish,  farmer;  the  husband  of  the  said  Margery  Bed- 
dingfield,  and  master  of  the  said  Richard  Ringe.  They  were  both 
executed  at  Rushmere  Heath,  on  the  8th  of  April,  pursuant  to  their 
sentence.  Ringe  was  about  22  years  of  age,  and  committed  the 
murder  at  the  instigation  of  his  mistress,  who  was  not  21. 


196  HUNDRED   OF  PLOMESGATE. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here  consists  of  two  tenements, 
with  gardens,  let  together  at  £5  a  year  :  a  meadow  of  one  acre,  or 
thereahouts,  let  at  £l  10s.  a  year;  and  a  cottage,  stahle,  and  ahout 
44  acres  of  land,  of  which  about  eight  acres  are  in  the  adjoining 
parish  of  Friston,  let  at  £48  a  year.  There  are  several  old  deeds  of 
conveyance  relating  to  different  parts  of  this  property;  but  they 
contain  no  specific  declaration  of  trust.  The  earliest  that  contains 
any  such  declaration,  is  of  the  date  of  the  1st  of  Charles  I.;  it  com- 
prises the  whole  of  the  property,  and  the  trusts  therein  declared  are, 
"  the  sole  and  proper  use,  profit  and  maintenance,  and  sustentation 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Sternfield."  The  rents  are  ex- 
pended in  the  repairs  of  the  church,  in  fuel  and  clothing,  and  pe- 
cuniary assistance  for  the  poor  inhabitants ;  and  in  providing  means 
for  the  education  of  their  children. 


STRATFORD  ST.  ANDREW,  or  STRAFFORT. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  Prior  and  Convent  at  Butley 
held  some  interest  or  share  in  the  lordship  of  this  parish. 

Roger,  son  of  William  de  Kerdeston,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  who 
was  created  Knight  of  the  Bath  (with  Prince  Edward,  of  Carnarvon, 
son  of  King  Edward  I.),  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in  the  5th 
of  Edward  III.,  Governor  of  Norwich  Castle,  summoned  as  a  Baron 
to  Parliament,  in  the  6th  of  that  King,  and  deceased  in  the  llth, 
seized  of  this  lordship. 

Maud  his  wife,  survived,  and  had  this  property  assigned  as  part 
of  her  dowry ;  which  descended,  after  her  death,  to  William  de 
Kerdeston,  their  eldest  son  and  heir,  aged  30  at  the  decease  of  his 
father.  In  the  13th  of  King  Edward  III.,  he  obtained  a  license  to 
make  a  Castle  of  his  manor  house  at  Claxton,  in  Norfolk :  he  w'as 
summoned  to  Parliament  in  the  28th  of  that  reign;  and  in  the  33rd 
was  summoned  to  be  of  Council  to  Thomas  de  Woodstock,  Duke  of 
Gloucester,  the  King's  son  ;  Gustos  of  England,  during  the  King's 
absence  in  France  ;  and  died  seized  of  this  manor  in  the  35th  of 
that  reign. 

In  the  26th  of  the  said  King,  he  designed  settling  this  manor  on 
the  Master  and  Chaplains  of  the  Chantry  of  St.  Mary,  in  Claxton 
church  ;  and  in  the  26th  of  King  Henry  VI.,  a  patent  was  granted 


HUNDRED   OF   PLOMESGATE.  197 

to  settle  the  said  manor,  with  tenements  here,  for  the  foundation  of 
a  chantry  there :  which  manor  was  said  to  be  held  of  the  Prior 
and  monks  of  Thetford ;  probably  in  trust  for  that  purpose.  This 
house  had  interest  in  the  tithes  of  this  parish,  of  the  gift  of  Half 
Fitz  Walter,  and  Maud  his  wife. 

William  de  Kerdeston  was  found  to  be  son  and  heir  of  the  above 
William,  by  Maud,  his  first  wife ;  but  by  another  inquisition,  John, 
son  of  John  de  Burghersh,  and  Maud  his  wife,  daughter  and  co- 
heir of  Sir  William,  de  Kerdeston,  and  Margaret  his  second  wife, 
daughter  of  Edmund  Bacon,  of  Gresham,  was  found  to  be  liis  heir; 
and  various  law-suits  ensued  upon  these  inquisitions,  in  order  to 
prove  this  William  to  be  illegitimate. 

In  the  3rd  of  King  Henry  VI.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Thomas 
Chaucer,  Esq.  (son  of  the  poet),  and  Maud  his  wife,  one  of  the 
daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Sir  John  Burghersh,  querents,  and  Sir 
Thomas  Kerdeston,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  deforciants,  of  this 
manor,  and  many  others,  conveyed  to  Maud ;  who,  with  her  hus- 
band, re-settled  them  on  Sir  Thomas  and  Elizabeth,  in  tail,  to  be 
held  of  the  heirs  of  Maud.  Sir  Thomas  deceased  in  the  25th  of 
the  said  King. 

In  the  escheat  rolls  of  the  29th  of  the  above  reign,  the  jury  find 
that  Sir  Thomas  Kerdeston  was  not  seized  of  the  manors  of  Bui- 
champ,  Henham,  and  Stratford,  at  his  death  ;  but  that  William  de 
la  Pole,  late  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  Alice  his  wife,  as  her  right,  en- 
tered on,  and  received  the  profits,  during  the  life  of  Sir  Thomas  ; 
and  that  Alice,  late  wife  of  the  said  Duke,  and  Sir  John  Howard, 
were  his  next  heirs.  She  was  daughter  and  heir  of  the  above  Thos. 
Chaucer,  Esq.,  and  Maud  his  wife ;  and  first  married  Sir  John 
Phelip,  of  Dennington,  in  Hoxne  hundred. 

In  1764,  this  manor  was  vested  in  Dudley  North,  Esq.,  and  the 
advowson  is  in  the  Crown. 


SUDBOUIiN,  or  SUDBURNHAM. 

This  manor  and  advowson  were  appropriated  to  the  Prior  and 
Convent  of  Ely,  by  William  Bateman,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  ex- 
change for  a  certain  Inn  or  Hostel,  in  Cambridge,  with  John  Craw- 
dene  (or  Crandene),  the  22nd  Prior  of  Ely;  who  had  bought  and 


198  HUNDRED   OF  PLOMESGATE. 

used  it  as  such.,  for  the  reception  of  the  young  monks  of  Ely,  coming 
thither  to  improve  in  learning ;  and  upon  the  site  of  which  the 
Bishop  designed  the  foundation  of  Trinity  Hall ;  for  which  purpose, 
lie  afterwards  permitted  John  de  Aslakby,  rector  of  this  parish,  with 
the  Chapel  of  Orford,  to  resign  them,  and  receive  a  pension  of  i'40 
per  annum  out  of  the  Prior's  manor,  in  Sudbourn  :  and  then  that 
rectory  was  appropriated  by  the  Bishop,  to  the  Prior  of  Ely,  and  a 
vicarage  instituted  here. 

The  advowson  is  now  in  the  Crown,  and  the  lordship  in  the 
Marquess  of  Hertford;  who,  in  1780,  expended  a  large  sum  in 
repairing  and  enlarging  the  family  mansion  in  this  parish,  erected 
by  Sir  Michael  Stanhope,  in  the  reign  of  King  James  I. 

In  131.1,  Sir  Ealph  de  Palegrave,  Chaplain  to  the  Bishop  of 
Norwich,  and  Chancellor,  or  Vicar- General,  was  rector  of  Bodney, 
in  Norfolk,  which  he  exchanged  for  Sudbourn  cum  Orford.  Francis 
Mason,  Archdeacon  of  Norfolk,  in  1019,  was  also  rector  of  these 
parishes,  and  was  appointed  Chaplain  to  King  James  I.,  who  usually 
styled  him  "  a  wise  master-builder  in  God's  house."  He  died  in 
1621,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  his  chapel,  at  Orford.  His 
learned  work,  entitled  "  Vindicise  Ecclesiad  Anglicanoe,"  has  been 
translated  into  English,  with  a  preface  and  notes  by  Lindsay. 

The  Right  Rev.  Sir  George  Pretyman  Tomline,  Bart,,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  was  also  presented,  by  the  Crown,  to  these 
livings  in  his  native  county,  in  or  about  178o. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  and  poor  estate  belonging  to  this  town, 
consists  of  a  workhouse,  inhabited  by  paupers,  and  a  cottage  and 
small  garden,  occupied  by  poor  persons,  rent  free. — 01  A.  5p.  of 
marsh  land,  producing  at  present  £161  2s.  3d.  a  year;  and  a  rent 
charge  of  £Q  a  year,  secured  and  payable  under  the  award  of  the 
Commissioners,  for  inclosing  the  common  lands  in  this  parish,  made 
in  1807. — The  income  derived  from  the  above  sources  is  applied  to 
the  reparation  of  the  church,  &c. ;  and  the  surplus  is  paid  to  the 
overseers,  and  applied  for  the  general  relief  of  the  poor. — A  cottage 
in  two  tenements,  situate  in  the  town  of  Orford,  belongs  to  this 
parish :  one  of  the  tenements  is  occupied  by  a  poor  family,  rent 
free ;  and  the  other,  with  a  small  piece  of  ground  adjoining,  lets  at 
£7  a  year:  the  rent  is  carried  by  the  overseers,  to  their  general 
account. — The  sum  of  £10  a  year,  land  tax  deducted,  is  paid  from 
Sir  Michael  Stanhope's  charity,  and  distributed  among  poor  persons 
in  small  sums. 


HUNDRED   OF   PI.OMESGATE.  199 


SWEFFLING,  or  SWIFTUNG. 

The  Cavendish  family  were  interested  here,  previous  to  the  grant, 
made  to  them  of  the  manor  of  Derneford  Hall,  mentioned  by  Kirby. 
In  the  loth  of  Richard  II.,  1391,  Roger  de  Cavendish  held  half  a 
Knight's  lee  here,  and  paid  castle  guard  rent  for  the  same  to  Frain- 
lingham  Castle. 

In  the  4th  of  King  Edward  IV.,  Richard  Cavendish.  Esq.,  held 
the  same,  by  a  like  payment;  and  in  the  2nd  and  J4th  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  William  Cavendish,  Esq.,  was  owner  thereof. 

In  1704,  William  Plumer,  Esq.,  was  owner  of  Derneibid  Hall 
manor ;  and  it  has  since  been  the  estate  of  Edward  Holland,  Esq., 
of  Benhall. 

CHARITIES. — The  feoffees  estate,  which  comprises  two  houses, 
and  six  acres  of  land  in  this  parish,  was  conveyed  by  Ezra  Crisp, 
by  deed  of  feoffment,  in  1699,  to  the  then  rector  of  Sweffiing,  and 
his  successors,  and  other  feoffees,  for  keeping  in  repair  and  order 
the  church  and  churchyard,  and  for  payment  of  other  charges  on 
the  inhabitants  of  this  parish.  The  rents,  amounting  together  to 
,£13  2s.  a  year,  are  applied  accordingly. — In  1568,  Henry  Leggett, 
Esq.,  by  will,  charged  a  piece  of  land,  called  "  Lime  Kiln  Close," 
now  the  property  of  William  Shouldham,  Esq.,  with  the  payment 
of  4.0s.  a  year,  to  be  distributed  among  the  poor  of  this  parish. 


TUNSTALL .— TUNSTON,  or  TINTONA. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  and  estate 
of  the  Countess  de  Marshal;  and  of  Bartholomew,  Lord  Burghersh, 
in  the  23rd  of  Edward  III.,  who  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren 
in  the  same,  to  himself,  and  Cecily  his  wife,  and  their  heirs.  He 
deceased  in  the  43rd  of  that  King ;  and  bequeathed  this,  with  his 
other  large  possessions,  to  Elizabeth  his  daughter,  then  the  wife  of 
Edward  de  Spencer. 

In  1764,  the  manor  of  Banyards,  in  this  parish,  was  vested  in 
Dudley  North,  Esq.,  of  North  Glemham. 

Robert  de  Vallibus  (or  Vaux),  gave  his  tithes  in  this  parish,  to 
the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  St.  Andrew,  in  Thetford;  with 


200  HUNDRED   OF   PLOMESGATE. 

his  body  to  be  buried  there  :    and  Roger  de  Eufreus,  two-  parts  of 
his  tithes  in  Tunston,  to  the  same  Monastery. 


WANTISDEN,  or  WANTESDANA. 

This  lordship  passed  as  the  foregoing ;  had  the  same  privilege  of 
free-warren  obtained  for  it,  at  the  same  period  ;  and  descended  as 
Tunstall  did. 

In  the  36th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Lionel  Tallemache  obtained  a 
grant  of  this  manor  and  advowson,  as  part  of  the  possession  of  the 
dissolved  Monastery,  at  Butley.  It  afterwards  became  the  estate  of 
Sir  Henry  Wood,  and  so  passed  to  the  Chapman  family.  It  now 
belongs  to  the  Sheppards,  of  Campsey  Ash. 

Wantisden  Hall,  is  the  estate  of  Nathaniel  Barnardiston,  Esq.,  of 
Little  Henny,  in  Essex. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £5  a  year,  appropriated  to  the  poor  of 
this  parish,  after  a  deduction  on  account  of  land  tax,  is  paid  to  the 
churchwardens  from  Sir  Michael  Stanhope's  charity  (see  Sutton), 
•and  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  this  parish. 


BLIDINGA,  or  BLIDIGGA. 


This  Hundred  is  bounded,  on  the  North,  by  those  of  Wangford 
and  Mulford;  on  the  West  and  South,  by  the  Hundreds  of 
Hoxne  and  Plomesgate ;  and  on  the  East,  by  the  Sea. 

It  -contains  forty-eight  Parishes,  six  Hamlets,  and  three  Mar- 
ket Towns,  namely: — 


ALDRINGHAM, 

BENACRE, 

BLIBURGH, 

BRAMPTON, 

BLYTHFORD, 

BRAMFIELD, 

BULCHAMP, 

BUXLOW, 

CHEDDISTON, 

COOKLEY, 

COVEHITHE, 

CRATFIELD, 

DARSHAM, 

DUNWICH, 

EASTON  BAVENT, 

FORDLEY, 

FROSTENDEN, 

HALES  WORTH, 

HENHAM, 

HENSTEAD, 

HEVENINGHAM, 

HINTON, 

HOLTON, 

HUNTINGFIELD, 

KNOTTISHALL, 

LEISTON, 

LINSTEAD,  (Great  &Lit.) 

And  YOXFORD. 


MELLS, 

MlDDLETON, 

NORTIIALES, 
PEASENHALL, 
RAYDON, 
RUMBURGH, 

SlBTON, 
SlZEWELL, 

SOTHERTON, 

SOUTHWOULD, 

SOUTH-COVE, 

SPECKSHALL, 

STOVE  N, 

THEBERTON, 

THORINGTON, 

THORP, 

UBBESTON, 

UGGE  SHALL, 

WALDERSWICH, 

WALPOOLE, 

WANGFORD, 

WENHASTON, 

WESTHALL, 

WESTLETON, 

WEST  WOOD -LoDG-E, 

WISSET, 

WRENTHAM, 


The  fee  was  in  the  Crown,  and  government  in  the  Sheriff"; 
until  King  Edward  /.,  in  consideration  of  the  reversion  of  the 
Castle  of  Warkicorth,  and  the  Manors  of  Rouberic,  Newburn, 
and  Carbridge,  entailed  upon  him  and  his  heirs,  by  John  de 
Clavering,  settled  upon  him,  among  other  things,  this  Hundred, 
to  hold  of  the  said  King  for  life  ;  at  whose  decease  it  again  re- 
verted to  the  Crown,  and  so  remains. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 


ALDRINGHAM. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  II.,  Harao  de  Masey  obtained  a 
grant  of  a  market  and  fair,  to  be  held  in  his  manor  of  Aldringham. 
Ealf  de  Glanville  gave  the  impropriation  to  his  Abbey  of  Premou- 
stratensian,  or  White  Canons,  at  Leiston,  as  founder ;  and  at  the 
dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  King  Henry  VIII.  granted  the  same 
to  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk.  In  1764,  it  was  vested  in 
the  heirs  of  the  late  Daniel  Hervey,  Esq.,  the  two  Misses  Courtenay. 
The  present  patron  is  Lord  Huntingfield. 


BENACRE. 

The  demesne  of  this  parish  was  anciently  in  Simon  de  Pierpoint. 
In  1577,  John  Whinburgh,  Gent.,  of  Norfolk,  was  owner  of  this 
lordship  ;  which  in  the  time  of  King  Charles  I.,  became  the  estate 
of  Henry  North,  Esq.,  by  purchase  ;  from  whom  it  descended  to 
Thomas  Carthew,  Esq.,  who  about  1743,  sold  it  to  William  Gooch, 
Esq.  (afterwards  Sir  William). 

In  or  about  1721,  Mr.  Carthew  erected  a  handsome  seat  here,* 
which  Sir  Thomas  Gooch  still  further  enlarged  and  beautified ;  and 
Sir  Thomas  Sherlock  Gooch,  the  5th  Baronet  of  that  house,  late 
M.P.  for  this  county,  the  present  possessor,  makes  it  his  country 
residence. 

The  family  of  Gooch  became  early  seated  in  this  county.  Robert 
Gooch,  of  Bungay,  is  the  first  we  have  any  particular  account  of; 
who  left  one  son,  William  Gooch,  of  Mettingham,  Esq. :  he  married 
Martha,  the  daughter  of  Christopher  Layer,  Esq.,  of  the  city  of 

*  A  view  of  this  is  given  in  "  Davy's  Seats  of  the  Nobility  and  Gentry  of  Suffolk,'' 
and  in  "  Excursions  through  Suffolk." 


204  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Norwich ;  whose  descendants,  in  the  elder  branch,  intermarried  as 
follows  : — 

William  Gooch,  Esq.,    who   resided  at=Elizabeth,  dau.  and  heir  of  Richard  Bas- 
Mettingham,  in  1664.  |      poole,  of  St.  Margaret's,  S.  Elraham. 

I— 
Thomas  Gooch,  Esq.,  2nd  son,  died  in— Frances,   dau.  and   co-heir   of  Thomas 

1688.  j       Lane,  Esq.,  of  Worlingham. 

T—  —I 

William  Gooch,  Esq.,    Lieut.-Governor     Thos.  Gooch,  succes-— Mary,  (sister  of 


of  Virginia  ;  created  a  Bart,  in  1746  ;        sivelyBp.  of  Bristol, 
died  S.  P.,  in  1751.  Norwich,  and  Ely. 

I- 


Bp.  Sherlock.) 


Sir  Thomas  Gooch,  3rd  Bart.,  died  in  =  Anne,  dau.  and  heir  of  John  Attwood, 
1731.  J       Esq.,  of  Saxlingham,  Norfolk. 

I— 
Sir  Thomas  Gooeh,  4th  Bart.,  died  in=Anna-Maria,  dau.  of  William  Hayward, 

1826.  j       Esq.,  of  Surrey. 

Sir   Thomas    Sherlock    Gooch,    present==Marianna,   dau.  of  Abraham  Whitaker, 
Bart.  Esq.,  of  Lyster  House,  co.  Hereford, 

aud  sister  of  Charlotte  Maria,  present 

T j      Countess  of  Stradhroke. 

Edward   Sherlock   Gooch,   Esq.,    eldest  =Louisa,  2J  dau.  of  Sir  George  Prescott, 
son.  Bart.,  of  Theobald's  Park,  Hants. 

In  1786,  a  discovery  was  made  here  of  a  considerable  number  of 
Roman  silver  coins;  upwards  of  900,  in  good  preservation,  but 
none  older  than  the  time  of  Vespasian.  Sir  Thos.  Gooch  purchased 
the  greater  part  of  them.  Two  of  them,  then  in  the  possession  of  the 
late  Mr.  Johnson,  of  Woodbridge,  were  engraved  in  the  "  Gentle- 
man's Magazine,"  lor  the  year  1788. 

ARMS. —  Whinburgh:  per  fess,  indented,  argent  and  sable,  three 
bears,  passant,  counterchanged.  Gooch :  per  pale,  argent  and  sable, 
a  chevron  between  three  talbots,  passant,  counterchanged :  on  a  chief, 
gules,  as  many  leopards'  heads,  or. 


BLIBURGH. — BLITHBERGH,  BLYTHBURGH,  or  BLIDEBURC. 

"  The  state  of  this  town,"  Mr.  Gardner  observes,  "is  manifest,  by 
the  fine  Church,*  the  Priory,  Holy-rood  Chapel,  and  other  edifices. 
It  has  been  the  residence  of  merchants,  and  good  reputable  persons ; 
well  frequented  upon  account  of  its  trade,  and  divers  other  affairs 

*  A  description  of  this  church  is  given  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for 
1808,  p.  776 ;  also  "  Church  Notes,"  ibid,  1813,  part  ii.,  p.  313. 


HUNDRED  OF   BLITHING.  205 

here  transacted,  especially  the  fishery ;  for  crayers,  and  other  craft 
sailed,  before  the  river  was  choaked,  up  to  Walberswick  bridge." 

It  appears  to  have  been  falling  into  decay  ever  since  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  Priory  ;  but  more  particularly  so  since  1676,  when  the 
town  suffered  severely  by  fire,  by  which,  and  from  failure  in  traffic, 
the  inhabitants  became  unable  to  rebuild,  and  settled  in  other 
places;  until  it  became,  in  1754,  reduced  to  about  21  houses,  and 
124  inhabitants:  it  has  since  that  period,  like  most  other  places, 
been  upon  the  increase. 

It  was  a  Royal  demesne  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor : 
and  Roger  Bigot  held  this  lordship  in  the  reign  of  William  the 
Conqueror;  which  was  given,  by  King  Henry  I.,  to  Herbert,  Bishop 
of  Norwich,  who  exchanged  it  with  William  de  Cheney,  for  the 
manor  of  Thorp,  near  Norwich. 

It  appears  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  II.,  to  be  again  in  the 
Crown ;  as  Maud,  his  mother,  held  it  in  dower :  and,  at  her  decease, 
that  Monarch  granted  it  to  William  de  Norwich,  with  ample. privi- 
leges. He  was  sometimes  called  William  de  Cheney,  Baron  of 
Horsford,  in  Norfolk,  founder  of  Sibton  Abbey,  in  this  county,  and 
a  liberal  benefactor  to  the  Priory  here. 

Margaret,  his  daughter  and  heiress,  married,  first,  to  Hugh  de 
Cressi,  and  secondly,  to  Robert  Fitz  Roger,  who  each  inherited  this 
lordship  in  her  right.  This  lady  had  wreck  at  sea  from  Eye  Cliff 
to  the  port  of  Dunwich ;  and  a  ferry-boat  there,  with  privilege  to 
exact  a  half-penny  for  every  man  and  horse  passing  over  the  same; 
and  also  customary  travers  for  passage  through  Bliburgh  and  Wal- 
berswick; for  each  loaden  carriage  shod  with  iron,  one  penny,  and 
without,  a  half-penny. 

This  was  during  her  widowhood.  Her  second  husband  received 
an  increase  to  two-pence,  for  every  wheeled  carriage  shod  with  iron, 
and  loaded  with  corn  or  fish,  passing  through  the  said  parishes  ; 
and  for  every  horse  carrying  the  same,  a  half-penny ;  also  every 
carriage  with  wheels,  not  shod  with  iron,  a  half-penny. 

Margaret  had,  by  her  first  husband,  a  son  Roger,  who  in  the  first 
of  King  John,  married  Isabel,  youngest  daughter  and  co-heir  of 
Robert  de  Rye,  with  whom  he  inherited  1 7^-  fees,  and  the  moiety  of 
the  Barony  of  Rye. 

They  had  two  sons,  Hugh  and  Stephen  de  Cressi ;  the  latter  was  lord 
here  in  1262,  and  his  brother  Hugh  inherited  the  same  in  1263  ;  in 
which  year  he  died,  and  this  lordship  was  afterwards  in  the  Crown. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Robert  Fitz  Roger,  the  second  husband  of  Margaret  de  Cheney, 
was  of  the  de  Clavering  family :  John  de  Clavering,  -who  obtained 
the  grant  for  a  weekly  market  here,  in  the  17ih  of  King  Edward  II., 
1324,  was  his  son  and  heir.  He  married  Hewesia,  daughter  and 
heir  of  Robert  de  Tiptoft,  by  whom  he  had  an  only  daughter, 
named  Eva. 

This  John  rendered  £20  for  his  manor  of  Bliburgh ;  and  having 
no  male  issue,  settled  his  estates  upon  King  Edward  II.  King 
Edward  III.,  in  the  second  of  his  reign,  settled  this  manor  upon 
Edmund  de  Clavering,  his  brother,  for  life;  the  remainder  on  Ralph 
de  Nevil,  who  married  the  heiress  of  John  de  Clavering.  Ralph, 
his  second  son,  in  the  4th  of  that  reign,  obtained  a  renewal  of  the 
charter  for  the  market  and  fairs ;  and  in  the  1 4th  of  the  same  King, 
had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  this  lordship.  He  died,  seized  of  the 
same,  in  the  41st  of  that  reign. 

Sir  Robert  Swillington  appears  to  have  been  the  next  possessor; 
whose  son,  Sir  Roger  Swillington,  succeeded,  and  held  the  same  in 
capite,  at  two  Knight's  fees.  It  passed  from  this  family  by  the 
marriage  of  Anne,  his  daughter  and  sole  heir,  with  Sir  John  Hopton ; 
and  their  descendants  inherited  for  several  ages,  until  Sir  Robert 
Brooke,  Knt.,  and  Alderman  of  London,  purchased  the  same. 

The  first  court  of  John  Brooke,  Esq.,  held  of  this  manor,  was  in 
1645.  He  was  eldest  surviving  son  of  the  above  Sir  Robert 
Brooke,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife ;  and  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Sir 
Samuel  Barnardiston,  Knt.;  but  died  without  issue,  in  1652, 
aged  26  years. 

Upon  this  marriage,  the  manor  of  Blithburgh  was  settled  in  join- 
ture upon  the  said  Jane;  who  re-married  to  Sir  William  Blois, 
Knt.,  and  he  held  his  first  court  here,  in  1660,  in  her  right.  It 
still  continues  in  this  family,  Sir  Charles  Blois,  Bart.,  of  Cockfield 
Hall,  in  Yoxford,  being  the  present  lord  and  patron. 

PRIORY  OF  AUGUSTINE,  OR  BLACK  CANONS. — Leland  says,  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Osith,  or  Chich,  in  Essex,  was  the  founder.  King 
Henry  I.,  gave  the  church  of  Bliburgh  to  this  Priory.  It  appears 
to  have  been  no  otherwise  subordinate  to  St.  Osith's  Abbey,  than 
that  the  Prior  was  nominated  by  the  Abbot  of  that  Monastery. 

Richard  Beauveys,  Bishop  of  London,  augmented  its  revenues, 
and  is  esteemed  by  Weever,  a  co-founder.  The  Prior  and  Canons 
of  this  house,  held  considerable  possessions  in  the  town  of  Dunwich. 
It  was  dedicated  to  the  honour  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  207 

Valuations  in  Taxatio  Ecclesiasticus,  1291. — Suffolk,  in  37 
parishes,  £32  18s.  2£d  —  Norfolk,  in  Great  Yarmouth,  £1  6s.  Od. 

To  Bliburgh  Priory  were  appropriated  the  churches  of  Bliburgh, 
Bramfi eld,  Wenhaston,  Walderswick,  Thorington,  and  Bliford ;  and 
the  chapels  of  Melles,  in  Suffolk,  and  Olaxton,  in  Norfolk.  In  1528, 
Cardinal  Wolscy  obtained  a  bull  for  suppressing  this  Priory,  and 
annexing  its  endowments  to  Ipswich  College ;  but  that  design  not 
being  effected,  in  1538,  Sir  Arthur  Hopton,  Knt.,  of  Westwood 
Lodge,  obtained  a  grant  of  it,  and  it  has  continued  to  pass  with  the 
lordship  of  this  parish. 

The  Chapel  of  the  Holy-Rood  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  main 
street  in  Bliburgh,  leading  to  the  bridge  ;  some  remains  of  which 
were  standing  in  1754,  when  Mr.  Gardner  published  his  account 
of  Bliburgh. 

The  annexed  transcript  of  an  account  belonging  to  this  parish, 
of  the  35th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  may  gratify  the  curious  in  such 
matters : — 

Received  of  the  ploughe  chirch  ale  ....  xxv  g. 
Received  and  gathered  by  Lawraace  Crane,  on  Xmas,  for 

sexton's  wages             ......  vij  s. 

Received  of  Thomas  Martin,  of  two  kyen  for  his  year        -  iij  s. 

Received  for  mens  chirch  ale           .....  xxx  s. 

Received  and  gathered  upon  Easter  Day  of  the  Paschal     -  vij  s. 

Received  of  Thomas  Smith,  of  thefearme  of  one  cow  this  year  viij  s. 

Paid  for  washing  the  chirch  linen           -         -         -         -  iv  s. 

For  two  new  banyore  stavis             .....  xij  d. 

For  one  other  banyore  staffe  ...  viij  d. 
For  rent  for  the  chirch  house  standing  in  the  chirchyard, 

being  unpaid  six  yeares  ---.-.  vi  d. 

The  rent  for  one  half  of  a  close  for  six  yeares  -  -  vi  d. 
An  organ  maker  for  his  coming  and  seying,  and  little  mending, 

of  the  quere  organ      .......  xx  d. 

Candles,  Xmas  day,  in  the  morning        ....  jj  d. 

The  sexton,  for  his  wages  for  the  whole  year            -         -  xx  s. 

For  wax  for  the  Paschal         -         -         -         -         -          -  xviij  d. 

For  making  the  Paschal  and  the  Towell  ... 

Mem. — On  the  walks  near  this  town,  Toby  Gill,  a  black  drum- 
mer belonging  to  Sir  Robert  Rich's  regiment,  was  executed  for  the 
murder  of  Ann  Blackmore;  for  which  he  was  tried  at  Bury  Assizes, 
in  August,  1750. 

CHARITIES. — In  1701,  Thomas  Neale  gave  by  will,  £2  10s.  a 
year,  for  teaching  five  of  the  children  of  the  poorest  parents  of  this 
parish,  and  its  hamlet  of  Hinton,  to  read ;  and  10s.  a  year  for  buying 


208  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Bibles,  or  other  religious  books,  for  young  persons.  Which  sums 
are  applied  towards  the  support  of  a  Sunday  school. — A  dole  of  £1 
a  year,  is  paid  as  a  rent  charge  out  of  land  belonging  to  the  Earl  of 
Stradbroke  ;  it  is  equally  divided  among  poor  persons  of  this  parish, 
and  Bulchamp,  and  distributed  in  bread. — The  sum  of  £l  a  year 
was  given  for  the  poor,  by  Matthew  Walter,  in  1589 :  and  £5  a  year 
is  mentioned  in  the  returns  of  Charitable  Donations,  in  1786,  as 
having  been  given  by  Benham  Raymond,  in  1728,  for  teaching 
twelve  poor  children  ;  but  the  payment  of  these  charities  has  been 
withheld  for  manv  Years. 


BRAMPTON,  or  BAMTUXA. 

The  family  of  Duke  derive  their  descent  from  Roger  Duke,  who 
was  Sheriff  of  London  in  the  time  of  King  Richard  I. ;  whose  son, 
Peter  Duke,  served  the  same  office  in  the  10th  of  King  John.  This 
Peter  was  father  of  Roger  Duke,  who  was  Sheriff  of  London  in  the 
llth  of  King  Henry  III.,  and  Mayor  the  next,  and  three  successive 
years. 

Walter  Duke,  his  son,  resided  in  this  parish  in  the  time  of  King 
Edward  III.,  and  held  the  manor  of  Hale's  Hall  here.  In  the  2nd 
of  the  following  reign,  he  did  homage  at  Framlingham  Castle,  for 
his  lands  in  Shadingfield,  holden  of  the  said  manor  by  one 
Knight's  fee. 

John  Duke,  of  this  parish,  son  and  heir  of  Robert,  son  of  Roger, 
son  of  the  said  Walter,  married  Joan,  daughter  and  heir  of  — 
Park,  of  Aslacton,  in  Norfolk,  and  of  Ilketshall,  in  this  county. 
Thomas,  his  son,  succeeded,  and  William  was  his  heir,  by  a  second 
marriage  with  Margaret,  daughter  and  heir  of  Henry  Banyard,  Esq., 
of  Speckshall,  in  Suffolk. 

This  William  Duke,  Esq.,  in  the  23rd  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  paid 
twenty  shillings  aid  to  the  lord  of  Framlingham  manor.  He  married 
Thomasine,  daughter  of  Sir  Edmund  Jenney,  of  Knottishall,  in  this 
county;  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  George  Duke,  Esq.  (for 
whose  marriage  and  descent  see  Benhall,  in  the  preceding  hundred.) 

Their  family  estate  in  this  parish  became  afterwards  vested  in  the 
Wood  family,  of  Loudham;  and  in  1764,  William  Chapman,  Esq., 
was  owner  thereof. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  209 

John  Townsend,  Esq.,  resided  chiefly  in  this  parish,  and  was 
probably  owner  of  the  lordship  here.  He  was  second  son  of  Sir 
Roger  Townsend,  Knt.,  by  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heiress 
of  Sir  William  de  Brews,  of  Wenham  Parva,  in  this  county.  Sir 
Roger  was  a  lawyer  of  great  eminence  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward 
IV.,  and  M.P.  for  Calne,  in  Wiltshire.  In  the  1st  of  Edward  V., 
he  was  constituted  King's  Serjeant- at- Law,  and  the  following  year 
was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas. 

Mr.  Townsend  married  Eleanor,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Heydon, 
K.B.,  of  Baconsthorp,  in  Norfolk;  he  died  in  1540,  before  his 
elder  brother,  Sir  Roger  Townsend,  of  Raineham,  in  Norfolk,  Knt., 
who  died  without  issue. 

Richard,  eldest  son  of  the  said  John  Townsend,  and  Eleanor  his 
wife,  succeeded;  and  continued  to  reside  at  Brampton.  He  married 
Catherine,  third  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Sir  Humphrey  Brown, 
Knt.,  of  Ridley,  in  Chester,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  ;  and  died  in  1552. 

Sir  Roger  Townsend,  Knt.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded  ; 
and  was  constituted  by  the  above  Sir  Roger  Townsend,  his  great 
uncle,  heir  to  his  estates.  He  was  progenitor  of  the  present  noble 
representative  of  this  house. 

ARMS. — Townsend:  azure;  a  chevron,  ermine,  between  three 
escallops,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — There  are,  in  this  parish,  a  house  let  in  four  tene- 
ments, to  poor  persons,  at  £4  a  year ;  and  three  acres  of  land,  or 
thereabouts,  producing  about  £10  a  year;  which  is  distributed 
among  poor  persons  belonging  to  the  parish. — There  are  also  twelve 
acres  of  meadow,  called  the  "  Town  Eenn,"  the  present  rent  about 
£40;  which  is  applied  to  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  in  defraying 
all  other  charges  of  the  churchwardens'  office.  The  acquisition  of 
this  property  is  unknown. — Mary  Leman,  in  1805,  bequeathed  by 
will,  £600,  clear  of  all  deductions,  upon  trust,  to  invest  the  same  in 
the  purchase  of  3  per  cent.  Consols ;  the  dividends  to  be  applied 
for  establishing  and  supporting  a  Sunday  school  in  each  of  the  pa- 
rishes of  Brampton,  Redisham,  and  Cratfield ;  for  instructing  poor 
children  belonging  to,  or  residing  within  those  parishes,  to  read  : 
an  equal  share  to  be  appropriated  to  each  of  the  three  schools. 

This  lady  resided  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's  for  many  years,  and  de- 
ceased there  February  7,  1807.  She  was  only  daughter,  and  sole 
heir  of  Robert  Leman,  Esq.,  of  Wickham  Market ;  who  served  the 


210  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

office  of  High  Sheriff  of  this  county  in  1744.  Mrs.  Leman  be- 
queathed the  bulk  of  her  fortune,  which  was  very  considerable,  to 
Naunton  Thomas  Orgill,  Clerk,  M.A.,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  of 
Worlingham,  in  this  county. 

This  reverend  gentleman  was  son  of  William  Orgill,  late  of  Bec- 
cles,  Esq.,  by  Sarah  his  wife,  third  daughter  and  co-heir  of  William 
Leman,  formerly  of  Beccles,  Esq.,  and  of  Sarah  his  wife,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Leman,  of  this  parish,  Esq. ;  and  January  23,  1808, 
the  King  granted  him  license,  that  he  and  his  issue  might  assume 
and  take  the  surname,  and  bear  the  arms  of  Leman,  out  of  grateful 
respect  to  the  memory  of  his  cousin,  Mary  Leman,  of  Bury  St. 
Edmunds,  spinster,  deceased ;  daughter,  and  at  length  sole  heir  of 
Robert  Leman,  brother  of  the  above-mentioned  Sarah  Leman,  the 
grandmother  of  the  said  Rev.  Naunton  Thomas  Orgill,  the  pe- 
titioner. 

This  gentleman  was  lord  of  this  manor,  and  patron  of  the  living; 
he  resided  in  a  commodious  house,  erected  by  him  in  1794,  in  this 
parish.  The  Rev.  George  Orgill  Lemaii  is  now  lord  and  patron, 
and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Orgill  Leman,  incumbent. 


BLYTHFOKD,  or  BLIDEFORDA. 

About  the  1st  of  King  John,  Ralph  de  Criketot  gave  this  church 
to  Bliburgh  Priory;  and  in  the  24th  of  the  following  reign,  a  fine 
was  levied  between  Avicia  de  Criketot,  petent,  and  Simon  de  Cri- 
ketot, tenent,  of  the  third  part  of  two  Knights'  fees  in  this  parish  ; 
as  the  inheritance  of  Ralph  de  Criketot,  her  deceased  husband, 
granted  her  in  dower. 

Hugh  de  Bevant,  and  Felicia  his  wife,  sued  for  a  third  part  of 
this  manor,  against  Warm  de  Montchensey,  of  the  inheritance  of 
Simon  de  Criketot,  her  late  husband,  and  recovered  it.  By  this  it 
appears,  the  Bevants  inherited  this  estate  by  marriage  with  the 
Criketots;  for  Thomas  Bevant,  in  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  was 
owner  of  this  lordship. 

The  impropriation,  at  the  dissolution  of  Monasteries,  was  granted 
to  Sir  Arthur  Hopton,  and  passed,  with  the  manor,  to  the  Woods 
and  Chapmans,  as  did  the  Loudharn  estate.  The  present  proprietor 
and  patron,  is  the  Rev.  Jeremy  Bay,  of  Hethersett,  in  Norfolk. 


HUNDRED  OF  BL1THING.  2 1  1 

Robert  Mekylfeld,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  married  Margaret,  daugh- 
ter of  William,  and  sister  and  heir  of  John  Irminglund,  rector  of 
Stivekey  St.  John,  in  Norfolk ;  and  relict  of  Richard  Calthorpe, 
Esq.,  of  Cockthorp,  in  the  same  county.  She  died  in  1480,  having 
survived  her  last  husband ;  and  was  buried  at  Cockthorp. 

Katherine,  wife  of  Thomas  Gauze  (or  Caus),  of  Hingham,  in 
Norfolk,  was  buried  in  All  Saints  church,  in  this  parish,  in  1485; 
to  which  she  was  a  benefactress. 

By  the  last  will  of  Matthew  Walter,  of  this  parish,  made  in  1589, 
he  gives  and  bequeaths  to  Margaret  his  wife,  all  his  tenement,  lands, 
meadows,  feedings,  and  pastures,  lying  and  being  in  Bliford,  lately 
purchased  of  Thomas  Back ;  and  one  enclosure  in  Holton,  con- 
taining eighteen  acres,  lately  purchased  of  W.  Bonett ;  and  also 
one  meadow  in  Bulchamp,  during  the  term  of  her  natural  life  : 
remainder  unto  John  Parker,  his  cousin,  upon  this  condition  ;  that 
he,  his  heirs,  or  assigns,  pay  or  cause  to  be  paid,  yearly,  and  every 
year  for  ever,  the  sum  of  £10,  in  the  following  manner: — to  the 
poor  of  this  parish,  20s. ;  the  same  sum  to  each  of  the  parishes  of 
Fersfield  and  Brisingham,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  Halesworth,  Bliburgh, 
Wangford,  and  South  wold,  in  Suffolk;  and  10s.  each  to  the  poor 
of  Bulchamp,  Reydon  by  Southwould,  Henham,  Holton,  Uggeshall, 
and  Stoven  :  and  in  default  thereof,  then  the  above  property  to 
revert  to  Basingbourne  Parker,  brother  of  the  said  John  ;  and  if  he 
makes  default,  then  to  Mr.  Francis  Braye,  son  of  Mr.  Saynt  John 
Braye,  under  the  same  limitations.  It  was  proved  at  Bliburgh, 
before  Mr.  Bartholomew  Styles,  Clerk,  surrogate  to  John  Maplizden, 
Archdeacon  of  Suffolk,  the  4th  of  November,  1589. 


BRAMFIELD. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  demesne  of  this  parish  was 
in  Nicholas  de  Seagrave ;  but  soon  after,  in  Sir  Walter  de  Norwich, 
who  in  the  5th  of  the  following  reign,  was  made  one  of  the  Barons 
of  the  Exchequer,  and  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren  in  this 
parish.  He  deceased  in  the  2nd  of  King  Edward  III. 

Sir  John  de  Norwich,  Knt.,  succeeded ;  who  also  obtained  a 
charter  of  free  warren  for  this  manor,  with  his  other  possessions ; 
and  dying  in  the  36th  of  the  above  reign,  left  his  estate,  of  which 


212  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

this  lordship  was  a  part,  to  John,  his  grandson ;  who  died  seized  of 
the  same,  in  the  48th  of  the  same  King,  and  left  it,  with  his  other 
estates,  to  Katherine  de  Brews,  daughter  of  Thomas  de  Clavering, 
his  cousin  and  heir. 

This  lady  afterwards  taking  upon  her  the  hahit  of  a  nun,  William 
de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  son  and  heir  of  Robert  de  Ufford,  Earl 
of  Suffolk,  by  Margaret  his  wife,  sister  of  Thomas  de  Norwich,  was 
found  to  be  her  next  heir. 

It  appears,  however,  that  a  portion  of  this  manor,  with  that  of 
Brook  Hall,  in  this  parish,  was,  by  the  executors  of  the  above  Sir 
John  de  Norwich,  Knt.,  Vice- Admiral  of  England,  appropriated  to 
Mettingham  College,  founded  by  him ;  and  at  the  dissolution,  in 
1541,  was  granted  to  Sir  Anthony  Denny,  and  Sir  Thos.  Denny ; 
but  shortly  after  became  vested  in  the  Rous  family,  and  so  conti- 
nues ;  the  Earl  of  Stradbroke  being  the  present  proprietor. 

Reginald  Rabett,  clerk,  is  the  present  representative  of  that  an- 
cient family.  He  resides  at  his  seat,  near  the  church;  in  the  centre 
of  the  lawn  to  which,  stands  the  remains  of  an  old  oak,  celebrated 
in  a  ballad  which  records  the  flight  of  Hugh  Bigod  from  Bungay 
Castle. 

Robert  Gold,  B.D.,  rector  of  Thorington,  had  an  estate  here ; 
which  (dying  without  issue)  he  gave  to  Arthur  Coke,  Esq.,  third 
son  of  Sir  Edward  Coke,  Lord  Chief  Justice.  The  widow  of  Mr. 

Gold  held  it  during  her  life,  who  remarried Bloss,  Alderman 

of  Norwich. 

In  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church,  is  an  elegant  monument  to 
the  memory  of  Arthur,  third  son  of  that  celebrated  lawyer,  Sir 
Edward  Coke,  Knt.  It  is  thus  inscribed  : — 

"  Here  lyeth  byried  Arthvr  Coke,  Esq.  Third  sonnc  of  Sir  Edward  Coke,  Knight, 
late  Lord  Chiefe  Jvstice  of  England,  &  of  the  Privye  Covnsell  of  Kinge  James. 
Here  lyeth  also  bvried  in  the  same  tombe,  Elizabeth,  davghter  and  sole  Heire  Ap- 
parent of  Sir  George  Waldegrave,  Knight,  wch.  Elizabeth  Christianly  and  peaceably 
departed  this  life  the  14th  day  of  November,  Anno  Dni.  1627.  And  the  said 
Arthvr  likewise  Christianly  aud  peaceably  departed  this  life  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds  in 
this  Covnty  of  Suffolk,  on  tbe  6th  day  of  December,  1629." 

"They  had  issve  betweene  them,  livinge  at  their  deceases,  foure  davghters,  viz  : 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Winifred,  and  Theophila,  whom  Almighty  God  prosper  aud 
protect." 

CHARITIES. — Thomas  Neale,  by  will  dated  in  1701,  directed  his 
widow  and  executrix  to  cause  a  town-house  to  be  erected,  and  fitted 
up,  in  Bramfield,  for  the  habitation  of  four  poor  persons  or  families, 


HUNDRED  OF   BLITHING. 

so  that  each  of  the  said  persons  or  families  might  have  a  room,  and 
other  reasonable  conveniences ;  and  he  desired  the  said  house  to  be 
employed  for  the  habitation  of  four  poor  and  aged  single  persons  ; 
or  if  there  should  not  be  enough  of  such,  then  for  married  couples 
without  children ;  and  that  one  of  the  persons  inhabiting  in  the 
house,  should  teach  six  poor  children  of  the  town,  to  read  the  Bible, 
if  one  of  them  should  be  found  capable  so  to  do :  and  he  gave  the 
yearly  sum  of  £3,  to  be  employed  in  paying  such  one  of  the  said 
persons  to  teach  the  said  children :  and  he  declared  that  the  children 
should  be  those  of  parents  who,  whilst  living,  took  constant  relief 
of  the  parish ;  or,  in  default  of  such,  then  of  parents  who  whilst 
living,  took  relief  of  the  parish  when  sick,  or  occasionally  ;  or,  in 
default  of  such,  then  of  parents  the  most  poor  or  wicked.  He  also 
left  the  yearly  sum  of  10s.,  to  buy  Bibles,  and  other  religious  books 
for  the  children;  and  he  charged  the  said  sum  of  £3  10s.  a  year, 
upon  his  real  estate,  therein  mentioned,  in  this  parish ;  now  the 
property  of  Mr.  Kobert  Howard,  by  whom  the  rent  charge  is  paid. 
— Mary,  the  widow  of  the  testator,  afterwards  the  wife  of  John 
Fowle,  Esq.,  in  1708,  left  by  will  £100,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  pur- 
chase of  land ;  the  rents  thereof  to  be  applied  for  repairing  the 
almshouse,  to  be  built  pursuant  to  the  will  of  the  said  Thos.  Neale : 
and,  when  there  should  be  no  occasion  to  repair  the  almshouse, 
then  to  be  distributed  amongst  the  poor  widows  of  the  parish,  or  to 
be  applied  to  put  out  poor  children  of  the  parish  apprentice. — 
Elizabeth  Archer  by  her  will,  dated  in  1716,  gave  £80,  for  pur- 
chasing land ;  the  rent  of  which  to  be  applied  towards  teaching 
poor  children  of  the  parish  to  read,  and  to  give  each  of  them  a 
Bible,  when  they  could  read  it. — An  almshouse  was  erected,  pursuant 
to  the  above  directions  :  it  contains  eight  rooms,  inhabited  by  eight 
poor  persons.  There  is  also  a  school- room  in  Bramfield,  appro- 
priated, or  belonging  to  the  charity,  which  was  built  at  the  expense 
of  the  parishioners.  The  sums  bequeathed  by  Mary  Fowle  and 
Elizabeth  Archer,  appear  to  have  been  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
a  small  farm,  in  the  parish  of  Metfield  ;  comprising  a  house,  barn, 
and  10j  acres  of  land ;  rent  £13  a  year. — The  town  estate  here,  is 
a  cottage  and  two  acres  of  land,  being  copyhold  of  the  manor  of 
Bramfield,  and  rented  at  £8  per  annum  ;  which  is  applied  in  addi- 
tion to  the  income  arising  from  the  almshouse  and  the  school 
charities. 


214  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

BULCHAMP. — BALD-CAMP,  or  BULECAMPE, 

Is  a  hamlet  of  Bliburgh,  and  so  called,  Mr.  Gardner  thinks,  from  a 
severe  contest  maintained  between  the  Mercians  and  East  Angles, 
in  654,  at  this  place ;  where  King  Anna,  and  his  eldest  son  Fermi- 
nus,  were  slain,  and  their  bodies  conveyed  to  Bliburgh,  and  there 
interred.  Bald-Camp  signifying  a  bold  fighting,  or  a  contest  hand 
to  hand. 

The  family  of  Kerdiston  became  early  enfeoffed  of  this  lordship, 
which  they  held  of  the  barony  of  Bainard  Castle. 

By  a  deed  without  date,  Andrew,  son  of  Eichard  de  Sybeton, 
grants  lands  in  this  place  to  Sibton  Abbey ;  and  Sir  Fulk  de  Ker- 
diston then  held  lands  here.  In  the  16th  of  King  Edward  I., 
William,  son  of  Koger  de  Kerdiston,  held  two  fees  here,  and  in 
Claxton,  in  Norfolk  :  he  was  brother  to  Sir  Eulk. 

At  the  same  period,  Walter  de  Kerdiston  (probably  another  bro- 
ther) held  two  fees,  one  here,  and  the  other  in  Aslacton,  in  Norfolk; 
which  were  assigned  to  William,  Lord  Koss,  of  Hamlake,  and  Maud 
his  wife,  youngest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John,  son  of  Alexander  de 
Vaux,  of  Holt,  in  Norfolk,  on  the  partition  made  of  her  father's  estate. 

Eobert  de  Vaux,  gave  all  the  churches  and  tithes  of  his  de- 
mesne to  Thetford  Abbey,  amongst  which  Belcham  (or  Bulkham) 
is  included ;  and  Hubert  de  Montchensy  is  said  to  have  given  two 
parts  of  his  tithes  in  the  same  parish,  to  the  said  Monastery. 

The  lordship  appears  to  have  subsequently  passed  as  that  of 
Henham,  in  tin's  hundred. 


BUXLOW. 

In  the  30th  of  King  Edward  I.,  there  was  an  exchange  made 
between  Eichard  Page,  of  this  parish,  and  Henry,  son  of  Haman, 
of  Bittering,  in  Norfolk ;  whereby  the  former  grants  to  the  said 
Henry,  all  his  tenements,  with  the  rents,  wards,  reliefs,  escheats, 
&c.,  in  this  parish,  with  the  advowson  of  the  church,  and  in  Stern- 
field,  in  this  county ;  granting  to  the  said  Eichard  Page,  all  his 
tenements  in  Bittering,  with  the  appurtenances,  and  ten  marks  in 
his  pocket.  This  deed  is  dated  at  Buxlow. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO.  215 

Since  the  decay  of  this  parish  church,  it  has  been  consolidated 
with  Knoddishall.  The  family  of  Jenney,  until  very  lately,  held  a 
good  estate  here ;  but  the  advowson,  and  the  principal  part  of  their 
property  in  this  place,  was  sold  to  Admiral  Vernon ;  from  whom  it 
passed  to  the  Lord  Orwell,  Earl  of  Shipbrooke.  It  is  now  the  inhe- 
ritance of  Sir  Kobert  Harland,  Bart.,  in  right  of  his  lady,  sister  and 
heiress  of  the  late  John  Vernon,  Esq. 


CHEDISTON. — CEDESTAN,  or  CHESTON. 

Robert  de  Vallibus  (or  Vaux),  gave  certain  tithes  in  this  parish 
to  Thetford  Abbey,  but  the  rectory  was  appropriated  to  the  Priory 
of  Pentney,  in  Norfolk,  of  which  he  was  the  founder ;  and  they 
presented  the  vicar  until  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery.  The 
patronage  of  this  church  is  now  vested  with  that  of  Halesworth, 
and  belongs  to  Mrs.  Badeley,  whose  husband  was  formerly  the  in- 
cumbent here.  The  Rev.  Charles  Joseph  Badeley  is  the  present 
vicar. 

In  the  2nd  of  King  Henry  IV.,  John  Godfrey  was  living  in  this 
parish ;  he  married  Catherine,  relict  of  Nicholas  Gavel,  of  Kirby 

Cane,  in  Norfolk,  Esq.     In  the  time  of  King  Charles  I.,  

Norton,  Esq.,  was  a  resident  here. 

In  1655,  Sir  John  Pettus,  Knt.,  held  this  lordship  and  estate. 
He  took  part  with  King  Charles,  against  the  Parliament,  and  com- 
pounded for  £886  13s.  4d.  About  this  period  Richard  Potter  and 
Humphrey  Heyward,  Gents.,  were  residents  in  Chediston. 

Roger  Young,  minister  of  St.  Nicholas  parish,  in  Ipswich,  was 
owner  of  an  estate  in  this  place,  worth  about  £60  or  £70  per  an- 
num, purchased  by  Dr.  Thomas  Young,  his  father.  Chediston  Hall 
is  now  the  estate  and  residence  of  George  Parkyns,  Esq. 

A  branch  of  the  house  of  Claxton  became  early  seated  here,  who 
derive  from  the  parish  of  Claxton,  in  Norfolk.  In  the  20th  of  King 
Henry  III.,  Walter  de  Claxton  was  interested  there ;  and  conside- 
rable property  was  conveyed  by  William  de  Claxton,  in  that  parish 
and  its  vicinity,  to  Sir  Thomas  de  Kerdeston,  Knt.,  who  deceased 
in  1446. 

The  first  of  this  family  concerned  here,  appears  to  be  Stafford 


216  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Claxton ;  whose  son  William,  of  Cheston,  married  and  had  issue : — 

Hamon  Claxton,  of  this  parish.=Alice,  d.of  JohnCocket, of  Ampton,Esq. 

i — * 

William  Claxton,  of  Cheston.=  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  John  Throgmorton,  of 

j J      Allhallows,  in  South  Elmham. 

Mary  Browne,  of— John  Claxton,  Esq.,-_Elinor,  dau.  of  Thomas  Sydney,  of  Wai- 
Norfolk,  1st  wife  [      of  this  parish.  singham  in  Norfolk,  2nd  wife. 

I -J  'L 1 

Hamon  and  Elizabeth  Claxton.  Thomasine  Claxton. 

Hamon,  second  son  of  the  above  William  Claxton,  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife,  resided  at  Great  Liverm ere,  in  this  county;  in  the  account 
of  which  parish  his  descent  will  be  noticed. 

ARMS. — Claxton:  gules;  on  a  fess,  between  three  hedgehogs, 
argent,  an  escutcheon  of  pretence,  barry  of  ten,  of  the  2nd,  azure ; 
a  canton,  ermine. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here  is  a  farm,  comprising  a  house, 
barn,  stable,  and  about  30  acres  of  land,  called  "  Cheston  Town 
Farm."  It  has  been  vested  in  trustees  since  the  reign  of  Henry  VII., 
for  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  other  charges  to  be  imposed  upon 
the  town  of  Cheston ;  and  is  at  present  let  for  £30  a  year.  The 
rent  is  applied  as  the  trust  directs. — An  alrnshouse,  in  three  tene- 
ments, with  a  small  piece  of  ground,  divided  into  separate  gardens, 
was  settled  in  trustees,  by  Henry  Claxton,  by  deed  dated  in  1575, 
for  the  use  of  the  poor  inhabitants  of  this  parish  :  the  premises  are 
occupied  by  three  poor  families. — An  annuity  of  20s.  payable  out 
of  three  acres  of  land,  in  Cookley,  called  "Bowers,"  and  a  common 
way  leading  from  Walpole  towards  Harleston,  was  granted  and 
assigned  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Sagar,  vicar  of  Chediston,  to  trustees, 
to  be  distributed  to  the  most  needy  poor  of  that  parish  on  St.  Tho- 
mas's day.  This  annuity  is  paid  by  Lord  Hunting-field,  the  owner 
of  the  property  charged. — The  annual  sum  received  from  Henry 
Smith's  charity,  at  present  varies  from  £15  to  £20;  which  is  given 
away  to  poor  persons  of  the  parish  in  meal,  in  quantities  according 
to  the  size  of  their  families. 


COOKLEY,  or  COKELEI. 

Mr.  Kirby  says,  the  same  patrons  presented  to  this  church  who 
presented  to  Huntingfield  ;  and  among  the  inquisitions  of  the  50th 
of  King  Edward  III.,  the  jury  find  that  William  Lord  Huntingfield, 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  217 

long  before  his  death,  was  seized  of  this  advowson,  and  Pettistree, 
in  Willford  hundred ;  and  he  probably  held  the  lordship  of  Cookley, 
late  the  property  of  Sir  Joshua  Vanneck,  now  of  Baron  Huntingfield. 

In  1546,  Sir  Anthony  Heveningham  settled,  by  fine  on  himself, 
and  Mary  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Shelton,  senior,  of 
Shelton,  Knt.,  a  lordship  in  this  parish.  Sir  Anthony  died  in  1558, 
and  Mary  his  widow,  re-married  to  Philip  Appleyard,  Esq.,  but  died 
soon  after,  leaving  Sir  Arthur  Heveningham,  Knt.,  her  son  and  heir; 
who,  about  1570,  appears  to  have  been  owner  of  this  manor. 

Mem. — John  and  Elizabeth  Smith,  of  this  parish,  were  tried  and 
convicted  at  the  assizes  holden  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  March  21, 
1812,  for  the  wilful  murder  of  Mary  Smith,  an  infant,  aged  eight 
years,  the  daughter  of  the  said  John  Smith,  by  a  former  wife,  in 
consequence  of  a  series  of  starvation  and  cruelty.  They  were  both 
executed  at  Ipswich,  on  Monday,  the  23rd.  John  Smith  was  39, 
and  his  wife  27  years  of  age :  they  had  been  married  only  four 
months.  The  trial  at  large  was  published  by  Gedge  and  Barker, 
Bury  St.  Edmund's  ;  also  "  A  Sermon  preached  at  the  dying  request 
of  John  Smith,  by  J.  Dennant,"  8vo. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate,  as  belonging  to  this  parish  church, 
consists  of  two  houses,  a  home  stall,  and  about  four  acres  of  land, 
which  are  let  at  £19  a  year  ;  and  the  rents  are  applied  about  the 
repairs  and  ornaments  of  the  church,  the  surplus  being  given  to  the 
poor  in  occasional  relief. — Thomas  Neale,  in  1701,  gave  by  will  the 
yearly  sum  of  <£3,  to  be  employed  towards  teaching  six  poor  chil- 
dren, of  the  poorest  parents  of  the  parish,  to  read  the  Bible ;  and 
the  further  yearly  sum  of  10s.  to  buy  Bibles,  or  other  religious 
books :  and  the  yearly  sum  of  £3  10s.  is  paid  out  of  an  estate 
charged  therewith,  in  this  parish,  belonging  to  Mr.  Saunders. 


COVEHITHE,  or  NORTHALES. 

This  church  was  impropriated  to  the  monks  of  Wangford  Priory, 
and  granted  therewith,  on  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  to 
Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk;  in  whose  family  it  continued  until 
1612,  when  Sir  John  Rous,  Knt.,  purchased  this  impropriation  of 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  together  with  the  other  Wangford  estates, 
and  the  fee  thereof  still  continues  in  that  family ;  but  Sir  Thomas 


218  HUNDRED  OF  BLlTHlNG. 

Sherlock  Gooch,  Bart.,  is  the  present  impropriator,  under  a  lease 
for  99  years ;  being  part  of  the  estate  purchased  by  his  ancestor,  of 
Thomas  Carthew,  of  Benacre,  Esq.  The  vicarage  has  been  since 
consolidated  to  Benacre. 

In  1308,  John  de  Cove,  and  Eve  his  wife,  had  a  grant  of  free 
warren  in  their  lands  here. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  vested  in  Simon  de  Pierpoint, 
and  subsequently  passed  to  the  Dacres  family;  in  which  it  conti- 
nued until  about  the  middle  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign.  Sir  Thos. 
Sherlock  Gooch,  Bart.,  of  Benacre  Hall,  is  the  present  owner  of 
the  lordship. 

John  Bale,  Bishop  of  Ossory,  in  Ireland,  son  of  Henry  Bale,  and 
Margaret  his  wife,  was  born  in  this  parish,  the  21st  of  November, 
1495.  His  parents  being  in  poor  circumstances,  and  encumbered 
with  a  large  family,  he  was  entered,  at  twelve  years  of  age,  in  the 
Monastery  of  Carmelites,  at  Norwich,  and  from  thence  removed  to 
Jesus  College,  in  Cambridge. 

He  was  educated  in  the  Koman  religion,  but  afterwards  became 
a  protestant,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Thos.  Lord  Wentworth, 
which,  however,  greatly  exposed  him  to  the  displeasure  of  the 
Eomish  clergy,  against  whom  he  was  protected  by  Lord  Cromwell, 
a  nobleman  higli  in  favour  with  King  Henry  VIII.  On  Cromwell's 
death,  Bale  was  obliged  to  retire  into  Holland,  where  he  resided 
eight  years ;  during  which  time  he  wrote  several  pieces  against 
popery. 

On  the  accession  of  Edward  VI.,  he  was  recalled  into  England, 
and  presented  to  the  living  of  Bishops  Stocke,  in  Southampton : 
in  1552,  he  was  nominated  to  the  see  of  Ossory,  in  Ireland ;  whence 
on  the  death  of  King  Edward,  he  was  forced  to  fly,  and  in  his  pas- 
sage over  the  sea,  was  taken  prisoner  by  pirates  ;  after  many  hard- 
ships and  dangers,  he  arrived  safely  in  Switzerland,  where  he 
continued  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary. 

After  her  death,  he  returned  from  exile,  but  not  to  his  bishopric, 
contenting  himself  with  a  Prebend  in  the  cathedral  church  of  Can- 
terbury, to  which  he  was  promoted  in  1560  ;  and  in  which  city  he 
died,  in  1563,  and  was  buried  in  the  cathedral  of  that  place. 

Fuller  says,  "  One  may  wonder,  that,  being  so  learned  a  man, 
who  had  done  and  suffered  so  much  for  religion,  higher  promotion 
was  not  forced  upon  him  ;  seeing,  about  the  beginning  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  bishoprics  went  about  begging  able  men  to  receive  them. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO.  219 

But  probably  he  was  a  person  more  learned  than  discreet,  fitter  to 
write  than  to  govern,  as  unable  to  command  his  own  passion ;  and 
'  biliosus  Balceus'  passeth  for  his  true  character." 

His  fame  now  chiefly  rests  on  his  "De  Scriptoribus  Britannicis ;" 
which,  with  every  deduction  that  can  be  made  from  this  great  work, 
it  must  ever  be  regarded  as  the  foundation  of  British  biography. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  40  acres,  or  thereabouts,  which 
was  set  out  for  the  poor  on  an  inclosure,  lets  at  £25  a  year ;  which 
is  laid  out  in  coals,  and  given  among  the  poor  of  the  parish,  in  dif- 
ferent quantities,  according  to  the  size  of  their  families. — There  is 
another  piece  of  land  in  this  parish,  which  has  long  been  appro- 
priated to  the  poor ;  and  by  the  report  of  old  inhabitants,  it  is 
represented  to  contain  about  seven  acres,  but  its  precise  extent  and 
boundaries  are  not  known :  part  of  it  is  waste,  and  serves  no  other 
purpose  than  that  of  a  covert  for  game.  The  sum  of  £2  12s.  6d. 
a  year,  is  paid  as  rent,  by  a  tenant  of  Sir  Thomas  Sherlock  Gooch, 
Bart.;  but  it  appears  from  the  returns  of  Charitable  Donations 
made  to  Parliament  in  1786,  that  it  then  produced  £3  15s.  a  year. 


CRATFIELD,  or  CRATAFELDA. 

The  several  manors  mentioned  by  Kirby,  in  this  parish,  appear 
to  have  merged  into  one,  which  was  held  by  Sir  Thos.  Coke,  K.B., 
of  Holkham,  in  Norfolk;  who,  in  1 728,  was  elevated  to  the  peerage, 
as  Baron  Lovel,  and  in  1733,  to  the  more  honourable  title  of  Vis- 
count Coke,  of  Holkham,  and  Earl  of  Leicester. 

They  afterwards  became  vested  in  Sir  Joshua  Vanneck,  Bart.,  by 
purchase  from  the  said  Earl ;  and  are  now  the  estate  of  his  de- 
scendant, Joshua  Vanneck,  Baron  Huntingfielcl. 

The  ancient  and  very  respectable  family  of  Smith  were  seated 
here.  The  earliest  of  whom  we  find  mention,  is  Sir  Thurston 
Smith,  of  this  parish,  Knt.,  who  married  Willoughby,  daughter  of 
Edward  Brews,  4th  son  of  Sir  John  de  Brews,  of  Wenham,  in  this 
county;  whose  descendants  inherited  considerable  property  in  this, 
and  the  adjoining  county  of  Norfolk. 

Simon  Smith,  of  Cratfield,  had  William ;  whose  son,  Simon 
Smith,  of  Winston,  in  Norfolk,  and  Beccles,  in  this  county,  inhe- 
rited the  manor  of  Whetacre-Burgh,  with  its  members,  in  Norfolk ; 


220  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO. 

and  Burgh  Castle,  Easton  Bavent,  Wisset,   Kessingland,  &c.,  m 
Suffolk. 

He  married  the  sister  and  heir  of  William  Koberts,  Town  Clerk 
of  Yarmouth,  and  Attorney  at  Law,  in  Beccles;  and  inherited  most 
of  the  above  property  in  her  right.  Their  descendants  became 
seated  at  Winston,  in  Norfolk. 

In  Cratfield  was  also  seated  the  ancient  family  of  Lany.  John 
Lauy,  Esq.,  the  father,  and  John  Lany,  Esq.,  the  son,  both  Coun- 
cellors  at  Law,  were  many  years  Recorders  of  Ipswich  :  the  one 
succeeded  the  other.  The  elder  of  them  died  in  1633,  and  was 
buried  in  St.  Margaret's  church,  in  Ipswich ;  the  other,  in  St.  Ni- 
cholas church  there.  Benjamin  Lany,  younger  brother,  was  suc- 
cessively Bishop  of  Peterborough,  Lincoln,  and  Ely,  where  he 
deceased  in  1074.  He  published  some  sermons,  and  a  small  trea- 
tise against  Hobbes. 

ARMS. — Smith :  barry,  wavy  of  eight,  argent  and  azure ;  on  a 
chief,  gules,  three  barnacles,  or. 

Mem. — At  the  assizes  holden  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  in  March 
1812,  Edmund  Thrower  was  capitally  convicted,  and  received  sen- 
tence of  death,  for  the  wilful  murder  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
Carter,  father  and  daughter,  of  this  parish,  on  the  16th  of  October, 
1793,  by  fracturing  their  skulls  with  a  hammer.  He  was  executed 
on  the  23rd  of  March,  1812,  at  Ipswich. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  messuage,  called  the 
town  house,  with  land  adjoining,  containing  between  one  ar:d  two 
acres ;  two  farms,  containing  together  116  acres,  in  the  parish  of 
Cratfield;  the  fourth  part  of  a  manor  called  "  Bucenhams;"  and  a 
messuage,  and  about  17  acres  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Horham.  It 
appears  by  a  deed,  of  the  9th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  that  the  property 
in  this  parish,  was  granted  by  the  lord  of  the  manor,  in  considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  £70,  being  the  money  of  the  inhabitants  ;  but 
no  trusts  respecting  the  property,  are  declared  by  the  deed ;  and  the 
fourth  part  of  the  manor  was  conveyed  by  Thomas  Pooley,  by  deed, 
in  1710,  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  £181,  to  Edward  Hobarts, 
and  divers  other  persons,  in  fee,  but  without  any  declaration  of 
trusts.  This  property  produces  together,  a  rental  of  about  £180 
a  year ;  which  is  applied  to  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  in 
other  common  uses  for  the  parishioners  ;  and  about  £30  a  year  is 
expended  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  which  are  partly  given,  and 
partly  sold  at  a  reduced  price,  to  poor  persons  of  the  parish. — The 


HUNDRED  OF  BUTHING. 


portion  of  the  dividends  of  the  stock  belonging  to  Leman's  charity 
(of  which  an  account  is  given  in  Brampton),  is  applied  in  payment 
to  the  master  of  a  Sunday  school,  and  in  buying  books  for  the 
•scholars. 


DARSHAM. — DERSHAM,  or  DEVISHAM. 

There  were  formerly  four  manors  in  this  parish,  namely :  Darsham 
cum  Yoxford  (supposed  to  be  the  same  held  by  Asceline,  and 
granted,  with  the  advowson,  by  William,  son  of  Eoger  Bigod, 
founder  of  the  Priory  of  Cluniac  Monks  at  Thetford,  to  that 
house);  Abbot's,  as  belonging  to  Leiston  Abbey;  Austin's,  and 
Gerrard's. 

The  former  were  granted,  at  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery, 
to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk ;  the  latter,  to  Charles  Brandon, 
Duke  of  Suffolk  ;  and  subsequently,  to  Thos.  Denton  and  Richard 
Nottingham:  the  whole  afterwards  passed  from  the  Bedingfield 
family  to  that  of  Rous,  and  now  belong  to  the  Earl  of  Stradbroke. 

The  several  hamlets  mentioned  by  Kirby,  as  belonging  to  this 
place,  appear  to  be  merely  different  greens,  that  most  likely,  first 
obtained  their  names  from  some  early  inhabitant  or  chief  proprietor, 
such  as  "  Cheyney's  Green,"  "  Burstill  Green,"  &c.,  which  they  still 
retain.  Here  was  formerly  a  fine  old  manor  house,  called  Darsham 
Hall,  now  reduced  to  a  farm  house. 

Darsham  Hall  was  built  by  Edward  Hummings,  Gent.,  and  was 
purchased  by  Thomas  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  of  Flemming's  Hall,  in 
Bedingfield ;  who  left  it  to  Philip  Bedingfield,  of  Ditchingham,  in 
Norfolk.  Esq.,  his  eldest  son.  He  sold  the  same  to  Sir  Thomas 
Bedingfield,  Knt.,  his  younger  brother,  who  was  a  resident  here  in 
1655.  Sir  Thomas  was  one  of  the  Commissioners  for  keeping  the 
Great  Seal,  in  the  time  of  the  long  Parliament,  and  was  a  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  until  he  refused  to  engage  to  be  true 
and  faithful  to  the  Commonwealth  of  England,  as  then  established. 

He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Charles  Hoskins,  of  the  county 
of  Surrey,  Esq.,  and  sometime  citizen  of  London ;  by  whom  he  had 
issue  one  son  and  three  daughters.  Sir  Thomas  deceased  in  1660, 
•and  was  interred  near  his  father  and  mother,  in  this  parish  church. 
His  only  son  Thomas,  married  Hannah,  the  daughter  and  heir  of 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 


Philip  Bacon,  of  —  ^  -  in  this  county,  Esq.,  and  died  without 
issue.  His  eldest  daughter  died  young,  and  unmarried.  Mary,  the 
second  daughter,  married  Sir  John  Knevet,  of  Aslrwell  Thorpe,  ill 
Norfolk,  K.B.  Dorothy,  the  youngest  daughter,  married  Nevill 
Catelyne,  of  Kirhy  Cane,  in  the  same  county,  Esq.;  afterwards  Sir 
Nevill  Catelyne,  Knt. 

In  "  Cotman's  Suffolk  Brasses,"  is  an  etching  from  this  parish 
church,  of  Anne,  late  wife  of  Eustace  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  of  Holme 
Hall,  in  Norfolk,  who  deceased  in  1C41,  aged  80  years  and  7  months, 
with  the  arms  of  Bedingfield  impaling  his  wife's,  and  also  hers  in  a 
lozenge. 

Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  1  7th  century,  the  family  of  Purvis 
hecame  first  seated  here;  who  derive  from  William  Purvis,  of  Abbey 
Hill,  near  Edinburgh,  living  at  the  commencement  of  that  century. 
George  Purvis,  Esq.,  settled  in  England,  arid  became  a  Captain  in 
the  Royal  Navy.  He  married  at  Stepney,  in  1679,  Margaret  Berry; 
who  died  in  1717,  and  was  buried  at  Darsham.  Captain  Purvis 
deceased  in  1715,  and  was  also  buried  there. 

George  Purvis,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  successor,  was  Comp- 
troller of  the  Navy,  in  1735,  and  M.P.  for  Aldeburgh,  in  1732. 
He  died  at  Islington,  in  1740,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 
Charles  Wager  Purvis,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  Rear-Admiral  of  the 
Royal  Navy. 

Admiral  Purvis,  born  in  1715,  married  in  1741,  Amy  Godfrey, 
niece  of  Dr.  Mawson,  Bishop  of  Ely;  and  by  her,  had  Charles,  his 
heir;  Thomas,  in  holy  orders,  rector  of  Melton,  in  this  county; 
and  William.  He  died  in  1772,  and  was  buried  at  Darsham  :  she 
died  at  Yoxford,  in  1777. 

Charles  Purvis,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded  ;  and 
served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county,  in  1794.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Edward  Holden  Cruttenden,  Esq., 
and  by  her  (who  deceased  in  1816),  had  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. Mr.  Purvis  died  at  Bath,  in  1808,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
eldest  son,  the  present  Charles  Purvis,  Esq.,  of  35,  Nottingham 
Place,  Regent's  Park,  London. 

ARMS.  —  Purvis:  azure;  on  a  fess,  argent,  between  three  mas  - 
cles,  or,  as  many  cinquefoils  of  the  field. 

CHARITIES.  —  There  are  some  cottages,  with  a  small  piece  of  land 
in  this  parish  ;  and  a  cottage,  and  about  half  an  acre  of  land  in  the 
parish  of  Thebarton,  which  let  at  rents  amounting  together  to 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  223 

£27  18s.  a  year.  The  rents  are  applied  in  repairs  of  the  premises, 
in  a  payment  of  £4  a  year  towards  the  support  of  a  Sunday  school, 
and  in  the  reparation  of  the  parish  church.  It  is  unknown  how  the 
property  was  acquired. 


DUNWICH. — DUNEUUIC,  DENWYK,  or  DONEWYC. 

This  "  Sea-girt  City,"  once  an  episcopal  see,  Royal  residence,  and 
town  corporate,  is  now,  by  the  violent  and  frequent  incursions  of 
the  ocean,  reduced  to  a  few  mean  dwellings :  its  ancient  state,  and 
grandeur,  has  however  been  well  described  in  the  pages  of  its  faith- 
ful historian,  Mr.  Thomas  Gardner ;  from  whose  work  we  select  the 
following  particulars. 

Its  ancient  splendour,  as  related  by  some,  must  be  considered 
traditionary,  and  therefore  doubtful ;  it,  however,  certainly  was  ho- 
noured with  the  royal  palace  of  some  of  the  East  Anglian  Kings, 
and  dignified  with  the  first  episcopal  see  of  that  kingdom. 

In  Edward  the  Confessor's  time,  Edric  de  Laxfield  held  Dun- 
wich,  for  one  manor ;  and  when  the  Conqueror's  survey  was  taken, 
Robert  Malet,  a  Norman  Baron,  held  the  same:  but  about  the 
commencement  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry  II.,  it  became  Royal 
demesne. 

This  town  was  firmly  attached  to  the  interest  of  King  John ; 
who,  for  their  loyalty,  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign,  granted  them  a 
charter  of  liberty,  making  Dunwich  a  free  borough,  with  divers 
other  Royal  favours;  and,  in  the  10th  he  confirmed  all  former 
charters,  adding  a  gild  of  merchants,  with  as  ample  privileges  as 
enjoyed  by  any  town  in  the  kingdom,  and  honoured  the  Corporation 
with  a  Mayor;  which  commenced  in  1216,  the  last  year  of  his 
reign,  and  continued  130  years.  In  the  14th  of  King  Henry  III., 
that  Monarch,  for  faithful  services  of  the  men  of  Dunwich,  con- 
firmed all  his  father's  grants,  with  many  additional  privileges. 

At  this  period  the  town  appears  to  have  attained  to  the  height 
of  its  prosperity ;  but  in  the  following  reign,  a  considerable  decline 
was  beginning  to  take  place;  yet  it  still  continued  to  maintain  eleven 
ships  of  war,  sixteen  fair  ships,  twenty  barks,  or  vessels  trading  to 
the  North  seas,  Iceland,  &c.,  and  twenty-four  small  boats  for  the 
home  fishery. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO. 

But  the  greatest  injury  this  town  sustained,  was  the  removal  of 
its  harbour,  when  another  part  was  opened  within  the  limits  of 
Bliburgh,  not  far  from  Walberswick  Quay,  and  two  miles  nearer 
Southwold,  in  the  time  of  King  Edward  II. ;  who,  to  compensate 
the  town  for  this  loss,  sent  his  mandate  to  John  Howard,  Sheriff  of 
the  county,  to  make  proclamation  for  all  goods,  merchandise,  and 
fish,  imported  at  the  new  port,  to  be  put  to  sale  nowhere  but  at  the 
ancient  market  places  in  Dunwich,  on  forfeiture  of  goods  and  mer- 
chandise so  vended. 

In  the  20th  of  King  Edward  III.,  the  government  of  this  bo- 
rough by  a  Mayor  was  dispensed  with,  and  two  bailiff's  only  were 
elected  from  that  period,  as  chief  magistrates  ;  and  in  the  31st  of 
the  same  reign,  the  King  was  graciously  pleased  to  reduce  the  fee- 
farm  rents  to  £14  10s.  9d. ;  which  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  II., 
and  Richard  I.,  was  £120  13s.  4d.,  but  had  gradually  been  reduced 
from  that  period  to  the  4th  of  George  I.,  when  it  was  only  £5; 
when  processes  were  served  upon  several  persons  in  the  borough, 
for  arrears  of  rent  due  to  the  Crown  for  their  fee  farm. 

At  the  same  time,  ten  burgesses  were  imprisoned  in  Beccles  gaol, 
for  non-payment ;  but  upon  trial,  in  consideration  of  their  poverty, 
from  the  loss  of  lands  by  the  encroachments  of  the  sea.  disuse  of 
their  port,  and  deprivation  of  all  tolls,  customs,  and  dues,  formerly 
paid  by  Bliburgh,  Walberswick,  and  Southwold,  it  was  adjudged  in 
their  favour ;  the  town  acquitted,  and  Sir  George  Downing,  Bart., 
obtained  a  grant  of  the  fee  farm  for  99  years,  at  £5  per  annum. 

Dunwich  became  a  Bishop's  See  by  means  of  Sigebe:t,  King 
of  the  East  Angles  ;  and  Felix,  a  Burgundian,  was  consecrated 
Bishop  thereof  by  Honorius,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  about  the 
year  636.  He  died  in  647,  and  was  buried  here ;  but  his  body 
was  afterwards  removed  to  Soham,  in  Cambridgeshire,  and  interred 
in  the  Monastery  there,  which  was,  not  long  after,  demolished  by 
the  Danes.  His  bones  were  discovered,  in  Canute's  reign,  by  Abbot 
Ethelstan,  and  removed  by  him,  to  his  Abbey  at  Bamsey. 

After  him,  three  others  succeeded,  who  presided  over  the  whole 
kingdom  of  the  East  Angles ;  when  the  see  became  divided,  and  a 
Bishop  for  the  Norfolk  division  resided  at  Elmham,  and  the  Bishop 
of  Dunwich  presided  over  the  Suffolk  division  only;  until  the  death 
of  Weremund,  in  870,  the  fourteenth  Bishop  in  succession  from 
Felix,  when  it  again  became  united  with  Elmham,  by  Wibred,  his 
successor,  who  resided  there. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO.  225 

In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  here  was  but  one  church, 
dedicated  to  St.  Felix,  hy  whom  it  is  supposed  to  have  been 
erected ;  but  in  the  reign  of  the  Conqueror,  two  more  had  been 
added ;  and  afterwards  this  town  contained  six,  if  not  eight,  parish 
churches,  and  three  chapels ;  also  a  church  belonging  to  the  Knights 
Templars,  endowed  with  a  considerable  estate  here,  and  the  adjoining 
hamlets. 

All  Saints  is  the  only  church  of  which  any  thing  remains ;  and 
in  1754,  divine  service  was  performed  there  once  a  fortnight,  from 
Lady-day  to  Michaelmas,  and  monthly  during  the  rest  of  the  year: 
the  minister's  stipend  not  exceeding  £12  a  year,  exclusive  of  a 
small  provisional  allowance  for  refreshment,  in  consideration  of  his 
journey  thither.  The  ruins  of  this  only,  now  remain.  But  it  ap- 
pears the  patronage  of  the  only  church  now  in  Dunwich,  and  which 
is  a  perpetual  curacy,  is  vested  in  Frederick  Barne,  Esq.,  in  which 
divine  service  is  performed  every  Sunday.  This  probably  is  the  re- 
mains of  the  building  mentioned  by  Mr.  Gardner,  as  standing  on 
the  north  side  of  the  church  yard  of  St.  James's  Hospital,  then  in 
ruins  ;  but  supposed  to  have  been  formerly  used  as  a  chapel  for  the 
lepers  of  that  hospital,  and  now  used  as  the  parish  church. 

The  religious  concerned  here  were,  the  Franciscan  and  Domini- 
can, or  Grey  Friars  minors,  and  Black  Friars,  or  Friars  Preachers. 
The  former  was  founded  by  Richard  Fitz-Jolm,  and  Alice  his  wife, 
and  its  revenues  were  afterwards  augmented  by  King  Henry  III. ; 
but  Gardner  thinks  the  Corporation  of  the  Borough  were  rather  the 
founders,  for  they  gave  the  Friars  a  place  on  which  to  build  their 
Convent,  in  1289,  which  contained  seven  acres.  A  portion  of  this 
Friary  is  converted  into  farm  buildings,  consisting  of  a  bam  and 
other  offices :  two  of  the  gates  remain  nearly  entire ;  views  of  which 
have  been  repeatedly  engraved. 

The  Monastery  of  the  Friars  Preachers,  was  founded  by  Sir  Ro- 
ger de  Holishe,  Knt.  ;  who  was  buried  in  the  conventual  church. 
They  were  both  granted  to  John  Eyre,  in  1544.  The  Dominicans 
came  into  England  in  1221  ;  and  had  a  convent  here  soon  after : 
Gardner  says,  it  was  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall,  but  that  the  whole 
has  long  been  swallowed  up  by  the  sea. 

Besides  these  religious  edifices,  Dunwich  contained  two  hospitals. 
St.  James's  Hospital  is  mentioned  as  early  as  the  reign  of  King 
Richard  I. ;  it  is  described  in  an  old  manuscript  as  "  a  great  one, 
and  a  fair  large  one  after  the  old  fashion,  and  divers  tenements, 


226  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO. 

houses,  and  lands,  to  the  same  belonging,  to  the  use  of  the  poor  sick 
and  impotant  people  there."  The  revenues,  which  were  formerly 
very  considerable,  by  mis-management,  fell  into  decay ;  and  the 
large  income  it  originally  possessed  was,  in  the  year  1754,  reduced 
to  £21  19s.  8d.  per  annum. 

The  other  hospital,  Donus  Dei  (or  MaisonDieu),  was  also  well  en- 
dowed with  tenements,  houses,  lands,  and  rents,  but  like  the  former, 
fell  considerably  into  decay  from  various  causes;  so  that,  in  1754, 
Gardner  states  they  amounted  to  no  more  than  ,£11  17s.  It  is  in 
the  patronage  of  the  Crown,  and  the  first  mention  thereof  occurs  as 
early  as  the  reign  of  King  Henry  III.  According  to  Leland,  here 
was  also,  at  a  very  early  period,  a  cell  of  monks,  subordinate  to  Eye 
Monastery. 

This  town  has  sent  two  Members  to  Parliament,  ever  since  the 
Commons  of  England  first  acquired  the  right  of  representation,  in 
the  1st  of  King  Edward  I.,  until  1832  ;  when  the  borough  became 
disfranchised  by  Act  of  Parliament.  A  list  of  which,  continued  from 
that  by  Kirby,  is  annexed. 

Roman  remains  have  frequently  been  discovered  here  :  a  pot,  or 
urn,  of  about  a  quart  measure,  was  taken  out  of  the  cliff  at  Dunwich, 
about  five  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  earth,  in  1786;  pieces  of 
many  others,  of  a  similar,  and  different  make,  were  found  at  the 
same  time,  filled  with  ashes,  bones,  &c. ;  and  in  1787,  a  pot  of 
whitish  stone  was  dug  up  by  some  labourers  near  Dunwich.  They 
are  both  engraved  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  1788,  p.  792. 
A  curious  and  very  ancient  seal,  found  there  in  1790,  is  also  en- 
graved in  the  same  periodical  for  that  year,  at  p.  1177 ;  also  an  an- 
cient brass  key,  found  in  the  vicinity,  is  engraved  in  the  same  work 
for  1806,  p.  217  :  a  key  of  a  similar  make,  but  much  larger,  may 
be  seen  in  Gardner's  "Dunwich,"  plate  iv.  p.  96. 

The  town  ARMS  are  a  Ship  under  sail ;  in  chief,  a  crescent  and 
star;  in  base,  three  fishes,  naiant. 

CHARITIES. — St.  James's  Hospital. — The  Maison  Dieu.  These 
hospitals  have  now,  for  a  long  time,  been  consolidated  as  a  charity, 
under  the  government  of  a  master,  for  the  support  or  relief  of  aged 
widows  and  poor  persons  of  this  town  ;  and  particularly  such  as  are 
affected  by  insanity,  or  loss  of  speech,  or  labour  under  any  peculiar 
disorder  or  affLcuon. — Tha  lands  constituting  the  property  of  the 
consolidated  charity,  consisted  for  the  most  part  of  detached  pieces, 
which,  taken  separately,  were  of  trifling  value;  but  the  present 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO.  227 

master,  who  lias  held  the  office  for  thirty  years,  has  availed  himself 
of  the  opportunity  of  exchanging  several  portions ;  and  by  means 
thereof,  has  brought  the  property  into  a  more  compact  state,  and 
very  greatly  increased  the  income  of  the  charity. — The  total  rental 
of  lands  and  tenements  in  Dunwich,  amounts  to  .£66  9s.  per  annum; 
in  Haveningham,  to  £17;  and  in  Ellough,  to  £10:  total  rent  and 
annual  value,  ,£93  9s. — These  hospitals  are  of  great  antiquity,  but 
no  documents  concerning  their  origin  or  endowment  are  known  to 
exist. — In  1566,  John  Page  (otherwise  Baxter),  by  will,  gave  power 
to  his  executor  to  sell  his  estate  at  Carlton,  to  the  intent  that  the 
yearly  sum  of  £3  should  be  paid  to  the  town  of  Dunwich,  for  the 
poor  thereof;  and  the  sum  of  40s.  to  the  town  of  Laxfield,  for  a 
like  purpose.  For  a  long  period  the  property  has  been  in  the  pos- 
session, and  under  the  joint  management,  of  the  officers  of  these 
two  parishes  :  it  consists  of  a  farm  house,  with  outbuildings,  and 
43A.  2n.  37p.  of  land,  in  Carlton  Colville,  and  is  let  at  £75  a  year, 
subject  to  some  deductions  on  account  of  land  tax,  and  other  out- 
goings. Laxfield  receives  four-ninths,  and  Dunwich  five-ninths  of 
the  annual  proceeds;  which  is  carried  to  the  general  account  of  the 
chamberlains  of  the  Corporation,  as  part  of  the  private  revenues  of 
that  body ;  without  any  payment  of  £3  a  year  to  the  poor. 


King  s  Reign.  A.D.  Members  for  Dunwich. 

George  III.    1768  Miles  Barne. — Gerard  William  Vanneck. 

1774  Miles  Barne. — Sir  G.  William  Vanneck,  Bart. 
Barne  Barne. 

1780  The  same. 

1784  The  same. 

1790  Miles  Barne. — Sir  G.  W.  Vanneck,  Bart. 

1796  Snowdon  Bame. — Sir  Joshua  Vanneck,  Bart. 

1 80 1  Imp.  Parl.  S.  Barne. — Josh.  Lord  Huntingfield. 

1802  The  same. 

1806  The  same. 

1807  The  same. 

1812  Lord  Huntingfield. — Michael  Bame. 

1818  Michael  Barne. — Wm.  Adam  Mackinnon. 
George  IV.     1 820  Michael  Barne.— George  Henry  Cherry. 

1826  Michael  Barne. — Andrew  Arcedeckne. 
William  IV.    1830  Frederick  Barne. — Andrew  Arcedeckne, 

1831  Frederick  Barne. — Earl  of  Brecknock. 


328  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

EASTON  BAVENT.— ESTUNA,  or  EAST-TOWN. 

Tliis  parish  was  formerly  large  and  well  inhabited;  and  is  reputed 
to  have  carried  on  a  considerable  traffic,  especially  in  fishery.  In 
most  of  the  old  wills  of  the  ancient  inhabitants,  bequests  are  made 
of  their  nets  and  fishing  tackle. 

It  was  situated  on  a  cliff,  separated  by  the  river,  on  the  north, 
from  Southwold,  and  was  the  most  eastern  promontory  in  the 
kingdom;  hence  called  Easton  :  it  became  very  early  vested  in  the 
Bevant  family;  hence  Easton  Bavent.  By  the  encroachment  of 
the  sea,  it  has  now  become  reduced  to  only  one  or  two  dwellings. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Thomas  de  Bevant  held  the  lord- 
ship and  advowson  of  this  parish ;  and  in  the  2nd  of  the  following 
reign,  either  he,  or  a  descendant  of  the  same  name,  was  attached 
for  taking  wreck  at  sea,  between  Benacre  and  Snodespyche ;  he 
answered,  he  did  not  know  where  Snodespyche  was,  but  that  he 
and  his  ancestors  had  always  taken  wreck  in  Easton. 

In  the  4th  of  King  Edward  III.,  the  said  Thomas  had  a  grant 
for  a  weekly  market  here,  on  Wednesday,  and  an  annual  fair  on  the 
eve  and  morrow  of  St.  Nicholas;  and  in  the  13th  of  that  reign, 
Thomas  de  Bevant,  and  Alice  Ms  wife,  settled  this  lordship,  with 
Cheddiston,  in  this  hundred,  on  himself  for  life ;  remainder  to 
William  his  son,  and  Catherine  his  wife  ;  remainder  to  Felicia  his 
daughter,  sister  of  William ;  and  the  remainder  to  John,  son  of 
Thomas  Ubbeston  ;  remainder  to  Hi  chard,  son  of  John,  son  of 
Baldwin  Bavent.  In  the  20th  of  the  same  reign,  William  Bavent, 
and  Robert  Pavilli,  were  lords. 

The  parish  church  was  dedicated  to  St.  Nicholas,  the  fisherman's 
patron,  but  has  long  since  been  demolished  by  the  sea.  Here  was 
also  a  chapel,  dedicated  to  St.  Margaret :  it  was  probably  in  being 
in  1638,  when  a  licence  was  granted  for  two  persons  to  be  married 
there. 

The  living  was  long  held  by  sequestration,  no  clergyman  choosing 
to  take  institution  to  it,  until  it  became  discharged  of  first  'fruits 
and  tenths,  in  Queen  Anne's  time.  It  is  now  consolidated  to 
Benacre. 

The  manor  and  advowson  here  being  appendant,  the  following 
list  of  patrons  will  also  serve  to  point  out  the  descent  of  the, 
lordship  : — 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

1237  Thomas  Bavent.  1392  Heir  of  Sir  John  Sharde- 

1307  Eichard  de  Glosbeck.  low,  Knt. 

1808  Sir  Thomas  Bavent,  Knt.      1474  Thomas  Hopton,  Esq. 
1361  John  Argentin,  Knt.  1590  William  Eoberts,  Esq. 

1376  Kichard  Cosin.  1607  Wm.Koberds  Smith,  Esq. 

And,  1667  Jeffery  Howland,  Esq. 

In  1695,  Elizabeth,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Howland, 
of  Streatham,  in  Surrey,  Esq.,  married  Wriothesly  Eussel,  afterwards 
Duke  of  Bedford,  and  the  patronage  continued  in  that  family  till 
Thos.  Carthew,  of  Benacre,  Esq.,  purchased  it  of  the  said  Dutchess 
dowager,  in  1719,  or  thereabouts  :  from  him  it  passed  to  William 
Gooch,  Esq.,  by  purchase,  in  1743,  and  Sir  Thomas  Sherlock 
Gooch,  of  Benacre,  Bart.,  is  the  present  proprietor. 

On  Trinity  Sunday,  in  1748,  divine  service  was  celebrated  in  a 
barn  in  this  parish,  by  the  Eev.  Mr.  North ;  when  prayers,  and  the 
39  articles  of  religion,  were  read  in  due  form,  and  a  sermon  preached 
in  the  afternoon;  the  declaration  of  the  minister's  assent  to  the  said 
articles,  having  been  subscribed.  Mr.  Gardner,  the  Dunwich  his- 
torian, was  present :  he  observes, — "  a  chair  and  a  little  table  oc- 
cupied the  places  of  desk  and  pulpit ;  for  pews  were  substituted 
stools  and  benches ;  and  the  want  of  mats  was  sufficiently  supplied 
by  a  plenty  of  straw,  that  covered  the  area  of  the  nave  of  the 
church." 


FOEDLEY,  or  FORLEA. 

The  demesne  of  this  parish  was  formerly  in  the  De  Weyland 
family,  and  subsequently  became  the  estate  of  dame  Elizabeth  le 
Despenser.  In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  it  belonged  to  Edward 
Honings,  Esq.  The  church  has  been  long  in  ruins,  and  the  parish 
considered  a  hamlet  to  that  of  Middleton :  the  Eev.  Harrison  Packard 
is  the  present  patron  and  incumbent. 


FEOSTENDEN,  or  FROXEDENA. 
It  appears  the  demesne  of  this  parish  was  anciently  in  Eobert  de 


230  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Biskele  (or  Bixley),  probably  a  descendant  of  a  family  of  that 
name,  who  held,  under  Koger  Bigot,  at  Bixley,  in  Norfolk,  in  the 
reign  of  King  Henry  II. 

It  subsequently  became  the  estate  of  the  Delapoles,  Dukes  of 
Suffolk.  In  the  28th  of  King  Henry  VI.,  William  Delapole  died 
seized  of  this  manor  ;  and,  in  the  15th  of  the  following  reign,  Sir 
Edward  Hungerford,  John  Hey  don,  and  Humphrey  Eorster,  re- 
leased by  deed,  to  John  Delapole,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  his  son  and 
heir,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  William  Hastings,  Robt.  Chamberlain, 
and  others,  to  the  use  of  the  said  Duke  and  Dutchess,  this  lordship, 
with  those  of  Bacton,  and  Greeting  St.  Olave,  in  this  county;  which 
the  said  Sir  Edward  Hungerford,  &c.,  were  seized  of,  to  the  use  of 
William  Delapole,  late  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  the  lady  Alice  his 
wife,  deceased. 

John  Delapole,  created  Earl  of  Lincoln  in  his  father's  life  time, 
as  his  eldest  son  and  heir  succeeded  to  his  Suffolk  honours  and 
estates.  He  was  slain  in  the  battle  of  Stoke  upon  Trent,  in  1487  ; 
when  Edmund,  his  next  brother,  succeeded ;  who  being  attainted  of 
high  treason,  was  beheaded  in  1513,  the  5th  of  King  Henry  VIII., 
and  his  estates  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown.  The  following  year 
this  lordship  was  granted  to  Thomas,  Lord  Howard,  eldest  son  of 
Thomas,  second  Duke  of  Norfolk,  of  that  house,  by  his  first  mar- 
riage, and  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  King  Edward  IV.,  and  the 
heirs  male  of  their  bodies. 

This  lady  died  without  surviving  male  issue,  and  it  again  reverted 
to  the  Crown ;  and  was  granted,  in  the  latter  part  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth's reign,  to Morse,  who  sold  it  to  John  Glover,  Esq.,  of 

High  House,  in  Campsey  Ash;  who,  about  1652,  sold  that  estate 
to  John  Sheppard,  Gent.,  and  removed  hither.  In  this  family  the 
estate  continued  for  many  generations. 

It  afterwards  became  the  property  of  Edward  Hollond,  Esq.  In 
1830,  the  landed  estates  of  that  gentleman  were  brought  to  the 
hammer,  and  the  freehold  Erostenden  and  Wrentham  estates,  in- 
cluding 1,040  acres,  with  the  manor  of  this  parish,  were  sold  for 
39,700  guineas. 

The  Eev.  William  St.  Andrew  Vincent,  of  Bolney,  in  the  county 
of  Sussex,  holds  an  estate  in  this  parish,  as  tenant  in  chief  under 
the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  the  Collegiate  Church,  St.  Peter,  West- 
minster, for  a  lease  of  21  years.  The  Rev.  Richard  Gooch,  the 
present  incumbent,  resides  at  Frostenden  Lodge. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO.  281 

CHARITIES. r-The  church  marsh,  SA.  OR.  32p.,  with  a  pightle 
adjoining,  2R.  2p.,  let  at  £15  a  year. — A  piece  of  arable  land, 
2A.  2R.  29p.,  near  the  former,  annual  rent  £5.  Which  rents  are 
applied  for  the  repairs  of  the  parish  church. — An  allotment  of 
4A.  2R.,  awarded,  on  the  inclosure,  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  let  at 
£7  10s.  a  year :  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  given  to 
the  poor  of  the  parish. 


HALESWORTH. — HALESUUORDA,  or  HEALESUURDA. 

The  Argenteins  hecame  early  enfeoffed  in  this  lordship.  In  1318, 
Sir  John  de  Argentein,  Knt.,  was  owner  of  the  same ;  and  died 
seized  thereof,  in  or  about  1345.  It  was  held  of  the  King  in 
capite,  as  of  the  honour  of  Chester,  at  one  Knight's  fee. 

He  was  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Eeginald  de  Argentein,  and  Lora 
his  wife,  sister  of  Kobert  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford ;  to  whom  he 
gave  Keteringham  Hall  manor,  in  Norfolk,  in  frank  marriage, 
about  1262;  which  they  held  in  1265,  and  Sir  John,  their  son, 
held  the  same  in  1315. 

He  married  Agnes,  daughter  of  Sir  William  de  Beresford,  sister 
and  heir  of  Sir  Edmund  de  Beresford,  Knt.,  and  deceased  in  1324, 
leaving  John,  his  son  and  heir,  being  one  year  old.  Agnes,  his 
widow,  re-married  John  de  Nerford,  who  died  in  1329;  and  she 
afterwards  married  John  Mautravers,  sen. ;  by  whom  she  had  issue, 
Eleanor,  who  married  John,  son  of  John,  Earl  of  Arundel. 

This  lady  Agnes  deceased  in  1375;  John  de  Argentein,  her  son, 
being  about  50  years  of  age  :  he,  in  1381,  settled  his  estates  on 
Sir  William  his  son,  and  Isabel  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  William 
de  Kerdiston,  Kut.,  after  the  death  of  himself,  and  Margaret  his 
wife,  who  held  in  1383. 

In  1390,  it  appears  that  the  three  daughters  of  the  said  Sir  John 
de  Argentein,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  and  their  issue,  were  heirs  ; 
amongst  whom  the  property  became  divisible  :  and  it  soon  after 
passed,  by  marriage,  to  the  Alyngton  family,  with  considerable 
other  property  in  Cambridgeshire ;  Horseheath,  in  that  county, 
their  chief  seat,  being  so  acquired,  about  1428,  in  the  reign  of 
King  Henry  VI.  This  estate  afterwards  became  the  inheritance  of 
the  Betts  family  ;  of  whom  the  Plumers  purchased,  and  it  recently 


232  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

was  vested  in  William  Plumer,  Esq.,  who  was  lord  of  the  manor, 
and  patron  of  the  living. 

ARMS. — Argentein:  gules;  three  covered  cups,  argent.  Al- 
lyngton :  sable  ;  a  bend,  engrailed,  between  six  billets,  argent. 

John  Argall,  rector  of  this  parish,  an  author  of  note  in  his  time, 
who  wrote  some  religious  tracts  in  latin,  was  a  native  of  London ; 
and  entered  a  student  in  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  towards  the  latter 
part  of  Queen  Mary's  reign.  He  took  his  M.A.  degree,  in  1565, 
and  obtained  this  living.  He  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the 
neighbouring  gentry  and  clergy  :  being  at  a  feast  in  the  parish  of 
Cheddiston,  he  died  suddenly,  whilst  at  the  table,  and  was  buried 
at  Halesworth,  October  8,  1606. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  certain  freehold  and 
copyhold  property,  vested  in  trustees,  in  trust,  that  the  rents  and 
profits  should  be  disposed  of  for  the  public  uses  and  purposes,  and 
general  benefit  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  parish.  Of  the  original 
acquisition  of  part  of  this  property,  no  account  can  be  given ;  but 
other  parts  of  it  have  been  purchased  at  different  times,  with  money, 
or  funds,  belonging  to  the  inhabitants.  These  are  sometimes  called 
the  "  Unappropriated  Estates,"  and  are,  for  the  most  part,  in  the 
parish  of  Halesworth,  but  partly  in  the  adjoining  parish  of  Holton. 
This  property  produces  altogether  a  yearly  rental  of  £210  ;  part  of 
which  is  subject  to  a  charge  of  £3  a  year,  in  respect  of  Neale's 
charity,  hereafter  mentioned;  and  the  remainder  of  the  clear  income 
is  applied  to  general  purposes :  namely, — the  repairs  of  the  church, 
the  payment  of  the  salaries  of  the  different  officers  belonging  to  the 
same,  &c. ;  and  also  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  lighting  the  town, 
the  support  of  some  almshouses,  and  occasionally  in  the  purchase 
of  coals,  to  be  sold  to  the  ^poor  at  reduced  prices. — Here  are  six 
small  almshouses,  in  a  row,  near  the  church,  given  by  one  William 
Carey ;  and  two  other  cottages  in  Halesworth  :  they  are  occupied 
by  14  poor  widows;  are  kept  in  repair  out  of  the  rents  of  the  above 
estate,  and  the  inmates  are  supported  partly  by  means  of  other  cha- 
rities, after  mentioned,  and  partly  out  of  the  poor  rates. — In  1611, 
Robert  Lance  gave  by  will  £60,  towards  the  purchase  of  a  piece  of 
land ;  the  profits  thereof  to  be  distributed  to  the  poor  of  the  town 
of  Halesworth,  where  most  need  should  require.  With  this  legacy 
a  piece  of  copyhold  land,  containing  5A.  3R.  9p.,  held  of  the  manor 
of  Southelmham,  was  purchased,  which  lets  at  £9  4s.  a  year. — The 
sum  of  £60,  given  by  John  Phillips,  and  £30  5s.,  given  by  Richard 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  233 

Phillips,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  messuage  and  lands, 
being  copyhold  of  the  manor  of  Mells  Wenhaston,  near  Halesworth, 
consisting  of  a  cottage,  and  HA.  In.  35p.  of  land,  which  lets  at 
£82  6s.  a  year ;  and  the  produce  is  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
bread,  and  given  to  the  poor ;  and  to  keep  in  complete  repair  the 
grave-stone  of  the  Phillips,  in  Halesworth  church-yard. — Matthew 
Walter  gave  by  will,  in  1589,  an  annuity  of  20s.  to  the  poor  of 
this  parish,  out  of  his  estate  at  Holton ;  which  is  also  laid  out  in 
bread,  and  given  away  among  poor  people,  on  Sundays. — In  1650, 
James  Keble,  devised  a  pightle,  called  "  Bell's  Pightle,"  the  rents 
to  be  applied  yearly,  at  or  before  Christmas,  to  buy  corn,  to  be 
made  into  bread,  and  distributed  among  the  poor  of  the  parish ; 
and  in  1652,  John  Keble  devised  his  lands  in  Holton,  to  the  relief 
of  the  poor  of  Halesworth  ;  half  of  the  revenue  to  be  employed  in 
the  relief  of  widows,  and  the  other  half  to  bind  out  poor  apprentices. 
— The  sum  of  £80,  given  by  Eeginald  Burroughs,  for  the  purchase 
of  land,  for  the  benefit  of  20  poor  people  inhabiting  in  this  town, 
that  20s.  might  be  distributed  unto  them  quarterly ;  the  sum  of 
£20,  given  by  Matthew  Mann,  the  interest  thereof  to  be  distributed 
in  bread  to  the  poor  of  the  same  town  ;  and  £10,  given  out  of  the 
town  stock,  were  laid  out,  in  the  22nd  of  James  I.,  in  the  purchase 
of  a  close,  called  "  Quintrell's,"  in  Mells  Hamlet  and  Wenhaston, 
for  performance  of  the  said  charitable  intentions. — In  1804,  William 
Vincent  bequeathed  the  residue  of  his  personal  estate,  to  relieve  the 
necessities  of  the  poor  of  Halesworth,  especially  in  sickness :  this 
residue,  amounting  to  £100,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of 
2A.  2n.  18p.  of  land,  in  Holton. 

The  property  belonging  to  these  charities  consist  of  the  following 
particulars  : — TA.  3n.  28p.,  taken  in  exchange  for  the  Bell's  Pightle, 
and  the  land  purchased  with  Vincent's  gift,  rent  £13  11s.  6d.;  given 
in  bread,  and  to  poor  persons  in  sickness. — A  house,  and  4A.  OR.  7p. 
of  garden  ground,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £28  16s.;  and  barn,  stable, 
and  19A.  OR.  33p.  of  land,  at  £54  12s.  a  year;  3A.  In.  18p.  at 
£17  Is.  a  year:  one  half  is  divided  half-yearly  among  20  poor 
widows,  most  of  whom  reside  in  the  almshouse ;  and  the  other  half 
is  applied  in  apprenticing  poor  boys,  with  premiums,  usually  of  £15, 
or  thereabouts.  Two  pieces  of  land  in  Mells,  containing  together 
SA.  3R.  26p.,  rent  £  19  14s. :  this  property  is  ascribed  to  Burrough's 
and  Mann's  charities. — The  sum  of  j£3  a  year  is  paid  as  interest 
upon  £60,  given  by  Thomas  Neale,  for  the  education  of  poor  chil- 


234  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

dren  of  this  parish  ;  the  further  sum  of  10s.  a  year  was  given  by 
him  for  Bibles,  and  books  for  the  said  children. — A  rent  charge  of 
£17  6s.  8d.  upon  a  farm  in  Halesworth,  the  property  of  Mr.  Chas. 
Woolby  ;  one  half  is  paid  to  a  schoolmaster,  and  the  other  half  to 
a  schooldame,  as  directed  by  the  will  of  Eichard  Porter,  in  1701. — 
John  Hutcher  gave  by  will,  in  1816,  a  pew  upon  the  gallery  in 
Halesworth  church,  the  rent,  which  amounts  to  £30  a  year,  is  paid 
to  the  committee  of  the  national  school  in  Halesworth. 


HENHAM 

Is  a  hamlet  of  Wangford,  and  the  lordship  of  both  was  in  the  pos- 
session of  Kalph  Bainard  (Baignar,  or  Baynard),  a  powerful  Nor- 
man Baron,  soon  after  the  conquest. 

Jeffrey  Baynard,  his  son  and  heir  succeeded;  whose  son  William, 
taking  part  with  Helias,  Earl  of  Mayne,  and  others,  against  King 
Henry  I.,  lost  his  Barony  of  Bainard  Castle ;  his  estates  being 
forfeited  to  the  Crown. 

The  family  of  Kerdiston,  about  this  period,  became  enfeoffed  in 
these  lordships ;  probably  by  grant  from  that  Monarch.  It  con- 
tinued in  that  Baronial  house  until  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VI. 
In  the  escheat  rolls  of  the  29th  of  that  King,  the  jury  find  that  Sir 
Thomas  Kerdiston  died  not  seized  of  the  manors  of  Henham,  Bui- 
camp,  and  Stratford,  in  Suffolk ;  but  that  William  de  la  Pole,  late 
Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  Alice  his  wife,  as  her  right,  entered  on,  and 
took  the  profits,  during  the  life  of  Sir  Thomas  Kerdiston;  who 
died  in  the  25th  of  that  reign. 

This  lady  was  daughter  and  heir  of  Thomas  Chaucer,  Esq.,  son 
of  the  famous  poet  of  that  period,  by  Maud  his  wife,  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  John  Burgherst,  by  Maud  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Wm. 
Kerdiston,  and  Margaret  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  Edmund 
Bacon. 

In  the  3rd  of  King  Henry  VI.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Thomas 
Chaucer,  Esq.,  and  Maud  his  wife,  querents,  and  Sir  Thomas 
Kerdiston,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  defurcients,  of  several  lordships 
conveyed  to  Maud,  who  with  her  husband  resettled  them  on  Sir 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth,  in  tail,  to  be  held  of  the  heirs  of  Maud :  the 
above  claim  appears  to  be  made  in  right  of  such  conveyance. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITJIING.  235 

,  In  the  15 tli  of  King  Edward  IV.,  the  Dutchess  died,  seized  of 
this  inaiior,  and 'John  De  la  Pole  inherited.  On  the  attainder  of 
Edmund  De  l;i  Pole,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  who  was  beheaded  in  the  5th 
of  King  Henry  VIII.,  it  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown.  After  this 
it  was  granted  by  the  said  King,  to  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of 
Suffolk. 

After  his  death  it  again  became  Crown  property ;  and  Sir  Arthur 
Hopton  obtained  a  grant  of  this  estate,  as  Eoyal  demesne ;  who,  in 
the  37th  of  the  said  reign,  sold  it  to  Sir  Anthony  Kous,  Knt., 
Comptroller  of  Calais. 

He  was  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Sir  William  Kous,  of  Dennington, 
in  this  county,  Knt.,  by  Alice  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Sul- 
yard,  of  Wetherden,  in  Suffolk,  Knt.,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  Eng- 
land ;  and  from  him  lineally  descended  Sir  John  Kous,  of  Henham 
Hall,  created  a  Baronet  in  10 GO;  whose  descendant,  Sir  John  Kous, 
Bart.,  M.P.  for  this  county,  was  elevated  to  the  Peerage  in  1790,  as 
Baron  Kous,  of  Dennington ;  and  created,  in  1821,  Viscount  Dun- 
wich,  and  Earl  of  Stradbroke. 

John  Edward  Cornwallis  Kous,  Earl  of  Stradbroke,  his  eldest 
son  and  heir,  the  present  Peer,  is  now  proprietor  of  this  estate,  and 
resides  here :  the  noble  representative  of  a  long  line  of  distinguished 
ancestors,  who  have  continued  to  flourish  in  this  county  for  many 
ages. 

ARMS. — Bainard:  argent;  a  fess  between  two  chevronels,  azure. 
Kerdiston:  argent;  a  saltier,  engrailed,  gules.  De  la  Pole:  azure; 
a  fess  between  tliree  leopards'  heads,  cabosed,  or.  Rous:  sable;  a 
fess  dancettee,  or ;  between  three  crescents,  argent.  Crest :  a 
bunch  of  bay  leaves,  piled  in  the  form  of  a  cone,  proper. 

Mem. — Henham  Hall  was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire,  in  1773  : 
the  loss  estimated  at  ,£30,000.  An  elegant  mansion*  has  since 
been  erected ;  the  seat  of  the  present  proprietor. 


HENSTEAD,  or  HENESTEDE. 

The  family  of  Pierpoint,  who  were  of  French  extraction,  became 
very  early  possessed  of  this  lordship.     At  the  time  of  the  general 

*  A  view  and  description  of  this  is  given  in  "  Davy's  Seats  of  the  Noblemen  and 
Gentlemen  in  Suffolk." 


280  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

survey,  in  1078,  Robert  de  Pierpoint  held  the  same,  under  William 
Earl  Warren ;  from  whom  descended  Simon  de  Pierpoint,  a  person 
remarkable  for  his  great  fidelity  to  King  Henry  III.,  as  well  as  for 
the  extent  of  his  possessions. 

His  descendants  were  men  of  renown  in  their  succeeding  gene- 
rations ;  but  did  not  become  ennobled  until  the  reign  of  King 
Charles  I.,  under  the  title  of  Earl  of  Kingston,  and  afterwards 
Marquess  of  Dorchester. 

This  estate  continued  in  their  house  until  the  time  of  King 
Edward  III.  John,  son  of  Simon  Pierpoint,  of  this  parish,  married 
Ela,  daughter  of  Sir  William  de  Calthorpe  ;  who  settled  on  them 
the  manor  of  Hurst-Pierpoint,  in  Sussex,  on  this  marriage,  in  the 
5th  of  that  reign,  as  appears  by  a  fine. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VII.,  it  was  vested 
in  the  Clopton  family ;  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time,  the  Sydnors,  of 
Blundeston,  held  it ;  and  at  the  restoration,  it  was  the  estate  of  Sir 
Robert  Brook,  of  Yoxford.  Since  that  period  it  belonged  to  the 
family  of  Mildmay,  from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Hallidays,  who 
bequeathed  it  to  John  Amyas,  Gent.,  of  Beccles  ;  whose  son,  the 
Rev.  John  Amyas,  rector  of  this  parish,  sold  the  same  to  Thomas 
Kett,  Esq.,  of  Seething,  in  Norfolk.  Charles  Barclay,  Esq.,  who 
married  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  Kett,  is  the  present  possessor : 
he  resides  at  Henstead  House.* 

The  Rev.  John  Gordon,  D.D.,  F.R.S.,  Precentor  and  Archdeacon 
of  Lincoln,  was  rector  of  this  parish,  upon  the  presentation  of 
Emanuel  College,  of  which  society  he  was  a  Eellow :  he  was  highly 
distinguished  by  strong  natural  abilities,  and  an  early  proficiency 
in  classical  literature. 

Dr.  Gordon,  in  1762,  married  the  widow  of  Dr.  Philip  Williams, 
formerly  rector  of  Barrow,  in  this  county.  He  died  at  Lincoln, 
January  5,  1793. 

The  Rev.  John  Amyas  succeeded :  he  was  presented  by  Bevill 
Paston  Chambre,  Esq.;  it  having  been  previously  decided  that  the 
right  of  presentation  was  not  in  Emanuel  College.  Mr.  Amyas 
was  formerly  of  Cams  College,  Cambridge  :  he  held  this  lordship 
prior  to  his  presentation  to  the  living,  and  died  April  19,  1810, 
aged  62  years. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  land  consists  of  about  two  acres,  for 

*  A  view  and  some  account  of  this  house  is  given  in  "  Davy's  Seats  of  the  No- 
blemeu  and  Gentlemen  of  Suffolk,"  engraved  by  J.  Lambert. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  237 

which  a  rent  of  i'3  a  year  is  paid,  by  Charles  Barclay,  Esq.,  being 
surrounded  by  the  lands  of  that  gentleman,  and  which  formerly 
belonged  to  the  Rev.  John  Amyas.  The  sum  of  £l  a  year  is  also 
paid  in  respect  of  a  house  in  the  parish  of  Rushmere.  The  rent  of 
the  land,  and  annuity,  are  applied  to  the  repairs  of  the  church. — 
In  1599,  Henry  Branden  gave,  by  will,  his  tenement  in  Rushmere; 
one  half  of  the  rents  to  be  distributed  to  the  poor  of  this  parish, 
and  the  other  half  to  be  applied  in  payment  of  6s.  8d.  a  year  to  the 
poor  of  Rushmere,  and  the  reparation  of  the  church  of  Henstead, 
and  of  the  said  tenement.  The  premises  thus  devised,  being  about 
three  roods  in  extent,  were  demised  to  a  person  who  erected  a 
cottage  on  the  ground,  for  which  he  pays  a  rent  of  1 7s.  a  year, 
which  is  applied  as  the  donor  directed. — The  poors'  allotment,  of 
14  acres,  was  awarded  on  the  enclosure  of  Sotterley  Common,  to 
the  poor  of  this  parish ;  it  lets  at  ^£20  a  year,  and  the  rent  is  laid 
out  in  coalsj  which  are  distributed  among  the  poor  people  in  winter. 


HEVENINGHAM,  or  HEUENIGGEHAM. 

This  parish  was  the  seat  and  estate  of  a  family  who  derived  their 
name  therefrom,  and  were  very  honourably  allied.  Weever,  and 
some  other  authorities,  state,  that  Jeffery  de  Heveningham  was  lord 
here  in  1020,  in  Canute's  time  ;  which  may  be  doubtful :  but  it 
appears  certain  that  in  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Roger  de  He- 
veningham held  the  same. 

Thomas  Heveningham,  Esq.,  was  a  great  favourite  of  Richard 
Plantagenet,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  afterwards  King  Richard  III.; 
who  settled  an  annuity  on  him  for  life,  of  £  1 0,  out  of  his  manor  of 
Rothing-Berners,  in  Essex.  He  died  in  1499. 

John  Heveningham,  son  of  the  said  Thomas,  succeeded;  and 
married  Alice,  daughter  of  Sir  Ralf  Shelton,  the  younger,  of 
Shelton,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.  He  died  in  1530. 

Sir  Anthony  Heveningham,  his  son  and  heir,  was  made  a  Ban- 
neret by  King  Henry  VIII. ;  and  married  first,  Katherine,  eldest 
daughter  of  Sir  Philip  Calthorpe,  Knt.  In  1546,  he  settled,  by 
fine  on  himself  and  Mary  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Shelton,  sen.,  of  Shelton,  Knt.,  this  lordship,  with  those  of  Cookley, 
Sibton,  Ubbeston,  and  Walpole,  in  this  hundred. 


238  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Sir  Anthony  died  in  1558  :  Mary  his  relict,  re-married  to  Philip 
Appleyard,  Esq.  Sir  Arthur  Heveningham,  Knt ,  was  their  sou 
and  heir;  who,  about  1570,  inherited  all  the  above-named  manors. 
He  died  in  1630;  and  William  Heveningham,  Esq.,  his  son  and 
heir,  by  his  second  wife,  Bridget,  daughter  of  Christopher,  son  of 
Sir  William  Paston,  of  Paston,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  inherited. 

This  William  was  one  of  the  nineteen  regicides  that  surrendered 
themselves  at  the  restoration;  and  being  attainted,  in  1600,  his 
estate  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown  :  the  year  following,  Mary, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  John,  Earl  of  Dover,  his  second  wife, 
obtained  a  patent  from  King  Charles  II.,  for  most  of  her  husband's 
estates,  particularly  that  of  this  manor,  and  Ketcringham,  in  Nor- 
folk; which  she  enjoyed  to  her  death,  which  took  place  in  1695-6. 

Henry  Heveningham,  Esq.,  the  last  of  this  family,  was  member 
for  Dunwich  in  1695  ;  and  is  probably  the  same  person  who  served 
the  office  of  Mayor  for  Thetford  in  1684,  the  first  after  the  new 
charter,  and  who  returned  himself  as  member  for  that  borough,  the 
following  year,  in  opposition  to  Sir  Joseph  Williamson,  the  Eecorder, 
who  was  elected  by  the  burgesses. 

In  or  about  1700,  it  became  the  estate  of  John  Bence,  Esq.,  by 
purchase;  and  he,  or  his  descendant,  sold  it  to  George  Dashwood, 
Esq.,  who  was  seated  here  in  1735;  who  sold  it  to  Joseph  Darner, 
Esq.,  afterwards  Baron  Milton,  and  Earl  of  Dorchester ;  of  whom 
Sir  Joshua  Vanneck,  Bart.,  bought  it,  ancestor  of  Lord  Hunting- 
field,  the  present  proprietor. 

The  house  of  Vanneck  are  of  Dutch  extraction,  and  claim  a  very 
ancient  and  honourable  descent.  Joshua,  second  son  of  Cornelius 
Vanneck,  Esq.,  paymaster  of  the  land  forces  of  the  United  Provinces, 
an  eminent  and  opulent  merchant  of  London,  was  created  a  Baronet 
in  1751. 

He  married,  in  1732,  Mary  Daubuz,  and  had  issue,  Gerard  and 
Joshua,  successive  Baronets.  Sir  Joshua  died  in  1777,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Sir  Gerard,  who  died  unmarried,  in 
1791;  when  the  title  devolved  upon  his  brother,  Sir  Joshua.  This 
gentleman  married,  in  1777,  Maria,  2nd  daughter  of  Andrew 
Thompson,  of  Boehamptoii,  in  Surrey,  Esq. ;  by  whom  he  had 
issue,  Joshua,  present  Peer,  and  several  other  children. 

Sir  Joshua  was  created  a  Peer  of  Ireland,  in  1796,  by  the  title 
of  Baron  Huntingfield,  of  Heveningham  Hall;  he  died  in  1816, 
when  Joshua,  his  eldest  son,  the  present  Peer,  succeeded.  He 


IIUND11ED  OF  BLITHING.  i> 

married,  1st,  Catherine,  eldest  daughter  of  Chaloner  Arcedeckne, 
Esq.,  of  Gleveriug  Hall ;  and  2nd,  Lucy  Anne,  3rd  daughter  of 
Sir  Charles  Blois,  Bart.,  of  Cockfield  Hall.  By  the  former  lady  he 
has  a  son,  Joshua,  and  a  daughter;  and  by  the  latter,  a  son,  Charles 
Andrew  Vanned*. 

Heveningham  Hall,  the  residence  of  this  nobleman,  is  justly  es- 
teemed one  of  the  finest  seats  in  the  county.  It  is  of  modem 
erection,  having  been  began  about  the  year  1778,  by  Sir  Gerard 
Vanneck,  from  the  designs  of  Sir  Kobert  Taylor,  but  finished  by 
Mr.  James  Wyatt.* 

In  a  letter  from  Sir  Joshua  Vanneck,  dated  from  Heveningham, 
September  19,  1754,  and  addressed  to  Dr.  Ducarel,  he  observes: — 
"  The  old  house  built  by  the  family,  who  gave  their  name  to  this 
village,  has  been  pulled  down  about  forty  years  ago ;  the  present 
house  being  built  at  that  time  by  one  Squire  Bence,  so  that  nothing 
mentioned  in  the  abstract  remains,  but  in  the  old  offices,  where  the 
name  of  W.  H.  and  time  of  building,  1G53,  are  yet  to  be  seen." 

A  branch  of  the  ancient  and  respectable  family  of  Garneys  were 
formerly  interested  here.  Robert,  sou  of  Eobert  Garneys,  one  of 
the  lords  of  Soham  Hall  manor,  at  Bereford,  in  Norfolk,  married 
Catherine,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Blanchard,  of  this  parish,  and 
in  1400,  resided  here. 

By  her  he  had  two  sons.  William,  his  second  son,  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Ralph  Bigod,  of  Stockton,  Knt. ;  by 
whom  he  had  Half  Garneys,  Esq.,  who  died  without  issue  in  144G, 
and  Sir  Peter  Garneys,  his  uncle,  was  found  to  be  his  heir.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  heir  of  Ralf  Ramsey,  of  Kenton 
Hall,  in  Loes  hundred  ;  and  by  this  marriage  Kenton  came  into 
this  family,  where  they  continued  to  reside  for  many  ages. 

Walter  Fitz  Robert  gave  the  advowson  of  this  parish  church  to 
the  Priory  of  St.  Neots.  He  deceased  in  1198,  probably  seized  of 
this  manor.  The  advowson  remains  in  the  Crown. 

ARMS. — Heveningham:  quarterly,  or  and  gules;  in  a  bordure 
engrailed,  sable,  nine  escallops,  argent.  Vanneck :  argent ;  a  tor- 
teaux  between  three  bugle  boms,  gules,  stringed,  or.  Crest:  a 
bugle  horn,  gules,  stringed  or,  between  two  wings  expanded,  per 
fesse,  of  the  second,  argent.  Supporters :  two  greyhounds,  ermine ; 
collared,  compony,  argent  and  gules,  lined,  or. 

*  An  engraving  and  description  of  this  splendid  mansion  is  given  in  "  Davy's 
Seats,"  and  also  in  "  Excursions  through  Suffolk." 


240  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  and  poor  estates  here,  consist  of  five  te- 
nements, in  Heveningham,  formerly  one  messuage,  called  the  town 
or  poor  house,  with  gardens  comprising  about  half  an  acre  ;  rents 
amounting  together  to  £10  5s. — A  messuage  and  four  acres  of 
land  in  the  same  parish,  rent  £6  a  year.  A  farm  in  the  parish  of 
Badingham,  partly  copyhold,  comprising  a  house  with  outbuildings, 
and  52  acres  of  land,  let  at  the  annual  rent  of  £60. — It  appears  by 
the  older  writings,  which  are  of  a  very  ancient  date,  that  the  trusts, 
as  to  the  Badingham  estate,  were  for  the  payment  of  fifteenths  to 
the  King,  the  repairs  of  highways,  the  relief  and  maintenance  of 
the  poor  of  this  parish,  and  such  other  charitable  uses  as  to  the 
feoffees  should  seem  meet :  as  to  the  tenements  in  Heveningham, 
for  the  use  of  the  poor ;  and  as  to  the  rest  of  the  premises,  partly 
for  the  repairs  of  the  parish  church,  and  partly  for  the  relief  of  the 
poor.  It  has  long  been  the  practice  to  treat  the  whole  as  one  estate; 
and  the  rents  are  applied  in  providing  for  the  repairs  of  the  parish 
church,  in  payment  of  the  clerk's  salary,  in  occasional  payments  to 
the  surveyors  of  the  highways  and  constables,  and  in  support  of  a 
Sunday  school. 


HINTON, 

A  Hamlet  of  Blithburgh. 


HOLTON,  or  HOLETUNA. 

In  the  time  of  William  Eufus,  Alan  the  Red,  Earl  of  Bretaign, 
in  France,  and  Richmond,  who  married  Constance,  the  daughter  of 
William  the  Conqueror,  is  supposed  to  have  held  this  manor,  as  he 
then  granted  the  advowson  to  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  at  York. 

Petronilla,  relict  of  Sir  William  de  Narford,  and  one  of  the 
daughters  and  co -heirs  of  Sir  John  de  Vallibus  (or  Vaux),  held  in 
this  parish.  She  deceased  in  1326,  the  19th  of  King  Edward  IL, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Priory  of  Pentney,  in  Norfolk,  founded  by  her 
ancestor.  The  rectory  is  in  the  patronage  of  the  Crown. 


HUNDRED   OF   liLITHING.  241 

HUNTINGFIELD,  or  HUNTING AIELDA. 

Soon  after  the  conquest,  Roger,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Hunting- 
field,  assumed  the  name  of  his  lordship,  and  devised  the  same  to 
William  de  Huntingfield,  his  son  and  successor ;  founder  of  Mend- 
ham  Priory,  in  King  Stephen's  reign,  about  the  year  1140,  and  who 
deceased  in  1155. 

Roger  de  Huntingfield,  his  son  and  heir,  flourished  in  the  reign 
of  King  Henry  II. ;  whose  son  William,  was  one  of  the  Barons 
who  signed  Magna  Charta,  in  the  17th  of  King  John,  1215.  He 
was  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  and  an  accountant  with  Alberic 
de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  and  others,  for  the  customs  of  those 
counties. 

In  the  14th  of  King  Henry  III.,  Roger  de  Huntingfield,  his  son 
and  heir,  purchased  Huntingfield  Hall,  in  Norfolk,  of  John  de 
Lacy,  Constable  of  Chester,  and  Earl  of  Lincoln,  and  Margaret 
his  wife,  it  being  the  inheritance  of  Saier  de  Quincy,  late  Earl  of 
Winchester.  In  the  19th  of  the  said  reign  it  was  represented  to 
the  King  that  Roger  de  Huntingfield  had  sent  to  his  assistance,  in 
Gascoign,  Andrew  de  Gayzi,  his  Knight,  who  had  performed  lau- 
dable service ;  and  the  Sheriff  of  this  county  had  an  order,  that 
the  demand  of  60  marks  due  from  him  to  the  Crown,  should  be 
excused. 

William  de  Huntingfield  was  his  son  and  heir;  and  in  the  7th  of 
King  Edward  I.,  an  agreement  was  made  between  this  William  de 
Huntingfield  and  John  de  Engaine,  and  enrolled,  that  Roger,  eldest 
son  of  William,  should  many  Joan,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  said 
John.  This  William  deceased  about  the  llth  of  the  said  King. 

Roger  de  Huntingfield,  his  son,  succeeded.  He  was  one  of  those 
Barons  who  sent  Pope  Boniface  word,  that  the  Kingdom  of  Scotland 
was  not  of  his  fee ;  and  that  he  had  no  jurisdiction  in  temporal  af- 
fairs over  either  of  the  Kingdoms :  which  was  subscribed  in  the 
Parliament  held  at  Lincoln,  in  the  30th  of  King  Edward  I. 

In  the  following  year  he  held  this  manor  of  the  King  in  capite, 
as  of  the  honour  of  Eye,  by  the  service  of  one  Knight's  fee,  and  the 
fourth  part  of  a  Knight's  fee;  and  deceased  about  that  period, 
leaving  Joan,  the  daughter  of  John  de  Engaine,  his  widow.  Wil- 
liam de  Huntingfield,  their  son  and  heir,  succeeded,  and  deceased 
in  the  7th  of  King  Edward  II.,  leaving  Roger  his  son  and  heir. 


242  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

about  eight  years  of  age.  Sibilla,  his  relict,  re-married  to  William 
do  Latimer. 

In  the  13th  of  the  same  reign,  Walter  de  Norwich,  a  Baron  of 
the  Exchequer,  owed  £18  for  the  farm  of  the  custody  of  the  third 
part  of  the  manor  of  Huntingfield,  in  Suffolk,  which  Sihilla  his 
widow  held  in  dower ;  after  whose  decease  it  was  in  the  King's 
hands,  by  the  minority  of  Roger,  son  and  heir  of  the  said  William 
and  Sibilla  de  Hunting-field. 

This  Roger  de  Huntingfield  married  Cecilia,  daughter  of  Walter 
de  Norwich,  and  deceased  in  the  llth  of  King  Edward  III.,  seized 
of  the  manors  of  Huntiugfield,  Benges,  and  Harham;  leaving 
William,  his  son  and  heir,  aged  7  years.  In  the  30th  of  that  reign, 
he  accompanied  Edward  the  Black  Prince  into  G-ascoign,  and  had 
letters  of  protection,  dated  the  30th  of  February. 

Amongst  the  inquisitions,  in  the  50th  of  the  same  King,  the 
jury  find  that  William  Lord  Huntingfield,  long  before  his  decease, 
was  seized  of  certain  property  here,  and  in  divers  other  parishes  ; 
with  the  advowson  of  Huntingfield,  Cookley,  and  Pettistree,  in 
Willford  hundred  :  and  by  a  fine  levied  in  the  48th  of  that  reign, 
between  William  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  querent,  and  the  feof- 
fees of  the  said  William  Lord  Huntingfield,  defendants,  this  pro- 
perty became  settled  on  the  said  Earl  for  life  ;  after  the  decease  of 
the  said  William,  remainder  to  Thomas,  William,  and  Edmund, 
sons  of  the  said  Earl ;  all  of  whom  died  without  issue. 

Alice,  widow  of  Sir  John  de  Norwich,  Knt.,  his  kinswoman,  was 
his  next  heir ;  but  did  not  inherit,  in  consequence  of  the  above 
settlement,  and  the  said  property  passed  to  the  three  sisters  of 
William  Earl  of  Suffolk,  upon  his  decease,  in  the  4th  of  King 
Richard  II.  It  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of  the  De  la 
Poles,  Earls  of  Suffolk,  and  so  continued  until  the  attainder  of 
Edmund  De  la  Pole,  who  was  beheaded  in  1513,  the  5th  of  King 
Henry  VIII.,  when  his  estates  became  forfeited  to  the  King. 

This  manor  and  estate  was  a  grant  from  the  Crown,  to  Henry, 
son  of  William  Carey,  Esquire  of  the  Body  to  King  Henry  VIII., 
by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Bullen,  Earl  of  Wiltshire, 
and  sister  to  Queen  Anne  Bullen  ;  who,  in  the  1st  of  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth, was  created  Baron  Hunsdon,  and  sent  to  convey  the  en- 
signs of  the  Order  of  the  Garter  to  the  King  of  France ;  and,  upon 
Ids  return,  was  made  Governor  of  Berwick  upon  Tweed. 

From  his  near  affinity  to  her  Majesty,  and  other  causes,  he  held 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  243 

several  honourable  offices  during  her  reign,  and  was  made  Knight 
of  the  Garter.  Huntingfield  Hall,  when  in  the  possession  of  this 
nobleman,  was  honoured  with  a  visit  from  the  Queen,  who  is  stated 
to  have  here  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  the  chase  in  a  kind  of  rural 
Majesty,  and  to  have  shot  a  buck  with  her  own  hand,  from  a  favourite 
tree  in  the  pnrk,  known  by  the  name  of  "  Queen  Elizabeth's  Oak."* 

In  1596,  George,  eldest  son  of  Henry  Lord  Hunsdon,  succeeded 
his  father  in  the  Barony,  and  was  a  Knight  of  the  Garter.  He  died 
in  1603,  and  left  issue,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Spencer,  of  Althorp,  an  only  daughter  and  sole  heir,  Elizabeth,  who 
married  to  Sir  Thomas  Berkeley,  Knt.  She  died  in  1635. 

Sir  Eobert  Coke,  second  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Edward  Coke,  Lord 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  married  Theophila,  their 
daughter,  and  inherited  the  Huntingfield  estate,  in  right  of  such 
marriage. 

Sir  Robert  deceased  in  1653,  without  issue  ;  when  John  Coke, 
Esq.,  of  Holkham,  in  Norfolk,  4th  son  of  Sir  Edward,  succeeded  to 
this  inheritance ;  and  it  continued  in  that  family  until  Thomas 
Coke,  Earl  of  Leicester,  sold  it  to  Sir  Joshua  Vanneck,  Bart. ; 
whose  descendant,  the  present  Baron  Huntingfield,  is  now  pro- 
prietor. 

Ambrose  Jermyn,  Esq.,  Gentleman  Pensioner  to  King  Henry 
VIII.,  Edward  VI.,  Queen,  Mary,  and  Queen  Elizabeth,  deceased 
in  1575,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  Paston,  Esq. ;  Bridget,  his  other 
daughter  and  co-heir  married  Sir  Edward  Coke. 

William,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Robert  Howard,  of  Howard's 
Place,  in  Brockdish,  Norfolk,  Esq.,  died  in  1566,  seized  of  many 
lands  in  this  parish,  Bradfield,  Cratfield,  and  Ubbeston. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  house,  four  tenements, 
and  homestall,  containing  about  two  acres;  and  a  cottage  adjoining, 
all  in  this  parish,  let  to  different  tenants,  at  rents  amounting  to 
£14,  15s.  a  year.  Lands  in  the  parishes  of  Heveningham  and 
Ubbeston,  containing  together  about  6|-A.,  rents  £15  a  year.  These 
lands  were  purchased  in  the  5th  of  King  Charles  I.,  and  conveyed 
to  trustees.  A  copyhold  house,  and  homestall  of  six  acres,  in  He- 

*  A  description  of  this  oak,  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Davy,  rector  of 
Onehouse,  in  Stow  Hundred,  written  in  the  year  1782,  and  inserted  in  the  "  East 
Anglian,"  for  April  1814,  Las  recently  been  re-printed  in  Mr.  Wooderspoon'* 
«•  Historic  Sites,"  p.  289, 


244  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

veuingham,  called  "Abbott's  Land,"  let  at  £  10  per  annum.  This 
property  was  given,  or  purchased,  about  the  year  164.5.  The  rents 
-of  the  town  estate  are  applied  in  the  repair  of  the  buildings  thereon, 
and  of  the  church,  and  the  surplus  is  carried  to  the  general  account 
of  the  parish. — In  the  parish  terrier  is  the  following  entry :  "  In  the 
said  parish  there  is  a  small  free  school  of  four  pounds  a  year,  given 
by  Mr.  Berry  Snelling,*  deceased ;  which  said  sum  is  given  to  the 
rector  and  churchwardens  of  the  parish,  for  the  use  of  schooling 
poor  children  :  which  said  money  is  paid  by  Lord  Huntingfield,  out 
of  a  farm  in  his  possession,  tied  for  the  payment  of  the  money." 


KNOTTISHALL. — NOTESHEALA,  or  CNOTESHEALE. 

The  family  of  Jenney  became  very  early  enfeofled  in  this  lordship ; 
they  were  originally  of  France,  and  are  supposed  to  have  assumed 
their  surname  from  the  town  of  Guisnes,  near  Calais,  and  probably 
came  into  England  with  the  Conqueror :  the  manor  of  Haveiiand, 
in  Norfolk,  soon  after  that  period  being  held  by  proprietors  of  the 
name  of  De  Gisneto  (De  Gisne,  or  Gyney),  which  they  held  until 
the  time  of  King  Henry  V. 

From  that  house,  it  would  appear,  tl^e  above  branched,  and  that 
the  name  in  process  of  time,  changed  from  Gyney  to  Jenney.  In 
the  9th  of  King  Richard  II.,  Thomas,  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Gyney, 
Knt.,  enfeoffed  his  manor  of  Gislingham,  in  this  county,  called 
"  Gyney's,"  which  had  been  lately  purchased  of  John  de  Weyland : 
this  manor  still  retains  the  name  of  "  Jenneys." 

John,  son  of  William,  son  of  Edmund  Jenney,  of  this  parish, 
was  a  burgess  of  Norwich,  in  1452;  and  by  Maud  his  wife,  daugh- 
ter and  heir  of  John  Bokill,  of  Friston,  in  this  county,  had  issue 
Sir  William  Jenney,  Knt.,  of  Knottishall,  one  of  the  judges  of  the 
King's  Bench,  in  1477;  and  John,  in  holy  orders,  rector  of  Ufford, 
in  Willford  hundred,  before  1483. 

Sir  Edmund  Jenney,  Knt.,  eldest  son  to  the  Judge,  succeeded  ; 
and  married  Catherine,  daughter  and  heir  of  Kobert  Bois,  Esq.  He 
died  in  the  15th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  and  left  his  possessions  to 

*  It  appears  from  the  parish  register,  that  "  Bury,  the  son  of  Mark  Snelling,  and 
Mary  his  wife,  was  buried  the  6th  day  of  March,  1725,"  and  that  "  Bury  Snelling, 
the  son  of  John  Snelling,  was  born  19th  of  November,  1656." 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  245 

Francis  his  grandson,  son  of  William  Jenney,  Esq.,  who  deceased 
in  the  10th  of  that  reign,  leaving  the  said  Francis  a  minor.  Sir 
Edmund  died  seized  of  this  manor,  with  Theberton,  Brayham, 
Lowdham,  and  Hustings  in  Middleton,  all  in  this  county. 

Francis  Jenney,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married  twice :  first,  Mar- 
garet, daughter,  of  Sir  Eobert  Peyton,  Knt.,  of  Iselham ;  and  se- 
condly, Mary,  daughter  of  Kobert  Brograve,  Esq.,  of  Beckham,  in 
Kent.  By  the  latter  he  had  no  issue,  but  by  the  former  was  father 
of  a  numerous  family.  This  gentleman  died  in  1590,  aged  80  years. 
His  descendants  in  the  elder  branch  intermarried  as  follows : — 
Arthur,  his  heir,  bora  in  1533,  died  in=:Elye,  daughter  of  George  Jernigan,  Esq. 

1604.     Buried  at  Theberton.  of  Somerleyton. 

I J 

Francis  Jenney,  Esq.,  who  deceased  be-=Anne,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  George 

fore  his  father.  j       Rede,  Esq.,  of  Thorington,  Suffolk. 

I 

Sir  Arthur  Jenney,*  Knt.,  succeeded  hisyAnne,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Barker. 

grandfather.  J 

I—  J 

Sir  Robt.  Jenney,  Knt.,  married  in  1640,=zElizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Offley, 

died  in  1660.  I       Knt.,  of  Madeley,  co.  Stafford. 

I—  J 

Offley  Jenney,  Esq.,  born  in  1641,  and=Alethea,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Edward 

died  in  1670.  !       Duke,  of  Benhall,  Bart. 

I— 

Robert  Jenney,  Esq.,  of  Leiston,  only^Deborah,    daughter   of    John    Braham^ 

surviving  child".  Esq.,  of  Campsey  Ash. 

I—      - J 

Offley  Jenney,  Esq.,  only  son,  died  in 
1735,  unmarried. 

Eobert  Jenney,  Esq.,  of  Leiston,  survived  until  1741,  and  was 
succeeded  in  the  representation  of  the  family  by  his  cousin,  Edmund 
Jenney,  Esq.,  of  Bredfield.  (See  that  parish.) 

In  the  21st  of  King  Edward  I.,  Adam,  parson  of  the  church  of 
Knodeshale,  and  Adam  Skill,  of  Westleton,  brought  an  action  against 
Michael  Fitz  John,  bailiff  of  Dunwich,  John  le  Folur,  and  Henry 
Eiugulf,  because  the  plaintiffs  delivered  a  writ  to  the  defendants, 
under  the  seal  of  the  Sheriff,  and  demanded  the  due  execution 
thereof;  when  the  defendants  took  and  imprisoned  the  plaintiffs 
for  eight  days ;  whereupon  the  defendants  were  found  guilty,  and 
the  plaintiffs  recovered  damages,  in  five  marks,  for  their  trespass, 
and  the  liberty  of  Dunwich  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown ;  which 
was  soon  after  re-possessed,  by  the  payment  of  one  mark,  and  half 
a  mark  for  John  le  Folur,  William  of  Cokely  being  surety  for  the 
payment  of  the  same,  Henry  Eingulf  being  deceased. 

*  Sir  Arthur  espoused  four  wives,  and  had  issue  by  each. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLTTHING. 

Francis  Vernon,  Earl  of  Shipbroke,  was  formerly  possessed  of  a 
large  estate  and  manor  in  this  parish,  and  also  held  the  patronage 
of  the  advowson :  the  Eev.  Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum  held  the  same 
by  the  presentation  of  the  late  John  Vernon,  Esq.  The  present 
incumbent  is  George  Ayton  Whitaker,  who  possessed  a  freehold 
estate  here,  with  the  manor,  late  the  property  of  -  -  Ayton,  Esq. 

ARMS. — Jenney:  ermine;  a  bend,  gules,  cotised,  or.  Crest:  on 
a  glove  in  fess,  argent,  a  hawk  (or  falcon)  close,  or;  belled  of 
the  last. 


LEISTON. — LEESTUNE,  or  LEHTUNA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  at  the  period  of  the  Domesday  survey, 
was  held  by  Kobert  de  Malet ;  but  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  I., 
became  forfeited  to  the  Crown,  by  his  adherence  to  Robert  Curtois, 
the  King's  eldest  brother,  Duke  of  Normandy. 

Henry  II.  granted  the  same  to  the  celebrated  Justiciary,  Ranulph 
de  Glanville ;  who,  in  1182,  founded  a  small  Premonstratensian 
Canonry  here,  and  endowed  it  with  this  manor,  and  also  with  cer- 
tain churches,  which  he  had  previously  given  to  the  canons  of 
Butley,  and  which  they  resigned  in  favour  of  this  Abbey. 

It  flourished  about  180  years,  and  having  received  considerable 
acquisition  of  property,  was  refouncled,  with  the  accompaniment  of 
a  new  edifice,  built  by  Robert  de  Ufford,  in  1363,  in  a  more  healthy 
situation,  about  a  mile  from  the  old  site,  and  more  remote  from  the 
sea;  whence  he  removed  most  of  the  canons.  This  new  edifice  was 
unfortunately  destroyed  by  fire,  about  1389;  but,  being  re-built, 
continued  to  flourish  until  the  dissolution. 

The  old  house  was  not  abandoned,  but  continued  to  be  inhabited 
by  a  few  monks  until  the  dissolution  ;  in  fact,  legacies  appear  to 
have  been  left  to  "our  Lady  of  the  old  Abbey"  so  late  as  1515. 
Under  A.D.  1531,  in  the  Butley  chronicle,  is  the  following  entry: 
"  John  Grene  relinquishing  his  Abbacie  by  choice,  was  consecrated 
an  anchorite  at  the  chapel  of  St.  Mary,  in  the  old  Monastery,  near 
the  sea." 

Pope  Lucius  granted  this  Abbey  the  liberty  to  celebrate  Divine 
worship  privately,  in  the  time  .of  general  interdiction,  and  absolute 
freedom  in  the  election  of  their  Abbot,  likewise  the  liberty  of  burying 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITI11NG.  247 

any  person  who  should  desire  to  be  interred  in  their  Monastery,  if 
not  under  sentence  of  excommunication  :  they  were  not  obliged  to 
pay  tithes  of  their  goods,  privileged  and  granted  to  them ;  that  in 
time  of  a  vacancy,  neither  he  or  his  heirs,  nor  any  of  his  officers, 
should  seize  upon  their  temporalities,  nor  should  they  be  compelled 
to  grant  a  pension  to  any  person  whatever. 

The  Abbot  of  this  house  was  quit  of  custom  in  the  burgh  of 
Ipswich,  of  all  things  growing  on  his  own  lands,  and  of  all  things 
bought  for  his  own  use.  He  was  also  entitled  to  wreck  of  the  sen, 
from  the  port  of  Mensmere  to  the  village  of  Thorpe,  as  appears  by 
a  roll  of  inquisitions  in  the  Exchequer,  in  the  3rd  of  King  Edward  I. 
By  this  record  it  further  appears,  that  he  had  the  liberty  of  gallows, 
assize  of  bread  and  ale,  and  of  a  market  at  Sizewell ;  where  he  took 
custom  and  toll  to  the  damage  of  the  King,  and  the  city  of  Dunwich, 
to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  shillings  annually. 

By  a  charter  granted  in  1388,  King  Richard  II.,  confirmed  the 
founder's  gift  of  the  manor  and  church  of  Leiston,  and  also  the  va- 
rious privileges  enjoyed  by  the  Abbot  and  Convent. 

Both  these  Abbeys  were  dedicated  to  the  honour  of  the  blessed 
Virgin  Mary;  and  their  gross  value,  in  "Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  was 
£210  4s.  4|d.  The  new  Abbey,  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VII., 
contained  an  Abbot  (George  Carlton),  and  18  Canons ;  at  the  dis- 
solution, 15  Canons  only. 

In  1536,  it  was  granted  to  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk ; 
in  whose  family  the  patronage  of  this  house  had  been  for  several 
generations ;  who  afterwards  exchanged  the  site  of  the  Abbey,  and 
the  manors,  rectories,  and  lands  attached  to  it,  with  the  Crown,  for 
Henham  Hall :  and  the  Priory  remained  in  the  Crown,  till  the  3rd 
and  4th  of  Philip  and  Mary,  when  the  same  was  granted  to  Robert 
Browne,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer. 

In  this  family,  many  of  whom  resided  here,  it  continued  until 
the  17th  of  King  James  I.,  when  it  became  alienated  to  Henry 
Grey,  the  elder,  Gent.,  and  Henry  Grey,  Esq.,  his  nephew;  who,  in 
the  3rd  of  King  Charles,  sold  the  same  to  Richard  Miller,  Esq.,  of 
London,  and  Alice  Ms  wife. 

It  appears  however,  that  King  James  I.,  in  the  1 7th  year  of  his 
reign,  granted  to  the  celebrated  George  Villiers,  Duke  of  Bucking- 
ham, the  Monastery,  with  the  manors,  &c.,  of  Leiston ;  and  in  the 
2nd  of  King  Charles  I., 'he  disposed  of  his  right  in  them,  to  the 
above  Richard  Miller,  who,  by  such  purchase,  became  the  sole  pro- 


248  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

prietor.  He  sold  the  same  to  Daniel  Harvey,  Eliab  Harvey,  and 
Matthew  Harvey:  Daniel  survived,  and  in  1666,  devised  it  to 
Daniel  Harvey,  Esq. 

It  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Viscount  Hinchinbroke,  and  grand- daughter  of  Lady  Anne  Harvey. 
She  married,  1st.,  Kelland  Courtenay,  Esq.,  and  2nd,  William 
Smith,  Esq.,  formerly  of  the  Theatre  Koyal,  Oovent  Garden.  This 
lady  deceased  in  1762,  and  was  buried  at  Leiston.  The  estate  de- 
volved to  the  two  co -heiresses,  daughters  of  the  said  Kelland 
Courtenay. 

It  was  soon  afterwards  purchased  by  Sir  Joshua  Vanneck,  Bart., 
and  is  now  the  estate  of  Lord  Huntingfield.  Some  interesting 
remains  of  this  beautiful  building  are  yet  standing,  and  are  chiefly 
converted  to  the  purposes  of  various  farming  offices.  Several  illus- 
trative views  have  been  published,  by  different  persons,  at  various 
periods. 

CHARITIES. — In  1722,  Thomas  Grimsby,  by  will,  directed  ,£200 
to  be  paid  to  the  churchwardens  of  this  parish,  to  be  put  out  at 
interest  at  5  per  cent,  per  annum,  and  the  said  interest  to  be  given 
in  bread  every  Lord's  day,  after  Divine  service,  to  the  poor  of  the 
parish.  The  legacy  has  been  invested  in  the  public  funds,  and  the 
dividends  are  laid  out  in  bread.  The  testator,  by  his  will,  also 
devised  all  his  freehold  and  charter-hold  lands  and  tenements,  in 
Westleton,  towards  the  clothing  of  the  poor  children  and  widows 
belonging  to  this  parish.  The  estate  held  under  this  devise  consists 
of  a  house  with  outbuildings,  and  about  38  acres  of  land,  let  at  £54= 
a  year ;  which  is  expended  accordingly. 


LINSTEAD  (GREAT  AND  LITTLE),  or  LINESTEDE. 

Roger,  son  of  William  de  Huntingfield,  founder  of  the  Priory  of 
Cluniac  Monks,  at  Mendham,  gave  the  church  of  St.  Margaret,  of 
Linstead,  and  half  the  church  of  St.  Peter,  to  that  Monastery;  and 
previous  to  its  dissolution,  both  these  impropriations  were  held  by 
the  said  Prior  and  monks.  The  present  patron  is  the  Eight  Hon. 
Joshua  Vanneck,  Baron  Huntingfield,  of  Heveningham  Hall.  Per- 
petual Curate,  the  Rev.  S.  B.  Turner. 

The  Abbot  and  Cistertian  Monks  of  Sibton,  held  the  lordship  of 


HUNDRED  OF   BLITHING.  249 

Little  Linstead;  which,  in  1536,  two  years  before  the  act  for  dis- 
solving the  greater  Monasteries,  was,  together  with  all  the  estates 
belonging  to  that  house,  sold  to  Thomas  Duke  of  Norfolk;  and  the 
same  was  confirmed  to  the  said  Duke,  by  statute,  in  the  31st  of 
King  Henry  VIII. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  a  branch  of  the  Everard*  family 
were  concerned  in  one  or  both  of  these  parishes.  Eichard  Everard, 
by  will,  dated  in  1566,  gave  the  manor  of  Fitton's,  in  St.  German's 
Wigenhale,  in  Norfolk,  to  John  Everard ;  and  by  an  inquisition 
taken  at  Hoxne,  in  this  county,  in  the  15th  of  that  reign,  on  the 
death  of  John  Everard,  the  jury  find  that  he  died  seized  of  it,  with 
certain  messuages,  lands,  &c.,  in  the  said  parish,  and  Islington,  in 
the  same  county,  without  issue;  and  that  Henry  Everard,  of  this 
parish,  was  his  cousin  and  heir. 

Anne,  daughter  of  Henry  Everard,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  married 
Thomas,  son  and  heir  of  Edmund  de  Grey,  Esq.,  of  Merton,  in 
Norfolk.  He  died  in  1562. 

Agnes,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  William  Everard,  of  Linstead, 
married  William,  second  son  of  Sir  Edward  Paston,  of  Appleton, 
in  Norfolk.  She  died  in  1676,  aged  73  years. 

Thomas  Gavell,  of  Kirkeby-Kam,  in  Norfolk,  married  Anne, 
daughter  of  Henry  Everard,  of  this  parish,  Esq.  This  Thomas  died 
in  1522,  leaving  four  daughters  and  co-heirs,  one  of  whom,  Elizabeth, 
married  to  John  Cooke,  Esq. 

By  this  match  it  would  appear,  the  Cookes  might  possess  pro- 
perty here;  for  about  the  31st  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Wm.  Cooke, 
sen.,  Gent.,  resided  at  Linstead.  He  married  Mary,  one  of  the 
daughters  and  co -heirs  of  Ralph  Shelton,  Esq.,  and  Prudence  his 
wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Edward  Calthorpe,  Esq. 

William  Cooke,  Esq.,  their  son,  married  Mary,  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  Thomas  Astley,  of  Melton  Constable,  in  Norfolk,  Esq. 
He  was  father  of  William  Cooke,  of  Brome,  in  the  same  county, 
Esq.,  created  a  Baronet  in  1663. 

*  "  On  the  north  brink  of  the  river,  between  Wisbech  St.  Peter  and  St.  Mary, 
stood  an  ancient  mansion,  called  White  Hall,  formerly  the  residence  of  a  family  of 
repute,  of  the  name  of  Everard,  settled  there  as  early  as  1300.  The  name  of  John 
Everard,  Esq.,  occurs  in  certain  presentments  relative  to  straitening  the  river,  in 
1438  ;  and  when  King  Edward  VI.  granted  the  charter  to  the  town  of  Wisbech, 
Richard  Everard,  Esq.,  was  therein  nominated  one  of  the  ten  men,  his  name 
standing  second,  and  next  to  the  brother  of  the  then  Lord  Bishop." — WATSON'S 
HISTORY  OF  WISBECH,  p.  451. 


230  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

ARMS. — Ecerard :  argent ;  a  fess  wavy,  between  three  estoils, 
gules.  CooJce:  gules;  on  a  fess,  or,  three  trefoils,  azure:  in  chief, 
a  lion  passant,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  belonging  to  the  Chapelry  of  Lower 
Linstead,  consists  of  a  house,  which  is  of  copyhold  tenure,  with  a 
small  garden,  and  about  an  acre-and-half  of  land  adjoining,  let  at 
£9  per  annum.  The  rents  of  this  property  have  always,  as  long  as 
can  be  traced,  been  applied  by  the  chapelwarden,  for  the  repairs  of 
the  house,  the  repairs  of  the  chapel,  and  payment  of  other  charges 
of  the  chapelwarden's  office. 


MELLS,  or  MEALLA. 

Ebraud  de  Melnes  gave  "  to  God,  and  his  church  of  St.  Mary, 
at  Thetford,"  two  parts  of  the  tithes  of  his  demesne,  in  tin's  hamlet, 
and  Besthorp,  in  Norfolk ;  for  which  the  Prior  of  the  said  church 
was  taxed  at  fifteen  shillings. 

The  lordship  was  formerly  vested  in  the  College  of  Secular  Ca- 
nons, at  Mettingham,  in  this  county  ;  and  at  the  dissolution  was 
granted  to  Sir  Anthony  Denny,  Knt.  In  1541,  Thomas  Denny, 
Esq.,  was  owner  thereof.  It  is  a  hamlet  of  Wenhaston.  The 
church  is  in  ruins. 


MIDDLETON,  or  MIDELTUNA. 

In  the  10th  of  King  John,  the  Countess  Gundreda,  relict  of 
Roger  de  Glanvile,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  sued  Robert  de  Creke  for  a 
reasonable  dower  in  a  free  tenement,  &c.,  her  late  husband's,  in  this 
parish,  Yoxford,  and  Bacton,  in  this  county.  Sir  Robert  married  a 
daughter  and  heiress  of  the  Glanviles. 

This  Roger  de  Glanvile  and  Robert  de  Creke,  granted  the  ad- 
vowson  of  this  parish  church  to  the  Abbot  and  Premonstratensian 
Canons,  at  Leyston,  in  this  hundred,  founded  by  Ranulph  (or  Ra- 
dulph)  de  Glanvile,  one  of  his  ancestors.  This  Monastery  also 
held  a  manor  in  Middleton. 

The  familv  of  De  Creke  took  their  name  from  North  Creak,  in 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  251 

Norfolk,  where  they  were  lords,  and  always  resided.  Sir  Robert  de 
Creke  greatly  augmented  his  estate  by  his  marriage  with  this  heiress, 
by  whom  he  had  a  son  and  heir,  Bartholomew;  who,  in  the  time  of 
King  Henry  III.,  gave  lands  to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Osyth,  in 
Essex,  and  died  about  the  36th  of  that  reign. 

By  Margery  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  Jeffrey  de  Anos,  lord 
of  Hillington,  in  Norfolk,  he  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter,  who 
all  died  without  issue.  John,  the  youngest,  inherited  after  the  de- 
cease of  his  brothers,  and  died  about  the  llth  of  King  Edward  I. 

In  the  18th  of  that  reign,  William,  son  of  James  de  Creke, 
granted  by  fine  to  Robert,  son  of  Hugh  de  Swyllington,  two  parts  of 
a  lordship  in  this  parish,  and  the  reversion  of  the  third  part,  which 
Joan,  late  wife  of  John  de  Creke,  held  in  dower,  of  the  inheritance 
of  William.  This  Wm.  de  Creke  and  Robt.  de  Swyllington  were  sisters' 
sons ;  namely,  Sara  and  Helewise,  daughters  of  William  de  Pirnho. 
Sir  Adamde  Swyllington  became  heir  to  his  brother  William  about 
the  3rd  of  King  Edward  II.  :  he  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren 
for  this  lordship,  and  his  other  estates  in  this  county,  in  the  4th  of 
that  reign.  He  had  issue  two  sons,  Sir  Adam,  and  Sir  Robert ;  and 
Sir  Adam,  son  of  Sir  Adam,  in  the  46th  of  Edward  III.,  released  to 
Sir  Robert  Ids  uncle,  this  lordship,  with  that  of  Yoxford  ;  who  was 
to  hold  them  for  life. 

The  family  of  De  Swyllington  derive  their  name  from  a  parish  in 
the  west  riding  of  Yorkshire,  of  which  they  were  lords ;  but  Sir  Adam 
de  Swyllington  was  a  Lincolnshire  Baron,  and  was  summoned  to 
Parliament  as  such,  from  the  21st  of  King  Edward  II.,  to  the  2nd 
of  the  following  reign. 

Some  authorities  state  that  Bartholomew  Lord  Burghersh  pos- 
sessed this  lordship  in  the  23rd  of  King  Edward  III.,  and  had  a 
charter  of  free  warren  therein,  to  himself,  and  Cicely  his  wife.  He 
deceased  in  the  43rd  of  that  reign,  seized  of  the  same  ;  wliich  de- 
scended to  his  only  daughter  and  heir,  the  wife  of  Edw.  de  Spencer. 
In  the  20th  of  Richard  II.,  Sir  Roger  de  Swyllington  founded  a 
chantry  for  this  Bartholomew  Lord  Burghersh,  and  all  his  ancestors; 
which  shews  some  family  alliance. 

The  monastic  property  in  this  parish  held  by  Leyston  Abbey,  was 
granted  at  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  in  the  28th  of  King 
Henry  VIII.,  to  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk  :  it  latterly  was 
the  estate  of  Mrs.  Freake,  and  the  impropriation  now  belongs  to  the 
Rev.  Harrison  Packard,  who  also  holds  the  rectory. 


252  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

In  "  Cotman's  Suffolk  Brasses"  is  an  etching  from  this  parish 
church,  to  the  memory  of  Anthony  Pettow,  yeoman ;  who  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  Thomas  Bishope,  of  Kelleshall,  yeoman.  He 
deceased  in  1610,  aged  54  years. 

In  the  time  of  King  James  I.,  John  Woodcock  was  a  resident  in 
this  parish,  and  was  owner  of  an  estate  of  about  .£150  per  annum. 
He  was  Chief  Constable  of  this  hundred,  and  one  of  the  feodaries 
of  the  patronage  of  Middleton,  it  being  endowed  with  very  little  for 
the  maintenance  of  a  minister.  Mr.  Woodcock  was  lord  and  patron 
of  Fordley.  Several  of  his  family  are  interred  in  this  parish  church ; 
and  also  the  Eev.  Thomas  Meadows,  for  many  years  rector  of  Ben- 
acre  and  Frosteiiden;  whose  first  wife  was  Frances,  daughter  of  John 
Woodcock ;  he  married,  secondly,  Sarah,  3rd  daughter  of  Thomas 
Ling,  formerly  prebend  of  Exeter ;  and,  thirdly,  Elizabeth,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Revett,  of  Brandeston,  Gent.,  who  sur- 
vived him.  Mr.  Meadows  deceased  in  1742. 


NORTHALES. — (See  COVEHITHE,  COUA,  or  NOKHALA). 


PEASENHALL. — PISEHALLA,  or  PESNALL. 

Ralph  Fitz  Norman  gave  two  parts  of  his  tithes  in  this  parish  to 
the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew,  commonly  called 
the  Abbey,  in  Thetford. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  inheritance  of  Walter 
de  Norwich;  and  in  the  18th  of  the  same  reign,  the  lordship  be- 
longed to  Roger  Bigod,  5th  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and  first  Marshal  of 
England.  In  the  15th  of  the  following  reign,  Nicholas  de  Segrave 
died  seized  of  the  same;  who  left  this,  with  his  other  possessions, 
to  Maud  his  daughter  and  heiress,  then  the  wife  of  Edmund  deBohun. 
In  the  1 7th  of  the  same  King,  Michael  de  Segrave  held  of  him,  in 
capite,  the  manor  of  Peasenhall,  as  of  the  Castle  of  Norwich,  by  the 
service  of  one  Knight's  fee. 

By  letters  patent,  in  the  8th  of  King  Edward  IV.,  that  Monarch 


HUNDRED  OF  BL1THING. 

granted  to  John,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  their 
heirs,  the  return  of  all  writs,  and  all  bills,  summons,  precepts,  and 
mandates  of  the  King,  within  certain  liberties,  hundreds,  and  manors, 
in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  ;  amongst  which  the  lordship  of  Peasenhall 
was  included. 

It  became  afterwards  vested  in  the  Barker  family ;  and  since,  in 
that  of  Edgar.  In  1764,  Mileson  Edgar,  Esq.,  inherited  it. 

In  the  17th  century,  the  family  of  Bermau  had  some  interest  in 
this  parish.  Nicholas  Berman,  Gent.,  resided  here ;  his  only  daugh- 
ter and  heiress,  married  Sir  Thomas  Garrard,  of  Langford,  in  Nor- 
folk, Bart.  She  died  in  1703,  and  is  buried  within  the  altar  rails  of 
Langford  church.  A  daughter  of  theirs  married  Samuel  Kerridge 
(or  Kerrick),  of  Shelley  Hall,  in  this  county,  Esq. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  lands  here  consist  of  the  following  par- 
ticulars : — a  pightle  of  about  one  acre,  including  the  site  of  a  house, 
which  was  burnt  down,  and  a  garden,  let  at  £5  15s.  a  year.  Two 
closes  in  Sibton,  containing  about  4A.,  let  together  at  £21  5s.  a  year. 
These  were  devised  by  Edmund  Kempe,  by  will,  in  1490.  Apiece 
of  ground,  and  an  allotment  of  IA.  37p.,  made  on  an  inclosure  of 
Sibton  Green,  in  1809,  let  together  at  £2  per  annum.  The  rents 
of  the  above  are  carried  to  the  churchwardens'  account,  and  applied 
towards  the  payment  of  such  expenses  as  are  incidental  to  their 
office. — The  town  lands  consist  of  a  piece  of  land  in  this  parish, 
containing  somewhat  above  14  acres,  being  copyhold  of  the  manor 
of  Bruisyard,  let  at  £17  17s.  a  year,  but  subject  to  a  deduction  of 
£l  4s.  6d.  for  land  tax,  and  quit  rents.  This  land  has,  from  a  re- 
mote period,  been  held  in  trust,  for  the  exoneration  of  the  inhabi- 
tants from  the  King's  taxes  ;  when  they  should  fall,  for  the  relief  of 
the  poor,  and  other  good  uses  and  purposes.  A  cottage,  called 
Gifford's,  in  Peasenhall,  being  copyhold  of  the  manor  of  Sibton, 
rent  £5  per  annum.  These  premises  Kobert  Louffe  devised,  by  will, 
in  1580,  to  the  township  of  Peasenhall,  to  be  to  the  use  and  benefit 
of  the  poor  there  ;  and  part  thereof  to  the  poor  of  Sibton  :  the  rent 
is  distributed  to  poor  widows,  in  weekly  allowances.  Edmund  Cut- 
ting gave  by  will,  in  1639,  Is.  per  week,  in  bread,  among  the  poor 
inhabitants  of  this  parish  ;  and  a  rent  charge  of  52s.  a  year,  is  re- 
ceived out  of  an  estate  in  Ashfield,  Peasenhall,  and  Sibton,  and  dis- 
tributed accordingly. 


254  HUNDRED  OF  BLTTHING. 

RAYDON,  or  RIENDUNA. 

This  parish  was  of  much  more  consideration  in  former  times  than 
at  the  present  period,  and  enjoyed  a  market  and  a  park ;  some  lauds 
here  being  still  called  the  market-close,  with  high,  low,  and  middle 
park  pieces,  and  park  lane.  In  1684,  the  hall  in  this  park  was  taken 
down,  by  Mr.  Oliver  Dave. 

In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  here  were  two  freemen 
holding  1 6g-  acres  of  plough  land,  of  the  value  of  ten  shillings.  The 
King  and  the  Earl  had  soc  for  escutage.  It  was  in  length  one 
league  and  three  quarters,  and  in  breadth  one  league  and  three 
perches,  and  paid  geld,  sixpence  half-penny.  At  that  period  here 
were  two  churches.  This  account  probably  includes  Wangford, 
alias  Reydon  St.  Peter.  The  church  of  Eeydon,  with  the  chapel  of 
St.  Margaret  de  Rissemere,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  and  the 
water  mill  of  Reydon,  with  the  mere  or  pool,  and  one  acre  of  land 
lying  near  the  mill,  for  the  reparation  of  the  pool,  were  given  to  the 
church  of  St.  Peter,  at  Wangford,  and  the  Convent  there,  byAnsered; 
and  Sir  Geraline  de  Vemun,  Knt.,  his  son,  confirmed  the  same. 

At  the  request  of  Hugh  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  King  Henry  II., 
confirmed  to  the  Cluniac  Monastery  of  St.  Mary,  in  Thetford,  the 
church  of  St.  Peter  at  Reydon,  alias  Wangford,  with  all  that  belong- 
ed to  it ;  in  which  church  there  were  placed  monks  from  Thetford. 
In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was 
in  Aymer  de  Valence,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  who  died  in  1323.  The 
same  has  of  late  been  in  the  Rous  family,  for  several  generations  ; 
and  Sir  John  Rous,  Bart.,  in  1747,  converted  Wolsey's  bridge  into 
a  sluice,  to  raise  into  pasture  certain  lands  above  it.  His  descend- 
ant, the  Right  Hon.  John  Edward  Cornwallis  Rous,. Earl  of  Strad- 
broke,  is  the  present  owner. 

The  Playters  family,  it  appears,  were  also  concerned  here.  In 
the  year  1737,  Sir  John  Playters,  Bart.,  built  a  quay  here;  which 
was  afterwards  the  property  of  Miles  Barnes,  of  Satterley,  Esq.,  and 
is  now  vested  in  his  representative. 

Tradition  reports  that  Cardinal  Wolsey  was  a  benefactor  to  this 
parish,  and  its  vicinity,  by  raising  causeways,  and  building  a  bridge 
over  the  channel,  that  afterwards  bore  the  name  of  the  founder. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  Mr.  Le  Neve's  will  further 
point  out  the  descent  of  this  lordship : — "  As  to  Reydon,  I  find  it, 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITIIING.  25f> 

in  the  time  of  Henry  III.,  held  by  a  family  called  Muncheasy,  of 
Robert  Fitz  waiter,  as  parcel  of  the  Barony  of  Baynard  ;  and  from 
thence  (as  I  guess  only,  but  am  not  positive)  by  William  de  Valen- 
cia, Earl  of  Pembroke's  marriage  with  Joane,  daughter  and  heir  of 
Warine  de  Moiiclmsi,  it  came  to  that  family ;  and  his  son  Aymer 
de  Valencia,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  dying  without  issue  (17th  of  King 
Edward  II.),  it  came  to  the  family  of  Hastings,  after  Earls  of  Pem- 
broke, by  the  marriage  of  Isabel,  sister  and  co-heir  of  that  Aymer 
de  Valencia,  with  John  Hastings  ;  from  the  8th  year  of  King  Ed- 
ward I.,  I  am  sure  of  it  being  owned  by  Valence  ;  for  then  a  fine 
was  levied  on  the  manor  of  Eeydon,  by  Wangford ;  except  £12 
land  by  the  year,  between  Robert  Fitzwalter,  petentem,  and  William 
de  Valence,  tenentem,  whereby  it  was  granted  to  William,  paying 
yearly  the  service  of  the  Knight's  fee,  and  castle  guard,  to  Baynard's 
Castle,  in  London.  Thence  I  need  not  repeat  its  possessors,  for  it 
had  the  same  with  Badmondesfield  till  llth  Elizabeth.  For  then  I 
find  Charles  Somerset  owner  thereof;  and  in  the  15th  of  her  reign, 
that  Thomas  Rous  held  it.  At  his  death,  the  inquisition  is  dated 
the  20th  of  May,  in  the  15th  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  The  manors 
named  are  Henham,  cum  cravens^  Reydon  Bleoiles,  Scarbale,  South- 
erton,  &c.  And  by  his  deed,  dated  9th  August,  in  the  fourth  of 
that  Queen,  granted  the  manor  to  Michael  and  Robert  Hare,  to  the 
use  of  Ann  Rous,  for  her  jointure  (who  was  his  wife  I  believe  and 
widow),  with  remainder  to  his  right  heirs.  The  jury  say  the  manor 
of  Bleoiles  Reydon  was  worth  i'13  14s.,  but  not  the  tenure.  And 
the  said  Baron  Rous  died  the  20th  of  February,  in  the  year  afore- 
said, leaving  Thomas  Rous,  his  son  and  heir,  twelve  years  old.  From 
this  time  I  think  I  need  not  trouble  you  with  the  descent  of  the 
manor  or  family ;  you  having  descended  in  a  direct  line  from  the 
last  Baron  here  mentioned.  Pray  sir,  present  my  humble  service  to 
the  Major  Rous.,  and  all  persons  who  ask  after  me,  being  sir,  your 
most  humble  servant, 

"  Peter  Le  Neve  Norry." 
"  Great  Wychingham,  in  Norfolk,  July  12th,  1723." 

In  1827,  several  Roman  urns  were  discovered  in  this  parish;  one 
of  which  was  preserved  whole  :  of  the  remains  of  those  picked  up, 
some  were  ornamented,  all  contained  ashes,  and  shewed  marks  of 
fire.  A  quantity  of  human  bones  were  also  found  at  the  same  time 
and  place. 


HUNDRED  OF  BUTHING. 

CHARITIES. — Some  parcels  of  land  in  this  parish,  containing,  in 
the  whole,  hetween  four  and  five  acres,  are  let  at  rents  amounting 
together  to  £7,  or  £8,  a  year ;  and  the  same  are  applied  in  the  re- 
paration of  the  church.  An  allotment  of  22A..,  lets  at  £18  a  year, 
and  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  coals  ;  which  are  dealt 
out  among  the  poor,  residing  in,  and  belonging  to  the  parish.  A 
dole  of  10s.  a  year  used  to  he  paid  out  of  property  belonging  to  a 
Mr.  Aldrich,  and  was  given  by  the  will  of  Matthew  Walter,  in  1589 ; 
but  this  has  not  been  paid  for  many  years. 


RUMBURGH.— ROMBURC,  or  WANBURN. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  held  by  Ralph  Guadir  (de  Waer, 
or  Wayer),  Earl  of  Norfolk,  soon  after  the  conquest,  who  forfeited 
the  same  ;  after  which  Ulketel,  the  Conqueror's  Bailiff  or  Steward, 
seized  it,  and  did  suit  of  court  here.  It  appears  Alan,  Earl  of 
Richmond,  held  the  same  soon  afterwards  ;  who  founded  the  Mo- 
nastery here  between  1064  and  1070. 

This  house  was  of  the  Benedictine  order,  and  dedicated  to  St. 
Michael,  or  St.  Felix ;  and  at  the  above  period,  brother  Blakere, 
and  other  monks,  from  St.  Bennet's,  at  Hulme,  in  Norfolk,  were 
appointed  to  begin  a  small  religious  establishment  here,  subordinate 
to  that  Abbey;  and  it  was  endowed  with  several  churches  and  lands. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  I.,  this  cell,  with  all  its  endowments, 
was  given  by  Stephen,  Duke  of  Britaign,  and  Earl  of  Richmond, 
brother  of  Alan,  or  his  son,  Alan  the  third,  father  of  the  Duke 
Conan,  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Mary,  at  York. 

In  the  reign  of  William  Rufus,  William  de  Eschois,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  soul  of  that  King,  his  lord,  gave  to  the  monks  of  St.  Mary's 
Abbey,  by  York  walls,  the  advowsons  of  Banham  and  Wilby  churches, 
in  Norfolk ;  with  possessions  in  those  parishes,  and  in  Bawburgh, 
Cossey,  Swaffham,  &c.  These  were  granted  by  the  said  Abbey,  to 
their  Priory,  or  cell  in  this  parish ;  to  which  they  belonged  until 
the  dissolution.  Several  other  churches  were  impropriated  to  this 
Monastery,  with  tithes  in  other  parishes,  both  in  Suffolk  and 
Norfolk. 

John  de  Nerford  held  of  the  King,  in  capite,  in  the  38th  of 
Edward  III.,  1364,  the  advowson  of  the  Priory  church  of  Rumburgh, 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  257 

and  the  manor  of  Wysete,  with  the  appurtenances,  by  the  service  of 
one  Knight's  fee. 

This  was  one  of  the  small  Priories  which  were  suppressed  before 
the  general  dissolution,  and  was  given,  by  the  King,  to  Cardinal 
Wolsey,  for  his  College,  at  Ipswich,  in  1528.  The  remains  of  the 
Priory  are  converted  into  a  farm  house,  which  was  lately,  together 
with  the  manor,  the  property  of  Miss  Jessop.  Its  valuation,  in 
"  Tax.  Eccles.,"  A.D.  1291,  in  eleven  parishes,  was  .£10  12s.  llfd. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here  consists  of  the  following  par- 
ticulars :  a  messuage,  called  the  "  Bears,"  in  the  parish  of  St.  Peter, 
Southelmham,  with  the  buildings  and  lands  thereto  belonging ; 
containing,  by  estimation,  18  acres.  A  close,  in  the  parish  of  St. 
Michael,  Southelmham,  called  "  Warpullocks,"  containing  about  14 
acres  ;  an  enclosure  in  the  last  mentioned  parish,  containing  about  7 
acres  ;  and  an  enclosure  called  "  Rumburgh  Town  Close,"  in  Spex- 
hall,  containing  about  5  acres.  These  lands  and  premises  were 
lately  let  at  rents  amounting  together  to  £43  per  annum  ;  which 
ore  applied  for  such  general  uses,  for  the  common  good  of  the  in- 
habitants, as  the  trustees  think  most  advisable. 


SIBTON. — SIBETUNA,  SYBETONE,  or  SIBBETUNA. 

Walter,  a  younger  brother  of  William  de  Malet,  a  Norman  Baron, 
held  this  lordship,  and  was  progenitor  of  the  ancient  and  illustrious 
house  of  Peyton.  His  second  son,  Reginald  de  Peyton,  being  the 
personage  who  first  assumed  the  name,  is  considered  the  founder  of 
that  family. 

This  Walter  de  Cadomo  was  enfeoffed  in  the  Barony  of  Horse- 
ford,  in  Norfolk,  to  be  held  of  the  honour  of  Eye,  where  he  built  a 
castle,  and  had  a  large  park  and  chase  surrounding  it,  in  ancient 
deeds  termed  the  "  Forest  of  Horseford."  Robert  his  son,  married 
Sybilla,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Ralph  de  Cheyney,  and  is  often 
called  Robert  Fitz  Walter  ;  by  her  he  had  issue  three  sons,  who  as- 
sumed the  name  of  De  Cheyney.  William,  the  youngest,  was  lord 
of  Horseford,  and  living  in  the  2nd  of  King  Henry  I. ;  he  was 
sometimes  styled  William  de  Norwich. 

He  was  founder  of  the  Cistertian  Abbey  of  White  Monks,  in  this 
parish,  in  the  year  1149  ;  and  endowed  it  extensively  with  manors. 


258  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

lands,  and  possessions,  in  this  diocese.  He  gave  Friers  manor,  in 
Shelfhanger,  in  Norfolk,  formerly  the  possession  of  Edric  the  fal- 
coner, his  great  grandsire ;  with  which  Kohert  Lord  Malet,  eu- 
feoffed  his  brother,  Walter  de  Cadomo.  At  that  period  this  lordship 
was  very  small,  but  soon  after  became  augmented  by  divers  other 
grants.  The  revenues  of  this  Monastery  received  considerable  ad- 
ditions from  the  pious  contributions  of  the  lady  Margaret  de  Cressy, 
the  founder's  eldest  daughter  and  co-heiress ;  and  various  other  be- 
nefactors :  all  which  donations  were  confirmed  by  charters  of  King 
Henry  II.  and  Henry  III. 

Clementia  and  Sara,  the  other  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  William 
de  Cheyney,  were  also  benefactors  to  this  house ;  the  former  married 
to  Jordan  de  Sackvilc,  and  the  latter  to  Richard  de  Engaine.  The 
ancient  family  of  De  Wyndesore,  who  subsequently  assumed  the 
name  of  De  Senges  (or  Seething),  were  also  liberal  benefactors  to 
this  Monastery. 

In  the  52nd  of  King  Henry  III.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Whi- 
ter de  WTyndesore,  querent,  and  Richard,  Abbot  of  Sibton,  deforci- 
ant;  that  whereas  the  Abbot  was  obliged  to  find  two  monks  to  cele- 
brate divine  service  for  the  soul's  health  of  Hugh  de  Wyndesore, 
and  Christian  his  wife,  and  of  the  ancestors  and  successors  of  the 
said  Walter,  in  the  chapel  of  Senges ;  and  to  find  for  Walter  a  con- 
venient chamber  in  the  Abbey  for  himself  and  a  boy,  with  necessary 
diet  and  clothing,  and  competent  provender  for  one  horse,  which 
the  Abbot  had  denied  him  ;  the  Abbot  hereby  grants  to  Walter,  that 
he  would  perform  the  said  covenants,  of  finding  two  chaplains  to 
say  a  mass  of  St.  Mary,  and  another  De  Defunctis  every  day,  in 
the  said  chapel,  for  the  health  of  Hugh  de  Wyndesore  and  Christian 
his  wife,  ancestors  of  Walter ;  and  to  pay  Walter,  eight  marks  per 
annum,  and  two  boots  of  the  price  of  18d.,  or  that  sum  in  money  : 
and  Walter  released  all  the  rest. 

In  1536,  two  years  prior  to  the  Act  for  dissolving  the  greater 
Monasteries,  the  Abbot  and  Convent  sold  to  Thomas,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  the  site  and  all  the  estates  belonging  to  this  Monastery ; 
which  grant  was  confirmed  to  the  Duke  by  statute  of  the  31st  of 
King  Henry  VIII. 

Sibton  Abbey  was  granted,  at  the  dissolution,  to  Thomas  God- 
salve,  Esq.,  by  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk.  His  son,  Sir  Thomas 
Godsalve,  died  seized  of  it,  in  the  time  of  Philip  and  Mary.  He 
was  a  person  of  great  note ;  and  at  the  Coronation  of  Edward  VI., 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  259 

wag  created  Knight  of  the  Carpet,  and  was  afterwards  Comptroller 
of  the  Mint.* 

The  Earl  of  Suffolk  afterwards  held  this  property;  and,  in  the 
8th  of  James  I.,  it  was  purchased  by  John  Scrivener,  Esq.,  who 
built  a  commodious  house,  and  resided  here,  in  1655.  He  was  son 
of  Ralph  Scrivener,  of  Belstead,  Esq.,  Fortman  of  Ipswich,  Coun- 
cellor  at  Law,  and  sometime  Justice  of  Peace.  His  son  Thomas 
Scrivener,  Gent.,  married  Mary,  only  daughter  and  heir  of  William 
Bedingfield,  of  Fressingfield,  Gent. 

In  1764,  Charles  Scrivener,  Esq.,  was  owner  thereof;  whose  sister 
and  heiress,  Anne  Scrivener,  married  the  Rev.  Thomas  Freston, 
LL.E.,  vicar  of  Cratfield  ;  and  this  manor  and  estate  passed  to  John 
Freston,  their  son  and  heir,  who  took  the  name  of  Scrivener  :  and 
from  him,  to  his  only  daughter  and  heir,  Dorothea  Fisher,  wife  of 
the  late  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  lately  deceased.  John  Frederick  Pike, 
Esq.,  who  married  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Bishop,  by  Dorothea 
Scrivener,  lately  assumed  the  surname  of  Scrivener  ;  and  is  the  pre- 
sent owner  of  this  property.  The  house  is  pulled  down. 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles  I.,  Edmund  Barker  resided,  and  was 
owner  of  a  good  estate,  in  this  parish.  He  was  son  of  Edmund, 
son  of  John  Chapman  (alias  Barker),  of  Sibton,  Gent.  It  con- 
tinued in  the  Barker  family  five  or  six  generations,  and  was  since  in 
Mileson  Edgar,  Esq.,  as  heir  to  a  Mr.  Bloss,  stationer,  in  London  ; 
who  purchased  it  of  the  heiress  of  the  Barker  family.  It  was  since 
purchased  by  Mr.  Clayton  ;  and  is  now  the  property,  by  purchase, 
of  Robert  Sayer,  Esq.,  who  has  erected  a  handsome  modern  mansion, 
on  another  site,  in  Sibton  Park. 

Engravings  of  some  singular  tiles  dug  up  in  the  ruins  of  Sibton 
Abbey,  appeared  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1806,  p.  17  ; 
and  views  of  the  remains  of  the  Abbey,  in  "  Excursions  through 
Suffolk,"  also  in  "  Davy's  Architectural  Antiquities."  An  Hospital, 
founded  probably  by  the  Abbot  and  Convent,  was  placed  at  the  Ab- 
bey-gate :  and  for  the  better  support  of  the  same,  Simon  de  Walton, 
Bishop  of  Norwich,  appropriated  the  church  of  St.  Peter,  at  Grans- 
ford,  in  Plomesgate  hundred.  It  went  with  the  Abbey  at  the  dis- 
solution. No  traces  are  now  remaining. 

Valuations  in  Tax.  Eccles.  1291  :  —  Suffolk,  in  40  parishes,  £113 
14s.  l£d.;  Norfolk,  in  16  ditto,  £29  7s.  5£d.;  Cambridge,  £8  8s.: 


*  A  portrait  of  him  was  engraved  by  Clamp,  from  a  miniature  in  the  Bodleian 
Library,  at  Osford. 


260  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO. 

total,  £151  9s.  7d.— Lib.  Val.  and  Val.  Eccles.,  gross  value,  £279 
2s.  lid.  M.S.  Val.,  in  the  Bishop's  Registry,  £200  15s.  7d. 

Henry  Jermyn,  Esq.,  Barrister  at  Law,  whose  large  collections, 
illustrative  of  the  topography  and  antiquities  of  Suffolk,  were  pre- 
viously noticed  in  the  introduction  to  this  work,  resided  in  this  pa- 
rish. He  deceased  Nov.  27,  1820  ;  in  the  53rd  year  of  his  age. 

CHARITIES. — This  property  is  under  the  management  of  the 
churchwardens,  and  consists  of  the  following  particulars :  a  house 
called  the  Town  House,  with  a  small  garden,  let  in  four  tenements, 
at  rents  amounting  together  to  £12  a  year;  apiece  of  land,  1  A.  In.  7p., 
adjoining  the  glebe,  let  at  £l  15s.  a  year;  three  pieces  of  land  in 
Huntingfield,  containing  together  HA.  IR.  30p.,  these  let  at  £17  a 
year ;  a  house,  and  three  pieces  of  land,  containing  together,  SA. 
SR.  24p.,  in  Badingham,  let  at  £7  per  annum.  As  to  this  property, 
£2  1 2s.  a  year  is  applied  in  the  purchase  of  bread,  according  to  a 
bequest  of  Edmund  Cutting,  in  1639;  and  the  residue  is  applied  to 
the  general  purposes  of  repairing  the  church,  and  defraying  other 
expenses  incidental  to  the  office  of  the  churchwardens. — By  deed, 
dated  March  17,  1719,  John  Scrivener,  and  Dorothea  Scrivener 
his  sister,  settled  an  estate  in  Sibton  and  Peasenhall  to  the  following 
uses :  viz.,  that  one  half  of  the  rents  should  be  paid  to  the  vicar  of 
this  parish,  to  read  morning  service  in  the  church  every  Wednesday, 
Friday,  and  holy-day  in  the  year;  and  that  the  other  moiety  should 
be  employed  for  erecting  a  school  room  in  the  parish  of  Sibton,  for 
teaching  poor  children,  whose  parents  dwelt  within  the  same,  and 
were  not  able  to  bear  the  charge  thereof,  in  the  English  tongue, 
writing,  and  arithmetic  ;  and  in  the  principles  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, and  for  putting  out  apprentices. — The  property  comprises  a 
building  used  as  a  school-room,  and  32A.  OR.  32p.  of  land,  which 
lets  at  £55  a  year:  one  half  of  the  rent  is  paid  to  the  vicar,  and  the 
other  half  applied  for  the  support  of  a  school. 


SIZEWELL 

In  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign  contained  a  chapel  for  Divine  worship, 
and  anciently  a  considerable  number  of  inhabitants ;  but  of  late  has 
been  reduced  to  one  farm  house,  and  is  now  considered  a  hamlet  of 
Leiston. 


HUNDRED  OF  BL1THING. 

SOTHERTON. 

There  were  anciently  two  manors  in  this  parish ;  one  of  which 
belonged  to  Sir  William  de  Kerdeston,  the  other  to  Walter  de  Bern- 
ham,  which  had  the  advowson  attached.  In  the  reign  of  King  Ed- 
ward IV.,  John  Brightyeve,  of  Bernham  Broom,  in  Norfolk,  held 
the  same;  he  deceased  in  1497,  and  devised  it  to  his  daughter  Ag- 
nes ;  it  soon  afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Rous  family,  and  so 
continues  ;  the  Earl  of  Stradbroke  being  the  present  lord  and  patron. 


SOUTHWOLD. — SUWALD,  SUWALDA,  or  SOUTHWAUD, 

Is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  cliff,  or  point  of  land,  near  a  fine  bay,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  Blythe,  which  here  discharges  itself  into  the 
sea.  From  the  labours  of  Messrs.  Gardner  and  Wake,  the  early 
and  modern  historians  of  this  town,  we  collect  the  following  par- 
ticulars concerning  the  same. 

Southwold  is  a  sea  port,  and  town  corporate,  but  never  sent  re- 
presentatives to  Parliament :  it  has  a  weekly  market,  and  two  fairs 
annually.  In  the  5th  of  King  Henry  III.,  the  Abbot  of  Bury,  had 
a  grant  for  the  market,  and  in  the  llth  of  the  same  reign,  he  had  a 
charter  for  a  fair,  upon  the  eve  and  day  of  St.  Philip  and  St.  Jacob. 

Alfric,  Bishop  of  the  East  Angles,  was  possessed  of  this  lordship; 
which  he  gave,  with  other  estates,  to  the  Abbot  and  Monks  of  Bury 
St.  Edmund's ;  but  in  the  24th  of  King  Henry  III.,  Theobald, 
Abbot  of  Leiston,  laid  claim  to  the  same ;  upon  which  an  action 
ensued,  when  the  right  thereof  was  decided  in  favour  of  the  former. 

In  or  about  the  43rd  of  the  same  reign,  a  fine  was  levied  between 
Simon,  Abbot  of  Bury,  and  Richard  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester, 
on  the  manor  of  Mildenhall,  in  Lackford  hundred,  in  exchange  for 
this  of  Southwold ;  who,  in  the  following  year,  obtained  a  license 
of  the  said  King,  to  make  a  castle  of  his  house  here. 

This  estate  Richard  gave  to  his  son  Gilbert,  who  resigned  the 
same,  and  all  his  other  property  in  England,  into  the  hands  of  King 
Edward  I.,  in  order  to  obtain  Joan  de  Acre,  the  King's  daughter,  in 
marriage ;  which  being  consummated,  his  estates  were  restored,  but 
with  an  entail  upon  the  issue  of  such  marriage ;  and  in  default  of 


262  HUNDRED  OF  BLITH1NG. 

such,  to  her  heirs  and  assigns,  if  she  survived  him.  By  the  said 
Joan,  he  had  issue  Gilbert  de  Clare,  who  in  1314,  was  slain  at  Ba- 
nocksbourn,  in  Scotland.  / 

This  Joan  re-married  to  Ralph  Mor^mer,  who  was  created  by 
Edward  I.,  Earl  of  Gloucester  and  Hertford,  and  had  wreck  of  the 
sea  from  Easton-stone  to  Eye-cliff.  In  the  1 2th  of  King  Edward  III. 
some  portion  of  this  manor  was  annexed  to  the  Priory  at  Wangford, 
and  so  continued  until  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  when  it  was 
granted,  with  the  Priory,  to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk;  and  is  now 
held,  by  the  Corporation  of  Southwold,  of  the  Earl  of  Stradbroke, 
who  is  the  present  proprietor  of  the  site  of  Wangford  Priory. 

Southwold  was  made  a  free  burgh  by  King  Henry  VII.,  who 
granted  the  lordship,  called  Queen's  Demesne  Revenue,  with  other 
privileges  ;  and  King  Henry  VIII.,  confirmed  all  his  father's  grants 
to  this  town,  which  gave  great  encouragement  to  trade  and  navigation. 

A  chapel  was  first  erected  here  in  the  time  of  King  John,  by  the 
Prior  and  Monks  of  Thetford,  and  their  dependants  at  Wangford, 
upon  the  decision  of  John  Grey,  Bishop  of  Norwich.  This  was  en- 
tirely subordinate  to  the  church  of  St.  Margaret,  at  Rissemere  (or 
Raydon),  to  which  Southwold  was  only  a  hamlet,  and  which  belonged 
to  the  Prior  and  Convent  at  Thetford,  as  patrons.  This  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire  about  220  or  280  years  after  its  completion. 

The  present  splendid  erection  was  probably  begun  soon  after  the 
destruction  of  the  former,  the  outward  work  being  finished  about 
1460.  The  architectural  features  of  this  church  are  carefully  dis- 
cussed by  William  Bardwell,  Esq.,*  the  "  Westminster  Improve- 
ment Architect,"  and  author  of  "  Temples,  Ancient  and  Modern," 
who  is  a  native  of  this  parish. 

This  second  church,  or  chapel,  was  made  parochial ;  and  the  in- 
habitants had  the  privileges  of  having  the  sacrament  administered 
here,  and  of  the  burial  of  their  dead ;  but  yet  not  otherwise  than  as 
a  chapel  of  ease  to  Reydon,  to  be  served  by  the  vicar  of  that  parish. 
In  1752,  a  deed  of  severance  was  obtained,  under  the  provisions  of 
which  the  church  became  endowed  with  grants  from  Queen  Anne's 
Bounty,  and  is  now  served  as  a  separate  and  distinct  cure. 

In  this  parish  register  are  the  following  entries  :  "  1609,  July  30  ; 
Thomas  Jentleman ;  he  lived  above  four-score  years  in  perfect  sight 

*  This  description,  with  an  accurate  plate  of  the  church,  drawn  by  the  same  gen- 
tleman,  and  engraved  by  Mr.  G.  Hollis,  are  inserted  in  '•  Wake's  History  of  South- 
wold," published  in  1839,  in  8vo. 


HUNDRED  OF  BL1THING.  263 

and  memorie,  and  in  his  flourishing  time  for  building  of  ships,  and 
many  other  commendable  parts ;  he  continued  in  his  place  unmatch- 
able." 

"1616.  July  25.  The  names  of  those  that  drowned  and  founde 
againe.  They  were  drowned  in  the  haven  comeing  from  Doiiwich 
fayer,  on  St.  James's  daie,  in  a  Bote,  by  rason  of  one  cable  laying 
over  warf  the  haven.  For  by  rason  the  men  that  brought  them 
downe  was  so  negligent  that  when  they  were  redie  to  come  ashore 
the  Bote  broke  lose  ;  and  so  the  force  of  the  tide  carried  the  Bote 
against  the  cable,  and  so  it  was  overwhelmed.  The  number  of  them 
were  xxii.  But  they  were  not  all  founde."  Then  follows  the  names 
of  those  who  were  found,  and  the  dates  of  their  interment :  signed 
"  Ed.  Yonges,  Vicar  and  Minister,"  who  lost  a  son  and  a  daughter 
by  this  unhappy  event. 

Mem. — On  the  25th  of  April,  1659,  in  the  short  space  of  four 
hours,  this  town  suffered  a  most  dreadful  devastation  by  fire;  which 
consumed  238  dwelling  houses,  with  many  public  edifices,  besides 
corn,  malt,  coals,  and  various  merchandize,  to  the  value  of  upwards 
of  £40,000,  and  to  the  ruin  of  more  than  300  families. 

On  the  28th  of  May,  1672,  Southwold-bay  was  the  scene  of  an 
obstinate  and  sanguinary  naval  engagement,  between  the  combined 
fleets  of  Great  Britain  and  France,  against  the  Dutch  fleet,  under 
De  Kuyter.  The  commanders  of  the  combined  squadron  being 
James,  Duke  of  York,  Count  D'  Stress,  and  the  Earl  of  Sandwich. 
The  total  amount  of  the  combined  fleet  was  101  ships  of  war  ;  hands, 
34,530;  pieces  of  cannon,  6,018. — Dutch  men  of  war,  91  ;  fire 
ships,  54  ;  yachts,  23  ;  total  168.  Number  of  hands  and  pieces  of 
cannon  not  known.  This  victory  was  dearly  purchased  by  the  loss 
of  many  brave  officers  and  men,  amongst  whom  the  Earl  of  Sand- 
wich fell. 

Mr.  Thomas  Gardner,  the  author  of  an  "  Historical  account  of 
Dunwich,"  &c.  published  in  1754,  was  Deputy  Comptroller  of  this 
port  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  in  1769.  His  remains  are  interred 
near  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church,  between 
those  of  his  two  wives,  with  this  distich  : — 

Between  Honour  and  Virtue  here  doth  lie, 
The  remains  of  old  Antiquity. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor  and  town  estate  consists  of  nearly  20  acres 
of  land,  situate  at  Keydon,  near  Southwold  ;  this  land  is  let  at  the 
annual  rent  of  £18  :  a  moiety  of  the  same  is  received  for  the  use 


2G4  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

of  the  poor,  and  applied  with  other  charitable  funds,  after  mentioned, 
in  the  purchase  of  bread  and  coals,  which  are  distributed  among 
poor  persons  and  families;  the  other  moiety  belongs  to  the  town  of 
South  wold. — In  1810,  John  Sayer  bequeathed,  by  will,  the  sum  of 
£200,  4  per  cent.  Consols,  in  trust,  to  pay  the  dividends  thereof  to 
the  treasurer  of  the  Burgh  School,  in  this  town ;  and  in  case  the 
said  school  should  be  discontinued,  then  the  dividends  should  be 
applied  among  poor  widows  of  Trinity  pilots,  and  masters  of  vessels. 
The  school  referred  to  having  been  given  up,  the  funds  are  applied 
for  the  benefit  of  poor  widows,  of  the  description  above-mentioned. 
— Captain  John  Steele  gave,  by  will,  the  sum  of  £  1 50  ;  and  the  in- 
terest accruing  from  the  same,  is  distributed  annually,  to  the  widows 
of  pilots  and  masters  of  vessels.  There  is  a  sum  of  £144  12s.  3d., 
held  by  the  bailiffs  and  commonalty  of  Southwold,  for  the  use  of  the 
poor ;  the  interest  upon  which  is  applied  with  the  rent  of  the  poor 
land. 


SOUTH-COVE. 

In  1457,  Sir  Miles,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Brian  Stapleton,  of  Ing- 
ham,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  conveyed  the  lordship  of  this  parish  to 
William  Calthorpe,  Esq.,  afterwards  Sir  William ;  who  married 
Elizabeth,  his  daughter  and  coheir,  by  Catherine  his  wife,  daughter 
of  Sir  Thomas  Delapole;  which  lordship  he  purchased  of  Ralph 
Estley,  Esq.  and  Julian  his  wife. 

The  above  is  now  the  property  of  Sir  Charles  Blois,  of  Cockfield 
Hall,  in  Yoxford,  Bart.,  and  the  advowson  belongs  to  Sir  Thomas 
Sherlock  Gooch,  of  Benacre,  Bart.  The  present  incumbent  is  the 
Rev.  John  Charles  Gooch,  of  Toppisfield,  in  Essex;  a  brother  of  the 
Baronet. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  12  acres,  or  thereabouts,  set  out  on 
an  inclosure  for  the  poor,  lets  at  £13  10s.  per  annum  ;  and  a  dole, 
or  payment  of  3s.  4d.  a  year,  given  by  Simon  Gisleham,  is  paid  out 
of  a  farm  in  this  parish :  these  are  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
coals,  and  distributed  to  poor  people  belonging  to  the  parish. 


HUNDRED  OF   BLITHING.  265 

SPECKSHALL. 

In  the  38th  of  Henry  VI.,  Robert  Banyard,  Esq.,  resided  in  this 
parish;  and  in  1426,  John  Bacon,  of  Baconsthorp,  in  Norfolk, 
Esq.,  married  Margaret,  his  daughter  and  heir;  on  whom  Barnard's 
manor,  in  this  parish,  was  settled. 

He  died  in  1462,  and  Thomas  Bacon  their  son,  succeeded,  and 
died  about  1485,  leaving  two  daughters  and  co-heirs,  by  Margery, 
daughter  of  John  Jenny,  Esq.  Elizabeth,  who  married  Sir  John 
Glemham,  of  Glemham  Parva,  Knt. ;  and  Anne,  who  married  Robert 
Garneys,  of  Kenton,  in  this  county,  Esq. 

The  Bacons  however  appear  to  have  retained  some  interest  here ; 
as  Robert,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Richard  Bacon,  of  Harleston,  in 
Norfolk,  resided  in  this  parish.  The  said  Richard  Bacon  died  about 
1526,  and  was  buried  at  Redenhall,  in  Norfolk;  and  in  1542, 
Thomas  Tyndale,  and  Osbert  Mundeford,  Esqrs.,  conveyed  the  ma- 
nor of  Holebrook  (or  Gawdy  Hall),  in  Redenhall,  to  the  said  Robert 
Bacon.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Robert  Kemp,  of  Gissing, 
in  Norfolk ;  and  Edward  Bacon,  Esq.,  was  their  son  and  heir. 

In  the  5th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Sir  William  Sydney,  of  Wal- 
singham,  in  Norfolk,  delivered  and  confirmed  to  Roger,  eldest  son 
of  Sir  John  Townsend,  Knt.,  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  (to  fulfil 
the  will  of  his  father),  all  the  lands,  tenement,  rents,  and  services, 
of  Scroby,  Rivet's  manor,  &c.,  in  this  parish ;  which  he  held  jointly 
with  Sir  Roger,  the  Judge,  William  Gournay,  and  others,  of  the 
grant  of  John  Hoo,  of  Blyburgh,  and  Sir  John  Heveningham. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Gunning,  M.A.,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  vicar 
of  Sutton,  and  formerly  of  Christ  Church  College,  Oxford,  died  at 
Woodbridge,  Dec.  11,  1806.  As  a  classical  scholar,  Mr.  Gunning's 
attainments  were  of  the  first  order,  attempered  with  much  wit  and 
pleasantry,  which  will  be  long  remembered  by  a  respectable  class  of 
pupils,  under  his  care  at  an  early  period  of  their  education. 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles,  William  Downing,  Gent.,  resided  in 
this  parish;  and  George  Downing,  Gent.,  married  Dorcas,  daughter 
of  William  Blois,  Esq.,  of  Grundisburgh.  They  were  members  of 
a  family  of  very  ancient  descent,  long  since  seated  in  Essex,  who 
were  honoured  with  the  title  of  Baronets  in  1663;  one  of  whom, 
the  Right  Hon.  Sir  George  Downing,  Bart.,  Knight  of  the  Bath, 
was  the  munificent  founder  of  Downing  College,  Cambridge. 


266  HUNDRED  OF  BLITH1NG. 

ARMS. — Baniard  (of  Speckshall) :  sable  ;  on  a  fess,  between 
two  chevronels,  or,  as  many  annulets  united,  of  the  field.  Downing : 
barry  of  eight ;  argent  and  vert ;  over  all,  a  gryphon  rampant,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  poors'  land  of  this  parish,  of  which  the  original 
acquisition  is  unknown,  consists  of  five  acres  of  copyhold  land,  in 
the  parish  of  Holton,  which  is  let  at  £l  1  Os.  a  year ;  and  the  rent 
is  given  among  poor  people  in  the  way  of  occasional  relief. 


STOVEN,  or  STOUNE. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes  the  demesne  of  this 
parish  to  have  been  in  Kobert  de  Biskele  (or  Bixley).  In  1249, 
Sir  Hugh  de  Jernegan  held  of  Eoger,  son  of  Peter  Fitz  Osbert, 
divers  lands  in  Stovene  and  Bugges,  for  which  he  did  homage  to 
Eoger,  son  of  the  said  Peter,  in  the  presence  of  Walter  de  Redis- 
ham,  Knt. 

The  south  entrance  to  this  church  contains  a  Norman  arch  of 
great  beauty,  of  which  Mr.  Davy  has  an  etching  in  his  (<  Architec- 
tural Antiquities."  The  present  patron  and  incumbent  is  the  Rev. 
George  Orgill  Leman. 

CHARITIES. — In  this  parish  there  is  a  cottage  called  the  Town 
House,  let  in  three  tenements,  to  poor  persons,  at  small  rents;  also 
two  acres  of  land,  let  at  £2  a  year;  and  a  piece  of  ground,  forming 
a  way  to  a  gravel-pit,  in  the  former  land ;  for  which  the  occupiers  of 
an  estate,  now  belonging  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Batho,  have,  for  time 
out  of  memory,  paid  a  yearly  rent  or  acknowledgement,  of  3s.  4d. ; 
which  is  applied,  after  repairing  the  Town  House,  towards  the  relief 
of  the  parochial  poor,  with  the  poor  rates.  The  original  acquisition 
of  this  property  is  unknown. 


THEBERTON,  or  THEWARDETDNA. 

This  estate  appears  to  have  been  anciently  vested  in  the  Bygods 
and  Segraves,  for  they  presented  to  the  church,  as  Mr  Kirby  states, 
until  after  the  year  1350  ;  but  soon  after  that  period,  the  Abbot  and 
Convent  of  Leiston  were  patrons. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  the  inheritance  of  the  Jenney 
family.  William  Jenney,  Esq.,  of  Kuotishall  and  Thebertou,  was 
succeeded  by  John  Jenney,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir,  who  had  issue, 
by  Maud  his  wife,  Sir  William  Jenney,  Knt.,  one  of  the  Judges  of 
the  King's  Bench,  in  1477. 

Sir  William  married,  first,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Cawse, 
Esq.,  and  by  her  had  issue  four  sons  and  as  many  daughters  : 
namely,  Sir  Edmund  Jenney,  Knt.,  his  successor ;  Hugh,  living  in 
1473  ;  Nicholas,  of  Heringfleet ;  and  Richard,  of  the  same  parish. 
Of  the  daughters,  Margaret  married  to  Christopher,  Lord  Willoughby 
de  Eresby  ;  Eleanor,  married,  first  to  Sir  Robert  Brewse,  Knt.,  and 
secondly,  to  Sir  Robert  Fienes,  Knt.  Thomasine  became  a  nun ;  and 
Catherine  married  to  John  Berney,  Esq.,  of  Gunton,  in  Norfolk. 

The  Judge  married,  secondly,  Eleanor,  widow  of  Robert  Ingleys ; 
but  by  her  had  no  issue.  He  died  Dec.  23,  1483,  and  was,  with 
his  first  lady,  interred  in  this  parish  church.* 

Theberton  Hall  is  now  the  estate  and  residence  of  the  Rev.  Charles 
Montagu  Doughty,  eldest  surviving  son  of  the  late  Rev.  George 
Clarke  Doughty,  of  this  place,  vicar  of  Hoxne,  rector  of  Dcnham 
and  Martlesham,  in  this  county  ;  of  whose  progenitors  the  following 
particulars  are  given  in  "  Burke's  History  of  the  Commoners." 

The  Rev.  George  Doughty,  younger  brother  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Doughty,  rector  of  Martlesham,  in  this  county,  by  Mary  his  second 
wife,  daughter  of  Robert  Park,  Gent.,  and  relict  of  Robert  Morss, 
Gent.,  left  at  his  decease,  in  1724,  an  only  surviving  son,  Samuel 
Park  Doughty,  of  Martlesham,  Esq. 

He  married  Mary,  daughter  of Tramell,  Esq.,  of  Kes- 

grave ;  and  by  her  had  issue,  Samuel,  who  died  in  infancy  ;  George, 
his  heir;  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Doughty  deceased  in  1749, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  surviving  son,  George  Doughty,  Esq., 
of  Leiston,  and  subsequently  of  Theberton  Hall,  High  Sheriff  for 
this  county,  in  1793.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  John  Good- 
win, Esq.,  of  Martlesham  Hall ;  and  by  her  had  issue  two  sons,  and 
as  many  daughters. 

The  Rev.  George  Clark  Doughty,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  suc- 
ceeded ;  who  married  Catherine,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Eze- 
kiel  Revett,  Esq.,  of  Hoxne,  and  by  her  (who  died  in  1804,  aged  28 
years)  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters;  namely,  George  Thomas, 

*  For  a  more  particular  account  of  this  family,  see  the  parishes  of  Knotiahall  and 
Bre<Ifield. 


368  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINQ. 

who  died  in  1 802 ;  Chas.  Montagu,  his  heir,  as  above ;  and  Frederick 
Goodwin,  born  at  Hoxne,  in  1800. 

At  the  demise  of  his  father,  in  1832,  he  inherited  an  estate  at 
Martlesham,  which  comprises  the  manor  and  advowson  of  that  parish ; 
and  married,  in  1833,  Beatrice,  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Bear 
Admiral  Sir  Chas.  Cunningham,  of  Oak  Lawn,  in  Hoxne.  Harriet, 
his  sister,  married  the  Rev.  D'Eye  Betts,  who  holds  the  rectory  of 
Mendlesham,  and  resides  at  Woodbridge. 

ARMS. — Doughty :  argent;  two  bars  between  three  mullets,  sable. 
Crest:  a  mullet,  sable. 

There  is  also  in  this  parish  "  Theberton  House,"  the  seat  of 
Thomas  Milner  Gibson,  Esq.,  M.P. 


THORINGTON,  or  TORENTUNA. 

In  1302,  King  Edward  I.  granted  to  Sir  John  de  Norwich,  Knt., 
and  his  heirs,  free  warren  in  all  his  demesne  in  this  parish ;  he  de- 
vised the  same  to  his  grandson,  who  died  possessed  thereof,  leaving 
it  to  Catherine  de  Brews,  daughter  of  Thomas  de  Clavering,  his 
cousin  and  heir,  who  became  a  nun ;  when  it  passed  to  William  de 
UfFord,  as  next  heir. 

It  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of  Henry  Coke,  Esq., 
fifth  son  of  Sir  Edward  Coke,  of  Mileham  in  Norfolk,  Lord  Chief 
Justice  of  England,  by  Bridget  his  first  wife,  daughter  and  coheir  of 
John  Paston,  Esq.,  of  Huntingfield  Hall,  in  this  county.  Mr.  Coke 
married  Margaret,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Richard  Lovelace,  Esq., 
of  Kingsdown,  in  Kent.  He  died  in  1661,  and  was  buried  at 
Thorington. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Richard  Coke,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir, 
who  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Rous,  of  Henham  Hall, 
in  this  county  Bart.,  and  left  an  only  son,  Robert  Coke,  Esq.;  who, 
upon  the  decease  of  his  cousin,  John  Coke,  Esq.,  of  Holkham,  in 
Norfolk,  unmarried,  inherited  that  estate ;  and  thus  became  possessed 
of  the  chief  part  of  the  property  of  his  great  grandfather,  Sir  Edward 
Coke.  He  married  Lady  Anne  Osborne,  daughter  of  Thomas,  first 
Duke  of  Leeds,  Lord  Treasurer  of  England ;  and  was  succeeded,  at 
at  his  decease,  in  1679,  by  his  only  son,  Edward  Coke,  Esq.,  of 
Holkham. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  269 

Thorington  Hall  afterwards  became  the  estate  and  residence  of 
Alexander,  second  son  of  Edmund  Bence,  Esq.,  of  Benhall  and  Al- 
deburgh,  by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Francis  Gallop,  Knt. 
He  was  baptized  at  Benhall  in  1671:  was  High  Sheriff  for  this 
county  in  1 733 ;  and  married  Christian,  daughter  of  Sir  Anthony 
Deane,  Knt.,  of  London. 

Mr.  Bence  deceased  in  1759,  and  left  an  only  surviving  daughter, 
Anne,  of  Thorington  Hall;  born  in  1714,  married  in  1762,  to 
George  Golding,  Esq.,  of  Poslingford,  in  Bisbridge  hundred ;  by 
•whom  she  had  no  issue :  he  died  in  1803.  Mrs.  Golding  deceased  in 
1794,  and  was  succeeded  in  this  parish  by  her  first  cousin,  the  Rev. 
Bence  Sparrow,  rector  of  Beccles. 

He  was  second  son  of  Robert  Sparrow,  Esq.,  of  Worlingham,  in 
this  county,  by  Anne  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  Robert  Bence  Esq., 
of  Henstead  (a  younger  brother  of  the  above  Alexander  Bence,  Esq.), 
by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  Lawrence  E  chard,  clerk,  of 
Henstead.  He  assumed,  by  sign  manuel,  in  1804,  the  surname 
and  arms  of  Bence,  and  died  in  1824;  when  Henry  Bence  Bence, 
Esq.,  Lieutenant- Colonel  in  the  East  Suffolk  Militia,  his  eldest  son 
and  heir,  succeeded;  who  is  the  present  possessor  of  the  manor,  and 
patron  of  the  advowson. 

ARMS. — Coke\  party,  per  pale,  gules  and  azure;  three  eagles 
displayed,  argent.  Bence:  argent;  on  a  cross  between  four  frets, 
gules,  a  castle  of  the  first. 

Thorington  Hall  now  belongs  to  Charles  Day,  Esq. 


THORP,  or  TORP. 

William  Bygod,  Steward  of  the  Household  to  King  Henry  I., 
granted  Edric  of  Thorp,  with  all  his  lands,  men  and  services,  in 
Thorp  and  Dunwich,  to  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St. 
Andrew,  in  Thetford ;  founded  by  Roger  Bygod,  his  father. 

Thorp  is  a  hamlet  of  Aldringham,  which  formerly  had  a  chapel 
dedicated  to  St.  Mary.  It  was  standing  sometime  after  the  restO' 
ration,  but  is  now  in  ruins. 


270  HUNDRED  OF   BLITHING. 

UBBESTON,  or  UURABRETUNA. 

In  the  6th  of  King  Henry  IV.,  Edmund  de  Redysham,  of  this 
parish,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  conveyed  by  fine,  to  John  Clere  and 
others,  six  messuages,  several  parcels  of  land,  with  a  fold  course  in 
Castor,  near  Yarmouth ;  supposed  to  be  the  manor  of  Horning  Hall, 
in  that  parish. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  vested  in  John  Sone,  Esq.,  who 
resided  at  Ubbeston  Hall.  His  sole  daughter  and  heiress  Mary, 
brought  it,  by  marriage,  into  the  Kemp  family;  being  the  second 
wife  of  Robert,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Robert  Kemp,  the  first 
Baronet  of  that  house:  so  created  March  4th,  1641. 

He  removed  from  Gissing,  in  Norfolk :  resided  at  Ubbeston  Hall, 
and  was  Knight  of  the  Shire  for  the  county  of  Norfolk,  in  1668. 
Sir  Robert  had  issue,  by  this  second  marriage,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters ;  Mary  married  to  Sir  Ohas.  Blois,  Bart. ;  and  Jane  to  John 
Bade,  M.D.,  of  Tannington,  in  this  county.  He  deceased  in  1710. 

Sir  Robert  Kemp,  Bart.,  of  this  parish,  his  eldest  son  and  heir, 
by  Mary  his  second  wife,  succeeded.  This  gentleman  married  four 
times,  and  left  a  numerous  issue.  He  died  in  1734,  having  several 
times  represented  Dunwich,  and  twice  the  city  of  Norwich,  in  Par- 
liament. His  eldest  son,  Sir  Robert,  M.P.  for  Orford,  succeeded ; 
at  whose  decease  (unmarried)  in  1752,  the  title  devolved  upon  his 
brother,  Sir  John  Kemp,  Bart. 

This  family  has  been  of  ancient  standing  in  the  counties  of  Kent, 
Essex,  Suffolk,  and  Norfolk.  We  meet  with  two  very  eminent 
churchmen  of  the  name ;  John  Kemp,  LL.D.,  Bishop  successively 
of  Rochester,  of  Chichester,  and  of  London,  then  Archbishop  of 
York,  and  finally  Archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  and  Thomas  Kemp, 
his  Grace's  nephew ;  who  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  London,  in 
1449.  The  present  representative  of  this  house,  is  the  Rev.  Sir 
William  Robert  Kemp,  of  Gissing,  the  10th  Baronet,  on  the  de- 
cease of  his  father,  in  1804.  Sir  William  Kemp  is  rector  of  Flor- 
don  and  Gissing,  both  in  the  county  of  Norfolk.  Ubbeston  Hall 
has  been  pulled  down,  and  the  property  now  belongs  to  Lord 
Huntiugfield. 

ARMS. — Kemp:  gules;  three  garbs,  within  a  bordure  engrailed, 
or.  Porter:  sable;  three  bells,  argent. 

Edmund  Porter,  S.T.P.,  Chaplain  to  the  Lord  Keeper  Coventry, 


HUNDRED  OF  BL1THING.  271 

•was  vicar  of  this  parish;  and  in  1627,  was  installed  to  the  fourth 
prebend  in  Norwich  Cathedral.  He  was  a  native  of  Worcester,  and 
became  a  student  and  Fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge. 
He  became  sequestered  from  his  prebend,  but  was  permitted  to  live 
quietly  on  a  small  estate  of  his  own,  till  the  restoration,  when  he 
was  also  restored,  and  lived  till  1670,  leaving  Sir  Charles  Porter, 
Knt.,  his  son,  who  was  twice  Lord  Chancellor  of  Ireland. 

CHARITIES. — The  poors'  estate  consists  of  two  cottages,  with  a 
small  garden,  and  a  blacksmith's  shop  adjoining;  which  is  copyhold 
of  the  manor  of  Ubbeston.  These  premises  are  let  at  about  £10  a 
year,  and  it  has  been  usual  to  apply  the  rents,  after  providing  for 
repairs,  towards  the  payment  of  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  church- 
warden's office ;  but  it  appears  to  be  more  in  conformity  to  the  trust, 
that  it  should  be  distributed  among  poor  persons. 


UGGESHALL. — HUGETHALE,  or  VGGICEHEALA. 

Eoger,  son  of  Peter  Fitz  Osbert,  of  Somerleyton,  in  this  county, 
was  owner  of  this  lordship  and  advowson.  He  was  summoned  to 
Parliament  in  the  22ud  of  King  Edward  I.,  and  died  without  issue, 
leaving  them  to  Catherine  his  wife,  for  life;  upon  whose  decease  they 
devolved  upon  Isabella,  eldest  sister  and  coheir  of  the  said  Roger, 
and  widow  of  Sir  Walter  Jernegan,  of  Stonham  Jernegan,  in  this 
county,  Knt. 

Sir  Peter  Jernegan,  of  Somerleyton,  Knt.,  their  son,  succeeded  as 
coheir,  on  the  death  of  his  mother,  to  her  share  of  the  large  possession 
of  the  Fitz  Osbert  family.  Sir  Peter  was  Sub-Escheator  of  Suffolk, 
in  1283 :  in  1334,  he  sold  this  manor  and  advowson,  to  Sir  Edmund 
de  Sortelee,  Knt. 

In  the  17th  of  King  Edward  IV.,  Roger,  son  of  Sir  Edmund  de 
Sortelee,  granted  the  whole  of  this  manor  to  the  lady  Joan,  his 
mother,  for  life  ;  provided  she  claimed  no  dower  in  the  manors  of 
Sotterley,  in  this  county,  and  Stody,  in  Norfolk. 

Thomas  Playters,  of  Sotterley,  Esq.,  died  in  1479,  seized  of  this 
lordship ;  and  William  Playters,  Esq.,  was  his  son  and  heir.  It 
afterwards  became  the  inheritance  of  Lionel  Playters,  rector  of  this 
parish ;  who  succeeded  to  the  Baronetage  upon  the  decease  of  his 
half-brother,  Sir  Thomas  Playters,  Bart.,  in  1651. 


272  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Sir  Lionel  had  been  a  severe  sufferer  during  the  civil  wars,  being 
sequestered  of  his  living  and  property ;  but  at  the  restoration  his 
rectory  was  restored,  with  the  title  and  family  estate ;  which  he 
lived  to  enjoy  many  years,  and  constantly  officiated  in  this  parish 
church,  to  the  time  of  his  death  ;  which  took  place  in  1679.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Sir  John  Playters,  Bart. 

It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Eous,  family.  In  1764, 
Sir  John  Eous,  Bart.,  was  owner;  and  the  present  proprietor  is  John 
Edward  Cornwallis  Eous,  Earl  of  Stradbroke  who  is  also  patron 
of  the  living. 

ARMS. — Fitz  Osbert:  Gules;  three  bars,  gemelle,  or;  and  a 
canton,  argent.  Jernegan :  argent ;  three  arming  buckles,  gules. 
Sortelee :  gules ;  a  fess  between  three  round  buckles,  argent. 
Playters :  bendy  wavy  of  six,  argent  and  azure. 

In  1390,  John  Wareyn  exchanged  this  rectory  with  William  de 
Thornton,  for  that  of  St.  Lawrence,  in  the  city  of  Norwich.  Thornton 
deceased  in  1401,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  St.  Lawrence 
church. 

Nicholas  Locke,  A.M.,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  Harkstead,  in 
Samford  hundred,  in  1561  was  appointed  Commissary  of  Suffolk 
Archdeaconry,  and  Official  of  Sudbury. 

CHARITIES. — A  cottage,  given  by  a  member  of  the  Playters  fa- 
mily, is  let  at  £2  a  year.  A  piece  of  land,  4A.  OR.  37p.,  allotted  on 
the  enclosure,  for  the  poor,  is  let  at  £10  10s.  a  year.  These  rents 
are  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  given  among  the  poor  inhabitants  of 
the  parish. — A  dole  of  10s.  a  year  for  the  poor,  the  origin  of  which 
is  unknown,  is  paid  out  of  land  in  this  parish,  called  "  Gander's 
Hill,"  the  property  of  Mrs.  Welch;  and  another  dole  of  10s.  a  year, 
given  by  a  person  named  Walter,  was  formerly  paid  in  respect  of  an 
estate  in  the  parish  of  Blythford,  but  this  payment  has  been  with- 
held since  1782. 


WALDEESWICK. — WALBURISWICK,  or  WALD-BERIGE-WYC. 

A  hamlet  of  Bliburgh,  formerly  both  populous  and  wealthy,  if 
we  may  judge  from  the  size  of  its  church,  and  the  stateliness  of  its 
structure ;  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by,  and  participated  in  many 
favours  from  the  Crown.  As  trade  decreased  at  Dunwich,  bv  the 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  273 

alteration  of  that  port,  a  proportionate  increase  took  place  at  this 
port ;  when  the  town  grew  into  repute,  and  established  commerce 
with  other  ports. 

It  has  subsequently  experienced  a  sad  reverse,  principally  from 
the  decay  of  its  fishery,  by  which  the  town  was  chiefly  maintained 
before  the  reformation  ;  and  also  several  severe  losses  by  fire,  by 
which  it  became  so  impoverished,  that  in  1628,  the  magistrates 
granted  a  warrant  for  levying  weekly  contributions  upon  certain 
individuals  resident  in  the  vicinity,  for  its  maintenance  and  support. 

They  became  still  further  impoverished  by  maintaining  expensive 
and  vexatious  law  suits,  against  Sir  Robert  Brooke,  and  John,  his 
son  and  successor,  lords  of  this  manor,  concerning  their  quay, 
common,  &c. ;  a  relation  of  which,  written  in  1652,  is  given  in  Mr. 
Gardner's  History  of  this  place ;  by  which  it  appears  they  were  op- 
pressively and  unjustly  deprived  of  their  legal  rights  and  privileges. 

This  state  of  things  forms  a  melancholy  contrast  with  the  once 
prosperous  situation  of  their  predecessors,  who  erected  that  stately 
pile,  the  parish  church,  at  their  own  sole  expense ;  now  in  ruins, 
and  unable  to  repair  it. 

Mr.  Gardner  has  inserted  in  his  work,  the  "  History  of  Dunwich," 
many  curious  and  interesting  documents  respecting  the  erection  of 
this  edifice  ;  one  of  which,  being  of  rare  occurrence,  and  singularly 
curious,  is  here  inserted,  namely : — 

The  Covenant  fur  Building  Walberswick  Steeple. 

"This  Bille  endentyd  Witnessith,  that  on  the  Tewesday  next  after  the  Feste  of 
Seynt  Mathie  Apostle  ;  the  fourte  Zeer  of  King  Henry  the  sexte,  a  Comenaunt  was 
maked  byt-wyn  Thomas  Baugot,  Thomas  Wolfard,  William  Ambrynghale,  and 
Thomas  Pellyng,  of  the  Town  of  Walbureswyk,  on  the  one  Partye  ;  and  Richard 
Russel,  of  Donewich,  and  Adam  Powle,  of  Blythtburgh,  Masons,  on  the  other  Partye, 
that  is  to  seyne.  That  the  fornseid  Richard  and  Adam  schal  make,  or  do  make  a 
Stepel  joyned  to  the  Cherche  of  Walbureswyk  fornseid ;  with  foure  Betraas,  and 
one  Vice,  and  tirwelse  foote  wyde,  and  sexe  foote  thikke;  the  Walles,  the  Wallyng, 
the  Tabellyng,  and  the  Orbyng  sewtly,  after  the  Stepil  of  Dunstale,  well,  and 
trewely,  and  competently  ;  a  Dore  in  the  West  also  good,  as  the  Dore  in  the  Stepel 
of  Halesworth,  and  a  Wyndowe  of  foure  Dayes  above  the  Dore,  sewtly  after  the 
Wyndowe  of  thre  Dayes  of  Halesworth.  And  thre  Wyndowes  atte  nethir  Soler ; 
and  eche  Wyndowe  of  two  Days,  and  foure  Wyndowes  atte  onerer  Soler,  the  Wyn- 
dowe of  thre  Days  sewtly  after  Halesworth.  The  fornseid  Richard  and  Adam  shal 
Werke,  or  doo  Werke,  on  the  Stepel  fornseid,  two  Termes  in  the  Zeer,  saf  the  ferste 
Zeer  zeerly,  in  the  Tyroe  of  werkyng,  of  settyng,  and  leying ;  that  is  to  sey,  bitwixen 
the  Festes  of  the  Annuncyacion  of  our  Lady,  and  Seint  Mychel  Arcbaungel :  but  if 
it  be  other  Maner  consentyd  on  bothe  Partyes,  and  the  fornseid  Thomas  Baugot, 
Thomas,  William,  and  Thomas,  shal  fynde  alle  Maner  of  Mateer  to  the  Stepel  forn- 
said  ;  that  is  to  »ay,  Frestoon,  Lyme,  and  Calyan  Wat,  and  Send  ;  and  alle  Maner 


274  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Thyngge  that  nedith  to  stagyng,  and  wyndyng,  and  Schouellis,  and  alle  Maner  Vessel 
that  is  nedefull  to  the  Stepel  fornseid.  And  an  Hows  to  werke  inne,  to  ete,  and 
drynke,  and  to  lygge  inne,  and  to  make  Mete  inne;  and  that  he  hadde  by  the  Place 
of  werkyng.  The  fornseid  Richard  and  Adam  schal  take  of  the  fornsaid  Thomas 
Baugot,  Thomas,  William,  and  Thomas,  for  the  Zarde  werkyng,  40  Scheelynggs,  of 
laughfull  Money  of  Inglond.  And  a  Cade  of  full  Herynge  eche  Zeer,  in  Tyme  of 
werkyng.  And  eche  of  hem  a  Gowne  of  lenore  ones,  in  the  Tyme  of  werkyng  ;  so 
that  they  scholden  be  gode  Men,  and  trewe  to  the  Werk  fornsaid.'* 

The  manor  and  advowson  has  always  passed  with  Bliburgh. 


WALPOOLE,  or  WALEPOLA. 

In  the  5th  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  of  Walter  de 
Norwich,  Baron  of  the  Exchequer,  who  in  that  year  obtained  free 
warren  in  all  his  demesne  lands  in  this  parish ;  he  was  succeeded 
by  Sir  John  de  Norwich,  his  son  and  heir,  who,  in  1 302,  procured 
from  the  said  Monarch,  another  charter  of  free  warren  for  this  and 
other  of  his  estates  in  Mettingham,  Mells,  Wenhaston,  Shipmeadow, 
&c.  John  de  Norwich,  his  grandson,  succeeded. 

The  church  was  impropriated  to  the  Nunnery  of  Redingfield;. 
and,  at  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  was  granted  to  Robert  and 
Richard  Taverner.  Lord  Hunting-field  is  now  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Walpoole,  with  Chickering.  The  patronage  of  the  church  is  in  the 
venerable  Archdeacon  Philpot :  present  incumbent,  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Graham  Cole. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  has  been  held,  from  a  remote  time, 
in  trust  for  the  only  use  and  benefit  of  the  inhabitants ;  part  of 
which,  consisting  of  an  old  town  house,  with  yards,  and  a  small 
piece  of  ground  adjoining,  was  let  to  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Philpot, 
the  late  rector,  for  a  term  of  40  years,  from  October  10,  1824,  at 
the  yearly  rent  of  7s.  6d. ;  the  lessee  stipulating  to  take  down  the 
old  town  house,  and  erect  a  new  one,  which  he  has  since  done. 
Other  part  of  the  property,  consisting  of  about  an  acre  of  ground, 
called  the  "  Clink,"  was  also  let,  in  1800,  to  the  Rev.  B.  Philpot, 
on  lease  for  99  years,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £1.  Three  acres  of  land, 
the  remainder  of  the  estate,  let  at  £7  per  annum.  The  rents  are 
applied  with  the  church  rate,  conformable  to  custom. — In  1701, 
Thomas  Neale  gave,  by  will,  £2  10s.  a  year,  to  be  employed  towards 
teaching  five  poor  children,  of  the  poorest  parents,  to  read  the  Bible; 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  275 

and  10s.  a  year  to  buy  Bibles,  or  other  religious  books;  which  is 
expended  accordingly. 


WANGFOKD,  or  WANKEFORDA.    Alias — REYDON  ST.  PETER. 

This  parish  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  a  Priory,  or  cell  of  Cluniac 
Monks,  subordinate  to  that  of  Thetford,  and  dedicated  to  the  Virgin 
Mary,  according  to  Weever;  but  other,  and  better  authorities  say, 
to  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  This  is  now  the  parochial  church. 

It  was  founded,  according  to  Leland,  before  the  year  1160,  by 
Doudo  Asini,  Dapifer,  or  Steward  to  the  King's  Household. 
Weever  styles  the  founder  Eudo  Ansered,  of  France ;  but  Dr. 
Tanner  questions  whether  he  be  not  the  same  with  Eudo  Dapifer, 
the  founder  of  St.  John's,  at  Colchester.  Richard  Fitz  William 
confirmed  all  the  gift  of  his  grandfather,  Dodo ;  and  Sir  Geraline 
de  Vernun,  Knt.,  those  of  his  father,  Ansered. 

Mr.  Taylor,  in  his  "  Index  Monasticus,"  questions  whether  the 
Doudo  Asini,  of  Leland,  and  the  Eudo  Ansered,  of  Weever,  cannot 
be  reconciled  to  mean  the  same  person  with  Ansered,  father  of  Sir 
Geraline  Vernun,  and  Dodo,  grandfather  of  Richard  Fitz  William. 

Valuations  in  Tax.  Eccles.  1291: — Suffolk,  in  13  parishes,  .£13 
lls.  8d.;  Norfolk,  in  Carlton  Rode,  6d. :  gross  value,  £&9  3s.  Od. 

To  this  Priory  were  appropriated  the  churches  of  Rissemere  (alias 
Reydon),  with  the  chapels  of  Southwold,  Covahithe  (or  Northales), 
Wangford,  and  Stoven;  and  portions,  or  pensions,  of  Uggeshall, 
and  Easton  Bavent. 

It  was  granted,  in  1540,  to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk;  whose 
descendant  sold  it  to  Sir  John  Rous,  Knt.,  in  1612.  The  Right 
Hon.  John  Edward  Cornwallis  Rous,  Earl  of  Stradbroke,  is  the 
present  possessor  of  the  site,  lord  of  the  manor,  and  patron  of  the 
church. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £5  a  year,  paid  as  a  rent  charge,  for 
the  poor,  out  of  an  estate  in  this  parish,  the  property  of  the  Earl  of 
Stradbroke,  is  distributed  at  Easter  among  poor  persons.  It  is 
unknown  by  whom  this  annuity  was  given. — The  sum  of  £l  per 
annum  was  devised,  in  1589,  by  the  will  of  Matthew  Walter,  of 
Blyford  :  this  has  not  been  received  since  1783. 


276  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

WENHASTON,  or  WENADESTDNA. 

The  early  possessors  of  this  lordship  were  the  same  as  those  who 
held  the  manor  of  Walpoole,  in  this  hundred ;  and  it  passed  in  the 
same  way.  The  family  of  Mikelhy  had  some  interest  here;  in  1373, 
Julian,  relict  of  John  de  Mikelby,  of  Wenhaston,  in  Suffolk,  was 
buried  in  the  burial-place  of  the  Charnel  Chaplains,  in  Norwich. 

"  There  are  several  manors  in  this  parish,  namely : — Thorington 
Hall,  Thorington  Whimples,  Bliburgh  Priory,  Mells,  and  Bramfield. 
The  manor  of  Wenhaston  Grange  did  formerly  belong  to  the  Abbot 
and  Convent  of  Sibton,  who  sold  it  to  Thomas  Daly,  of  Norfolk. 
The  great  tithes  did  formerly  belong  to  the  cell  of  Bliburgh  Priory, 
but  are  now  in  the  possession  of  Eobert  Sparrow,  of  Worlingham. 
The  vicarage  is  in  the  Suffolk  family.  But  the  Crown  has  presented 
the  three  last  turns.  The  Earls  of  Suffolk  presented  always  before 
1772.  The  parish  church  consists  of  a  middle  and  north  aisle,  and 
contains  many  monuments  to  the  Leman  family,  to  whom  Wen- 
haston Hall  (now  taken  down)  belonged." — MS.  penes  J.  L.  Ewen, 
Esq.,  inserted  in  "  Wake's  History  of  Southwold." 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate,  which  comprises  a  building  in  four 
tenements,  anciently  called  the  Guildhall,  granted  by  the  Prior  and 
Convent  of  Blyburgh  ;  four  acres  of  copyhold  land,  vested  from  a 
remote  period,  in  trustees,  for  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the 
use  of  the  poor ;  and  about  1 6  acres  of  land,  formerly  waste  ground, 
understood  to  have  b^en  granted  by  the  lord  of  the  manor  of  Bly- 
burgh, in  or  about  the  year  1770,  is  let  at  £41  a  year,  and  the  rent 
is  applied  in  lieu  of  a  church  rate. — In  1562,  William  Pepyn,  by 
will,  gave  a  pightle,  called  "  Dose  Mere  Pightle,"  to  trustees,  for 
the  maintenance  of  a  free  school,  within  this  parish,  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  poor  children,  in  learning,  Godliness,  and  virtue ;  and  Ke- 
ginald  Lessey,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1503,  gave  a  piece  of  copyhold 
land,  near  Blyburgh,  called  the  "  School  Meadow/'  containing 
about  three  acres,  for  a  similar  purpose.  By  deed,  dated  in  1794, 
the  property  under  Pepyn's  gift,  was  conveyed,  by  the  description 
of  four  parcels  of  land,  with  a  house,  called  the  School-house,  built 
upon  one  of  them,  containing  together,  in  the  whole,  SA.  2R.  26p., 
which  produce  a  yearly  rent  of  £l  6 ;  and  Lessey's  lets  at  £1 0  a  year. 
These  rents,  after  deducting  for  necessary  repairs,  are  paid  to  a 
schoolmaster,  for  instructing  poor  children  of  the  parish  in  reading. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  277 

writing,  and  arithmetic. — Mary  Collen,  by  will  dated  in  or  about 
1680,  gave  a  rent  charge  of  £3  a  year,  out  of  an  estate  in  this 
parish,  towards  the  relief  of  six  poor  widows,  resident  in  Wenhaston, 
as  should  have  most  need  of  relief ;  subject  to  a  proviso,  that  the 
same  should  cease,  if  the  churchwardens  should  not  keep  in  good 
repair  the  monument  and  ornaments  which  she  had  placed  in  the 
chancel  of  the  said  church,  in  remembrance  of  her  husband,  John 
Collen.— In  1826,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Leman  left,  by  his  will,  £100, 
to  be  given  to  the  poor  of  this  parish,  at  the  discretion  of  the  pa- 
rishioners. 


WESTHALL,  or  WESTHALE. 

In  the  13th  of  King  Henry  III.,  Hubert  de  Burgh,  Earl  of  Kent, 
obtained  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  in  exchange  for  that  of  Camel, 
in  Somersetshire,  which  he  held  of  the  grant  of  King  John.  In  the 
9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  it  was  in  the  possession  of  Eobt.  de  Aspale, 
as  lord  thereof. 

In  1474,  Thomas  Crofts,  of  Westhall,  in  Suffolk,  was  buried  in 
St.  Mary's  chapel,  in  St.  Andrew's  church,  in  that  parish ;  and  de- 
vised his  manor  in  Windham,  called  Stalworthy's,  to  be  sold.  He 
had  probably  some  interest  here. 

The  Bohun  family  were  possessed  of  this  lordship  from  the  time 
of  King  Henry  VIII. ;  of  whom  was  Edmund  Bohun,  a  native  of 
Eingsfield,  in  Wangford  hundred,  a  political  and  miscellaneous 
writer,  living  at  the  end  of  the  1 7th  century,  in  this  parish.  He 
was  owner  of  Dale  Hall,  in  Whitton,  near  Ipswich,  and  of  lands  in 
Brampton. 

In  1657,  Eobert  Brooke,  Esq.,  only  surviving  son  of  Sir  Robt. 
Brooke,  of  Yoxford,  Knt.,  was  owner  of  Westhall  Lodge ;  but  the 
widow  of  John  Brooke,  Esq.,  his  elder  brother,  held  it  for  life.  It 
was  bought  by  Alderman  Brooke,  father  of  Sir  Eobert,  of  the  heir 
of  Sir  Owen  Hopton,  Knt.  Jacon's  Hall  and  Fitz  John  were  lately 
vested  in  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Eedgrave  Hall,  in 
this  county. 

The  patronage  of  tliis  church  was  formerly  in  the  Prior  and  Con- 
vent of  Hulverstain,  in  Lincolnshire  ;  of  whom  the  Prior  and  Con- 
vent of  Norwich  purchased  the  same ;  and  it  now  belongs  to  the 


278  HUNDRED  OF  BLITIIING. 

Dean  and  Chapter  of  that  Cathedral.  Edward  Hatton,  A.M.,  rector 
of  Brampton,  and  vicar  of  this  parish,  held  the  second,  or  treasurer's 
Prebend,  in  the  said  Cathedral:  installed  November  28, 1604.  The 
south  and  west  doo.-s  of  Westhall  church  form  good  specimens  of 
the  ornaments  and  mouldings  used  during  the  period  when  the 
Norman  style  of  architecture  prevailed.* 

CHARITIES. — In  1717,  Ann  the  wife  of  the  Eev.  Gregory  Clarke, 
desired  by  her  will,  that  £i  6s.  a  year  should  be  paid,  after  her  hus- 
band's decease,  by  his  heirs,  executors,  or  assigns,  to  the  vicar  of 
this  parish ;  to  be  by  him  applied  to  the  teaching  poor  children  to 
read.  Her  husband  also  bequeathed,  in  1726,  an  annuity  of  £1  12s., 
for  the  same  purpose.  The  two  annuities  are  received,  as  a  rent 
charge,  from  an  estate  in  Westhall,  now  the  property  of  Mrs.  Wood- 
hall,  and  are  paid  to  a  schoolmistress,  for  teaching  five  poor  children, 
nominated  by  the  vicar,  to  read. 


WESTLETON,  or  WESLETDNA. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states,  that  Peter  de  Dunwich 
anciently  held  the  lordship  of  this  parish.  Two  manors  are  named 
here,  Westleton  Grange,  which  belonged  to  Sibton  Abbey,  and  was 
granted,  in  the  28th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  to  Thomas,  Duke  of 
Norfolk ;  and  the  lordship  of  Westleton  Cleves. 

In  the  42nd  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Anthony  Bedingfield,  Esq., 
resided  in  this  parish.  In  the  time  of  King  James  and  King  Charles, 
Richard  Baldwin,  Gent.,  resided  at  Westleton  Hall ;  which  he  inhe- 
rited from  Robert  Baldwin,  his  father:  his  mother  was  Agnes  Gillet 
(alias  Candler),  of  Yoxford.  He  died  without  issue,  having  pre- 
viously sold  this  estate,  and  other  lands  in  Yoxford. 

Charles  Purvis,  of  Darsham,  Esq.,  has  estates  here;  but  the 
lordship  belongs  to  Sir  Charles  Blois,  Bart.,  of  Cockfield  Hall,  in 
Yoxford. 

The  hamlet  of  Dingle,  which  formerly  belonged  to  Westleton, 
had  a  chapel.  The  church  is  now  in  the  patronage  and  incumbency 
of  the  Rev.  Harrison  Packard. 

CHARITIES. — In  1722,  Thomas  Grimsby  gave,  by  will,  all  his 
copyhold,  and  customary  lands  and  tenements,  in  this  parish,  towards 
*  See  Davy's  etchings  of  the  "Architectural  Antiquities  of  Suffolk.'' 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  270 

the  clothing  of  poor  children  and  widows,  belonging  to  the  said 
parish.  The  property  consists  of  about  12  acres  of  land,  let  at  £16 
a  year;  which,  after  a  deduction  of  £1  14s.  8d.  a  year,  for  quit-rent, 
land  tax,  and  necessary  allowances,  is  applied  in  paying  for  clothing 
materials  for  poor  widows,  and  other  poor  persons  in  the  parish. 


WESTWOOD-LODGE. 

On  the  south-east  of  Bliburgh  grew  West-wood,  which,  Mr. 
Gardner  says,  in  process  of  time  was  reduced  to  a  park,  now  called 
the  Grove.  Herein  stood  the  mansion  house  of  the  lords  of  tlu's 
manor  of  Bliburgh.  Charcoal,  burnt  straw,  parched  grain  of  divers 
kinds,  bricks,  stones,  &c.,  discovered  a  few  years  ago,  when  the 
ground  whereon  it  stood  was  cleared,  gives  a  reasonable  supposition 
that  the  ancient  hall  suffered  by  fire. 

The  present  edifice,  called  West- wood  Lodge,  was  begun  by  Sir 
Eobert  Brooke,  and  finished  by  John  Brooke,  Esq.,  his  son,  in  1G52 ; 
whose  chief  seat  was  at  Cockfield  Hall,  in  Yoxford. 

Sir  Kobert  Brooke,  Knt.,  and  Alderman  of  London,  acquired  this 
estate  by  purchase,  of  the  Hopton  family.  Thos.  Hopton,  natural 
son  of  Sir  Eobert  Swillington,  sen.,  had  issue  John ;  who  in  the  8th 
of  King  Henry  VI.,  by  virtue  of  an  entail  made  on  Thomas  and  his 
heirs,  obtained  considerable  property,  the  inheritance  of  the  house 
of  Swillington,  in  this  and  other  counties. 

In  the  18th  of  the  said  Bang,  Sir  John  Gra,  of  South  Ingleby,  in 
Lincolnshire,  released  to  him  certain  property  he  held,  in  right  of 
Margaret  his  wife,  heiress  to  the  Swillingtons ;  and  at  the  same 
time,  Bartholomew  Whitfield,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  relict  of  Eobt. 
Sampson,  of  Playford,  Esq.,  who  was  found  to  be  next  heir,  as 
daughter  of  Thomas,  son  of  Eobert,  son  of  Adam  de  Swillington, 
released  all  their  right  in  the  manors  of  Bliburgh,  Westleton,  Len- 
vale's,  Eysing's,  Cleydon,  Weuhaston,  Thorington,  Westhall,  Yoxford, 
and  Muriel's,  in  this  county,  and  other  lordships  in  Norfolk. 

John  Hopton  died,  seized  of  the  above  lordships,  in  the  8th  of 
Edward  IV.,  and  William  Hopton,  Esq.,  was  found  to  be  his  son 
and  heir.  He  is  frequently  named  in  old  writings,  as  John  Swil- 
lington (alias  Hopton),  of  Wood,  in  Suffolk.  William  his  son, 
was  a  great  courtier,  Treasurer  of  the  Household,  and  of  the  Privy 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

Council  of  King  Edward  IV. ;  a  Knight,  and  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  and 
Norfolk,  in  the  reign  of  Kichard  III.  Sir  William  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Sir  Koger  Wentworth,  of  Nettlestead,  in  this  county, 
and  died  in  the  ahove  reign. 

Sir  George  Hopton,  of  Westwood,  Knt.,  was  his  son  and  heir : 
created  a  Banneret  at  the  battle  of  Stoke,  in  the  2nd  of  King  Henry 
VII.  He  died  in  the  5th  of  that  reign.  William,  his  eldest  son, 
deceased  before  him ;  and  by  an  inquisition  taken  at  Woodbridge, 
in  the  6th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Arthur  was  found  to  be  his  son 
and  heir :  he  was  of  Westwood,  and  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir 
David  Owen,  of  Cowdry,  in  Essex ;  natural  son  of  Owen  Tudor, 
who  married  Catherine,  Queen  Dowager  of  Henry  V. ;  and  was 
father  of  Sir  Owen  Hopton,  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower  of  London. 
It  appears  he  alienated  this  estate  in  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of 
King  Henry  VIII.  It  has  since  passed  as  the  Cockfield  Hall  estate. 


WISSET,  or  WISSETA. 

This  lordship  was  anciently  vested  in  the  Earls  of  Bretaign  and 
Dukes  of  Richmond :  Peter  de  Savoy,  Earl  of  Richmond,  uncle  to 
Queen  Eleanor,  consort  of  King  Henry  III.,  obtained  a  grant  of  it, 
amongst  other  estates,  from  that  Monarch,  in  the  25th  year  of  his 
reign ;  under  the  title  of,  "  The  Manor  and  Soke  of  Wischete,  in 
Suffolk,  to  hold  of  the  Crown  by  Knight's  service." 

He  died  without  issue,  when  it  reverted  to  the  Crown ;  and  in  the 
1 6th  of  the  following  reign,  John  de  Vaux  died  seized  of  the  same, 
leaving  two  daughters  and  co-heirs.  Upon  the  partition  of  his  large 
possessions,  the  following  year,  between  his  daughters,  Petronel, 
who  married  to  Sir  William  de  Nerford,  had  this  manor  assigned 
her,  charged  with  £14=  rent,  per  annum ;  to  be  paid  to  Sir  William 
de  Roos,  who  married  Maud,  her  sister.  Sir  William  held  the  same 
of  the  King,  in  capite,  as  of  the  honour  of  Richmond,  by  the  service 
of  one  Knight's  fee. 

It  continued  in  the  Nerford  family;  for  after  the  death  of  WilHam 
and  Petronel,  Johnde  Nerford,  and  Agnes  his  wife,  in  1328,  settled 
the  same  on  themselves,  and  their  heirs  male,  intail.  This  Agnes 
was  a  Bereford,  widow  of  Sir  John  Argentein ;  and  after  Nerford's 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITIIING.  281 

decease,  re-inarried  to  Sir  John  Mautravers,  sen.    She  died  in  1375, 
seized  of  this  manor. 

It  then  passed  to  John,  son  of  Peter  de  Brews,  Knt.,  and  Margery 
his  wife,  who  was  a  Nerford.  In  1383,  Sir  John  settled  it  on  trus- 
tees ;  and  the  following  year  Sir  Thomas  Roos,  of  Hamlake,  Knt., 
and  Beatrix  his  wife,  who  descended  from  Maud,  the  other  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  Vaux,  had  it;  and  is  the  same  whom  Kirby  says  died 
seized  thereof  in  that  year. 

The  family  of  Hoo  had  some  interest  here  soon  after :  William, 
second  son  of  Sir  William  Hoo,  and  Alice  his  wife,  daughter  and 
heiress  of  Sir  Thomas  St.  Omer,  was  seated  in  tlu's  parish.  He 
married  Rose,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Glemham,  Knt.,  and  died  about 
the  reign  of  King  Edward  IV.,  leaving  issue  Wm.  and  Thos.  Hoo. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  William  Roberts,  town  clerk  of 
Yarmouth,  and  attorney -at- law  in  Beccles,  purchased  this  lordship. 
He  was  living  in  the  40th  of  that  reign.  His  sister  and  heir  brought 
it,  by  marriage,  to  Simon  Smith,  Esq. ;  descendant  of  Sir  Thurston 
Smith,  of  Cratfield,  in  tliis  hundred,  Knt. 

It  continued  in  this  family  until  the  decease  of  Thomas,  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  Owen  Smith,  Knt.,  in  1639;  whose  daughter  and  sole 
heiress,  Frances,  married  Charles,  son  of  Major-General  Fleetwood, 
so  well  known  in  the  usurpation ;  and  he  inherited,  in  her  right.  In 
1648,  Simon  Smith,  of  Winston,  in  Norfolk,  Esq.,  settled  the  entire 
estate  of  the  Smiths,  on  them  and  their  heirs. 

Smith,  second  son  of  Smith  Eleetwood,  Esq.,  and  grandson  of 
the  above,  resided  at  Wood  Bailing,  in  Norfolk;  -where  he  deceased, 
and  was  buried  in  1726 :  Elizabeth,  his  only  child,  married  Fountain 
Elwin,  Gent.,  of  Thurning,  in  the  same  county;  she  died  in  1732. 
This  estate  thereupon  devolved  upon  her  aunts,  daughters  of  the 
said  Smith  Fleetwood,  Esq. 

Wisset  is  now  the  property  of  Sir  Edm.  Cradock  Hartopp,  Bart., 
of  Freathby,  in  the  county  of  Leicester ;  eldest  son  and  heir  of 
Edmund  Bunney,  Esq.,  and  Anne  his  wife,  only  daughter  of  Joseph 
Hurlock,  Esq.,  by  Anne,  the  eldest  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Sir 
John  Hartopp.  Anne  Hurlock,  at  the  decease  of  her  parents,  be- 
came heir  and  representative  of  the  family  of  Hartopp ;  and  at  the 
demise  of  her  kinswoman,  Mrs.  Jane  Fleetwood,  succeeded,  by  be- 
quest, to  the  Fleetwood  property.  Her  husband  assumed,  by  au- 
thority, the  surnames  of  Cradock  and  Hartopp ;  and  was  created  a 
Baronet,  in  1796. 


282  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

This  church  bears  evident  marks  of  great  antiquity ;  the  tower  is 
circular,  and  the  north  and  south  doors  are  of  early  Norman  ar- 
chitecture.* 

ARMS. — Nerford:  gules;  a  lion  rampant,  ermine.  Hoo:  quar- 
terly; argent  and  sable.  Fleetwood:  per  pale,  nebule,  sable  and 
or ;  six  martlets  in  pale,  counterchanged.  Hartopp :  sable ;  a 
chevron,  ermine,  between  three  otters,  passant,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  rents  of  a  house  and  small  garden  in  this  pa- 
rish, of  which  the  original  appropriation  for  public  uses  is  unknown, 
are  applied  to  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  other  ordinary  expenses 
of  the  churchwardens.  In  1774,  these  premises  were  demised  by 
two  of  the  feoffees,  by  lease  for  99  years,  at  the  rent  of  £l  5s.  6d. 
a  year ;  and  the  lease  is  now  vested  in  Robert  Mayhew.  A  large 
sum  of  money  has  been  expended  in  building  on  the  ground  de- 
mised, by  the  party  interested  in  the  lease. 


WRENTHAM,  or  WRETHAM. 

At  the  period  of  the  Doomsday  survey,  this  lordship  was  held  by 
Robert  de  Pierpoint,  under  the  famous  William,  Earl  Warren ;  and 
that  family  continued  interested  in  this  parish  until  the  time  of 
King  Edward  III.,  when  Sir  Simon  de  Pierpoint,  of  Belstead  Parva, 
and  Henstead,  was  living. 

Sibilla,  his  daughter,  married  Sir  Edmund  de  Ufford,  third  son 
of  Sir  Thomas  Ufford,  and  nephew  of  Robert,  Earl  of  Suffolk.  Sir 
Edmund  died  in  1374,  when  Sir  Robert,  his  son  and  heir,  succeeded. 
He  married  Helen,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Eelton,  Knt.,  and  died 
in  HOO. 

Amey,  their  daughter  and  co-heir,  married  Sir  William  Bowet, 
Knt.  (probably  a  brother  of  Henry  Bowet,  Archbishop  of  York) . 
In  the  llth  of  King  Henry  IV.,  Sir  William,  and  Amey  his  wife, 
resided  in  this  parish.  He  died  about  the  10th  of  the  succeeding 
reiga ;  she  survived,  and  re-married  Sir  Henry  Inglose. 

The  Doyleys,  a  Norman  family  of  great  antiquity,  who  became 
first  settled  at  Oxford,  built  the  Castle  and  Bridge  there,  in  1071, 
and  new  walled  the  city;  a  branch  of  which  house,  and  the  first 
concerned  in  this  county,  resided  in  this  parish;  namely,  John,  son 

*  An  etching  of  the  former  is  given  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities." 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHINO.  283 

of  Robert  D'Oyly,  whose  descendant,  in  about  the  sixth  generation, 
married  Anne,  sister  and  sole  heir  of  Thomas  Legate,  of  Pondhall, 
in  Hadleigh;  and  removed  thither.  He  died  in  1447. 

In  the  43rd  of  King  Edward  III.,  Michael  de  Poinings  died, 
seized  of  the  manor  of  Northall,  in  Wrentham  ;  and  in  the  49th  of 
the  same  King,  Mr.  Parkin  states,  that  John  (or  Edward)  le  Dis- 
pencer,  son  of  Ela,  sister  and  co-heir  of  John  Calverley,  held  the 
same  ;  probably  in  trust. 

In  the  10th  of  the  following  reign,  Richard,  Lord  Poinings,  de- 
vised this  lordship  to  the  lady  Isabel  his  wife,  for  life  ;  remainder  to 
his  son  and  heir,  Robert ;  -who  died  possessed  of  the  same,  about 
the  25th  of  King  Henry  VI. ;  which,  with  his  other  large  posses- 
sions, for  want  of  male  issue,  descended  to  Eleanor,  his  cousin  and 
next  heir,  the  wife  of  Sir  Henry  Percy,  Knt.,  afterwards  Earl  of 
Northumberland.  This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Richard,  Lord 
Poinings'  brother. 

"  Wrentham  Hall,  in  this  parish,  was  the  seat  of  the  ancient  fa- 
mily of  Brewster,  from  the  reign  of  King  Edw.  VI.,  until  the  year 
1797  ;  when,  by  the  sudden  death  of  the  last  heir  male,  that  vene- 
rable mansion,  and  the  estates  belonging  to  it,  became  the  property 
of  Mrs.  Meadows,  and  John  Wilkinson,  Esq.,  aunt  and  first  cousin 
of  the  deceased  ;  by  whom  the  whole  was  sold,  in  1810,  to  Sir  Thos. 
Gooch,  of  Benacre  Hall,  Bart. 

"  The  Brewsters  were  gentry  of  consideration  in  this  county  for 
a  long  period  ;  but  they  appear  to  have  attained  their  highest  eleva- 
tion during  the  Protectorate  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  to  whose  party 
Robert  Brewster,  Esq.,  the  then  possessor  of  Wrentham  Hall,  was 
a  warm  advocate.  He  sat  in  the  Long  Parliament  which  dethroned 
the  Monarch,  for  the  borough  of  Dunwich,  in  the  room  of  Henry 
Coke,  Esq.,  disabled  for  his  loyalty.  The  writ  issued  for  his  election, 
by  vote  of  the  house,  bears  date  Sept.  2,  1645. 

"  Among  the  five  gentlemen  of  Suffolk,  to  whom  the  representa- 
tion of  that  county  was  granted  by  Oliver  Cromwell  and  his  officers, 
in  July  1653  (the  assembly  commonly  called Barebone's  Parliament), 
appears  the  name  of  Francis  Brewster.  In  the  Parliament  of  the 
succeeding  year,  Robert  Brewster,  of  Wrentham,  sat  again  for  Dun- 
wich ;  and  in  that  of  September  1656,  he  was  one  of  the  ten  repre- 
sentatives of  Suffolk,  and  voted  for  conferring  the  title  of  King  upon 
the  Protector."* 

*  To  preserve  the  memory  of  an  ancient  family,  and  their  residence,  which  was 


284  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

The  Earl  of  Stradbroke  is  the  present  owner  of  the  lordship. 
Patron,  Sir  Thomas  Sherlock  Gooch,  Bart. 

William  Wotton,  a  learned  divine,  was  born  here,  in  1666  ;  of 
which  parish  his  father  was  rector.  At  the  early  age  of  ten  years, 
he  was  admitted  of  Catherine  Hall,  Cambridge.  In  1679,  he  took 
his  first  degree,  and  afterwards  obtained  a  fellowship  of  St.  John's 
College.  On  entering  into  orders,  he  obtained  the  rectory  of  Mid- 
dleton,  and  the  sinecure  of  Llandillo,  in  Denbighshire.  He  died  in 
1726. 

Dr.  Wotton,  published,  "  Keflections  on  Ancient  and  Modern 
Learning,"  which  book  was  ridiculed  by  Swift,  in  his  "  Battle  of 
Books ;"  "  An  Abridgment  of  the  Roman  History  ;"  "  Memoirs  of 
the  Cathedral  of  St.  David's  and  Landau0;"  and  "  Letter  to  a  Stu- 
dent in  Divinity." 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  tenement,  occupied 
by  poor  persons  rent  free ;  the  town  meadow,  containing  nearly 
three  acres,  rent  £3  ;  and  land,  called  "  Bull  Fen,"  rent  £3.  It  is 
unknown  how  the  property  was  acquired.  The  rents  are  carried  to 
the  overseers'  general  account.  An  allotment  of  25A.  IR.  18p., 
awarded  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  lets  at  £45  a  year;  and  the  rent  is 
laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  distributed  among  the  poor  inhabitants. 
A  rent  charge  of  £l  a  year,  given  by  Robert  Edgar,  for  the  poor, 
is  payable  out  of  part  of  an  estate  in  this  parish,  now  the  property 
of  Edward  Holland,  of  Benhall,  Esq. 


YOXFORD. — GOKESFORD,  or  JOCHESFORD. 

This  remarkably  pleasant  village,  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  I., 
was  the  demesne  of  Roger  Bigod,  Earl  of  the  East  Angles,  and 
founder  of  Thetford  Abbey ;  who  granted  to  that  Monastery  all  the 
right  that  he  held  in  this  parish  church,  with  all  the  lands  belonging 
thereto;  which  Herbert,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  appropriated  to  the 
said  Monastery. 

The  Prior  also  held  a  manor  here,  which,  with  the  church,  in 
1324,  were  seized  by  the  King,  as  belonging  to  an  alien  Priory. 

taken  down  by  Sir  Thomas  Gooch,  soon  after  he  purchased  the  same,  the  above 
account  was  inserted  in  the  "Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1812,  part  i.,  p.  313, 
with  a  view  of  Wrentham  Hall,  erected  in  1550. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING.  285 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Yoxford  church  and  impropriate 
tithes  were  taxed  at  two  marks ;  and  the  vicarage  of  which  they 
were  then  patrons,  at  six  marks  and  a  half. 

In  1411,  William  Smith  was  licensed  to  settle  divers  messuages, 
and  four  acres  of  land,  in  this  parish,  upon  the  above  Monastery. 

William  de  Pirnho  held  under  the  above  Roger  Bigod,  at  Pirnho, 
in  Norfolk,  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  I. ;  a  parish  from  which  his 
family  name  was  derived,  but  long  since  demolished.  He  was  a 
person  of  considerable  account  at  Court,  and  witnessed  to  a  charter 
of  that  King,  to  the  Abbey  of  Ramsey,  with  Gilbert  Fitz  Richard, 
and  others. 

His  descendants  became  interested  in  this  county,  at  a  very  early 
period.  In  the  24th  of  King  Henry  III.,  William  de  Pimho  re- 
leased to  Roger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  by  fine,  his  right  of  fishery 
from  the  Mill  of  Cliff,  and  the  Bridge  of  Bungay;  and  the  Earl 
granted  him  a  fishery  from  Bungay  Bridge  to  the  Earl's  vineyard. 

Reginald  de  Pirnho,  by  deed  without  date,  confirmed  to  the  Monks 
of  Sibton,  in  this  county,  all  the  land  which  Robert  Aldred  gave 
them  in  Stickingland,  in  Suffolk.  This  Reginald  was  brother  of  the 
said  William. 

In  the  34th  of  the  same  reign,  it  appears  by  a  fine  then  levied, 
that  Roger  Bigod  had  the  custody  of  Sara,  daughter  of  William  de 
Pirnho,  deceased;  which  Sara  married,  in  the  41st  of  that  King,  to 
James  de  Creke,  and  they  had  this  manor  of  Yoxford  conveyed  to 
them  by  fine,  from  Jeffrey  le  Neve,  and  Catherine  his  wife;  it  being 
the  inheritance  of  William  de  Pirnho,  her  father. 

In  the  14th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Alice,  daughter  of  William  de 
Pirnho,  released  to  John  de  Creke,  son  of  James,  her  right  in  cer- 
tain messuages  and  lands  in  Yoxford,  Burgh,  and  Grundisburgh, 
in  this  county. 

In  the  18th  of  the  same  reign,  William,  son  and  heir  of  Sara 
de  Pirnho,  granted  by  fine,  two  parts  of  the  lordships  of  Yoxford, 
Middleton,  and  Burgh,  and  the  reversion  of  the  third  part,  which 
Joan,  late  wife  of  John  de  Creke,  held  in  dower,  to  Robert,  son  and 
heir  of  Hugh  de  Swyllington,  and  Helewise  de  Pirnho  his  wife,  and 
his  heirs.  This  Sara  and  Helewise  were  sisters. 

Robert  de  Swyllington  had  issue  two  sons ;  William,  the  eldest, 
was  lord  of  this  parish  in  the  35th  of  King  Edward  I. ;  and  in  the 
4th  of  the  following  reign,  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  the  same. 
He  died  without  issue,  and  Adam  his  brother,  succeeded. 


286  HUNDRED  OF   BLLTHING. 

It  continued  in  his  descendants  until  the  death  of  Sir  John 
Swyllington,  in  the  6th  of  Henry  V.,  without  issue  ;  when  this, 
with  his  other  large  possessions,  passed  to  his  sister  Margaret,  wife 
of  Sir  John  Gra,  of  South  Ingleby,  in  Lincolnshire  ;  who  also  died 
without  issue. 

In  the  6th  of  King  Henry  VI.,  a  release  of  this  estate,  with  divers 
other  manors,  was  made  to  John,  son  of  Thomas  Hopton,  natural 
son  of  Sir  Kobert  Swyllington  ;  who,  it  appears,  from  some  previous 
settlement,  made  his  claim  and  obtained  this  property. 

It  continued  in  the  Hopton  family  until  the  time  of  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth ;  when  Sir  Robert  Brooke,  Knt.,  and  Alderman  of  London, 
purchased  it;  from  whom  it  passed  to  the  family  of  Blois,  of  Grun- 
disburgh,  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  William  Blois,  with  Martha, 
daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Brooke,  of  Cockfield  Hall,  in  this  parish. 
His  first  court  was  held  here  in  1660. 

Charles  Blois,  Esq.,  their  eldest  surviving  son,  succeeded.  He 
was  created  a  Baronet  in  1686;  and  upon  the  death  of  his  aunt, 
Mary,  the  only  surviving  child  of  Sir  Robert  Brooke,  in  1693,  he 
removed  from  Grundisburgh  to  Cockfield  Hall,  in  Yoxford. 

Sir  Charles  Blois,  the  6th  and  present  Baronet,  married,  in  1789, 
Clara,  daughter  of  Jocelyn  Price,  Esq.,  of  Camblesworth  Hall,  in 
the  county  of  York,  and  has  issue  several  children.  He  succeeded 
to  the  title  and  estates  in  1810,  on  the  decease  of  his  father. 

BLOIS,*   OF  COCKFIELD  HALL. 

Sir  Charles  Blois,  1st  Bart.  =j=Mary,  dau.  of  Sir  Robert  Kemp,  Bart., 
I  ___  i      of  Gissing,  in  Norfolk. 


William  Blois,  Esq.,  left  a  son=pJane,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Kemp,  of 

,  ___  |       Ubbeston,  in  Suffolk. 
Sir  Charles  Blois,  2nd  Bart.,  who  succeeded  his  grandfather. 

Sir  Charles  Blois  succeeded  his  nephew,  as  3rd  Bart. 
Sir  Chas.  Blois,  1st.  Bart,  married  2ndly=r  Anne,  dau.  of  Ralph  Hawtrey,  Esq.,  of 

T  _  .  _  J      Riselip,  in  Middlesex. 
Sir  Ralph  Blois,  2nd  son  and  4th  Bart.  ==  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Reginald  Rabett,  Esq. 

Ob.  1762.  T  ___  1      of  Bramfield,  in  Suffolk. 

Sir  John  Blois,  only  surviving  son,  and=j=Sarah,  dau.  of  Geo.  Thornhill,  Esq.,  of 

5th  Bart.     Ob.  1810.   j  __  !      Diddington,  co.  Huntington. 
Sir  Charles  Bloia,  6th  and  present  Bart. 

The  advowson  of  St.  Margaret's  rectory,  in  the  city  of  Norwich, 
was,  and  still  is  appendant  to  the  manor  of  Cockfield  Hall,  in  this 
parish  ;  and  by  the  early  presentations  made  to  that  living,  the  said 

*  For  an  account  of  the  early  members  of  this  ancient  family,  see  the  parish  of 
Grundisburgh,  p.  53. 


HUNDRED  OF  1JLITIIING.  287 

lordship  appears  to  have  been  vested,  at  the  periods  affixed,  in  the 
following  persons  : — In  1330,  James  de  Yokesford  was  patron ;  who 
sold  it  to  John  de  Norwich,  clerk:  in  1338,  Hugh  Banden,  of 
Yoxford,  instituted  at  the  presentation  of  Emma,  relict  of  John  de 
Norwich,  clerk  :  1349,  John  de  Norwich,  lord  of  Yoxford  :  1352, 
the  same :  1357,  Sir  John  de  Norwich  le  Cosyn,  Knt,,  who  was 
lord  of  Yoxford:  1376,  John  Norwich,  Esq.:  in  1421,  JohnDomlyn 
was  presented  by  John  Norwich,  of  Yoxford ;  who,  in  1428,  gave 
this  advowson  to  be  sold,  with  his  manor  of  Yoxford,  as  appendant 
thereto.  In  1439,  Sir  John  Fastolf,  Knt.,  John  Berney,  and  others, 
probably  trustees  :  in  1459,"  John  Hopton,  Esq.,  and  Robert  Ba- 
niord ;  and  the  presentation  continued  in  the  Hopton  family,  by 
themselves  or  trustees,  until  1544,  when  Sir  Arthur  Hopton,  Knt., 
presented. 

In  1580,  Edward  Duke,  Esq.,  presented,  as  lord  of  Cockfield 
Hall  :*  and  from  that  time  the  lords  of  that  manor  have  totally 
neglected  it.  It  has  been  served  by  sequestration  for  many  years. 

An  historical  error,  respecting  the  death  and  burial  of  the  Lady 
Katherine  Grey,  is  corrected  by  a  note,  copied  from  a  manuscript 
by  Reyce,  now  in  the  College  of  Arms,  relating  to  Suffolk  antiqui- 
ties, and  inserted  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1823,  part  ii., 
p.  11;  as  follows  : — 

"  There  lie  buried  in  the  Church  and  Chancel  at  Yoxford,  the  bowels  of  the  Lady 
Katherine,  wife  of  Edward  Seimour  Earl  of  Hartford.  She  was  daughter  of  Henry 
Grey  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  of  Mary  the  French  Queen,  the  youngest  of  the  two 
daughters  of  King  Henry  VII.  :  of  the  elder,  K.James  and  K.Charles  were  descended. 
This  Lady  Katherine  had  been  committed  prisoner  to  Sir  Owen  Hopton,  Lieftenant 
of  the  Tower,  for  marrying  without  the  Queen's  knowledge,  and  was  by  him  kept  at 
Cockfield  Hell,  in  Yoxford,  being  his  house,  where  she  died.  I  have  been  often  told 
by  aged  people  in  Yoxford,  that  after  her  death,  a  little  dog  she  had,  would  never 
more  eat  any  meat,  but  lay  and  died  upon  her  grave.*' 

This  statement  is  corroborated  by  the  following  entry  in  the 
parish  register  of  Yoxford  : — "  The  Lady  Katheiine  Gray,  buried 

*  An  engraving  of  Cockfield  Hall,  is  given  in  "  Davy's  Views  of  the  Seats  of  the 
Noblemen  and  Gentlemen  in  Suffolk,"  and  in  "  Excursions  through  Suffolk ;"  also 
of  the  Grove,  which  formerly  belonged  to  Mr.  Clulterbuck,  and  was  rebuilt  by 
Eleazer  Davy,  Esq.  (father  of  David  Elisha  Davy,  Esq.,  the  joint  collector,  with 
Henry  Jermyn,  Esq.,  of  materials  for  a  History  of  Suffolk),  late  in  the  occupation 
of  Lord  Manners.  The  house  of  Mr.  Ingham  has  been  rebuilt  by  the  late  proprietor, 
Mr.  J.  Howlett.  la  "  Column's  Suffolk  Brasses"  are  etchings  from  this  parish 
church,  of  Anthony  Cooke,  who  deceased  in  1613,  and  of  Christian  Foxe,  who 
died  in  1618. 


288  HUNDRED  OF  BLITHING. 

'2lst  Feb.  1567."  Most  authorities  state  her  to  have  died  a  prisoner 
in  the  Tower. 

Philip  Gillet  (alias  Candler),  Master  of  Woodbridge  Grammar 
School  for  19  years,  who  died  in  1689,  descended  from  an  ancient 
family  of  that  name,  who  formerly  resided  in  this  parish.  Philip, 
his  son,  was  also  Master  of  the  same  school  14  years :  he  died  in 
1739.  Anne  Candler,  a  Suffolk  cottager,  and  authoress*  (noticed 
in  the  parish  of  Holton,  in  Samford  hundred),  was  a  native  of 
Yoxford. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  two  pieces  of  land  in  this  parish,  which 
by  usage  are  appropriated  to  the  repairs  and  service  of  the  church. 
One  of  them,  containing  about  an  acre,  adjoins  the  estate  of  D.  E. 
Davy,  Esq.  The  other,  which  is  called  the  "  Town  Garden,"  and 
is  opposite  the  Three  Tuns  Inn,  contains  about  half-an-acre.  An- 
nual rent  together,  £2  Is. — In  1651,  Robert  Sillett,  by  will  charged 
his  close,  called  "  Martin's  Croft,"  in  Yoxford,  with  the  payment  of 
£5  a  year  ;  to  be  disbursed  and  bestowed  for  needful  apparel,  and 
not  otherwise,  for  the  use  of  the  poorest  and  most  needy  of  this 
parish;  to  be  payable  on  the  1st  of  November. — The  sum  of  £50, 
paid  in  satisfaction  of  a  donation,  by  Anthony  Bedingfield,  of  50s. 
a  year,  for  the  poor  of  Yoxford,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a 
rent  charge  of  50s.  a  year;  charged  by  deed,  dated  in  1716,  on  two 
freehold  closes  in  Darsham,  containing  by  estimation,  four  acres ; 
to  be  paid  on  the  1 7th  November,  yearly. 

*  See  "  Stanzas  addressed  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Yoxford,  in  1787."  "  Suffolk 
Garland,"  p.  41. 


This  Hundred  is  part  of  the  Royal  demesne.     It  is  bounded, 
on  the  South,  by  the  Hundred  of  Blithing ;  on  the  East,  by  the 
German  Ocean;  on  the  North,  by  the  Lake  Lathing;  and  on  the 
West,  it  is  separated  from  Norfolk  by  the  River  Waveney, 
It  contains  only  the  eight  following  Villages  : 
BARNEY,  KIRKLEY, 

CARLTON  COLVILE,  MUTFORD, 

GISSLEHAM,  PAKEFIELD, 

KESSINGLAND,  RUSHMERE. 

The  fee  of  this  Hundred  was  anciently  in  Edmund  de  Heme- 
yrave ;  but  in  the  2lst  of  King  Henry  VI.,  it  was  the  possession 
of  Sir  John  Tiptoft,  who  died  seized  thereof  in  that  year.  John, 
his  son  and  heir,  was  soon  after  created  Earl  of  Worcester :  it 
appears  he  did  not  long  retain  it,  for  William  de  la  Pole  held  it 
in  the  %8th  of  the  above  reign  ;  leaving  it  to  John,  his  son  and 
heir,  who  died  without  issue;  and  Edmund,  his  brother,  inherited 
his  estate.  He  was  beheaded;  and  this,  with  his  other  property, 
became  forfeited  to  the  Crown,  and  so  remains. 


HUNDRED  OF  MUTFORD. 


BARNEY. — BARNEBY,  or  BARNEBEI. 

This  parish  has  been  long  consolidated  with  Mutford,  and  was 
probably  held  by  the  same  lords.  The  patronage  is  in  Caius 
College,  Cambridge. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  about  13  acres,  was 
allotted  on  the  enclosure,  for  the  poor,  which  lets  at  £9  a  year;  and 
the  rent  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  given  among  the  poor  people 
during  winter. 


CARLTON  COLVILE,  or  KARLETUNA. 

The  ancient  and  distinguished  family  of  Colvile,*  whose  ancestor, 
Gilbert  de  Colvile  (or  Colvyle),  came  from  Normandy,  as  a  com- 
mander in  the  army  of  William  the  Conqueror,  became  very  early 
connected  with  this  place.  Lands  were  granted  to  him  in  this 
county,  which  he  held  under  the  Baron  Malet,  of  his  honour  of 
Eye,  in  this  parish,  Stickerland,  Kessingland,  Rendlesham,  Rush- 
mere,  Martlesham ;  and  Iselham,  in  Cambridgeshire. 

Sir  Roger  de  Colvile,  the  5th  in  descent  from  the  said  Gilbert, 
was  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in  the  31st  of  King  Henry  III. 
He  married  Galiena  Walpole ;  the  King  having  honoured  his  mar- 
riage by  his  presence.  He  was  lord  of  this  manor,  with  many  pri- 
veleges  and  liberties,  which  his  ancestors  enjoyed. 

His  successor,  Sir  Roger  de  Colvile,  of  this  parish,  married  about 
1240,  to  Desiderata,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Jeffrey  de  Marisco  (or 
Marsh),  lord  of  Newton,  Walsoken,  Tid  St.  Giles,  &c.  From  the 
period  of  this  marriage,  their  descendants  continued  to  reside  at 
Newton  Hall,  in  the  Isle  of  Ely,  for  a  succession  of  above  five  cen- 

*  For  an  ample  pedigree  of  this  house,  and  further  particulars,  consult  "  Wat- 
son's  History  of  Wisbech." 


292  HUNDRED  OF  MUTFORD. 

turies;  one  of  whom,  Sir  John  Colvile,  in  1410,  was  appointed 
Governor  of  Wisbech  Castle.  He  built  the  Chapel  of  St.  Mary,  at 
Newton,  and  founded  a  College  there. 

The  lordship  of  Carlton  Colvile  passed  from  the  Colviles  to  the 
family  of  Burghersh.  In  the  23rd  of  King  Edward  III.,  Bartho- 
lomew Lord  Burghersh  obtained  a  grant  of  free  warren  to  himself, 
Cecily  his  wife,  and  their  heirs,  in  all  his  demesne  lands  in  this 
manor.  He  died  seized  of  the  same ;  leaving  it  to  Elizabeth,  his 
daughter,  the  wife  of  Edward  de  Spencer. 

This  manor  and  advowson  became  afterwards  vested  in  the  Aliens, 
of  Someiieyton ;  and  upon  the  decease  of  Sir  Thomas  Allen,  Bart., 
in  1794,  unmarried,  it  passed  with  his  other  estates,  to  his  kinsman, 
Thomas  Anguish,  Esq.,  who  also  died  a  bachelor,  in  1810:  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother,  the  Rev.  George  Anguish,  M.A.,  who  is 
the  present  proprietor. 

ARMS. — Colvile:  azure;  a  lion  rampant,  argent,  collared ;  with 
a  label  of  three  points. 


GISLEHAM,  or  GISLAM. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was 
the  property  of  Sir  Edmund  de  Hemegrave,  with  the  advowson. 
He  died  in  1334.  The  College  of  St.  Mary,  in  Bailey-End,  Thet- 
ford,  held  divers  lands  and  revenues  in  Gisleham,  Rushmere,  and 
adjoining  parishes  in  this  county. 

In  the  16th  of  King  Edward  III.,  Sir  Ralph  Bigot,  son  of  Sir 
Ralph,  sold  to  Roger,  son  of  Sir  Edmund  de  Soterley,  11s.  6d.  rent 
per  annum;  with  the  rent  of  1500  herrings,  in  this  parish,  Sa- 
teiiey,  &c. 

In  .1 764,  this  lordship  was  vested  in  Richmond  Garneys,  Esq.  The 
manor  of  Pyes  lately  belonged  to  Lady  Boston,  and  F.  I.  Irby,  Esq. 
The  advowson  is  in  the  Crown. 


KESSINGLAND,  or  KESSINGELANDA. 
In  the  12th  of  King  Henry  III.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Rod- 


HUNDRED  OF  MUTFOHD. 

land,  Prior  of  Weybourne,  in  Norfolk,  petent,  and  William  de  Ma- 
nywaryn,  tenent,  of  30s.  rent  in  this  parish;  which  the  Prior 
claimed  to  be  given  him  by  the  said  William,  and  which  he  then 
granted  to  the  Prior,  to  be  held  of  Roger  de  Manywaryn,  William 
and  Alice  being  to  hold  it  for  their  lives ;  which  agreement  is  said 
to  be  made  before  Herbert  de  Alencon,  then  Sheriff  of  this  county. 

The  family  of  De  Tye  (or  Atte  Eye,  viz.  at  the  water,  or  island), 
had  some  interest  here.  In  1375,  Dionysia,  relict  of  Sir  Peter  de 
Tye,  bequeathed  to  Edward  Charles,  her  son,  100s.  per  annum,  out 
of  her  manor  in  this  parish  ;  and  to  Sir  Robert  Tye,  her  son,  the 
manor  of  Hoo,  in  Monewden,  in  this  county,  in  order  to  purchase 
the  patronage  of  some  church,  of  the  value  of  £2Q  per  annum,  to 
appropriate  it  to  the  cathedral  church  of  Norwich,  to  find  two  secu- 
lar priests  to  celebrate  for  the  souls  of  John  de  Hoo,  and  Dionysia 
his  wife,  William  their  son,  and  all  the  faithful. 

Sir  Robert,  son  of  Sir  Peter  de  Tye,  on  his  passage  beyond  the 
sea,  made  his  will,  in  the  6th  of  Richard  II.,  and  desires  his  feoffees 
to  enfeoff  Elizabeth  his  wife,  with  the  advowson  of  this  parish 
church,  the  lordship  of  Barsham,  in  Suffolk,  with  his  lands  in  Mut- 
ford  and  Wangford  hundreds,  for  life. 

Sir  John  de  Hoo  is  mentioned  as  his  brother ;  by  which  it  ap- 
pears that  Dionysia,  his  mother,  was  the  relict  of  the  John  de  Hoo 
above-named. 

William,  Lord  Montchensey,  gave  all  his  lands  here,  with  four 
acres  of  pasture,  to  the  Priory  at  Hickling,  in  Norfolk ;  and  in  the 
1st  of  King  Edward  IV.,  Sir  Miles,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Brian  Sta- 
pleton,  settled  a  lordship  in  this  parish  upon  Brian  Stapleton,  Esq., 
his  brother. 

In  the  36th  of  Henry  VIII.,  that  King  granted  a  manor  here  to 
Sir  William  Woodhouse,  as  part  of  the  possession  of  Heringby 
College,  in  Norfolk,  founded  by  Hugh  Atte  Fenne,  in  1475;  Sir 
William  paying  a  fee  farm  rent  of  16s.  3d.  for  the  same. 

The  advowson  passed,  as  did  that  of  Framsden,  from  Sir  Robert 
de  Mohaut,  Knt.,  to  Queen  Isabella ;  who  gave  it,  in  1346,  to  the 
Abbey  of  Nuns  in  the  Minories,  London ;  and  in  1359,  William  de 
Montague,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  by  deed,  renounces  all  right  to  the 
said  advowson,  in  favour  of  the  said  Abbess  and  Convent.  The 
Bishop  of  Norwich  is  now  patron  of  this  hiving. 

The  ruins  of  the  old  church  shew  that  it  was  considerably  larger 
than  the  present  structure.  The  former,  after  its  suppression,  being 


294  HUNDRED  OF  MUTFORD. 

suffered  to  go  to  decay,  the  roof  became  so  ruinous  in  168G,  that 
the  whole  fell  in,  and  the  timber  and  seats  were  carried  away,  and 
burnt.  After  the  performance  of  Divine  service  had  been  discon- 
tinued till  1694,  the  present  church  was  begun,  by  contributions 
collected  by  Thomas  Godfrey,  and  John  Campe,  as  appears  from  an 
inscription  in  the  church. 

The  celebrated  William  Whiston  was  vicar  of  this  parish ;  and, 
in  1700,  procured  an  augmentation  to  the  living.  The  Rev.  John 
Baron,  of  Ditchingham,  in  Norfolk,  afterwards  Dean  of  Norwich, 
held  the  impropriation,  and  tithes  of  about  £20  per  annum  ;  which 
he  offered  at  eight  years'  purchase,  in  order  that  they  might  be  set- 
tled on  the  church.  Mr.  Whiston  exerted  himself  in  the  affair,  and 
procured  the  purchase  money,  and  Mr.  Baron  assigned  it  to  him  in 
the  above  year ;  when  the  title  became  vested  solely  in  him,  and  he 
assigned  it,  in  1709,  to  John  Tanner,  and  others,  for  the  vicars  of 
Kessingland. 

He  was  the  son  of  Josiah  Whiston,  rector  of  Norton,  near  Twy- 
crosse,  in  Leicestershire,  where  he  was  born,  in  1667 ;  he  was  edu- 
cated at  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge.  In  1694,  he  was  appointed 
Chaplain  to  Dr.  Moor,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  which  office  he  held  till 
1698,  when  the  Bishop  presented  him  to  this  living,  with  Lowestoft. 

In  1702,  he  resigned  these  livings  ;  being,  by  the  interest  of  his 
friend  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  appointed  to  succeed  him  in  the  mathema- 
tical chair,  at  Cambridge.  He  went  and  resided  at  that  University, 
but  continuing  to  propagate  his  heterodox  opinions,  was  expelled 
in  1710. 

In  1747,  he  joined  the  Baptists;  and,  after  being  engaged  in 
various  schemes,  and  experiencing  many  vicissitudes  of  fortune,  he 
died  in  1752,  in  London.  He  has  the  repute  of  a  Divine  of  great 
abilities  and  uncommon  learning. 


KIRKLEY,  or  KIRKELEA. 

In  1764,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was  vested  in  Richmond 
Garneys,  Esq. :  it  now  belongs  to  the  same  persons  as  Pye's  manor, 
&c.,  in  Gissleham.  In  1764,  the  church  was  in  ruins;  it  has  since 
been  repaired,  chiefly  at  the  expense  of  the  Rev.  John  Tanner,  late 
vicar  of  Lowestoft,  then  Commissary  and  Official  in  the  Arch- 


HUNDRED  OF  MUTFORD.  295 

deaconry  of  Suffolk.     The  patronage  is  in  the  representative  of  the 
Garneys  family. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  about  13  acres  was  awarded  on  an 
inclosure,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  poor  persons  residing  in  this 
parish,  the  rents  of  which  amount  to  about  £14;  which  is  given  in 
winter,  in  coals,  to  poor  people  of  the  village. 


MUTFORD,  or  MUTFORDA. 

This  parish  gives  name  to  the  hundred  with  which  it  anciently 
passed;  for  upon  an  inquisition  taken  here,  it  was  found  that  King 
Henry  II.,  gave  to  Bandeinar  duBoys  (de  BoscoJ>  in  augmentation 
of  his  Barony  of  Bandemund,  the  manor,  and  a  moiety  of  the  hundred 
of  Mutford ;  with  the  advowson  of  the  church,  the  hundred  court, 
wreck  of  the  sea,  view  of  frank-pledge,  gallows,  tumbrel,  and  all 
franchises ;  paying  six  marks  and  a  half,  called  blanche  firm. 

After  the  death  of  Bandemar,  these  lands  descended  to  Hildeburgh, 
his  daughter ;  whose  two  daughters  and  heirs  divided  the  same  between 
them ;  of  whom,  Stephen  de  Lunchamp,  married  one,  and  Henry  de 
Vere,  the  other.  Stephen  de  Lunchamp  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Bonyns,  in  arms  against  King  John  ;  by  reason  whereof  the  King 
seized  the  inheritance  of  the  wife  of  the  said  Stephen,  in  the  moiety 
of  the  hundred  of  Mutford. 

Henry  de  Vere,  the  son  of  Henry  de  Vere,  and  the  issue  of  the  other 
daughter,  died  without  children ;  and  thereupon,  by  reason  that  he 
had  no  other  heirs  than  Normans,  King  Henry  III.  seized  the  manor 
of  Mutford  into  his  own  hands,  and  gave  it  to  Sir  Thomas  de  Heme- 
grave;  from  whom  it  descended  to  Thomas  de  Hemegrave,  his 
grandson.  This  grant  was  made  in  1234,  and  upon  his  death,  in 
1254,  Thomas,  the  grandson  above  named,  paid  one  hundred 
shillings  as  his  relief,  for  the  lands  in  this  parish. 

He  died  in  1264,  and  Sir  Edmund  de  Hemegrave,  his  eldest  son 
and  heir,  succeeded;  who  in  1321,  was  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk, 
and  Governor  of  Norwich  Castle.  He  died  in  1334,  in  the  80th 
year  of  his  age. 

Sir  Thomas  de  Hemegrave,  the  eldest  son  and  heir,  aged  40  at 
his  father's  decease,  succeeded.  He  was  twice  married :  by  Isabella, 
his  first  wife,  he  had  Sir  Edmund  de  Hemegrave,  and  Beatrice,  wife 


296  HUNDRED  OF  MUTFORD. 

of  Sir  Kobert  de  Thorpe,  of  Asbwell  Thorp,  in  Norfolk  ;  whose  de- 
scendants ultimately  became  the  heirs  general  of  the  Hemegrave 
family. 

Sir  Thomas  died  in  1349,  and  Sir  Edmund  de  Hemegrave  his 
son,  succeeded :  he  was  one  of  the  Kniglits  returned  to  Parliament 
for  the  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in  the  46th  of  King  Ed- 
ward III.  He  married  first,  Joan,  cousin  and  heir  of  James  de 
Cockfield ;  and  secondly,  Alice,  daughter  of  John  de  Insula,  and 
endowed  her  with  the  manor  of  Mutford. 

Her  testament  is  dated  in  140 1,  in  which  she  styles  herself  "  Dame 
de  Mutford,"  and  gives  to  the  high  altar  of  the  church  of  Mutford 
40s. ;  to  the  lights  of  our  lady,  in  the  same  church,  6s.  8d. ;  and  to 
the  repairing  of  the  belfry  of  the  church,  40s.  His  testament  bears 
date  in  1379  ;  wherein  he  gives  certain  furniture  and  effects  be- 
longing to  his  house  in  Mutford,  to  Alice  his  wife ;  by  which  it 
would  seem  she  might  have  made  it  her  place  of  residence,  after  his 
decease,  until  her  re-marriage  to  Sir  Eichard  Wychingham,  of 
Wichingham,  in  Norfolk. 

This  Sir  Eichard  de  Wychingham  held  the  manor  of  Mutford 
during  the  life  of  the  said  Alice ;  and  the  reversion  of  the  same, 
after  her  decease,  being  limited  to  the  right  heirs  of  Sir  Edmund  de 
Hemegrave,  Sir  Thomas,  his  surviving  son  and  heir,  inherited  it. 

He,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  held  their  first  court  at  Hengrave,  in 
this  county,  in  the  16th  of  King  Eichard  II.;  they  repaired  the 
churches  of  Hengrave  and  Mutford,  and  the  font  in  the  latter  is  a 
memorial  of  their  piety.  By  his  first  marriage  Sir  Thomas  had  issue 
a  son,  Edmund ;  on  whom  his  father  entailed  the  manor  and  moiety 
of  the  hundred  of  Mutford,  in  the  3rd  of  King  Henry  V. ;  and  upon 
the  death  of  this  son,  shortly  afterwards,  without  issue,  Sir  Thomas 
de  Hemegrave  vested  his  estates  in  trustees,  for  sale :  the  produce  to 
be  applied  for  pious  uses. 

He  died  in  1419,  and  by  his  testament,  bequeathed  for  the 
building  or  reparation  of  the  chancel  of  thechurch,  atMutford,  100s. ; 
for  the  benefit  of  his  soul,  and  for  the  soul  of  Joan,  his  mother,  who 
lay  buried  there,  and  for  the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed,  giving 
also  to  the  repairs  of  the  said  church,  20s.,  and  to  the  parson  6s.  8d., 
and  to  twenty-four  of  his  poor  tenants  in  that  parish  40s. 

Joanna,  the  widow  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Hemegrave,  shortly  after  his 
decease,  married  Eichard  Vewetre,  of  Burnham  Westgate,  in  Norfolk, 
and  died  in  1421.  This  lady,  with  the  consent  of  her  husband, 


HUNDRED  OF  MUTFOUD.  297 

declared  her  will  of  the  manors  of  Mutford  and  Fastolffes,  in  Suffolk, 
and  the  half  hundred  of  Mutford,  with  other  property  in  Norwich  ; 
but  it  appears  that  this  will  was  executed  under  the  influence  of  her 
husband,  Richard  Vewetre,  and  by  constraint,  and  she  shortly  after- 
wards solemnly  revoked  the  same. 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  the  Thorps  ultimately  became  the 
heirs  general  of  the  Hemegrave  family.  The  inheritance  of  the 
Thorp  family  subsequently  became  vested  in  that  of  Knyvit;  a  junior 
branch  of  which  family,  namely,  Thomas  Knyvit,  Esq.  (upon  whose 
heirs  the  Barony  of  Berners  descended),  resided  in  tliis  parish.  He 
was  second  surviving  son  of  Thomas  Knyvit,  Esq.,  by  Catherine  his 
wife,  fourth  and  youngest  daughter  of  Thomas,  Lord  Burgh,  of 
Gainsborough,  sister  and  co-heiress  of  Thomas,  Lord  Burgh. 

This  Thomas  was  baptized  at  Ashwell-Thorp,  in  Norfolk,  in  1 624 ; 
and  married  Emme,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hayward,  of  Cranwise,  in 
Norfolk,  Gent.,  who  survived  him,  and  died  in  1658.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  only  son,  John  Knyvet,  Esq.,  of  Norwich ;  who  mar- 
ried Lucy,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Charles  Suckling,  Esq.,  of 
Bracondale,  in  Norfolk ;  and  had  several  children,  of  whom  two 
daughters  only  left  issue. 

Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  married  in  1720,  to  Henry  Wilson,  Esq., 
of  Didlington,  in  Norfolk ;  and  Robert  Wilson,  of  the  same  parish, 
their  grandson,  in  1832,  was  summoned  to  Parliament,  in  the  an- 
cient Barony  of  Berners,  which  had  remained  in  abeyance  since  the 
death  of  Katherine,  Baroness  Berners,  wife  of  Thomas  (or  Richard) 
Bokenham,  Esq.,  of  Market  Weston,  in  this  county,  in  1743. 

William  Bateman,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  appropriated  the  advowson 
of  this  parish  church,  to  Gonville  Hall,  in  Cambridge ;  where  the 
patronage  of  this  living,  consolidated  with  that  of  Barnby,  still 
remains.  The  benefice  of  Barnby  the  College  purchased  of  Sir 
Edmund  de  Hemegrave,  Knt.  The  tithes  of  these  parishes,  with 
the  glebes;  money  rent,  £4  11s.;  corn  rent,  wheat  6  quarters;  malt, 
hall'  a  quarter;  is  paid  to  the  college.  Bishop  Bateman  died  in  1354. 

The  manor  now  belongs  to  the  Rev.  George  Anguish,  of  Somer- 
leyton,  Hall. 

"  This  parish  church  is  remarkable  for  the  building  which  appears 
at  the  west  end  of  it.  This  is  called  a  Galilee,  and  is  almost  a  sin- 
gular instance  of  such  an  erection  in  this  county.  Here  the  peni- 
tents used  to  sit,  while  they  waited  their  re-admission  into  the 
church ;  and  this  may  account  for  the  name,  by  which  such  porticos 


£98  HUNDRED  OF  MUTFORD. 

were  anciently  called,  the  Galilee.  As  Galilee,  bordering  on  the 
Gentiles,  was  the  most  remote  part  of  the  Holy  Land  from  the 
holy  city  Jerusalem,  so  was  this  part  of  the  building,  most  distant 
from  the  sanctuary,  occupied  hy  those  unhappy  persons,  who,  during 
their  exclusion  from  the  mysteries,  were  reputed  scarcely,  if  at  all, 
better  than  heathens." — Millers  Descript.  of  Ely  Cathedral,  p.  43. 

Northwood  Place,  in  this  parish,  was  the  seat  of  the  Kev.  Thomas 
William  Temple,  D.D.,  rector  of  Kirkley,  who  died  there  in  1809. 

ARMS. — Hemegrave:  argent;  a  chief  indented,  gules. — Thorp: 
azure  ;  three  crescents,  argent. — Knevel :  argent ;  a  bend  within  a 
bordure,  engrailed,  sable. 

Mem. — Richard  Powle,  vicar  of  this  parish,  gave  to  Gonville  and 
Caius  College,  Cambridge,  about  the  year  1400,  12  acres  of  land, 
in  Fouldon,  in  Norfolk.  In  1540,  Thomas  Atkin,  also  vicar,  and 
Margery  Hore,  of  this  parish,  each  gave  to  the  said  College  £48, 
to  purchase  land  of  the  value  of  £4  per  annum.  The  lands  which 
were  bought  were  in  Coolinge,  and  Cartlage,  in  this  county,  and 
Cambridgeshire.  The  said  Thomas  Atkin  gave  also  Pain's  close, 
in  Worlingham,  in  this  county,  of  the  yearly  value  of  40s.,  for  sti- 
pends for  three  scholars,  of  the  diocese  of  Norwich,  35s.  per  annum. 
They  are  to  be  chosen  by  the  Master  and  two  senior  Fellows. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  10s.  a  year,  being  the  interest  of  a  be- 
nefaction of  £10,  given  to  the  poor  by  John  King,  is  paid  by  the 
occupier  of  a  farm  in  this  parish,  and  barn,  and  is  distributed  among 
poor  persons  at  Easter. — A  dole  of  13s.  4d.  a  year,  the  donation  of 
which  is  unknown,  used  to  be  paid  by  the  proprietor  of  a  house  and 
land  which  belonged  to  one  William  Fiske,  and  was  afterwards  sold 
to  a  person  named  Pleasants  ;  but  the  payment  has  been  withheld 
many  years,  and  is  probably  irrecoverable. — A  piece  of  ground, 
containing  15  acres,  was  allotted  to  the  poor,  which  lets  for  £13 
10s.  a  year;  and  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  distributed 
among  the  poor  belonging  to  and  residing  in  the  parish. 


PAKEFIELD. 

In  the  21st  of  King  Henry  III.,  Henry  Colvile  had  wreck  of  the 
sea  in  this  parish.  In  the  33rd  of  King  Henry  VI.,  it  appears  that 
William  Bonds,  and  others,  conveyed  to  John  Southwell,  and  Alice 


HUNDRED  OF  MUTFOUD.  299 

his  wife,  the  manors  of  Elgh  and  Pakefield ;  she  was,  it  is  said,  his 
second  wife,  probably  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Sir  Edmund 
Berry,  and  relict  of  Sir  Thomas  Bardolph,  of  Elgh,  in  this  county. 

In  the  29th  of  the  above  reign,  John  Southwell  was  Member  of 
Parliament  for  Lewes,  in  Sussex ;  and  lived  at  Barham  Hall,  in  this 
county. 

The  manor  of  Rotherhall,  in  tliis  parish,  was  lately  vested  in  John 
Morse,  Esq.,  of  Norwich.  The  rectory  was  in  medieties ;  Sir  John 
Playters  had  one  mediety,  and  Mr.  North  the  other ;  the  two  were 
afterwards  consolidated,  and  each  presented  alternately :  it  was  sub- 
sequently in  the  Sparrow  family  only. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  the  site  of  three  tene- 
ments, and  a  piece  of  land,  containing  IA.  SR.,  or  thereabouts ;  on 
part  of  which  two  tenements  have  been  erected,  and  a  school-room 
on  the  other  part :  the  remainder  is  let  in  lots,  or  small  parcels,  to 
poor  persons,  at  rents  amounting  in  the  whole,  to  £3  7s.  a  year ; 
which  are  applied  to  the  reparation  of  the  parish  church. — A  piece 
of  ground,  of  1 5  acres,  awarded  on  an  inclosure,  in  trust  for  the 
poor,  lets  for  about  £2Q  a  year ;  and  the  rents  are  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  coals,  which  are  distributed  among  the  poor. — Mary 
Selling,  by  her  will,  dated  in  1687,  charged  her  lands  in  this  parish 
(now  the  property  of  John  Machett,  Esq.),  with  20s.  a  year;  to  be 
given  to  the  poor  of  Pakefield. — Mrs.  Dodd,  who  died  in  the  year 
1814,  by  her  will,  desired  so  much  money  as  would  purchase  £5  a 
year  interest,  might  be  invested  in  the  public  funds  ;  and  that  the 
same  should  be  equally  divided  annually  at  Pakefield  church,  to  ten 
poor  aged  persons,  of  the  parishes  of  Pakefield  and  Kirkley,  not 
under  sixty  years  of  age,  and  who  should  be  in  the  habit  of  fre- 
quenting their  parish  churches  every  Sunday,  except  prevented  by 
sickness  or  bodily  infirmity. 


RUSHMEEE,  or  RYSCEMARA. 

In  the  29th  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  Prior  of  Petreston  gave  to 
the  Priory  of  Westacre,  in  Norfolk,  a  messuage,  and  the  moiety  of 
a  carucate  of  land,  in  this  parish ;  in  exchange  for  a  messuage,  and 
a  moiety  of  a  carucate  in  Egmere,  in  Norfolk  ;  which  came  to  the 
Priory  of  Walsingham,  when  that  of  Petreston  became  united  to  it. 


300  HUNDRED  OF  MUTFOED. 

Saint  Mary's  college,  in  Baily  End,  Thetford,  had  divers  lands 
and  revenues  in  this,  and  parishes  adjacent;  and  at  its  dissolution, 
these  revenues  went  to  the  Crown,  and  so  continued  until  the  29th 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  who  then  granted  them  to  Edward  Wymark, 
Gent.,  and  his  heirs  ;  to  be  held  by  the  rent  of  3s.  4d.  per  annum. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  ground,  on  Hannah's  Green,  not  ex- 
ceeding 20  perches,  given,  as  understood,  by  the  lord  of  the  manor, 
for  the  poor,  is  let  at  12s.  a  year. — The  sum  of  6s.  8d.  a  year,  is 
received  from  the  churchwardens  of  Henstead,  in  respect  of  Bran- 
don's charity  (of  which  an  account  is  given  in  that  parish).  The 
rent,  as  above,  and  the  dole,  are  distributed  amongst  the  poor,  at 
Easter. 


LoTHINGLAND,  Or  LVDINGALANDA. 


In  the  civil  government  of  the  County,  this  is  accounted  but  a 
Half-Hundred ;  the  other  half  being  the  district  of  Mutford, 
with  which  it  was,  in  1764,  incorporated  as  one  Hundred,  by 
Act  of  Parliament,  for  erecting  a  House  of  Industry. 

It  is  a  narrow  tract  of  land,  at  the  North-East  extremity  of 
the  County ;  having  the  German  Ocean  for  its  boundary,  on  the 
East;  the  River  Yare,  on  the  North  ;  the  Waveney,  to  the  West; 
and  Lake  Lothing,  a  beautiful  and  extensive  sheet  of  water,  upon 
the  South. 

It  was  formerly  an  Island,  the  River  Waveney  discharging 
itself  into  the  sea  between  Kirkley  and  Lowestoft ;  but  it  ceased 
to  be  so  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  when  the  sea  en- 
tirely withdrew  itself  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  a  firm 
and  narrow  isthmus  was  formed,  which  is  able  to  resist  the  most 
impetuous  attacks  from  the  ocean. 

It  contains  fifteen  Parishes  ;  of  which  Lowestoft  is  the  prin- 
cipal, and  only  Market-town  ;  and  five  Hamlets,  namely : — 


ASHBY  (or  HASKELY), 

BELTON, 

BLUNDESTON, 

BRADWELL, 

BURGH  CASTLE, 

GORTON, 

FLIXTON, 

FRITTON, 


GORLESTON, 

GUNTON, 

HOPTON, 

HERINGFLEET, 
LOUND, 
LOWESTOFT, 
OULTON,  and 

SOMERLEYTON. 


Besides  the  Hamlet  of  Flixton,  above-named,  there  are  the 
following  in  this  Hundred : — 


BROWSTON, 
BROTHERTON, 


NORMANSTON,  and 

SOUTHTOWN. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 


ASHBY. — HASKELY,  or  HASKJEBY. 

The  ancient  family  of  De  Inglose,  who  held  under  the  De  Al- 
beneys,  Earls  of  Arundel,  at  Lodden,  in  Norfolk,  in  King  John's 
time ;  and  who  are  supposed  to  derive  their  name  from  a  village,  or 
hamlet,  of  that  parish,  called  Golosa,  since  corrupted  to  Inglose, 
became  very  early  enfeoffed  in  this  manor. 

Weever  mentions  a  Kobert  Inglose,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1365,  and 
was  buried  in  Lowestoft  church ;  most  likely  a  member  of  this 
family.  Sir  Henry  Inglose,  Knt,  served  in  the  wars  of  France,  and 
in  the  3rd  of  King  Henry  V.  (then  an  Esquire),  preferred  a  libel  in 
the  court  of  the  Earl  Marshal  of  England,  against  Sir  John  Tiptoft, 
who  had  retained  him,  with  sixteen  lances,  several  archers,  &c.,  and 
refused  to  pay  him ;  and  so  he,  the  said  Henry,  declared  that  "  He 
was  ready,  by  the  help  of  God  and  Saint  George,  to  prove  against 
the  said  Sir  John,  body  to  body,  as  the  law  and  custom  of  arms  re- 
quired in  that  behalf." 

In  1421,  being  then  a  Knight,  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  the 
battle  of  Bengy,  in  France,  where  the  Duke  of  Clarence  was  slain ; 
and  in  the  5th  of  Henry  VI.,  he  being  proxy  for  Sir  John  Fastolf, 
was  installed  a  Knight  of  the  Garter  for  Mm.  Sir  Henry  married 
Anne,  the  daughter  and  heir  of  Kobert  Gyney,  of  Haverland,  in 
Norfolk,  by  Margaret  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Fastolf, 
Esq.  His  will  bears  date  in  1451;  by  which  he  devises  to  Henry 
Inglose,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son,  the  manors  of  Dilharu,  Loddon,  and 
Washingford,  in  Norfolk,  and  Ashby,  in  Suffolk. 

He  inherited  the  same,  and  died  possessed  thereof,  in  the  8th  of 
King  Henry  VIII.,  when  Henry  was  found  to  be  his  son  and  heir, 
aged  18;  who,  upon  his  coming  of  age,  appears  to  have  disposed  of 
this  estate;  for,  in  1520,  tin's  manor  became  the  property  of  the 
Jemegans,  and  has  since  passed  as  the  Somerleyton  estate. 

The  Almoner  of  the  Cathedral  Priory  at  Norwich,  received  a 
temporal  rent  of  8d.  from  this  parish. 


304  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

ARMS. — Inglose:  barry  of  six,  argent  and  azure  ;  on  a  cantoii  of 
the  first,  five  billets  in  saltier,  sable. 


BELTON,  or  BELETUNA. 

In  the  2nd  of  King  Richard  II.,  Hugh  Fastolf,  Esq.,  granted 
the  lordship  of  this  parish,  with  Bradwell,  Pakefield,  and  Kirkley, 
to  John  Fastolf,  his  brother ;  both  of  whom  were  members  of  the 
illustrious  family  of  that  name  ;  which  family  became  divided  into 
divers  branches,  and  shared  the  inheritance  between  them. 

The  manor  of  Gapton,  in  this  parish,  and  Bradwell,  is  now  the 
estate  of  the  Rev.  George  Anguish,  of  Somerleyton  Hall.  The  ad- 
vowson  is  in  the  Bishop  of  Norwich. 

The  west  end  of  the  nave  of  this  parish  church  contains  the  fa- 
mily vault  of  the  Ives',  who  possessed  considerable  property  in  this 
hundred ;  with  a  memorial  to  John  Ives,  Esq.,  F.R.  and  A.S., 
Suffolk  Herald  Extraordinary.  He  was  a  native  of  Yarmouth,  and 
resided  during  his  early  youth,  with  his  parents,  in  this  village. 

Mr.  Ives  was  author  of  "  Remarks  upon  the  Garianonum  of  the 
Romans,  the  Site  and  Remains  fixed  and  described,"  12mo.,  1774; 
also,  "  Select  Papers  relating  to  English  Antiquities."  He  possessed 
a  choice  and  valuable  collection  of  pictures,  coins,  books,  and  ma- 
nuscripts, relating  to  archaeology  ;  these  were  disposed  of  by  public 
auction,  at  his  decease,  which  happened  in  1776,  in  the  25th  year 
of  his  age.  John  Ives,  Esq.,  his  father,  survived  until  1793,  and 
was  buried  here. 

ARMS. — Ives  :  argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  moors'  heads, 
sable.  Crest :  a  boar  passant,  sable ;  collared  and  chained,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  lands  consist  together  of  about  seven 
acres,  the  rents  of  which  amount  to  £6  6s.  a  year,  and  are  applied 
to  the  ordinary  expense  of  the  church.  The  parish  clerk  has  I|-A. 
of  the  same,  rent  free. — An  allotment  of  about  9  acres,  awarded  for 
the  poor,  on  an  inclosure,  in  1810,  lets  for  £12  12s.  a  year;  and 
the  rent  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  distributed  among  the  poor, 
in  winter. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING.  305 


BLUNDESTON. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  as  well  as  the  advowson,  were,  at  a 
early  period,  vested  in  the  family  of  Blundeston  ;  they  after- 
wards became  the  property  of  the  Pastons,  who,  in  1679,  were 
created  Earls  of  Yarmouth.  From  them  they  passed  to  the  Syd- 
nors.  William  Sydnor,  Esq.,  who  married  Bridget,  one  of  the 
daughters  of  John  Jernegan,  Esq.,  of  Belton,  died  seized  of  them, 
in  1613,  and  bequeathed  them  to  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  Henry 
Sydnor,  Esq. ;  whose  son  William  possessed  them,  at  his  decease, 
in  1632.  Of  his  descendants  they  were  purchased  by  the  Aliens, 
of  Somerleyton  ;  in  whom  they  still  remain. 

There  was  formerly  another  manor  in  this  parish,  called  Gon- 
vile's,  which  belonged  to  the  Gonviles,  of  Rushworth,  in  Norfolk  ; 
and  which  passed  to  Sir  Robert  Herling,  Knt.,  of  East  Herling,  in 
the  same  county,  who  married  the  heiress  general  of  the  Gonvile 
family,  and  Anne  his  daughter  and  sole  heiress,  inherited  the  same ; 
who,  in  1474,  with  Sir  Robert  Wingfield,  Knt.,  her  2nd  husband, 
settled  the  same,  with  divers  other  property  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk, 
on  themselves  and  their  trustees.  The  Hall  and  a  large  portion  of 
land,  were  once  the  property  of  the  Lusons,  of  Great  Yarmouth. 

The  Bacons  possessed  considerable  property  here.  In  1627,  Sir 
Butts  Bacon,  Bart.,  the  7th  son  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  of  Red- 
grave, Bart.,  was  living  here,  in  a  house  on  the  site  of  which  stands 
the  present  Blundeston  Villa.  He  deceased  in  1661 ;  and  his  relict, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Warner,  of  Mildenhall,  Knt., 
and  the  widow  of  Robert  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrooke,  Esq.,  deceased  in 
1679  :  they  were  both  interred  in  this  parish  church.  This  gen- 
tleman was  created  a  Baronet  in  1627,  and  was  the  direct  ancestor 
of  the  present  Sir  Edmund  Bacon,  of  Raveningham,  Bart. 

In  1703,  the  property  of  the  Bacons  was  sold  to  Sir  Richard 
Allen,  of  Somerleyton;  who  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1699.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Sir  Thomas  Allen ;  who  was  She- 
riff of  the  county  in  1730,  and  appointed  Serjeant  at  Arms  to  the 
Treasury  in  1733.  He  died  unmarried,  in  1764,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Ashurst  Allen,  rector  of  Blundeston  cum 
Flixton;  who  died  in  1770,  and  left  this  property  to  his  only 
daughter,  Frances ;  on  whose  decease  it  passed  to  Nicholas  Henry 
Bacon,  Esq.,  the  second  son  of  Sir  Edmund  Bacon,  the  10th  Ba- 


800  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

ronet,  of  Baveningham,  in  Norfolk.  This  gentleman  rebuilt  a  part 
of  the  mansion,  expended  a  very  considerable  sum  in  enlarging  the 
grounds,  and,  by  his  extensive  and  judicious  planting,  added  greatly 
to  its  native  beauty. 

In  1831,  he  disposed  of  the  whole  to  the  present  possessor, 
Charles  Steward,  Esq.,*  a  distinguished  Officer  in  the  Hon.  East 
India  Company's  Naval  Service;  who  married  his  first  cousin, 
Harriet,  the  only  daughter,  by  his  first  wife,  of  Ambrose  Harbord 
Steward,  of  Stoke  Park,  near  Ipswich,  Esq. ;  by  whom  he  has  an 
only  son,  Charles  John. 

The  mansion  has  been  at  different  times  called  Sydnors,f  Blun- 
deston  Villa,  and  Blundeston  House :  it  is  a  plain,  but  handsome 
building,  situated  amid  grounds,  groves,  and  scenery  of  great  beauty. 
During  the  life-time  of  Mrs.  F.  Allen,  this  delightful  spot  was  the 
residence  of  that  accomplished  scholar,  the  late  Kev.  Norton  Nicholls, 
LL.B.;  a  gentleman  not  more  distinguished  for  his  talents  and  vir- 
tues, than  from  his  being  the  intimate  friend  of  the  poet  Gray,  who 
was  Ms  frequent  visitor  here.  Mr.  Matthias  has  appended  to  his 
"  Observations  on  the  Character  and  Writings  of  Gray,"  an  inte- 
resting "  Memoir"  of  this  gentleman,  in  which  he  describes  this 
spot  as  "  one  of  the  most  finished  scenes  of  sylvan  delight,  which 
this  island  can  offer  to  our  view."J  Mr.  Nicholls  was  rector  of 
Bradwell  and  Lound,  in  this  hundred,  to  which  he  was  presented  in 
1767.  He  deceased  on  the  22nd  November,  1809. 

At  the  end  of  the  beautiful  lake  that  ornaments  this  estate,  are 
two  objects  which  are  become  highly  interesting,  from  their  being 
the  favourite  haunts  of  Gray,  during  his  occasional  visits  here,  viz. : 
a  summer  house,  named  "  Gray's  Seat,"  and  a  venerable  pollard, 
called  "  Gray's  Oak."  On  a  part  of  the  grounds,  situate  in  the 
parish  of  Flixton,  Mr.  Steward  has  placed  the  ancient  Font,  which 
formerly  belonged  to  the  dilapidated  church  of  that  village,  which 

*  Mr.  Steward  has  been,  for  some  time  past,  actively  engaged  on  a  "  History  of 
the  Hundred  of  Lothingland ;"  which,  we  trust,  will  shortly  be  given  to  the  public 
in  2  vols.  4to.,  with  numerous  and  highly  interesting  illustrations  of  the  scenery, 
antiquities,  churches,  &c.  &c.  His  collections  for  this  purpose,  enriched  with  nu- 
merous drawings,  are  well  deserving  the  inspection  of  the  Topographical  Antiquary ; 
as  is  Mrs.  Steward's  Ornithological  Collection,  which  comprises  every  known  spe- 
cimen of  land  and  water  fowl,  which  haunt  and  frequent  this  part  of  the  island. 

f  A  view  of  "  Sydnor's,"  from  a  drawing  by  Mrs.  Charles  Steward,  was  given  in 
"  Pawsey's  Lady's  Repository,"  for  1838. 

J  Sec  "  Suffolk  Garland,"  p.  192. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING.  M7 

ho  was  so  fortunate  as  to  discover  in  an  adjoining  farm  yard ;  and 
which  Gillingwater,  in  his  "  Historical  Account  of  Lowestoft,"  de- 
scribes as  "  split  asunder  to  support  the  two  ends  of  a  hog's  trough, 
to  the  great  offence  of  common  decency."  On  it  has  been  inscribed 
the  following  legend  : — 

HUNC.  FONTEM.  LUSTRALRM. 

EccLF.si.i..  DE.  FLIXTON. 

Ol.l.M.   CONSF.CRATUM. 
ET.   DE.  8OROIUM.  CONGERIE. 
IN.  ACRO.  VICING.  EKEI'TUM. 

HlC.  POM.  CURAVIT. 

CAROLUS.  STEWARD. 

DE.  SYDNORB.  ARMIGER. 

A.  C.  MDCCCXXXVII. 

In  1799,  Mr.  Nicholls  entertained  here  the  gallant  Admiral  Lord 
Duncan,  on  his  landing  at  Yarmouth,  after  the  memorable  engage- 
ment off  Camperdown ;  when  the  trees  on  an  island,  at  the  extre- 
mity of  the  lake,  were  decorated  with  variegated  lamps,  and  a 
brilliant  display  of  fire- works  took  place. 

The  Eight  Hon.  Lord  Boston  has  some  property  here,  in  right 
of  his  wife,  Eachael  Ives  Drake. 

ARMS. — Blundcston:  per  pale,  ermine  and  sable;  a  chevron, 
counterchanged.  Paston :  or ;  six  fleurs-de-lis,  azure ;  a  chief, 
indented,  of  the  field.  Sydnors :  argent ;  a  fess,  nebulee,  azure, 
between  three  crescents,  jessant  fleurs-de-lis,  sable.  Gonvile:  argent; 
on  a  chevron  between  two  couple  closes,  outwardly  engrailed,  three 
escallops,  or.  Steward:  or ;  a  fess  chequy,  argent  and  azure ;  on 
an  inescutcheon  of  the  second,  a  lion  rampant,  gules,  oppressed 
with  a  bend  ragulee,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  tliree  small  cottages, 
with  an  allotment  of  20  perches ;  a  piece  of  land,  called  the  town 
pightle,  containing  about  l£  acres ;  an  allotment  on  Plough  Com- 
mon, of  SA.  IR.  22p.,  and  a  piece  of  ground,  of  about  an  acre,  used 
as  a  stack  yard.  The  rents,  amounting  together  to  £19  a  year,  are 
carried  by  the  overseers  of  the  poor  to  their  general  account. — A 
house,  small  bam,  and  hemp-lands,  containing  IA.  32?.,  are  let  at 
£8  a  year.  These  premises  are  understood  to  have  been  devised  by 
one  Anthony  Bays,  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  parish,  for  the  use  of 
the  poor ;  but  the  date,  or  particular  terms  of  the  will,  cannot  be 
ascertained,  and  the  rent  has  been  of  late  applied  as  part  of  the 
poor  rate. — An  allotment  of  marsh  land,  containing  10A.  £R.  34p., 


308  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

and  an  allotment  of  15A.  2n.  38p.  on  How  Heath,  were  awarded,  on 
an  inclosure,  for  the  use  of  poor  persons  residing  in  this  parish. 
These  produce  together  a  rent  of  £60  a  year,  which  is  expended  in 
the  purchase  of  coals,  that  are  distributed  to  the  poor. — The  yearly 
sum  of  10s.,  given  by  the  will  of  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  William 
Ayton,  is  paid  to  poor  widows,  as  a  rent  charge  on  a  piece  of  land 
called  Dale  Pightle. — The  Eev.  Gregory  Clarke,  in  1726,  devised  a 
house,  and  about  IA.  2n.  of  land,  in  trust,  to  apply  the  rents  and 
profits  towards  the  payment  of  a  .schoolmaster,  or  schoolmistress, 
for  teaching  so  many  of  the  poor  children  of  the  parish  to  read, 
write,  and  cast  accounts,  as  the  trustees  from  time  to  time  shall 
appoint.  The  school  property  now  consists  of  a  school-house  and 
school-room,  with  a  small  garden,  and  a  piece  of  land  containing 
£A.  £R.  9p. ;  and  twelve  poor  children  are  generally  taught  by  ap- 
pointment of  the  trustees. 


BRAD  WELL. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Bang  Henry  III.,  the  demesne 
oi  this  parish  was  vested  in  Sir  Bartholomew  D'Avilers ;  and  John 
de  Odingsols,  who  was  living  in  the  time  of  King  Edward  II.,  was 
lord  of  the  manors  of  Pyrington,  Cavendish,  and  Bradwell. 

In  the  36th  of  King  Edward  III.,  John,  son  of  John  de  Norwich, 
held  in  his  demesne,  as  of  the  manor  of  Wuthe,  and  the  advowson 
of  the  church  of  Bradwell,  of  the  King,  in  capite,  by  the  service  of 
paying  4s.  per  annum  to  the  Castle  of  Norwich. 

The  parish  contains  the  manor  of  Caxton  Hall,  and  a  portion  of 
that  of  Gapton  Hall;  the  former  belonged  to  the  Prior  and  Knights 
of  St.  John,  of  Jerusalem  ;  and  the  latter,  to  the  Priory  of  Leigh, 
in  Essex.  They  were  both  granted,  by  Henry  VIII.,  to  the  Ca- 
vendish family. 

In  1474,  John  Jernegan,  of  Somerleyton,  Esq.,  bequeathed  to 
his  eldest  son,  John  Jernegan,  the  manors  and  advowsons  of  So- 
merleyton, Stonham  Jernegan,  Horham,  and  Bradwell ;  with  the 
foundation  of  the  house  of  St.  Olave's  :  and  the  owners  of  Somer- 
leyton have  continued  a  paramountship  not  only  over  these,  but  all 
the  other  manors  in  this  hundred,  since  that  period.  The  Rev.  Geo. 
Anguish,  of  Someiieyton,  is  now  lord  and  patron  of  this  parish. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTH1NG.  309 

Hopland  Hall  is  situated  at  the  south-east  corner  of  this  parish, 
the  residence  of  John  Penrice,  Esq.,  of  Yarmouth,  late  Captain  in 
the  1 5th  (or  King's)  Hussars ;  eldest  son  of  Thomas  Penrice,  Esq., 
a  descendant  from  an  ancient  family  of  the  same  name  in  Worces- 
tershire ;  the  residuary  legatee  of  John  Howe,  last  Lord  Chedworth. 
Captain  Penrice  married  Maria  Catherine,  eldest  daughter  of  Her- 
bert Newton  Jarrett,  Esq.,  of  Great  Bromley  Lodge,  in  Essex. 

Robert  Camell,  LLJX,  rector  of  this  parish  and  Lound,  was 
elected,  in  1731,  Coadjutor  (or  Assistant  Minister)  of  St.  Peter 
Mancroft,  in  Norwich.  He  published  several  anonymous  tracts, 
and  three  Sermons  preached  at  Yarmouth,  with  his  name  affixed. 
Mr.  Blomefield,  the  Norfolk  historian,  acknowledges  himself  bound 
in  gratitude  to  this  gentleman,  for  the  valuable  assistance  he  re- 
ceived in  that  and  various  other  undertakings.  Mi1.  Camell  de- 
ceased in  1732. 

ARMS. — Penrice:  party  per  pale,  indented,  argent  and  gules  :  in 
canton,  a  wolf's  head  couped  at  the  neck,  sable.  Camell:  gironne 
of  eight,  or  and  sable. 


BURGH  CASTLE,  or  CROBERSBURGE. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  always  a  demesne  of  the  Crown  ; 
and  Stigand,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  held  it  by  soccage  in  the  Con- 
fessor's time,  when  the  whole  was  valued  at  100  shillings.  Radulph 
Balistarius  was  lord,  at  the  conquest;  and  afterwards  Roger  de 
Burgh,  and  Ralph  his  son. 

King  Henry  I.,  gave  this  manor  to  Vincent,  Prior  of  Bromholme, 
in  Norfolk ;  which  the  said  Ralph,  son  of  Roger  de  Burgh,  held  of 
him  by  grand  serjeantry ;  which  serjeantry  Ralph  granted  to  Gilbert 
de  Wesenham,  and  he  afterwards  re-granted  to  the  King ;  who 
confirmed  the  same  free  to  the  Convent,  reserving  the  advowson  to 
the  Crown,  and  the  dower  to  Alice,  widow  of  Roger  de  Burgh,  during 
her  life.  In  consideration  of  this  grant,  the  Convent  released  to  the 
King,  a  rent-charge  of  five  marks  per  annum  from  the  exchequer, 
which  he  had  granted. 

In  the  14th  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  Prior  of  the  said  house  held 
the  same,  in  capite,  by  the  serjeantry  of  providing  an  archer  to 
serve  the  King's  army  in  Wales,  during  forty  days :  at  this  time  the 


310  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

Prior  claimed  view  of  frankpledge,  assize  of  bread  and  ale,  and 
other  liberties.  This  manor  continued  in  the  Monastery  of  Brom- 
holme,  until  the  26th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  when  that  house  was 
surrendered  to  the  Crown;  where  it  remained  until  Queen  Mary 
sold  this  manor  to  Wm.  Koberts,  Esq.,  Town  Clerk  of  Yarmouth  : 
it  was  lately  vested  in  Mrs.  Lydia  Barret,  of  Thwaite,  in  Norfolk. 

In  1764,  it  belonged  to  Joshua  Smith,  Esq.  William  Smith,  of 
this  parish,  married  Dorothy,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Arthur  Hopton, 
K.B.,  son  of  Sir  Owen  Hopton,  Knt.  This  lady  subsequently  be- 
came the  wife  of  Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon,  of  Stifkey,  in  Norfolk;  who 
settled  a  moiety  of  Eccles  manor,  in  that  county,  upon  Sir  Owen 
Smith,  probably  her  son  by  the  former  marriage. 

The  Castle  here  is  supposed  to  be  the  Garianonum  of  the  Ro- 
mans, where  the  Stablesian  Horse  lay  in  garrison,  in  order  to 
guard  the  shore  from  the  frequent  inroads  of  the  Saxon  pirates. 
It,  however,  still  remains  a  disputed  point,  whether  this  or  Castor 
was  that  station;  but  Burgh  was  evidently  a  Roman  fortress. 
A  vast  number  of  coins  have  been  found,  at  different  times,  in  and 
about  these  walls ;  and  several  fragments  of  urns,  particularly  in  a 
field  to  the  east,  commonly  considered  the  burial  place  of  the  sol- 
diers. The  whole  building  occupies  5A.  2^-n. 

In  or  near  this  Castle  was  a  Saxon  Monastery  of  religious  per- 
sons, founded  by  Sigebert,  fifth  King  of  the  East  Angles,  by  the 
advice  and  assistance  of  Furseus,  an  Irish  Monk,  and  Saint,  about 
640.  But  very  little  is  known  of  its  history ;  and  it  is  uncertain 
how  long  the  religious  occupied  it  after  the  death  of  their  principal 
patron,  King  Sigebert;  but  St.  Furseus,  soon  after  that  event, 
quitted  his  retirement  here,  and  went  to  France. 

St.  Felix,  the  Bishop  of  Dunwich,  favoured  the  establishment  of 
this  Monastery,  and  it  was  afterwards  enriched  by  the  bounty  of 
King  Anna  and  his  nobles,  before  654.  The  manor,  &c.  of  Burgh 
Castle,  was  valued  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  as  part  of  the 
possessions  of  Bromholme  Priory,  at  £19  10s. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  about  9  acres,  was  al- 
loted  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  and  is  let,  by  the  parish  officers,  to 
different  persons,  at  rents  amounting  together  to  ^614  15s.  a  year. 
Another  allotment  of  about  6  acres,  which  was  awarded  on  the  en- 
closure, lets  at  £12  15s.  a  year.  These  rents  are  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  coals,  which  are  given  to  the  poor  in  winter. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTH1NG.  811 

GORTON. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  and  estate  of 
Sir  Robert  de  Sackville,  Edit. ;  but  the  Priory  of  Norwich  held  some 
interest  here  in  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  and  William  de  la  Pole,  Duke 
of  Suffolk,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI. 

In  13 GO,  John  de  Herling,  of  East  Herling,  in  Norfolk,  had  a 
grant  of  free  warren  in  this  manor ;  whose  son,  Sir  John  de  Her- 
ling, in  1389,  settled  the  same,  and  divers  other  property,  on  his 
mother,  then  wife  of  Sir  John  Tuddenham,  Knt.,  who  died  in  1392, 
seized  thereof ;  and  Robert  de  Herling,  brother  of  Sir  John,  inhe- 
rited here. 

In  1435,  Sir  Robert  de  Herling,  Knt.,  only  son  of  Sir  John  and 
Cecily  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas  Mortimer,  of  At- 
tleburgh,  died  possessed  of  this  estate,  and  Anne,  his  daughter  and 
sole  heiress,  inherited.  This  lady  married  severally,  Sir  William 
Chamberlain,  Sir  Robert  Wingfield,  and*  John,  Lord  Scroop,  of 
Bolton.  She  deceased  without  issue,  when  her  large  possessions 
passed  to  Margaret,  her  aunt,  the  wife  of  Sir  Robt.  Tuddenham,  Knt. 

Robert  Tuddenham,  their  only  son,  inherited,  but  died  young 
and  issueless,  leaving  Margaret,  his  sister,  his  sole  heiress ;  who 
married  Sir  Henry  Bedingfield,  of  Oxburgh,  in  Norfolk :  and  in 
1515,  Edward  Jernegan,  Esq.,  died  seized  of  this  lordship.  He 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Edmund  Bedingfield,  and  inhe- 
rited the  same  in  right  of  such  marriage.  His  successors,  at  So- 
merleyton  Hall,  have  continued  lords  here ;  the  Rev.  Geo.  Anguish, 
of  that  parish,  being  the  present  proprietor. 

Robert  Briggs,  LL.D.,  a  native  of  Norwich,  son  of  Augustine 
Briggs,  Esq.,  descended  from  an  ancient  family  seated  at  Salle,  in 
Norfolk,  had  a  good  estate  in  this  parish  ;  and  lies  buried  under  the 
communion  table  here.  He  was  admitted  of  Corpus  Christi  College, 
Cambridge,  in  1677,  chosen  Fellow  in  1682,  commenced  A.M.  in 
1684,  and  was  soon  after  elected  Professor  of  Law  in  Gresham 
College,  where  he  resided  some  years ;  during  which  time  he  pro- 
ceeded LL.D.,  and  was  made  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society:  from 
ill  health,  he  retired  to  Lowestoffc,  and  there  usually  lived,  until  the 
time  of  his  decease,  which  took  place  December  22nd,  1718.  He 
bequeathed  his  estate  to  his  brother's  children ;  and  his  library  to 
his  nephew,  Henry  Briggs,  D.D.,  rector  of  Holt,  in  Norfolk. 


312  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

Contiguous  to  this  parish,  eastward,  formerly  stood  the  village  of 
Newton  ;  every  part  of  which  is  now  destroyed  by  the  sea,  save  a 
small  piece  of  land,  which  yet  retains  the  name  of  Newton  Green. 
The  lordship  appears  to  have  passed  as  that  of  Gorton. 

Mem. — In  1812,  a  stratum  of  oak  was  discovered  here,  several 
feet  in  thickness,  about  60  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  cliff,  and 
extending  more  than  200  yards  in  length,  composed  of  regular 
layers  of  oak  plank.  This  part  of  the  county  has  also  furnished 
several  specimens  of  the  mammoth  ;  and  the  curiosity  of  the  anti- 
quary is  frequently  gratified  by  the  discovery  of  ancient  coins, 
fossils,  and  other  productions,  after  a  heavy  tide  has  undermined 
the  cliff. 

CHARITIES. — An  annuity  of  £1,  for  the  purchase  of  bread  for 
the  poor,  given  by  Robert  Briggs,  who  died  in  1718,  is  paid  as  a 
rent-charge  out  of  a  farm  in  this  parish,  the  property  of  Thomas 
Fowler,  Esq. — An  allotment  of  HA.  2R.  17p.,  set  out  on  the  inclo- 
sure  for  the  poor,  which  let  in  different  parcels,  at  rents  amounting 
on  an  average,  to  25s.  per  acre ;  and  the  same  is  expended  in  the 
purchase  of  coals,  which  are  given  to  the  poor. 


FLIXTON,  or  FLIXTUNA, 

Is  now  a  hamlet  of  Blundeston,  and  supposed  to  have  received  its 
name  from  Felix,  the  Burgundian,  Bishop  of  the  East  Angles.  It 
was  formerly  a  parish  of  itself,  and  had  a  chapel,  the  ruins  of  which 
are  yet  visible.  This  edifice  appears  to  have  been  dilapidated  more 
than  a  century,  for  in  1704,  George  Burrows,  chapel-warden,  de- 
livered a  surplice,  cup,  cloth,  cushion,  two  books,  and  other  articles, 
to  Henry  Green,  his  successor ;  from  which  it  is  presumed  that  the 
chapel  was  at  that  time  desecrated,  but  for  what  reason  is  not  known. 
The  building,  however,  is  supposed  to  have  received  so  much  da- 
mage from  the  fatal  hurricane  of  the  27th  November,  1 703,  as  to 
have  been  rendered  unfit  for  reparation. 

The  parish  register  is  still  extant,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Wm. 
Neslen.  Gillingwater,  in  his  "  History  of  Lowestoft,"  has  preserved 
the  names  of  several  rectors :  the  last  rector  of  this  parish  was  Thos. 
Skeete,  in  1704  ;  and  the  last  chapelwarden,  was  Thomas  Fiske,  in 
1717.  The  chapel  was  dedicated  to  St.  Andrew. 


HUNDRED  Ol1  LOTHING.  313 

The  lordship  is  annexed  to  that  of  Blundeston,  and  1ms  passed, 
since  its  purchase  hy  John  Wcntworth,  Esq.,  of  John  Mighells,  of 
Chelmondiston,  with  the  Somerleyton  estate. 


FRITTON.—  FRETON,  or  FRIDETUNA. 

Eobert  Fulcher  gave  lands  in  this  parish  to  the  Priory  of  Wymond- 
ham.  In  the  year  1374,  Sir  John  de  Mautehy,  son  of  Sir  John, 
was  buried  before  the  altar  of  St.  Mary,  in  the  parish  church  of 
Fritton  St.  Edmund,  where  he  lived. 

In  1413,  Kobert  Mauteby,  Esq.,  enfeoffed  Sir  Miles  Stapleton, 
Sir  Simon  Felbrigge,  Sir  William  Argentien,  and  others,  in  this 
lordship  ;  with  divers  manors  in  Norfolk,  to  fulfil  his  will,  made  in 
the  same  year. 

This  lordship  afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Sydnor  family, 
from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Aliens,  and  subsequently  became  the 
estate  of  Richard  Fuller :  it  was  lately  the  possession  of  A.  G. 
Johnstone,  Esq.,  who  resides  here. 

Caldecot  Hall,  to  which  is  annexed  a  manor,  the  property  of  the 
President  and  Scholars  of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford,  is  now  occu- 
pied as  a  farm  house. 

The  chancel  of  this  parish  church,  with  its  circular  termination, 
and  groined  stone  roof,  is  perhaps  unique  in  this  county.  The  east 
window  is  lancet  shaped,  and  enclosed  within  a  semicircular  arch, 
with  zigzag  mouldings.*  The  chancel  gives  a  perfect  specimen  of 
Saxon  architecture,  unquestionably  of  the  highest  antiquity.  The 
tower,  which  is  round,  low,  and  unembattled,  is  supposed  to  be  of 
Danish  construction. 

This  parish  has  been  long  celebrated  for  its  spacious  decoy,  a 
fine  fresh  water  lake,  of  more  than  two  miles  in  length,  and  in  some 
places  of  a  considerable  breadth  :  its  banks,  fringed  with  woods, 
vallies,  and  glades,  are  highly  picturesque.  Captain  Manby,  the 
ingenuous  inventor  of  the  apparatus  for  preserving  the  lives  of 
shipwrecked  seamen,  has  a  neat  sporting  cottage  on  the  verge  of 
this  decoy. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  allotment  here  contains  14A.  %n.  38p. ; 

*  An  etching  of  this  church  is  given  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities  of 
Suffolk." 


814  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

and  the  rents,  £1%  12s.  a  year,  are  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are 
given  to  the  poor. 


GORLESTON,  or  GORLESTUNA. 

In  the  Confessor's  time  Earl  Guert  held  here.  Subsequently 
there  were  four  manors  in  this  parish  :  a  paramount,  a  principal, 
and  two  mesne  ;  all  of  which  the  Jernegans  held.  There  are  now 
two  only :  the  paramount  manor  of  Gorleston,  of  the  rights  and 
royalties  of  which  the  Kev.  George  Anguish  is  lord  in  tail  male, 
and  the  manor  of  Bacon's,  within  the  same,  which  is  held  in  fee. 

"  Here  I  saw,"  says  Camden,  "  the  tower  steeple  of  a  small  sup- 
pressed Fryary,  which  standeth  the  sailors  in  good  stead  for  a  mark; 
of  which  Fryary  I  never  marked  further."  This  was  a  lofty  square 
tower  belonging  to  the  conventual  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  stood 
wholly  within  this  parish ;  three  sides  of  which  had,  for  a  long  time 
previous  to  its  total  demolition,  completely  fallen  away,  and  left  the 
eastern  face  quite  entire  to  the  battlements.  This  ponderous  frag- 
ment was  blown  down,  by  a  high  westerly  wind,  February  16,  18.13. 
A  fragment  of  the  wall,  which  enclosed  the  burial  ground  belonging 
to  this  church,  is  still  standing,  in  Gorleston  High  Street;  the 
foundation  to  which  has  been  traced  to  a  considerable  distance. 

Mr.  Taylor,  in  his  "  Index  Monasticus,"  says  it  is  extremely  pro- 
bable that  what  is  said  by  several  authorities  of  a  house  of  Austin 
Friars  at  Gorleston,  refers  to  that  in  Yarmouth  Parva  (or  South 
Town) ;  and  that  there  were  not  two  Friaries  so  near  each  other. 
The  precinct  of  this  Convent  evidently  extended  into  both  parishes. 
The  same  author  mentions  a  house  for  lepers  here,  named  in  the 
will  book,  "  Heydon,  AD.  1372;"  but  where  it  stood  cannot  now 
be  correctly  ascertained.  In  1797,  the  remains  of  a  stone  cross 
were  visible,  a  little  south  of  this  parish,  but  have  since  quite 
disappeared. 

Gorleston  is  a  vicarage,  to  which  there  are  no  glebe  lands  be- 
longing ;  but  is  endowed  by  prescription,  and  claims  some  portion 
of  the  great  tithes.  Mortuaries,  and  tithes  of  fish  taken  out  of  the 
sea,  are  also  by  custom  due. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING.  315 

GUNTON,  or  GABBATUNA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  anciently  the  estate  of  the  Lowd- 
hams ;  then  it  belonged  to  the  Ingloses ;  and  Sir  Henry  Inglose 
by  his  will,  dated  in  1451,  directs  his  manors  of  Gunton  and  Hop- 
ton,  to  be  disposed  of  by  his  executors,  to  discharge  his  just  debts. 
This  manor  became  since  vested  in  the  Blomviles,  Wroths,  and 
Holies ;  and  afterwards  in  Sir  Charles  Saunders,  K.B.,  a  gallant 
Vice- Admiral,  who  for  his  distinguished  services  was  much  honoured 
by  his  Sovereign,  and  respected  by  his  country.  He  died  in  1775. 

Sir  Charles  purchased  this  estate  in  1762,  of  Hewling  Luson, 
Esq.,  who  resided  at  the  old  Hall,  adjoining  the  churchyard.  It 
has  subsequently  been  in  the  possession  of  his  descendant,  Eichard 
H.  Saunders,  M.D.,  who  bequeathed  it  to  his  two  daughters  and  co- 
heirs, Jane,  Countess  of  Westmorland,  and  Mrs.  (since  Viscountess) 
Dundas  ;  who  sold  the  same  to  Thomas  Fowler,  Esq.,  and  it  is  now 
occupied  by  the  Rev.  Frederick  Cooke  Fowler.  The  manor,  warren, 
and  patronage  of  the  rectory,  are  vested  in  the  proprietor  of  Gunton 
Hall :  a  modern  erection,  built  by  Thomas  Fowler,  Esq. 

Mem. — In  1756,  Hewling  Luson,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  erected  a 
temporary  furnace  upon  his  estate  here,  and  succeeded  in  establishing 
a  china  manufactory,  something  superior  to  Delft  ware.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  project  was  revived  by  Messrs.  Aldred,  Kichman, 
Walker,  and  Brown,  at  Lowestoft ;  who  established  a  very  respec- 
table manufactory,  upon  a  more  extended  scale,  but  it  has  long 
since  been  relinquished. 


HOPTON,  or  HOPPETUNA. 

This  manor  and  impropriation  anciently  belonged  to  the  Prior 
and  Convent  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  at  Norwich ;  out  of  which  the 
Cellerer  had  £2  5s.  6d.  per  annum.  At  the  dissolution  of  this 
Monastery,  the  Dean  and  Chapter  succeeded ;  and  the  living  is  a 
perpetual  curacy,  in  their  appointment. 

In  Brothertou,  a  hamlet  belonging  to  this  village,  is  the  neat  re- 
sidence of  James  Sayer,  Esq. :  the  grounds  are  very  tastefully  laid 
out,  and  planted  round  the  estate. 


31 6  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

A  large  tract  of  waste  land  in  this  parish,  was  inclosed  a  few 
years  since  ;  and  Thomas  Anguish,  Esq.,  claimed  extensive  rights 
to  commonage  here,  hy  virtue  of  the  manor  of  Gap  ton  Hall,  with 
Belton,  of  which  he  was  lord  in  tail  male  ;  and  also  such  part  of 
the  mill  water,  with  the  exclusive  right  of  fishing  therein,  as  he- 
longed  to  this  parish ;  which  was  admitted,  and  ten  feet  of  land 
assigned  him  on  every  side,  heyond  the  margin  of  the  mill  stream : 
this  is  now  the  property  of  his  successor,  the  Rev.  George  Anguish. 
The  mill  water,  so  named  from  a  mill  formerly  there,  is  an  extensive 
lake,  lying  between  Hopton,  Browston,  and  Lound. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  20  acres,  or  thereabouts,  was 
awarded  on  an  inclosure,  which  lets  in  separate  parcels  to  different 
tenants,  at  rents  amounting  together  to  £25  a  year ;  which  is  ap- 
plied, with  the  money  raised  by  rate,  for  the  support  of  the  poor  of 
this  parish. — A  rent- charge  of  6s.  8d.  a  year,  is  paid  out  of  a  farm 
in  this  parish,  belonging  to  Thomas  Thornliill,  Esq. ;  which  is  dis- 
tributed among  poor  widows  at  Christmas.  The  origin  of  this 
charity  is  unknown. 


HERINGFLEET. — HERLYNGFLETE,  or  HERLINGAFLET. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  III.,  or  perhaps  earlier,  Eoger  Fitz 
Osbert  founded  a  Priory  in  this  parish,  near  the  ancient  ferry  across 
the  river  Waveney,  and  the  present  bridge  of  St.  Olave.  It  was  of 
the  clerical  order  of  St.  Augustine  (or  Black  Canons),  and  dedi- 
cated to  the  honour  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  St.  Olave,  the  King 
and  Martyr. 

The  founder  of  this  Priory  endowed  it  with  40  acres  of  land,  and 
tythes,  in  Tibenham ;  and  bequeathed  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the 
conventual  church.  Peter,  his  son,  gave  the  advowson  of  Witling- 
ham,  and  was  also  buried  in  the  priory  church,  in  1275  ;  as  was 
Beatrix  his  wife,  in  1278. 

The  Prior  and  Convent  of  St.  Olave's,  were  rectors  of  Hales,  in 
Norfolk,  and  had  the  tithes  of  235  acres  of  land  in  that  parish,  be- 
longing to  Langley  Abbey,  in  exchange  for  the  same  quantity  of 
land  in  Loddon  and  Heckingham,  belonging  to  St.  Olaves.  The 
church  of  Hales  was  granted,  in  the  4th  of  King  Edw.  L,  by  Ralph 
de  Chedgrave,  and  Emma  his  wife,  to  William.,  Prior  here. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING.  317 

In  the  20th  of  the  same  reign,  an  agreement  was  made  between 
Stephen  de  Astley,  and  Benedict,  Prior  here ;  when  he  remitted  to 
the  said  Prior,  the  third  part  of  eight  marks,  annual  rent  in  East 
Tudenham,  and  Tudenham  Faldgate,  for  the  souls  of  his  ancestors. 

Oshert,  son  of  Hervi  de  Dagworth,  gave  the  manor  of  Dagworth, 
in  Tihenham,  to  this  Monastery;  and  the  Prior  paid  7s.  Id.  tax  for 
it,  in  1428.  In  1392,  King  Richard  II.,  licensed  Eoger  Rogers  to 
grant  50  acres  of  land  in  the  same  parish,  to  this  Convent ;  and  in 
the  16th  of  that  reign,  Sir  George  Felbrigg  made  a  grant  to  this 
Priory. 

To  this  Monastery  were  appropriated  the  churches  of  Herringfleet, 
and  a  portion  of  the  rectory  and  the  advowson  of  Burgh,  in  this 
county;  with  other  possessions  in  Cringleford,  Raveningham,  Thorp, 
Thurverton,  Haddescoe,  and  Malthy,  in  Norfolk. 

The  Fitz  Osherts,  and  after  them  the  Jernegans,  were  the  prin- 
cipal benefactors  ;  the  latter  became  owners  of  St.  Olave  and  So- 
merleyton,  as  early  as  the  year  1230,  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  Walter 
Jernegan  with  Isabel,  heiress  of  Sir  Peter  Fitz  Osbert,  of  Somer- 
leyton ;  and  from  that  year,  Somerleyton  was  the  capital  seat  of  the 
Jernegans.  John  Jernegan,  Esq.,  of  that  parish,  and  Agnes  his 
wife,  were  buried  in  St.  Mary's  chapel,  in  this  Priory,  about  the 
year  1470. 

John  Reppys,  of  this  parish,  who  deceased  in  1473,  desired  to  be 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  Herringfleet  St.  Margaret.  He  gave  two 
acres  of  land  to  the  said  church ;  to  John,  his  son,  20  marks ;  and 
20  to  his  sons  Nicholas,  William,  and  Thomas  :  Alice  his  wife,  to 
have  her  third  part  of  the  manors  of  Thorp-Market,  and  South 
Repps,  in  Norfolk,  for  life ;  remainder  to  Henry,  his  son,  in  tail. 

The  number  of  Canons  placed  here  by  the  founder  is  not  known ; 
but  it  appears  that  at  the  dissolution,  it  contained  a  Prior,  and  six 
or  seven  religious  persons.  The  valuations  in  Tax  Eccles.,  1291  : 
Norfolk,  in  13  parishes,  £2  19s.  lid. ;  Suffolk,  in  14  parishes,  £12 
4s.  7fd.  The  clear  value,  in  Valor  Ecclesiasticus,  in  1534,  is  £49 
11s.  7d.  It  was  granted,  in  1546,  to  Henry  Jernegan,  Esq. ;  and 
Frances  his  wife,  for  the  consideration  of  £92  8s.  6d.  The  ruins 
of  the  Priory  were  chiefly  removed  in  1 784,  and  except  a  low  arched 
vault  (or  crypt),  little  of  this  ancient  building  remains. 

Near  these  ruins,  is  a  bridge  over  the  Waveney,  of  the  original  of 
which  an  historical  description,  extracted  from  a  M.S.  drawn  up 
about  the  year  1706,  by  the  late  Bishop  Tanner,  author  of  that  cele- 


318  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

brated  work  the  "  Notitia  Monastica,"  is  given,  in  the  "  Gentleman's 
Magazine"  for  1811,  part  ii.,  p.  213,  and  is  highly  curious.  Mr. 
Druery  has  also  inserted  the  same  in  his  "  Historical  and  Topogra- 
phical notices  of  Great  Yarmouth,"  &c. ;  a  work  to  which  we  beg  to 
acknowledge  ourselves  much  beholden  in  this  portion  of  our  under- 
taking. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  anciently  in  the  Fitz  Osberts ; 
from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Jernegans,  and  so  continued  until  the 
2nd  of  King  James  I.,  when  Henry  Jerningham,  Esq.,  sold  the  same. 
Subsequently  it  became  the  estate  of  the  Tavemers,  then  of  Sir  Ed- 
mund Bacon,  of  Gillingham,  Bart.,  and  others  of  that  family ;  and 
about  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  it  passed  to  Hill  Mussenden, 
Esq.,  who  deceased  in  1772,  and  devised  this  estate  to  his  eldest 
brother,  Carteret,  who  had  taken  the  name  of  Leathes. 

John  Leathes,  Esq.,  his  son,  succeeded  ;  who  deceased  in  1787  : 
his  widow  possessed  it,  and  re-married  to  Anthony  Merry,  Esq. ;  at 
her  decease  it  came  to  John  Francis  Leathes,  Esq.,  High  Sheriff  for 
this  county,  in  1827 ;  who  is  the  present  proprietor.  The  estate 
annexed  to  this  lordship,  comprises  nearly  the  entire  parish  of  Her- 
ringfleet. 

The  Manor  House,  half  castellated  in  its  appearance,  stands  near 
the  church,  and  was  formerly  surrounded  by  a  moat,  part  of  which 
still  remains.  Blocker  Hall,  in  this  parish,  is  a  curious  old  man- 
sion ;  deserving  notice  as  conveying  a  specimen  of  the  domestic  ar- 
chitecture, in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time. 

ARMS. — Leathes:  azure;  on  a  bend,  between  three  fleurs-de-lis, 
or,  three  mullets  pierced,  gules.  Crest : — a  demi  griffin,  rampant ; 
with  wings  displayed,  sable.  Fitz  Osbert :  gules ;  three  bars  ge- 
mell,  or;  a  canton,  argent.  Taverner:  argent;  a  bend  fusillee, 
sable. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  GA.  35p.  was  set  out,  on  an  inclo- 
sure,  for  providing  fuel  for  the  poor,  which  lets  at  £13  15s.  a  year; 
and  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  given  to  the  poor,  at 
Christmas. — The  late  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Merry  bequeathed  a£20  a  year, 
to  be  applied  to  educate  poor  children  in  this  parish :  and  to  pro- 
vide for  this  annuity,  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  was  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  stock  in  the  public  funds ;  which  annuity  is  applied  for 
the  free  education  of  twelve  poor  children  of  this  parish. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING.  Mill 

LOUND.* 

The  demesne  of  this  parish  was  anciently  in  Sir  Kobert  de  Blun- 
deston.  In  1392,  Sir  John  Tudenham,  Knt.,  died  seized  of  this 
lordship  :  it  afterwards  passed  to  Margaret,  sister  and  sole  heir  of 
Sir  Thomas  Tudenham,  relict  of  Sir  Edmund  Bedingfield,  Knt., 
and  niece  to  the  above  Sir  John  Tudenham. 

It  has  long  since  been  the  inheritance  of  the  Jernegan  family ; 
from  whom  it  passed,  with  the  Someiieyton  estate,  to  the  respective 
proprietors  of  that  domain,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Rev. 
George  Anguish,  who  presents  to  the  rectory. 

In  1330,  King  Edward  III.,  licensed  Walter  de  Filby  and  Ed- 
mund, parson  of  Lound,  to  settle  on  the  hospital  of  St.  Giles,  in 
Norwich,  one  messuage,  1 5^A.  of  land,  2A.  of  meadow,  and  44  A.  of 
reed-harth  (or  juncary),  in  Norwich  ;  and  two  years  after,  he  li- 
censed Walter  de  Filby,  Sir  Thomas  de  Preston,  rector  of  Colby, 
and  Sir  Stephen,  rector  of  Lound,  to  settle  a  messuage,  SA.  of  land, 
and  the  advowson  of  Mundham  St.  Peter,  on  the  said  hospital. 

The  Eev.  Norton  Nicholls,  LL.B.,  rector  of  tliis  parish,  has  been 
already  noticed,  in  the  parish  of  Blundeston,  where  he  resided ;  and 
a  copy  of  a  letter,  occasioned  by  his  death,  written  privately  to  a 
friend,  may  be  seen  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1810, 
part  ii.,  p.  346. 

Mem. — Near  the  water  mill,  some  years  since,  on  the  side  of  this 
parish,  were  found  several  pieces  of  ancient  armour,  and  various 
coins. 

CHAEITIES. — An  annuity  of  6s.  was  given  by  John  Spaldiug,  for 
bread,  to  be  distributed  among  the  poor  of  this  parish,  quarterly. 
This  is  charged  on  a  cottage,  and  three  or  four  acres  of  land,  in 
Lound,  the  property  of  Samuel  Crickmer. — An  allotment  of  20A. 
2R.  18p.,  was  awarded,  on  the  inclosure,  for  the  use  of  the  poor 
residing  in  this  parish,  which  lets  for  about  £34  a  year ;  and  the 
rent  is  laid  out  in  buying  coals,  which  are  given  among  the  poor 
people  of  the  parish. 


*  "  Lound,"  a  Saxon  word,  signifying  "  a  plain  among  trees."     The  meaning  of 
the  word  corresponds  exactly  with  the  situation  of  this  village. 


320  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHINO. 

LOWESTOFT.—  LESTOFFE,  or  LOTHNWISTOFT. 

The  town  of  Lowestoft  stands  upon  an  eminence,  commanding  a 
fine  and  extensive  prospect  of  the  German  Ocean ;  and  presents,  in 
itself,  when  viewed  from  the  sea,  the  most  picturesque  appearance  of 
any  town  upon  the  eastern  coast.  The  principal  street  is  about  a 
mile  in  length,  and  lies  upon  a  gradual  descent,  from  north  to  south, 
facing  the  sea ;  intersected  by  several  smaller  passages  or  lanes,  east 
and  west ;  and  contains  many  handsome  modern  buildings,  chiefly 
erected  upon  the  old  foundations. 

The  custom  of  holding  a  market  in  this  town,  is  mentioned  as 
early  as  the  reign  of  King  Henry  IV.,  as  appears  by  Bishop  Tan- 
ner's collections ;  for  in  the  registry  at  Norwich,  it  is  said  "  that  in 
that  reign,  the  King  granted  to  William  Delapole,  Marquess  and 
Earl  of  Suffolk,  one  market  and  two  fairs  below  the  village  of  Low- 
estoft, in  Suffolk ;  which  is  the  ancient  demesne  of  the  Crown  of 
England ;  and  also  appoints  him  his  Steward,  to  hold  his  courts  of 
market  and  fair  ;  and  ordains  that  no  Justice,  Viscount,  Escheator, 
Inquisitor,  Bailiff,  Steward  of  Hospital,  or  Clerk  of  Market,  tax  the 
said  village  in  any  manner ;  and  that  all  people  holding  of  and  re- 
siding in  the  said  village,  be  free  from  all  custom  and  toll  of  their 
goods  and  vendable  wares,  throughout  the  whole  kingdom." 

This  town  as  part  of  the  King's  ancient  demesne,  also  enjoyed 
many  other  privileges  ;  such  as  an  exemption  from  contributing  to 
the  expenses  of  the  Knights  of  the  Shire,  during  their  attendance  in 
Parliament,  &c.  These  privileges,  were  particularly  recognized  and 
confirmed  by  writ,  in  the  15th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  again  re- 
newed by  King  Charles  I.,  in  1604.  But  through  the  changes  ef- 
fected by  time,  in  manners  and  in  property,  these  have  become 
entirely  obsolete,  and  little  more  than  their  names  remain.  The 
only  privilege  contained  in  the  writ  of  exemptions,  productive  of 
any  real  benefit  to  the  town  of  Lowestoft  at  this  period,  is  that  of 
its  inhabitants  being  exempted  from  serving  on  juries,  either  at  the 
assizes  or  quarter  sessions. 

The  lordship  of  this  town  formed  part  of  the  large  possessions  of 
the  Fitz  Osberts ;  from  whom  it  passed  by  marriage  to  the  Jerne- 
gans,  and  has  ever  since  been  dependant  upon,  and  descended  with 
the  manor  of  Somerleyton,  now  vested  in  the  Rev.  George  Anguish, 
in  tail  male. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING.  321 

The  impropriation  is  presumed  to  have  been  granted,  by  King 
Henry  I.,  to  the  Priory  of  St.  Bartholomew,  in  London,  towards 
augmenting  its  endowment;  which  grant  was  confirmed  to  that 
house  by  a  charter  of  King  Henry  III.,  in  1230.  At  the  dissolu- 
tion, Sir  Richard  Rich,  of  Felsted,  in  Essex,  had  a  grant  of  the 
said  Priory,  when  it  is  supposed  the  impropriation  of  this  church 
came  to  him,  and  was  subsequently  vested  in  his  family.  In  1719, 
it  was  the  property  of  the  Church  family,  and  was  purchased  of  the 
heirs  of  Mr.  Church "  by  the  Rev.  John  Tanner,  then  vicar  of  this 
parish.  This  vicarage  is  endowed  with  the  great  tithes,  and  is  in 
the  presentation  of  the  Bishop  of  Norwich. 

The  church  is  a  fine  structure,  situated  nearly  half-a-mile  west  of 
the  town ;  it  was  erected  entirely  at  the  charges  of  the  Priory  of 
St.  Bartholomew,  and  the  expenses  for  keeping  it  in  repair,  were 
probably  drawn  from  the  same  source.  It  holds  the  remains  of 
many  illustrious  personages ;  among  whom  are  Admirals  Utber, 
Ashby,  and  Mighells,  celebrated  naval  commanders :  Mr.  Thomas 
Annot,  and  Mr.  John  Wilde,  founders  of  the  two  grammar  schools 
here.  This  parish  can  boast  of  several  eminent  divines  for  its  pas- 
tors, viz.:  Dr.  Scroope,  Bishop  of  Dromore,  who  died  and  was 
buried  here,  in  1491,  aged  nearly  100  years;  Mr.  Whiston,  who 
succeeded  Sir  Isaac  Newton  in  the  Mathematical  Professorship  at 
Cambridge;  the  Rev.  John  Tanner,  the  learned  editor  of  the 
"  Notitia  Monastica ;"  and  the  learned  and  ingenuous  translator  of 
the  tragedies  of  ^Eschylus,  Eripides,  and  Sophocles,  the  Rev.  Robt. 
Potter,  A.M.,  F.R.S.,  and  A.S.,  Prebendary  of  Norwich,  who  died 
in  1804,  and  lies  buried  in  the  church-yard. 

This  town  has  produced  many  eminent  naval  and  military  cha- 
racters ;  among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Captain  Thomas  Arnold, 
a  brave  officer ;  and  Captain  Sir  Andrew  Leake,  who  was  knighted 
by  Queen  Anne,  for  his  valour  in  the  attack  onVigo.  MajorThos. 
Walker  Chambers,  who  fell  gloriously  fighting  at  the  battle  of  Wa- 
terloo, was  also  a  native  of  this  place. 

Thomas  Nashe,  the  noted  controversialist,  was  a  native  of  Low- 
estoft,  and  was  educated  at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge ;  where 
he  became  B.A.  in  1585.  He  wrote  several  pieces,  among  which 
was  one  entitled  "  Lenten  Stuff,  or  the  praise  of  the  Red  Herring," 
a  joke  upon  the  staple  commodity  of  Great  Yarmouth.  He  was  a 
great  favourite  with  the  wits  of  his  day,  and  it  has  been  said,  wrote 
with  considerable  ease,  harmony,  and  energy,  in  a  vein  of  spirited  and 


322  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

judicious  criticism,  of  caustic  satire,  and  of  pointed  humour.  He 
is  supposed  to  have  died  about  1600,  and  is  well  characterised  in 
"  The  Eeturn  from  Parnassus." 

"  His  style  was  witty,  tho1  he  had  some  gall ; 
Something  he  might  have  mended,  so  may  all ! 
Yet  this  I  say,  that  for  a  mother's  wit, 
Few  men  have  ever  seen  the  like  of  it." 

Messrs.  Isaac  and  Edmund  Gillingwater,  the  joint  historians  of 
Lowestoft,  must  not  be  left  unnoticed ;  who  with  great  assiduity 
and  perseverance,  collected  materials  for  the  "  History  of  Lowes- 
toft,"  which  was  published  in  1790,  by  Mr.  Edmund  Gillingwater, 
who  then  resided  at  Harleston.  He  was  also  author  of  an  "  His- 
torical and  Descriptive  account  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,"  published 
in  1804  :  both  highly  interesting  topographical  works. 

These  brothers  resided  at  Lowestoft,  and  were  equally  zealous  in 
the  pursuit  of  antiquarian  lore ;  and  never  rose,  or  aspired  to  rise, 
beyond  the  humble  occupation  of  country  barbers,  till  Edmund 
removed  to  Harleston,  and  added  to  his  stock  of  combs  and  razors, 
and  wigs  and  blocks,  a  small  number  of  books  for  sale.  Here  too 
he  published  his  History,  and  here  he  died ;  not,  however,  unnoticed 
or  unregarded,  for  some  of  the  neighbouring  gentlemen  urged  him 
to  quit  his  trades,  both  of  hair-dresser  and  book-seller,  and  to  study 
for  the  church,  offering  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses ;  but  this 
he  modestly  declined.  Isaac  died  at  Lowestoft,  May  14,  1813, 
aged  83  years ;  and  his  brother  Edmund  about  two  months  pre- 
vious. 

Robert  Reeve,  Gent.,  must  be  ranked  among  the  worthies  of  this 
town,  son  of  Robert  Reeve,  attorney-at-law,  and  the  last  surviving 
brother  of  Lady  Smith,  wife  of  Sir  James  Edward  Smith,  founder 
and  President  of  the  Linnsean  Society.  Brought  up  under  his  fa- 
ther's roof,  and  treading  carefully  in  his  steps  in  promoting  the 
comfort  of  those  around  him,  guiding  them  in  their  pursuits,  as- 
sisting them  at  once  with  his  advice  and  his  purse,  and  healing  any 
differences  among  them.  To  the  active  pursuits  of  business,  he 
joined  those  of  a  more  refined  description.  In  the  beauties  of  na- 
ture he  felt  the  keenest  delights,  in  the  productions  of  art  he  had 
almost  equal  gratification,  but  his  attention  was  principally  directed 
to.  the  study  of  numismatics  and  antiquity,  in  both  of  which  his 
knowledge  was  extensive. 

Of  coins  and  medals  he  left  a  cabinet,  which,  for  the  number  and 
beauty  of  its  specimens,  might  be  ranked  among  the  best  in  the 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING.  323 

kingdom.  His  antiquarian  collection  was  in  the  department  of 
topography.  Mr.  Reeve  had  chiefly  bestowed  his  care  upon  the 
town  of  Lowestoft,  and  the  adjoining  hundreds  of  Mutford  and  Lo- 
thingland.  For  the  history  of  the  latter  he  left  materials  sufficient 
to  form  several  volumes,  accompanied  by  ancient  deeds,  drawings  of 
churches,  public  seals,  &c. 

In  what  concerns  his  native  town  he  was  still  more  rich  ;  he  pos- 
sessed Gillingwater's  own  copy  of  its  history,  with  the  addition  of 
three  similar  volumes,  filled  with  maps,  engravings,  original  draw- 
ings, and  manuscript :  the  former  collected  by  the  author,  the  latter 
in  his  own  hand  writing.  Mr.  Reeve  deceased  January  8th,  1840.* 

CHARITIES. — The  poor  and  town  estate  is  vested  in  feoffees,  and 
comprises  about  104  acres  of  land  in  various  parcels,  in  the  parish 
of  Lowestoft,  let  to  divers  tenants,  at  rents  amounting  in  the  whole 
to  £271  per  annum;  and  consists  of  the  following  particulars  : — 
It  appears  that  28  acres  of  this  land  were  purchased  with  £60,  given 
by  the  will  of  William  French,  in  1592,  to  be  laid  out  in  land ;  the 
rents  thereof  to  be  applied  in  the  payment  of  13d.  a  week  to  13  poor 
persons  of  this  town,  every  Sunday ;  and  3s.  4d.  to  the  churchwar- 
dens, for  their  pains  therein :  and  that  the  rest  of  the  property  had 
been  held  under  more  ancient  conveyances,  in  trust,  for  the  repairs 
of  the  church,  and  other  necessary  uses,  for  the  town  of  Lowestoft. 
— In  1 584,  Mrs.  Ann  Girling,  gave  by  will,  her  barn,  house,  and 
tenement,  to  the  use  of  the  honest  poor  of  Lowestoft;  to  be  given 
to  them  in  firing :  and  James  Wild  gave  a  house,  and  pightle',  under 
the  Cliff,  in  this  town,  to  buy  one  dozen  penny  loaves ;  to  be  given 
to  the  poor  every  Sunday,  after  divine  service.  These  together  pro- 
duce a  rent  of  £9  a  year,  which  is  carried  to  the  general  charity 
fund. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  2A.  3R.  24p.,  enclosed  from  the 
waste  on  the  North  Common,  in  1772,  lets  for  £8  per  annum ;  and 
is  carried  to  the  same  fund. — The  Poor's  Houses,  which  were  given 
by  various  donors,  comprise  altogether  25  dwellings ;  and  are  used 
for  the  residence  of  poor  widows,  and  other  poor  persons  of  the 
town,  who  occupy  them  rent  free :  the  repairs  being  provided  for 
out  of  the  above  fund. — By  Indenture,  dated  10th  June,  1571, 
Tbos.  Annott  assured  to  trustees  two  messuages,  called  "  Garbag's," 

*  For  a  more  ample  and  particular  account  of  the  parish  of  Lowestoft,  consult 
the  above  Historian  ;  and  the  "  Lowestoft  Guide,'*  containing  a  descriptive  account 
of  the  town  and  its  environs,  by  a  Lady  :  Yarmouth,  1812.  A  very  useful  and  well 
written  Vade  Mecum  for  the  visitant. 


324  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

and  "  Bennett's,"  situate  at  Wheatacre  (otherwise  Wentacre-burgh), 
in  Norfolk,  in  trust;  to  secure  the  payment  of  20  marks  a  year,  for 
the  support  of  a  master  of  a  school  in  this  town ;  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Chancellor  of  the  diocese  of  Norwich.  This  endowment  was 
increased,  by  the  heir-at-law  of  the  donor,  to  £16  a  year.  The  pro- 
perty charged  with  this  annuity  belongs  to  Alexander  Adair,  Esq. ; 
by  whom  the  sum  of  £12  16s.  a  year  is  paid  in  respect  of  the  charity, 
£3  4s.  being  deducted  from  the  account  of  the  annuity  for  land-tax  : 
this  is  carried  to  the  general  charity  fund,  and  thereout  is  paid  a 
certain  sum  to  a  schoolmaster,  and  a  further  sum  to  find  the  boys 
with  books  and  stationery;  amounting  in  the  whole  to  about  £35  a 
year. — John  Wilde,  by  will,  dated  in  1735,  devised  to  the  town  of 
Lowestoft  his  dwelling  houses,  fish  houses,  yards,  gardens,  meadow, 
&c.,  in  Lowestoft ;  with  the  reversion  expectant  on  the  decease  of 
Elizabeth  Smithson,  of  all  the  messuages,  lands,  and  hereditaments 
in  Worlingham,  therein  mentioned ;  and  declared  that  the  said  es- 
tate, with  the  rents,  should  be  applied  to  the  use  of  a  schoolmaster, 
to  teach  40  boys  to  write,  read,  and  cast  accounts,  and  also  in  the 
Latin  tongue.  And  he  gave  to  the  minister  of  Lowestoft,  £1  Is.; 
to  the  clerk  of  the  said  parish,  10s.;  and  to  the  sexton,  5s.  per  an- 
num :  the  minister  to  preach  an  annual  sermon,  on  the  23rd  of 
December,  upon  the  text  "  Train  up  a  child,"  &c.  And  in  case  any 
overplus  should  arise,  after  the  payment  of  £40  to  the  schoolmaster, 
and  the  above  annuities,  he  gave  the  same  for  such  charitable  uses 
and  purposes,  as  the  minister  and  churchwardens  of  Lowestoft,  for 
the  time  being,  should  think  proper ;  so  as  such  overplus  should  be 
distributed  every  year.  Under  an  Act  of  Parliament,  passed  in 
1791,  the  estate  at  Worliiigham  was  exchanged  for  a  farm  called 
"  Croatfield,"  situate  in  the  parishes  of  Laxfield,  Dennington,  and 
Badingham. — There  are  several  other  minor  charities  belonging  to 
this  town. 


OULTON. 

In  the  4th  of  King  Richard  II.,  1380,  Sir  William  Molyns,  Knt., 
held  this  manor,  by  the  right  and  inheritance  of  Margery  his  wife, 
of  the  King,  in  free  soccage,  as  of  the  hundred  of  Luddington,  by 
the  service  of  10s.  per  annum ;  and  Richard  was  his  son  and  heir, 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTH1NO.  2/i 

of  the  age  of  26  years  and  upwards.  This  Margery  was  one  of  the 
daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Edmund,  son  of  Sir  Adam  Bacon,  of  this 
parish  ;  and  a  widow  in  the  10th  of  the  ahove  reign. 

This  was  anciently  the  lordship  and  residence  of  a  branch  of  the 
illustrious  family  of  Fastolf,  who  succeeded  the  Bacons  in  the  manor 
and  estate  of  Oulton  High  House.  Weever  mentions  a  John  Fas- 
tolf, Esq.,  who  died  in  1445,  and  Kateren  his  wife,  daughter  of  a 
Bedingfield;  she  deceased  in  1478  :  also  William  Bedingfield,  late 
rector  here,  who  died  in  1503  :  John  Bomsted,  Gent.,  who  died  in 
1479;  and  Ales,  late  wife  of  William  Bomsted ;  also  Wm.  Playters, 
Esq.,  and  Joan  his  wife  ;  which  William  deceased  in  1516.  The 
ahove  were  all  interred  in  this  parish  church.  The  Fastolfs  were 
great  benefactors  to  this  church,  and  probably  built  the  north  tran- 
sept ;  their  arms  appearing  in  many  parts  of  the  roof. 

From  the  Fastolfs  this  lordship  and  advowson  passed  to  the  Ho- 
barts  ;  and  in  the  20th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Sir  Walter,  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  James  Hobart,  Knt.,  settled  them  upon  Henry  Hobart, 
Esq.,  his  son  and  heir;  who  was  owner  thereof  in  1550.  It  after- 
wards became  vested  in  the  Keeve  family ;  of  whom  was  Sir  Edmund 
Reeve,  of  Stratton,  in  Norfolk,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common 
Pleas;  who  deceased  in  1647. 

From  that  family  it  passed  to  Gerard  Van  Heythuson,  Esq.,  and 
his  heirs  ;  and  subsequently  to  the  Anguishes,  who  sold  the  mesne 
manor  to  Lady  Graves,  then  Miss  Susanna  Blacknell,  of  Norman- 
ston ;  but  the  principal  lordship  remains  the  property  of  the  Rev. 
George  Anguish,  of  Somerleyton,  who  has  the  presentation  to  the 
living. 

Christopher,  son  of  John  Reeve,  A.M.,  rector  of  Stratton,  in 
Norfolk,  was  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge :  he  succeeded 
his  father  in  his  rectory,  at  the  restoration ;  and  afterwards  held  the 
living  of  this  parish.  He  deceased  in  1 704. 

ARMS. — Hobart:  sable;  an  estoil,  or,  between  two  flaunches, 
ermine.  Reeve :  azure ;  a  chevron  between  three  pair  of  wings, 
conjoined  and  elevated,  or. 

Mem. — In  1764,  the  half  hundred  of  Mutford  and  Lothingland 
was  incorporated,  by  Act  of  Parliament,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor ; 
and  about  two  years  afterwards,  a  house  of  industry  was  erected  in 
this  parish,  for  their  reception. 


326  HUNDKED  01-   LOTHING. 


SOMERLEYTON,  or  SUMERLEDETUNA. 

In  the  time  of  the  Conqueror  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was  held 
by  William  de  Warren,  Earl  of  Surrey.  It  afterwards  became  the 
possession  of  the  family  of  Fitz  Oshert ;  who  were  Lord  Wardens  of 
Lothingland,  and  held  divers  lordships  in  this  county :  from  whom 
it  passed,  by  marriage,  to  that  of  Jernegan.* 

Sir  Walter  Jernegan,  Knt.,  of  Horham,  and  of  Stonham  Jernegan, 
in  this  county,  married  Isabella,  daughter,  and  at  length  heiress  of 
Sir  Peter  Fitz  Osbert,  of  this  parish.  This  lady  was  the  relict  of 
Sir  Henry  de  Walpole,  Knt.,  and  afterwards  became  co-heir  to  her 
brother,  Roger  Fitz  Osbert ;  who  was  summoned  to. Parliament  in 
the  22nd  of  King  Edward  I.  Sir  Walter  her  husband,  deceased 
before  the  34th  of  that  reign. 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir,  Sir  Peter  Jernegan,  Knt.; 
who,  on  the  death  of  his  mother,  inherited  the  large  possessions  of 
the  Fitz  Osbert  family.  His  maternal  uncle,  Roger  Fitz  Osbert, 
dying  without  issue,  the  inheritance  devolved  to  Isabella,  his  mother, 
and  to  the  issue  of  Alice,  her  sister,  the  wife  of  Sir  John  Noyoun, 
Knt. :  on  a  division  being  made  between  the  two  sisters,  this  estate 
was  settled  upon  Isabella.  Blomefield  says  that  the  above  Sir  John 
de  Noyoun  died  in  the  18th  of  King  Edward  II.,  seized  of  a  moiety 
of  this  manor ;  whose  son,  Sir  John  Noyoun,  Knt.,  deceased  without 
issue,  and  the  issue  of  Isabella  inherited. 

From  this  period  the  manor  descended  through  a  long  line  of  the 
Jernegans,  until  the  reign  of  King  James  I.,  when  Henry  Jerning- 
ham,  Esq.,  of  Costessey,  in  Norfolk,  sold  it  to  John  Wentworth, 
Esq. ;  whose  son,  Sir  John  Wentworth,  Knt ,  succeeded ;  but  dying 
without  issue,  in  1652,  the  estate  descended  to  Ms  nephew,  John 
Garneys,  Esq. ;  and  Thomas  Garneys,  Esq.,  his  son,  sold  it  to  Ad- 
miral Sir  Thomas  Allin,  Bart.,  of  Lowestoft. 

Sir  Thomas  Allin,  Knt.,  born  in  1613,  acquired  the  reputation  of 
a  brave  and  distinguished  naval  officer.  He  served  under  the  Com- 
monwealth, and  commanded  one  of  the  ships  in  that  part  of  the 
fleet  which  revolted  to  the  Prince  of  Wales.  In  1660  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  "Dover;"  amongst  the  earliest  vessels  commissioned 

*  An  excellent  pedigree  of  this  ancient  and  illustrious  house  is  given  in  Mr. 
J.  H.  Druery's  "  Historical  and  Topographical  Notices  of  Great  Yarmouth  ;"  pub- 
lished in  182u'. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING.  327 

by  the  Duke  of  York.  In  1663,  he  was  constituted  Commander  in 
Chief,  as  Commodore  only,  of  the  ships  and  vessels  in  the  Downs ; 
and  invested  on  that  occasion  with  the  singular  privilege  of  bearing 
at  his  main-top  the  Union  flag ;  which  he  hoisted  on  board  the 
"  St.  Andrew."  The  next  year  he  was  Commander  in  Chief  in 
the  Mediterranean,  and  soon  afterwards  achieved  a  victory  over  the 
Dutch  fleet ;  for  which  he  received  the  honour  of  Knighthood,  and 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Admiral  of  the  Blue. 

In  1666,  he  was  advanced  to  the  White;  and  again  distinguished 
himself  as  Commander  of  the  Van,  or  White  squadron,  in  a  decisive 
action  with  the  French  and  Dutch  allied  fleets.  In  consideration  of 
these,  and  subsequently  equally  gallant  exploits,  Admiral  Allin  was 
created  a  Baronet,  on  the  7th  of  June,  1673 ;  and  retired  then  to 
his  seat  in  this  parish.  Sir  Thomas  was,  at  different  periods, 
Comptroller  of  the  Navy,  Captain  of  Sandgate  Castle,  and  Master 
of  the  Trinity  House. 

He  married,  first,  Alice,  daughter  of  W.  Whiting,  Esq.,  of  Low- 
estoft,  Capt.  R.N. :  and  by  her  had  issue,  Thomas,  his  successor ; 
Anne,  who  died  single  ;  and  Alice,  who  married  to  Edmund  An- 
guish, Esq.,  of  Moulton,  in  Norfolk.  Sir  Thomas  wedded,  secondly, 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Anguish,  Esq.,  of  Moulton,  and 
sister  of  his  son-in-law ;  but  had  no  other  issue.  He  deceased  in 
1 688,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 

Sir  Thomas  Allin,  his  only  son,  succeeded ;  who  married,  in  1672, 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Caldwell,  of  London ;  but  dying  without 
issue,  in  1696,  the  Baronetcy  expired,  and  this  estate  devolved  upon 
his  nephew,  Bichard  Anguish,  Esq.,  of  Moulton ;  who  subsequently 
changed  his  name  to  Allin;  and  was  created  a  Baronet  the  14th  of 
December,  1699.  He  married  Frances,  only  daughter  of  Sir  Henry 
Ashurst,  Bart.,  of  Waterstock,  in  the  county  of  Oxford ;  by  whom 
he  had  issue,  Thomas,  his  heir ;  Henry,  who  died  unmarried ;  Ri- 
chard, who  died  unmarried ;  Ashurst,  in  holy  orders,  who  became 
third  Baronet ;  and  a  daughter,  Diana,  who  married  Thomas  Henry 
Ashurst,  Esq.,  of  Waterstock. 

Sir  Richard  died  in  1725,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 
Sir  Thos.  Allin,  Bart.  This  gentleman  was  Sheriff  for  this  county 
in  1730,  and  was  appointed  Serjeant  at  Arms  to  the  Treasury  in 
1733.  He  deceased  unmarried,  in  1764;  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  brother,  the  Rev.  Sir  Ashurst  Allin,  rector  of  Blundeston  cum 
Flixton,  who  died  in  1770 ;  leaving  a  daughter,  Frances,  who  died 


328  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

unmarried  ;  and  a  son  and  heir,  Sir  Thomas  Allin,  Bart.,  who  died 
unmarried,  in  1794;  when  the  Baronetcy  hecame  extinct,  and  So- 
merleyton,  with  his  other  estates,  passed  to  his  nephew,  Thomas 
Anguish,  Esq.  He  died  unmarried,  in  1810;  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother,  the  Rev.  George  Anguish,  A.M.,  Prebendary  of 
Norwich,  now  of  this  parish. 

Somerleyton  Hall  stands  in  a  park,  beautifully  planted ;  a  fine 
grove  of  limes  decorate  it  at  one  end,  and  are  scattered,  with  other 
trees  in  great  variety,  over  the  whole  range  of  this  fine  enclosure. 
Fuller,  amongst  the  many  "fair  houses"  of  the  gentry  in  this  county, 
names  "  Sommerly  Hall  (near  Yarmouth),  belonging  to  the  Lady 
Wentworth,  well  answering  the  name  thereof:  for  here  Sommer  is 
to  be  seen  in  the  depth  of  winter,  in  the  pleasant  walks,  beset  on 
both  sides  with  fir  trees,  green  all  the  year  long ;  besides  other 
curiosities." 

The  Hall,  which  was  built  by  the  last  Sir  John  Jernegan,  who 
was  living  in  1579,  is  a  fine  old  mansion,  exhibiting  a  good  speci- 
men of  the  style  of  architecture  used  at  the  period  of  its  erection ; 
and  conveying  a  just  idea  of  the  knightly  residences  of  our  ances- 
tors. Several  engravings  of  it  are  extant. 

ARMS. — Jernegan:  argent;  three  arming  buckles,  gules.  Went- 
worth :  sable  ;  a  chevron  between  three  leopards'  faces,  or.  Allin : 
gules ;  a  cinquefoil  pierced,  or.  Crest :  a  snake  coiled,  encircled 
with  grass.  Anguish:  the  same. 

CHARITIES. — Apiece  of  marsh  land,  containing  HA.  IR.  27p., 
was  alloted,  on  the  inclosure,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  fuel  for 
the  poor.  The  present  rent  is  £33  5s.  a  year :  and  a  further  rent 
of  £2  10s.  a  year,  is  paid  for  the  use  of  a  ditch  belonging  to  the 
marsh  land.  This  land  is  usually  let  in  different  parcels,  by  auction, 
every  seven  years,  to  the  highest  bidders.  The  income  is  expended 
in  coals,  which  are  distributed  among  the  poor,  in  winter. 


Is  a  small  hamlet  belonging  to  the  parish  of  Belton.  The  Hall, 
sometimes  called  Browston  White  House,  was  formerly  the  seat  of 
the  families  of  Symonds  and  Le  Grys ;  and  is  at  present  the  estate 
of  John  Parson,  Esq. 


HUNDRED  OF  LOTIIING. 


BROTHERTON 
Is  a  hamlet  of  Hopton.     (See  that  parish,  in  this  hundred.) 


NORMANSTON 

Is  a  small  hamlet  of  Lowestoft,  and  adjoins  the  village  of  Oulton ; 
in  which  is  the  seat  of  the  late  Rev.  Michael  Maurice ;  now  the 
residence  of  I.  P.  Plowman,  Esq. 


Is  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Great  Yarmouth,  but  a  hamlet  only,  of 
the  parish  of  Gorleston  ;  to  which  the  inhabitants  are  parochially 
assessed.  It  appears  to  have  been  formerly  of  greater  importance, 
and  divided  into  two  parts,  South-town  and  West-town ;  by  which 
names  it  is  described  in  the  documents  relating  to  certain  disputes 
with  the  burgesses  of  Yarmouth.  After  the  termination  of  these 
disputes,  and  it  was  placed  within  the  liberties  of  the  borough,  trade 
failed,  and  the  place  gradually  decayed.  Between  thirty  and  forty 
years  since,  it  was  very  small  and  inconsiderable  ;  until  the  mer- 
chants of  Yarmouth,  retiring  from  that  town,  began  to  erect  houses; 
when  it  again  emerged  from  obscurity. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  William  Woderove,  and  Margaret 
his  wife,  founded  a  Priory  in  this  hamlet,  of  Austin  Friars  (or  Friars 
Cremites).  In  1310,  these  Friars  obtained  a  patent  to  enlarge 
their  precinct ;  which,  from  the  remains,  evidently  extended  into 
the  parish  of  Gorleston. 

A  composition  was  afterwards  entered  into,  between  the  Pro- 
vincial of  the  Friars  Cremites,  of  the  order  of  St.  Austin,  in  Eng- 
land and  Scotland,  and  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St.  Bartholomew, 
in  London,  proprietors  of  the  church  of  St.  Andrew,  in  Gorleston, 
and  St.  Nicholas,  in  Little  Yarmouth ;  respecting  a  house  and  ora- 
tory, in  these  parishes.  In  1 544,  it  was  granted  to  John  Eyre : 
the  ancient  site  now  belongs  to  sundry  persons. 


330  HUNDRED  OF  LOTHING. 

An  ancient  cross,  similar  to  one  found  at  Little  Carbrook,  in 
Norfolk,  and  described,  with  a  figure,  by  Blomefield,  in  his  history 
of  that  county,  was  found  buried  among  the  ruins  of  this  Monastery, 
in  good  preservation.  It  was  formed  of  lignum  vitse ;  and  was  pro- 
bably interred  with  some  religious  person,  belonging  to  this  Convent. 

The  road  from  Yarmouth  through  this  hamlet  is  accounted  one 
of  the  best  in  the  kingdom :  ornamented  on  the  west  side  by  a  line 
of  very  handsome  houses,  extending  from  Yarmouth  Bridge  more 
than  half  a  mile  to  the  south.  The  bank  of  the  river  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  road,  is  occupied  by  docks,  timber  wharfs,  and  ship- 
yards. The  Koyal  Arsenal,  erected  in  1806,  by  Wyatt,  at  the  cost 
of  about  £15,000,  is  situate  in  this  hamlet;  and  during  the  late 
war,  about  10,000  stand  of  arms  were  deposited  therein ;  which, 
upon  the  peace  establishment,  were  removed  to  the  Tower  of 
London. 


<f 


WANNEFORDA,  or  WAINEFORDA. 


This  Hundred  is  divided  from  Norfolk  on  the  North,  by  the 
Waveney ;  on  the  South,  it  is  bounded  by  the  Hundred  of  Ely  th- 
ing ;  on  the  East,  by  that  and  Mutford ;  and  on  the  West,  by 
Hoocne  Hundred.  It  contains  two  Market- towns,  Beccles  and 
Bungay  ;  and  the  following  Parishes  :— 

ALL- SAINTS,  SOUTH  ELMHAM, 

FLIXTON, 
BANCROFT,  or  ST.  GEORGE,  SOUTH  ELMHAM, 

HOMERSFIELD,  Or  ST.  MARY,  DITTO, 

ST.  JAMES,  ST.  MARGARET,  ST.  MICHAEL,  ST.  NICHOLAS,  and 

ST.  PETER,  DITTO. 

The  above  Parishes  are  represented  in  old  deeds  as  one  Town- 
ship, and  called  "  The  Deanery  of  South  Elmham" 

ST.  ANDREW,  ILKETSHAL, 

BUNGAY  ST.  MARY,  and  BUNGAY  TRINITY, 

ST.  JOHN,  ST.  LAWRENCE,  ST.  MARGARET,  ILKETSHAL,  and 

METTINGHAM, 

are  commonly  termed  "  The  Seven  Parishes  of  Ilketshals."    The 
remaining  Parishes  about  Beccles  are  as  follows  : — 


BARSHAM, 
BECCLES, 
ELLOUGH,  or  WILLINGHAM 

ALL  SAINTS, 
ENDGATE, 
HULVERSTREET, 
NORTH-COVE, 


EEDISHAM  MAGNA, 

ElNGSFIELD, 

SATTERLEY, 
SHADDINGFIELD, 
SHIPMEADOW, 
WESTON, 
WILLINGHAM  ST.  MARY, 


And  WORLINGHAM. 

The  fee  of  this  Hundred  was  in  the  Crown,  in  the  time  of 
Edward  I. ;  which  that  King  granted,  with  other  estates,  to  the 
value  of  £400  per  annum,  to  John  de  Clavering,  for  life  ;  in 
consideration  of  the  settlement  made  by  the  said  John,  upon  the 
said  King,  of  his  Castle  and  Manor  of  Warkworth,  and  divers 
other  lordships  ;  which  at  his  death  returned  to  the  Crown,  and 
so  continues. 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 


ALL  SAINTS,  SOUTH  ELMHAM. 

This  and  the  eight  following  parishes,  constitute  what  is  termed 
the  township  (or  deanery)  of  South  Elmham.  The  manor  extended 
over  the  nine  parishes,  and  anciently  belonged  to  the  Barony  of  the 
See  of  Norwich ;  from  which  it  was  taken  by  the  Act  of  the  27th  of 
King  Henry  VIII.,  1535 ;  and  vested  in  the  King,  his  heirs,  and 
successors. 

Amongst  the  demesnes  thus  taken  from  the  ancient  revenues  of 
the  See,  are  described,  the  Palace,  Park,  and  Manor,  of  South 
Elmham,  and  the  advowson  of  St.  Nicholas  (a  sinecure  rectory, 
consolidated  with  All  Saints) ;  the  rectories  of  St.  Margaret,  All 
Saints,  St.  James,  St.  Michael,  St.  Peter,  St.  Cross,  and  Homers- 
field  ;  and  the  appendant  vicarage  of  Flixton ;  together  with  two 
Knights'  fees,  late  of  Charles,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  parcel  of  the  manor. 

The  Bishops  of  Norwich  had  a  Palace  here  from  a  very  early 
period ;  and  so,  in  all  probability,  had  the  Bishops  of  Dunwich, 
before  them  :  Felix,  the  first  East  Anglian  Bishop,  having  given 
his  name  to  Flixton.  It  is  certain  that  a  Palace  was  built  in  South 
Elmham  by  Bishop  Herbert  (who  removed  the  Sea  to  Norwich,  in 
1094);  of  which  the  old  moated  ruin  in  St.  Margaret's  parish  may 
be  the  remains.  The  existing  mansion,  now  called  St.  Margaret's 
Hall,  was  erected  by  some  later  Bishop. 

Eoger  de  Skerning,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  died  at  his  manor  of 
South  Elmham,  in  Suffolk,  on  St.  Vincent's  day,  Jan.  22,  1278 ; 
and  was  buried  at  Norwich.  It  is  believed  that  Bishop  Bateman 
resided  here  much.  The  descendants  of  Sir  Bartholomew  Bateman, 
the  Prelate's  eldest  brother  and  heir,  were  long  resident  at  Flixton, 
and  owners  of  estates  in  the  parishes.  William  Adair,  Esq.,  is  now 
sole  proprietor  of  this  lordship. 

The  Throkmerton  family  appears  to  have  been  somewhat  in- 
terested here.  Simon,  second  son  of  John  Throkmerton,  of  this 
parish,  deceased  in  1527,  and  was  interred  at  Earsham,  in  Norfolk. 


334  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

CHARITIES. — The  estate  belonging  to,  or  held  in  trust,  for  the 
parishes  in  this  township,  or  district,  have  during  a  long  period, 
been  vested  in  trustees ;  that  the  rents  and  profits  should  be  applied 
for  payment  of  the  leet  fee,  or  common  fine  of  the  leet  of  the  town 
of  South  Elmham ;  and  for  mending  and  repairing  the  King's 
highways,  and  other  common  ways,  within  the  town  and  parish  of 
South  Elmham,  where  it  should  seem  necessary  to  the  trustees ;  and 
for  other  pious  deeds,  to  be  done  and  charged  within  the  town  and 
parish  of  South  Elmham,  where  it  should  seem  best  to  the  trustees, 
or  any  three  or  more  of  them.  The  estate  consists  of  a  messuage, 
with  a  barn  and  outbuildings,  and  27  acres  of  land,  in  the  parishes 
of  Aldburgh  and  Wortwell,  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  let  at  ,£40  a 
year;  and  three  pieces  of  land,  containing  together  about  18  acres, 
in  the  parishes  of  St.  Margaret  and  Flixton,  let  at  the  rent  of  £20 
per  annum.  There  are  four  reeves  chosen  by  the  trustees,  who  re- 
ceive the  rents ;  which  are  applied,  after  payment  of  quit-rent,  and 
land  tax,  in  the  payment  of  the  leet  fee  of  £2  a  year,  to  the  lord  of 
the  manor  of  South  Elmham  (which  comprises  the  nine  parishes) ; 
and  in  repairs  of  the  highways,  bridges,  and  foot-paths,  within  the 
principal  parishes  (being  all  the  nine,  except  Homersfield  and  Flix- 
ton) ;  certain  portions  of  the  rent  being  applied  to  each  parish,  at 
the  discretion  of  the  trustees :  and  a  portion  of  the  rent,  which 
since  the  year  1814,  has  been  £ll  11s.  a  year,  is  also  set  apart  for 
the  poor  of  the  nine  parishes  ;  and  is  distributed,  a  certain  portion 
in  each  parish,  among  poor  persons. — There  are,  in  the  parishes  of 
All  Saints  and  St.  Nicholas,  two  cottages  and  a  piece  of  land,  con- 
taining IA.  %R.,  which  are  let  by  the  churchwardens,  at  rents 
amounting  together  to  £9  11s.  6d.  a  year;  which  sum  is  applied 
towards  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the  payment  of  other 
disbursements  of  the  churchwardens'  office,  agreeable  to  long  usage. 
The  church  of  the  latter  parish  has  been  entirely  demolished  for 
many  ages. 


FLIXTON. — FLIXTUNA  ;  or  ST.  MARY,  SOUTH  ELMHAM. 

In  or  about  1258,  Margery,  daughter  of  Jeffrey  de  Anos  (not 
Hautvile),  lord  of  Hillington,  in  Norfolk  (from  whom  she  derived 
the  lordship  of  this  parish,  and  Helmingham),  and  relict  of  Bartho- 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  335 

lomew  de  Creke,  founded  an  Austin  Nunnery,  of  the  order  of  Fon- 
tebrault,  in  Flixton.  Her  first  husband  was  Reginald  le  Clerk. 
In  the  43rd  of  King  Henry  III.,  she  levied  a  fine  of  the  advowson 
of  this  parish  church,  to  Alienora,  the  Prioress ;  and  the  Convent 
afterwards  always  presented  to  the  vicarage.  She  also  gave  the 
rectory  of  the  church  of  Shipmeadow  ;  with  divers  lands  and  rents 
in  Flixton,  North  Creake,  and  other  places. 

In  1280,  she  granted  the  patronage  of  the  Priory  to  the  Bishop 
of  Norwich.  Wm.  Bateman,  Bishop  of  that  diocese,  and  founder 
of  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge,  was  a  benefactor  to  this  house ;  and 
drew  up  statutes  for  its  governance.  The  manor  of  Faucons,  and 
lands  in  Stuston,  Brome,  &c.,  were  granted  to  this  Priory  in  the 
45th  of  King  Edward  III. ;  and  a  water  mill  here  was  annexed, 
valued  in  1534,  at  £1  13s.  4d.  per  annum  ;  and  a  mill  in  Combes, 
valued  at  20s.  per  annum. 

In  the  17th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Beatric,  the  Prioress,  conveyed 
by  fine,  her  right  in  the  churches  of  North  Creake,  in  Norfolk,  and 
Combes,  in  Suffolk,  to  Eoger  Fitz  Peter  Fitz  Osbert,  and  Sarah 
his  wife,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Margery,  and  heiress  of  the 
Creke  family ;  in  consideration  of  a  grant  by  them  of  the  manor  of 
Flixton,  with  the  moiety  of  the  church,  and  the  advowsons  of  the 
churches  of  Fundenhall  and  Denston,  and  lands  in  Wilby,  in 
Suffolk,  and  North  Creake  :  and  in  the  14th  of  the  following  reign, 
John,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  granted  his  moiety  of  the  advowson  of 
the  church  of  Flixton,  in  exchange  for  that  of  Helmingham  ;  and 
the  whole  rectory  was  then  appropriated  to  the  Prioress. 

The  foundress  limited  the  number  to  eighteen  nuns  and  a  Prio- 
ress ;  but  it  never  reached  that  number :  at  the  dissolution  there 
appears  to  have  been  not  more  than  six  or  seven  nuns.  It  was  de- 
dicated to  the  honour  of  St.  Mary  and  St:  Catherine ;  and  the  gross 
value,  in  "  Liber  Valorem,"  in  1534,  was  £40  15s.  0£d.  It  was 
suppressed,  by  the  bull  of  Pope  Clement  VII.,  in  1528. 

In  1544,  John  Tasburgh,  Esq.,  obtained  a  grant  of  this  Monas- 
tery ;  and  William  Adair,  Esq.,  is  the  present  proprietor  of  the 
site,  lord  of  the  manor,  and  patron  of  the  vicarage.  Some  slight 
remains  of  this  nunnery  are  yet  visible. 

The  family  of  Bateman  became  early  interested  here.  Sir  Bar- 
tholomew, of  this  parish,  Knt.,  was  eldest  son  of  William  Bateman, 
of  Norwich,  and  Margery  his  wife,  and  heir  to  his  brother,  the 
Bishop,  as  well  as  his  father.  From  him  the  Batemans,  of  Mend- 


330  HUNDRED  OF  WANG  FORD. 

ham,  in  this  county,  are  descended  in  a  direct  line ;  that  family 
having  been  seated  there,  and  in  this  parish,  ever  since  the  Bishop's 
time.  Sir  Bartholomew  was  a  benefactor  to  this  nunnery,  and  was 
buried  here.  The  Bishop,  his  brother,  resided  much  at  his  Palace, 
in  South  Elmham  ;  and  purchased  largely  in  that  township,  and  its 
vicinity. 

The  Tasburgh  family  erected  a  good  seat  in  this  parish,  plea- 
santly situated  near  the  river  Waveney,  and  not  far  distant  from 
the  site  of  the  Abbey.  It  was  built  about  1615,  by  Sir  John  Tas- 
burgh, and  is  a  noble  structure :  it  was  originally  surrounded  by  a 
moat,  which  has  been  filled  up  for  some  years.  The  style  of  the 
architecture  is  what  has  been  denominated  Inigo  Jones's  Gothic.* 

This  mansion  and  estate  subsequently  became,  by  purchase,  the 
inheritance  of  William  Adair,  Esq. ;  and  descended  to  his  son, 
Alexander,  for  many  years  an  eminent  Army  Agent,  conducting  a 
very  extensive  business;  who  deceased  in  1834,  aged  95  years. 
He  was  succeeded  at  Flixton  Hall,  by  William  Adair,  Esq.,  the 
present  proprietor  ;  whose  eldest  son  and  heir,  Robert  Shafto,  was 
created  a  Baronet  in  1838,  and  resides  there. 

ARMS. — Flixton  Nunnery :  azure  ;  a  St.  Catherine's  wheel, 
with  a  Calvary  cross  projecting  from  its  chief,  argent.  Bateman : 
sable ;  three  crescents,  ermine,  in  a  bordure  engrailed,  argent. 
Adair :  party  per  bend,  or  and  azure ;  three  hands,  couped  at  the 
wrist,  gules.  Crest :  a  Saracen's  head,  couped,  affrontee,  proper. 
Tasburgh :  argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  pilgrims'  staffs,  on 
each  suspended  a  pouch,  sable,  garnished,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here  consists  of  a  house,  and  about 
six  acres  of  land  in  Mendham,  let  at  £18  a  year :  two  closes  in  this 
parish,  containing  together  about  4  acres,  rent  £4  a  year ;  and  two 
pieces  of  land  in  the  same  parish,  the  precise  situation  and  extent 
of  which  is  unknown  :  for  one  of  them  the  sum  of  £1  10s.  a  year 
is  paid,  by  Mr.  James  Dalliston;  and  for  the  other,  10s.  a  year,  by 
Mr.  John  Gower.  The  rents,  after  deducting  for  outgoings  and 
repairs,  are  applied  in  the  payment  of  different  expenses  of  the 
churchwardens'  office,  and  other  public  charges. — William  Adair, 
Esq.,  by  his  will,  dated  in  or  about  the  year  1782,  bequeathed 
£300,  three  per  cent,  consols,  upon  trust ;  the  annual  dividends 
thereof  to  be  paid  to  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  labouring  and  in- 
dustrious poor  of  the  parishes  of  Flixton,  Homersfield,  and  St. 
*  A  view  of  this  building  is  given  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities." 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  837 

Cross,  in  the  counties  of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk ;  and  he  gave  to  his 
nephew,  Alexander  Adair,  Esq.,  the  sum  of  £700,  and  also  as  much 
money  as  should  he  found  in  his  charity  bag  at  the  time  of  his 
death ;  and  he  desired  that  the  same  should  he  by  him  laid  out  at 
interest,  and  that  the  annual  produce  should  be,  by  him,  or  the 
owners  of  the  testator's  estate  at  Flixton,  for  the  time  being,  an- 
nually given  to  such  poor  distressed  objects  of  compassion  as  he  or 
they  should  think  proper.  The  dividends  of  the  £300  are  regularly 
laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  coals  ;  which  are  given  to  poor  persons 
of  the  places  named  in  the  will.  The  sum  of  £700,  and  of  £320 
1 3s.  7d.,  which  was  found  in  the  testator's  charity  bag  at  the  time 
of  his  decease,  were  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  new  South  Sea 
Annuities;  and  the  dividends  thereof,  £51  2s.  8d.  a  year,  are  ap- 
plied in  gratuities,  to  proper  objects  of  charity,  the  purchase  of 
coals,  which  are  sold  to  the  poor  at  reduced  prices,  and  payments 
lor  the  support  of  schools. 


SANCROFT,  or  ST.  GEORGE,  SOUTH  ELMHAM. 

St.  Cross,  corrupted  into  Sancroft,  from  the  family  of  that  name, 
who,  at  a  very  early  period,  held  lands  in  South  Elmham. 

Thomas,  a  descendant  of  Sir  Bartholomew  Bateman,  of  the  parish 
of  Flixton,  Knt.,  appears  to  have  had  his  residence  in  this  parish. 
By  his  will,  dated  April  8,  1485,  he  gives  legacies  to  William  and 
Richard,  his  sons  ;  ahd  to  Elizabeth  and  Olive,  his  daughters :  to 
Robert,  his  son  and  heir,  his  manors  of  Newhall  and  Sancroft,  with 
the  advowson  of  Sancroft  St.  George's  church,  together  with  the 
manor  of  Gillingham,  in  Norfolk.  He  ordered  a  tomb  of  free- 
stone to  be  placed  over  his  remains,  with  those  of  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  in  Flixton  church. 


HOMERSFIELD,  or  ST.  MARY,  SOUTH  ELMHAM,  or  ELMEHAM. 

In  1175,  John  de  Oxford,  a  great  favourite  with  King  Henry  II., 
and  one  of  his  Chaplains,  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Norwich; 
sometimes  called  John  the  1st.,  being  the  first  Bishop  in  this  dio- 


338  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

cese  of  that  name.  He  confirmed  by  deed,  6 £  acres  of  land  in  this 
parish,  to  Kobert  de  Sandcroft,  ancestor  to  the  late  Archbishop  of 
that  name  ;  which  Robert  Husebond,  the  Bishop's  man,  or  tenant, 
gave  him :  and  3  J  acres,  which  Gervase,  son  of  Robert  Husebond, 
sold  to  the  said  Robert  de  Sandcroft,  for  4s. ;  and  released  and  ab- 
jured the  same,  in  the  Bishop's  own  chamber,  at  Homersfield  :*  to 
be  held  by  the  rent  of  1 6d.  a  year,  to  the  Bishop's  manor  of  the  said 
parish,  and  5d.  to  every  aid  (or  tax)  laid  on  that  town. 

In  the  2nd  of  King  Henry  III.,  a  market  and  a  fair  were  granted 
here,  to  Pandulf  Masca,  Bishop  of  Norwich  ;  an  Italian,  by  birth. 
The  Benedictine  nuns  of  Bungay,  held  the  manor  of  Lymborne,  in 
Homersfield ;  which,  at  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  was  granted 
to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  subsequently  to  John  and  Thos. 
Wright ;  but  was  restored  to  the  Norfolk  family,  with  their  other 
possessions,  by  Queen  Mary.  It  came  to  Sir  Bassingbourne  Gawdy 
from  the  Berdewells,  through  his  wife,  Anne  Wootton,  the  heiress 
of  that  family.  He  was  succeeded  by  Bassingbourne  Gawdy,  Esq., 
his  son.  At  present  but  little  is  known  of  this  manor.  There  are 
certain  freehold  lands,  called  "  Limber  Lands,"  and  "  Limber  Mill," 
in  this  parish ;  which  were  purchased,  with  the  Downs  farm,  by 
Alexander  Adair,  Esq.,  of  Flixton  Hall. 

Witlingham  cum  Walkeline's  manor,  after  passing  a  long  time 
with  that  of  Rokele's,  in  Trowse,  became  joined  to  a  manor  in 
Kirby  Bedon,  and  after,  to  Wadker's,  in  Windham  ;  when  the  style 
thereof  was  Witlingham  (alias  Wicklingham),  Wadker's  in  Wind- 
ham,  and  Kirby  Bedon,  where  the  court  was  held ;  being  in  the 
same  lord,  and  held  as  one  court. 

This  manor  extended  into  Homersfield ;  and  was  held  by  the 
Hares,  who  were  seated  here  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VII.,  and 
claim  to  be  a  scion  of  the  house  of  Harecourt  (or  Harcourt),  in 
Lorrain,  who  were  Counts  of  Normandy.  Hugh  Hare,  of  this 
parish,  was  succeeded  by  Nicholas,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  Thomas  de  Watlingham,  Knt.  His  descendant,  Nicholas 
Hare,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  was  father  of  John,  and  Thomas  Hare, 
LL.D.,  Chancellor  of  Norwich,  and  rector  of  Massingham  Magna, 
in  Norfolk,  in  1506. 

John  Hare,  Esq.,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of Fortescue, 

Esq.,  and  had  issue  two  sons,  namely :  Sir  Nicholas,  who  was  twice 

*  The  Bishop's  manor  of  South  Elmham,  is  sometime!  called  the  manor  of  Ho- 
mersfield ;  of  which  the  above  is  an  instance. 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  339 

chosen  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII.,  and  was  Master  of  Requests,  and  Chief  Justice  of  Chester. 
He  was  sworn  of  the  Privy  Council,  Master  of  the  Rolls,  and  af- 
terwards Lord  Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal,  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Mary.  Sir  Nicholas  was  of  Bruisyard,  in  this  county ;  and  married 
Catherine,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  Bassingborne,  Knt. : 
his  sons  deceased  without  issue,  and  the  issue  of  his  hrother  John, 
who  resided  at  Stow  Bardolph,  in  Norfolk,  inherited.  Sir  Nicholas 
and  John  Hare,  Esq.,  were  both  born  in  this  parish. 

Walter  de  Suffield  (alias  Calthorpe),  Bishop  of  Norwich,  gave 
the  third  part  of  the  tithe  of  his  demesne  in  this  parish,  to  the 
Norman's  Spital  (or  St.  Paul's  Hospital),  in  Norwich. 

Robert  Downes,  A.M.,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  Stanstead  St. 
James,  in  this  county,  was  installed  fourth  Prebend  of  the  Cathe- 
dral Church  of  Norwich,  February  8,  1576. 

ARMS. — Hare:  gules;  two  bars  and  a  chief,  indented,  or. 

CHARITIES. — At  a  court  held  the  5th  December,  1781,  Alexander 
Adair,  Esq.,  and  others,  were  admitted  tenants,  in  trust,  for  this 
parish,  to  2£  acres  of  copyhold  land,  of  South  Elmham  manor, 
called  "  Sumbells,"  or  "  Westbroke,"  in  St.  Cross  ;  in  order  that 
the  trusts  of  the  will  of  Sir  Nicholas  Hare  might  be  performed 
according  to  the  intent  thereof.  The  land  is  let  at  £2  10s.  a  year; 
which  is  distributed  among  widows,  and  other  poor  persons,  at 
Christmas,  in  conformity  with  ancient  usage. 


ST.  JAMES,  SOUTH  ELMHAM. 


ST.  MARGARET,  SOUTH  ELMHAM. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here  is  partly  freehold  and  partly 
copyhold ;  and  comprises  a  house,  and  about  50  acres  of  land,  in 
the  parishes  of  St.  Margaret,  St.  George,  and  Homersfield.  It 
was  found  on  inquisition,  and  decreed  under  a  commission  of  cha- 
ritable uses,  dated  23rd  August,  6th  of  King  James  I.,  that  the 
yearly  rents  of  the  premises  should  be  applied  in  discharging  the 
fifteenths,  tenths,  taxes,  and  other  common  charges  of  the  parish- 


340  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

ioners ;  as  by  the  feoffees,  or  the  greater  number  of  them,  should 
be  thought  necessary  and  convenient.  The  estate  lets  at  £65  a 
year ;  which  is  applied  in  disbursement  of  the  charges  attendant  on 
the  churchwardens'  office,  and  the  surplus  is  paid  to  the  overseers 
of  the  poor,  and  carried  to  their  general  account. — In  this  parish  is 
also  a  cottage,  with  a  small  piece  of  ground  adjoining,  which 
is  understood  to  have  been,  by  some  means,  appropriated  to  the 
repairing  the  highways,  foot-paths,  and  church-paths,  in  the  parish. 
This  lets  at  £l  10s.  a  year;  and  is  applied  with  that  of  the  town 
estate. 


ST.  MICHAEL,  SOUTH  ELMHAM. 

This  church  early  became  impropriated  to  the  Cell  and  Priory  at 
Eumburgh,  in  Blithing  hundred ;  probably  by  the  grant  of  Stephen, 
Earl  of  Bretaigne  and  Richmond,  who  held  here  in  the  reign  of 
King  Henry  I. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land  in  this  parish,  reputed  to  contain 
SA.|  IR.,  or  thereabouts,  has  been  appropriated,  from  ancient  time, 
to  the  public  use  of  the  inhabitants.  This  land  lies  intermixed  with 
the  property  of  William  Adair,  Esq.,  and  its  precise  boundaries  are 
unknown.  The  rent  lately  received  has  been  £3  5s.  a  year ;  and 
it  is  added  to,  and  applied  with  the  money  raised  by  rate,  for  the 
church  and  poor. 


ST.  NICHOLAS,  SOUTH  ELMHAM. 
The  parish  church  has  been  an  entire  ruin  for  many  ages. 


ST.  PETER,  SOUTH  ELMHAM,  or  ELMEHAM. 

CHARITIES. — An  annual  payment  is  made  to  the  churchwardens 
of  this  parish,  by  the  trustees  of  Henry  Smith's  charity,  out  of  that 
part  of  the  estate  which  is  situate  at  Tolleshunt  Darcy,  in  Essex. 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  34 1 

An  account  is  rendered  to  the  trustees,  by  the  churchwardens,  of 
the  application  of  the  money  received  by  them  (generally  between 
£6  and  £lQ  a  year) ;  which  is  distributed  among  poor  persons. 


BUNGAY  ST.  MARY,  and  BUNGAY  TRINITY.— BONGEIA, 

BUNGHEA,  Or  BONNAGAIE. 

This  town  stood  on  an  island  by  the  river  Waveney,  anciently 
called  "  Le  Bon  Eye,"  or  "  The  Good  Island."  It  was  a  borough, 
and  the  lordship  of  it  belonged  to  the  family  of  the  Bigods,  Earls 
of  Norfolk ;  one  or  more  of  whom  erected  a  Castle  here  :  which, 
during  the  intestine  commotions  in  the  turbulent  reign  of  King 
Stephen,  was  so  strongly  fortified  by  Hugh  Bigod,  and  stood  in 
such  an  advantageous  situation,  as  to  have  been  deemed  impreg- 
nable. 

On  the  accession  of  King  Henry  II.,  this  nobleman,  however, 
who  had  invariably  espoused  the  cause  of  Stephen,  was  obliged  to 
give  a  large  sum  of  money,  with  sufficient  hostages,  to  save  this 
Castle  from  destruction.  He  afterwards  joined  in  the  rebellion  of 
Henry's  eldest  son,  against  his  father,  and  was  deprived  by  the 
King,  of  this  Castle,  as  well  as  that  of  Framlingham :  but  they 
were  both  restored,  with  his  other  estates  and  honours,  to  his  son 
and  heir ;  whose  posterity  held  them  for  several  generations.  Hugh 
Bigod  deceased  in  1225. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Henry  III.,  this  Castle  was  demolished ; 
and  in  the  10th  of  Edward  I.,  Roger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  ob- 
tained license  to  embattle  his  house,  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
ancient  Castle.  He  endowed  Alice,  his  second  wife,  daughter  of 
John  de  Avanne,  Eurl  of  Henault,  with  this  manor ;  and  having 
no  children,  settled  all  his  castles,  towns,  manors,  and  possessions, 
on  King  Edward  and  his  heirs.  The  Earl  deceased  in  1305. 

The  castle,  borough,  and  lordship  of  this  town,  are  supposed  to 
have  been  given  by  that  Monarch,  to  his  fifth  son,  Thomas  de 
Brotherton,  Earl  of  Norfolk;  and  to  have  been  carried,  by  the 
marriage  of  his  daughter  and  co-heiress,  into  the  family  of  the 
Uffords.  Alice,  sister,  and  co-heir  with  Margaret,  daughter  of  the 
said  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  by  Alice  his  first  wife,  daughter  of  Sir 
Roger  Halys,  of  Harwich,  Knt,  married  Sir  Edmund  de  Monta- 


342  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

cute  (or  Montague) ;  whose  daughter  and  heiress,  Joan,  was  born 
at  Bungay,  on  Candlemas  day,  1348  :  she  was  wife  to  "William  de 
Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk. 

In  the  2nd  of  King  Edward  III.,  Bardolf's  manor,  in  Bungay 
Trinity,  and  ILketsal  St.  Lawrence,  with  that  of  Clopton,  was  ob- 
tained by  Elizabeth  de  Burgh,  the  relict  of  Koger  de  Amorie,  for 
herself,  for  life ;  the  remainder  to  John,  Lord  Bardolf,  and  Eliza- 
beth his  wife  (who  was  her  daughter  by  the  said  Roger)  ;  in  ex- 
change for  the  manors  of  Kennington  and  Frankshall,  in  Surry. 
Sir  William  Windham  Calling,  Bart.,  of  Earsham  Hall,  in  Norfolk, 
is  the  present  owner  of  this  manor. 

Bungay  contains  two  parish  churches,  St.  Mary  and  the  Holy 
Trinity  ;  besides  which  there  was  formerly  a  third,  dedicated  to  St. 
Thomas,  which  has  been  long  since  demolished.  St.  Mary's  is  a 
stately  structure  ;  and  with  its  beautiful  steeple,  containing  a  peal 
of  eight  bells,  is  a  great  ornament  to  the  town.  The  market-place 
formerly  contained  two  market  crosses :  the  Corn  Cross*  has  been 
taken  down  since  1810. 

The  remains  of  the  Convent  of  St.  Cross  are  seen  between  the 
present  churches.  It  was  of  the  Benedictine  order,  and  founded  by 
Eoger  de  Glanville,  and  the  Countess  Gundreda  his  wife,  about  the 
year  1160;  who  endowed  it  with  lands,  benefices,  and  revenues, 
which  were  increased  by  several  benefactions,  at  various  periods ; 
and  the  whole  endowments  were  confirmed  to  the  Prioress  and 
sisters,  by  King  Henry  III. 

It  was  dedicated  to  the  honour  of  God,  of  the  blessed  Virgin 
Mary,  and  of  the  Holy  Cross  ;  and  the  gross  value  in  "  Valor  Ec- 
clesiasticus,"  is  £72  19s.  3d.  John  de  Bedingfield,  Prior  of  Aldeby, 
in  Norfolk,  was  appointed  by  the  Prior  of  Norwich,  in  1355,  to  take 
the  confessions,  to  absolve,  and  to  enjoin  the  penances,  of  the  Prio- 
ress and  nuns  of  this  Priory. 

In  the  1st  of  King  Henry  IV.,  Thomas  de  Mowbray,  Duke  of 
Suffolk,  held  on  the  day  of  his  decease,  as  of  fee,  of  our  Sovereign 
Lord,  Richard  II.,  late  King  of  England,  the  advowson  of  the 
Priory  of  Bungay.  There  were  certain  rents  of  salt,  at  Tyrington, 
in  Norfolk,  payable  by  divers  persons  there,  who  held  of  the  fee  of 
Sir  William  de  Tyrington,  to  the  Prioress  of  St.  Cross,  in  this  town, 

*  A  representation  of  this  Cross  has  been  engraved  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Maga- 
zine," for  1810,  parti.,  p.  425;  with  several  town  Tokens,  and  the  Seal  of  the 
Convent  of  St.  Cross. 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  343 

namely :   of  Walter  de  Marham,  for  one  messuage,  three  acres  and 
a  half,  in  his  croft,  two  combs  of  salt,  &c. 

The  sum  of  12s.  4d.  was  annually  expended  in  this  Monastery  in 
alms  to  the  poor,  on  the  anniversary  of  Gundreda,  Countess  of 
Norfolk,  who  was  considered  the  foundress ;  and  also  for  wax  lights 
to  burn  about  her  tomb,  on  the  same  day.  In  the  time  of  King 
Edward  I.,  here  was  a  Prioress,  and  fifteen  sisters  :  Cecilia  Fastolf, 
the  Prioress,  and  eleven  nuns,  at  the  dissolution ;  when  it  was 
granted  to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  A.D.  1537.  The  present 
possessor  is  Wolfran  Lewis,  Esq.,  and  others.* 

Thomas  de  Bungeia  (or  Bungeye),  who  died  about  1290,  was  a 
native  of  this  town  ;  and  being  educated  amongst  the  Franciscan 
friars,  at  Norwich,  was  sent  to  Oxford,  and  there  admitted  Doctor 
of  Divinity ;  after  which  he  became  Professor  of  Theology  at  that 
University ;  being  well  qualified  for  that  high  employment.  He 
was  an  eminent  mathematician,  and  so  well  skilled  in  the  secrets  of 
nature  and  art,  that  he  was  considered  by  many  as  a  conjuror  and 
wizard.  He  succeeded  John  Bungeye,  D.D.,  who  appears  to  have 
been  his  brother,  as  Minister  Provincial  of  England ;  and  published 
a  work  on  Natural  Magic,  and  some  other  things. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bonhote,  authoress  of  several  popular  works, 
"  Frankley's  Rambles,"  "  Olivia,"  "  The  Parental  Monitor,"  "  Bun- 
gay  Castle,"  &c.,  was  the  wife  of  Daniel  Bonhote,  Esq.,  solicitor  of 
this  town;  whom  Mrs.  B.  survived.  She  deceased  June  11,  1818, 
aged  74  years. 

Thomas  Miller,  of  this  town,  born  in  1731,  was  at  the  usual 
period,  apprenticed  to  a  respectable  grocer,  in  Norwich  ;  but  a  great 
fondness  for  reading,  displayed  in  very  early  life,  induced  him,  on 
.commencing  business  for  himself,  in  1755,  to  unite  book-selling 
with  his  other  trade  ;  and  for  the  last  thirty  years  previous  to  his 
decease,  he  confined  himself  almost  entirely  to  his  favourite  line. 
Mr.  Miller  had  his  shop  furnished  with  rare  and  valuable  books, 
and  possessed  a  large  collection  of  expensive  portraits,  and  an  ex- 
tensive series  of  Roman  and  English  silver  and  brass  coins. 

In  1795,  when  it  was  the  common  custom  for  tradesmen  to  cir- 
culate provincial  coins,  he  had  a  die  cast,  which  was  very  finely 
engraved,  and  bore  a  correct  profile  likeness  of  himself.  By  an 
accident  happening  to  one  of  the  dies,  when  only  twenty-three 

1    *  There  are  engraved  illustrations  of  this  house  :  by  Kirby,  in  1/48  ;  aud  Davy, 
in  1818. 


344  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

pieces  were  struck  off,  and  Mr.  Miller  declining  to  have  a  fresh  one 
made,  the  coin  became  very  rare,  and  has  been  known  to  sell  at 
from  three  to  five  guineas.  It  is  known  to  collectors  by  the  name 
of  "  Miller's  Halfpenny." 

He  possessed  a  strong  mind,  and  retentive  memory ;  but  his 
cultivated  abilities  were  hid  in  the  confined  circle  in  which  he 
moved.  During  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  he  became  blind ;  and, 
to  the  honour  of  Bungay,  its  inhabitants,  who  appreciated  his 
worth,  shewed  him  every  kind  attention.  He  died  June  25,  1804. 

Nathaniel  Godbold,  inventor  and  original  patentee  of  the  famous 
"  Vegetable  Balsam,"  was  born  at,  or  near  this  town,  and  appren- 
ticed to  a  confectioner ;  which  trade  he  carried  on  many  years,  at 
Bungay,  with  credit.  For  several  years  of  his  residence  there,  he 
used  to  prepare,  for  applicants  only,  a  pectoral  medicine  for  the 
relief  of  recent  coughs  ;  which  was  very  grateful  and  efficacious  in 
those  cases,  and  most  likely  was  the  basis  of  the  "  Vegetable 
Balsam." 

Mr.  Godbold,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  residence  in  Bungay, 
speculated  rather  largely  in  the  purchase  and  re- sale  of  estates ;  he 
also  built  the  present  Theatre  there.  He  retired  from  business, 
and  established  himself  in  London,  between  1775  and  1780;  and 
shortly  after  purchased  an  estate  at  Godalming,  in  Surry,  which 
had  belonged  to  General  Oglethorpe;  consisting  of  a  handsome 
house  in  a  park  of  about  100  acres,  called  "  Westbrooke  Place," 
the  small  manor  of  Westbrooke,  and  some  other  lands.  He  repaired 
and  fitted  up  the  house,  and  continued  to  reside  there  until  his  de- 
cease, which  took  place  the  17th  of  Dec.,  1799;  and  his  remains 
were  deposited  in  the  south  aisle  of  Godalming  church. 

Mem. — An  inscription  in  Bungay  Holy  Trinity  church,  records, 
the  decease  of  Captain  Thomas  Stanton,  in  1691;  formerly  com- 
mander of  the  good  ship  "Return  to  and  from  Surat,  in  East 
India ;"  who,  by  his  indefatigable  industry,  made  the  said  voyage 
in  twelve  months  ;  and  in  his  return,  he  fought  and  beat  a  Dutch 
man  of  war,  and  brought  the  said  ship,  to  his  never  dying  fame, 
safe  into  the  river  Thames.  It  is  added,  "  the  like  not  done  by 
any  since :"  but,  by  our  late  improvements  in  steam  navigation, 
the  wonder  ceases. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands,  and  certain  premises  here,  are 
vested  in,  or  under  the  management  and  order  of  the  town-reeve, 
and  feoffees  of  the  town,  or  town-lands  of  Bungay ;  are  partly  held 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  345 

iii  trust,  for  the  common  benefit  and  general  utility  of  the  town  of 
Bungay,  and  its  inhabitants ;  and  are  partly  derived  from,  and 
applicable  to  the  support  of,  particular  charities,  mentioned  below. 

The  Grammar  School. — By  indenture,  dated  the  16th  January, 
34th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Thomas  Popeson,  A.M.,  schoolmaster  at 
Bungay,  granted  to  the  Master,  Fellows,  and  Scholars,  of  Emmanuel 
College,  Cambridge,  a  yearly  rent  of  £4,  during  the  life  of  himself 
and  his  wife  ;  and  after  their  decease,  a  yearly  rent  of  £6  :  and  the 
then  feoffees  of  the  town  lands,  thereby  also  granted  to  the  said 
Master,  Fellows,  and  Scholars,  a  yearly  rent  of  £Q.  And  in  con- 
sideration thereof,  the  Master,  Fellows,  and  Scholars,  covenanted 
that  they  would  allow  to  every  scholar,  placed  in  any  of  the  ten 
Scholarships  in  Emmanuel  College,  of  the  foundation  of  Sir  Walter 
Mildmay,  Knt.,  therein  mentioned,  4d.  weekly :  and  that  the  ten 
scholars  should  have  such  privileges  and  advantages  as  therein 
mentioned.  By  indenture,  dated  20th  April,  in  the  above  year, 
reciting  that  the  said  Thomas  Popeson,  and  the  feoffees  of  the  town 
lands,  for  the  good  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bungay,  had  then  in  part 
made,  and  mean'd  further  to  make,  provision  for  the  perpetuity  of  a 
Free  Grammar  School  within  that  town ;  and  certain  messuages, 
land,  and  premises,  were  conveyed  pursuant  to  the  covenant  in  this 
deed,  by  indenture  of  feoffment,  of  the  26th  May,  1592.  The 
school  premises  consist  of  a  dwelling  house,  containing  several 
apartments,  and  a  school-room,  and  small  play-ground  adjoining. 

Wingfield's  Charity.— In  1593,  Thomas  Wingfield  devised  £170 
to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  rent- charge  of  £1Q  a  year ;  and 
he  directed  that  out  of  the  same  the  following  payments  should  be 
made : — £5  a  year  for  the  help  of  necessitous  people  in  Bungay, 
10s.  a  year  for  an  anniversary  sermon,  40s.  a  year  for  raising  a 
stock  to  be  lent  in  small  sums  to  tradesmen,  and  10s.  a  year  to  be 
bestowed  on  his  funeral- day,  yearly,  in  good  cheer,  for  such  of  the 
feoffees  as  should  be  present ;  and  the  residue  to  the  use  of  two 
poor  scholars  in  Cambridge. — In  1712,  Henry  Webster  devised  his 
acre  of  land  in  Parnow  Meadow,  in  Ditchingham,  for  teaching 
poor  children  to  read  and  write  :  and  Henry  Smith  gave  a  portion 
of  rent,  which  for  the  year  1828,  was  £36  12s.  8d.;  and  the  amount 
is  distributed  in  bread  among  poor  persons. — Christian  Wharton,  in 
1577,  by  will,  directed  the  persons  enfeoffed  of  her  five  almshouses, 
in  the  parish  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  to  dwell  therein,  and  take  the 
profits  of  the  same  while  they  should  dwell  there.  These  alms- 


340  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

houses  consist  of  five  small  tenements  under  one  roof,  and  are 
occupied  rent  free,  by  poor  widows. — There  are  also  church  lands 
belonging  to  each  parish,  and  several  minor  charities ;  the  aggregate 
amount  of  which,  arising  from  various  sources,  is  about  £470  per 
annum. 


ILKETSAL. — ILKETSHALL,  or  ILCHETELESHALA. 

There  are  four  parishes  so  called,  namely :  St.  Andrew,  St.  John, 
St.  Lawrence,  and  St.  Margaret ;  which  are  here  noticed  generally, 
and  collectively.  These  with  the  foregoing  parishes,  of  Bungay 
St.  Mary  and  Trinity,  with  Mettingham,  which  follows,  are  com- 
monly termed  "  The  seven  parishes  of  Ilketshal." 

Sir  Gilbert  de  Ilketshale  was  lord  of  this  manor  at  a  very  early 
period ;  and  according  to  the  usage  of  those  times,  assumed  his 
name  therefrom.  Thomas  de  Ilketshale  was  his  son  and  heir ;  as 
appears  by  a  fine  levied  in  the  7th  of  King  Henry  III. :  Gilbert,  his 
son  and  heir,  who  succeeded,  in  the  32nd  of  that  reign  had  a  charter 
of  free  warren  in  this  lordship. 

In  the  53rd  of  the  same  King,  Sir  James  de  Ilketshale  conveyed 
an  acre  of  land,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  St.  John  Bap- 
tist, in  Ilketsal,  by  fine,  to  the  Priory  of  the  Holy  Cross,  in  Bun- 
gay.  He  married  Maud,  daughter  of  Eichard  de  la  Rokele ;  and 
was  father  of  James  de  Ilketshale,  who  married  Aliva,  daughter  of 
Sir  Thomas  de  Weyland,  the  Judge. 

In  the  6th  of  King  Edward  II.,  a  deed  was  executed  between  Sir 
James  cie  Ilketshale,  James  his  son,  and  Ida  his  wife ;  whereby  James 
and  Ida  did  grant  the  manor  of  Ilketsal,  in  Kelling,  in  Norfolk,  to 
Sir  James,  for  life  ;  and  he  released  to  them  £9  per  annum,  out  of 
his  £15  per  annum  annuity;  which  they  were  to  pay  him.,  and 
Aliva  his  wife,  for  the  manor  of  Hedenham,  in  Norfolk.  This 
document  is  dated  at  Ilketsal,  where  the  parties  probably  resided  at 
that  period. 

How  long  this  house  continued  interested  here  is  uncertain. 
William  de  Ilketshale,  a  younger  son  of  Sir  Eobert,  was  living  in 
the  19th  of  King  Richard  II.  The  will  of  Sir  Thomas  Ilketshale, 
his  elder  brother,  was  proved  in  1417  ;  by  which  it  appears  he  left 
Philip  his  son  and  heir,  and  a  daughter,  who  died  soon  after,  without 


HUNDRED  OF  WANG  FORD.  347 

issue  ;  and  his  sister's  children  became  his  heirs,  in  the  9th  of  King 
Henry  V.  Ho  was  probably  the  last  of  this  ancient  family.  His 
widow  re-married  to  William  Deyvile,  Esq. 

In  1309,  William  de  la  Park  resided  here.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  John,  son  of  James  de  Ilket- 
shale  ;  and  held  a  manor  in  Aslacton,  late  Thomas  de  Chambre's ; 
and  the  tenements,  late  Richard  de  Sething's ;  with  other  property 
in  this  parish,  in  right  of  such  marriage. 

Joan,  sole  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  Park  family,  married  first, 
John  Duke,  of  Brampton,  Esq. ;  by  whom  she  had  Thomas,  a  son 
and  heir :  her  second  husband  was  John  Strange,  Esq.,  of  Norwich. 
It  remained  in  the  Duke  family  for  several  descents,  until  purchased 
by  the  Richmonds.  John  Richmond  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Wm. 
Gooch,  of  St.  Margaret's,  Ilketsal ;  by  whom  he  had  Robert,  only 
son  and  heir.  John  deceased  in  the  27th  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

It  appears  to  have  passed  from  the  Richmond  family  to  that  of 
Ganieys,  by  the  marriage  of  Mary,  sister  and  heiress  of  William 
Richmond,  with  Charles  Garneys,  Esq.,  a  younger  branch  of  the 
Kenton  family ;  by  whom  she  had  issue  Charles  Garneys,  Esq.,  of 
Mourningthorp,  in  Norfolk.  James  Calthorpe,  Esq.,  married  Eli- 
zabeth, daughter  of  Robert  Garneys,  Esq.,  who  brought  a  lordship 
in  Ilketsal,  into  that  family. 

In  1474,  John  Bernard,  Esq.,  of  Norwich,  bequeathed  legacies 
to  the  churches  of  St.  John,  St.  Lawrence,  and  St.  Margaret,  of 
Ilketsal ;  he  also  made  a  bequest  to  Mettingham  Castle. 

The  several  churches  in  these  parishes  were  impropriated  to  the 
house  of  Benedictine  Nuns  at  Bungay,  by  the  gift  of  Roger  de 
Glanville,  and  Gundreda  his  wife,  founders  of  that  Monastery. 

By  letters  patent,  dated  18th  December,  29th  Henry  VIII.,  that 
King  granted  to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  site,  &c.,  of  the  late 
Monastery,  or  house  of  Nuns  of  Bungay,  then  dissolved ;  also  the 
manors  of  Bungay,  called  the  Prioress  manor,  Lymborne,  and 
Northales ;  and  the  advowsons  of  the  rectories  of  the  blessed  Virgin 
Mary,  of  Bungay,  Ilketshall  St.  John,  Ilketshall  St.  Lawrence, 
Ilketshall  St.  Andrew,  Ilketshall  St.  Margaret,  and  Metyngham,  in 
Suffolk ;  Roughton  and  Redynghall,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  the  advow- 
sons of  the  vicarages,  or  the  churches,  or  rectories,  to  the  Prioress 
of  the  said  house  of  Nuns,  in  right  of  the  same  belonging ;  and  all 
other  the  possessions  of  the  said  Monastery ;  being  of  the  annual 
value  of  £02  2s.  l^d. :  to  be  held  by  him,  and  the  heirs  of  his  body, 


348  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

in  capite,  by  Knight's  service,  at  the  20th  part  of  one  Knight's  fee, 
and  the  annual  rent  of  £6  4s.  3d. 

The  Abbot  of  West  Dereham,  in  Norfolk,  had  a  lordship  at  II- 
ketsal,  called  Lion's ;  of  the  gift  of  Bartholomew,  son  of  Peter  de 
Brancaster,  of  Barton,  in  Norfolk. 

ARMS. — Ilketshale  :  gules  ;  a  fess  between  two  chevronels,  or  ; 
a  canton,  ermine.  •  Park :  azure  ;  an  eagle  displayed,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — St.  Andrew,  Ilketsal. — A  double  cottage,  and  about 
two  acres  of  land ;  let  at  £l  1  10s.  per  annum.  Seven  acres  of  land, 
called  the  "  Redisham  Close;"  rent  £10  a  year.  One  half  of  the 
rents  are  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the  other  half 
towards  defraying  the  various  other  public  expenses  of  the  parish. 

St.  Margaret,  Ilketsal. — An  annual  sum  is  received,  by  the 
churchwardens,  for  the  benefit  of  poor  persons  of  this  parish,  from 
the  trustees  of  the  charity  founded  by  Henry  Smith,  in  or  about 
the  year  1626  ;  the  estates  of  which  are  situate  in  Tolleshunt  Darcy, 
in  Essex  ;  an  account  of  the  application  of  which  is  given,  by  the 
churchwardens,  to  the  trustees.  The  sum  generally  received  amounts 
to  about  £5 ;  which  is  given  in  clothing  to  the  poor. — The  town 
estate  consists  of  a  cottage,  in  two  tenements,  let  at  JG4  18s.  a  year, 
and  24  acres  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Peasenhall,  rent  £24,  subject 
to  a  deduction  for  land  tax.  The  rents  are  appropriated  to  the  re- 
paration of  the  church,  and  other  public  uses  of  the  parishioners. 


METTINGHAM,  or  METINGAHAM. 

In  the  5th  of  King  Edward  III.,  Eoger  Gavel  held  the  lordship 
of  this  parish.  He  was  son  of  John  Gavel,  who  lived  at  Yarmouth 
in  the  10th  of  Edward  L;  son  of  Jeffrey  Gavel,  of  the  said  town, 
by  Alice  his  wife,  daughter  of  Richard  Fastolf. 

In  the  17th  of  King  Edward  III.,  Sir  John  de  Norwich  had 
license  to  make  a  Castle  of  his  Manor  House  here,  and  another  at 
Ling,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  in  the  47th  of  the  same  reign,  Sir  John  de 
Norwich,  the  last  of  that  house,  conveyed  to  certain  trustees  that 
lordship,  with  the  manor  of  Howe,  in  Norfolk  ;  to  settle  them  on 
his  College  of  Mettingham ;  and  in  the  5th  of  King  Richard  II., 
they  became  settled  accordingly. 

This  Sir  John  de  Norwich,  Knt.,  was  Vice-Admiral  of  England, 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  349 

son  of  Walter  de  Norwich,  and  grandson  to  Sir  John,  the  founder 
of  Raveningham  College,  in  Norfolk.  In  1382,  his  executors  ob- 
tained the  King's  license  to  translate  the  priests  of  that  College  to 
the  Castle  of  Mettingham  ;  and  to  endow  them  with  the  said  Castle, 
and  with  several  manors  in  this  county.  This  however,  was  .not 
fully  effected  until  1393  ;  being  retarded  through  opposition  from 
the  Nuns  of  Bungay. 

This  College  had  rents  and  revenues  in  about  25  parishes  in  this 
county,  and  several  in  Norfolk :  it  was  dedicated  to  the  blessed 
Virgin  Mary ;  and  consisted  of  thirteen  Chaplains,  at  the  period  of 
its  foundation ;  and  a  Master,  and  eleven  Chaplains,  in  1535.  Here 
were  also  fourteen  boys,  who  served  God,  and  were  educated  and 
supported  in  this  College,  at  the  annual  charge  of  £28.  Its  gross 
value,  in  "Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  is  ;£238  3s.  10|d. 

In  1541,  Sir  Anthony  Denny  and  Sir  Thomas  Denny,  obtained 
a  grant  of  the  same ;  in  which  family  it  sometime  continued,  but 
was  afterwards  purchased  by  the  Buxtons.  It  has  since  16G1,  been 
in  the  families  of  Bacon  and  Hunt ;  and  it  now  belongs  to  the  Rev. 
James  Cutting  Safford,  vicar  of  this  parish. 

In  1544,  the  roof  of  this  College  was  carried  to  Great  Yarmouth, 
and  placed  upon  the  old  Guild  Hall  there,  at  the  expense  of  the 
townsmen.  The  walls  of  the  College  are  still  standing  within  the 
old  quadrangular  Castle,  and  the  ruins  are  very  extensive ;  several 
illustrations  of  them  have  been  published. 

College  Arms:  per  pale,  azure  and  gules,  a  lion  rampant,  argent. 
Mettingham:  or ;  a  chevron,  partee  per  pale,  or  and  gules,  couped ; 
between  three  mullets,  sable. 

John  de  Metingham,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas 
in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  III.  (a  descendant  of  the  Norwich 
family),  was  a  native  of  this  county,  and  probably  born  in  this 
parish ;  of  whom  Fuller  observes,  "  it  is  reported,  to  his  eternal 
praise,  that  when  the  rest  of  the  Judges  (18  Edw.  III.)  were  fined, 
and  ousted  for  corruption,  this  Metingham  and  Elias  de  Beckenham 
continued  in  their  places,  whose  innocence  was  of  proof  against  all 
accusations ;  and  as  Caleb  and  Joshua  amongst  the  jury  of  false 
spies,  so  these  two  amongst  the  twelve  judges,  retained  their  in- 
tegrity." 

In  the  20th  of  the  same  reign,  the  King  directed  a  writ  to  John 
de  Metingham,  respecting  limiting  the  number  of  Attorneys  at  Law. 
A  translation  of  the  same  is  inserted  in  the  above  author,  as  follows  : 


350  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD-.  § 

— "  The  lord  the  King  hath  enjoined  John  de  Metingham  and  his- 
assistants,  that  they,  according  to  their  discretion,  provide  and 
ordain  a  certain  numher  out  of  every  county,  of  such  persons  which, 
according  to  their  understanding,  shall  appear  unto  them  of  the 
better  sort,  and  most  legal,  and  most  willingly  applying  themselves 
to  the  learning  of  the  law,  what  may  hetter  avail  for  their  court, 
and  the  good  of  the  people  of  the  land,  &c.  And  it  seem  likely  to 
the  King  and  his  Counsel,  that  seven  score  may  suffice  for  that 
purpose.  However,  the  aforesaid  Justices  may  add  more  if  they 
see  ought  to  he  done,  or  else  they  may  lessen  the  numher." 

"  Some  conceive,"  continues  our  author,  "  this  number  of  seven 
score  confined  only  to  the  Common  Pleas,  whereof  Metingham  was 
Chief  Justice.  But  others  behold  it  as  extended  to  the  whole  land, 
this  Judge's  known  integrity  being  intrusted  in  their  choice  and 
number ;  which  number  is  since  much  increased,  and  no  wonder, 
our  land  being  grown  more  populous,  and  the  people  in  it  more 
litigious.  He  died  anno  Domini  1301." 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  VI.,  a  branch  of  the  Banyard  family 
were  seated  in  this  parish  ;  and  subsequently  the  ancestors  of  the 
present  Sir  Thomas  Sherlock  Gooch,  Bart. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  is  situate  in  tliis  parish,  and  Ship- 
meadow;  and  comprises  a  cottage,  blacksmith's  shop,  about  36 
acres  of  land,  and  two  cattle  gates  on  Stow  Fen ;  and  is  under  the 
management  of  feoffees,  chosen  at  meetings  of  the  parishionersv 
The  general  purposes  for  which  the  estate  appears  to  have  been 
held  from  ancient  time,  are  for  the  benefit  of  the  town  or  parish  of 
Mettingham,  the  payment  of  the  public  charges  of  the  parishioners, 
and  the  support  of  the  poor.  The  rents,  which  amount  together  to 
£80  a  year,  are  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  in  de- 
fraying other  public  charges  to  which  the  parishioners  are  liable ; 
with  a  distribution  of  coals  amongst  poor  people,  to  the  amount  of 
about  £10  per  annum. 


BAKSHAM. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  VI.,  John  Blennerhasset,  Esq., 
acquired  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  by  marriage  with  one  of  tho 
daughters  and  co -heirs  of  Sir  Edward  Itchingham,  Knt.,  whose 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  3M 

ancestors  held  the  same,  and  became  early  seated  here.     It  subse- 
quently became  vested  in  the  Suckling  family. 

Sir  John  Suckling,  Knt.,  youngest  son  of  Kobert  Suckling,  Esq., 
Alderman  and  Mayor  of  Norwich,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  in  1620, 
devised  by  will  an  annuity  of  £8,  to  be  issuing,  payable,  and  levia- 
ble, out  of  his  manor  of  Barsham,  in  Suffolk,  to  the  Mayor,  She- 
riffs, and  Aldermen  of  Norwich  ;  to  be  distributed  in  alms  to  the 
poor  of  certain  parishes  in  that  city :  and  20s.  for  an  anniversary 
sermon ;  at  which  he  requested  the  Mayor,  with  the  Sword  Bearer, 
and  three  or  four  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  the  Sheriffs  for  the 
time  being,  to  be  present.  The  Mayor  to  have  2s.  6d. ;  and  7s.  6d. 
to  be  divided  among  the  Justices,  Sheriffs,  and  Sword  Bearer. 

He  was  of  Gray's  Inn,  and  afterwards  settled  at  Whitton,  in 
Middlesex  ;  and  was  Secretary  to  the  Earl  of  Dorset,  Master  of  the 
Bequests,  Receiver  of  the  Alienations;  in  1622,  was  one  of  the 
principal  Secretaries  of  State ;  and  afterwards  Comptroller  of  the 
Household  to  King  James  I.,  and  Charles  I.  :  to  the  last  he  was  a 
Privy  Councillor.  Sir  John  deceased  March  27,  1627,  and  was 
buried  in  St.  Andrew's  church,  at  Norwich. 

By  Martha  lus  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Cranfield,  merchant,  of 
London,  he  had  issue  Sir  John  Suckling,  the  celebrated  poet,  who 
was  nineteen  years  of  age  at  his  father's  decease. 

This  estate  was  purchased  by  Sir  John  Suckling,  in  1613  ;  and 
now  belongs  to  the  Rev.  Alfred  Inigo  Suckling,  of  Winslade  Rec- 
tory, Hants.  He  is  only  son  of  Alexander  Fox,  Esq.,  by  Anna 
Maria,  his  wife,  daughter  of  Robert  Suckling,  Esq.,  of  Wooton,  in 
Norfolk ;  who  on  the  decease  of  his  maternal  uncle,  Maurice  Wm. 
Suckling,  Esq.,  without  issue,  in  1820,  assumed  the  name  and 
arms  of  Suckling. 

The  family  of  De  Tye  held  a  lordship  in  this  parish,  and  resided 
here.  The  will  of  Sir  Robert  de  Tye  (mentioned  in  Kessingland, 
in  Mutford  hundred),  is  dated  here ;  and  Elizabeth,  relict  of  Sir 
Robert  de  Tye,  whose  will  was  proved  in  1385,  desired  her  body  to 
be  interred  in  Barsham  church,  by  her  late  husband. 

ARMS. — Suckling:  party  per  pale,  gules  and  azure ;  three  bucks, 
trippant,  or.  Crest :  a  stag,  courant,  or  ;  with  a  sprig  of  honey- 
suckle in  his  mouth. 

Lawrence  Echard,  a  divine,  and  writer  of  some  eminence  in  the 
last  century,  was  a  native  of  this  parish,  whose  father  was  minister 
here.  He  was  bora  in  1671 ;  and,  after  receiving  his  education  at 


352  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

Christ  College,  Cambridge,  where  he  took  the  degree  of  A.M.  in 
1695,  settled  in  Lincolnshire.  In  1699,  he  published  the  first  part 
of  his  "  Koman  History;"  which,  in  1702,  was  followed  by  a  "  Ge- 
neral Ecclesiastical  History;"  a  work  which  has  gone  through  nu- 
merous editions,  and  which  probably  procured  liis  promotion  to  the 
Prebendary  Stall  in  Lincoln  Cathedral :  he  was  also  Chaplain  to 
the  Bishop  of  that  diocese.  His  next  work  was  a  "  History  of 
England,  down  to  the  Revolution ;"  by  which  he  gained  conside- 
rable reputation ;  but  the  most  useful  of  his  performances,  was  the 
"  Gazetteer,  or  Newsman's  Interpreter:"  once  a  very  popular  book, 
and  the  foundation  of  all  of  that  class.  Towards  the  end  of  his  life, 
he  was  presented  by  the  Crown,  to  the  livings  of  Eendlesham  and 
Sudbourne,  in  this  county.  Mr.  Echard  deceased  in  1730,  in  his 
carriage,  proceeding  to  Scarborough  for  the  benefit  of  the  waters. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £1  a  year  is  paid  to  the  overseers  of 
the  poor,  as  the  rent  of  an  acre  of  land  in  this  parish,  by  Mr.  James 
Adams,  the  occupier  of  an  adjoining  farm  ;  and  is  applied  with  the 
poor  rates.  It  is  not  known  how,  or  for  what  particular  purposes, 
the  land  was  given  or  appropriated. 


BECCLES,  or  BECLES. 

In  or  about  the  year  956,  King  Edwin,  eldest  son  of  King  Ed- 
mund, of  the  Saxon  race,  gave  the  lordship  of  tliis  parish  to  the 
Abbot  and  Convent  of  St?  Edmund's,  Bury ;  and  it  continued  in 
that  house  until  the  dissolution  of  Monasteries,  when  it  was  granted, 
by  King  Henry  VIII.,  to  William  Rede,  Esq.  In  the  Confessor's 
time  it  yielded  30,000  herrings  to  the  said  house. 

The  Redes,  of  this  parish,  were  a  family  of  respectability,  and 
became  early  seated  here.  John  Rede,  Mayor  of  Norwich  in  1496, 
was  buried  in  Beccles  church,  in  1502.  William  was  his  son  and 
heir ;  whose  second  son,  William  Rede,  merchant  of  London,  mar- 
ried Anne,  daughter  of  William  Fcrnley,  of  West  Greeting,  in  this 
county,  by  Agnes  his  wife,  daughter  of  Robert  Desney,  of  Ipswich. 
This  lady  re-married  Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  Knt.,  founder  of  the 
Royal  Exchange,  London. 

She  died  in  the  39th  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  and  Sir  William  Rede 
was  her  son  and  heir,  aged  50  years.  He  married  Gertrude,  daughter 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  358 

<^f  Erasmus  Paston,  Esq. ;  whose  sou  arid  heir,  Sir  Thomas  Kede, 
Kut.,  married  Mildreda,  second  daughter  of  Thomas  Cecil,  Earl  of 
Salisbury,  and  died  without  issue. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  and  heir  of  Richard,  son  of  Sir  John  Rede, 
of  this  parish,  and  Rougham,  in  Norfolk,  married  John  Yelverton, 
Esq. ;  who  had  by  the  said  Elizabeth,  his  second  wife,  Sir  William 
Yelverton,  Judge  of  the  King's  Bench  in  1444. 

This  estate  passed  from  the  Redes,  to  the  Yallops,  of  Bowthorp, 
near  Norwich ;  and  subsequently  to  the  Bence  family.  Lawrence 
Bence,  only  son  of  Robt.  Bonce,  of  Ilenstead,  Esq.,  by  Mary  his  wife, 
daughter  and  heir  of  the  Rev.  Lawrence  Echard,  of  the  same  parish, 
died  in  1746,  without  issue :  his  youngest  sister  died  unmarried,  in 
1792;  the  elder,  Ann  Bence,  married  in  1740,  Robert  Sparrow, 
Esq.,  of  Worlingham ;  and  by  him,  who  deceased  in  1 7G4,  had  issue 
a  daughter,  Mary,  who  married  Archibald  Acheson,  2nd  Earl  of 
Gosford ;  the  present  owner  of  this  manor,  and  patron  of  the  living. 

The  Garneys  family  became  very  early  possessed  of  Ross  Hall 
manor,  in  Beccles.  Robert  Garneys,  who  deceased  in  1 4 1 1 ;  Peter, 
in  1413;  Thomas,  in  1527;  and  Edward,  in  1535;  were  interred 
in  that  parish  church. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  this  manor  was  in  the  Colby's 
(misprinted  in  Kirby,  "Tolby")  ;  when  see  a  suit  in  Chancery, 
between  Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  Knt.,  and  Anne  his  wife,  lord  of  the 
manor  of  Beccles,  plaintiffs  ;  and  Thomas  Colby,  Esq.,  lord  of  the 
manor  of  Rose  Hall,  defendant. 

It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Suckling  family ;  from 
whom  it  passed  to  that  of  Rich,  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  Edwin  Rich, 

of  Lincoln's  Inn,  Knt.,  with  Jane,  daughter  of Reeve,  Esq., 

of  St.  Edmund's,  Bury,  and  widow  of  Sir  John  Suckling,  Knt., 
Comptroller  of  the  Household  to  King  James  I. 

He  was  second  son  of  Sir  Edwin  Rich,  of  Mulbarton,  in  Norfolk, 
Knt.  He  died  in  1675,  and  was  buried  in  that  parish  church; 
where  a  singular  inscription  remains  to  his  memory,  of  his  own 
composition.  Sir  Edwin  gave  £200  towards  the  repairs  of  the 
roads  between  Wymondham  and  Attleburgh,  in  Norfolk ;  where- 
upon, by  an  order  of  sessions,  the  Magistrates  of  that  county  or- 
dered a  pillar  to  be  placed  by  the  road  side,  as  a  grateful  remem- 
brance of  this  benefaction,  which  still  remains.  He  also  gave  £100 
towards  the  erection  of  a  bridge ;  and  £20  per  annum  out  of  this 
manor,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  Thetford,  his  native  town. 


354  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

Sir  Edwin  left  no  issue ;  and  the  estate  descended  to  Charlejs 
Rich,  Esq.,  his  younger  brother,  who  was  advanced  to  the  dignity 
of  a  Baronet,  the  27th  of  King  Charles  II. ;  with  remainder,  for 
want  of  male  issue,  to  Eobert,  second  son  of  Colonel  Nathaniel 
Rich,  of  Stondon,  in  Essex  ;  who  married  Mary,  second  daughter 
and  co-heiress  of  the  said  Sir  Charles  ;  who  inherited  this  estate  in 
her  right,  and  appears  to  be  the  first  of  this  family  who  resided 
here.  He  deceased  in  1699,  aged  51  years;  and  was  interred  in 
Beccles  churchyard. 

Sir  Robert  Rich  was  one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  and  M.P. 
for  Dunwich  in  the  reign  of  William  III.  He  was  succeeded  by 
his  eldest  son,  Sir  Charles  Rich,  Bart. ;  who  died  unmarried,  when 
Robert,  his  brother,  succeeded.  He  was  a  Field  Marshal,  Colonel 
of  the  4th  Dragoons,  and  Governor  of  Chelsea  Hospital :  he  re- 
presented Dunwich  in  Parliament,  the  1st  of  King  George  I.,  and 
sat  afterwards  for  Beeralston  and  St.  Ives.  He  married  one  of  the 
daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Colonel  Griffin,  one  of  the  Clerks  of  the 
Board  of  Green  Cloth  to  Queen  Anne  ;  and  had  issue,  Robert,  his 
successor ;  George,  who  deceased  unmarried  ;  Elizabeth,  the  second 
wife  of  George,  1st  Lord  Lyttelton;  and  Mary,  who  died  single. 

He  deceased  in  1768  ;  when  Robert,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded  : 
who,  in  1756,  was  appointed  Governor  of  Londonderry  and  Cul- 
more  Fort,  in  Ireland  ;  and  in  1760,  made  a  Lieutenant  General. 
Sir  Robert  married  Mary,  sister  of  Peter,  1st  Earl  of  Ludlow ;  and 
had  an  only  daughter,  Mary  Frances,  who  married  in  1784,  the 
Rev.  Charles  Bostock,  LL.D.,  of  Shirley  House,  Hants. 

Sir  Robert  deceased  in  1785  ;  when,  in  default  of  issue  male,  the 
Baronetcy  expired.  This  estate  devolved  upon  his  only  daughter, 
•whose  husband  assumed,  in  consequence,  the  surname  and  arms  of 
Rich;  and  being  created  a  Baronet  in  1791,  became  Sir  Charles 
Rich,  of  Shirley  House,  in  the  county  of  Hants.  Charles  Henry, 
his  eldest  son  and  heir,  the  present  Baronet,  is  now  owner  of  Rose 
Hall,  in  Beccles. 

The  manor  and  principal  estate  was,  sometime  in  1801,  purchased 
by  Thomas  Rede,  Esq.,  of  St.  Mary's  Hill  (a  house  built  on  the 
site  of  the  chapel  mentioned  by  Kirby)  ;  and  at  his  death,  it  came 
to  Robert  Rede,  Esq.,  who  erected  a  mansion  in  the  parish  of  Bars- 
ham,  nearly  opposite  the  old  manor  house  of  Rose  Hall.  It  came, 
under  his  will,  after  the  decease  of  his  widow,  to  his  nephew,  the 
Rev.  Robert  Rede  Cooper,  a  younger  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  350 

Lovick  Cooper,  of  Yarmouth,  by  Sarah,  second  daughter  of  Thos. 
Rede,  Esq. ;  who  has  assumed,  by  Eoyal  license,  the  name  of 
Rede. 

In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1808,  some  enquiries  are 
made  respecting  a  portrait  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  formerly  hanging  at 
Ross  Hall,  in  Beccles ;  and  afterwards  presented  to  the  British 
Museum ;  of  which  the  writer  observes : — "  I  am  told  it  was  always 
highly  valued  by  the  Rich  family,  as  a  most  striking  likeness  of  the 
Protector.  Tis  very  easy  to  account  for  its  finding  a  place  amongst 
the  numerous  paintings  formerly  at  Ross  Hall,  when  we  consider 
not  only  the  great  confidence  and  friendship  which  existed  between 
the  Rich's  and  Oliver,  but  the  connexion  being  further  united  and 
•confirmed  by  a  marriage  between  the  two  families." 

The  church  is  a  handsome  fabric,  and,  with  the  steeple  built  a 
small  distance  from  it,  a  great  ornament  to  the  town.  The  former 
appears,  from  a  will  in  the  Bishop's  Registry  Office,  to  have  been 
founded  about  the  year  1369.  The  steeple  was  probably  begun 
about  GO  years  afterwards,  for  there  is  no  legacy  bequeathed  to  it 
until  1515 ;  but  from  that  time  to  1547,  there  are  various  bequests 
towards  the  erection  of  the  same.  The  arms  of  Bury  Abbey,  and 
those  of  the  families  of  Garneys,  Bowes,  Rede,  &c.,  mark  the  indi- 
viduals who  contributed  towards  the  charges  of  building  this  tower. 
The  south  porch  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  the  highly  ornamented 
Gotlu'c  style  of  architecture :  this  is  a  building  of  later  date,  the 
first  legacy  given  towards  it  being  dated  1455.* 

ARMS. — Rede:  azure  ;  on  a  bend  wavy,  or,  three  moor-cocks, 
sable,  in  a  bordure  engrailed,  of  the  same,  bezonty.  Yallop :  gules  ; 
an  orle  between  eight  billets,  or.  Rich :  gules ;  a  chevron  between 
three  crosslets,  botonee,  or. 

Mr.  Joseph  Sparshall  died  at  Beccles  in  1810,  aged  86  years. 
He  was  one  of  the  Society  of  Friends  ;  and,  during  the  whole  of 
his  long  life,  devoted  almost  every  moment  he  could  spare  from  the 
avocations  of  business,  to  the  acquirement  of  useful  knowledge.  Of 
natural  history,  iu  its  various  branches,  he  was  passionately  fond ; 
but  botany,  chemistry,  and  electricity,  were  his  most  favourite 
studies.  He  wrote  some  essays  on  philosopliical  subjects  ;  one  of 
which,  giving  an  account  of  a  remarkable  Aurora  Borealis,  appeared 
in  a  volume  of  the  "  Philosopliical  Transactions,"  and  procured  him 

*  Mr.  Davy  has  a  view  of  the  same,  and  also  of  the  church  aad  tower,  in  his 
**  Architectural  Antiquities  of  Suffolk." 


350  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

the  offer  of  becoming  a  member  of  that  learned  body,  the  Royal 
Society ;  an  honour  which  he  had  the  modesty  to  decline. 

Joseph  Arnold,  M.D.  and  F.L.S.,  was  born  at  Beccles,  in  1783, 
and  was  fourth  son  of  Mr.  Edward  Arnold,  an  opulent  tanner  in 
that  town.  He  was  apprenticed  to  a  surgeon  and  apothecary,  in 
1799  ;  and  at  the  same  time  was  placed  under  an  eminent  classical 
tutor,  to  receive  instruction  in  the  learned  languages.  At  the  end 
of  five  years  he  proceeded  to  Edinburgh,  where  he  pursued  his  pro- 
fessional studies ;  and  in  1807,  received  the  honour  of  a  diploma. 

Upon  leaving  Edinburgh,  he  made  several  attempts  to  settle  as  a 
Physician,  but  in  none  succeeding  to  his  wishes,  he  was  induced  to 
try  the  naval  service,  and  entered  as  an  assistant  surgeon  on  board 
the  "Victory,"  a  flag  ship,  appointed  to  the  Baltic,  in  April,  1808; 
and  in  the  month  of  March,  in  the  following  year,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  surgeoncy  of  the  "  Indostan,"  then  under  orders  for  New 
South  Wales.  After  this  he  served  on  board  different  ships  of  war, 
and  in  various  stations  on  the  Mediterranean  and  the  Adriatic,  to 
the  period  of  1814,  when  many  vessels  were  dismantled.  At  this 
crisis,  he  obtained  an  order  to  join  the  "  Northumberland,"  a  con- 
vict ship,  taken  up  by  Government  for  Botany-Bay. 

In  this  voyage  he  united  the  office  of  supercargo  to  that  of  sur- 
geon; but  his  grand  object  was  the  prosecuting  his  studies  in  na- 
tural history,  and  to  enrich  himself  and  his  country  with  the 
productions  of  another  hemisphere.  On  his  passage  from  Port 
Jackson,  his  hopes  and  expectations  were  in  a  great  measure  de- 
feated ;  for  the  natural  curiosities  which  he  had  collected  in  New 
South  Wales,  were  destroyed  at  Batavia,  by  the  vessel  taking  fire, 
when  she  had  nearly  completed  her  cargo. 

In  1816,  he  arrived  in  England,  and  remained  some  months  at 
his  brother's,  in  Suffolk  ;  when  his  friend,  Sir  Thomas  S.  Baffles, 
late  Governor  of  Java,  was  sent,  in  the  year  1817,  to  the  island  of 
Sumatra ;  and,  upon  the  recommendation  of  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  the 
Doctor  accompanied  him  as  Naturalist,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Honourable  East  India  Company. 

From  the  date  of  his  departure,  no  letters  were  received  by  his 
family ;  the  first  intelligence  they  had  was  from  Sir  T.  S.  Baffles, 
announcing  the  melancholy  tidings  of  his  death ;  which  took  place 
at  Padang,  on  the  island  of  Sumatra,  July  26,  1818,  in  the  35th 
year  of  his  age. 

Dr.  Arnold  published,  besides  his  Inaugural  Thesis,  several  de- 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  357 

tached  subjects,  in  the  Physical  and  Philosophical  Journals ;  and 
left  to  the  Linnaean  Society  a  large  collection  of  fossils  and  shells, 
to  be  deposited  in  their  museum.  His  abilities  as  an  attentive  ob- 
server, are  best  exemplified  by  his  papers,  addressed  to  the  Linnsean 
Society ;  and  his  industry  and  application,  by  the  numerous  manu- 
scripts he  left  behind  him. 

A  very  elegant  monument,  executed  by  Chantery,  has  been  placed 
in  Beccles  church  to  his  memory,  agreeable  to  the  directions  con- 
tained in  his  will. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands  have,  for  a  long  period,  been  vested 
in  feoffees ;  the  ancient  trusts  or  uses  being,  for  the  payment  of 
tenths,  fifteenths,  aids,  and  subsidies,  chargeable  on  the  poorer  in- 
habitants, and  the  profit  and  common  utility  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town ;  and  consists  of  the  following  particulars  : — A  building 
called  the  Guildhall,  used  for  meetings  of  the  trustees,  and  for  a 
national  school :  a  small  part  of  the  site  of  the  White  Lion  Inn,  in 
Beccles,  which  is  demised  on  a  building  lease,  at  £6  6s.  a  year : 
the  Assembly  Room  in  Beccles,  the  site  whereof  is  demised  to  the 
Portreeve,  Surveyors,  and  Commonalty  of  Beccles  Fen,  for  200 
years,  at  an  acknowledgment  of  Is.  a  year:  four  tenements  in 
Puddingmoor  Street,  used  as  almshouses,  and  occupied  by  eight 
poor  widows :  the  yearly  sum  of  £5  5s.  is  paid  by  the  County 
Treasurer,  as  interest  for  the  price  of  a  piece  of  ground  on  which 
part  of  the  House  of  Correction  is  erected  :  an  acknowledgment  of 
Is.  a  year  is  paid  by  the  owner  of  a  premises  in  Ballygate  Street, 
but  for  what  particular  property  or  easement  is  unknown  :  sundry 
parcels  of  land  in  Beccles,  containing  in  the  whole  9  7 A.  2R.  2p.,  let 
to  several  different  persons,  at  rents  amounting  together  to  £250  1 7s. 
a  year  ;  and  a  piece  of  land  containing  6 A.  2R.  6p.  in  the  adjoining 
parish  of  Gillingham,  at  the  annual  rent  of  ^69.  The  income  is  now 
applied  to  different  charitable  purposes,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor 
inhabitants  of  Beccles. 

A  marsh,  or  pasture,  containing  by  estimation  1,400  acres,  called 
Beccles  Common,  or  Beccles  Fen,  which  had  formerly  belonged  to 
the  dissolved  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund's,  Bury,  and  had  been 
used  by  the  inhabitants  of  Beccles  for  depasturing  their  cattle,  was 
granted  to  the  inhabitants,  as  a  body  corporate,  for  the  same  use  or 
purpose,  by  letters  patent  of  King  Henry  VIII. ;  and  on  the  sur- 
render of  those  letters,  Queen  Elizabeth  granted  new  letters  patent, 
in  the  2nd  year  of  her  reign ;  whereby  the  inhabitants  were  incor- 


358  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

porated  by  the  name  of  the  Portreeve,  Surveyors,  and  Commonalty 
of  the  Fen  of  Beccles,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk  :  and  the  Fen  was 
granted  to  them  for  the  depasturing  of  the  cattle  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  two  following  charities  are  under  the  management  of  this 
Corporation  : — The  Hospital  Lands,  which  consist  of  certain  lands 
and  a  chapel,  since  wasted,  and  another  building,  reputed  to  have 
been  an  ancient  hospital,  adjoining  the  highway  from  Beccles  to 
Bingsfield,  granted  by  letters  patent  dated  the  26th  of  King  Charles 
II.,  to  the  said  Corporation  ;  which,  by  indenture  of  lease  dated  in 
1788,  became  leased  to  Thomas  Kede,  Gent.,  as  the  ground  called 
Hospital  Hill,  for  the  term  of  200  years,  for  the  purpose  of  the  said 
Thomas  Eede  building  upon  the  premises  a  Mansion  House,  for 
the  residence  of  himself  and  family,  and  improving  the  ground,  by 
planting  and  otherwise,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £13  4s.  8d.,  clear  of 
all  deductions ;  the  said  Thomas  Eede  having  agreed  to  engage, 
that  at  the  expiration  of  the  said  term,  there  should  be  left  upon 
the  said  premises,  buildings  which  should  then  be  of  the  value  of 
£200.  The  income  arising  from  this  property  is  appropriated,  by 
the  Corporation,  for  charitable  purposes,  for  the  general  benefit  of 
the  poor  of  Beccles. 

Sir  John  Leman,  Knt.,  by  will,  dated  8th  July,  1631,  devised  to 
his  executors  a  messuage,  used  for  a  school-room,  in  Ballygate 
Street,  in  this  town ;  and  a  messuage  and  lands,  called  Willowbye's 
and  Girdler's,  in  Gillingham,  Geldeston,  &c. ;  and  certain  parcels  of 
land,  containing  about  30  acres,  in  Barsham ;  with  other  lands  in 
St.  Andrew  Ilketshal,  Eingsfield,  and  Barsham,  upon  trust,  to  con- 
vey the  same  lands  and  premises  to  the  Portreeve  and  Corporation 
of  the  town  of  Beccles  ;  to  the  intent  that  the  messuage  used  as  a 
school-house,  with  the  garden  and  appurtenances,  should  be  em- 
ployed for  a  Free  School,  for  the  educating  and  teaching  48  scho- 
lars and  children,  44  of  them  to  be  of  the  inhabitants  of  Beccles, 
two  of  the  inhabitants  of  Eingsfield,  and  two  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Gillingham,  in  writing,  cyphering,  casting  accounts,  and  learning  and 
in  catechising  and  instructing  them  in  the  religion  established  in  this 
realm ;  every  of  the  scholars  to  be  eight  years  of  age  and  upwards, 
and  be  able  to  read  English  perfectly,  before  he  should  be  admitted ; 
and  every  scholar  to  continue  there  four  years,  and  no  longer :  and 
he  willed,  that  certain  rules  by  him  given  to  the  said  school,  should 
be  duly  observed ;  and  that  the  Portreeve  and  Corporation  should 
be  Governors  of  the  school,  and  that  the  rent  and  profit  of  the  land 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  359 

should  bo  disposed  of  in  the  payment  of  £18  thereof  yearly  to  the 
Usher,  and  the  residue  to  the  Master  of  the  school ;  and  that  the 
charges  of  repairs  he  deducted  out  of  the  rents  and  profits ;  one 
third  part  thereof  out  of  the  Usher's  part,  and  the  residue  out  of 
the  Master's  part.  The  whole  of  the  property  produces  a  gross 
rental  of  ahout  £196  per  annum;  and  the  same,  after  deducting 
expenses,  and  the  sum  of  £30  a  year,  which  is  paid  to  the  Usher, 
are  retained  by  the  Master  of  the  school. 

Dr.  Henry  Falconberge,  by  his  will,  dated  3rd  May,  1712,  re- 
citing that  he  proposed  to  make  a  provision  to  encourage  learning, 
and  instruction  of  youth,  in  the  town  of  Beccles  ;  devised  all  his 
real  estate  in  Gorton,  and  the  towns  adjoining,  after  the  decease  of 
the  persons,  and  subject  to  the  life  annuities  therein  mentioned, 
upon  trust ;  and  so  settled  and  conveyed  the  said  estate,  as  that  the 
rents  and  profits  thereof,  after  reparations  deducted,  should  for  ever 
be  applicable  as  after  mentioned :  and  he  desired,  that  whenever  a 
person  should  be  nominated  to  teach  school  in  Beccles,  being  well 
learnt  and  experienced  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  tongues,  so  as.  to 
capacitate  youth  fitting  for  the  University,  such  person  to  have  the 
rents  and  profits  of  the  said  premises,  after  repairs  deducted,  during 
his  teaching  school  in  Beccles ;  and  so  from  time  to  time  for  ever. 
The  estate  was  conveyed  or  settled  pursuant  to  the  testator's  direc- 
tion, and  consists  of  a  house,  outbuildings,  and  77A.  2R.  14p.  of 
land,  in  Gorton,  rented  at  £123  15s.  a  year;  and  a  cottage,  with 
55A.  IE.  16p.  of  land,  in  Gorton  and  Flixton,  which  lets  at  £60  per 
annum.  The  rents,  after  deducting  land  tax,  and  the  expense  of 
repairs,  are  paid  to  the  Rev.  Hugh  Owen,  D.D.,  who  was  appointed 
to  the  office  mentioned  in  the  will,  in  1815,  and  has  since  become 
rector  of  Beccles. 

There  are  two  or  three  other  minor  charities  for  apprenticing 
poor  boys,  and  bread  doles,  belonging  to  this  town. 

Mem. — In  1556,  Thomas  Spicer,  labourer,  John  Denny,  and 
Edmund  Poole,  were  burnt  here  in  the  same  fire,  for  their  adhe- 
rance  to  the  protestant  faith ;  and  about  the  same  period,  120  men 
and  women  suffered  many  vexatious  troubles,  for  the  same  offence, 
in  this  neighbourhood. 

A  dreadful  fire  happened  in  this  town,  November  29,  1586  ; 
which,  besides  consuming  80  dwelling  houses,  greatly  injured  the 
roof  and  seats  in  the  church,  though  probably  not  the  walls. 

Some  curious  specimens  of  fossils  found  in  this  vicinitv,  are  en- 


360  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

graved  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1804,  p.  305  ;  also  the 
tower  of  this  parish  church,  see  ib.  for  1817,  pt.  ii.,  p.  105. 


ELLOUGH. — ELLOWE,  or  WILLINGHAM  ALL  SAINTS. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  manor  was  royal  demesne  : 
it  subsequently  became,  with  the  advowson,  vested  in  the  family  of 
Playters;  and  so  continued  for  above  two  centuries.  Sir  John 
Playters,  the  7th  Baronet  of  that  house,  died  seized  of  the  same,  in 
1768  ;  and  they  were  soon  after  purchased  by  Kobert  Sparrow, 
Esq.,  of  Worlingham.  Archibald  Acheson,  Earl  of  Gosford,  is 
the  present  lord  and  patron. 


ENDGATE. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  town  of  Beccles  are  the  ruins  of  this 
parish  church,  which  was  taken  down  by  order  of  Queen  Elizabeth, 
"  For  that  the  parishes  of  Endgate  and  Beccles  had  been  for  a  long 
period  so  blended  together,  that  the  bounds  and  limits  of  them 
could  not  be  known  in  A.D.  1419  ;  when  a  legal  agreement  was 
made  by  the  Bishop,  Patron,  and  Sectors  of  both  parishes,  that  the 
rector  of  Beccles  should  take  the  whole  tithes,  and  pay  the  rector  of 
Endgate  £6  13s.  4d.  yearly,  in  the  parish  church  of  Endgate;  so 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  latter  have,  time  out  of  mind,  been  es- 
teemed parishioners  of  Beccles." 


HULVERSTREET.— A  hamlet  of  Henstead. 


NOKTH-COVE. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  II.,  the  lordship  of  Wathe  Hall,  in 
this  parish,  was  vested  in  Robert  de  Watheby,  of  Westmoreland ; 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  361 

and  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of  Sir  Hugh  (or  Hubert) 
Fitz  Jernegan,  of  Horham  Jernegan,  Knt.,  by  his  marriage  with 
Maud,  the  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Thormine,  son  of  the  said 
Kobert  de  Watheby. 

Sir  Hubert  paid  a  considerable  sum  of  money  into  the  exchequer, 
as  a  gift  to  King  Henry  II.;  and  was  witness  to  a  deed  in  1195,  by 
which  divers  lands  were  granted  to  Byland  Abbey,  in  Yorkshire. 
He  deceased  in  1203 ;  and  the  King  granted  the  wardship  of  all 
his  largo  possessions,  and  the  marriage  of  his  wife  and  children,  to 
Robert  de  Veteri  Pont  (or  Vipount)  ;  so  that  he  married  them  with- 
out disparagement  to  their  fortunes. 

Sir  John  Jernegan,  Knt.,  on  the  marriage  of  his  son  with  Isabel, 
daughter  of  Sir  Gervase  Clifton,  Knt.,  in  1459,  settled  upon  him 
the  manor  of  Horham  Jernegan,  and  gave  up  to  him  the  family 
seat  at  Somerleyton,  retiring  himself  to  this  parish,  where  he  was 
living  in  1465.  His  will,  which  is  dated  in  1473,  was  proved  in 
the  following  year,  by  the  name  of  Sir  John  Jernegan,  Knt.,  of 
Little  Wirlingham,  in  Suffolk.  The  Wirlingham  manor  he  be- 
queathed to  his  son  Osbert,  for  life,  as  also  his  manor  of  Wathe 
Hall,  in  this  parish.  In  1515,  his  grandson,  Sir  Edward  Jernegan, 
Knt.,  died  seized  thereof. 

It  afterwards  became  the  estate  of  the  Yallop  family ;  and,  in 
1764,  was  vested  in  the  heirs  of  Kobert  Bence,  of  Henstead,  Esq. 
It  has  since  passed  as  the  Beccles  estate. 

William  de  Cheyney  gave  his  tenants  in  the  parishes  of  Cove  and 
Worlingham,  to  Langley  Abbey,  in  Norfolk ;  they  had  also  a  mes- 
suage, and  90  acres  of  land,  in  Barningham,  in  this  county  :  and 
Robert  Colvile  granted  them  lands,  and  a  turbary,  in  Lowestoft. 

The  Rev.  Henry  Harrington,  D.D.,  rector  of  this  parish,  with 
Willingham,  deceased  December  25,  1791.  He  was  Prebendary  of 
Bath  and  Wells,  Rector  of  Hayneford,  in  Norfolk,  and  Assistant 
Minister  of  St.  Peter  Mancroft,  Norwich.  He  was  admitted  of 
Queen's  College,  Oxford,  where  he  proceeded  M.A.  in  1777. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  IA.  2R.,  or  thereabouts, 
is  appropriated  to  the  poor  of  this  parish.  It  is  intermixed  with 
the  estate  of  the  Earl  of  Gosford,  and  is  occupied  with  a  farm  be- 
longing to  him,  the  rent  paid  for  it  being  ^£4  10s.  a  year ;  which  is 
laid  out  in  wood  for  fuel,  and  distributed  among  the  poor  inha- 
bitants. 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

REDISHAM  MAGNA.- — EEDSHAM,  or  KEDDESHAM. 

This  was  anciently  the  lordship  and  estate  of  a  family  that  took 
their  name  from  it.  In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Kose  de  Redis- 
ham  was  owner  thereof ;  it  afterwards  became  vested  in  Sir  John  de 
Norwich,  who  in  the  31st  of  King  Edward  III.,  obtained  a  charter 
of  free  warren  in  all  his  demesne  lands  in  this  parish.  He  founded 
Raveningham  College,  in  Norfolk,  and  endowed  it  with  a  manor 
here,  after  the  same  was  moved  to  Mettingham  Castle,  in  the  6th  of 
King  Richard  II. 

In  the  8th  of  King  Henry  V.,  Robert  Garneys,  who  married  Eli- 
zabeth, daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Ralph  Bigot,  gave  by  will,  to  Ralph 
Ms  son  and  heir,  after  his  wife's  decease,  a  lordship  in  this  parish^ 
and  Barsham ;  and  that  of  Weston,  to  Robert  his  son,  late  Edmund 
de  Redisham,  and  William  Barsham's,  which  his  father  purchased. 
His  will  was  proved  in  1425.  Robert  Garneys,  Esq.,  of  Kenton, 
inherited ;  who  deceased  in  1446,  without  issue. 

Margery,  eldest  daughter  of  Nicholas  Garnish,  of  Redisham  Hall, 
married  Thomas,  son  of  Simon  Smith,  of  Winston,  in  Norfolk, 
Esq. ;  who  deceased  in  1639,  and  was  buried  in  the  church-yard  of 
Gillingham  All  Saints.  She  survived  until  1656. 

In  1764,  Edmund  Tyrrel,  Esq.,  of  Gipping,  was  owner  of  this 
lordship  ;  it  is  now  the  estate  of  Charles  Day,  Esq. 

This  church*  was  impropriated  to  Butley  Priory,  and  the  same 
was  granted,  in  the  20th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  to  John  Harcy,  and 
John  Hayward :  the  patronage  was  lately  in  the  Bence  family,  and 
the  present  incumbent,  Frederick  Leathes,  was  presented  by  Mrs. 
Postle.  The  church  of  Little  Redisham  has  been  long  in  ruins, 
and  the  rectory  consolidated  to  Ringsfield. 

CHARITIES. — In  1805,  Mrs.  Mary  Leman  bequeathed,  by  will, 
£600  clear  of  all  deductions,  upon  trust,  to  invest  the  same  in  the 
purchase  of  three  per  cent,  consols;  to  apply  the  dividends  for 
establishing  and  supporting  a  Sunday  School,  in  this  parish,  Bramp- 
ton,  and  Cratfield  :  and  she  directed  an  equal  third  part  of  the  di- 
vidends to  be  appropriated  to  each  of  the  three  schools. — The  sum 
of  £9  6s.  8d.  a  year,  received  for  this  parish,  is  applied  to  the  sup^ 
port  of  a  Sunday  School  here. 

*  The  south  entrance  to  Great  Redisham  church  is  a  good  specimen  of  Norman 
architecture  ;  an  engraving  of  which  is  given  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities*" 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  363 


RINGSFIELD,  or  RINGESFELLA. 

The  demesne  of  this  parish  was  anciently  vested  in  John  de  Val- 
lihus  (or  Vaux),  and  the  advowson,  before  the  reformation,  belonged 
to  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Butley,  in  this  county. 

By  an  inquisition,  taken  in  the  38th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Simon 
Nunne,  of  this  parish,  was  found  to  die  seized  of  a  capital  messuage 
called  Wryngeys,  in  Beeston,  with  lands,  &c.,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  James 
was  his  son  and  heir,  by  Margaret  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Guybon,  Esq.;  who  confirmed  the  same  to  Robert  Partridge,  of 
Finborough  Magna,  in  this  county,  in  the  6th  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

The  principal  estates  in  this  parish  lately  belonged  to  the  Mickle- 
thwaite  family.  Charles  Day,  Esq.,  is  the  present  owner  of  the 
lordship. 

Edmund  Bohun,  a  voluminous  political  and  miscellaneous  writer, 
of  the  17th  century,  was  a  native  of  this  parish;  the  only  son  of 
Baxter  Bohun,  who  with  his  ancestors,  had  been  lords  of  the  manor 
of  Westhall,  in  Blithing  hundred,  from  the  25th  of  King  Henry 
VIII.  Mr.  Bohun  was  admitted  Fellow  Commoner  of  Queen's 
College,  Cambridge,  in  1663;  and  continued  there  till  the  latter 
part  of  1666,  when  the  plague  obliged  him  and  others  to  leave  the 
University.  In  1 675,  he  was  appointed  a  Magistrate  for  this  county, 
and  continued  to  fill  that  office  until  the  2nd  of  King  James  II., 
when  he  was  discharged,  but  was  again  restored  to  the  same  office 
on  the  accession  of  William  and  Mary. 

Amongst  his  numerous  publications,  "  Three  Charges  delivered 
at  the  General  Quarter  Sessions  holden  at  Ipswich,  for  the  County 
of  Suffolk,  in  1691, 1692,  and  1693,"  4to.;  "  The  Great  Historical, 
Geographical,  and  Poetical  Dictionary/'  London,  1694,  folio  ;  and 
his  "  History  of  King  James  the  Second's  Desertion,"  are  accounted 
the  most  popular  of  his  works.  Mr.  Bohun  was  also  the  translator 
of  several  popular  historical  works.  The  time  of  his  death  is  not 
known,  but  he  was  alive  in  the  year  1700. 

Abraham  Dawson,  A.M.,  patron  and  rector  of  this  parish,  with 
Redisham  and  Satterly,  in  this  county,  and  perpetual  curate  of  Al- 
deby,  in  Norfolk ;  who  published,  at  three  or  four  different  times, 
a  new  translation  from  the  original  Hebrew,  of  several  chapters  of 
the  Book  of  Genesis,  with  notes,  critical  and  explanatory,  deceased 
October  4,  1789.  Mr.  Dawson  was  son  of  a  respectable  dissenting 


3  64  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

minister,  at  or  near  Halifax,  and  brother  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Dawson, 
rector  of  Burgh,  near  Woodbridge. 


SATTEELEY,  or  SOTERLEGA. 

The  family  of  Soterley  became  very  early  enfeoffed  in  this  manor, 
and  according  to  the  usage  of  the  age,  assumed  their  name  there- 
from. In  the  3rd  of  King  Edward  I.,  Eoger  de  Soterley  held  this 
lordship  ;  and  in  the  8th  of  the  following  reign,  Edmund  de  Soter- 
ley had  a  grant  of  free  warren.  He  then  held  one  Knight's  fee  here, 
of  the  honour  of  Chester,  in  which  county  he  also  held  an  estate  ; 
and  upon  his  decease,  the  jury  presented  that  he  held  the  lordship 
of  this  parish,  with  those  of  Stoke  and  Harthe,  in  Cheshire,  by  the 
service  of  finding  one  horseman  armed,  to  attend  the  Earl  of  Ches- 
ter into  Wales,  for  four  days,  at  his  own  cost,  during  the  time  of  war. 

In  the  17th  of  King  Edward  III.,  Eoger,  son  of  Sir  Edmund  de 
Soterley,  and  Joan  his  wife,  granted  the  whole  manor  of  Uggeshall, 
in  Blithing  hundred,  to  the  lady  Joan,  his  mother,  for  life ;  provided 
she  claimed  no  dower  in  the  manors  of  Soterley,  in  Suffolk,  and 
Stody,  in  Norfolk. 

In  the  same  year,  he  presented  to  the  church  of  Stody,  and  in 
the  20th  of  the  said  reign  was  found  to  hold  one  quarter  of  a  fee 
there.  In  1451,  Sir  Miles  Stapleton,  and  others,  were  feoffees  of 
the  manor  of  Kollesby,  in  Norfolk,  for  Thomas  Soterley,  Esq.,  of 
this  parish ;  which  manor  he  had  devised  to  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and 
her  heirs  ;  she  dying  before  him,  he  ordered  the  same  to  be  sold,  and 
the  produce  to  be  disposed  of  for  the  soul  of  the  said  Elizabeth. 

The  estate  continued  in  this  family,  until  about  the  year  1471  ;. 
when  in  consequence  of  their  being  adherents  of  the  Earl  of  War- 
wick, it  was  forfeited  to  the  Crown,  and  was  given,  by  King  Edward 
IV.,  to  Thomas  Playters,  Esq.,  a  follower  of  the  house  of  York,  who 
soon  after  became  seated  here.  He  was  son  of  Thomas  Playters, 
Esq.,  of  Thorndon,  in  this  county ;  and  deceased  in  1479,  seized 
of  this  manor,  and  Uggeshall.  Mr.  Playters  lies  interred,  with  Anne 
his  wife,  sister  and  heir  of  Eoger  Denny,  Esq.,  in  this  parish  church. 

Sir  Thomas  Playters,  his  lineal  descendant  in  the  5th  generation, 
was  Knighted  at  Newmarket,  in  1603  ;  served  the  office  of  Sheriff 
for  this  county,  in  1605,  and  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1623.  He 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  365 

married,  first,  Anno,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Swan,  Knt.,  of  South- 
fleet,  in  Kent;  and,  secondly,  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Anthony 
Browne,  Knt.,  of  Elsiug,  in  Norfolk.  His  successors  in  the  Ba- 
ronetage, until  its  extinction  in  1832,  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
table  :— 

1st  wife,  Anne  Swan=Sir  Thos.  Playters,  1st  Bart.=Anne  Browne,  2nd  wife. 
Sir  Win.  Playters,==Frances,  d.  and  heir    Thomas=Mary,  dau.  of  Sir  Augustine 


2nd  Bart.,  dec. 


of  Christopher  Le  Palgrave,  Knt.,  of  Norwood 


in  1659.     i -i      Grys.  I -*     Berningham,  in  Norfolk. 

Sir  Thos.  Playters,=Rebecca,  d.  andco-h.     Lionel,  rect.  of=Elizabeth,  d.  of  John 
3rd  Bart.          of  Thoa.  Chapman,  Esq.     Uggeshall,  who        Warner,   Gent.,  of 

succeeded  as  4th  Bart.  •      Brandon,  in  Norf. 

I I— 

Sir  John  Playters,  5th  Bart.     Sir  Lionel,  his  brother=  Martha,   daug.  of  Talmash 

who  was  twice  married,  6th  Bart.  Castel,  Esq.,  of  Raven- 

but  died  without  issue.  I J      inghain,  in  Norfolk. 

Sir  John  Playters,  =  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Felton,  Esq., 

7th  Bart,   l J      of  Worlingham,  Suffolk. 

1st,  Anne  Caroline,  -  John  Playters,  Esq.,  only  sou  -2nd,  Elizabeth,  d.  of  Joshua 


daug.  and  heir  of 
John  Turner,  Esq. 


who  died  before  his  father. 


Lewis,    Esq.,  Great    Far- 
lingdon,  Berks. 


I 1  ' 1 

Sir  John  Playters,  8th         Sir  Charles,  9th  Bart.,         Sir  Wm.  John  Playters,  10th 

Bart.,  died  at  of  East  Bergholt.  Bart.,  died  in  1832,  when 

Ingatestone,  in  Essex.  the  Baronetcy  expired. 

The  estate  had  been  however  previously  purchased  of  Sir  John 
Playters,  Bart.,  by  Miles  Barne,  Esq.,  in  1744 ;  who  rebuilt  the 
Hall,*  and  was  a  resident  here  in  1764.  He  represented  the  bo- 
rough of  Dunwich  in  four  Parliaments ;  and  was  twice  married. 
By  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Nathaniel 
Elwich,  Esq.,  of  May  Place,  near  Crayford,  in  Kent  (formerly 
Governor  of  Fort  Saint  George,  in  the  East  Indies),  he  had  Miles, 
his  successor. 

His  second  wife  was  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  George  Thornhill, 
Esq.,  of  Diddington,  in  Huntingdonshire  ;  to  whom  she  bore  eight 
sons,  and  six  daughters.  Mr.  Barne  deceased  in  1780,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Miles  Barne,  Esq.,  M.P.  for  Dunwich, 
from  1791  to  1796 ;  at  whose  decease,  unmarried,  in  1825,  the  es- 
tate devolved  upon  his  half-brother,  Michael  Barne,  Esq.,  Lieute- 
nant Colonel  of  the  7th  regiment  of  Dragoons  ;  who  is  the  present 
proprietor. 

Barne,  and  Snowdon  Barne,  were  elder  brothers  of  the  present 

*  A  view  of  this  mansion  is  engraved  in  Davy's  "  Seats  of  the  Noblemen  and 
Gentlemen  in  Suffolk." 


366  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

possessor ;  the  former  sat  as  Member  of  Parliament  for  Dunwicli, 
from  1777,  to  1790,  and  was  afterwards  a  Commissioner  of  Taxes. 
He  deceased  in  1829,  unmarried.  The  latter  was  also  M.P.  for  the 
same  borough,  from  1796  to  181 2,  Lord  Treasurer's  Eemembrancer, 
afterwards  a  Lord  of  the  Treasury,  from  1809  to  1812,  and  then  a 
Commissioner  of  the  Customs.  Snowdon  Barne  deceased  in  1825, 
unmarried. 

This  family  derive  from  Sir  George  Barne,  Knt.,  Lord  Mayor  of 
London,  in  1552,  from  a  second  Sir  George  Barne,  Knt.,  who  filled 
that  office  in  1586  ;  and  from  Sir  William  Barne,  Knt.,  who  resided 
at  Woolwich,  and  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Dr.  Edwin  Sandys, 
Archbishop  of  York.  Colonel  Barne,  the  present  representative  of 
this  house,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Ascogh  Boucherett,  Esq.,  of 
Willingham  and  Shilling-borough,  in  Lincolnsliire  ;  and  has  issue, 
Frederick  Barne,  Esq.,  of  this  parish. 

The  Tye  family,  of  Easton,  in  Loes  hundred,  held  some  interest 
here.  Sir  Kobert  de  Tye,  who  deceased  in  1415,  was  interred  in 
this  parish  church.  Weever  also  mentions  an  inscription  here  to 
"  Monsieur  Quier  de  Welyngton  et  dame  Hawes  sa  femme ;"  and 
Cotman  has  an  etching  of  a  brass  to  the  memory  of  Thomazine, 
late  wife  of  William  Playters,  Esq.,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Edmund 
Tyrrell,  of  Betches,  in  Essex;  who  deceased  in  1578,  and  was  bu- 
ried here. 

ARMS. — Soterley:  gules;  a  fess  between  three  round  buckles, 
argent.  Playters:  bendy  wavy  of  six,  argent  and  azure.  Barne: 
quarterly ;  first  and  fourth,  azure,  three  leopards'  heads,  argent;  se- 
cond and  third,  argent,  a  chevron,  azure,  between  three  Cornish 
choughs,  proper. 

CHARITIES. — A  rent  charge  of  £6  a  year  for  the  poor  of  this  pa- 
rish, was  devised  by  Thomas  Jollye,  in  1616  ;  and  charged  upon 
one  moiety  of  the  manor  of  Benacre,  in  this  county,  now  the  pro- 
perty of  Sir  Thomas  S.  Gooch,  Bart. ;  which  is  distributed  among 
poor  people  at  Easter.  A  cottage,  in  two  tenements,  is  occupied 
by  two  poor  persons,  rent  free.  An  allotment  of  five  acres,  set  out 
for  the  poor  on  an  enclosure,  lets  at  £Q  10s.  a  year,  and  the  rent  is 
distributed  with  Jollye's  annuity,  except  about  30s.  a  year  to  poor 
persons,  in  casual  distress. 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  307 


SHADDINGFIELD,  or  SCADENEFELLA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  anciently  in  Hugh  de  Berry,  and 
subsequently  the  family  of  Cuddon  became  seated  here  ;  which  they 
acquired  by  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  Francis,  of  Shaddingfield. 
They  afterwards  married  with  the  houses  of  Duke,  Berney,  and 
Bainard ;  and  were  a  family  of  great  distinction.  Ebenezer,  the 
son  of  Sir  Thomas  Cuddon,  Knt.,  Chamberlain  of  London,  sold  the 
Hall  and  estate  to Round,  Esq.,  of  Essex. 

Shaddingfield  Hall  is  now  the  property  and  residence  of  Thomas 
Charles  Scott,  Esq. ;  the  manor  belongs  to  the  Earl  of  Stradbrooke, 
and  the  advowson  was  in  the  Earl  of  Bristol,  but  by  recent  returns 
Lord  Braybrooke  now  presents  to  this  rectory.  The  north  entrance 
to  this  parish  church  is  engraved  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiqui- 
ties of  Suffolk,"  as  a  specimen  of  the  Norman  style  of  architecture. 

ARMS. — Cuddon:  argent;  a  chevron,  gules;  on  a  chief,  azure, 
three  bezants.  Francis :  argent ;  a  fess  indented,  gules,  between 
three  eagles  displayed,  sable. 


SHIPMEADOW,  or  SCIPMEDU. 

In  the  twenty  fourth  of  King  Henry  III.,  Walter  de  Shipmeadow 
conveyed  by  fine,  his  right  of  fishing  in  the  river  Waveney,  between 
the  parishes  of  Stockton  and  Shipmeadow,  and  in  the  cutting  of 
reed,  rush,  flag,  &c.,  to  Ealph  Bigot,  a  younger  son  of  Hugh  Bigot, 
Earl  of  Norfolk,  by  Maud,  eldest  daughter  of  William  Marshal, 
Earl  of  Pembroke. 

In  the  5th  of  King  Edward  II.,  Walter  de  Norwich  obtained  a 
charter  of  free  warren  in  this  manor.  He  deceased  in  the  2nd  of 
the  following  reign,  and  left  his  estate  to  Sir  John  de  Norwich,  Knt. ; 
who  procured  another  charter  of  free  warren  here,  in  the  31st  of  that 
King.  He  died  in  the  36th  of  that  reign,  and  devised  the  same  to 
John,  his  grandson  ;  and  it  passed  as  Mettmgham  manor. 

Sir  John  de  Norwich  was  the  founder  of  Raveningham  College, 
which  he  endowed  with  a  manor  in  this  parish,  who  held  the  same  af- 
ter its  removal  to  Mettingham  Castle,  in  the  6th  of  King  Richard  II. 

The  manor  and  advowson  of  this  parish  was  purchased,  about 


308  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

1C  10,  by  Sir  John  Suckling,  Knt.,  and  now  belongs  to  the  Kev.  Al- 
fred Inigo  Suckling,  LL.B.,  of  Wooton  Hall,  in  Norfolk. 

The  family  of  Pelyt  formerly  resided  here ;  of  whom  was  Thomas, 
son  of  Edward,  son  of  John  Pelyt,  of  Blofield,  in  Norfolk,  and  Anne 
his  wife,  natural  daughter  of  Lord  Segrave.  This  Thomas  Pelyt, 
of  Shipmeadow,  married  Jane,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  William 
Cannon,  of  Stoke,  by  Ipswich ;  and  had  issue,  Robert,  of  this  pa- 
rish ;  who  by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Edward  Downes,  had  two 
sons,  Thomas  and  John.  John  Pelyt,  D.D.,  occurs  rector  of  Blo- 
field, in  1455. 

CHARITIES. — In  1709,  Francis  Warmall  gave  by  will,  to  the  poor 
of  this  parish,  1  Os.  a  year,  to  be  paid  out  of  his  lands  in  Shipmeadow, 
now  belonging  to  John  Lincoln  Bond,  Esq. ;  and  the  money  is  yearly 
added  to,  and  distributed  with,  that  collected  at  the  Sacrament. 

Mem. — A  House  of  Industry  was  erected  in  this  parish  in  1765, 
for  the  27  parishes  of  this  incorporated  hundred,  of  Wangford. 


WESTON,  or  WESTUNA. 

The  author  of  "  Magua  Britannia"  makes  the  lordship  of  this  pa- 
rish to  have  been  anciently  held  by  Hugh  de  Berry ;  and  a  branch 
of  the  Leman  family  were  sometime  seated  here.  In  1764,  William 
Leman,  Esq.,  was  owner  of  the  said  estate ;  which,  with  another 
seat  in  this  parish,  became  vested  in  the  Barne  family,  and  which 
lately  belonged  to  Thomas  Farr,  Esq. 

In  the  8th  of  King  Henry  V.,  Robert  Garneys,  who  married  Eli- 
zabeth, daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Ralph  Bigot,  gave  by  will,  to  Ralph, 
his  son  and  heir,  after  his  wife's  decease,  the  manors  of  Redisham 
and  Barsham ;  and  that  of  Weston,  to  Robert,  his  son,  late  Ed- 
mund de  Redisham,  and  William  Barsham's ;  which  his  father 
bought.  His  will  was  proved  in  1425 ;  and  Robert  Garneys,  of 
Kenton,  inherited;  who  died  in  1446,  without  issue. 

Weston  Hall  was  formerly  the  estate  of  the  Redes,  of  Beccles ; 
and  passed  from  them,  by  purchase,  to  the  family  of  Barry ;  from 
whom  it  went,  in  like  manner,  to  that  of  Barne,  of  Satterley ;  who 
were  also  owners  of  the  estate  formerly  Leman's.  Here  was  also  a 
branch  of  the  Bokenham  family. 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  300 

.    WILLINGHAM  ST.  MARY,  or  WERLINGHAM. 

Elizabeth  Aslack,  widow,  daughter  and  heir  of  Thomas  Bardolf, 
Esq.,  and  Alice  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Edmund  Berry, 
by  deed  without  date,  granted  to  Robert  Clare,  Robert  Drury,  and 
Edmund  Jenney,  Knts.,  and  others,  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  to 
hold  for  the  use  of  the  said  Elizabeth,  for  life :  after  to  William 
Aslack,  her  son,  and  his  heirs  ;  remainder  to  Thomas,  her  son :  and 
by  an  inquisition,  taken  the  23rd  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  William 
Aslack  was  found  to  die  seized  of  the  said  manor,  in  1531;  and 
Thomas,  son  of  Christopher  Playters,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  sister 
of  the  said  William  Aslack,  was  his  heir. 

From  the  Playters  family  it  was  purchased  by  Sir  Thomas  Robin- 
son, Bart.,  and  so  passed  to  the  Sparrows  :  it  is  now  the  estate  of 
the  Earl  of  Gosford,  having  passed  as  the  following  parish  of  Wor- 
lingham. 

Robert  Bumpstede,  of  this  parish,  died  in  1480,  and  was  buried 
in  the  chancel  of  Sotterley  church,  in  this  hundred.  He  appointed 
John,  his  eldest  son,  and  Robert  Bumstede,  chaplain,  another  son, 
his  executors ;  and  gave  his  manor  in  Willingham  St.  Mary,  to 
Marion  his  wife. 

The  Earles,  who  for  many  generations  were  lords  of  Hey  don,  in 
Norfolk,  a  family  of  great  antiquity,  that  had  its  origin  in  the  ad- 
joining parish  of  Salle,  in  the  same  county,  appear  to  have  divided 
about  1350  ;  for  Alexander  le  Erie  was  owner  of  an  estate  in  this 
parish  and  Sotterley,  and  was  seated  here  at  that  period,  whilst 
William  le  Erie,  his  elder  brother,  continued  at  Salle. 

ARMS. — Aslack :  sable ;  a  chevron  between  three  Catherine  wheels, 
argent.  Bumpstede:  argent;  on  a  bend  engrailed,  gules,  three 
mullets  of  the  field.  Earle :  azure  ;  a  fess,  between  two  bars  ge- 
melles,  or. 


WORLINGHAM,  or  WORLINGAHAM. 

Tin's  estate  was  formerly  vested  in  the  Duke  family.  John  Duke, 
Esq.,  who  deceased  about  1649,  seized  of  the  principal  lordship  of 
Diss,  in  Norfolk,  resided  here.  It  was  afterwards  the  seat  of  John 


370  HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD. 

Felton,  Esq.,  youngest  son  of  Sir  John  Felton,  Knt,  of  Playford 
Hall ;  who  erected  the  present  mansion,  which  has  been  altered,  en- 
larged, and  improved,  so  as  to  leave  hut  little  of  the  original  build- 
ing.* Mr.  Felton  deceased  here  in  1703,  and  was  interred  in  this 
parish  church. 

His  only  daughter  and  heir,  Elizabeth,  married  Sir  John  Play- 
ters,  Bart.,  of  Sotteiiey ;  who  sold  this,  with  some  other  estates,  to 
Sir  Thos.  Eobinson,  Bart.,  son  of  Sir  Lumley,  and  grandson  of  Sir 
Thomas  Eobinson,  Knt.,  Prothonotary  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  of  Kentwell  Hall,  in  Melford  ;  who  was  created  a  Baronet  by 
King  Charles  II.,  in  1681-2.  Sir  Thomas  made  this  his  chief  re- 
sidence. He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Hare, 
Bart.,  of  Stow  Bardolph,  in  Norfolk ;  but  deceased  without  issue, 
in  1743,  when  the  Baronetcy  expired.  His  remains  were  deposited 
in  this  parish  church. 

After  which,  the  estate  was  purchased  by  Kobert  Sparrow,  Esq., 
who  died  seized  thereof  in  1766  ;  when  Eobert  Sparrow,  Esq.,  his 
son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  who  deceased  in  1822,  and  devised  this 
property  to  Archibald  Acheson,  second  Earl  of  Gosford ;  who  in 
1805,  married  Mary,  his  only  daughter.  In  1835,  Lord  Gosford 
was  created  a  Peer  of  the  United  Kingdom,  by  the  title  of  Baron 
Worlingham,  of  Beccles,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk. 

Here  were  formerly  two  parishes, — St.  Mary  and  St.  Peter,  or 
Great  and  Little  Worlingham ;  and  John  Jemegan,  senior,  by  his 
will,  which  was  proved  in  1474,  gave  the  latter  manor,  which  he 
lately  purchased  of  William  Core,  to  his  son  Osbert,  for  life.  John 
Jemegan  resided  at  Worlingham,  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 

Sir  Thomas  Gooch,  Bart.,  successively  Bishop  of  Bristol,  Nor- 
wich, and  Ely,  was  a  native  of  this  village ;  being  second  son  of 
Thomas  Gooch,  Esq.,  by  Frances  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of 
Thomas  Lane,  Esq.,  of  Worlingham.  He  succeeded  to  the  Baro- 
netcy upon  the  decease  of  his  elder  brother,  in  1751,  without  issue  ; 
and  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Dr.  William  Sherlock,  Dean  of  St. 
Paul's,  and  sister  of  Thomas  Sherlock,  Bishop  of  London ;  by  whom 
he  had  an  only  son,  who  succeeded  as  3rd  Baronet.  He  married, 
secondly,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Miller,  Bart.,  by  whom 
he  had  issue ;  his  lordship  married,  thirdly,  Mary  Compton,  niece 
of  the  Eight  Eev.  and  Eight  Hon.  Henry,  Earl  of  Northampton, 

*  Mr.  Davy  gives  a  view  of  this  mansion,  iu  its  present  state,  in  his  "  Seats  of 
the  Nobility  and  Gentry  of  Suffolk."' 


HUNDRED  OF  WANGFORD.  371 

Bishop  of  London,  in  1675,  by  whom  he  had  no  child.  He  de- 
ceased in  1754. 

Dr.  Gooch  was  of  Caius  College,  Cambridge,  of  which  he  was 
Fellow,  and  afterwards  President ;  and  was  chosen  Vice  Chancellor 
of  that  University  in  1717,  and  two  following  years ;  in  which  time, 
by  contributions,  and  his  good  management,  he  raised  £10,000; 
which  has  since  been  expended  in  the  erection  of  the  present  Senate 
House  there.  He  published  three  Sermons,  preached  on  different 
public  occasions. 

ARMS. — Robinson :  vert ;  on  a  chevron,  between  three  bucks 
trippant,  or,  three  cinquefoils,  gules.  Sparrow:  ermine;  three 
white  roses,  seeded,  or.  Acheson :  argent ;  an  eagle  displayed, 
with  two  heads,  sable,  beaked  and  membered,  or ;  on  a  chief,  vert, 
two  mullets,  pierced  of  the  chief. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here,  of  which  the  original  acqui- 
sition is  unknown,  consists  of  the  following  parcels  : — A  messuage, 
called  the  Guildhall,  in  Worlingham  ;  rent  £5  :  land,  in  Ellough, 
two  acres ;  rent  £8  :  marsh  lands,  in  this  parish,  called  Pound's 
Half  Acre;  rent  10s.  6d. :  nine  acres,  in  the  same  parish;  rent 
£10 :  messuage  and  blacksmith's  premises,  in  Worlingham,  3  A.  2  IP.  ; 
rent  £10.  The  declaration  of  trust  is  in  these  terms :  "That  the 
rents  should  be  applied  for  payment  of  the  leet  fee,  of  the  whole  town 
of  Worlingham ;  and  for  repairing  the  buildings  on  the  estate,  and 
the  parish  church  of  Worlingham  ;  and  for  putting  out  the  poor  chil- 
dren, belonging  to  the  said  town,  apprentices ;  and  for  the  teaching 
of  the  children  of  such  poor  people,  to  read  English,  and  for  in- 
structing them  in  the  church  catechism,  and  for  such  other  purposes 
for  the  good  and  benefit  of  the  said  town ;  provided  that  no  part  of  the 
said  rents  should  be  laid  out  in  beer,  or  any  other  liquors,  at  bon- 
fires, or  perambulations,  or  on  account  of  repairing  the  highways." — 
Thomas  Atkin,  vicar  of  Mutford,  gave  Pain's  Close,  in  this  parish, 
of  the  yearly  value  of  40s.,  for  stipends,  for  three  scholars  of  the 
diocese  of  Norwich,  in  Gonville  and  Caius  College,  Cambridge. 
This  close  is  in  three  divisions,  30  acres  :  money  rent,  £1  6s.  8d. ; 
corn  rent,  wheat  lj  qrs.  %  bushels,  malt  3  bushels. 


BISSOPES,  or  BISCOPES. 


This  Hundred  is  bounded,  on  the  North,  by  the  River  Waveney, 
which  separates  it  from  Norfolk ;  on  the  East,  by  the  Hundreds 
of  Wangford  and  Blithing  ;  it  borders  to  the  South,  on  those  of 
Loes  and  Plomesgate  ;  and  on  the  West,  it  is  bounded  by  Loes 
and  Hartismere.  It  contains  the  following  Parishes  : — 


ATHELINGTON, 

BADINGHAM, 

BEDINGFIELD, 

BEDFIELD, 

BRUNDISH, 

CARLETON, 

DENHAM, 

DENNINGTON, 

FRESSINGFIELD, 

HORHAM, 
HOXNE, 


LAXFIELD, 


MENDHAM, 

METFIELD, 

MONK-SOHAM, 

SAXSTEAD, 

SYLEHAM, 

SOUTHOLT, 

STRADBROOK, 

TANNINGTON, 

WETHERSDALE, 

WEYBREAD, 

WILBY, 

WINGFIELD,  and 

WORLINGWORTH. 


Anciently  called  "  Bishop 's  Hundred :"  the  fee  and  chief  ju- 
risdiction being  in  the  Bishops  of  tJie  East  Angles,  long  before 
the  removal  of  the  See  to  Norwich.  In  the  3rd  of  Edward  I., 
the  Bishop  of  Norwich  held  tlie  same  of  the  King,  by  the  annual 
rent  of  Us.  Qd.  (but  it  was  valued  at  lOOs.J  It  is  now  in  the 
Crown. 

By  an  Inquisition  taken  in  the  21st  of  King  Henry  III.,  it 
was  stated  that  this  Hundred  ought  to  repair  the  signal,  called 
the  "  Bekon,"  standing  upon  Cache  Cliff's,  in  the  village  of  Wes- 
tleton. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 


ATHELINGTON,  or  ATHELING. 

The  cellarer  of  the  Cathedral  Priory  at  Norwich,  received  2s.  per 
BHiium  from  this  parish.  The  Prior  and  Convent  of  Butley  were 
the  ancient  patrons  of  the  church,  which,  since  the  dissolution  of 
that  Monastery,  has  been  vested  in  the  Crown. 

A  branch  of  the  ancient  family  of  Brooke,  of  Aspall,  in  Hartis- 
mere  hundred,  were  not  long  since  seated  in  this  parish,  and  pos- 
sessed considerable  property  here  ;  several  of  whom  are  buried  in 
the  parish  church. 

CHAEITIES. — There  is  a  piece  of  land  in  this  parish,  containing 
IA.  SR.,  which  is  let  by  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  and  the  rent  is 
applied  with  the  poors'  rate.  The  present  rent  is  £l  16s.  a  year. 
There  are  no  writings  extant  relative  to  this  property,  and  the  ac- 
quisition of  it  cannot  be  traced. 


BADINGHAM. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  John  de  Bovile,  and  Matilda 
Hardicheshall,  held  Badingham  and  Dennington ;  formerly  in  the 
hands  of  King  Stephen :  and  in  the  28th  of  that  reign,  Kalph  de 
Hardicheshall  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  there. 

In  the  7th  of  King  Edward  II.,  William  de  Bovile,  who  held  them 
of  the  honour  of  Eye,  had  license  to  enfeoff  the  advowson  of  the 
church  of  Dennington,  and  also  the  manor  and  church  of  Bading- 
ham, with  the  manors  of  Wilby,  Letheringham,  &c. ;  and  the  manor 
of  Badingham  was  thereupon  settled  on  William  Bovile,  his  son,  in 
tail  male ;  remainder  to  Thomas  le  Latimer,  in  tail  male ;  remainder 
to  Simon  Fitz  Richard,  and  Nicholaa  his  wife,  in  tail  male ;  with 
remainder  to  his  own  right  heirs.  By  virtue  of  this  settlement,  it 
ultimately  became  vested  in  Richard,  the  son  of  Simon  Fitz  Richard 


•370  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE, 

and  Nicholaa;  who  conveyed  them,  in  trust,  for  Margery,  the 
daughter  of  William  Bovile,  and  wife  of  Sir  William  Carbonel  ;  in 
which  family  it  descended,  as  shewn  in  the  following  table  :  — 

John  de  Bovile. 
^_  _  I  -  1 

William  de  Bo  vile  =  Joan. 

I  --  —1—  —  1  ---  1 

Wm.  de  Bovile=Mariota,  d.  of    Mary=Thomas  Latimer.       Nicholaa—  Simon  Fitz 
Sir  Thos.  Mosel,  by  Christiana  his  wife,  d.  of  Sir       —  \  Richard- 
Wm.  Latiiner,  and  relict  of  Sir  John  Carbonel,   /     Richard. 
1  -  1  of  Waldingfield. 

1.  Sir  William—  Margery,  dau.  &  heiress.  =2.  Sir  Thos.  Wingfield,  2nd  son  of  Sir 
Carbonel.  J  -  1  John  Wingfield,  of  Wingfield  Castle 

Sir  Robert  Carbonel.  Obt.  23rd  Rich.  II. 


I  -  1 
Sir  John  Carbonel.  Obt.  1425.=Margaret. 

I  -  1 
Sir  Richard  Carbonel.  Ob.  8th  Hen.  VI.=Margaret,  d.   of  Sir  Thos.  Tuden- 

l  -  1        ham,  of  Oxburgh,  Norfolk. 
John,  died  an  infant. 

Sir  John,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Eohert  Carhonel,  Knt.,  by  his  tes- 
tament, proved  in  1425,  mentions  his  lordships  of  Badingham,  and 
Saxham's  manor,  in  Badingham,  Dalingho,  and  Greeting;  and  £3 
per  annum,  in  Cratfield,  in  Suffolk  ;  with  divers  others  in  Norfolk. 
He  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  in  this  parish. 
The  will  of  Sir  Eichard  Carbonel  is  dated  in  1429  ;  wherein  he 
gives  to  Margaret  his  wife,  several  silver  vessels  and  jewels  ;  and 
John  his  son,  to  have  at  her  decease,  the  moveable  altar,  and  the 
old  heir-lomb,  called  "  Caston's  Bolle."* 

On  failure  of  male  issue  of  the  Carbonels,  it  came  to  Kobert 
Lyston,  Esq.,  who  resided  here  in  1457J  and  from  him,  who  died 
in  1484,  through  one  of  his  daughters  and  co-heirs,  Margaret,  who 
married  to  Edward  Rous,  Esq.,  4th  son  of  Reginald  Rous,  of  Den- 
nington,  to  that  family  ;  in  which  it  continued  until  the  extinction 
of  that  branch,  in  the  male  bine,  at  the  death  of  Lawrence  Rous,  of 
Badingham  Hall,  in  1701.  Mary,  the  sister  of  this  Lawrence,  was 
the  wife  of  Waldegrave  Alexander.  In  1764,  it  appears  to  have 
been  vested  in  -  Fynn,  clerk,  who  also  married  a  Rous,  probably 
another  sister  of  the  above  Lawrence  Rous. 

Colston  Hall  belonged  to  the  family  of  Verehaugh.  Elizabeth, 
the  only  daughter  and  heir  general  of  Thomas  Verehaugh,  Esq., 
married  Sir  Jeffrey  Burwell,  of  Rougham,  in  this  county,  Knt.,  who 

*  Sir  Robert  Carbonel  married  an  heiress  of  Caston  ;  and  most  old  families  had 
anciently  some  particular  vessel  that  passed  from  father  to  son,  which  was  carefully 
preserved,  and  highly  esteemed. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  377 

left  an  only  daughter  and  heiress,  Mary,  wife  to  Eobert  Walpole, 
Esq.,  of  Houghton,  in  Norfolk.  In  1764,  it  belonged  to  Eowland 
Holt,  Esq. ;  and  the  manors  of  Colston  Hall,  and  Badingham  Hall, 
were  then  vested  in  Mileson  Edgar,  Esq.,  of  the  Ked  House,  near 
Ipswich.  The  latter  is  now  the  joint  property  of  Sir  Edward  Hall 
Alderson,  Knt.,  and  his  brothers. 

Upnall  Hall  (formerly  called  "  Oken  Hall"),  in  this  parish,  in 
1655  belonged  to  the  Cornwallis  family  :  Catherine,  late  wife  of 

John  Cornwallis,  third  daughter  of Blennerhasset,  is  buried  in 

this  parish  church;  and  William  Cotton,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1616, 
also  Lucy  his  wife,  daughter  of  Keginald  Eous,  Esq.,  of  tlu's  parish. 
She  deceased  in  1621. 

John  Waldegrave,  Gent.,  of  the  family  of  Waldegrave,  of  Bures, 
built  a  house  here,  and  left  it  to  his  daughters  and  co-heirs  ;  one  of 
whom  married  Samuel  Borrett,  Gent.  The  other  married  an  Alex- 
ander, and  was  mother  of  Waldegrave  Alexander,  who  married  Mary, 
the  sister  of  Lawrence  Kous,  of  Badingham  Hall,  as  above  stated. 

About  the  year  1730,  the  Kev.  Barrington  Blomfield,  D.D.,  rec- 
tor and  patron  of  this  living,  built  the  parsonage  house,  near  the 
church.  In  1704,  Mr.  Syer  held  them:  the  Eev.  Eobert  Gorton  is 
the  present  patron  and  incumbent. 

ARMS. — Alexander:  azure;  a  chevron  between  three  talbots' 
heads  erased,  argent,  collared,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — In  1715,  Elizabeth  Eous,  widow,  bequeathed  £52, 
to  the  intent  that  six  two-penny  loaves  of  bread  should  be  delivered 
every  Sunday,  at  this  parish  church,  to  such  of  the  poor  of  Bading- 
ham as  should  be  present  at  divine  service,  and  sermon  ;  and  Do- 
rothy Eous,  her  daughter,  by  her  will,  dated  in  1735,  bequeathed 
£150,  to  be  added  to  the  former  legacy.  These  sums  were  laid  out 
in  the  purchase  of  three  pieces  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Framling- 
ham,  called  "  Oldway  Pieces,"  containing  about  ten  acres ;  these 
lands  produce  a  rental  of  £24  per  annum,  which,  after  a  deduction 
for  land-tax,  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  bread,  of  which  8s.  6d. 
worth  is  distributed  every  Sunday,  and  the  remainder  generally  on 
Whit-Sunday. — A  benefaction  of  £10,  given  by  a  person  named 
Holland,  appears  to  have  been  laid  out,  with  other  money  subscribed 
by  the  inhabitants,  in  the  purchase  of  a  house;  used  for  the  residence 
of  poor  people.  It  is  mentioned  in  a  parish  terrier,  dated  in  1801, 
that  a  sum  of  £50  had  been  devised ;  of  the  interest  of  which,  40s. 
a  year  were  for  the  clerk  and  sexton's  wages,  and  10s.  a  year  were 


378  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

to  be  distributed  every  St.  Stephen's  day,  to  the  poor  of  the  parish. 
These  sums  have  not  been  paid  as  above,  for  several  years. 


BEDINGFIELD. — BADINGAFELDA,  or  BADINGHEFELDA. 

Ogerus  de  Pugeys,  a  Norman  Knight,  came  into  England  with 
the  Conqueror,  and  was  one  of  the  four  Knights,  of  the  Lord  Malet, 
of  the  honour  of  Eye,  in  this  county ;  and  had  a  grant  of  this  ma- 
nor and  advowson  from  that  nobleman ;  who  from  this  parish  as- 
sumed the  name  of  Bedingfield. 

Peter  de  Bedingfield,  with  the  consent  of  Arnold,  his  son,  about 
1156,  granted  the  advowson  of  this  parish  church  to  the  Prior  and 
Convent  of  Snape,  in  this  county.  The  lordship  subsequently  be- 
came vested  in  that  house.  Gerald  de  Bedingfield,  son  of  Arnold, 
lived  in  the  reign  of  King  Richard  I.,  when  Sampson,  Abbot  of 
Bury,  granted  him  lands  in  this  parish.  The  family  continued  to 
reside  here,  after  this,  for  many  generations,  but  removed  to  Red- 
lingfield ;  when  they  obtained  a  grant  of  that  Monastery. 

Sir  Peter  de  Bedingfield  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Ro- 
bert Bacon.  His  will  was  proved  in  1371,  wherein  he  directs  his 
body  to  be  interred  in  the  church-yard  of  Bedingfield  St.  Mary ; 
bequeathing  money  for  the  making  of  a  window  in  that  church,  be- 
fore the  altar  of  St.  James,  and  for  a  new  porch  to  be  built  over  the 
place  of  his  interment.  This  was  dated  at  Bedingfield. 

Edmund  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  the  third  in  descent  from  Sir  Peter, 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert,  and  sister  and  sole  heiress 
of  Sir  Thomas  Tudenham,  Knt.  His  will  is  also  dated  at  Beding- 
field, in  1451 ;  and  directs  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  church-yard 
there.  Her  will  is  dated  at  Ereswell,  in  Lackford  hundred,  in  1474 ; 
wherein  she  gives  to  the  church  of  Bedingfield,  where  her  husband 
was  buried,  46s.  8d.,  for  a  vestment  in  memory  of  herself  and  husband. 
She  was  buried  at  Ereswell.  As  sole  heir  to  her  brother,  she  died 
seized  of  divers  lordships  in  this  county,  Norfolk,  and  Cambridge- 
shire ;  the  former  inheritance  of  the  Weyland  and  Tudenham  families. 

Sir  Thomas  Bedingfield,  Knt.,  their  son  and  heir,  deceased  in 
1453,  and  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Waldgrave, 
Esq.,  of  Waldgrave,  in  Northamptonshire,  the  same  year ;  and  de- 
sired to  be  buried  in  the  church-yard  of  Bedingfield,  by  the  porch 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

Xvhich  was  built  over  the  body  of  Sir  Peter  Bedingfield,  Knt.  This 
lady  appears  to  have  been  the  last  of  the  family  interred  here  :  Sir 
Thomas,  her  husband,  died  in  Northamptonshire,  and  was  buried  at 
Waldgrave,  in  that  county. 

Edmund,  their  son  and  heir,  then  a  minor,  upon  the  death  of 
Margaret,  his  grandmother,  succeeded  to  her  large  inheritance.  On 
the  coronation  of  King  Richard  III.,  he  was  created  K.B.,  and  ob- 
tained a  Royal  Patent  to  erect  a  Manor  House  at  Oxburgh,  in  Nor- 
folk, in  1482,  from  King  Edward  IV.  He  was  in  such  high  esteem 
with  Henry  VII.,  for  his  eminent  services,  that  he  paid  him  a  Royal 
visit,  at  Oxburgh ;  which  has  continued  ever  since  the  chief  seat  of 
the  family. 

James  Bedingfield  (second  sou  of  Sir  Peter,  and  brother  of  Sir 
Thomas  Bedingfield,  ancestor  of  the  Oxburgh  family),  who  was  li- 
ving in  1350,  married  Alice,  daughter  and  heir  of  Peter  de  Fleming; 
by  whom  he  acquired  Fleming's  Hall  and  manor,  in  this  parish. 
Thomas  Bedingfield,  of  Bedingfield,  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  VII. 
and  VIII.  (his  descendant  in  the  fourth  generation),  married  Joan, 
daughter  of  Roger  Busarde,  of  Ditchingham,  in  Norfolk ;  and  thus 
obtained  that  estate,  where  his  descendant  still  resides. 

The  manor  and  advowson  that  did  belong  to  the  Priory  at  Snape, 
were  granted  by  King  Henry  VIII.,  to  Cardinal  Wolsey ;  and  in  the 
following  reign,  to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk ;  became  afterwards 
vested  in  the  above  branch  of  the  Bedingfield  family,  and  so  con- 
tinues, John  James  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  of  Ditchingham  Hall,  being 
the  present  lord  and  patron  ;  whose  youngest  son,  James  Beding- 
field, clerk,  now  holds  the  incumbency.* 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  23A.  IE.  30p.  of  land, 
in  three  pieces,  in  the  parishes  of  Debenham  and  Kenton ;  which  lets 
at  £35  a  year.  It  is  vested  in  trustees,  to  apply  the  same  towards 
the  charges  of  this  parish,  the  payment  of  fifteenths,  and  for  the  help 
and  support  of  the  town  of  Bedingfield.  The  rents,  after  the  payment 
of  outgoings,  in  land-tax,  quit  rents,  &c.,  are  applied  to  the  repairs 
of  the  church,  and  other  expenses  of  the  churchwardens'  office ;  and 
the  residue  is  applied  with  the  rates. — In  1547,  Stephen  Pake  gave, 
by  will,  a  pighde  and  pasture,  called  Denton's,  in  Bedingfield,  con- 
taining 4^  acres,  or  thereabouts,  which  lets  for  £10  a  year;  and  the 
rent  is  distributed  among  poor  persons  in  the  parish,  in  different 
•sums,  according  to  the  size  of  their  families. — Philip  Bedingfield, 

*  See  also  parish  of  Darsham,  in  Blithing  hundred. 


380  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

who  died  in  1673,  devised  the  yearly  rent  of  £3,  out  of  his  lands  and 
tenements  in  this  parish,  to  he  paid  to  the  vicar  of  Bedingfield. 


BEDFIELD. 

Baron  Eohert  Malet  gave  the  lordship  and  advowson  of  this  pa- 
rish, to  the  Priory  of  the  Benedictine  Monks  of  Eye,  of  which  he  was 
the  founder.  At  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  Anthony  Rous,  Esq., 
obtained  from  King  Henry  VIII.,  a  grant  of  £he  same.  They  con- 
tinue in  that  family,  the  Earl  of  Stradbrook  being  now  lord  and 
patron. 

In  1655,  Bedfield  Hall  belonged  to  Edward  Dunstan,  Gent., 
whose  sole  daughter  and  heir,  Elizabeth,  married  to  Sir  Kobert  Drury, 
Bart.,  of  Kidlesworth,  in  Norfolk.  Thomas  Dunstan,  of  this  parish, 
in  1642,  for  the  defence  of  Parliament,  lent  £20,  and  Edward  Dun- 
stan, the  same  sum,  and  Simon  Jeffrey,  of  Bedfield,  lent  £10. 

In  the  5th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  John  Chapman  (alias  Barker) 
was  required  to  shew  by  what  tide  he  held  the  manor  of  Bedfield. 

CHARITIES. — The  poors'  estate  here,  the  acquisition  of  which  is 
unknown,  comprises  two  houses,  occupied  by  poor  persons  rent  free; 
and  a  barn  and  39  acres  of  land,  let  at  £5Q  a  year. — The  rents  of 
this  land,  after  necessary  deductions,  and  the  expense  of  an  annual 
dinner  of  the  trustees,  is  laid  out  in  coals  and  clothing,  which  are 
distributed  among  poor  persons  of  the  parish. 


BRUNDISH. — BRUNDYSSCH,  or  BURNEDYSSCH. 

In  Dennington,  on  the  borders  of  this  parish,  is  a  large  moat 
called  "  Runton's  Moat,"  where  it  is  said  was  formerly  a  mansion 
and  the  manor  house  of  Brandish,  which  was  burnt  down,  together 
with  the  court  books ;  since  which  time  all  the  lands  in  Brandish 
and  Tannington  have  been  free. 

Walter  de  Rungeton,  and  John  his  son,  were  living  in  the  1 5th 
of  King  Edward  I. ;  and  in  the  7th  of  the  following  reign,  William 
de  Rungeton  was  fined  to  the  King  in  two  marks,  to  be  pardoned 
for  having  acquired  the  manors  of  Burnedissh  and  Tatington,  with- 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  381 

out  the  King's  license  ;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  again  paid  a  fine 
of  40s.  for  his  pardon,  in  having  obtained  of  William  do  Bovill  the 
manor  of  Dallinghoo,  and  the  advowson  of  that  parish  church,  with- 
out the  King's  license. 

In  the  20th  of  King  Richard  II.,  Sir  Thomas  Craven,  Knt.,  con- 
veyed to  Sir  William  Argentein,  Knt.,  Edmund  de  Rungetou,  and 
others,  the  manor  of  Frostenden,  with  the  advowson  of  the  church 
there,  and  lands  in  Frostenden,  and  adjoining  parishes.  The  manor 
of  Rungeton's,  in  tlu's  parish,  in  the  15th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  was 
the  property  of  John  Everard,  Esq. 

In  a  niche  of  the  wall  of  this  parish  church  is  the  figure  of  a 
priest,  in  brass,  with  an  inscription  in  old  French,  which  has  been 
thus  rendered,  "  Sir  Esmound  de  Burnedish,  formerly  parson  of  the 
church  of  Castre,  lies  here;  may  God  have  mercy  on  his  soul."  He 
was  instituted  to  the  rectory  of  Caistor  in  1349,  and  in  1354  was 
Chaplain  to  the  Countess  of  Norfolk,  at  Framlingham  Castle.  He 
was  probably  a  native  of  this  parish.  From  the  situation  in  which 
the  monument  is  placed,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  his  having  been 
a  liberal  benefactor  to  the  church  here,  if  not  the  founder  of  the  pre- 
sent fabric. 

Sir  John  de  Pyeshale,  priest,  rector  of  Cawston,  in  Norfolk,  in 
1371,  on  the  presentation  of  William  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk, 
lord  of  Eye,  Framlingham,  and  Cawston,  was  concerned  in  founding 
the  Chantry  here,  as  mentioned  by  Kirby ;  being  one  of  the  executors 
of  the  noble  Earl. 

The  family  of  Wyard  were  seated  here,  and  many  of  them  interred 
in  this  parish  church.*  The  family  of  Colby  were  also  resident 
here ;  John  Colby,  who  deceased  in  1559,  and  Francis  Colby,  with 
Margery  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  Lord  Wentworth,  were  interred  in 
this  parish  church. 

In  the  7th  of  Edward  II.,  Brandish,  Badingham,  Dennington, 
LaxfieW,  Stradbroke,  and  Tannington,  contributed  to  the  reparation 
of  the  King's  park  pales,  &c.,  at  Eye. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  consists  of  a  messuage,  used  as  a 
poor-house,  and  four  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  same,  let  at  ;£6  a 
year.  It  is  unkown  when  this  property  was  settled  to  public  uses. 
The  rents  of  the  land  are  applied  about  the  repairs  and  ornaments 
of  the  church,  in  lieu  of  a  church  rate.  Walter  de  Suffield  (or  Cal- 
thorpe),  Bishop  of  Norwich,  bequeathed  to  the  poor  of  this  parish 

*  See  page  122. 


382  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE, 

ten  marks,  at  the  request  of  William,  rector  of  Dennington.  His 
will  bears  date  at  the  Palace,  at  Hoxne,  on  Monday  before  Mid- 
summer day,  1256. 


CARLETON,  or  CARLETUNA. 

In  or  about  1330,  John  de  Framlingham,  rector  of  Kelsalc,  founded 
a  Chantry  in  this  parish,  for  three  Chaplains  to  pray  for  the  soul  of 
Alice,  first  wife  of  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and 
daughter  of  Sir  Roger  Halys,  of  Harwich,  Knt.  In  the  36th  of  King 
Henry  VIII.,  1544,  Wm.  Hunnynge  (or  Honing),  obtained  a  grant 
of  the  same,  together  with  the  lordship  of  Carleton. 

This  family  is  supposed  to  have  derived  its  name  from  a  parish  in 
Norfolk,  so  called ;  and  the  above  William  Honing,  Esq.,  was  Clerk 
of  the  Signet  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  VIII.,  Edward  VI.,  and  probably 
Elizabeth  ;  and  it  is  presumed  was  introduced  into  service  at  Court 
by  the  circumstance  of  his  father  being  employed  as  fishmonger  to 
the  Royal  household.  In  1547,  he  received  from  King  Edward  VI., 
a  confirmation  of  certain  tenements  in  London,  and  Suffolk. 

He  married  Frances,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Cutler,  of  Eye,  Esq. ; 
and,  in  1558,  during  the  reign  of  Philip  and  Mary,  received  in  con- 
junction with  his  brother-in-law,  Nicholas  Cutler,  Esq.,  a  grant  of 
the  manor  of  Rishangles  ;  and  in  1566,  he  acquired  the  manor  of 
Manton's,  in  Hitcham,  both  in  this  county.  Mr.  Honing  was  re- 
turned to  Parliament  for  the  borough  of  Orford,  in  1553.  He  died 
the  17th  November,  1569,  and  was  buried  at  Eye. 

Edward  Honing,*  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir,  was  a  Receiver  of  Crown 
Rents  in  Suffolk,  sat  in  Parliament  for  Dunwich,  in  1588,  and  for 
Eye,  in  1592,  1601,  and  1603.  The  manor  of  Darsham,  in  Bli- 
thing  hundred,  was  granted  to  him  from  the  Crown,  in  1575  ;  where 
he  soon  after  erected  a  family  mansion,  and  was  a  resident  in  1579  ; 
was  of  Eye  in  1589,  and  of  London  in  1592.  He  received  other 
Crown  grants  in  1595,  and  1598. 

Mr.  Honings   married  Ursula,  daughter  and  heir  of  Anthony 
Wingfield,  of  Sibton,  in  this  county,  Esq. ;  by  whom  he  had  a  nu- 
merous family.     He  deceased  in  1 609,  and  was  buried  at  Eye ;  when 
Wingfield  Honings,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir,  succeeded  ;  who  was  ad- 
*  By  mistake  called  Hammings,  in  our  account  of  Darsbam. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  383 

mitted  of  Gray's  Inn,  1604,  Receiver  General  of  Revenues  in  Suffolk 
and  Cambridgeshire  jointly  with  his  father,  and  resided  at  Eye. 

A  curious  picture,  which  represents  the  portraits  of  the  Clerk  of 
the  Privy  Council  (Wm.  Honing),  and  his  very  numerous  family, 
was  purchased  more  than  fifty  years  ago,  hy  Mr.  Robert  Loder,  of 
Woodbridge,  bookseller ;  and  sold,  shortly  after,  to  the  Marquess  of 
Donegal.  A  copy  in  water  colours,  made  by  Isaac  Johnson,  in  1787, 
for  Mr.  Nichols,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son,  J.  B.  Nichols, 
Esq.,  F.S.A.,  at  Hammersmith,  and  measures  19  inches  by  13j 
inches :  the  original  painting  measures  four  feet  four  inches  in 
breadth,  by  three  feet  three  inches  in  height.* 

In  1655, Osborne,  Gent.,  was  owner  of  Carlton  Hall,  an 

estate  then  worth  between  £200  and  £300  per  annum  ;  he  was  a 
Kentish  man,  by  birth.  It  is  now  the  property  of  Edward  Fuller, 
Esq.,  of  Preston  street,  Brighton ;  son  and  heir  of  Osborne  Fuller, 
Esq.,  late  of  Carlton  Hall.  The  advowson  was  part  of  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Priory  of  Campsey. 

ARMS. — Honing:  quarterly,  gules  and  vert ;  a  lion  rampant,  ar- 
gent.    Cutler,  of  Eye :  azure  ;  three  lions'  heads  erased,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £40,  given  by  Stephen  Alcock,  with  an 
addition  of  £5,  the  gift  of  William  Feveryare,  was  laid  out  by  the 
last-named  benefactor,  in  the  year  1659,  in  the  purchase  of  a  piece 
of  land,  containing  two  acres,  called  "  Marvin's  Meadow,"  in  the 
parish  of  Swelling,  and  half  an  acre  of  copyhold  land  in  the  same 
parish,  held  of  the  manor  of  Swefling  Campsey,  called  "  Starkwea- 
ther Hopper."  These  lands  produce  a  rent  of  £6  a  year ;  out  of 
which  the  sum  of  £l  is  paid  the  rector  or  minister,  to  preach  a  ser- 
mon on  the  5th  of  November,  yearly,  in  this  parish  church,  and  the 
residue  thereof  is  distributed  in  bread  and  money  on  that  day,  among 
the  poor  persons  of  the  parish. — In  1716,  Stephen  Eade  gave,  by 
will,  a  rent  charge  upon  his  lands  in  Carlton,  of  £4  a  year,  to  be 
disposed  of  as  follows : — 50s.  a  year  for  bread  to  the  poor,  to  be 
distributed  at  the  church  on  Sundays ;  10s.  a  year  to  the  minister, 
for  a  sermon  on  Christmas  day ;  and  20s.  to  be  given  to  the  poor 
on  that  day.  This  annuity  is  received  by  the  churchwardens,  and 
distributed  accordingly. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  house,  with 

*  For  a  particular  description  of  this  picture,  see  "  Collectanea  Topographica  and 
Genealogica,1'  Vol.  vii.,  p.  394  ;  also  an  excellent  pedigree  of  the  family  of  Honing 
(or  Ilonings),  communicated  by  David  Elisha  Davy,  Esq.,  of  Ufford  ;  from  which 
the  above  account  is  derivedt 


384  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

out-buildings,  and  36  acres  of  land,  in  this  parish  ;  rent  £46  a  year. 
This  is  received  by  the  parishioners  at  a  public  meeting,  and  is  car- 
ried to  the  same  account  with  the  monies  raised  by  the  overseers  by 
rate :  this  course  of  application  has  existed  as  long  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained. 


DENHAM,  or  DEHAM. 

The  manor  and  advowson  of  this  vicarage  has  passed  as  the  Hoxne 
estate;  in  1764,  it  was  the  property  of  Lord  Viscount  Maynard, 
and  now  belongs  to  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  of  Oakley,  and 
Brome,  in  this  county. 


DENNINGTON. — DONINGTON,  or  DINGINETUNA. 

William  Lord  Malet,  who  was  with  the  Conqueror  at  the  decisive 
battle  of  Hastings,  had  by  Hesilia  his  wife,  a  son  Kobert,  to  whom 
the  King  granted  the  honour  of  Eye,  and  divers  manors  in  this  and 
other  counties,  amongst  which  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was  in- 
cluded. This  Eobert  Malet  was  Great  Chamberlain  of  England, 
under  King  Henry  I. ;  but  in  the  2nd  of  that  reign  was  banished, 
and  deprived  of  his  possessions  in  England,  for  adhering  to  Eobert 
Curtois  (or  Shorthose),  Duke  of  Normandy,  that  King's  eldest 
brother. 

It  soon  after  became  the  estate  of  Stephen,  Earl  of  Bologne,  af- 
terwards King  Stephen,  by  grant  from  his  uncle,  King  Henry  I., 
and  subsequently  became  vested  in  Henry,  Duke  of  Lorraine  ;  who 
gave  it  to  Godefrid  de  Warra,  and  it  was  confirmed  to  him  in  the 
10th  of  King  John :  at  the  same  time  the  men  of  Laxfield,  had 
eight  score  acres  of  arable  land  in  the  park  of  Dennington,  the  gift 
of  the  said  Henry,  and  forty  acres  elsewhere,  in  the  said  park. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  King  Edward  I.,  Sir  John  de 
Bovile  died  without  issue,  seized  of  this  manor,  with  Badingham, 
Dallinghoo,  Thorpe,  Alderton,  Greeting,  Boulge,  &c. ;  and  in  the 
3rd  of  that  reign,  Joan  de  Bovile,  probably  his  widow,  and  Maud 
de  Hardichishall,  held  the  same  r  in  the  14th  of  that  King,  Philip 


» 
HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  385 

do  Heveningham  died  seized  of  Dennington  ;  and  in  the  25th,  Ralph 
de  Hardichishall  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  this  parish,  Bading- 
ham,  &c. 

Sir  John,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  William  de  Bovile,  and  nephew  of 
the  above  Sir  John  de  Bovile,  deceased  towards  the  latter  part  of  the 
above  reign,  without  issue,  seized  of  the  said  lordships ;  which  de- 
scended to  William,  the  son  of  William  de  Bovile,  his  brother,  who 
did  homage  in  the  30th  of  Edward  I.,  to  that  King,  for  his  lands  in 
Suffolk  and  Essex  ;  and  in  the  7th  of  the  following  reign,  he  granted 
the  manors  of  Dennington  and  Badingham,  with  the  advowson  of 
those  churches,  to  Richard  de  Wingfield,  and  Roger  de  Wingfield, 
for  their  lives.  He  deceased  the  13th  of  King  Edward  II.,  1320. 

By  Joan  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  Sir  James  Creke,  he  left  issue, 
three  sons,  John,  William,  and  Joshua ;  and  a  daughter,  Margaret. 
John,  the  eldest,  died  without  issue ;  and  Sir  William  de  Bovile,  the 
second  son,  inherited  the  paternal  estates  in  Suffolk  and  Essex. 
He  married  Joan,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Herbert  Dalenson  (or  Dalizon) . 

Sir  John  de  Bovile,  their  son  and  heir,  married  Petronel,  the 
daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Robert  Eckles,  Kut.,  by  whom  he  had  an 
only  daughter  and  heir,  Margaret ;  who  married  first,  to  Sir  John 
Carbonel,  Knt.,  and  secondly,  to  Sir  Thomas  Wingfield,  Knt.  The 
Sir  William  Wingfield  mentioned  by  Weever  as  lord  of  this  manor, 
and  patron  of  the  church,  where  he  was  buried  in  1398,  was  the 
youngest  brother  of  the  Sir  Thomas  Wingfield,  above-named.  That 
author  also  mentions  a  William  Wingfield,  Esq.,  buried  here.  He 
•was  son  and  heir  of  the  above  Sir  William,  and  died  without  issue, 
in  the  6th  of  King  Henry  V.,  1418.  Sir  Robert  Wingfield,  who 
died  in  1409,  was  also  interred  in  this  parish  church. 

The  family  of  Phelip  became  seated  here  in  the  time  of  King 
Richard  II.,  if  not  earlier.  William,  son  of  Richard  Phelip,  of  this 
parish,  died  in  the  8th  of  the  following  reign,  1407  ;  and  William 
Phelip,  Esq.,  sen.,  his  son,  succeeded.  He  married  Julian,  daugh- 
ter and  co-heir  of  Sir  Thomas  Erpingham,  K.G.,  by  Joan  his  se- 
cond wife,  the  beautiful  daughter  of  Sir  William  Clopton,  of  Wick- 
hambrook,  in  this  county ;  by  whom  he  had  issue,  two  daughters, 
and  co-heirs.  Catherine,  the  eldest,  married  Sir  Andrew  Boteler, 
Knt. :  she  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  deceased  in  1460,  was  interred, 
by  her  husband,  at  Sudbury.  Elizabeth,  her  sister,  married  John 
Clowtynge,  Esq.,  of  Laxfield. 

Sir  John  Phelip,  Knt.,  of  this  parish,  was  son  of  John,  a  younger 


380  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

brother  of  the  above-named  Kicliard,  and  William,  son  of  this  Sir 
John  Phelip,  Knt.,  succeeded.  In  or  before  the  10th  of  King  Henry 
IV.,  he  married  Joan,  the  youngest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas, 
Lord  Bardolf. 

Sir  William  was  a  valiant  soldier  under  Henry  V. ;  and  while  at' 
tending  the  King  in  Normandy,  was  created  a  Knight  of  the  most 
noble  order  of  the  Garter,  at  St.  George's  Feast,  held  by  Humphry, 
Duke  of  Gloucester,  the  King's  Lieutenant,  and  was  installed  by 
proxy :  at  the  death  of  that  victorious  King,  holding  the  office  of 
Treasurer  of  his  Majesty's  Household,  he  had  the  chief  management 
of  the  Eoyal  funeral. 

In  the  8th  of  the  following  reign,  he  was  retained  to  serve  the 
King  in  his  wars  in  France,  with  19  men  at  arms,  and  60  archers, 
for  one  year  ;  and  performed  the  service.  In  the  1 5th  of  the  same 
reign,  he  founded  a  Chantry  in  this  parish  church,  and  the  next  year 
was  appointed  Lord  Chamberlain  of  the  King's  Household,  and  had 
the  title  of  Lord  Bardolf. 

His  will  bears  date  the  1st  of  December,  1438,  and  a  codicil  to 
the  same,  the  July  following ;  appointing  by  the  former,  that  he 
should  be  buried  with  his  ancestors  before  the  altar  of  St.  Margaret, 
in  Dennington  church ;  and  by  the  latter,  that  he  should  be  buried 
in  the  churchyard  there.  He  died  on  the  6th  of  June,  the  19th  of 
Henry  VI.  Joan,  Lady  Bardolf,  his  wife,  survived  until  the  25th 
of  the  same  reign. 

Her  will  was  proved  April  3,  1447 ;  by  which  she  bequeathed 
her  body  to  be  buried,  wherever  she  might  die,  in  the  Chapel  of  St. 
Margaret,  at  Dennington.  She  assigns  a  purple  gown,  with  small 
sleeves,  to  adorn  the  sepulchre  of  the  Body  of  Christ,  in  the  church 
of  Dennington ;  also  she  assigns  to  the  Chantry  of  St.  Margaret, 
at  Dennington,  a  black  bed,  with  eagles  of  tapestry  work,  &c. ;  and 
she  further  wills  that  out  of  her  rents,  and  goods,  and  chattels,  her 
executors  should  buy  lands,  and  tenements,  to  the  value  of  twelve 
marks  per  annum,  and  give  the  same  to  the  Master  and  Fellows  of 
the  Chantry,  called  Phelip's  Chantry,  in  Dennington,  in  pure  and 
perpetual  alms,  in  augmentation  of  their  revenues ;  and  to  find  a 
proper  Chaplain,  to  pray  for  the  souls  of  her  said  lord  and  husband, 
according  to  the  ordinances  and  statutes  of  the  said  Chantry. 

In  the  38th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  the  two  Chantries,  called  Phe- 
lip's and  Lady's  Chantry,  the  capital  messuage  and  mansion  of  Phe- 
lip's, two  messuages  and  tenements,  called  Lion's  and  Book's,  in 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  387 

Dennington,  a  close  called  Beccles  Close,  in  Worlingworth,  the 
closes  called  Salver's,  in  Brandeston,  the  manor  of  Glemhara  Parva, 
and  other  lands,  &c.,  in  Dennington,  Tannington,  Badingham, 
Laxfield,  and  Brundish,  also  the  advowson  of  the  rectory  and  church 
of  Glemham  Parva,  were  granted  to  Sir  Richard  Fulmerston,  and 
his  heirs,  of  the  King  in  capite,  by  the  service  of  a  fortieth  part  of 
a  Knight's  fee. 

Their  only  daughter  and  heiress,  Elizabeth,  married  John,  Lord 
Beaumont,  Premier  Viscount  in  England,  and  a  great  favourite  with 
his  Sovereign,  who  granted  him  for  his  continued  services  many  pri- 
vileges. Wm.  Lord  Bardolf,  devised  this  estate  to  Henry,  eldest  son 
of  Viscount  Beaumont,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife.  He  deceased  in  1442, 
aged  about  9  years  ;  and  previous  to  the  decease  of  Lady  Bardolf, 
his  grandmother ;  at  whose  death  William,  his  brother,  succeeded. 

He  adhered  to  the  Lancastrian  interest;  was  taken  prisoner  at  the 
battle  of  Towton,  in  1460 ;  was  attainted  by  Parliament  the  follow- 
ing year ;  but  on  the  accession  of  King  Henry  VII.  to  the  Crown, 
was  restored  in  blood.  He  deceased  in  1507,  without  issue.  His 
second  wife,  Elizabeth,  survived,  and  re-married,  John,  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford. She  held  this  estate  in  dower ;  and  Sir  Richard  Wingfield, 
Knt.,  in  the  10th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  had  a  grant  of  the  reversion 
of  the  same,  after  the  decease  of  the  said  Elizabeth. 

In  the  17th  of  the  same  reign,  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  ac- 
knowledged that  he  held  of  the  King  in  capite,  the  manor  of  Den- 
nington, and  paid  relief;  and  in  the  34th,  the  said  King,  by  letters 
patent,  granted  to  Anthony  Rous,  Esq.,  the  manor  of  this  parish, 
with  Brundish  Tyes,  in  Cretingham,  Clopton  Hall,  Ilketshall  Bar- 
dolfs,  and  the  advowson  of  Dennington  church,  to  him  and  his  heirs 
for  ever.  He  died  in  or  about  1553,  and  the  lordship  has  continued 
in  his  house  ever  since  ;  John  Edward  Cornwallis  Rous,  2nd  Earl 
of  Stradbroke,  being  the  present  proprietor. 

The  ancestors  of  the  noble  Earl  had  been  seated  liere  for  many 
ages  prior  to  the  above  grant,  and  derive  from  Peter  le  Rous,  who 
married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Hubbard,  Esq.,  of  this 
parish,  and  who  appears  to  be  the  common  ancestor  of  all  the  dif- 
ferent banches  of  this  ancient  and  distinguished  family,  seated  in  di- 
vers places  in  this  county.  William,  grandson  of  the  above  Peter 
le  Rous,  married  Adelyne,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Clowtynge, 
Esq.,  of  Laxfield,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of 
William  Phelip,  sen.,  Esq.,  of  Dennington. 


388  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

In  the  37th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  1545,  the  above  Anthony  Rous, 
Esq.  (then  Sir  Anthony),  purchased  Henham  Hall,  in  Blithing  hun- 
dred ;  which  soon  after  became  the  family  residence,  for  in  1550, 
Thomas  Bous,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  is  designated  of  Hen- 
ham  Hall. 

Adam  de  Skaklethorp,  rector  of  Cawston,  in  Norfolk,  in  1348, 
and  a  Prebendary  of  Payne's  Hall,  in  Lincoln  diocese,  was  a  very 
eminent  and  wealthy  person,  and  a  great  benefactor  towards  the 
building  of  the  south  aisle  of  this  parish  church,  and  to  the  repair 
of  the  chapel  and  altar  of  St.  Mary,  at  the  east  end  of  the  north 
aisle,  and  St.  Margaret's  chapel  and  altar,  at  the  east  end  of  the 
south  aisle  here.  He  was  buried  in  Cawston  chancel,  before  the 
principal  image  of  St.  Agues.  His  will  was  proved  in  1370. 

The  Chantry  founded  by  Sir  William  Phelip,  Lord  Bardolf,  in 
the  15th  of  King  Henry  VI.,  was  at  St.  Margaret's  altar  in  this  pa- 
rish church,  for  the  good  estate  of  himself,  and  Joan  his  wife,  du- 
ring their  lives,  and  for  their  souls  after  their  decease ;  as  also  for 
the  souls  of  King  Henry  IV.,  and  King  Henry  V.,  and  all  the  faith- 
ful deceased.  He  appointed  two  Chaplains  to  officiate  daily  in  the 
said  Chantry,  and  endowed  it  with  £20  per  annum.  In  1306,  our 
Lady's  Chantry  in  this  church  is  mentioned,  as  of  the  annual  value  of 
about  £9 ;  this  was  at  the  altar  of  St.  Mary,  in  the  north  aisle. 

He  also  gave  to  this  church,  after  the  decease  of  Joan  his  wife,  a 
certain  mass  book,  called  a  Gradual,  a  silver  censer,  and  a  legend 
for  the  souls  of  Sir  John  Phelip,  Knt.,  his  own,  and  his  wife's  souls; 
as  also  for  the  souls  of  all  his  friends,  benefactors,  and  all  the  faithful. 
He  and  his  lady  were  buried  here ;  the  monument  to  their  memory 
still  remains,  but  the  inscription  is  lost.  The  figures  were  not  en- 
graved in  "  Cough's  Sepulchral  Monuments,"  but  are  described  with 
tolerable  minuteness.  In  "  Kirby's  Views,"  published  in  1748,  this 
description,  and  a  view  of  the  monument,  also  appears.  Certain 
anonymous  figures  in  "  Stothard's  Monumental  Effigies,"  which  A. 
I.  Kempe,  Esq.,  F.A.S.,  ascribes  to  William,  Lord  Bardolf,  and  his 
lady,  who  observes,  "  a  more  beautiful  specimen  of  the  military  and 
female  costume  of  the  15th  century,  than  is  afforded  by  this  monu- 
ment, can  hardly  I  think  be  found." 

In  1485,  John  Colet,  Acolyte,  aged  19  years,  was  instituted  to 
this  rectory,  who  was  afterwards  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  Dean  of 
St.  Paul's,  London;  founder  of  the  school  there.  Born  in  1466, 
and  deceased  in  1519.  Dr.  Colet,  in  1508,  occurs  Chaplain  of  the 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  38if 

free  chapel  of  St.  Margaret,  at  Hilburgh,  in  Norfolk.  The  income 
of  this  chapel  is  then  said  to  bo  £30  per  annum,  as  appears  from  a 
rental  of  the  Dean's  estate,  spiritual  and  temporal ;  which  was  a  very 
considerable  sum  in  that  age,  and  almost  equalled  that  great  living 
(as  Dr.  Knight,  in  his  life  of  the  Dean,  calls  it)  of  Dennington, 
which  is  there  said  to  be  £3 1  per  annum. 

Eobert  Wrighte,  B.D.,  who  was  rector  of  this  parish  for  thirty 
four  years,  was  second  son  of  John  Wrighte,  of  Wrighte's  Bridge, 
in  Essex.  He  married  Jane,  daughter  of  John  Butler,  Esq.,  of 
Sheby,  in  the  said  county ;  and  by  her  had  issue  four  sons.  Mr. 
Wrighte  deceased  in  1624,  and  was  buried  here.  Euseby,  Barrister 
at  Law,  liis  eldest  son,  was  thrice  married,  but  deceased  without  issue. 

2nd. — Nathan  Wrighte,  a  Merchant  and  Alderman  of  London, 
who  purchased  the  manor  of  Cranham  Hall,  in  Essex,  whose  son 
Benjamin  Wrighte,  of  Cranham  Hall,  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1660. 

3rd. — Sir  Benjamin  Wrighte,  of  Dennington,  a  Merchant  of  Lon- 
don, who  died  in  Spain,  leaving  an  only  daughter. 

4th. — Ezekiel  Wrighte,  D.D.,  rector  of  Thurcaston,  who  married 
Dorothy,  second  daughter  of  John  Onebye,  Esq.,  and  co-heir  of  her 
brother,  Sir  John  Onebye  ;  by  whom  he  left  at  his  decease,  in  1688, 
a  son  and  successor,  the  celebrated  Sir  Nathan  Wrighte,  who  suc- 
ceeded Lord  Somers  in  the  custody  of  the  Great  Seal,  as  Lord 
Keeper,  and  continued  in  that  elevated  office  until  1705,  when, 
through  the  intrigues  of  the  Dutchess  of  Marlborough,  he  received 
his  dismissal. 

Lionel  Gatford  was  instituted  in  1642,  and  in  1645,  the  living 
became  sequestered;  and  his  successor,  on  the  sequestration,  was 
one  Job  Holmsted,  an  Irishman,  and  a  very  mean  person,  compared 
with  Mr.  Gatford.  He  made  havoc  on  the  glebe,  sold  as  much 
wood  and  timber  from  it  as  came  to  £300  ;  notwithstanding,  he  died 
so  poor,  that  his  daughter  became  the  greatest  charge  to  the  parish 
which  hath  been  known  in  it  for  many  years. 

The  advowson  of  this  rectory  was  sold  by  Sir  John  Kous,  6th 
Bart.,  to  Beeston  Long,  Esq.,  in  1776.  The  present  patron  is  Ed- 
ward Daniel  Alston,  Esq.,  of  Palgrave,  in  Suffolk,  by  purchase,  in 
1841 :  the  Hon.  Frederick  Hotham,  A.M.,  Prebendary  of  Kochester, 
was  instituted  to  this  living  in  1808,  and  is  the  present  incumbent. 

ARMS. — Bovile  (see  p.  118).  Phelip:  quarterly;  gules  and  ar- 
gent ;  in  the  first  quarter,  an  eagle,  displayed,  or.  Bardolf:  azure ; 
three  cinquefoils,  or.  Rous:  sable;  a  fess  dancettee,  or,  between 


390  HUNDRED  OF  1IOXNE. 

three  crescents,  argent.     Wrighte :  azure ;  two  bars,  argent, ;  in 
chief,  three  leopards'  faces,  or. 

Mem. — Not  far  from  Frostly  Bridge,  in  this  parish,  a  few  years 
since,  some  human  skeletons  were  discovered,  in  digging  for  gravel ; 
and  Mr.  Edward  Dunthome  has  in  his  possession  two  very  ancient 
iron  spurs,  a  kind  of  halbert,  and  a  barbed  instrument,  which  were 
turned  up  by  the  plough  in  a  field  near  the  bridge. 

CHARITIES. — The  property  here,  called  the  Town  Lands,  com- 
prises the  lands  called  Cannon's  and  Cobald's,  containing  HA.  21p., 
which  appears  to  have  been  vested  in  feoffees  previous  to  the  year 
1483  :  the  rent,  about  ,£14  a  year,  is  employed  in  the  necessary  re- 
pairs of  the  parish  church,  and  in  occasionally  binding  out  poor  chil- 
dren, with  such  other  employments  for  the  benefit  of  the  parish,  as 
the  trustees,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  deem  expedient.  The  name 
of  the  donor  is  not  known. — A  workhouse  and  cottage,  and  14A. 
%n.  %P.  of  land,  called  Golding's,  and  Sowgate's,  conveyed  to  trustees 
in  1606  ;  annual  rent  about  £21 ;  expended  in  the  purchase  of  coals, 
and  distributed  to  the  poor  at  a  reduced  price.  Certain  premises, 
called  the  Queen's  Head,  used  as  a  public  house,  abutting  south  on 
the  church,  with  3R.  4p.  of  land,  which  appears  to  have  been  pur- 
chased by  the  parish,  probably  in  part  with  some  old  benefactions 
for  the  poor.  The  rent,  £20  a  year,  is  applied  for  ordinary  repairs, 
and  in  payment  of  the  interest,  and  the  gradual  liquidation  of  a  debt, 
incurred  for  repairing,  and  improvements  of  those  premises. — Three 
pieces  of  land  in  Kettleburgh,  containing  7A.  HP.,  were  purchased 
with  £102,  the  gift  of  Nathan  Wrighte,  Esq.,  and  they  were  con- 
veyed to  trustees  in  1657 :  rent  £Q  9s.  a  year,  the  whole  of  which 
is  applied  in  apprenticing  poor  children. — A  close  of  copyhold  land 
in  Framlingham,  called  Pitman's  Grove,  containing  3 A.  34p.,  was 
purchased  with  £50,  given  by  Kobert  Wrighte,  and  Nathan  Wrighte, 
to  the  intent  that  bread  and  clothing  should  be  distributed  to  the 
poor.  This  land  is  let  at  £9  a  year,  and  the  rents  are  laid  out  in 
the  purchase  of  coals,  which  are  sold  to  the  poor  at  reduced  prices. 
— In  1 688,  John  Paul  gave  to  this  parish,  and  Laxfield,  lands  in 
Cratfield,  to  the  use  of  the  poor  people  of  the  said  towns  ;  the  rents 
to  be  laid  out  in  bread,  and  cloth  for  coats,  for  poor,  aged,  or  im- 
potent men,  yearly,  at  Christmas ;  which  is  applied  accordingly. — 
The  Bell  Acre  land  produces  a  rent  charge  of  10s.  annually;  and 
£5  a  year  is  received  from  Warner's  Charity,  at  Boyton ;  and  Mill's 
Charity,  at  Framlingham,  supply  five  shillings  worth  of  bread  quar- 


HUNDRED  OF  1IOXNE.  391 

terly ;  which  is  distributed  among  poor  people  of  Dcnnington,  at 
the  church. 


FKESSINGFIELD. 

In  the  year  1300,  Edmund,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  grandson  of  King 
John,  and  lord  of  the  Honor  of  Eye,  died  seized  of  fees  in  this  pa- 
rish, Wingfield,  &c.,  belonging  to  the  manor  of  Eye,  afterwards  held 
therewith  by  the  De  la  Poles.  A  manor  in  Fressingfield  was  also 
held  by  the  Wingfields,  and  De  la  Poles,  of  which  Alienor,  wife  of 
Sir  John  Wingfield,  died  seized  in  the  49th  of  Edward  III. ;  Michael 
De  la  Pole,  the  13th  of  Richard  II. ;  and  William,  Duke  of  Suffolk, 
the  28th  of  Henry  VI. 

William  de  Veel  had  Bortreming,  in  Fressingfield,  in  the  time  of 
Edward  I.  The  manors  of  Veal's,  in  this  parish,  and  Syleham,  were 
granted  to  Henry  Jerningham,  the  1st  of  Edward  VI.  The  manor, 
with  the  mansion  of  Veal's  Hall,  and  demesne,  lately  belonged  to 
Mr.  Thomas  Etheridge,  and  are  now  the  property  of  the  Rev.  Au- 
gustus Cooper.  * 

The  manor  of  Fressingfield  Hall  (or  rather  the  demesne,  for  it 
is  supposed  that  no  manor  is  existing)  was  part  of  the  estate  of 
William  Bancroft,  Esq.,  and  afterward  of  his  daughter,  Elizabeth, 
the  wife  of  John  Wogon,  Esq.,  and  Catherine  Sancroft,  her  sister. 
It  was  subsequently  purchased  by  the  Rev.  Gervas  Holmes,  in  whose 
descendant  it  is  still  vested. 

Ufford  Hall  manor  derived  its  name  from  Robert  de  Ufford,  who 
was  lord  there  in  the  3rd  of  King  Edward  I.  It  is  situate  in  that 
part  of  the  parish  formerly  the  hamlet  of  Chepenhall,  and  is  subor- 
dinate to  that  manor.  In  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  Adam,  son  of  Sir 
Roger  le  Bevant,  Knt.,  granted  and  confirmed,  by  deed  without  date, 
to  Henry,  son  of  William  de  Sandcroft,  and  Margery  his  wife,  and 
the  heirs  of  the  said  Henry,  a  certain  messuage,  together  with  his 
houses,  and  buildings,  in  the  parish  of  Fressingfield,  in  the  hamlet 
of  Chepenhall,  with  all  his  lands  and  tenements  in  the  parish  of 
Fressingfield,  or  in  Stradbrook.  From  this  Henry,  the  manor  and 
demesnes  of  Ufford  Hall  descended,  through  Francis  Sancroft,  the 
father,  and  Thomas,  the  elder  brother  of  the  pious  and  patriotic 
Archbishop,  to  Francis  Sancroft,  Esq.,  who  in  1695,  also  purchased 
the- manor  of  Chcvenhall  (alias  Chepenhall). 


392  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

The  hamlet  of  Chepenhall,  with  a  moiety  of  the  church  of  Fres- 
singfield,  belonged  to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund's,  Bury ;  and 
ahout  the  year  1200,  this  manor,  with  those  of  Mildenhall  and 
Southwold,  were  annexed  to  the  office  of  Cellarer.  In  the  24th  of 
King  Edward  I.,  it  was  held  hy  William  de  Chepenhale,  and  Ed- 
ward de  Chepenhale.  In  the  12th  of  Henry  IV.,  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Winter,  Esq.,  of  Town  Bemingham,  in  Norfolk,  and 
Knight  of  the  Shire  for  that  county  in  1409,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife, 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  William  de  Hetherset,  released  to  Simon 
de  Felbrigge  all  her  right  in  the  manor  of  Chepenhall,  and  lands  in 
Fressingfield,  formerly  Sir  Walkeline  de  Herteshale's.  Katherine  de 
Brewse,  deceased  the  3rd  of  Kichard  II.,  seized  of  half  a  fee  in  Che- 
venhale,  and  Eressingfield. 

By  letters  patent,  dated  23rd  Sept.,  the  37th  of  Henry  VEIL,  the 
manor  of  Chepenhall  was  granted  to  Anthony  Kous,  Esq. ;  and  in 
the  10th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Nicholas  Barber  was  lord:  in  1690, 
William  Barber  held  the  same.  In  1695,  Francis  Sancroft,  Esq., 
was  owner  thereof,  and  upon  his  decease,  William  Sancroft,  his  son, 
succeeded  ;  after  whose  death,  the  manors  of  Ufford  and  Chepenhall 
were  both  enjoyed  by  Catherine,  his  widow,  for  life;  and  upon  her 
decease,  they  passed  to  his  daughters,  Elizabeth  and  Catherine. 
John  Wogan,  Esq.,  the  husband  of  Elizabeth,  purchased  Catherine's 
moiety,  but  after  the  death  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Wogan,  the  pro- 
perty was  all  sold. 

The  manor,  mansion,  and  demesne  lands  of  Ufford  Hall,  were 
purchased  by  Sir  John  Major,  Bart.,  and  are  now  the  estate  of  Lord 
Henniker.  The  manor,  mansion,  and  demesne  lands  of  Chepenhall, 
were  purchased  by  Mr.  Thomas  Etheridge ;  who  in  1827,  sold  them 
to  Alexander  Adair,  Esq.,  of  Flixton  Hall.  The  residue  of  the  Sand- 
croft*  estates  was  sold  to  the  Eev.  Gervas  Holmes,  clerk,  of  Gawdy 
Hall,  in  Redenhall,  one  of  the  co -heirs  of  the  family,  and  other  pur- 
chasers. William  Sancroft  Holmes,  Esq.,  of  Gawdy  Hall,  is  now 
the  owner  of  Fressingfield  Hall,  and  several  farms. 

Witlingham  manor  was  held  in  the  3rd  of  Edward  I.,  by  Richard 
de  Brews,  second  son  of  Sir  William  de  Brews  and  Maud  his  wife ; 
whose  lineal  descendant,  William  Brews,  Esq.,  deceased  in  1489, 
seized  of  this  estate.  By  the  marriage  of  Thomasyne,  one  of  his 
daughters  and  co-heirs,  with  Sir  Thomas  Hansard,  the  manor  of 

*  For  Bancroft's  pedigree  see  Doyly's  Life  of  the  Archbishop,  and  the  "  Gentle- 
man's Magazine,"  for  1841,  part  ii.,  p.  23. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  393 

Witlingham  cum  Wakclycrs,  as  it  is  styled;  came  to  that  family ; 
and  thence,  successively,  to  the  Berners,  Bakers,  Hanmers,  and 
Bunburys.  Thomas  Baker,  Esq.,  who  served  the  office  of  High 
Sheriff  for  Suffolk  in  1 657,  resided  at  Witlingham  Hall.  Elizabeth, 
his  sister  and  heiress,  married  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  Bart.,  to  whom 
she  brought  this  estate ;  from  whom  it  passed,  by  marriage,  to  the 
Bunbury  family,  and  so  continued  till  183G,  when  it  was  sold  by 
Sir  Henry  Edward  Bunbury,  the  present  Baronet,  to  Henry  Newton 
Neale,  Esq.,  the  present  possessor. 

The  manor  of  Shelton  Hall,  in  Stradbroke,  extends  into  this  parish. 
One  moiety  of  this  parish  church  in  the  time  of  Kichard  I.,  be- 
longed to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund's,  Bury ;  the  other  moiety  to 
the  Thorpes,  lords  of  Horham,  &c.  Both  moieties  were  eventually 
appropriated  to  the  College  of  St.  Mary  in  the  Fields,  at  Norwich ; 
the  possessions  of  which,  including  the  rectory  of  Fressingfield,  and 
advowson  of  the  vicarage,  were  granted  by  the  said  Abbey,  to  Miles 
Spencer,  the  last  Dean.  The  impropriation  afterwards  came,  by 
purchase,  into  the  hands  of  the  owners  of  the  Witlingham  estate, 
who  take  the  great  tithes. 

The  advowson  of  the  vicarage  was  purchased  by  Archbishop  San- 
croft,  and  annexed  to  Emmanuel  College,  Cambridge.  He  also 
purchased,  and  endowed  the  vicarage,  with  certain  fee  farm  rents, 
of  the  value  of  about  £52  per  annum ;  making  a  reservation  of  £16 
per  annum  for  the  salary  of  the  schoolmaster  and  parish  clerk ;  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  payable  out  of  the  manors  and  demesne  of 
the  dissolved  Priory  of  Mendham. 

In  the  6th  of  King  Edward  II.,  Eobert,  son  of  John  Prykke,  of 
this  parish,  had  a  grant  of  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  Titleshale, 
in  Norfolk,  from  Sir  Philip  de  Verley ;  and  in  1328,  Kobert  Prykke 
presented  to  that  church.  In  1332,  Eobert  Prykke,  of  this  parish, 
was  rector  of  Titleshale,  presented  by  Ralph,  rector  of  Thornton 
Pilcock,  and  Eichard,  rector  of  Euston.  By  a  subsequent  deed,  he 
revokes  the  former  one  of  this  advowson,  and  grants  it  to  Symon 
Prykke,  his  grandson ;  which  Symon,  in  the  7th  of  Henry  III., 
conveyed  to  Eobert,  son  of  Henry  Bole,  of  Euston ;  and  Bole,  to 
Sir  John  de  Norwood,  parson  of  Icklingham  All  Saints,  and  William, 
his  nephew,  called  also  Eoger  Peche. 

The  family  of  Bohun  were  resident  here  during  the  16th  century. 
John  Bohun  married  Ales,  daughter  and  heir  of  Eobert  Dalinghoo, 
of  this  parish ;  whose  son  Nicholas  Bohun,  of  Fressingfield,  married 


394  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  -  —  Harvey,  of  Stradbrook,  and  Nicholas 
their  son,  resided  here,  and  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  — 
Debden,  of  Brampton ;  whose  son,  Nicholas,  was  of  Chelmondiston. 
A  Nicholas  Bohun,  of  Fressingfield,  was  buried  at  Taseburgh,  in 
Norfolk,  in  1572. 

In  this  village  that  eminent  Primate,  William  Sancroft,  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  drew  his  first  and  last  breath ;  and  lies  buried 
under  a  handsome  table  monument  in  this  church-yard.  He  was 
born  in  1616,  and  received  the  early  part  of  his  education  at  the 
Grammar  School,  in  St.  Edmund's,  Bury  ;  whence  he  was  removed 
to  Emmanuel  College,  Cambridge,  where  he  obtained  a  Fellowship, 
which  he  lost  on  account  of  his  loyalty,  in  1649.  After  the  resto- 
ration he  became  Chaplain  to  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  who  presented 
him  to  the  valuable  living  of  Houghton  le  Spring,  and  a  Prebend  in 
his  Cathedral.  In  1664,  he  was  made  Dean  of  York,  from  whence 
he  removed  to  the  Deanery  of  St.  Paul's ;  towards  the  rebuilding  of 
which  Cathedral  he  contributed  £1,400.  In  1677,  he  was  raised  to 
the  highest  station  in  the  church,  where  he  conducted  himself  with 
zeal  and  judgment.  He  was  one  of  the  seven  Bishops  sent  to  the 
Tower  by  King  James  II. ;  but  at  the  revolution  he  scrupled  taking 
the  oaths,  for  which  he  was  deprived  of  his  seat.  He  afterwards  led 
a  private  and  devout  life  in  this  parish ;  where  he  deceased,  in  1693, 
unmarried.  His  manuscripts  were  purchased  by  Bishop  Tanner, 
who  presented  them  to  the  Bodleian  Library,  at  Oxford.  He  pub- 
lished a  curious  little  dialogue  in  Latin,  against  Galvanism,  called 
"  The  Predestinated  Thief,"  also  "  Modern  Politics,"  taken  from 
Machiavel,  &c.,  and  some  Sermons. 

ARMS. — Sancroft:  argent;  on  a  fess,  between  three  crosses 
patee,  gules,  as  many  martlets  of  the  field.  Hansard :  gules  ; 
three  martlets,  2  and  1,  argent.  Baker:  azure;  on  a  fess,  between 
three  swans'  heads  erased,  or,  ducally  gorged,  gules,  as  many  cinque- 
foils  of  the  last. 

In  1808,  died  the  Eev.  Sir  Henry  Pix  Heyman,  Bart.,  vicar  of 
this  parish,  and  Withersdale.  He  was  formerly  Fellow  of  Emmanuel 
College,  Cambridge,  where  he  proceeded  A.B.  in  1784,  A.M.  1787, 
and  B.D.  1794.  He  succeeded  to  the  title  on  the  death  of  his  cou- 
sin, Sir  Peter  Heyman,  Bart.,  in  1790;  being  the  last  surviving 
male  heir  of  a  family  of  some  note,  once  possessed  of  considerable 
estates  in  the  county  of  Kent,  long  since  alienated.  Sir  Henry  was 
a  man  of  modest  and  unassuming  manners,  highly  esteemed  by 


HUNDRED  OF  IIOXNE.  39~> 

those  who  knew  him,  and  sincerely  regretted  by  his  parishioners, 
amongst  whom  ho  discharged,  in  the  most  conscientious  manner, 
the  duties  of  his  office.  In  him  the  Baronetcy  hecame  extinct. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Vince,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  Plumian  Professor  of 
Astronomy  and  Experimental  Philosophy,  in  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, Archdeacon  of  Bedford,  rector  of  Kirby  Bedon,  and  vicar  of 
South  Creak,  in  Norfolk,  was  a  native  of  this  parish,  of  humble  pa- 
rentage, but  early  evinced  a  strong  predilection  and  aptitude  for  ma- 
thematical studios ;  this  natural  bent  of  his  mind  was  perceived,  en" 
couraged,  and  directed,  by  the  late  Mr.  Tilney,  of  Harleston,  and 
ultimately  by  him,  brought  under  the  notice  of  more  opulent  patrons; 
by  whose  kindness  Mr.  Vince  was  afterwards  enabled  to  pursue  his 
favourite  science,  in  the  University  of  Cambridge. 

He  was  originally  a  member  of  Caius  College;  where,  in  1775, 
he  obtained  one  of  Smith's  prizes,  as  a  proficient  in  mathematics  ; 
the  same  year  he  was  Senior  Wrangler,  and  took  the  degree  of  A.B., 
after  which  he  became  a  Fellow  of  Sidney  College  ;  in  1796,  he  was 
elected  Plumian  Professor  ;  the  lectures,  which  are  wholly  experi- 
mental, comprise  mechanics,  hydrostatics,  optics,  astronomy,  magne- 
tism, and  electricity.  Mr.  Vince  inserted  several  valuable  papers  in 
different  volumes  of  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  and  published 
separately  many  scientific  and  theological  works.  He  deceased  Nov. 
88,  1821,  at  Ramsgate. 

CHARITIES. — A  messuage,  called  the  Guildhall,  with  a  piece  of 
land,  containing  about  one  acre,  adjoining,  and  a  close  called  the 
Town  Close,  containing  7A.  IR.  32P.,  which  were  conveyed  by 
William  Sancroft,  in  1704,  for  the  benefit  of  the  parishioners  of 
Fressingfield.  The  upper  room  in  the  Guildhall  is  used  as  a  school 
room)  and  the  lower  part  of  the  building,  as  a  public  house,  and 
is  let,  with  the  said  land,  at  £25  per  annum ;  which  is  applied, 
after  deducting  expenses  for  repairs,  in  the  reparation  and  ornament 
of  the  parish  church,  in  lieu  of  a  church  rate.  Three  tenements, 
with  a  yard  adjoining,  given  by  Edward  Bohun,  in  the  13th  of  King 
Henry  VII.,  for  the  residence  of  poor  persons,  rent  free.  An  an- 
nuity, of  £3  17s.,  which  passes  under  the  name  of  "My  Lord's 
Dole,"  is  laid  out,  with  a  voluntary  addition  usually  made  thereto 
by  Lord  Henniker,  in  bread,  which  is  distributed  at  Christmas  among 
poor  persons.  In  1722,  the  Rev.  John  Shepheard,  by  will,  gave  to 
his  successors  in  this  vicarage  £20,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of 
»  rent  charge  of  20s.  a  year,  to  be  bestowed  in  the  purchase  of  four 


300  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

Bibles,  in  English,  bound  up  together  with  the  Common  Prayer 
Book,  which  he  desired  should  be  distributed  in  this  parish  church, 
yearly,  on  Good  Friday,  after  Divine  Service,  to  four  such  lads  as 
should  then  and  there  give  the  best  account  of  the  Catechism  of  the 
Church  of  England,  and  of  the  Hymns,  Besponses,  and  Creeds, 
used  in  the  service  of  the  church.  This  sum  has  not  been  laid  out, 
but  remains  in  the  hands  of  the  Kev.  John  Holmes,  of  Gawdy  Hall, 
vicar  of  Fressingficld,  and  he  provides  Bibles,  to  the  cost  of  more 
than  20s.  a  year. 


HOKHAM. — HORAM,  or  HORAN. 

The  ancient  and  Knightly  family  of  Jernegan  became  very  early 
seated  here,  hence  called  Horham  Jernegan.  The  first  upon  record 
who  settled  here,  in  the  reign  of  King  Stephen  and  Henry,  is  men- 
tioned in  the  Castle  Acre  register,  as  witness  to  a  deed,  without  date, 
by  which  Bryan,  son  of  Scolland,  confirmed  the  church  of  Melsombi 
to  the  monks  of  Castle  Acre.  He  deceased  about  the  year  1182. 

Sir  Hugh  (or  Hubert),  Fitz  Jernegan,  Knt.,  his  son,  succeeded. 
In  1182,  he  paid  a  considerable  sum  of  money  into  the  Exchequer, 
as  a  gift  to  King  Henry  II. ;  and  was  witness  to  a  deed,  in  1195, 
by  which  divers  lands  were  granted  to  Byland  Abbey,  in  Yorkshire. 
He  married  Maud,  the  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Thorpine,  son  of 
Kobert  de  Watheby ;  in  whose  right  he  inherited  the  manor  of  Wathe, 
in  North  Cove.  He  died  in  1203,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
Sir  Hubert  Jernegan,  Knt. 

He  aided  the  Barons  against  King  John,  by  which  he  forfeited  a 
considerable  part  of  his  estate  :  on  the  accession  of  Henry  III.,  he 
submitted  himself,  and  obtained  his  pardon  ;  but  it  appears,  did  not 
recover  the  whole  of  his  forfeited  property.  Sir  Hubert  married 
Margery,  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Kobert  de  Herling,  of  East 
Herling,  in  Norfolk,  Knt. ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  four  sons,  God- 
frey, William,  Eobert,  and  Hugh ;  and  of  whom  Sir  William  suc- 
ceeded his  father,  who  died  probably  about  the  year  1239,  for  in 
1240,  Margery  his  wife,  sued  Hugh  Jernegan  her  son,  for  lands  in 
Stonham  Jernegan,  in  this  county. 

In  1243,  Sir  Hugh  came  to  an  agreement  with  his  mother,  and 
settled  upon  her,  in  lieu  of  her  dower,  during  her  life,  the  capital 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  397 

messuage  of  the  manor  of  Horham  Jernegan,  with  the  park,  wind- 
mill, and  demesne  lands,  and  the  services  and  rents  of  Horham  ma- 
nor, with  house-bote,  hey-bote,  and  pannage ;  in  consideration  of 
which  she  released  all  her  right  in  dower  in  two  carucates  of  land, 
and  a  messuage  in  Stonham  Jernegan,  and  in  all  her  husband's  other 
estates,  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk. 

The  last  of  this  family  resident  here,  was  Hubert  Jernegan,  who 
died  in  1239  :  his  son,  Sir  Hugh,  made  Stonham  the  chief  residence 
of  the  family,  which  then  received  the  name  of  Stonham  Jernegan. 
Sir  Peter  Jernegan,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  again  removed, 
making  Somerleyton  his  principal  seat,  which  he  inherited  through 
his  mother,  who  was  the  heiress  of  the  Baron  Fitz  Osbert.  The 
Shermans  appear  subsequently  to  have  held  the  Horham  estate. 

In  the  3rd  of  Edward  I.,  William  de  Huntingfield  held  at  Hor- 
ham, and  died  in  the  llth  of  that  reign.  William  de  Huntingfield, 
his  grandson,  died  seized  of  the  village  and  manor  of  Horham,  the 
7th  of  Edward  II.,  together  with  the  manors  of  Mendham  and  Hun- 
tingfield; leaving  Koger  de  Huntingfield,  his  son,  then  aged  7  years  ; 
and  Sir  Walter  de  Norwich,  Knt,  of  Mettingham  Castle,  who  had 
purchased  his  wardship,  married  him  to  his  daughter,  Cecilia.  He 
died  seized,  the  1 1th  of  Edward  III.,  leaving  William  his  son  and 
heir,  aged  7^-  years.  This  last  William,  Lord  Huntingfield,  died 
without  surviving  male  issue,  in  the  50th  of  Edward  III. ;  where- 
upon Sir  John  de  Copeldike  inherited  the  manor  of  Horham,  as  his 
kinsman  and  next  heir ;  but  how  does  not  appear. 

Horham  Bradocks,  late  Copledike  manor,  was  vested  in  a  family 
of  that  name  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII.  Leonard  Copledike, 
Esq.,  second  son  of  Sir  John  Copledike,  of  Frampton,  in  Lincoln- 
shire, and  Horham,  in  Suffolk,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Simon 

Eichmond,  of  Stradbrook,  and  relict  of Bradock ;  in  whose 

right  he  inherited  this  lordship.  He  had  issue  by  this  marriage,  and 
married,  secondly,  Thomasine,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas 
Gavel,  Esq.,  of  Kirby  Cane,  in  Norfolk ;  by  whom  he  had  a  son 
and  heir,  John  Copledike,  Esq.  On  the  death  of  this  Leonard,  she 
re-married  Edward  Calthorpe,  Esq. ;  upon  whose  decease  the  said 
John  inherited  the  lordship  and  advowson  of  Kirby  Cane,  aforesaid, 
and  removed  thither ;  where  he  died,  and  was  buried,  in  1 593,  leaving 
Thomasine,  his  daughter  and  sole  heir. 

These  manors,  with  Horharn  Comitis  (or  Earl's  manor),  in  1764, 
belonged  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester ;  of  whom  they  were  purchased 


898  HUNDRED  OF  IIOXNE. 

by  Sir  Joshua  Vanneck,  Bart.,  together  with  all  the  other  estates  of 
the  Coke  family  in  this  part  of  Suffolk.  This  estate  now  belongs 
to  Alexander  Donovan,  Esq.,  of  Framfield  Park,  in  Sussex,  who 
married  Caroline,  youngest  daughter  of  Joshua,  1st  Baron  Hun- 
tingfield. 

The  manor  called  Horham  Thorpe  Hall,  with  Wotton,  lies  prin- 
cipally here,  and  in  Stradbrook,  and  Hoxne.  It  was  in  the  family 
of  Thorpe,  of  Ashwell  Thorp,  in  Norfolk.  Eobert  Fitz  John  de 
Thorp,  Baron  of  the  Exchequer,  in  the  time  of  Henry  III.,  married 
Maud,  niece  to  Kichard  de  Eye,  rector  of  Fundenhall,  in  Norfolk ; 
who  released  to  them  all  his  right  after  the  death  of  Sir  Philip  de 
Eye,  his  brother,  in  his  manors  and  lands  in  Horham,  Wytton, 
Hoxne,  Stradbrook,  &c. ;  and  Sarah  de  Sulun,  Eichard,  son  of  James 
Suddimere,  nephew  of  Eichard  de  Eye,  and  Philip  de  Braseworth, 
released  all  their  rights  in  Horham,  Fressingfield,  &c.  He  was 
Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  1274,  and  in  1292,  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Common  Pleas.  In  1282,  he  had  charter  for  free  warren  in 
his  manors  of  Horham,  Hoxne,  Wytton,  and  Stradbrook,  and  de- 
ceased in  1293. 

John  de  Thorpe,  son  of  Sir  Eobert,  settled  these  manors,  and  the 
moiety  of  the  church  of  Fressingfield,  on  Alice,  his  2nd  wife,  pre- 
vious to  1314,  and  died  in  1323.  Eobert  Fitz  John  de  Thorp,  their 
eldest  son,  died  seized  of  Horham  and  Hoxne  manors,  in  the  4th  of 
Edward  III.;  and  John,  son  of  Eobert,  held  at  his  death,  the  14th  of 
that  King,  half  the  manor  of  Horham,  as  of  the  honour  of  Eye,  and 
rents  in  Hoxne,  Wotton,  &c.  He,  dying  without  issue,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  brother,  Edmund  de  Thorpe ;  who  married  Joan, 
daughter  of  Eobert  Baynard,  and  in  1380,  made  a  settlement  of 
these  manors,  and  died  in  1393.  Joan,  his  widow,  held  them  for 
her  life;  and  on  her  death,  in  1399,  Sir  Edmund  de  Thorpe,  their 
eldest  son,  succeeded  to  the  reversion  of  Horham  cum  Stradbrook, 
Wotton,  and  other  manors,  which  were  held  for  life  by  his  brother 
Eobert. 

Tlus  Sir  Edmund  was  killed  in  Normandy,  and  left  by  his  wife, 
Joan,  Lady  Scales,  two  daughters,  his  co-heiresses ;  the  elder,  Joan, 
married  to  Sir  Eobert  Echingham,  Knt.,  and  after,  to  Sir  John  Clif- 
ton, Knt. ;  and  Isabel,  married  to  Philip  Tilney,  of  Boston,  Esq. ; 
in  whom,  on  failure  of  issue  of  Joan,  the  estate  vested.  From  Fred- 
erick Tilncy,  Esq.,  their  eldest  son,  they  came,  through  his  only 
daughter  and  heir,  Elizabeth  (married  to  Sir  Humphrey  BoucMer, 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  309 

Knt.,  and  afterwards  to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk),  to  Sir  John 
Bouchicr,  Lord  Berners ;  whoso  daughter  and  sole  heir,  married 
Edmund  Knevett,  Esq.,  2nd  son  of  Edmund  Knevett,  of  Buckenham 
Castle,  in  Norfolk ;  who  in  her  right,  had  livery  of  the  manor  of 
Horham  Thorpe  Hall,  and  many  others  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in 
the  25th  of  Henry  VIII. 

He  died  in  1546,  having  settled  these  manors  on  the  marriage  of 
his  eldest  son,  in  1537,  with  Agnes,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Harcourt. 
John  Knevett  died  in  his  mother's  life  time,  leaving  Agnes,  his  wi- 
dow, who  died  in  1579.  Sir  Thomas  Knevett,  of  Ashwell  Thorp, 
Knt.,  eldest  son  of  John,  sold  them.  The  mansion  of  Thorp  Hall 
(now  a  farm  house),  and  demesnes,  are  the  property  of  the  above 
Alexander  Donovan,  Esq.  The  advowson  of  the  rectory  is  in  the 
Kev.  William  B.  Mack,  the  present  rector. 

ARMS. — Huntingfield :  or ;  on  a  fess,  gules,  three  plates.  Co- 
pledike :  argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  cross  crosslets,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  about  4  acres,  in  the 
parish  of  Debenham,  as  to  which  no  deeds  or  writings  exist,  let  at 
the  annual  rent  of  £7 ;  and  the  rents  are  carried,  agreeable  to  cus- 
tom, to  the  general  account  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor.  The  fol- 
lowing doles  are  paid  to  the  churchwardens,  and  laid  out  in  bread, 
which  is  distributed  among  poor  persons  at  Christmas :  the  yearly 
sum  of  10s.,  given  by  the  will  of  Richmond  Girling,  who  died  in 
1658,  charged  on  land  in  Stradbrook;  the  annual  payment  of  6s. 
8d.,  given  by  the  will  of  the  Eev.  John  Clubbe,  who  died  in  1693, 
charged  on  land  in  Horham  ;  the  yearly  sum  of  40s.,  given  by  the 
will  of  Lewis  Hynton,  who  died  in  1706,  charged  on  land  in  the 
same  parish,  and  paid,  after  a  deduction  of  6s.  on  account  of  land- 
tax,  by  Mr.  Uriah  Bolton,  the  owner  and  occupier. 


HOXNE. — HOXON,  HEGLESDUNE,  or  ECCLESTON. 

In  870,  Inguar,  a  Danish  chieftain,  gained  possession  of  Thetford, 
the  capital  of  East  Anglia ;  \vhen  King  Edmund  collected  his  forces, 
and  marched  to  oppose  the  invaders.  The  hostile  armies  met  near 
Thetford,  and  after  an  engagement,  maintained  for  a  whole  .day  with 
the  most  determined  courage,  and  great  slaughter  on  both  sides, 
victory  remained  undecided,  The  pious  King,  was  so  affected  by 


400  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

the  death  of  so  many  martyrs,  and  the  miserable  end  of  so  many  in- 
fidels, that  he  retired  in  the  night  to  this  village. 

Hither  he  was  followed  by  an  embassy  from  Inguar,  who  proposed 
that  Edmund  should  become  his  vassal ;  the  King  returned  for  an- 
swer, that  he  would  never  submit  to  a  pagan,  but  at  the  same  time, 
out  of  tenderness  for  his  subjects,  he  resolved  to  make  no  further 
resistance,  and  accordingly  surrendered.  Still,  however,  refusing  to 
comply  with  the  terms  of  Inguar,  he  was  bound  to  a  tree,  his  body 
was  pierced  with  arrows,  and  his  head  severed  therefrom,  and  thrown 
contemptuously  into  the  thickest  part  of  a  neighbouring  wood. 

Over  the  grave  of  the  unfortunate  King  and  martyr,  a  small 
church  or  chapel  was  raised,  and  dedicated  to  his  name ;  and  here 
the  body  of  this  saint  is  said  to  have  remained  for  the  period  of  thirty 
years,  when  it  was  removed  to  its  more  splendid  receptacle  at  Bury, 
A.D.  903.  It  was  a  rude  structure,  composed  of  trees  sawed  down 
the  middle,  and  fixed  in  the  ground,  having  the  interstices  filled  with 
mud  or  mortar,  similar  to  the  ancient  church  of  Greensted,  in  Essex. 

About  the  year  1101,  Bishop  Herbert  gave  this  parish  church, 
as  also  the  chapel  above-named,  to  his  Priory  at  Norwich ;  and  it 
was  appropriated  as  a  Cell  to  that  Monastery.  Ralph,  the  Dapifer, 
rebuilt  the  Convent  from  the  ground,  soon  after  the  Conquest.  In 
the  year  1130,  Maurice  de  Windsor,  and  Egidia  his  wife,  gave  the 
chapel  of  St.  Edmund  to  the  house  which  Ralph  the  Dapifer  had 
new  built ;  that  therein  might  be  placed  a  Convent  of  monks,  to  pray 
for  the  soul  of  the  said  Ralph. 

The  reception  for  the  monks  was  not  completed  until  about  1226, 
when  Bishop  Blumville,  removed  the  monks  from  the  Palace  at 
Hoxne,  and  fixed  them  in  their  Cell  or  Monastery  there ;  and  in 
1267,  Bishop  Roger  de  Skerning  consecrated  the  burial  ground  of 
their  conventual  church  of  St.  Edmund.  Their  endowment  was  then 
very  small,  for  in  1291,  the  temporalities  were  only  estimated  at  14s. 
llfd.,  in  three  parishes.  Blomefield  makes  their  clear  revenues 
about  a£40 ;  who  says  the  monks  kept  a  school  at  this  Monastery, 
and  that  they  taught  and  supported  two  poor  children  of  this  parish. 
Speed  and  Tanner,  makes  the  valuation,  38th  of  Henry  VIII.,  only 
£18  Is.  O^d.  The  oblations  at  the  image  and  chapel  of  St.  Robert 
here,  were  returned  at  13s.  7d.,  in  1534.  » 

In  1546,  it  was  granted  to  Sir  Richard  Gresham,  Knt. ;  when 
the  endowment  consisted  of  a  manor,  in  Yaxley,  and  lands  and  rents 
in  this  parish,  Denham,  Thrandeston,  and  Horham  :  the  chapel  of 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  401 

Ringshall,  with  tithes,  and  32  acres  of  land  there,  and  tithes  in  Ho- 
mersfield.  Here  was  a  Prior,  and  seven  or  eight  monks  from  Nor- 
wich :  the  former  was  nominated,  and  removable,  by  the  Priors  of 
Norwich,  who  visited  this  cell  annually. 

The  site  of  the  Priory  and  estate  afterwards  come  to  the  family  of 
Thurston,  who  had  their  residence  there  in  the  time  of  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth, and  were  a  family  of  good  repute ;  they  became  allied  in 
marriage  with  divers  respectable  families  in  this  and  the  adjoining 
counties.  It  is  now  a  form  house,  and  the  estate  of  Sir  Edward 
Kerrison,  Bart. 

The  mention  of  a  more  ancient  religious  house,  in  the  Saxon 
times,  occurs  in  the  will  of  Theodred,  Bishop  of  London  and 
Elmhom;  wherein  he  bequeaths  lands  at  Horham,  &c.,  to  the 
minister,  or  church,  of  St.  ^Ethelbright,  here,  about  the  year  950. 
This  early  religious  house  was  probably  demolished,  or  deserted ; 
nothing  further  respecting  it  having  yet  occurred. 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  above  Cell  was  distinct  from  the 
possessions  of  the  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  this  parish.  To  the  latter 
belonged  the  Episcopal  Palace,  the  manor,  the  rectory,*  and  the 
advowson  of  the  vicarage,  with  various  lands:  the  valuation  of 
which  in  1534,  amounted  to  £92  19s. ;  which  formed  part  of  the 
ancient  revenues  of  the  see,  but  became  severed  from  it  in  the  27th 
of  King  Henry  VHL,  and  were  vested  in  that  King's  hands  in  1535, 
who  granted  the  same  to  Sir  Kobert  Southwell,  Knt. 

Sir  John  Prescot,  Knt.,  High  Sheriff  of  this  county  in  1627, 
when  he  resided  here,  was  lord  and  patron  in  1656.  Kobert  Style, 
Gent.,  a  younger  brother  of  Sir  Humphrey  Style,  Knt.,  built  the 
Hall  here,  in  1654  ;  his  estate  worth  about  £800  per  annum. 

It  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of  Thomas  Maynard, 
Esq.,  who  devised  the  same  to  Charles,  afterwards  Lord  Maynard ; 
from  whom  it  passed  to  Thomas  Hesilrigge,  Esq.,  who  took  the 
name  and  arms  of  Maynard,  but  on  succeeding  to  the  Baronetcy, 
resumed  the  name  of  Hesilrigge.  On  his  death,  without  issue,  in 
1817,  the  estate  reverted  to  the  Viscount  Maynard,  who  sold  the 
same  to  Matthias  Kerrison,  Esq.,  of  Bungay;  whose  son,  Lieut. 
General  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  has  rebuilt  the  mansion  for- 
merly called  Hoxne  Hall,  upon  a  larger  scale,  and  more  splendid 
style,  and  made  it  his  residence,  under  the  name  of  Oakley  Park ; 

*  By  which  it  appears  that  Bishop  Herbert's  gift  of  the  same  was  not  confirmed 
to  the  monks  of  Hoxne. 


402  HUNDRED  OF  IIOXNE. 

the  greater  part  of  the  park  being  in  the  parish  of  Oakley.  The 
General,  who  is  only  son  of  Matthias  Kerrison,  Esq.,  was  created  a 
Baronet,  Aug.  8,  1821  ;  and  is  Kecorder  and  representative  in  Par- 
liament of  Eye,  in  Suffolk. 

In  1676,  Bishop  Reynolds  endowed  the  vicarage  with  £10  per 
annum,  payable  out  of  the  great  tithes. 

In  1835,  on  clearing  the  walls  of  this  parish  church,  several  paint- 
ings, partially  obliterated,  were  discovered.  One,  represented  David 
on  the  field  of  battle  with  Goliah,  the  next  was  supposed  to  be  Paul 
confined  in  the  Stocks,  also  the  Crucifixion,  and  the  Resurrection 
of  the  dead,  &c.  They  were  about  ten  feet  high,  and  twelve  feet 
wide.  There  were  also  several  inscriptions,  which  no  one  present  at 
the  time  of  the  discovery  could  decypher,  although  quite  perfect. 

Bale  makes  Herbert  Losing,  the  first  Bishop  of  Norwich,  to  be  a 
native  of  this  county :  who  says,  "  In  pago  Oxunensi  in  Sudovolgia 
Anglorum  comitatu  natus :"  and  Fuller  observes,  that  "  on  perusing 
of  all  the  lists  of  towns  in  Suffolk,  no  Oxun  appeareth  therein,  or 
name  neighbouring  thereon  in  sound  and  syllables,"  and  conceives 
this  to  be  the  cause  why  Bishop  Godwin  so  confidently  makes  this 
Herbert  born  in  Oxford,  in  which  the  former  writer  has  placed  his 
character.* 

Nicholas  Thurkell  (alias  Attleburgh),  monk  of  Norwich,  and  the 
last  Prior  of  the  Cell  at  Hoxne,  was  made  Prebendary  of  the  5th 
Prebend  in  Norwich  Cathedral,  by  the  charter,  in  1538;  but  re- 
signed very  soon,  and  was  divorced  from  Jane  West  his  wife,  and 
suspended  from  the  vicarage  of  Wigenhall  St.  Mary,  for  being  a 
married  priest. 

Thomas  Sayer,  a  native  of  Norfolk,  was  admitted  of  Corpus 
Christi  College,  Cambridge,  in  the  year  1583  ;  and,  after  taking  the 
degree  of  A.B.,  was  elected  Fellow,  in  1589  ;  and  commenced  A.M. 
the  following  year.  He  continued  in  his  Fellowship  till  1596,  when 
he  became  vicar  of  this  parish,  where  he  continued  48  years ;  when 
he  was  sequestered.  Mr  Sayer  had  then  a  wife  and  four  children, 
all  of  them  married,  with  an  estate  of  fifty  pounds  per  annum,  but 
whether  that  was  sequestered  or  not  is  uncertain.  He  died  soon 
after,  and  was  succeeded  in  this  vicarage  by  Oliver  Hall,  in  1645; 
who  had  been  a  member  of  the  same  College. 

*  Dr.  Nuttall,  the  editor  of  "  Fuller's  Worthies,"  supposes  the  Doctor  did  not 
recollect  the  parish  of  Hoxne,  in  this  county.  But  it  appears  the  place  of  his 
birth  still  remains  uncertain. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  403 

Edward  Willnn,  vicar  of  this  parish  in  1651,  was  a  native  of 
Suffolk,  and  probably  the  son  of  Dr.  Robert  Willan,  rector  of  He- 
ringswell  and  Stoke  Ash,  in  thr.t  county  ;  he  was  admitted  scholar 
of  Corpus  Clirisli  College,  Cambridge,  upon  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon's 
foundation,  in  1030 ;  and  after  taking  his  A.B.  degree,  was  or- 
dained Deacon,  by  the  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  1635  ;  having  pro- 
ceeded A.M.  the  year  before. 

Mr.  Willan  published  six  sonnons  when  he  was  vicar  here,  in  4to. ; 
also  a  Sermon  at  the  Election  of  Burgesses,  and  another  on  the 
Crucifixion,  both  in  4to.  London,  1661. 

ARMS. — Thurston :  sable ;  three  bugle  horns,  or,  stringed,  azure. 
Maynard :  argent ;  a  chevron,  azure,  between  three  sinister  hands, 
couped  at  the  wrist,  gules.  Hesilrigge :  argent;  a  chevron,  be- 
tween three  hazel  leaves,  proper.  Kerrisoti :  or ;  a  pile,  azure, 
charged  with  three  galtraps  of  the  field. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  certain  fee  farm  rents,  amounting  in  the 
whole  to  £5  3s.  Gd.  a  year,  payable  in  respect  of  sundry  parcels  of 
land  in  this  parish ;  which  are  received  by  the  churchwardens,  on 
Hallowmas,  or  All  Saints'  Day,  and  are  applied  for  the  reparation 
and  service  of  the  church.  The  town  estate  is  vested  in  trustees, 
and  is  copyhold  of  the  manor  of  Hoxne  Hall.  Port  of  it,  consisting 
of  some  cottages,  and  about  4  acres  of  land,  was  purchased  by  the 
parishioners.  Of  the  acquisition  of  the  remainder  no  account  can 
be  given.  It  consists  of  a  barn,  and  42  acres  of  land,  in  Hoxue, 
let  at  £52  a  year;  seven  acres  of  land  in  ditto,  rent  £15  a  year ; 
houses  and  cottages  in  ditto,  let  at  rents  amounting  together  to 
about  £14  per  annum.  The  rents,  after  payment  of  necessary  out- 
goings, are  applied  towards  payment  of  the  expenses  of  the  church- 
wardens' office,  in  payment  of  the  bell  ringers,  in  occasional  appren- 
ticing of  children,  relieving  poor  people  in  urgent  need,  and  other 
general  purposes  for  the  benefit  of  the  parish  :  an  account  of  the 
receipt  and  application  is  exhibited  yearly,  at  a  town  meeting. — 
Thomas  Maynard,  by  will  dated  in  1734,  devises  his  real  estate  in 
this  parish,  to  Charles  Maynard,  afterwards  Charles,  Lord  Maynard, 
upon  trust,  that  ho  should  lay  out  a  sum,  not  exceeding  £300,  nor 
less  than  £200,  upon  a  convenient  house,  for  a  schoolmaster  and 
schoolmistress,  to  reside  and  keep  school  at  Hoxne ;  and  he  declared 
that  such  house  should  be  kept  in  repair  by  the  said  Charles,  Lord 
Maynard,  Ms  heirs  and  assigns ;  and  that  he  should  appoint  a  good 
schoolmaster  and  schoolmistress,  to  reside  and  keep  school  in  such 


404  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

house ;  and  that  ho  aud  they  should,  out  of  the  rents  and  profits  of 
the  said  estates  in  Hoxne,  pay  yearly,  as  a  salary  to  the  master,  £4.0, 
and  as  a  salary  to  the  mistress,  £10.  The  school  premises  consist 
of  a  dwelling  house  for  the  master,  and  school-room  for  the  boys,  and 
a  dwelling  house  for  the  mistress,  and  school-room  for  the  girls.  The 
master  teaches  between  30  and  40  boys  of  the  parish,  reading,  wri- 
ting, and  arithmetic,  as  free  scholars ;  and  the  schoolmistress  teaches 
about  20  scholars,  reading,  writing,  and  needle-work.  The  salaries 
are  paid,  and  the  buildings  kept  in  repair,  by  Sir  Edward  Kerrison, 
Bait.,  the  present  lord  of  the  manor,  and  owner  of  the  mansion  and 
estates  mentioned  in  the  foundation  deed  ;  and  the  children  are  ap- 
pointed on  his  behalf. — A  rent  charge  of  Gs.  8d.  per  annum,  issuing 
out  of  an  enclosure  in  this  parish,  called  Calston's  Close,  for  the  use 
of  the  poor  of  Brockdish,  in  Norfolk,  to  be  paid  on  Nov.  1st.,  in 
Hoxne  church  porch,  between  12  and  4  in  the  afternoon  of  that 
day;  and  another  rent  charge  of  13s.  4d.  was  given  to  Hoxne  poor, 
from  the  said  close,  to  be  paid  on  the  same  day  and  place.  These 
appear  to  be  given  in  1572,  by  John  Sherwood,  late  of  Brockdish. 


KELSALE. — KERESHALLA,  or  KELESHALL. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  appears  included  amongst  the  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  manors  received  from  King  William  I.,  by 
Roger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  as  his  share  of  the  spoil.  He  was 
the  founder  of  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew,  at 
Thetford,  and  gave  to  that  Monastery,  amongst  other  things,  20,000 
herrings  from  Cheressala  (or  Keleshall),  and  ;£20  rent  in  land;  to 
be  assigned  when  he  pleased. 

It  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of  Thomas  de  Brotherton, 
Earl  of  Norfolk,  as  part  of  the  possession  of  the  said  Eoger  Bigod, 
by  grant  from  his  half  brother,  King  Edward  II.,  in  1312;  and  as 
patron  of  this  living,  he  presented  John  de  Framlingham,  founder 
of  the  Chantry  at  Carleton.  It  appears  this  Earl  resided  at  Fram- 
lingham Castle,  Annexed  to  the  court  rolls  of  this  manor  is  an 
original  writ,  dated  from  thence,  of  which  the  following  translation 
is  given  in  Green's  "  History  of  Framlingham,"  p.  48 : — 

"  Thomas,  son  to  the  noble  King  of  England,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and  Marshall  of 
England,  to  Nicholas  Bond,  Seneschall  of  our  lauds  situate  in  the  county  of  Suffolk, 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  405 

• 

Health.  For  that  complaint  is  made,  that  the  cattle  belonging  to  divers  poor  persons 
are  stolen  from  out  our  park  at  Kelsale,  owing  to  the  negligence  of  our  park-keepers 
there,  to  their  great  loss  and  damage.  We  command  you  at  our  next  court  to  cause 
inquiry  to  be  made  in  whom  the  fault  lies,  and  having  done  this,  to  distrain  our 
aforesaid  park-keepers,  and  we  further  command  you  to  keep  such  distresses  in  safe 
custody,  until  a  restitution,  equal  to  the  value  of  the  said  cattle,  is  divided  amongst 
the  aforesaid  poor  people.  Dated  at  Framlingham  the  24th  of  March,  under  our 
privy  seal,  and  in  the  4th  year." 

This  lordship  and  advowson  passed  as  that  of  Framlingham  until 
the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  and  John  Holland 
Esq.,  was  in  possession  thereof  in  the  following  reign  ;  in  the  time 
of  King  Charles  II.,  John  Bence,  of  Ringsficld,  Esq.,  held  them. 
He  was  eldest  son  of  John  Bence,  Esq.,  of  Aldborough  and  Benhall, 
in  this  county,  by  Mary  his  first  wife,  daughter  of  Edmund  French, 
Gent.,  of  this  parish,  and  probably  inherited  in  right  of  his  mother. 

Alexander  Bence,  Esq.,  of  Thorington  Hall,  his  nephew,  and 
second  son  of  his  brother  Edmund  Bence,  Esq.,  of  Benhall,  deceased 
in  1759,  leaving  an  only  surviving  daughter,  Ann,  of  Thorington 
Hall;  who  married,  in  1702,  to  George  Golding,  Esq.,  by  whom, 
who  died  1803,  she  had  no  issue.  Mrs.  Golding  deceased  in  1794, 
and  was  succeeded  in  her  estates  by  her  first  cousin,,  the  Rev.  Bence 
Sparrow,  rector  of  Beccles;  who  assumed,  in  1804,  by  sign  manual, 
the  surname  and  arms  of  Bence.  His  son,  Henry  Bence  Bence, 
Esq.,  of  Thorington  Hall,  Lieut.  Colonel  in  the  East  Suffolk  Militia, 
is  now  lord  and  patron  of  this  parish.  Colonel  Bence  succeeded  his 
father  in  1824.  The  Eev.  Launcelot  Eobert  Brown,  who  married 
Anne  Maria,  his  eldest  sister,  is  the  present  incumbent.* 

Kelsale  Lodge  was  formerly  vested  in  a  branch  of  the  Duke  family ; 
in  1592,  John  Duke,  Gent.,  of  this  parish,  presented  to  the  rectory 
of  Gimmingham,  in  Norfolk  :  from  them  it  passed  to  the  Wakenham 
and  Hobart  families ;  Col.  James  Hobart,  of  Mendham,  was  owner 
in  1655  :  it  is  now  the  property  of  Sir  Charles  Blois,  Bart.,  of  Cock- 
field  Hall,  Yoxford. 

CHAKITIES. — The  estates  belonging  to  this  parish,  which  ore 
partly  freehold  and  partly  copyhold,  have  arisen  under  many  different 
old  grants  and  surrenders,  the  trusts  or  purposes  of  wluch  can  in  few 
instances  be  distinctly  ascertained.  The  copyhold  parts  of  the  es- 
tate are  held  of  the  several  manors  of  Kelsale,  Middleton,  and  Wes- 
tlcton ;  and  they  appear  to  have  been  originally  given,  in  part,  for 

*  The  south  and  north  doors  of  this  parish  church  are  engraved  in  Davy's  "  Ar- 
chitectural Antiquities  of  Suffolk,"  as  flue  specimens  of  the  Normau  style  of 
architecture. 


400  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

the  use  of  the  town,  and  in  part  for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  Kelsale ; 
but  the  first  specific  declaration  of  trust  was  in  the  year  1714,  when 
that  part  of  the  estates  held  of  the  manor  of  Kelsale  was  surrendered, 
upon  trust,  after  payment  of  fines  and  quit  rents  to  the  lord  of  the 
manor,  and  fees,  for  the  payment  of  an  annual  sum,  not  exceeding 
£30,  to  such  person  as  the  trustees  should  appoint,  to  be  a  school- 
master, within  the  parish  of  Kelsale ;  to  teach  the  boys  of  the  inha- 
bitants within  the  parish,  and  no  others :  and  the  residue  of  the 
rents  and  profits,  for  the  necessary  repairs  of  the  church  of  Kelsale, 
and  of  the  several  messuages  and  tenements  upon  the  estates,  and 
for  the  necessary  relief  of  the  poor  and  indigent  inhabitants  of  the 
parish  of  Kelsale.  The  trustees  are  in  possession  of  all  the  property 
known  to  have  belonged  to  the  charity,  which  produces  a  total  ren- 
tal of  about  £340  per  annum  :  it  has  been  the  custom  to  apply  the 
rents  of  all  the  estates  as  one  general  fund,  and  the  trustees  hold  an 
annual  meeting,  when  the  accounts  are  settled.  The  salary  of  the 
schoolmaster  is  now  raised  to  £50  a  year,  and  books  are  provided 
for  the  children  at  the  trustees'  expense.  In  1827,  the  sum  ex- 
pended in  the  purchase  of  coals  for  the  poor,  with  the  carnage, 
amounted  to  about  £90,  the  sum  of  £10  was  contributed  to  the 
clothing  fund,  and  nearly  £35  was  distributed  in  weekly  payments 
to  poor  widows. — Edmund  Cutting,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1639, 
bequeathed  to  his  nephew,  Edmund  Cutting,  certain  real  estates, 
upon  condition  of  his  entering  into  a  security  for  providing  an  an- 
nual payment  of  £2  12s.,  to  be  bestowed  in  bread;  12d.  every  week, 
among  twelve  poor  persons,  inhabitants  of  this  parish.  This  rent 
charge  is  paid  in  respect  of  land  at  Peasenhall,  the  property  of  Mr. 
Steel,  of  Clopton. — Stephen  Eade,  by  will,  dated  in  1710,  charged 
his  six  pieces  of  land  in  Caiiton,  now  the  property  of  Edward  Ful- 
ler, Esq.,  with  the  payment  of  £8  a  year  to  the  churchwardens  of 
Carlton ;  of  which  he  directed  that  40s.  a  year  should  be  employed 
for  the  poor  of  Kelsale  every  Christmas  day,  after  service  and  sermon 
at  the  church.  Thos.  Grimsby,  in  or  about  the  year  1 754,  gave  £1 00 ; 
the  interest  thereof  to  be  distributed  in  bread,  every  Lord's  day,  to 
the  poor  attending  divine  service.  Sir  Beversham  Filmer,*  late  of 
Sutton  Park,  in  the  county  of  Kent,  Bart.,  left  £2  a  year  to  the  poor 
of  this  parish,  to  be  distributed  in  bread.  This  money,  with  Eade's 

*  He  was  grandson  of  Sir  Robert  Filmer,  Bart.,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  Sir  William  Beversham,  Knt.,  of  Holbrook  Hall,  in  this  county ; 
and  deceased  in  1805. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  407 

charity,  used  to  be  laid  out  in  bread,  but  of  late  has  been  given  in 
aid  of  the  subscription  clothing  fund,  as  being  a  mode  of  application 
more  beneficial  to  the  poor. 


LAXFIELD,  or  LAXEFELDA. 

This  parish,  in  the  reign  of  the  Confessor,  was  possessed  by  one 
Edric,*  who  assumed  his  surname  therefrom.  He  was  also  lord  of 
the  honour  of  Eye,  and  was  deprived  of  all  his  possessions  by  the 
Conqueror;  who  granted  the  major  part  of  them,  including  tin's  town, 
to  Eobert  Molet,  one  of  his  principal  Barons,  who  gave  it  to  his 
Monastery  of  Eye,  as  well  as  the  advowson ;  which  at  the  dissolution 
were  granted  to  Edmund  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  as  part  of  the  possession 
of  that  Monastery.  Another  lordship  in  Laxfield,  probably  Stad- 
haugh,  was  granted  to  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  in  the 
28th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  as  parcel  of  the  property  of  Leiston  Ab- 
bey, in  Blithing  hundred. 

The  Wingfields  were  interested  here.  In  the  reign  of  King  Ed- 
ward IV.,  John  Wingfield  obtained  a  charter  for  a  weekly  market 
in  Laxfield.  The  church,t  with  its  steeple,  is  a  handsome  edifice  ; 
towards  the  erection  of  the  latter,  divers  legacies  were  given  about 
the  middle  of  the  1 5th  century  ;  and  from  the  arms  of  the  Wingfields 
appearing  in  different  parts  thereof,  a  member  of  that  house  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  the  chief  contributor.  The  church  and  porch  are 
considered  of  earlier  date.  Lord  Huntingfield  is  now  lord  of  the 
manor,  and  patron  of  the  vicarage. 

The  family  of  Bradley  (alias  Jacob)  were  long  seated  in  this  pa- 
rish ;  in  the  church  are  several  memorials  to  them  :  Nicholas,  who 
deceased  in  1628,  is  the  earliest;  and  Thomas,  who  married,  1st 
Barbara,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Sir  Arthur  Hoveuingham,  Knt., 
and  after,  Mary,  the  eldest  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  John  Walde- 
grave,  of  Badingham,  Esq.,  and  died,  without  issue,  in  1657,  aged 
73  years.  Thomas  Bradley  (alias  Jacob),  Gent.,  had  issue  two 

*  In  1422,  John  de  Laxfield  was  admitted  Prior  of  Wayborn,  in  Norfolk  ;  proba- 
bly a  descendant  of  this  Edric,  who  is  supposed  to  be  of  Danish  extraction,  and 
perhaps  bore  some  relation  to  Edric,  the  traitor  to  King  Edmund  Ironside. 

t  A  South-west  view  of  this  church,  and  the  west  door  of  the  same,  is  given  in 
Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities  of  Suffolk.'' 


408  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

sons  and  three  daughters.  He  died  in  1657.  Nicholas  Jacob,  Esq., 
who  deceased  in  1757,  is  the  latest  memorial  to  the  family  in  this 
church. 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles,  Henry  North,  Esq.,  was  a  resident  at 
Bourt's  Hall,  in  Laxfield ;  son  of  Sir  Henry  North,  Knt,  and  brother 
of  Sir  Eoger  North,  Knt.,  of  Great  Finborough.  He  married  Sarah, 
only  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Jenner,  Gent.  His  estate  worth 
about  £800  per  annum.  They  are  buried  in  the  vestry  of  this  pa- 
rish church,  with  three  of  their  children,  who  died  young. 

In  1662,  John  Borrett  was  owner  of  Stadhaugh,  in  this  parish, 
and  resided  there.  He  was  a  descendant,  by  his  mother's  side,  of 
Serjeant  Barker,  and  of  a  sister  of  Lord  Chief  Justice  Coke;  his  pa- 
ternal ancestors  were  of  Irish  extraction.  Mr.  Borrett  deceased  in 
1673.  Thomas,  his  son,  settled  at  Halcsworth,  and  died  in  1691. 
Nunn  Prettyman,  Gent.,  son  of  Tyrcll  Prettyman,  Esq.,  of  Wether- 
den,  resided  here.  He  deceased  in  1746,  and  was  buried  within  the 
altar  rails  in  this  parish  church. 

The  manor  and  farm  of  Stadhaugh  now  belongs  to  the  parish,  for 
the  support  of  a  school. 

ARMS. — Borrett :  sable ;  a  bend,  argent,  between  three  garbs,  or. 

Here  were  also  resident  the  families  of  Stubbs,  Jenner,  and  Dow- 
sing ;  of  which  the  notorious  William  Dowsing,  of  Stratford,  was  a 
member  :  and  at  Parkfield,  resided  the  family  of  Smith. 

In  1527,  Edmund  Steward,  LL.D.,  rector  of  this  parish,  was  in- 
stalled Archdeacon  of  Suffolk ;  who  resigned  it  the  following  year, 
when  Eichard  Sampson,  LL.D.,  succeeded. 

Mem. — John  Noyes,  of  this  parish,  shoemaker,  was  burnt  here, 
Sept.  21,  1557.  Certain  magistrates  sitting  at  Hoxne,  issued  or- 
ders to  the  constables  to  make  enquiry  in  their  parishes,  if  there 
were  any  that  refused  to  attend  mass  ;  whereupon  the  constables  of 
Laxfield,  took  the  said  John  Noyes,  and  carried  him  before  the  said 
justices,  on  the  next  day,  who  committed  him  to  prison,  at  Eye ; 
from  whence  he  was  conveyed  to  Norwich,  to  be  examined  by  the 
Bishop,  and  condemned. 

CHARITIES. — The  following  estates  are  under  the  order  and  ma- 
nagement of  the  churchwardens  for  the  time  being  : — A  messuage 
called  the  Town  House,  and  a  cottage,  both  occupied  by  poor  per- 
sons :  a  farm  in  the  parishes  of  Brandish  and  Wilby,  comprising  a 
house  and  28A.  2R.  38p.  of  land ;  let  at  £42  a  year  :  a  farm,  com- 
prising a  house,  barn,  and  9A.  2R.  Or.  of  land,  in  the  parish  of 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  40D 

Wcybrcad ;  lot  nt  1)20  per  nniium  :  u  house,  with  outbuildings,  and 
43A.  2n.  37p.  of  land,  in  the-  parish  of  Carlton  Colvilc,  part  whereof 
was  an  allotment  made  on  an  enclosure  about  30  years  ago ;  this  farm 
lots  at  £75  a  year,  and  it  has  been  the  custom  to  appropriate  five- 
ninths  of  the  rents  to  Dunwich,  and  four-ninths  to  Laxfield :  two 
undivided  third  parts  of  fourteen  acres  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Crat- 
fiold,  which  produces,  after  all  deductions,  £23  7s.  Od.  a  year ;  one 
third  of  this  land  belongs  to  the  poor  of  Dcnnington :  a  piece  of 
copyhold  land  in  this  parish,  containing  about  3£  acres,  lots  at  £Q 
a  year;  this  land  was  devised  by  John  Smith,  in  1718,  for  bread 
for  the  poor,  to  be  distributed  every  Sunday  ;  and  a  rent  charge  of 
£2  12s.,  given  by  one  John  Borrett,  out  of  an  estate  in  Laxfield, 
belonging  to  Lord  Huntingfield,  for  the  like  purpose.    The  rents  of 
these  estates  are  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the 
payment  of  other  charges  incidental  to  the  churchwardens'  office ; 
and  partly  in  providing  bread  and  coals  for  poor  persons. — John 
Smith,  by  will,  dated  25th  June,  1718,  devised  his  manor  of  Stad- 
haugh,  in  Laxfield,  and  all  his  freehold  lands  in  that  parish,  upon 
trusts,  that  the  rents  should  first  be  applied  in  the  erection  of  a  con- 
venient school-house  in  the  parish ;  and  he  directed  that,  towards 
the  endowment  of  the  school,  and  for  the  teaching  and  educating  of 
twenty  poor  boys  of  the  parish,  in  reading,  writing,  and  accounts, 
the  yearly  sum  of  £40,  part  of  the  income  of  the  estate,  should  be 
paid  to  some  learned  and  proper  schoolmaster,  who  should  have  no 
preferment  in  the  church  or  otherwise,  so  as  to  take  him  from  his 
attendance  in  the  school ;  and  that  the  yearly  sum  of  £40,  other 
part  of  the  income,  should  be  yearly  applied  towards  putting  out  ap- 
prentice eight  of  such  twenty  poor  children,  to  some  good  handy- 
craft  trade,  at  £5  per  head ;  and  the  overplus  of  the  income  he  or- 
dered to  be  preserved  towards  keeping  the  estate  and  premises  in  re- 
pair, and  good  heart ;  and  if  not  required  for  that  purpose,  to  be 
yearly  employed  as  an  additional  sum  towards  the  preferring  such 
eight  poor  cliildren  so  to  be  put  apprentice,  as  aforesaid,  to  better 
trades  and  employments.    Under  this  devise  the  churchwardens  and 
overseers  receive  the  profits  of  the  manor  of  Stadhaugh,  amounting 
to  JE3  13s.  9d.  a  year,  in  quit-rents  and  free-rents,  and  some  occa- 
sional fines  of  small  amount ;  and  the  rent  of  the  testator's  other 
property,  consisting  of  a  farm,  comprising  a  house,  outbuildings, 
and  about  112  acres  of  land,  which  lets  at  the  annual  rent  JE180, 
subject  to  outgoings  for  land-tax,  insurance,  &cv  which  amount  to 


410  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

£12  a  ycar>  or  thereabouts.  Sums  for  the  support  of  a  Sunday 
school,  and  to  a  schoolmistress  for  teacliing  poor  girls  to  read,  knit, 
and  sew,  have  been  paid  from  these  funds,  and  the  Commissioners 
for  inquiring  concerning  charities,  recommended  a  further  extension 
of  its  benefits ;  which  has  since  been  adopted,  in  an  increase  of  the 
number  of  scholars,  both  boys  and  girls. — The  sum  of  £20  a  year 
is  paid  by  the  tenant  of  Lord  Gosford,  of  a  farm  in  this  parish,  to  a 
schoolmaster,  for  teacliing  ten  boys  to  read  and  write  ;  and  the  sum 
of  £10  a  year  is  also  paid  off  another  farm  of  Lord  Gosford,  in 
Laxfield,  to  a 'schoolmistress,  for  teaching  ten  girls  to  read,  knit, 
and  sew.  These  sums  were  the  gift,  by  will,  of  Ann,  wife  of  Charles 
Ward,  in  1721. — A  rent  charge,  given  by  William  Garneys,  in  the 
time  of  Henry  VIII.,  appears  to  have  been  lost  or  discontinued. 


MEND  HAM. — MEADEN-HAM,  or  MYNDHAM. 

Is  situate  on  both  sides  of  the  course  of  the  river  Waveney,  which 
divides  Suffolk  from  Norfolk,  and  consequently  lies  in  both  counties. 
At  the  time  of  the  Domesday  survey  the  principal  lordships  in  both 
counties  belonged  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund,  at  Bury ;  to  which 
they  were  given  in  the  reign  of  the  Confessor,  by  one  Alfric  Moder- 
coppe,  and  were  held  by  Frodo,  the  brother  of  Baldwin,  the  Abbot; 
whose  descendants  probably  assumed  the  surname  of  Mendham. 

That  part  of  the  fee  of  St.  Edmund  which  was  situate  on  the 
Norfolk  side  is  now  comprised  in  the  hamlet  of  Needham,  and  a 
large  portion  of  the  same  fee  in  Suffolk,  was  subsequently  established 
into  the  now  distinct  parish,  or  hamlet,  of  Metfield.  At  the  time 
of  Kichard  I.,  and  for  a  long  period  after,  the  whole  of  this  fee,  in 
Suffolk,  was  held  of  the  Abbot,  by  the  Vere's,  Earls  of  Oxford ;  and 
under  them,  by  the  lords  of  the  manors  into  which  it  was  divided. 

The  small  manor  of  Mendham  Hall  was  so  called  from  the  family 
of  that  name,  in  which  it  remained  until  about  1318,  when  (on  the 
authority  of  Blomefield)  John  de  Mendham  sold  it  to  Sir  John  de 
Fressingfield ;  and  it  afterwards  became  part  of  the  possession  of 
Mendham  Priory.  But  this  is  doubtful.  In  the  time  of  King 
Edward  VI.,  the  Princess  Mary,  afterwards  Queen  of  England, 
resided  at  Mendham  Hall ;  and  there  is  an  inventory  of  the  furni- 
ture, &c.,  used  upon  the  occasion,  in  the  possession  of  Dawson 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  411 

Turner,  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  of  Yarmouth.  In  the  reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  tliis  manor  -was  held  by  Richard  Smart ;  by  whose  de- 
scendant it  was  sold  to  Stephen  Baxter,  who  was  lord  in  1655  :  it 
has  since  passed  with  the  Priory  manor.  The  site  of  this  manor 
was  purchased  in  the  year  1737,  by  the  Governors  of  Queen  Anne's 
Bounty,  in  augmentation  of  the  vicarage. 

The  manor  of  Walsham  Hall,  derived  its  style  from  a  family 
named  Do  Walsham,  by  whom  it  was  held  of  the  Abbots,  or  rather 
perhaps  of  the  de  Veres,  under  them.  But  the  Earls  of  Oxford 
appear  to  have  retained  it  in  their  own  hands  from  the  time  of 
Richard  II.,  until  their  extinction  in  the  male  line,  on  the  death  of 
John,  the  last  Earl,  without  issue,  in  1526 ;  when  the  inheritance 
of  this  noble  family  came  to  lu's  three  sisters  and  co-heirs.  Eliza- 
beth married  to  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield,  of  Letheringham,  Knt. ; 
Dorothy,  to  John  Nevile,  Lord  Latimer ;  and  Ursula,  Sir  Edward 
Knightly  :  and  this  manor  was  probably  soon  afterwards  sold. 

In  1009,  it  belonged  to  Thomas  Holland,  Esq.,  who  was  after- 
wards a  Knight,  and  sold  it  to  Robert  Berney,  Esq.,  under  whose 
will  it  came  to  his  widow,  Mary,  daughter  of  James  Hobart,  Esq., 
of  Hales  Hall,  in  Loddon,  Norfolk  ;  and  by  her  will,  to  her  nephew, 
James  Hobart,  Esq.,  who  made  the  mansion  of  Walsham  Hall  his 
seat ;  and  his  descendants  continued  to  reside  there  till  1 722,  when 
Anthony  Hobart  sold  the  manor  and  demesnes  to  Thomas  Bransby; 
whose  brother  and  heir,  James  Bransby,  in  1736,  sold  it  to  Sarah 
Wogan,  sister  of  John  Wogan,  Esq.,  of  Gawdy  Hall,  in  Redenhall ; 
who  brought,  it  by  marriage  with  the  Rev.  Gervas  Holmes,  vicar  of 
Fressingfield,  into  that  family ;  and  his  grandson,  William  Sancroft 
Holmes,  Esq.,  of  Gawdy  Hall,  is  the  present  owner. 

A  manor  in  Mendham  (Suffolk),  was  granted  by  the  Conqueror 
to  one  of  lu's  Barons,  Roger,  of  Poicton,  lord  of  the  honour  of  Lan- 
caster. He  also  gave  a  considerable  territory  in  Mendham,  and  ad- 
joining parishes,  which  had  been  part  of  the  possession  of  Edric,  of 
Laxfield,  to  Robert  Malet,  another  of  his  great  Barons ;  with  the 
honour  of  Eye.  The  superiority  of  both  these  possessions  reverted 
to  the  Crown,  but  were  held  from  a  very  early  period  by  the  family 
of  De  Huntingfield. 

William  de  Huntingfield  endowed  the  Priory  founded  here  by  him, 
with  divers  lands  which  had  been  granted  him  by  King  Stephen. 
These,  with  the  other  grants  by  subsequent  benefactors,  up  to  the 
feign  of  Edward  I.,  constituted  the  manor  called  the  Priory  manor. 


412  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  founders,  or  patrons,  of  this  family, 
from  the  "  Monasticon  :" — 

William  de  Huntingfield,  died  in  1155.— Sibilla. 

I l 

Roger  de  Huntingfield,  Obt.  I204.—Elizabeth  de  Seutliz,  Obt.  1200. 

I 1 

William  de  Huntingfield,  Obt.  1220.=Isabella  de  Freville,  Obt.  1209. 
1 —1 

1.  Lucia.= Roger  de  Huntingfield,  Ob.  1252.=2.  Johanna  de  Hobrugg. 

1 — 1 

William  de  Huntingfield,  Obt.  l283.=Emma,  dau.  of  John  de  Grey,  by  Emma, 

I 1      dau.  of  Geoff,  de  Glanville.  Ob.  1264. 

Roger  de  Huntingfield,  Obt.  1302.= Joyce,  dau.  of  John  D'Engaine,  Obt.  1312. 
T—  1 

2.  Sybil.=Wm.  de  Huntingfield,  Ob.  1313. =1.  Joan,  daug.  of  John  de  Hastings, 

I 1          Lord  of  Abergavenny. 

Roger  de  Huntingfield,  Obt.  1337. —Cecilia,  dau.  of  Sir  Walter  de  Norwich,  Knt., 

I 1      of  Mettingham  Castle. 

William  de  Huntingfield,  Obt.  50th  Edward  III.^Elizabeth  De  Willonghby. 

On  the  death  of  the  last  Lord  Huntingfield,  the  patronage  of  the 
Priory  came  to  the  Uffords,  Earls  of  Suffolk ;  and  was  afterwards  in 
the  De  la  Poles. 

The  manor  of  Kingshall,  which  it  is  presumed  derived  its  name 
from  being  in  the  hands  of  the  Crown,  is  stated  hy  Blomefield  to 
have  been  in  the  Veres,  Earls  of  Oxford  ;  and  to  have  passed,  by 
purchase,  from  them  to  Sir  John  de  Fressingfield,  and  from  him  to 
Sir  Walter  de  Norwich  ;  and  so,  with  his  daughter  Cecilia,  to  Sir 
Eoger  de  Huntingfield ;  and  to  have  been  settled  by  another  Eoger 
de  Huntingfield,  subsequent  to  1370,  on  Mendham  Priory. 

This  is  a  very  extensive  place,  if  the  hamlet,  or  chapelry  of 
Nedham,  situate  on  the  Norfolk  side  of  the  river  Waveney,  with 
Scotford  (or  the  part  at  the  ford),  over  which  there  is  now  a  bridge, 
called  Shotford  Bridge,  be  included.  This  for  many  ages  had  a  rec- 
tor presented  to  it,  who  served  in  the  church  of  Mendham,  by  the 
name  of  the  rector  of  Shotford  portion  in  Mendham.  A  portion  of 
Harleston  also  then  belonged  to  this  parish  ;  and  now  that  part  of 
the  town  on  the  south  side  of  the  chapel,  on  which  the  public-house 
called  "  The  Pye"  stands,  is  in  Mendham. 

These  Mr.  Blomefield  has  treated  of  in  his  history  of  that  county; 
and  from  his,  and  more  recent  authorities,  we  collect  the  following 
particulars  concerning  the  Monastery  and  parish  church,  which  were 
both  situated  on  the  Suffolk  side  of  the  river. 

The  former  was  founded  in  King  Stephen's  time,  about  1 140,  by 
'William,  son  of  Roger  de  Huntingfield,  with  the  consent  of  Roger, 
his  son  and  heir;  who  gave  the  whole  isle  of  Mendham  (called 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  413 

Meadon-Ham,  or  the  Village  of  Meadows),  to  the  monks  of  Castle- 
Acre,  on  condition  that  they  should  erect  a  church  of  stone,  and 
build  a  convent  by  it,  and  place  at  least  eight  of  their  monks  there, 
in  the  place  called  Hurst  (or  Bruniggeshurst) ;  being  then  a 
woody  isle,  on  the  Suffolk  side  of  the  river  Waveney.  The  founder 
further  directed  that  it  should  be  subordinate  to  Castle- Acre  Priory; 
and  he  endowed  it  with  various  churches,  rents,  and  homages.  It 
consisted  of  monks  of  the  Cluniac  order. 

Two  charters  of  the  founder  are  extant,  and  are  printed  in  the 
"  Monasticon."  By  the  first,  he  gave  to  the  house  of  Castle- Acre 
"  the  island  of  St.  Mary,  of  Mendham,"  with  its  appurtenances ; 
and  in  the  second,  by  which  he  enlarged  the  endowment,  he  describes 
the  recipients  of  his  bounty  as  "  the  monks  of  Acre,  dwelling  at  the 
island  of  Bruniggeshurst." 

He  made  the  first  donation  with  a  special  agreement  that,  at  once, 
as  many  brothers  as  should  be  necessary  to  rule  the  place  should  be 
settled  in  the  island;  and  afterwards,  as  the  place  should  be  in- 
creased and  improved,  the  number  of  monks  should  be  augmented, 
until  a  Convent  of  monks  might  be  placed  there,  to  hold  the  order 
according  to  rule ;  which  should  then  be  done  as  soon  as  possible. 

It  was  also  stipulated  that  the  same  subjection  which  the  church 
of  Acre  owed  to  the  church  of  St.  Pancras,  at  Lewis,  in  Sussex,  or 
the  latter  to  the  church  at  Cluni,  in  France,  the  same  the  above- 
said  island  should  perform  to  the  church  of  Acre  ;  and  should  pay 
in  acknowledgement  thereof,  half  a  mark  of  silver  yearly.  Yet,  al- 
though in  this  subordinate  state,  few  religious  foundations,  for  pri- 
vileges, magnificence,  and  architectural  beauty,  could  vie  with  the 
Priory  of  St.  Mary  of  Mendham. 

The  value  of  the  estates  of  this  Priory,  at  the  taxation  of  Pope 
Nicholas,  in  1291,  was,  in  six  parishes  in  Norfolk,  £4  12s.  2d. ;  and 
in  eight  parishes,  in  Suffolk,  £7  3s.  7£d. :  total,  £11  15s.  9£d.  At 
the  dissolution  it  was  valued  as  part  of  the  possessions  of  Castle- 
Acre.  It  was  granted  to  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and 
by  him  conveyed  to  Kichard  Freston,  by  deed  dated  at  Mendham, 
on  the  3rd  of  June,  in  the  28th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  1537;  and 
is  made  to  Kichard  Freston  in  fee,  charged  with  the  payment  to  the 
said  Duke,  his  heirs,  and  assigns,  of  an  annual  rent  of  £40. 

Charles  Brandon  appears,  at  the  time  of  the  dissolution,  to  have 
had  some  claim  to  the  patronage  of  this  Priory,  in  right  of  his 
fourth  wife,  Catherine,  Lady  Willoughby  of  Eresby ;  she  being  li- 


414  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

neally  descended  from  Cicely,  wife  of  John,  Lord  Willoughby,  the? 
eldest  sister  and  co-heir  of  Sir  William  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk ; 
on  whom  the  same  had  been  settled,  by  William,  Lord  Huntingfield, 
the  last  male  descendant  of  the  founder. 

After  the  decease  of  Sir  Richard  Freston,  by  virtue  of  some  set- 
tlement made  by  him,  the  house  and  demesnes,  with  the  manors  in 
the  Suffolk  portion,  called  Mendham  Priory,  and  Kingshall,  came 
to  Michael  Wentworth,  Esq.,  of  Eogersthorpe,  in  Yorkshire ;  and 
the  manor  of  Denson's,  in  Norfolk,  to  Richard  Ereston,  his  son. 
The  Erestons  were  a  Yorkshire  family,  and  connected  by  marriage 
with  the  Wentworths. 

In  the  37th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Michael  Wentworth,  grandson 
of  the  above,  sold  the  property  to  Anthony  Gosnold,  of  Clopton ; 
of  whom  the  mansion  and  estate,  called  the  Priory,  were  soon  after 
purchased,  by  Edward  Ward,  Esq.,  and  subsequently,  from  him,  by 
Robert  Green,  Esq. ;  who  conveyed  them  to  James  Tyrell,  Esq.,  his 
son-in-law.  Tyrell  resided  at  the  Priory,  then  called  Mendham 
Hall;  and  died  there  in  1656,  leaving  two  daughters  his  co-heir- 
esses ;  one  of  whom,  Elizabeth,  married  William  Rant,  of  Yelver- 
ton,  in  Norfolk,  Esq. ;  and  through  this  marriage  the  estate  came 
into  the  family  of  the  Rants,  in  a  branch  of  which  it  is  still  vested. 

The  manors  of  Mendham  Priory  and  Mendham  Kingshall,  were 
purchased  of  Gosnold,  by  one  Lawrence ;  and  afterwards  belonged 
successively  to  the  Hollands,  Baxters,  Gardiners,  and  Whitakers. 
In  1803,  they  were  sold  to  Alexander  Adair,  Esq.,  of  Elixton;  and 
his  successor,  William  Adair,  Esq.,  is  the  present  lord. 

In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1836,  part  ii.,  p.  601,  is  an 
account  of  this  property,  with  engravings,  containing  a  plan  of  the 
Priory,  and  some  interesting  architectural  portions  of  the  original 
buildings :  also  some  curious  remains  of  paintings,  with  which  the 
house  was  ornamented  immediately  after  its  conversion  to  a  secular 
mansion ;  communicated  by  J.  A.  Repton,  Esq.,  from  drawings  ta- 
ken shortly  before  the  removal  of  the  buildings.* 

The  mansion,  formed  out  of  the  monastic  buildings,  in  which 
were  the  paintings  described  by  Mr.  Repton,  was  probably  the  work 
of  Sir  Richard  Freston ;  though  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  ever  resi- 

*  A  front  view  of  the  Chapter  House  is  engraved  in  the  "  Antiquarian  Itinerary/' 
1815  ;  and  there  is  a  rough  general  view  of  the  remains  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Ma- 
gazine,'' for  Nov.  1808.  In  Davy's  "Architectural  Antiquities, *'  is  also  a  view  of 

these  remains, 


HUNDttED  OF  HOXNE.  4  1  fi 

ded  there,  for  having,  in  the  1st  of  King  Edward  VI.,  obtained  a 
grant  from  the  Crown  of  the  manor  and  estate  of  Wliitendon  (or 
Wichendon),  in  the  Norfolk  part  of  Mendham  (late  parcel  of  the 
possessions  of  the  dissolved  Priory  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  at  Ipswich), 
ho  built  a  mansion  there ;  where  Ms  descendants  resided,  until  the 
extinction  of  the  family  in  the  male  line,  in  1 761.  This  estate  was 
also  purchased  in  1824,  by  Alexander  Adair,  Esq. 

This  parish  church  was  originally  a  rectory,  one  turn  of  which 
was  in  Sir  William  de  Huntingfield,  founder  of  the  Priory  here ;  to 
which  he  gave  it :  and  the  other  in  Sir  Thomas  de  Nedham,  who 
gave  it  to  William,  Prior  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  at  Ipswich  ;  to  which 
it  was  appropriated  in  1227 ;  when  the  vicarage  was  settled  to  con- 
sist of  a  messuage,  and  24  acres  of  land,  6  acres  of  meadow  and  marsh, 
with  all  the  alterage  belonging  to  the  church,  and  the  tithes  of  the 
mills.,  hay,  turf,  and  fish,  and  all  sorts  of  pulse,  with  10s.  per  annum 
rent.  The  first  vicar  here  was  presented  by  the  Prior  of  Ipswich. 

A  branch  of  the  family  of  Bateman,  descended  from  Sir  Bartholo- 
mew Bateman,  eldest  brother  of  the  Bishop  of  Norwich  of  that  name, 
resided  in  an  ancient  seat  here,  called  Oakenhill  (probably  from  Ro- 
ger  de  Okenhull,  brother  of  William  de  Huntingfield),  down  to  the 
year  1753.  The  estate  is  now  divided  into  two  or  three  holdings. 

Here  was  also  an  estate  called  Thorpe  Hall,  formerly  held  by 
Erasmus  de  Heveningham,  and  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by 
a  family  of  the  name  of  Smith.  It  afterwards  belonged  to  the  Ho- 
barts,  of  Weybread ;  from  whom  it  came,  by  purchase,  to  the  Ho- 
barts,  of  Walsham  Hall ;  from  them  to  the  Bransbys ;  and  from  the 
co-heiresses  of  James  Bransby,  of  Shottisham,  Esq.,  to  Mrs.  Mary 
Wyard.  It  is  now  the  property  of  Thomas  Thornhill,  Esq.,  of  Rid- 
lesworth,  in  Norfolk. 

The  old  mansion,  called  Middleton  Hall,  was  the  seat  of  a  family 
of  that  name  for  very  many  generations ;  and  Thomas  Middleton, 
the  last  of  that  family,  died  seized  of  it  (held  as  of  the  Dutchy  of 
Lancaster)  in  the  20th  of  King  Henry  VII.  It  was  afterwards  the 
estate  and  residence  successively  of  Henry  Eeppes,  Esq.,  and  Bas- 
singbourn  Gawdy,  Esq.,  the  Hernes,  and  the  Baxters ;  in  which 
latter  family  it  became  united  with  the  other  manors.  Henry  Reppes, 
married  to  his  second  wife,  Ann,  daughter  of  John  Wotton,  Esq.,  of 
Tudenham,  relict  of  Sir  Thomas  Woodhouse,  whose  third  husband 
was  Bassingbourn  Gawdy.  Mr  Reppes  died  without  issue. 

ARMS. — Huntitigfield:  or;  on  a  fess,  gules,  three  plates.    Fres- 


416  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

ton :  azure ;  on  a  fess,  or,  three  leopards'  faces,  gules.  Rant : 
ermine ;  on  a  fess,  sable,  three  lions,  rampant,  or.  Priory,  the 
same  as  Castle- Acre :  argent ;  a  cross  cheque,  or  and  azure,  be- 
tween twelve  cross  crosslets,  fitche,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — In  1725,  William  Dennington  devised  his  lands  and 
tenements,  at  Shimpling,  in  Norfolk,  to  William  Dennington,  the 
elder,  and  his  heirs ;  upon  condition  that  he  and  they  should,  on 
the  first  Sunday  in  every  month,  distribute  twelve  penny  loaves  of 
good  wheaten  bread  to  twelve  of  the  poorest  people  of  this  parish : 
and  he  also  willed,  that  2s.  a  year  should  be  paid  out  of  the  same 
estate,  to  the  sexton  of  Mendham,  for  looking  after  his  grave,  and 
that  of  his  late  wife,  in  that  church-yard. — In  the  Parliamentary 
Returns  of  1786,  mention  is  made  of  £2  a  year  being  paid  by  a  per- 
son named  Eant,  on  account  of  a  charity  for  apprenticing  poor  chil- 
dren ;  but  no  particulars  of  the  donation  are  given.  The  payment 
of  the  annuity  has  long  ceased,  and  no  account  of  the  charity  can 
be  obtained. 


METFIELB,  or  MEDEFIELD. 

This  was  formerly  considered  a  hamlet,  and  parochial  chapel  of 
Mendham,  but  is  now  reckoned  a  distinct  parish.  It  was  anciently 
of  the  fee  of  the  Abbot  of  Holm  ;  of  whom  it  was  held,  in  the  time 
of  King  Richard  I.,  at  half  a  fee,  by  Hugh  Burd ;  after  which  it 
became  escheated  to  the  Crown,  and  was  granted  to  Thomas  de 
Brotherton,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  son  of  King  Edward  I.,  whose  first 
wife  was  Alice,  daughter  of  Sir  Roger  Hayles,  Knt.,  of  Harwich. 

Sir  John  Jermy,  Knt.,  married  Joan,  her  sister ;  and  in  1 325, 
the  said  Thomas,  conveyed  to  his  brother-in-law,  Sir  John  Jermy, 
two  parts  of  this  manor,  and  the  third  part  to  his  wife,  for  the  as- 
signment of  her  dower :  in  1353,  Sir  John  Jermy,  Knt.,  held  it,  at 
a  quarter  of  a  fee,  of  the  manor  of  Kingshall,  in  Mendham.  In 
1385,  Sir  William  Jermy,  Knt.,  was  buried  here;  Elizabeth  his 
wife  survived  him. 

In  1428,  Sir  John  Jermy,  Knt.,  and  Margaret  Mounteney,  his 
wife,  were  owners  of  this  and  Withersdale  manors ;  who  also  rebuilt 
the  church  and  manor  house,  where  he  placed  the  marriages  of  his 
family  in  the  windows ;  and  his  arms  were  carved  in  divers  parts  of 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  4 17 

the  roof,  and  in  stone  on  the  font.     He  deceased  in  1487,  and  was 
interred  at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  chancel  here. 

He  bequeathed  legacies  to  this  church,  and  those  of  Buckenham 
Ferry,  and  Hasingham,  of  which  he  was  patron;  he  ordered  100 
marks  to  he  distributed  to  the  poor  on  his  burial  day  ;  and  deposited 
in  the  hands  of  Thomas  Pakefield,  Abbot  of  St.  Bennet,  at  Holm, 
whom  he  appointed  one  of  his  executors,  200  marks,  as  a  mainte- 
nance, for  a  Chantry  priest,  to  sing  mass  therein  daily,  for  him  and 
his  family  for  ever.  He  is  called  Sir  John  Jenny,  senior,  Knt. 

Sir  John  Jermy,  junior,  his  son  and  heir,  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  William  Wroth,  of  Enfield,  Esq.,  and  had  two  sons  : 
from  Thomas,  the  younger  son,  descended  the  Jermy s,  of  Bayfield, 
in  Norfolk ;  and  John  Jermy,  Esq.,  the  eldest  son,  continued  the 
family  at  Metfield.  He  married  Isabel,  daughter  of  John  Hopton, 
Esq.,  and  lies  buried  in  the  chancel,  by  his  grandfather. 

Edmund  Jermy,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir,  married  a  daughter  of 
William  Booth,  Esq.,  and  left  Sir  John  Jermy,  K.B.,  of  this  parish, 
and  Brightwell,*  in  Carlford  hundred.  Thomas  Jermy,  Esq.,  el- 
dest son  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermy,  K.B.,  deceased  in  1652,  and  was 
buried  under  an  altar  tomb  at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  chancel 
of  this  parish  church. 

He  died  without  issue ;  and  this  manor  and  estate  came,  probably 
by  purchase,  to  Thomas  Smallpiece,  Esq.,  who  was  lord  in  1658, 
and  was  afterwards  of  Worlingham.  William  Sancroft,  Esq.,  held 
the  same  in  1711 ;  and  Walter  Plumer,  Esq.,  of  Gilston,  in  Hert- 
fordshire, and  Chediston,  in  Suffolk,  in  1724;  who  was  succeeded 
by  William  Plumer,  Esq.,  his  brother  and  heir.  On  the  sale  of  the 
Plumers'  Suffolk  estates,  this  manor  and  the  demesne  lands  were 
purchased  by  William  Kayley,  Esq.,  the  present  lord. 

The  presentation  to  the  church  appears  to  have  been  in  the  Crown 
until  the  8th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  when  it  was  granted,  by  her,  to 
William  le  Grice,  and  others ;  and  in  the  1 1th  of  that  reign,  the 
Free  chapel  of  Metfield,  otherwise  called  Metfield  church,  with  the 
church-yard  adjoining,  was  conveyed  to  trustees,  for  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Metfield ;  who  ever  since  have  elected  the  curate. 

The  only  remuneration  to  the  minister  originally  was  sundry 
small  payments,  out  of  the  herbages,  amounting  to  £9  18s.  7d.  ; 
but  the  Kev.  Samuel  Chapman,  rector  of  Thorpe  by  Norwich,  the 
owner  of  a  copyhold  estate  in  the  parish,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1700, 

*  See  that  parish. 


418  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

directed  Ms  executors  to  sell  the  same,  and  to  lay  out  the  proceeds 
in  the  purchase  of  a  freehold  estate  in  Metfield,  with  a  convenient 
house,  to  be  vested  in  trustees  for  the  use  of  the  minister  of  the 
town  of  Metfield,  for  the  time  being.  A  messuage  and  land  was 
accordingly  purchased,  in  1704,  and  conveyed  to  trustees,  according 
to  the  intent  of  his  will.  The  minister  resides  in  the  house,  and 
enjoys  the  estate. 

The  lete  of  this  parish  belonged  to  the  lord  of  MendhamKingshall : 
which  manor,  as  well  as  those  of  Mendham  Priory,  and  Walsham 
Hall,  extended  here.  The  Blobolds,  and  Godbolds,  were  families 
of  gentry  residing  here  in  the  14th  and  15th  centuries. 

ARMS. — Smallpiece:  sable;  a  chevron  ingrailed,  between  three 
cinquefoils,  argent.  Plumer :  party  per  chevron  flewry,  counter 
flewry,  gules  and  argent,  three  martlets  counterchanged.  Godbold: 
azure ;  two  bows  in  saltier,  or ;  strung,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — In  1556,  John  Welton,  by  will,  devised  as  follows : — 
"  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  William  my  son,  my  tenement  called 
Lovedays,  with  all  the  lands,  meadows  and  pastures  thereto  belong- 
ing, with  the  appurtenances,  situate,  lying  and  being  in  Metfield, 
aforesaid :  Item,  I  give  and  bequeath  to  William  my  son,  one  pightle 
lying  in  Withersdale,  containing  by  estimation,  three  acres,  within 
the  way,  and  the  said  William  to  pay  and  distribute  to  the  poor  peo- 
ple dwelling  in  Metfield,  yearly,  for  the  said  pightle  as  much  money 
as  it  shall  be  yearly  worth  to  let :  also  I  will,  and  my  mind  and  in- 
tent is,  that  the  heirs  of  the  said  William  do  see  they  that  have  my 
tenement  called  Lovedays,  shall  have  the  said  pightle,  paying  yearly 
to  the  poor  people,  as  long  as  the  word  shall  endure,  so  much  money 
as  it  shall  be  yearly  worth  to  let."  On  account  of  this  donation,  since 
1663,  the  sum  of  £l  10s.  has  been  paid  annually,  by  the  owner  of 
a  piece  of  land  lying  in  Withersdale,  called  the  Poor  Man's  Pightle. 
— Thomas  Maplehead,  in  the  33rd  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  gave  6s. 
8d.  a  year  for  the  repairs  of  the  church,  out  of  land  called  Book's, 
the  property  of  John  Micklewaite,  Esq. ;  and  in  the  43rd  of  Eliza- 
beth, James  Scarlet  gave  to  the  poor  of  Metfield  20s.  a  year,  out  of 
land  in  Withersdale,  belonging  to  Edward  Freeston,  Esq. :  in  1762, 
Kichard  Knapp  bequeathed  a  house  and  lands  in  Metfield,  for  bread, 
for  the  poor  of  that  parish. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  419 


MONK-SOHAM. 

Alfred,  Bishop  of  the  East  Angles,  made  a  grant  of  the  manor 
and  advowson  of  this  parish  to  the  Monks  of  Bury  Abbey,  hence 
called  Monk's- Soham.  At  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  Anthony 
Rous,  Esq.,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  same,  and  it  continued  in  that 
family  until  the  3rd  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  when  it  was  purchased  of 
Thomas  Rous,  Esq.,  by  Lionel  Tallemache,  Esq. 

The  lordship  of  Blomvile's,  or  Woodcroft-Hall,  in  this  and  ad- 
joining parishes,  in  1460,  was  vested  in  John  Caldwell ;  and  has 
lately  been  the  estate  of  Anthony  Deane,  Esq. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here,  consists  of  the  following  pro- 
perty :  a  messuage,  called  the  Guild-Hall,  and  two  cottages,  occu- 
pied by  poor  persons,  rent  free ;  lands  in  Monk- Soham,  called  Towes, 
containing  together  20A.  IR.  29p.,  let  at  £22  a  year ;  a  close,  called 
Fullgood,  and  a  meadow,  containing  together  18A.  SR.,  rent  £20 
per  annum  ;  two  pightles,  and  a  piece  of  land,  containing  together 
9A.  IR.  6p.,  let  at  £10  a  year.  The  rents  are  applied  after  the  ne- 
cessary outlay  for  repairs,  &c.,  in  providing  2s.  worth  of  bread,  dis- 
tributed every  Sunday  at  the  church ;  in  the  purchase  of  coals  for  the 
poor ;  and  the  surplus,  in  a  distribution  of  money  among  poor  people, 
according  to  a  list  made  out  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  trustees. 


SAXSTEAD,  or  SAXTEDA. 

This  was  anciently  a  berwite,  or  hamlet,  to  Fromlingham,  and  as 
such,  was  returned  in  the  Great  Survey,  as  part  of  the  lands  of  Hugh 
de  Abrincis,  Earl  of  Chester,  under  the  head  "  Bishop's  hundred." 
It  however  soon  afterwards  was  reckoned  a  parish  of  itself ;  but  con- 
tinued to  be  held  as  a,  member  of  Framlingham  manor,  and  partici- 
pates in  its  customs. 

To  each  of  these  manors  there  is  appendant  a  Court-Lete,  which 
extends  through  the  respective  parishes.  The  common  fine  for 
Framlingham  lete  is  6s.  8d.,  paid  now  by  the  churchwardens,  but 
•anciently  by  the  tenents  possessed  of  free-lands ;  but  the  common 
fine  of  this  parish  is  3d.  These  are  the  most  ancient  courts  of  re- 


420  JIUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

cord,  and  were  originally  instituted  to  correct  public  offences,  or 
crown  matters,  within  their  jurisdiction. 

The  soil  of  Saxstead  Green,  which  contains  about  30  acres,  and 
all  the  waste  ground  and  ways,  are  the  property  of  the  lords ;  but 
the  benefit  and  feed  thereof  belongs  to  the  copyhold  tenants,  who 
cannot  take  down  timber  without  the  lord's  license,  to  whom  a  third 
part  belongs.  Where  a  father  dies  seized  of  copyhold  lauds  or  tene- 
ments, holden  of  this  manor,  and  leaves  two  or  more  sons  living, 
the  youngest  son  becomes  heir  to  such  lands  or  tenements.  This 
custom  is  termed  Borough  English. 

The  church  has  been  consolidated  to  that  of  Framlingham  ever 
since  the  time  of  King  Edward  III.,  and  the  cure  thereof  is,  and 
always  has  been,  served  by  the  rector  of  that  parish,  or  his  curate. 
In  1328,  Thomas  de  Brotherton  presented  Ei chard  de  Burghstede 
to  the  living  of  Framlingham,  with  the  chapel  of  Saxstede  annexed. 
This,  though  not  certified  or  valued  in  Bacon's  "  Liber  Regis,"  is  a 
rectory  dedicated  to  All  Saints.  A  view  of  this  church  is  engraved  in 
Loder's  "  History  of  Framlingham,"  from  a  drawing  by  J.  Johnson ; 
the  walls  of  the  tower  (which  fell  down  July  8,  1805),  are  therein 
described  as  being  somewhat  decayed.  The  old  materials  have  since 
been  used  to  repair  the  breach,  as  high  as  the  roof ;  the  lower  part 
of  which  is  now  used  as  a  vestry,  and  above  is  the  belfry. 

The  following  property,  which  is  copyhold  of  the  manor  of  Sax- 
stead,  and  vested  in  trustees,  was  given  for  the  maintenance  of  this 
structure :  one  messuage,  and  nine  acres  of  land  of  the  demesne, 
parcel  of  Saxstead  Went ;  one  acre  and  one  rood,  parcel  of  38  acres 
of  Saxstead  Went;  and  one  cottage,  with  the  yards,  containing  eight 
perches,  and  to  which  Humphry  Button,  and  others,  were  admitted 
in  1547,  in  trust,  for  this  parish,  who  were  to  apply  the  rents  ac- 
cordingly, and  the  overplus  to  the  use  of  the  poor.  This  gift  Mr. 
Hawes  states  was  made  prior  to  the  reign  of  King  Edward  III.,  but 
by  whom  is  unknown ;  the  probability  however  is,  that  the  parish 
had  it  of  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  the  patron,  and  that  the  gift  is 
coeval  with  the  founding  of  the  church. 

Mem. — In  1831,  some  labourers,  in  draining  lands  near  Saxstead 
Green,  discovered  not  much  below  the  surface  of  the  soil,  the  re- 
mains of  a  human  skeleton,  with  fragments  of  a  wooden  coffin ;  near 
to  which  they  also  found  a  half  groat  of  Henry  VI.,  and  a  gold  ring, 
weighing  2dwts.  21  grs.,  the  face  of  which  is  divided  into  two  com- 
partments ;  on  the  one  is  engraved  an  emblem  of  the  Holy  Trinity, 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  421 

and  on  the  other  the  Virgin  Mary ;  on  the  inside,  in  old  Roman  cha- 
racters, "  de  Ion  cuer."  This  ring  was  lately  in  the  possession  of 
Mrs.  Smith,  of  Saxstead. 


SYLEHAM,  or  SEILAM, 

Is  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  survey  amongst  the  possessions  of 
Robert  de  Tony ;  and  of  that  family  lands  here,  and  in  other  places, 
were  probably  held  by  the  Cliffords.  In  the  3rd  of  King  Edward 
I.,  Roger  de  Clifford  had  bothena  at  Syleham. 

Herbert  de  Losinga  (or  Losing),  1st  Bishop  of  Norwich,  gave  to 
Roger  Bigot,  or  rather  to  the  Cluniac  Priory  at  Thetford,  then  lately 
founded  by  him,  a  manor,  and  the  church  of  Syleham,  being  his  own 
private  property,  with  all  that  belonged  to  them,  as  the  water  mill, 
fishery,  &c.,  in  exchange  for  Tombland,  and  other  possessions  set- 
tled by  Roger  on  the  Cathedral  at  Norwich.  This  manor,  called 
from  the  monks  at  Thetford,  "  Monk's-Hall  manor,"  and  the  impro- 
priation,  was  at  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  granted  to  Thomas, 
Duke  of  Norfolk.  In  Queen  Elizabeth's  time  it  was  held  by  Emery 
Tilney,  Esq. ;  who,  it  is  believed,  granted  out  all  the  copyholds  upon 
long  leases,  and  extinguished  the  manor. 

The  old  manor  house  and  demesne  lands  are  now  in  the  Wollas- 
ton  family :  Henry  Septimus  Hyde  Wollaston,  Esq.,  of  South  Weald, 
in  Essex,  being  the  present  proprietor. 

The  manors  of  Syleham  and  Esham  (a  hamlet  of  that  parish), 
with  the  advowsons  of  their  united  churches  (probably  derived  from 
the  Cliffords),  belonged,  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  II.,  to  the 
family  of  Seymour  (or  St.  Maur).  In  1335,  Sir  Edmund  Seymour, 
Knt.,  enfeoffed  them  in  Sir  John  Wingfield,  Knt,  as  trustee.  Law- 
rence Seymour,  parson  of  the  churches  of  Syleham  and  Esham,  and 
Ralph,  his  brother,  released  their  right ;  and  in  the  next  year,  Sir 
John  Wingfield  released  them  to  John,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Edmund 
Seymour ;  but  they  were  soon  after  absolutely  conveyed  to  Sir  John 
Wingfield,  whose  widow  and  executrix,  Alienor,  settled  Esham  cha- 
pel, and  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  Syleham,  on  the  Chantry,  or 
College,  founded  by  her  at  Wingfield,  in  pursuance  of  the  will  of 
her  late  husband.  She  deceased  in  the  49th  of  Edward  III.,  seized 
of  the  manor. 


422  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

It  afterwards  came  to  the  De  la  Poles,  and  passed  as  Wingfield 
Castle  ;  with  which  it  was  granted,  by  Queen  Mary,  in  the  first  year 
of  her  reign,  to  Sir  Henry  Jernegan,  Knt.  In  the  21st  of  the  next 
reign,  Thomas  Barrow  had  seizen ;  but  it  does  not  appear  during 
this  period  to  have  borne  the  name  of  the  Earl's  manor. 

The  manor  of  Syleham  Comitis,  on  the  part  of  Suffolk,  which 
derived  its  title  from  its  ancient  lords,  the  Earls  of  Norfolk,  was 
sold  by  the  heirs  of  Sir  William  Chapman,  of  Lowdham  Hall,  to 
Mr.  William  Mann,  a  flour  factor  here ;  on  whose  death,  the  same 
was  purchased  from  his  heirs,  by  Mr.  Dyson,  a  banker  and  brewer, 
at  Diss. 

In  1642,  the  family  of  Barry  were  seated  in  this  parish;  and 
Captain  Anthony  Barry,  who  held  the  impropriation,  by  will  dated 
the  12th  of  March,  1678,  the  same  being  unendowed,  settled  on 
the  minister  and  his  successors  all  the  impropriated  tithes  of  this 
parish,  then  worth  about  ^£40  a  year ;  and  also  a  messuage  and 
close  of  £4  a  year;  and  his  son  Christopher,  who  died  in  1701,  de- 
vised a  good  house  for  the  minister,  with  lauds  of  the  value  of  £8 
per  annum. 

Lamb  Barry,  Esq.,  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriif  for  this 
county,  in  1748  :  the  estate  upon  which  he  resided  (Syleham  Hall) 
is  now  the  seat  of  the  Rev.  Augustus  Cooper,  who  is  also  patron  of 
the  perpetual  curacy. 


SOUTHOLT.— SUDHOLDA,  or  SOUTH-HOLD, 

Is  accounted  a  hamlet  of  Worlingworth,  and  appears  to  have  been 
vested  in  Bury  Abbey,  as  that  parish  was  ;  and  has  passed  as  it  did: 
the  churches  of  which  are  also  consolidated.  William  de  Bovile  an- 
ciently held  this  lordship,  of  whose  grant  it  probably  went  to  the 
above  Monastery. 

The  family  of  Thurston,  of  Hoxne,  were  formerly  possessed  of  a 
manor  here ;  and  Anthony  Drury,  Esq.,  held  an  estate  here  in  1723 ; 
of  which  he  died  possessed :  it  afterwards  belonged  to  his  sister, 
Catherine  Drury. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here,  comprises  a  dwelling  house, 
yard,  and  several  parcels  of  land,  in  this  parish,  containing  together 
28A.  3R.  37p.,  and  also  22A.  2R.  29p.  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Bed- 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  423 

field  :  it  is  let  to  sundry  persons,  at  rents  amounting  together  to 
£01.  These  rents  are  applied  towards  payment  of  the  church- 
wardens' expenses,  the  support  of  a  Sunday-school,  the  purchase  of 
clothing  for  the  poor,  and  the  maintenance  and  repair  of  the  parish 
workhouse. 


STRADBROOK. — STETEBROC,  or  STATEBROC. 

The  ancient  family  of  Le  Rus  (or  Rufus),  was  enfeofled  of  this 
parish  soon  after  the  Conquest.  King  Stephen,  when  Earl  of 
Morton,  granted  to  Ernald  Rufus,  son  of  Roger,  the  whole  manor 
of  Stradbrook,  part  of  the  honour  of  Eye,  with  the  soke  and  advow- 
son  of  the  church  ;  and  King  John  confirmed  the  said  grant  to  Er- 
nald Rufus,  to  hold  as  his  grandfather  held  it,  in  the  first  year  of 
his  reign. 

This  Ernald,  in  the  3rd  of  the  said  King,  gave  hy  deed,  for  his 
soul's  health,  and  that  of  Isabel  his  wife,  and  his  ancestors,  &c.,  in 
pure  alms  to  God,  St.  Mary,  and  the  church  of  Woodbridge,  and  the 
canons  thereof,  all  the  tithe  of  Northaghe  and  Hunteswyk,  in  this 
parish  ;  saving  a  pension  of  4s.  per  annum,  to  be  paid  to  the  Prior 
and  Convent  of  Eye  :  dated  at  Wytingham,  in  1201.  He  is  called 
in  the  register  of  Eye  Priory,  patron  of  Woodbridge  ;  and  his  an- 
cestors are  declared  founders  of  the  Priory  there. 

In  the  10th  of  Henry  III.,  Hugh  Rufus  his  son,  was  one  of  the 
collectors  of  the  fifteenths  in  Norfolk  ;  and  the  following  year  had 
the  grant  of  a  weekly  Market  here,  and  at  Woodbridge ;  at  the  former 
on  Friday,  and  at  the  latter  on  Wednesday. 

In  the  37th  of  the  same  reign,  William  le  Rus  died  seized  of  this 
lordship,  and  Alice  was  his  daughter  and  sole  heir,  aged  six  years. 
She  married  Richard,  second  son  of  Sir  William  de  Brews,  and  Maud 
his  wife  ;  and  was  a  retainer  of  the  Earl  Marshall,  Custos  of  the 
Peace  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk. 

This  Richard  and  Alice,  in  the  52nd  of  the  above  King,  granted 
to  the  Priory  at  Woodbridge,  ten  marks  per  annum,  to  find  a  canon 
to  celebrate  for  ever  in  the  Priory  church,  for  their  souls  ;  and  in 
the  56th  of  that  reign,  William  de  Brews  granted  by  fine,  to  the 
said  Richard  and  Alice,  the  manor  and  advowson  of  Akenham,  with 
those  of  Clay  don  and  Hemingston,  in  exchange  for  that  of  Bromley, 


424  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

in  Surrey,  and  others.  In  the  5th  of  Edward  I.,  they  gave  lands  in 
Thurleston  to  the  canons  of  St.  Peter  and  Paul,  in  Ipswich.  Sir 
Richard  deceased  in  the  25th  of  the  said  King :  Alice  survived  to 
the  29th,  and  Giles  was  their  son  and  heir. 

He  was  lord  of  Akenham,  Whitton,  Clopton,  and  Hasketon ;  and 
married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Sir  Lawrence  de  Huntingfield,  by 
whom  he  had  no  issue,  hut  hy  a  second  marriage  he  had  three  sons. 
Sir  Giles  deceased  in  1310 ;  Eichard,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  being 
then  nine  years  of  age ;  he  married  Eleanor,  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Shelton,  Knt.,  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters.  Sir  Richard  de- 
ceased in  1323,  and  was  buried  at  Woodbridge  Priory.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Robert,  his  second  brother,  who  died  in  1 325,  without 
issue,  and  John  de  Brews,  his  brother  and  heir,  succeeded. 

From  this  family  the  estate  passed  to  the  Wingfields ;  and  Elia- 
nor,  the  widow  of  Sir  John  Wingfield,  Knt.,  died  seized  of  the  manor 
of  Stradbrook,  held  as  of  the  honour  of  Eye,  in  the  49th  of  Edward 
III.  Michael  De  la  Pole,  and  Katherine  his  wife,  held  the  manor 
with  the  advowson;  the  latter  was  appropriated,  in  the  20th  of 
Richard  II.,  to  the  College  of  Wingfield,  and  the  former  now  be- 
longs to  Lord  Huntingfield. 

A  branch  of  the  Shelton  family  were  anciently  seated  in  this  pa- 
rish, and  had  a  free  chapel  founded  in  Shelton's  manor,  at  Strad- 
brook, endowed  with  divers  lands.  John  de  Shelton,  by  deed  with- 
out date,  tied  this  manor  to  the  Prior  of  Butley,  to  excuse  that 
house  from  all  suit  and  service  to  the  county  courts,  or  hundred 
courts  ;  and  John  his  son  confirmed  the  same.  This  manor  extends 
into  Fressingfield,  and  in  1699,  Joseph  Thompson  acknowledged  to 
hold  it  in  free  soccage  of  the  manor  of  Chevenhale  (alias  Chepen- 
hall).  It  was  lately  vested  in  W.  T.  Corbett,  Esq. 

The  manor  of  Buslaugh  Hall,  in  this  parish,  was  the  property  of 
Thomas  Huntingfield,  Gent.,  who  deceased  in  1554,  leaving  two 
daughters  his  co-heiresses;  namely,  Elizabeth,  who  married  An- 
drew Revett,  of  Brandeston  Hall,  Esq.,  Escheator  for  Queen  Mary 
and  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  the  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  The 
other  daughter  married  to  John  Vere,  Gent.,  by  whom  she  had  issue 
Richard  Vere,  Gent. 

The  said  Andrew  Revett  commenced  a  suit  against  this  Richard 
Vere,  his  nephew,  both  claiming  the  above  manor,  as  heirs  to  Hun- 
tingfield ;  and  the  nephew,  to  be  revenged  upon  his  uncle,  and  pre- 
vent a  trial  at  the  assizes,  forged  a  treasonable  letter  in  his  uncle's 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  425 

name,  and  directed  it  to  his  attorney,  William  Bygot;  dated  Feb.  10, 
1556  :  part  of  the  contents  of  which  was  as  follows : — 

"  Also  1  pray  you  send  me  word  how  the  Queen's  grace  doth,  for  I  hear  say  that  she 
is  out  of  her  wits,  and  like  to  die,  because  she  hear  say  that  King  Edward  was  alive, 
the  which  I  pray  God  it  be  true,  for  we  had  never  no  quiet  since  she  was  Queen, 
but  burning,  hanging,  heading,  and  popish  religion,  wherefore  I  trust  it  will  not 
continue  long,  I  pray  you  send  me  word  more  justly,  also  I  pray  you  look  on  this 
closely." 

This  epistle  was  dropped  in  Serjeant's  Inn,  London  ;  and  when 
found,  was  given  into  the  hands  of  Nicholas  Heath,  Archbishop  of 
York,  and  then  Lord  Chancellor  ;  whereupon  Mr.  Kevett  was  com- 
mitted to  the  Tower,  where  he  continued  fifteen  weeks,  but  the  for- 
gery being  discovered,  he  was  acquitted ;  and  Richard  Vere  for  this 
crime  was  branded  on  the  face  with  the  letters  F.A.,  for  false  ac- 
cuser, and  stood  in  the  pillory  at  Norwich,  London,  and  Ipswich, 
when  he  was  again  remanded  to  prison,  yet  Mr.  Revett  could  not 
obtain  his  pardon  until  the  1st  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Revett 
died  in  1572,  and  was  buried  at  Brandeston. 

The  vicarage,  as  well  as  the  impropriation,  became  vested  in  the 
Bishop  of  Ely,  who  is  now  the  patron  ;  and  the  manor  styled  "  Strad- 
brook,  with  Stribcroft,"  in  the  Marquis  Cornwallis  ;  and  was  pur- 
chased, with  the  Broome  estates,  by  Mr.  Kerrison,  the  father  of  the 
gallant  Baronet,  the  present  owner. 

The  highly  respectable  family  of  Borrett,  who  were  originally  of 
Irish  extraction,  were  long  seated  in  this  parish  :  John  Borrett,  Esq., 
a  Master  in  Chancery,  who  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Green,  of  Wilby,  Gent.,  was  buried  in  this  parish  church,  in  1724; 
in  which  are  many  other  memorials  to  members  of  that  family. 
Weever  also  mentions  memorials  to  "  Robart  Dowe,  and  Elizabeth 
his  wyef,  doughter  of  John  Fremyngham,  esquyer ;  and  John  Shel- 
ton,  the  son  of  Raff  Shelton,  esquyer,  died  in  anno  1465." 

ARMS. — Borrett:  or;  three  boars'  heads  couped,  sable.  Crest: 
a  boar,  passant. 

Robert  Grosseteste  (or  Grosthead),  was  a  native  of  this  parish, 
and  was,  says  Fuller,  "  bred  in  Oxford,  where  he  became  most  emi- 
nent for  religion,  and  learned  in  all  kind  of  languages,  arts  and  sci- 
ences ;  and  at  last  was  preferred  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  1235.  He 
wrote  no  fewer  than  three  hundred  treatitises,  whereof  most  are  ex- 
tant in  manuscript,  in  Westminster  library,  which  Dr.  Williams  (his 
successor  in  the  see  of  Lincoln)  intended  to  have  published  in  three 
fair  folio  volumes,  had  not  the  late  troublesome  times  disheartened 


42G  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

him.  Thus  our  civil  wars  have  not  only  filled  us  with  legions  of 
lying  pamphlets,  but  also  deprived  us  of  such  a  treasure  of  truth,  as 
this  worthy  man's  works  would  have  proved  to  all  posterity. 

"  He  was  a  stout  opposer  of  Popish  oppression  in  the  land,  and 
a  sharp  reprover  of  the  corruptions  of  the  court  of  Rome,  as  we  have 
largely  declared  in  our  '  Ecclesiastical  History.'  Such  the  piety  of 
his  life  and  death,  that,  though  loaded  with  curses  from  the  Pope, 
he  generally  obtained  the  reputation  of  a  saint.  He  deceased  Anno 
Domini  1254." 

That  well  known,  singular,  and  eccentric  character,  James  Cham- 
bers, the  itinerant  poet,  breathed  his  last  in  this  parish,  on  the  4th 
of  January,  1827,  after  a  life  of  78  years  of  destitution  and  wretch- 
edness, and  was  buried  in  Stradbrook  church-yard.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Soham,  in  Cambridgeshire  ;  but  at  an  early  age,  either  from 
necessity  or  choice,  left  his  home,  never  to  return,  and  for  many 
years  travelled  this  county,  selling  books,  and  occasionally  some  of 
his  own  printed  compositions :  sometimes  he  descended  so  low  as 
to  be  a  vender  of  matches.  He  could  read  well,  had  read  much, 
and  acquired  amongst  the  country  people  no  inconsiderable  degree 
of  celebrity  by  composing  acrostics,  during  the  night,  as  he  laid  in 
a  barn  or  shed.  He  was  of  mild,  unassuming,  and  inoffensive  man- 
ners, and  possessed  a  mind  strongly  tinctured  with  a  sense  of  re- 
ligion. His  general  appearance  was  wretched  in  the  extreme :  he 
constantly  ranged  about  in  all  weathers,  and  seemed  insensible  of 
the  worst,  always  attended  by  a  large  company  of  dogs,  who  shared 
his  scanty  pittance,  and  who  watched  over  his  repose. 

In  1810,  Mr.  John  Cordy,  of  Worlingworth,  very  kindly  inter- 
ested himself  in  behalf  of  poor  Chambers,  and  published  a  statement 
of  his  case  in  the  "  Ipswich  Journal,"  which  induced  the  late  Dutchess 
of  Chandos,  the  Countess  of  Dysart,  Lord  Henniker,  and  others,  to 
send  donations  to  him  for  the  use  of  this  solitary  wanderer.  A  plan 
was  accordingly  formed  to  make  him  stationary :  a  cottage  was 
hired,  at  Worlingworth,  and  furnished,  and  his  Poems  were  to  have 
been  printed  for  his  benefit,  but  after  residing  there  a  few  months, 
he  set  off  on  one  of  his  peregrinations,  and  returned  no  more. 

When  a  wanderer  about  Haverhill,  Mr.  John  Webb,  of  that  pa- 
rish, wrote  some  verses  on  James  Chambers,  the  "  Suffolk  Itinerant 
Poet,"  which  the  editor  of  the  "  Suffolk  Garland"  has  inserted  in 
that  pleasing  work,  with  specimens  of  his  poetry,  and  a  narrative  of 
his  life,  from  which  the  above  is  extracted. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  427 

CHARITIES. — In  1587,  Michael  Wentworth,  Esq.,  lord  of  the  ma- 
nor of  Mendham,  granted  to  James  Grudgefield,  and  other  parish- 
ioners of  Stradbrook,  the  town  house  therein,  to  the  following  uses : 
the  town  chamber  for  a  school,  and  the  rest  of  the  premises  to  the 
poor  of  the  parish,  and  to  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants,  for  children 
to  be  taught  there.  This  building  is  used  partly  for  a  school,  and 
partly  for  the  residence  of  the  poor. — In  1599,  William  Grendling, 
devised  his  messuage  and  land  in  Westhall,  in  this  county,  to  An- 
thony Warner,  and  other  inhabitants  of  this  parish,  as  feoffees,  upon 
trust,  to  such  particular  and  Godly  uses  as  the  town  stock  of  the  pa- 
rish had  usually  been  theretofore  employed.  The  property  at  West- 
hall,  comprises  a  house,  and  76A.  2iu  of  land ;  which  let  at  ^£90  a 
year :  a  house  recently  built,  and  about  1 G  acres  of  land  at  Syle- 
ham,  in  this  county  ;  let  at  £24:  per  annum  ;  purchased  with  town 
stock,  for  the  purpose  of  binding  poor  children,  born  in  the  parish, 
apprentices  to  trades,  &c.  In  1G67,  Giles  Borrett  gave  a  piece  of 
laud  in  this  parish,  called  Doggett's  Pightle  ;  the  profits  thereof  to 
be  given  yearly  to  the  poor  of  Stradbrook :  this  pightle  contains 
3A.  2R.,  and  lets  at  £6  8s.  a  year.  The  rents  of  the  above  estates 
are  carried  to  one  account,  and  thereout  are  paid  yearly  the  following 
sums  :  to  the  minister  of  the  parish,  £3  6s.  8d. ;  to  the  surveyor  of 
highways,  £3  6s.  8d. ;  to  the  master  of  the  school,  £5  ;  to  the  poor, 
£2  ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  rents  is  now  applied  in  the  repairs 
of  the  parish  church,  and  in  defraying  other  expenses  attending  the 
churchwardens'  office,  in  lieu  of  a  church  rate. — John  Borrett,  by 
will,  dated  in  1698,  charged  his  lands  in  this  parish,  called  Law- 
rence Meadow,  and  Wallhill,  now  the  property  of  Mr.  Edwards,  with 
the  payment  of  £5  12s.  yearly :  52s.  thereof  to  be  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  six  two-penny  loaves  weekly,  to  be  given  to  six  poor 
inhabitants  of  Stradbrook ;  and  the  remainder  to  be  laid  out  in 
clothes  of  linen  or  woollen,  as  most  necessary,  for  the  said  six  poor 
people  receiving  the  benefit  of  the  former  gift;  10s.  to  every  one  of 
them ;  to  be  given  twenty  days  before  Christmas. — Henry  Austin,  in 
1661,  devised  £1  to  the  poor,  payable  yearly  on  Christmas  day,  out 
of  an  estate  in  Stradbrook,  late  Barfoot's,  abutting  on  Barlow  Hall ; 
and  Nicholas  Borrett,  in  1668,  devised  £l  to  the  poor,  payable 
yearly  on  Ash  Wednesday,  out  of  an  estate  on  the  north  side  of  the 
church-yard,  in  Stradbrook. — Richmond  Girling,  in  1658,  gave  £l 
10s.,  to  be  paid  yearly  on  Midsummer- day,  to  be  applied  for  the  use 
of  the  poor  in  bread. — The  master  of  Stradbrook  school  is  appointed 


428  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

by  the  trustees  of  Warner's  charity,  and  the  parishioners.  His  sti- 
pend consists  of  £5  a  year,  paid  out  of  the  rents  of  the  charity  es- 
tates above  mentioned;  and  £15  a  year,  paid  by  the  trustees  of 
Warner's  charity.*  For  the  former  he  teaches  five,  and  for  the  lat- 
ter, twelve  poor  children,  as  free  scholars,  in  reading,  writing,  and 
arithmetic. 


TANNINGTON,  or  TATINTUNA. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes  this  lordship  to  have 
been  anciently  vested  in  William  Kington ;  and,  by  the  arms  of 
Braiseworth  and  Playters  having  been  formerly  placed  in  the  win- 
dows of  this  parish  church,  it  would  appear  that  certain  members  of 
those  families  were  interested  here. 

In  Loder's  account  of  the  freeholders  of  the  manor  of  Saxtead,  are 
the  following  entries  : — "  John  Woods,  holdeth  freely  lands  in  Tan- 
ington:  which  were  John  Woods',  1691;  John  JefFrys',  1659;  Si- 
mon JefFrys',  1621 ;  George  Jeffrys',  1608  ;  and  William  Peter's,  1. 
E.  6.,  by  the  annual  rent  of  16s." 

"  James  Wyard,  Gen.,  hold  the  manor  of  Bruseworth,  alias  Bruis- 
yards,  in  Taningtou,  with  the  lands  thereto  belonging,  freely  in  soc- 
cage,  by  suit  of  Court,  and  paying  double  the  rent  for  a  relief :  which 
was  Philip  Wyard's,  Gen.,  1673;  John  Wyard's,  Esq.,  1659;  Sir 

Thomas  Playters',  in  1608  ;  and Playters',  Esq.,  1.  E.  6.,  by 

the  annual  rent  of  43s.  2d."  Braiseworth  Hall  manor  now  belongs 
to  the  heirs  of  the  late  John  Meadows,  of  Saxstead. 

Tannington  Hall  was  the  estate  of  Humphrey  Wingfield,  Esq., 
who  deceased  in  1587  :  and  the  family  of  Dade  were  seated  here  for 
several  generations,  many  of  whom  are  interred  in  this  parish  church; 
who,  by  the  memorials  still  remaining,  were  allied  by  marriage  with 
most  of  the  respectable  families  in  the  county. 

Thomas  Dade,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married  Anne,  daughter  of 
Eichard  Cornwallis,  of  Shotley,  3rd  son  of  Sir  John  Cornwallis,  of 
Broome  Hall,  Knt.  She  deceased  in  1612;  and  Mary,  wife  of 
William  Dade,  Esq.,  and  daughter  of  Henry  Wingfield,  of  Crowfield, 
Esq.,  died  in  1624 ;  Elizabeth,  his  2nd  wife,  daughter  of  John  Ke- 
vett,  Esq.,  of  Brandeston,  died  in  1656.  Thomas  Dade,  Esq.,  mar- 
*  See  Boyton,  p.  145. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  429 

ried  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  of  John  Acton,  Esq.,  of  Bramford 
Hall,  in  1640.  He  deceased  in  1685. 

This  family  also  quartered  coats  with  Garneys,  Tilney,  Soame, 
Vere,  &c.  Thomas  Bade,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married  Elizabeth, 
eldest  daughter  of  John  Vere  :  she  deceased  in  1711,  and  was  bu- 
ried at  South  Pickenham,  in  Norfolk.  Their  estate  here  was  reck- 
oned worth  £  1,400  per  annum.  It  was  purchased  by  the  trustees 
of  William  Adair,  Esq.,  of  Flixton  Hall,  and  still  continues  in  that 
house. 

Sir  John  de  Pyeshale,  who  founded  the  Chantry  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary  in  the  church  of  St.  Andrew,  at  Brundish,  endowed 
the  same  with  two  messuages,  184  acres  of  land,  10  acres  of  mea- 
dow, 93  acres  of  pasture,  36  acres  of  wood,  and  £4  10s.  rent,  in  this 
parish,  Brundish,  Dennington,  and  Wilby. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate,  which  is  vested  in  trustees,  con- 
sists of  27A.  IR.  8p.  of  land,  in  this  parish,  and  Brundish ;  with 
18A.  3R.  26p.  of  land  in  Worlingworth  ;  and  a  cottage  and  garden, 
lately  given  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Dunn;  the  rents  of  which  amount 
together  to  £60  per  annum,  which  are  applied  for  the  repair  of  the 
church,  and  for  the  support  of  a  Sunday-school :  the  surplus  is  dis- 
tributed among  poor  persons,  in  coals  and  clothing.  There  are  two 
cottages  in  this  parish,  given  by  a  person  named  Godbold,  which 
are  used  for  the  residence  of  paupers. 


WETHEESDALE,  or  WYRESDALE. 

In  the  3rd  of  King  Edward  I.,  Banulph  de  Arderne  had  bothena 
here;  and  the  name  of  Alan  de  Wytheresdale  occurs  about  the 
same  period. 

In  the  17th  of  King  Edward  III.,  Sir  Oliver  de  Ingham  died, 
seized  of  the  lordship  of  this  parish  ;  and  in  1523,  Thos.  Gawdye, 
of  Wortwell,  Gent.,  obtained  a  manumission  of  all  his  lands  in 
Mendham,  Metfield,  and  Wethersdale ;  held  of  the  manors  of  Met- 
field  Priory  and  Bingshall,  of  Simon,  Prior  of  Mendham. 

The  manor  was,  for  many  years,  in  the  Jennys ;  and  passed  with 
that  of  Metfield  Hall.  It  is  now  the  property  of  Captain  Kayley, 
the  lord  of  Metfield.  Wethersdale  Hall  estate  belongs  to  Mr. 
George  Barham,  who  occupies  it. 


430  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

The  patronage  of  this  parish  church  is  held  with  that  of  Fres- 
singfield,  and  is  vested  in  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  land  consists  of  two  acres,  in  the  midst 
of  an  enclosure,  helonging  to  Mr.  George  Barham,  and  is  distin- 
guished hy  posts.  This  produces  a  yearly  rent  of  £3 ;  which  is 
distributed  in  winter,  amongst  the  most  necessitous  poor,  in  various 
sums,  proportioned  to  the  size  of  their  families. 


WEYBREAD,  or  WEIBRADA. 

This  was  part  of  the  vast  territory  granted  to  Kohert  Malet,  the 
lord  of  the  manor  of  Eye.  In  1215,  Nicholas  de  Shelton  had 
purchased  all  the  estate  of  Kohert  Maloysel  and  Alexander  his  son, 
in  this  parish. 

In  the  1 7th  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  Oliver  de  Ingham  died  seized  of 
this  lordship  ;  and  in  the  5th  of  Henry  V.,  Sir  Miles,  eldest  son  of 
Sir  Miles  Stapleton,  K.G.,  by  Joan  his  wife,  youngest  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  the  said  Oliver,  died  possessed  of  the  same.  Sir  Miles, 
son  of  Sir  Brian,  and  grandson  of  the  above  Sir  Miles  Stapleton,  at 
his  decease,  in  1460,  left  two  daughters  and  co-heirs,  by  Catherine 
his  2nd  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  De  la  Pole,  Knt. 

Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  married  William  Calthorpe,  Esq.,  afterwards 
a  Knight,  who  inherited  this  estate  in  her  right ;  from  whom  it  pas- 
sed to  Francis  their  son ;  whose  son  William  Calthorpe,  Esq.,  sold 
the  same,  in  1570,  to  Sir  Thomas  Gawdy,  Knt.,  one  of  the  Judges 
of  the  Common  Pleas.  Henry  his  son,  inherited;  who  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Robert  Warner,  Esq.,  and  was  created  K.B. 
at  the  coronation  of  King  James  I.  He  wws  living  in  1615. 

This  property  soon  after  passed  to  the  Hobart  family.  John  Ho- 
bart,  Esq.,  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  son  of  Sir  John  Hobart,  Knt.,  who 
was  4th  son  of  James  Hobart,  of  Hales  Hall,  in  Loddon,  in  Norfolk, 
was  lord  of  the  manor  of  Weybread  Hall,  and  resided  at  the  manor 
house;  where  he  deceased  in  1683,  leaving  an  only  surviving  child, 
Barbara,  married  to  Herbert  Astley,  LL.D.,  Dean  of  Norwich ;  who 
were  succeeded  by  their  son,  Hobart  Astley,  Esq. 

This  gentleman  sold  the  manor  and  demesne  to  Edward  de  Ligue, 
Gent.;  and  in  1703,  Daniel  de  Ligue  was  lord.  It  was  afterwards 
successively  held  by Orton,  George  Gregory,  John  Lucas, 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  431 

and  Edmund  Pepys ;  whose  heir,  or  devisee,  sold  it  to  Richard  Ay- 
ton,  of  Lombard  street,  London.  He  took  the  additional  name  of 
Lee,  and  devised  the  manor  and  estate,  together  with  another  manor 
in  this  parish,  called  Irstede  (or  Istead)  Hall,  to  his  son,  Robert  Lee, 
of  Walthamstow,  in  Essex ;  who  sold  them  both :  the  Weybread 
Hall  manor  and  estate,  to  Jennings  Booty,  yeoman ;  and  the  Istead 
manor,  to  William  Cook,  the  owner  of  the  water  mill. 

In  1442,  Henry  de  Walpole,  Esq.,  ofHoughton,  in  Norfolk,  gave 
by  will  to  John  his  son,  the  manor  of  Irstede,  in  this  parish ;  who, 
in  the  21st  of  Edward  IV.,  granted  the  same  to  William  Walpole, 
Esq.,  his  brother. 

The  estate  called  Shotford  Hall,  in  Mendham,  is  partly  situated 
in  this  parish,  and  was  formerly  the  property  of  Nicholas  Smith, 
Gent. ;  afterwards  of  Elizabeth  Drury,  widow ;  and  Anthony  Drury, 
Esq.,  resided  here  in  1 723  :  on  a  partition  between  his  two  sisters 
and  co-heiresses,  this  estate  fell  to  Elizabeth  Roberts,  widow;  who 
sold  it,  in  1756,  to  Cooke  Freston,  Esq. ;  it  has  been  since  pur- 
chased by  Alexander  Adair,  Esq.,  and  remains  in  his  successor, 
William  Adair,  of  Flixton  Hall,  Esq. 

The  church  was  granted  to  the  Priory  of  Butley.  In  1764,  Phi- 
lips Coleman  was  lord  of  the  manor  of  Finges,  and  impropriator  of 
the  great  tithes.  This  manor  came,  under  his  will,  to  Miss  Ralphe, 
who  married  the  Rev.  John  Edge ;  and  on  her  death,  to  the  Cle- 
ments, of  Dovercourt.  The  advowson  of  the  vicarage  was  given  to 
John  Edge,  son  of  the  late  Admiral  Daniel,  of  Ipswich,  who  is  the 
present  vicar ;  but  the  great  tithes  were  sold  to  the  estate  owners. 
There  is  a  manor  of  Weybread  Rectory,  which  was  lately  in  the 
Plumer  family. 

The  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Sibton,  in  Blithing  hundred,  held  a 
grange  and  manor  in  Weybread :  the  Abbot  of  West  Dereham,  in 
Norfolk,  also  held  lands  here  ;  and  Peter  Fitz  Walter  gave  a  rent 
charge  of  half  a  mark,  out  of  his  mill  at  Irstede,  to  buy  wine  for 
mass  in  the  church  of  that  Monastery,  with  soc,  sac,  tholl,  and  many 
other  royal  privileges  ;  and  the  Almoner  of  the  Cathedral  Priory  at 
Norwich,  for  his  temporal  rents  here,  was  taxed  at  5s.  Id. 

ARMS. — Ingham :  per  pale,  or  and  vert,  a  cross  moline,  gules. 
Btapleton :  argent ;  a  lion  rampant,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  land  is  described  in  the  parish  terrier  as 
"  a  close  in  Mendham,  containing  by  estimation,  eight  acres,  called 
Toppys  ;  the  rents  of  which  are  to  be  received  by  the  churchwardens, 


432  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

for  the  use  of  the  poor."  This  lets  at  £12  a  year,  which  is  expended 
in  clothing  materials,  and  given  to  the  poor.  Harling's  'dole  is 
a  payment  originating  under  the  will  of  a  Mr.  Harling,  dated  in 
1731,  of  £1  5s.  a  year,  for  the  poor ;  and  issues  out  of  land  called 
Potter's  Pitts,  in  Weyhread.  This  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of 
bread,  and  given  to  the  poor. 


WILBY,  or  WILEBEY. 

In  the  first  of  King  Edward  IV.,  John  Nevil,  grandson  of  Thomas 
Montacute,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  having  stoutly  adhered  to  the  house 
of  York,  with  Kichard  Nevil,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  his  father,  and  his 
brother,  Eichard,  Earl  of  Warwick,  had,  in  consideration  of  his 
good  services,  a  grant  to  himself  and  his  heirs,  amongst  other  es- 
tates, the  lordship  of  this  parish,  with  the  advowsou  of  the  church ; 
and  at  the  same  time  was  created  Lord  Montacute. 

In  the  5th  of  the  same  reign,  this  estate  was  further  confirmed  to 
him  and  his  heirs ;  and  he  was  advanced  to  the  higher  dignity  of 
Marquess  Montacute,  in  1470.  He  however,  soon  after  joined  with 
his  brother,  Eichard,  Earl  of  Warwick,  in  revolt  against  that  King, 
and  was,  with  him,  slain  at  Barnet,  in  1471;  and  his  estates  be- 
came forfeited  to  the  Crown. 

It  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of  the  Wingfield  family; 
and  passed,  by  purchase,  with  their  other  estates,  to  the  Earl  of 
Eochford;  who,  in  1764,  was  lord  and  patron. 

The  family  of  Bayles  were  resident  here  in  the  time  of  Queen 
Elizabeth  and  King  James  I. ;  several  of  whom  are  interred  in  this 
parish  church. 

In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1821,  p.  423,  some  enquiry  is 
made  respecting  a  Mr.  Edward  Calver,  of  this  parish,  of  whom  there 
is  a  scarce  portrait,  engraved  by  Hollar,  which  has  been  twice  copied. 
The  writer  observes,  about  the  middle  of  the  15th  century  there  was 
a  poet  of  both  his  names,  author  of  several  publications  in  verse ; 
and  conjectures  that  the  portrait  above  mentioned  was  intended  for 
the  said  poet,  and  might  have  been  fixed  to  some  one  of  his  poems. 
This  parish  register  contains  entries  from  1539  to  1654,  of  the  Cal- 
ver family. 
.  The  reputed  manor  of  Eussel's,  in  this  parish,  which  formerly  be- 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXN'E.  433 

longed  to  William  Stane,  Esq.,  was  lately  the  estate  of  W.  T.  Cor- 
bett,  Esq.,  with  freehold  lands  near-  Russet's  Green ;  and  now  be- 
longs to  the  Eev.  Thomas  Bramston  Stane,  of  Essex. 

Thomas  John  Ord,  Esq.,  of  Fornham  St.  Martin,  and  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Gwilt,  of  Icklingham,  are  also  proprietors  of  estates  in  this 
parish.  The  family  of  Green  was  likewise  for  many  generations 
seated  at  Wilby :  the  mansion  in  which  they  resided  has  been  long 
demolished,  and  a  fine  avenue  of  oaks  has  lately  followed  its  fate ; 
but  the  moat  still  points  out  the  spot  where  the  house  once  stood. 

They  were  the  ancestors  of  the  Greens,  of  Ipswich  ;  of  whom  was 
Thomas  Green,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  considerable  literary  attain- 
ments, who  in  1769,  published  a  periodical  work  in  folio,  entitled 
"  Euphrasy,"  which  was  extended  to  twelve  numbers.  He  was  also 
the  author  of  several  other  publications. 

Mr.  Green  deceased  at  his  residence  in  Ipswich,  in  1794,  and  his 
widow,  in  1819  ;  they  were  both  interred  in  the  family  vault,  in  the 
south  aisle  of  this  parish  church.  He  left  issue  an  only  son,  Thomas 
Green,  Esq.,  born  in  1769;  who  married,  in  1795,  Catherine,  the 
youngest  daughter  of  Thomas  Hartcup,  Esq.,  a  Lieutenant- Colonel 
in  the  corps  of  Royal  Engineers.  He  deceased  in  1825,  and  was 
also  interred  at  Wilby. 

An  interesting  "  Memoir"  of  this  gentleman,*  with  a  critique  on 
his  writings,  and  an  account  of  his  family  connections,  was  written 
by  his  intimate  friend,  the  Rev.  James  Ford,  B.D.,  then  of  Ipswich, 
now  vicar  of  Navestock,  in  Essex  ;  for  presentation  among  the  more 
immediate  and  intimate  friends  of  the  deceased :  from  which  work 
we  select  the  following  particulars. 

His  family  were  in  the  possession  of  considerable  landed  property 
in  this  and  adjacent  parishes.  On  the  paternal  side  he  was  related 
to  Dr.  Thomas  Green,  Bishop  of  Ely  ;  and  on  the  maternal,  nearly 
allied  to  two  eminent  and  distinguished  individuals,  Archbishop 
Sancroft,  and  "  honest  Tom  Martin,"  of  Palgrave.  Mr.  Green  re- 
ceived the  early  part  of  his  education  at  the  Grammar-school,  Ips- 
wich ;  and  was  afterwards  under  the  private  superintendance  of 
Mr.  William  Jervis,  an  eminent  dissenting  minister,  of  that  town. 
In  1791,  he  was  admitted  a  member  of  the  Inner  Temple ;  and  after 
the  usual  attendance  in  the  Inns  of  Court,  was  called  to  the  Bar. 
Mr.  Green  was  the  author  of  several  political  and  other  pamph- 

*  An  excellent  portrait  of  Mr.  Green,  engraved  by  W.  H.  Worthington,  from  a 
drawing  by  W.  H.  Bennett,  is  given  in  his  "  Memoirs.'' 


434  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

lets;  but  his.  largest  and  principal  work  he  published  in  1810, 
under  the  title  of  "  Extracts  from  the  Diary  of  a  Lover  of  Litera- 
ture." "A  spirit  of  the  gentleman,  the  scholar,  and  the  man  of 
extensive  reading,  pervades  the  whole  of  this  interesting  and  enter- 
taining publication,"  observes  the  author  of  his  "  Memoirs."  Since 
Mr.  Green's  decease,  a  continuation  of  these  extracts  have  appeared 
in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine." 

ARMS. — Green :  party  per  pale,  azure  and  gules,  a  chevron,  be- 
tween three  bucks  trippant,  or.  Bayles :  or;  a  lion  passant,  in 
fess,  between  three  crosses  formee,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here,  with  the  exception  of  about 
7^  acres  of  copyhold  land  in  the  parish  of  Wilby,  are  of  freehold 
tenure ;  the  particulars  and  rental  thereof  being  as  follows : — a 
house,  buildings,  and  27A.  5p.  of  land  in  this  parish  ;  rent  £36  per 
annum:  SA.  12P.  of  land  in  Wilby;  let  at  £l  5s.  a  year:  a  house, 
buildings,  and  ISA.  IR.  25p.  of  land  in  the  same  parish;  rent  £27 
per  annum :  a  house,  yard,  and  SA.  3R.  13p.  of  land  in  Bedfield 
parish ;  let  at  £8  8s.  a  year  :  total  rental,  £72  13s.  The  rents  are 
applied,  after  deducting  for  the  repairs  of  the  buildings  on  the  estate, 
in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  payment  of  other  charges  inci- 
dental to  the  churchwardens'  office  ;  the  repairs  of  the  poor  house, 
and  the  parish  clerk's  house,  and  in  paying  a  surgeon  for  attending 
the  poor  in  the  parish :  a  sum  of  money  is  also  laid  out,  yearly, 
from  this  fund,  in  the  purchase  of  coals ;  part  of  which  are  distri- 
buted gratis  to  poor  widows  and  widowers,  and  other  parts  are  sold 
to  poor  persons  at  reduced  prices. 


WINGFIELD,  or  WYNGFELD. 

The  Knightly  family  of  Wingfield  are  supposed  to  have  been 
seated  here  at  the  period  of  the  Norman  Conquest.  Sir  Eobert  de 
Wingfield,  Knt.,  lord  of  this  manor,  by  Joan  his  wife,  daughter  of 
Sir  John  Fastolf,  Knt.,  had  issue  Thomas,  who  married  Alice, 
daughter  of  Sir  Nicholas  Weyland,  Knt. ;  by  whom  he  had  issue 
Sir  John,  who  married  Anne,  daughter  of  John  Peche,  Esq. ;  by 
whom  he  had  Sir  John  Wingfield,  Knt.,  his  eldest  surviving  son 
and  successor. 

He  was  living  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  II.,  or  III.,  and  mar- 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  435 

ried  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  John  Honeypot,  of  this  parish,  Esq., 
and  left  issue  three  sons:  Sir  John,  the  eldest,  presented  to  the 
church  of  Saxmundham  in  1348 ;  Richard,  the  next  brother,  seated 
himself  at  Dennington,  to  which  he  presented  in  1342;  and  Sir 
Thomas,  the  youngest,  was  possessed  of  Letheringham,  by  marriage 
with  Margaret,  sole  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  John  de  Bovile, 
Knt.,  of  that  parish,  and  relict  of  Sir  John  Carbonel,  Knt. 

The  above  Sir  John  Wingfield,  Knt.,  left  an  only  daughter  and 
heiress,  Catherine,  who  married  Michael  de  la  Pole,  the  first  of  that 
name,  Earl  of  Suffolk ;  by  which  marriage  this  manor,  and  the  ex- 
tensive estates  attached  to  it,  were  carried  into  that  noble  family ;  in 
which  it  continued  for  several  generations.  While  in  their  posses- 
sion, they  obtained  license  to  convert  the  Manor  House  into  a  Castle, 
and  to  inclose  and  impark  all  the  woods  and  lands  belonging  to  the 
same. 

The  most  memorable  historical  character  in  connexion  with  this 
parish,  is  William  de  la  Pole,  the  first  Duke  of  Suffolk ;  who,  in- 
deed, it  may  be  presumed,  was  the  builder  of  the  Castle,  in  the  reign 
of  King  Henry  VI.  His  father,  the  first  Earl,  had  acquired  the 
lordship  as  above  stated ;  and  at  this  place  Suffolk  reigned  in  all  his 
power.  It  was  within  his  own  county,  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  he 
caused  the  Parliament  to  be  assembled,  in  1446  ;  at  which  time  the 
good  Duke  of  Gloucester  was  arrested  and  murdered.  The  Duke 
of  Suffolk  suffered  a  death  of  equal  violence  four  years  after,  on  the 
sea,  between  England  and  Calais,  by  having  his  head  struck  off  on 
the  gunwale  of  a  boat,  and  his  body  thrown  into  the  sea. 

In  the  4th  of  Edward  I.,  Geoffrey  Frumband  held  sixty  acres  of 
land  in  Wingfield,  by  the  service  of  paying  to  the  King  two  white 
doves  annually ;  and  Katherine,  the  relict  of  the  2nd  Earl  of  Suffolk, 
died  seized,  amongst  divers  fees,  of  the  fee  called  Frumband's  (alias 
Frumbaldes),  in  Wingfield;  of  which  Elizabeth,  one  of  the  daugh- 
ters and  co-heirs  of  Michael  and  Katherine,  died  seized,  in  the  1st 
of  Henry  VI.  These  were  granted  by  Henry  VIII.,  to  Thomas, 
Lord  Howard  (afterwards  Duke  of  Norfolk),  and  Anne  his  wife,  one 
of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Edward  IV.,  and  the  heirs  of  her 
body ;  she  however  died  without  issue,  and  they  reverted  to  the 
Crown. 

Wingfield  Castle  subsequently  became  the  estate  of  the  Catelyn 
family  ;  who  derive  from  Richard  Catelyn,  Esq.,  Sheriff  of  Norwich, 
in  1531,  and  Alderman  of  that  city,  1556.  Thomas,  2nd  son  of 


436  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

Richard  Catelyn,  Esq.,  serjcant-at  law,  -was  lord  here  in  or  about 
1604  ;  he  deceased  in  1606,  when  Richard  Catelyn,  Esq.,  his  son, 
succeeded  ;  who,  by  his  second  wife,  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry 
Nevil,  of  Billingbere,  in  Berkshire,  Knt ,  had  issue  a  son  and  heir, 
Sir  Nevil  ;  and  Richard,  who  died  without  issue ;  also  Anne,  who 
manied  Thomas  Leman,  Gent.,  of  Wenhaston,  in  Blithing  hundred, 
and  three  other  daughters. 

Sir  Nevil  Catelyn  was  Knighted  by  King  Charles  II.,  at  Somer- 
set House,  in  London,  in  1062,  and  was  owner  of  this  estate.  He 
married,  1st.,  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Sir  Th'-mas  Bedingfield,  of  Dar- 
sliam,  in  this  county;  his  2nd  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Robert  Houghton,  of  Ranworth,  Esq. ;  he  married,  3rdly,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Sir  William,  and  sister  of  Sir  Charles  Blois,  Bart.,  of 
Cockfield  Hall,  in  Yoxlbrd,  and  of  Grundisburgh.  Sir  Nevil  deceased 
in  170.2,  without  surviving  issue,  and  this  property  passed  to  the 
descendants  of  his  sister  Anne,  wifo  of  Thomas  Leman,  Gent.  :  and 
Robert  Leman,  D.D.,  rector  of  Pakefield,  in  this  county,  second  son 
of  Robert  Leman,  Esq.,  of  Brampton,  died  in  1779,  seized  of  this 
estate.  By  the  will  of  his  heiress  it  came  to,  and  is  now  vested  in, 
the  family  of  Wilson,  of  Didlingtnn,  and  Kirby  Cane,  in  Norfolk  ; 
lineal  descendant  of  the  Lord  Berners,  whose  family  estate  and  title 
they  now  possess. 

The  chancel  of  this  parish  church  contains  some  fine  monuments 
of  the  De  la  Poles,  whose  arms  adorn  the  font,  the  east  window,  and 
the  pulpit ;  and  against  the  south  wall  of  the  same,  hangs  a  pedi- 
gree of  that  family,  neatly  written  un  parchment,  with  their  arms 
beautifully  emblazoned ;  to  which  is  prefixed  the  following  title ; 
"An  exact  account  of  the  most  noble  family  of  the  De  la  Poles, 
from  their  first  srttling  at  Wingfield,  until  the  extinction  of  the 
family ;  collected  by  William  Bedford,  M.A.,  appointed  and  licensed 
curate  of  Wingfield,  April  26th,  1684.  This  monumental  table  was 
drawn  and  fixed  up  here  by  the  said  William  Bedford,  July  14th, 
1701,  and  since  transcribed  by  Thomas  Folkard,  July  22nd,  1725." 

The  church  built  of  flints  and  stones  of  different  colours,  exhibits 
a  very  singular  and  beautiful  appearance.  One  of  the  monumental 
effigies  hero  has  been  ascribed  to  William  De  la  Pole,  Duke  of  Suf- 
folk ;  but  this  appears  inci  >rrect,  for  the  three  effigies  in  Wingfield 
church,  all  of  which  are  engraved  in  "  Stothard's  Monumental  Effi- 
gies," belong  to  other  generations  of  the  family.  Here  are  besides, 
several  brasses  for  other  members  of  this  family.  Weever  mentions 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  437 

some  to  Kichard  and  John  De  la  Pole,  sons  of  Michael  De  la  Pole, 
first  Eurl  of  Suffolk,  who  decoded  in  1403,  and  1415  ;  also  John 
De  Ja  Poh:,  son  and  heir  of  WiJliam  De  la  Pole,  Duke  of  Suffolk, 
who  died  in  1491 ;  and  some  members  of  the  Letheringham  branch 
of  the  family. 

1"  100 1 ,  William  de  Easthawe,  of  this  parish,  was  rector  of  Bil- 
linglbrd,  in  Norfolk,  where  ho  was  buried,  in  L'lbS  ;  he  made  the 
lattices  between  the  church  and  the  chancel  there.  In  1713,  John 
Briars.  M.A.,  \vas  appointed  curate  of  this  parish,  by  P>isho}>  Trim- 
nel,  whose  chaplain  he  was,  and  rector  of  Diss  and  Billingford,  in 
Norfolk;  were  he  was  buried  in  17^8.  Mr.  Briars  published  a 
Sermon  preached  at  Palgrave,  in  Suffolk,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the 
gentlemen  and  clergy,  for  encouraging  the  charity  school  lately  set 
up  there:  London,  1711 :  also  a  pamphlet,  and  several  anonymous 
poems,  inserted  in  different  miscellanies. 

In  the  year  1302,  the  executors  of  Sir  John  de  Wingfield  pro- 
cured, in  pursuance  of  his  will,  the  parish  church  of  St.  Andrew,  in 
Wiiigfield,  t<  i  be  made  collegiate  ;  and  at  the  south-west  corner  of 
the  church-yard,  they  erected  a  College  for  priests,  or  canons.  Pre- 
vious!) to  this  there  was  a  Chantry  here ;  which  was  founded,  a 
short  time  before,  by  Sir  John  and  Lady  Wingfield. 

It  was  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  St.  John  Baptist,  and  St. 
Andrew,  and  consisted  at  first  of  a  Provost  (or  master),  and  three 
priests ;  afterwards,  of  nine  priests  and  three  choristers :  in  1405, 
another  priest  was  added.  In  1438,  Henry  Trevylian,  rector  of 
Walsokcn,  in  Norfolk,  was  Custos  of  this  College.  According  to 
the  ordinance  oi  the  founder,  three  boys  were  supported  here  ;  and 
the  funds  for  their  maintenance  were  valued,  at  the  dissolution,  at 
£8  per  ;mnum. 

It  was  endowed  with  the  appropriated  churches  of  Wingfield,  Sile- 
1mm,  with  the  chapel  <  i!'  Esham,  and  Stradbrokc  ;  the  manors  of 
Benhall,  Sileham,  Stradbn  »ke,  Walpole,  with  Chekering,  and  Mid- 
clleton  Chekering;  with  lands  and  rents  in  divers  other  parishes. 
Its  gross  value  in  "Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  is  £82  10s.  4d.  In  the 
time  of  King  Edward  VI.,  it  became  vested  in  the  Bishop  of  Nor- 
wich, in  exchange  for  other  property.  The  site  of  this  College, 
and  the  arable,  meadow,  and  pasture  lands  immediately  attached 
thereto,  contained  about  sixty  acres,  and  were  valued,  with  the  rents 
appertaining,  at  £8  6s.  2:\d.,  in  1534. 

The  Bishop  of  Norwich  is  proprietor  of  the  site,  and  patron  of 


438  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE, 

the  church  of  St.  Andrew,  in  Wingfield.  It  is  a  perpetual  curacy ; 
which  Bishop  Eeynolds  endowed  with  an  additional  annuity  of  £26 
per  annum,  during  his  life. 

Eobert  Edgar,  Esq.,  resided  at  this  College  :  he  deceased  in  1654, 
and  made  Thomas  Edgar,  of  North  Glemham,  Esq.,  his  heir.  Mr. 
Edgar  was  interred  in  this  parish  church,  as  was  John  Cornwallis, 
Esq.,  Justice  of  Peace,  Deputy  Lieutenant,  and  High  Sheriff  of  this 
county;  who  deceased  in  1698,  the  year  in  which  he  filled  the  latter 
office. 

The  Eichard  de  Brews,  whom  Kirby  says  had  a  grant  for  a  fair 
here  in  the  3rd  of  King  Edward  III.,  could  only  have  held  the  ad- 
vowson,  or  probably  a  small  manor  called  Old  Hall ;  as  the  Wing- 
fields  were  possessed  of  the  principal  one  long  before  that  period. 

The  Castle*  is  situate  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north-west  of  the 
church.  It  stands  low,  without  any  out- works  for  its  defence.  The 
south  front,  or  principal  entrance,  is  still  entire,  and  is  a  noble  gate- 
way, flanked  with  towers ;  and  an  outer  wall,  following  the  inner 
line  of  a  moat,  which  incloses  the  site  of  the  building.  The  west 
side  is  a  farm  house. 

ARMS. — Catelyn :  per  chevron,  azure  and  or,  three  lions  passant 
guardant,  in  pale,  counterchanged ;  on  a  chief,  argent,  as  many 
snakes,  nowed,  sable,  stinged,  gules.  Wilson :  sable  ;  a  wolf  sa- 
liant,  or :  in  chief,  a  fleur-de-lis,  argent,  between  two  bezants. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  messuage,  used  as  a 
house  for  the  reception  of  the  poor  of  the  parish,  with  a  yard  and 
garden  thereto  belonging ;  and  a  farm,  called  Towers,  comprising  a 
house,  with  out-buildings,  and  several  parcels  of  land ;  which  lets  at 
£4,5  a,  year.  The  whole  of  the  estate  contains,  by  admeasurement, 
35A.  34=p. ;  and  was  devised  by  John  Trower,  in  1513.  The  rents 
of  the  farm  are  employed  in  reparations  upon  the  estate,  in  the  pay- 
ment of  such  charges  as  are  usually  defrayed  by  the  churchwardens, 
and  a  small  part  is  applied  in  occasional  relief  of  poor  persons.  In 
1731,  Harling  gave  a  dole  of  ^Gl  5s.  a  year,  to  this  parish,  as  in 
Weybread ;  which  is  also  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  bread  for  the 
poor. 


*  A  view  of  this  building  in  its  entire  state,  from  a  drawing  taken  by  John  Snell, 
jun.,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  is  given  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1775,  p. 
512  j  and  various  other  illustrations  have  appeared  since  that  period. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  439 


WORLINGWORTH,  or  WYRLINGWORTHA. 

Athulf  (Adulf,  or  Eadulf)  gave  a  third  part  of  the  lordship  and 
advowson  of  this  parish  to  Bury  Abhey.  He  was  Bishop  of  Elm- 
ham,  in  Norfolk,  after  the  union  of  the  sees,  and  constantly  resided 
there.  He  signed  King  Edgar's  charter  to  the  church  of  York. 
Ailfric,  the  second  Bishop  of  the  see  of  that  name,  was  also  a  great 
benefactor  to  that  Monastery,  and  gave  lands  in  this  parish  to  the 
same.  At  the  dissolution,  Anthony  Rous,  Esq.,  obtained  a  grant 
of  the  said  estate. 

In  1764,  John,  only  surviving  son  of  John  Major,  Esq.,  of  Brid- 
liugton,  in  the  county  of  York,  was  in  possession  of  this  property ; 
who  represented  the  borough  of  Harborough  in  Parliament,  and  was 
advanced  to  the  dignity  of  a  Baronet,  July  15th,  1765,  by  the  title 
of  Sir  John  Major,  of  Worlingworth  Hall,  in  Suffolk,  Bart. ;  and 
his  heirs  male ;  and  in  default  of  such  issue,  to  his  son-in-law,  John 
Henniker,  of  Newton  Hall,  in  Essex,  Esq.,  and  his  heirs  male. 

Sir  John  married  Elizabeth,  only  daughter  of  Daniel  Dale,  of 
Bridlington  aforesaid ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  two  daughters,  Anne 
and  Elizabeth.  The  latter  married,  in  1767,  Henry  Bridges,  2nd 
Duke  of  Chandos  ;  and  Anne,  the  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir,  mar- 
ried John,  son  of  John  Henniker,  Esq.,  an  eminent  Russian  mer- 
chant; and  upon  Ms  decease,  in  1781,  was  succeeded  in  his  title, 
and  a  moiety  of  his  estate,  by  his  said  son-in-law. 

Sir  John  Henniker,  Bart.,  was  elevated  to  the  peerage  of  Ireland, 
as  Baron  Henniker,  of  Stratford-upou-Slaney,  in  1800 ;  and  dying 
in  1803,  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  John,  as  2nd  Baron  ;  who 
died  without  issue  in  1821,  when  the  honours  devolved  upon  his 
nephew,  John  Minet  Henniker,  Esq. ;  who  married  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  the  Rev.  William  Chafie,  minor  canon  of  Canterbury.  He 
assumed  the  additional  surname  of  Major  in  1822,  and  deceased  in 
1832;  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  John  Henniker  Major,  as 
4th  Baron  ;  who  married,  in  1837,  Anna,  eldest  daughter  of  Lieu- 
tenant General  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  of  Oakley  and  Brome. 
His  lordship  represents  East  Suffolk  in  Parliament,  and  is  lord  and 
patron  of  this  parish. 

Edward  Dunstan,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter and  co-heir  of  John  Mayhew,  of  Mouk-Soham.  Elizabeth, 
their  sole  daughter  and  heir,  married  to  Sir  Robert  Drury,  Bart.,  of 


440  HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE. 

Bidlesworth,  in  Norfolk,  in  1660  ;  and  deceased  in  1667  :  was  in- 
terred in  this  parish  church. 

In  this  parish  church  is  preserved  the  antique  and  beautiful  Go- 
thic font,  which  once  adorned  the  Abhey  Church  of  Bury ;  an  en- 
graving of  which  was  published  in  1753,  by  Vertue.  It  was  some 
years  since  thoroughly  repaired,  at  the  expense  of  Lord  Henniker. 

James  Goldwell,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  at  his  coming  to  the  see, 
appointed  his  brother,  Nicholas  Goldwell,  LL.B.,  who  had  been 
rector  of  Roding  Alta,  which  he  resigned  for  St.  Alary  Wolnoth,  in 
London,  collector  of  his  first  fruits  in  this  diocese ;  and  in  1479, 
collated  him  to  Sudbury  Archdeaconry  ;  which  he  resigned  in  1483, 
for  the  Archdeaconry  of  Norwich  ;  and  that  in  1497,  for  the  Arch- 
deaconry of  Suffolk ;  being  also  rector  of  this  parish,  and  vicar 
general,  in  1482. 

From  the  churchwardens'  account  book  of  this  parish,  the  follow- 
ing entries  are  selected : — 

"  Agd  these  to  be  ye  parcell  of  ye  expens  layd  out  by  the  town  for  ye  soldyars 
wylst  ye  Queue  gras  remayned  at  Framygam  Castle,  the  xth  of  October,  a  -  -  -  o 
dni  1553  .:— 

"  Imprimis  payd  to  Wylls  Maship  for  7  bushels  of  malt      s.    d. 
redy  grow'd  ......70 

It  to  ye  same  for  3  fyrkyn  of  drynke  -         -         -         23 

It  to  Thomas  Watlyng  for  a  fyrkyn  of  butter      -         -         10 
It  to  ye  same  for  a  fyikyn  of  ayle      ....         0     9 

It  to  ye  same  for  a  shovel  lost  at  Framygam         -         -         12 
It  to  Robt.  Ancok  for  4  galons  of  drynk     -  0     6 

It  to  Robt.  Adams  for  mendyng  of  a  mattok       -         -         06 
It  to  Wylls  Brown  for  a  fyrkyn  of  drynk  -  09 

It  to  ye  same  for  chese     ------         0     4." 

Stow  observes  that,  "  when  the  camp  broke  up  at  Framlingham, 
victuals  were  of  such  plenty  that  a  barrel  of  beer  with  the  cask  was 
sold  for  sixpence,  and  four  great  loaves  of  bread  for  a  penny,"  and 
the  above  extract  tends  to  confirm  his  statement. 

ARMS. — Quarterly  :  first  and  fourth,  Henniker :  or,  a  chevron, 
gules,  between  two  crescents  in  chief;  and  in  base,  an  escallop, 
azure.  Second  and  third,  Major :  azure ;  three  pillars,  of  the  Co- 
rinthian order ;  on  the  summit  of  each  a  ball,  or. 

Mem. — The  day  on  which  King  George  III.  completed  the  50th 
year  of  his  reign,  was  celebrated  in  this  parish,  by  Lord  Henniker, 
with  that  characteristic  loyalty  and  munificence  that  so  constantly 
marked  his  lordship's  conduct.  The  most  prominent  festivity  of  the 
day  was  an  ox  roasted  whole,  and  afterwards  distributed  to  the  popu- 


HUNDRED  OF  HOXNE.  441 

lace,  in  the  presence  of  the  Dutchess  of  Chandos,  Lord  and  Lady 
Henniker,  and  other  members  of  that  family.  The  number  of  peo- 
ple assembled  to  witness  this  display  of  British  hospitality  was  es- 
timated ut  between  four  and  five  thousand.  Oct.  25th,  1810. 

CIL\  IIITIES. — The  town  estate,  the  original  acquisition  of  which 
is  unknown,  consists  of  the  following  particulars : — a  messuage, 
called  the  Guildhall,  occupied  by  poor  persons,  rent  free :  a  farm 
house,  bam,  &c.,  and  40A.  !2n.  15p.  of  land,  let  at  £Q5  a  year: 
land,  called  Blakeland,  7 A.  ;  rent  £10  per  annum :  cottage  and  gar- 
den ;  rent  £'3  a  year.  The  above  are  situate  in  this  parish.  In 
Tannington  is  a  house,  barn,  and  GA.  2n.  of  land;  let  at  £10  per 
annum  :  and  in  Bedfield,  a  barn  lately  built,  and  :!2A.  3n.  of  land; 
rent  £^Q  a  year :  also  a  house  and  four  pightles,  containg  4A.  SB. 
24  L\;  rent  £7  per  annum.  Total  ^131  per  annum. — The  rents 
are  applied  in  the  payment  of  £4  to  Baldry's  charity,  and  £5  in  aid 
of  Godbold's  charity,  after  mentioned ;  in  the  repairs  of  the  several 
buildings  on  the  estate,  and  the  church,  and  payment  of  the  parish 
clerk's  and  sexton's  salaries;  and  £7  a  year  in  the  support  of  a 
Sunday  school,  and  in  the  purchase  of  coals ;  which  are  distributed 
among  poor  persons  of  the  parish. — In  1689,  John  Baldry,  by  will, 
gave  his  copyhold  messuage  and  lands  in  Monk-Soham,  to  the  feof- 
fees of  this  parish,  upon  trust ;  with  the  rents  and  profits,  to  provide 
a  schoolmaster,  to  educate  all  such  poor  children  as  should  inhabit 
in  the  town  of  Worlingworth,  to  read,  write,  and  cast  accounts,  free 
of  charge  to  their  parents :  he  also  devised  a  pightle  in  Bedfield, 
called  Gardiner's  Pightle,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor.  John  God- 
bold  in  1698,  gave  by  will,  £120,  for  the  yearly  increase  of  the  sa- 
lary and  maintenance  of  a  schoolmaster ;  and  he  gave  to  the  use  of 
the  poor  of  Worlingworth,  two  messuages,  for  2s.  worth  of  bread, 
to  be  distributed  weekly  ;  and  1  Os.  for  a  sermon  on  Ash- Wednes- 
day; and  the  overplus,  if  any,  should  be  given  to  such  poor  as 
should  be  present  at  the  said  sermon.  The  income  arising  from 
these  bequests  is  £64  per  annum.  A  house  for  the  schoolmaster 
was  built  in  1825,  upon  land  belonging  to  the  parish,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  Mr.  John  Corby,  of  Woodbridge  ;  for  which  the  privilege 
was  reserved  to  him,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  of 
sending  two  children  to  the  school  from  the  hamlet  of  Southolt. 
The  number  of  free  scholars  is  60  or  70,  being  for  all  children  of 
parents  of  Worlingworth  who  occupy  at  rents  not  exceeding  £10  a 
year. 


Or  HERTESMERA. 


This  Hundred  is  bounded  on  the  East,  by  that  of  Hoxne  ;  on 
the  West,  by  Blackbourn  ;  on  the  North,  by  the  River  Waveney, 
which  divides  it  from  Norfolk  ;  and  on  the  South,  by  the  Hun- 
dreds ofBosmere  and  Clay  don  and  Stow.  It  has  these  parishes : 

ASPALL,  REDLINGFIELD, 

B  ACTON,  REDGRAVE, 

BOTESDALE,  RlCKINGALE- SUPERIOR, 

BREISWORTH,  RISH  ANGLES, 

BROOME,  STOKE  ASH, 

BROCKFORD,  STUSTON, 

BURGATE,  THORNDON, 

COTTON,  THORNHAM  MAGNA, 

EYE,  THORNHAM  PARVA, 

FlNNINGHAM,  THRANDESTON, 

GISLINGHAM,  THWAITE, 

MELLIS,  WESTHORP, 

MENDLESHAM,  WETHERINGSETT, 

OAKLEY,  WICKHAM-SKEITH, 

OCCOLD,  WORTHAM, 

PALGRAVE,  WYVERSTON, 
And  YAXLEY. 

The  fee  of  this  Hundred  was  granted,  in  tail  mail,  by  Edward 
III.,  to  Robert  de  Uffbrd,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  in  the  \\th  year  of 
his  reign ;  who  died  possessed  thereof  in  the  4,3rd  of  that  King  ; 
when  William,  his  son,  inlierited  the  same ;  upon  whose  death  it 
reverted  to  the  Grown,  and  subsequently  belonged  to  the  De  la 
Poles.  John  Henry  Heigham,  Esq.,  of  Hunston  Hall,  is  the 
present  lord  of  this  fee. 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 


ASPALL. — ESPALA,  or  ASPKLLA. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  L,  Aspall  was  the  lordship  of  William  de 
Butler  (or  Bottiller) ;  and  Margaret,  heiress  of  John  Felbrigge, 
held  the  same,  and  Bures,  in  Bahergh  hundred. 

The  very  ancient  family  of  Brooke  were  early  seated  in  this  pa- 
rish. Edward  Brooke,  Lord  Cobham,  died  seized  of  this  lordship, 
and  Herdeburgh,  in  1464.  Kegiuald  Brooke,  ,brother  of  Edward, 
Lord  Cobham,  and  2nd  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Brooke,  Knt.,  Baron  of 
Cobham,  in  the  county  of  Kent,  fixed  his  seat  in  this  village. 

His  second  son,  Robert  Brooke,  was  Alderman  of  London ;  who 
purchased  Cockfield  Hall,  in  Yoxford,  of  the  Hoptons,  and  made  it 
his  residence.  George  Brooke,  the  elder  brother,  continued  at  As- 
pall Hall.  George  Brooke,  of  Aspall,  Esq.,  in  the  time  of  King 
James,  had  of  his  own,  and  by  his  wife,  about  £800  per  annum ; 
but  a  considerable  part  of  his  estate  became  alienated  prior  to  his 
decease. 

The  estate  here  continued  in  this  house  until  John  Brooke,  Esq., 
the  7th  in  a  direct  line  from  Reginald,  sold  it  to  Clement  Chevalier, 
Esq.,  of  the  Island  of  Jersey  ;  whose  grandson,  the  Rev.  John  Che- 
valier, M.D.,  is  the  present  lord,  and  resides  here ;  he  has  also  the 
patronage,  and  is  perpetual  curate. 

This  John  Brooke  removed  to  Athelington,  in  Hoxne  hundred ; 
and  by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  George  Green,  Gent.,  of  Brun- 
dish,  had  issue  a  son  and  two  daughters :  namely,  George,  who 
married  and  had  issue  ;  Rebecca,  who  died  single  ;  and  Penelope, 
who  married  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Rye,  of  Hepworth.  She  deceased 
in  1741.  These  branches  of  the  family  are  all  buried  in  Atheling- 
ton church-yard. 

A  pension  of  26s.  8d.  per  annum  was  paid  out  of  this  church  to 
the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Castle- Acre,  in  Norfolk,  to  which  it  appears 
to  have  formerly  belonged,  but  afterwards  to  Butley  Abbey ;  as  the 
impropriation  was  granted  as  parcel  of  the  possession  of  that  Mo- 


446  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

nastery,  to  Francis  Framlingham,  in  the  34th  of  King  Henry  VIII.  ; 
and  Sir  Charles  Gawdy  settled  the  same  upon  the  officiating  minister^ 
for  the  time  being,  for  ever. 


BACTON,  or  BACHETUNAM. 

In  or  ahout  1256,  Sir  Eobert  de  Bosco,  of  Fersfield,  in  Norfolk, 
Knt.,  held  lands  in  this  parish,  and  Newton,  by  purchase  from  Wil- 
liam de  Bovile,  and  Joan  his  wife,  sole  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Gilbert  de  Bosco,  elder  brother  of  the  said  Sir  Kobert  de  Bosco ; 
and  which  the  said  William  de  Bovile  held  in  her  right.  Sir  Kobert 
de  Bosco  deceased  in  1298.  William  de  Bois,  son  of  Nicholas,  and 
grandson  of  the  above  Sir  Eobert  de  Bosco,  with  Christian  his  wife, 
were  residents  at  Greeting  St.  Mary,  in  Bosmere  and  Claydon  hun- 
dred, in  1310. 

The  lordship  and  demesne  of  this  parish  was  a  part  of  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Bishop  of  Norwich.  In  1235,  Thomas  de  Blumville, 
Bishop  there,  gave  to  King  Henry  III.,  £100,  to  have  this  manor 
confirmed  to  his  Bishopric,  it  being  of  right  an  escheat  to  it. 

In  the  16th  of  King  Edward  IV.,  Sir  Edward  Hungerford,  John 
Heydon,  and  Humphrey  Forster,  released  by  deed,  to  John  De  la 
Pole,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  William  Hastings, 
Eobert  Chamberlain,  and  others,  to  the  use  of  the  said  Duke  and 
Dutchess,  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  Frostenden,  and  Greeting  St. 
Olave's,  which  the  said  Sir  Edward,  &c.,  stood  seized  of,  to  the  use 
of  William  De  la  Pole,  late  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  the  lady  Alice  his 
wife,  deceased. 

On  the  attainder  of  Edmund  De  la  Pole,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  in  1513, 
these  estates  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown ;  and  were  granted  (Mr. 
Kirby  supposes)  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk ;  which  he  conveyed  in 
1558,  to  Sir  John  Tyrell,  of  Gipping,  in  exchange  for  the  manor  of 
Banham,  in  Norfolk. 

About  this  period  a  branch  of  the  Hobart  family  were  interested 
here.  In  the  20th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Sir  Walter,  son  and  heir 
of  Sir  James  Hobart,  Knt.,  settled  a  lordship  in  this  parish  on  Henry 
Hobart,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir;  which  Henry  was  lord  in  1550. 

The  family  of  Pretyman  were  seated  here  in  the  time  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  if  not  earlier ;  of  whom  was  Sir  John  Pretyman,  Knt., 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  447 

only  surviving  son  of  William  Pretyman,  of  this  parish ;  and  the 
brother  and  heir  of  William  Pretyman,  late  of  Gray's  Inn.  Sir  John 
Pretyman's  father  deceased  in  1593,  or  1594. 

Sir  John  was  lord  of  the  manors  of  B  acton  and  Thorndon  ;  the 
latter  he  purchased  of  a  John  and  Thomas  Pretyman,  in  1614  ; 
were  it  is  supposed  he,  or  his  son  Robert  Pretyman,  by  his  first  wife, 
Dorothy,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Drury,  of  Rougham,  Knt.,  resided 
for  some  time,  perhaps  till  the  death  of  Robert;  as,  in  1629,  Sir 
John  Pretyman,  for  himself,  and  as  executor  to  his  son  Robert,  sold 
the  Thorndon  estate  to  a  Mr.  Bishop.  The  above  Dorothy  was 
buried  in  Bacton  church,  in  1607. 

He  appears  to  have  removed  to  Driffield  Abbey,  in  Gloucester- 
shire, soon  after  the  decease  of  his  son  Robert ;  and  to  have  sold 
the  reversion  of  the  Bacton  property,  when  he  left  Suffolk,  to  a 
Henry  Pretyman ;  whose  grandson,  Henry,  re-sold  this  estate  back 
to  the  elder  branch  of  the  family ;  a  part  of  which  was  late  in  the 
possession  of  the  Right  Rev.  Sir  George  Pretyman  Tomline,  Bart., 
D.D.,  F.R.S.,  Lord  Bishop  of  Winchester ;  devised  him  by  the  will 
of  James  Hayes,  Esq.,  in  1821  ;  which  Mr.  Hayes  inherited  from 
the  widow  of  a  great  uncle  of  the  Bishop,  who  gave  the  same  to  a 
relation  of  her  own,  the  mother  of  Mr.  Hayes.  George  Tomline, 
of  Riby  Grove,  Brigg,  Lincolnshire,  Esq.,  is  the  owner  of  freehold 
lands  and  premises  in  this  parish,  called  Bacton  Reed  House. 

A  branch  of  the  family  of  Smythe  were  resident  here,  who  derived 
from  a  Smyth,  of  Cavendish :  the  estate,  in  the  time  of  King  Charles 

L,  was  about  ^£300  per  annum.     Roger  Nuttall,  second  son  of 

Nuttall,  of  Nuttall  Hall,  in  Lancashire,  was  rector  of  this  parish  in 
the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth.     He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 

Smythe,  of  Bacton.      The  church  contains  a  memorial  to 

Thomas  Smythe,  Gent.,  who  deceased  in  1 702.     He  married  Do- 
rothy, daughter  of.  George  and  Susan  Pretyman. 

In  1316,  Firmanus  de  Lavenham  was  rector  of  this  parish,  and 
Archdeacon  of  Sudbury  ;  Dean  of  Orford  Deanery  in  the  following 
year;  rector  of  Great  Cressingham,  in  Norfolk,  in  1324;  and  in 
1328,  Chancellor  of  Norwich. 

ARMS. — Pretyman :  gules  ;  a  lion  passant,  between  three  mul- 
lets, or.  Smythe :  argent ;  a  chevron,  gules,  between  three  cross 
crosslets,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands  here  are  under  the  management  of 
the  churchwardens,  overseers  of  the  poor,  and  principal  inhabitants ; 


448  HUNDRED   OF  HAETISMERE. 

and  consist  of  20  acres  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Finningham,  let 
at  £4,0  a  year;  11  j  acres  in  Old  Newton,  rent  £21  per  annum; 
and  18  acres  in  this  parish,  let  at  £39  a  year.  The  land  at  Fin- 
ningham  was  vested  at  an  early  period  in  trustees,  for  the  sole  use 
of  the  town  of  Bacton ;  that  at  Old  Newton  was  purchased,  in  or 
before  the  reign  of  James  I.,  with  £100,  paid  by  the  headboroughs 
and  inhabitants  ;  and  the  land  at  Bacton,  part  of  which  is  copyhold, 
was  anciently  held  by  trustees  for  exoneration  from  taxes,  and  other 
aid  of  the  inhabitants,  at  their  discretion.  The  rents  are  applied  in 
payment  of  the  expenses  attendant  on  the  office  of  churchwarden, 
and  the  remainder  is  paid  to  the  overseers,  and  applied  for  the  re- 
lief of  the  poor.  A  rent  charge  of  13s.  4d.  a  year,  called  Daine's 
gift,  is  paid  out  of  the  estate  of  the  Right  Hon.  John  Hookham 
Frere ;  and  a  rent  charge  of  8s.  a  year,  called  Warren's  Dole,  is 
paid  out  of  an  estate  the  property  of  William  Tomline,  Esq.  These 
are  applied  with  the  rent  of  the  town  lands. 

NOTE. — The  following  old  Inventories,  transcribed  from  original  documents,  the 
curious  in  such  matters  may  think  worth  preserving : — 

hJ          Hie  Su^t  Jocalia  et  Ornamenta  pertin.  Ecclesie  de  Baketon  Vicesimo  septimo 
die  Mensis  Mali  Ano  Dni  Millimo  CCCC  Octogessimo  quinto. 
Fyrst  ij  Chalys  of  Sylver  wyth  ij  kacys  longing  to  the  same. 
Also  a  Senser  of  Sylver  4  cil  gylt  with  a  kace  longing  to  the  same. 

De  dono  Koberti  Goche. 
Also  a  Shyppe  of  Sylver  with  a  Spoon  of  Sylver  longing  to  the  same. 

De  dono  Agnetis  Goche. 

Also  ij  Sensiris  of  Latin  with  a  Shippe  of  Laton. 
Also  a  pyx  of  Laton  with  a  Cloth  of  Cypres  longing  to  the  same. 
Also  a  Crismatory  of  Laton. 

Also  a  Cross  of  Copyr  and  gylt,  with  a  Staff  of  Copyr  and  gylt  longing  to  the 
same  Cros. 

De  dono  Simonis  Brawnche. 
Also  iij  Crossys  of  Laton  wyth  Sockets. 
And  ij  Stafys  of  Tre  longing  to  the  same  Crossys. 
Also  a  Cros  of  Tre  for  the  Sepulkyr. 
Also  iij  Candlestekys  of  Laton. 
Also  a  new  Masse  Book. 

De  dono  Dni  Willi.  Revett. 
Also  ij  Masse  Bookys  and  a  Pystil  Book. 
"^j  Also  a  new  A/tissener. 

TVJ  Also  ij  Olde  A^tisseners  without  Sawters. 

Also  ij  Sawters,  and  olde  Sawter. 
Also  an  Autissener  wyth  a  Sawter  yeryn. 

De  dono  pditi  Dini  Willi.  Revett. 
Also  ij  newe  Grayelis  and  an  olde  Grayel. 


HUNDRED  OF  HAH!  IS  ME  RE.  449 


BOTESDALE,  or  BOTHULPHSDALE. 

Is  a  hamlet  of  Redgrave,  to  which  church  the  inhabitants  resort 
for  their  religious  rights ;  and  the  lordship  has  always  passed  with 

Also  a  newe  F  cessonary. 

De  dono  Thome  Reynberd  p  filia  sua  F. 
Also  a  new  Brevyat  P  cessoaary. 

De  dono  -.------.- 

Also  a  Quayyer  wyth  Commemoracioyys  and  the  Canon  yeryn  and  an  olde 

Quayer  with  the  Dirige  and  other  P  yers  yeryn. 
Also  a  Legend  tempall  and  Sco         wreten  the  mostc  pte  in  Sextarag  wyth  a 

Kalender  and  the  Letunye  and  the  Feryal  Letanyes  wythal,  wreten  in  the 

same  Book. 
Also  iij  old  Legendes  oon  tempal  and  Sco  and  another  tempal  and  another  Sco 

ychebytheSelfe. 
Also  a  new  Autiphener. 

De  dono  Robti  Revett. 
Also  a  Martyloge. 
Also  a  Manual 
Also  a  Vestement  of  Blewe  Sylke  wyth  brawnchis  of  Gold  yeryn  wyth  alle  Ap- 

parrell  longing  to  the  same. 

De  dono  Simonis  Brawnchis. 
Also  a  Vestement  of  Sylke  Grene  and  Blewe  with  all  yat  pteynyth  to  the  same, 

De  dono  Johis  Sparrowe  dici  quond  Rectoris  istius  Ecclesia. 
Also  a  Vestement  of  Sylke  Sangwyn  and  Blewe  with  all  yat  pteynyth  to  the  same. 
Also  a  Vestement  ij  wreckelyB  and  a  Cope  of  Reed  velvet  with  Orfreys  of  Gold 

wyth  yes  yyng  longing  to  the  same,  the  Cope  and  alle  of  the  gjfte  of  Robt. 

Goche  for  his  friends. 
Also  a  Cope  of  Sylke  Blewe  and  Whyght. 
Also  ij  Quer  Copys  of  reede  Sylke  wythe  Lecyns  of  Gold  yeryn. 
Also  a  Cope  of  Bawdekyn  grene  and  reede,  De  dono  Executors  Radi  Deynes. 
Also  a  Crymgyn  Vestyment  with  all  the  plen  longing  ther  to. 
Also  a  seryal  Vestyment  of  whith. 
Also  j  seryal  Vestyment  of  grene. 
Also  a  seryal  Vestyment  of  Motho. 
Also  a  Care  Cloth. 
Also  ix  Aultyr  Clothys 
Also  viii  Towalys.     Also  ij  seryal  Towyl. 
Also  to  Redelys  of  Sylke  for  the  hey  Aultyr. 
Also  ij  Clothys  of  Reede  for  to  hangyn  a  for  Aultyrs  and  Frontellys  loagyng 

there  to.     Also  vi  Corporasys. 

Also  iij  feryalys  Clothys  for  to  hanging  afor  the  Aultyrs. 
Also  ij  C  ordlyts  on  and  on  grene.    Also  j  Crosse  Cloth  of  Sylke. 

Also  i  Crosse  Cloth  of  Wyte.    Also  i  Weyle  Cloth. 
Also  a  Sepulcre  Cloth  and  all  longeth  ther  to. 
Also  a  Cloth  for  Corp  x  daye. 


450  HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 

that  of  Kedgrave.  It  had  an  early  grant  of  a  weekly  market,  on 
Thursdays ;  now  almost,  if  not  altogether,  discontinued. 

Botesdale  is  situate  upon  the  great  road  that  leads  from  St.  Ed- 
mund's Bury,  into  Norfolk,  Norwich,  Yarmouth,  &c. ;  consequently 
is  a  considerable  thoroughfare  for  travellers. 

It  contains  a  Chapel  or  Chantry,  dedicated  to  St.  Botulph ;  foun- 
ded by  John  Sheriff,  for  the  benefit  of  his  own  and  his  wife's  soul. 
It  is  situated  eastward  from  the  school  house,  and  has  been  for  many 
years  used  as  a  school-room ;  but  has  recently,  by  means  of  sub- 

The  Stuff  longing  to  the  Gyld. 

Ffirst  x  Platers  of  Pewtyr,  iiij  dyschess  of  Pewtyr,  xiii  Susyng  dyschys  of  Pew- 

tyr  vii  Sawsers  of  Pewtyr  ij  Sallys  of  Pewtyr  of  the  Gyfte  of  Thomas  Reyn- 

bird  and  Margaret  hys  wyfe. 
It  i  Spete  of  Yryn  of  the  gyfte  of  the  sayd  Thomas  Reynbird  and  Margaret  Lys 

wyfe. 

It  ij  Spetys  of  Yryn.    It  ij  Cawdrowyrys  of  Bras. 
It  j  Trevet  of  Yryn.     It  on  Cawdrow. 
It  j  Trevet  of  Yryn  of  the  gyfte  of  Thomas  Goodman. 
It  ij  Candelstykys  of  Copyr  and  gylte  of  the  gyfte  of  William  Revet  for  the 

Helthe  of  the  Sowlys  of  Robert  Revet  and  Mar.  his  wyff . 

Md.  in  the  Zer  of  our  Lord  God  1529  Thomas  Talbot  and  Thomas  Symond 
Church  Revys  of  the  Town  of  Bakton  have  delyred  to  William  Ptyman  and  to 
Thorns  Deynys  Elate  Churcherevys  of  Bakton  on  Pentecoste  Suday  wythen  the 
Zere  above  wretyn. 

Ip  vij  Dosejn  platers  and  on  Plater 

It  xvij  Doseyn  Servyng  dyss  and  vi. 

It  iiij  Cowtyrfete  dyssys.     It  xxxiij  Salts. 

It  iij  doseyn  Sawsers  and  vi. 

It  xxx  new  Cuppys  and  vii  olde  Cuppys 

It  vi  Trenchers.     It  iij  Cawdronys  n  Trevets  and  n  Spets  belonging  to  the 

Town  of  Bakton. 

It  i  Brasse  Pott  of  gyfte  of  Robt.  Symond  and  Agnes  his  Wyflf  and  his  friends. 
Also  a  Cloth  of  paysyor.     Also  j  Audyr  Cloth. 
Also  a  Leyton  Cloth  of  redde 

Also  j  Vestyment  of  blake  damaske  of  the  gyfte  of  Thomas  Reynbird. 
Itm  ij  fferyall  Albys 

Also  i  kewyng  for  the  Pyxte  of  the  gyfte  of  Dame  Elizabt.  Wingford. 
It  ij  pyluys  of  Silke.     It  ix  Surplies. 
A  Cope  Qwyzthe  Damask 

A  Vestyment  of  qwyzthe  Damask  of  the  gyfte  of  Robt.  Reynbird. 
A  Vestyment  of  ffusteyn  of  the  gyfte  of  the  said  Robt. 
A  Vestyment  of  Blewe  Velvet  with  branchys  of  the  gyfte  of  Edmund  Briggett 

Clerk  late  Pson. 

It  a  Crosse  of  Cloth  of  our  Ladye  of  the  gyfte  of  Thomas  Reynbird. 
It  i  peyyr  of  Chalys  of  the  gyfte  of  oold  Wyllm  P  tyman  and  Hew  Revett. 
Item  ij  Surplyes  of  the  gyfte  of  Agnes  Talbot  for  the  Legal  of  Roger  Talbot 

the  ped.  iijs.  iiijd. 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 


451 


scriptions  from  the  inhabitants  and  neighbouring  gentry,  been 
thoroughly  repaired,  and  fitted  up  for  divine  service ;  besides  which 
provision  has  been  made  for  a  salary  to  the  master  of  the  freo 
Grammar  School,  for  a  sermon  and  prayers  on  Sundays. 
For  CHARITIES  see  REDGRAVE. 


BREISWORTH. — BRISEWORDE,  or  BRISEWRDA. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  I.,  Sir  Robert  de  Sackville  held  the 
lordship  of  this  parish,  with  Cotton,  and  Brockford,  of  the  honour 
of  Eye  ;  with  divers  other  manors  in  this  county,  Essex,  and  Nor- 
folk. Jordan  de  Sackville  was  his  son  and  heir. 

This  lordship  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  was  vested  in  Sir  George 
de  Thorp,  Knt. ;  and  by  the  marriage  of  Alice,  his  daughter,  with 
Sir  Simon  Felbrigg,  Knt.,  it  passed  into  that  family :  Sir  Simon 
de  Felbrigg,  who  was  standard  bearer  to  King  Richard  II.,  grand- 
son of  the  former,  and  K.G.,  bequeathed  to  Alana,  his  daughter, 
this  estate.  She  married,  1  st,  Sir  William  Tyndale,  of  Dean,  in 
Northamptonshire;  and  in  1431,  was  the  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  de 
Wanton. 

The  families  of  Newton  and  Coleman  were  formerly  concerned 
here :  Alexander  Newton,  Esq.,  who  married  Anne,  the  daughter 
of  Sir  Humphrey  Wingfield,  Knt.,  and  deceased  in  1569,  was 
interred  within  the  altar  rails  of  this  parish  church ;  where  a  mo- 
nument remains  to  his  memory,  an  etching  of  which  is  given  in 
Cotman's  "  Suffolk  Brasses." 

William  Coleman,  Gent.,  of  Breisworth  Hall,  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Edmund  Bacon,  of  Hessett,  Esq. ;  whose  daughter 
Eliza,  married  Robert,  eldest  son  of  John  Green,  Esq.,  of  King's 
Lynn,  in  Norfolk;  by  whom  he  had  Elizabeth,  Katherine,  and 
Susan,  his  co-heirs.  Mr.  Green  deceased  in  1640,  and  was  buried 
in  this  parish  church.* 

The  lordship  was  a  long  time  in  the  Cornwallis  family,  as  well  as 
the  advowson ;  both  of  which  now  belong  to  Sir  Edward  Kerrison, 
Bart.,  of  Oakley  Park. 

*  A  view  of  the  entrance  to  this  church  is  given  in  "  Excursions  through  Suffolk,'* 
aid  also  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities,"  and  is  a  curious  specimen  of  Nor- 
man architecture. 


452  HUNDRED  OF   HARTTSMERE. 

ARMS. — Sackville :  quarterly ;  or  and  gules,  a  bend  varry. 
Newton :  argent ;  a  lion  rampant,  sable ;  armed,  gules ;  tailed 
forked  ;  on  his  shoulder,  a  cross  pale,  of  the  field. 


BROOME,  or  BROM. 

In  the  21st  of  King  Edward  I.,  Bartholomew  D'Avilers  held  of 
the  Crown  one  messuage,  with  a  garden,  and  underwood,  50  acres 
of  arable  land,  two  acres  of  meadow,  and  two  acres  of  pasture,  in 
Broome,  by  this  service :  that  if  the  King  should  wish  to  have 
Pataliam,  of  the  towns  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in  his  army  in  Wales, 
then  he  shall  conduct  the  said  Pataliam  from  the  ditch  of  St.  Ed- 
mund into  Wales ;  and  receive  at  the  said  ditch,  four-pence  a  head 
for  their  maintenance  for  forty  days. 

In  the  5th  of  Edward  1st,  Bartholomew  D'Avilers  was  found  to 
die  seized  in  fee  of  the  lordship  in  this  parish,  and  the  advowson, 
and  a  moiety  of  the  church  of  the  said  parish,  which  he  held  by  the 
same  tenure ;  and  Isabella,  Margaret,  and  Joan,  were  his  daughters 
and  co-heirs.  It  afterwards  passed  to  the  Bacons,  and  the  Calthorpes, 
as  in  ARWERTON  (p.  3). 

Edmund  de  Barkley,  Knt.,  held  this  manor  in  the  4th  of  King 
Eichard  II.,  in  right  of  his  wife,  formerly  the  wife  of  Sir  Robert 
Bacon :  Bartholomew,  his  son  and  heir,  was  then  30  years  of  age. 

It  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  and  seat  of  the  noble  and 
very  ancient  family  of  Cornwallis  ;  of  whom  William  Harvey,  Cla- 
rencieux  King  of  Arms,  in  his  visitation  of  the  county  of  Suffolk, 
made  in  1561,  states  that  Thomas  Cornwalleys,  of  London,  merchant 
(the  first  of  the  family  mentioned  in  the  visitation),  was  a  younger 
brother,  and  born  in  Ireland ;  and  that  he  bore  the  same  arms  which 
the  house,  at  the  time  of  the  visitation,  used.  This  Thomas  was 
Sheriff  of  London,  in  1378.  He  deceased  in  1384,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son — 

John  Cornwallis,  who  added  to  his  patrimony  the  lordships  of 
Broome  and  Oakley,  with  other  lands  in  this  county,  by  his  mar- 
riage with  Philippe,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Robert  Bucton  (Buck- 
ton,  or  Buxton),  of  Oakley ;  who  deceased  in  1408,  and  is  buried 
in  that  parish  church.  This  John  represented  the  county  of  Suffolk 
in  Parliament  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II.,  and  deceased  in  1446. 


HUNDRED  OF  HART1SMERE.  453 

His  descendants  were  most  honourably  settled  in  this  county  for 
more  than  four  centuries,  and  produced  men  eminently  illustrious 
both  in  camp  and  court,  the  cloister  and  the  senate ;  but  all  their 
ample  possessions  have  now  passed,  by  sale,  into  other  hands,  and 
left  us  nothing  but  the  NAME.  The  early  descent  of  this  family  is 
fully  detailed  in  Collin's,  and  other  Peerages,  and  requires  not  to  be 
here  repeated. 

Creations. — Baronet,  May  4,  1627  ;  Baron  Cornwallis,  of  Eye, 
April  20,  1661  ;  Viscount  Brome  and  Earl  Cornwallis,  June  30, 
1753  ;  and  Marquis  Cornwallis,  Aug.  15,  1792.  In  1543,  Thomas, 
brother  of  Sir  John  Cornwallis,  Knt.,  was  Archdeacon  of  Norwich. 
Frederick  Cornwallis,  Canon  of  Windsor,  Bishop  of  Coventry  and 
Litchfield,  and  Dean  of  St.  Paul's,  was  elected  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, Aug.  13,  1768,  and  deceased  March  19,  1783.  James 
Cornwallis,  D.C.L. ;  from  a  Prebend  of  Westminster  he  was  pre- 
ferred to  the  Deanery  of  Canterbury;  in  which  he  was  installed 
April  29,  1775.  In  1781,  he  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Litchfield 
and  Coventry,  and  became  afterwards  Dean  of  Windsor ;  which,  in 
1794,  he  exchanged  for  that  of  Durham. 

On  the  decease  of  Charles,  2nd  Marquis  Cornwallis,  in  1823, 
without  heirs  male,  the  Marquisate  became  extinct ;  but  he  was  suc- 
ceeded in  the  Earldom  by  Ms  uncle,  the  venerable  Bishop  of  Litch- 
field and  Coventry;  who  deceased  Jan.  20,  1824,  in  his  81st  year  ; 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son,  James  Cornwallis  Mann,  Lord 
Brome. 

It  appears  by  the  last  will  and  testament  of  John  Cornwallis, 
Esq.,  dated  the  16th  of  August,  1506,  that  his  residence  was  then 
at  Lyng  Hall,  in  this  parish.  Thomas,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  John 
Cornwallis,  who  received  the  honour  of  Knighthood  at  Westminster, 
in  1548,  and  was  of  Queen  Mary's  Privy  Council,  Treasurer  of 
Calais,  and  Comptroller  of  her  Majesty's  Household,  built  Broome 
Hall,  in  or  about  1550. 

This  stately  structure,  when  entire,  exhibited  a  fine  specimen  of 
old  English  grandeur,  in  its  dining  room,  with  unceiled  open  roof, 
and  oaken  wainscoted  walls,  covered  with  royal  and  whole  length 
family  portraits ;  and  its  large  bay  window,  ornamented  with  stained 
glass,  containing  coats  of  the  family  alliances;  together  with  its 
splendid  chapel,  furnished  with  cushions  of  silk,  and  richly  em- 
broidered velvet ;  and  its  finely  carved  Gothic  skreen,  hung  with 
tapestry. 


454  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

But  all  these,  with  the  illustrious  inmates,  have  disappeared ;  the 
mansion  has  been  pulled  down,  and  Broome  now  exhibits  but  little 
of  its  former  greatness,  except  in  the  monumental  memorials  which 
the  parish  church  contains  of  its  former  natives  :  of  which  there  re- 
mains several  well  executed  specimens. 

The  church  formerly  contained  two  medieties  ;  the  Prior  of  Thet- 
ford  was  patron  of  one,  and  the  owners  of  the  lordship  presented  to 
the  other.  In  1448,  they  were  consolidated,  and  annexed  to  the 
manor ;  and  are  now,  by  purchase,  the  property  of  Lieutenant 
General  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  of  Oakley  Park. 

ARMS. — Cornwallis :  sable  ;  guttee  d'eau  on  a  fess,  argent,  three 
Cornish  choughs,  proper.  Crest :  on  a  mount,  vert,  a  stag  lodged, 
regardant,  argent ;  attired  and  unguled,  or  ;  gorged  with  a  chaplet 
of  laurel,  vert ;  vulned  in  the  shoulder,  proper. 

CHARITIES. — In  1683,  John  Goldsmith,  by  will,  charged  his  real 
estate  in  the  parish  of  Tivetshall,  in  Norfolk,  now  the  property  of 
the  Earl  of  Oxford,  with  the  payment  of  £3  a  year  to  the  poor  of 
this  parish,  to  be  given  away  on  the  21st  December.  Under  anln- 
closure  Act  passed  in  1808,  the  sum  of  £15  a  year  was  charged  on 
an  allotment,  awarded  to  the  Marquis  Cornwallis,  which  is  now  the 
property  of  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  for  providing  fuel  for  the 
poor,  in  lieu  of  the  right,  enjoyed  by  them,  to  cut  firing  on  the  com- 
mons ;  and  this  annuity  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  distributed 
among  the  poor  inhabitants  of  the  parish. 


BROCKFORD,  or  BROCFORT. 

Brockford  has  no  church  or  chapel,  but  is  reckoned  as  a  member 
of  Wetheringsett.  A  part  thereof  anciently  belonged  to  Bury  Abbey, 
by  the  gift  of  Athulf  (Adulf,  orEadulf),  Bishop  of  Elmham,  about 
963:  he  signed  King  Edgar's  charter  to  the  church  of  York;  and 
a  successor  of  his,  Ailfric,  the  second  Bishop  of  that  name,  surnamed 
the  Black,  and  who  deceased  in  1038,  gave  his  part  in  Brockford  to 
the  said  Abbey ;  of  which  he  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  monk,  by 
the  great  benefactions  he  gave  to  that  Monastery. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  I.,  Sir  Robert  de  Sackville,  Knt.,  held  the 
lordship  of  this  parish,  as  in  Breisworth  ;  and  it  most  likely  passed 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMEIIE.  455 

with  that  parish.  The  manor  now  belongs  to  Sir  Edward  Kerrison, 
Bart,  of  Oakley  Park. 

"  In  Brockford  Street  is  a  great  house,  which  long  since  was  an 
Inne,  and  hung  out  the  signe  of  the  Swanne.  It  is  now  commonly 
called  Brockford  House,  since  the  Signe  was  pulled  down  hy  Tho- 
mas Revett,  Esq.,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  county  of  SufF.  in 
the  time  of  Q.  Elizabeth.  Edmund  his  eldest  sonne,  sold  to  John 
Turner,  whose  son  Gregory  sold  it  to  Mr.  Leman,  of  Brame's  Hall, 
now  owner  of  it. 

"  Eobert  Kevett,  2nd  son  of  Thomas  B.  Esq.,  married  —  daughter 
of  John  Revett,  of  Bildeston,  Esq.  Thomas  Revett,  sonne  of  this 
Robert,  lives  now  in  a  House  neare  Brockford  Green,  and  is  Chief 
Constable  of  the  hundred  of  Hartismere  this  Yeare  1657."* 


BURGATE,  or  BURGATA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  formerly  the  estate  of  Sir  William 
de  Burgate,  who  lies  interred  under  an  altar  monument  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  chancel  of  Burgate  church.  Under  a  handsome  double 
canopy,  with  finials,  are  the  figures,  in  brass,  of  Sir  William,  and 
Alianor  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Visdelieu,  Knt. :  he  is  ar- 
med with  a  pointed  helmet,  mail  gorget,  plated  armour  and  skirt, 
sword  and  dagger,  and  lion  at  Ms  feet ;  she  has  the  veil  head  dress, 
with  pufls  of  hair  plaited  in  mat  form  above  her  ears,  and  a  fillett  of 
zig  zag  on  her  forehead ;  close  gown,  with  long  mitten  sleeves  man- 
tle ;  dog,  with  a  collar  of  bells,  looking  up,  at  her  left  foot :  round 
them  this  inscription : — 

"  William  de  Burgate,  miles,  dns  de  Burgate,  qui  obit  in  Vigilia  Sci.  Jacob! 
Apostole  Anno  Domini  Millimo  CCCC  nono  et  Alianori  uzor  ejus  filia  Thome  Vys- 
delou  militis  qui  obit  ------  die  mensis  -  -  -  -  -  Anno  dni  ------." 

A  shield  over  each  figure ;  paly  of  six,  argent  and  azure  ;  im- 
paling, argent,  three  wolves'  heads,  erased,  gules. 

The  lordship  and  patronage  of  Burgate  was  vested  in  Sir  Edmund 

Bacon,  Bart. ;  and  James  Bacon,  son  of  Sir  James  Bacon,  of  Fris- 

ton,  Knt.,  was  rector  here  in  the  time  of  King  Charles  :  he  deceased 

in  1649,  and  was  interred  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church.    He 

*  MS.  penes,  Mr.  W.  S.  Fitcb,  Ipswich. 


456  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

was  succeeded  by  Robert  Pykarel,  who  married  Spencer,  daughter 
of  John  Towers,  successively  Dean  and  Bishop  of  Peterborough. 

They  subsequently  became  vested  in  Eowland  Holt,  Esq. ;  and 
the  manor  now  belongs  to  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson,  of  Redgrave 
Hall,  Esq.  In  the  year  1808,  an  Act  of  Parliament  was  passed,  to 
enable  the  Bishop  of  Ely  to  convey  the  advowson  of  Snailwell,  in 
Cambridgeshire,  to  John  Thorp,  of  Chippenham,  Esq.,  in  exchange 
for  this  rectory  ;  which  is  now  in  the  patronage  of  that  see. 

Mem. — In  1408,  John  de  Lowdham,  of  this  parish,  presented  to 
the  church  of  Frense,  in  Norfolk. 


COTTON. — COTTUNA  and  CODETUNA,  or  KODETUN. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  I.,  Sir  Robert  de  Sackville  held  a 
lordship  in  this  parish,  of  the  honour  of  Eye.  In  1266,  King  Henry 
III.,  confirmed  to  Robert,  son  of  John  de  Thorp,  free  warren  in  his 
demesne  here;  and  in  1389,  Sir  Robert  de  Hemenhale,  Knt.,  re- 
leased his  manors  in  the  parishes  of  Cotton,  Wickham-Skeith,  and 
Yaxley,  to  Sir  George  Felbrigg,  Knt.,  and  other  trustees ;  and  all 
the  possessions  of  his  father,  Sir  Ralf  de  Hemenhale.  Sir  Robert 
married  Joan,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  John,  son  of  Sir  William 
De  la  Pole,  Knt.,  and  Joan  his  wife.  It  appears  he  deceased  prior 
to  1406. 

In  the  28th  of  Henry  VI.,  William  De  la  Pole  died  seized  of  this 
lordship  ;  and  it  afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Howards,  Dukes  of 
Norfolk.  In  1558,  Sir  John  Tyrell,  of  Gipping,  Knt.,  granted  all 
his  right  in  the  manors  of  Marshall's,  at  Banham,  in  Norfolk,  with 
divers  lands  there,  to  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk;  who  gave  him 
Cotton  and  Bacton  manors  in  exchange. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  house,  converted  into 
a  workhouse,  a  cottage,  and  yard,  occupied  by  poor  persons  ;  and 
two  closes,  containing  about  eight  acres,  let  to  the  rector,  at  a  rent 
varying  with  the  price  of  corn,  being  on  an  average  £9  or  £10  a 
year.  The  rents  are  applied  to  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  ge- 
neral parochial  purposes,  agreeable  to  long  usage. 


HUNDRED  OF  IIARTISMERE.  457 


EYE.— EWYA,  or  EYA. 

This  is  said  to  have  been  a  town  corporate  before  the  reign  of 
King  John,  and  in  ancient  deeds  was  designated  the  "  Town  and 
Borough  of  Aye,"  but  did  not  send  burgesses  to  Parliament  prior 
to  the  13th  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

William,  Duke  of  Normandy,  having  presented  Robert  Malet,  a 
Norman  Baron,  who  had  assisted  him  in  the  conquest  of  England, 
with  22 1  manors  in  this  county,  and  68  in  Norfolk  and  other  coun- 
ties, this  nobleman,  with  the  assent  of  his  Sovereign,  built  a  Mo- 
nastery upon  his  lordship  of  Eye,  and  conferred  upon  it  the  church 
of  St.  Peter,  in  Eye,  with  divers  other  churches,  lands,  liberties,  and 
franchises.  In  1138,  King  Stephen  confirmed  the  same. 

This  Monastery  was  originally  an  alien  Priory,  subordinate  to  the 
Abbey  of  Bernay,  in  Normandy;  but  in  1384,  King  Richard  II. 
made  it  a  denison,  and  released  it  from  its  foreign  dependencies. 
The  site  of  this  house,  with  the  court-yard,  orchard,  gardens,  and 
houses  belonging  to  it,  contained  about  ten  acres. 

The  clear  value,  according  to  Dugdale,  and  "  Valor  Ecclesiasti- 
ous,"  was  £161  2s.  3fd. ;  but  Speed,  and  "Valor  Ecclesiasticus," 
A.D.  1534,  makes  the  gross  value  to  be  £184  9s.  7'fd.  :  the  amount 
of  fixed  charities,  £14  12s.  4d.,  given  to  the  poor  on  certain  days, 
according  to  ancient  custom  :  for  a  lamp  burning  in  the  church  of 
Yaxley,  2s.  annually ;  and  the  same  in  the  church  of  Laxfield,  2s. 
In  1536,  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  obtained  a  grant  of 
the  same.  Several  manors  and  lands  were  also  granted  to  Edmund 
Bedingfield,  Esq.,  at  the  same  time,  as  part  of  the  possession  of  this 
Priory. 

This  Robert  Malet,  was  son  of  William,  Lord  Malet,  and  Hesilia 
his  wife ;  and  was  Great  Chamberlain  of  England,  under  Henry  I. ; 
but  in  the  2nd  of  that  King  was  banished,  and  deprived  of  all  his 
large  possessions  in  England,  for  his  adherance  to  Richard  Curtois, 
that  King's  eldest  brother,  and  Duke  of  Normandy.  This  portion 
of  his  estate  was  given  by  Henry  I.,  to  Stephen,  Earl  of  Boulogne, 
afterwards  King  of  England ;  who  devised  it  to  his  natural  son ; 
and  he  deceased  without  heirs,  when  it  again  reverted  to  the  Crown. 

Richard  I.  granted  the  same  to  Henry,  5th  Earl  of  Brabant  and 
Lorrain  ;  but  it  appears  to  have  been  again  in  the  Crown,  in  the  9th 
of  King  Edward  II.,  and  so  continued  until  Edward  III.  gave  it  to 


4-58  HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 

John  of  Eltham,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  his  brother ;  and  he  deceased 
without  issue,  when  the  same  King  granted  it  to  Robert  de  Ufford, 
Earl  of  Suffolk ;  he  deceased  in  the  43rd  of  that  reign,  when  William 
de  Ufford,  his  son,  succeeded  to  his  honours  and  possessions ;  who 
deceased  in  the  5th  of  the  following  reign,  without  issue,  leaving 
his  inheritance  to  the  issue  of  his  three  sisters ;  when  the  Earldom 
became  extinct  in  the  Ufford  family. 

In  the  9th  of  Richard  II.,  Sir  Michael  de  la  Pole,  Knt.,  Lord 
Chancellor,  was  created  Earl  of  Suffolk ;  to  whom  the  King  granted 
the  castle,  town,  manor,  and  honour  of  Eye,  and  to  the  heirs  of  his 
body  ;  with  £20  per  annum  out  of  the  profits  of  the  county  of  Suf- 
folk, £500  per  annum  out  of  the  hereditaments  of  William  Ufford, 
late  Earl  of  Suffolk ;  for  which  the  following  property  was  conveyed, 
and  confirmed  to  the  said  Earl :  namely,  the  hundreds  of  Harris- 
mere  and  Stow,  the  manors  of  Combs,  Haughley,  Thorndon,  Lowes- 
toft,  and  Lothing  hundred  ;  of  all  of  which  in  1414,  he  died  seized. 

It  subsequently  became  the  property  of  the  Crown,  and  was  part 
of  the  Queen's  jointure  in  the  time  of  King  Charles ;  and  Sergeant 
Dendy  purchased  it  when  the  King's  lands  were  sold. 

The  family  of  Honings  (noticed  in  the  parish  of  Carleton,  in 
Hoxne  hundred),  several  of  whom  resided  here,  were  intimately 
connected  with  the  town  and  borough  of  Eye,  having  represented  the 
same  in  Parliament.  Wingfield  Honings,  Esq.,  was  born  and  bap- 
tized here,  July  5,  1590 ;  as  also  were  three  of  his  sons,  viz.,  John, 
Jan.  15,  1621,  buried  here,  Sept.  6,  1622 ;  Edward,  baptized  May 
11,  1619  ;  and  John,  July  10,  1625. 

Thomas  de  Hemenhale  was  a  monk  here,  and  afterwards  removed 
to  the  Monastery  at  Norwich  ;  where  he  behaved  so  exemplary,  that 
at  the  death  of  Ayremine,  the  chapter  elected  him  Bishop,  in  1337. 
This  the  Pope  soon  after  voided ;  but  at  the  same  time  caused  him 
to  be  consecrated  Bishop  of  Worcester,  at  Rome,  where  he  then  was, 
for  the  purpose  of  soliciting  the  Pope  to  ratify  his  election  at  Norwich. 

William  Gale,  of  this  town,  gave  the  manor  of  Brandstedes,  for 
a  priest,  or  two  scholars,  in  Gonville  and  Oaius  College,  Cambridge, 
about  1540.  He  also  gave  lands  in  Hinxton,  in  Cambridgeshire. 
Humphry  Bysby,  LL.D.,  also  gave  money  to  the  same  College, 
towards  the  purchase  of  the  manor  of  Woburn ;  on  condition  that 
35s.  per  annum  be  allowed  to  a  poor  scholar,  out  of  the  school  of 
Eye,  or  near  to  that  place. 

William  Payton,  a  monk  of  this  Monastery,  was  burnt  at  Nor- 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  459 

web.,  for  speaking  disrespectfully  of  an  image  which  was  accustomed 
to  be  carried  in  processions  here,  and  for  saying  that  the  Lord's 
Supper  ought  to  he  administered  in  hoth  kinds. 

In  1583,  Henry  L'Estrange  resided  here  ;  and  ahout  the  time  of 
King  James  and  Charles  I.,  members  of  the  several  families  of 
Edgar,  Harvey,  D'Eye,  Penning,  Oissing,  Lomax,  and  others,  are 
mentioned  as  having  good  estates,  and  being  seated  here.  Weever 
mentions  John  Batysford,  Esq.,  as  buried  in  this  parish  church,  in 
1406,  with  Mary  his  wife.  In  the  chancel  is  an  inscription  to 
Henry,  Lord  Vaux,  of  Harrowden,  dated  1663;  and  the  parish 
register  contains  this  entry  :  "  Madam  Vaux  buried  16  May  1667;" 
concerning  whom  there  are  some  queries  in  the  "  Gent.'s  Magazine," 
for  1813,  part  i.,  p.  112,  noticed  at  p.  310,  of  the  same  volume. 

William  Heydou,  Esq.,  2nd  son  of  Sir  John  Heydon,  of  Bacons- 
thorp,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  and  the  last  male  heir  of  that  ancient  family, 
was  buried  here,  in  1689;  also  Mirabella,  his  sister,  wife  of 
Laurence  Lomax,  Esq.,  who  deceased  in  1702.  Here  are  also 
some  early  memorials  of  the  Cutler  family. 

The  steeple  of  this  parish  church  is  a  beautiful  structure,  and  was 
probably  built  by  the  De  la  Poles,  whose  arms  appear  on  the  battle- 
ments, with  those  of  Malet  and  Bigot.  An  etching  of  the  same  is 
given  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities  of  Suffolk." 

William  Hoare  was  born  here  in  1705,  of  respectable  parents, 
and  received  his  education  in  a  school  at  Farnham,  in  Berkshire, 
which  was  then  in  high  reputation.  He  discovered  an  early  dis- 
position for  painting ;  and  gave  such  strong  proofs  of  a  natural 
talent  for  that  art,  that  after  the  completion  of  his  scholastic 
studies,  his  father  carried  him  to  London,  and  placed  him  under  the 
tuition  of  an  Italian  master ;  he  afterwards  went  to  Italy,  with  a 
view  to  professional  improvement,  where  he  resided  nine  years. 

Upon  his  return  he  settled  at  Bath,  and  practised  portrait  paint- 
ing ;  and  from  the  study  of  Rosalba's  pictures,  he  added  the  practice 
of  crayons  to  that  of  oil  painting ;  and  carried  it  to  a  degree  of  ex- 
cellence, second  only  to  the  powers  of  that  celebrated  artist.  On 
the  formation  of  the  Royal  Academy,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  ori- 
ginal members,  and  was  a  constant  exhibitor  for  many  years.  He 
deceased  in  1792,  at  Bath. 

In  1781,  near  Eye,  was  found  a  leaden  pot,  containing  several 
hundred  Roman  coins,  and  medals,  all  of  the  purest  gold  ;*  and  not 
*  They  were  chiefly  of  the  Emperors  Arcadius  and  Hooorius. 


460  HUNDRED  OF   HARTISMERE. 

long  since,  an  original  matrix  of  the  seal  of  Ethilwald,  Bishop  of 
Dunwich,  in  good  preservation. 

CORPORATION  CHARITIES. — The  several  estates  mentioned  in  the 
general  trust  deeds  of  lease  and  release,  are  vested  in  trustees,  ap- 
pointed by  the  Mayor  and  Burgesses  of  the  borough  ;  and  the  rents 
are  received  and  applied  by  an  officer,  called  the  Town  Treasurer, 
under  the  direction  of  the  said  Mayor  and  Burgesses.  Some  of  the 
estates  are  held  under  conveyances  of  very  ancient  date,  and  others 
appear  to  have  been  purchased  with  funds  belonging  to  the  corpora- 
tion ;  the  remainder  of  the  estates  having  been  given,  or  settled,  by 
different  benefactors,  or  by  their  direction,  for  specific  charitable  ob- 
jects. It  has  been  the  usage  to  carry  the  rents  of  the  whole  of  the 
estates  to  one  general  account,  and  to  apply  the  income,  after  pro- 
viding for  the  expense  of  repairs,  and  necessary  outgoings,  in  the 
maintenance  of  certain  particular  charities,  and  in  the  discharge  of 
public  expenses  concerning  the  corporation  and  town ;  and  to  lay 
out  the  surplus  in  providing  clothes  and  fuel  for  the  poor.  The 
several  estates  comprised  in  the  general  trust  deeds,  are  let  at  rents, 
amounting  together  to  £400,  or  thereabouts ;  and  out  of  this  in- 
come there  are  paid,  besides  the  stipends  of  their  officers,  and  other 
expenses  of  the  corporation,  the  salaries  of  the  organist  of  the  church, 
and  of  a  parish  clerk  ;  and  since  1819  there  have  been  given  among 
the  poor,  in  coals,  clothing,  and  money,  from  £200  to  £300  per 
annum. — The  Grammar  School,  of  the  original  establishment  or 
endowment  oi  which  no  other  traces  can  be  found  than  such  as  ap- 
pear in  a  document  in  the  possession  of  the  corporation,  called  the 
"  Constitutions  of  the  Borough  of  Eye,"  bearing  date  the  12th  Oc- 
tober, 1566.  Since  that  period  it  has  received  several  augmenta- 
tions from  different  benefactors.  In  1593,  Francis  Kent,  gave  by 
will,  his  lands  in  Bedfield  and  Worlingworth,  for  the  maintenance 
of  an  usher,  for  teaching  the  grammar  and  writing,  freely,  all  such 
children  of  Eye,  and  of  Horham,  Allington,  and  Bedfield,  as  should 
be  put  into  the  school  to  learn  grammar.  Edward  Mallows's  gift 
of  £200,  for  exhibitions  to  students  in  the  University,  was  laid  out 
in  the  purchase  of  land  at  Gissing,  in  Norfolk ;  and  having  of  late 
had  no  application  for  such  exhibitions,  the  rents  have  been  carried 
to  the  general  account  of  the  corporation.  In  1654,  William  Small, 
gave  by  will,  out  of  his  messuages  and  lands  called  Eye  Park,  a  rent 
charge  of  £10 ;  which  is  now  paid  by  Thomas  Blythe,  Esq.,  owner 
of  that  property,  and  is  applied  in  apprenticing  poor  boys  of  the 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  401 

town. — Bedingfield's  Almshouses  at  present  contain  four  rooms  on 
the  ground  floor,  four  chambers  above,  and  a  small  garden  adjoin- 
ing. The  property,  devised  in  1036,  by  Nicholas  Bedingfield,  lets 
altogether  at  the  annual  rent  of  £22  ;  but  in  consequence  of  a  debt 
incurred  in  re-building,  there  has  been  no  salary  paid,  or  provision 
made  for  the  almspeople  for  several  years.  There  are  some  bread 
doles  and  minor  charities. 


Kings  Reign.  A.D.  Members  for  Eye. 

George  III.     1768  Joshua  Viscount  Allen.— Hon.  W.  Cornwallis. 

Fran.  M.  Carmarthen. — Rich.  B.  Phillipson. 
1774  Hon.  John  St.  John.—  Rich.  B.  Phillipson. 
1780  Arnold  James  Skelton. — The  same. 

Hon.  W.  Cornwallis. 
1784  Peter  Bathurst. — The  same. 
1 790  Hon.  W.  Cornwallis. — The  same. — P.  Bathurst. 

Charles  Viscount  Brome. 
1796  Hon.  W.  Cornwallis. — Mark  Singleton. 

James  Cornwallis. 

1801  Imperial  Parliament.     The  same. 

1802  The  same. 

1806  Geo.  Marquis  of  Huntly. — Hon.  W.  Cornwallis. 
James  Cornwallis. — Hon.  Hen.  Wellesley. 

1807  Mark  Singleton. — Hon.  Hen.  Wellesley. 
18 12  Mark  Singleton.— Sir  Robt.  Gifford,  Knt. 
1818  The  same. 

George  IV.     1820  Sir  Miles  Nightingall. — Sir  E.  Kerrison,  Bart. 

1826  The  same. 
William  IV.    1830  SirE.  Kerrison,  Bart.— Sir  P.  C.  Sidney,  Knt. 

1831  Sir  E.  Kerrison,  Bart.— W.  Burge. 


Since  the  passing  of  the  Act  to  amend  the  representation  in  Par- 
liament, in  1832,  this  borough  has  returned  only  one  burgess : 
Major  General  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  has  beeen  elected  the 
representative  in  each  session,  and  is  the  present  member. 

ARMS. — Town  of  Eye :  in  chief,  a  ducal  coronet ;  in  base,  the 
letters  E  Y  E,  in  the  Saxon  character. 


462  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

FINNINGHAM,  or  FININGAHAM. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes  the  lordship  of  this  pa- 
rish to  have  heen  anciently  held  hy  one  Adam  de  Comers.  In  the 
time  of  King  Edward  III.,  Sir  Edmund  de  Thorp  was  lord  of  Fin- 
ningham  ;  and  in  1358,  he  enfeoffed  his  estates  for  the  payment  of 
his  debts,  and  to  raise  portions  for  his  two  daughters ;  when  it  was 
settled  that  John,  his  second  son,  who  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Sir  John  Argentein,  of  Halesworth,  Knt.,  was  to  have  all  his  lands 
in  Suffolk,  to  him  and  his  heirs.  Adam  de  Conyers  held  two  fees 
in  Westhorp  and  Finningham,  of  the  fees  of  Sir  Edmund  de  Thorp's 
manor  of  Helmingham. 

Fiuningham  Hall  has  heen  for  several  years  the  seat  of  a  branch 
of  the  Frere  family,  who  were  owners  of  the  lordship  and  patrons  of 
the  rectory.  The  parish  church  contains  divers  memorials  to  mem- 
bers of  this  family ;  the  earliest  of  which  is  in  memory  of  John, 
son  of  John  Frere,  of  Wickham  Abbey,  who  deceased  in  1633. 

That  late  learned  and  eminent  antiquary,  Sir  John  Fenn,  of  East 
Dereham,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  was  interred  in  a  vault  belonging  to  the 
said  family,  in  this  parish  church ;  to  whose  memory  an  elegant  mo- 
nument is  placed  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel,  from  the  chisel 
of  the  celebrated  Bacon,  and,  it  is  almost  needless  to  add,  beautifully 
sculptured.  The  inscription,  and  some  account  of  the  same,  are 
given  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1814,  part  ii.,  p.  3. 

Sir  John  was  a  native  of  Norwich ;  educated,  first  under  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Brett,  at  Seaming,  in  Norfolk  ;  afterwards  under  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Christian,  at  Botesdale,  in  this  county  ;  and  admitted  at  Caius  Col- 
lege, Cambridge;  where  he  proceeded  A.B.  1761,  A.M.  1764,  and 
was  an  honorary  Fellow  till  Jan.  1,  1766  ;  when  he  married  Elinor, 
daughter  of  Sheppard  Frere,  Esq.,  of  Eoydon,  in  Norfolk,  who  sur- 
vived him,  and  by  whom  he  had  no  issue. 

He  distinguished  himself  early  by  his  application  to  the  study  of 
our  natural  history  and  antiquities ;  for  which  he  had  formed  large 
and  valuable  collections,  amongst  which  were  a  number  of  original 
letters  written  during  the  reigns  of  Henry  VI.,  Edward  IV.,  Richard 
III.,  and  Henry  VIII. ;  two  volumes  of  these  were  published  in 
1787,  4to.,  and  two  others  in  1789,  with  notes  and  illustrations,  and 
a  fifth  was  left  ready  for  the  press  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  which 
took  place  Feb.  14,  1704,  in  the  55th  year  of  his  age. 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  463 

The  Right  Hon.  John  Hookham  Frere,  of  Eoydon  Hall,  is  now 
lord  and  patron;  and  the  Rev.  Edward  Frere  is  the  present  incum- 
bent of  tliis  parish. 

ARMS. — Frere :  argent ;  two  leopards'  heads  in  pale,  gules ;  be- 
tween two  flaunches  of  the  last.  Fenn :  argent ;  on  a  fess,  azure, 
three  escallops  of  the  first,  within  a  bordure  engrailed,  of  the  second. 
Crest :  a  dragon's  head,  erased. 

Robert  de  Finingham  was  a  native  of  this  village,  and  was  en- 
tered and  educated  under  the  Gray  Friars,  Franciscan,  or  Friars 
Minors,  in  Norwich,  in  all  the  liberal  arts  and  sciences.  He  finished 
his  philosophical  studies  with  great  success,  and  made  such  uncom- 
mon proficience  in  divinity,  that  he  had  few  equals  in  that  sacred 
study ;  but  the  learning  in  which  he  chiefly  excelled  was  the  Canon 
Law ;  and  he  was  author  of  divers  treatises  on  that  and  other  sub- 
jects :  amongst  which  was  one  "  Of  the  State  and  Dignity  of  the 
Order  of  St.  Francis,"  shewing  in  what  manner  these  friars  profess 
evangelical  perfection,  praying  continually  for  themselves  and  others, 
preaching  to  the  people,  begging  their  food  and  clothing,  and  fi- 
nally, having  nothing  and  yet  possessing  all  things.  He  deceased 
in  1460,  and  was  succeeded  as  Prior  of  this  house  by  Dr.  Barnard. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  and  town  estate  consists  of  a  house, 
formerly  the  workhouse,  and  some  cottages ;  also  a  piece  of  mea- 
dow ground,  somewhat  above  two  acres,  let  at  £7  7s.  a  year ;  and 
the  Bull-yard,  one  rood,  on  which  a  house  has  been  built  by  the  oc- 
cupier, rent  5s.  per  annum.  The  rent  is  received  by  the  church- 
wardens, and  added  to  a  general  rate. — Mrs.  Ann  Frere,  who  died 
in  1728,  bequeathed  £50,  to  purchase  land  for  the  use  of  the  poor 
of  this  parish,  for  purchasing  bread  and  cloth ;  and  Mrs.  Susan 
Edwards  gave  £3  10s.  a  year,  for  teaching  four  poor  children  to 
read  the  Bible,  spin,  and  sew ;  and  10s.  to  poor  communicants  on 
Christmas-day  and  Whit-Sunday  ;  and  Mrs.  Eleanor  Frere,  by  deed 
dated  27th  June,  1766,  granted  a  rent  charge  of  £12,  out  of  a  free- 
hold messuage  and  lands  called  Suborne's,  in  Wyverston,  now  the 
property  of  the  Right  Hon.  John  Hookham  Frere ;  out  of  which 
£4  is  paid  for  teaching  poor  children  to  read  the  Bible,  &c. ;  for 
buying  four  coats,  to  be  given  on  12th  November,  to  four  poor  men 
constantly  attending  divine  service  ;  and  £2  5s.  for  buying  meat,  to 
be  distributed  on  that  day,  and  15s.  for  buying  bread. 


404  HUNDRED   OF  HAUTISMERE. 

GISLINGHAM. — GISSILINCHAM,  or  GILDINCHAM. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  with  the  manor  of  Bushes,  in  Gisling- 
ham,  was  anciently  vested  in  John  Geslingham,  Esq.,  as  appears 
by  the  pedigree  of  the  Daundy's,  of  Combes  Hall.  Certain  Knights' 
fees  were  held  here  of  the  Le  Marshal's  and  De  Morley's  honour 
of  Eye. 

In  the  20th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Sir  Walter,  son  and  heir  of 
Sir  James  Hobart,  Knt.,  settled  the  lordships  of  Gislingham,  Bushes, 
and  Jenneys,  on  Henry  Hobart,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir ;  which 
Henry  was  lord  thereof  in  1550. 

It  appears  that  a  branch  of  the  Gyney  (or  Jenney)  family  were 
formerly  interested  here ;  as  Sir  Thomas  Gyney,  by  will  proved  in 
1420,  makes  a  bequest  to  this  parish  church.  He  appears  to  have 
left  an  only  daughter,  Margery ;  who  was  lady  of  Guton,  in  Nor- 
folk, and  presented  to  Brandeston  church,  in  that  county,  in  1431, 
as  such. 

The  manor  house,  formerly  called  Swatshaugh  Hall  (now  Swat- 
tisfield  Hall),  was  the  inheritance  and  seat  of  a  branch  of  the  Bed- 
ingfield  family,  in  the  time  of  King  Charles  I. ;  who  sold  their  es- 
tate to  Anthony  Bedingfield,  Gent.,  a  merchant  in  London.  He 
gave  it  to  his  brother,  Sir  Thomas  Bedingfield,  Knt. ;  who,  when 
he  bought  Darsham  Hall,  in  Blithing  hundred,  of  Philip  Beding- 
field, Esq.,  his  eldest  brother,  gave  him  this  estate  and  other  lands 
in  part  of  payment  for  that  purchase. 

Charles  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  who  re-built  Swatshaugh  Hall,  mar- 
ried Agatha,  daughter,  and  co-heiress  of  Sir  William  Cooke,  Bart., 
of  Brome  Hall,  in  Norfolk ;  and  was  succeeded  here  by  William 
Bedingfield,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir ;  who  deceased  in  1 754, 
and  was  interred,  with  divers  of  his  ancestors,  in  this  parish  church. 
Letitia  and  Mary  Bedingfield,  his  sisters  and  co-heirs,  inherited  this 
estate ;  the  former  deceased  at  Norwich,  in  1 782,  unmarried ;  the 
latter  married  the  Bev.  Charles  Pleijs,  rector  of  this  parish  ;  whose 
son,  the  Bev.  Charles  Bedingfield  Pleijs,  was  patron  of  this  living, 
and  deceased  in  1781,  aged  27  years. 

Swattisfield  Hall  now  belongs  to  Lord  Henniker ;  the  other  manors 
here  are  vested  in  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson,  of  Bedgrave  Hall,  Esq. 
The  Bev.  Thomas  Collyer  is  the  present  patron  and  incumbent. 

In  1327,  Walter  le  Clerk  is  mentioned  as  a  resident  in  this  pa- 


HUNDRED  OF  HAUTISMEHE.  "  465 

rish ;  a»d  Jonn  his  wile,  is  supposed  to  be  heiress  of  John  de  Wa- 
•chesham,  of  Marlingford,  in  Norfolk.  In  1 583,  one  Robert  Camell 
settled  here,  who  left  Scotland  when  about  14  years  of  age.  He 
deceased  in  1C 57,  leaving  Robert,  his  eldest  son,  who  deceased  in 
1667. 

William  Camell,  of  Diss,  in  Norfolk,  was  his  3rd  son ;  who  left 
Robert,  his  eldest  son ;  who  left  three  sons.  Robert,  the  eldest, 
was  of  Sydney  College,  Cambridge,  LL.D.,  rector  of  Bradwell  and 
Lound,  in  this  county.  He  died  at  Norwich,  in  1 732,  having  been 
elected  the  previous  year,  Lecturer  of  St.  Peter  Maucroft,  in  that 
city.  Mr.  Blomefield  acknowledges  himself  greatly  obliged  to  this 
reverend  gentleman,  for  much  valuable  information  towards  his 
"  History  of  Norfolk."  William,  the  2nd  son,  was  of  Diss  ;  where 
he  was  living  in  1734. 

ARMS. — Geslingham :  azure ;  a  fess,  or,  between  three  birds,  ar- 
gent ;  beaked  and  pedade,  gules.  Pleijs :  on  a  bend  wavy,  three 
anchors. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate,  which  is  under  the  management 
of  the  churchwardens  and  principal  parishioners,  comprises  a  house 
near  the  church,  and  a  house,  and  about  30  acres  of  land  in  Thorn- 
don,  let  at  £42  a  year  ;  and  two  pightles,  containing  about  two  acres, 
in  Gislingham,  rent  £4  per  annum :  which  rents  are  applied  in  the 
reparation  of  the  church,  the  school,  and  the  parish  houses  for  poor 
people ;  and  in  defraying  other  public  charges  and  expenses  con- 
cerning the  parish. — John  Darby,  by  will,  dated  9th  September, 
12th  Charles  I.,  devised  a  copyhold  close  in  tlu's  parish,  called  Park 
Close,  containing  by  estimation  8^  acres,  to  trustees,  that  the  rents 
and  profits  should  be  applied  in  payment  of  10s.  a  year,  for  buying 
stones  towards  repairing  the  highways  within  Gislingham  ;  10s.  a 
year  towards  mending  the  church-paths ;  and  20s.  a  year  towards 
repairing  the  school ;  the  residue  thereof  to  be  every  year  distribu- 
ted amongst  the  poor  of  the  parish.  The  land  is  let  at  £12  a  year, 
and  after  deducting  the  three  sums  above  mentioned,  the  remainder 
is  laid  out  in  cloth,  which  is  given  away  among  the  poor  about  Eas- 
ter.— The  above  John  Darby  devised  a  rent  charge  of  £10  out  of 
his  premises  in  this  parish,  for  the  maintenance  of  a  schoolmaster, 
to  keep  a  free-school  in  Gislingham,  for  the  teaching  of  children 
of  his  name  and  kindred,  and  of  all  the  children  of  all  such  as 
should  be  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Gislingham.  Mary  Darby, 
widow  of  the  said  John  Darby,  in  1646,  devised  a  close  of  24  acres 


466  *  HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 

in  this  parish,  called  Smyth's  Close,  subject  to  the  payment  of  a 
yearly  rent  charge  of  £6 ;  namely,  £5  as  an  addition  to  the  stipend 
given  by  her  husband  to  the  schoolmaster,  and  20s  for  teaching  four 
of  the  poor  children  of  the  town  to  read  the  English  tongue.  Ed- 
mund Darby  gave  a  rent  charge  of  40s.  a  year,  towards  the  main- 
tenance of  the  free  school. — The  Kev.  John  Symonds  gave  by  will, 
in  1672,  a  rent  charge  of  20s.,  to  be  employed  towards  the  teaching 
of  poor  children  ;  and  Alice  Symonds  gave  £50,  to  buy  a  piece  of 
land,  the  rents  to  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of  clothing  for  poor 
persons.  The  school-house  was  built  with  the  surplus  of  money 
collected  and  raised  for  building  the  steeple  of  the  parish  church, 
about  the  year  1640  ;  and  comprises  a  school-room,  an  apartment 
for  the  residence  of  the  master,  and  a  wash-house.  The  number  of 
free  scholars  is  ten,  and  the  boys  admitted  are  the  sons  of  farmers 
and  tradesmen.  John  Henry  Heigham,  of  Hunston  Hall,  Esq.,  is 
now  the  proprietor  of  the  several  estates  charged  with  the  payment 
of  these  annuities. — John  Symonds,  A.M.,  eldest  son  of  John 
Symonds  B.D.,  rector  of  this  parish  48  years;  who  besides  large 
legacies  bestowed  on  his  numerous  relations,  gave  £200  to  the  poor 
widows  and  children  of  clergymen;  also  £100  to  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge,  for  an  Exhibition.  He  gave  to  the  poor  of  this  parish 
£7  a  year  for  ever ;  to  renew  the  feoffment  of  the  town  Lands,  £10 ; 
to  repair  the  church  and  church  walls,  JE 10.  At  his  funeral,  to  the 
poor  of  this  town,  £11  13s.  4d. ;  and  to  each  of  the  towns  where 
his  chief  estates  lay,  a  similar  sum ;  and  bequeathed  likewise  to  each 
of  his  tenants  a  kind  legacy.  Mr.  Symonds  deceased  in  1703,  aged 
73  years  ;  his  father  in  1675,  aged  85  years. 


MELLIS. — MELLELS,  or  METLES. 

In  the  ninth  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  demesne  of  this  parish  was 
held  by  John  de  Swyniford ;  but  subsequently  by  Sir  John  de  Nor- 
wich, who  held  the  same  at  one  fee,  as  of  Sir  John  de  Thorp's 
manor  of  Tundeuhall,  in  Norfolk  ;  he  of  the  Earl  Marshall,  and  he 
of  the  King. 

Sir  John  de  Norwich  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren  for  all  his 
lands  here,  from  King  Edward  III.,  with  whom  he  stood  much  in 
favour ;  and  they  passed  to  John  de  Norwich,  his  grandson,  who 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  467 

deceased  in  the  48th  of  the  above  reign,  seized  thereof,  and  without 
issue. 

Catherine  de  Brews,  his  cousin,  and  next  heir,  had  livery  of  his 
lands  soon  after  his  decease ;  hut  taking  upon  herself  the  hahit 
of  a  nun,  William  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  son  of  Kohert  de 
Uflbrd,  by  Margaret  de  Norwich,  her  cousin,  was  found  to  be  her 
next  heir ;  and  this  lordship  became  the  inheritance  of  the  Ufford 
family. 

In  1311,  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Eye  presented  to  the  rectory ; 
and  in  1317,  Lord  Lucy  de  Hitcham,  Cardinalis  de  Eye.  The  ad- 
vowson  then  passed  to  the  De  UfFords,  Earls  of  Suffolk  ;  and  after- 
wards to  William  De  la  Pole.  In  1511,  King  Henry  VIII.  pre- 
sented; and  in  1520,  and  1527,  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk. 
In  1560,  Queen  Elizabeth  presented  ;  and  the  rectory  has  belonged 
to  the  Crown  ever  since.  The  Eev.  Henry  Creed,  A.B.,  is  the  pre- 
sent incumbent. 

The  ancient  and  respectable  family  of  Yaxlee  were  seated  here  in 
the  time  of  King  Henry  VII.,  if  not  earlier.  John,  eldest  son  and 
heir  of  Richard,  only  son  of  John  Yaxlee  (alias  Harbord),  of  the 
adjoining  parish  of  Yaxley,  being  the  first  of  that  house  who  ap- 
pears to  have  resided  here.  He  was  a  Serjeant  at  Law ;  and  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Richard  Brome,  Esq.,  had  issue  an 
only  son,  Anthony  Yaxlee,  Esq.,  and  two  daughters;  namely,  Mary, 
who  married  George  Fastolf,  Esq.,  and  Elizabeth. 

Anthony  Yaxlee,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  son  and  heir  of  John,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Garnish,  Esq.,  of  Kenton,  in  this 
county.  He  deceased  in  1568-9,  and  was  interred  in  this  parish 
church.  Richard  Yaxlee,  Esq.,  their  eldest  son  and  successor,  mar- 
ried Margaret,  daughter  and  heir  of  Robert  Stokes,  of  Bickerton,  in 
Yorkshire;  whose  widow  she  was  in  1570  ;  and  William,  their  son, 
in  1572,  inherited  a  manor  at  Bowthorp,  in  Norfolk,  devised  him 
by  his  mother. 

He  married  Heva,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Bedingfield,  and  had 
issue  four  sons,  and  as  many  daughters :  Margaret,  the  eldest,  mar- 
ried Sir  Edward  Clere,  of  Ormesby,  in  Norfolk ;  who  was  Knighted 
by  Queen  Elizabeth,  at  Norwich,  in  her  progress  through  Norfolk, 
in  1578,  and  was  honoured  with  a  visit  from  her  Majesty  at  Wood 
Rising,  in  that  county,  where  Sir  Edward  then  resided. 

The  above  William  Yaxlee  deceased  in  1588,  and  was  buried  in 
Yaxley  church.  In  1600,  Henry  Yaxlee,  his  eldest  son,  resided  at 


468  HUNDRED  OF  HAKTISMERE. 

Bowthorp,  in  Norfolk  ;  which  estate  was  afterwards  conveyed  to  Sir 
Kobert  Yallop,  Knt.,  for  his  services  in  the  recovery  of  certain  es- 
tates in  Yorkshire,  the  property  of  the  Yaxlee  family ;  and  they 
probably  removed  thither.  Henry  Yaxlee  was  buried  at  Colneye, 
in  Norfolk,  in  1650. 

In  1 764,  the  manor  of  Mellis  St.  John's  was  vested  in  Eowland 
Holt,  Esq.,  of  Redgrave  Hall ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  his  nephew, 
the  late  Admiral  Wilson  ;  and  it  now  belongs  to  George  St.  Vin- 
cent Wilson,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  successor. 

There  is  another  manor  in  Mellis,  called  Pountney  Hall  manor, 
in  which  the  custom  of  "  Borough  English"  prevails.  It  was  for 
several  centuries  possessed  by  the  ancient  family  of  Clarke,  whose 
mansion  and  park  were  at  the  west  end  of  the  green  ;  the  former  has 
been  almost  entirely  pulled  clown,  and  the  remainder  converted  into 
a  farm  house ;  a  small  portion  of  the  old  park  still  remains,  and  a  few 
years  ago  many  fine  trees  adorned  the  grounds.  This  manor,  with 
several  farms,  passed  to  the  Rev.  Edw.  Jcrmyn,  of  Carleton  Colville, 
the  present  lord,  upon  the  death  of  Thomas  Clarke,  Esq.,  in  1806. 

The  church  is  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  and  had  an 
altar  to  the  sacred  Trinity,  and  the  Image  of  St.  Michael,  with  the 
Guilds  of  St.  Peter  and  the  Holy  Trinity.  A  room  over  the  porch 
was  pulled  down,  some  years  ago,  and  some  curious  ornamented 
blocks  of  stone  were  formerly  preserved  in  the  church,  that  had 
been  worked  into  the  walls  of  that  room  ;  the  door  into  which  was 
covered  with  iron.  These  stones  have  since  disappeared.  In  1730, 
the  steeple  of  this  church  fell  down. 

ARMS. — Yaxlee :  ermine ;  a  chevron  between  three  mullets, 
gules,  pierced,  or.  Clarke :  ermine ;  on  a  fess,  gules,  three  bezants. 


MENDLESHAM,  or  MELNESSAM. 

Camden  supposes  Mendlesham  to  have  been  the  residence  of  Da- 
gobert,  one  of  the  Kings  of  the  Heptarchy.  Towards  the  conclusion 
of  the  17th  century,  an  ancient  silver  crown,  weighing  about  60 
ounces,  and  conjectured  to  have  belonged  to  one  of  the  East  Ang- 
lian Kings,  was  found  here  ;  which  confirms  the  supposition  of  its 
having  anciently  been  a  royal  residence.  A  gold  concave  ring,  with 
an  inscription  in  the  Sclavonian,  or  Runic  character,  was  also 


HUNDRED  OF  IIAIITISMERE.  469 

ploughed  up  here,  in  1758  ;  of  which  a  description,  with  a  plate,  is 
given  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  vol.  54,  p.  975. 

The  ancient  family  of  Danmartin,  became  very  early  enfeofFed  of 
this  lordship,  by  grant  irom  the  Crown.  Odo  do  Daumartin  held 
the  same  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  Basilia,  wife  of  Odo,  in  the  1st 
of  that  King,  gave  an  account  of  00  marks  of  silver  to  have  her 
dower ;  and  Odo,  son  of  Odo,  paid  J  00  marks  for  his  father's  lands 
in  this  parish. 

In  the  4 1st  of  King  Henry  III.,  Galicua  de  Danmartin  granted, 
by  fine,  tliis  lordship,  to  Hugh  de  Maundevill ;  and  he,  at  her  re- 
quest, granted  the  same  to  Nicholas  Leuknore,  he  paying  COs.  per 
annum  Jor  life  ;  in  exchange  for  lands  in  Hertfordshire,  granted  to 
Hugh.  In  the  !)th  of  the  following  reign,  a  patent  was  granted  for 
a  market  and  lair  in  Mendlesham,  to  Hugh,  son  of  Otho  de  Dan- 
martin,  or  Hugh  Fitz  Otho.  He  was  master  of  the  King's  Mint ; 
and  deceased  without  issue. 

In  the  00th  of  the  same  reign,  Sir  John  de  Botetourt,  had  livery 
of  this  lordship ;  in  right  of  Maud  his  v/ife,  sister  and  heiress  of 
Otho,  father  oi  Hugh.  Sir  John  was  Admiral  of  the  Norfolk  coast, 
in  the  '<i;3rd  of  this  King,  with  whom  he  stood  in  high  favour ;  and 
was  appointed,  with  Maud  his  wife,  to  attend  at  Ipswich  upon  the 
King's  daughter,  Elizabeth,  with  John,  Earl  of  Holland.  He  was 
also  one  of  those  Barons  who  sent  a  letter  to  the  Pope,  asserting 
that  the  kingdom  of  Scotland  was  not  of  his  fee,  and  denied  him  all 
jurisdiction  in  temporal  matters.  Pie  was  also  a  Justice  of  Trayl 
Bast  on,  in  several  counties. 

John  Botetourt,  lord  of  Mendlesham,  married  Catherine,  second 
daughter  of  Sir  Robert  de  Weyland,  Knt.,  and  Cecilia  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Thomas  de  Baklock.  Joan  Botetourt,  their  daughter 
and  co-heir,  married  Sir  John  Knevet,  Knt.,  son  of  Sir  John  Kne- 
vet,  Kut.,  Lord  Chancellor  of  England,  in  1371  ;  and  Sir  John 
Kncvit,  of  Buckenhani  Castle,  who  deceased  in  J  509,  devised  by 
will,  his  manor  of  Mendlesham  to  descend  to  his  next  heir;  by 
this  will  he  appears  also  to  have  held  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage. 

In  the  8th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Thomas  de  Cordeboef  died,  seized 
of  one  messuage,  00  acres  of  land,  10  acres  of  wood,  and  9  acres  of 
pasture,  with  the  appurtenances,  in  (his  parish ;  which  he  held  of 
the  King  in  capite,  by  the  service  of  one  archer,  to  serve  our  lord 
the  King  for  40  days,  at  the  Castle  of  "  Gippeswich"  (or  Ipswich). 

Nicholas  Cordeboef  died  seized,  and  about  1285,  Thomas,  his 


470  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

son  and  heir,  deceased  also ;  when  the  King  granted  his  heirs  in 
ward,  to  Eoger  de  Wincheter ;  who  conveyed  his  wardship  to  John 
de  Melles,  and  Margarey  his  wife,  late  widow  of  Thomas  de  Corde- 
"boef ;  and  Joan,  Basil,  Koisia,  Maud,  and  Alice,  were  their  daugh- 
ters and  heiresses.  Though  this  branch  centered  in  these  daughters, 
yet  another  male  branch,  at  this  parish,  remained  till  the  death  of 
John  Cordeboef,  in  1319 ;  where  Agnes,  wife  of  William  de  Eoy- 
don,  was  his  sister  and  heir.  The  family  resided  here  in  the  time 
of  Henry  III.  The  name  is  sometimes  written  "  Lordcloft." 

In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  III.,  Sir  John  Gardevile,  Knt,  was 
lord  of  the  manor  of  Winchester,  in  this  parish ;  probably  the  same 
estate  which  Eoger  de  Winchester  held  in  trust,  for  the  daughters 
of  the  above  Thomas  Cordeboef. 

In  the  10th  of  that  reign,  Simon  Busshe  held  of  the  King  in  ca- 
jpite,  60  acres  of  land,  with  the  appurtenances  in  Mendlesham,  4 
acres  of  pasture,  and  80s.  rent,  to  be  paid  to  the  sister  of  our  lord 
the  King,  by  the  Sheriff  of  Suffolk,  annually,  in  lieu  of  the  other 
services  ;  and  Marly  Busshe  is  the  brother  of  the  said  Simon. 

In  the  38th  of  the  same  King,  John  Busshe  held,  on  the  day  of 
his  death,  80  acres  of  land,  meadow  and  pasture,  and  35s.  rent,  in 
Mendlesham,  of  the  King  in  caplte,  by  the  4th  part  of  a  Knight's 
fee,  for  being  with  the  King  in  his  army,  in  North  Wales,  40  days. 

Eichard,  second  son  of  Thomas  Garneys,  Esq.,  of  Kenton  Hall, 
•settled  at  Mendlesham,  and  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William 
Toppesfield,  and  Eleanor  his  wife,  who  was  daughter  and  heir  of 
Eichard  Churche,  Esq.,  of  Gisliugham ;  by  whom  he  had  John 
Garneys ;  who  having  purchased  the  manors  of  Moringthorp  and 
Boyland  Hall,  in  Norfolk,  about  the  year  1 534,  removed  from  hence, 
and  settled  there ;  and  by  Ursula  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Berney,  Esq.,  of  Eeedham,  in  that  county,  had  four  sons  ;  of  which 
the  eldest  was  Eichard  Garneys,  Esq.,  of  Boyland,  and  Mendlesham, 
who  built  Boyland  Hall,  in  1571 ;  where  he  continued  to  reside. 

The  family  of  Sheppard  is  of  considerable  antiquity,  and  was 
originally  seated  in  this  parish.  The  earliest  notice  of  them  here, 
is  an  inscription  in  Latin,  on  a  loose  stone  in  the  vestry,  which 
serves  as  a  support  to  the  church  chest ;  the  lines  upon  which  have 
been  thus  translated : — 

"  One  mind  did  both  of  us  direct, 

One  love  united  found  ; 
Our  hearts  to  the  one  God  of  love, 

Our  bodies  to  the  ground. 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISME11E.  47 1 

"  We  both  by  one  and  self-same  name 

Of  Sheppard  long  were  known  : 
The  wife,  she  was  Elizabeth, 

The  husband,  he  was  John. 

"  We  both  did  thrice  three  sons  produce, 

And  daughters  fair  twice  two  : 
God  grant  that,  thus  increas'd,  our  house 

May  ever  do  so  too." 

This  was  probably  the  John  Sheppard  who  resided  in  Mendles- 
ham,  in  the  reigns  of  King  James  and  Charles  I. :  he  was  -Cliief 
Constable  of  the  hundred  of  Hartismere,  and  married  Elizabeth,  the 
daughter  of  John  Lane,  of  Campsey  Ash,  Gent.,  by  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  the  daughter  of  Simon  Blomeville,  of  Coddenham,  Gent. ;  and 
by  her  had  surviving  issue,  two  sons  and  a  daughter ;  namely,  John 
Sheppard,  Gent.,  who  about  the  year  1652,  purchased  Campsey 
High  House,  and  removed  thither. 

Edmund,  who  married  the  only  daughter  and  heir  of Hum- 

berston,  of  Baudsey,  Gent.,  resided  in  Mendlesham  ;  whose  descen- 
dants ultimately  became  possessed  of  the  Campsey  Ash  estate,  and 
removed  thither ;  several  of  whom  are  interred  in  this  parish  church 
(see  p.  86).  The  daughter  married  Barnabas  Gibson,  of  Stonham 
Parva,  Gent. 

The  family  of  Brooke  also  resided  here,  upon  an  estate  of  about 
£150  per  annum.  Thomas  Brooke,  Gent.,  was  several  times  Under 
Sheriff  for  the  county,  in  the  time  of  King  Charles  I.' 

Sir  John  Brockdish,  vicar  of  this  parish,  was  an  active  persecutor 
in  Queen  Mary's  time ;  mentioned  in  Fox's  Martyrology.  A  family 
of  that  name  were  very  numerous,  and  many  collateral  branches 
continued  a  long  time  in  this  county,  and  Norfolk.  In  1546,  Eoger 
Clarke,  of  this  parish,  was  burned  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  for  his 
adherance  to  the  protestant  faith. 

The  church  is  a  handsome  structure,  with  a  lofty  embattled  tower  : 
the  two  porches  are  fine,  and  richly  ornamented ;  particularly  that 
on  the  north  side,  on  the  summit  of  which  are  four  well  sculptured 
grotesque  figures.  It  was  given  by  William  Rufus,  to  the  Abbot 
and  Convent  of  Battle,  in  Sussex ;  who  had  the  impropriation  and 
advowson  of  the  vicarage  till  the  dissolution.  The  Rev.  Robert 
Field  is  now  patron. 

William  Smith,  S.T.P.,  a  native  of  Paston,  in  Norfolk,  and  edu- 
cated at  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,. was  vicar  of  this  pa- 
rish, and  rector  of  Cotton,  in  tliis  county,  and  Harleston,  in  Nor- 


472  HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMEKE. 

folk.  He  was  installed  Oct.  IS,  1070,  a  Prebend  of  the  fourth,  or 
Archdeacon  stall,  of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Norwich. 

In  1816,  the  Kev.  Richard  Corbould  Chilton,  vicar  of  this  parish, 
deceased  at  the  parsonage  house  here.  He  was  of  Sidney  Sussex 
College,  Cambridge  ;  and  while  an  under- graduate,  was  author  of  a 
tract,  well  known  in  its  day,  called  "  Ten  Minutes'  Advice  to  Fresh- 
men ;"  and  of  the  prints,  "  College  Fagging,"  "  Lecture-room  At- 
tention," and  "  The  Master  of  Arts."  His  pedestrian  powers  were 
very  extraordinary  :  he  was  a  person  of  very  considerable  abilities, 
highly  cultivated  taste,  and  of  great  information.  Though  ardent 
in  his  pursuits,  he  was  of  a  mild  and  benignant  disposition,  and  ex- 
emplary in  the  duties  of  his  profession. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia,"  says  that  the  inheritance  of 
the  Botetourts  passed,  in  the  reign  of  King  Richard  II.,  by  heirs 
general,  to  the  Frevills,  Burnels,  and  others  ;  and  Kirby  makes  the 
lordship  of  this  parish  to  have  been  for  some  time  in  the  family  of 
Duke ;  and  that  in  1764,  Edmund  Tyrell,  Estj.,  was  owner  thereof. 
Ambrose  Goodwyn,  Esq.,  of  Stonham,  was  lord  and  patron  of  Men- 
dlesham  in  the  early  part  of  the  17th  century. 

ARMS. — Botetourt :  ermine;  a  saltier  engrailed,  gules.  (Guil- 
lim  says — Or ;  a  saltier  engrailed,  sable.) 

CHARITIES. — The  following  messuages,  lands,  and  hereditaments, 
in  this  parish,  are  appropriated  to  charitable  purposes : — A  mes- 
suage and  ground  used  partly  for  a  workhouse,  and  partly  for  a 
school ;  six  tenements  near  the  church-yard,  occupied  by  poor  per- 
sons, rent  free;  farmhouse,  barn,  out-buildings,  and  150A.  IR.  33p. 
of  land,  rent  £236  10s.  a  year;  house,  barn,  stable,  and  45A.  3R. 
16p.  of  land,  let  at  £72  per  annum;  two  closes,  called  Bird's,  for- 
merly the  town  pightles,  and  Dale's,  12A.  SR.  86p.,  rent  £20  a 
year;  land,  called  Salmon's,  JOA.  IR.  8p.,  let  at  ;£16  per  annum; 
a  piece  of  garden  ground,  at  the  top  of  Back  street,  3s.  a  year ; 
blacksmith's  shop  and  garden,  £r>  a  year  ;  with  six  tenements  near 
the  church-yard,  occupied  by  sundry  poor  persons,  rent  free. — The 
income  derived  from  the  property  has  long  been  applied  as  a  general 
fund,  in  the  following  manner :  the  sum  of  £20  a  year  is  paid  to 
the  master  of  the  school,  at  which  1 5  poor  children  are  instructed 
gratuitously,  in  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic ;  the  sum  of  £20  a 
year  is  paid  for  the  maintenance  of  a  Sunday-school,  and  finding 
books,  bonnets,  &c.,  for  the  children ;  and  the  remainder  of  the 
rents,  after  providing  for  repairs  and  contingent  expenses,  is  appro- 


HUNDRED  OF  HAUTISMERE.  473 

priated,  portly  to  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  partly  to  the  relief 
of  the  poor,  at  the  discretion  of  the  trustees  ;  and  of  late,  a  sum, 
amounting  to  nearly  .£200  a  year,  has  been  distributed,  weekly,  in 
vestry,  among  widows,  and  aged  and  infirm  poor  persons,  in  various 
sums,  according  to  their  necessities. 


OAKLEY,  or  OCKLEY. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  L,  John  de  Hoe,  and  Nicholas  de 
Beaufoe,  held  the  lordship  of  this  parish ;  and  in  the  year  1408, 
Robert  Bucton  died  seized  of  the  same,  with  the  patronage  of  the 
rectory :  they  probably  soon  after  became  the  possession  of  the 
Cornwallis  family ;  as  William  Cornwallis,  who  deceased  in  1 520,  is 
interred  in  this  parish  church  ;  and  continued  in  that  house  until 
purchased  by  Matthew  Kerrison,  of  Bungay,  Esq.,  father  of  Gen. 
Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  whose  splendid  domain  is  chiefly  in 
this  parish,  hence  called  "  Oakley  Park." 

In  the  20th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Hugh,  son  of  Ralph  de  Boken- 
ham,  and  Alice  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Ralph  de  Somerton, 
claimed,  as  heir  to  Josceline  de  Lodne,  an  interest  in  the  advowsou 
of  this  parish  church. 

Here  were  formerly  two  parishes,  Great  and  Little  Oakley,  and  two 
churches ;  the  former  was  dedicated  to  St.  Nicholas,  and  the  latter  to 
St.  Andrew.  They  became  consolidated  in  144  0 ;  that  of  St.  Nicholas 
now  remains,  and  is  consolidated  with  the  church  of  Broome. 

John  Dennis  was  rector  of  this  parish,  who  deceased  in  1529,  and 
was  interred  in  the  centre  of  the  chancel  here.  The  Rev.  Henry 
William  Powlett,  Lord  Bayning,  is  the  present  rector  of  this  parish, 
and  Broome ;.  who  inherited,  as  3rd  Baron,  at  the  decease  of  his 
brother,  in  1823,  and  assumed,  by  sign  manual  (in  lieu  of  his  pa- 
tronymic "  Townshend"),  the  names  of  his  maternal  great-grand- 
father, "  William  Powlett." 

CHARITIES. — There  are  in  this  parish  a  messuage,  called  the 
Town  House,  occupied  by  poor  persons ;  and  several  detached  pieces 
of  land,  containing  together  about  13  acres,  which  are  let  at  rents 
amounting  together  to  about  £20  a  year  ;  employed  in  the  repairs 
of  the  church,  and  defraying  other  expenses  of  the  churchwardens' 
office.  It  is  unknown  how  the  property  was  acquired. 


474  HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 

OCCOLD,  or  ACOLT. 

Tliis  was  one  of  the  eighteen  lordships,  which  were  granted  to 
William,  Earl  Warren  and  Surrey,  in  this  county,  who  gave  it  to 
the  Monastery  at  Eye  ;  and  William,  his  grandson,  confirmed  it  to 
them  in  King  Stephen's  reign.  The  same  was  vested  in  Mileson 
Edgar,  Esq.,  in  17C4  ;  since  in  the  Cornwallis  family,  and  now  he- 
longs  to  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  of  Oakley  Park. 

The  other  manor  mentioned  hy  Kirby  as  belonging  to  the  Malyn 
family,  is  annexed  to  the  rectory.  John  Malyn,  who  died  in  1728, 
aged  82,  and  Eobert  Malyn,  A.M.,  who  deceased  in  1736,  aged  32, 
probably  father  and  son,  were  both  rectors  of  this  parish. 

The  families  of  Humphrey  and  Frere  were  concerned  here :  Ste- 
phen, son  and  heir  of  John  Humphrey,  of  Drinkstone,  who  de- 
ceased in  1598,  lies  buried  in  this  parish  church.  He  married 
Joan,  daughter  of  Richard  Muskett,  of  Haughley :  she  deceased  in 
1575,  and  is  buried  at  Drinkstone.  Richard,  their  son  and  heir, 
deceased  a  few  months  before  his  father,  and  is  buried  here.  Ho 
married  Grace,  daughter  of  Thomas  Frere,  of  this  parish,  and  Eli- 
zabeth his  wife,  daughter  of  Richard  Baxter,  of  Forncet,  in  Norfolk ; 
who  survived  until  1G38,  and  is  buried  at  Framsden.  Charles 
Humphrey,  their  son,  resided  at  Rishangles ;  and  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Thomas  Daundy,  of  Combes,  Esq.,  and  Martha 
his  wife,  daughter  of  John  Poley,  of  Badley,  Esq. ;  by  whom  he 
had  issue  seven  sons  and  five  daughters.  They  were  both  buried 
here. 

Richard  Frere,  Gent.,  deceased  in  1645,  and  is  buried  at  Occold ; 
and  Richard  Frere,  Gent.,  was  a  resident  here  in  the  year  1655-. 
Prudence,  wife  of  Robert  Denny,  Gent.,  who  deceased  in  1 702  ; 
also  Robert  Denny,  Gent.,  and  Christian  his  wife ;  also  Robert 
their  son,  who  died  in  1724,  were  all  buried  here. 

ARMS. —  Warren,  Earl  of  Surrey :  chequee,  or,  and  azure.  Ed- 
gar :  party  per  chevron,  or  and  azure,  in  chief  two  fleurs-de-lis, 
gules ;  five  fusiles  in  fess,  of  the  first,  each  charged  with  an  escallop 
of  the  third. 

CHARITIES. — In  1449,  John  Henman  devised  by  will,  three  closes 
in  the  village  of  Benningham,  called  Preste's,  Hedge's,  and  Wo- 
gate's  Close,  to  the  intent  that  his  anniversary- day  should  be  kept 
in  the  parish  church  of  Occold,  and  certain  payments  for  supersti- 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  475 

tious  purposes  should  be  made  on  that  occasion ;  and  that  the  resi- 
due of  the  profits  of  the  closes  should  be  applied  in  aid  of  tenths 
and  fifteenths,  within  the  village  of  Occold,  when  they  should  occur ; 
and  when  not,  then  should  be  distributed  and  expended  among  the 
needy  poor  people,  and  upon  bad  and  ruinous  ways,  and  in  neces- 
sary matters  of  the  church  and  parish  of  Occold. — The  town  estate 
consists  of  a  messuage,  used  for  the  habitation  of  paupers  ;  a  house, 
and  nearly  4  acres  of  land,  in  this  parish,  let  at  £10  a  year ;  and  a 
messuage,  and  farm  house,  with  out-buildings,  and  about  4  G  acres 
of  laud,  in  the  parishes  of  Occold  and  Eedlingfield,  let  at  the  yearly 
rent  of  £52.  The  rents  are  applied  in  necessary  repairs  upon  the 
estate,  and  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  paying  a  yearly  sa- 
lary to  a  surgeon  for  attending  the  poor  when  in  want  of  medical 
aid. — In  1720,  William  Lee  devised  all  his  lands  and  tenements  in 
this  parish,  to  the  intent  that  5s.  worth  of  bread  should  be  bought 
every  week,  and  given  to  the  poor  of  Occold,  and  40s.  per  annum 
to  the  parish  of  Thorndon  ;  and  what  should  be  over  and  above,  to 
buy  the  poorest  of  the  people  of  this  parish  clothes.  This  estate 
comprises  20A.  2R.  of  freehold  land,  GA.  OR.  34p.  of  land,  copyhold 
of  the  manor  of  Benningham  Hall,  two  acres  of  land,  copyhold  of 
the  manor  of  Occold,  and  two  cottages  divided  into  several  tene- 
ments; rent  £50  per  annum. — In  1724,  Eobert  Denny,  charged 
his  lands  with  the  payment  of  20s.  a  year,  to  be  laid  out  and  dis- 
tributed in  wheat  bread  upon  Ash-Wednesday. 


PALGRAVE,  or  PALEGRAUA. 

The  third  part  of  this  lordship  was  granted  by  Athulf  (Adulf,  or 
Eadulf),  Bishop  of  Elmham,  to  the  Abbot  and  Monks  of  St.  Ed* 
mund  at  Bury ;  and  the  residue  thereof  was  given,  by  Earl  Wolfstan 
and  others,  to  the  same  Monastery.  A  Chapel  is  mentioned  by 
Kirby,  as  situate  in  this  parish,  and  subordinate  to  the  said  Abbey, 
concerning  which  we  collect  no  additional  particulars. 

The  manor  and  advowson  were,  until  lately,  vested  in  the  house 
of  Cornwallis  ;  and  are  now  the  property  of  Sir  Edward  Kerrison, 
Bart.,  of  Oakley  Park. 

This  village  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  having  been,  for  nearly  half  ft 


470  HtFNDRED  OF   HARTISMERE. 

century,  the  place  of  residence  of  that  learned  and  ingenious  anti- 
quary, "  honest  Tom  Martin." 

Mr.  Thomas  Martin  was  born  March  8,  1696-7,  at  the  school- 
house  in  St.  Mary,  Thetford  ;  of  which  parish  his  father  was  many 
years  rector,  and  his  grand-father  was  rector  of  Stanton  St.  John, 
in  this  county  ;  in  the  chancel  of  which  church,  is  a  latin  inscription 
to  his  memory.  Thomas  was  the  seventh  of  nine  children,  by  Eli- 
zabeth, only  daughter  of  Thomas  Burrough,  Gent.,  of  Bury  St.  Ed- 
mund's, aunt  to  Sir  James  Burrough,  Master  of  Caius  College, 
Cambridge. 

He  was  educated,  probably,  at  his  native  place ;  and  was,  much 
against  his  inclination,  bred  an  attorney ;  he  married  Sarah,  relict 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Hopley,  and  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Tyrrell,  of  Thet- 
ford. February  17,  1720,  he  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Society 
of  Antiquaries  ;  and  in  1723,  we  find  him  resident  in  this  parish. 
This  wife  bore  him  eight  children,  and  died  November  15,  1731  ; 
he  afterwards  married  Frances,  the  widow  of  Peter  le  Neve,  Norroy : 
by  this  marriage  he  became  possessed  of  considerable  property,  with 
his  large  collection  of  British  topographical  antiquities,  valuable 
manuscripts,  prints,  books,  &c. 

He  died  March  7,  1771,  and  was  buried,  with  others  of  his  family, 
in  Palgrave  church-porch  ;  where  a  monument  of  white  marble  has 
been  erected,  and  on  a  black  tablet  is  this  inscription : — 

DESIROUS 

THAT  POSTERITV  MIGHT  BK 

INFORMED  IN  WHAT  SACRED  PLACE 

WERE  DEPOSITED  THE  REMAINS  OF 

THAT  ABLE  AND  INDEFATIGABLE 

ANTIQUARY 

THOMAS  MARTIN,  F.A.S. 

WHO  WAS  BORN  8  MARCH,  1696-7, 

AND  WHO  DIED  7  MARCH,  1771, 

SIR  JOHN  FENN,  KNIGHT,  F.A.S. 

OF  EAST  DEREHAM,  IN  NORFOLK, 

As  A  TRIBUTE  OF  RESPECT 

To  THE  MEMORY  OF  HIS  FRIEND, 

CAUSED  THIS  MONUMENT 

TO  BE  ERECTED* 

As  an  antiquary  Mr.  Martin  was  most  skilful  and  industrious ; 
his  collection  of  antiquities,  particularly  of  such  as  relate  to  Suffolk) 
were  very  considerable,  their  fragments  have  enriched  several  private 
libraries.  Mr.  Gough,  who  in  1779,  edited  the  history  of  his  na- 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMEIIE.  477 

tive  town  of  Thetford,  from  materials  left  without  the  last  finishing, 
at  Mr.  Martin's  death,  was  also  possessed  of  his  manuscripts  relating 
to  Bury  St.  Edmund's ;  and  generously  permitted  Mr.  Yates  to 
incorporate  them  into  his  history  of  that  town  :  many  of  those  for 
the  county  of  Suffolk  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  Sir  John  Cul- 
lum,  Bart.,  who  wrote  the  "  Memoirs"  of  our  author,  annexed  to  his 
work,  and  from  which  this  account  is  chiefly  derived. 

The  rest  were  dispersed  hy  the  sale  of  Mr.  Ives'  collection,  in 
1777  ;  he  having  heen  a  principal  purchaser  at  the  different  sales  of 
those  of  Mr.  Martin.  Mr.  Ives  caused  to  be  engraved  a  portrait  of 
him,  holding  an  urn. 

In  1357,  Thomas  de  Calkhyl  resigned  this  living  for  Titshall,  in 
Norfolk;  in  exchange  with  Richard  de  Dunmowe,  who  removed 
from  Titshall  to  Palgrave. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  a  messuage,  called  the 
Guild  Hall,  with  adjoining  premises,  and  ground  cultivated  for  the 
use  of  the  poor,  containing  ahout  two  acres :  a  farm,  consisting  of 
a  house,  and  66A.  3R.  of  land,  in  and  adjoining  the  parish  of  Guest- 
wich,  in  Norfolk  ;  rent  £60  a  year.  The  rents  are  applied  in  the 
reparation  of  the  church,  and  defraying  other  expenses  of  the  church- 
wardens' office  ;  the  surplus,  when  any  remains,  is  applied  with  the 
poor's  rate. — A  dole  of  20s.,  given  by  Henry  Bootie,  in  1653,  paid 
out  of  a  farm  in  this  parish,  belonging  to  Mrs.  Harrison ;  and 
another  dole  of  10s.,  given  by  John  Stebbing,  in.  1677,  is  paid  out 
of  land  in  Palgrave,  now  belonging  to  Mr.  John  Ives.  These 
yearly  sums  are  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  bread,  and  given  to  the 
poor  about  Christmas. 


REDLINGFIELD,  or  REDINGHEFELDA. 

In  the  year  1120,  Manasses  de  Gratia,  Earl  of  Ghisness  (or 
Guisnes),  and  Emma  his  wife,  daughter  of  William  de  Arras,  built 
here,  upon  a  lordship  belonging  to  the  said  William,  a  Benedictine 
Nunnery ;  which  was  endowed  with  portions  of  the  churches  of 
Milton,  Walpole,  Levington,  Redlingfield,  and  Rishangles,  with  the 
manors  of  Eedlingfield  and  Rishangles,  and  with  lands  and  tithes 
in  about  30  other  parishes. 

The  site  of  the  Monastery  contained  about  two  acres  of  land, 


478  HUNDRED  OF  HARTTSMERE. 

120  acres  of  pasture  land,  valued  16d.  per  acre,  148  acres  of  arable,, 
at  12d.  per  acre,  and  18  acres  of  meadow,  at  2s.  per  acre,  in  this 
parish,  in  the  occupation  of  the  Prioress : — 288  acres,  valued  in  all 
at  £17  5s.  The  clear  value,  according  to  Speed,  of  their  gross 
revenue,  £81  2s.  5-|-d.;  and  in  "Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  the  same. 
The  amount  of  annual  alms  distributed  to  the  poor,  £9,  fixed  charity. 

In  the  4th  of  King  Ki  chard  II.,  Sir  William  de  Kerdeston 
aliened  lands  in  Kerdeston,  in  Norfolk,  to  this  Priory ;  and  also  a 
third  part  of  Netherhall  manor,  at  Hiclding,  in  the  same  county ; 
who  in  the  8th  of  that  King,  conveyed  the  same  to  Hickling  Priory ; 
and  Parkin  thinks  it  probable  that  Kishangles  manor  and  advowson 
was  obtained  in  exchange  with  Hickling  Priory,  for  property  in  that 
parish. 

In  1536,  it  was  granted  to  Edmund  Bedingfield,  Esq. ;  and  Sir 
Henry  Bedingfield,  Knt.,  whom  Queen  Elizabeth  called  her  "Jailor," 
here  lived  and  died :  his  descendants  continued  to  reside  here  for 
several  ages.  In  1764,  it  belonged,  by  purchase,  to  John  Willis, 
Esq. ;  and  William  Adair,  Esq.,  is  the  present  owner. 

The  chapel  of  Kedlingfield  Nunnery  forms  the  parish  church  of 
Kedlingfield. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  40  acres  of  land,  lying  in  the  parishes  of 
Kedlingfield,  Denham,  and  Hoxne,  which  are  let,  with  the  consent 
of  the  parishioners  of  this  parish,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £4.5  ;  and 
the  rents  are  applied  to  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the  main- 
tenance of  the  parochial  poor,  conformable  to  ancient  usage.  There 
are  no  deeds  or  writings  concerning  this  property. 


KEDGEAVE. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  with  the  patronage  of  the  rectory, 
were  anciently  vested  in  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  St.  Edmund,  at 
Bury ;  by  the  grant  of  Ulfketel,  Earl  of  the  East  Angles,  who  fell 
in  1016,  at  the  battle  of  Assendun,  in  Essex,  with  Canute  the  Dane. 
In  1211,  Sampson,  Abbot  of  that  Monastery,  erected  a  mansion 
here,  which  became  the  occasional  residence  of  the  future  prelates 
of  that  house. 

After  the  dissolution  it  was  granted  by  King  Henry  VIII.,  in  the 
last  year  of  his  reign,  to  Sir  Thomas  Darcy,  Knt. ;  from  whom  it 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  479 

passed  to  the  Bacon  family:  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Knt.,  Lord  "Keeper 
of  the  Great  Seal  of  England,  in  the  beginning  of  Queen  Elizabeth's 
reign,  having  purchased  the  same,  made  it  his  principal  seat. 

The  antiquity  of  this  family  is  beyond  dispute,  and  there  are  few 
houses  in  the  kingdom  more  distinguished  by  the  production  of 
great  and  eminent  men.  Besides  Friar  Bacon,  the  marvel  of  his 
day,  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  and  the  great  Lord  Bacon,  there  were  se- 
veral other  extraordinary  personages  of  the  same  family. 

They  derive  from  Grimbald,  who  came  into  England  at  the  period 
of  the  Norman  Conquest ;  and  soon  after  settled  at  Letheringset, 
near  Holt,  in  Norfolk  ;  where  he  founded  the  church,  and  made  his 
second  son  incumbent  of  it.  In  the  time  of  King  Eichard  I., 
William  Bacon  resided  at  Bradfield  St.  George,  in  this  county ;  a 
younger  member  of  his  family  settled  at  the  adjoining  parish  of  Hes- 
sett,  from  whom  descended  the  Bacons  of  Drinkstone,  the  imme- 
diate ancestors  of  the  Kedgrave  branch. 

As  ample  information  concerning  this  family  may  be  derived  by 
consulting  any  of  the  various  Baronetages  extant,  we  shall  only  ob- 
serve that  Sir  Edmund  Bacon,  Bart.,  of  this  parish,  deceased  in 
1685,  without  surviving  male  issue;  when  the  title  and  this  part  of 
his  estate,  descended  to  Kobert  Bacon,  Esq.,  of  Egmere,  in  Norfolk, 
his  cousin  and  heir.  It  descended  to  him  under  some  incumbrances, 
and  he  judged  it  convenient  to  sell  the  same  to  the  Lord  Chief  Jus- 
tice Holt ;  and  afterwards  purchased  at  Garboldisham,  in  Norfolk, 
where  he  built  a  handsome  seat  for  the  future  residence  of  his  family. 
Sir  Eobert  deceased  in  1 704,  and  was  interred  in  the  chancel  of  All 
Saints'  church,  Garboldisham :  but  when  that  church  became  di- 
lapidated, in  1734,  the  remains  of  the  Bacon  family  interred  there, 
were  removed  to  the  family  vault  in  this  parish  church ;  and  the 
memorials  that  covered  them  were  placed  in  the  vestry  of  St.  John's 
church,  in  Garboldisham,  were  they  still  remain. 

Sir  John  Holt,  Knt.,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  King's 
Bench  in  the  reign  of  King  William,  was  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Holt, 
Knt.,  Serjeant  at  Law ;  and  born  at  Thame,  in  Oxfordshire,  in  1642. 
He  was  educated  at  Abingdon  school,  while  his  father  was  Kecorder 
of  that  town ;  and  afterwards  became  a  Gentleman  Commoner  of 
Oriel  College,  Oxford  ;  from  whence  he  went  to  Gray's  Inn :  some 
time  after  he  was  called  to  the  bar,  and  soon  became  a  very  eminent 
barrister. 

In  the  reign  of  James  II.,  he  was  made  Recorder  of  London ;  and 


480  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

in  1686,  he  was  called  to  the  degree  of  a  Serjeant  at  Law.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  he  was  chosen  a  Member  of  the 
Convention  Parliament ;  and  shortly  after  was  made  Lord  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  and  admitted  into  the  Bang's 
Privy  Council.  He  continued  in  his  post  twenty-two  years,  and 
maintained  the  same  with  great  reputation.  His  integrity  and  up- 
rightness as  a  judge  are  celebrated  by  the  author  of  the  "  Tatler," 
No.  14,  under  the  noble  character  of  "  Verus,"  the  magistrate. 

He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Cropley,  Bart.,  whom  he 
left  without  issue ;  and  died  in  1709,  was  interred  in  the  chancel  of 
this  parish  church ;  on  the  north  side  of  which  a  splendid  monument 
remains  to  his  memory,  executed  by  T.  Green,  of  Camberwell ;  with 
an  elegant  latin  inscription,  from  the  pen  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Halley. 

This  estate  continued  in  the  Holt  family  for  a  considerable  period ; 
Eowland  Holt,  Esq.,  who  represented  this  county  in  Parliament 
during  several  sessions,  erected  the  present  handsome  mansion,  about 
1770  ;  and  embellished  the  park  in  such  a  manner  as  to  render  it 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  spots  in  Suffolk.  He  also  added  the  pre- 
sent neat  steeple  to  the  parish  church,  and  likewise  new  paved  and 
ornamented  the  interior,  chiefly  at  his  own  expense. 

It  subsequently  became  the  property  of  George  Wilson,  Esq., 
Admiral  of  the  Eed,  son  of  the  late  Hon.  Thomas  Wilson,  Chief 
Judge  of  Dominica ;  nephew  and  heir  of  the  above  Kowland  Holt, 
Esq.,  and  of  Thomas  Holt,  Esq.;  at  whose  decease  he  succeeded  to 
this  estate.  Admiral  Wilson  went,  at  a  very  early  age,  Midshipman, 
under  the  late  Lord  St.  Vincent,  then  Capt.  Jarvis  ;  under  whom  he 
served  seven  years,  in  the  "Fourdroyant,"  of  80  guns. 

He  never  had  a  Master's  or  Commander's  commission,  but  was 
a  junior  Lieutenant  under  Lord  Howe,  in  the  "  Victory,"  when  his 
lordship  sailed  for  the  relief  of  Gibralter,  and  was  made  at  once,  in 
1780,  a  Post  Captain;  and  advanced  to  the  rank  of  Eear-Admiral, 
in  1799  ;  Vice-Admiral,  in  1804  ;  and  Admiral,  in  1809.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1801,  Catherine,  daughter  of  John  Pollard,  Esq.,  of  Ewell, 
in  Surrey;  and  deceased  at  his  seat  in  this  parish,  March  6,  1826 ; 
when  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir, 
succeeded,  and  is  the  present  proprietor  of  this  estate. 

Kirby  names  Thomas  Wolsey,  the  noted  Cardinal,  as  rector  of 
this  parish,  in  1506  ;  to  whom  may  be  added  John  Pedder,  S.T.B., 
who  was  installed,  in  1557,  Prebend  of  the  sixth,  or  Yarmouth  stall, 
in  Norwich  Cathedral ;  and  Percivall  Wyborn,  A.M.,  Chaplain  to 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  481 

the  Lord  Keeper  Bacon,  to  the  same  stall,  in  1560.  Thomas  Fowle, 
B.D.,  who  was  rector  and  resided  here,  was  installed,  in  1503,  into 
the  second,  or  Treasurer's  Prebend :  he  was  also  Chaplain  to  the 
Lord  Keeper  Bacon.  In  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church  are  me- 
morials to  the  following  rectors  : — Samuel  Foster,  B.D.,  who  de- 
ceased in  1080  :  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Towers,  Bishop 
of  Peterborough;  and  William  Simmonds,  who  deceased  in  1778; 
also  John  Baldock,  who  deceased  in  1709.  The  Rev.  Marmaduke 
Wilkinson  is  the  present  incumbent. 

ARMS. — Bacon  :  gules  ;  on  a  chief,  argent,  two  mullets,  sable. 
Orest :  a  boar,  passant,  ermine.  Holt :  argent ;  on  a  bend  wavy, 
sable,  three  fleurs-de-lis,  of  the  1st. 

CHARITIES. — The  rents  of  the  following  lands  are  applied  to  the 
reparation  of  the  parish  church,  and  payment  of  expenses  of  the 
churchwardens :  a  piece  of  land  near  the  church-yard,  containing 
IA.  3R.,  and  ditto,  IR.,  rent  £3  a  year ;    also  IA.  IR.  of  copyhold 
land  in  Hinderclay,  let  at  £3  per  annum.    Under  an  Inclosure  Act, 
passed  in  1815,  an  allotment  of  nearly  80  acres  was  set  out  for  the 
poor,  which  is  unprofitable  for  any  other  purpose  than  supplying 
fuel,  and  is  kept  and  employed  for  that  use.     A  piece  of  land,  in 
this  parish,  containing  about  IA.  SR.,  was  given  by  John  Brandish, 
for  the  use  of  four  of  the  poorer  sort  of  people,  either  men  or  wo- 
men, of  the  parish  ;  let  at  £3  a  year ;  and  the  rent  is  divided  accor- 
dingly.    In  1086,  Mary  Foster  gtive  by  will,  £18,  to  be  laid  out  in 
land :  with  this  legacy  a  piece  of  land,  called  Redgrave  Close,  in  the 
parish  of  Barningham,  containing  one  acre,  was  purchased,  which 
lets  at  £1  10s.  a  year ;  and  the  rent  is  paid  to  a  schoolmistress,  for 
teaching  three  poor  children  to  read,  agreeable  to  the  said  will.    In 
1727,  John  Hubbard  charged  a  close  of  six  acres,  called  Calkpritt's 
Hole  Close,  in  this  parish,  with  the  payment  of  £3  5s.,  to  be  laid 
out  in  bread,  and  given  to  the  poor :  he  also  erected  a  house  in  or 
near  Redgrave  street,  for  the  dwelling  of  two  poor  families,  rent  free. 
— By  letters  patent,  dated  the  28th  July,  3rd  of  Queen  Elizabeth, 
license  was  granted  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Kilt.,  Lord  Keeper,  to 
erect  a  Grammar  School  in  Redgrave,  for  instructing  boys  living 
there,  and  in  the  neighbourhood,  in  grammar :    and  by  indenture, 
dated  the  19th  of  the  same  reign,  Sir  N.  Bacon  assured  the  manors 
of  Stody  and  Bumingham,  in  Norfolk,  for  the  payment,  among 
other  things,  of  £20  a  year  for  the  schoolmaster's  salary ;  and  £8  a 
year  for  the  usher's  salary ;    and  40s,  to  the  governors,  for  repairs 


482  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

of  the  school  house  and  premises.  The  other  possessions  of  the 
school  consist  of  a  dwelling  house,  in  Botesdale,  contiguous  to,  and 
under  the  same  roof,  with  a  building  there,  used  as  a  chapel ;  and 
a  cottage  in  Botesdale,  let  by  the  master  of  the  school,  at  £3  3s.  a 
year. 


RICKINGALE- SUPERIOR,  or  RACHINGEHALA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  as  well  as  the  advowson,  has  passed, 
for  many  descents,  the  same  as  that  of  Redgrave  ;  from  the  Bacon 
family  to  that  of  Holt,  and  from  them  to  the  Wilsons.  George  St. 
Vincent  Wilson,  of  Redgrave  Hall,  is  the  present  lord  of  this  manor, 
and  patron  of  the  rectory. 

John  Rickingale,  probably  a  native  of  this  parish,  or  Rickingale- 
Inferior,  was  educated  at  Gonville  College,  Cambridge,  and  rector  of 
the  mediety  of  Fressingfield.  He  had  also  other  preferments  in  this 
diocese.  In  1405,  he  was  Dean  of  the  College  of  the  Chapel  in  the 
Fields,  Norwich ;  which  he  resigned  on  his  being  consecrated  Bishop 
of  Chichester,  in  1426  ;  and  was  also  Chancellor  of  York  Cathedral. 

Suggenhall,  a  freehold  house  and  land  in  this  parish,  is  now  the 
estate  of  Thomas  Henry  Bluck,  of  Limehouse,  in  Middlesex. 

In  1655,  Philip  Jacob,  B.D.,  was  rector  of  this  parish,  which  he 
held  some  years  previous. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  messuage,  and  two 
cottages,  used  for  the  residence  of  poor  persons ;  and  27A.  2R.  27p. 
of  land,  rent  .£23  a  year :  which  is  applied  according  to  ancient 
custom,  as,  and  in  lieu  of  a  church  rate.  It  is  unknown  how  the 
land  was  acquired. — By  deed,  dated  the  3rd  July,  the  10th  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  Francis  Rookewood,  and  Thomasine  his  wife,  conveyed 
a  close  of  12  acres,  called  Redgrave  Close,  in  the  hamlet  of  Botes- 
dale, to  trustees,  upon  trust,  that  the  rents  and  profits  thereof  should 
be  bestowed  and  employed  amongst  and  for  the  relief  of  the  poor 
inhabitants  of  the  three  parishes  of  Walsham  in  the  Willows,  Rick- 
ingale-Superior,  and  Rickingale-Inferior. — On  an  Inclosure,  which 
took  place,  separate  pieces  of  land  were  allotted  for  each  of  the  pa- 
rishes in  lieu  of  the  Redgrave  Close ;  that  allotted  for  this  parish 
contains  2A.  3R.  lip.,  and  lets  for  £8  16s.  6d.  a  year. — In  1731, 
John  Browne  bequeathed  £IQ,  the  interest  thereof  to  be  given  to 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  483 

the  poor  in  bread ;  and  a  rent  charge  of  £l,  upon  a  piece  of  land 
called  Howchin's,  in  this  parish,  is  also  expended  in  bread. 


RISHANGLES,  or  RISANGRA. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  I.,  Sir  Robert  Sackville  held  this  lord- 
ship of  the  honour  of  Eye ;  in  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  it  was  the  es- 
tate of  Thomas  de  Hickling,  and  in  the  42nd  of  Edward  III.,  Regi- 
nald de  Eccles  and  Richard  de  Waterden  released  to  Sir  Edward  de 
Berkley  and  his  heirs,  all  their  right  in  this  lordship,  with  the  tliird 
part  of  the  manor  of  Netherhall,  at  Hickling,  in  Norfolk. 

The  manor  and  advowson  subsequently  became  vested  in  Red- 
lingfield  Nunnery ;  and  it  is  supposed  were  obtained  in  exchange 
with  Hickling  Priory  for  property  in  that  parish  ;  for  in  the  4th  of 
King  Richard  II.,  Sir  William  de  Kerdeston  also  granted  his  third 
part  of  Netherhall  manor  in  Hickling,  to  Redlingfield  Nunnery,  with 
lands  at  Kerdeston,  in  Norfolk. 

In  the  4th  and  5th  of  Philip  and  Mary,  William  Honing  and 
Nicholas  Cutler  obtained  a  grant  of  this  estate,  as  part  of  the  pos- 
session of  that  Monastery ;  and  in  1764,  it  was  the  property  of  Lord 
Orwell,  afterwards  Earl  of  Shipbroke. 

The  family  of  Grimston  became  early  seated  in  this  parish,  from 
whom  descended  the  Grimstons  of  Bradfield,  in  Essex  ;  who  were 
raised  to  the  rank  of  Baronet  in  1 0 1 2.  The  male  line  of  this  branch, 
of  which  Sir  Harbottle  Grimston  was  a  distinguished  member,  ex- 
pired upon  the  decease  of  his  only  surviving  son,  Sir  Samuel  Grim- 
ston, Bart.,  in  1700  ;  when  the  Baronetcy  became  extinct. 

Robert,  second  son  of  William  de  Grymestone,  of  Grymestone 
Garth,  in  the  East  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  married  the  daughter  of 
Sir  Anthony  Spelman,  and  removed  to  the  estates  obtained  through 
his  wife  in  this  county,  lands  in  this  parish  and  Ipswich ;  in  which 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  sou,  Edward  Grimston,  Esq. ;  who  by  his 
second  marriage  with  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Drury,  Esq.,  of 
Rougham,  in  this  county,  had  issue  four  sons  and  three  daughters  ; 
by  the  eldest  of  whom,  Edward  Grimston,  Esq.,  he  was  succeeded; 
who  deceased  in  1599,  and  was  interred  in  this  parish  church. 

Edward  Grimston,  Esq.,  his  son  succeeded;  he  married  Joan, 
daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Thomas  Risby,  Esq.,  of  Lavenham, 


484  HUNDRED  OF   HARTISMERE. 

grand- daughter  maternally,  of  John  Harbottle,  of  Crowfield,  in  this 
county,  Esq.,  and  inherited  in  her  right  the  Bradfield  estate ;  when 
he  removed  thither.  Mr.  Grimston  was  M.P.  for  the  borough  of 
Eye,  in  the  31st  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  deceased  in  1610. 

In  1665,  his  grandson,  Sir  Harbottle  Grimston,  Bart.,  suc- 
cessively Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  Master  of  the  Bolls, 
and  Recorder  of  Harwich,  was  lord  and  patron  of  this  parish ; 
about  which  time  John  Bevett,  Gent.,  a  younger  brother  of  William 
Bevett,  Esq.,  late  of  Bildeston,  in  Cosford  hundred,  occupied  the 
ancient  seat  of  the  Grimston  family,  in  Bishangles. 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles  I.,  Charles  Humfrey,  Gent.,  lived 
here ;  who  sold  his  estate  to  Bobert  Brownrig,  Esq.,  Counsellor  at 
Law,  eldest  son  of  Matthew  Brownrig,  M.A.,  patron  and  rector  of 
Clopton,  who  resided  here  at  the  above  period.  He  married  Mary 
Bloss,  of  Belstead,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children  ;  and  deceased 
at  Beccles,  in  1669  ;  was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 

William  de  Bishanger,  who  wrote  a  "  Chronicle  of  the  Barons' 
Wars,"  and  "  The  Miracles  of  Simon  de  Montfort,"  has  been  sup- 
posed, with  very  great  probability,  to  be  a  native  of  this  parish,  as 
it  is  written  Bisangra  in  Domesday  Book,  and  no  other  place  in  the 
kingdom  is  known  bearing  the  same  name.  Bishanger  wrote  in  the 
reigns  of  King  Edward  I.,  and  Edward  II. ;  and  it  is  supposed  per- 
severed in  his  continuation  of  Matthew  Paris,  the  St.  Alban's  his- 
torian, so  late  as  the  year  1322,  or  1323.  The  above  Chronicle  has 
lately  been  edited  from  a  manuscript  in  the  Cottonian  Library,  by 
James  Orchard  HalliweU,  Esq.,  E.B.S.,  F.S.A.,  &c.,  and  printed  by 
the  Camden  Society. 

ARMS. — Grimston:  argent;  on  a  fess,  sable,  three  mullets  of 
six  points,  or ;  pierced,  gules  :  in  the  dexter  chief  point,  an  ermine 
spot.  Brownrig :  argent ;  a  lion  rampant,  sable ;  gutty,  or ;  lan- 
gued  and  armed,  gules ;  between  three  crescents  of  the  same. 


STOKE-ASH,  or  STOTAS. 

«. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  given  by  Bobert  Malet,  a  Norman 
Baron,  to  the  Priory  of  Benedictine  Monks  at  Eye,  of  which  he  was 
the  founder;  and  at  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  in  1536, 
Edmund  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  same. 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  48-5 

Coulsey  Wood,  in  this  parish,  was  the  residence  of  a  branch  of 
the  Bedingfield  family.  Henry  Bedingfield,  Esq.,  of  Coulsey  Wood, 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Havers,  Esq.,  lord  of  Thelton, 
in  Norfolk ;  whose  daughter  Mary,  married  Mr.  Thomas  Woode, 
of  Braconash,  in  the  same  county.  It  now  belongs  to  Alexander 
Campbell,  Esq.,  of  Plumstead,  in  Norfolk. 

In  1764,  Thomas  Tyrell  Bokenham,  Esq.,  held  this  manor.  The 
manor  of  Woodhall,  in  Stoke- Ash,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  was 
the  estate  of  Sir  John  Gardeville,  Knt. ;  and  subsequently  became, 
by  purchase,  the  property  of  Edmund  Harvey,  of  Wickham-Skeith, 
Esq.  In  1659,  his  eldest  sou  and  heir  apparent  resided  there. 

Stoke  Hall,  with  Thorpe,  another  lordship  in  this  parish,  was 
vested  in  Charles  Killegrew,  Esq. ;  and  since,  in  John  Major,  Esq. ; 
and  was  lately  the  estate  of  Ambrose  Harbord  Steward,  Esq.,  of 
Stoke  Park,  near  Ipswich,  deceased. 

The  Almoner  of  the  Cathejiral  Priory  at  Norwich,  received  a  tem- 
poral rent  of  6s.  8d.  from  this  parish,  by  virtue  of  his  office. 

Eobert  Willan,  D.D.,  a  native  of  Norwich,  was  admitted  of  Cor- 
pus Christi  College,  Cambridge,  in  1588,  and  took  his  degree  of 
A.B.  in  1591 ;  was  elected  a  Fellow  in  1593  ;  and  proceeded  A.M. 
in  1595.  He  was  Taxor  of  the  University  in  1598,  and  instituted 
to  the  rectory  of  Heringswell,  in  this  county,  the  following  year,  as 
he  was  to  that  of  this  parish  in  1607,  on  the  presentation  of  Sir 
Henry  Bokenham,  Knt. 

He  commenced  D.D.  in  1615,  became  afterwards  Chaplain  to 
King  Charles  I. ;  and  held  preferment  in  Essex  at  the  time  of  his 
decease,  in  or  about  1630.  Dr.  Willan  preached  a  sermon  in  the 
church  of  St.  Olave,  Hart  Street,  London,  at  the  funeral  of  Paul 
Viscount  Bayning,  of  Sudbury,  in  1629;  which  was  published 
in  1630. 

ARMS. — Gardeville :  argent ;  a  fess  between  three  garbs,  gules. 

Mem. — In  1812,  as  some  labourers  were  digging  gravel  in  this 
parish,  they  discovered,  at  about  ten  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  some  organic  remains ;  amongst  which  were  two  grinders, 
and  four  of  the  cutting  teeth,  of  an  elephant ;  one  of  the  former 
weighed  61bs.,  the  other  4^1bs.  They  were  quite  in  a  mineralized 
state. 


486  HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 

STUSTON,  or  STURSTON. 

Sir  Aylmer  cle  Berrill  deceased  in  1279,  when  his  lands  became 
seized  of  the  Crown,  for  want  of  an  heir  ;  and  in  1284,  King  Ed- 
ward I.,  granted  the  same  to  Sir  Eichard  de  Boyland,  and  his  heirs, 
at  half  a  Knight's  fee.  This  was  styled  Boyland's  fee ;  one  third 
of  which  laid  in  this  parish,  and  nearly  the  same  quantity  in  Frenze, 
and  the  -rest  in  Osmundeston,  or  Scole,  in  Norfolk. 

In  1345,  John  de  Lowdham,  paid  10s.  for  his  relief,  for  the  ma- 
nor late  Sir  John  Boyland's,  son  of  the  ahove  Eichard ;  called  Boy- 
laud  Fee;  and  in  1351,  Sir  John,  his  son  and  heir,  held  the  same : 
he  deceased  in  1355;  and  Joan  his  wife  held  it  at  her  death,  in 
1371,  of  Edmund,  son  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Ufford,  lord  of  Eye. 

It  continued  in  this  house  till  the  death  of  John,  son  of  Sir  Thomas 
de  Lowdham,  and  Maud  his  wife,  in  1418.  He  sold  a  moiety  of 
this  manor  to  John  Wodehouse ;  the  other  moiety  passed  with  Joan 
his  only  daughter  and  heir,  into  the  Blennerhasset  family,  by  her 
second  marriage  with  Ealph  Blennerhasset,  Esq.,  whom  she  survi- 
ved until  1501,  and  was  then  seized  of  the  said  moiety. 

In  1561,  John,  second  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Blennerhasset,  Knt., 
granted  this  moiety  to  Sir  Thomas  Cornwallis,  Knt. ;  whose  heirs 
purchased  the  other  half,  after  several  conveyances  from  Wodehouse 
to  Gryme,  and  from  them  to  Eant,  and  others.  It  continued  in  this 
noble  family  until  the  disposal  of  the  Cornwallis  estates  in  this  part 
of  the  county. 

The  manor  of  Falcons,  in  this  parish,  was  granted  as  part  of  the 
possession  of  the  Nunnery  at  Flixton,  to  John  Eyre,  at  the  dissolu- 
tion of  that  house  :  it  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of  the 
Cornwallis  family. 

The  Knightly  family  of  Castleton  were  formerly  seated  at  Stuston 
Hall,  in  this  parish  ;  a  good  old  mansion,  part  of  which  was  erected 
by  Eichard  Nix,  Bishop  of  Norwich  from  1500  to  1535.  Sir  John 
Castleton,  the  2nd  Baronet  of  this  house,  inherited  this  estate  by 
his  marriage  with  Margaret,  daughter  and  heir  of  Eobert  Morse, 
Esq.,  by  Margaret  his  wife,  daughter  of  Henry  Bedingfield,  Esq. ; 
by  whom  he  had  issue  John,  his  successor ;  George  and  Charles, 
who  died  without  issue  ;  Eobert,  4th,  and  Philip,  5th  Baronet;  all 
of  whom  deceased  without  surviving  issue,  and  the  title  reverted  to 
a  junior  branch. 


UUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.       •  487 

They  derive  from  William  Castleton,  of  the  county  of  Lincoln, 
•who  was  father  of  another  William  Castleton,  who  was  of  Ditton,  in 
Surrey,  whose  eldest  son  was  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  and  was  created 
a  Baronet  hy  King  Charles  I.,  in  1641.  Sir  Edward  Castleton, 
who  resided  at  Lynn,  in  Norfolk,  died  a  bachelor,  in  1810 ;  he  never 
assumed  the  title,  heing  in  reduced  circumstances,  hut  latterly  lived 
on  a  small  patrimonial  inheritance.  He  was  the  last  lineal  de- 
scendant of  the  family. 

This  estate  does  not  appear  to  have  remained  in  the  above  family 
more  than  two  or  three  descents ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Mar- 
riots,  and  was  afterwards  purchased  hy  Samuel  Traverse,  Esq.,  whose 
trustees  held  the  same  in  1764.  The  several  manors  here  now  he- 
long  to  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  of  Oakley  Park,  who  is  also 
patron  of  the  living. 

The  Bokenham  family  were  interested  here :  Hugh  de  Boken- 
ham,  upon  his  marriage,  in  1324,  settled  the  advowson  of  Stuston 
and  Oakley,  in  Suffolk,  with  lands  and  homages  in  those  parishes, 
on  certain  trustees,  for  the  use  of  Alice  his  wife,  for  life.  He  de- 
ceased in  1339  ;  she  died  previously  :  and  the  above,  with  his  other 
possessions,  passed  to  Hugh  de  Bokenham,  their  eldest  son  and  heir. 

In  1504,  John  Herold,  parson  of  Stuston,  gave  two  bushels  of  wheat 
and  two  bushels  of  malt  to  Corpus  Christi  Guild,  and  the  same  to 
St.  Nicholas  Guild,  both  in  Diss  ;•  and  to  the  priest's  service,  in 
the  said  town,  6s.  8d.  This  was  to  the  priest  that  daily  said  Jesus 
Mass,  in  one  of  the  chapels  in  that  church. 

William  Broome,  LL.D.,  a  native  of  Cheshire,  and  a  poet  of 
some  celebrity,  was  rector  of  this  parish.  He  was  educated  on  the 
foundation  at  Eton,  and  was  afterwards  sent  to  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge,  and  proceeded  to  the  degree  of  B. A.  171 1 ;  M.A.  1716 ; 
and  LL.D.  Com.  Reg.  1728.  In  1713,  he  was  presented,  by  Lord 
Cornwallis,  to  the  rectory  of  this  parish  church ;  where  he  married 
a  wealthy  widow.  In  1720,  he  was  presented  by  his  lordship,  to 
whom  he  was  chaplain,  to  the  rectory  of  Oakley  :  in  1728,  he  was 
preferred  by  the  Crown,  to  the  rectory  of  Pulham,  in  Norfolk; 
which  he  at  first  held  united  with  Oakley,  and  afterwards  with  the 
vicarage  of  Eye,  to  which  he  was  presented  in  the  same  year,  1728. 
He  died  at  Bath,  Nov.  16th,  1745,  and  was  interred  in  the  Abbey 
Church.  "  Of  Broome,"  says  Dr.  Johnson,  "  though  it  cannot  be 
said  that  he  was  a  great  poet,  it  would  be  unjust  to  deny  that  he 
was  an  excellent  versifier ;  his  lines  are  smooth  and  sonorous,  and 


488  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

his  diction  is  select  and  elegant."  His  publications  are,  "  A  Mis- 
cellany of  Poems/'  1727,  8vo.  "An  Assize  and  Coronation  Ser- 
mons." He  translated  the  "Iliad"  into  prose,  in  conjunction  with 
Ozell  and  Oldisworth,  and  assisted  Pope  in  his  translation  of  the 
"  Odyssey." 

ARMS. — Boyland :  azure  ;  a  saltier,  engrailed,  or.  Castleton : 
azure ;  on  a  bend,  or,  three  snakes  of  the  field.  Eyre :  argent ; 
on  a  chevron,  sable,  three  quarter  foils,  or. 

CHARITIES. — Elizabeth  Bosworth,  by  deed  of  appointment,  dated 
in  1710,  settled  in  trustees,  a  close  of  four  acres,  in  this  parish, 
upon  trust,  to  permit  the  rector  of  Stuston  to  receive  the  rents  and 
profit  for  his  own  benefit,  subject  to  the  condition  of  his  performing 
duty  in  the  parish  church,  and  reading  prayers  and  preaching  on 
Good  Friday ;  and  also  paying  5s.  on  that  day,  and  5s.  on  Christ- 
mas-Eve, yearly,  among  such  poor  persons  as  should  be  most  con- 
stant in  their  attendance  at  church. 


THORNDON,  or  TORNDUNA. 

In  the  29th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Edmund  Plantagenet,  Earl  of 
Cornwall,  died  seized  of  this  manor ;  when  it  reverted  to  the  Crown, 
and  the  demesne  was  in  King  Edward  III.,  and  was  given  by  him, 
in  the  second  year  of  his  reign,  to  Robert  de  UfFord,  afterwards  Earl 
of  Suffolk ;  who  died  possessed  thereof  in  the  43rd  of  that  reign. 

William  de  Ufford,  his  son  and  heir,  held  lands  and  tenements  in 
this  parish,  and  at  Benhall,  as  parcel  of  the  Honour  of  Eye,  and 
£20,  received  annually  of  the  Sheriff  of  Suffolk.  He  deceased  in 
the  5th  of  King  Richard  II.  Isabel,  his  second  wife,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Beauchamp,  Earl  of  Warwick,  survived  him,  and  had  an 
assignment  of  this  manor,  with  some  others  in  this  county,  for  her 
dowry. 

The  above  King,  granted  to  John  de  Eltham,  his  brother,  Earl 
of  Cornwall,  the  Castle  and  manor  of  Eye,  in  tail  general,  to  which 
this  lordship  was  annexed ;  but  it  may  well  be  doubted  whether  he 
ever  enjoyed  this  estate  here,  because  he  deceased  before  the  said 
Isabel,  and  it  again  reverted  to  the  Crown. 

John  Jeggon,  Master  of  Bennett  College,  Cambridge,  and  Bishop 
of  Norwich,  died  in  1617,  seized  of  the  manor  of  Godrich's  Thorp 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  480 

(alias  Colston  Hall,  alias  Lampets),  in  this  parish,  and  many  es- 
tates elsewhere  in  this  county  ;  leaving  a  widow,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard  Vaughau,  Bishop  of  London,  who  re-married  to  Sir  Charles 
Cornwallis,  Knt.,  of  Beeston,  in  Norfolk.  Kobert,  his  son  and  heir, 
was  then  about  ten  years  of  age :  John,  his  2nd  son,  deceased  in 
1631 ;  and  Dorothy,  his  daughter,  was  wife  to  Robert  Gosnold, 
Esq.,  of  Ottley,  in  this  county. 

Hasly  Hall,  in  this  parish,  did  anciently  belong  to  the  Pretyman 

family. Pretyman,   Gent.,  sold  that,  and  Brame's  Hall,  in 

Wetheringsett,  and  removed  to  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  where  he  was 
a  resident  in  1655  ;  and  Thomas  Bishop,  Gent.,  who  was  the  pur- 
chaser of  Hasly  Hall,  made  it  his  place  of  residence.  Grace,  his 
daughter,  married,  1st.,  to  Henry  Marsham,  of  Stratton,  in  Norfolk, 
Gent.,  and  2nd.,  to  John  Cornwallis,  of  Wingfield  College.  Mary, 
her  sister,  married  Francis  Alpe,  of  Burston,  in  Norfolk,  Gent.,  and 
deceased  in  1687,  was  buried  at  Stratton  aforesaid. 

In  1764,  Rowland  Holt,  Esq.,  was  owner  of  the  chief  manor 
here;  which  had  jurisdiction  of  Court  Leet  within  the  parishes  of 
Occold,  Rishangles,  and  Aspal :  it  lately  belonged  to  Nathaniel 
Barnardiston,  Esq. 

ARMS. — Jeggon :  argent ;  two  chevronels,  gules :  on  a  canton, 
azure,  a  falcon  rising,  or. 

In  1458,  John  Falbek  was  buried  in  the  church  of  All- Saints,  at 
Thorndon,  in  Suffolk ;  and  by  his  will  left  a  sum  of  money  to  any 
faithful  pilgrim,  to  go  in  pilgrimage  to  the  good  vicar's  grave 
(Richard  de  Castre),  in  the  church  of  St.  Stephen,  the  proto-martyr, 
in  Norwich.  Some  members  of  the  Cullum  family  are  interred  in 
this  parish  church:  John  Cullum,  Gent.,  who  died  in  1667,  and 
William  Cullum,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1700. 

Hugh  Castleton,  S.T.B.,  vicar  and  rector  of  Seaming,  afterwards 
rector  of  Pulham,  in  Norfolk,  and  Thorndon,  in  Suffolk,  was  in- 
stalled in  1577,  a  Prebend  of  the  fifth  stall  in  Norwich  Cathedral. 

In  1814,  died  the  Rev.  Thomas  Howes,  rector  of  Mourningthorpe, 
in  Norfolk,  in  1756,  and  of  this  parish  in  1773.  He  was  a  pro- 
found scholar,  and  the  formidable  antagonist  (with  Bishop  Horsley), 
of  the  late  Dr.  Priestley,  in  the  Trinitarian  controversy.  In 
1784,  he  published  a  Sermon,  preached  at  Norwich,  at  the  primary 
visitation  of  Bishop  Bagot;  and  was  author  of  "Critical  Ob- 
servations on  Books,  ancient  and  modern,"  and  several  theological 
works.  Mr.  Howes  was  of  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge,  A.B.,  1746. 


490  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

He  held  the  patronage  of  this  living,  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Howes 
is  now  patron  and  rector  of  this  parish. 

CHARITIES.— The  town  estate  comprises  a  workhouse  and  yards, 
and  a  cottage  in  this  parish ;  and  several  parcels  of  land  in  the 
parishes  of  Thorndon,  Occold,  and  Wetheringsett,  containing  in 
the  whole  94A.  Zn.,  and  is  vested  in  trustees,  in  trust,  to  employ 
and  bestow  the  rents  and  profits  of  three  pieces  or  parcels  of  land, 
containing  by  admeasurement  28A.  IR.  17p.,  in  Thorndon,  called 
the  Town  Closes,  for  the  repairs  of  the  church  of  Thorndon,  and 
the  rent  of  all  other  the  lands  and  premises,  for  the  common  charge 
appertaining  to  the  town  of  Thorndon,  the  maintenance  of  the  poor, 
or  any  other  uses  that  the  major  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
should  think  proper.  These  lands  are  held  by  sundry  persons,  at 
rents  amounting  altogether  to  £147  18s.  6d.,  which  are  applied 
agreeable  to  the  trust.  The  annual  sum  of  40s.,  payable  out  of  the 
estate  of  Nathaniel  Barnardiston,  Esq.,  in  this  parish,  and  the  an- 
nuity of  Lee's  charity,  mentioned  in  the  parish  of  Occold,  are  laid 
out  in  the  purchase  of  bread,  and  given  to  the  poor. 


THORNHAM  MAGNA.—  TORNHAM,  or  THORHAM. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states  that  the  Prior  of  Ely 
held  a  lordship  in  this  parish.  A  branch  of  the  Bokenham  family, 
descendants  of  John  Bokenham,  Esq.,  second  son  of  George  Bo- 
kenham, Esq.,  by  Margaret,  his  second  wife,  daughter  and  heiress 
of  Francis  Heath,  of  Worlingham,  near  Mildenhall,  Esq.,  were  con- 
cerned here. 

In  1605,  Edmund  Bokenham,  Esq.,  of  Great  Thornham,  was 
High  Sheriff  of  this  county  ;  Sir  Henry  Bokenham,  Knt.,  of  this 
parish,  his  son,  served  the  same  office  in  1630  ;  and  Wiseman  Bo- 
kenham, Esq.,  his  son,  in  1649.  He  married  Grace,  daughter  of 
Paul  D'Ewes,  of  Stowlangtoft,  Esq.  She  deceased  in  1666,  and 
he  in  1670,  and  were  both  buried  here;  also  Walsingham  Boken- 
ham, their  second  son,  who  died  in  1667;  and  likewise  Dorothy 
and  Anne,  their  daughters  ;  the  former  died  in  1654,  the  latter  the 
following  year. 

A  branch  of  the  Killegrew  family  afterwards  settled  here.  Robert 
Killegrew,  of  Arwenick,  in  the  county  of  Cornwall,  Esq.,  son  of 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  491 

Thomas  and  Charlotte,  Page  of  Honour  to  King  Charles  II.,  Briga- 
dier General  of  his  Majesty's  Forces,  killed  in  Spain,  in  the  battle  of 
Almauza,  in  1707,  in  the  47th  year  of  his  age,  was  interested  here. 

The  last  representative  died  a  bachelor,  about  the  year  1759  ;  and 
left  his  property  to  his  godson,  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Tyrell ;  who  after- 
wards succeeded  to  the  family  estates  at  Gipping.  This  Mr.  Kille- 
grew  was  in  the  frequent  habit  of  making  wills,  and  every  will  ap- 
pointed a  different  heir ;  he  died  suddenly,  and  had  sent  a  few  days 
before  to  his  lawyer  to  make  another  will. 

This  estate  was  purchased  by  Sir  John  Major,  Bart. ;  and  is  now 
the  property  of  his  representative,  John  Henniker  Major,  4th  Baron 
Hennikcr,  who  resides  at  Major  House,  in  this  parish.* 

ARMS. — Bokenham:  argent;  a  lion  rampant,  gules ;  over  all,  a 
bendlet,  azure,  charged  with  tliree  bezants.  Killegrew :  argent ; 
an  eagle  displayed,  sable,  within  a  bordure  of  the  second  bezantee. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  was  given  by  John  Bennett,  in 
1434,  to  the  intent  that  certain  payments  should  be  made  for  su- 
perstitious uses,  and  that  the  residue  of  the  rents  should  be  applied 
for  payment  of  tenths  and  fifteenths,  when  they  should  occur,  and 
when  not,  for  the  adorning  of  the  church ;  is  vested  in  trustees, 
and  consists  of  the  site  of  a  tenement,  and  a  piece  of  land,  contain- 
ing by  estimation  four  acres,  or  thereabouts,  and  is  let  at  a  yearly 
rent  of  <£9,  which  is  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and 
other  expenses  of  the  churchwardens  office. — In  1559,  Austen  Gob- 
bett  devised  a  small  cottage  (not  now  standing)  and  a  piece  of  land, 
containing  by  estimation  one  acre  and  a  half;  the  rents  thereof  to 
be  bestowed  yearly  on  Christmas-day,  to  the  poor  of  this  parish : 
lets  at  £1  7s.  per  annum. 


THORNHAM  PARVA. 

The  lordship  and  advowson  of  this  parish  appears  to  have  passed 
for  ages  as  the  foregoing  parish  of  Great  Thornham,  through  the 
Bokenham  and  Killegrew  families,  to  that  of  Major.  Lord  Hen- 
niker is  the  present  lord  and  patron,  and  Sir  Augustus  Brydges 
Henniker,  Bart.,  is  the  present  incumbent  of  both  parishes. 

Paul  Bokenham,  Esq.,  son  of  Wiseman  Bokenham,  of  Great 
*  For  a  further  account  of  his  family,  see  Worlingworth,  in  Hoxne  hundred. 


492  HUNDRED  OF   HARTISMERE. 

Thornham,  Esq.,  married  Frances,  daughter  of  Robert  Bacon,  Esq., 
son  of  Sir  Robert  Bacon,  Bart.,  of  Redgrave  Hall ;  and  Guildford 
Bacon,  their  only  son,  deceased  in  the  year  1681,  and  was  interred 
in  this  parish  church. 

On  a  silver  flagon  belonging  to  this  parish,  are  the  arms  of  Kille- 
grew  quartering  Bokenham ;  from  wliich  it  would  seem  that  the 
Killegrews  inherited  this  estate  by  marriage  with  an  heiress  of  the 
Bokenham  family ;  perhaps  a  daughter  of  the  above  Paul  Boken- 
ham, Esq. 


THRANDESTON. — THRUNDESTUNA,  or  STRANDESTDNA. 

The  Armigers,  of  Ottley  and  Monewden,  were  formerly  concerned 
here;  and  in  or  about  1655,  John  Gray,  Gent.,  a  descendant  of  a 
very  ancient  and  respectable  family,  resided  at  Gossold  Hall,  in  this 
parish.  The  lordship  was  in  the  Cornwallis  family ;  the  Hall  now 
belongs  to  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart.,  who  is  lord  of  the  manors 
of  Ampners  and  Mavisons,  in  Thrandeston. 

In  1622,  Richard  Smith,  of  Thetford,  died  seized  of  the  manor 
of  Welholme's,  in  this  parish  ;  and  in  1734,  Thrandeston  Hall  was 
the  seat  of  Lord  Chief  Baron  Reynolds,  who  married  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Smith,  Esq.,  the  former  possessor.  Sheppard  Erere,  Esq., 
who  held  the  same  in  1764,  was  the  grandson  of  the  said  Thomas 
Smith. 

Roger  de  la  Bruere,  of  this  parish,  was  a  great  benefactor  to 
Hoxne  Priory,  by  the  gift  of  divers  lands,  rents,  and  services,  in 
Yaxley.  (See  that  parish.)  In  1332,  Robert  Balls,  of  Thrandeston, 
held  the  fifth  Prebend,  of  the  Provostship  at  the  College  of  the  Cha- 
pel in  the  Eields,  at  Norwich.  He  was  probably  rector  here. 

In  1537,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Cornwallis,  Esq.,  was  buried 
in  this  parish  church;  and  in  1543,  Thomas  Cornwallis,  priest,  rec- 
tor of  Thrandeston,  brother  of  Sir  John  Cornwallis,  Knt.,  was  col- 
lated by  him,  as  assignee  to  the  Bishop,  to  the  Archdeaconry  of 
Norwich.  He  deceased  in  1557. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  nine  acres  of  land,  with 
one  common  right  and  a  half,  which  lets  at  £18  a  year;  a  cottage 
on  the  Great  Green,  partly  let  for  £2  5s.  a  year,  and  partly  inha- 
bited by  a  pauper,  rent  free ;  a  cottage  and  hemp-land,  partly  let 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  493 

at  £l  10s.  a  year,  and  partly  occupied  rent  free;  a  cottage  and 
hemp-land,  containing  about  an  acre,  let  at  £4  10s.  per  annum. 
These  rents  are  applied  upon  the  repairs  and  ornaments  of  the 
parish  church,  and  for  the  general  benefit  of  the  parish,  in  easement 
of  the  rates. — In  pursuance  of  an  Inclosure  Act,  the  sum  of  £3  a 
year  is  paid  to  the  churchwardens,  by  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  Bart., 
out  of  an  allotment  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Brome ;  and  the  money 
is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  given  to  the  poor. — A  rent- charge  of 
£2  a  year,  used  to  be  paid  out  of  a  field,  called  Lady's  Field,  the 
property  of  the  Eight  Hon.  I.  Hookham  Frere ;  which  has  been 
discontinued  for  several  years. 


THWAITE. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  says,  this  lordship  was  vested 
in  the  Abbot  and  Convent  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury  ;  which  probably 
he  mistakes  for  Thwayt,  in  Norfolk  ;  a  principal  part  of  which  pa- 
rish belonged  to  their  manor  of  Loddon,  in  that  county,  and  is 
sometimes  designated  "  Thwayt  by  Loddon." 

Thwaite  Hall,  in  this  parish,  was  for  several  descents  the  resi- 
dence of  the  family  of  Wright  (alias  Kyve,  or  Eeeve).  Edward 
Wright  (alias  Eyve),  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Edward  Sin- 
gleton, of  Mendlesham ;  and  was  succeeded  by  John,  his  only  son ; 
who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Eokewood,  Esq.,  of  Cold- 
ham  Hall,  in  the  parish  of  Stanningfield,  in  this  county. 

George  Eeeve,  Esq.,  their  eldest  son  and  heir,  was  created  a  Ba- 
ronet, in  1662-3.  He  married  the  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Eobert 
Crane,  Esq.,  of  Chilton,  and  deceased  about  1679  ;  when  Sir  Eobert 
Eeeve,  their  son  and  heir  succeeded.  He  married  Margaret,  sister 
of  Sir  Eichard  Onslow,  Bart.,  of  West  Clandon,  in  Surrey ;  but 
died  without  issue  male,  in  1688,  when  the  title  became  extinct. 

Anne,  one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  the  said  Sir  Eobert 
Eeeve,  Bart.,  married,  first,  the  Eight  Hon.  Philip  Sydney,  fifth 
Earl  of  Leicester,  and  afterwards,  John  Sheppard,  Esq.,  of  Campsey 
Ash :  by  whom  he  had  no  issue.  By  her  first  husband,  the  Countess 
had  issue  two  children,  who  both  died  in  their  infancy.  She  de- 
ceased April  13,  1726  ;  and  was  interred  in  the  chancel  of  this  pa- 
rish church. 


494  HUNDEED  OF  HARTISMERE. 

Mr  Slieppard  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  the  county,  in 
1709,  and  again,  in  1714  ;  and  presented  to  this  rectory,  in  1722. 
He  married,  secondly,  Hannah  Wilmot ;  by  whom  likewise  he  had 
no  issue.  He  deceased  in  1747,  and  was  interred  in  Mendlesham 
church. 

The  following  year,  his  relict  married  Sir  Samuel  Pryme,  Knt., 
of  whom  Cole,  in  his  "  Athenss  Cantabrigiensis,"  thus  remarks  : — 

"  He  was  educated  at  St.  John's  College,  born  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  sen  of  a 
tallow  chandler.  He  flung  up  his  profession  in  disgust  that  Lord  Camden  was  put 
over  his  head,  and  married  the  widow  Sheppard,  of  Suffolk,  with  a  jointure  of 
,£1,800  a  year,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Wilmot,  of  Bunstead,  an  heiress  of  .£20,000. 
He  bought  the  estate  at  Whitton,  in  Twickenham,  Middlesex,  formerly  Sir  Godfrey 
Kneller's,  and  died  at  Whitton,  24th  Feb.  1776,  leaving  a  son,  formerly  of  St.  John's 
College,  to  whom  he  bequeathed  £J70,000." 

Sir  Samuel  never  proceeded  to  a  degree.  In  1736,  he  was  made 
a  Serjeant  at  Law;  and  in  1757,  King's  Serjeant.  In  1775,  he 
presented,  with  his  lady,  to  this  rectory.  Miss  Hawkins  in  the  first 
volume  of  her  "  Anecdotes,  Biographical  Sketches,  and  Memoirs," 
gives  an  interesting  characteristic  of  Sir  Samuel  and  his  lady  ;  the 
former  is  much  too  long  for  reprinting :  we  cannot,  however,  resist 
transcribing  the  latter. 

"  Lady  Pryme  I  must  sketch  :  there  are  portraits  remaining  of  her  which  show 
her  to  have  been  what  was  called  a  prodigiously  fine  woman.  Lady  Pryme's  re- 
mains were  on  a  grand  scale,  but  tempered  to  the  observer  by  every  evidence  of 
good  nature.  Her  first  husband  bad  been  a  Suffolk  gentleman  of  large  property ; 
and  I  have  heard  her  speak,  with  a  recollection  as  melancholy  as  her  buoyant  spirits 
could  admit,  of  the  time  when  she  inhabited  the  since  dilapidated  mansion  of 
Thwaite  Hall.  She  talked  with  a  true  relish  of  the  one  o'clock  dinners,  and  nine 
o'clock  suppers.  I  am  sorry  I  can  recollect  very  little  of  the  many  terms  in. 
which  she  was  wont  to  describe  the  soil  of  that  part  of  Suffolk  which  she  inhabited, 
and  which,  I  believe,  though  no  inhabitants  will  confess  themselves  to  LIVE  in  High 
Suffolk,  though  they  may  be  NEAR  it,  is  literally  in  that  disavowed  portion  of  a 
county,  the  beauties  of  which  are  not  sufficiently  known.  Speaking  of  her  eques- 
trian prowess,  she  described  the  clay  to  be  of  such  a  nature,  that  her  horse  suc- 
ceeding in  getting  his  foot  out  of  it  resembled  the  drawing  of  a  cork  out  of  a  bottle ; 
and  that  when  she  could  compel  him  into  a  trot,  it  made  the  very  swamp  roar." 

In  1792,  Lady  Pryme  again  presented  to  this  rectory  ;  by  which 
it  appears  this  estate  was  held  as  a  part  of  her  dower.  It  afterwards 
passed  to  a  branch  of  the  Sheppard  family,  seated  at  Wetheringsett, 
with  the  Campsey  Ash  estate. 

Brockford  Hall,  in  Thwaite,  was  the  estate  of  Sir  William  Soame, 
of  Little  Thurlow,  Knt. ;  who  was  lord  and  patron.  He  was  Sheriff 
of  the  county,  in  the  8th  of  Charles  I.  His  second  wife,  daughter 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  495 

and  co-heir  of  Ambrose  Coppinger,  D.D.,  re-married  to  Sir  Thomas 
Reeve,  Bart.,  of  this  parish. 

ARMS. — Reeve :  sable  ;  on  a  chevron,  between  three  fleurs-de-lis, 
as  many  shears'  heads,  azure. 

In  1792,  died  the  Rev.  Charles  Le  Grice;  rector  of  this  parish, 
and  Wickhamptou,  in  Norfolk,  and  Lecturer  of  St.  James,  in  St. 
Edmund's  Bury :  a  gentleman  of  eminent  genius,  and  extensive 
knowledge.  He  was  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge  ;  where  he 
proceeded  B.A.  in  17G6,  and  A.M.  in  17G9.  Mr.  Le  Grice  was 
interred  in  this  parish  church. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  in  this  parish,  a  cottage,  occupied  by 
paupers,  and  two  acres  of  land,  let  at  £8  10s.  a  year.  There  are 
no  writings  relating  to  this  property  ;  and  the  rent  of  the  laud  has 
always  been  carried  to  the  general  account  of  the  overseers  of  the 
poor. 


WESTHORP.— WESTORP,  or  WESTURP. 

At  the  period  of  the  Domesday  survey,  Robert  de  Blund  held  the 
lordship  of  this  parish ;  and  in  the  1st  of  King  Edward  I.,  Margery, 
daughter  of  Jeffrey  de  Anos,  lord  of  Hillington,  in  Norfolk,  and  re- 
lict of  Sir  Bartholomew  de  Creke,  held  half  a  fee  in  Westhorp.  She 
was  the  foundress  of  Flixton  Nunnery. 

In  the  18th  of  the  following  reign,  Alice,  widow  of  John  de  Thorp, 
had  the  King's  writ  directed  to  John  de  Blomville,  escheator  of  Nor- 
folk and  Suffolk,  for  dower  to  be  assigned  her,  out  of  certain  Knights' 
fees,  amongst  which  this  parish  is  named,  as  having  one  fee,  valued 
£8,  held  by  Adam  Coniers.  Sir  John  de  Thorp,  grand-father  of 
this  John,  married  Margaret,  sister  of  Sir  Bartholomew  de  Creke, 
and  his  co-heiress. 

In  the  46th  of  King  Edward  III.,  Sir  William  de  Elmham  (or 
Ellingham),  obtained  a  grant  of  a  market  and  fair  in  this  parish. 
He  was  one  of  the  Captains  sent  to  the  aid  of  the  Duke  of  Bretagne, 
in  1379 ;  and  held  this  lordship,  which  he  died  possessed  of,  in 
1403,  and  devised  the  same  to  Elizabeth  his  wife,  whom  he  ap- 
pointed his  executrix,  with  Sir  John  Ingoldesthorp,  Knt. ;  who 
presented  to  this  church,  in  1403,  and  dame  Elizabeth  herself,  in 
1408.  She  deceased  here,  in  1419,  and  was  buried  by  her  husband 


496  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

in  a  chapel  in  Bury  Abbey ;  and  left  legacies  to  dame  Margaret 
Kerdeston,  her  mother,  and  the  relations  of  Thomas  Catterton,  her 
first  husband. 

It  shortly  afterwards  became  the  inheritance  of  the  De  la  Pole 
family.  William  De  la  Pole,  successively  Earl,  Marquis,  and  Duke 
of  Suffolk,  who  was  murdered  in  1450,  died  seized  of  this  estate ; 
and  Edmund  De  la  Pole,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  his  grandson,  who  was 
beheaded  in  the  5th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  inherited  the  same.  The 
same  year,  a  petition  was  preferred  to  the  Crown,  by  Sir  Robert 
Drury,  Knt.,  and  others,  on  the  behalf  of  Margaret  De  la  Pole, 
Countess  of  Suffolk,  late  wife  of  the  said  Edmund ;  setting  forth 
that  she  had  a  right  for  life  in  the  manors  of  Westhorp,  Wyver- 
stone,  and  divers  other  lordships  in  this  county ;  and  they  were  as- 
signed her  accordingly ;  but  devolved  to  the  Crown  at  her  decease, 
in  or  about  1516.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Richard,  Lord  Scrope. 

Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  obtained  a  grant  of  this  for- 
feited estate ;  who,  with  his  royal  consort,  generally  resided  at  his 
noble  mansion  of  Westhorp  Hall ;  the  cloister,  the  chapel  (with  its 
painted  windows),  and  the  original  furniture  of  which,  were  kept  up 
till  about  half  a  century  ago ;  when  it  was  entirely  pulled  down, 
and  the  furniture  and  materials  dispersed. 

The  family  of  this  celebrated  personage  is  represented  to  be  of 
great  antiquity,  and  to  have  assumed  its  name  from  the  lordship  of 
Brandon,  in  this  county.  He  was  endowed  by  nature  with  eminent 
qualities,  both  of  body  and  mind ;  and  was  remarkable  for  the  dig- 
nity and  gracefulness  of  his  person,  and  his  robust  and  athletic 
constitution.  He  distinguished  himself  in  tilts  and  tournaments 
(the  favourite  exercise  of  Henry)  by  his  consummate  dexterity, 
gallantry,  and  valour ;  and  was  brought  up  with  that  Prince,  stu- 
died his  disposition,  and  exactly  conformed  to  it,  which  produced  a 
close  intimacy;  and  from  thenceforth  his  advancement  to  Royal 
favour  and  honours  was  rapid  and  extraordinary. 

His  first  creation  to  nobility  was  to  the  title  of  Viscount  Lisle,  in 
the  5th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  for  his  eminent  services  in  the  cam- 
paign against  France  ;  and  soon  after  he  was  elevated  to  the  dig- 
nity of  Duke  of  Suffolk.  On  the  dissolution  of  the  greater  Monas- 
teries, he  obtained  a  considerable  share  of  their  possessions.  In 
the  36th  of  the  above  reign,  he  was  appointed  General  of  the  Army 
that  was  sent  to  France,  and  took  Boulogne.  He  deceased  in  1545, 
and  was  interred  in  the  south  aisle  of  St.  George's  Chapel,  at 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  497 

Windsor  Castle.  During  that  capricious  reign,  he  preserved  his 
influence  to  the  last,  and  died,  in  the  estimation  of  his  King  and 
country,  with  .this  character  ;  that  although  a  better  courtier  than  a 
statesmen,  yet  he  used  his  Prince's  favours  with  so  much  modera- 
tion, as  not  to  disoblige  any  one. 

The  Duke  had  four  wives  ;  and  by  the  Princess  Mary,  the  2nd 
daughter  of  King  Henry  VII.,  and  widow  of  Louis  XII.,  King  of 
France,  his  3rd  wife,  he  had  a  son,  Henry,  created  Earl  of  Lincoln, 
1 7th  Henry  VIII.,  who  died  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father,  and  un- 
married ;  and  two  daughters,  of  which  Frances,  married,  first,  Henry 
Grey,  afterwards  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  secondly,  Adrian  Stokes ; 
and  Eleanor,  Henry,  Earl  of  Cumberland. 

By  his  fourth  wife,  Catherine,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of 
William,  Lord  Willoughby  de  Eresby,  he  left  two  sons ;  Henry, 
who  succeeded  him  in  his  honours  and  estate,  and  Charles ;  both 
of  them  in  their  minority.  These  youths  being  at  the  house  of  the 
Bishop  of  Lincoln,  at  Bugden,  in  Huntingdonshire,  were  seized 
with  the  sweating  sickness,  and  died  on  the  same  day,  July  14, 
1551,  without  heirs. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  this  lordship  belonged  to  the 
Barrow  family.  Thomas  Barrow,  of  Newton,  in  this  county,  was 
living  at  Cranworth,  in  Norfolk,  in  the  24th  of  that  reign  ;  as  was 
William,  his  son  and  heir,  in  the  31st;  and  had  lands  there,  and  in 
this  parish,  supposed  to  be  inherited  from  the  Esmond  (or  Ed- 
monds) family.  John  Edmonds,  by  his  testament,  dated  at  Wes- 
thorp,  in  1563,  devised  all  his  lands  at  Cranworth,  &c.,  to  Margaret 
his  wife ;  remainder  to  his  right  heirs. 

This  Thomas  Barrow  married  Mary,  one  of  the  daughters  and 
co-heirs  of  Henry  Bures,  Esq.,  and  deceased  in  1590;  and  William 
Barrow,  his  son  and  heir,  was  then  40  years  of  age.  He  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Wingfield,  Knt.,  by  whom  he  had 
no  issue  ;  but  by  his  second  wife,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Daundy,  Gent.,  of  Cretingham,  he  had  four  children ;  of  whom 
Maurice  and  Frances  survived  him.  He  deceased  in  1613,  and  is 
buried  in  this  parish  church.  Elizabeth  his  relict,  resided  here  till 
her  decease,  in  1634. 

This  estate  descended  to  the  said  Maurice  Barrow,  Esq.,  only 
surviving  son  of  the  above  William,  who  in  1655,  resided  at  Bar- 
ningham,  in  Blackbouru  hundred ;  and  who  devised  Westhorpe, 
Barningham,  Weston,  and  Raydon,  to  Maurice  Shelton,  Esq.,  only 


498  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

son  of  Henry,  only  surviving  son  of  Sir  Ralph  Shelton,  Knt.,  by 
Anne  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  the  above  Thomas  Barrow,  Esq. ; 
after  whose  decease  it  descended  to  Maurice  Shelton,  .Esq.,  his  son 
and  heir  ;  who  was  owner  thereof  in  the  year  1676. 

It  probably  did  not  continue  long  after  this  period  in  the  Shel- 
ton family,  but  passed  to  that  of  Taylor  ;  and  in  1764,  John  Reilly, 
Esq.,  was  owner  thereof.  It  was  lately  vested  in  Sir  Miles  Night- 
ingale, Knt. 

ARMS. — Elmham :  argent ;  a  fess,  gules,  between  three  eagles, 
displayed,  sable.  Brandon :  barry  of  ten,  argent  and  gules  ;  over 
all,  a  lion  rampant,  or ;  crowned  per  pale,  argent,  and  the  second. 
Barrow :  sable  ;  two  swords  in  saltier,  proper,  between  four  fleurs- 
de-lis,  or ;  in  a  bordure  garbony,  argent  and  gules. 

CHARITIES. — A  messuage  used  as  a  poor  house,  with  a  garden 
adjoining  :  a  piece  of  land,  called  the  Butt  Yard,  containing  about 
two  roods,  and  let  at  9s.  a  year  ;  land  in  Carr  Meadow,  in  Westhorp, 
%A.  2R.,  let  at  £3  a  year  ;  land  in  Walsham  le  Willows,  9A.  2R.,  let 
at  £18  per  annum.  The  rents  are  applied  with  the  church  and  poor 
rates. — A  rent  charge  of  10s.  a  year,  devised  by  Richard  Brown,  in 
1641 ;  to  be  equally  divided  among  the  poor  of  the  parish,  on  the 
anniversary  of  the  testator's  death,  charged  upon  a  cottage  and  land 
in  this  parish. 


WETIIERINGSETT.— WERINGHESETA,  or  WEDERINGASETA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  with  the  advowson,  also  Wethering- 
sett  Lodge,  and  Hall,  were  purchased  of  Lady  Stafford,  by  Sir  Ste- 
phen Soarne,  Knt.,  of  Little  Thuiiow,  in  this  county.  He  deceased 
in  1619 ;  when  Sir  William  Soame,  Knt.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir, 
succeeded  to  the  said  estate,  and  died  seized  thereof,  in  1655. 

Brames  Hall,  in  this  parish  (or  Braham's  Hall),  anciently  be- 
longed to  a  family  of  that  name.  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Bra- 
ham,  of  Wetheringsett,  Esq.,  married  Sir  Thomas  Blennerh asset, 
Knt.,  of  Frense,  in  Norfolk.  She  deceased  in  1561.  This  estate 
afterwards  belonged  to  a  branch  of  the  Pretyman  family.  John 
Pretyman  married  Mary,  sister  of  Sir  George  Sayer,  of  Bowser 

Hall,  near  Colchester ;  and  their  son  sold  the  same  to Ho- 

bard,  Esq.,  who  built  a  handsome  house  here  (began  by  Mr.  Pre- 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  499 

tyraan),  and  sold  it  to  Thomas  Leman,  Esq.,  one  of  the  nephews 
and  co-heirs  of  Sir  John  Leman,  Knt.,  Alderman  of  London.  He 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Smyth,  of  Parkfield,  in  Lax- 
field  ;  and  devised  his  estate  to  John  Leman,  Esq.,  his  only  son ; 
whose  estate,  in  1657,  was  worth  about  i'300  per  annum. 

The  family  of  Sheppard  were  also  interested  here.  John,  son  of 
Thomas  Sheppard,  Gent.,  of  this  parish,  and  Bridget  his  wife,  suc- 
ceeded his  uncle,  John  Sheppard,  Esq.,  in  his  estate  at  Campsey 
Ash,  upon  his  decease,  in  1747,  without  issue ;  and  removed  thither. 
He  died  unmarried,  in  1770,  and  was  interred  in  the  same  grave 
with  his  father,  and  near  that  of  his  mother ;  in  the  nave  of  this 
parish  church. 

The  Sicklemores  were  a  family  of  considerable  importance  du- 
ring the  eventful  period  of  the  civil  wars,  when  they  represented  this 
county,  and  the  borough  of  Ipswich,  in  Parliament.  John  Sickle- 
more,  Esq.,  who  represented  this  county,  in  1654,  left  an  only  son, 
John ;  who  resided  in  this  parish,  and  deceased  here,  in  1 778. 

John  Sicklemore,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  his  only  son,  succeeded : 
he  married  Anne,  third  daughter  of  Eobert  Cony,  Esq.,  of  Walpole 
Hall,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  had  issue  two  sons,  namely,  John  Cony  Sic- 
klemore, of  the  Royal  Navy,  and  George  William,  in  holy  orders ; 
who  are  the  present  representatives  of  this  ancient  family. 

ARMS. — Sicklemore :  sable  ;  three  sickles  interwoven.  Crest : 
a  wheat  sheaf. 

Richard  Hackluyt,  mentioned  by  Kirby  as  Prebendary  of  West- 
minster, and  rector  of  this  parish,  author  of  "  English  Voyages," 
&c.,  descended  of  an  ancient  family  at  Eyton,  in  Herefordshire,  and 
was  a  student  at  Christ  Church,  in  Oxford.  "  His  genius,"  Fuller 
observes,  "  inclined  him  to  the  study  of  history,  and  especially  to 
the  marine  part  thereof,  which  made  him  keep  constant  intelligence 
with  the  most  noted  seamen  of  Wapping,  until  the  day  of  his  death." 

"  He  set  forth/'  continues  that  author,  "  a  large  collection  of  the  English  sea 
voyages,  ancient,  middle,  modern ;  taken  partly  out  of  private  letters,  which  never 
were,  or  without  his  had  not  been,  printed  ;  partly  out  of  small  treatises,  printed, 
and  since  irrecoverably  lost,  had  not  his  providence  preserved  them.  In  a  word, 
many  of  such  useful  tracts  of  sea  adventures,  which  before  were  scattered  as  several 
ships,  Air.  Hackluit  hath  embodied  into  a  fleet,  divided  into  three  squadrons,  so 
many  several  volumes  :  a  work  of  great  honour  to  England.  He  died  in  the  begin- 
ning of  King  James's  reign,  leaving  a  fair  estate  to  an  unthrift  son,  who  embezzled 
it  on  this  token,  that  he  vaunted,  '  that  he  cheated  the  covetous  usurer,  who  had 
given  him  spick  and  span  new  money,  for  the  old  land  of  his  great  great  grand- 
father.' " 


500  HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 

In  1611,  Edmund  his  son,  was  a  student  in  Trinity  College, 
Cambridge.  Our  historian  deceased  November  23,  1616,  and  was 
buried  at  Westminster  Abbey.  His  countrymen,  out  of  respect  to 
his  labours,  named  a  promontory  on  the  coast  of  Greenland, 
"  Hackluyt's  Headland." 

In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1796,  p.  9,  is  an  engraved 
portrait,  from  an  original  picture  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  W.  Ste- 
venson, of  Norwich,  executed  by  George  Quinton ;  of  whom  Mr. 
Stevenson  gives  a  short  but  interesting  account.  In  the  same 
periodical,  for  the  year  1797,  p.  939,  the  subject  is  again  resumed, 
and  the  following  account  is  given  of  this  youthful  artist. 

"  At  Wetheringsett,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  at  an  early  age,  George  Quinton 
was  a  keeper  of  sheep,  that  his  daily  bread  honestly  might  be  earned.  Amidst  the 
scenes  of  nature,  the  works  of  nature  at  once  afforded  the  subject  to  employ  his  ge- 
nius, and  the  materials  which  he  had  not  wealth  to  purchase.  Plants  supplied  their 
juices,  and  surrounding  objects  glowed  in  colours  from  the  hands  of  the  shepherd's 
boy,  which  soon  received  a  common  pencil,  a  present  from  a  respectable  young 
clergyman.  This  first  acquisition,  which  doubtless  Quinton  valued  much,  was  soon 
followed  by  another  of  yet  more  importance  ;  the  tools  necessary  for  engraving, 
from  the  liberal  Mr.  Stevenson,  of  Norwich  ;  who  has  taken  much  pleasure  and 
much  pains,  with  no  small  expence,  in  bringing  this  young  man  into  a  situation 
where  he  might  be  noticed." 

He  goes  on  to  enumerate  other  productions  of  this  self-taught 
artist,  as  worthy  of  commendation,  and  wonderful  exertions,  in  one 
who  began  his  career  at  17,  and  was  then  not  more  than  19  years 
of  age.  The  writer  appears  warmly  interested  in  his  success  ;  in 
whom  we  recognize,  or  fancy  so,  that  able  advocate  and  liberal 
patron  of  native  genius,  the  late  Capel  Lofft,  Esq.  Of  the  future 
career  of  George  Quinton,  we  are  unacquainted. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands  comprise  43A.  2R.  14p.  of  land  in 
this  parish,  let  at  £65  a  year  ;  a  barn,  and  22  acres  of  land,  in  We- 
theringsett and  Brockford,  rent  £33  per  annum;  10  acres  of  land, 
formerly  called  Rook's,  let  at  £  1 5  a  year  ;  and  a  tenement,  called 
Eedding  Poke  Hall ;  another,  called  Mumford's ;  and  three  other 
tenements,  all  occupied  by  paupers,  or  poor  families.  The  rents 
are  applied  in  repairing  the  tenements;  in  payment  of  a  dole  of  £l 
10s.  a  year,  distributed  among  six  poor  widows  of  this  parish  and 
Brockford  ;  a  dole  of  £3  a  year,  amongst  poor  persons  of  the  same 
place,  with  a  preference  to  those  of  Brockford  ;  in  the  repairs  of  the 
parish  church  ;  and  in  supplying  fuel,  blankets,  and  pecuniary  aid 
to  the  poor. — The  Rev.  John  Shepherd,  by  will,  28th  November, 
1707,  gave  40s.  a  year  (which  is  charged  on  laud  called  the  Church 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMEKE.  501 

Pightle,  in  Wetheringsett),  to  be  expended  as  follows  :  viz.,  20s.  to 
buy  meat  and  drink  for  a  dinner  for  20  poor  persons,  of  this  parish 
and  Brockford,  on  Lady-day ;  5s.  for  making  ready  the  dinner ; 
2s.  6d.  to  the  parson,  for  reading  prayers  before  dinner ;  2s.  Gd.  for 
ringing  a  peal  after  dinner ;  and  1  Os.  to  be  distributed  among  the 
20  poor  persons  :  and  he  further  gave  50s.  a  year  (charged  on  an 
estate  at  Kelshall)  to  the  parson,  to  buy  six  two-penny  loaves,  weekly, 
for  six  poor  persons  of  Wetheringsett,  to  be  named  by  him  :  which 
annuities  are  paid  and  applied  according  to  the  donor's  intention. 


WICKHAM-SKEITH,  or  WICCHAM. 

In  the  20th  of  King  Henry  I.,  Robert,  the  third  son  of  Herde- 
brand  de  Sackville,  held  fourteen  manors  in  this  county,  of  the  ho- 
nour of  Eye,  by  the  service  of  one  Knight's  fee  ;  but  being  displeased 
at  the  nation's  rejection  of  Maud,  the  Empress,  and  placing  King 
Stephen  on  the  throne,  he  became  religious,  and  entered  the  Abbey 
of  St.  John,  at  Colchester. 

To  this  Monastery  he  granted  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  with 
the  advowson  of  the  church ;  and  Jordan  de  Sackville,  his  son  and 
heir,  confirmed  the  said  grant.  He  was  ancestor  of  the  Earls  and 
Dukes  of  Dorset.  Sir  Eobert  deceased  in  the  said  Abbey,  and  was 
buried  there. 

In  the  34th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  the  manor  of  Wickham  Hall, 
with  the  rectory  and  advowson  of  the  vicarage,  were  granted  to 
Richard  Freston,  Esq.,  as  parcel  of  the  possession  of  the  above  Mo- 
nastery ;  and  in  1764,  the  same  was  the  inheritance  of  Sir  Armine 
Wodehouse,  Bart.,  in  right  of  his  wife,  Letitia,  eldest  daughter  and 
co-heiress  of  Sir  Edmund  Bacon,  of  Garboldisham,  in  Norfolk, 
Bart. 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles,  and  many  years  after  his  death,  Ed- 
mund Harvey,  Esq.,  resided  in  this  parish,  at  his  house  called  the 
Abbey.  He  was  a  Magistrate  of  the  county;  and  in  1656,  was 
elected  to  represent  the  same  in  Parliament;  but  was  rejected  by 
Cromwell,  because  he  stoutly  stood  up  in  the  cause  of  the  county, 
in  opposing  certain  measures  favoured  by  his  party. 

Edward  Harvey,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married  Jane,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  George  le  Hunt,  Knt.,  of  Little  Bradley,  in  this  county, 


502  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMERE. 

by  Barbara  his  first  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Kalph  Shelton,  Knt.  She 
died  in  1 644  ;  and  left  issue  a  son,  Henry  Harvey ;  and  three  daugh- 
ters ;  which  Henry  deceased  in  1664.  Kirby  says,  Kichard  Canning, 
Esq.,  of  Ipswich,  bought  this  estate,  in  1716  ;  and  in  1764,  it  con- 
tinued in  his  heirs. 

A  branch  of  the  Braham  family  were  concerned  here ;  three  of 
whom  are  interred  in  this  parish  church ;  namely,  John  Braham, 
Gent.,  who  deceased  in  1678;  John  Braham,  his  son,  who  died  in 
1692  ;  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  who  died  in  1708.  Here  is  also  a 
memorial  for  Sir  John  Platt,  Knt.,  who  died  in  1705,  in  the  50th 
year  of  his  age. 

The  Rev.  John  Brand,  A.M.,  vicar  of  this  parish,  and  rector  of 
St.  George  in  the  borough  of  Southwark,  deceased  Dec.  23,  1808. 
He  was  a  man  eminent  for  his  talents  and  learning,  and  particularly 
distinguished  as  a  profound  mathematician.  Mr.  Brand  was  deeply 
read  in  theology  and  history,  and  there  were  few  topics  in  divinity 
and  politics,  that  have  of  late  years  excited  the  public  attention,  on 
which  his  pen  was  not  ably  employed. 

ARMS. — Harvey :  or ;  fretee,  sable,  platee.  Crest :  a  demi  lion 
rampant,  proper ;  holding  in  his  paws  a  plate. 

CHARITIES. — Two  cottages,  occupied  by  poor  persons,  rent  free  : 
a  house  with  out-buildings,  and  15A.  OR.  39p.  of  land,  in  the  parish 
of  Brockford,  let  at  £20  a  year. — It  is  under  the  management  of 
the  churchwardens,  and  the  rents  are  applied  to  the  ordinary  pur- 
poses of  a  church  rate,  and  poor's  rate,  agreeable  to  custom.  There 
are  no  writings  concerning  the  property. 


WORTHAM.— WORDHAM,  or  WORTHAM. 

This  lordship  belonged  to  Bury  Abbey,  when  Sampson  de  To- 
tington  was  made  Abbot,  in  1182  ;  who  enfeoffed  Osbert  de  Wache- 
sham  in  the  half  of  this  parish,  with  Maiiingford,  in  Norfolk,  which 
was  to  be  held  of  him  and  Ms  heirs,  at  one  fee ;  he  having  to  pay 
20s.  to  every  scutage,  and  castle  guard  to  Norwich  Castle:  two 
parts  of  it  were  laid  at  Marlingford,  and  a  third  here. 

In  1247,  Giles,  son  of  Giles,  grandson  of  Osbert  de  Wachesham, 
had  a  charter  of  free  warren  in  this  manor ;  he  it  was  of  whom  Hugh 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  503 

de  Creeping  held  a  moiety  of  the  manor  of  Depham,  in  Norfolk,  as 
of  his  manor  of  Wortham,  in  Suffolk,  in  1272;  the  time  of  Sir 
Giles  de  Wachesham,  the  father's  death. 

Giles,  the  son,  and  Joan  his  wife,  inherited  :  he  was  Sheriff  of 
Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in  1290,  and  died  in  1294 ;  leaving  Giles  (or 
Gerard)  de  Wachesham,  his  son  and  heir;  who  in  1300,  settled 
this  lordship  upon  himself  for  life  ;  and  then  on  Giles  his  son,  and 
Amy  his  wife,  and  their  heirs. 

In  1345,  Sir  Robert  de  Wachesham  was  lord  and  patron  ;  and  in 
1358,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Sir  Eobert,  and  Joan  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Simon  de  Hetherset,  Ralph  de  Dunton,  and  others ; 
whereby  this  lordship,  and  a  moiety  of  the  advowson,  were  settled 
on  themselves,  and  their  issue  ;  remainder  to  John  de  Wachesham, 
and  "Margery  his  wife.  This  Sir  Robert  de  Wachesham,  left  an 
only  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Sir  Thomas  Gerbridge  ;  and 
he  inherited  in  her  right. 

The  advowson  of  this  parish  church,  with  the  manor,  was  an- 
ciently held  in  moieties ;  and  the  above  Sir  Giles  de  Wachesham, 
who  deceased  in  1278,  granted  to  William  de  Hereford,  rector  of  a 
mediety  of  the  church  of  Wortham,  Richard,  son  of  Hervy  Ingald, 
with  all  his  family,  and  all  his  chattels,  for  two  marks  ;  and  the  said 
William,  who  had  purchased  him,  made  him  and  all  his  descendants 
free,  on  condition  that  he  and  his  successors  for  ever,  should  pay  a 
penny  a  year  to  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  at  Wortham,  upon  the  day 
of  the  nativity  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  at  the  high  altar,  to  find  a  light 
at  that  altar ;  and  to  the  said  William,  and  his  successors,  three 
roots  or  races  of  ginger,  every  Michaelmas-day.* 

The  manor  called  Wortham  Hall,  and  which  Kirby  says  was 

vested  in  Edmund  Jenney,  Esq.,  was  since  purchased  by Hyde, 

Esq.,  of  Lexham  Hall ;  who  afterwards  sold  the  same  to  John  Cop- 
ping, Gent.,  an  attorney  at  Harleston,  in  Norfolk.  These  moieties 
appear  to  be  now  distinguished  as  Wortham,  Estgate  St.  Mary,  and 
Wortham  Everard.  The  Rev.  Richard  Cobbold  is  the  present  rec- 
tor, on  his  own  presentation. 

There  is  an  estate  in  this  parish  belonging  to  that  of  South  Lop- 
ham,  in  Norfolk,  given  by  one  Purdy,  for  the  repairs  of  their  parish 
church,  and  the  overplus  of  the  rent  to  other  charitable  uses.  This 

*  Villains  were  held  in  fee,  and  granted  as  estates  now  are  ;  and  the  fee  in  them, 
was  so  far  a  freehold,  that  the  wife  was  obliged  to  join  with  her  husband  in  the  ma- 
numission deed,  by  reason  of  her  thirds,  or  right  of  dower. 


504  HUNDRED   OF  HARTISMEKE. 

Tardy  is  supposed  to  be  a  native  of  Wortham ;  and  the  principal 
part  of  the  estate  so  bequeathed,  is  freehold  property. 

Under  an  altar  tomb  on  the  south  side  of  St.  Gregory's  church- 
yard, in  Norwich,  is  interred  Henry  Bokenham,  M.D.,  eldest  son  of 
Keginald  Bokenham,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  with  Elizabeth  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Francis  Nicholson,  of  Ipswich,  Esq.  She  deceased  in 
1666,  he  in  1696,  aged  80  years. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  copyhold  land  in  this  parish,  containing 
four  acres,  or  thereabouts,  devised  for  the  poor  by  Thomas  Church, 
in  the  22nd  of  King  James  I.,  let  at  £7  a  year ;  and  the  rent  after 
a  deduction  of  7s.  6d.  a  year  for  quit-rent  and  land-tax,  is  laid  out 
in  bread,  which  is  distributed  among  poor  persons. 


WYVEKSTON,  or  WIVERTHESTUNA. 

At  the  time  of  the  Norman  Conquest,  Richard  Hovell  held  of 
Baldwin,  Abbot  of  Bury,  a  lordship  in  this  parish ;  and  five  free- 
men held  lands  under  the  said  Richard  here :  at  about  the  same 
period,  Gilbert  de  Blount,  the  founder  of  Ixworth  Priory,  held 
another  lordship  in  Wyverstone ;  and  in  the  28th  of  King  Henry 
VI.,  William  De  la  Pole,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  died  seized  of  the  same. 

It  subsequently  became  vested  in  a  branch  of  the  Barnardiston 
family,  from  whom  it  passed  to  John  Ewer,  successively  Bishop  of 
Landaff  and  Bangor,  by  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth,  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  Thomas  Barnardiston,  Esq.  He  was  translated  to  the 
See  of  Bangor,  in  1768  ;  and  sold  this  estate  soon  after,  to  John 
Moseley,  Esq.,  of  Richmond,  in  Surrey. 

He  was  second  son  of  Thomas  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  Owsden,  in  this 
county,  by  Judith  Ms  wife,  sister  of  John  Cory,  Esq.,  of  the  city  of 
London;  and  deceased  in  1775,  without  issue;  when  the  estate, 
consisting  of  the  manor  and  advowson,  with  the  park  farm,  passed 
to  the  issue  of  his  elder  brother,  Thomas  ;  whose  lineal  descendant 
John  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  Great  Glemham,  in  this  county,  lately  in- 
herited the  same. 

In  1841,  the  advowson  of  this  parish  church  was  purchased  by 
E.  H.  Janson,  Esq.,  by  public  auction ;  and  the  park  farm  was 
bought  by  Henry  James  Oakes,  Esq.,  at  the  same  time.  The  manor 
of  Wyverstone,  extending  over  the  entire  parish,  about  1,300  acres, 


HUNDRED  OF  IIAIITISMERE.  »r)0i") 

was  bought  in ;    but  whether  since  disposed  of  we  are  not  in- 
formed. 

The  Rev.  James  Ware  is  the  present  incumbent,  on  the  presenta- 
tion of  John  Moseley,  Esq.  Crooksel  House,  in  this  parish,  is  an 
estate  belonging  to  Francis  Upjohn,  of  Gorleston. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  property  consists  of  the  town  house  and 
garden,  and  a  new-built  house  adjoining ;  a  cottage  in  two  tene- 
ments, and  a  garden,  of  IR.  30p.,  each  occupied  by  poor  persons, 
rent  free :  a  house,  buildings,  and  25  acres  of  land,  let  at  £30  a 
year  :  the  butt-yard,  25  rods,  rent  10s. :  cottage  and  premises,  and 
4A.  SR.  of  land,  let  at  £13  per  annum.  The  rents  are  applied, 
after  providing  for  necessary  repairs,  in  the  reparation  of  the  church, 
and  for  other  general  purposes  of  the  parish. 


YAXLEY,  or  JAKESLE. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  demesne  of  this  parish  ap- 
pears to  have  been  in  the  Crown.  Alexander,  son  of  John  Gode, 
of  Jakesle,  and  Henry  de  Hoga,  and  Beatrice  his  wife,  of  the  same 
parish,  are  mentioned  as  early  benefactors  to  the  Priory,  or  Cell,  at 
Hoxne. 

Roger  De  la  Bruere,  of  Thrandeston,  released  to  the  same  house, 
14s.  9d.  rent,  two  cocks,  and  six  hens,  which  the  Prior  and  Convent 
used  to  pay  to  him  for  their  lands  there ;  and  gave  them  divers 
villains,  and  their  rents  and  services,  which  constituted  their  manor 
in  Yaxley ;  which  they  were  to  hold  by  the  payment  of  8s.  a  year 
to  the  Bishop,  as  parson  of  Hoxne,  and  one  penny  a  year  to  his 
heirs,  as  superior  lords  of  the  fee. 

Thomas,  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Crowe,  Knt.,  added  to  it ;  as  did 
John  le  May,  Bartholomew  de  Pertrede,  of  Melles,  Thomas  de 
Hoxne,  priest,  Thomas  Pynel,  of  Sutwode,  priest,  and  Hugh  his 
brother,  Agnes,  daughter  of  Roger  de  Hoxne,  Richard  Schoche,  and 
others.  This  manor  with  the  Chapel  of  Ringshall,  which  was  set- 
tled on  it  by  the  Prior  of  Norwich,  in  1294,  were  the  chief  of  its 
revenues. 

The  Priors  of  this  Cell  proved  the  wills  of  all  the  tenants  of  their 
manor  of  Yaxley.  In  1540,  it  was  granted,  with  their  other  reve- 
nues, to  Sir  Richard  Gresham,  Knt.,  and  it  passed  as  the  site  of  the 


500  HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE. 

Priory.  The  Almoner  of  the  Cathedral  Priory  at  Norwich,  re- 
ceived a  temporal  rent  of  13s.  5|-d.  from  this  parish,  hy  virtue  of 
his  office. 

The  family  of  Yaxlee  were  formerly  seated  in  this  parish ;  the 
earliest  was  a  John  Yaxlee  (or  Harbord),  who  married  a  daughter  of 
Eichard  Blogget,  of  Yaxley  ;  who  had  Richard  Harbord  (alias  Yax- 
lee), whose  first  wife  was  Eose  Gladwell,  and  his  second,  Alice  Ly- 
ard,  living  in  1474.  John,  his  eldest  son,  Serjeant  at  Law,  resided 
at  the  adjoining  parish  of  Mellis  ;  and  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Eichard  Brome,  Esq.  She  deceased  in  1500,  he  in  1505;  and 
were  both  interred  in  this  parish  church. 

Eichard,  his  younger  brother,  continued  to  reside  here.  He 
married  the  daughter  and  heir  of  Edmund  Stratton,  Esq.,  by  Mar- 
garet, eldest  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Thomas  Mosells,  Esq. ;  by 
whom  he  inherited  a  moiety  of  the  manor  of  Visdelieu,  at  Shelf- 
hanger,  in  Norfolk.  They  had  issue  two  sons :  Thomas  Yaxlee, 
clerk,  the  eldest ;  and  Eichard  Yaxlee,  who  married  Anne,  daugh- 
ter of  Eoger  Austin,  of  Earl  Soli  am,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue ; 
and  two  daughters :  Anne,  the  eldest,  married  Philip  Bedingfield, 
Esq. ;  and  Alice,  her  sister,  married  Philip  Smith,  Esq.  (The  de- 
scent of  the  elder  branch  is  given  in  the  parish  of  Mellis). 

Thomas  Sherman,  Esq.,  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  time  of  King 
James  and  King  Charles,  was  the  owner  of  a  good  estate  in  this  pa- 
rish, which  he  sold  prior  to  his  decease.  He  was  buried  in  this 
parish  church,  with  Barbara  his  wife,  daughter  of  William  Whit- 
choft;  also  Eychard  Floyde,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1507. 

The  Eev.  John  Thurston  Mott,  of  Barningham,  in  Norfolk,  is 

° 

the  present  owner  of  the  manor  and  patron  of  the  living.  The  es- 
tate  called  Buckshall,  in  this  parish,  belongs  to  Sir  Woodbine  Parish, 
of  Gloucester  Place,  Portman-square,  London. 

The  interior  of  this  parish  church  is  very  handsome,  the  pews 
and  open  benches  being  of  varnished  oak,  ornamented  with  carved 
work,  as  are  the  pulpit  and  reading  desk ;  the  former  being  one  of 
the  handsomest  this  county  can  produce.  It  also  contains  a  very 
elegantly  carved  oak  screen.  The  roof  is  divided  into  separate 
compartments,  each  highly  ornamented  at  the  angles,  and  having  a 
triple  cornice.  There  are  several  memorials  to  the  Yaxlee  family. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  here  consists  of  the  following  par- 
ticulars :  Guildhall,  and  cottages  in  this  parish,  occupied  by  poor 
persons,  rent  free ;  cottage,  and  2R.  3  OP.  of  land,  in  Mellis,  rent 


HUNDRED  OF  HARTISMERE.  507 

£5  a  year;  5A.  3R.  8Gp.  of  land  in  the  same  parish,  let  at  £6  14s. 
per  annum;  GA.  3u.  25p.  of  land,  in  Thrandeston,  rent  £8  10s.  a 
year;  IA.  OR.  10p.  of  land  in  Little  Thornham,  let  at  £l  4s.  a 
year;  6A.  SR.  19p.  of  land  in  Yaxley,  rent  <£10  11s.  lOd. ;  and  IA. 
IR.  36p.  of  land  in  ditto,  let  at  £3  18s.  8d.  per  annum.  This  es- 
tate is  appropriated  to  the  reparation  of  the  parish  church,  and  its 
ornaments ;  payment  of  constables'  disbursements,  repairs,  &c. ; 
and  the  surplus,  when  any  remains,  towards  clothing  the  poor  chil- 
dren of  the  inhabitants,  and  for  binding  them  out  apprentices.  The 
yearly  payments  are  8s.  for  the  poor,  given  by  John  Koe,  out  of  a 
cottage  and  4A.  of  land  in  this  parish,  belonging  to  Mr.  Edward 
Welton :  a  like  sum  given  by  John  Clarke,  out  of  the  same  pro- 
perty :  the  sum  of  £5,  subject  to  a  deduction  of  £l  for  land-tax, 
from  the  Yaxley  Hall  estate,  the  property  of  F.  G.  Y.  Leeke,  Esq., 
donor  unknown.  For  repairing  highways,  £l  13  4d.,  from  the 
same  estate. 


of 


This  Hundred  is  bounded  an  the  West  and  South,  by  Bosmere 
and  Clay  don  Hundred  ;  on  the  North,  by  that  of  Hartismere ; 
and  on  the  East,  by  Loes. 

It  contains  only  Jive  Parishes;  mamely: — 

ASHFIELD,  with  its  Hamlet  of  THORP, 

DEBENHAM, 

FRAMSDEN,  PETTAUGH, 

And  WINSTON. 

The  fee  of  this  Hundred  is  in  the  Crown,  and  the  government 
in  the  Sheriff",  and  his  officers. 


HUNDRED  OF  THREDLING. 


ASHFIELD  ALL- SAINTS,  or  ASFELDA. 

This  manor  and  advowson  was  granted,  as  part  of  the  possession 
of  Butley  Priory,  to  Francis  Framlingham,  as  in  Debenham  ;  and 
has  since  passed  precisely  as  that  lordship  did. 


DEBENHAM,  or  DEPBENHAM. 

Oswi,  a  noble  Saxon,  and  Leofleda  his  wife,  gave,  on  the  admission 
of  Alwyn,  their  son,  into  the  Monastery  at  Ely,  where  he  became 
a  monk  (and  in  1021,  was  Bishop  of  Elmham,  in  Norfolk),  a  lord- 
ship in  this  parish,  Woodbridge,  and  Brightwell,  in  this  county, 
with  others  in  Cambridgeshire,  and  Norfolk. 

This  Leofleda,  was  daughter  of  Brithnod,  Duke  and  Alderman 
of  the  East  Angles,  slain  at  the  battle  of  Maldon,  in  Essex,  in  1093, 
by  the  Danes. 

In  the  32nd  of  King  Edward  I.,  Walter  de  Langton,  Bishop  of 
Litchfield  and  Coventry,  gave  to  Thomas  de  Grancourt,  and  Agnes 
his  wife,  a  lordship  here,  and  in  Aspal,  in  this  county ;  who  granted 
property  in  Norfolk,  to  the  Bishop,  in  exchange. 

The  ancestors  of  Francis  Framlingham,  to  whom  King  Henry 
VIII.  granted  the  manor,  impropriation,  and  advowson  of  this  vi- 
carage, in  1542,  became  early  seated  in  this  parish.  Weever  names 
a  John  Framlingham,  who  died  in  1425,  and  was  buried  in  this 
church,  with  Margaret  Ms  wife ;  and  Leland  gives  the  following  ac- 
count of  this  family  : — 

"  One  Henry  Framelingham,  communely  caullid  by  Office  Henry  Surveyar,  was 
a  stout  Felow  and  had  faire  Lande  in  and  about  Framelingham  Tonne. 

"  And  after  cam  one  Jenkin  Framelingham,  and  purchasid  a  faire  Lordship  and 
Manor  Place  about  Debenham  Market  a  Mile  from  Some  in  Southfolk.  This  Ma- 
nor  Place  stondeth  on  a  praty  Hille  and  a  Wood  aboute  it  a  litle  withoute  Deben- 
bam  Market  Toune,  and  is  caullid  Crowis  Haulle,  for  one  Crow  a  Gentilman  wa» 
owner  of  it,  or  ever  Jenkin  Framelingham  bought  it.  This  Jenkin  lyith  yu  Deben- 


512  HUNDRED  OF  THREDLING. 

ham  Chircbe  :  and  sins  the  Framelinghams  hath  bene  Lordes  of  the  Toune  of  De- 
benbam.  The  Framelinghams  of  late  exchaunged  with  the  Lordes  of  Northfolk  and 
Wingefield  for  their  Landes  in  Framelingham  self,  and  in  sum  other  partes  very  nere 
to  it.  Ther  be  no  mo  of  the  Framelinghams  that  be  Men  of  Landes  there  but  the 
onely  Framelingham  of  Debenham.'' 

From  the  Framlinghams  it  passed  to  the  family  of  Gawdy,  hy 
the  marriage  of  Anne,  sole  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Charles 
Framlingham,  Knt.,  and  Dorothy  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Clement 
Heigham,  Knt.,  with  Sir  Bassinghourne  Gawdy,  of  West  Herling, 
in  Norfolk,  Knt. 

This  lady  brought  the  whole  estate  of  the  Framlinghams  ;  namely, 
the  manors  of  Crowshall,  Scotneys,  Harborow,  and  Debenham,  with 
the  advowson ;  Mandevill's  manor,  in  Sternfield ;  Abbots  Hall,  in 
Pettaugh,  and  Ashfield  manor  and  advowson.  Sir  Charles,  her  fa- 
ther, survived  her,  and  died  1594;  leaving  Framlingham  Gawdy, 
Esq.,  his  grandson,  his  sole  heir. 

Charles,  second  son  of  the  above  Sir  Bassingbourne  Gawdy,  by 
Anne  his  first  wife,  inherited  the  Debenham  estate,  by  the  gift  of 
his  grand-father,  and  was  afterwards  Knighted :  he  was  succeeded 
by  Charles,  his  son  and  heir ;  to  whose  memory  we  find  the  follow- 
ing curious  inscription,  copied  from  a  brass  plate  taken  from  a 
vault  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church : — 

"  This  is  the  body  of  Charles  Gawdy,  Knt.,  sonne  and  heire  to  Charles  Gawdy 
of  Croweshall,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  Knt.,  who  in  his  life  time  was  blessed  in 
the  happie  choice  of  a  most  vertuous  wife,  by  name  Veare  Cooke,  of  Gvidyhall,  in 
the  county  of  Essex. — A  lady,  to  say  noe  more,  severely  modest,  and  of  a  most  pure 
and  unblemished  conjugal  affection  :  by  her  he  left  a  hopeful  issue,  five  sonnes  and 
one  daughter.  He  lived  and  died  a  zealous  professer  of  the  Reformed  Religion, 
settled  and  established  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  by  Act  of  Parliament.  A 
lover  of  Monarchy,  and  of  an  undaunted  loyalty  to  his  sovereign,  Charles  the  1st; 
which  he  frequently  manifested,  by  espousing  his  cause  and  quarrel  to  the  uttermost 
hazard  of  his  life  and  fortune. 

"  Having  sojourned  heere  the  space  of  38  yeares,  or  thereabout,  the  10th  of  No- 
rember,  1650,  being  the  Lord's  day,  about  twelve  at  night,  he  departed,  I  cannot 
say  he  died  ;  for  by  a  voluntary,  chearful,  and  devout  resignation  of  himselfe  into 
the  hands  of  the  Almighty  (to  the  wonder  aud  astonishment  of  the  beholders) 
though  he  prevented  not  the  stroake,  yet  assuredly  he  felt  not  the  bitterness  of 
death." 

Sir  Charles  Gawdy,  of  Crowshall,  in  Debenham,  Knt.,  on  Oct. 
6,  1646,  was  fined  as  a  delinquent,  at  Goldsmith's  Hall,  in  the  sum 
of  £1789  ;  but  the  commissioners  for  composition  with  such,  pur- 
chased for  increase  of  maintenance  to  the  ministers  of  Ashfield, 
Thorp,  Debenham,  and  Kenton,  to  settle  the  rectory  and  tithes. 


HUNDRED  OF   THREDLING.  513 

valued  at  £150  per  annum ;  for  which  was  deducted  £1260,  which 
reduced  the  fine  to  £529. 

Charles  Gawdy,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  successor,  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  George  Fielding,  Earl  of  Desmond ;  and  had  issue. 
He  was  created  a  Baronet,  in  1661,  wliich  Baronetcy  expired  in  the 
second  or  third  descent  from  him  ;  and  this  estate  hecame  the  pro- 
perty of  John  Pitt,  Esq.,  hy  purchase.  William  Pitt,  1st  Earl  of 
Chatham,  sold  it  to  James  Bridges,  Esq.,  of  Great  Bealings,  in  this 
county. 

In  1790,  Dame  Anne  Henniker,  and  the  Dutchess  Dowager  of 
Chandos,  presented  to  this  living.  These  ladies  were  the  daugh- 
ters and  co-heirs  of  Sir  John  Major,  of  Worlingworth  Hall,  in  this 
county,  Bart.  The  former  was  the  relict  of  Sir  John  Henniker, 
the  1st  Baronet  of  that  house  ;  and  the  latter,  of  Henry  Bridges, 
3rd  Duke  of  Chandos. 

John  Henniker  Major,  4th  Baron  Henniker,  of  that  family,  and 
Knight  of  the  Shire  for  East  Suffolk,  is  the  present  owner  of  this 
lordship,  with  the  contiguous  manors  of  Scotnets,  and  Bludshall, 
with  Butley,  and  Crowshall. 

Sackville's,  one  of  the  manors  in  Dehenham,  which  the  corpora- 
tion of  Ipswich  hold  by  the  will  of  Henry  Tooley,  was  in  the  time 
of  King  Edward  III.,  vested  in  the  Sackvilles,  ancestors  of  the 
Earls  and  Dukes  of  Dorset.  John,  second  son  of  Sir  Andrew  Sack- 
ville,  Knt.,  was  seated  at  Debenham  Sackville  about  that  reign ; 
and  married  Agnes,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Hoo,  Knt.,  but  died 
without  issue,  when  Thomas,  his  youngest  brother,  inherited  this 
property. 

Bludshall  (or  Bloudsall)  in  this  town,  was  the  estate  and  resi- 
dence of  the  Cheke  family  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VI.,  if  not 
earlier.  John  Cheke,  Gent.,  died  in  1440,  and  was  buried  in  De- 
benham church  :  whose  descent  here  follows  : — 

John  Cbeke,  of  Bloudsall. 

I -1—  -t 

John  Cheke,  who  died  =f  Elizabeth,  dau.  of        Ralph  Cheke,  of=f  Margery,  dang,  of 
in  1490.  John  Bacon,  of  Debenham.        I    Robt.  Deladowne, 

Baconsthorpe.  [    Esq.,  of  Essex. 

Margaret =Robert  Cheke,  of  BloudsalI=MargaretFitz-    John  Cheke,  of  Debenham. 

Tilney.l — l 1     william. 

John  Cheke,  of=Cecily,  dau.of  John         Mary  Cheke. 
Bloudsall.       |    Southwell,  of  Barbara. 
John  Cbeke,  of  Bloudsall. 

Elizabeth,  the  relict  of  John  Cheke,  re-married  to  William  Berde- 
well,  jun.,  of  West  Herling,  in  Norfolk.  She  deceased  in  1505, 


514  HUNDRED  OF  THREDLING. 

and  was  buried  by  her  first  husband,  in  Debenham  church.  Mar- 
gery, the  widow  of  Ealph  Cheke,  re-married  to  John  Hervey ;  who 
were  both  interred  in  the  same  church. 

In  this  parish  was  formerly  seated  the  family  of  Downs. 

ARMS. — Downs :  argent ;  three  pellets,  wavy ;  gules.  Fram- 
lingham :  argent ;  a  fess,  gules,  between  three  Cornish  crows,  pro- 
per. Cheke  :  argent ;  a  cock,  gules. 

Gostelens  Hall,  in  Debenham,  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Cheke 
family  in  the  time  of  Queen  Mary  and  Queen  Elizabeth ;  it  has 
since  been  the  property  of  Breton,  of  Hadleigh.  Lawrence  Breton, 

rector  of  Hitcham,  died  without  issue,  and  devised  it  to 

Oooday,  Gent.  It  now  belongs  to  Charles  Chevalier,  Esq.,  of  As- 
pal  Hall. 

Debenham  church*  is  a  substantial  and  handsome  structure  ;  the 
singularity  of  which  is  in  the  porch,  on  the  western  side  of  the  steeple, 
and  is  another  instance  perhaps  of  the  building  called  a  "  Galilee. "f 

In  the  Domesday  survey  two  churches  are  mentioned  in  this 
town,  thus  : — "  In  Debenham  two  parts  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary, 
of  20  acres,  Eobert  (i.e.  Kobert  Malet)  has  to  maintain,  and  the 
fourth  part  of  the  church  of  St.  Andrew,  and  the  fourth  part  of  the 
lands."  The  latter  church  is  not  noticed  in  Pope  Nicholas  Taxa- 
tion, in  1291. 

CHARITIES. — (For  Garney's  charity,  see  parish  of  Kenton). — Sir 
Eobert  Hitcham's  charity  was  founded  in  or  about  the  year  1648, 
for  a  free  school,  and  the  relief  of  the  poor  in  Debenham :  the  Mas- 
ter and  Fellows  of  Pembroke  Hall,  Cambridge,  are  appointed  by 
the  founder,  special  visitors. — John  Simpson,  by  will,  in  1697, 
charged  a  farm  and  lands  in  this  parish,  and  other  property  else- 
where, with  the  payment  of  £17  6s.  8d.  a  year;  to  be  laid  out  in 
bread  for  the  poor,  to  be  given  every  Lord's  day  in  42  penny  wheaten 
loaves,  at  the  parish  church  of  Debenham;  and  with  £12  13s.  4d. 
a  year,  to  be  laid  out  in  eight  coats  of  light  grey  cloth,  marked  J.S. 
on  the  breast,  in  black  list ;  and  six  gowns,  for  six  poor  women  of 
the  town  of  Debenham,  with  the  like  mark  ;  to  be  yearly  delivered 
to  the  most  needy  poor  men  and  women,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
churchwardens. — The  sum  of  £30  a  year  is  paid  out  of  a  farm  in 

*  A  south  west  view  of  this  church  is  given  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities 
of  Suffolk.' '  Cotman  has  an  etching  of  a  brass  here,  of  John  Framlingham,  and 
his  wife. 

t  See  p.  297. 


HUNDRED  OF  TUREDLING. 


Debenham,  in  the  occupation  of  Isaac  Barker  ;  and  is  distributed 
as  the  will  directs.  By  means  thereof  most  of  the  labouring  pool- 
receive  clothing  in  turn. 


FRAMSDEN,  or  FRAMESDENA. 

Roger  de  Monte- Alto  (or  Montalt),  paid  a  fine  to  Ipswich,  in 
King  John's  time,  for  freedom  from  toll  for  his  villians  in  Framsden. 

This  Roger  de  Monte- Alto,  we  take  to  be  the  same  personage 
who  married  Cecily,  fourth  daughter  of  William,  Earl  of  Sussex, 
sister  and  co-heir  to  Earl  Hugh,  who  died  in  the  27th  of  King 
Henry  III. ;  to  whom  the  township  and  castle  of  Rising,  in  Nor- 
folk, was  assigned  in  her  right,  who  made  it  his  chief  seat  and  place 
of  residence.  He  held  this  lordship  in  her  right. 

They  were  of  Norman  extraction,  and  took  their  name  from  a 
hill  in  Flintshire,  in  Wales,  where  they  anciently  resided,  and  had  a 
castle.  The  first  upon  record  was  one  of  the  Barons  of  Hugh,  Earl 
of  Chester;  and  Ralph  his  brother,  had  a  son  Robert,  who  was 
Steward,  and  one  of  the  Barons  of  the  said  Earl,  and  grand-father 
of  the  above  Roger  de  Monte-Alto. 

This  Roger,  Lord  Montalt,  died  in  the  44th  of  King  Henry  III. ; 
and  Cecily  his  relict,  was  in  the  King's  hands  in  the  52nd  of  the 
same  reign ;  who  claimed  the  power  of  giving  her  in  marriage,  she 
holding  in  fee  £60  per  annum. 

John,  his  son  and  heir,  succeeded;  who  married,  first,  Allen, 
widow  of  Robert  de  Stockport ;  and  secondly,  Millecencia,  daugh- 
ter of  William  de  Cantilupo,  and  relict  of  Eudo  le  Zouch.  He  died 
without  issue ;  and  was  succeeded  by  Robert  Lord  Montalt,  his 
brother,  about  the  52nd  of  the  aforesaid  King. 

On  his  death,  in  the  3rd  of  Edward  I.,  he  was  succeeded  by  Ro- 
ger, his  son  and  heir,  by  Isabel  his  wife ;  who  married  Julian, 
daughter  of  Roger  Clifford.  He  died  without  issue,  the  25th  of  the 
said  King ;  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  Robert,  Lord  Montalt, 
who  was  the  eighteenth  Lord  of  Parliament,  who  sealed  the  famous 
letter  sent  to  the  Pope,  in  the  29th  of  Edward  I.,  denying  the  King- 
dom of  Scotland  to  be  of  his  fee,  or  that  he  had  any  jurisdiction  in 
temporal  affairs. 

In  the  1st  of  King  Edward  III.,  this  Robert,  and  Emma  his  wife, 


510  HUNDRED  OF  THREDLING. 

conveyed,  by  fine,  to  Henry  de  Cliff,  clerk,  the  lordship  of  this  pa- 
rish, and  Kessingland,  in  this  county,  with  divers  other  property ; 
which  the  said  Henry  re-conveyed  to  the  said  Eobert  and  Emma, 
and  their  heirs  male;  remainder  to  Isabella,  dowager  Queen  of 
England,  for  life ;  then  to  John  of  Eltham,  second  son  of  King 
Edward  II.,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  and  his  heirs  ;  with  a  remainder  to 
King  Edward  III.,  and  his  heirs..  The  King  paid  to  the  Lord 
Montalt  10,000  marks  for  this  settlement. 

This  Kobert,  Lord  Montalt,  died  in  the  3rd  of  Edward  III., 
1329,  without  issue,  being  the  last  heir  male  of  that  family.  The 
lady  Emma,  his  relict,  in  the  5th  of  the  same  reign,  surrendered  by 
deed,  all  the  aforesaid  estates,  with  all  her  rights  in  London,  for  an 
annuity  of  JG400,  to  the  Queen  dowager. 

Upon  her  death,  it  descended  to  her  grandson,  Edward,  Prince  of 
Wales  :  and  by  an  inquisition  taken  in  the  2nd  of  Richard  II.,  it 
appears,  that  Emma  Wylot  held  in  Framsden  the  seventh  part  of  a 
fee ;  Ralph  Holyday,  in  the  same  parish,  the  fifth  part  of  a  fee  ;  and 
John  Winston,  in  the  same  place,  held  the  seventh  part  of  a  fee. 

In  the  8th  of  King  Edward  III.,  Sir  Robert  de  Morley,  cousin 
and  heir  to  Robert,  the  last  Lord  Montalt,  released  and  confirmed 
the  settlement  aforesaid,  made  by  his  uncle,  on  the  said  Queen,  with 
all  his  rights  to  the  lands  of  his  said  uncle ;  but  appears  from  the 
escheat  rolls  in  the  3rd  of  Henry  V.,  to  have  retained  some  interest 
in  this  parish,  when  Sir  Robert  Morley,  and  Petronella  his  wife, 
held  a  lordship  here ;  and  Thomas  was  his  son  and  heir,  aged  24 
years. 

This  Thomas,  Lord  Morley,  had  a  daughter  and  heir,  Margaret, 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Michael  De  la  Pole,  Earl  of 
Suffolk :  who  married  Thomas  Ratcliffe,  Esq. ;  by  whom  he  had 
Jeffrey  Ratcliffe,  Esq.,  of  this  parish  ;  who,  on  the  death  of  his  fa- 
ther, in  1487,  was  nine  years  of  age.  This  Jeffrey  died  in  1504, 
and  left  three  daughters  and  co-heirs. 

By  an  inquisition  taken  in  the  21st  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  by  a 
writ  of  mandamus,  after  the  death  of  the  said  Jeffrey,  the  jury  find 
that  Thomas  Ratcliffe,  Esq.,  in  the  18th  of  Edward  IV.,  settled -the 
manor  of  Framsden  on  Jeffrey  his  son,  by  his  first  wife. 

The  subjoined  account  of  the  descent  of  this  manor,  is  transcribed 
from  an  ancient  document,  somewhat  mutilated,  now  before  us  :— 

"  Walter  de  Morley  held  it,  6th  Edward  IV. 

"  Isabell,  Lady  de  Morley,  10th  Henry  VII. 


HUNDRED  OF  THREDLINO.  517 

"  Thomas  Ratcliffe,  llth  ditto. 

"  Thomas  Katcliffe,  Esq.,  held  it  and  lands  in  Framsden,  12th 
Henry  VII. 

"  Catherine,  late  wife  of  Henry  -  -  -  -  lauds  and  tenements. 

"  Sir  Robert  Ratcliffe,  Knt.,  lands  and  tenements,  1 5th  Henry  VII. 

"  William  Ratcliffe,  lands  and  tenements,  1 6th  Henry  VII. 

"  Elizabeth  Morley,  widow,  lands  and  tenements,  —  Henry  VII. 

"  Walter  Ratcliffe,  lands  and  tenements,  13th  Richard  II. 

"  Ditto,  Ditto,  15th  Richard  II. 

"  Robert,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Robert  de  Morley,  held  the  manor  of 
Framsden,  in  Suffolk,  of  the  King  in  capite,  by  the  service  of  two 
Knights'  fees  and  a  half,  of  the  honour  of  Chester ;  which  Roger 
Mohaut  formerly  held. 

"  Petronella,  relict  of  the  above  Robert  de  Morley,  held  at  the  time 
of  her  death,  a  third  part  of  the  manor  of  Framsden,  in  dower ;  and 
after  her  decease,  it  passed  to  Margaret,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
de  Morley,  Knt.,  son  of  the  said  Robert  and  Petronella,  and  the  re- 
lict of  Walter  Ratcliffe ;  and  the  heirs  of  the  said  Walter  and  Mar- 
garet, held  the  same  of  the  King,  as  of  the  honour  of  Chester,  by 
the  annual  payment  of  a  20th  part  of  a  Knight's  fee. 

"  Sir  Henry  Grey,  Knt.,  held  the  same. 

"John  Santon,  the  same,  14th  Henry  VI. 

"Thomas  Morley,  lands  and  tenements,  19th  Henry  VI. 

"  John  Ratcliffe,  the  same,  31st  Henry  VI. 

"  Catherine,  late  wife  to  John  Ratcliffe,  the  same,  1st  Edward  IV. 

"  John  Ratcliffe,  of  Attleburgh,  the  same,  13th  Edward  IV. 

"  Mem. — That  Robert  Fitzrymond  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Morley,  late  the  wife  of  Jeffrey  Ratcliffe,  Knight,  deceased 
13th  Edward  IV." 

The  manor  and  advowson  afterwards  became  the  property  of  the 
Southwells,  and  since  of  the  Tallemaches,  Earls  of  Dysart ;  and 
now  belongs  to  the  representative  of  that  house.  James  Wythe, 
Gent.,  had  an  estate  here,  in  1655,  worth  £300  per  annum. 

In  the  1 7th  of  Edward  I.,  the  Weyland  family  had  some  interest 
here  ;  for  Robert,  son  of  Robert  de  Scales,  with  Isabel  his  wife,  re- 
covered from  Richard  de  Weyland,  of  this  parish,  and  Joan  Ms 
wife,  lands  in  Middleton,  Westwinch,  &c.,  in  Norfolk,  at  the  above 
period,  with  the  homages  and  services  of  divers  persons. 

Mem. — Roger  Barnard,  a  labourer  dwelling  in  this  parish,  suffered 
martyrdom  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  with  two  others,  in  1556. 


518  HUNDRED  OF  THREDLING. 

Mem. — April  24,  1815. — This  parish  exhibited  a  scene  of  gay 
festivity,  upon  the  occasion  of  two  additional  bells,  to  complete  a 
peal  of  eight,  being  given  to  the  church,  by  the  late  Earl  of  Dysart. 
The  noble  Earl  regaled  the  ringers,  consisting  of  upwards  of  eighty, 
in  the  true  old  style  of  English  hospitality. 

ARMS. — Montalt :  azure  ;  a  lion  rampant,  argent.*  Morley  : 
argent ;  a  lion  rampant,  sable,  double  quevee.  Ratcliffe  :  argent; 
a  bend  engrailed,  sable.  Wytlie :  azure  ;  three  griffins,  passant,  or. 


PETTAUGH,  or  PETEHAGA. 

This  manor  and  advowson  was  anciently  in  the  Montalt  family, 
as  in  Framsden;  who  probably  granted  the  lordship  to  Leyston 
Abbey.  They  were  the  property  of  the  late  Countess  of  Dysart, 
and  her  heir  is  the  present  proprietor. 

In  the  third  of  King  Eichard  II.,  1379,  Catherine  Brewse  held 
of  the  King  in  capite,  one  Knight's  fee  in  this  parish,  Helming- 
ham,  and  Winston ;  half  a  Knight's  fee  in  Pettaugh,  and  half  a 
Knight's  fee  in  Pettaugh,  Gosbeck,  Helmingham,  and  Winston. 

"  There  is  in  Pettaugh  a  very  ancient  family  of  Fastolfe,  their 
seat,  commonly  called  Pettaugh  Hall ;  it  was  sold  from  the  name, 
but  in  the  very  next  generation,  Anthony  Fastolfe,  Gent.,  being 
left  rich  in  monies,  by  Thomas  his  brother,  bought  it  again,  and 
dying,  left  it  to  Thomas  his  son,  now  under  age  (1655).  The  es- 
tate there  and  elsewhere  left  by  Mr.  Falstolfe  that  last  died,  was 
d£300  per  annum.  His  relict  is  this  year  married  to  Bryan  Smith, 
of  Wantesden,  Gent."  (Eyce,  M.S.) 

Thomas  Fastolfe,  of  this  parish,  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Re- 
ginald Rous,  of  Dennington;  and  John,  their  son  and  heir,  by 
Eleanor  his  wife,  daughter  of  James  Tyrell,  and  Anne  his  wife,  had 
Thomas  Falstolfe,  Esq. ;  who  married  Alice,  daughter  of  John  Ba- 
con, Esq.,  of  Hessett;  who  had  a  son,  John  Falstolfe,  and  five 
daughters. 

Abbot's  Hall,  in  Pettaugh,  and  the  lordship  and  patronage  of  the 
church,  formerly  belonged  to  Sir  Charles  Gawdy,  of  Crow's  Hall, 
in  Debenham,  Knt. ;  who  sold  the  same  to  Daniel  Meadows,  of 

*  An  ancient  brass  seal,  found  in  a  field  at  Debenham,  bearing  these  arms,  is  en- 
graved in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1807,  p.  915. 


HUNDRED  OF  THREDLING.  519 

Chattisham,  in  the  time  of  King  Charles  I.  He  gave  part  of  his 
lands  in  this  parish,  with  the  lordship  and  advowson,  to  Daniel,  his 
eldest  son  and  heir ;  who  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  Richard 
Broke,  of  Nacton,  Knt. ;  and  part  of  them  to  John  Meadows,  ano- 
ther of  his  sons,  rector  of  Ousden,  in  Risbridge  hundred ;  who  in 
1655,  were  owners  thereof. 

A  precept  from  the  Crown  was  directed  to  John  Abel,  Escheator 
on  this  side  the  Trent,  to  enquire  by  what  cause  Christiana,  who 
was  the  wife  of  John  de  Medefield,  in  the  Court  of  the  King  at 
Westminster,  recovered  her  rights  of  Nicholas  de  Shotford,  parson 
of  Pettaugh,  of  one  messuage,  thirty  acres  of  land,  one  acre  of  mea- 
dow, and  6s.  8d.  rent,  with  its  appurtenances,  in  "Pethagh,  Wyver- 
ston,  and  Helmyngham." 


THORP,  or  TORP, 

As  a  hamlet  of  Ashfield,  it  has  always  belonged  to  the  same  pro- 
prietors as  that  parish.  The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes 
Nigel  de  Kenton  to  have  been  the  ancient  possessor  of  this  lordship. 


WINSTON,  or  WINESTUNA. 

A  lordship  in  this  parish  was  anciently  the  property  of  William 
de  Beauchamp  ;  and  Richard  de  Booking  is  said  to  have  held  one 
fee  in  this  parish,  and  Cratfield,  in  Blithing  hundred,  of  the  Thorp's 
manor  of  Fundenhall,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  Robert  de  Weyland,  half  a 
fee,  in  the  latter  parish. 

In  the  6th  of  Edward  III.,  William  Horxley  fyeld,  conjointly 
with  Emma  his  wife,  the  manor  of  Winston,  of  the  King  in  capite, 
of  the  manor  of  Rayleigh,  by  Knight's  service ;  and  through  default 
of  issue,  Robert  Linburne  was  the  cousin  and  heir  of  the  said 
William. 

A  lordship,  and  the  patronage  of  this  living,  belongs  to  the  church 
of  Ely ;  and  this  parish  church  contains  some  monumental'  marbles 
without  any  inscription,  said  to  be  for  certain  Prebends  of  that 
Cathedral.  On  a  marble  slab,  whose  inscription  is  gone,  is  a  quar- 


520  HUNDRED  OF  THREDLING. 

tered  coat :  1st,  argent ;  on  a  cross,  sable,  a  frette  of  the  first :  2nd, 
sable ;  a  lion  rampant,  argent ;  crowned,  or :  3rd  as  2nd :  4th  as 
1st. :  said  to  be  for  one  Twaites,  some  time  tenant  to  the  church  of 
Ely,  and  occupier  of  the  manor  house  here.  The  arms  of  the  Bi- 
shopric of  Ely  were  also  formerly  in  glass,  in  the  chancel  window  : 
gules;  three  ducal  crowns,  or. 

In  the  30th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  a  lordship  in  this  parish  was 
granted  to  Nicholas  Hare,  Esq.,  which  formerly  belonged  ta  the 
nuns  at  Bruisyard. 


Or  STOV. 


Hundred  is  bound  on  the  North,  by  Hartismere ;  on  the 
West,  by  Blackbourn  and  Thedwastre ;  on  the  South  and  East, 
by  Cosford,  and  Bosmere  and  Claydon  Hundreds.  It  contains 
the  following  Parishes  and  Hamlets : — 


BUXHALL, 

COMBS, 

CHILTON, 

CREETING  ST.  PETER. 

DAGWORTH, 

EXNING, 

GREAT  FINBOROUGH, 

LITTLE  FINBOROUGH. 


GIPPING, 

HALSTON, 

HAUGHLEY, 

NEWMARKET, 

NEWTON, 

ONEHOUSE, 

SHELLAND, 

STOWMARKET, 


And  WETHERDEN. 


The  fee  of  this  Hundred  was  in  the  Crown,  till  John  of  El- 
tham,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  same  from  his 
brother,  King  Edward  III.,  which  he  held  at  the  period  of  his 
decease.  It  was  afterwards  given  to  Robert  de  Ufford,  Earl  of 
Suffolk,  and  settled  on  him  by  special  tail,  for  his  good  services. 
In  the  3rd  of  Henry  V.,  Michael  De  la  Pole  was  seized  thereof, 
and  it  passed  to  his  descendants,  William  and  John  De  la  Pole, 
and  their  heirs. 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 


BUXHALL,  or  BUKESSALA. 

In  the  ninth  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  and  estate 
of  Richard  Weyland,  Robert  Cockrell,  John  Tendriug,  and  Roger 
Sturmy  ;  and  in  1267,  William,  son  of  Roger  Sturmy,  of  this  pa- 
rish, and  William,  son  of  Robert  Sturmy,  of  Stratton,  in  Norfolk, 
levied  a  fine,  by  which  four  virgates  of  land,  and  the  advowson  of 
Buxsale,  and  various  quit-rents,  &c.,  were  settled  on  William,  son 
of  Roger  Sturmy. 

It  afterwards  became  the  inheritance  of  Sir  Bartholomew  de  Burg- 
hersh,  who  in  the  23rd  of  King  Edward  III.,  obtained  a  charter  of 
free  warren  here,  to  himself,  Cecily  his  wife,  and  their  heirs.  In 
the  43rd  of  that  reign  he  died  seized  thereof,  and  left  the  same,  so 
privileged,  to  his  daughter  and  heir,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Edward  le 
Despencer. 

The  family  of  Copinger  were  originally,  and  at  a  very  early  pe- 
riod, seated  at  Farcing  Hall,  in  this  parish,  and  were  lords  of  that 
manor.  They  were  once  so  famed  for  hospitality,  that  to  "  live  like 
Copinger"  became  a  proverbial  expression  throughout  the  county 
of  Suffolk.  The  common  ancestor  of  this  ancient  and  highly  re- 
spectable house,  appears  to  be  a  Walter  Copynger,  of  Farcing  (or 
Fasbourn  Hall,  as  it  is  now  called),  in  this  parish ;  whose  eldest 
son,  William  Copynger,  Esq.,  was  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  in  1512, 
and  received  the  honour  of  Knighthood.  He  deceased  a  bachelor, 
in  1513,  during  his  mayoralty. 

Walter  Copynger,  Gent.,  his  brother,  married  Beatrix,  daughter 

of Asherst,  and  had  issue  John  Copynger,  Esq.  This  Walter 

was  the  personage  to  whom  King  Henry  VIII.,  in  the  4th  year  of 
his  reign,  granted  license  to  wear  his  bonnet  in  his  presence,  as 
elsewhere,  at  his  liberty,  without  challenge,  disturbance,  or  inter- 
ruption. He  deceased  in  1522;  Beatrix  his  wife,  in  1512:  they 
were  both  interred  in  this  parish  church. 

John,  his  son,  married,  first,  Anne,  the  only  daughter  of  John 


524  HUNDRED   OF  STOW. 

Sorrel ;  from  whom  lie  inherited  the  manor  of  Bucks  Hall.  His 
second  wife  was  Jane,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  William  Bond  Esq., 
Clerk  of  the  Green  Cloth  to  King  Henry  VII.  He  deceased  before 
his  father,  in  1517,  and  was  interred  in  Buxhall  church,  where  the 
following  inscription,  as  given  by  Weever,  was  placed  to  his  me- 
mory:— "John  Copynger,  Esquire,  Lord  and  Patron,  Anne  and 
Jane  his  wives,  who  had  vii  children,  and  dyceased  in  1517." 

Henry  Copinger,  the  eldest  son,  succeeded  his  father  at  Buxhall. 
He  married  Agnes,  the  seventh  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn,  of 
Eushbrooke,  Knt.,  by  Anne  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Spring, 
of  Lavenham,  Esq.,  and  had  issue  eleven  sons  ;  of  whom  Ambrose 
was  presented  by  his  father,  in  1569,  to  the  rectory  of  this  parish, 
and  died  in  the  following  year. 

Henry,  the  fourth  son,  was  born  in  1550,  and  received  his  aca- 
demical education  at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge ;  of  which  So- 
ciety he  was  elected  Fellow.  On  entering  into  holy  orders,  he  was 
promoted  to  a  Prebendary  stall  in  York  Cathedral.  By  a  mandate 
from  Queen  Elizabeth,  he  was  elected  Master  of  Magdalen  College, 
Cambridge  ;  which,  at  her  request,  he  afterwards  resigned,  but  soon 
after  this,  viz.  in  1577,  he  was  presented  by  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  to 
the  rectory  of  Lavenham,  in  this  county.  Dr.  Fuller,  in  his  "Church 
History,"  gives  the  following  interesting  account  of  this  pious  and 
exemplary  divine : — 

"1622,  Dec.  21.— Henry  Copinger,  formerly  Fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  in 
Cambridge,  Prebendary  of  Yorke,  once  Chaplain  to  Ambrose,  Earl  of  Warwick, 
(whose  funeral  sermon  he  preached),  made  Master  of  Magdalene  College,  in  Cam- 
bridge, by  her  Majesty's  mandate,  though  afterwards  resigning  his  right  at  the 
Queen's  (shall  I  call  it  ?)  request,  to  prevent  trouble,  ended  his  religious  life.  He 
was  the  sixth  son  of  Henry  Copinger  of  Bucks  Hall,  in  Suffolke,  esquire,  by  Agnes, 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn.  His  father  on  his  death-bed,  asking  him  what 
course  of  life  he  would  embrace,  he  answered,  he  intended  to  be  a  divine.  '  I  like 
it  well,'  said  the  old  gentleman, '  otherwise  what  shall  I  say  to  Martin  Luther,  when 
I  shall  see  him  in  heaven  ;  and  he  knows  that  God  gave  me  eleven  sons,  and  I  made 
not  one  of  them  a  Minister  ?'  An  expression  proportionable  enough  to  Luther's 
judgment,  who  maintained,  some  hours  before  his  death,  that  the  saints  in  heaven 
shall  knowingly  converse  one  with  another.  Laneham  living  fell  void  ;  which  de- 
served a  good  minister,  being  a  rich  parsonage;  and  needed  so,  it  being  more  than 
suspicious  that  Dr.  Reinold's,  late  incumbent,  who  ran  away  to  Rome,  had  left  some 
superstitious  leaven  behind  him.  The  Earl  of  Oxford,  being  patron,  presents  Mr. 
Copinger  to  it,  but  added  withal  that  he  would  pay  no  tithes  of  his  park.  Copin- 
ger desired  to  resign  it  again  to  his  lordship,  rather  than  by  such  sinful  gratitude  to 
betray  the  rights  of  the  church.  '  Well  1  if  you  be  of  that  mind,  then  take  the 
tithes,'  sditli  the  Earl,  '  I  scorn  that  my  estate  should  swell  with  church  goods.' 
However,  it  afterwards  cost  Master  Copinger  sixteen  hundred  pounds,  in  keeping 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 


525 


his  questioned  and  recovering  his  detained  rights,  in  suit  with  the  agent  for  the  next 
(minor)  E.  of  Oxford  and  others  ;  all  which  he  left  to  his  churches  quiet  possession  ; 
being  zealous  in  God's  cause,  but  remiss  in  his  own.  He  lived  forty  and  five  years 
the  painful  parson  of  Lanehatn,  in  which  market  town  there  where  about  nine  hun- 
dred communicants  ;  amongst  whom,  all  his  time,  no  difference  did  arise  which  he 
did  not  compound.  He  had  a  bountiful  hand,  and  plentiful  purse  (his  paternal 
inheritance,  by  death  of  elder  brothers,  and  other  transactions,  descending  upon 
him),  bequeathed  twenty  pounds  in  money,  and  ten  pounds  per  annum,  to  the  poor 
of  the  parish  ;  in  the  chancel  whereof  he  lieth  buried  under  a  fair  monument,  dying 
on  St.  Thomas  his  day,  in  the  threescore  and  twelfth  year  of  his  age." 

Mr.  Copinger  was  an  intimate  friend  of  that  eminent  scholar  and 
renowned  wit  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Rev.  George  Ruggle, 
A.M.,  and  Fellow  of  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge ;  the  ingenious  author 
of  that  celebrated  dramatic  satire,  the  comedy  of  "  Ignoramus ;" 
from  whom  he  received  a  legacy  of  50s.,  to  purchase  a  ring. 

He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Henry  Fisher,  of  Lynn,  in  Nor- 
folk ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  eight  sons  and  four  daughters ;  and 
deceased  seized  of  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  and  the  patronage  of 
the  church  of  Buxhall ;  and  William,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  said  estate.  He  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of 
Richard  Goodday,  of  Kettlebaston,  Gent.,  and  deceased  in  1048  ; 
when  Henry  Copinger,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded ; 
who  deceased  in  1675.* 

Thomas  Hill,  D.D.,  married  Sarah,  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of 
Henry  Copinger,  Esq.,  in  whose  right  he  inherited  this  estate.  He 
deceased  in  ]  743,  when  Thomas  Hill,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir, 
succeeded  ;  who  deceased  in  1746,  leaving  an  infant  daughter,  who 
died  in  the  13th  year  of  her  age.  Henry,  the  second  son,  suc- 
ceeded ;  who  in  1741,  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of  Tostock,  and 
in  1743,  to  that  of  this  parish.  He  was  of  Caius  College,  Cam- 
bridge, A.B.  in  1737,  A.M.  in  1751,  and  S.T.P.  in  1763.  Dr. 
Hill,  deceased  in  1775  ;  when  Henry  Hill  succeeded,  who  deceased 
in  1826,  without  issue.  He  was  rector  of  this  parish  and  Harles- 
ton  ;  to  the  former,  he  was  presented  in  1776,  by  the  widow  of  Dr. 
Hill ;  and  to  the  latter,  in  1779,  by  John  Grigby,  Esq. 

Blomefield,  the  Norfolk  Historian,  says  that  Isabel,  the  wife  of 
Sir  Edmund  Hethersete,  Knt.,  was  buried  in  this  church-yard,  in 
1412,  and  left  no  issue. 

The  same  authority  makes  Sir  Robert  Hough  ton,  Knt.,  Serjeant 

*  For  a  further  and  more  ample  account  of  the  Copinger  and  Hill  families,  con- 
sult the  "Gentleman's  Magazine''  for  1831,  part  1,  pp.  12,  109,  and  112. 


526  HUNDRED   OF  STOW. 

at  Law,  and  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  King's  Bench,  to  die  seized 
of  a  manor  in  this  parish,  and  Brettenham,  and  their  letes  ;  leaving 
Francis,  his  son  and  heir,  who  deceased  in  1629  ;  leaving  Robert, 
his  son  and  heir,  a  minor,  who  inherited  the  said  property.  The 
Judge  was  born  at  Gunthorp,  in  Norfolk,  in  1548  ;  and  was  buried 
Feb.  6th,  1623,  in  the  church  of  St.  Dunstan  in  the  West,  London. 

Fasbourn  Hall,  a  freehold  house,  and  lands  here,  now  belong  to 
Richard  Hillhouse,  of  Finsbury  Place,  London.  The  Rev.  Charles 
Green  is  the  present  vicar  of  this  parish ;  and  the  manor  and  ad- 
vowson  of  the  living  remain  in  the  present  representative  of  the  Hill 
family. 

ARMS. — Copinger :  bendy  of  six,  or  and  gules ;  on  a  fess,  azure, 
three  plates.  Crest :  a  chamois  deer's  head,  sable.  Hill :  gules  ; 
two  bars,  ermine  ;  in  chief,  a  lion  passant,  or. 

CHARITIES. — A  rent  charge  of  £l  a  year,  given  by  Mark  Salter, 
for  the  poor,  by  will,  in  1615,  is  paid  by  three  persons  in  respect  of 
lands  in  this  parish,  in  their  possession,  and  is  laid  out  in  coals,  and 
distributed  annually  among  the  poor. 


COMBS. 

In  the  7th  of  King  John,  Bartholomew  de  Glanvile  granted  to 
Robert  de  Creke,  and  Agnes  his  wife,  two  carucates  of  land  in  this 
parish,  and  to  the  heirs  of  the  said  Agnes.  She  was  daughter  and 
heiress  of  the  said  Bartholomew  ;  upon  whose  decease  they  inherited 
the  entire  lordship. 

Sir  Bartholomew  de  Creke,  their  son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  he 
married  Margery,  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Jeffrey  de  Anos, 
lord  of  Hillington,  in  Norfolk ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  three  sons, 
namely,  Robert,  Jeffrey,  and  John  ;  and  a  daughter,  Sarah. 

He  deceased  about  the  36th  of  King  Henry  III.,  and  this  estate 
passed  to  his  three  sons  successively,  who  all  deceased  without  issue; 
John,  the  youngest,  and  last  survivor,  in  or  about  the  llth  of  King 
Edward  I.,  when  Sarah,  his  sister  and  heir,  inherited,  then  the  wife 
of  Roger  Fitz  Peter  Fitz  Osbert. 

She  died  without  issue,  about  the  20th  of  the  above  reign,  and 
Roger  her  husband  held  this  estate,  by  the  courtesy  of  England, 
during  his  life.  He  deceased  in  the  34th  of  the  same  King,  when 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  527 

the  inheritance  devolved  upon  the  descendants  and  heirs  of  Margaret 
and  Isabel,  daughters  of  Sir  Robert  de  Creke,  and  sisters  of  the 
above  Sir  Bartholomew. 

Margaret,  the  eldest,  married  Sir  John  de  Thorp ;  and  Isabel, 
her  sister,  married  John  Lord  Valoins ;  from  whom  descended 
Robert  Lord  Valoins,  who  left  two  daughters  and  co- heirs,  Rosesia 
and  Cecily ;  the  former  married  Sir  Edmund  de  Pakenham,  and 
the  latter  Sir  Robert  de  Ufford ;  and  between  the  heirs  of  these  this 
estate  became  divided.  The  Thorps,  as  heirs  of  Margaret,  holding 
one  moiety,  and  the  other  moiety  became  divided  between  the  Pa- 
kenham and  Ufford  families. 

Sir  Robert  de  Ufford  afterwards  became  possessed  of  the  whole 
moiety ;  Sir  Edmund  de  Pakenham  and  Rosesia  his  wife,  having 
resigned  their  right  in  the  same,  in  exchange  for  a  moiety  of  Uphall 
manor,  at  North  Creak,  in  Norfolk. 

The  patronage  of  this  rectory  became  annexed  to  the  manor,  in 
the  17th  of  King  Edward  I.;  Beatrix,  Prioress  to  Flixtou,  having 
conveyed  her  right  in  the  same,  and  that  of  North  Creak,  in  Nor- 
folk, by  fine,  to  Roger  Fitz  Peter  Fitz  Osbert,  and  Sarah  his  wife ; 
who  granted,  in  consideration  of  giving  to  the  said  Prioress  the  ma- 
nor of  Flixton,  with  the  moiety  of  that  church,  four  acres  of  land  in 
Helmingham,  and  the  advowson  of  that  church,  a  messuage  and 
twenty-six  acres  of  land  in  Wilby,  and  certain  property  in  Norfolk, 
in  pure  alms. 

A  portion  of  this  estate,  however,  continued  in  the  family  of 
Thorpe  for  several  generations.  In  the  17th  of  King  Edward  II., 
John,  grandson  of  the  above  Sir  John  de  Thorp,  and  Margaret  his 
wife,  held  the  same  of  the  King  in  capite,  in  soccage,  by  the  fee  of 
£11  3s.  4d.,  and  by  a  certain  annual  scutage  of  20s.,  for  all  ser- 
vices. In  the  4th  of  the  following  reign,  Robert  de  Thorp,  his  el- 
dest son  and  heir,  died  seized  of  the  same. 

John  de  Thorp,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded  ;  who  in  1338, 
paid  rent  to  Robert  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  for  the  moiety  of  his 
manor  in  this  parish.  In  1340,  he  granted  to  the  Abbess  and  Nuns 
of  St.  Clare,  in  the  Minories  of  London,  and  her  successors,  an  an- 
nuity of  20  marks  per  annum,  out  of  his  lands  in  Combs  and  Hel- 
miugham :  he  deceased  the  same  year,  without  issue. 

Edmund  de  Thorp,  his  brother,  inherited;  who  in  1349,  settled 
100  marks  annuity  on  Robert  de  Thirning,  rector  of  this  parish, 
and  other  trustees ;  and  in  1358,  he  enfeoffed  his  manors,  &c.,  to 


528  HUNDRED  OF   STOW. 

raise  100  marks  per  annum,  for  21  years,  to  discharge  his  debts, 
and  raise  portions  for  his  daughters. 

In  the  49th  of  King  Edward  III.,  1375,  Edmund  de  Ufford,  Knt., 
held  the  entire  manor,  with  the  advowson  of  the  church,  in  free  soc- 
cage,  hy  fealty ;  and  William  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  was  his 
cousin  and  heir;  who  died  possessed  of  the  same  in  the  3rd  of 
Eichard  II.,  leaving  his  three  sisters,  his  co-heirs. 

Cecily,  the  eldest,  married  John,  3rd  Lord  Willoughhy  de  Eresby, 
who  deceased  in  the  46th  of  the  above  reign;  and  Eobert,  their  son, 
succeeded  to  this  estate,  as  nephew  and  one  of  the  co-heirs  of  the 
above  William  de  Ufford,  upon  the  decease  of  that  nobleman. 

It  continued  in  their  descendants  until  the  failure  of  male  issue 
in  William  Lord  Willoughby,  9th  Baron,  who  deceased  in  1525, 
seized  of  this  lordship.  Katherine,  his  sole  daughter,  and  heiress  ge- 
neral of  that  house,  was  the  4th  wife  of  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of 
Suffolk,  who  inherited  this  estate  in  her  right.  She  had  no  issue  by 
him ;  and  married,  secondly,  Kichard  Bertie,  Esq.,  by  whom  she 
had  issue  the  Hon.  Peregrine  Bertie,  who  inherited  this  estate. 

It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Dandy  family,  descendant 
of  Edmund  Dandy,  Esq.,  of  Ipswich,  and  Cretingham,  in  Loes 
hundred.  Thomas  Dandy,  Esq.,  his  grandson,  resided  at  Combs 
Hall ;  and  was  lord  of  the  manor  and  patron  of  the  living.  He 
married  Martha,  the  daughter  of  John  Poley,  Esq.,  of  Badley ;  by 
whom  he  had  issue  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  He  deceased  in 
1607,  and  was  interred  in  this  parish  church. 

Edmund  Dandy,  Esq.,  his  son,  succeeded ;  and  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Sir  Kalph  Shelton,  Knt. ;  upon  whose  decease  he  re- 
married Susan,  daughter  of  Eobert  Eeeve,  Esq.,  of  Thwaite,  in  this 
county.  Thomas,  a  son  by  his  first  wife,  had  a  son  Thomas  living 
in  1656. 

Thomas  Sothebye,  of  Yorkshire  descent,  succeeded.  He  was  in- 
cumbent here  in  the  time  of  King  Charles ;  and  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Dandy,  Esq.,  and  sister  of  the  above  Edmund: 
he  deceased  in  1647.  Eichard  Jennings,  eldest  son  of  Eichard  Jen- 
nings, a  Portman  of  Ipswich,  married  Temperance,  daughter  of  Ed- 
mund Dandy,  Esq.,  and  was  also  rector  here. 

This  lordship  descended,  as  mentioned  by  Kirby,  from  the  Bridg- 
mans,  by  purchase,  to  Ambrose  Crawley,  Esq.,  and  is  now  the  es- 
tate of  the  Earl  of  Ashburnham,  to  which  the  advowson  is  still  an- 
nexed. The  other  lordship,  named  by  that  author  as  granted  to  Sir 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  529 

Bichard  Gresham,  Knt.,  was  given  by  Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  Knt., 
in  marriage  with  Anne  his  base  daughter,  to  Nathaniel  Bacon,  Esq., 
in  fee  tail. 

John  Boveyre,  of  this  parish,  was  rector  of  Hillington,  in  Nor- 
folk, in  1377,  on  the  presentation  of  William  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suf- 
folk ;  and  probably  held  this  rectory  prior  to  that  period. 

Mem. — In  1822,  the  senior  churchwarden  of  this  parish,  Mr.  R. 
Jarrold,  attended  the  tithe  audit  in  perfect  health,  at  the  age  of  84, 
for  the  sixtieth  time  ;  he  never  having  been  absent  in  any  one  year, 
or  from  that  for  the  adjoining  parish  of  Little  Finborough,  since  the 
year  1762. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  two  pieces  of  land  in  this  parish,  lying 
intermixed  with  the  lands  of  those  who  occupy  them,  which  are  se- 
verally let  at  £1  14s.,  and  £l  6s.  8d.  a  year ;  and  the  rents  are  ap- 
plied by  the  churchwardens  to  the  repairs  of  the  parish  church. 


CHILTON,  or  CILTUNA, 
Is  now  a  member,  or  hamlet,  of  Stowmarket. 


GREETING  ST.  PETER.— WEST  GREETING,  or  GRATINGA. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes  this  lordship  to  have 
been  anciently  vested  in  Thomas  de  Latimer.  A  branch  of  the 
Wingfield  family  were  early  seated  in  this  parish ;  who  sold  their 
estate  here  to  William  Fernley,  Esq.,  a  mercer  of  London,  in  the 
early  part  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign. 

Jane,  one  of  the  daughters  of  this  William  Fernley,  married  Sir 
Nicholas  Bacon,  Lord  Keeper ;  Anne,  another  daughter,  married 
William  Read,  merchant  of  London ;  and  afterwards  Sir  Thomas 
Gresham,  Knt.,  founder  of  the  Royal  Exchange,  in  that  city. 

This  estate  was  in  his  posterity,  in  1655  ;  Edmund  Fernley,  Esq., 
having  bought  it  of  his  eldest  brother,  Miles  Fernley,  Esq.,  of  Sut- 
ton.  He  married  a  Shelton  ;  his  estate  at  the  above  period  reckoned 
worth  about  £200  per  annum. 

In  die  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  or  the  beginning  of  the  following 


630  HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 

reign,  one  Capt.  Flack  erected  a  convenient  house  in  this  parish ; 
and  it  continued  in  his  descendants  until  the  death  of  King  Charles, 
when  it  was  sold  to  Richard  Keble,  Esq.,  sou  of  Eichard  Keble, 

Esq.,  Serjeant  at  Law,  and  one  of  the  younger  sons  of Keble, 

Gent.,  of  Old  Newton.  This  seat  was  usually  called  Rowdon  Hall: 
it  now  belongs  to  William  Worledge,  Esq.,  who  resides  in  what  is 
now  styled  Raydon  Hall.  Brazier's  Hall,  in  this  parish,  is  now  the 
estate  of  Robert  Willoughby,  Esq.,  of  Gordon  Square,  London. 

Greeting  Hall,  to  which  the  manor  and  advowson  were  formerly 
attached,  were  vested  during  the  last  century,  in  the  Glovers, 
of  Frostenden ;  the  advowson  afterwards  became  detached,  and  by 
the  last  returns  is  vested  in  George  Paske,  Esq. ;  and  the  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Paske,  his  sou,  is  the  present  incumbent.  The  Hall  and 
manor  now  belong  to  Sir  William  Beauchamp  Proctor,  Bart.,  of 
Langley  Park,  in  Norfolk. 

In  1432,  one  Thomas  Greene  resided  in  this  parish,  who  was 
cousin  and  heir  of  William  Greene,  formerly  vicar  of  East  Dere- 
ham,  in  Norfolk.  At  the  above  period  this  gentleman  released  his 
right  in  certain  manors  at  Banham,  in  the  above  county,  and  else- 
where. 

Robert  Broke,  of  Nacton,  Esq.,  son  of  Sir  Richard  Broke,  Knt., 
had  an  estate  in  West  Greeting. 


DAGWORTH,  or  DAGAWORDA, 

Is  a  hamlet  that  hath  neither  church  nor  chapel,  but  is  reckoned  as 
a  member  of  Old  Newton.  It  was  anciently  held  by  a  distinguished 
family,  who  originated  and  assumed  their  name  therefrom.  Walter 
de  Aggeworth  (or  Dagworth),  and  Aveline  his  wife,  held  lands  here 
in  the  time  of  King  John ;  and  in  1216,  this  Walter  was  deceased, 
and  Robert  his  son,  and  Aveline  his  mother,  inherited  the  same. 

Harvey  de  Dagworth  succeeded;  and  his  son,  Osbert,  was  owner 
of  a  lordship  here,  in  1253;  in  which  year,  King  Henry  III., 
granted  him  free  warren  of  the  same,  which  he  then  held  of  Henry 
de  Essex,  as  of  his  honour  of  Raleigh.  John  de  Dagworth  died 
seized  of  this  manor  about  1272,  and  left  John,  his  son  and  heir, 
a  minor,  in  the  King's  wardship. 

He  married  Alice,  the  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Alice  de  Beau- 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  531 

mout ;  and  deceased  in  the  6th  of  King  Edward  III.,  seized  on  his 
demesne,  as  of  the  fee  of  the  Crown,  of  one  messuage  with  a  garden, 
a  coppice,  and  303  acres  of  arable  land,  in  Dagworth ;  and  Nicholas 
de  Dagworth  was  his  son  and  heir. 

This  Nicholas  was  seized  of  the  office  of  Marshall  to  the  Itene- 
rant Justices ;  and  in  the  8th  of  the  above  reign,  gave  for  his  relief 
to  that  King,  for  certain  lands  and  tenements  here,  three  fletched 
arrows,  feathered  with  eagles'  feathers  ;  which  John,  his  father,  held 
of  the  King  in  capite,  by  the  same  service,  to  be  paid  annually. 
He  was  also  Usher  of  the  Exchequer,  and  in  high  esteem  with  King 
Richard  II.,  as  he  had  been  with  Ms  predecessor  on  the  throne. 

The  Dagworth  family  also  held  manorial  property  of  the  Abbot 
of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  at  Braiideston,  in  this  county ;  and  divers 
estates  in  the  counties  of  Essex  and  Norfolk.  The  above  Sir  Nicho- 
las Dagworth,  was  lord  of  Blickling,  in  Norfolk,  and  a  personage 
renowned  both  in  camp  and  court,  as  were  divers  of  his  house. 

He  married  Alianora,  daughter  of  Walter,  and  sister  and  co-heir 
of  Sir  John  Eosale,  of  a  Shropshire  family.  He  deceased  in  1401, 
without  issue,  and  was  interred  at  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  of 
Blickliiig  church.  Thomasine,  his  sister  and  heiress,  succeeded  to 
this  estate :  she  married  William,  Lord  Furnival,  of  Worsop,  in 
Northamptonshire ;  and  Joan,  their  daughter  and  heiress,  married 
to  Thomas  Nevile,  Lord  Furnival,  to  whom  this  property  descended. 

In  the  28th  of  King  Henry  VI.,  William  De  la  Pole,  Duke  of 
Suffolk,  died  seized  of  this  lordship.  It  subsequently  became  vested 
in  the  Bishop  of  Norwich ;  of  whom  the  family  of  Alexander  leased 
Dagworth  Hall  and  manor ;  and  James  Alexander,  Gent.,  bought 
of  the  Long  Parliament,  the  fee  simple  of  this  estate,  when  the 
Bishop's  lands  were  sold,  and  the  tenant  had  the  first  offer. 

His  estate  was  about  ;£300  per  annum,  which  he  devised  to  his 
children.  His  wife  was  daughter  of  Captain  Flack,  of  West  Greet- 
ing, who  held  some  interest  in  this  estate ;  and  their  sons  sold  the 
whole  to  John  Clerke,  Gent.,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's.  Dagworth 
Hall  is  now  the  estate  of  the  Eev.  George  Jphn  Haggit,  of  Bury  St. 
Edmund's.  ^u-^t^toT,  A^*u  Jn-fcetUtcUcn*. 

ARMS. — Dagworth :  ermine ;  on  a  fess,  gules,  three  bezants. 


532  HUNDRED   OF  STOW. 


EXNING. — IXNING,  or  EXELINGES. 

This  parish  is  situate  at  the  utmost  western  extremity  of  the 
county,  and,  in  the  time  of  King  Edward  L,  gave  name  to  half  a 
hundred,  which  included  the  north  part  of  Newmarket :  in  the  mid- 
dle ages,  the  parish  of  Exning,  comprehended  the  whole  of  what  is 
now  that  of  Newmarket,  and  its  church  was  the  mother  church,  to 
which  the  congregation  of  the  latter  resorted.  As  late  as  the  year 
1200,  there  was  something  like  a  royal  residence  at  the  former  place; 
but  in  1227,  a  contagion,  or  plague,  breaking  out,  its  market  was 
removed  to  the  latter  place,  and  became  the  origin  of  the  appellation 
"  New  Market."  One  of  the  churches  in  Newmarket  is,  in  fact,  in 
this  parish,  which  comprehends  the  north  side  of  the  town. 

Exning  was  the  birth  place  of  St.  Etheldreda,  a  daughter  of  Anna 
and  Hereswitha,  King  and  Queen  of  the  East  Angles,  in  630.  There 
is  no  name  in  the  calendar  of  female  British  Saints,  more  fertile  of 
strange  incident  and  marvellous  adventure,  than  that  of  our  Saint 
Etheldreda ;  and  one  of  the  most  curious  and  ancient  manuscripts 
in  the  kingdom,  still  in  existence  (the  Liber  Eliensis),  forms  the 
precious  repository  of  her  achievements. 

This  godly  lady  was  twice  married,  and  died  a  virgin.  Her  as- 
cendency over  each  of  her  husbands  was  so  supreme,  that  they  dared 
not  compel  her  to  break  her  virgin  vow ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  uni- 
ted with  her  in  devoting  their  respective  careers  to  the  purposes  of 
devotional  exercise.  The  wealth  of  St.  Etheldred  enabled  her  to 
execute  what  her  piety  planned.  She  had  the  whole  Isle  of  Ely 
settled  on  her  in  dowry,  with  her  first  husband,  Tonbert,  a  noble- 
man among  the  East  Angles. 

After  remaining  a  widow  four  years,  she  married  Egfrid,  son  of 
Oswy,  King  of  Northumberland,  and  nephew  of  Ethelwold,  King  of 
East  Anglia  ;  by  the  persuasion  of  which  latter,  she  was  chiefly  in- 
duced a  second  time  to  become  a  bride.  Egfrid  was  only  sixteen 
when  he  married,  and  in  670  became  King.  His  wife  survived  this 
event  but  five  years. 

The  celebrity  of  this  Saint  is  not  confined  to  the  pen  of  the  his- 
torian. The  sculptor  has  attempted  to  render  justice  to  it,  in  the 
various  groups  which  may  be  observed  in  the  large  corbel  stones 
upon  which  the  several  arches  are  based  that  support  the  magnifi- 


HUNDRED  OF   STOW.  533 

cent  lantern  of  Ely  Cathedral.     She  founded  a  Monastery  at  Ely, 
the  precursor  of  the  present  Cathedral. 

This  parish  in  its  earlier  days,  was  also  the  spot  where  a  formi- 
dable conspiracy  was  hatched,  by  one  Kalph,  Earl  of  the  East 
Angles,  against  William  the  Conqueror  ;  and  to  give  a  more  em- 
phatic character  to  the  transaction,  it  was  entered  upon  on  the 
wedding  day  of  the  chief  conspirator,  whose  life  was  the  forfeit  of 
his  rashness. 

In  the  21st  of  King  Edward  I.,  Edmund  de  Kemeseck  held  in 
the  town  of  Exning,  a  messuage,  9  acres  of  plough  land,  3  acres  of 
meadow,  6  acres  and  a  rood  of  pasture,  a  windmill,  a  dove  cot,  and 
£11  rent,  and  other  rents  and  services,  of  the  King  in  capite,  by 
the  service  of  one  Knight's  fee. 

Philip  de  Ville,  in  the  6th  of  Edward  III.,  died  seized  of  a  cer- 
tain capital  messuage,  with  a  dove  cot,  a  garden,  20  acres  of  land, 
6  acres  of  pasture,  and  18s.  rent,  of  assize  in  this  parish,  by  the 
service  of  half  a  Knight's  fee ;  and  William  was  his  son  and  heir. 
In  the  46th  of  that  King,  Walter  de  Isle,  held  in  his  demesne,  as 
of  fee,  a  carucate  of  land,  and  22s.  rent,  in  Ixning,  of  the  Bang  in 
capite,  at  one  Knight's  fee ;  and  William  was  his  son  and  heir. 

In  the  51st  of  King  Edward  III.,  Maria  de  St.  Paul,  Countess 
of  Pembroke,  held  as  her  dower,  the  manor  of  Exning,  of  the  King 
in  capite,  by  Knights'  service ;  right  thereto  being  reserved  to  John 
Kingsfield,  and  his  heirs ;  and  in  the  5th  of  the  following  reign, 
John  Kingsfield  held  the  same,  by  a  like  service ;  and  Alicia  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Aldrich,  and  Agnes  Wolfe,  sisters  of  the  said  John, 
and  John  Ashfield,  cousin  of  the  said  John  (that  is,  son  of  Isabella 
Ashfield,  another  of  the  sisters  of  the  said  John),  were  his  next  heirs. 
In  the  llth  of  King  Henry  IV.,  Edward  Attehale,  released  to 
John  Warncamp,  and  to  Isabella  his  wife,  daughter  of  John  Ash- 
field, and  the  heirs  of  Isabella,  this  lordship,  and  tho  third  part  of 
the  manor  of  North  Barsham,  in  Norfolk,  with  all  the  lands  and 
tenements,  late  John  Kingsfield's. 

The  family  of  Eabian  appears  to  have  been  seated  here  in  the 
sixteenth  century  :  the  parish  register  contains  an  entry  of  the  mar- 
riage of  Margaret  Fabian,  in  1558  ;  and  from  other  entries  in  the 
churchwarden's  book  of  accounts,  the  family  seems  to  have  been  the 
wealthiest  in  the  parish,  and  are  supposed  to  be  descendants  of  John 
Fabian,  the  Chronicler,  who  published  his  well  known  "  Chronicle" 
in  1516,  4to. ;  which  receives  further  confirmation,  as  a  field  near 


334  HUNDRED  OF   STOW. 

the  vicarage  is  yet  called  "  Chronicle  Field,"  aud  the  head  of  a  rivu- 
let in  this  parish  is  called  "  Fabian's  Spring." 

Sir  Eichard  Gardiner,  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  in  the  18th  of 
King  Edward  IV.,  was  son  of  John  Gardiner,  of  this  parish.  Mary, 
his  daughter  and  heiress,  married  to  Sir  Giles  Alington,  about  the 
12th  of  King  Henry  VIII.  The  families  of  Carter  and  Shepheard 
were  formerly  residents  in  this  parish,  several  of  whom  are  interred 
in  this  church. 

In  the  33rd  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  the  rectory  and  advowson  of 
this  vicarage  were  granted  to  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Canterbury, 
as  part  of  the  possession  of  Battle  Abbey,  in  Sussex ;  of  the  gift  of 
William  Eufus.  Among  the  vicars  we  find  Kobert  Peachy,  B.D., 
formerly  Fellow  of  Pembroke  Hall,  Keeper  of  the  Public  Library, 
and  Proctor  of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  rector  of  Stradishall, 
and  20  years  incumbent  here.  He  deceased  in  1702.  James  Mar- 
getson  succeeded,  and  was  buried  in  1736.  Watson  Tokey,  who 
died  in  1784.  He  planted  the  lime  walk,  which  ornaments  the 
churchyard,  shortly  before  his  death.  Cooper  Willyams.  who  had 
been  Chaplain  on  board  the  "  Swiftsure"  frigate,  and  published  his 
"Voyage  up  the  Mediterranean,  under  Lord  Nelson,  1791,"  in  a 
somewhat  expensive  form,  in  1802.  He  resigned  this  living  in  1806. 

The  Eev.  Thomas  Frognall  Dibdin,  D.D.,  the  learned  and  popu- 
lar author  of  the  "  Bibliomania/'  and  various  other  useful  and  highly 
interesting  works,  is  the  present  incumbent.  Dr.  Dibdin  succeeded 
to  this  living,  upon  the  decease  of  Charles  Eobt.  Marshall,  in  1823; 
and  was  instituted  and  inducted  in  the  month  of  August,  in  that  year. 

CHARITIES. — William  Lucy  devised  an  estate,  consisting  of  a 
barn,  and  76  acres  of  land,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  repairing  and 
beautifying  the  church ;  of  which  the  parish  has  had  the  benefit 
about  two  centuries. — Francis  Shepheard,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  gave 
the  clock  bell,  now  hanging  upon  the  top  of  this  steeple,  to  the  pa- 
rish church  of  Ixning,  in  1724. 


GEEAT  FINBOBOUGH,  or  FINEBRAGA. 

In  the  22nd  of  King  Edward  I.,  William  de  Boyton,  had  a  grant 
of  free  warren  in  a  lordship  here,  and  in  Combs  ;  and  was  then  styled 
De  Boyton,  in  Suffolk,  where  he  probably  resided.  In  the  3rd  of 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  535 

the  following  reign,  Kirby  says,  Kalph,  Lord  Pipard,  held  a  lordship 
here. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  III.,  James  de  Boteler,  1st  Earl  of 
Ormond,  held  the  manor  of  ^ynesborowe  of  the  King  in  capite,  by 
the  service  of  half  a  Knight's  fee ;  he  deceased  seized  of  the  same 
in  that  year,  and  James  do  Boteler,  his  only  son,  was  next  heir  of 
the  said  Earl. 

In  the  38th  of  the  same  reign,  Elianor,  Countess  dowager  of 
Ormond,  his  relict,  held  the  manor  called  Compton  Hall,  in  Fyn- 
borough,  by  the  like  service ;  and  died  possessed  of  the  same  in 
that  year.  She  was  daughter  of  Humphrey  Bohun,  Earl  of 
Hereford  and  Essex,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  7th  daughter  of  King 
Edward  I. 

James  de  Boteler,  2nd  Earl  of  Ormond,  succeeded ;  and  died 
seized  of  the  said  lordship,  which  he  held  of  John  of  Gaunt,  Duke 
of  Lancaster,  son  of  King  Edward  III.,  in  the  6th  of  Richard  II. ; 
and  James  was  his  son  and  heir,  aged  24  years,  and  upwards. 

In  1359,  the  said  Earl,  was  appointed  Lord  Justice  of  Ireland  ; 
and  in  1361,  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence,  3rd  son  of  King  Edward 
III.,  being  made  Lord  Lieutenant,  he  attended  him  thither;  having 
for  himself,  4s.  per  day  ;  for 'retinue,  2s.  each  for  two  Knights,  12d. 
each  for  27  Esquires,  6d.  each  for  20  Hoblers  armed,  and  4d.  each 
for  20  Hoblers  unarmed ;  and  in  1364,  he  was  deputy  to  the  said 
Duke. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  granted  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  to 
Henry  Gilbert,  Esq. ;  and  a  descendant  of  his,  Sir  John  Gilbert, 
Knt.,  built  Finborough  Hall :  he  left  three  daughters  and  co-heirs ; 
the  eldest  married  to  Sir  William  Forthe,  of  Butley  Abbey,  Knt., 
and  after  his  decease,  to  Gresham  Perkins,  Esq.,  and  lastly,  to 
William  Tyrell,  of  Bury  Abbey,  Esq.  She  is  interred  in  the  church 
of  Stowmarket.  The  youngest  daughter  was  married  to  Sir  John 
Poley,  of  Stowmarket,  Knt. 

Elizabeth,  the  other  daughter,  married  to  Sir  Roger  North,  of 
Mildenhall,  Knt.,  who  was  owner  of  Finborough  Hall  in  the  time  of 
Bang  James  and  King  Charles.  His  second  wife  was  Thomasine, 
2nd  daughter  of  Thomas  Clench,  Esq.,  of  Holbrook ;  by  whom  he 
had  no  issue;  but  by  the  former,  who  deceased  in  1612,  he  had 
two  sons,  Henry  and  Dudley  North,  and  a  daughter,  Mary.  Sir 
Roger  deceased  in  1651,  his  lady  survived  until  1655.  Henry 
North,  Esq,  (afterwards  Sir  Henry  North,  Bart.,  so  created  in 


530  HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 

1660),  succeeded  ;  who  in  1656,  sold  this  estate  to  William  Wollas- 
ton,  Esq.,  of  Shenton,  in  Leicestershire ;  whose  descendant  con- 
tinued to  reside  at  Finborough  Hall,  until  about  the  year  1791. 
The  Kev.  William  Wollaston,  the  author  of  that  well  known  work, 
"  The  Religion  of  Nature  Delineated,"  was  proprietor  of  this  estate, 
and  resided  here.  He  was  interred  in  this  parish  church,  in  1724, 
with  divers  others  of  his  family. 

William  Wollaston,  Esq.,  his  grandson,  was  Colonel  of  the  East- 
ern Battalion  of  Suffolk  Militia,  and  representative  in  Parliament 
for  the  borough  of  Ipswich,  in  three  successive  sessions ;  viz.,  in 
1768,  1774,  and  1780.  In  1794,  he  sold  this  estate  to  Roger  Pet- 
tiward,  of  Putney,  in  Surrey,  Esq. ;  where  the  family  enjoyed  an 
estate  for  a  length  of  time,  unusual  so  near  the  metropolis. 

He  was  son  of  Roger  Mortlock,  D.D.,  who  took  the  name  of  Pet- 
tiward,  in  1749,  and  deceased  in  1780.  Mr.  Pettiward  was  origi- 
nally a  partner  in  the  respectable  firm  of  Wright  and  Gill,  whole- 
sale stationers,  Abchurch  Lane,  but  continued  in  business  only  a  few 
years.  He  erected  the  present  mansion  of  Finborough  Hall,  in 
1795,  which  is  delightfully  situated. 

In  1788,  he  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  ; 
and  in  1811,  served  the  office  of  Sheriff  of  this  county:  he  was 
Master  of  the  Stationers'  Company,  in  1831-2.  He  married,  in 
1800,  Jane  Seymour,  daughter  of  Francis  Colman,  Esq.,  of  Hillers- 
don,  in  Devonshire ;  and  deceased  in  1833.  His  lady  survives  him, 
and  resides  at  Finborough  Hall,  having  re-married  to  Sir  William 
Hotham,  K.C.B.,  Admiral  of  the  Blue,  in  1835. 

The  rectory  and  advowson  of  tin's  parish  church  were  vested  in 
Butley  Abbey,  of  the  grant  of  a  descendant  of  Ranulph  de  Glan- 
ville,  the  founder  of  that  Monastery,  and  so  continued  till  the  dis- 
solution ;  but  in  1559,  the  Bishop  of  Ely  obtained  a  grant  of  the 
same,  in  exchange  for  other  property.  The  vicarage  remains  in  the 
gift  of  that  See. 

ARMS. — Gilbert :  azure  ;  a  chevron  engrailed,  ermine  ;  between 
three  eagles  displayed,  argent.  North :  azure  ;  a  lion  passant,  or; 
between  three  fleurs-de-lis,  argent.  Wollaston:  argent;  three 
mullets,  sable  ;  pierced  of  the  field. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  farm  house,  with  out- 
buildings, two  cottages,  and  about  60  acres  of  land,  in  Great  and 
Little  Finborough,  which  lets  at  £52  10s.  a  year;  and  the  rents, 
after  deducting  for  repairs,  are  distributed  by  the  feoffees  among 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  537 

the  poor  of  this  parish,  according  to  their  necessities,  and  the  size 
of  their  families. 


LITTLE  FINBOROUGH. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  appears  to  have  passed  as  that  of 
Great  Finborough,  and  was  anciently  vested  in  John  de  Pipard,  and 
Robert  Fitzwalter. 

The  church  was  impropriated  to  the  Priory  at  Bricet;  which, 
with  the  other  alien  Priories,  was  suppressed  by  the  Parliament  of 
Leicester,  in  the  2nd  of  King  Henry  V. ;  and  this  impropriation 
was  granted,  with  the  said  Monastery,  by  King  Henry  VI.,  in  1426, 
to  King's  College,  Cambridge. 

CHARITIES. — The  charity  estate  here  was  settled  for  the  use  of 
the  poor  by  William  Fowler,  in  1671,  and  comprises  a  messuage, 
called  Bennett's,  with  a  garden  and  croft,  containing  in  the  whole 
about  six  acres,  in  the  parish  of  Ringshall ;  let  at  £12  a  year  :  and 
a  piece  of  ground  in  this  parish,  containing  8  poles  by  6,  being  the 
site  of  an  old  messuage,  and  which  was  let  in  1786,  for  60  years,  at 
2s.  a  year :  the  lessee  had  to  level  and  bring  the  land  into  cultiva- 
tion. The  rents  are  distributed  among  the  poor  of  the  parish,  pre- 
ference being  given  to  widows,  and  the  most  deserving. 


GIPPING,  or  GIPPEN, 

Is  a  hamlet  of  Old  Newton,  and  has  for  many  ages,  been  the  estate 
and  place  of  residence,  of  a  branch  of  the  very  ancient  and  Knightly 
family  of  Tyrell :  a  family  of  the  most  undoubted  antiquity,  whose 
ancestry  may  be  satisfactorily  traced  to  the  period  of  the  Norman 
Conquest ;  and  for  more  than  six  centuries  its  chief  in  a  direct  line, 
enjoyed  the  honour  of  Knighthood. 

They  derive  from  Sir  Walter  Tyrell,  a  Norman  Knight;  who 
soon  after  his  arrival  in  England,  became  tenant  of  the  manor  of 
Langham,  in  Essex,  which  he  held  at  the  general  survey,  under 
Richard  de  Tonbrigg :  from  whom  divers  honourable  branches  of 
this  house  have  since  eminatcd ;  as  the  Tyrells,  of  Thornton,  in 


538  HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 

Bucks,  created  Baronets  by  two  patents,  the  first  in  1627,  and  the 
other  in  1638  ;  with  those  of  Hanslape,  in  that  county,  advanced  to 
the  same  dignity,  in  1665 ;  and  those  of  Springfield,  in  Essex, 
created  Baronets  the  following  year ;  all  of  whom  have  since  be- 
come extinct ;  with  the  exception  of  Sir  John  Tyssen  Tyrell,  Bart., 
of  Boreham  House,  in  Essex,  the  present  representative  in  Parlia- 
ment for  the  northern  division  of  that  county. 

The  earliest  member  of  the  family  who  became  seated  in  this 
hamlet,  appears  to  be  William,  second  son  of  Sir  John  Tyrell,  of 
Heron,  Knt.,  Treasurer  of  the  Household  to  King  Henry  VI. ;  and 
Sir  James  Tyrell,  Knt.,  eldest  son  and  successor  to  the  above 
William,  was  Captain  of  Guisnes,  in  France,  in  the  time  of  Henry 
VII.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Arundel,  Knt.,  by 
the  daughter  of  Lord  Morley. 

Their  lineal  descendants  have  ever  since  been  in  possession*  of 
this  estate ;  the  present  owner  being  Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  late  re- 
presentative of  this  county,  in  three  successive  Parliaments,  during 
the  last  reign. 

Gipping  Hall  (an  engraving  of  which  is  given  in  Davy's  "  Suffolk 
Seats"),  is  situate  in  a  spacious  lawn,  surrounded  by  extensive  woods. 
The  mansion  has  undergone  various  alterations  by  its  respective  oc- 
cupants, but  the  site  has  continued  the  same.  The  chapel,  which 
is  detached  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  house,  is  a  chaste  speci- 
men of  the  Gothic  style  of  architecture,  of  the  period  of  Henry  VI. 
On  the  soffit  of  the  entrance  arch  of  the  chancel,  ' '  Pray  for  the 
souls  of  Sir  James  Tirell,  and  Dame  Ann  his  wyf"  is  cut  in  an- 
cient characters. 

The  Eiver  Gippen  has  its  source  at  this  village,  running  in  a 
south-east  direction,  it  waters  Ipswich ;  and  assuming  below  that 
town  the  name  of  Orwell,  proceeds  to  meet  the  Stour,  opposite  Har- 
wich. It  was  made  navigable  from  Stowmarket  to  Ipswich,  in 
1793,  a  distance  of  sixteen  miles ;  and  has  fifteen  locks.  The  total 
expense  incurred  in  the  undertaking,  was  ;£26,380. 

ARMS. — Tyrell:  argent;  two  chevronels,  azure,  within  a  bor- 
dure  engrailed,  gules :  a  martlet  for  difference.  Crest :  a  boar's 
head  erect,  argent ;  out  of  his  mouth  a  peacock's  tail,  proper. 

CHARITIES. —Margaret  English,  by  indenture,  dated  24th  June, 
the  9th  of  King  James  I.,  conveyed  to  Thomas  Tyrell,  and  others, 
and  their  heirs,  a  messuage,  barn,  orchard,  and  lands,  in  Thorney, 
in  Stowmarket,  upon  trust ;  yearly  to  give  20s.  to  ten  poor  people 


HUNDRED   OF  STOW.  539 

at  Newton  church  ;  that  is,  Is.  every  half  year  to  each ;  30s.  at  the 
church  of  Stowmarket,  to  15  of  the  most  indigent  people  living  in 
Stowmarket,  Is.  to  each  every  half  year ;  and  the  residue  of  the 
rents  to  the  poor  of  Gipping.  The  estate,  which  comprises  a  cot- 
tage, ham,  and  11  acres  of  land,  produces  the  annual  rent  of  £14  ; 
the  tenant  heing  bound  by  agreement  to  cart  wood  and  fuel  for  the 
poor,  and  find  straw  for  thatching  the  cottage  and  barn.  The  rent, 
after  deducting  the  annuities  mentioned  in  the  deed,  is  distributed 
in  coals,  wood,  blankets,  or  wearing  apparel,  and  small  pecuniary 
donations,  among  poor  persons  in  the  parish. — A  rent  charge  of 
£3  6s.  8d.  a  year  for  the  poor,  payable  out  of  an  estate  in  this  pa- 
rish, belonging  to  Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  and  which  was  given  by  the 
will  of  the  said  Margaret  English,  is  added  and  applied  with  the 
rent  of  the  charity  estate. 


HALSTON. — HARLESTON,  or  HEROLUESTUNA. 

In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  manor  with  the  advowson  was 
a  part  of  the  possession  of  the  Augustine,  or  Black  Canons,  of  But- 
ley  Priory ;  probably  by  the  gift  of  Ranulph  de  Glanville,  the  foun- 
der; and  so  continued  until  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  when 
Charles,  Viscount  Lisle,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  same. 

Sir  John  Clifton,  of  Bukenham  Castle  (the  last  heir  male  of  the 
eldest  branch  of  the  Cliftons),  by  his  will,  proved  in  1447,  gives  to 
Robert  Clifton,  his  cousin,  the  lordship  of  Topcroft,  with  that  of 
Denton ;  on  condition,  he  made  a  free  estate  to  his  executors,  in 
his  manors  of  Haukers,  in  Harlston  and  Shelley ;  one  of  which 
was  to  be  sold  by  his  executors,  and  the  other  to  go  to  his  heirs, 
according  to  the  change  agreed  upon  between  them. 

Lady  Penelope,  daughter  of  Thomas,  Earl  Rivers,  held  this  lord- 
ship ;  which  she  settled  and  confirmed  by  her  last  will,  dated  in 
1656,  upon  Henry  Gage,  Esq.,  her  third  son,  by  her  second  hus- 
band, Sir  John  Gage,  of  Firle,  in  Sussex,  Bart.  He  married  Hen- 
rietta, daughter  of  Thomas  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrook,  brother  of  Henry, 
Earl  of  St.  Albaus,  and  had  a  son,  John  Gage,  who  died  without 
issue ;  when  this  manor  passed  to  the  Hengrave  branch  of  the  family. 

In  1 642,  Sir  Roger  North,  Knt.,  of  Great  Finborough,  presented 
to  this  parish  church ;  and  in  1764,  Sir  William  Gage,  Bart.,  is  re- 


540  HUNDRED   OF  STOW. 

turned  as  patron  of  this  living ;  and  subsequently  Robert  Joseph 
Rokewood,  Esq.,  of  Coldham  Hall ;  but  lately,  Roger  Pettiward, 
of  Great  Finborough  Hall,  Esq. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  King  James,  the  family  of 
Musket  were  residents  in  this  parish  ;  the  estate  of  which  they  were 
then  proprietors  was  estimated  at  about  £300  per  annum.  Charles 
Humphry  tenanted  Harleston  Hall  in  the  time  of  King  Charles, 
after  he  had  sold  his  estate  at  Rishangles. 

William  Smith,  D.D.,  born  at  Paston,  in  Norfolk,  was  admitted 
a  pensioner  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,  in  1632,  and  be- 
came a  scholar  there  the  next  year.  He  took  the  degree  of  A.B.,  in 
1635,,  proceeded  A.M.,  in  1639,  and  was  ordained  Priest  at  the  age 
of  twenty-six.  Mr.  Smith  held  the  rectory  of  this  parish,  in  the 
patronage  of  Sir  Eoger  North,  in  1642,  upon  the  resignation  of 
Henry  Wetherell ;  which  he  held  with  the  vicarage  of  Mendlesham, 
from  whence  Walker  says  he  was  ejected ;  but  he  probably  resigned 
them  both  for  the  rectory  of  Flowton,  to  which  he  was  instituted  in 
1644,  on  the  presentation  of  the  Countess  of  Exeter ;  and  for  that 
of  Cotton,  which  he  became  possessed  of  about  the  same  time. 

He  is  probably  the  same  person  who  commenced  D.D.  in  1665, 
and  was  installed  a  Prebend  in  Norwich  Cathedral,  in  1670 ;  which 
he  held  till  his  death,  which  took  place  about  1696.  He  was  the 
author  of  several  sermons,  and  other  theological  works. 

ARMS. — Humphry :  gules  ;  a  lion  rampant,  or  ;  armed  langued, 
sable ;  over  his  head  a  crown  of  the  second.  Musket  :•  argent ; 
two  bars  between  six  leopards'  faces,  gules  ;  3,  2,  and  1 . 


HAUGIILEY. — HAGONETH,  HAGHELE,  or  HANGHLE. 

Haughley  Castle  was  one  of  the  Seignories,  or  lordships  termed 
honours,  on  which  other  lordships  and  manors  depended,  by  the 
performance  of  certain  customs  and  services  ;  and  those  who  held 
lands  of  these  honours,  by  Knight's  service,  held  the  same  of  the 
King  in  capite,  or  as  their  chief  lord. 

These  were  originally  very  limited  in  number,  consisting  only  of 
four  in  the  whole  kingdom  ;  which  were,  Bononia,  Dover  Castle,  in 
Kent,  Hagoneth  (or  Haughley)  Castle,  in  Suffolk,  and  Peverell,  in 
Nottinghamshire.  Others  were  subsequently  added,  and  some  by 


HUNDRED  OF   STOW.  541 

Act  of  Parliament ;  for  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  he  was 
empowered  to  erect  four  several  honours. 

At  first  these  honours  were  such  lordships  only  as  belonged  to 
the  Crown,  but  afterwards  they  were  granted  in  fee  to  such  noble 
personages  as  by  their  services  had  merited  a  reward  from  their 
Sovereign.  They  were  the  Baronial  residences  of  their  respective 
owners  ;  and  the  site  of  that  in  this  parish  is  large  and  commanding. 

This  ancient  fortress  Kirby  describes  as  approaching  in  form  to  a 
square,  surrounded  by  a  deep  ditch,  and  fortified  with  a  rampant  of 
earth,  except  towards  the  north,  on  which  stood  the  Keep,  on  a  hill 
of  very  steep  ascent,  and  surrounded  also  by  a  moat.  The  extent 
of  the  site,  with  the  necessary  out- works,  is  estimated  at  seven  acres. 
Of  this  structure  very  slight  remains  are  at  this  period  visible,  which 
will  not  appear  surprising,  when  we  consider  the  great  length  of 
time  it  has  laid  in  ruins ;  for  we  learn  that  being  in  the  custody  of 
Eobert  de  Broc,  in  1173,  it  was  attacked  by  Robert,  Earl  of  Lei- 
cester, and  entirely  demolished. 

This  Castle,  Manor,  and  Park,  became  vested  in  the  De  Uffords, 
and  De  la  Poles,  Earls  and  Dukes  of  Suffolk  ;  and  Edmund  De  la 
Pole,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  who  was  beheaded  in  the  5th  of  King  Henry 
VIII.,  died  seized  of  the  same.  The  same  year,  a  petition  was  pre- 
sented to  the  throne,  on  the  behalf  of  Margaret  De  la  Pole,  his  re- 
lict, stating  that  she  had  a  life  interest  in  this  estate,  Westhorpe, 
and  several  other  manors  in  Suffolk  ;  and  they  were  assigned  her 
accordingly.  They  reverted  to  the  Crown  upon  her  decease,  in  or 
about  1516;  and  Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  obtained  a 
grant  of  the  same. 

In  the  first  of  Queen  Mary,  Sir  John  Sulyard,  of  Wetherden, 
Knt.,  by  letters  patent,  had  a  grant  of  this  estate,  in  return  for  his 
active  services  in  her  cause.  He  erected  the  present  old  mansion 
in  Haughley  Park,  and  removing  from  the  adjoining  parish  of  We- 
therden, made  it  his  future  residence. 

From  the  above  period,  Haughley  Park  continued  to  be  the  seat 
of  his  descendant,  till  the  year  1799  ;  when  Edward  Sulyard,  Esq., 
deceased  without  male  issue,  and  the  estate  was  sold  for  division  be- 
tween his  three  daughters  and  co-heirs ;  namely,  Sophia,  the  eldest, 
married  to  John  Carey,  Esq.,  of  Lincoln's  Inn ;  Lucy,  the  second 
daughter,  married  to  Hugh  Smythe,  Esq.,  of  Acton  Burnell,  in  Sa- 
lop ;  and  Frances,  married  to  Sir  George  W.  Jerningham,  of  Cos- 
sey,  in  Norfolk,  Bart.,  now  Baron  Stafford. 


542  HUNDRED  OF   STOW. 

Sir  George  W.  Jerningham,  Bart.,  resided  here  until  the  decease 
of  his  father,  in  1809.  It  has  since  heen  purchased  by  William 
Crawford,  Esq. ;  and  William  Henry  Crawford,  Esq.,  his  son  and 
heir,  is  the  present  owner,  and  resides  here. 

The  manor  of  Haughley  was  very  extensive ;  in  the  Domesday 
survey  it  is  stated  to  he  three  miles  long,  and  one  and  a  half  broad, 
and  that  it  contained  10  slaves,  32  villains,  8  cottagers  (bordarii),  6 
farmers  (socmanni),  18  maids  (ancillse),  42  acres  of  meadow,  901 
acres  of  arable  land,  80  of  doubtful,  with  one  wood ;  that  here  were 
83-  teams  of  oxen,  24  men-ploughs,  280  hogs,  146  sheep,  80  goats, 
and  6  horses. 

The  public  papers  state,  that  in  1811,  this  manor  (extending 
over  2442  acres),  22  dwelling  houses,  and  28  messuages,  with  the 
spacious  mansion  house  and  offices,  and  a  park  and  land,  containing 
about  396  acres,  were  sold  for  £27,840,  exclusive  of  timber.  It 
anciently  possessed  numerous  and  important  rights  and  privileges. 
(See  Kirby,  p.  189.) 

The  manor  of  Haughley  Castle  in  the  time  of  King  Charles,  was 
Stephen  OfFwood's ;  in  which  family  it  continued  some  generations. 
In  the  1st  Edition  of  Kirby,  1735,  he  says,  "  in  this  parish  is  the 
seat  of  Charles  Knipe,  Esq.,"  which  we  presume  means  "  Plashwood 
Castle  Farm,"  the  present  estate  and  occasional  residence  of  Charles 
Tyrell,  Esq.,  which  he  inherits  in  right  of  his  first  wife,  the  only 
child  and  heiress  of  Richard  Eay,  Esq.,  late  of  Plashwood.  Ad- 
joining the  grounds  of  which  seat,  is  the  site  of  Haughley  Castle, 
belonging  to  the  same  proprietor.* 

ARMS. — Sulyard:  argent;  a  chevron,  gules;  between  three 
phseons,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands  consist  of  the  following  particu- 
lars : — A  messuage,  formerly  called  the  Guild  Hall,  consisting  of 
four  tenements,  with  a  garden  adjoining ;  the  aggregate  rents,  £7 
7s. :  two  parcels  of  ground,  called  the  Town  Meadows,  one  of  them 
containing  IA.  2R.,  let  at  £3  a  year,  the  other  containing  about  3 
acres,  let  together  with  a  piece  of  arable  land,  called  Broom  Hall 
Eield,  containing  by  estimation  SA.  3R.,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £7  for 
the  two  parcels  :  the  Broom  Hall  Field  is  copyhold,  held  of  the  ma- 
nor of  Dagworth  with  Sorrel :  a  piece  of  ground,  copyhold  of  the 
manor  of  Haughley,  containing  little  more  than  a  rood,  formerly 
the  site  of  a  house  adjoining  the  church-yard,  let  at  16s.  a  year. 

*  Haughley  Park  and  Plashwood  are  both  engraved  in  Davy's  "  Suffolk  Seats." 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  543 

Subject  to  the  repairs,  the  rents  are  applied  partly  in  the  way  of 
distribution,  and  partly  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  sold  at  reduced 
prices  to  poor  persons. — In  1599,  Thomas  Ballard  devised  the 
close  and  ground,  which  he  lately  bought  of  John  Burrough,  of 
Thornham,  to  hold  to  the  said  John  Burrough,  his  heirs  and  as- 
signs, for  ever,  subject  to  the  payment  of  10s.  yearly,  to  the  relief 
of  the  poor  of  the  parish  of  Haughley,  to  be  distributed  to  ten  of 
them ;  and  to  lend  £5  upon  security,  to  the  poor  neighbours  of  the 
said  John  Burrough,  for  the  space  of  a  year  or  less,  if  need  so  re- 
quired, without  taking  anything  over. 


NEWMAKKET. 

This  town,  although  situate  at  the  very  extremity  of  the  county, 
is  reckoned  in  this  hundred.  It  contains  two  parishes,  and  as  many 
churches  :  St.  Mary,  and  All  Saints ;  the  former  only  being  in 
Suffolk,  the  other  in  Cheveley  hundred,  in  the  county  of  Cambridge. 

It  is  chiefly  celebrated  in  racing  annals,  which  commenced  in  the 
time  of  King  Charles  II. ;  but  it  is  probable  that  there  had  been 
races  here  at  an  earlier  period.  Sir  Simonds  D'Ewes,  in  his  "Jour- 
nal," makes  incidental  mention  of  a  horse  race  in  Cambridgeshire, 
in  the  reign  of  King  James  I.,  near  Liiiton,  at  which  town  the  com- 
pany slept  on  the  night  of  the  race.  They  are  now  held  at  New- 
market seven  times  in  the  year. 

Ancient  records  make  mention  of  a  manor  here,  which  belonged 
to  the  Priory  of  Fordham,  in  Cambridgeshire ;  also  the  manor  of 
Botelers,  which  belonged  to  the  family  of  that  name.  In  the  35th 
of  King  Edward  III.,  Hawise,  relict  of  Ealph  Boteler,  held  for  the 
term  of  her  life,  the  moiety  of  a  messuage,  forty  acres  of  land,  two 
of  meadow,  half  a  windmill,  and  30s.  rent,  with  the  appurtenances, 
in  Newmarket  and  Exning,  of  the  King  in  capite,  by  the  service  of 
one  Espear  per  annum. 

The  manor  of  Wyke's  Place,  belonged  to  the  Slades ;  and  a  ma- 
nor which  lay  in  this  town,  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Prior  and 
monks  of  Thetford.  In  1406,  William  Knight,  sold  to  Edmund 
Eldehall,  of  Wood  Ditton,  Esq.,  and  others,  all  his  lands  in  New- 
market, laying  in  the  manor  of  the  Prior  of  Thetford,  called  Monks 


544  HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 

Wyke  ;  which  lands,  in  1412,  were  settled  by  the  said  Edmund,  on 
the  above  Prior. 

The  Duke  of  Rutland  is  the  present  lord  of  these  manors,  by  in- 
heritance from  Charles,  6th  Duke  of  Somerset;  who  gave  the  same, 
with  Cheveley,  and  some  other  manors  in  this  vicinity,  in  marriage 
with  his  daughter,  Lady  Frances  Seymour,  with  John,  Marquis  of 
Granby,  in  1750.  It  had  been  previously,  for  several  successive 
generations,  in  the  Allingtons,  and  their  predecessors  the  Argentines, 
who  had  the  patronage  of  a  chapel  in  Newmarket,  dedicated  to  St. 
Simon  and  St.  Jude. 

The  earliest  period  at  which  any  record  is  known  concerning 
this  town  is  in  the  year  1227,  when  it  probably  took  its  name  from 
a  market  then  recently  established. 

This  town  gave  birth  to  Thomas  Markes,  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  fa- 
mous for  his  steady  adherence  to  King  Richard  II.,  for  which  he 
was  deprived  of  his  Bishopric,  in  1399,  and  was  afterwards  vicar  of 
Sturminster,  in  Dorsetshire ;  and  in  1404,  became  rector  of  Toden- 
ham,  in  Gloucestershire.  He  deceased  about  1409. 

Mem. — A  chalk  pit  in  which  lime  is  burnt,  about  100  yards  dis- 
tance from  the  turnpike  road  leading  from  Newmarket  to  Bury  St. 
Edmund's,  and  on  the  north  side  of  it,  affords  many  fossil  remains 
of  marine  animals.  It  is  not  far  distant  from  Carmerow  bridge. 


OLD  NEWTON  ST.  MARY,  or  NEWETONA, 

Is  a  member  of  Stowmarket.  In  1 1 6 1,  Sir  Robert  de  Mounteney  held 
of  Richard  de  Lucy,  one  Knight's  fee  in  this  parish,  in  frank  pledge, 
with  Dionisia,  daughter  of  the  said  Richard,  whom  he  marrried. 

In  1246,  Margaret,  relict  of  Hubert  de  Burgh,  Lord  Chief  Jus- 
tice, and  Earl  of  Kent,  released  to  John  de  Burgh,  her  son-in-law, 
son  of  Hubert,  by  Margaret,  his  first  wife,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Ro- 
bert Arsick,  Knt.,  her  dower  in  this  parish.  This  Margaret  was 
the  3rd  wife  of  Hubert,  and  sister  of  Alexander,  King  of  Scotland. 

By  an  inquisition  taken  the  30th  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  jury 
present,  that  it  would  not  be  to  the  King's  prejudice,  if  Sir  William 
de  Boyton  granted  one  messuage,  fifty  acres  of  land,  &c.,  in  this 
parish,  held  in  capite,  to  William,  his  son  and  heir,  then  of  age. 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  545 

By  this  it  appears,  at  that  period  a  tenant  in  capite,  could  not 
grant,  or  assign,  without  license. 

In  the  following  reign,  William  de  Boyton  was  one  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Shire  for  this  county,  in  three  Parliaments ;  and  sued,  in  the 
9th  of  that  King,  Alexander  de  Clavering,  Sheriff  of  Suffolk,  for 
27s.  and  odd  pence,  his  wages  as  Knight,  and  recovered  it ;  the  jury 
finding  that  Clavering  had  levied  the  money  of  the  county. 

In  the  32nd  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  Bartholomew  Bateman,  who 
had  a  grant  of  a  rent  charge  of  20  marks  per  annum,  issuing  out  of 
this  manor,  and  Langford,  in  Norfolk,  from  Osbert  de  Boyton,  re- 
leased hy  deed,  all  his  right  therein,  to  John  his  son,  and  Sir 
Thomas  Felton,  Knt.  Osbert  de  Boyton  deceased  in  the  19th  of 
the  said  King ;  and  John  de  Boyton  was  his  son  and  heir,  aged  1 1 
years.  The  family  are  supposed  to  have  been  seated  at  Boyton,  in 
Willford  hundred. 

The  Margaret  Pole,  whom  Kirby  says  died  seized  of  the  manor 
of  Newton  Hall,  was  daughter  of  George,  Duke  of  Clarence,  younger 
brother  of  King  Edward  IV.,  wife  of  Kichard  Pole,  Lord  Montague, 
cousin  german  to  Henry  VII.,  and  mother  of  Reginald  Pole,  Car- 
dinal and  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  She  was  created  Countess  of 
Salisbury  by  King  Henry  VIII.,  beheaded  in  1541,  and  was  the 
last  of  the  house  of  the  Plantagenets.  It  appears  this,  with  her 
other  estates,  passed  to  her  son,  Henry  Pole,  Lord  Montague. 

Newton  Hall  is  now  the  property  of  Francis  Slater  Bebow,  Esq., 
of  Wivenhoe  Park,  in  Essex.  The  manor  belonged  to  Sir  George 
Pretyman  Tomline,  Bart.,  late  Bishop  of  Winchester  ;  and  now  to 
Pretyman,  Esq. 

In  the  37th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  the  rectory  of  this  parish,  and 
advowson  of  the  vicarage,  with  the  impropriations  of  Gipping  and 
Dagworth  (chapels  of  Newton),  were  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Darcy, 
Knt.,  as  parcel  of  the  possession  of  St.  Osyth  Abbey,  in  Essex ;  of 
the  grant  of  King  Henry  II. 

The  Rev.  Charles  Bridges,  A.M.,  is  the  present  vicar  of  this  pa- 
rish, author  of  an  "  Exposition  of  Psalm  cxix,"  and  several  other 
popular  theological  works. 

CHARITIES. — See  parish  of  Gipping.  The  sum  of  £1,  the  amount 
of  this  donation,  is  distributed  by  the  vicar  and  churchwardens,  in 
bread,  among  the  poor. 


540  HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 

ONEHOUSE. 

In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  III.,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was 
in  the  possession  of  Bartholomew  Lord  Burghersh  (one  of  the 
twelve  noblemen  to  whose  care  the  Prince  of  Wales  was  committed 
at  the  memorable  hattle  of  Cressy),  with  grant  of  free  warren  for 
all  his  demesne  lands  in  this  county. 

A  farm  house  has  been  built  on  the  site  of  the  old  .hall,  where  he 
probably  resided  ;  which  was  encompassed  with  a  moat,  upon  whose 
eartern  bank  an  oak  is  now  growing,  and  apparently  sound,  the  cir- 
cumferance  of  which,  at  the  smallest  part  of  the  bole,  is  sixteen 
feet,  and  twenty-four  at  the  height  of  three  yards  from  the  ground. 
Notwithstanding  one  of  its  principal  leading  arms,  with  several  other 
massy  boughs  on  the  north  side,  have  been  broken  off  by  tempests, 
it  contains  at  present  upwards  of  four  hundred  and  ninety  feet  of 
solid  timber,  by  measurement,  in  its  stem  and  branches.  About 
sixty  yards  to  the  southward  of  this  venerable  tree,  is  a  broad  leafed 
elm,  whose  boughs  in  the  year  1781,  extended  fifty-four  feet  to- 
wards the  north,  and  near  forty  upon  its  opposite  side,  measuring 
each  way  from  the  centre  of  the  trunk. 

The  greater  part  of  this  parish,  two  centuries  ago,  was  a  wood, 
except  a  narrow  strip  declining  to  the  south  east,  near  this  large 
distinguished  mansion,  which  was  beautifully  seated  upon  a  rising 
ground,  gently  sloping  into  a  valley,  with  a  rivulet  winding  through 
it.  In  the  base-court,  on  the  outside  of  the  moat,  towards  the  east, 
which  is  a  square  of  half  an  acre,  now  the  milking  yard  of  the  farm 
house,  there  was  growing  in  the  year  1776,  as  many  ashen  trees  as 
contained  upwards  of  1300  solid  feet  of  timber. 

This  estate,  with  the  manor  and  advowson  of  the  rectory,  were 
the  property  of  the  late  Koger  Pettiward,  of  Great  Finborough  Hall, 
Esq. ;  whose  paternal  ancestor,  John  Pettiward,  Esq.,  inherited  the 
same,  in  1515  :  he  was  interred  in  St.  Mary's  church,  St.  Edmund's 
Bury. 

The  church,  which  is  small,  and  has  a  font  of  roughly  hewn 
stone,  seems  to  have  been  a  Saxon  building  ;  but  a  part  of 
the  north  wall  only,  extending  about  ten  yards  from  the  tower, 
which  is  circular,  is  all  that  remains  of  the  original  structure.  It 
is  situated  two  hundred  yards  to  the  north  of  the  moat  that  sur- 
rounded the  old  mansion  house,  whose  granduer  and  solitary  situa- 


HUNDRED   OF  STOW.  547 

tion  probably  gave  name  to  the  parish.  No  less  than  a  fifth  por- 
tion of  its  lands  at  present  consist  of  woods,  and  groves  finely 
planted  with  timber ;  and  even  a  part  of  the  rectorial  glebe,  ad- 
joining to  the  parsonage  house,  is  a  wood  of  ten  or  twelve  acres. 

For  the  above  account  of  this  parish,  we  are  indebted  to  "  Letters 
upon  Subjects  of  Literature,"  published  by  the  Kev.  Charles  Davy, 
in  1787,  in  two  volumes,  8vo.  This  gentleman  was  educated  at 
Caius  College,  Cambridge;  where  he  proceeded  to  the  degree  of 
B.A.  1742,  and  M.A.  1748.  He  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of 
Topcroft,  Norfolk,  in  1764  ;  and  in  1776,  to  the  incumbency  of  this 
jparish. 

Mr.  Davy  was  the  author  of  "  Conjectural  Observations  on  the 
Origin  and  Progress  of  Alphabetic  Writing,  1772,"  8vo. ;  also  the 
"  Letters"  above  named.  His  writings  in  general  evince  a  sound 
understanding,  a  correct  taste,  and  a  benevolent  heart.  He  deceased 
in  1797,  in  his  75th  year,  and  lies  interred  in  the  chancel  of  this 
parish  church,  but  without  any  inscription  to  his  memory. 

Daniel  Pettiward  succeeded  to  this  rectory.  He  was  brother  to 
the  late  Roger  Pettiward,  Esq.,  of  Great  Finborough  Hall,  and  was 
a  member  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge;  where  he  graduated, 
B.A.  1789,  and  M.A.  1792.  He  was  presented  to  this  living,  in 
1797,  and  collated  to  Great  Finborough  in  the  following  year,  by 
Bishop  Yorke. 

Charitable  in  life,  he  was  so  in  death,  having  by  will  liberally 
contributed  £4,000  to  the  funds  of  several  useful  institutions ; 
among  them  £600  to  the  Suffolk  County  Hospital,  and  £200  to  the 
Suffolk  Clerical  Charity.  He  also  bequeathed  a  valuable  collection 
of  books  and  works  of  art  to  Trinity  College. 

Mr.  Pettiward  deceased  Nov.  14,  1833,  at  the  Angel  Inn,  at  St. 
Edmund's  Bury,  on  his  road  to  London ;  aged  68.  His  remains 
were  interred  in  the  family  vault  at  Putney,  Surrey. 

The  manor  of  Netherhall,  in  this  parish,  lately  belonged  to  Sir 
John  Shelley,  Bart. ;  and  Onehouse,  with  Caldecott's,  to  Roger 
Pettiward,  Esq.,  of  Great  Finborough  Hall. 


SHELLAND. 
In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was 


548  HUNDRED   OF  STOW. 

vested  in  Eobert  Belet ;  but  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of 
the  Bourchiers,  Earls  of  Essex  :  in  the  28rd  of  Edward  IV.,  Henry 
Bourchier,  Earl  of  Essex,  died  seized  thereof,  when  it  passed  with 
his  other  large  possessions  and  titles,  to  Henry,  his  grandson;  whose 
only  daughter  and  sole  heiress,  Anne,  by  her  marriage  with  William, 
Lord  Parre,  of  Kendal,  Marquis  of  Northampton,  and  Earl  of  Essex, 
brought  it  into  that  family.  He  was  brother  to  Queen  Catherine 
Parre. 

The  Devereux  family,  descendants  of  the  Bourchiers  from  the 
Bohuns,  next  inherited  this  estate ;  and  Robert  Devereux,  third 
Viscount  Hereford,  and  second  Earl  of  Essex,  Earl  Marshal,  and 
Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  sold  the  same,  in  1591. 
This  nobleman  was  the  great  but  unfortunate  favourite  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  and  was  beheaded  Feb.  25,  1600. 

In  1655,  Thomas  Cropley,  Gent.,  lived  in  this  parish,  whose  fa- 
ther was  formerly  Alderman  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury.  His  estate  at 
the  above  period  was  thought  worth  about  £300  per  annum.  He  de- 
ceased in  1659,  and  was  interred  in  Shelland  parish  chapel.  William 
Cropley,  Esq.,  was  thrice  married ;  his  first  wife  was  Elizabeth, 
daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Arthur  Dowe,  of  Dallinghoo,  in  this  county, 
by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Eobert,  who  both  died  sin- 
gle ;  and  a  daughter  Margaret,  who  married  to  Thomas  Smith, 
Esq.,  of  Croxton,  in  Norfolk.  She  died  in  1688. 

His  second  wife  was  Catherine,  daughter  of  Sir  Charles  Harbord, 
Knt.,  of  Staninghall,  in  Norfolk,  and  widow  of  Thomas  Wright, 
Esq.,  of  Kilverston,  in  the  same  county ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  an 
only  son,  Harbord,  and  five  daughters.  His  third  wife  was  Judith, 
the  relict  of  Eoger  Kedington,  of  Eougham,  in  this  county,  Esq. 

Mr.  Cropley  deceased  at  Haughley  Park,  in  1717,  aged  82  years; 
and  was  buried,  with  divers  of  his  family,  at  Shelland.  Harbord 
Cropley,  Esq.,  his  only  son  by  his  second  marriage,  succeeded;  and 
John  Harbord,  Esq.,  4th  son  of  the  above  Sir  Charles  Harbord, 
Knt.,  and  lord  of  Gunton,  in  Norfolk,  died  without  issue,  and  de- 
vised his  estates  to  his  nephew,  the  above  Harbord  Cropley,  Esq. ; 
who  took  the  surname  of  Harbord. 

He  married ,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Eant,  of  Thorp  Mar- 
ket, in  Norfolk:  Sir  William  MorJen  Harbord,  K.B.,  his  nephew, 
was  created  a  Baronet,  in  1745,  and  is  the  lineal  ancestor  of  Ed- 
ward Vernon  Harbord,  Baron  Suffield,  of  Suffield,  in  Norfolk ;  the 
present  Peer  of  that  house. 


HUNDRED  OF   STOW.  G49 

Rockylls  Hall  manor,  in  this  parish,  was  formerly  vested  in  the 
Drury  family  ;  and  both,  with  their  demesne,  in  1764,  were  the 
property  of  Richard  Ray,  Esq.,  late  of  Plashwood,  in  Haughley. 
They  now  belong  to  Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  late  M.P.  for  this  county; 
in  right  of  his  first  wife,  the  sole  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  above 
Richard  Ray,  Esq. 

CHARITIES. — The  yearly  sum  of  20s.,  being  a  rent  charge  given 
by  William  Kent,  by  will,  in  1 7 1 2,  to  be  distributed  among  the  poor 
at  Christmas,  is  paid  out  of  a  house  and  orchard  on  Shelland  Green, 
the  property  of  Robert  Buckle ;  and  is  given  to  poor  persons  not 
receiving  parochial  relief. 


STOWMARKET.— TORNEA,  or  THOIINEY. 

In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  this  lordship  was  ancient, 
or  Royal  demesne,  and  then  styled  Tornea  (or  Thorney)  manor ; 
comprising  both  Stow-Market  and  Stow-Upland.  The  seat  of  the 
King's  Bailiff  was  Thorney  Hall,  lying  just  over  the  river  Gyppen, 
and  the  town  extended  from  this  ancient  mansion  to  the  church, 
and  grouped  itself  immediately  round  the  church-yard. 

The  change  of  name  from  Thorney  to  Stowmarket,  occured  pre- 
vious to  1300 ;  Thorney  hamlet  is  still  however  preserved,  and 
formerley  belonged  to  the  Austin  Nuns,  of  Campsey,  in  Suffolk ; 
probably  by  the  gift  of  Sir  Richard  de  Amundeville,  who  was  a  be- 
nefactor to  that  house.  At  the  dissolution,  it  was  granted  to  Thomas, 
Duke  of  Norfolk  ;  and  subsequently  became  vested  in  Sir  Thomas 
Brundish,  Knt.,  Ambassador,  for  a  considerable  period,  at  Constan- 
tinople. In  1764,  it  belonged  to  the  Earl  of  Jersey,  and  is  now  the 
estate  of  Charles  Tyrell,  Esq. 

The  residue  formerly  included  in  Thorney  manor,  with  the  ad- 
vowson,  were  granted  by  King  Edward  I.,  in  1284,  to  the  Abbey  of 
St.  Osythe,  in  Essex;  and  became  appropriated  to  that  house. 
The  Abbot  held  a  Grange  here,  now  called  Abbot's  Hall,  which  for- 
merly passed  under  the  names  of  Abbot's  and  Stow  Hall. 

At  the  dissolution  of  this  Monastery,  Sir  Thomas  Darcy  Knt., 
obtained  a  grant  of  the  same ;  and  they  afterwards  passed  to  the 
Hoos  (or  Howes)  family,  who  were  wealthy  clothiers  in  Stowmarket, 
and  lived  in  rank  and  respectability  there  for  250  years.  In  1764, 


550  HUNDRED  OF   STOW. 

it  was  the  estate  of  William  Lynch,  Esq.,  of  Ipswich,  and  now  be- 
longs to  John  Edgar  Rust,  Esq.,  who  resides  there. 

At  the  period  of  the  ahove  grant,  there  were  two  churches  in  this 
church-yard ;  which  it  appears  were  pulled  down  when  the  present 
edifice  was  erected  ;  which  is  a  handsome  structure  in  the  decora- 
tive style  of  architecture,  and  has  been  recently  re-pewed  at  an  ex- 
pense to  the  parishioners  of  £1000.  Its  interior,  though  plain,  is 
yet  worth  inspection. 

A  market  existed  in  this  town  at  a  very  early  period,  and  is  the 
only  one  connected  with  Stow  hundred  mentioned  in  Domesday. 
The  right  to  the  market  appears  to  have  been  never  disputed,  and 
to  have  remained  in  the  Abbot,  who  received  from  the  King's  grant 
the  principal  manor,  until  1349,  when  Sir  Richard  de  Amundeville 
claimed  the  fair  and  market  in  this  town.  This  was  pleaded  at 
Westminster.  The  Abbot  shewed  that  he  held  the  original  market 
rights,  in  right  of  the  manor  of  Thorney  (in  pure  Eleemosyna),  and 
had  therefore  priority  of  possession.  Amundeville  asserted  that  the 
Abbot  was  only  rector,  and  not  lord.  The  suit  determined  in  fa- 
vour of  the  Abbot. 

The  grant  of  a  market  to  Haughley  was  obtained  either  at  the 
close  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.,  or  beginning  of  that  of  Edward 
IV.,  when  an  attempt  was  made  by  the  lord  of  that  manor  to  change 
the  resort  of  people  to  this  market,  and  bring  them  to  the  latter  pa- 
rish. But  the  attempt  failed,  although  it  involved  the  towns-people 
in  much  trouble,  and  many  of  them  were  fined  for  selling  their 
goods  immediately  outside  the  bounds  of  Haughley  parish.  A  ri- 
valship  appears  to  have  existed  between  the  two  places,  and  con- 
tinued until  towards  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. ;  but  ul- 
timately Haughley  market  appears  to  have  dwindled  away,  whilst 
that  of  Stow  continued  to  flourish. 

Stowmarket  has  been,  from  the  earliest  times,  the  town  in  which 
all  county  meetings  connected  with  the  politics  of  the  kingdom  have 
been  held.  The  nomination  for  members  to  represent  the  county 
in  Parliament,  up  to  the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill,  was  always 
held  in  this  place  ;  and  numerous  records  exist  of  the  different  po- 
litical assemblages  which  were  often  had  there.* 

Stowupland  is  a  place  of  extensive  limits,  but  has  neither  church 

*  These  early  notices  were  kindly  communicated  by  the  Rev.  A.  G.  H.  Hollings- 
wortb,  from  whose  researches  a  more  ample  History  of  the  Town  and  Hundred  of 
Stow,  may  shortly  be  expected. 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  551 

nor  chapel,  and  the  inhabitants,  who  are  now  become  numerous, 
have  hitherto  resorted  to  Stowmarket  church.  The  inconvenience, 
however,  will  shortly  be  remedied,  as  a  new  church  is  in  the  course 
of  erection  ;  the  foundation  of  which  was  laid  on  May  13,  1842,  by 
Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  assisted  by  the  Rev.  A.  G.  H.  Hollingsworth, 
the  vicar,  and  the  four  churchwardens.  The  edifice  is  in  the  early 
English  style,  and  cost  £1200.  The  benches  are  open,  and  all  the 
sittings  free.  It  was  built  by  voluntary  contributions,  collected  un- 
der the  superintendance  of  the  vicar. 

Columbine  Hall,  in  this  place,  was  the  seat  of  Sir  John  Poley, 
who  was  Knighted  in  Ireland,  by  Robert  Devereux,  the  second  of 
that  surname,  Earl  of  Essex.  He  married  the  youngest  daughter 
and  co-heiress  of  Sir  John  Gilbert,  of  Great  Finborough,  Knt.  In 
the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  erected  a  house  in  Stowmarket,  and  re- 
moving from  Columbine  Hall,  made  it  his  residence:  in  1655, 
John  Poley,  Esq.,  his  son,  resided  there.  Ambrose,  eldest  son  of 
John  Crawley,  Esq.,  afterwards  purchased  this  estate.  He  deceased 
in  1754,  without  issue;  it  has  subsequently  passed  as  the  Barking 
Hall  estate,  and  now  belongs  to  the  Earl  of  Ashburnham. 

William  Duffield,  vicar  of  Stowmarket,  and  rector  of  Rougham, 
and  Rattlesden,  both  in  this  county,  in  1455,  was  official  to  John 
Selot,  Archdeacon  of  Sudbury. 

Thomas  Young,  the  private  preceptor  of  Milton,  before  he  was 
sent  to  St.  Paul's  School,  was  a  native  of  Essex.  In  1627,  he  was 
presented  to  the  vicarage  of  Stowmarket.  In  the  following  year, 
Milton,  in  a  letter  from  Cambridge,  promises  him  a  visit  at  his 
country  house,  in  Suffolk,  and  compliments  him  on  the  indepen- 
dency of  mind,  with  which  he  maintained  himself,  like  a  Grecian 
Sage,  or  an  old  Roman  Consul,  on  the  profits  of  a  small  farm. 

In  the  same  year,  however,  in  consequence  of  his  religious  opi- 
nions, and  the  persecution  of  the  puritans  by  Archbishop  Laud,  he 
was  compelled  to  retire  to  the  continent,  where  he  obtained  the  ap- 
pointment of  Minister  to  the  British  merchants  at  Hamburgh.  He 
appears  to  have  returned  to  England  in  or  before  the  year  1640, 
when  the  Long  Parliament  offered  to  him  and  his  brother  exiles, 
protection  from  the  tyranny  of  the  High  Commission,  and  the  Star 
Chamber  Courts. 

In  1643,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines, 
where  he  was  a  constant  attendant,  and  one  of  the  authors  of  the 
book,  called  "  Smectymnuus/'  defended  by  Milton.  On  the  visita- 


552  HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 

tion  of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  by  the  Earl  of  Manchester,  he 
was  preferred  from  a  Preachership  in  Duke's  Palace,  London,  to  the 
Mastership  of  Jesus  College,  Cambridge ;  and  admitted  by  the  Earl 
in  person,  who  came  to  the  College  chapel,  put  him  into  the  Mas- 
ter's seat,  and  with  some  other  formalities,  gave  him  the  investiture 
of  that  headship,  April  12,  1644. 

He  retained  this  situation,  with  much  credit  to  himself,  and  ad- 
vantage to  the  College,  till  Nov.  14,  1650,  when  his  refusal  of  sub- 
scription to  the  Engagement  occasioned  his  ejectment.  Clarke,  the 
biographer,  says  "  He  was  a  man  of  great  learning,  of  much  pru- 
dence, and  piety,  and  of  great  ability  and  fidelity  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry."  Dr.  Young  died  in  this  town,  where  he  had  been  vicar 
twenty- eight  years,  Nov.  28,  1655  ;  and  was  buried,  with  his  wife, 
and  Thomas  Young,  A.M.,  President  of  Jesus  College,  Cambridge, 
his  eldest  son,  in  this  parish  church. 

An  "  Elegy,"  translated  from  the  Latin  of  Milton,  by  Cowper, 
author  of  the  "  Task"  is  inserted  in  the  "  Suffolk  Garland,"  from 
which  pleasing  publication  the  above  account  is  derived.  It  was 
sent  by  Milton  to  his  Tutor,  whilst  resident  on  the  continent,  and 
evinces  in  a  high  degree  the  affection  and  gratitude  of  the  pupil. 

A  portrait  of  Dr.  Young  remains  at  the  vicarage ;  and  the  original 
room,  or  study  where  the  vicar  sat,  is  still  in  its  primeval  state,  with 
its  trap  door,  leading  formerly  into  the  kitchen.  A  mulberry  tree, 
said  to  have  been  planted  by  Milton  on  his  visit  to  his  tutor,  stands 
immediately  opposite  the  window  of  this  ancient  study.  It  measures 
10  feet  3  inches  round  the  trunk,  and  is  still  in  vigorous  bearing. 

The  immediate  predecessor  of  Dr.  Young,  in  this  vicarage,  was 
Eichard  Pernham,  B.D.,  who  deceased  in  1627,  and  lies  buried  un- 
der a  marble  slab  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church,  with  the  cha- 
racter of  a  learned  and  pious  man.  Samuel  Blackerby,  vicar  here 
almost  twelve  years,  died  in  1674. 

Thomas  Blackerby,  of  Stowmarket,  was  elected  Alderman  of  the 
City  of  London,  in  the  year  1666,  and  fined  for  the  same,  and  for 
Sheriff  of  the  said  city.  He  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for 
this  county,  in  1669  ;  deceased  in  1688,  and  was  buried  here.  He 
was  uncle  of  Samuel  Blackerby,  the  vicar. 

Ranulph  de  Glanville,  the  famous  Justiciary,  who  flourished  in  the 
ime  of  Henry  II.,  and  was  founder  of  Butley  Priory,  and  Leiston 
Abbey,  both  in  this  county,  Sir  Edward  Coke  says,  was  a  native  of 
this  town. 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 


553 


Sir  Thomas  Baldry,  Knt.,  mercer,  and  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  in 
1523,  the  15th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  was  son  of  Richard  Baldry, 
of  this  town.  Sir  Thomas  was  buried  in  the  Mercer's  Chapel,  Lon- 
don. He  was  father  to  George  Baldry,  whose  daughter  married  to 
the  Lord  Rich. 

Thomas  Revett,  Esq.,  of  this  town,  married  Joan,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Rnven  ;  and  Sir  Thomas  Revett,  merchant  and  Alderman 
of  London,  and  of  Chippenham,  in  Cambridgeshire,  was  their  se- 
cond son.  He  died  seized  of  the  manor  of  Chippenham  aforesaid, 
in  1582,  leaving  no  male  issue.  Alice,  one  of  his  daughters  and 
co-heirs,  married  Thomas  Gerard,  Esq.,  son  of  Sir  Gilbert  Gerard, 
Master  of  the  Rolls ;  whose  daughter  Elizabeth,  brought  the  said 
lordship,  in  marriage,  to  Sir  William  Russel,  Treasurer  of  the  Navy ; 
who  in  1628,  was  created  a  Baronet. 

ARMS. — Baldry :  gules  ;  a  fess  vairee,  argent  and  azure  :  in 
chief;  on  a  bezant,  an  anchor,  sable,  between  two  mullets,  argent : 
and  in  base ;  three  martlets  of  the  second.  Young :  or ;  three 
piles,  sable  ;  each,  charged  with  an  annulet  of  the  first. 

CHARITIES. — By  a  decree  of  the  Court  of  Chancery,  in  1623, 
and  another  in  1653,  it  was  ordered  that  certain  estates  which  had 
been  devised  by  Margaret  Gowle,  in  1523,  for  superstitious  uses, 
should  be  settled  as  follows :  — viz.,  that  Chilton  Hall  meadow, 
containing  10  acres,  should  be  settled  in  feoffees,  for  the  repair  of 
the  church  of  Stowmarket ;  the  feoffees  deducting  yearly  out  of 
the  rents,  40s.,  to  be  employed  for  the  relief  and  maintenance  of 
the  poor  of  Stowmarket ;  and  that  a  tenement  called  Wyles,  with 
two  acres  of  land  adjoining,  one  acre  in  Perry  Field,  and  two  acres 
of  meadow,  called  Cross  Pightles,  should  be  vested  in  feoffees,  for 
the  relief  and  maintenance  of  the  poor  of  Stowmarket. — The  Chil- 
ton Hall  meadow  contains  a  cottage,  and  2A.  OR.  33p.  of  garden 
ground,  let  at  £16  a  year ;  2A.  2R.  5p.  of  meadow  land,  let  at  £14 
10s.  a  year;  3 A.  IR.  18p.  of  ozier  ground,  and  garden  land,  and 
2A.  IR.  26p.  of  meadow  land,  let  together  at  £32  a  year.  These 
rents,  after  deducting  40s.  a  year  for  the  poor  of  Stowmarket,  are 
appropriated  to  the  repairs  of  the  parish  church. — The  property 
called  Wyles,  consisting  of  a  double  cottage,  and  2A.  OR.  15p.  of 
pasture  land,  in  Stowmarket,  let  at  £18  10s.  a  year:  the  Cross 
I  Pightles,  containing  IA.  2fi.  23p.,  let  at  £10  10s.  a  year :  the  land 

in  Perry  Field,  IA.  IR.  10p.,  together  with  IA.  IR.  9p.  in  the  same 
field  (being  part  of  Shute's  charity  estate,  after  mentioned),  lets  at 


554  HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 

£8  per  annum. — By  deeds,  dated  in  1716,  certain  lands  called 
Spoonman's,  in  Stowupland,  containing  about  11  acres,  were  pur- 
chased by  the  inhabitants  of  Stowmarket,  and  conveyed  to  trustees, 
to  be  employed  for  the  benefit  of  the  inhabitants.  In  1586,  James 
Kivett  gave,  by  will,  certain  lands  adjoining  Spoonman's  lands,  upon 
trust,  that  the  rents  and  profit  should  be  bestowed  amongst  the  poor 
of  this  town.  These  lands,  which  are  now  all  called  Spoonman's, 
containing  together  20A.  2n.  3p.,  with  a  barn  thereon,  are  let  at 
.£40  a  year. — Old  White  Lion : — this  property  was  originally  set- 
tled, but  at  what  time  is  unknown,  in  trustees,  to  the  use  and  bene- 
fit of  the  inhabitants  of  Stowmarket ;  to  the  intent  that  the  profits 
should  be  for  buying  four  gowns,  for  poor  men  or  women,  of  the 
value  of  30s.  at  the  least,  with  the  letters  M.F.  thereon,  in  remem- 
brance of  Michael  Flegg  ;  to  be  given  at  the  discretion  of  the  vicar 
and  churchwardens  of  Stowmarket.  The  property  consists  of  a 
dwelling  house  and  shop,  near  the  market-place,  with  a  large  yard, 
let  at  £22  a  year :  two  tenements  in  the  market-place,  with  a  piece 
of  land  called  the  George  Yard,  rent  £13  per  annum  (it  is  supposed 
that  the  George  Yard,  is  part  of  the  original  Old  White  Lion  pre- 
mises) :  a  stable,  warehouse,  and  workshop,  standing  on  the  ground 
formerly  called  the  George  Yard,  rent  £3  a  year :  a  house  and  gar- 
den in  the  George  Yard,  let  at  £2  a  year ;  and  a  house  and  stable 
in  the  same  yard,  rent  £4  per  annum. — In  1686,  Richard  Shute 
gave,  by  will,  £100,  to  purchase  lands  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of 
this  town;  and  in  1712,  William  Kent  gave  his  messuage,  in  Stow- 
market, to  provide  five  coats,  worth  25s.  each,  with  letters  W.K. 
upon  them,  for  five  poor  men.  These  premises,  which  are  in  Ips- 
wich street,  Stowmarket,  are  let  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £10  ;  the 
lessee  stipulating  a  certain  expenditure  in  reparations  and  improve- 
ments.— There  are  also  divers  rent  charges  received  by  the  feoffees, 
and  carried  by  them  to  the  same  account  with  the  rents  of  the  lands 
and  estates  above  mentioned ;  and  out  of  the  revenues,  after  pay- 
ment of  necessary  expenses,  there  are  supplied  2s.  worth  of  bread, 
which  is  distributed  among  the  poor  every  Sunday;  and  coats  which 
are  given  to  poor  men  once  a  year,  to  the  amount  of  from  £13  to 
£18.  The  sum  of  £26,  or  thereabouts,  is  also  distributed  in  money 
among  poor  people  in  small  sums ;  and  the  general  residue  of  the 
income  is  applied  in  or  towards  payment  of  the  expenses  attending 
the  office  of  the  churchwardens. 

STOW-UPLAND. — The  poor  estate  consists  of  a  small  dwelling 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  555 

house,  with  out-buildings,  and  22  acres  of  land  in  that  hamlet,  rent 
£35  a  year :  a  cottage,  piece  of  land,  called  Colman's,  18  acres,  and 
the  Town  Meadow,  3  acres,  let  at  £30  per  annum.  The  rents,  after 
deducting  necessary  expenses,  are  given  in  money  and  coals  among 
poor  widows,  and  other  poor  persons.  A  coat  is  furnished  once  in 
four  years  to  a  poor  man  of  Stowupland,  under  Blackerby's  gift. 


WETHEKDEN,  or  WEDERDENA. 

The  ancient  and  Baronial  family  of  Scalariis  (or  De  Scales),  be- 
came very  early  interested  here.  By  a  fine  levied  in  the  9th  of  King 
Richard  I.,  Robert,  son  and  heir  of  Roger  de  Scales,  granted  to  the 
Abbey  of  St.  Edmund  at  Bury,  the  advowson  of  this  parish  church. 
It  is  now  in  the  Crown. 

Roger  de  Scales,  son  and  heir  of  this  Robert,  paid  £59  for  scu- 
tage,  in  the  13th  of  King  John ;  and  in  the  3rd  of  the  following 
reign,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Maud,  wife  of  William  cle  Beau- 
champ,  late  wife  of  the  said  Roger,  and  Robert  their  son,  of  property 
at  Middleton,  in  Norfolk,  and  two  marks  rent  in  this  parish,  claimed 
as  dower.  This  Robert  was  summoned  to  Parliament  as  Lord 
Scales,  and  held  of  the  honour  of  Hagoneth  (or  Haughley)  Castle. 

In  the  18th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Robert  de  Scales  obtained  a  grant 
of  free  warren  here  ;  and  in  the  25th  of  that  reign,  he  held  one 
Knight's  fee  in  this  parish,  in  capite.  He  deceased  in  the  33rd  of 

the  same  reign.     Isabel,  his  wife,  was  the  daughter  of  Sir 

Burnell,  Knt.,  and  niece  of  Robert  Burnell,  Bishop  of  Bath  and 
Wells,  Lord  Chancellor,  and  Treasurer  of  England,  in  the  20th  of 
this  reign. 

Robert,  Lord  Scales,  their  son  and  heir,  in  the  34th  of  King  Ed- 
ward I.,  was  created  K.B.,  with  Prince  Edward ;  and  in  the  1st  of 
Edward  II.,  was  summoned  to  attend  his  coronation.  He  married 
Egclina,  daughter  ul  Sir  Hugh  Courtney,  and  sister  of  Hugh  Court- 
ney, 1st  Earl  of  Devonshire ;  and  deceased  in  the  18th  of  the  above 
King,  m  1325.  How  long  the  estate  continued  in  this  house  is 
uncertain. 

In  the  8th  of  King  Edward  IV.  (on  the  authority  of  Kirby),  John 
Sulyard  was  seized  of  free  warren  in  this  manor ;  and  the  same  was 
confirmed  to  John  Sulyard,  and  Anne  his  wife,  in  the  1st  of  Richard 


550  HUNDRED  OF  STOW. 

III.,  in  1483.     The  sul  joined  statement  will  serve  to  point  out  the 
origin  and  lineage  of  this  ancient  and  highly  respectable  family  : — 

Sir  Wm.  Burnaville.         Humphrey  Bohun,  E.  of  Hereford.          Sir  Win.  Sulyard. 

1 1  I—       —1  I 1 

Margaret— Win.  Wayland.  Margaret=Hugh  Courtney,  Sir  Jno.  Sulyard=:Agnes 

\ 1  1 1  Earl  of  Devon.       \ 1  Fersford 

John  Way-r= —  d.  of     Sir  Andrew  Lut-=Elizabeth.     Sir  John  SuIyardz=Dorothy 

land.          |  Fitz  Ralph,     teril,  Knt.       1 1  I —  — 1  Bacon. 

1 1       James  Stratton,  of=EHzabeth.    Sir  Wm.  Sul-=Jane,  d.  & 

Jas.  Andrews— Ales  Way-   Weston,  Norf.  |  yard,  Knt.    |h.ofGood 

I 1     land,    i 1  I 1    ofWilby. 

John  Andrews,  of=Elizabeth.  John  Sulyard=Ales,  died  in  1468,  bu- 

Baylham.  \ 1       \ 1    ried  in  Eye  Church. 

Anne,  co  heiress,  =John  Sulyard,  Lord  Chief  Justice,— Anne,  da.  and  heir  of  John 


2nd  wife. 


died  in  1516  or  1506.  |    Humgate,  1st  wife. 


1 • • — 1 — 1 

Edward.=Eliz.  dau.  &heir          Elizabeth.  =  John  Garnish,  of 
ofCobham.  Kenton. 

I * 1—  —I 1 1 

Andrew,  1544.         Sir  John,  1538.      Anne.  Alice.  Elizabeth. 

Margaret,  dau.     Margaret,  dau.     Roger  Apple-     WTm.  Rous,     Sir  Edw.  Baynton, 

and  co-heir  of     of  Robt.  Baker,     ton,  of  Dart-     of  Denning-       of  Bromham,  in 
John  Lysle,  b.     of  Suffolk,  1521.     ford,  Kent.  ton.  Wilts, 

at  Wetherden.  1 —        — I 

Elizabeth,  dau.  of=Sir  John  Sulyard,  1574.— Elizabeth,  dau.  of=Ales,  d.  of  Hum. 


Edw.  Bedingfield.  1 


Frances.  — Thos.  Garnish,  of 


Sir  J.  Jernegan.      Cayrill,  of  Wig- 
more,  St.  Mary, 


Kenton.  i 1 — I \ 

Edward.    Thomas,  1612.    Anne,  1558.     Margaret. 

Bridget  Mannock.  John  Tyrell,  Gipping. 

The  last  mentioned  Sir  John  Sulyard,  Knt.,  was  the  personage  to 
whom  Queen  Mary  granted  the  manor  and  park  of  Haughley,  he 
having  been  one  of  her  principal  adherents  in  this  county,  to  whose 
active  zeal  in  her  favour,  she  was  mainly  indebted  for  the  success 
of  her  cause  in  the  eastern  counties :  upon  which  Sir  John  soon 
afterwards  removed  thither,  and  it  subsequently  continued  the  chief 
residence  of  his  descendants  in  the  elder  branches,  and  Wetherden 
Hall  was  either  occupied  by  junior  members  of  the  family,  or  let 
out  to  tenants. 

Wetherden  church,*  a  portion  of  which  was  built  by  Lord  Chief 
Justice  Sulyard,  continued  to  be  the  burial  place  of  the  family. 
Weever  mentions  the  following  members  of  the  same,  as  interred 

here : — 

"  Anne,  wife  of  John  Terell,  of  Gepynge,  esquier,  of  the  doughters  of  Sir  John 
Sulyarde,  knight,  dysceased  the  23.  of  February,  1558. 

"  Elisabeth,  wife  to  John  Sulyard,  esquier,  doughter  to  Sir  John  Jerningeham, 
knight,  dysceased  19.  of  January,  an.  1518. 

'•Margaret,  wife  to  John  Sulyard,  esquier,  dysceased  laste  of  August,  1521. 

*  In  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities  of  Suffolk"  is  an  etching  of  this  parish 
church. 


HUNDRED  OF  STOW.  557 

"Margaret,  wife  of  Andro  Sulyard,  esquire,  dysceased  1.  of  April,  an.  1521. 

"Andro  Sulyard,  esquire,  dysceased  21.  of  October,  1443. 

"  John  Sulyard,  esquire,  dysceased  the  8.  of  Marche,  anno  dons.  1538. 

"  Dame  Anne,  first  married  to  Sir  John  Sulyard,  knight,  and  aftyr  to  Sir  Thomas 
Bansher,  knight,  who  dyed  the  25.  of  July,  anno  dom.  1520. 

"  Sir  John  Sulyard,  justice  of  the  kings  benche,  first  husband  of  the  foresaid 
Anne,  dyed  in  an.  1506. 

"William  Sulyard,  the  sonne  of  John  Sulyard,  knt." 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles  a  branch  of  the  Hovel  (alias  Smith) 
family,  which  was  anciently  of  Walsham  in  the  Willows,  and  since 
of  Ashfield,  in  Blackbourn  hundred,  resided  in  Wetherden. 

The  manors  of  Wetherden  Hall,  and  Pulham  Hall,  in  this  parish, 
now  belong  to  the  Eight  Hon.  Edw.  Thos.  Hovell  Thurlow,  3rd  Baron 
Thurlow,  of  Ashfield,  aforesaid  ;  a  descendant  of  the  above  family. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Shepherd,  D.D.,  F.R.S.,  Archdeacon  of  Bed- 
ford, and  rector  of  this  parish,  with  Helmingham,  in  this  county, 
given  him  by  Lord  Chancellor  Thurlow,  deceased  at  the  parsonage 
house  here,  January  3,  1809,  in  his  78th  year.  He  was  formerly  of 
Corpus  Christ!  College,  Oxford;  where  he  proceeded  M.A.  1757, 
B.D.  1765,  and  D.D.  1788.  Dr.  Shepherd  was  an  instance  of  very 
considerable  erudition  united  with  rare  condescension  ;  and  though 
he  filled  an  office  of  dignity  in  the  church,  he  was  not  the  less  at- 
tentive to  the  humbler,  but  equally  important  duties,  of  a  parish 
priest.  His  publications,  which  are  various,  all  breathe  the  spirit 
of  a  mild  benevolence,  and  evince  the  liberal  and  enlightened  Di- 
vine, added  to  the  pious  and  rational  Philosopher. 

ARMS. — Burnaville:  gules;  a  rose,  argent.  Bohun:  azure;  a 
bend,  argent,  between  two  cottizes,  and  six  lions  rampant,  or. 
Sulyard:  (see  p.  542.) 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  several  parcels  of  land 
lying  dispersed,  containing  in  the  whole  HA.  3R.  34p.,  which  are  in 
the  occupation  of  seven  different  persons,  as  yearly  tenants,  at  rents 
amounting  together  to  £20  15s.  a  year.  The  sum  of  £5  5s.  a  year 
is  applied  towards  the  support  of  a  Sunday  school,  at  Wetherden ; 
and  the  residue  of  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  coals, 
which  are  sold  at  a  cheap  rate  to  the  poor  during  the  winter.  A 
rent  charge  of  20s.  a  year,  given  for  the  poor  by  Margaret  Chinery, 
by  will,  in  1730,  out  of  lands  in  New  street,  Haughley,  now  the 
property  of  Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  is  paid  to  the  minister,  and  distri- 
buted by  him  among  poor  persons. 


BOSEMERA  and  CLAINDONE. 


This  Hundred  is  bounded  by  the  Liberty  of  Ipswich,  and  the 
Hundred  of  Samford,  on  the  South ;  on  the  East,  by  Thredling 
and  Loes ;  on  the  West,  by  Stow  and  Cosford  ;  and  on  the  North, 
by  Hartismere.  It  contains  the  following  Parishes  and  Ham- 
lets : — 

DARMSDEN, 

FLOWTON, 

GOSBECK, 

HEMINGSTON, 

HELMINGHAM, 

HENLEY, 

MlCKFIELD, 

NEEDHAM, 

NETTLESTEAD, 

OFFTON, 

KlNGSJIALL, 

SOMERSHAM, 
STONHAM  ASPAL, 
STONHAM  EARL, 
STONHAM  PARVA, 
SWILLAND, 

WlLLISHAM, 

WESTERFIELD, 
And  WHITTON. 

It  is  called  in  the  "  Conqueror's  Survey,"  the  Hundred  of 
Gepes ;  and  in  the  Saxon  period,  the  fee  thereof  was  in  Guthred, 
King  of  Kent. 

In  the  \§th  of  Edward  II.,  the  King  gave  the  custody  of  this 
Hundred,  with  its  appurtenances,  to  Aylmer  de  Valence,  Earl  of 
Pembroke,  to  hold  during  the  King's  pleasure,  at  the  annual  rent 
of  £50.  It  is  now  in  the  Crown,  and  the  government  in  the  She- 
riff" and  his  officers.  It  was  incorporated  in  1765. 


AKENHAM, 

ASHBOCKING, 

BADLEY, 

BARHAM, 

BARKING, 

BATTISFORD, 

BAYLHAM, 

BLAKENHAM  MAGNA, 

BLAKENHAM  PARVA, 

BRAMFORD,, 

BRICET  MAGNA, 

BRICET  PARVA, 

CLAYDON, 

CODDENHAM, 

GREETING  ALL  SAINTS, 

GREETING  ST.  OLAVES, 

GREETING  ST.  MARY, 

CROWFIELD, 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 


AKENHAM,  or  ACREHAM. 

Akenham  Hall,  and  the  patronage  of  the  church,  also  that  of 
Hemingston  church,  belonged  to  the  ancient  and  honourable  family 
of  Aylmer ;  a  distinguished  member  of  which  was  John  Aylmer,  an 
eminent  English  Prelate,  born  at  Akenham  Hall,  in  1521 ;  of  whom 
Fuller  gives  the  account  following  : — 

"  When  he  was  but  a  child,  going  toward  school,  Henry  Gray,  Duke  of  Suffolk, 
having  some  discourse  with,  took  so  much  liking  unto  him,  that,  after  he  had  been 
bred  some  years  in  the  University  of  Cambridge,  he  made  him  his  Chaplain,  and 
committed  his  daughter  the  Lady  Jane  Gray  to  his  tuition. 

"  In  the  reign  of  queen  Mary  he  fled  over  beyond  sea,  and  was  little  less  than 
miraculously  saved  from  the  searchers  of  the  ship  by  the  ingenuity  of  a  merchant, 
who  put  him  into  a  great  wine-butt,  which  had  a  partition  in  the  middle,  so  that 
master  Aylmer  sate  in  the  hind  part,  whilst  the  searchers  drank  of  the  wine  which 
they  saw  drawn  out  of  the  head,  or  other  end  thereof. 

"  Returning  into  England,  he  was  made  Archdeacon  of  Lincoln,  and  at  last 
Bishop  of  London.  He  was  happy  in  a  meet  yoke-fellow,  having  a  gracious  matron 
to  his  wife,  by  whom  he  had  many  children,  and  one  son,  to  which  Archbishop 
Whitgift  was  godfather,  and  named  him  Tob-el ;  that  is,  The  Lord  is  good,  in 
memorial  of  a  great  deliverance  bestowed  on  this  child's  mother,  for,  when  she  was 
cast  out  of  her  coach  in  London  (by  a  mastiff  casually  seizing  upon  the  horses) 
received  no  harm  at  all,  though  very  near  to  the  time  of  her  travail. 

"  Bishop  Aylmer  was  well  learned  in  the  languages,  a  ready  disputant,  and  deep 
divine.  He  was  eighteen  years  Bishop  of  London ;  and  died  anno  1594,  in  the 
73rd  year  of  his  age. 

"  God  blessed  him  with  a  great  estate,  the  main  whereof  he  left  unto  Samuel 
Aylmer,  his  eldest  son  (High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  in  the  reign  of  King  Charles).  And 
amongst  his  younger  sons  (all  well  provided  for)  Doctor  Aylmer,  rector  of  Haddam 
in  Hertfordshire,  was  one  of  the  most  learned  and  reverend  divines  in  his  ge- 
neration." 

Bishop  Aylmer  married  Judith  Buers,  of  a  family  of  good  repute, 
anciently  seated  at  Acton,  in  this  county ;  by  whom  he  had  seven 
sons,  and  two  or  three  daughters,  all  living  at  the  period  of  his  de- 
cease. Samuel,  the  eldest  son,  was  bred  to  the  law,  and  was  some- 
times styled  of  Claydon  Hall,  in  this  hundred.  In  1626,  he  served 


562  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  Suffolk,  and  was  then  styled  of  Aken- 
ham  Hall.     He  was  twice  married,  and  left  a  numerous  posterity. 

The  Bishop's  second  son,  Theophilus,  was  Archdeacon  of  Lon- 
don, rector  of  Much-Hadham,  in  Hertfordshire,  and  Doctor  of  Di- 
vinity :  he  was  Chaplain  to  King  James,  and  an  able  and  zealous 
preacher.  His  third  son,  John,  for  some  eminent  service  was 
Knighted,  and  styled  Sir  John  Aylmer,  of  Rigby,  in  the  county  of 
Lincoln,  Knt.  Zachary,  Nathaniel,  and  Edmund,  the  fourth,  fifth, 
and  sixth  sons,  of  whom  we  know  nothing  particular,  except  that 
the  two  latter  were  the  warmest  friends  that  age  produced.  Tohel, 
the  seventh  son,  has  been  already  noticed,  who  wrote  himself,  "Tobel 
Aylmer,  of  Writtle,  in  Essex,  Gent."  Of  his  daughters,  Judith, 
the  eldest,  married  William  Lynch,  of  the  county  of  Kent,  Esq., 
and  Elizabeth,  married  Sir  John  Foliot,  of  Perton,  in  the  county  of 
Worcester,  Knt. 

The  above  Samuel  Aylmer,  Esq.,  devised  this  estate  to  his  se- 
cond son,  Edward  Aylmer,  D.D.,  who  sold  the  same  to  Thomas 
Arras,  M.D.,  Burgess  in  Parliament  for  St.  Alban's,  in  1G61. 
Akenham  Hall  was  purchased  in  1817,  by  the  late  John  Orford,  of 
Brook's  Hall,  in  Ipswich,  of  —  -  Weeble,  Esq.,  of  London ;  his 
son  Eobert  Baker  Orford,  Gent.,  now  resides  there.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  only  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Cockerell,  of  Claydon. 

Rice  Hall,  in  Akenham,  derive  from  Le  Rus  (or  Eufus),  who  be- 
came very  early  enfeoft  therein.  Kirby  mentions  a  Hugh  le  Eous 
(or  Eus),  who  paid  a  fine  for  freedom  from  toll  for  himself,  and  his 
villains,  in  this  parish,  and  elsewhere,  in  King  John's  time ;  and  in 
the  37th  of  the  following  reign,  William  le  Eus  was  found  to  die 
seized  of  this  lordship,  and  Alice  was  Ins  daughter  and  heir,  aged 
six  years. 

This  Alice  married  Richard  de  Breose  (or  Brews),  and  in  the 
56th  of  King  Henry  III.,  William  de  Breose  granted  by  fine  to 
Richard  and  Alice,  the  manor  of  Akenham,  and  advowson,  with 
those  of  Claydon  and  Hemingston  ;  he  granting  to  William,  and 
Mary  his  wife,  the  manor  of  Bromley,  in  Surrey,  &c. 

Sir  Richard  deceased  in  the  25th  of  Edward  I. ;  Alice  his  wife, 
survived  until  the  29th  of  that  reign,  and  Giles  was  her  son  and 
heir.  This  Giles  was  lord  of  Akenham,  Whitton,  &c.,  held  of  Ed- 
mund, the  King's  brother,  of  the  honour  of  Lancaster.  Sir  Giles 
deceased  in  1310.  How  long  it  continued  in  this  house  is  uncertain, 
but  by  a  manuscript  now  before  us,  it  appears  to  have  been  held  by 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  563 

Mary,  the  wife  of  Thomas  de  Brotberton,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  the  wi- 
dow of  Kalph  de  Cobham,  in  the  30th  of  Edward  III. ;  and  that  in 
the  5th  of  the  following  reign,  William  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk, 
and  Joan  his  wife,  held  the  same. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  IV.,  it  belonged  to  Philip  Bernard, 
member  of  a  family  of  Knight's  degree ;  and  subsequently  to  the 
Whitypoles,  in  whom  it  continued  about  three  descents,  when  Sir 
William  Whitypole,  Knt.,  sold  it  to  John  Hawes,  Gent.,  Town  Clerk 
of  Ipswich,  whose  son  inherited  the  same  in  1657.  In  1764,  it  was 
the  estate  of  William  Plummer,  Esq.,  and  was  afterwards  purchased 
by  Thomas  Woodward,  Esq.,  of  Sproughton. 

ARMS. — Aylmer :  argent ;  a  cross  sable,  between  four  Cornish 
choughs,  proper.  Bernard :  argent ;  a  bear  rampant,  sable,  muz- 
zled, or. 


ASHBOCKING. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  included  in  the  grant  made  by 
William  the  Conqueror  to  Eoger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and  at 
that  period  was  designated  Ash  Bigod.  In  the  9th  of  King  Ed- 
ward I.,  it  belonged  to  Philip  Harvey,  and  in  the  23rd  of  Edward 
III.,  it  was  in  the  possession  of  Bartholomew,  Lord  Burghersh,  who 
obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren  to  himself  and  Cecily  his  wife,  and 
their  heirs,  in  all  their  demesne  lands  in  Ash  Bigod,  and  other 
parishes  in  Suffolk  and  Norfolk. 

He  deceased  in  the  43rd  of  that  King,  and  left  most  of  his  estates 
to  Elizabeth,  his  daughter,  the  wife  of  Edward  de  Spencer ;  but 
this  manor  being  the  inheritance  of  Cecily  his  wife,  daughter  of 
Eichard  de  Weyland,  he  held  it  only  for  life,  as  tenant  by  courtesy, 
and  then  it  passed  to  the  heirs  of  the  said  Cecily.  It  very  soon 
after  became  vested  in  the  Bockinge  family. 

It  was  for  some  years  in  that  house.  Edward  (or  Edmund) 
Bockinge,  of  this  parish,  married  Jane,  daughter  of  John  Talmache, 
of  Helmingham,  Esq.,  whose  son  Richard  Bockinge,  of  Ashbocking, 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Allen,  of  Icklingham,  Baron 
of  the  Exchequer,  and  had  issue  Edmund  Bockinge,  Esq. ;  who 
deceased  in  1585,  and  was  interred  in  this  parish  church. 

He  married,  1st.,  Frances,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Thomas 


564  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

Tey,  of  Brightwell,  Knt.,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter,  Frances,  who 
married  John  Hervey,  of  Ickworth,  Esq. ;  and  2dly,  Mary,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Payne,  of  Great  Dunham,  in  Norfolk,  Esq.,  by  whom  he 
had  another  daughter,  Catherine ;  who  married  Thos.  Argall,  Gent., 
and  afterwards  William  Bonham,  citizen,  and  vintner,  of  London. 

This  manor  was  held  of  the  honour  of  Clare,  and  the  above 
Thomas  _Argall,  in  the  43rd  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  paid  his  Ingress 
fine,  as  owner  of  a  moiety  of  the  same  ;  and  in  the  20th  of  James 
I.,  William  Bonham  paid  the  same.  It  appears  to  have  continued 
in  his  descendants  until  the  28th  of  Charles  II.,  when  Thomas  Bon- 
ham paid  a  like  fine  for  his  Ingress  into  Ashbocking  Hall,  one  mes- 
suage, one  garden,  and  an  orchard,  230  acres  of  arable  and  pasture 
land,  and  22  acres  of  meadow  land ;  which  descended  to  him  as  heir 
to  Thomas  Bonham,  his  father. 

It  afterwards  belonged  to  Samuel  Cockerill,  of  Harwich,  Esq., 
by  purchase,  in  1763,  of  James  Wilkinson,  Esq.,  who  fined  to  the 
honour  of  Clare,  in  1793,  for  the  same;  from  whom  it  passed  to 
James  Edward  Urquhart,  of  Halstead,  in  Essex,  Esq.,  who  married 
Elizabeth,  one  of  the  daughters  of  the  said  Samuel  Cockerill,  Esq. ; 
and  Kennett  Cockerill  Mackenzie,  and  Henry  Scott  Boston,  two  of 
the  grandsons  of  the  said  Samuel  Cockerill. 

In  1810  it  was  sold  as  their  joint  estate,  to  John  Stanford,  whose 
family  had  occupied  it  for  many  years;  who  re-sold  it  in  1821,  to 
Wilbraham,  Earl  of  Dysart,  in  whose  representative  it  still  remains. 

In  the  8th  of  King  Edward  II.,  Gilbert  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Glou- 
cester and  Hertford,  held  in  Ash ;  and  in  the  5th  of  Richard  II., 
William  de  Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  and  Joan  his  wife,  held  half  a 
Knight's  fee  there ;  in  the  22nd  of  that  reign,  Eoger  Mortimer,  Earl 
of  March,  had  fees  in  this  parish,  of  the  heirs  of  Henry  Hastings ; 
and  in  the  2nd  of  Henry  VI.,  Matilda,  wife  of  John  Montacute, 
Earl  of  Salisbury,  held  lands  here,  of  the  honour  of  Gloucester. 

Henry  Wodehouse,  Esq.,  lived  in  this  parish  at  the  time  of  his 
father's  decease,  in  1430.  He  was  eldest  son  of  John  Wodehouse, 
Esq.,  the  great  warrior,  who  won  such  fame  at  Agiucourt ;  and 
King  Henry  V.  was  his  godfather.  He  died  in  1450,  without  issue, 
and  John  Wodehouse,  his  brother,  succeeded;  who  married  Con- 
stance, eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas  Geddinge,  of  Ick- 
lingham,  relict,  first,  of  Henry  Poley,  Esq.,  and  after,  of  John 
Alleyne,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer. 

The  other  manor  in  this  parish,  styled  Ketts  de  Campo,  of  which 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  50') 

Sir  Lionel  Tallemache  was  owner,  still  continues  in  the  representa- 
tive of  that  house.  In  1320  the  church  was  impropriated  to  Christ 
Church  Priory,  in  Canterbury.  The  patronage  is  now  in  the  Crown. 

ARMS. — Bockinge :  argent;  a  fess  nebully,  between  three  cross 
crosslets  fi tehee,  gules.  Wodehouse :  sable  ;  a  chevron,  or,  guttee- 
de-sang,  between  three  cinquefoils,  ermine. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  a  farm,  called  the 
Bursses,  containing  a  house,  outbuildings,  and  about  26  acres  of 
land,  which  appears  to  have  been  originally  given  for  pious  and 
public  uses,  by  John  Austin,  in  1432  ;  and  has  been  vested  from 
time  to  time,  in  feoffees,  upon  trust,  to  apply  the  rents  to  the  pur- 
poses mentioned  in  an  ancient  schedule :  viz.,  towards  payment  of 
fifteenths,  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the  residue,  if  any,  to 
be  bestowed  and  given  to  the  poor  of  the  town.  This  property  lets 
for  about  £SQ  per  annum,  which  of  late  has  been  applied  in  the 
repairs  of  the  farm-buildings,  the  payment  of  land  tax,  and  quit- 
rents,  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  in  donations  of  money  to  poor 
persons  belonging  to  the  parish. 


BADLEY,  or  BADELEA. 

A  branch  of  the  Mortimer  family  were  enfeoffed  in  this  manor, 
and  became  early  seated  in  this  parish.  It  subsequently  became 
the  estate  and  residence  of  the  Poleys,  by  the  marriage  of  Simon 
Poley,  Esq.,  with  Margaret,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Edm.  Allcocke, 
Gent.  The  said  Simon  Poley  deceased  in  1485,  and  Edm.  Allcocke 
in  1491.  The  descendants  of  the  above  Simon  Poley,  and  Margaret 
his  wife,  settled  here,  and  intermarried  as  follows  : — 

Henry  Poley,  Esq.,  their  son  and  heir.^Constance,  dau.  of  Wm.  Geddyng,  Esq. 

I—  —1 

Edmund  Poley,  Esq.,  of  Badley,  in  1548  —  Myrabel,  d.  of  Thos.  Garnish,  of  Kenton. 

1—  —1 

John  Poley,  Esq.,  of  Badley,  in  1589.=Anne,  dau.  of  Thomas,  Lord  Wentworth. 

1—  —1—  -I 

Edmund  Poley,  Esq.=  Catherine  Seckford.        Richard  Poley,  Esq.=Mary  Brews, 
of  Badley,  obt.  1630.     Alice,  relict  of  Rich.  |        1593. 

S.P.  Kerape,  of  Gipping.  j 1 

1st.  Dorothy,  d.  of  Anthony  Warner,  =  Edmund  Poley,  Esq.=2nd.  Frances  Crofts.* 
of  Stradbrook.  Obt.  1625.    I—    — 1     Obt.  1640.  Obt.  1661. 

Sir  Edmund  Poley,  Knt.  Obt.  1671.— Esther,  dau.  of  Sir  Henry  Crofts,  Knt.,  of 

Little  Saxham.     Obt.  1714. 

*  She  was  second  daughter  of  Sir  John  Crofts,  Knt.,  of  Little  Saxham,  and  mar- 
ried, 1st.,  to  Sir  John  Crompton,  Knt.,  of  Skerne,  in  the  county  of  York. 


5G6  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

Henry  Poley,  Esq.,  only  surviving  son  and  heir  of  the  above  Sir 
Edmund  Poley,  and  dame  Esther  his  wife,  deceased  in  1707,  with- 
out issue  ;  and  Elizabeth,  his  sister,  relict  of  Sir  Richard  Gipps,  of 
Homingsherth,  Knt.,  inherited  this  estate.  She  deceased  in  1715, 
when  Richard  Gipps,  Esq.,  their  only  son  and  heir,  succeeded,  and 
was  living  at  Badley,  in  1722.  He  held  the  rank  of  a  Major  in 
the  Army. 

Major  Gipps  sold  this  property  to  Ambrose,  eldest  son  of  John 
Crawley,  Esq.,  of  Barking,  who  deceased  in  1754,  without  issue; 
and  it  subsequently  passed  with  the  Barking  Hall  estate,  and  so 
continues. 

ARMS. — Mortimer:  or;  semee-de-lis,  sable.  Allcocke :  argent; 
a  chevron  engrailed,  sable,  between  three  blackbirds,  proper,  mem- 
bered,  gules.  Poley:  or;  a  lion  rampant,  sable.  Gipps:  azure; 
a  fess  between  six  estoils,  or. 

Mem. — Richard  Schyrlok,  of  Badlee,  who  died  in  1434,  and  was 
buried  before  St.  John's  image,  in  the  College  of  St.  Mary  in  the 
Fields,  at  Norwich,  gave  £26  13s.  4d.  to  be  entered  in  the  martyr- 
ology  and  bead-roll ;  to  the  work  of  the  new  window,  26s.  8d.,  and 
i'5  for  a  marble  to  be  laid  over  him. 


BARHAM. — BERCHAM,  or  BERGHAM. 

In  the  ninth  of  King  Edward  I.,  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  and 
also  the  advowson,  were  vested  in  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Ely, 
and  so  continued  until  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery  :  in  the 
12th  of  that  reign,  Walter  de  Colchester  held  lands  here  of  the  King 
in  capite,  and  in  the  25th,  Roger  de  B  rah  am  held  lands  here,  by 
similar  service.  In  the  4th  of  Edward  II.,  Giles  de  Brewse  held 
lands  in  Barb  am  ;  and  the  Priory  and  Convent  of  the  Holy  Trinity, 
in  Ipswich,  in  the  41st  of  the  following  reign. 

The  ancient  and  distinguished  family  of  Southwell,  who  derive 
their  surname  from  the  town  of  Suthwell  (or  Southwell)  in  the 
county  of  Nottingham,  part  of  its  feudal  possessions,  until  the  reign 
of  Henry  VI.,  when  its  collateral  branches  removed  into  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk,  and  others  spread  into  Sussex,  Surrey,  Essex,  &c.,  a 
member  of  which  house  became  seated  in  this  parish,  at  that  period. 

John,  eldest  son  of  John  Southwell,  Esq.,  of  Felix  Hall,  in  Es- 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  507 

sex,  represented  the  Borough  of  Lewes  in  Parliament,  the  29th  of 
Henry  VI.,  and  lived  at  Barham  Hall,  in  Suffolk.  He  married 
Joan,  daughter  of  William  Curzon,  Esq.,  of  Brightwell,  in  that 
county,  and  afterwards  (as  Perkin  supposes)  Alice,  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  Sir  Edmund  Berry,  Knt.,  and  relict  of  Sir  Thomas 
Bardolf. 

Kobert  Southwell,  Esq.,  Serjeant  at  Law,  eldest  son  of  the  above 
John,  and  Joan  his  Avife,  succeeded.  He  was  Sheriff  for  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk,  in  1494,  and  married  Cecilia,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Sharington,  Esq.,  of  Cranworth,  in  Norfolk;  by  whom  he  had  issue, 
two  sons,  John  and  William,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
John  Fulnethby,  Esq.,  and  died  without  issue ;  and  a  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Simon  Sampson,  Esq.,  of  Kersey,  in  Cos- 
ford  hundred.  The  above  Robert  Southwell  deceased  in  1514,  and 
was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 

John  Southwell,  Esq.,  their  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  he 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Robert  Foster,  of  Birch,  in  Essex, 
Esq. ;  by  whom  he  had  issue,  three  sons  ;  namely,  John,  Thomas, 
and  William  ;  and  six  daughters.  In  the  37th  of  King  Henry 
VIII.,  he  obtained  a  grant  of  the  manor  of  Barham  Hall,  with  the 
advowson  of  the  church,  and  a  wood  called  Bergham  Coppice. 

John,  the  eldest  son,  succeeded  ;  who  in  his  younger  days,  waited 
upon  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  the  Lord  Keeper.  He  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Edmund  Crofts,  Esq.,  of  Westow,  by  Eleanor  his  se- 
cond wife,  daughter  of  Thomas,  Lord  Borough ;  by  whom  he  had 
issue,  four  sons ;  namely,  Robert,  Richard,  John,  and  Edmund ; 
and  two  daughters ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  James  Berry,  and  Ur- 
sula, who  was  the  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  Richardson,  of  Huningham, 
in  Norfolk,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  in  the  time 
of  King  Charles  I. 

He  left,  in  Barham  and  elsewhere,  £700  or  £800  per  annum,  to 
his  son  Robert  Southwell,  Esq. ;  who  sold  a  great  part  of  that  es- 
tate, and  died  issueless.  Richard,  was  of  Singland,  in  the  county 
of  Limerick,  and  a  Knight,  and  in  1640,  was  appointed  Deputy 
Governor  of  Clare,  in  Ireland.  He  deceased  the  same  year,  with- 
out issue.  John,  his  brother,  in  1655,  sold  another  considerable 
part  of  this  estate,  and  the  residue,  with  Barham  Hall,  was  sold  to 
John  Lambe,  Gent.,  whose  ancestors  were  of  Trimley,  in  this  county. 
Edmund,  the  younger  brother,  was  the  ancestor  of  Thomas  Anthony 
Southwell,  the  present  Viscount  Southwell,  in  the  Peerage  of  Ire- 


568  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

land.  Their  father  removed  his  family  into  Ireland,  in  the  time 
of  James  I. 

Of  the  family  of  Lambe  the  following  entries  occur  in  this  parish 
register : — "  John,  son  of  John  Lambe,  Gent.,  and  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  was  baptized  March  24,  1663;  John,  son  of  John  Lambe, 
Gent.,  was  buried  June  11,  1666  ;  William  Lambe,  the  son  of  John 
Lambe,  Gent.,  and  Susan  his  wife,  was  buried  in  the  vault  at  Bar- 
ham,  July  15,  1676;  John  Acton,  Gent.,  and  Elizabeth  Lambe, 
were  married  August  19,  1680." 

Barham  Hall  was  subsequently  in  the  family  of  Wood ;  since  in 
the  Webbs,  who  sold  the  same  to  Mr.  Kobert  Burch,  who  deceased 
in  1725.  It  is  now  the  property  of  Joseph  Burch  Smyth,  Esq., 
of  Stoke  Hall,  in  Ipswich ;  late  a  Captain  in  the  East  Suffolk 
Militia,  and  who  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county, 
in  1832. 

Shrubland,  in  this  parish,  in  early  records  is  written  Scrobeland. 
The  first  of  this  name  that  occurs,  is  Eobert  de  Shrubeland,  as 
witness  to  a  deed  without  date,  of  Hugh  de  Reckingale,  when  he 
first  granted  the  manor  of  Veysey's,  to  the  Prior  and  Convent  of 
Eoyston. 

In  the  2nd  of  King  Edward  III.,  John  de  Shrubeland  was  'owner 
of  these  lands.  It  is  supposed  he  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Godman- 
ston,  and  became  possessed  either  by  purchase,  or  marriage,  and 
according  to  the  practice  of  those  times,  left  his  paternal  name  and 
assumed  the  local  one  from  the  place  of  his  residence.  It  was, 
however,  but  of  short  duration,  the  male  line  having  failed  in  Wil- 
liam de  Shrubeland,  his  son. 

The  estate  passed  to  William  at  Oake,  by  his  marriage  with  the 
heir  general  of  the  above  William  de  Shrubeland ;  and  it  continued 
in  his  descendants  for  four  generations,  and  then  Catherine,  daugh- 
ter and  heir  general  of  Philip  Oake,  by  marriage  with  Thomas 
Bothe,  brought  it  into  that  family ;  where  it  continued  no  longer 
than  it  did  in  that  of  Shrubland,  for  the  name  of  Bothe  ended  in 
Sir  Philip  Bothe,  his  son  ;  who  left  an  only  daughter  and  heiress, 
Audrey,  who  married  Sir  Kobert  Lytton,  of  Knebworth,  in  Hert- 
fordshire, K.B.,  and  had  three  daughters  only. 

Elizabeth,  the  second  daughter,  married  to  Thomas  Little,  of 
Bray,  in  Berkshire,  Esq. ;  by  whom  he  had  issue,  an  only  daughter 
and  heir,  Helen ;  who  married  Edward  Bacon,  Esq.,  third  son  of 
Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Knt.,  Lord  Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal  of  Eng- 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  569 

land  to  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  and  brought  it  into  that  branch  of  the 
Bacon  family,  who  held  the  same  for  several  descents,  and  inter- 
married as  follows : — 

Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  L.K. 
1 1 


Edward  Bacon,  Esq.     Obt.  1618.=  Helen  Lyttle,  heiress  of  Shrubland.  Obt.  1646. 

I-  —1 

Nicholas  Bacon,  Esq.     Obt.  1637.— Bridget,  daughter  of  Lionel  Tallemache. 

1 l 

Nicholas  Bacon,  Esq.  =  Catherine,  daugli.  of  Edward,  Earl  of  Sandwich. 

I—  -1 

Nicholas  Bacon,  Esq.,  1767.     Dorothy  Temple. 

,- 1 

Rev.  Nicholas  Bacon.     Obt.  1795.     A.  M.  Browne. 

Isabel,  daughter  of  Jeffrey  Oake,  of  Shrubland,  married  Thomas 
de  Astley,  of  Melton  Constable,  in  Norfolk ;  and  in  1422,  they  pre- 
sented an  incumbent  to  that  parish  church. 

This  estate  was  purchased  soon  after  the  decease  of  the  Rev. 
Nicholas  Bacon,  by  William  Middleton,  of  Crowfield,  Esq.,  who 
was  created  a  Baronet,  in  1804,  and  assumed  by  sign-manual,  in 
1822,  the  surname  of  Fowle,  in  addition  to  and  before  that  of  Mid- 
dleton. Sir  William  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  born  in  1749 ; 
the  eldest  son  of  William,  son  of  Arthur  Middleton,  Esq.,  some- 
time Governor  of  that  Colony.  In  1782,  he  served  the  office  of 
High  Sheriff  for  this  county;  in  1784,  was  elected  a  Burgess  in 
Parliament,  for  the  borough  of  Ipswich,  and  in  1803,  he  was  again 
elected  for  the  same  borough.  At  the  general  election,  in  1806, 
he  was  returned  to  Parliament  as  a  Baron,  for  the  Cinque  Port  of 
Hastings. 

He  married  in  1774,  Harriot,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Acton,  of 
Bramford  Hall,  Esq.,  and  deceased  December  26,  1829;  when  Sir 
William  Fowle  Fowle  Middleton,  his  only  son,  and  the  present 
owner  of  Shrubland,  succeeded.  He  married  in  1825,  to  the  Hon. 
Anne  Gust,  the  youngest  sister  of  Earl  Brownlow,  and  resides  at 
his  elegant  mansion  here. 

The  patronage  of  this  living  was  vested  in  the  Bacon  family,  and 
by  the  last  returns,  in  John  Longe :  the  present  incumbent  is  the 
Rev.  William  Kirby,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  and  F.L.S.,  the  learned  author 
of  one  of  the  "  Bridgewater  Treatises,"  and  also,  in  conjunction  with 
William  Speuce,  Esq.,  F.L.S.,  of  an  "  Introduction  to  Entomology," 
in  4  vols.  8vo.  A  portrait  of  this  reverend  gentleman  is  given  in 
the  latter  publication,  from  a  drawing  by  H.  Howard,  R.A.,  en- 
graved by  W.  T.  Fry. 


570  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

ARMS. — Southwell:  argent;  three  cinquefoils,  gules;  each 
charged  with  six  annulets,  or.  Oake :  sable ;  on  a  fess,  argent, 
between  six  acorns,  or,  three  and  three,  three  oak  leaves,  proper. 
Bothe :  argent ;  three  boars'  heads,  erect  and  erased,  sable ;  lan- 
gued,  gules.  Lytton :  ermine  ;  on  a  chief  indented,  azure,  three 
ducal  coronets,  or.  Little :  party  per  chevron,  argent  and  sable ; 
in  chief,  two  fleurs-de-lis ;  in  base,  a  castle  triple  towered,  each 
counterchanged.  Bacon  :  gules  ;  on  a  chief,  argent,  two  mullets, 
sable.  Middleton  :  argent ;  fretty,  sable ;  on  a  canton,  per  chev- 
ron, of  the  second  and  or,  a  unicorn's  head,  likewise  per  chevron, 
gules  and  or  ;  the  horn  of  the  last,  sable. 

Mem. — Died,  Nov.  4,  1826,  at  Barham,  John  Jennings,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  95  years.  He  was  the  regular  postman  from  Ips- 
wich to  Needhain  and  Stowmarket,  for  the  long  period  of  52  years; 
after  this  he  was  employed  as  the  postman  to  Barham  and  Codden- 
ham,  for  a  period  of  15  years;  and  for  the  last  nine  years  only  of 
his  life  he  had  relinquished  this  his  daily  occupation.  His  great 
uncle,  John  Hearn,  and  his  father,  John  Jennings,  were  successively 
the  postmen  from  Ipswich  to  Needham  and  Stowmarket,  for  62 
years ;  which  united  with  the  service  of  the  son,  forms  a  period  of 
no  less  than  114  years,  in  which  these  three  individuals  had  fol- 
lowed the  same  occupation. 


BARKING,  or  BERCHINGAS. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  with  the  advowson,  became  vested  in 
the  church 'of  Ely,  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  and  so 
continued  until  the  4th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  when  they  became 
alienated  from  it,  and  were  held  by  the  Crown ;  and  the  family  of 
Bugg  tenanted  the  manor  for  a  considerable  period. 

King  James  I.,  sold  the  same  to  Sir  Francis  Needham,  Knt.,  who 
devised  them  to  Thomas  Needham,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son ;  who  mar- 
ried Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermy,  of  Brightwell,  K.B.  In 
the  1st  of  Charles  I.,  Eobert  Needham  was  created  Viscount  Kil- 
morey. 

Francis  Theobald,  Esq.,  purchased  them  of  the  above  Thomas 
Needham.  His  first  wife  was  sister  of  Sir  Robert  Crompton,  Knt., 
and  to  his  eldest  son  by  that  marriage,  Francis  Theobald,  Esq.,  af- 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMEHE  AND  CLAYDON.  571 

terwards  Sir  Francis,  he  devised  this  estate  ;  who  was  owner  thereof 
in  1655.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Robert  Nightingale,  Esq., 
and  Theodosia  his  wife,  daughter  of  Robert  Charles,  Esq. 

John  Crawley,  Esq.,  of  Greenwich,  in  Kent,  only  son  of  Sir  Am- 
brose Crawley,  Knt.,  married  Theodosia,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Gascoigne,  by  Anno  his  wife,  daughter  of  the  above  Sir  Francis 
Theobald,  and  heiress  of  the  manor  of  Barking ;  by  whom  he  had 
six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mr.  Crawley  deceased 
in  1727,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 

The  eldest  son,  Ambrose  Crawley,  Esq.,  succeeded  his  father  in 
the  estate  of  Barking,  and  added,  by  purchase,  the  manors  of  Bad- 
ley,  Combs,  and  Columbine,  in  Stowmarket.  He  died  unmarried, 
in  1754,  aged  36  years.  John,  his  brother,  died  unmarried,  the 
following  year,  aged  35. 

Mary,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  William 
Stanhope,  K.B. ;  she  died  without  issue,  in  1716.  Anne,  the  se- 
cond daughter,  died  in  1734,  aged  13  years  :  Theodosia,  the  third 
daughter,  co-heiress  of  her  brother's  estates,  married  John,  2nd 
Earl  of  Ashburnham  ;  by  whom  she  had  issue,  one  son  and  four 

daughters.  ,  the  other  co-heiress,  married  Charles  Boone, 

Esq.,  of  Lee,  in  Kent. 

Mrs.  Theodosia  Crawley,  relict  of  the  above  John  Crawley,  Esq., 
survived  all  her  children,  and  lived  to  the  great  age  of  89  years,  an 
exemplary  pattern  of  virtue  and  goodness.  She  deceased  May  17, 
1782.  This  estate  is  now  the  property  of  the  Right  Hon.  Bertram 
Ashburnham,  4th  Earl  of  Ashburuham. 

Nathaniel,  eldest  son  of  Richard  Fletcher,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don in  1594,  was  rector  of  this  parish  in  the  time  of  King  Charles. 

John  Fairfax,  A.M.,  a  native  of  Norfolk,  son  of  Benjamin  Fair- 
fax, preacher,  of  Rumburgh,  in  this  county,  was  admitted  Sizar  of 
Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,  ia  1610;  where  after  taking 
the  degree  of  A.B.,  he  was  made  Fellow,  by  the  Earl  of  Manchester, 
in  1644;  and  so  continued  till  1650.  At  what  period  he  became 
rector  of  this  parish  is  uncertain  ;  Newcourt  places  his  institution  in 
1660,  from  which  he  was  ejected  by  the  Bartholomew  Act,  for  non- 
conformity, and  suffered  various  persecutions  and  imprisonments. 

He  entertained  so  great  a  regard  for  his  parishioners  of  Barking, 
that  after  being  deprived  of  the  profits  of  his  vicarage,  he  resolved 
to  continue  amongst  them,  and  died  at  his  house  there,  Aug.  11, 
1700  ;  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age. 


572  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

He  published  the  "  Life  of  Mr.  Owen  Stockton,"  with  his  "  Fu- 
neral Sermon,"  in  8vo.,  and  a  "  Sermon  preached  at  Ipswich,  at  the 
opening  of  the  new  erected  Meeting  House,  called  Primitise  Syna- 
gogae,"  which  was  printed,  with  a  preface  by  Dr.  Collings,  without 
his  consent. 

The  Kev.  Ambrose  Uvedale,  B.A.,  rector  of  Barking  cum  Need- 
ham  Market,  and  of  Combs  cum  Dannsden,  deceased  at  the  rectory 
house  here,  Aug.  21,  1818.  He  was  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge, 
and  was  brother  of  the  late  Admiral  Samuel  Uvedale,  of  Bosmere 
house,  who  died  in  1808.  Mr.  Uvedale  succeeded  to  the  above 
valuable  livings  in  1775,  by  the  presentation  of  the  Earl  of  Ash- 
burnham,  and  Charles  Boone,  Esq.,  on  the  decease  of  his  father, 
the  Kev.  Samuel  Uvedale,  B.A.,  who  had  held  the  same  for  52 
years;  and  who  was  youngest  son  of  the  Eev.  Robert  Uvedale, 
L.L.D.,  rector  of  Orpington,  in  Kent,  and  a  celebrated  botanist. 

Mr.  Uvedale  married  Margaret,  the  sole  surviving  daughter  of 
William  Cleland,  Esq.,  E.N.,  of  Essex ;  by  whom  he  left  an  only 
daughter,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Reeve,  of  Ipswich.  The 
Rev.  W.  C.  Uvedale,  B.A.,  vicar  of  Wenhaston,  in  this  county,  his 
only  son,  married  in  1812,  the  second  daughter  of  Sir  William 
Johnstons,  Bart.,  but  deceased  in  1817,  without  issue. 

The  Rev.  Charles  Davy  succeeded,  and  re-built  the  parsonage 
house,  in  1824  ;  it  is  of  white  brick,  and  a  very  handsome  structure. 

ARMS. — Needham  :  argent ;  a  bend  engrailed,  azure,  between 
two  bucks'  heads  caboshed,  sable.  Theobald:  sable;  a  fess  em- 
battled, between  three  owls,  argent.  Ashlurnham :  gules  ;  a  fess, 
between  six  mullets,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — In  1632,  Francis  Theobald,  gave  by  will,  a  mes- 
suage, called  the  Guildhall,  to  be  taken  down,  and  with  the  mate- 
rials thereof  he  directed  a  house  should  be  built  at  Needham  Mar- 
ket, for  a  work-house,  or  school-house  ;  and  after  endowing  the 
charity  with  an  annuity  of  £20,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  premises 
mentioned  in  the  will,  he  appointed  certain  feoffees  to  be  the  go- 
vernors of  the  said  house,  according  to  the  statutes  by  him  made. 
By  a  decree  of  Commissioners  of  Charitable  Uses,  in  the  3rd  of 
lung  James  II.,  provision  was  made  for  the  appointment  of  new 
feoffees,  and  in  relation  to  the  annuity  of  £20,  which  had  then  fallen 
greatly  into  arrear.  It  is  probable  that  the  property  on  which  the 
annuity  was  charged  was  given  up  in  satisfaction  of  the  arrears,  and 
growing  payments  of  the  annuity,  as  that  property  has  now  for  a 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  573 

long  time  been  held  as  belonging  absolutely  to  the  charity.  The 
school  premises  consist  of  a  dwelling  house  for  the  master,  with  a 
school-room,  yard,  and  play  ground.  The  charity  estate,  which 
comprises  the  Swan  Inn,  and  about  1 1  acres  of  meadow  ground, 
called  the  Marsh  Meadows,  in  Needham  Market,  and  an  acre  of 
meadow  ground  in  this  parish,  formerly  purchased  by  the  trustees, 
let  on  lease  at  the  annual  rent  of  £55.  The  school  is  conducted  as 
a  free- school  for  17  poor  children,  appointed  by  the  trustees,  and 
taken  in  certain  proportions  from  Needham  Market,  Barking,  and 
Darmsden  ;  and  are  instructed  in  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic. — 
The  Almshouse  property,  of  which  the  origin  is  unknown,  comprises 
two  tenements,  in  Needham  Market,  each  having  an  upper  and 
lower  apartment ;  and  two  parcels  of  land  in  the  parishes  of  Gree- 
ting All  Saints,  and  Greeting  St.  Mary,  containing  together  about 
nine  acres,  let  at  £18  a  year.  The  lower  apartments  are  occupied 
by  four  poor  women,  who  receive  each  Is.  6d.  per  week,  and  a  sup- 
ply of  coals.  A  few  years  ago,  four  other  poor  women  were  placed 
in  the  upper  rooms,  to  live  there  rent  free ;  and  the  late  James 
Alexander,  Esq.,  one  of  the  trustees,  gave  £500,  3|-  per  cent,  an- 
nuities, for  the  support  of  such  poor  women,  who  also  receive  Is. 
6d.  per  week. — The  following  lands  are  vested  in  trustees,  upon 
trust,  to  distribute  the  rents  on  St.  Thomas's  day,  yearly,  among 
the  working  poor  of  the  towns  of  Barking  and  Needham  Market; 
it  is  unknown  whence  they  were  originally  derived  : — in  Needham, 
the  Crimping  land,  containing  two  acres ;  in  Barking,  0  acres,  ad- 
joining the  high  road,  in  three  parcels,  and  1^  acres  near  the  lime 
kiln,  with  the  Town  field,  containing  12  acres  of  arable  land,  and  a 
small  piece  of  ditto  in  Greeting,  the  aggregate  rental  of  which 
amounts  to  about  £40  per  annum. 


BATTISFOKD  — BETESFORDA,  or  BETESFORT. 

In  this  parish  was  a  commandry  of  Knights  Hospitalers,  or 
Knights  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  ;  of  which  Mr.  Taylor,  in  his 
"Index  Monasticus,"  observes,  nothing  is  known  of  earlier  date 
than  the  time  of  Henry  II.,  when  that  Monarch  gave  all  his  lands, 
and  the  appurtenances  belonging  thereto,  in  Bergholt,  to  the  Knights 
Hospitalers,  who  had  a  commandry  at  Battisford ;  and  Henry  III., 
in  1270,  granted  some  privileges  to  this  Prior. 


574  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

A  manor  in  Preston  belonged  to  the  "  Maisters  at  Batisforcle," 
and  the  impropriation  of  Bndley  was  granted  to  them  by  Robert 
Fitz  Jeffrey,  and  Beatrice  his  wife,  and  confirmed  by  Richard  de 
Clare,  Earl  of  Hertford.  At  this  commandry  the  tenants  of  the 
Knights  Hospitalers  in  the  county  of  Suffolk  paid  their  rents. 

It  was  granted  in  1543,  by  King  Henry  VIII.,  to  Sir  Richard 
Gresham.  The  manor  of  East  Bergholt  was  granted  as  part  of 
their  possessions,  to  John,  Earl  of  Oxford,  in  the  following  year. 
The  valuation  in  "Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  in  1534,  was  £53  10s. 

The  following  translation  of  an  extract  from  a  Particular  for 
Grant,  remaining  in  the  Augmentation  Office,  Westminster,  will 
show  the  extent  of  their  estate  in  this  parish  : — 

"  THE  MANOR  on  LATE  COMMANDRY  OP  BATTISFORD,  ALIAS  BADYSFORD,  IN 

THE  COUNTY  OF  SUFFOLK. 

"  Rents  of  Assize  of  divers  Free  Tenants  of  the  Lord  the  King  there  yearly  paid 
at  the  Feasts  of  Easter  and  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  equally,  as  by  the  rental 
thereof  made  and  received,  particularly  appears  2s.  3d.  and  lib.  of  pepper. 

"  Rents  of  divers  Copyholders  of  the  Lord  the  King  there  yearly  paid  at  the  Feasts 
aforesaid,  equally,  as  by  the  Rental  aforesaid,  particularly  appears  60s.  4d. 

"  Rents  of  divers  Tenants  at  the  Will  of  the  Lord  the  King  there  yearly  paid  at 
the  Feasts  aforesaid,  equally,  as  by  the  Rental  aforesaid,  particularly  appears  7s.  9d. 

"  Farm  of  all  the  House  and  Site  of  the  Manor  or  late  Commandry  of  Battis- 
ford  aforesaid,  in  the  County  aforesaid,  together  with  all  houses,  edifices,  barns, 
stables,  dove-cotes,  orchards,  gardens,  garden  grounds,  land  and  soil,  as  well 
being  within  the  Site  and  precinct  of  the  same  as  to  the  same  Site  adjoining,  and 
Seventy  six  acres  of  arable  land,  Forty  and  two  acres  of  pasture,  and  twelve  acres 
of  meadow,  with  the  appurtenances  lying  and  being  in  Battisford  aforesaid,  to  the 
said  late  Commandry  appertaining  and  belonging,  except  yet  always  and  to  the  said 
Lord  the  King  his  heirs  and  successors  always  reserved  all  great  Trees  and  Woods 
of  in  and  upon  the  premises  growing  and  being,  now  leased  to  Sir  Richard  Gresham, 
Knight,  by  Indenture  under  the  Seal  of  the  Court  of  Augmentation  of  the  Revenues 
of  the  Crown  of  the  Lord  the  King  for  the  term  of  21  years,  commencing  at  the 
Feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  in  the  thirty  six  year  of  the  reign  of  the  Lord  the 
now  King  Henry  VIII.,  rendering  therefore  at  the  aforesaid  Feast  equally,  yearly  £7. 

"  Perquisites  of  Courts  there  one  year  with  another,  £5. 

"  Total,  £10  15s.  4d.  and  lib.  of  pepper. 

"  Memorandum.  The  King's  Majesty  hath  no  other  lands  nor  tenements,  rents, 
emoluments,  or  other  hereditaments  whithin  the  said  Towne  of  Battisford,  to  the 
said  late  Commandry  belonging  or  appertaining. 

"  Examined  by  me,  William  Rigge,  for  Exchange  between  the  Lord  the  King  and 
Sir  Richard  Gresham,  18th  day  of  February,  in  the  35th  year  of  the  reign  of  King 
Henry  8th." 

Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  Knt.,  his  son,  founder  of  the  Royal  Ex- 
change, London,  succeeded  ;  and  against  the  demesne  land  of  this 
manor,  which  in  part  lies  against  the  Tye  called  Battisford  Tye,  being 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMEUE  AND  CLAYDON.  575 

a  large  common  of  about  200  acres,  upon  which  Tye,  or  Common, 
the  said  Royal  Exchange  was  framed,  and  tho  saw  pits  remained 
there  not  many  years  since  ;  and  much,  or  at  least  a  great  part  of 
the  timber  wherewith  the  said  Exchange  was  built,  was  taken  off 
the  lands  belonging  to  the  demesne  of  this  lordship. 

Another  manor  in  this  parish  became  very  early  vested  in  the 
Bishops  of  Norwich.*  Walter  Lyhert,  consecrated  Bishop  of  that 
diocese,  in  1440,  by  his  will,  made  in  1471,  gave  his  manor  of 
Lyngges,  with  its  appurtenances  in  Battisford,  in  Suffolk,  and  all 
his  estates  in  that  parish,  Barking,  Eingshall,  Badley,  and  Combs, 
lately  purchased  of  Richard  Eillade,  of  Ipswich,  to  find  a  chaplain, 
to  celebrate  divine  service  for  ever  at  the  altar  on  the  north  side  of 
his  grave,  for  his  own  soul,  and  the  souls  of  his  family,  and  of  John 
Lyhert,  his  kinsman,  and  for  the  souls  of  his  predecessors  ;  for 
which  the  chaplain  was  to  receive  £10  per  annum,  on  further  con- 
dition, that  every  year  in  Advent  and  Lent,  he  should  preach  every 
Sunday  to  the  people  of  the  diocese. 

He  further  directs  his  executors  and  feoffees,  either  to  settle  the 
estate  for  these  uses,  or  else  sell  it ;  and  this  manor  became  settled 
accordingly;  and  it  was  leased  by  Richard  Nykke,  one  of  his  suc- 
cessors in  that  See,  for  72  years,  at  £13  15s.  6d.  per  annum,  to 
Henry  Aylmer  of  this  parish.  Bishop  Nykke  deceased  in  1535, 
and  it  was  surrendered,  with  other  revenues  belonging  to  this 
diocesan,  to  the  Crown,  by  Act  of  Parliament;  and  in  1545,  King 
Henry  VIII.  made  grant  of  the  same  to  Sir  Richard  Gresham, 
Knt.,  and  Richard  Billingford,  Esq. 

Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  his  son,  succeeded.  He  deceased  in  1597, 
and  both  these  estates  became  vested  in  Sir  Thomas,  eldest  son  of 
Sir  Robert  Barker,  K.B.,  of  Grimston  Hall,  in  Trimley  St.  Martin, 
by  Susanna,  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Crofts,  Esq.,  of 
Westow,  who  resided  here.  He  married  Penelope,  daughter  of  Sir 
John  Tasbui'gh,  of  Flixton,  Knt. 

Sir  Thomas  Barker  sold  the  estate  in  this  parish  called  "  Bishop 
Hall,"  to  Martin  Salter,  Esq.,  who  afterwards  re-built  the  same. 
He  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county,  in  1655 ;  his 
estate  was  thought  at  that  period  worth  about  £600  per  annum. 
His  father  was  rector  of  Monk's  Illeigh.  Martin  Salter  married 
Elizabeth,  sister  of  Sir  Thomas  Bowes,  Knt.,  of  Much-Bromley,  in 

*  By  the  Patent  Rolls  it  appears  that  in  the  llth  of  Edward  II.,  a  patent  was 
granted  to  the  Bishop  of  Norwich  for  the  manor  of  Buttisford. 


576  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

Essex.  Thomas,  his  son  and  heir,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
John  Bright,  of  Talmash  Hall,  in  Bricet,  Esq.  The  three  sons  of 
Martin  Salter,  were  Thomas,  Martin,  and  George  ;  and  the  daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth.  Edward  Salter,  Gent.,  deceased  in  1724,  and  is 
buried  in  this  parish  church. 

The  Knights  Hospitalers  estate,  Sir  Thomas  Barker  sold  to 
Thomas  Knapp,  of  Ipswich,  Gent. ;  and  John  Arnold,  Gent.,  who 
married  Catherine,  one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Knapp, 
inherited  a  moiety  of  the  same,  and  purchased  the  other  moiety : 
he  was  lord  in  the  32nd  of  Charles  II. ;  and  in  the  5th  of  William 
and  Mary,  Nicholas  Bacon,  Esq. ;  in  the  6th  of  Queen  Anne,  Sir 
Samuel  Barnardiston,  Bart. ;  and  it  continued  in  that  house  until 
1727,  when  Arthur  Barnardiston  was  lord.  It  was  lately  the  estate 
of  William  Matthew  Kaikes,  Esq. 

ARMS. — Gresham :  argent ;  a  chevron,  ermine,  between  three 
mullets  pierced,  sable.  Salter :  gules ;  ten  mullets,  4,  3,  2,  and 
1,  or;  a  bordure  engrailed,  argent;  charged  with  16  hurts  and  tor- 
teauses,  alternately.  Knapp :  or ;  in  chief,  three  close  helmets ; 
in  base,  a  lion  passant,  sable.  Crest :  an  arm  embowed  in  armour, 
grasping  a  broken  sword,  and  branch  of  laurel. 

CHARITIES. — A  rent  charge  of  £\  a  year,  given  by  the  will  of 
Walter  Eust,  who  died  in  1685,  is  paid  by  the  occupier  of  a  farm 
called  Valley  Earm,  in 'this  parish;  and  is  distributed  in  bread, 
given  yearly,  by  the  occupier,  among  poor  persons  of  the  parish,  at 
his  discretion. 


BAYLHAM,  or  BELHAM. 

In  the  26th  of  Edward  I.,  Robert  de  Tybetot  was  interested  here : 
in  the  34th  of  that  reign,  Roger  de  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and 
Marshal  of  England,  and  Alice  his  wife,  held  lands  in  this  parish ; 
and  in  the  8th  of  the  following  reign,  Payen  de  Tiptoft  also  held 
lands  here. 

John,  the  son  of  William  de  Claydon,  in  the  14th  of  King  Ed- 
ward II.,  was  lord  here :  in  the  36th  of  Edward  III.,  Mary,  Countess 
of  Norfolk,  late  wife  of  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and 
relict  of  Ralph  de  Cobham,  held  this  lordship ;  and  in  the  8th  of 
Richard  II.,  William  Besard  and  others,  held  lands  here,  for  the 
Prior  and  Convent  of  Kersey,  in  this  county. 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  577 

The  family  of  Burnaville  held  a  lordship  here,  in  1300,  according 
to  Kirby,  who  says  it  continued  in  that  house  for  about  a  century. 
William  de  Burnaville,  and  Alice  his  wife,  gave  their  tithes  in  Bayl- 
ham,  Ringshall,  and  Nettlestead,  and  lands  in  Somersham,  with  part 
of  the  church,  to  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew,  in 
Thetford,  prior  to  the  time  of  Richard  I.,  whose  predecessor,  Henry 
II.,  confirmed  the  same,  as  the  gift  of  Maud  de  Hosdene. 

Margaret,  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  William  Burnaville, 
Knt.,  married  William  de  Weyland,  and  carried  it  into  that  family ; 

and  John  de  Weyland,  their  son,  married  a  daughter  of Fit/ 

Ralph ;  whose  daughter,  Alice,  married  James  Andrews,  who  inhe- 
rited the  same  in  right  of  such  marriage. 

John  Andrews,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  their  son  and  heir,  by  Eliza- 
beth his  wife,  left  two  daughters  and  co-heirs  ;  namely,  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Thomas  de  Windsor,  of  Stanwell,  in  Middlesex  ;  and 
Anne,  who  was  the  2nd  wife  of  Lord  Chief  Justice  Sulyard ;  and 
the  said  Thomas  Windsor  inherited  this  estate  in  her  right.  He 
deceased  in  1485,  the  1st  of  Henry  VII.,  and  Sir  Andrew  Windsor, 
their  son  and  heir,  succeeded. 

He  was  made  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Bath,  in  the  Tower  of 
London,  23rd  June,  1509,  the  day  before  the  coronation  of  Henry 
VIII. ;  was  created  Knight  Banneret  for  his  valour  at  the  Battle  of 
Spurs,  in  1513  ;  and  summoned  to  Parliament  in  1529,  as  Baron 
Windsor,  of  Bradenham,  county  Bucks.  His  Lordship  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William,  and  sister  and  co-heir  of  Edward 
Blount,  Lord  Mount] oy.  Henry  Windsor,  Earl  of  Plymouth,  is 
the  present  representative  of  this  family. 

How  long  this  estate  continued  in  the  family  of  Windsor  we  are 
not  informed,  but  it  became  vested  in  the  Actons,  a  family  of  con- 
siderable antiquity  in  this  county,  about  the  commencement  of  the 
17th  century.  John  Acton,  Esq.,  who  was  High  Sherifi"  of  Suffolk, 
in  1031,  was  owner  thereof,  and  built  Baylham  Hall,  and  also 
Bramford  Hall,  where  he  resided.  He  was  son  of  William  Acton, 
a  rich  clothier  and  Portman  of  the  borough  of  Ipswich,  who  de- 
ceased in  1616,  and  was  interred  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary  at  Elms, 
in  that  town,  where  a  handsome  monument  still  remains  to  his 
memory. 

This  manor  and  advowson  continued  in  his  descendants  until  the 
decease  of  Nathaniel  Lee  Acton,  Esq.,  of  Livermere  Park,  in  1836, 
without  issue :  the  last  heir  male  of  this  family.  They  are  now 


578  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

vested  in  Sir  William  Fowle  Fowle   Middleton,  Bart.,   by  inhe- 
ritance. 

ARMS. — Andrews :  argent ;  on  a  bend  engrailed  cotized,  sable, 
three  mullets,  or.  Windsor :  gules ;  a  saltier,  argent,  between 
twelve  crosslets,  or.  Acton :  gules ;  a  fess  in  a  bordure  engrailed, 
ermine. 


BLAKENHAM  MAGNA.— BLAKENHAM  Super  Aquim,  or 
BLACHAM. 

Here  was  an  alien  Priory  of  Benedictine  Monks,  and  manor  ap- 
pendant,  belonging  to  Okeburne  Priory,  in  Wiltshire ;  and  was  a 
cell  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Mary,  at  Bee,  in  Normandy.  It  was 
founded  in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror,  by  Walter  Giffard, 
Earl  of  Buckingham,  and  confirmed  by  William  Eufus,  and  Henry 
II.  The  endowment  consisted  of  a  manor,  and  the  advowson  of  this 
parish  church,  with  rents  in  other  parishes. 

Its  valuation,  in  "  Taxatius  Ecclesiasticus,"  1291,  in  three  pa- 
rishes, is  £13  18s.  7fd.,  where  the  church  stands  at  ^£5  value;  and 
in  the  "Liber  Valorem,"  at  ^6  16s.  0|-d. ;  and  the  Prior  of  Oke- 
burne generally  presented  to  it.  This  house  was  suppressed  by  the 
statute  of  Leicester,  in  1414  ;  and  in  1440,  it  was  granted  to  the 
Provost  and  Fellows  of  Eton  College,  who  are  the  present  pos- 
sessors. 

A  family  who  either  derived  their  name  from  this  or  the  adjoining 
parish  of  Blakenham  Parva,  were  interested  here ;  for  in  the  53rd 
of  Henry  III.,  Kohesia  de  Blakenham  granted  by  fine,  to  Robert  de 
Martham,  a  windmill  at  Rackheath  Magua,  in  Norfolk,  with  the 
whole  suit  of  all  her  men,  paying  one  mark  per  annum,  for  ever  : 
Robert  agreeing  that  she,  and  her  heirs,  and  the  whole  family  living 
under  court,  and  belonging  to  her,  and  her  heirs,  should  have  the 
first  grinding  thereat,  and  toll  free,  as  often  as  they  sent  any  of 
their  family  to  the  mill ;  and  if  denied,  they  might  distrain  Robert 
on  his  land,  in  the  said  parish,  and  Martham. 

In  the  4th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Benedict  Blakenham,  of  Blaken- 
ham, in  Suffolk,  purchased,  by  fine,  of  Jeffrey  Fitz  Peter,  and  Joan 
his  wife,  two  messuages,  and  forty  acres  of  land,  &c.,  with  20s.  rent 
in  Rackheath  Ma<ma  and  Parva. 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  579 

Robert  de  Burnaville  held  lands  in  this  parish  in  the  9th  of  Ed- 
ward III. ;  and  in  the  24th  of  the  same  reign,  John,  son  of  William 
de  Claydon,  also  held  lands  in  Great  Blakenham.  In  the  9th  of 
Henry  V.,  Philip  Ouke  was  interested  here  ;  and  in  the  8th  of  the 
following  reign,  the  same  person  ;  and  Richard  Bothe,  held  a  mes- 
suage and  lands  in  Blakenham,  on  the  water,  in  the  17th  of  Ed- 
ward IV. 

The  chief  lands  in  this  parish  were  vested,  by  purchase,  in  Robert 
Snelling,  Gent.,  Portman  of  Ipswich  ;  and  Robert,  his  son,  sold  the 
same  to  Richard  Swift,  merchant,  of  London ;  who  afterwards  re- 
sided here,  and  deceased  in  1045,  was  interred  in  this  parish  church. 
By  Martha  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Clifford,  he  bad  issue  three 
sons,  John,  Richard,  and  Francis ;  and  four  daughters,  Elizabeth, 
Martha,  Judith,  and  Sarah.  His  heirs  sold  this  estate  to  Joseph 
Blewett,  of  Ipswich,  and  he  was  owner  of  it  in  the  year  1657. 

ARMS. — Swift :  or ;  a  chevron  barry  nebule,  argent  and  azure, 
between  three  stags,  proper. 

Mem. — Sir  Richard  Flynte,  chaplain  to  Charles  Brandon,  Duke 
of  Suffolk,  in  1585,  was  by  the  said  Duke  presented  to  the  church 
of  St.  Mary,  of  Winfarthing,  in  Norfolk  ;  which  he  held  with  Bla- 
kenham, in  Suffolk. 

In  this  village  resided  the  Rev.  Edward  Evanson,  M.A.,  well 
known  to  the  world  by  his  controversial  writings :  a  man  of  high 
literary  attainments,  and  of  the  strictest  honour,  integrity,  and  be- 
nevolence. He  was  a  native  of  Warrington,  in  Lancashire  ;  born 
in  1731,  and  deceased  in  1805.  (See  "  Monthly  Magazine.") 

Gilbert  Bouchery,  A.M.,  Domestic  Chaplain  to  Dr.  Samuel  Lisle, 
Bishop  of  Norwich,  was  son  of  Weyman  Bouchery,  late  rector  of 
this  parish.  He  was  a  native  of  Ipswich,  Eellow  of  Clare  Hall,  in 
Cambridge,  and  vicar  of  Swaffham,  in  Norfolk;  upon  taking 
which  he  resigned  the  rectory  of  L'Lanymyneck,  in  Shropshire,  to 
which  he  was  collated  by  Bishop  Lisle,  when  on  the  See  of  St. 
Asaph ;  of  whose  gift  he  also  held  the  Prebend  of  Meliden,  in  the 
church  of  St.  Asaph,  and  the  sinecure  rectory  of  L'Lansanfraid,  in 
Montgomeryshire. 


BLAKENHAM  PARVA.--BLACHA\r,orBLAKENHAMONTHE  HILL. 
In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  one  Eobert  Grelle  appears  to  have 


580  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

held  this  lordship,  which  probably  passed  with  that  of  Nettlestead, 
as  the  lords  of  that  parish  were  patrons  of  this  rectory.  The  manor 
and  advowson  were  latterly  vested  in  the  Milner  family,  and  in  1764, 
was  the  estate  of  the  Eight.  Hon.  Francis  Vernon,  Lord  Orwell, 
afterwards  Earl  of  Shipbroke  ;  and  subsequently  John  Peacock, 
Esq.,  held  the  manor. 

In  1821,  the  late  Stephen  Jackson,  B.A.,  rector  of  Nettlestead, 
purchased  the  patronage  of  this  living  of  the  executors  of  John 
Vernon,  Esq.,  of  Wherstead  Lodge ;  and  the  Rev.  George  Capper, 
vicar  of  Wherstead,  is  the  present  incumbent,  on  the  presentation  of 
the  late  Mr.  Vernon. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Hardy,  B.A.,  formerly  of  Emanuel  College, 
Cambridge,  and  Lecturer  and  Master  of  the  Free  School  at  Enfield, 
in  Middlesex,  was  rector  of  this  parish.  He  deceased  in  1793, 
aged  73.  His  writings  in  defence  of  Christianity  are  numerous, 
but  confined  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Eucharist,  as  a  perpetual  sacri- 
fice, and  to  the  explanation  of  the  Prophecies,  and  the  Epistle  to 
the  Hebrews. 

The  family  of  Bacon  lived  for  a  considerable  period  in  this  pa- 
rish, said  to  be  descended  of  the  ancient  family  of  that  name  seated 
at  Arwerton,  in  Samford  hundred. 


BRAMFORD,  or  BRAUNDFORD. 

In  the  13th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Roger  Mynoth  (or  Miniot),  had 
a  grant  of  free  warren  in  this  parish,  and  Stonham  Antegan  (or 
Aspal) ;  and  in  the  20th  of  Edward  III.,  Jeffrey  Miniot  held  here. 

Henry  de  Tibetot  (or  Tiptoft),  ancestor  of  the  Worcester  family, 
obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren  in  Bramford,  in  the  22nd  of  Ed- 
ward I.,  and  died  on  the  feast  of  St.  Dunstan,  in  the  25th  of  that 
reign ;  when  it  passed  to  Robert  de  Tibetot,  a  younger  son  of  the 
said  Henry;  in  whose  descendants  it  remained  for  several  ages. 
They  also  held  the  manor  of  Carlton,  in  this  parish. 

In  the  38th  of  that  reign  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St.  Peter,  in 
Ipswich,  held  lands  and  tenements  in  Bramford ;  and  in  the  41st 
of  the  same  King,  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  the  Holy  Trinity  held 
lands  here.  In  the  26th  of  Henry  VI.,  Sir  John  Fastolf  was  in- 
terested in  this  parish,  and  Sproughton ;  and  in  the  17th  of  Ed- 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  OLAYDON.  581 

ward  IV.,  Kichard  Bothe  held  a  moiety  of  Weyland's  manor,  in 
Bramford. 

Bramford  Hall  has  been  the  seat  of  the  Acton  family  for  several 
ages,  and  was  erected  by  John  Acton,  Esq.,  High  Sheriff  of  this 
county,  in  1631 ;  son  of  Wm.  Acton,  a  rich  clothier  and  Portman 
of  the  borough  of  Ipswich,  who  deceased  in  1616  ;  whose  descend- 
ants and  their  inter-marriages,  will  appear  by  the  statement  an- 
nexed :  — 

William  Acton,  Obt.  1616,  buried  in  St.  Mary  at  Elms,  Ipswich. 
1st  wife.  |  2nd  wife. 

Alice,  dau.  of  William  Blois.=John  Acton,  Esq.=Ellen,  daughter  of  John  Rany. 

Isabel,  d.  of  J.  Buxton.=John  Acton,  Esq.  Obt.  1695.— Elizabeth,  d.  of  J.  Lamb. 

l_  __! — ! 

John  Acton,  d.  in  1703,      William  Acton*.  = —  Green.  Nathaniel  Acton,  Esq., 

unmarried.  Obt.  1743.  married,  1st.  Mary  Rous, 

2nd.  Susan  Gibson,  3rd.  Eliz.  Fowle. 

T_  1 1         Obt.  1745. 

Caroline  Wearg,  1753.  — Nath.  Acton,— 1761.  Dorothy  As-    Elizabeth.  =Rich.  Col- 

Obt.  1761.  |  Esq.  Ob.  1795.  pin.  Ob.  1805.     \ 1  ville.  1759 

I 1 [       Robt.  Colville.  1786.=Amelia, 

Nath.  Lee  Acton.  Obt.  1836.  S. P.  Harriot.  Caroline.  eldest  dau.  of  Sir  Chas. 

Susanna~Miller.   1787.     Sir  Wm.  MiddTeton,  Bart.  Obt.  1830.  Asgill,  Bart. 

Penelope  Rycroft.  1791.     \—  — 1 —  — I 

Sir  Wra.  F.  Fowle,  Middleton,  Bart.=Hon.  Anne  Cust,      Louisa.  =  Sir  P.  B.Vere, 

dau.  of  Earl  Brownlow.  Broke,  Bart. 

Nathaniel  Lee  Acton,  of  Livermere  Park,  was  the  last  heir  male 
of  this  house  ;  who  deceased  Jan.  1,  1836,  without  issue;  and  de- 
vised this  estate  to  Philip,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Philip  Bowes  Vere 
Broke,  Bart.,  by  Louisa  his  wife,  daughter  of  the  late  Sir  William 
Fowle  Middleton,  Bart.,  of  Shrubland  Hall,  now  Sir  Philip  Broke, 
Bart.,  who  is  the  present  owner. 

Sicklemore  House,  in  this  parish,  was  the  ancient  seat  of  a  family 
of  that  name,  divers  of  whom  were  interred  in  this  church ;  one 
memorial  only  remains,  to  Thomas  Sicklemore,  late  Portman  of 
Ipswich,  who  was  born  in  1546,  and  died  Sept.  20,  1619. 

A  branch  of  the  Alston  family,  descendants  of  the  Alstons  of 
Sayton  Hall,  in  Newton,  after  the  sale  of  their  estate  at  Marlsford, 
settled  here.  William  Alston,  Esq.,  a  Barrister  of  Gray's  Inn,  only 
son  of  Samuel  Alston,  Esq.,  of  Marlsford,  married  Elizabeth,  the 
eldest  of  the  two  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Bartholomew  Beale, 
Esq.,  of  Bildeston,  and  resided  in  this  parish.  He  deceased  in 
1649,  and  was  buried  here. 

They  had  issue  six  sons,  three  of  whom  survived ;  namely,  William, 

*  William  Acton  was  M.P.  for  the  borough  of  Orford,  in  1722,  and  1727 ;  and 
High  Sheriff  of  this  county  in  1739. 


582  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

Thomas,  and  Joseph.  The  latter  lived  at  Washbrook,  and  married 
Mary,  the  daughter  of  Edmund  Warner,  of  Parham,  in  this  county; 
by  whom  he  had  issue  three  daughters  and  co-heirs  ;  Anne,  Mary, 
and  Susan.  He  died  in  1643,  and  was  buried  here.  Mary,  their 
second  daughter,  married  Sir  John  Haumer,  of  Hanmer,  in  the 
county  of  Flint.  She  died  in  1709,  and  was  buried  at  Bramford.* 

Mem. — June  2,  1809,  a  fire  broke  out  at  a  cottage  in  this  village, 
which,  from  the  violence  of  the  wind,  raged  with  such  fury,  that  in 
the  short  space  of  three  hours,  ten  or  twelve  houses  were  completely 
destroyed.  A  poor  woman  of  the  name  of  Lee,  perished  in  the  flames. 

Dec.  15,  1826,  John  Whiteford,  Esq.,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  John 
Whiteford,  of  Upper  Brook  street,  Ipswich,  lost  his  life  in  this  pa- 
rish, by  the  accidental  discharge  of  his  friend's  gun.  Mr.  White- 
ford  was  bred  to  arms,  and  served  for  23  years  in  the  15th  regiment 
of  Hussars.  He  held  the  rank  of  Captain,  at  Waterloo,  where  he 
received  a  ball  shot  in  the  side,  which  remained  unextracted ;  he 
was  afterwards  advanced  to  the  rank  of  Major,  and  in  consequence 
of  his  wound  retired  from  the  regiment. 

CHARITIES. — In  1703,  William  Acton  gave  by  will,  to  the  poor 
of  this  parish  £200,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  lands ;  the 
rents  and  profits  of  the  premises  to  be  distributed  four  times  in 
every  year,  in  meat,  bread,  or  other  necessaries,  to  such  poor  in  the 
parish  as  should  most  want  the  same.  This  legacy  was  laid  out  in 
the  purchase  of  property  at  Stow  Upland,  consisting  of  a  cottage 
and  about  14  acres  of  land,  which  lets  at  i'20  a  year.  The  land 
was  exonerated  from  liability  to  tithes  at  the  voluntary  expense  of 
Nathaniel  Lee  Acton,  Esq.,  in  1796. — The  sum  of  £5  a  year,  given 
by  the  will  of  Erancis  Brooke,  for  the  poor,  is  charged  on  a  farm 
in  Ufford,  and  is  added  to  and  distributed  with  the  rent  of  the  poor's 
land. — Three  tenements  under  one  roof,  in  this  parish,  are  occupied 
by  poor  widows,  generally  six  in  number,  rent  free,  who  are  placed 
therein  by  the  parishioners ;  and  the  buildings  are  kept  in  repair  at 
the  parish  expense. 


BRICET  MAGNA.— BRIESETA,  or  BRESETHE. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  I.,  Ralph  Fitz  Brian,  and  Emma  his 

*  In  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities  of  Suffolk1'  is  au  etching  of  this  parish 
church. 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  583 

wife,  erected  here  a  Priory  of  Austin  Canons,  under  the  protection 
of  Herbert  de  Losinga,  Bishop  of  Norwich.  It  was  a  cell  to  the 
foreign  Monastery  of  Nobiliac,  in  the  diocese  of  Lymoges,  and  the 
Dutchy  of  Berry.  Brian,  son  of  Ralph  the  founder,  confirmed  to 
the  canons  serving  God  in  Bricete,  all  the  gifts  of  his  father,  with 
the  chapel  of  Losa,  appropriated  to  the  Priory. 

The  agreement  between  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Bricete,  and 
that  of  Nobiliac,  in  1259,  was  renewed  and  confirmed  by  John 
Salmon,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  1310  ;  and  Almericus  Peche,  Knt., 
lord  of  this  parish,  a  descendant  of  Ealph  the  founder,  confirmed 
his  ancestor's  gifts  to  this  house,  and  augmented  its  revenues,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  souls  of  Bartholomew  and  Edmund,  his  children, 
and  others. 

Walter,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  granted  to  this  Almericus  to  have  a 
Chantry  in  his  chapel  at  Bricet,  upon  condition  that  the  chaplain 
of  it  should  swear  to  pay  all  the  oblations  he  received  in  the  said 
chapel  to  the  mother  church,  and  not  admit  any  parishioner  to  either 
sacrament  unless  in  imminent  danger  of  death ;  and  that  the  said 
Almeticus  himself,  in  token  of  his  subjection  to  the  mother  church, 
should  repair  to  it,  with  his  family,  to  the  high  mass  on  these  five 
holidays;  namely,  Christmas-day,  Easter-day,  Whit-Sunday,  the 
Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  St.  Leonard. 

To  this  Monastery  were  impropriated  the  churches  of  Finborough 
Parva,  Bricete  Magna,  and  Wattisham  ;  and  the  valuation  in  "  Tax- 
atius  Ecclesiasticus,"  in  22  parishes  in  this  county,  was  £16  2s. 
l£d. ;  and  in  London  diocese,  5s. ;  and  the  appropriated  church  of 
this  parish  was  valued  at  the  same  time  at  £6. 

It  was  suppressed  with  the  other  alien  Priories,  by  the  Parliament 
of  Leicester,  in  the  2nd  of  Henry  V. ;  and  granted  by  King  Henry 
VI.,  in  1426,  to  King's  College,  Cambridge ;  and  the  Provost  and 
Fellows  of  that  College,  are  now  lords  of  the  manor,  lessors  of  the 
tithe,  and  patrons  of  the  living. 

It  appears  from  an  ancient  extent  of  this  manor,  that  the  follow- 
ing tenants  held  under  the  Prior  and  Convent  here,  as  of  the  honour 
of  Peveril.  In  the  15th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Koger  de  Loveday, 
held  the  manor  of  Bricet  Magna,  by  the  service  of  one  Knight's 
fee;  and  in  the  12th  of  the  following  reign,  Richard  de  Loveday 
held  a  moiety  of  the  same,  with  the  appurtenances,  by  a  like  service. 

In  the  20th  of  the  same  reign,  Roger  de  Tichebourne,  and  Ca- 
therine his  wife,  were  enfeoffed  for  John  the  son  of  John  de  Bohun, 


584  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

in  one  fourth  of  this  manor,  and  also  the  church  of  Bricet ;  and  in 
the  4th  of  Edward  III.,  Thomas  le  Archer,  parson  of  Elmsett,  held 
one  third  part  of  this  lordship.  In  the  20th  of  the  same  King, 
Kichard  Hacun,  and  Anne  his  wife,  held  one  fourth  part  of  this 
manor. 

This  Richard  Hacun  was  of  Great  Melton,  in  Norfolk,  and  Anne 
his  wife  was  2nd  daughter  of  Roger,  and  sister  and  co-heir  to  Richard 
Loveday,  of  this  parish.  He  married  the  said  Anne,  in  1318,  and 
held  the  above  as  of  his  wife's  inheritance,  in  1345.  He  was  living 
in  1360. 

In  the  17th  of  Edward  III.,  William  de  Ros  (or  Roos),  held  in 
his  demesne,  as  of  fee,  five  messuages,  and  100  acres  of  land  in  the 
parish  o  fBricet,  and  100s.  rent,  with  the  appurtenance,  by  the  ser- 
vice of  an  8th  part  of  a  Knight's  fee ;  and  William  was  his  son  and 
heir. 

Robert  Dove,  of  East  Bergholt,  Gent.,  bought  an  estate  in  this 
parish  about  the  latter  end  of  the  time  of  King  Charles.  His  wife 
was  'daughter  of  Dr.  William  Jones,  of  East  Bergholt.  Her  estate 
was  reckoned  to  be  between  £'200  and  £300  per  annum. 

ARMS. — Loveday ;  per  pale,  or  and  sable,  an  eagle  displayed 
with  two  heads,  counterchanged  ;  gorged  with  a  ducal  coronet,  and 
armed  of  the  first.  Hacun :  sable ;  two  barrulets,  vairy,  argent 
and  vert ;  in  chief,  a  martlet,  between  two  plates.  Dove :  azure ; 
a  chevron  between  three  doves,  argent. 


BRICET  PARVA,  or  BRIESETA. 

The  manor  house  of  this  parish  is  styled  Talmach  Hall,  from  its 
ancient  possessors.  In  the  21st  of  King  Edward  I.,  Hugh  Talmach, 
and  Illaria  his  wife,  held  lands  here  of  the  Countess  of  Gloucester, 
by  the  4th  part  of  a  Knight's  fee  ;  and  his  descendants  continued 
to  be  interested  here,  until  the  17th  of  Edward  IV.,  when  John 
Talmach  was  owner  of  the  lordship. 

It  subsequently  became  the  estate  and  residence  of  the  Kemps, 
descendants  of  the  family  of  Kemp,  of  Gissing,  in  Norfolk.  Thomas 
Kemp,  of  Talmach  Hall,  in  Bricet  Parva,  married  Anne,  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  John  Moore,  Portman  of  Ipswich.  He  sold  this  es- 
tate and  removed  to  Beccles ;  it  was  shortly  afterwards  the  property 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  585 

and  seat  of  Josias  Faywether ;  whose  2nd  wife  was  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anne  Kemp.  Mr.  Faywether  afterwards 
resided  at  Halesworth. 

In  1655,  it  belonged  to  Capt.  John  Bright,  who  was  sometime 
Alderman  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
William  Style,  of  Hemingston,  Gent.,  and  deceased  in  1660,  when 
William  Bright,  Esq.,  his  son,  succeeded ;  who  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  Henry  North,  of  Laxfield,  in  this  county. 
Their  only  daughter,  Sarah,  married  Thomas  Dawtrey,  of  More,  in 
Sussex,  Esq.  Mr.  Bright  deceased  in  1706,  and  was  buried  in 
Great  Bricet  church. 

This  estate  passed  to  the  Dawtrey s,  by  the  above  marriage  with 
the  heiress  of  Bright :  and  by  her,  who  died  in  1680,  he  had  issue 
William,  his  heir ;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Edward  Luther,  Esq., 
of  Myles,  in  Essex;  and  had,  with  other  issue,  Richard  Luther,  Esq., 
eventually  inheritor  of  the  Dawtrey  estates.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Richard  Luther,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir,  who  married  Charlotte, 
daughter  of  Hugh  Chamberlen,  M.D.,  of  Alderton  Hall,  in  this 
county. 

In  1764,  John  Luther,  Esq.,  their  only  son  and  heir,  who  repre- 
sented the  county  of  Essex  in  Parliament,  after  one  of  the  severest 
contests  on  record,  inherited  this  estate.  He  died  without  issue, 
and  the  representation  of  that  ancient  family  now  rests  in  John 
Fane,  Esq.,  and  John  Taylor,  M.D. 

The  late  Richard  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Bildeston,  in  Cosford  hundred, 
was  owner  of  this  property. 

There  is  no  church  in  Little  Bricet,  but  it  is  annexed  to  Offton. 
In  1480,  Sir  John  Sepay  was  instituted  to  this  rectory,  and  had  a 
personal  union*  to  the  vicarage  of  Offton.  Robert  de  Reinis,  about 
1135,  gave  to  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  St.  Andrew,  in 
Thetford,  this  parish  church,  and  twelve  acres  of  his  demesne,  lying 
between  that  and  Offton  church. 

ARMS. — Kemp:  (see  p.  270).  Bright:  sable;  a  fess,  argent, 
between  three  escallops,  or. 


*  The  power  of  personal  union,  or  dispensation,  to  hold  two  livings  for  life,  be- 
longed to  this  See,  by  immemorial  custom.  The  Bishop's  fiat,  or  consent,  in  the 
most  early  times,  was  sufficient. 


580  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

CLAYDON,  or  OLAINDUNA. 

This  manor  and  advowson  in  its  early  descent  passed  as  that  of 
Rice  Hall,  in  Akenham,  from  the  Le  Bus  (or  Rufus)  family,  to  that 
of  Breowse  (or  De  Brews)  ;  and  on  a  division  of  the  inheritance  of 
Sir  William  de  Brews,  Knt.,  between  his  two  daughters  and  co-heirs, 
it  passed  to  Anne,  the  eldest ;  who  married  Sir  Roger  Townsend, 
a  person  of  eminence,  who  was  made  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas 
by  King  Richard  III.  Sir  Roger  Townsend,  eldest  son  of  the 
Judge,  presented  to  this  church  in  or  about  1541. 

In  the  4th  of  King  Edward  III.,  William  de  Claydon,  and  Alea- 
nora  his  wife,  held  a  manor  here,  with  Netherhall,  in  Offley  (or 
Ottley) ;  and  in  the  24th  of  the  same  reign,  John,  sou  of  William 
de  Claydon,  held  the  same.  Michael  De  la  Pole  held  here  in  the 
5th  of  Henry  V.,  and  in  the  33rd  of  the  next  reign,  William  Cresse- 
nor  held  here,  and  in  Barham. 

John,  son  and  heir  of  William  Clere,  of  Ormesby,  in  Norfolk, 
Esq.,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Philip  Braunch,  Knt., 
who  re-married  to  Sir  John  Rothenhale,  Knt.  This  lady,  in  1438, 
gave  by  will,  to  Edmund  Clere,  her  son,  her  manors  of  Henstead, 
Rothenhale,  and  Claydon,  in  Suffolk.  She  died  in  1440. 

Elizabeth,  relict  of  Robert,  eldest  son  of  the  said  John  de  Clere, 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  by  her  testament,  dated  in  1492,  gives  to 
the  Priory  at  Norwich,  an  annuity  of  £3  6s.  8d.,  issuing  out  of  her 
manors  of  Tharston,  in  Norfolk,  and  Claydon,  in  Suffolk.  She  was 
daughter  of  Thomas  Owydale  (or  Dovedale),  Esq.,  of  Incolneston. 

This  was  probably  the  manor  held  by  Thomas  Southwell,  Esq., 
of  Barham  Hall,  in  the  9th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Kirby. 

The  manor  of  Claydon  Hall  was  the  estate  of  Samuel,  the  eldest 
son  of  John  Aylmer,  Bishop  of  London,  and  lord  of  Akenham ; 
who  devised  the  same  to  his  second  son,  Edward  Aylmer,  D.D., 
who  was  owner  thereof  in  1655,  and  patron  of  the  living.  Samuel 
Aylmer,  his  father,  was  thought  to  have  an  estate  of  £1200  per  an- 
num, the  most  of  which  he  gave  to  this  son,  upon  which  a  suit  was 
likely  to  have  arisen  between  his  sons,  but  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
Brampton,  brother  to  the  wife  of  Samuel  Aylmer,  brought  his  ne- 
phews to  an  agreement.  Samuel  Aylmer,  Esq.,  deceased  in  1635, 
and  was  buried  within  the  altar  rails  of  this  parish  church. 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  587 

Dr.  Edward  Aylmcr  married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Hill,  Master  of 
Catherine  Hall,  Cambridge,  and  deceased  in  1655;  leaving  about 
,£500,  or  £600,  per  annum,  to  his  son.  Dr.  Aylmer  took  part  with 
King  Charles  against  the  Parliament,  for  which  he  paid  in  compen- 
sation £1900  ;  which  reduced  his  estate. 

In  1704,  Nathaniel  Acton,  Esq.,  of  Bramford  Hall,  was  owner 
of  tlu's  estate ;  upon  whose  decease,  in  1795,  it  passed  to  Nathaniel 
Lee  Acton,  Esq.,  of  Livermere  Park,  his  only  son  and  heir ;  who 
died  seized  thereof,  in  183C,  and  his  executors  sold  the  same  to  Sir 
William  Fowle  Fowle  Middleton,  of  Shrubland  Hall,  Bart.,  who  is 
the  present  proprietor. 

Walter  Crome,  late  Sub-Prior  of  Norwich,  and  Prior  of  the  cell 
at  Yarmouth,  who  was  made  a  Prebend  of  the  first  stall  in  Norwich 
Cathedral,  by  the  charter  of  Henry  VIII.,  in  1538,  was  rector  of 
tlu's  parish. 

John  Salisbury,  descended  from  an  ancient  family  of  that  name, 
in  Denbighshire,  was  first  a  monk  of  Bury  Abbey,  and  successively 
Prior  of  St.  Faith,  at  Horsham,  in  Norfolk,  Suffragan  Bishop  of 
Thetford,  Prebend  of  Yarmouth,  in  the  church  of  Norwich,  and  in 
1539,  was  installed  Dean  of  Norwich.  In  1541,  he  resigned  his 
rectory  of  Creek,  in  Norfolk,  to  a  son  of  Sir  Eoger  Townsend's,  and 
immediately  after,  Sir  Koger,  and  Anne  his  wife,  presented  him  to 
this  rectory. 

In  1546,  he  was  instituted  to  Lopham,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  in  1554, 
was  deprived  of  his  Deanery  and  livings  by  Queen  Mary ;  but  was 
instituted  again  to  that  rectory,  which  he  held  by  union  with  Diss. 
Shortly  after  Queen  Elizabeth  restored  him  to  his  Deanery ;  and 
in  1571,  he  was  created  Bishop  of  the  Isle  of  Man.  He  deceased 
in  1573. 

This  church  and  Akenham  are  consolidated,  and  the  patronage 
of  both  have  been  for  several  years  in  the  Drurys,  descendants  from 
an  ancient  family  in  Northamptonshire ;  two  of  whom,  Geo.  Drury, 
father  and  son,  were  resident  incumbents  here.  The  present  rector 
is  Richard  Etough,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Charles  Mein  Haynes,  LL.B.,  died  here,  April  17,  1822, 
in  the  83rd  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  native  of  Elmsett,  in  this 
county,  and  was  fourth  son  of  the  Rev.  Hopton  Haynes,  A.M., 
rector  of  that  parish ;  who  was  a  son  of  Hopton  Haynes,  Esq., 
Assay  Master  of  the  Mint,  and  principal  Tally  Writer  of  the  Ex- 
chequer ;  and  an  elder  brother  of  Dr.  Samuel  Haynes,  Canon  of 


588  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

Windsor,  the  learned  Editor  of  "  A  Collection  of  State  Papers," 
transcribed  from  the  Cecil  Manuscripts,  at  Hatfield  House,  1740  : 
folio. 

Mr.  Haynes  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  at  the  Gram- 
mar School  of  Dedham,  in  Essex;  and  from  thence  removed  to 
Clare  Hall,  Cambridge,  where  he  proceeded  to  the  degree  of  LL.B., 
in  17C5.  In  the  following  year,  he  was  presented  by  Thomas  Pel- 
ham  Holies,  Duke  of  Newcastle,  to  the  vicarage  of  Damerham,  in 
the  county  of  Wilts.  This  living  he  held  at  his  decease.  At  his 
particular  request,  his  remains  were  conveyed  to  Elmsett,  his  native 
village,  and  interred  in  the  church-yard  of  that  parish. 

In  his  intercourse  with  others  his  manners  were  mild  and  humble, 
friendly  and  unassuming ;  yet  his  humility  was  without  meanness, 
and  his  friendship  without  dissimulation ;  these  qualities,  therefore, 
ensured  him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  acquaintance.  Mr. 
Haynes  was  a  bachelor ;  and  his  niece,  the  sole  daughter  and  heir- 
ess of  his  elder  brother,  Samuel  Haynes,  Esq.,  was  married  in  1783, 
to  John  William  Egerton,  Earl  of  Bridgewater. 


CODDENHAM,  or  CODENHAM. 

Here  was  a  Nunnery  of  Cistertian,  or  White  Nuns,  founded  by 
Eustace  de  Merc ;  whose  original  design,  was  that  of  making  it  a 
Nunnery,  similar,  and  probably  subordinate,  to  that  of  Appleton,  in 
Yorkshire,  founded  by  Alice  de  St.  Quintin,  wife  of  Eustace  de 
Merc  ;  but  this  intention  does  not  appear  to  have  been  fully  carried 
into  effect.*  The  foundation  deed  is  without  date,  but  was  probably 
executed  not  long  after  the  founding  of  Appleton  Nunnery,  in  the 
reign  of  King  Stephen. 

A  charter  of  King  John,  dated  the  6th  of  his  reign,  recites  the 
possession  of,  and  the  benefactions  to,  the  Cistertian  Nunnery  of 
Appleton  ;  and  amongst  the  rest,  "  ex  dono  Eustacii  de  Merc,  ec- 

*  "Whether  this  design,"  observes  Mr.  Nasmith,  "  was  ever  completed,  I  have 
not  yet  found,  nor  any  thing  more  about  such  a  religious  house."  The  foundation 
deed  being  without  date,  and  the  charters  of  John  and  Richard  I.,  being  contradic- 
tory, occasion  much  obscurity  respecting  the  history  of  this  house,  if  one  was  ever 
actually  established  here.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  church  was  served  by  cer- 
tain canons  from  Royston,  who  resided  upon  the  estate,  and  that  the  intended  foun- 
dation of  a  Nunnery  did  not  take  place. 


IIUNDIIED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  589 

clesiam  S.  Maria;  de  Codenham,  cum  omnibus  pertinentiis  et 
liberlatibus  suis." 

Eustace  de  Merc  was  founder  of  the  Priory  of  Austin  canons  at 
Eoyston,  in  Hertfordshire ;  and  appears  to  have  bestowed  the  church 
of  St.  Mary,  with  its  appurtenances,  in  this  parish,  upon  that  Priory ; 
perhaps  after  the  failure  of  his  design  to  establish  a  Nunnery  here. 
Kirby  says,  that  this  occurred  about  the  year  1220,  but  upon  what 
authority  does  not  appear. 

This  endowment  is  mentioned  as  belonging  to  Eoyston  Priory, 
in  the  Norwich  Taxation,  in  1291,  and  in  the  "Valor  Ecclesias- 
ticus,"  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.;  and  from  the  year  1308  to 
1506,  the  above  Priory  appears  to  have  presented  to  the  vicarage 
of  this  parish.  The  appropriation  of  the  church  of  Coddenham,  in 
Pope  Nicholas'  Taxation,  stands  at  £2G  12s.  The  Prior  of  Eoyston 
"  de  redd,"  8s. ;  and  the  clear  value,  in  "  Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  in 
1534,  at  £12  10s.  4d.,  for  the  vicarage. 

The  church,  vicarage,  and  a  manor  called  Vessey's,  now  "the 
manor  of  Coddenham  vicarage,"  &c.,  at  the  dissolution,  continued  in 
the  Crown,  till  granted  by  Henry  VIII.,  to  John  Atkyns,  in  the 
3Gth  year  of  his  reign;  who  in  the  1st  of  Edward  VI.,  obtained  a 
license  to  alienate  this  rectory  to  John  and  Edward  Gosnold  ;  and 
in  the  4th  and  5th  of  Philip  and  Mary,  these  persons  had  license 
to  alienate  to  Clement  Ungle,  who  in  the  12th  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
held  the  rectory  and  church  here,  and  procured  a  license  of  alienation 
to  William  Ungle,  Gent. 

The  impropriation  of  the  church  of  Coddenham  was  purchased 
by  the  Eev.  Balthazar  Gardemau,  vicar  thereof,  and  was  vested  in 
trustees,  in  per  petuum,  for  the  vicar  here  for  the  time  being,  by 
deed  bearing  date,  May  5, 1736.  An  estate  styled  Vessey's,  and  the 
Priory  farm,  are  now  the  property  of  Sir  William  Fowle  Fowle  Mid- 
dleon,  Bart.,  of  Shrubland  Park.  It  seems  it  was  appropriated  by 
Eandulphus,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  the  5th  of  Henry  III. 

The  manor  of  Denncy's  (or  Deney's)  in  this  parish,  was  held  by 
Eoger  le  Denney  in  the  time  of  King  Edward  III.,  as  appears  by 
the  ancient  rolls  for  the  Leet  held  in  the  vicarage  here;  and  it  con- 
tinued in  that  family  several  generations.  It  was  subsequently  in 
the  Booths,  owners  of  Shrublaud,  and  fell,  in  the  partition  between 
the  co-heirs  of  Sir  Philip  Booth,  to  the  daughter  who  married  to  Sir 
John  Brocket,  Knt. ;  and  after  the  sale  thereof  it  again  fell  to  two 
heirs  general. 


590  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

Edward  Bacon,  of  Shrubland  Hall,  Esq.,  bought  the  right  of  one 
sister ;  and  Ealph  Cantrell,  of  Hemingstou,  Gent.,  the  right  of  the 
other  sister.  Sir  Ealph,  son  of  the  said  Ealph,  sued  out  a  writ  of 
partition,  and  after  sold  such  lands  belonging  to  that  manor  as 
fell  to  his  part,  to  John  Deynes,  of  Jordaines,  in  this  parish,  Gent. 
The  moiety  of  the  manor  he  sold  to  Eobert  Shawe,  a  merchant  of 
Ipswich;  and  in  1655,  Nicholas  Bacon,  of  Shrubland  Hall,  Esq., 
and  Eobert  Shawe,  Gent.,  were  owners  of  the  said  manor.  In  1764, 
Nicholas  Bacon  and  Mileson  Edgar,  Esqrs.,  were  owners  thereof. 

The  manor  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  in  Coddenham,  anciently 
belonged  to  the  family  of  Jenny,  of  Brightwell ;  and  was  sold  by 
Sir  Thomas  Jermy,  Knt.,  to  William  Style,  then  of  Gosbeck ;  whose 
son,  John  Style,  of  Hemiugston,  Gent.,  was  owner  thereof,  in  1655. 

The  manor  of  Bridgeplace,  in  this  parish,  was  purchased  by 
Eichard  Hackluit,  rector  of  Wetheringsett,  author  of  a  curious  col- 
lection of  voyages,  who  deceased  in  1614.  His  son,  Edmund  Hack- 
luit, Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  in  Cambridge,  sold  this  estate  to 
Simon  Blomeville,  of  this  parish,  Gent. ;  whose  son,  William 
Blomeville,  of  Bildeston,  Esq.,  Councellor  at  Law,  was  owner  of 
the  same,  in  1655. 

The  manor  of  the  vicarage  of  Coddenham  is  very  ancient ;  and 
in  1655,  Eobert  Eyece,  Esq.,  of  Preston,  possessed  some  original 
rolls  for  a  Leet  held  by  the  vicar,  to  which  belonged  a  great  part  of 
this  parish,  Crowfield,  Stonham,  Hemingston,  and  Gosbeck ;  which 
from  various  causes  are  now  quite  lost  from  the  vicarage.  These 
documents  were  from  the  1st  of  Edward  III.,  and  perfect  during  that 
King's  reign;  and  kept  not  very  negligently  in  the  reign  of  Eichard 
II. ;  but  then  little  remains,  until  Henry  VI.,  and  King  Edward  IV. ; 
from  whose  time  they  had  again  been  kept  very  imperfectly. 

The  tenement  called  Wigmoll's,  on  the  Mote,  in  this  parish,  was 
long  in  the  family  of  Daye ;  and  was  sold  by  William  Daye,  to 
Henry  Crane,  Esq. ;  and  by  Sir  Eobert,  his  son,  to  Francis  Chop- 
pynge,  Gent.;  who  sold  it  to  Thos.  Wingfield,  Esq.,  of  Nettlestead; 
who  left  it  by  his  will  to  be  sold  by  his  executors  ;  of  whom  it  was 
purchased  by  Francis  Bacon,  of  Ipswich,  Esq. ;  who  sold  it  to  John 
Chapman,  Gent.,  who  died  in  1657,  and  left  it  to  John  Shainar, 
D.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  and  afterwards  rector 
of  Aldham,  near  Hadleigh. 

The  tenement  Jordaine's,  was  built  by  William  Jordaine,  in  the 
time  of  King  Henry  VI.,  and  was  but  a  mean  cottage  until  John 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMKRE  AND  CLAVDON.  59  L 

Deyncs,  Gent.,  bought  it  of  Thomas  Dowe,  and  built  upon  it.  He 
was  executor  and  heir  of  William  Deynes,  of  Barrow,  his  uncle ; 
his  wife  was  Alice,  daughter  of  James  Revet,  of  Witnesham,  Gent., 
and  Christian  his  wife,  daughter  of  Robert  Gosnold,  of  Ottley,  Esq. 
He  was  Chief  Collector  for  tliis  hundred,  Samford,  and  Stow,  in 
the  44th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  assessed  £10  at  that  subsidy. 

He  left  this  estate,  and  sundry  other  lands  and  tenements,  the 
most  of  which  were  purchased  of  Sir  Anthony  Felton,  KB.,  to  his 
second  son,  John  Deynes  (Robert,  his  eldest  son,  had  an  estate  at 
Barrow),  who  was  Treasurer  for  the  maimed  soldiers,  in  1627-8, 
and  Chief  Constable  of  this  hundred  for  many  years,  and  fined  for 
Knighthood,  as  were  all  persons  of  £40  per  annum  in  lands,  at  the 
beginning  of  King  Charles's  reign.  Mr.  Deynes  married  Dinah, 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas  Hammond,  of  Wetherden.  His 
eldest  son,  John  Deynes,  Esq.,  M.D.,  inherited  this  estate. 

Dr.  Deyues  went  out  Captain  of  a  foot  Company,  in  the  service 
of  the  Parliament,  at  the  beginning  of  the  civil  war  ;  and  was  after- 
wards Serjeant  Major  and  Lieut.  Colonel  of  Colonel  Rupill's  regi- 
ment ;  and  was  at  the  taking  of  Lincoln,  when  the  government  and 
chief  commanders  there  yielded  up  themselves  to  him.  He  was 
also  at  the  battle  of  Marston  Moor  with  his  regiment,  the  first  and 
last  that  charged  of  the  Infantry :  and  was  Major  of  Horse  at  the 
siege  of  Colchester. 

His  first  wife  was  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Broke,  of 
Nacton,  Knt.  ;  his  second  was  Bridget,  daughter  of  Bartholomew 
Dado,  Gent.,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  sister  of  Sir  Robert  Naunton, 
Knt.,  Secretary  of  State  to  King  James  I.  The  tenement  Jordaines 
stood  over  against  the  church-gate. 

Roman  coins  of  the  reigns  of  different  Emperors  have  been  found 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  this  parish,  at  various  times  ;  and  in  the 
year  1823,  a  few  were  discovered  both  of  silver  and  of  copper :  two 
of  these  coins,  bearing  the  head  of  Vespasianus,  and  one  of  Cris- 
pina  Augusta,  with  the  usual  inscriptions,  were  in  a  state  of  toler- 
able preservation ;  the  others  were  either  much  or  entirely  oblite- 
rated. Two  urns  were  also  found  in  the  same  spot. 

In  December  of  the  above  year,  in  an  enclosure  upon  the  estate 
of  Sir  William  Fowle  Fowle  Middleton,  Bart.,  was  found  a  circular 
flat  bronze  box  of  extremely  beautiful  workmanship,  and  in  a 
high  state  of  preservation.  On  opening  which,  it  was  found  to 
contain  in  the  lid  a  small  convex  metallic  speculum,  and  in  the 


592  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

under  part  a  larger  one.     They  appeared  to  be  of  silver,  highly 
polished.* 

William  Fenton,  A.M.,  was  instituted  to  this  vicarage  the  13th 
of  Queen  Elizabeth ;  and  installed  Prebend  in  the  5th  stall  in  Nor- 
wich Cathedral,  March  27,  1574.  He  held  this  living  five  years, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew  Kenwellmarsh,  which  in  his  extreme 
old  age  he  resigned,  and  died  April  20,  1635 ;  from  the  time  of  his 
first  being  instituted  into  this  vicarage  till  his  death  was  upwards 
of  59  years.  Matthew  Candler  succeeded,  who  was  the  only  son 
then  living  of  William  Gillet  (alias  Candler),  of  Yoxford ;  his  wife 
was  Anne,  daughter  of  Peter  Dennaut,  rector  of  Eattlesden.  The 
Eev.  John  Longe,  the  late  vicar,  whose  first  wife  was  Charlotte, 
daughter  of  John  Brown,  of  Ipswich,  Esq.,  sister  of  the  wife  of  the 
Kev.  Eichard  Bacon,  a  former  vicar  of  this  parish,  who  devised  his 
property  in  Coddenham  to  Mr.  Longe. 

ARMS. — Deynes :  or ;  two  bars  and  a  bordure,  sable.  Chep- 
pyne :  or  ;  a  chevron  between  six  mullets,  gules.  Blomeville  : 
quarterly,  per  fess  indented,  argent  and  azure,  a  bend,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — By  a  deed,  dated  5th  May,  1736,  the  Eev.  Balshazar 
Gardemau,  and  Lady  Catherine  Ms  wife,  settled  certain  messuages, 
tithes,  lands,  and  heriditaments,  here,  in  trustees,  for  the  use  of  the 
vicar  of  this  parish  and  his  successors;  subject,  among  other  things, 
to  a  condition  that  the  vicar  for  the  time  being  should,  out  of  the 
rents  and  profits,  yearly,  between  Michaelmas  and  Christmas,  lay 
out  £5  in  clothes,  to  be  worn  by  such  poor  inhabitants  of  the  parish 
as  he  should  think  worthy  objects  of  having  the  same. — Lady  Ca- 
therine Gardemau,  by  deed,  dated  31st  May,  1753,  conveyed  to 
trustees  a  messuage  and  52 A.  IR.  of  land,  in  the  parishes  of  Men- 
dlesham  and  Earl  Stonham,  upon  trust,  for  teaching  15  poor  boys, 
and  as  many  poor  girls  belonging  to  tliis  parish,  to  read,  write,  and 
cast  accounts,  knit,  and  sew.  The  estate  lets  at  the  rent  of  ^£75  a 
year,  and  there  is  a  commodious  school-house  belonging  to  the  cha- 
rity, which  was  erected  by  the  foundress,  with  a  garden,  and  play 
ground  of  about  half  an  acre. — The  master  occupies  the  house,  and 
the  two  lower  rooms  in  it  are  used  as  school-rooms :  there  are  now 
50  poor  children  taught  in  the  schools,  25  of  each  sex;  which 

*  For  a  more  particular  description  of  the  same,  with  a  cut,  sec  "  Gentleman's 
Magazine"  for  1825,  part  1,  p.  291  ;  and  also  in  the  "  Archaeology,"  Vol.  xxvii., 
p.  359;  communicated  by  John  Gage  Rokewode,  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  and  Dir.  S.A.,  with 
a  plate. 


HUNDRED  OF  150SMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  593 

was  so  increased  in  1810.  Children  of  Crowfield  hamlet  are  ad- 
mitted when  there  are  not  sufficient  in  Coddenham  to  make  up  the 
whole  number,  to  the  extent  of  thirty. 


CREETING  ALL-SAINTS,  and  GREETING  ST.  OLAVE'S. 

The  churches  of  these  two  parishes  became  consolidated  in  or 
about  1711  ;  that  of  the  former  is  a  very  ancient  edifice,  with  a 
round  tower  :  under  a  window  on  the  south  side,  in  a  recess  in  the 
wall,  is  a  stone  with  a  cross  upon  it,  but  no  inscription ;  said  to 
have  been  laid  for  a  female  of  the  Baldry  family,  in  this  parish,  who 
had  built  that  window  ;  and  Weever  mentions  a  memorial  to  Robert 
Roydon,  Gent.,  who  died  in  1505.  The  church  of  the  latter  parish 
has  been  long  since  demolished ;  and  the  former  was  taken  down 
about  1795. 

The  family  of  Allmot  had  formerly  an  estate  in  Greeting  All- 
Saints,  and  were  patrons  of  the  advowson  :  an  heir  general  of  that 

house  married  to Clench,  Esq.  ;  and  Capt.  Robert  Clench,  of 

Holbrook,  was  owner  of  the  estate,  in  1655.  The  house  was  called 
Greeting  Hall.  Samuel  Spring,  at  the  above  period  was  rector 
here,  and  succeeded  Samuel  Spring,  his  father,  an  aged,  pious,  and 
learned  divine ;  a  descendant  of  the  Lavenham  family,  of  that  name. 

The  manor  of  St.  Olave's  belonged  to  the  Crane  family;  whose 
ancient  seat  here  was  styled  Onehall,  prior  to  their  removal  to 
Chilton.  The  manor  of  Gratinges,  in  this  parish,  was  granted  by 
Robert  de  Morton,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  half  brother  to  William  the 
Conqueror,  to  the  Abbey  of  Greistein,  in  Normandy ;  who  afterwards 
erected  a  Priory  here,  and  placed  it  under  the  care  of  the  Prior  of 
Wilmington,  in  Sussex. 

In  1347,  it  became  separated  from  this  Abbey  ;  after  which  the 
patronage  was  first  granted  to  Tydeman  de  Lymburgh,  a  merchant; 
and  afterwards  sold,  by  the  King's  license,  or  placed  under  the  pro- 
tection of  Sir  Edmund  De  la  Pole,  in  1359.  Its  valuation  in  Tax- 
atio  Ecclesiastica,"  in  1291,  was  £18  Os.  5^-d.  :  the  present  owner 
is  William  Adair,  Esq.  Joan,  Queen  dowager  of  Henry  IV.,  died 
possessed  of  a  pension  out  of  Greeting  Priory. 

These  manors  and  advowsons  were  both  vested  in  the  family  of 
Bridgeman,  whose  heirs  sold  the  same,  in  1753,  with  other  estates 


594  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

in  these  parishes,  and  the  other  Greetings,  to  Philip  Champion 
Crespigny,  Esq.,  of  Doctors'  Commons. 

ARMS. — Allmot :  argent;  on  a  bend,  sahle,  three  escallops  of  the 
first.  Morton :  ermine ;  a  chief  indented,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — Dunche's  charity  estate,  the  original  acquisition  of 
which  is  unknown,  is  vested  in  trustees,  and  appropriated  to  the  use 
of  the  poor  of  this  parish,  subject  to  the  payment  of  6s.  8d.  a  year 
to  the  poor  of  St.  Mary,  and  the  like  yearly  sum  to  the  poor  of  St. 
Olave,  and  contains  the  following  property  :  two  pieces  of  land, 
containing  GA.  OR.  28p.;  four  ditto,  ISA.  2R.  28p. ;  four  ditto,  ISA. 
IR.  33p. ;  and  standing  ground  for  a  windmill,  two  roods;  the  an- 
nual rental  of  which  amounts  to  about  £40.  A  house  in  four  te- 
nements, and  cottage,  and  small  piece  of  ground,  occupied  by  poor 
persons,  rent  free.  A  cottage  in  the  church-yard  lets  at  £l  10s.  a 
year,  and  the  rent  is  applied  with  the  church-rate. — In  1813,  Mar- 
garet Uvedale  gave  by  will,  £300  to  the  rector  and  churchwardens 
for  the  time  being,  the  interest  to  be  applied  towards  the  relief  of 
poor  persons  residing  in  this  parish,  being  of  the  age  of  60  years 
and  upwards,  who  should  have  resided  there  one  full  year ;  to  be 
distributed  in  the  church  on  Christmas-day. 


GREETING  ST.  MARY.— CRATINGA,  or  CRETYNGG. 

Here  was  also  an  alien  Priory  of  Benedictine,  or  Black  Monks  ; 
and  all  that  is  at  present  known  respecting  the  same  is,  that  it  was 
a  cell  to  the  Abbey  of  Bernay,  in  Normandy.  The  church  and  rec- 
tory of  this  parish  were  appropriated  to  it. 

The  manor  and  alien  Priory  of  Everdon,  in  Northampton,  were 
sometimes  reckoned  as  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  Greeting  ;  which 
was  the  chief  cell  in  England  to  the  above  Abbey. 

In  "  Taxatius  Ecclesiasticus,"  its  valuation  in  four  parishes,  in 
1291,  was  £12  6s.  lOd.  :  it  was  suppressed  by  the  statute  of  Lei- 
cester, in  1414.  This  foundation,  with  that  of  Everdon,  and  all 
the  appurtenances,  were  granted  by  King  Henry  VI.,  to  the  regal 
College  of  Eton,  in  Berkshire,  and  the  Provost  and  Fellows  of  the 
same  are  the  present  owners. 

A  house  in  this  parish,  called  Doddes,  a  little  beyond  Needham, 
towards  Stowmarket,  on  the  left  hand,  was  formerly  the  estate  of 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  595 

Jacob  Garrard,  late  Alderman  of  London.     In  1310,  Sir  William 
de  Bosco,  Knt.,  and  Cristian  his  wife,  lived  in  Greeting  St.  Mary. 

A  family  of  the  name  of  Raven  lived  anciently  in  this  parish  ; 
from  whom  descended  John  Raven,  Gent.,  Richmond  Herald  :  Re- 
vet, of  Stowmarket ;  Blois,  of  Grundisburgh ;  and  Bayning,  of 
Essex,  are  also  descended  of  this  family,  by  heirs  general.  A  con- 
siderable part  of  this  estate  became  vested  in  the  Earl  of  Oxford, 
and  Mr.  Herbert,  a  younger  son  of  Philip,  Earl  of  Pembroke  and 
Montgomery,  who  married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Lord  Bay- 
ning. Some  of  the  estate  of  the  Baynings,  in  this  parish,  was  de- 
rived from  the  Potters ;  whose  daughter  Alderman  Bayning  married. 

ARMS. — Raven :  or  ;  a  raven,  proper,  standing  on  a  torteaux. 
Bayning :  or ;  two  bars,  sable ;  each  charged  with  two  escallops 
of  the  first. 

CHARITIES. — In  1619,  John  Campe  gave  by  will,  a  rent  charge  of 
80s.  a  year,  out  of  his  lands  in  this  parish,  and  Greeting  All- Saints, 
to  the  overseers ;  6s.  8d.  thereof  to  be  for  repairing  the  spire  of  this 
parish  church  ;  3s.  4d.  for  the  repair  of  the  chancel ;  and  the  re- 
mainder for  the  poor,  on  St.  Thomas's  day. 


CROWFIELD,  or  CROFELDA, 

Is  a  hamlet  belonging  to  Coddenham.  The  Hall,  which  anciently 
stood  within  the  mote  by  the  chapel,  and  Booking  Hall,  which  has 
been  almost  all  re-built  within  less  than  three  centuries,  were  for  a 
long  time  in  the  possession  of  the  Wodehouse  family ;  who  sold  the 
same  to  John  Harbottle,  Gent.,  a  merchant  in  Ipswich. 

Joan,  his  daughter  and  heiress,  married  to  Thomas  Risbye,  Esq., 
of  Lavenham  ;  and  one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Thomas 
Risbye,  named  Elizabeth,*  married  to  Henry  Wiugfield,  Esq.,  who 
in  her  right,  enjoyed  the  estate  in  Crowfield.  He  sold  about  £200 
per  annum  that  lay  elsewhere,  and  about  £200  per  annum  lying  in 
and  near  this  hamlet,  and  left  to  Harbottle  Wingfield,  Esq.,  his 
son,  about  £500  per  annum. 

He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Ralph  Scrivener,  of  Belstead, 
Esq.,  a  Portman  of  Ipswich;  and  deceased  in  1645,  was  buried 

*  Joan,  the  other  daughter,  married  Edward  Grimston,  Esq.,  of  Bradfield,  in 
Essex ;  M.P.  for  the  borough  of  Eye,  in  the  3lst  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 


590  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

here.  Henry  Wingfield,  Esq.,  his  son,  succeeded ;  who  married 
Dorothy,  daughter  and  heir  of  Thomas  Brewster,  Esq. :  they  were 
both  living  here,  in  1657 

This  estate  subsequently  became  the  property  of  Henry  Harwood, 
Esq.,  who  deceased  at  Crowfield  Hall,  Dec.  10,  1738,  and  was  bu- 
ried in  the  chapel  there.  Theodore  Eccleston,  Esq.,  was  afterwards 
owner  of  this  estate;  and  in  1764,  it  belonged,  by  purchase,  to 
William,  sou  of  Arthur  Middleton,  Governor  of  South  Carolina  ; 
whose  son  William  Middleton,  Esq.,  of  Crowfield  Hall,  was  created 
a  Baronet,  May  12,  1804  ;  and  Sir  William  Fowle  Eowle  Middle- 
ton,  his  only  son,  the  present  Baronet,  of  Shrubland  Hall,  is  now 
owner  of  this  lordship. 

In  the  18th  of  Edward  II.,  Alice,  widow  of  John  de  Thorp,  had 
the  King's  writ  directed  to  John  de  Blomville,  Escheator  of  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk,  for  dower  to  be  assigned  her,  out  of  certain  Knights' 
fees,  amongst  which  Winston  and  Crowfield  are  named  as  one,  held 
by  Ralph  de  Booking,  at  £6  13s.  6d. 

The  tenement  Corke's  (alias  Crane's) ,  in  this  hamlet,  belonged  to 
Sir  Robert  Crane,  Bart.,  at  his  decease  in  1642-3  ;  and  was  part  of 
the  jointure  of  the  Lady  Susan  Crane,  his  relict ;  it  descended  to 
Mary,  his  eldest  daughter  and  co-heiress,  who  married  Sir  Ralph 
Hare,  Bart.  This  estate  continued  for  a  long  time  in  the  Crane 
family,  and  Judge  Clench  when  he  was  a  young  man,  was  Steward 
of  the  Courts  of  Henry  Crane,  Esq. ;  and  for  his  recompence  had  a 
lease  granted  him  of  this  tenement  for  life,  provided  that  he  should 
not  let  it  to  any  other.  He  paid  a  very  small  rent,  and  because  he 
was  bound  to  occupy  it  himself,  he  continued  here  a  long  time  after 
he  was  a  Judge,  till  he  purchased  the  estate  at  Holbrook,  when  he 
removed  thither. 

The  tenement  Horsell's  anciently  belonged  to  Booking  and  Crow- 
field  Hall.  Henry  Wingfield,  Esq.,  in  the  time  of  King  James, 
sold  it  to  Edmund  Bacon,  of  Shrubland  Hall,  Esq.,  who  built  the 
house,  and  left  it  to  his  son  Nathaniel  Bacon,  of  Ipswich,  Esq., 
Master  of  the  Request,  who  was  owner  thereof  in  1657. 

William  Spring,  Gent.,  who  died  in  1629,  was  the  first  that  was 
buried  in  this  chapel ;  before  this  period  the  hamlet  of  Crowfield 
buried  all  their  dead  at  Coddenham.  Anne,  daughter  to  Thomas 
Dade,  of  Tannington,  Esq.,  by  his  second  wife,  was  buried  here 
in  1630;  and  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Harbottle  Wingfield,  Esq., 
in  1633. 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  597 

ARMS. — Harwood:  azure;  on  a  chevron,  ermine,  between  three 
doves,  close,  urgent,  as  many  acorns,  proper. 


DARMSDEN,  or  DERMODESDUNA, 

Is  a  hamlet  of  Barking ;  and  the  manor,  with  the  chapel,  has  been 
always  appendant  thereto,  and  passed  from  the  Needlmms  to  the 
present  possessor,  the  Earl  of  Ashburnham,  the  same  as  that  parish. 
In  the  year  1506,  Taston  Hall,  in  Darmsden,  was  the  estate  of 
Lord  Windsor  ;  it  now  belongs  to  Sir  W.  F.  F.  Middleton.  Charles 
Cobbold,  of  Edinborough,  and  Wm.  Hankes,  of  Norwich,  are  owners 
of  freehold  lands  in  this  hamlet. 


FLOWTON,  or  FLOCHETUNA. 

In  the  47th  of  Henry  III.,  Richard  de  Clare  held  this  lordship. 
He  was  Earl  of  Gloucester,  and  married,  first,  Margaret,  daughter 
of  Hubert  de  Burgh,  Earl  of  Kent ;  and  secondly,  Matilda,  daughter 
of  John  de  Lacy,  Earl  of  Lincoln.  Gilbert  de  Clare,  his  son,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  Earldom  of  Gloucester. 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles,  Thomas  Bull,  Gent.,  resided  in 
Flowton ;  his  father  was  a  Portman  of  Ipswich,  and  built  Boss 
Hall,  in  Sproughton,  near  that  town.  He  left  three  daughters  his 
co-heiresses.  His  estate  was  about  £400  per  annum. 

The  Rev.  William  Clubb,  LL.B.,  was  forty-five  years  rector  of 
this  parish ;  and  vicar  of  Brandeston,  for  the  same  period  (see  p. 
82).  The  Rev.  John  Charlesworth,  M.A.,  is  the  present  incumbent, 
on  the  presentation  of  H.  S.  Thornton,  Esq. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land,  5A.  SR.,  was  wholly,  or  in  part, 
purchased  with  ,£26,  benefactions  of  Robert  Deerhaugh  and  William 
Vesey  ;  and  was  conveyed  by  indenture,  the  20th  June,  1674,  un- 
der the  directions  of  a  Decree  of  Commissioners  of  Charitable  Uses, 
to  eight  trustees,  in  trust,  that  the  yearly  rent  should  be  applied  for 
the  maintenance  and  relief  of  the  poor  of  this  parish.  The  land  is  let 
at  £8  8s.  a  year,  and  the  rent  is  distributed  among  poor  persons  be- 
longing to  the  parish,  in  different  sums,  according  to  their  necessities. 


598  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

GOSBECK. 

It  appears  by  a  precept  from  the  Crown,  directed  to  John  Abel, 
Escheator  on  this  side  the  Trent,  that  Richard  dc  Gosebeck  held 
the  manor  of  Gosbeck,  with  its  appurtenances,  of  Alicia,  who  was 
the  wife  of  Eoger  le  Bigod,  formerly  Earl  of  Norfolk,  and  Marshal 
of  England,  by  military  service.  The  document  is  without  date  ; 
but  this  Eoger  le  Bigod  died  in  1305. 

The  three  manors  which  Mr.  Kirby  states  existed  in  this  parish 
in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time,  and  which  at  the  period  when  he  wrote 
were  held  respectively  by  the  Lord  Orwell,  a  Mr.  Stibes,  and  the 
Tollemache  family,  are  now  united;  and  vested  in  Sir  William 
Fowle  Eowle  Middleton,  Bart.,  of  Shrubland  Park. 

The  patronage  of  the  benefice  was  attached  to  the  lordship  that 
Lord  Orwell  then  held,  and  passed  to  his  nephew,  the  late  John 
Vernon,  Esq.,  who  presented  the  Eev.  George  Capper,  the  present 
incumbent.  E.  Porter,  Gent.,  was  patron,  by  the  last  returns. 

The  family  of  Dove  appears  to  have  had  some  interest  here ;  the 
church  contains  memorials  to  John  Dove,  Gent.,  who  deceased  in 
1755,  and  also  Thomas  and  Penelope,  father  and  mother  of  the 
said  John  ;  with  the  ARMS  of  Dove :  sable  ;  a  fess  dancetted,  or  ; 
between  three  doves  close,  argent ;  beaked  and  legged,  gules ;  imp. 
Par  ham. 


HEMINGSTON,  or  HEMINGESTUNA. 

The  Priory  of  Dodnash,  in  Bentley  St.  Mary,  was  endowed  with 
320  acres  of  land  in  this  parish  and  Coddenham.  In  the  34th  of 
Henry  III.,  the  Priory  of  Ipswich  held  this  parish  church  ;  in  the 
25th  of  the  following  reign,  Eoger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  held 
half  a  Knight's  fee  here;  in  the  19th  of  Edward  II.,  Eobert,  son 
and  heir  of  Sir  Giles  de  Brewse,  held  Hemingston  church  ;  and  in 
the  17th  of  Edward  IV.,  Eichard  Bothe  was  interested  here. 

This  lordship  was  held  by  Eowland  le  Sarcere,  and  also  by  Eow- 
land  and  Baldwin  le  Pettour,  of  the  King  by  serjeantry,  by  a  ludi- 
crous tenure,  as  mentioned  by  Kirby.  This  was  afterwards  con- 
sidered an  indecent  service,  and  was  rented  at  26s.  8d.  a  year,  at 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  599 

the  King's  Exchequer.  In  the  7th  of  King  John,  Alexander  de 
Brompton,  and  Agnes  his  wife,  gave  account  of  1 5  marks,  to  have 
this  manor,  which  Jeffrey,  son  of  Hubert,  sou  of  Rowland,  brother 
of  Agnes  held,  whose  heir  she  was,  without  any  partition  to  her  sis- 
ters ;  and  the  manor  of  Langhale,  in  Norfolk,  was  a  part  or  member 
of  this,  and  held  by  the  above  parties,  under  the  same  tenure. 

Christopher  Grove,  of  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge,  B.A.,  1705,  M.A., 
1709.  In  1718  or  1719,  he  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of  this 
parish,  of  which  he  continued  the  incumbent  till  his  death,  in  1769; 
and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  Clopton,  in  this  county,  with  the 
following  quaint  inscription  to  his  memory  : — 

CHR.  GROVK,  A.M.  AUL.E  CLAKI 

PRINCIPIBUS  OCTO  SUBJECTUS,  RECTOR  UBI  OLIM 

REGIBUS  ANGLIACIS  SOLVEBAT  LUDRICA  TELLUS 

DE  CARCERE  SIMONIS,  ET  MURUS  SAXEUS  ADSTAT. 

An  explanation  of  this  was  requested  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Maga- 
zine" for  1829  ;  and  in  1832  the  following  answer  appeared,  in  part 
2nd,  p.  414,  of  that  periodical:— 

"  Supposing  Mr.  Grove  to  have  been  twenty. one  years  of  age  when  he  took  his 
first  degree,  he  must  have  been  born  in  1684,  and  consequently  lived  during  the 
reigns  of,  or  was  the  subject  of  eight  Princes :  viz.,  Charles  II.,  James  II.,  Wil- 
liam, Mary,  Anne,  George  I.,  George  II.,  and  George  III. 

"  '  RECTOR  UBI  OLIM,''  &c.,  viz.,  Hemingston  ;  where  the  manor  was  held  of  the 
King  by  the  ludicrous  tenure  above  named.  '  DE  CARCERE  SIMONIS.'  This  is 
obscure.  Can  the  allusion  be  to  the  Rowland  le  Sarcere  who  held  lands  here  upon 
the  said  tenure. 

"  '  MURUS  SAXEUS.'  In  Hemingston  was  formerly  '  an  ancient  building  neere 
the  spring  head,  which  of  late  belong  to  the  family  of  Cantrell.  The  chiefe  of  that 
family  were  the  Duke  of  Norfolk's  gentleman.  Sir  Ralphe  Cantrell,  Knt.,  the  last 
of  the  family,  sold  it  to  Robert  Shaw,  Gent.,  a  merchant  in  Ipswich,  whose  soune 
Robert  is  owner  of  it  this  year,  1655.  There  belongs  to  it  an  ancient  tenement  cal- 
led Stone  Hall,  now  com'ouly  Stone  Wall.'  The  spot  where  the  road  from  Henley 
to  Gosbeck  crosses  that  from  Otley  to  Coddenham,  still  goes  by  the  name  of  Stone 
Walls ;  but  there  are  no  remains  of  walls  or  buildings  now  in  existence.  This  is 
in  the  parish  of  Hemingstou." 

Richard  Colville,  Esq.,  who  was  seated  here,  in  1764,  was  a  lineal 
descendant  of  the  Colviles,  lords  of  Carlton  Colvile,  in  Mutford 
hundred,  from  the  Norman  Conquest ;  and  who  subsequently  be- 
came seated  at  Newton  Hall,  in  the  Isle  of  Ely ;  which  the  family 
inherited  in  succession  for  above  500  years. 

Mr.  Colville  married  Elizabeth,  only  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Ac- 
ton, Esq.,  of  this  parish ;  with  whom  he  received  the  Hemingstou 
estate,  and  continued  to  reside  here.  He  had  issue  bv  the  said 


600  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

marriage,  two  sons  ;  Robert,  deceased,  and  Nathaniel  Colville,  D.D.? 
the  present  rector  of  Lawshall,  in  this  county ;  and  as  many  dau»h- 
ters.  Mr.  Colville  died  in  1784,  and  was  buried  here. 

Robert  Colville,  Esq.,  eldest  son  and  heir,  married  Amelia,  eldest 
daughter  of  Sir  Charles  Asgill,  Bart.,  which  Robert  deceased  in 
1799,  and  left  four  sons;  the  eldest  of  whom,  Sir  Charles  Henry 
Colville,  now  resides  at  Duffield  Hall,  in  Derbyshire,  having  mar- 
ried Harriet  Anne,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Thomas  Porter  Bonell, 
Esq.,  heir  to  the  families  of  Porter  and  Coape;  Frederick;  Augustus 
Asgill,  the  present  rector  of  Great  and  Little  Livermere,  in  this 
county  ;  and  Robert  Henry,  of  the  3rd  Guards. 

In  Hemingston  is  an  ancient  mansion  house,  which  continued  in 
the  family  of  Church  above  300  years.  Hamelyn  Church,  who  de- 
ceased in  the  time  of  Charles  I.,  left  about  £200  per  annum,  which 
he  divided  between  his  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Hamelyn.  The  mo- 
ther of  Hamelyn  Church  was  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Hamelyn, 
of  Hindercley,  in  this  county. 

William  Style,  Gent.,  built  a  farm  house  in  this  parish ;  John, 
his  son,  was  owner  of  the  same,  in  1655  :  'he  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Richard  Moseley,  of  Ousden,  Esq.  Mr.  Style  deceased 
in  1656,  and  devised  this  estate,  to  William,  his  son. 

ARMS. — Gantrell:  argent;  a  pelican  on  her  nest,  with  young 
ones,  sable  ;  vuluing  herself,  proper.  Church :  sable ;  a  fess  be- 
tween three  fleurs-de-lis,  argent. 


HELMINGHAM,  or  HAMINGHEHAM. 

The  Austin  Nuns  of  Campsey  became  very  early  enfeoffed  in  this 
lordship,  probably  of  the  gift  of  Theobald  de  Valoines,  the  founder 
of  that  Monastery,  or  by  some  early  benefactor  shortly  afterwards. 
In  the  13th  of  King  Henry  III.,  Joan,  Prioress  of  this  Nunnery, 
released  the  same  to  Sir  Bartholomew  de  Creke.  It  appears  sub- 
sequently to  have  passed  as  the  manor  of  Combs,  in  Stow  hundred, 
for  several  descents. 

The  Prioress  and  Nuns  of  Flixton*  were  patrons  of  this  rectory. 

*  Margery,  daughter  of  Jeffrey  de  Anos,  and  relict  of  Sir  Bartholomew  de  Creke, 
was  the  foundress  of  this  Nunnery ;  and  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Roger  Fitz  Peter  Fitz 
Osbert,  was  the  daughter  of  Margery,  and  heiress  of  the  Creke  family. 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  CO  1 

Beatrix,  Prioress  of  that  house,  having  conveyed  her  right  in  the 
patronage  of  Combs,  and  that  of  North  Creak,  in  Norfolk,  to  Roger 
Fitz  Peter  Fitz  Osbert,  and  Sarah  his  wife,  in  the  17th  of  Edward 
I. ;  who  granted,  in  consideration  of  giving  the  said  Prioress  the 
manor  of  Flixton,  with  the  moiety  of  that  church,  four  acres  of  land 
in  Helmingham,  and  the  advowson  of  that  rectory,  with  other  pro- 
perty in  this  county,  and  Norfolk.  It  continued  in  the  patronage  of 
that  house  till  about  1280 ;  when  it  was  granted  to  the  Bishop  of  Nor- 
wich, in  exchange  for  that  of  Flixton ;  who  held  the  same  till  the  Re- 
formation, when  the  Crown  claimed,  and  has  presented  ever  since. 

The  manor  passed  to  the  Thorpes,  as  in  Combs;  and  in  1340, 
the  feoffees  of  Sir  John  de  Thorp  released  to  him  all  the  lands  in 
this  parish,  which  Sir  Ralph  de  Booking  held  for  life  :  he  died  that 
year  without  issue,  and  Sir  Edmund  de  Thorp,  his  brother,  inhe- 
rited. In  his  time,  the  several  fees  and  manors  held  of  him  were 
extended,  and  by  the  extent  renewed,  it  appeared,  that  the  fees  of 
this  manor  were,  one  fee  in  Stikingland,  held  by  Robert  de  Creke; 
one  fee  in  Honington,  as  of  the  Earl  Marshal's  manor  of  Chester- 
ford,  held  by  James  de  Creke ;  one  in  Kenton,  by  Nigel  de  Kenton ; 
two  fees  in  Westhorp  and  Finningham,  by  Adam  Conyers ;  half  a 
fee  in  Flixton,  held  by  that  Prioress  ;  a  fee  and  an  half  in  Middle- 
ton  and  Yoxford,  held  by  Robert  de  Creyk:  which  fees  in  1305, 
became  divided,  and  were  the  property  of  Roger  Fitz  Peter  Fitz 
Osbert ;  who  had  them  of  the  inheritance  of  Sarah  his  wife  ;  and 
were  delivered  to  Sir  John  de  Thorp,  as  cousin  and  heir  to  Margaret, 
one  of  the  aunts  and  heirs  of  the  said  Sarah. 

It  soon  after  this  became  alienated  from  this  house,  and  in  the 
43rd  of  Edward  III.,  William  de  Booking  held  the  same :  in  the 
49th  of  that  reign,  John  de  Hastings,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  was  en- 
feoffed  therein.  In  the  3rd  of  Richard  II.,  Katherine  de  Brews ; 
and  in  the  3rd  of  Henry  VI.,  Edmund,  Earl  of  March,  held  one 
and  a  half  Knights'  fees  in  Helmingham,  of  the  honour  of  Glouces- 
ter, by  Henry  Hastings ;  and  in  the  8th  of  that  reign,  Margaret, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Sir  John  Gray,  Knt.,  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Sir  Roger  Swillington,  Knt.,  held  the  manor. 

In  the  7th  of  Edward  III.,  the  Prior  of  Holy  Trinity,  in  Ipswich, 
had  a  charter  of  free  warren  in  Helmingham,  Greeting,  and  Stoii- 
ham ;  and  in  the  24th  of  that  reign  they  held  here.  John,  Duke 
of  Norfolk,  who  deceased  in  the  15th  of  Edward  IV.,'  held  one  fee, 
and  part  of  a  fee  in  Helmingham. 


602  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

The  very  ancient  and  illustrious  house  of  Tollemache  not  long 
afterwards  became  seated  here  :  a  family  of  high  antiquity,  and  dis- 
tinction, and  which  has  borne  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  annals  and 
history  of  this  county.  They  boast  their  descent  from  Tollemache, 
a  Saxon  Lord,  of  Bentley,  in  Samford  hundred.  Lionel,  eldest  son 
of  John  Tollemache,  of  that  parish,  by  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  and 
heiress  of  Eoger  Louth,  of  Sawtrey,  in  Huntingtonshire,  was  the 
first  of  the  family  who  settled  here. 

'  He  inherited  this  estate  by  his  marriage  with  Edith,  daughter 
and  sole  heiress  of  Sir  William  Joyce,  Knt.,  of  Creke's  Hall,  in 
Helmingham  ;  and  in  the  1st  of  Henry  VIII.  was  found,  by  inqui- 
sition, to  hold  the  manor  of  Bentley,  by  Knight's  service.  He 
served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  of  the  counties  of  Norfolk  and 
Suffolk,  in  the  4th  of  that  reign,  and  also  in  the  22nd  of  the  same 
King  ;  and  deceased  prior  to  the  6th  of  Edward  VI. ;  and  Lionel, 
his  eldest  surviving  son,  succeeded. 

He  added  greatly  to  his  maternal  estate  by  the  purchase  of  several 
manors  and  other  property  in  this  vicinity,  and  was  Knighted  by 
Queen  Elizabeth ;  who  during  her  progresses  through  the  counties 
of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk,  honoured  him  with  a  visit  at  Helmingham 
Hall,  and  during  her  stay  stood  God-mother  for  his  eldest  son. 
His  descendants  have  been  most  honourably  settled  in  this  parish, 
since  that  period,  until  the  decease  of  Louisa,  Countess  of  Dysart, 
in  1840;  who  on  the  death  of  her  brother,  Wilbraham,  fifth  Earl 
of  Dysart,  in  1821,  succeeded  to  the  family  honours  and  estates. 

The  present  proprietor  of  this  noble  seat  and  domain  is  John 
Tollemache,  Esq.,  of  Tillstone  Lodge,  Cheshire,  M.P.  for  North 
Cheshire  ;  eldest  son  of  the  late  Admiral  Tollemache,  and  grandson 
of  Lady  Jane  Halliday,  sister  to  Lionel  and  Wilbraham,  late  Earls 
of  Dysart. 

Helmingham  Hall  is  an  edifice  of  great  antiquity,  surrounded  by 
a  moat  and  drawbridges  ;  it  is  of  a  quadrangular  form,  with  a  court 
yard  in  the  centre;  and  was  probably  erected  by  Lionel  Tollemache, 
in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  upon  the  site  of  the  more  an- 
cient manor  house,  styled  Creke  Hall,  from  the  early  proprietors 
of  that  name,  who  inherited  the  same. 

Since  the  accession  of  the  estate  to  the  present  proprietor,  this 
ancient  Hall  has  been  completely  renovated,  and  that  part  called 
the  Garden  Front  entirely  rebuilt ;  it  has  also  been  splendidly  re- 
furnished in  the  pure  Elizabethean  style :  several  very  fine  pictures 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  603 

have  been  added  to  the  collection,  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to  state 
that  it  is  now  by  far  the  most  interesting  seat  in  the  county.  It  is 
situated  in  a  very  extensive  park,  containing  some  of  the  largest 
oak  trees  in  the  kingdom. 

The  church  stands  on  the  margin  of  the  park,  and  contains  nu- 
merous splendid  monuments  to  the  Tollemache  family,  both  ancient 
and  modern,  by  the  best  sculptors.  The  tower  was  erected  in  1487, 
as  appears  by  a  copy  of  an  agreement  deposited  in  the  church  chest, 
between  "  John  Talmage,  Esquire,  Maystress  Elizabeth  his  wyff, 
Edmund  Joyce,  Gent.,  John  Wythe  and  William  Holm,  on  the  one 
part,  and  Thomas  Aldrych,  Mason,  of  North  Lopham,  on  the  other 
part,  for  thirty  pounds."  The  arms  of  Tollemache  appear  in  several 
parts  of  the  steeple,  and  over  the  west  door  are  the  arms  of  Tolle- 
mache, imp.  Joyce.  On  the  south  side  of  the  tower  about  three 
feet  from  the  ground  is  the  following  inscription  in  Gothic  letters : 

"SCANDIT   AD    ETHERA    VIRGO    PUERPERA  VIRGULA    TESSA." 

A  complete  new  peal  of  eight  bells,  the  gift  of  the  Earl  of  Dysart, 
and  cast  by  Mr.  Thomas  Mears,  of  London,  were  opened  in  this 
tower,  June  10th,  1816;  135  ringers  attended,  and  partook  of  an 
excellent  dinner  provided  by  the  noble  Earl ;  and  an  assemblage  of 
about  8000  persons,  who  had  the  privilege  of  promenading  in  the 
park. 

Nicholas  Carr,  LL.D.,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  of  Stirston,  in 
this  county,  and  Eollesby,  in  Norfolk,  and  Dean  of  Chapel-field  Col- 
lege, in  1520,  was  appointed  Vicar  General,  or  Chancellor,  to  the 
Bishop  of  Norwich.  In  the  43rd  of  Henry  III.,  Sir  John  de  Stowe, 
was  rector  of  this  parish. 

ARMS. — Earl  of  Dysart :  quarterly  ;  1st  and  4th,  argent ;  a 
fret,  sable;  for  Tollemache:  2nd  and  3rd,  azure;  an  imperial 
crown,  or,  between  three  mullets,  argent ;  within  a  double  tressure, 
flory,  counterflory,  of  the  second ;  for  Murray. 

CHARITIES. — It  is  stated  in  the  terriers  that  there  were  belonging 
to  this  parish  church,  a  house,  barn,  and  three  pieces  of  land,  con- 
taining in  the  whole  by  estimation  12  acres,  abutting  on  the  high- 
way from  Woodbridge  to  Debenham,  towards  the  east ;  and  in  a 
terrier,  dated  in  1791,  it  is  stated  the  same  were  then  in  the  occu- 
pation of  the  Earl  of  Dysart,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £12,  and  that 
the  rent  was  received  by  the  churchwardens,  and  expended  in  re- 
pairs of  the  church,  and  other  charges  belonging  to  their  office. 
The  annual  sum  of  10s.  is  paid  by  the  tenant  of  the  Bottom  Farm, 


604  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

in  this  parish,  which  is  laid  out  in  bread,  and  given  among  poor 
persons. — The  sum  of  £10  was  left  by  James  Gosling,  in  or  about 
the  year  1748,  to  provide  bread  for  the  poor. 


HENLEY,  or  HENLEIA. 

In  the  12th  of  Edward  I.,  Sir  Walter  de  Colchester  held  lands  in 
this  parish  ;  in  the  4th  of  Edward  II.,  Giles  de  Brewes ;  and  Eich. 
Bothe  in  the  17th  of  Edward  IV.  The  Sacrist  of  the  Holy  Trinity, 
or  Cathedral  Priory,  at  Norwich,  had  rents  annexed  to  his  office, 
amounting  to  £3  4s.  10d.,  obtained  from  lands,  &c.,  in  Henley; 
and  10s.  8d.  from  that  parish  church. 

The  lordship  formerly  belonged  to  the  honour  of  Eye,  and  was 
included  in  the  grant  made  by  King  Edward  III.  to  his  brother, 
John  of  Eltham,  Earl  of  Cornwall ;  who  deceased  without  issue. 
It  became  afterwards  vested  in  Bartholomew,  Lord  Burghersh ;  for 
which  he  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren,  to  himself,  his  wife,  and 
their  heirs,  in  the  23rd  of  the  same  King  ;  leaving  it  to  Elizabeth, 
his  daughter  and  heiress,  the  wife  of  Edward  de  Spencer. 

Henley  Hall  belonged  to  the  family  of  Dameron.  Edward  Da- 
meron,  Esq.,  married  Margery,  the  daughter  of  Judge  Clench,  of 
Holbrook.  Edmund,  their  son,  sold  the  Hall  to  Ralph  Meadows, 
a  younger  son  of  William  Meadows,  of  Witnesham,  in  1630.  Mr. 
Meadows  deceased  in  1679,  and  from  him  descended  the  Henley 
branch  of  that  family. 

In  1774,  an  Act  of  Parliament  was  passed  to  enable  John  Mea- 
dows, senior,  Gent.,  to  take  the  surname  and  arms  of  Theobald ; 
pursuant  to  the  will  of  Elizabeth  Theobald,  widow,  deceased.  In 
1776,  another  Act  was  passed,  to  amend  the  former,  and  also  to  en- 
able John  Medows,  eldest  son  of  the  said  John,  now  John  Medows 
Theobald,  and  the  heirs  of  his  body,  to  take  the  said  surname,  and 
bear  the  said  arms  of  Theobald. 

John  Medows  Theobald,  Esq.,  the  elder,  served  the  office  of  High 
Sheriff  for  this  county,  in  1787,  and  deceased  the  next  year;  when 
John  Medows  Theobald,  Esq.,  his  son,  succeeded.  He  was  a  De- 
puty Lieutenant  and  Magistrate  for  this  county,  and  for  many  years 
Major  in  the  1st  regiment  of  Suffolk  Yeomanry  Cavalry.  His  first 
wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Snell,  Gent.,  of  Needham-Mar- 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  605 

ket;  who  died  without  issue.  He  married,  secondly,  Mary  Penelope, 
relict  of  Thomas  Barstone,  Esq.,  Captain  in  the  service  of  the 
East  India  Company,  and  the  daughter  of  William  Strutt,  Esq.,  of 
Sudbury;  hy  whom  he  had  issue,  one  son  and  a  daughter.  Major 
Theobald  died  at  Claydon  Hall,  May  4,  1830,  in  his  82nd  year; 
when  John  Medows  Theobald,  Clerk,  his  only  son,  succeeded  to 
this  estate,  and  is  the  present  proprietor. 

The  Seckfords  were  formerly  concerned  here.  Over  the  west  en- 
trance to  the  parish  church  is  this  inscription : — "  Orate  pro  ani- 
malus  Thomas  Sekeford  et  Maryaratt<K  uxor  ejus ;"  and  three 
shields ;  Seckford,  with  the  arms  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  By 
which  it  would  seem  this  part  of  the  edifice  was  erected  at  their  ex- 
pense. 

The  family  of  Sorrel  were  also  interested  here.  John  Sorrel  mar- 
ried Joan,  daughter  of Cuthhert,  of  Henley.  Andrew,  their 

son,  settled  at  Ipswich,  and  married  Alice  Peppercorne  ;  whose  son, 
Sir  Manuel  Sorrel,  Knt.,  was  a  Portman  of  that  borough,  in  1G60. 
He  was  Knighted  by  King  Charles  II.,  on  his  return  to  the  throne, 
and  was  then  senior  Bailiff  of  Ipswich.  He  deceased  in  1669,  and 
was  buried  in  St.  Peter's  church,  in  that  town.  Sir  Manuel  gave 
the  Conduit  in  that  parish,  for  a  supply  of  water  to  the  vicinity. 

The  family  of  Vere  were  for  many  ages  seated  in  this  parish ; 
and  the  late  representative  in  Parliament  for  East  Suffolk,  Major 
General  Sir  Charles  Broke  Vere,  K.C.B.  (who  assumed  the  ad- 
ditional surname  of  Vere,  in  1822,  by  sign  manual),  inherited  this 
estate,  from  a  maternal  relative,  Thomas  Vere,  Esq.,  formerly  of 
Norwich,  and  one  of  the  representatives  in  Parliament  for  that  city, 
who  deceased  in  or  about  1766,  without  issue.  Sir  Charles  Broke 
Vere  deceased  April  1,  1843.  This  estimable  gentleman  and  gal- 
lant soldier,  was  the  2nd  sou  of  the  late  Philip  Broke,  of  Nacton, 
Esq.,  and  was  born  in  1779.  The  close  tie  of  friendship  subsisting 
between  him  and  his  gallant  brother,  the  late  Admiral  Sir  Philip 
B.  V.  Broke,  Bart.,  is  well  known,  and  will  be  remembered  in  the 
acknowledgement  of  the  honours  which  Suffolk  will  feel  proud  in 
recognising  as  the  merited  reward  of  two  of  the  best  and  bravest  of 
her  sons. 

ARMS. —  Vere:    quarterly,  gules  and  or,  four  mullets  counter- 
changed.     Crest :  a  boar  passant,  azure ;  armed,  or. 

CHARITIES. — Thomas  Vere,  Esq.,  by  a  codicil,  13th  February, 
1766,  gave  to  the  vicar  of  this  parish,  and  his  successors,  £200,  to 


606  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

be  vested  in  the  three  per  cent.  Bank  Annuities;  and  out  of  the  in- 
terest he  directed  ^63  to  be  given  annually,  on  St.  Thomas's  day,  by 
the  vicar,  to  the  most  industrious  poor  people  of  the  parish ;  and 
the  remaining  interest  he  gave  to  the  vicar,  on  condition  that  he 
preach  a  sermon  upon  the  being  and  attributes  of  God,  on  that  day, 
yearly ;  and  constantly  hear  the  children  of  the  parish  the  Church 
Catechism,  in  the  church,  every  Sunday  from  Easter  Sunday  to 
Michaelmas-day ;  and  he  gave  to  the  parish  clerk,  annually,  10s., 
for  his  attendance. 


The  following  singular  entry  occurs  in  an  old  register  belonging 
to  this  parish  church  : — 

"  Prince  Charles  was  born  on  Monday,  May  29,  1630  ;  at  which  time  a  star  ap- 
peared at  mid-day ;  and  Mr.  Daniel  Heron,  vicar  of  Henley,  in  Suffolk,  preached 
then  at  St.  Paul:s,  on  the  words,  Judges  xiv.,  18;  'If  ye  had  not  plowed  with 
my  heifer,  ye  had  not  made  out  my  riddle.'  King  Charles  the  father,  went  to  hear 
the  sermon,  and  to  return  thanks  for  his  son's  birth.  After  sermon,  serjeant  Hos- 
kins  sent  the  preacher  these  verses : 

"  Dum  Rex  Paulinas  accessit  gratus  ad  aras 

Emicuit  medio  lucida  Stella  die. 
Die  mihi  divina  enarrans  Eenigmata,  proeco, 

Hsec  oriens  nobis  quid  sibi  Stella  velit. 
"  Mr.  Heron's  answer  was  : — 

"  Magnus  in  OCCIDUO  princeps  modo  nascitur  orbe, 
Crasque  sub  Eclipsin  Regna  ORIENTIS  erunt." 


MICKFIELD,  or  MULCELFEL. 

John  de  Boyland  was  anciently  enfeoffed  in  a  lordship  here ;  and 
in  the  time  of  King  Eichard  I.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Sampson, 
Abbot  of  Bury,  and  Koger  de  Hoo,  of  two  Knights'  fees  in  this  pa- 
rish, and  Uggeshall,  in  this  county,  and  Topcroft,  in  Norfolk; 
which  Berengarius  held  of  the  Abbot  at  the  survey ;  wherein  Roger 
acknowledges  the  tenure,  and  that  when  the  scutage  was  20s.  he 
would  pay  20s.,  when  more  he  would  pay  more,  and  when  less  he 
would  pay  less ;  and  to  perform  ward  to  Norwich  Castle. 

Alice,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Robert  Micklefield,  married  to 
Edmund,  son  of  Hugh  de  Berry,  and  Cecilia  his  wife,  in  the  reign 
of  King  Edward  III. ;  and  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.,  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Singleton,  of  this  parish,  married  Anthony 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  607 

Thwayts,  of  Hardiugham,  in  Norfolk ;  and  Thomas,  their  son  and 
heir,  married  Bridget,  daughter  of  Eobert  Spring,  Esq.,  of  Laven- 
ham,  in  this  county. 

The  manor  of  Wolney  Hall,  in  this  parish,  Mr.  Kirby  thinks  for- 
merly belonged  to  the  alien  Priory  of  Grestein,  in  Normandy,  and 
was  sold  by  that  Convent  about  1347,  to  one  Tydemanus  de  Lym- 
bergh.  Here  was  another  manor,  styled  Flede  Hall,  in  1764  ;  one 
of  these  lordships  were  vested  in  Lord  Orwell,  and  the  other  belonged 
to  William,  afterwards  Sir  Wm.  Middleton,  Bart.,  of  Crowfield  Hall. 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles,  Nicholas  Garneys  (or  Garnish)  re- 
sided in  Mickfield  :  he  married ,  daughter  of-  -  Bade,  of 

Tannington. 

Maltyward  Simpson  is  the  present  incumbent  of  this  parish 
church,  and  also  patron. 

CHARITIES. — In  1612,  the  Kev.  John  Metcalf  devised  a  messuage, 
called  Breadstreet,  in  Woodbridge,  in  trust,  to  permit  the  church- 
wardens of  this  parish  to  manage  the  same,  and  with  the  rents,  after 
keeping  the  premises  in  repair,  to  pay  the  lord's  and  King's  taxes, 
the  yearly  offerings  of  the  parishioners  at  Easter,  and  the  single 
task  of  the  parishioners  when  it  should  happen  ;  and  to  bestow  the 
surplus,  if  any,  in  the  common  expenses  of  the  parishioners.  The 
premises  let  for  £20  a  year,  which  after  providing  for  repairs,  and 
a  payment  of  13s.  4d.  to  the  minister  for  Easter  offerings,  is  applied 
in  aid  of  the  church-rate.  There  are  two  cottages  in  Mickfield,  ap- 
propriated to  the  use  of  the  church ;  one  of  which  is  let  at  £5  a 
year,  and  the  rent  applied  with  the  church-rate ;  and  the  other  is 
occupied  by  the  parish  clerk. 


NEEDHAM-MAKKET, 

Is  a  tolerable  well  built  town,  and  was  formerly  a  place  of  consider- 
able trade  and  manufacture  ;  which  afterwards  dwindled  to  nothing. 
The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  asserts,  that  "  Needham  became 
so  much  decayed,  that  its  poverty  grew  proverbial ;  and  they  were 
said  to  be  in  the  highway  to  Needham,  who  were  hastening  to  po- 
verty." This  originated  probably  soon  after  the  failure  of  their 
woollen  manufactory.  At  present  it  is  not  much  behind  other  mar- 
ket towns  in  the  county  for  improvement. 


608  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

The  church  is  an  ancient,  but  mean  building  ;  and  is  a  chapel  of 
ease  to  Barking,  of  which  this  town  is  an  hamlet ;  and  with  that 
parish  its  history  is  included. 


NETTLE  STEAD,  or  NETLESTEDA. 

Alan,  surnamed  Rufus  (or  Fergeant)  by  reason  of  his  red  hair, 
was  lord  of  this  manor  when  Domesday  Book  was  written,  and  Ha- 
lanalt  was  his  tenant.  Alan  was  son  of  Eudo,  Earl  of  Bretaigne, 
in  France ;  and  coming  over  to  England  with  William,  Duke  of 
Normandy,  was  advanced  to  the  Earldom  of  Richmond. 

He  was  the  devout  and  first  beginner  of  the  foundation,  or  rather 
restorer  of  that  great  Abbey  of  St.  Mary,  at  York,  and  a  great  be- 
nefactor to  other  religious  houses.  He  married  Constance,  one  of 
the  daughters  of  William  the  Conqueror ;  but  died  without  issue, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury.  Alanus  Ni- 
ger (or  Alan  the  Black),  the  eldest  of  four  brothers,  succeeded  him 
in  the  Earldom  of  Bretaigne  and  Richmond,  and  in  this  lordship. 

He  founded  a  cell  at  Rumburgh,  in  this  county,  annexing  it  to 
the  Abbey  of  St.  Mary,  at  York  ;  and  confirmed  to  the  monks  of 
Thetford,  in  Norfolk,  the  tithes  of  this  parish  church  ;  but  this  ma- 
nor continued  in  his  successors  until  the  decease  of  Conan,  sur- 
named Le  Petit,  Duke  of  Bretaigne,  in  the  17th  of  Henry  II.  Sir 
Peter  Mauclere,  who  married  Alice,  the  only  daughter  of  Constance, 
the  only  daughter  and  neiress  of  Conan,  by  Guy  de  Thouars,  had 
livery  of  this  lordship  in  the  15th  of  Henry  III. 

By  a  special  Charter,  dated  May  1,  1241  ;  this,  with  other  es- 
tates, were  given  by  Henry  III.,  to  Peter  de  Savoy,  the  Queen's 
uncle ;  who  dying  without  issue,  left  them  to  that  Princess.  This 
lordship  was  soon  afterwards  granted  to  Robert  de  Tibetot,  in  con- 
sideration of  his  great  services  to  the  King  against  his  rebellious 
Barons,  and  who  died  here,  ia  the  25th  of  Edward  I.  From  him 
it  was  transmitted  to  his  descendants;  and  in  the  46th  of  Edward 
III.,  Robert  de  Tibetot  dying  without  issue  male,  left  three  daugh- 
ters his  co-heirs ;  namely,  Margaret,  Millicent,  and  Elizabeth,  who 
were  then  in  minority,  and  given  in  ward  to  Richard  le  Scrope,  of 
Bolton ;  who  disposed  of  Margaret,  to  Roger  le  Scrope,  his  eldest 
son ;  Millicent,  to  Stephen,  his  third  son ;  and  Elizabeth,  to  Philip 
le  Despencer,  the  younger. 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  609 

In  the  9th  of  Richard  III.,  these  daughters  made  proof  of  their 
respective  ages,  and  had  livery  of  their  lands ;  in  the  partition 
whereof,  the  lordship  and  manor  of  Nettlestead  became  vested  in 
Philip  le  Despencer.  From  his  only  daughter  and  heir,  Margery, 
married  first  to  John  Lord  Roos,  and  afterwards,  in  1450,  to  Sir 
Roger  Wentworth,  the  same  was  brought  into  that  family  ;  the  re- 
presentative of  which,  in  the  21st  of  Henry  VIII.,  was  summoned 
to  Parliament  by  writ,  as  Lord  Wentworth,  of  Nettlestead  ;  to  which 
honour  King  Charles  I.  added  the  Earldom  of  Cleveland. 

In  this  family  the  lordship  of  Nettlestead  continued  till  about  the 
year  1646,  when  Thomas,  the  1st  Earl  of  Cleveland,  sold  it  to 
"William  Lodge,  a  citizen  of  London ;  it  afterwards  belonged  to  Mr. 
John  Fuller,  of  Ipswich ;  whose  only  daughter  and  heiress  carried 
it  by  marriage  into  the  family  of  Bradley ;  from  whom  it  came  to 
the  late  General  Philipson ;  and  was  lately  the  property  of  Mr. 
Lionel  Henry  Moore,  by  whom  it  was  purchased  in  1813.  He  was 
son  of Moore,  of  Crow's  Hall,  in  Debenham.  In  1831,  Net- 
tlestead Hall  was  sold  by  the  executors  of  Mr.  John  Welham,  to 
Major  Walker,  of  Levington  ;  who  married  the  only  daughter  of 
Hercules  Mill,  Esq.,  of  Brook  Street,  Ipswich  :  of  whom  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Snell  bought  the  same,  in  1841,  and  is  now  owner  thereof. 

The  manor  extends  into  Somersham,  Willisham,  Blakenham  by 
the  Waters,  and  the  adjoining  parishes  ;  and  consists  of  fines  arbi- 
trary, reliefs,  quit-rents,  and  free-rents.  Its  descent  will  more  par- 
ticularly appear  from  the  following  statement : — 

William  I. — Earls  of  Richmond  and  Bretaigne. 

17  Henry  II. — Conan,  the  last  Earl,  deceased. 

15  Henry  III. — Sir  Peter  Mauclere,  who  married  Alice,  daughter 

of  Constance,  the  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Conan. 
25  Henry  III. — Peter  de  Savoy. 
25  Edward  I. — Robert  de  Tibetot,  oliit  sets. 
7  Edward  II. — Pain  Tibetot,  ob.  sets. 
41  Edward  III. — John  de  Tibetot,  ob.  sets. 
46  Edward  III. — Robert  de  Tibetot,  ob.  seisit,  s.  p.  m. 

16  Richard  II. — Philip  le  Despencer. 
1450. — Roger  Wentworth. 

21  Charles  I. — Thomas  Wentworth,  Earl  of  Cleveland,  sold  to 

William  Lodge. 

24  Charles  I. — Win.  Lodge,  Esq.,  held  first  Court  Sept.  21,  1649, 
10th  Oct.  1659.— Dorothy  Hall,  late  wife  of  John  Hall,  Gent. 


610  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

14  Charles  II. — William  Lodge,  Esq.,  first  Court  July  10,  1662. 
1 1  William  III. — Francis  Dade,  Clerk  ;  in  right  of  his  wife.  1699. 

2  Anne.— John  Fuller,  Gent.,  first  Court  April  20,  1704. 

3  George  I. — John  Wright,  Esq.,  ditto,  April  4,  1717. 

6th  Aug.,  1724. — William  Bradley,  Esq.,  and  Hannah  his  wife 
(late  Hannah  Fuller.) 

26th  May,  1763. — William  Bradley,  Esq. 

lath  Feb.,  1770. — Richard  Philipson,  Esq. 

24th  Dec.,  1790. — Eichard  Burton  Philipson,  Esq. 

1813. — Lionel  Henry  Moore,  Esq. 

1831.— Major  Walker. 

1841. — Edward  Snell,  Gent.,  present  proprietor. 

Nettlestead  Hall,  the  fine  old  seat  of  the  noble  family  of  Went- 
worth,  till  within  these  few  years  past,  was  remaining  in  its  original 
state.  It  is  situated  near  the  church,  and  was  formerly  surrounded 
by  a  wall,  part  of  which  is  still  standing.  The  gateway  now  re- 
mains (a  view  of  which  is  given  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiqui- 
ties of  Suffolk"),  and  on  the  spandrils  of  the  arch  are  two  shields, 
sculptured  with  the  Wentworth  arms,  including  which  are  twenty 
quarterings  on  each  shield.  The  mansion  has  been  lately  modern- 
ized and  new  fronted,  by  the  late  proprietor,  Mr.  Lionel  Henry 
Moore.  High  Hall,  in  Nettlestead,  belongs  to  William  Morden 
Carthew,  of  Howland  Street,  Fitzroy  Square,  London,  by  purchase 
in  1836,  of  the  executors  of  the  late  Nathaniel  Lee  Acton,  Esq.,  of 
Livermere  Park. 

The  Prior  and  Convent  of  Thetford,  held  certain  tithes  in  this 
parish,  of  the  gift  of  William  de  Burnaville,  and  Alice  his  wife ; 
but  the  advowson  continued  attached  to  the  manor  until  sold  there- 
from by  Lionel  Henry  Moore,  to  Mr.  Stephen  Jackson,  proprietor 
of  the  "  Ipswich  Journal ;"  at  whose  death,  in  1819,  he  devised  it 
to  his  second  son,  Stephen,  who  was  then  incumbent ;  and  the  Rev. 
John  Jackson,  his  nephew,  is  now  rector. 

Samuel  Sayer,  Esq.,  who  tenanted  Nettlestead  Hall,  was  owner 
of  considerable  estates  in  that  parish  and  Sproughton  ;  out  of  which 
the  sum  of  £30  per  annum  is  paid  yearly,  into  the  hands  of  the 
churchwardens  and  overseers  of  the  poor  of  the  borough  of  Bewdley, 
in  the  parish  of  Ribbesford,  co.  Worcester,  towards  the  support  of 
an  Almshouse  there,  for  six  poor  men,  built  by  him. 

Mr.  Sayer  married  Thomasine,  daughter  of  John  Lea,  Gent.,  of 
Coddenham;  and  deceased  in  1625.  His  widow  re-married  to 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  61  1 

Henry  Dado,  Esq.,  Commissary  in  the  Bishop's  Court.  She  died 
in  1647.  A  monument  to  their  memory  remains  on  the  north  side 
of  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church. 

William  Forthe,  Gent.,  son  of  William  Forthe,  of  Hadleigh,  Esq., 
who  was  brother  of  Robert  Forthe,  of  Butley,  Esq.,  bought  some  of 
the  lands  of  the  Lord  Wentworth,  in  this  parish,  and  built  upon 
them.  He  sold  them  to  Eobert  Leman,  of  Ipswich,  Gent.,  one  of 
the  executors  of  Sir  John  Leman,  Knt.,  Alderman  of  London.  One 
of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Mr.  Leman,  married  Thomas  Ba- 
ker, of  Witlingham  Hall,  in  Fressingfield ;  who  in  her  right  became 
owner  of  those  lands.  Mr.  Leman  was  buried  in  St.  Stephen's 
church,  in  Ipswich.  He  died  in  1637. 

Thomas  Wingfield,  Esq.,  sometime  Feodary  for  Suffolk,  and  a 
Magistrate  of  the  same  county,  resided  in  this  parish  in  the  time  of 
King  Charles.  He  was  of  the  family  of  Wingfield,  of  Brantham ; 
and  died  in  1632,  was  buried  in  this  parish  church;  also  Alice 
Poley,  his  second  wife,  who  died  in  1629;  with  the  arms  of  Wing- 
field,  imp.  Poley,  of  Badley.  The  same  coat  is  also  over  the  church 
porch,  with  that  of  Sayer,  imp.  Lea ;  which  was  probably  erected  at 
their  joint  expense. 

In  1633,  Thomas,  son  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Wingfield,  and 
Alice  his  wife,  was  residing  here.  He  married  Catherine,  daughter 
of  William  D'Oyley,  of  Pond's  Hall,  in  Hadleigh ;  whose  son,  An- 
thony Wingfield,  was  seated  at  Stonham  Aspal. 

Sir  Nicholas  Appleyard,  Knt.,  inherited  a  manor  in  this  parish, 
in  right  of  Agnes  his  wife,  daughter  and  heiress  of  William  Roke- 
wode,  Esq.,  of  Warham,  in  Norfolk.  He  died  in  1511.  His  son 
John  died  without  issue  ;  and  Roger  Appleyard,  Esq.,  of  Braconash, 
in  Norfolk,  inherited,  as  son  and  heir. 

ARMS. — Tibetot :  argent;  a  saltier  engrailed,  gules.  Despen- 
cer :  bendy  of  six,  or  and  azure ;  a  canton,  ermine.  Sayer :  gules ; 
on  a  bend,  or,  cotized,  sable,  three  cinquefoils,  of  the  last.  Alan 
the  Red :  an  escutcheon,  ermine.  Conan  le  Petit :  chequee,  or 
and  azure ;  a  bordure  of  England ;  a  canton,  ermine. 


OFFTON,  or  OFFETUNA. 
The  Castle  in  this  parish,  said  to  have  been  built  by  Offa,  King 


612  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMEHE  AND  CLAYDON. 

of  the  Mercians,  who  flourished  from  758  to  796,  and  from  whom 
it  is  supposed  this  place  derives  its  name,  has  been  long  since  so 
entirely  demolished,  that  not  a  vestige  remains. 

In  the  3rd  of  King  Edward  I.,  Giles  de  Wachesham  held  this 
manor;  and  in  1285,  a  fine  was  levied  between  John,  son  of  John 
de  Bohun,  and  Richard,  son  of  Hubert  Hacon,  and  Anne  his  wife, 
by  which  the  fourth  part  of  this  lordship  became  settled  on  John  de 
Bohun. 

William  de  Bohun,  Earl  of  Northampton,  and  Constable  of  Eng- 
land, held  this  manor  in  the  34th  of  Edward  III. ;  from  whom  it 
passed  to  Humphrey  de  Bohun,  Earl  of  Hereford,  who  held  the 
same  in  the  46th  of  that  King.  In  the  9th  of  Henry  V.,  Philip 
Cok  held  land  here  and  in  Elmsett,  with  the  manor  of  Elmsett. 

In  the  8th  of  the  next  reign,  Philip  Oake  held  the  same  ;  and  in 
the  llth  of  the  same  King,  John  Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  held 
two  fees,  of  Catherine,  Queen  of  England,  in  Offton ;  and  Thomas 
le  Archer  was  previously  interested  there. 

The  church  belonged  to  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St. 
Andrew,  in  Thetford,  of  the  gift  of  William  Bigod,  son  of  Roger, 
the  founder  of  that  Monastery,  and  Steward  of  the  Household  to 
King  Henry  I. ;  and  Hugh  de  Hosdene,  and  Maud  his  wife,  gave 
them  30  acres  of  their  demesne,  with  the  tithes  belonging  to  this 
church,  in  their  possession.  At  the  dissolution,  Thomas,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  manor,  rectory,  and  advowson  of 
the  vicarage,  as  parcel  of  the  possession  of  the  above  Monastery. 

The  Sparrows,  of  Ipswich,  held  an  estate  here,  in  the  time  of 
Charles  II.  It  was  the  property  and  residence  of  Robert  Sparrow, 
a  younger  son  of  Robt.  Sparrow,  Portman  of  Ipswich,  who  filled  the 
office  of  Bailiff  for  that  borough  for  the  first  time  in  1659  ;  whose 
family  appears  to  have  been  more  intimately  connected  with  that 
corporation,  than  any  other  on  record.  The  advowson  now  belongs 
to  John  G.  Sparrow :  Newman  J.  Stubbin  is  the  present  incumbent. 

In  1764,  this  manor  and  estate  was  vested  in  Gideon  Glanville, 
Esq. ;  but  has  since  been  purchased  by  the  trustees  of  the  learned 
and  pious  Dr.  Andrews,  Bishop  of  Ely  ;  who  devised  £4000  to  buy 
an  estate  for  the  benefit  of  poor  men  and  boys,  clergymen's  widows, 
and  prisoners. 

ARMS. — Bohun :  azure ;  a  bend,  argent,  between  two  cottizes, 
and  six  lions  rampant,  or.  Sparrow :  argent ;  three  roses,  pur- 
pure,  seeded,  or ;  three  leaves,  vert,  on  a  chief  of  the  second. 


HUNDRED  OF  150SMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  613 


RINGSHALL,  or  RINGHESCEHLA. 

William  de  Burnaville,  and  Alice  his  wife,  gave  the  church  and 
tithes  of  this  parish  to  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  An- 
drew, in  Thetford ;  and  King  Henry  II.,  at  the  request  of  Hugh 
Bigot,  confirmed  the  said  gift.  The  Burnavilles  held  a  manor  here. 

Here  was  also  a  chapel  that  belonged  to  the  Priory  at  Norwich, 
and  was  settled  on  their  Cell  at  Hoxne,  in  1294  ;  when  it  was  re- 
turned hy  the  oath  of  Luke,  parish  chaplain  of  Eingshall,  that  this 
was  a  free  chapel,  "belonging  to  the  Prior  of  Norwich  Cathedral, 
who  assigned  it  now  to  his  Cell  of  St.  Edmund,  at  Hoxne  ;  that  it 
was  endowed  with  32  acres  of  land,  and  two  parts  of  all  the  tithe 
corn  and  hay,  of  the  ancient  demesne  of  Sir  Richard  De  la  Rokele, 
and  Robert  de  Wyllakysham,  and  their  tenants  in  Ringshall,  the 
tithes  being  then  of  30s.  per  annum  value ;  all  which  were  con- 
firmed by  the  Bishop.  In  1313,  Robert  Guer,  chaplain,  had  the 
whole  assigned  him  for  life ;  paying  30s.  per  annum,  and  serving 
the  chapel  thrice  a  week,  and  keeping  the  houses  in  repair. 

Ringshall  Hall  was  the  estate  of  Sir  Thomas  Barker,  Knt.,  eldest 
son  of  Sir  Robert  Barker,  K.B.,  of  Grimston  Hall,  in  Trimley  St. 
Martin,  by  Susanna  his  2nd  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Crofts,  Knt., 
of  Little  Saxham,  in  this  county.  Sir  Thos.  sold  the  same  to  Wm. 
Barker,  Esq.,  his  youngest  brother;  who  was  an  Alderman  of  Lon- 
don ;  from  whom  descended  the  Barkers,  of  Booking  Hall,  in  Essex. 

William  Barker,  Esq.,  of  Booking  Hall,  his  son  and  heir,  was 
created  a  Baronet  by  King  Charles  II.,  in  1676.  He  married  Eli- 
zabeth, sixteenth  child  of  Sir  Jerome  Alexander,  Knt.,  one  of  the 
Justices  of  Common  Pleas,  in  Ireland.  Sir  William  died  in  Ire- 
land, and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Sir  William  Barker, 
Bart.,  of  Booking  Hall.  This  gentleman  married  Catherine  Teresa, 
eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Samuel  Keck,  Esq.,  of  the  Middle 
Temple,  and  one  of  the  Masters  in  the  High  Court  of  Chancery. 
She  deceased  in  1736,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 

Sir  William  survived  until  1746,  and  the  Hall  and  manor  were 
soon  after  sold  ;  in  1764,  they  were  vested  in  William  Watson,  Esq., 
and  Jonathan  Watson,  Esq.,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  who  died  in 
1803,  and  was  buried  here.  He  was  F.R.S.,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Deputy  Lieutenant  for  this  county,  and  Major  of  the  East  Suffolk 
Militia. 


611  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

The  manor  and  Hall  became  vested  in  the  Wollaston  family,  soon 
after  Wm.  Watson,  Esq.,  purchased  them ;  they  were  subsequently 
the  property  of  Kichard  Wilson,  of  Bildeston,  Esq.,  and  now  belong 
to  Sir  Kobert  Shafto  Adair,  of  Flixton  Hall. 

William  Keeble,  rector  of  this  parish,  was  ejected  from  the  same, 
in  1644.  He  was  a  son  of Keeble,  of  Newton  ;  and  was  ad- 
mitted of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,  in  1603  ;  was  a  Fel- 
low the  following  year ;  and  proceeded  B.D.,  in  1611.  Mr.  Keeble 

married  a  daughter  of Hovill  (alias  Smith),  of  Ashfield ;  and 

held  this  incumbency  more  than  half  a  century.  William  Pepper 
was  also  rector  here ;  he  married  Grace,  youngest  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Barker,  Bart.,  and  deceased  in  1789,  who  with  Grace  his 
wife,  were  both  buried  in  this  parish  church.  She  died  the  same 
year. 

The  Kev.  Henry  Howe,  LL.B.,  rector  of  this  parish,  died  Sept. 
2,  1819.  He  received  the  early  part  of  his  education  at  Eton  ; 
from  whence  he  was  removed  to  King's  College,  Cambridge.  Mr. 
Eowe  was  a  descendant  of  the  celebrated  poet  of  that  name,  and  a 
near  relation  to  Samuel  Eogers,  Esq.,  the  ingenious  author  of  the 
"  Pleasures  of  Memory,"  &c.  He  published  in  1799,  "  Poems,"  in 
2  vols.  12mo.,  in  which,  in  the  "  Poet's  Lamentation,"  he  feelingly 
and  pathetically  describes  his  own  melancholy  situation,  in  very  for- 
cible and  affecting  language.  He  was  the  author  also  of  "  The 
Montem,  a  Musical  Entertainment,"  8vo.,  1808,  and  of  "  Fables  in 
Verse,"  8vo.,  1810. 

ARMS. —  Watson :  harry  of  six,  argent  and  gules,  three  crescents, 
ermine ;  on  a  chief  of  the  second,  two  lances  in  saltier,  their  points 
broken  off,  or. 


SOMEESHAM,  or  SUMERSHAM. 

The  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew,  in  Thetford, 
commonly  called  the  Abbey,  held  certain  lands  in  Somersham,  with 
a  portion  of  tithes  in  that  parish,  of  the  gift  of  Maud  de  Hosdene  ; 
and  in  the  10th  of  King  Edward  II.,  John  de  Bohun  held  lands 
here. 

The  manor  and  advowson  were  also  anciently  vested  in  the  Bo- 
huns,  Earls  of  Northampton  ;  which  were  granted  by  King  Richard 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  615 

III.,  in  1423,  to  Henry  Stafford,  Duke  of  Buckingham  ;  and  Queen 
Katherine  presented  to  this  church,  in  right  of  the  lordship,  which 
she  held  hy  a  grant  from  King  Henry  VI.  In  1764,  they  were 
both  vested  in  Ilichard  Gideon  Glanville,  Esq.  The  advowson  now 
belongs  to  Newman  John  Stubbin,  who  is  also  rector. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Heckford  died  May  3,  1803,  aged  84.  He 
was  formerly  of  Jesus  College,  Cambridge  ;  B.A.,  1743  ;  52  years 
rector  of  this  parish,  and  42  years  vicar  of  Great  Cornard  :  the  lat- 
ter living  had  been  held  successively  by  him,  his  father,  and  grand- 
father, for  112  years  ;  during  which  time  they  were  constantly  resi- 
dent, discharging  their  official  duties  with  exemplary  diligence  and 
propriety. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  land  contains  IA.  3R.  ;  the  present  rent 
is  £4  15s.  a  year,  which  is  distributed  at  Christmas,  among  poor 
persons  belonging  to  the  parish,  in  different  sums,  according  to  the 
size  of  their  families. 


STONHAM  ASPAL,  or  STONHAM  ANTEGAN. 

Sir  William  de  Narford,  who  flourished  in  the  time  of  King  Ed- 
ward I.,  and  was  summoned  as  a  Parliamentary  Baron  during  that 
reign,  by  a  deed  of  his,  without  date,  recited  that  he  had  granted  to 
Sir  John  de  Aspal,  and  Sir  Roger  his  brother,  this  lordship,  with 
the  advowson,  to  be  held  of  them  and  their  heirs ;  he  revokes  this 
grant,  and  re-grants  the  same  to  Roger  le  Bigot,  Earl  of  Norfolk, 
and  his  heirs. 

The  witnesses  were  Sir  Thomas  de  Weyland,  John  Lovetot,  Peter 
de  Bedingfield,  and  others.  Sir  William  de  Narford  deceased  in 
the  29th  of  the  above  reign.  The  Aspals,  however,  afterwards  in- 
herited this  estate,  and  enjoyed  it  for  many  ages;  hence  styled 
Stonham  Aspal. 

The  chief  manor  and  patronage  of  the  church  subsequently  be- 
came vested  in  the  Capel  family  ;  and  Lord  Capel  sold  them  to  Sir 
Jacob  Garrard,  late  Alderman  of  London. 

In  1478,  John  Broughton,  Esq.,  died  seized  of  a  manor  in  this 
parish  ;  and  left  Sir  John,  his  son  and  heir,  who  deceased  in  1528; 
leaving  two  daughters,  his  co-heirs ;  who  had  livery  of  the  several 
moieties  of  their  father's  estate.  Catherine,  married  to  William 


016  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

Howard,  Knt.,  Lord  Howard,  of  Naworth ;  and  Anne,  to  Sir  Thomas 
Cheyne,  Knt.,  Lord  Warden  of  the  Cinque  Ports. 

This  estate,  called  Boughton  Hall  manor,  became  vested  in  An- 
thony, son  of  Thomas  Wingfield,  of  Nettlestead,  Esq.,  and  Catherine 
his  wife,  hy  his  marriage,  in  16G7,  with  Amy  Morgan,  of  Stonham 
Aspal ;  who  afterwards  became  seated  at  Boughton  Hall,  a  mansion 
situated  near  the  church.  They  had  issue  Amy,  and  Anthony ;  and 
in  1691,  Mr.  Anthony  Wingfield  was  married  here,  to  Mrs.  Mary 
Blomfield ;  who  had  issue  four  sons,  and  three  daughters.  Eliza- 
beth, one  of  these  daughters,  married  John  Dade,  M.D.,  of  Ipswich, 
in  1725;  Anthony,  the  eldest  son,  died  in  1714;  John,  another 
son,  appears  to  have  been  rector  of  this  parish,  and  died  in  1736. 
He  had  issue  Anthony,  Elizabeth,  and  Mary.  Anthony  Wingfield, 
Esq.,  was  buried  here,  Oct.  26,  1730  ;  as  was  Anthony  Wingfield, 
jun.,  Nov.  11,  1714  ;  for  whom  a  handsome  monument  is  erected 
in  the  church-yard.  Thomas  Wingfield,  probably  another  son  of 
Anthony,  died  in  1762.  This  property  was  subsequently  purchased 
by  Philip  Claude  Crespigny  Esq.,  and  now  belongs  to  Sir  W.  F.  F. 
Middleton,  Bart. 

William  Jenoure,  of  this  parish,  is  the  first  mentioned  of  that  fa- 
mily, by  the  visitation  for  Essex,  in  1634,  and  lived  about  the  time 
of  Edward  IV.  He  was  the  progenitor  of  a  family  of  that  name, 
seated  at  Much-Dunmow,  in  that  county ;  who  were  created  Baro- 
nets by  King  Charles  I.,  in  1628;  and  became  extinct  upon  the 
decease  of  Sir  John  Jenoure,  Bart.,  a  Captain  in  the  Guards,  in 
1755;  without  issue. 

Edward  Malbye,  Gent.,  had  a  manor  in  this  parish  ;  he  died 
about  1654  :  and  the  family  of  Blomeville  (or  Blomefield),  of  the 
East-end  and  Mowneys,  held  an  estate  here,  worth  £200  per  annum. 
Stephen  Blomefield,  of  Stonham  Aspal,  was  Chief  Constable  of  this 
hundred,  in  1656.  Edmund  Blomefield,  his  brother,  also  resided 
here  at  that  period. 

The  principal  lordship,  and  Boughton  Hall  manor,  with  the  ad- 
vowson,  are  now  vested  in  Sir  William  Fowle  F.  Middleton,  Bart. 

The  church  is  a  very  handsome  structure  ;  the  stone  work  par- 
ticularly so.  It  consists  of  a  chancel,  a  nave,  two  aisles,  and  a 
square  stone  tower,  the  top  of  which  is  wood  ;  in  which  are  ten  ex- 
cellent bells,  the  gift  of  the  late  Theodore  Eccleston,  Esq.,  of  Crow- 
field  Hall,  about  80  years  since. 

ARMS. — Aspal:  azure;  three  chevronels,  or.     Capel:  gules;  a 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  017 

lion  rampant,  argent ;  between  three  crosslets  fitchec,  or.  Jenoure : 
azure ;  a  cross  patouce,  between  four  fleurs-de-lis,  or.  Mail  ye : 
argent ;  on  a  bend  between  two  cotices  engrailed,  gules,  three  garbs, 
proper.  Metcalfe :  argent ;  a  fess,  between  three  calves,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  Rev.  John  Metcalf,  rector  of  this  parish,  by 
his  will,  dated  1st  September,  1012,  directed  his  freehold  and  copy- 
hold lands  in  Stonham,  Pettaugh,  and  Winston,  to  be  conveyed  to 
and  held  by  sixteen  inhabitants  of  Stonham,  for  the  several  and  re- 
spective purposes  and  objects  following,  that  is  to  say: — certain 
property  therein  particularized,  for  helping  to  maintain  four  alms- 
people  in  Stonham ;  a  tenement  called  Pitts,  to  be  disposed  of  for 
helping  to  keep  the  causeway,  or  church-path,  from  Broad  Green 
to  the  parish  church,  in  repair ;  and  as  to  the  free  and  customary 
lands,  containing  by  estimation  43  acres,  to  repair  the  parish  church, 
pay  the  lord's  rent,  and  discharge  common  expenses  of  the  parish- 
ioners ;  as  to  the  tenement  called  Smith's,  both  free  and  copyhold, 
for  helping  to  maintain  a  school  master,  and  an  usher  to  assist  him, 
to  train  up  the  youth  in  Stonham  and  Pettaugh,  in  good  letters, 
freely ;  other  property  he  directed  should  be  disposed  of  yearly,  to 
supply  the  defect  of  alms  for  the  four  eleemosynaries,  and  answer 
the  parson  of  the  parish  the  yearly  offerings  of  the  parishioners 
there  communicating  at  Easter ;  and  further  to  give  to  some  poor 
widower,  widow,  young  man,  or  maid,  of  the  parish,  Gs.  8d.,  and  to 
pay  the  fine  for  all  the  testator's  customary  lands,  when  they  should 
happen  to  be  fined ;  and  the  surplus,  if  any,  to  be  bestowed  in  the 
common  expenses  of  the  parishioners. — And  the  testator  willed  the 
feoffees  should  suffer  the  parson  to  occupy  certain  closes,  mixed 
with  the  glebe,  and  containing  altogether  by  estimation  15  acres, 
for  £5  a  year,  for  the  use  of  the  parishioners,  and  to  pay  lord's  rent 
and  taxes.  The  school,  which  is  kept  in  a  building  on  the  land 
given  for  the  repairs  of  the  church,  is  free  for  the  instruction  of  all 
the  children  belonging  to  the  parishes  of  Stonham  Aspal  and  Pet- 
taugh ;  who  are  instructed  in  the  rudiments  of  English  learning, 
reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic. 

In  1784  the  Eev.  William  Betham,  a  native  of  Little  Strictland, 
in  the  parish  of  Morland,  in  Westmorland,  was  elected  to  the  Mas- 
tership of  this  School;  which  office  he  filled  for  nearly  half  a 
century. 

Mr.  Betham  was  a  man  of  vigorous  mind,  and  of  considerable 
acquirements  and  learning.  He  was  educated  at  the  public  school 


G18  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMEHE  AND  CLAYDON. 

at  Bampton,  in  Westmorland ;  which  had  produced  many  dis- 
tinguished men.  He  was  ordained  in  1773,  and  in  early  life  was 
Chaplain  to  the  Duke  of  Ancaster.  He  compiled,  and  published 
in  1795,  a  folio  volume  of  the  "Pedigrees  of  the  Sovereigns  of  the 
World,"  which  was  dedicated  hy  permission  to  King  George  III. 
He  afterwards  published  the  "  Baronetage  of  England,"  in  5  vols., 
quarto.  He  also  made  very  considerable  collections  with  a  view  to 
a  History  of  the  County  of  Suffolk. 

He  married  in  1774,  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Damant,  Esq., 
of  Eye,  in  this  county ;  by  whom  he  had  nine  sons,  and  six  daugh- 
ters. In  1833,  he  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of  Stoke  Lacy,  in 
the  diocese  of  Hereford  ;  when  he  resigned  the  Mastership  of  this 
school.  Mr.  Betham  died  Oct.  27,  1839,  at  Westerfield  Hall,  the 
residence  of  his  son-in-law ;  and  in  the  91st  year  of  his  age. 

In  the  "Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1811,  part  2,  p.  516,  is 
some  account  of  a  gold  ring,  found  in  this  parish ;  with  an  exact 
representation,  both  profile  and  front  view.  It  was  in  the  possession 
of  Thomas  Green,  Esq.,  of  Ipswich,  Barrister- at-Law. 


STONHAM  EAKL,  or  STAHAM, 

Is  so  called  because  it  was  successively  the  inheritance  of  the  Bigods, 
the  Brothertons,  and  the  Uffords,  Earls  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk. 
In  the  1st  of  Edward  III.,  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  Earl  of  Norfolk, 
obtained  a  grant  of  a  fair  in  this  parish. 

It'  subsequently  became  vested  in  Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  Knt., 
who  gave  it  to  dame  Anne  his  wife,  in  fee  simple  ;  it  was  then  va- 
lued at  £40  per  annum :  and  in  1764,  was  the  estate  of  Thomas 
Driver,  Esq.  An  heiress  of  the  Driver  family  married  Eichard 
Moore,  Esq.,  of  Kentwell  Hall,  in  Melford,  who  inherited  this 
property  in  her  right.  It  was  latterly  vested  in  Messrs.  Sparke, 
Holmes,  and  Jackson,  Attorneys,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury. 

In  1655,  Sir  Wm.  Soame,  of  Little  Thurlow,  Knt.,  was  owner  of 
certain  woods  in  Earl  Stonham,  and  patron  of  that  parish  church. 
The  advowson  now  belongs  to  Pembroke  Hall,  Cambridge. 

Joseph  Crane,  Gent.,  had  an  estate  here  in  the  time  of  Charles 
II. ;  he  was  only  son  of  John  Crane,  of  King's  Lynn,  in  Norfolk, 
Esq.,  Counsellor- at-Law,  and  Recorder  of  that  town.  He  married 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  619 

Martha,  daughter  of  Edmund  Dandy,  of  Combs,  Esq. ;  who  after- 
wards married  to  Thomas  Sothebye,  rector  of  Combs,  by  whom  she 
had  no  issue. 

Thomas  Goodall,  Gent.,  held  also  an  estate  in  this  parish,  which 
he  had  by  inheritance,  and  was  worth  about  £^00  per  annum.  Mr. 
Goodall  was  bora  in  Earl  Stonham,  in  1614  ;  and  married  Audrey, 
daughter  of  Charles  Smith,  of  St.  Matthew,  in  Ipswich,  Attorney- 
at-Law.  He  deceased  in  1687,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 

Nicholas  Peke,  of  Earl  Stonham,  suffered  martyrdom  at  Ipswich, 
for  his  adherance  to  the  protestant  faith. 

Deerbolts  Hall  in  this  parish,  the  ancient  seat  of  the  Driver  fa- 
mily, gave  birth  to  that  excellent  poet  and  amiable  man,  Mr.  James 
Bird,  who  was  the  son  of  a  substantial  farmer,  and  the  eighth  of 
nine  children;  bom  Nov.  10,  1788,  as  he  says — 

" In  a  dear  delightful  spot, 

'Mid  Nature's  sweetest,  though  secluded  bowers." 

In  his  childhood  he  went  to  a  day-school,  and  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen was  removed  to  the  Grammar- School  at  Needham -Market, 
where  he  continued  about  a  year  and  a  half;  when,  at  his  own  de- 
sire, he  was  apprenticed  to  a  miller,  in  his  native  village. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  his  apprenticeship  expired ;  but,  for  the 
acquisition  of  experience  as  a  miller,  he  continued  to  pursue  the  vo- 
cation seven  or  eight  years  longer.  About  the  year  1814,  he  occu- 
pied the  mills  at  Yoxford,  where,  though  not  as  a  miller,  he  ever 
afterwards  continued  to  reside.  In  1816,  he  married  Emma,  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Hardacre,  bookseller,  of  Hadleigh,  in  this  county ; 
from  this  union  sprang  a  family  of  sixteen  children,  twelve  of  whom 
survived  him. 

In  1819,  Mr.  Bird  published  his  first  poem,  "The  Vale  of 
Slaughden."  So  favourable  was  the  reception  which  it  experienced, 
that  within  a  fortnight  after  its  publication,  not  a  copy  was  to  be  ob- 
tained. In  consequence  a  second  edition  soon  after  appeared.  Dr. 
Drake  in  his  "  Winter  Nights,"  after  an  extended  critical  analysis 
of  this  poem,  thus  expresses  himself: — 

"  That  the  effort  will  secure  him  an  honourable  and  a  permanent  station  among 
the  poets  of  his  country,  I  have  not  the  smallest  doubt  in  asserting.  So  striking, 
indeed,  have  been  the  passages  which  I  have  adduced  ;  so  abundantly  do  they  carry 
on  their  surface  the  very  form  and  pressure  of  superior  powers ;  so  much  of  taste 
and  feeling,  of  life  and  character,  pervades  their  whole  texture  and  composition  ; 
and  so  sustained  is  the  impression  of  the  incidents  throughout,  by  the  beauty  and 
spirited  harmony  of  the  versification,  that  no  person,  I  am  persuaded,  can  withdraw 


G20  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

from  the  perusal  of  '  The  Vale  of  Slaughden,7  without  a  wish  to  see  such  encourage- 
ment bestowed,  as  may  lead  to  further  productions  from  the  same  source.'' 

His  occupation  as  a  miller  was  unsuccessful,  and  lie  was  set  up, 
by  the  assistance  of  his  friends,  in  a  stationer's  shop,  and  small  cir- 
culating library,  in  his  favourite  village  of  Yoxford  ;  in  which,  and 
with  the  help  of  a  miscellaneous  stock  in  trade,  he  managed  to  rear 
his  large  family  in  respectability. 

His  poetical  works  are  numerous,  and  voluminous.  Mr.  Bird 
deceased  at  Yoxford,  March  26,  1839.  "  To  a  mind  of  no  common 
order,  he  united  in  a  high  degree  the  rare  quality  of  moral  inde- 
pendance ;  and,  true  to  its  dictates,  he  was  alike  in  public  and  in 
private,  the  faithful  and  uncompromising  advocate  of  liberty,  phi- 
lanthropy, and  truth.  Possessing  a  warm  and  generous  heart,  the 
ready  exercise  of  his  talents  for  the  benefit  of  others  was  a  prominent 
feature  in  his  character." 

CHARITIES. — The  estates  appropriated  to  charitable  purposes  in 
this  parish,  consist  of  the  following  particulars  : — a  close,  called 
Blunt's,  SA.  IR.  2p.,  and  a  piece  of  meadow,  called  Acre  Meadow, 
one  acre,  part  of  the  manor  of  Fyliol,  in  this  parish,  settled  by  deed, 
in  the  19th  of  King  Edward  IV.,  in  trust,  out  of  the  profits  to  pay 
3s.  4d.  a  year  for  mending  the  highways,  and  the  residue  for  the 
common  benefit  of  the  inhabitants  :  land,  called  Bradfield,  in  Stow- 
market,  and  Cook's'  Close,  in  Stow-upland,  containing  together  20 
acres,  settled  in  trustees,  by  George  Eeeve,  in  the  42nd  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  for  maintaining  a  school-master  to  teach  the  children  of 
the  poorest  people  in  learning :  the  Hale  Field,  about  TA.,  settled 
at  the  same  time,  the  profits  thereof  to  be  employed  yearly  towards 
apprenticing  and  buying  books  for  the  said  children  :  the  Mill  Field, 
GA.J  settled  at  the  same  time,  for  the  use  of  the  poor :  a  messuage, 
and  two  pieces  of  land,  about  SA.,  in  Earl  Stonham,  called  Dun- 
ham's, settled  by  deed  the  15th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  for  the  com- 
modity and  easement  of  the  township  of  Earl  Stonham  :  premises 
in  this  parish,  formerly  the  Guildhall,  now  used  as  a  school-house, 
and  a  barn,  and  20A.  of  land,  called  Thradstone's,  in  Thorney  and 
Saxton,  and  the  hamlet  of  Stowmarket,  settled  in  the  15th  of  King 
Edward  IV.,  in  trust,  for  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town :  the  Burnt  House  Land,  SA.,  and  some  other  pieces  of 
land,  were  purchased  for  and  appropriated  to  the  general  use  of  the 
parishioners.  The  rents,  which  amount  together  to  about  £90  per 
annum,  are  carried  to  the  same  general  account,  and  applied  partly 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  021 

in  paying  the  school-master,  in  providing  clothes  for  the  scholars, 
in  support  of  a  Sunday-school,  relief  of  the  poor,  &c. ;  and  the  re- 
sidue for  the  general  benefit  of  the  inhabitants. 


STONHAM  PARVA,  or  STANHAM. 

The  lordship  and  patronage  of  this  parish  was  for  many  ages  in 
the  family  of  Jernegan,  hence  styled  Stonham  Jernegan's.  Men- 
tion is  made  of  Sir  John  Jernegan,  Knt.,  who  lived  here,  or  at  least 
was  owner  of  this  estate,  at  the  period  of  the  decease  of  King  Ed- 
ward VI.  Somerleyton  became  their  chief  seat  however  long  before 
that  time. 

Sir  Hugh  Jernegan,  Knt.,  made  Little  Stonham  the  principal  re- 
sidence of  his  family,  after  the  settlement  of  the  capital  messuage 
of  the  manor  of  Horham  Jernegan,  in  1243,  upon  his  mother,  in 
lieu  of  her  dower,  during  her  life.  He  married  for  his  first  wife, 
Elizabeth,  who  is  named  in  the  assize  rolls  :  his  second  was  Ellen, 
daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Ingaldesthorpe,  Knt. 
Sir  Hugh  lived  to  be  very  old;  for  in  1209,  he  held  lands  of  Roger, 
son  of  Sir  Peter  Fitz  Osbert,  in  Stoven  and  Bugges,  for  which  he 
did  homage. 

Sir  Walter  Jernegan,  Knt.,  his  son,  succeeded ;  who  during  his 
father's  life,  after  the  decease  of  his  grand-mother,  resided  at  Hor- 
ham Jernegan ;  which  was  settled  upon  him,  on  his  marriage  with 
Isabella,  daughter  of  Sir  Peter  Fitz  Osbert :  Sir  Peter,  their  son 
and  heir,  succeeded,  on  the  decease  of  his  mother,  to  her  share  of 
the  large  possessions  of  the  Fitz  Osbert  family,  and  removed  to  So- 
merleyton. (See  p.  390.) 

This  lordship  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Goodwyns ;  and 
Capt.  Ambrose  Goodwyn,  son  of  Thomas  Goodwyn,  Esq.,  sold  it 
to  Lady  Penelope,  daughter  of  Thomas,  Earl  Rivers,  and  then  wife 
of  Sir  William  Hervey,  of  Ickworth,  who  was  owner  thereof  in  1656. 
She  gave  the  same  to  her  second  son,  by  her  former  husband,  John 
Gage,  Esq. ;  and  by  a  codicil  to  her  will,  which  was  proved  in  1661, 
Lady  Penelope  ratified  and  confirmed  to  this  son,  the  conveyances 
which  she  had  made  to  him  of  this  manor.  Mr.  Gage  resided  here, 
and  died  without  issue.  In  1764,  this  lordship  belonged  to  Francis 
Vernon,  Baron  Orwell ;  afterwards  Earl  of  Shipbroke. 


622  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

The  family  of  Crane  became  very  early  seated  here ;  ancestors  of 
the  Cranes  of  Chilton.  Kobert  Crane,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married 
Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Andrew  Ogard,  of  Buckenham  Castle,  Knt. 
He  deceased  in  1500,  and  was  buried  at  Chilton;  as  was  George 
Crane,  their  son  and  heir,  who  died  in  1491.  Robert  Crane,  Esq., 
of  Stonham,  living  in  1565,  married  Bridget,  daughter  of  Sir  Thos. 
Jermyn,  Knt.,  of  Rushbrook. 

Henry,  was  their  eldest  son  and  heir,  of  Chilton;  whose  second 
wife,  Catherine,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Jernegan,  Knt.,  of  Somer- 
leyton,  survived  him,  and  re-married  to  Wymond  Carew,  Esq.,  who 
was  Knighted  at  Whitehall,  in  1604.  Him  also  she  survived;  and 
by  the  name  of  Dame  Catherine  Carew,  of  Fleet  Hall,  in  Stonham 
Parva,  made  her  last  will,  Feb.  13,  1613;  and  gave  legacies  to  her 
mother,  Catherine  Bellamy  ;  to  her  son,  Sir  Robert  Crane,  and  his 
wife  ;  to  Sir  Philip  Knevet,  Bart.,  her  nephew,  and  his  wife  ;  to  her 
sister,  the  Lady  Hobart,  &c.  By  Sir  Wymond  she  had  no  issue. 

William  Brown,  rector  of  this  parish,  was  deprived  of  his  bene- 
fice, and  reduced  to  great  poverty  and  want,  from  some  offensive 
words  used  in  a  sermon  preached  soon  after  the  death  of  King 
Edward  VI. 

ARMS. — Goodwyn :  or  ;  three  piles,  sable ;  on  a  chief,  gules, 
three  martlets  of  the  first.  The  arms  of  Crane  are  cut  in  stone  on 
the  church  steeple ;  and  under  the  gallery,  those  of  Gibson  :  azure; 
three  herons  rising,  proper. 

CHARITIES. — The  Rev.  John  Beele  (or  Beale),  formerly  rector  of 
this  parish,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1481,  and  proved  in  1509,  devised 
as  follows  : — "  Also  I  bequeath  my  tenement,  called  the  Pie,  with 
a  piece  of  ground  called  Caxtrelis,  and  a  yard  called  Ide's  yard, 
unto  mine  attornies,  and  to  my  feoffees,  and  they  to  pay  yearly  the 
rent  thereof,  and  find  sufficient  reparation  of  the  said  tenement. 
Also  I  will  that  the  said  tenement  be  letten ;  and  that  it  may  be 
worth  yearly,  beside  the  rent  and  reparation,  sufficiently  found,  I 
will  the  residue  be  disposed  in  the  roadway  in  the  said  town  there, 
as  most  is  need :  also  I  will  that  my  feoffees  leave  it  in  feoffees 
hands  as  the  find  it,  everlasting." — By  indenture  of  lease,  dated  in 
1696,  between  certain  feoffees  and  Jonathan  Reeve,  who  for  the 
payment  of  the  yearly  sum  of  £3,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  reparation 
of  the  roads,  and  keeping  the  said  premises  in  repair,  leased  the 
same  to  the  said  Jonathan  Reeve,  for  the  term  of  1 60  years;  and  this 
property  is  now  held  under  that  lease,  by  the  executors  of  Mr. 


HUNDRED  OF  HOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON.  02tt 

• 

Joshua  Head,  late  of  Ipswich,  brewer. — In  1523,  Margaret  Gowle 
devised  certain  lands  unto  divers  superstitious  uses,  for  99  years; 
after  the  expiration  thereof,  to  be  sold,  and  the  money  arising  there- 
from to  be  employed  to  charitable  uses.  This  estate  consists  of 
five  pieces  of  laud,  containing  together  about  15  acres,  in  the  ham- 
let of  Chilton,  in  the  parish  of  Stowmarket ;  which  are  let  at  rents 
amounting  together  to  £20  a  year. — In  1483,  Thomas  Crowe  de- 
vised as  follows  : — "  I  bequeath  Rawlyns-a- Thorn,  my  tenement,  to 
the  common  wele  of  the  town  of  Stonham  Jernegan,  wherein  the 
said  land  lieth,  paying  rent  and  service  to  the  chief  lords  of  that  fee, 
that  is  to  say,  to  discharge  the  tenement  of  the  said  town  of  the  tax 
when  it  cometh,  except  that  I  will  no  gentleman  bo  relieved  thereby 
in  any  wise." — Barnaby  Gibson,  in  1597,  gave  £20  as  a  stock  for 
the  use  of  the  poor  of  this  parish;  and  the  legacy,  with  £10  be- 
longing to  the  inhabitants,  purchased  a  piece  of  land  with  a  cottage 
thereon,  and  a  pightle,  called  Black  Acre,  in  this  parish.' — Under 
the  gift  of  William  Blomfield,  in  or  about  the  year  1685,  some 
lands  called  the  Town  Pieces,  were  appropriated  to  the  purpose  of 
providing  bread  for  the  poor. — The  sum  of  £20  was  given  by  Gil- 
bert Mouse,  for  providing  bread  for  eight  poor  people,  on  Good 
Friday  and  St.  Thomas's  day,  annually ;  and  in  1685,  Robert  De- 
vereux  bequeathed  £10,  the  interest  to  be  distributed  as  his  gift,  on 
Christmas-day. — A  piece  of  ground  in  this  parish,  containing  about 
3R.  38p.,  appears,  by  usage  or  otherwise,  to  be  appropriated  to  the 
constable  of  the  township. 


SWILLAND. — SUINLANDA,  or  SWYNLAND. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  became  very  early  vested  in  the 
Weyland  family.  John  de  Weyland  held  it  in  the  6th  of  King 
Edward  II.;  and  in  the  21st  of  the  next  reign,  John  de  Lorraine 
held  the  same,  with  lands  and  tenements,  probably  as  trustee,  or 
by  fealty. 

Bartholomew  de  Burghersh,  who  married  Cecily,  daughter  of  Sir 
Richard  de  Weyland,  inherited  in  her  right.  He  deceased  in  the 
43rd  of  Edward  III. ;  when  it  passed  to  Edward  de  Spencer,  by 
his  marriage  with  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Bartholo- 
mew. Lord  de  Spencer  died  in  the  49th  of  the  same  reign,  seized 


G2i  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AN7D  CLAYDON. 

of  tlie  same,  with  Carleton,  Middleton,  Clopton,  Welnetham  Parva, 
Blaxhall,  Witnesham,  Cokefield,  and  Benhall,  in  this  county. 

Anne,  his  daughter,  married  Sir  Hugh  Hastings,  of  Elsing,  and 
Gressinghale,  in  Norfolk,  Knt. ;  and  after  his  decease,  Thomas, 
Lord  Morley,  whom  she  also  survived ;  and  in  the  5th  of  Heury  VI., 
died  seized  of  this  manor.  In  the  3rd  of  this  reign,  Edmund  Mor- 
timer, Earl  of  March,  was  interested  here. 

This  manor  was  vested  in  the  late  Mileson  Edgar,  Esq.,  of  the 
Red  House,  near  Ipswich. 

The  Nuns  of  Wykes,  in  Essex,  held  the  impropriation ;  which, 
at  the  dissolution  of  Monasteries,  was  granted  towards  the  endow- 
ment of  Cardinal  Wolsey's  College,  at  Ipswich.  The  vicar  now 
lias  the  rectoral  tithes.  The  first  preaching  minister  in  this  hun- 
dred, after  the  reformation,  was  a  Mr.  Clyatt,  vicar  of  this  parish. 
The  Eev.  John  Constantino  Cooke,  the  late  vicar,  deceased  Oct.  22, 
1842,  at  Ipswich.  He  was  for  many  years  the  active  and  efficient 
Secretary  of  the  Society  for  the  Education  of  the  Poor,  at  the  first 
establishment  of  the  National  Schools ;  and  was  formerly  of  Christ's 
College,  Cambridge;  where  he  graduated,  B.A.,  1797,  as  fourth 
Junior  Optime;  M.A.,  1800.  He  was  presented  to  both  his  livings 
by  Lord  Chancellor  Eldon :  to  Swilland,  in  1806,  and  to  King's 
llipton,  in  Huntingdonshire,  in  1813. 

Newton  Hall,  in  Swilland,  in  King  Charles's  time,  was  farmed 
by  Henry  Nuttall,  Gent.;  whose  elder  brother,  Thomas,  resided 
with  him :  they  were  catholics.  James  Cawston,  an  attorney,  built 
a  handsome  little  house  in  this  parish :  his  uncle  was  formerly  Town 
Clerk  of  Ipswich. 

CHARITIES. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  about  three  roods,  for- 
merly annexed  to  the  poor  house,  which  was  taken  down  in  1808, 
has  for  a  long  period  been  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  poor.  It 
adjoins  the  glebe,  and  is  occupied  by  the  vicar,  at  40s.  a  year,  which 
exceeds  the  annual  value  ;  and  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  bread,  which 
is  given  away  at  Christmas,  among  poor  persons  belonging  to  the 
parish. 


WILLISHAM. 

The  impropriation  belonged  to  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,  in  Ipswich,  prior  to  1203,  of  the  grant  of  Albert  Grelly  (or 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSME11E  AND  CLAYDON.  025 

Gredley) :  in  the  55th  of  Henry  III.,  Thomas  <le  Gredley  held  this 
manor ;  in  the  20th  of  Edward  I.,  Robert  de  Tibetot ;  and  in  the 
6th  of  the  next  reign,  John  de  Weyland.  In  the  49ih  of  King  Ed- 
ward III.,  it  was  held  by  Joan,  wife  of  llobert  de  Ferners,  of  the 
King,  in  capite,  but  by  what  service  is  not  known ;  and  llobert  was 
their  son  and  heir. 

In  the  81st  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  Andrew,  Lord  Windsor,  held 
the  same,  as  part  of  the  possession  of  the  said  dissolved  Monastery ; 
and  in  the  time  of  King  James,  it  became  vested  in  the  Brownriggs, 
by  purchase  ;  who  became  seated  at  Willisham  Hall. 

John  Erownrigg  is  the  earliest  of  the  family  who  appears  to  have 
settled  here;  he  deceased  in  1034,  and  John,  his  son,  succeeded, 
who  died  in  1601  :  Robert,  his  son,  died  in  1694  :  John,  his  son, 
in  1701  ;  and  Robert  Brownrigg,  Gent.,  youngest  son  of  Robert, 
died  unmarried  in  1710,  aged  50  years;  when  the  family  appears 
to  have  ceased,  in  this  parish,  and  their  estate  probably  passed  to 
the  issue  of  the  co-heiress  of  John  Brownrigg,  who  died  in  1701. 

Luke  Leake,  rector  of  Nettlestead,  vicar  of  Offton,  and  curate  of 
this  parish,  married  Elizabeth,  the  youngest  daughter  of  John 
Brownrigg,  Gent.:  he  died  in  1749  ;  she  in  1755.  John  Brown- 
rigg Leake,  rector  of  Naughton,  and  of  Nettlestead,  in  this  county, 
and  curate  of  this  parish,  who  was  the  eldest  son  and  last  surviving 
issue  of  the  above  Luke  Leake,  died  in  1801,  aged  81  years ;  and 
was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 

The  Rev.  Revett  Sheppard,  perpetual  curate  of  this  parish,  died 
at  the  Glebe  House,  Wrabness,  in  Essex,  August  10,  1830.  He 
was  formerly  of  Caius  College,  Cambridge;  in  1811,  was  licensed 
to  this  curacy,  and  in  1825,  was  presented  by  his  nephew,  John 
Wilson  Sheppard,  Esq.,  of  Campsey  Ash,  to  the  rectory  of  Thwaite, 
in  Hartismere  hundred. 

Mr.  Sheppard  was  an  acute  and  accurate  observer  of  nature ;  well 
versed  in  various  branches  of  its  history,  and  a  Fellow  of  the  Lin- 
iiean  Society,  to  whose  "  Transactions"  he  contributed  largely  ;  he 
was  also  an  occasional  contributor  to  the  "  Gent.'s  Magazine ;"  and 
his  name  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the  "  Introduction  to  Entomo- 
logy," by  Kirby  and  Spence,  as  well  as  in  "  The  Butterfly  Collector's 
Vade  Mecum,"  by  Miss  Jerrnyn,  now  Mrs.  Ford. 


620  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

WESTERFIELU,  or  WESTRESELDA. 

This  manor  was  anciently  held  by  the  same  lords  as  those  of 
Brandeston  and  Charsfield,  in  Loes  hundred  ;  and  passed  from  the 
Weylands  to  the  Tuddenhams,  and  the  Bedingfields. 

Sir  John,  sou  of  Sir  Nicholas  de  Weyland,  and  Beatrice  his  wife, 
held  these  lordships  in  or  about  the  43rd  of  King  Henry  III.,  of 
Alan  Burnet,  a  descendant  of  a  Baronial  family  of  that  age,  and  by 
grant  from  the  said  Alan.  By  Mary  his  wife,  he  had  issue  two 
sons,  Thomas  and  Nicholas ;  and  died  seized  of  the  manors,  of 
Brandeston,  Charsfield,  and  Westerfield. 

Sir  Thomas  de  Weyland,  the  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded  to 
the  said  lordships  ;  and  died  seized  thereof  in  or  about  1290  ; 
leaving  issue,  by  Margaret  his  wife,  three  sons  ;  William,  John,  and 
Richard;  and  in  the  19th  of  King  Edward  II.,  a  fine  was  levied 
between  Master  Robert  de  Baldock,*  querent,  and  Sir  William  de 
Weyland,  the  eldest  son,  of  this  manor  and  Brandeston,  granted  to 
the  said  Robert ;  who  re-grants  the  same  to  Robert,  son  of  the  said 
Sir  William  de  Weyland,  and  Cecilia  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thos.  de 
Baldock,  and  the  heirs  of  their  bodies,  being  a  marriage  settlement. 

Sir  William  deceased  in  1327  ;  and  the  said  Sir  Robert  de  Wey- 
land succeeded,  and  had  issue  by  the  said  Cecilia  Baldock  his  wife, 
Edmund  and  Margaret ;  who  married  to  Sir  John  Tuddenham,  Knt. 
Sir  Edmund,  the  son,  married  during  the  life  time  of  his  father; 
upon  whom,  and  his  heirs,  were  settled  by  fine,  in  1347,  the  manors 
of  Brandeston  and  W'esterfield ;  but  he  dying  without  issue,  the 
said  manors  descended  to  his  sister,  Margaret  Tuddenham. 

Sir  John  Tuddenham,  Knt.,  was  High  Sheriff  of  this  county,  in 
1382;  and  by  the  said  Margaret  had  issue,  Robert  and  Oliver;  the 
former  deceased  in  the  life  time  of  his  father,  leaving  two  sons, 
Robert  and  Thomas  ;  and  a  daughter,  Margaret ;  married  to  Sir 
Thomas  Bedingfield.  Margaret,  their  grand-mother,  survived  her 
husband,  and  died  in  1417,  seized  in  fee  tail  of  the  manors  of 
Brandeston,  Charsfield,  Gruudisburgh,  Bealings  Magna,  Tudden- 
ham, and  Westerfield. 

Sir  Thomas  Tuddenham,  Kilt.,  the  brother  and  heir  of  the  said 

*  This  Robert  de  Baldock  was  Archdeacon  of  Middlesex,  Chancellor  to  King 
Edward  II.,  and  Bishop  of  Norwich  ;  and  brother  to  Thomas,  father  of  the  above 
Cecilia. 


HUNDRED  OF  BOSMEKE  AND  CLAYDON.  627 

Kobert,  the  son  and  heir  of  the  said  Robert,  the  eldest  son  of  the 
said  Sir  John  Tuddcuham,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  succeeded  his 
grand-mother  in  the  paternal  and  maternal  estates  ;  but  taking  part 
with  the  house  of  Lancaster  against  that  of  York,  he  was  convicted, 
by  Parliament,  of  treason,  and  beheaded  in  1461 ;  whereby  part  of 
his  estate,  for  want  of  issue,  descended  to  his  sister,  Margaret  Bed- 
ingfield,  widow,  then  60  years  of  age ;  who  died  in  or  about  1475, 
seized  of  this  and  divers  other  lordships ;  which  descended  to  Ed- 
mund Bedingfield,  Esq.,  of  Creswell,  the  son  and  heir  of  Thomas 
Bedingfield,  the  son  and  heir  of  the  said  Margaret. 

This  Edmund  Bediugfield,  for  aiding  the  house  of  York,  obtained 
of  King  Edward  IV.,  a  grant  of  the  estates  forfeited  by  the  attainder 
of  Sir  Thomas  Tuddenham ;  and  deceased  about  1503,  leaving 
issue,  Thomas,  Robert,  and  Edmund.  The  two  former  inherited 
successively,  and  died  without  issue ;  when  Sir  Edmund  Beding- 
field, their  younger  brother,  succeeded ;  who  was  Knighted  by 
Charles  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  upon  the  taking  of  Montdedier, 
in  France,  by  the  English,  in  1524;  and  soon  after  settled  this 
property  upon  his  son,  Henry,  and  Catherine  his  wife  ;  who  sold 
the  same.  In  1596,  this  lordship  belonged  to  John  Dameron ;  who 
devised  the  same  to  Anthony  Collett,  his  grand-son;  and  in  1802, 
Henry  Collett,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  died  here,  in  his  78th  year.  He 
had  filled  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Peace  for  this  county  upwards 
of  fifty  years. 

The  church  is  situate  in  the  hamlet  of  Wykes  Ufford,  and  pre- 
cincts of  Ipswich ;  and  the  patronage  of  the  same  is  in  the  Bishop 
of  Ely,  in  right  of  a  manor  he  formerly  held  in  Bramford. 

CHARITIES. — In  1662,  Bridgett  Collett  devised  by  will,  a  cottage 
and  four  acres  of  land  in  Claydon,  to  the  churchwardens  of  this  pa- 
rish, in  trust,  to  employ  the  rents  for  teaching  and  keeping  at  school 
poor  children  born  in  the  parish.  The  premises  are  let  at  £10  per 
annum,  and  the  rents  are  applied  accordingly. — The  sum  of  £300 
bequeathed  by  James  Brooks,  in  1755,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase 
of  £323  Old  South  Sea  Annuities;  the  dividends  are  chiefly  laid  out 
in  coals  and  clothing  for  the  poor ;  and  there  are  two  tenements  in 
this  parish  let  by  the  churchwardens  and  overseers ;  the  rents,  £6  a 
year,  are  applied  in  clothing  for  poor  children. 


628  HUNDRED  OF  BOSMERE  AND  CLAYDON. 

WHITTON,  or  VLTUNA,  with  THUELESTON. 

These  parishes  have  long  since  been  consolidated  :  the  church  of 
the  latter  was  used  as  such  since  1500,  hut  after  the  vicarage  became 
united  to  Whitton,  it  was  suffered  to  dilapidate,  and  the  ruins  are 
now  used  as  a  barn. 

The  manor  of  Barnes,  in  Thurleston,  with  the  impropriation  and 
advowson  of  the  vicarage,  were  vested  in  the  Prior  and  Convent  of 
St.  Peter,  in  Ipswich ;  and  in  the  19th  of  Henry  VIII.,  were  granted 
to  Cardinal  Wolsey :  in  the  19th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  they  belonged 
to  Thomas  Seckford,  Esq.,  and  latterly,  to  the  heirs  of  Edmund 
Hammond,  Esq. 

John  de  Valibus  (or  Vaux)  appears  to  have  been  interested  there 
in  the  16th  of  Edward  I.,  and  held  a  manor,  and  certain  fees  and 
lands,  in  the  above  parish ;  and  in  the  24th  of  Edward  III.,  John, 
son  of  William  de  Claydon,  held  lands  in  Thurleston. 

In  the  37th  of  Henry  III.,  William  le  Eus  was  concerned  in 
Whitton,  and  it  passed  as  the  adjoining  parish  of  Akenham  :  in  the 
22nd  of  Edward  IV.,  Sir  Thos.  de  Brews,  Knt.,  held  this  lordship. 

Dale  Hall,  in  this  parish,  formerly  belonged  to  the  family  of  Bohun, 
of  Westhall,  in  Blithing  hundred  ;  who  were  anciently  of  Pressing- 
field,  in  this  county.  Whitton  Hall,  commonly  called  the  Sparrows' 
Nest,  was  erected  by  William  Sparrow,  Gent.,  a  Portman  of  Ipswich, 
in  the  time  of  Charles  I. :  Eobt.  Sparrow,  his  son,  was  owner  of  the 
same,  in  1655.  It  has  since  been  the  estate  of  the  Hammond,  Ha- 
milton, and  Kerridge  families;  and  now  belongs  to  the  Eev.  E. 
Woolnough. 

In  the  church  of  Whitton  is  buried  John  Elliott,  who  for  a  long 
time  farmed  the  lands  on  which  Mr.  Sparrow  built.  Sir  Edmund 
Whitypole,  Knt.,  and  after  him,  Sir  William,  his  son,  was  owner  of 
them,  and  a  great  part  of  Thurleston.  Sir  William  sold  these  lands 
to  Mr.  Bennett,  of  Washbrook ;  whose  wife  was  daughter  to  Sir 
Thomas  Timperley,  Knt.  Mr.  Sparrow  married  one  of  his  daugh- 
ters and  co-heirs,  as  his  second  wife ;  his  first  wife  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Lany,  Eecorder  of  Ipswich. 


THINGOHOU,  or  THINGHOW. 


This  Hundred  has  for  its  boundaries,  the  Hundreds  of  Lack- 
ford  and  Blackbourn,  on  the  North ;  Thedwastre,  with  the  river 
Lark,  on  the  East ;  Babergh  and  Risbridge,  on  the  South ;  and 
Risbridge  and  Lackford,  on  the  West.  It  contains  the  follow  ing 
Parishes  and  Hamlets : — 

BARROW, 

BROCKLEY, 

CHEVINGTON, 

FLEMPTON, 

FORNHAM  ALL- SAINTS, 

HARDWICK-HOUSE, 

HARGRAVE, 

HAWSTED, 

HE  NG  RAVE, 

HORNINGSHERTH, 


HORSECROFT, 

ICKWORTH, 

LACKFORD, 

NOWTON, 

REED, 
BISBY, 

SAXHAM  MAGNA, 
SAXHAM  PARVA, 
SOUTH-PARK, 
WESTLY, 
And  WHEPSTEAD. 


The  fee  of  this  Hundred,  before  the  dissolution  of  Monasteries, 
was  in  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  and  was 
farmed  by  their  bailiffs ;  but  has  since  been  in  the  Crown.  In 
the  \lth  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  Knt.,  and  in 
the  %lth  of  the  same  reign,  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  held  in  lease 
from  the  Crown  the  Hundred  of  Thingoe.  In  the  5th  of  King 
Charles  I.,  it  was  granted  to  Henry,  Earl  of  Holland,  and 
others,  for  99  years,  in  trust  for  the  Queen  Consort ;  and  in  the 
%±th  of  Charles  II.,  teas  vested  in  Henry,  Earl  of  St.  Albans, 
and  others,  in  trust  for  Queen  Katharine.  It  continues  to  be- 
long to  the  Crown. 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 


BARROW,  or  BAROU, 

Belonged  to  Edward  the  Confessor;  was  among  the  demesne  hinds 
of  the  Crown  at  the  time  of  the  Conqueror's  survey  ;  and  became 
part  of  the  fee  of  Richard,  son  of  Gilbert  de  Clare,  stirnamed 
Strongbow,  Earl  of  Strigul ;  on  the  marriage  of  whose  daughter 
and  heir,  Isabella,  with  William  Marshal,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  and 
Marshal  of  England,  King  Richard  I.  gave  him  all  the  lands  and 
rights  which  had  belonged  to  her  father. 

Thomas  de  Barewe,  son  of  Bertram,  held  this  mauor  of  Earl 
William  :  in  the  25th  of  Henry  III.,  Haman  Passelewe,  and  Maud 
his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas  de  Barewe,  were  seized  of 
this  manor,  together  with  the  advowson  of  the  church  ;  and  in  the 
29th  of  that  reign,  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  his  demesne  of 
Barewe,  and  Newton.  He  was  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  during  several 
years  of  this  reign ;  an  office  which  his  ancestor,  Ralph  de  Passe- 
lewe had  held  in  the  time  of  Henry  I. 

King  Henry  III.  granted,  by  charter,  in  the  51st  year  of  his 
reign,  to  Maud  Passelewe,  and  her  heirs,  a  market  every  week,  on 
Saturdays,  at  her  manor  of  Barewe  ;  and  a  fair  every  year,  for  three 
days,  to  commence  the  day  before  the  feast  of  St.  John  the  Baptist, 
unless  it  were  to  the  injury  of  the  neighbouring  markets  and  fairs  ; 
but  from  the  contiguity  of  this  parish  to  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  it  is 
doubtful  whether  this  privilege  was  ever  exercised. 

Maud,  shortly  afterwards  settled  this  estate  upon  her  daughter 
Katherine,  wife  of  William  Giffard,  of  Weston,  brother  of  Walter, 
Archbishop  of  York ;  which  William  was  Sheriff  of  tlus  county,  in 
the  last  year  of  Henry  III.,  and  in  the  3rd  year  of  his  successor. 
John  Giffard,  of  Weston,  and  Hugh  Giffard,  parson  of  this  parish 
church,  sons  of  William  and  Katherine,  in  the  12th  of  Edward  II., 
released  to  Bartholomew,  Lord  Badlesmere,  all  claim  to  this  manor 
and  advowson. 

This  powerful  Lord,  the  year  after  his  purchase,  was  executed 


1332  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

for  treason  ;  and  the  King  gave  this  estate  to  Hugh  le  Despencer, 
the  younger,  who  had  married  Eleanor,  the  King's  niece,  eldest 
sister  and  co-heir  of  Gilbert,  last  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester.  But 
Hugh,  shortly  after,  falling  a  sacrifice  to  popular  fury,  the  custody 
of  Barrow  was  committed  to  John  de  Boniton. 

At  the  accession  of  Edward  III.,  the  new  Monarch  restored  the 
Badlesmeres  to  favour,  reversing  the  attainder,  and  giving  to  Mar- 
garet, the  widow  of  Lord  Badlesmere,  her  lands  ;  in  virtue  of  which 
she  became  possessed  of  Barrow,  which  had  been  settled  on  her 
husband,  and  herself,  and  his  heirs.  At  her  decease,  Giles  de  Bad- 
lesmere, her  only  son,  a  minor,  in  custody  of  the  King,  by  special 
favour,  had  livery,  on  doing  homage,  of  such  lands  as  were  the  in- 
heritance of  his  mother. 

In  the  9th  of  the  above  reign,  he  was  summoned  to  Parliament, 
and  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  de  Montacute,  Earl  of 
Salisbury  ;  but  dying  without  issue,  in  the  12th  of  the  same  reign, 
his  property  was  divided  among  his  four  sisters  and  co-heirs ;  and 
this  estate  fell  to  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Tibetot  (or  Tiptoft),  sub- 
ject to  the  life  estate  of  Elizabeth  de  Badlesmere,  the  widow,  to 
whom  it  had  been  assigned  in  dower. 

Sir  Kobert,  son  and  heir  of  John  Tibetot,  and  Margaret  his  wife, 
deceased  April  13,  1372,  seized  of  this  lordship  ;  and  Margaret  his 
relict,  daughter  of  William  Deincourt,  held  the  same  in  dower.  By 
her  he  left  three  daughters  and  co-heirs  ;  and  in  the  9th  of  Richard 
II.,  partition  was  made  of  the  estates,  by  which  this  manor  came  to 
Sir  Philip  le  Despencer,  the  younger,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife, 
youngest  daughter  of  the  said  Sir  Robert  Tibetot,  and  Margaret. 

Sir  Philip  le  Despencer  survived  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  was 
tenant  of  this  estate  by  courtesy ;  which,  upon  his  decease,  in  the 
2nd  of  Henry  VI.,  devolved  in  possession  upon  Margery,  his  only 
child,  the  wife  of  Sir  Roger  Wentworth,  of  Nettlestead  ;  first  mar- 
ried to  John,  Lord  Roos,  of  Hamlake.  This  lady  deceased  in  1478, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Convent  of  Gray  Friars,  at  Ipswich.  From 
Sir  Roger  Wentworth  and  Margery,  descended  Thomas,  Lord  Went- 
worth, of  Nettlestead,  Lord  High  Chamberlain ;  to  whom  Barrow 
came  in  the  course  of  descent.  In  1540,  Lord  Wentworth  sold 
this  manor  and  the  advowson,  to  Sir  Clement  Heigham,  Knt. 

The  family  of  Heigham  takes  its  name  from  Heigham,  a  hamlet 
of  Gazeley,  adjoining  this  parish,  where  they  held  lands  of  the  ho- 
nour of  Clare.  Sir  Clement,  who  purchased  this  estate,  was  son 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  683 

and  heir  of  Clement  Heigham,  of  Lavenham,  4th  son  of  Thomas 
Heigham,  of  Heigham.  He  was  entered  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  in  1518; 
was  twice  Reader  of  that  Society,  and  rose  to  the  degree  of  Chief 
Baron  of  the  Exchequer.  Early  in  his  professional  career  the  Mo- 
nastery of  St.  Edmund  availed  themselves  of  his  services ;  in  reward 
for  which  they  made  him,  in  1528,  Chief  Bailiff  of  the  Liberty  of 
St.  Edmund  ;  and  granted  him  various  leases  of  different  parts  of 
the  monastic  property. 

Upon  the  accession  of  Queen  Mary,  Sir  Clement  joined  the  Royal 
Standard,  at  Kenninghall.  The  Queen  called  him  to  her  councils, 
and  had  him  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons.  He  sat 
in  Parliament  during  her  reign,  successively  for  Rye,  Ipswich, 
Westloo,  and  Lancaster.  Queen  Elizabeth  coming  to  the  throne, 
he  retired  from  public  life,  to  his  manor  house  in  this  parish,  built 
by  him;  and  died  there,  March  9,  1570. 

Sir  Clement  married,  first,  Anne,  daughter  of  John  de  Moonines, 
of  Semere  Hall,  in  this  county ;  and  secondly,  Anne,  daughter  of 
Sir  George  Waldegrave,  of  Smalbridge,  widow  of  Henry  Buers,  of 
Acton  ;  and  left  issue  by  both  his  marriages. 

The  possession  of  Felton  manor,  in  this  parish,  became  united  in 
the  family  of  Heigham,  with  the  lordship  of  Barrow  Hall.  In  the 
14th  of  Edward  I.,  Sir  Adam  de  Creting,  with  Nichola  his  wife, 
held  half  a  Knight's  fee  in  Barrow  ;  and  in  respect  of  which  he  ex- 
ercised manorial  rights.  The  greater  part  of  these  lands  were  held 
of  the  Earl  Marshal,  while  part  were  held  of  the  honour  of  Clare. 

By  an  inquisition  taken  here,  in  the  24th  of  the  same  reign,  it 
was  found  that  Sir  Adam  de  Creting,  at  the  time  of  his  decease, 
held  in  the  town  of  Barrow,  his  manor,  of  William  Giffard,  and  Ka- 
therine  his  wife  ;  and  that  his  capital  messuage,  with  the  appurte- 
nances, was  worth  4s.  ;  that  he  held  of  the  same,  240A.  of  arable 
land,  worth  60s.  (per  acre  3d.) ;  and  1^  acre  of  meadow,  worth  3s.; 
half  an  acre  of  pasture,  worth  6d.  ;  23A.  of  wood,  of  which  he  could 
cut  every  year  SA.  In.,  worth  24s.  9d.  per  acre;  and  one  windmill, 
worth  10s.  It  continued  in  this  family  until  the  30th  of  Edward 
III.,  when  Sir  Edmund  de  Creting  sold  the  reversion  thereof  to  Sir 
Thomas  de  Eel  ton ;  who,  in  the  36th  of  that  King,  had  free  warren 
granted  him  in  this  manor. 

Sir  Thomas  de  Felton,  K.G.,  deceased  in  the  4th  of  Richard  II., 
leaving,  by  Joan  his  wife,  three  daughters,  his  co-heirs:  Mary, 
wife,  first,  of  Edmund  de  Hemegrave,  by  whom  she  had  no  issue, 


<j;U  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

and  secondly,  of  Sir  John  Curson,  of  Beck's  Hall,  in  Norfolk. 
Under  a  fine  levied  by  Joan  de  Felton,  the  relict  of  Sir  Thomas,  hi 
the  12th  of  the  above  reign,  Felton's  manor  was  limited  to  Robert, 
Bishop  of  London,  and  others,  in  trust,  for  herself  for  life ;  and 
after  her  decease,  for  Sir  John  Curson,  and  Mary  his  wife. 

Thomas  Curson  deceased  in  1512,  and  left  issue  by  Dorothy  his 
wife,  daughter  of  John  Clopton,  John  Curson  ;  who  not  long  after- 
wards sold  Felton's  manor  to  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  of  Hengrave ; 
and  in  the  17th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Thomas,  his  son,  and  his 
feoffees,  conveyed  the  same  to  John,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  Clement 
Heigham,  before  mentioned ;  and  so  the  two  lordships  became 
united :  in  the  29th  of  Charles  II.,  Clement  Heigham,  of  Barrow, 
conveyed  his  manors  of  Barrow  and  Felton's  to  trustees,  for  sale ; 
and  died  in  1686.  Clement  Heigham,  his  eldest  son,  rector  of  Bar- 
row, shortly  after  his  father's  death,  joined  with  the  trustees  in  selling 
the  same  to  Sir  Thos.  Hervey,  of  Ickworth ;  in  whose  descendant, 
the  Marquess  of  Bristol,  they  are  now  vested. 

In  the  23rd  of  Henry  III.,  Osbert  de  Mundeford,  lord  of  Mun- 
deford,  in  Norfolk,  acquired  a  carucate  of  land  in  this  parish,  Har- 
grave,  and  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  from  Peter  de  Barewe ;  and  the 
lands  in  Barrow  acquired  the  name  of  Mundeford's  manor.  It  after- 
wards became  the  estate  of  Sir  Samuel  Prime,  Serjeant-at-Law; 
and  since  of  the  Pitches ;  it  now  belongs  to  William  Mills,  Esq., 
of  Great  Saxham  ;  excepting  the  immediate  site  of  the  capital  mes- 
suage, which  belongs  to  Mr.  John  Drinkmilk. 

The  advowson  of  this  parish  church  was  appendant  to  the  manor 
until  1688,  when  it  was  sold  under  the  trusts  created  by  Clement 
Heigham,  to  John  Boughton,  B.D. ;  who  in  1689,  devised  it  to  the 
Master  and  Fellows  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  the  present 
patrons  of  the  living. 

Among  the  rectors  may  be  noticed  Philip  Williams,  President  of 
St.  John's  College,  and  Public  Orator  of  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge ;  John  Green,  Bishop  of  Lincoln  ;  Philip  Francis,  the  trans- 
lator of  Horace;  and  George  Ashby,  F.S.A.,  born  in  1724,  and 
deceased  in  1808.  He  was  for  many  years  President  of  St.  John's 
College,  Cambridge ;  by  which  Society  he  was  presented  to  this 
living,  in  1774 ;  and  in  1780,  obtained  the  rectory  of  Stansfield,  in 
this  county.  For  many  years  previous  to  his  death,  he  had  the 
misfortune  to  become  blind,  but  as  a  critical  scholar,  and  an  anti- 
quary, he  left  many  lasting  testimonials  of  superior  abilities. 


HUNDRED  OF  TIIINGOE.  635 

The  church  appears  to  have  been  built  by  the  Passelews  and  the 
Giffards,  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  III.  and  Edward  I.  It  contains, 
amongst  many  other  memorials,  the  tomb  of  Sir  Clement  Heigham, 
of  which  Mr.  Gage  Rokewode  has  an  etching,  in  his  History  of  this 
hundred. 

ARMS. — Passelewe :  bendy,  or  and  azure;  a  canton,  argent; 
and  a  lion  passant,  gules.  Giffard :  gules ;  three  lions  passant, 
argent.  Creting :  argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  mullets  pierced, 
gules.  Badlesmere  :  argent ;  a  fess,  and  two  bars  gemelles,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — The  Rev.  John  Crosier,  rector  of  this  parish,  by 
deed  of  the  12th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  enfeoffed.  to  Sir  Clement 
Heigham,  Knt.,  and  others,  certain  lands  and  tenements  in  Bury 
St.  Edmund's ;  out  of  the  rents  of  which  he  directed  that  the  sum 
of  £2  6s.  8d.  should  be  annually  distributed  among  the  poor  of 
Barrow,  in  money,  wood,  or  other  necessaries,  for  their  relief ;  and 
the  residue  to  be  bestowed  upon  the  reparation  of  highways,  and 
the  church  of  Barrow.  This  property  consists  of  a  barn,  and  about 
13  acres  of  land,  in  three  pieces  ;  rent  £36  a  year,  which  is  carried 
to  the  churchwardens'  general  account ;  and  in  lieu  of  the  sum  of 
£2  6s.  8d.,  mentioned  in  the  will,  a  larger  sum  is  taken  from  the 
funds,  and  distributed  in  articles  of  clothing,  and  the  rest  applied 
with  the  church-rate. — The  parish  estate  consists  of  a  cottage,  in 
two  tenements,  occupied  by  poor  persons  rent  free ;  and  a  house, 
out-buildings,  and  14 A.  IR.  of  land,  in  this  parish,  let  at  £21  per 
annum ;  which  is  appropriated  to  the  providing  of  a  school-master, 
and  24  poor  children  of  both  sexes,  belonging  to  Barrow,  are 
taught  by  him,  to  read,  write,  and  cast  accounts. — One  fourth  of 
the  rent  of  an  estate  at  Cowling,  is  received  by  the  churchwardens 
of  this  parish,  and  given  among  poor  persons  not  receiving  paro- 
chial relief. — Three  doles  of  20s.  each,  are  paid  out  of  property  in 
Barrow,  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  and  Chevington  ;  which  is  distributed 
either  in  clothing  or  fuel,  among  poor  widows,  and  other  aged  poor 
persons. — Peter  Hewett,  of  this  parish,  clerk,  gave  to  Gonville  and 
Caius  College,  Cambridge,  £180,  to  purchase  lands  to  the  value  of 
twelve  marks  per  annum;  and  ordained  three  scholarships,  each 
four  marks  per  annum ;  the  same  to  be  chosen  out  of  the  diocese 
of  Norwich. 


636  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

BROCKLEY.— BROCLEG,  or  BROCLE. 

The  fee  of  this  parish  was  divided  at  the  time  of  the  Norman 
survey,  between  the  Abhot  of  St.  Edmund's,  and  others ;  and  about 
the  13th  of  Henry  II.,  three  suits  were  due  from  Brockley  to  the 
hundred ;  namely,  one  for  the  lands  of  Peter  de  Bvockley,  of  Alan 
de  Brockley,  and  of  Nicholas  de  Geddyng,  respectively.  Out  of 
the  estate  of  Peter  and  Alan  de  Brockley,  the  tenants  of  St.  Ed- 
mund, arose  the  manors  of  Brockley  and  Talmages. 

In  the  8th  of  Richard  I.,  Reginald,  son  of  Peter  de  Brockley, 
and  Peter,  son  of  Alan  de  Brockley,  held  of  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's,  the  one,  a  Knight's  fee,  and  the  other,  half  a  fee,  in  this 
parish ;  which  had  belonged  respectively  to  their  fathers,  Peter  and 
Alan;  and  Cicely,  widow  of  Nicholas  de  Benhal,  in  the  12th  of 
Henry  III.,  released  to  Reginald  de  Brockley,  her  claim  to  dower 
in  a  carucate  of  land  in  Brockley,  the  free  tenement  of  her  late  hus- 
band, Peter  de  Brockley. 

Erom  the  Brockleys  it  passed  to  John  Algar,  and  Lucy  his  wife, 
probably  the  daughter  of  Reginald  de  Brockley ;  and  in  the  14th  of 
Edward  I.,  John  Algar  was  chief  lord  of  this  parish.  The  reversion 
expectant  on  his  decease,  in  this  manor,  and  also  the  advowson  of 
the  church,  was  granted,  in  the  10th  of  the  same  reign,  to  Robert 
de  Northwold ;  who  was  in  possession  in  the  28th  of  that  King ;  it 
appears,  however,  that  he  had  disposed  of  half  a  fee  to  William  Tal- 
mage,  whence  came  the  name  of  Talmage's  manor,  in  Brockley. 

In  the  31st  of  Edward  I.,  Robert  de  Northwold  settled  this  ma- 
nor and  advowson  upon  Alexander,  son  of  Ralph  de  Walsham,  and 
Joan  his  wife,  daughter  of  William  de  Melford,  in  special  tail.  In 
the  16th  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  Alexander  de  Walsham,  their  son,  le- 
vied a  fine  of  the  same  ;  and  Alice,  his  widow,  presented  to  this 
living,  in  1349  ;  John,  their  grand -son,  presented  in  1384  ;  and 
shortly  after  the  manor  and  advowson  passed  to  the  Strange  family. 

In  the  8th  of  Richard  II.,  by  a  fine  levied  between  John  Strange, 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  William  Hunt,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife, 
this  estate  was  limited  to  John,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  in  tail ;  re- 
mainder to  John,  son  and  heir  of  John,  in  fee.  Agnes,  his  daugh- 
ter, became  his  sole  heir ;  who  married,  first,  Robert  Mordaunt,  of 
Turvey,  in  Bedfordshire  ;  and,  secondly,  Thomas  Foderingey  ;  by 
whom  she  had  issue,  Gerard  Eoderingey  ;  and  in  the  4th  of  Henry 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOK. 

VI.,  being  then  a  widow,  she  held  a  court  for  the  manor  of  Brock- 
ley  Hall ;  in  the  next  year  she  presented  to  the  church. 

In  the  13th  of  Henry  VI.,  Gerard  Foderingey,  on  whom  his  mo- 
ther settled  this  manor,  did  homage  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's, 
for  a  Knight's  fee  in  Brockley.  He  deceased  subsequently  to  1459, 
and  Thomas,  his  son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  who  by  Elizabeth,  his 
first  wife,  only  sister  of  John,  son  and  heir  of  William  Dorward,  of 
Dorward  Hall,  at  Booking,  in  Essex,  he  had  issue  three  daughters 
and  co-heirs  :  Margaret,*  wife  of  Nicholas  Beaupre,  of  Outwell,  in 
Norfolk  ;  Helen,  wife  of  Henry  Thoresby,  of  Booking  ;  and  Chris- 
tian, wife  of  John  de  Vere,  afterwards  14th  Earl  of  Oxford  ;  which 
Margaret,  Helen,  and  Christian,  were  also  co-heirs  of  their  uncle, 
John  Dorward. 

Thomas  Foderingey  devised  by  his  will,  in  1490,  to  Margaret  his 
second  wife,  this  manor,  for  her  life  ;  and  upon  her  decease,  it  be- 
came vested  in  moieties,  in  Margaret  Beaupre,  and  Helen  Thoresby ; 
whose  sister  Christian  was  then  dead,  without  issue  ;  and  the  re- 
spective husbands  of  Margaret  and  Helen  held  their  first  court  here, 
in  the  14th  of  Henry  VII.  In  the  13th  of  Henry  VIII.,  Edmund, 
the  son  and  heir  of  Nicholas,  and  Margaret  Beaupre,  had  livery  of 
half  this  manor ;  the  other  moiety  was  in  trustees.  Subsequently, 
Sir  William  Drury,  of  Hawsted,  became  a  purchaser  of  the  entire 
manor ;  and  in  him  was  also  vested  the  manor  of  Talmages,  with 
Wifolds,  in  Brockley. 

In  the  29th  of  Henry  VIII.,  Sir  William  Drury,  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife,  held  a  court  of  the  said  manors  ;  and  upon  the  partition 

*  The  marriage  contract  of  Margaret  Foderingey  with  Nicholas  Beaupve,  being  a 
curious  document  is  here  transcribed,  from  "  Blomefield's  History  of  Norfolk,'' 
Vol.  vii.,  p.  458.  "  This  indenture  made  the  14th  day  of  November,  the  7th  year 
of  the  reigne  of  King  Harry  the  VII.  betwix  Sir  Robert  Radcliff  and  Katherine  his 
wife,  on  the  oon  party,  and  Nicholas  Beaupre  on  the  other  party,  witnesseth  that 
whereas  the  said  Sir  Robert  and  dame  Katherine,  have  in  their  kepyng  and  govern- 
aunce  oon  Margaret  Fodringgey,  oon  of  the  daughters  and  heyres  of  Thomas  Fod- 
rynggey,  late  of  Brockley  in  Suffolk,  gentilman,  the  said  Nicholas,  before  the  feast 
of  the  nativity  of  St.  John  Baptist  next  comyng,  by  the  assent,  help  and  favor  of 
the  said  Sir  Robert  and  dame  Katherine,  and  for  the  faithfull  love,  that  the  said  Ni- 
cholas hath  long  time  had  to  the  said  Margaret,  shall  by  the  grace  of  God,  marry 
and  take  to  wyf  the  said  Margaret,  and  espowsells  between  them  shall  be  solemmy- 
nised,  for  the  which,  &c.  the  said  Nicholas  shall  be  bound ;  and  cause  also  with 
him,  Thomas  Beatipre,  his  father  to  be  bound,  &c.  to  the  said  Sir  Robert  and  Ka- 
therine, &c.  in  the  sum  of  XL!,  payable,  &c.  and  the  same  Sir  Robert  and  Katherine, 
&c.  graunteth  by  these  presents  to  delyver  the  said  Margaret,  to  the  said  Nicholas, 
unassured  to  any  person,  &c.'' 


038  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

of  the  estates  of  the  Drary  family,  among  the  co-heirs  of  the  last 
Sir  Robert  Drury,  in  the  15th  of  James  I.,  these  manors,  with  the 
advowson,  devolved  on  Lady  Wray.  In  1G60,  Sir  William  Wray, 
of  Glentworth,  sold  this  property  to  John  Gipps,  Esq.,  of  Great 
Whelnetham ;  whose  sou  and  heir,  Sir  Richard  Gipps,  conveyed, 
in  1708,  these  manors  (reserving  the  advowson  of  the  church)  to 
Richard  Phillips,  of  Ipswich. 

By  his  will,  in  1719,  they  became  settled  upon  his  son,  Richard 
Phillips,  of  Lincoln's  Inn  ;  with  remainder  in  fee,  to  the  testator's 
daughter,  Amy  Burrough,  afterwards  Dame  Amy  Kempe  ;  and  the 
testator's  grand-son,  Phillips  Coleman.  Lady  Kempe  devised  her 
moiety  of  the  reversion  to  her  brother,  Richard  Phillips  ;  and  he, 
in  1747,  devised  the  same  to  George  Thomas,  of  Kesgrave,  grand- 
father of  the  present  owner ;  and  which  George,  on  the  partition 
between  him  and  Phillips  Coleman,  in  1757,  became  seized  of  the 
whole  of  this  estate ;  who  sold  it  lately  to  the  Rev.  Chas.  Brooke, 
of  Ufford. 

The  advowson  of  the  rectory  descended  with  the  manors,  from  its 
early  possessors,  to  the  Gipps  family :  it  was  disjoined  by  them, 
and  granted  to  Joshua  Grigby,  Esq.,  whose  grand- son  and  heir, 
Joshua,  sold  it  to  the  Rev.  James  Dewhurst  Sprigge,  the  present 
patron  and  incumbent. 

There  was  a  church  here  at  the  time  of  the  Conqueror's  survey ; 
the  present  edifice  was  built  in  the  early  part  of  the  14th  century, 
being  the  work  it  is  supposed  of  Alexander  de  Walsham.  In  the 
nave,  against  the  south  wall,  is  a  graceful  canopy  of  a  tomb,  erected 
probably  to  the  founder  of  the  church.  An  iron  frame,  for  placing 
that  ancient,  but  once  common  appendage,  an  hour  glass,  still  re- 
mains strongly  fixed  against  the  wall,  on  the  right  hand  side  of  the 
pulpit.  In  the  church-yard  is  the  base,  and  part  of  the  shaft,  of  a 
cross;  which  was  removed  in  1818,  by  the  Rev.  Frederick  Henry 
Turner  Barnwell,  from  the  church  meadow  adjoining. 

ARMS. — Foderingey :  quarterly ;  or  and  gules,  a  cross  lozengy, 
argent;  in  the  2nd  quarter,  an  eagle  displayed,  of  the  first.  Thomas : 
argent ;  a  chevron,  sable,  between  three  Cornish  choughs,  proper. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £4  a  year,  is  received  from  the  lord  of 
the  manor  of  Hawsted,  and  distributed  with  other  charities  ;  and  a 
poor  widow,  belonging  to  this  parish,  is  placed  in  the  almshouse  at 
Hawsted,  and  receives  £5  a  year ;  both  the  gift  of  Sir  Robert  Drury, 
Knt.,  in  1616,  by  deed  of  indenture. — Sir  Robert  Jervis  gave  land, 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  639 

in  the  parish  of  Wickhambrook,  containing  about  seven  acres,  for 
the  poor  of  the  parishes  of  Brockley,  Hargrave,  and  Whepstead, 
which  let  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £$  2s. ;  and  a  portion  thereof,  £3 
12s.,  is  paid  for  poor  persons  of  this  parish. — The  town  estate  con- 
sists of  a  building,  used  as  a  poor  house,  and  two  cottages  occupied 
rent  free  :  land,  called  Shortnecks,  containing  3A.,  and  Woodcrofts, 
6A, ;  rent  £15  a  year:  land,  called  Edith's,  12A.,  and  a  grove  ad- 
joining, of  about  2A. ;  rent  £16  per  annum.  The  rents  are  applied 
to  the  good  and  public  use  and  benefit  of  this  parish. — In  1721, 
Thomas  Sparke  gave  by  will,  the  sum  of  £6  a  year,  for  the  teaching 
of  poor  children  of  this  parish ;  and  five  poor  children  are  in- 
structed in  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  from  this  fund. — Two 
poor  men  of  Brockley,  receive  £6  a  year,  from  Button's  Charity,  in 
Bury  St.  Edmund's,  by  quarterly  payments,  and  gowns  or  coats 
from  time  to  time. — The  Kev.  Frederick  Henry  Tumor  Barawell, 
A.M.,  F.S  A.,  and  F.E.S.,  eldest  son  of  the  Kev.  Frederick  Bamwell, 
formerly  rector  of  this  parish,  presented  an  elegant  communion  ser- 
vice to  this  church,  in  1820  ;  together  with  a  silver  bason  for  the 
baptismal  font ;  and  handsome  black  velvet  coverings,  fringed  with 
rich  gold  lace,  for  the  pulpit,  reading  desk,  and  communion  table. 


CHEVINGTON,  or  CEUENTUN. 

This  parish  was  part  of  the  estate  of  Britulf,  granted  to  the  Mo- 
nastery of  St.  Edmund,  by  King  William :  from  the  nearness  of 
these  places,  and  the  retired  situation  of  Chevington,  it  soon  be- 
came a  favourite  retreat  of  the  Abbots  ;  and  there  was  a  park  here, 
well  stocked  with  deer.  It  was  from  his  Hall  of  Chevington,  that 
Abbot  Thomas  wrote  to  King  Edward  II.,  in  1309,  that  he  was 
prevented  by  illness  from  attending  Parliament ;  and  here  it  was 
that  the  infuriated  townsmen  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  found  Abbot 
Kichard  de  Draughton,  when  they  treated  him  with  so  much  in- 
dignity. 

Upon  the  dissolution  of  the  Monastery,  this  manor,  with  the  park 
and  advowson,  was  parcel  of  the  estate  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Kyt- 
son,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  and  his  heirs ;  and  was  long  a  favourite 
possession.  It  appears  that  the  proprietors  were  in  the  habit  of  re- 
tiring thither  when  they  were  not  desirous  of  keeping  house  at  Hen- 


(540  HUNDRED  OF  THIN'GOE. 

grave  ;  and  besides  the  manor  house,  they  had  a  hunting  lodge  in 
the  park,  where  was  the  principal  dairy. 

Mary,  Countess  Rivers,  heiress  of  the  Kytson  family,  settled  this 
estate  upon  her  daughter,  Lady  Penelope  Gage ;  whose  grand-son, 
Sir  William  Gage,  and  Thomas,  his  son  and  heir- apparent,  sold  it, 
in  1716,  to  John,  Earl  of  Bristol ;  to  whose  descendant,  the  present 
Marquess  of  Bristol,  it  continues  to  belong. 

Among  the  customary  tenants  of  this  manor,  from  the  reign  of 
King  Edward  I.  down  to  a  late  period,  occurs  the  name  of  Paman ; 
of  which  family  was  Clement,  who  married  Bridget,  daughter  of 
Robert  Kempe,  by  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Clement  Heigham,  of 
Barrow ;  and  Henry  Paman,  LL.D.,  F.R.S.,  Public  Orator  and 
Gresham  Professor  in  the  University  of  Cambridge,  who  died  in 
1695. 

The  advowson  of  the  church  was  appendant  to  the  manor  until 
1716  ;  when,  by  purchase  from  Sir  William  Gage,  it  became  the 
property  of  Edward  Grove,  D.D.  Thomas,  son  and  heir  of  John 
Underwood,  by  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Dr.  Grove,  sold  the 
same,  in  1770,  to  the  Rev.  John  White  ;  and  it  now  belongs  to  his 
son,  John  White,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  John  Baptist,  preserves  some  of  its 
Norman  features :  the  north  and  south  doors  being  in  the  circular 
style.  In  repairing  the  pavement,  in  1828,  a  stone  coffin  was  dis- 
covered, at  the  upper  end  of  the  north  side  of  the  nave,  which  con- 
tained a  very  perfect  skeleton  of  a  young  ecclesiastic.  On  the  lid 
was  a  cross  flory  ;  the  upper  and  lower  member  taking  a  lozenge 
shape.  Some  of  the  benches  are  carved  with  figures  of  musicians  ; 
and  there  is  a  church  chest  of  the  time  of  Edward  II.,  or  the  be- 
ginning of  the  following  reign,  curiously  carved. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £l  12s.,  being  the  amount  of  the  an- 
nuity of  40s.,  after  deducting  4s.  in  the  pound  for  land-tax,  is  re- 
ceived from  the  tenant  of  an  estate  at  Lackford,  belonging  to  Sir 
Charles  E.  Kent,  Bart. ;  and  a  coat  and  gown  are  received  from  the 
agent  of  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart.,  in  alternate  years,  and  given  to 
poor  persons.  These  were  of  the  gift  of  Dame  Elizabeth  Kytson, 
widow  of  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  Knt.,  by  deed  of  indenture  in  the 
20th  of  King  James  I. — The  town  estate  comprises  a  double  cot- 
tage and  shop,  with  yards,  gardens,  and  34  rods  of  ground,  in  this 
parish,  occupied  by  three  tenants,  at  rents  amounting  together  to 
£9  per  annum ;  and  an  allotment  of  6A.  2R.  24p.  of  land,  at  Ched- 


HUNDRED  OF  T1IINGOE. 


641 


burgh,  which  let  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £10.  The  rents  are  distri- 
buted among  the  poor  of  this  parish,  in  sums  varying  according  to 
the  size  of  families. — The  sum  of  £50,  mentioned  in  "  Keturns  of 
Charitable  Donations"  in  1786,  to  have  been  given  by  Dr.  Henry 
Paman,  was  laid  out  in  defraying  the  expenses  attending  the  iuclo- 
sure  of  the  poor's  land. 


FLEMPTON,  or  FLEMINGTUNE. 

At  the  time  of  the  Conqueror's  survey,  Wluard  held  in  this  pa- 
rish, of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  ten  socmen,  upon  a  carucate  of 
land.  Before  the  close  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry  II.,  half  this 
carucate  was  in  the  hands  of  divers  persons,  and  the  remaining  half 
was  held  by  William  de  Ickworth,  and  his  brothers ;  and  which 
Richard  de  Ickworth,  acknowledged,  in  the  8th  of  King  Richard  I., 
to  hold  of  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  :  in  the  5th  of  King 
John,  Richard  de  Ickworth  acquired  the  advowson  of  the  church  of 
Flemptou,  from  Alan  de  Flemeton. 

In  the  12th  of  Edward  I.,  Sir  Benedict  de  Blakeham  died  seized 
of  this  manor;  and  in  the  14th  of  the  same  reign,  Benedict  de 
Blakeham,  his  son,  was  chief  lord  of  Flempton  ;  arid  held  of  Thomas 
de  Ickworth,  by  the  service  of  a  third  part  of  a  Knight's  fee,  a  mes- 
suage, and  80  acres  of  land,  9 A.  of  meadow  and  pasture,  a  watermill, 
with  liberty  of  fishing  and  foldage,  and  right  of  boar ;  paying  3s.  6d. 
to  Thomas  de  Ickworth,  and  13£d.  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund. 
This  Benedict  held  also  lands  here  of  divers  persons  ;  and  various 
others  held  small  quantities  of  land. 

This  manor  belonged  to  the  Blakelmms  ;  and  passed  the  same 
as  their  lordship  of  Lackford,  to  St.  Philibert,  Aspale,  Geddyng, 
Lucas,  and  Kytson.  The  advowson  remained,  until  the  4th  of  Ed- 
ward II.,  the  property  of  Thomas  de  Ickworth  ;  when,  under  a  fine 
levied  by  him,  it  vested  in  Sir  John  de  Shardelowe,  and  Agnes  his 
wife ;  who  in  the  same  year  presented  his  brother,  Edmund  de  Shar- 
delowe, to  the  living. 

In  the  16th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  the  younger, 
was  the  purchaser  of  this  lordship,  from  Thomas  Lucas,  of  Hor- 
ningsherth ;  and  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart.,  by  descent  from  Kytson, 
and  under  family  settlements,  is  now  owner  of  Flempton. 


642  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

The  advowson  of  the  church,  consolidated  with  Hengrave,  is  the 
property  of  the  present  incumbent,  the  Rev.  Richard  Samuel  Dixon ; 
it  having  been  purchased  by  him,  in  1823,  from  the  representatives 
of  the  late  rector,  Charles  Andrews  ;  to  whom  it  came  by  the  gift 
of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Carter,  whose  father,  William  Carter,  Esq.,  of 
Ballingdon,  in  Essex,  bought  it  in  1743,  from  Sir  Wm.  Gage,  Bart. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Katheriue,  was  re-built  before  the 
middle  of  the  14th  century,  and  is  considered  to  be  the  work  of  the 
Shardelowe  family.  The  principal  part  of  the  tower  fell  during  the 
latter  years  of  the  incumbency  of  the  Rev.  Wm.  Wilson,  who  deceased 
in  1768,  having  held  this  rectory  38  years :  this  has  been  recently 
re-built,  the  church  and  chancel  new  roofed,  and  put  in  thorough 
repair,  and  the  interior  fitted  up  in  a  neat  and  appropriate  style. 

ARMS. — Ickworth :  quarterly,  or  and  gules  ;  on  a  bend,  vert, 
three  martlets  of  the  first.  St.  Philibert :  bendy  of  six,  argent  and 
azure.  Lucas :  argent ;  a  fess  between  six  annulets,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor  lands  comprise  three  roods  of  ground, 
part  of  a  close  in  Rattlesden,  called  Barber's  Close,  for  which  an 
annual  rent  of  £l  10s.  is  paid.  This  was  purchased  with  £10,  left 
by  William  Firmage,  in  1599,  for  the  poor  people  of  this  parish. — 
A  piece  of  ground,  containing  about  three  roods,  in  Flempton  Field, 
intermixed  with  land  of  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart.,  for  which  his  te- 
nant pays  £1  a  year. — Lady  Kytson's  dole  of  £2  a  year  is  paid, 
after  deducting  8s.  for  land-tax,  by  the  tenant  of  a  farm  at  Lack- 
ford,  belonging  to  Sir  Charles  E.  Kent,  Bart. — The  Rev.  Jonathan 
Carter,  rector  of  this  parish,  appropriated  the  sum  of  £200,  three 
per  cent,  consols,  the  dividends  of  which  are  applied  in  the  payment 
of  £2  a  year  to  the  parish  clerk,  £2  to  a  school-mistress  at  Flemp- 
ton,  for  teaching  four  girls  to  read  and  sew ;  and  £2  to  a  mistress 
at  Hengrave,  for  the  like  duty.  The  income  arising  from  the  other 
charities  is  expended  in  the  purchase  of  turf  for  fuel :  a  piece  of 
cloth  for  a  coat,  and  a  piece  of  stuff  for  a  gown,  are  provided  alter- 
nate years,  under  Lady  Kytson's  charity,  for  that  purpose. 


FORNHAM  ALL-SAINTS. 

The  Fornhams  were  anciently  distinguished  as  Major  and  Minor, 
separated  from  each  other  by  the  river  Lark ;  the  former  consisting 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  643 

of  the  parish  of  All- Saints,  in  this  hundred,  and  the  latter  compre- 
hending the  parishes  of  St.  Genevieve,  and  St.  Martin,  in  the  hun- 
dred of  Thedwastre  ;  and  were  included  among  the  early  possessions 
of  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  St.  Edmund,  at  Bury.  In  the  time 
of  the  Confessor,  they  held  this  parish  as  a  manor  of  a  carucate  of 
land :  and  there  were  three  socmen,  with  thirty  acres  of  land,  and 
two  freemen,  held  a  carucate  and  a  half  of  the  said  Abbot. 

Before  the  close  of  the  next  century,  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's,  confirmed  to  his  clerk,  Koger  de  Walsyngham,  for  his 
fidelity  and  services,  the  tenement  which  Baldwin,  the  priest  of 
Hargrave,  held  in  Fornham  Major  ;  and  also  granted  to  him  other 
lands  in  that  parish  :  and  these  grants  were  the  origin  of  a  reputed 
manor  called  Aldred's,  the  estate,  at  a  later  time  of  Eichard  Aldred  ; 
which,  in  the23rd  of  Henry  VI.,  became  again  united,  under  a  license 
of  alienation  from  the  Crown,  to  the  possessions  of  St.  Edmund. 

In  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  the  Abbot  of  that  Monastery  was  chief 
lord ;  and  held  here,  as  of  his  Barony,  a  messuage,  and  3GO  acres 
of  land,  60  acres  of  meadow,  and  7  acres  of  wood,  together  with 
liberty  of  foldage,  warren,  and  other  rights,  and  also  the  advowson 
of  the  church.  The  villains  of  the  Abbot  held  116  acres,  with  their 
messuages;  and  the  cottarii  four  acres.  Among  the  principal  owners 
of  lands  holding  of  the  Abbot,  were  Sir  Edmund  de  Hemegrave, 
Eichard  de  Heyham,  Gilbert  de  Derham,  Henry  Fitzwilliam,  and 
Adam  Kenewold. 

On  the  dissolution  of  the  said  Monastery,  this  manor,  of  which 
Aldred's  was  parcel,  became  the  property  of  Sir  Thomas  Kytson ; 
and  now  belongs  to  his  descendant,  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart. 

Between  the  church  and  the  Hengrave  road  stands  u  capital  mes- 
suage, now  converted  into  a  farm-house,  the  site  of  which,  with  the 
grounds  adjoining,  was  parcel  of  the  estate  of  George  Goodday, 
Esq.,  and  his  son ;  which  they  acquired  by  purchase,  from  Eichard 
Gipps,  Esq.,  Samuel  Prime,  Serjeant  at- Law,  son  of  the  Eev. 
Eichard  Prime,  rector  of  this  parish,*  and  from  Sir  William  Gage, 
Bart.,  and  others. 

George  Goodday,  the  son,  a  Turkey  merchant,  was  Sheriff  for 
this  county,  in  1751,  and  deceased  unmarried  in  1758.  He  devised 
his  manor  of  Eattlesden,  in  Suffolk,  to  Sarah  his  mother,  daughter 
of  Eichard  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  Ousden,  for  life;  other  estates  in 

*  This  corrects  the  account  from  Cole's  "  Athens'1  of  the  origin  of  Sir  Samuel 
Prime.  See  p.  494. 


644  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Suffolk  he  gave  to  his  uncle,  Edward  Goodday  ;  and  after  his  de- 
cease the  testator  settled  his  property  in  this  parish,  upon  his  sister, 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Moseley,  a  younger  brother  of  Kichard, 
of  Ousden.  John  Moseley,  Esq.  (grand-son  and  heir  of  Sarah, 
sister  and  sole  heir  of  George  Goodday,  the  son),  in  1794  joined 
with  Elizabeth  his  mother  in  conveying  this  property  to  Charles, 
Marquess  Cornwallis  ;  who  in  the  following  year  sold  it  to  Sir 
Thomas  Gage,  fifth  Baronet,  in  whose  family  it  remains. 

To  the  manor  of  Fornham  All- Saints  belonged  Babwell  Mill,  and 
parts  of  Babwell  Fen,  which  lie  in  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  and  Forn- 
ham  St.  Martin.  Contiguous  to  the  mill  stood  the  Convent  of 
Friars  Minors,  called  Babwell,  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  within  the 
parish  of  Fornham  All- Saints.  This  religious  house  was  founded 
by  Bichard,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  and  Gilbert  his  son,  after  a  dis- 
graceful attempt  on  the  part  of  the  friars,  chiefly  instigated  by  Earl 
Kichard,  to  intrude  themselves  into  the  jurisdiction  of  St.  Edmund. 

In  the  17th  of  Edward  I.,  this  religious  house  was  nearly  ruined, 
in  consequence  of  the  friars  having  harboured  Sir  Thos.  de  Weyland, 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  convicted  of  felony ;  who  es- 
caped from  custody,  disguised  himself,  and  was  admitted  a  novice 
among  the  friars  of  this  Monastery.  His  retreat  was  discovered ; 
but,  as  he  was  in  a  sanctuary,  forty  days  were  allowed  him,  according 
to  law,  after  which  the  introduction  of  provisions  into  the  Convent 
was  prohibited.  The  friars  soon  left  it  through  want ;  Weyland 
followed  them,  and  was  conducted  to  the  Tower.  In  the  King's 
Council  the  option  was  given  to  him,  to  stand  his  trial,  to  be  im- 
prisoned for  life,  or  to  abjure  the  realm.  He  choose  the  latter; 
and  having  walked  barefoot,  and  bareheaded,  with  a  crucifix  in  his 
hand,  to  the  sea-side,  was  immediately  transported. 

In  the  33rd  of  Henry  VIII.,  the  site  and  small  revenues  of  this 
Convent  were  granted  to  Anthony  Harvye,  Gent.,  and  his  heirs,  by 
the  service  of  the  20th  part  of  a  Knight's  fee,  and  10s.  rent.  He 
immediately  sold  the  same  to  Nicholas  Bacon,  and  Henry  Ashfield, 
of  London  ;  and  they,  in  the  next  year,  disposed  of  the  Convent  to 
Elizabeth  Cocksall,  of  Fornham  St.  Martin,  widow ;  who  died 
seized  of  it  in  the  4th  of  Philip  and  Mary,  leaving  by  Edmund  Bol- 
dero,  her  first  husband,  John  Boldero,  of  Fornham  St.  Martin,  her 
son  and  heir. 

He  died  in  the  26th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  seized  of  Babwell  Friary, 
leaving  Edmund,  his  son  and  heir,  and  four  other  sons.  The  eldest 


HUNDRED  OF  TIIINGOE.  645 

inherited  the  estate  of  his  father  in  Fornham  St.  Martin.  The 
site  of  the  Friary,  with  the  lands  belonging  to  it  in  this  parish, 
passed  to  George,  a  younger  son.  He  deceased  in  the  7th  of  James 
I.,  seized  of  this  estate  ;  and  George  was  his  son  and  heir,  a  minor. 
On  his  coming  of  age,  he  sold  this  property  to  Thomas  Morphew, 
Gent.,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

In  the  14th  of  Charles  I.,  Thomas  Morphew,  and  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  covenanted  with  Sir  John  Holland,  to  levy  a  fine  of  this  es- 
tate to  the  use  of  Robert  Compton,  of  Badley,  Esq.,  and  Catherine 
his  wife,  for  life ;  remainder  to  their  issue,  in  special  tail.  They 
had  an  only  child,  Rebecca,  wife  of  Ambrose  Elton,  of  Fornham 
St.  Martin;  who  joined  in  conveying  the  Friary,  in  1707,  to  Thos. 
Tarver,  Gent.  He  in  the  next  year,  settled  it  on  himself  and 
Bridget  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Chas.  Croftes  Read  ;  which  lady 
survived,  and  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Short,  M.D.,  of  Bury  St. 
Edmund's;  and  from  her  the  property  was  purchased,  in  1722,  by 
Henry  Ashley,  Esq.,  of  Eaton  Socon,  in  Bedfordshire. 

Henry  Ashley,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1727,  gave  his  estates  in 
moieties,  to  his  daughters  and  co-heirs  :  Sarah,  afterwards  wife  of 
Joseph  Burch  ;  and  Johanna,  wife  of  Joshua  Palmer,  of  the  Middle 
Temple.  The  entirety  vested  in  Ashley  Palmer,  son  and  heir  of 
Johanna,  and  nephew  and  heir  of  Sarah  Burch,  who  died  without 
issue.  He  devised  all  his  real  estate,  comprehending  Babwell  Friary, 
to  Susanna  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Cullum,  Bart. ;  from 
whom  it  came,  together  with  Babwell  Mill,  to  the  present  possessor, 
the  Rev.  Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum,  Bart. 

The  church  is  consolidated  with  Westley,  and  the  advowson  be- 
longs to  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge  ;  acquired  under  the  same  title  as 
their  advowson  of  Westley. 

ARMS. — Goodday :  argent ;  a  fess  wavy,  between  two  leopards' 
heads,  sable.  Moseley  :  argent ;  a  chevron,  between  three  mullets, 
sable.  Boldero :  per  pale,  or  and  azure,  a  saltier  counterchanged. 
Crest :  a  greyhound  courant,  gules ;  collared,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  rent  of  an  acre  of  land,  in  Rattlesden,  pur- 
chased with  £10,  devised  as  in  the  foregoing  parish;  let  at  £l  80. 
a  year  :  a  rent  charge  of  £3  a  year,  deducting  land-tax,  the  gift  of 
Lady  Kytson,  is  payable  out  of  the  manor  of  Lackford  :  the  yearly 
sum  of  ;£l  10s.,  the  gift  of  Thomas  Mannock,  is  payable  out  of  an 
allotment  of  nearly  10  acres,  late  the  property  of  Mr.  Edward 
Mower  :  the  sum  of  £1  a  year,  paid  out  of  an  estate  at  Risby,  the 


646  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

property  of  John  Wastell,  Esq.,  under  the  gift  of  Robert  Booty. 
These  sums  are  laid  out  annually  in  coals,  which  are  distributed 
among  the  poor.  A  coat  and  gown,  or  materials  for  the  same,  are 
sent  each  alternate  year,  under  Lady  Kytson's  gift. — Mr.  John 
Spink,  gave  by  will,  proved  in  1822,  £50,  to  be  invested  in  govern- 
ment security ;  and  the  dividends  thereof  to  be  distributed  in  bread, 
in  Christmas  week,  among  the  poor  inhabitants. — On  an  inclosure, 
in  1804,  16  acres  of  land  were  allotted  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  in 
lieu  of  their  right  to  stub  furze ;  which  let  at  the  rate  of  80s.  per 
acre,  and  the  rents  are  laid  out  in  buying  furze  and  coals,  which 
are  given  to  the  poor. 


HARDWICK,  or  HERDEWIC. 

This  place  took  the  name  of  Herdwyke  from  the  flocks  and  herds 
that  depastured  here,  and  was  anciently  called  Herdwick  Wood : 
the  principal  mansion  has  been  long  known  by  the  name  of  Hard- 
\vick  House,  and  was  an  ancient  possession  of  the  Monastery  of  St. 
Edmund. 

The  monks  claimed  to  hold  it  as  parcel  of  the.  fields  of  St.  Ed- 
mund, under  a  charter  of  Edmund,  son  of  Edward  the  elder,  in 
945  ;  and  it  was  held  by  the  Convent  in  demesne.  King  Stephen's 
charter  being  a  confirmation  of  a  prior  right.  Hardwick  is  without 
a  church  or  chapel,  and  is  generally  reputed  to  be  extra-parochial. 

It  continued  in  the  possession  of  the  Monastery  till  its  dissolu- 
tion; and  by  letters  patent  of  the  38th  of  Henry  VIII.,  it  was 
granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Darcy,  afterward  Lord  Darcy,  of  Chich,  by 
the  service  of  the  20th  part  of  a  Knight's  fee.  It  next  became  the 
property  of  Sir  Robert  Southwell,  Master  of  the  Rolls,  younger  bro- 
ther of  Sir  Richard  Southwell,  of  Wood  Rysing,  in  Norfolk,  who 
died  seized  thereof  in  the  1st  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  and  Sir  Robert 
Southwell,  his  grand- son,  sold  the  same,  in  the  27th  of  that  reign, 
to  Thomas  Goodrich,  of  Clifford's  Inn,  London,  Gent.  In  the  43rd 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  widow  of  Thomas  Goodrich,  then 
the  wife  of  John  Bull,  of  Hardwick,  Gent.,  joined  with  her  trustees 
in  a  sale  of  this  estate,  to  Thomas  Stanton,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's, 
mercer. 

In  1610,  Sir  Robert  Drury,  of  Hawsted,  was  a  purchaser  from 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  647 

Thomas  Stanton,  of  this  estate ;  and  "  being  minded  to  build  an 
almshouse,  for  the  perpetual  habitation  and  dwelling  of  six  poor 
women  unmarried,"  he  shortly  afterward  enfeoffed  certain  trustees, 
with  this  property  ;  under  which  feoffment  Hardwick  virtually  be- 
came a  leasehold  estate,  perpetually  annexed  to  the  manor  of  Haw- 
sted  ;  and  the  Rev.  Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum,  Bart.,  as  lord  of  that 
manor,  which  his  ancestor,  Sir  Thomas  Cullum,  acquired  from  the 
representatives  of  the  Drury  family,  in  1656,  is  now  in  possession 
of  Hardwick,  under  a  lease  from  the  actual  trustees,  and  has  his 
chief  mansion  here,  which  has  undergone  considerable  alterations 
and  improvements  in  the  hands  of  the  present  possessor ;  the  ge- 
neral features  however,  given  to  it  in  1681,  when  it  was  partly  re- 
built, remain. 

The  family  of  Cullum  are  from  Thorndon,  in  this  county.  Sir 
Thomas  Cullum,  the  purchaser  of  Hardwick  and  Hawsted,  a  younger 
son  of  his  family,  was  of  the  Draper's  Company ;  and  from  1643  to 
1651  inclusive,  farmed  a  portion  of  the  excise  duties;  amassing  a 
large  fortune,  he  became  Sheriff  of  London,  in  1646.  On  the  re- 
storation, he  was  created  a  Baronet,  his  patent  bearing  date,  June 
18,  1660  :  he  deceased  April  6,  1664.  As  the  descent  of  this  fa- 
mily may  be  ascertained  from  the  several  Baronetages  extant,  we 
shall  content  ourselves  with  a  brief  notice  of  two  of  its  late  mem- 
bers :  the  uncle  and  father  of  the  present  representative  of  this 
house. 

The  Rev.  Sir  John  Cullum,  6th  Baronet,  the  historian  of  Haw- 
sted, was  born  on  the  20th  June,  1733.  Having  commenced  his 
studies  at  the  Grammar  School  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  he  entered 
the  University  at  Cambridge,  where  he  took  the  degrees  of  Bachelor 
and  Master  of  Arts,  and  obtained  a  Bachelor's  prize  for  the  best 
dissertation  in  Latin  prose. 

He  was  admitted  a  Fellow  of  Catherine  Hall,  in  1759;  was  insti- 
tuted, in  1762,  to  the  rectory  of  Hawsted,  on  the  presentation  of 
his  father;  and  in  1774,  to  the  living  of  Great  Thurlow,  on  the 
presentation  of  his  brother-in-law,  Henry  Vernon,  Esq.  He  was  a 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries ; 
and  by  mingling  the  researches  of  the  antiquary  with  the  study  and 
practice  of  the  divine,  made  his  life  an  ornament  to  his  profession. 
He  deceased  in  1785,  leaving  no  issue  by  his  wife  Peggy,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Bisson,  of  West  Ham,  in  Essex. 

The  "History  of  Hawsted"   was  published  originally  in  the 


648  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

"  Bibliotheca  Topographica  Britannica,"  and  a  second  edition  made 
its  appearance,  in  1813,  with  corrections  by  the  author,  and  notes 
by  his  brother,  Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum.  In  a  postscript  by  John 
Nichols,  F.A.S.,  to  the  advertisement  prefixed  to  this  second  edi- 
tion, is  a  brief  memoir  of  the  deceased,  with  an  account  of  his  chief 
literary  communications.  To  a  considerable  knowledge  of  antiqui- 
ties he  joined  a  classical  taste,  and  a  philosophic  mind,  and  above 
all,  had  a  strong  love  of  truth,  and  was  admirably  free  from  preju- 
dice :  in  few  words,  he  was  an  accomplished  gentleman,  and  his 
History  will  always  maintain  a  high  rank  in  topography. 

Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum,  his  successor,  partook  of  the  literary 
character  of  his  brother,  and  was  a  Fellow  of  the  Koyal  and  Linnean 
Societies,  and  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  ;  his  mind,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  his  epitaph,  "  was  enriched  with  various  and  valuable  in- 
formation :  his  correspondence  and  communications  were  sought 
and  highly  appreciated,  not  merely  in  the  circle  of  his  friends  and 
acquaintance,  but  by  persons  of  distinguished  taste  and  literary 
talents  throughout  the  kingdom."  Natural  History  was  the  chief 
object  of  his  studies,  and  Botany  his  favourite  pursuit;  in  which 
he  found  an  ardent  associate  in  his  friend,  the  late  President  of  the 
Linnean  Society,  Sir  James  Edward  Smith,  who  dedicated  to  him 
his  "  English  Flora." 

Sir  Thomas  was  born  in  1741,  and  was  entered  of  the  Charter- 
house School  in  1752.  He  became  a  pupil  of  the  celebrated  sur- 
geons William  and  John  Hunter ;  was  admitted  a  member  of  the 
late  Corporation  of  Surgeons,  in  1778  ;  and,  by  acceptance  of  the 
Charter  of  1800,  was  enrolled  a  member  of  the  College.  He  was 
a  Capital  Burgess  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  and  Deputy  Lieutenant 
for  the  County  of  Suffolk ;  and  held  the  office  of  Bath  King  of 
Arms  from  the  year  1771  to  1800,  when  he  resigned  it  in  favour  of 
his  second  son,  John  Palmer  Cullum,  whom  he  survived.  Dying 
on  the  8th  of  September,  1831. 

By  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Robert  Hanson,  of  Normanton,  in 
Yorkshire,  Esq.,  Sir  Thomas  has  left  issue  an  only  surviving  child, 
the  Rev.  Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum,  the  present  Baronet ;  upon 
whom  the  estates  of  his  cousin,  John  Vernon,  late  of  Orwell  Park, 
stand  limited  in  remainder,  upon  the  decease  and  failure  of  issue 
of  Arethusa,  Lady  Harland  ;  with  a  proviso  to  bear  the  name  and 
arms  of  Vernon. 

Adjoining  Hardwick  is  Hencote  Grange,  parcel  of  the  possessions 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  049 

of  the  dissolved  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund ;  and  among  the  Cullum 
papers  is  "  A  particular  of  Hardwick  and  Hencote,  given  by  Ralph 
Apsley,  Esq.,  14th  July,  1656,"  which  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Hardwicke  House  standeth  in  the  midel  of  about  90  akers  of  ground  free  of 
tithe  and  all  other  charges,  and  there  is  a  sheep  walk  of  300,  and  a  heath  for  them 
to  feed  ou,  and  about  a  120  akers  of  ploud  land  ling  round  about  it.  That,  that 
is  called  Hencote  Grange,  is  3  or  4  litel  closes  about  20  akers,  and  is  pasture  all, 
and  a  close  in  Nolton  of  28  akers,  as  I  take  it,  and  is  pasture  :  this  also  hath  a 
good  quantity  of  wood  and  timber  on  it,  and  there  is  good  store  of  pollards  for  the 
fire  in  Hardwick." 

Hencote  Grange  was  acquired  from  the  representatives  of  the 
Drary  family,  by  the  Cullums,  at  the  same  time  they  purchased 
Hardwick.  King  Henry  VIII.,  in  the  37th  year  of  his  reign,  leased 
the  same,  under  the  denomination  of  the  lands  formerly  in  the 
tenure  of  Roger  Wentworth  (alias  Woodward),  and  Sabina  Carter; 
and  the  liberty  of  foldage  and  pasture  for  360  sheep,  in  Hencote, 
without  the  south  gate  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  to  Robert  Melsham, 
of  Nowton,  yeoman,  for  21  years,  at  a  rent  of  £10  5s.  Queen 
Mary,  in  the  1st  year  of  her  reign,  gave  the  same  (subject  to  the 
lease),  to  Sir  William  Drury,  in  tail,  by  the  service  of  the  40th  part 
of  a  Knight's  fee  ;  and  ultimately  King  James  granted  the  reversion 
to  Sir  Robert  Drury,  in  fee. 

ARMS. — Darcy :  argent:  three  cinquefoils,  gules.  Cullum: 
azure ;  a  chevron,  ermine,  between  three  pelicans,  or ;  vulning 
themselves,  proper. 


HARGRAVE,  or  HARAGRAVA. 

Aluiet,  a  free  woman,  held  this  parish  in  the  time  of  the  Con- 
fessor, under  St.  Edmund  ;  and  there  were  four  carucates  of  land. 
King  William  is  said  to  have  given  the  whole  of  this  vill  to  the  Mo- 
nastery of  St.  Edmund  ;  but  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  survey, 
it  was  parcel  of  the  fee  of  William  de  Wateville ;  and  in  the  bull  of 
Pope  Eugenius  IV.,  to  Abbot  Anselm,  in  1 147,  Hargrave  is  expressly 
confirmed  to  the  monks,  as  a  possession  newly  acquired. 

Since  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  it  has  gone  along  with 
the  neighbouring  manors  of  Hengrave  and  Ickworth. 

Anselm,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  gave  to  Osbert  de  Mundeford, 
eight  acres  of  land,  and  a  messuage  in  this  parish,  which  Hervey 
the  Cook  had  held,  paying  yearly,  4s.  Abbot  Sampson  gave  to 


650  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Durand  le  Squire,  by  homage  and  service,  eight  acres  of  land  here, 
ouce  held  by  Walter  the  Priest,  paying  26d.  to  the  Hall  of  Har- 
grave.  Abbot  John  confirmed  these  lands  to  Ralph,  the  Falconer, 
of  Barrow;  and  in  the  30th  of  King  Edward  I.,  Eobert  Payne  did 
homage  to  Eichard,  Abbot  of  the  said  Convent,  for  his  lands  in 
Hargrave.  John  Payne  petitioned  Abbot  John,  for  license  to  build 
a  chapel  in  his  court  in  this  parish,  where  mass  might  be  celebrated, 
because  his  residence  being  distant  from  the  church,  he  had  a  diffi- 
culty in  getting  to  it  in  winter. 

In  the  31st  of  Henry  VIII.,  this  manor  and  advowson  were 
granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  of  Hengrave,  and  Margaret  his 
wife,  and  to  his  heirs  ;  and  passed  from  the  Kytsons  to  the  families 
of  Darcy,  and  Gage,  of  Hengrave ;  arid  from  the  latter  family,  to 
the  Herveys,  of  Ickworth,  who  are  now  lords  of  this  manor.  The 
advowson  was  purchased  from  the  Gage  family  by  Edward  Grove, 
D.D.,  at  the  same  time  that  he  acquired  the  advowson  of  Cheving- 
ton :  the  Rev.  John  White  is  the  present  owner  and  incumbent, 
which  he  holds  under  the  same  title  as  that  of  Chevingtou. 

Abbot  Reeve  shortly  before  the  dissolution  of  his  Monastery, 
leased  this  manor  to  Edmund  Reeve,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  for  40 
years,  at  the  rent  of  £14  13s.  4d.,  payable  to  the  Abbot  and  his 
successors ;  and  4s.  yearly,  for  staff- acre,  to  the  cross-bearer. 

CHARITIES. — The  fourth  part  of  the  rent  of  the  estate  at  Cowling, 
belonging  to  Deynes's  charity,  is  received  for  the  poor  of  this  pa- 
rish. (See  the  parish  of  Moulton.)  The  sum  of  16s.  a  year  is  re- 
ceived from  the  Lackford  estate,  and  a  coat  and  gown  for  a  poor 
man  and  poor  woman  every  second  year,  under  the  Lady  E.  Kyt- 
son's  charities.  The  sum  of  3s.  4d.  a  year,  is  paid  under  the  name 
of  Kirk's  gift,  being  an  ancient  rent  charge  on  a  farm  in  this  pa- 
rish, belonging  to  John  Heathcote,  Esq.  The  sum  of  18s.  a  year 
is  received  from  Sir  R.  Jervis's  charity.  (See  Brockley.)  The 
produce  of  these  several  charities  is  distributed  yearly  among  the 
poor.  Two  small  cottages,  on  Hargrave  Green,  are  occupied  by 
poor  persons  rent  free. 


HAWSTED. — HALDSTEDA,  or  HAUSTEDE. 
At  the  time  of  the  Conqueror's  survey,  there  were  in  Hawsted 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  051 

(Hall  Place},  twenty-eight  freemen,  upon  four  carucates  of  land. 
Odo  held  one  carucate,  the  two  clerks,  Albold  and  Peter,  two  caru- 
cates, and'Agnetus,  twenty  acres.  The  whole  was  parcel  of  the  fee 
of  the  Abhot  of  St.  Edmund ;  of  whom  Odo  and  Albold  held  in 
soccage  ;  and  it  is  supposed  that  a  carucate  and  half,  was  granted 
to  Ralph,  suruamed  Ue  Halstcd.  Albold  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
family  of  Noel,  out  of  whose  lands  here,  and  those  of  Odo,  arose 
the  manor  of  Hawsted;  while  out  of  the  fee  of  Ralph,  the  manor  of 
Hawsted  Place  (otherwise  called  Talmage's  and  Bokenhnm's)  took 
its  rise. 

Robert,  the  son  and  heir  of  William  Fitz  Albold,  bore  the  name 
of  Noel ;  and  Abbot  Sampson,  in  1180,  confirmed  to  Thomas,  son 
of  Robert  Noel,  the  grant  of  lands  in  this  parish,  made  to  their  an- 
cestors by  Abbot  Anselm,  his  predecessor.  He  married  Margaret, 
eldest  daughter  of  Guy,  and  sister  and  co-heir  of  Ralph  le  Strange, 
of  the  house  of  Knockyn ;  and  deceased  prior  to  the  9th  of  King 
John  ;  Margaret  his  relict  being  then  the  wife  of  Thomas  de  Blank- 
minster. 

There  was  issue  of  Thomas  Noel  and  Margaret,  two  daughters ; 
Alice,  wife  of  William  de  Harcourt,  who  gave  to  King  John  a  hun- 
dred marks  for  his  marriage  ;  and  Joan,  wife  of  Thomas  Fitz  Eus- 
tace Fitz  Stephen,  who  gave  the  King  for  his  marriage  three  hundred 
marks,  and  three  palfreys,  and  a  hawk.  On  the  partition  of  the 
Noel  inheritance,  Hawsted  fell  to  the  share  of  Joan  Fitz  Eustace, 
and  this  family  of  Fitz  Eustace  are  the  earliest  principal  lords  of 
the  parish,  that  are  named  as  such  in  ancient  documents. 

In  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  a  survey  was  taken  of  this  manor,  be- 
fore the  King's  Justices  in  Eyre.  The  following  are  the  principal 
tenures  inserted  therein :  Thomas  Fitz  Eustace,  the  chief  lord,  held 
here,  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  a  messuage  and  240  acres  of 
land,  10  acres  of  meadow,  and  10  acres  of  wood,  a  windmill,  liberty 
of  foldage,  boar  and  sow,  together  with  the  advowson  of  the  church ; 
and  did  suit  for  himself  and  his  tenants  to  the  hundred  of  Thingoe 
every  three  weeks,  paying  30d.  yearly  to  the  Bailiff  of  the  hundred, 
and  40s.  to  the  shrine  of  St.  Edmund ;  and  the  Abbot  held  of  the 
King  in  chief;  and  the  same  Thomas  held  of  the  Abbot,  by  the 
aforesaid  service,  nine  score  acres,  which  the  villains  held  of  him, 
with  their  messuages.  The  other  principal  tenants  were,  Sir  William 
Talmach,  Philip  Noel,  Walter  de  Stanton,  Robert  de  Ros,  John  de 
Beylham,  &c. 


652  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

In  the  20th  of  the  above  reign,  Thomas  Fitz  Eustace  had  free 
warren  granted  to  him  in  this  manor ;  and  it  was  not  until  that  year 
that  he  did  homage  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  for  his  lands 
here.  He  deceased  in  the  12th  of  the  following  reign,  and  his 
Suffolk  property  passed  to  Robert  Fitz  Eustace,  his  second  son. 
His  family  ceased  to  be  lords  of  Hawsted,  in  the  27th  of  Edward 
III. ;  in  which  year  Sir  John  Fitz  Eustace,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife, 
sold  the  manor  and  advowson  to  Sir  William  de  Middleton,  and 
Isabella  his  wife ;  whose  property  it  remained  a  very  short  time. 

The  chief  seat  of  Sir  William  Middleton  was  at  Middleton  Hall, 
in  Mendham,  in  Norfolk  ;  of  which  county  he  was  Sheriff  in  the 
20th  and  25th  years  of  Edward  III.  An  extent  of  this  manor  was 
taken  by  him  in  the  32nd  of  that  reign,  from  which  appears  the  fol- 
lowing particulars  : — 

"  There  was  a  manor,  with  curtilages  and  gardens,  pidgeon-house,  and  windmills. 
The  arable  lands  consisted  of  572  acres,  of  which  353  A.  3i'.  where  demesne  of  the 
manor,  and  218  A.  IP.  newly  purchased  lands,  comprising,  among  others,  Nowell's 
and  Stanton's  tenements.  The  woods  contained  40A.,  the  meadows  and  pasture 
lands  were  calculated  at  about  50A.,  beside  pasture  for  24  cows  round  the  woods, 
and  for  12  oxen  and  12  stotts  at  Nowell's  and  Stanton's.  The  profits  of  court 
were  66s.  8d.,  certain  free  tenants  doing  suit  and  service  every  three  weeks  ;  and 
the  free  tenants  paid  rents  63s.  lid.,  and  rendered  3  pecks  and  3  quarters  of 
oats,  and  5  cocks  and  hens.  The  lord  had  the  wardship  and  marriage  of  the  heir 
of  his  free  tenants.  The  nativi  paid  rents,  amounting  to  104s.  4d.,  beside  offering 
silver,  18d.,  and  one  cock  and  18  hens,  and  performed  works.'* 

By  virtue  of  a  fine  levied  in  the  33rd  of  the  same  King,  between 
Sir  Wm.  Middleton  and  Isabella  his  wife,  and  Sir  Wm.  de  Clopton 
and  Mary  his  wife,  this  manor  and  advowson  became  limited  to  the 
latter  for  life ;  remainder  to  their  son,  Thomas  de  Clopton,  in  tail 
male ;  remainder  to  the  right  heirs  of  Sir  William. 

The  Cloptons,  of  Clopton,  in  Wickhambrook,  were  feudatories  of 
the  honour  of  Clare.  Thomas  de  Clopton,  on  whom  this  property 
was  limited,  was  son  of  Sir  William,  by  his  second  wife,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Cockerel ;  who  died  without  issue,  and 
the  manor  devolved  on  his  elder  brother,  by  the  former  marriage, 
Sir  William  Clopton,  as  right  heir;  who  sold  it,  in  the  2nd  of 
Henry  V.,  to  his  cousin  William,  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Clopton,  of 
Kentwell,  in  Melford.  It  continued  in  this  family  until  the  20th  of 
Henry  VII.,  when  Sir  William  de  Clopton,  exchanged  the  same 
with  Sir  Robert  Drury,  for  his  manors  of  Hensted  and  Beanstone's, 
in  this  county ;  and  in  Sir  Robert  Drury  was  united  the  possession 
of  the  other  manor  in  Hawsted,  called  Bokenham's,  or  Talmach's. 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  G53 

Sir  Robert  Drury  derives  from  Nicholas,  a  younger  brother  of  Sir 
Roger  Drury,  of  Rougham.  This  Nicholas,  who  held  lands  in 
Thurston,  is  said  to  have  been  in  the  expedition  to  Spain  with  the 
Duke  of  Lancaster,  in  1380,  and  to  have  assumed  from  the  Crusade, 
the  tau,  as  an  augmentation  to  his  family  arms.  He  was  father  of 
Henry  Drury,  of  Ickworth,  and  of  Roger  Drury,  the  purchaser  of 
Bokenham's  manor. 

Roger  was  three  times  married  ;  but  by  his  second  wife  only, 
Felice,  daughter  and  heir  of  William  Denston,  of  Besthorp,  in  Nor- 
folk, he  had  issue  ;  on  whom  he  settled  his  property,  in  the  21st  of 
Edward  IV.,  and  deceased  in  1495,  aged  74.  In  Sir  Robert  Drury, 
his  eldest  son  and  heir,  became  united  the  possession  of  the  manors 
of  Hawsted  and  Bokenham's ;  the  former  being  obtained  by  ex- 
change, as  before-mentioned,  from  Sir  William  Clopton,  and  the 
latter  being  derived  by  inheritance  ;  and  by  afterwards  industriously 
buying  every  little  parcel  of  land  that  could  be  procured,  he  became 
the  proprietor  of  almost  the  entire  parish. 

Sir  Robert  was  admitted  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  in  the  13th  of  Edward 
IV.,  and  became  Reader  of  the  Society.  Being  a  person  of  great 
learning,  he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
made  one  of  the  Privy  Council  to  King  Henry  VII.  He  obtained 
a  license,  in  1502,  from  Pope  Alexander  VI.,  to  have  a  private 
chapel  in  his  mansion  here  :  and  in  the  20th  of  Henry  VIII.,  had 
license  from  the  Crown  to  empark  2000  acres  of  land,  and  500 
acres  of  wood,  in  Hawsted,  Whepsted,  and  Horningsherth.  He 
died  on  the  2nd  March,  1535-6,  and  was  buried  according  to  his 
desire,  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  in  Edmund's  Bury ;  where  his 
altar  tomb,  with  the  recumbent  effigies  of  himself  and  Anne  his  first 
wife,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Calthorpe,  is  to  be  seen,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  church. 

Sir  William  Drury,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  inherited  a  large  es- 
tate from  his  father,  and  was  one  of  the  Suffolk  gentlemen  who  es- 
poused the  cause  of  Queen  Mary,  having  joined  the  royal  standard 
at  Kenninghall,  being  at  that  time  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Shire. 
He  deceased  in  1557,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  grand-son  and  heir, 
William,  a  minor ;  afterwards  Sir  William  Drury,  eldest  son  of 
Robert ;  who  died  in  his  father's  lifetime. 

This  estate  continued  the  inheritance  of  this  Knightly  family  for 
nearly  two  centuries;  when  it  passed,  by  purchase,  in  1656,  to 
Thomas,  afterwards  Sir  Thos.  Cullum,  Bart. ;  to  whose  descendant, 


C54  HUNDRED  OF  THIXGOE. 

the  Rev.  Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum,  Bart.,  the  property  continues  to 
belong  ;  whose  ancestry  has  been  already  noticed  in  Hardwick. 

The  fee  which  Ralph  de  Halsted  held  here,  in  the  time  of  William 
I.,  continued  in  his  family  during  the  whole  of  the  twelfth  and  part 
of  the  thirteenth  centuries.  Simon,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  from 
1237  to  1279,  had  the  wardship  of  the  heir  of  Sir  Robt.  de  Halsted  ; 
after  whose  decease  the  fee  became  the  property  of  Sir  William 
Talmach,  and  Cecily  his  wife  ;  probably  the  heir  of  the  Halsted 
family. 

In  the  2oth  of  Edward  I.,  Sir  William  Talmach,  their  son,  had 
free  warren  granted  him  in  his  lands  in  this  parish,  Brockley,  and 
Somerton.  In  the  1  Gth  of  Richard  II.,  William  Bokenham,  and 
Alice  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  William  Talmach,  were  seized 
of  the  manor  of  Talmages,  in  Hawsted  ;  and  in  the  5th  of  Henry 
VI.,  John  Bokenham,  son  and  heir  of  William  and  Alice,  was  in 
possession  of  Talmages  (otherwise  Bokenham's)  manor :  in  the 
26th  of  the  same  reign,  John  Bokenham,  the  younger,  sold  the  re- 
version of  the  same  to  John  Marshall,  Esq. ;  whose  feoffee,  William 
Colman,  conveyed  the  said  manor,  in  the  3rd  of  Edward  IV.,  to 
Roger  Drury,  Esq. 

The  reputed  manor  of  Fylet's  takes  its  name  from  John  Fylet, 
who,  in  the  32nd  of  Edward  III.,  conveyed  the  same  to  Sir  William 
Middleton,  and  Isabella  his  wife.  The  Rokewode  family  became 
possessed  thereof  in  the  38th  of  the  same  reign,  and  continue  owners 
of  it.  They  also  acquired  the  lauds  here  of  Sir  John  Cramaville. 

The  Metcalfe  family  have  a  mansion  here,  adjoining  Fillet's 
manor.  Christopher,  son  of  Roger  Metcalfe,  M.D.,  a  literary  friend 
of  the  poet  Dryden,  acquired  the  chief  part  of  their  lands  in  this  pa- 
rish, by  his  marriage  with  Ellen,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Christopher 
Barton,  of  Bromley,  in  Middlesex  ;  who  purchased  the  estate  from 
Pytches,  and  other  persons.  It  descended  to  his  son,  Christopher 
Barton  Metcalfe,  who  devised  it  to  Sophia  his  widow ;  by  whom  it 
was  sold  in  1809,  to  Philip  Metcalfe,  the  uncle. 

Philip  Metcalfe,  F.R.S.,  F.S.A.,  who  represented  the  borough  of 
Plympton  and  Horsham  in  Parliament,  was  a  friend  to  men  of  let- 
ters, and  the  liberal  patron  of  the  arts,  and  will  always  be  remem- 
bered in  this  parish  as  the  munificent  founder  of  an  almshouse  for 
poor  women.  He  died  in  1818,  and  under  his  will  the  estate  here  is 
limited  upon  his  great  nephew,  Henry  Metcalfe,  the  present  possessor. 

The  manor  house  of  Hawsted  Hall  was  situated  near  the  church, 


HUNDRED  OF  TIIINGOE.  055 

and  was  the  seat  of  the  Fitz  Eustaces ;  which  ceased  to  he  a  chief 
residence  after  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Cloptons,  of 
Kentwell.  Lady  Clopton  was  living  there  in  1389.  Lady  Corbet 
farmed  it  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth ;  and  William  Croftes, 
Esq.,  in  that  of  James  I. ;  the  landlord  reserving  the  power  of  hold- 
ing his  court  there. 

Hawsted  Place,  built  by  the  Druries,  and  since  demolished,  oc- 
cupied the  site  of  Talmage's  (or  Bokenham)  manor,  and  is  fully 
described  in  Sir  John  Cullum's  valuable  History  of  this  parish. 
Fylet's  was  on  the  west  side  of  Hawsted  Green,  near  the  highway  ; 
the  moat  and  ramparts  of  which  remain. 

The  church  is  a  handsome  structure,  and  contains  mumerous 
monuments  of  various  ages,  from  the  cross-legged  Knight  of  the 
time  of  King  Edward  I.,  to  the  more  modern  productions  of  Bacon 
and  other  eminent  artists,  and  is  well  worth  inspection.  The  most 
distinguished  among  its  rectors  are  Joseph  Hall,  Bishop  of  Norwich, 
and  Sir  John  Cullum,  the  historian  of  the  parish. 

ARMS. — Fitz  Eustace:  azure  ;  crusile,  or  ;  abend  argent.  Mid- 
dleton :  sable ;  a  fess,  ermine,  between  three  crosses  moline,  or. 
Drury :  argent ;  on  a  chief,  vert,  a  tau  between  two  mullets  pierced, 
or.  Fylet :  gules ;  a  bend,  argent.  Metcalfe :  argent ;  three 
calves  passant,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  a  building  called  the 
Guildhall,  used  as  a  workhouse,  and  an  orchard  near  the  same,  with 
four  other  tenements,  occupied  by  poor  persons,  the  rents  of  which 
are  not  regularly  collected :  three  acres  of  land,  rent  £3  :  ditto 
from  9  to  10  acres,  in  five  parcels,  partly  intermixed  with  land  of 
John  Gage  Kokewode,  Esq. ;  rent  £  10  per  annum  The  sum  of  £2 
16s.  is  annually  distributed  among  poor  persons,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  rent,  after  providing  for  repairs,  is  applied  towards  payment 
of  the  ordinary  expenses  incidental  to  the  office  of  churchwarden, 
conformable  to  long  usage. — By  indenture  of  feoffment,  dated  in 
1616,  reciting  that  Sir  Kobert  Drury,  Knt.,was  minded  to  erect  an 
almshouse  at  Hawsted  for  six  poor  unmarried  women,  and  to  allow 
to  every  of  them  £5  a  piece,  yearly,  by  quarterly  payments ;  and 
further  reciting,  that  the  said  Sir  Robert  Drury  was  minded  to  al- 
low, for  the  better  relief  and  maintenance  of  certain  towns,  £22 
yearly,  among  which  the  poor  of  Hawsted  receive  £6. ;  for  which 
payments  he  assigned  certain  estates  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  and 
others,  his  co-feoffees. — Sir  Thomas  Cullum,  Bart.,  by  will,  dated 


656  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

in  1662,  devised  to  the  Master,  Wardens,  and  Company  of  Drapers, 
in  London,  four  houses  in  Trinity  Minories  parish,  in  London,  in 
trust ;  afte  •  his  decease,  out  of  the  rents  and  profits  of  the  same,  to 
apply  £5  10s.  yearly  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  this  parish;  2s. 
thereof  to  be  laid  out  weekly  in  bread,  to  be  distributed  every  Sab- 
bath, amongst  poor  persons  of  the  parish,  usual  frequenters  of  the 
church,  and  the  other  6s.  to  be  retained  by  the  churchwardens  for 
their  pains  therein. 


HENGRAVE. — HEMEGRETH,  or  HEMEGREDE. 

In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  this  parish  was  held  by  St. 
Edmund,  as  a  manor  of  three  carucates  of  laud;  and  Anselm, 
Abbot  of  that  Monastery,  "granted  the  same  to  Leo  and  his  heirs. 
Leo  died  in  the  time  of  King  Stephen,  or  the  beginning  of  the 
following  reign,  leaving  two  sons,  William  and  John. 

Hugh,  elected  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  in  1157,  confirmed  to 
William,  son  of  Leo,  this  manor ;  and  this  William  Fitz  Leo  was 
father,  it  is  supposed,  of  Thomas,  surnamed  De  Hemegrave,  who  in 
the  15th  of  Henry  III.,  had  free  warren  in  his  demesne  of  this  pa- 
rish, and  Westley  ;  and  subsequently  the  King  gave  him  the  manor 
and  half  hundred  of  Mutford,  which  had  escheated  to  the  Crown. 
He  deceased  about  the  36th  of  Henry  III.,  and  Thomas,  his  grand- 
son and  heir,  did  homage  for  his  grand-father's  lands,  in  the  37th 
of  that  reign. 

This  Sir  Thomas  de  Hemegrave  deceased  in  1264,  and  by  an  in- 
quisition taken  at  Hengrave,  it  was  found  that  his  capital  messuage 
there  was  worth  yearly,  5s.,  and  the  pidgeon  house,  5s. ;  that  in 
demesne  land  there  were  15  score  acres,  and  16  acres  of  arable 
land,  which  were  worth  yearly  105s.  4d.,  at  4d.  per  acre  ;  16  acres 
of  meadow  and  pasture,  value  16s.,  at  12d.  per  acre;  fisheries, 
worth  yearly  20s.5  a  water-mill,  worth  60s.,  rents  of  assize,  79s. 
4|-d. ;  works  yearly,  on  an  average,  45s. ;  hens,  23d.,  at  Id.  each; 
eggs  11  score,  5^d. ;  perquisites,  5s.:  that  the  total  value  of  the 
manor  was  £17  3s.  Id.,  from  which  were  to  be  deducted  100s.  4d., 
payable  to  the  Sacrist  of  St.  Edmund's,  I  Os.  to  the  Pietancer,  and 
2s.  0^-d.  for  other  services  :  that  the  manor  was  held  of  the  Abbey 
of  St.  Edmund  ;  that  to  it  belonged  the  advowson  of  the  church  of 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  G57 

Hengrave,  which  was  of  the  yearly  value  of  ten  marks ;  and  that 
Edmund,  son  of  Sir  Thomas,  was  his  heir,  and  of  the  age  of  ten 
years. 

This  estate  after  having  continued  in  the  family  of  De  Heme- 
grave  (of  whom  see  some  previous  notices  p.  295)  for  more  than 
two  centuries,  became  the  possession  of  that  of  Hethe,  of  Little 
Saxham  :  in  the  8th  of  King  Henry  V.,  Thomas  Hethe  was  owner 
thereof;  he  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Brian  Stapleton,  of 
Ingham,  in  Norfolk,  and  died  in  1439  ;  leaving  an  only  child, 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Berdewell,  of  Bardwell ;  who  had  issue 
by  him  an  only  child,  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Harleston,  of  Harles- 
ton,  in  this  county.  Thus,  there  being  not  any  male  issue  of 
Thomas  Hethe,  or  of  Elizabeth  Bardwell,  the  trust  for  sale  by  his 
will  took  effect,  and  this  manor  was  sold  to  the  Stafford  family. 

By  deed,  dated  the  19th  of  Henry  VI.,  the  reversion  of  this  pro- 
perty was  granted  to  Humphrey,  then  Earl,  and  afterward  Duke  of 
Buckingham  ;  and  it  was  held  by  various  members  of  that  noble 
house,  until  1521,  when  Sir  Thomas  Kytson  contracted  with  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham  for  the  purchase  of  this  manor ;  and  the  same 
was  conveyed  to  him  in  the  12th  of  Henry  VIII. :  in  the  following 
year,  the  unfortunate  Edward,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  was  attainted 
of  high  treason,  and  died  upon  the  scaffold. 

Sir  Thomas  Kytson  was  the  sou  of  Eobert  Kytson,  of  Warton, 
in  Lancashire,  and  was  sometimes  styled  "  Kytson  the  Merchant." 
His  mercantile  transactions  were  very  extensive.  He  was  Sheriff 
of  London,  in  1533,  previously  to  which  he  had  been  Knighted. 
The  mansion  at  Hengrave  is  a  monument  of  his  magnificence.  He 
purchased  various  estates  in  different  counties,  and  the  dissolution 
of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  largely 
extending  his  domain  in  Suffolk.  The  property  in  this  county  thus 
acquired,  partly  in  lease  for  long  terms  of  years,  was  of  the  annual 
value  of  £202  4s. ;  and  the  consideration  expresssed  in  the  grant 
was  the  sum  of  £3710  Is.  8d. 

By  his  first  wife,  whose  name  is  unknown,  Sir  Thomas  Kytson 
had  issue  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Edmund  Croftes,  of  Westow,  in  this 
county.  By  his  second  wife,  Margaret,  only  child  of  John  Don- 
nington,  of  Stoke  Newington,  in  Middlesex,  he  had  issue  a  posthu- 
mous son,  Sir  Thomas  Kytson  ;  and  four  daughters.  Sir  Thomas 
Kytson  died  in  1540;  and  Margaret  his  widow,  to  whom  he  devised 
this  estate,  became  the  wife  of  Sir  Richard  Long,  and  after  his  de- 


658  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

cease  took  for  her  third  husband  John  Bouchier,  Earl  of  Bath  ;  a 
strenuous  supporter  of  the  cause  of  Queen  Mary.  She  survived, 
and  died  20th  December,  1561. 

Sir  Thomas,  their  son,  succeeded;  and  in  1561,  livery  was  sued 
out  of  his  estates,  he  having  attained  the  age  of  21  years.  He 
was  twice  married  ;  by  his  first  wife,  Jane,  daughter  of  William 
Lord  Paget,  E.G.,  Lord  Privy  Seal,  he  had  no  issue;  his  2nd  wife 
was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Cornwallis,  of  Brome,  in 
this  county,  Treasurer  of  Calais,  Comptroller  of  the  Household  of 
Queen  Mary.  By  her  he  had  issue  a  son,  John  Kytson,  who  died 
an  infant ;  and  two  daughters  :  Margaret,  wife  of  Sir  Charles  Ca- 
vendish, of  Welbeck  Abbey,  in  Nottinghamshire,  who  died  shortly 
after  her  marriage,  without  issue  ;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Darcy, 
Earl  Rivers.  He  deceased  in  1602. 

Elizabeth,  Lady  Kytson,  survived,  and  became  possessed  of  Hen- 
grave  for  her  life.  This  lady  deceased  in  1628,  when  this  estate 
came  into  the  possession  of  Thomas,  Lord  Darcy,  of  Chich,  Viscount 
Colchester,  and  Earl  Rivers ;  in  right  of  Mary  his  Countess,  sole 
surviving  child  of  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  the  younger.  The  Earl 
died  in  1639,  leaving  the  Countess  surviving;  having  had  issue  by 
her,  a  son  and  four  daughters.  Upon  her  daughter  Penelope,  in 
1643,  she  settled  Hengrave,  and  her  Suffolk  property. 

It  is  said,  that  Sir  George  Trenchard,  Sir  John  Gage,  and  Sir 
William  Hervey,  each  solicited  Lady  Penelope  in  marriage  at  the 
same  time,  and  that,  to  keep  peace  between  the  rivals,  she  threat- 
ened the  first  aggressor  with  her  perpetual  displeasure,  humourously 
telling  them,  that,  if  they  would  wait,  she  would  have  them  all  in 
their  turns  ;  a  promise  which  was  actually  performed.  The  gentle- 
man first  favoured  by  her  was  Sir  George  Trenchard,  who  dying 
shortly  after  the  marriage,  without  issue,  she  married  Sir  John 
Gage,  of  Firle,  in  Sussex,  whose  descendants  are  now  owners  of 
Hengrave. 

Sir  John  Gage,  of  Firle  (whose  ancestry  is  fully  noticed  in  the 
"  History  and  Antiquities  of  Hengrave"),  was  created  a  Baronet  in 
1622.  He  had  issue  by  Lady  Penelope,  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  2nd 
Baronet,  of  Firle ;  from  whom  are  descended  the  Viscounts  Gage ; 
2nd, — John  Gage,  of  Stonham  Parva,  who  died  without  issue ; 
3rd, — Sir  Edw.  Gage,  from  whom  is  descended  the  present  owner 
of  Hengrave ;  4th, — Henry  Gage,  who  married  Henrietta,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrook,  in  this  county,  brother  to  Henry, 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  659 

Earl  of  St.  Albans,  and  had  issue  a  son,  John  Gage,  who  died  with- 
out issue.  Sir  John  and  Lady  Penelope  had  also  five  daughters. 

Sir  John  Gage  died  in  1033,  and  Lady  Penelope  remained  a 
widow  till  the  year  1642,  when  she  married  Sir  William  Hervey,  of 
Ickworth,  whom  she  also  survived.  Sir  Edward  Gage,  her  3rd  son, 
on  whom  this  estate  was  settled,  was  created  a  Baronet  by  King 
Charles  II.,  in  1662.  His  descendant,  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  in  whom 
Hengrave  is  now  vested,  the  8th  Baronet  of  this  ancient  house,  was 
born  on  the  5th  September,  1810,  and  is  at  present  unmarried; 
Edward  Gage,  Esq.,  his  only  brother,  being  the  heir  apparent  to  the 
title  and  estates. 

Hengrave  Hall,  was  begun  by  Sir  Thomas  Kytson  about  the  year 
1525,  and  completed  by  him  in  1538;  "the  gateway  of  which,"  says 
Mr.  Gough,  "  is  of  such  singular  beauty,  and  in  such  high  preser- 
vation, that  perhaps  a  more  elegant  specimen  of  the  architecture  of 
the  age  in  which  it  was  erected,  cannot  be  seen."  As  far  as  opinion 
can  be  formed  from  the  documents  detailed  in  the  "  History  of  Hen- 
grave,"  the  whole  cost  of  this  stately  mansion  would  seem  not  greatly 
to  have  exceeded  £3000.  It  is  a  quadrangular  structure,  of  free 
stone  and  white  brick,  embattled,  having  an  octagonal  turret  at  each 
angle,  with  turrets  larger  and  more  ornamented  that  flank  the  gate- 
house, or  entrance  to  the  inner  court. 

It  is  situate  on  a  flat,  close  to  the  parish  church,  which  is  a  small 
building,  consisting  of  a  body  and  chancel,  with  an  aisle  and  chapel 
on  the  north  side,  and  a  round  tower  at  the  west  end.  It  became 
consolidated  with  Flempton,  in  1589;  and  ever  since  this  church 
has  been  used  only  as  a  place  of  interment  for  the  family  at  Hen- 
grave  Hall,  and  has  thus  been  preserved  from  ruin,  having  been 
constantly  kept  in  repair  at  their  expense.  The  interior  is  without 
pews  or  benches,  but  enriched  with  monuments  of  much  variety. 

ARMS. — Kytson :  sable  ;  three  luces  hauriant,  argent ;  a  chief, 
or.  Gaffe:  gyronny  of  four,  azure  and  argent;  a  baltier,  gules. 
Crest :  a  ram  passant,  argent ;  armed,  or. 

CHARITIES. — An  almshouse  of  four  tenements,  occupied  by  poor 
persons ;  and  the  sum  of  £30  a  year  as  a  rent  charge,  issuing  out 
of  the  manors  of  Lackford  and  Fornham  St.  Martin,  the  gift  of 
Dame  Elizabeth  Kytson,  widow  of  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  Knt.,  is  ap- 
plied in  the  reparation  of  the  almshouse,  and  the  surplus  divided 
among  the  almspeople.  This  almshouse  was  erected  by  Sir  Thomas 
Kytson,  Knt. 


660  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

HORNINGSHERTH. — HORNINGSWORD,  or  HORNINGS-WORTH, 

Is  now  commonly  called  Horringer,  and  consists  of  the  consolidated 
parishes  of  Great  and  Little  Horningslierth,  and  the  hamlet  of 
Horsecroft,  which  are  not  distinguished  from  each  other  in  the  Ge- 
neral Survey  of  the  Kingdom,  when  St.  Edmund  held  the  same,  as 
a  manor  of  four  carucates  of  land  ;  but  before  the  close  of  the  reign 
of  King  Henry  II.,  it  became  divided  into  two  parishes,  exclusive 
of  the  hamlet. 

The  monks  of  St.  Edmund  derived  their  property  here  chiefly 
from  Bishop  Theodred;  and  in  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  that  Con- 
vent held  in  Great  Horningsherth,  with  their  manor  (which  was  ap- 
propriated to  the  use  of  the  Cellarist),  360  acres  of  land,  4|-  acres 
of  meadow,  60  acres  of  wood,  one  windmill,  with  foldage,  and 
liberty  of  boar  and  sow,  weff  and  warren,  of  the  Abbot.  Among 
the  principal  tenants,  Philip  de  Horkesle  held  a  messuage,  and  100 
acres  of  land,  with  liberty  of  foldage,  &c.,  by  the  render  of  lib  of 
cummin,  yearly,  and  doing  for  himself  and  his  tenants,  one  suit  to 
the  hundred  every  three  weeks,  and  paying  6d.  to  the  Bailiff  of  the 
hundred. 

In  the  14th  of  Edward  II ,  John  le  Saucer  and  Richard  de  Cul- 
ford,  Chaplains,  feoffees  of  Philip  de  Horkesle,  granted  three  mes- 
suages, 86  acres  of  land,  3  acres  of  pasture,  14s.  rent,  and  a  pound 
of  cummin,  in  Great  Horningsherth,  to  Philip  de  Horkesle  and 
Philippa  his  wife,  for  their  lives ;  remainder  to  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's,  and  his  successors,  for  ever. 

William,  Abbot  of  that  Monastery,  in  the  16th  of  Henry  VII., 
leased  to  John  Boldero,  of  Fornham  St.  Martin,  this  manor  (except 
certain  lands  therein  mentioned,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church 
and  manorial  rights)  for  14  years,  at  a  rent,  payable  to  the  Cella- 
rist, of  20  quarters  of  wheat,  20  quarters  of  malt,  and  20  quarters 
of  peas,  beside  faggots,  brushwood,  and  straw. 

In  the  38th  of  Henry  VIII.,  Sir  Thomas  Darcy,  afterwards  Lord 
Darcy  of  Chich,  had  a  grant  of  this  manor,  parcel  of  the  possessions 
of  the  dissolved  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund  ;  and  in  the  3rd  of  the 
next  reign,  he  sold  the  same,  and  the  advowson,  to  Sir  Robert 
Southwell,  Master  of  the  Rolls ;  whose  grand-son,  Sir  Robert,  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife,  conveyed  the  same  to  Sir  Robert  Jermyn,  of 
Rushbrooke. 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  661 

He  held  his  first  court  for  this  manor  in  the  26th  of  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth :  it  descended  to  Henry,  Lord  Dover,  who  devised  it  in 
1708,  to  Sir  Jermyn  Davers,  Bart.  The  Marquess  of  Bristol  is 
now  seized  of  this  estate,  in  virtue  of  his  maternal  descent  from  the 
Davers  family. 

The  name  of  Godfrey  occurs  among  the  principal  copyhold  tenants 
of  the  manor,  from  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.,  until  modern  times ; 
and  from  the  Covels,  a  copyhold  estate  passed  to  John  Kettle, 
whose  son  John,  in  1737,  sold  it  to  Valentine  Munbee,  Esq.,  of 
Ixworth  ;  by  whom  a  capital  messuage  was  built  here,  which  Valen- 
tine, his  son,  sold  in  1768,  to  John  Everatt,  Esq.  The  mansion, 
with  part  of  the  property,  now  belongs  to  Charles  Hill  Hall,  Esq. 
Arthur  John  Brooke,  Esq.,  has  also  built  a  neat  mansion  on  lands 
belonging  to  him,  in  this  parish. 

Thomas  Rogers,  a  native  of  Cheshire,  and  educated  at  Christ 
Church,  Oxford,  became  Chaplain  to  Bishop  Bancroft;  and  in 
1581,  was  instituted  to  this  rectory.  He  was  the  author  of  several 
theological  works,  but  distinguished  himself  most  by  his  "  English 
Creed,  or  an  Exposition  of  the  Articles  ;"  in  which  he  opposed  the 
doctrine  first  promulgated  by  Dr.  Nicholas  Bound,  rector  of  Nor- 
ton, in  this  county,  in  his  work,  entitled  "  The  Doctrine  of  the 
Sabbath  plainly  laid  down."  Mr.  Eogers  deceased  in  1615. 

William  Bedell,  rector  of  this  parish,  by  the  presentation  of  Sir 
Thomas  Jermyn,  in  1625,  became  Bishop  of  Kilmore  and  Ardagh, 
in  Ireland.  The  life  of  this  prelate  is  written  by  Dr.  Burnet,  Bishop 
of  Sarum  ;  published  in  1692,  and  re-printed  in  1758.* 

Lawrence  Womack,  D.D.,  was  a  native  of  Norfolk,  the  son  of 
Lawrence  Womack,  B.D.,  rector  of  Lopham,  and  Fersfield,  in  that 
county.  He  was  admitted  a  Pensioner  in  Corpus  Christi  College, 
Cambridge,  in  1629;  and  took  his  first  degree  in  1632,  was  or- 
dained Deacon  in  1634,  and  proceeded  A.M.,  in  1639;  when  it 
appears  he  resided  at  Quidenham  Hall,  probably  in  the  capacity  of 
Chaplain  to  the  Holland  family. 

Mr.  Womack  succeeded  his  father  in  the  living  of  Lopham,  upon 
his  decease,  in  1642  ;  and  was  sequestered  of  the  same  in  or  about 
1645  ;  but  soon  after  the  restoration,  he,  with  many  other  eminent 
sufferers,  was  promoted  to  the  degree  of  D.D.,  and  made  Arch- 
deacon of  Suffolk,  and  a  Prebend  in  the  church  of  Ely.  In  1662, 

*  A  new  edition  of  the  life  of  this  prelate  has  recently  been  published  by  J.  H. 
Monck  Mason,  L.L.D.,  Librarian  of  the  King's  Inn,  Dublin. 


662  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Thomas  Jermyn,  Esq.,  presented  him  to  the  rectory  of  this  parish 
and  the  following  year  he  was  presented  to  that  of  Boxford,  by  the 
Crown ;  and  at  length  promoted,  but  late  in  life,  to  the  Bishoprick 
of  St.  David's,  in  1683 ;  in  which  he  continued  but  little  more  than 
two  years,  having  deceased  in  1685.  His  remains  were  deposited 
in  the  south  aisle  of  the  church  of  St.  Margaret,  Westminster.  Dr. 
Womack  published  several  tracts,  of  a  controversial  nature,  and  a 
"  Sermon  preached  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  17th  May,  1660,  upon 
Proclaiming  the  King,"  from  Psalm  132,  v.  18. 

The  present  incumbent  is  the  Rev.  Henry  Hasted,  on  the  presen- 
tation of  Frederick  William,  Marquess  of  Bristol. 

The  neat  parish  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Leonard,  is  a  fair  ex- 
ample of  the  architecture  of  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth  century  ; 
with  some  modern  alterations.  The  porch,  with  its  cut  flint  orna- 
ments, is  well  constructed.  The  tower,  in  which  are  six  bells,  was 
built  in  the  fifteenth  century ;  the  upper  part  of  which  was  rebuilt 
in  1703,  as  appears  by  an  inscription  on  the  arch  of  the  south  win- 
dow ;  and  in  1818,  the  church  was  completely  repaired  and  beauti- 
fied ;  the  pulpit,  desk,  pews,  and  gallery  erected,  the  east  window 
framed  with  coloured  glass,  the  bells,  with  the  addition  of  a  new 
one,  re-cast,  and  the  clock  presented,  by  Arthur  John  Brooke,  Esq., 
a  native  of  this  parish. 

Dr.  John  Covel,  a  native  of  this  parish,  was  born  in  1638,  and 
educated  at  Christ's  College,  Cambridge,  of  which  he  was  a  Fellow. 
In  1670,  he  went  to  Constantinople,  as  Chaplain  to  the  Embassy  ; 
on  his  return,  in  1679,  he  became  D.D.,  and  Lady  Margaret's 
Professor  of  Divinity,  at  Cambridge  ;  he  also  obtained  the  rectory 
of  Littlebury,  in  Essex,  and  the  Chancellorship  of  York,  and  died 
Master  of  Christ's  College,  in  1722.  He  wrote  the  "  Ancient  and 
Present  State  of  the  Greek  Church,"  folio. 

ARMS. — Munbee  :  azure,  fretty,  or  ;  on  a  canton,  gules,  a  cross 
formee,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  consists  of  four  tenements,  built 
by  the  Marquess  of  Bristol,  on  the  site  of  buildings  formerly  called 
the  Guildhall,  let  at  20s.  a  year,  for  each  tenement ;  and  the  rents 
are  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  given  to  poor  people  during  winter: 
a  piece  of  ground,  containing  three  roods,  lying  at  the  back  of  the 
parish  workhouse,  for  which  the  overseers  of  the  poor  pay  £l  a 
year,  which  is  employed  in  the  repairs  of  certain  cottages,  after 
mentioned :  an  allotment  of  IA.  2R.  of  ground,  awarded  on  an  in- 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  663 

closure  in  1815,  in  lieu  of  land  called  the  Town  Ground  ;  let  at  the 
yearly  rent  of  £2  :  a  double  cottage  in  this  parish,  occupied  by  two 
poor  families,  rent  free. — In  1591,  Anne,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Cor- 
der,  devised  a  tenement  and  garden,  in  Horningsherth,  to  her  hus- 
band for  life  ;  remainder  to  the  township  of  Great  Horningsherth, 
for  the  use  of  the  poor  :  these  premises  have  been  occupied  by  poor 
persons,  paying  no  rent. — A  school  is  kept  in  a  school-room  in  this 
parish,  built  by  and  belonging  to  the  Marquess  of  Bristol,  and  it  is 
attended  by  from  40  to  50  poor  children,  who  are  instructed  by  a 
schoolmistress,  in  reading,  and  writing,  and  the  girls  also  in  sewing 
and  knitting. — Samuel  Batteley,  being  entitled  to  an  annuity  of  £6, 
part  of  an  annuity  of  £12,  charged  upon  land  in  Denston,  devised 
the  annuity  of  £G  to  the  rector  and  churchwardens  of  this  parish, 
to  be  expended  in  teaching  poor  children  there  to  read,  write,  and 
cast  accounts  :  this  annuity,  with  a  voluntary  contribution  of  £12  a 
year,  from  the  Marquess  of  Bristol,  is  paid  to  the  schoolmistress. 
William  Godfrey,  in  1724,  devised  a  copyhold  tenement,  in  Hor- 
ningsherth, to  be  made  use  of  for  a  charity-school :  this  has  been 
converted  into  two  cottages  ;  which,  with  a  small  garden  belonging 
thereto,  let  at  £3  2s.  per  annum ;  the  rent  has  of  late  been  exhausted 
in  putting  the  premises  in  repair,  in  future  it  will  be  applied  in  aug- 
menting the  schoolmistress's  salary. — Sache's  charity  consists  of  two 
cottages  in  Westgate  street,  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  rent  £12  a  year; 
a  moiety  of  which  is  paid  among  poor  widows  of  this  parish. 


HORSECROFT. 

This  hamlet  to  Great  Horningsherth,  known  under  the  name  of 
Horsecroft  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  continued  divided 
among  various  proprietors  until  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  when 
Thomas  Lucas,  Esq.,  bought  up  most  of  the  lands,  and  in  1567, 
acquired  the  estate  of  Jasper  Warren,  Gent.,  together  with  a  capital 
messuage,  then  lately  erected  upon  it  by  John  Holte,  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's Bury. 

Jasper  Warren  was  a  purchaser  from  John  Holte,  in  1566,  who 
acquired  it  from  the  Cooke  family,  and  they  obtained  it  in  marriage 
with  Katherine,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Margery  Brysett,  the 
owners  of  the  lands,  in  1461. 


664  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Thomas  Lucas  was  eldest  son  of  Jasper,  and  grand-son  and  heir 
of  Thomas  Lucas,  of  Little  Saxham,  and  having  sold  his  paternal 
mansion  to  Croftes,  Horsecroft  became  the  residence  of  his  family. 
In  1706,  William  Lucas  sold  the  same  to  William  Tumor,  of  St. 
Edmund's  Bury,  Esq. 

This  estate  passed  from  him  to  his  son,  Henry  Tumor,  who  de- 
vised the  same  to  William  Ager,  who  assumed  the  name  of  Turnor; 
he  gave  it  hy  will,  in  1771,  to  Anna  Maria,  Beatrix,  and  Isabella 
Turnor,  sisters  of  the  above  Henry  Turnor,  for  their  lives ;  re- 
mainder to  William  Seaber,  of  Colchester,  merchant,  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife,  and  their  heirs. 

William  Seaber  deceased  in  1 784,  and  Elizabeth  took  the  estate 
by  survivorship  :  on  her  death,  in  1808,  intestate  and  without  issue, 
it  came  to  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Wigson,  only  child  of  Ann 
Fillts,  sister  of  Elizabeth  Seaber  ;  and  is  now  the  estate  of  William 
Bacon  Wigson,  Esq.,  son  and  heir  of  Elizabeth  Wigson. 


LITTLE  HORNINGSHERTH. 

The  family  of  Horningsherth  were  very  early  interested  in  this 
parish.  In  the  8th  of  Eichard  I.,  Kobert  de  Horningsherth,  by 
fine  before  the  King's  Justices  at  Westminster,  acknowledged  the 
service  of  half  a  Knight's  fee  to  be  due  for  his  lands  in  Hornings- 
herth and  Stow,  to  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's. 

In  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  it  was  certified  that  the  heir  of  Walter 
de  Horningsherth  was  chief  lord  of  Little  Horningsherth  ;  and  this 
family  continued  to  hold  lands  here  in  the  following  reign.  In  the 
20th  of  Edward  III.,  Philip  de  Clopton  was  assessed  of  a  fourth  part 
of  a  Knight's  fee,  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  in  Horningsherth, 
formerly  held  by  John  de  Helegaye.  Thomas  de  Helegaye  married 
Isabella,  daughter  and  heir  of  Walter  de  Horningsherth.  Joan 
Cosyn  was  assessed  for  another  fourth  part  of  the  same  fee. 

John  Coote  succeeded  to  the  fee  of  Philip  de  Clopton,  and  Joan 
Cosyn ;  and  in  the  8th  of  Henry  VI.,  did  homage  for  his  lands  here 
and  in  Culford.  Richard  Coote  died  seized  of  part  of  the  fee  in  the 
10th  of  Henry  VII.,  leaving  Robert  his  son  and  heir;  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  fee  became  vested  in  Philip  Barnard,  Esq.,  and 
John  Hacon,  Gent. 


HUNDRED  OF  THISGOE.  C05 

In  the  9th  of  Heiiry  VIII.,  John,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  pur- 
chased from  them  the  manor  of  Horniugsherth  Hall,  with  the  ap- 
purtenances, and  three  messuages,  200  acres  of  land,  20  acres  of 
meadow,  100  acres  of  pasture,  30  acres  of  wood,  and  20s.  rent,  in 
this  and  adjoining  parishes.  The  Abbot  held  the  same  at  the  time 
of  the  dissolution  of  the  Monastery :  it  was  parcel  of  the  lands 
which  the  Crown  gave  to  Lord  Darcy,  and  was  comprised  in  the 
purchase  made  by  Sir  Robert  Southwell  from  Lord  Darcy,  in  the  3rd 
of  Edward  VI. ;  and  the  next  year  was  sold  by  Sir  Robert,  to  John 
Moore,  of  Great  Peckham,  in  Kent,  Gent.,  and  Agnes  his  wife. 

In  the  6th  of  the  same  reign  they  conveyed  the  same  to  Thomas 
Lucas,  of  Horsecroft ;  who  in  the  4th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  sold  it 
to  Sir  Ambrose  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrooke,  and  Anne  his  wife ;  from 
whom  it  descended  to  his  son  and  heir,  Sir  Robert  Jermyn,  to  whom 
Great  Horningsherth  belonged,  by  purchase,  as  has  been  before 
stated.  The  Marquess  of  Bristol  is  now  owner  of  this  manor,  by 
inheritance  from  George  William,  Earl  of  Bristol,  who,  in  1752, 
purchased  it  from  Thomas  Davers,  Esq.,  and  Katherine  his  mother. 
It  was  not,  however,  acquired  by  Davers  in  virtue  of  his  ancestor's 
marriage  with  the  co-heir  of  Jermyn,  but  seems  to  have  been  de- 
rived through  the  families  of  Blagge  and  Gipps. 

Dorothy,  Lady  Jermyn,  by  her  first  husband,  Sir  George  Blagge, 
was  mother  of  Henry  and  Judith  Blagge,  whom  she  matched,  the 
one  with  Hester  Jermyn,  and  the  other  with  Sir  Robert  Jermyn, 
children  of  her  second  husband,  the  before  mentioned  Sir  Ambrose 
Jermyn,  by  his  first  marriage.  Thomas  Blagge,  Esq.,  Colonel  of 
a  Regiment  of  Foot,  Governor  of  Yarmouth  and  Landguard  Fort, 
Groom  of  the  Bed-chamber  to  King  Charles  I.  and  II.,  died  in 
1660.  By  Maria  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Roger  North,  of  Milden- 
hall,  he  left  four  daughters,  his  co-heirs.  The  Blagges  were  suc- 
ceeded in  the  possession  of  Little  Horningsherth  by  the  Gipps  family. 

They  were  anciently  seated  at  Ipswich,  and  Sir  Richard  Gipps, 
of  this  parish,  was  a  younger  branch  of  the  same  family  seated  at 
Great  Whelnetham.  Little  Horningsherth  Hall,  built  by  John 
Melford,  Abbot  of  St  Edmund's,  which  became  the  residence  of  the 
families  of  Blagge  and  Gipps,  has  been  destroyed  many  years.  A 
farm  house  has  been  built  on  the  site  ;  near  it  is  the  church  field, 
where  the  church  of  Little  Horningsherth  formerly  stood :  not  a 
vestige  of  which  remains.  This  parish  was  consolidated  with  Great 
Horningsherth,  in  1548. 


€60  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

ARMS. — Coote :  argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  cootes,  sable. 
Blagge:  argent;  two  bends  engrailed, gules.    Gipps:   (seep.  56G.) 


ICKWORTH,  or  IKWORTH. 

The  monks  of  St.  Edmund  held  this  parish  in  demesne,  as  three 
carucates,  in  the  time  of  the  Confessor ;  and  among  the  tenants 
was  Wluard,  who  held  of  the  Abbot  the  manors  of  Wangford  and 
Flempton,  and  to  whom  Abbot  Baldwin  afterwards  granted  Elveden, 
which  had  been  the  demesne  of  the  Monastery.  Wluard,  or  his 
immediate  issue,  gave  back  Elveden  to  the  Monastery,  in  exchange 
for  Ickworth;  and  this  family  is  supposed  to  have  assumed  the 
name  of  the  parish,  for  the  manors  of  Wangford,  Flemptoii,  and 
Ickworth,  were  held  together  until  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  as 
two  Knight's  fees  ;  the  possessors  from  the  time  of  King  Henry  II., 
bearing  the  name  of  De  Ickworth. 

In  the  38th  of  Henry  III.,  the  King,  at  the  instance  of  Eudo  de 
Schelf  hanger,  gave  to  Thomas  de  Ickworth  free  warren  in  his  lands 
here,  and  in  WTangford;  and  from  Simon,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's, 
he  had  license  to  empark  lands  in  Ickworth,  under  a  charter  de- 
livered prior  to  1264.  After  the  decease  of  the  heiress  of  the  De 
Ickworths,  the  title  to  their  inheritance  was  for  a  time  disputed,  in 
which  the  Drury  family  maintained  their  rights  with  success. 

In  the  10th  of  Henry  VI.,  this  estate  was  awarded  by  arbitration, 
to  Sir  William  Drury,  he  paying  all  costs,  and  giving  to  the  Abbot 
100  marks.  Agnes  de  Ickworth,  the  tenant  for  life  in  this  manor, 
did  not  decease  until  1437.  Though  the  same  was  thus  recovered 
by  Sir  William,  his  cousin,  Henry  Drury,  became  the  possessor  of 
it ;  but  whether  by  purchase  or  inheritance  is  uncertain.  His  death 
occurred  prior  to  1454 

By  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  George  Eton,  Henry 
Drury  had  issue  a  son,  Henry,  who  died  an  infant,  and  a  daughter, 
Jane.  Elizabeth,  her  mother,  was  tenant  for  life  of  the  manor  of 
Ickworth,  and  Jane  the  sole  heiress,  died  in  her  mother's  life  time, 
without  coming  into  possession  of  that  estate ;  having  married, 
first,  Thomas  Hervey,  and  secondly,  Sir  William  Carewe.  By  both 
husbands  she  left  issue ;  the  noble  House  of  Hervey  being  the  de- 
scendants of  the  first  marriage. 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  667 

The  surname  of  Hervey,  Mr.  Burke  derives  from  Robert  Fitz 
Hervey,  a  younger  son  of  Hervey,  Duke  of  Orleans,  one  of  the 
Commanders  in  the  invading  army  of  William  the  Conqueror  ;  from 
whom  descended  the  Herveys  of  Thurleigh,  in  Bedfordshire ;  and 
various  pedigrees  of  this  ancient  house  represent  Thomas  Hervey, 
who  married  Jane  Drury,  to  he  the  younger  brother  of  Sir  George 
Hervey,  of  Thurleigh.  He  deceased  in  1470,  leaving  issue,  William ; 
Simon,  who  died  in  1479  ;  John,  who  died  an  infant ;  Mary  ;  and 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Croftes,  of  Westow. 

William  Hervey,  the  eldest  son,  succeeded;  and  in  the  2nd  of 
Richard  III.,  intermarried  with  Joan,  daughter  of  John  Coket,  of 
Ampton,  in  this  county.  He  deceased  in  1538,  and  was  buried  in 
St.  Mary's  church,  Bury  St.  Edmund's.  Sir  Nicholas  Harvey,  his 
second  son,  was  of  the  Privy  Chamber  to  King  Henry  VIII. ;  whose 
grand- son,  William  Hervey,  was  Knighted  by  Queen  Elizabeth ; 
and  who,  for  his  military,  naval,  and  civil  services,  was  in  1619, 
advanced  to  the  rank  of  a  Baronet,  and  in  the  next  year  to  the  dig- 
nity of  Lord  Hervey,  of  Rosse,  in  the  county  of  Wexford,  in  Ire- 
land ;  and  ultimately  created  Baron  Hervey,  of  Kidbroke,  in  the 
county  of  Kent ;  which  honours  became  extinct  on  his  decease, 
without  issue  male,  in  1642. 

The  lineal  descendant  of  John  Hervey,  the  elder  brother  of  Sir 
Nicholas,  in  the  2nd  of  Queen  Anne,  was  advanced  to  the  dignity 
of  Baron  Hervey,  of  Ickworth  ;  and  for  his  support  to  the  House 
of  Hanover,  was  created  Earl  of  Bristol,  in  the  1st  of  George  I. 
The  present  representative  of  this  distinguished  family,  Frederick 
William  Hervey,  succeeded  to  the  Earldom  of  Bristol,  and  Barony 
of  Ickworth,  on  the  demise  of  his  father,  in  1803,  as  5th  Earl; 
who  by  patent,  dated  30th  June,  1826,  has  had  conferred  upon  him 
the  dignities  of  Marquess  of  Bristol,  and  Earl  Jermyn,  of  Great 
Horningsherth,  and  is  the  present  noble  proprietor  of  Ickworth. 

Ickworth  Park,  which  is  well  stocked  with  deer,  is  very  extensive, 
containing,  with  the  woods,  nearly  two  thousand  acres,  lying  in  Ick- 
worth, Chevington,  Little  Saxham,  and  Horningsherth.  The  an- 
cient manor  house  (the  site  of  which,  near  the  church,  on  the  north- 
east side  of  it,  may  still  be  traced)  is  said  to  have  been  burnt  down 
in  the  time  of  the  first  Earl ;  when  a  house  in  the  park,  called  the 
Lodge,  became  the  residence  of  the  family,  and  having  received  ad- 
ditions at  different  times,  continued  to  be  their  seat,  until  1828. 

About  the  year  1792,  Frederick,  Earl  of  Bristol,  and  Bishop  of 


068  HUNDRED  OF  TIIINGOE. 

Derry,  laid  the  foundation  of  the  present  house  ;  which  was  planned 
by  his  lordship,  assisted  by  Francis  Sandys,  Esq.,  on  a  scale  of 
great  magnificence,  with  the  design  of  its  being  both  a  mansion, 
and  a  temple  of  the  fine  arts..  The  building,  which  is  of  tile  and 
brick  stuccoed,  consists  of  an  oval  centre,  connected  with  wings  by 
extensive  corridors,  and  faced  by  a  portico  on  the  north  side,  the 
west  wing  being  still  unfinished.  The  whole  stands  upon  a  base- 
ment containing  the  offices. 

The  extreme  length  of  the  building  is  G25  feet.  The  centre, 
crowned  with  a  doom,  rises  105  feet,  the  diameter  being  120  feet 
north  and  south,  by  106  feet  east  and  west.  The  corridors  are 
quadrants  of  circles,  and  intersect  the  centre,  so  as  to  leave  two- 
thirds  of  its  largest  diameter  in  advance  on  the  south,  or  principal 
front ;  which  with  its  noble  terrace,  is  full  of  grandeur. 

The  church  was  erected  in  the  last  half  of  the  13th  century,  du- 
ring the  possession  of  the  De  Ickworths  ;  and,  though  it  has  under- 
gone considerable  changes,  retains  some  interesting  features  of  its 
original  character.  The  advowson  is  appendant  to  the  manor. 
Among  the  rectors  may  be  noticed  Walter,  son  of  Sir  John  de  Ged- 
dyng,  and  Simon  de  Saxham,  both  members  of  the  family  of  De 
Ickworth ;  the  Hon.  Charles  Hervey,  D.D.,  Prebendary  of  Ely ; 
Eobert  Butts,  elected  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  1732,  and  translated 
to  Ely,  in  1738  ;  and  Thomas  Knowles,  D.D.,  Prebendary  of  Ely, 
author  of  several  publications,  chiefly  controversial.  The  present 
incumbent  is  the  Hon.  Lord  Arthur  Charles  Hervey,  fourth  son  of 
the  Marquess  of  Bristol. 

ARMS. — De  Ickworth :  (see  p.  642.)  Hervey :  gules  ;  on  a 
bend,  argent,  three  treefoils  slipped,  proper. 

CHARITIES. — In  the  12th  of  James  I.,  Elizabeth  Hervey  devised 
a  rent  charge  of  40s.  a  year,  out  of  her  estate  in  Great  Hornings- 
herth  and  Ickworth,  to  be  employed  upon  the  relief  of  the  poor  in- 
habitants of  this  parish. 


LACKFOKD,  or  LEACFORD. 

The  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund  held  this  parish  for  a  manor,  in 
the  time  of  the  Confessor,  of  five  carucates  of  land  ;  and  in  the  4th 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  009 

of  King  John,  Sampson,  Abbot  thereof,  granted  to  Benedict,  son 
of  Richard  de  Blakeham,  in  fee  farm,  this  and  several  other  lord- 
ships ;  reserving  as  to  Lackford,  the  gift  of  the  church,  and  a  per- 
petual rent  of  £13  19s.  6d.,  payable  for  the  use  of  the  sick,  dwell- 
ing in  the  hospital,  without  the  gate  of  Risby  ;  Benedict  to  find  six 
reasonable  trusses  of  straw,  for  the  sick,  on  the  vigils  of  St.  Ed- 
mund, the  Nativity,  and  Easter. 

This  estate  passed  from  the  De  Blakeham  family  to  that  of  St. 
Philibert.  Sir  John  de  St.  1'hilibert,  son  and  heir  of  Hugh,  made 
proof  of  his  age,  and  did  homage  for  his  lands,  in  the  7th  of  Ed- 
ward II.;  and  in  the  10th  of  that  reign,  received  a  confirmation  of 
free  warren  in  this  parish,  and  Chelsworth.  A  fine  was  levied  by 
him  of  his  manors  of  Lackford  and  Flempton,  in  the  18th  of  the 
same  King.  Sir  John  de  St.  Philibert,  the  son,  after  the  decease 
of  his  mother,  appears  to  have  sold  the  chief  part  of  his  paternal 
estates,  reserving  certain  rents. 

In  the  24th  of  Edward  III.,  he  levied  a  fine  of  this  and  other 
manors,  to  enure  to  Thomas  de  Aspaie,  in  fee  ;  who  granted  to  Sir 
John  a  yearly  rent  of  £50,  during  his  life;  and  in  the  39th  of  that 
reign,  Sir  John  de  Aspaie,  his  son,  by  deed,  settled  the  manors  of 
Lackford,  Flempton,  Westow,  and  Overhall,  in  Little  Bradley,  upon 
himself,  and  Katherine  his  wife,  in  tail.  They  had  issue  an  only 
child,  Mirabel,  wife  of  William  Geddyng.  Katherine  survived,  and 
married  Sir  Thomas  Notbeme. 

William  Geddyng  left  issue  by  Mirabel,  Thomas  Geddyng,  his 
son  and  heir ;  who  married,  first,  Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hethe, 
of  Mildenhall ;  and  secondly,  Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  Astley,  of 
Melton  Constable,  in  Norfolk ;  and  had  issue  by  both  marriages. 
This  estate  continued  in  the  family  of  Geddyng  until  the  time  of 
Henry  VII.,  when  it  passed  to  that  of  Lucas,  by  the  marriage  of 
the  only  child  of  Robert  Geddyng  and  Margery  his  wife,  to  Jasper, 
eldest  son  of  the  Solicitor- General,  Thomas  Lucas,  of  Little  Sax- 
ham  ;  and  Thomas  Lucas,  their  eldest  son  and  heir,  had  livery  of 
the  same  in  the  21st  of  King  Henry  VIII. 

In  the  IGth  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Thomas  Lucas,  and  Clement, 
his  son  and  heir  apparent,  sold  the  manors  of  Lackford  and  Flemp- 
ton, and  the  advowsons  of  ^he  churches,  to  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  the 
younger.  The  advowson  of  Lackford  having  been  acquired  by 
Lucas  from  John  Drury,  of  Rougham,  who  was  a  purchaser  from 
Edward  Lord  North  ;  to  whom,  jointly  with  John  Williams,  it  was 


i)70  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

granted  by  the  Crown,  in  the  first  and  second  years  of  the  reign  of 
Philip  and  Mary. 

Elizabeth,  Lady  Kytson,  having  become  seized  of  Lackford, 
under  a  settlement  executed  by  her  husband,  in  1598,  gave  to 
trustees  certain  perpetual  rents,  which  she  charged  upon  this  manor; 
subject  to  which  several  rent  charges  the  manor  and  advowson  were 
limited,  after  the  decease  of  Lady  Kytson,  to  her  daughter  Mary,  then 
Viscountess  Colchester,  afterward  Countess  Rivers,  for  life,  for  her 
separate  use ;  remainder  to  her  daughter,  Lady  Penelope  Gage,  in  fee. 

In  1632,  Sir  John  Gage,  and  Lady  Penelope  his  wife,  settled 
this  property  on  their  eldest  son,  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  of  Firle  ;  whose 
great-grand-son  and  heir,  Sir  William  Gage,  of  Firle,  sold  the  ma- 
nor and  advowson,  in  1717,  to  Philip  Holman,  Esq.  From  him 
they  were  purchased,  in  1760,  by  Samuel  Kent,  Esq. ;  and  are  now 
the  estate  of  his  heir,  Sir  William  Charles  Egleton  Kent,  Bart. 

There  was  a  church  here  at  the  period  of  the  Norman  Conquest, 
endowed  with  20  acres  of  free  land.  The  present  building  was  pro- 
bably erected  in  the  early  part  of  the  thirteenth  century.  The  ma- 
nor house  has  disappeared,  and  the  village  itself  has  changed  its 
position,  the  cottages  being  scattered  at  a  distance  from  the  parish 
church  ;  which  now  stands  alone. 

ARMS. — Blakeham  (or  Blakenhani)  :  azure ;  two  bars,  between 
twelve  crosslets,  or.  St.  Philibert :  (see  p.  642.)  Aspale :  (see 
p.  616.)  Kent:  gules;  three  cinquefoils,  ermine. 

CHARITIES. — In  1599,  William  Firmage  gave  by  will,  .£10  to 
the  poor  of  this  parish ;  which  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  land, 
in  Rattlesden;  rent  £l  a  year:  and  in  1613,  the  Eev.  Edward 
Kirke  gave  by  will,  £30,  for  the  same  purpose;  with  which  5  acres 
of  land  was  purchased  in  the  same  parish ;  which  let  at  £3  1  Os. 
per  annum. — In  1622,  Dame  Elizabeth  Kytson  settled,  by  deed, 
£o  a  year,  for  the  poor  of  Lackford ;  to  be  paid  out  of  that  manor, 
and  her  estates  here. — John  Booty,  in  17  H,  transferred  £153  6s. 
8d.,  Old  South  Sea  Annuities,  to  trustees,  that  the  dividends  should 
be  distributed  on  Christmas-day,  among  such  of  the  industrious 
poor  as  were  not  chargeable  to  the  parish.  The  income  derived 
from  these  several  sources  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  turf  for 
fuel,  and  distributed  among  the  poor  householders. 


HUNDRED  01-'  THINGOE.  C71 

NOWTON,  or  NEOTUN. 

Theodred,  Bishop  of  East  Anglia,  gave  tlie  monks  of  St.  Edmund 
his  lands  in  this  parish  ;  and  in  the  time  of  the  Confessor,  the  Ab- 
bot held  Nowton,  as  a  manor  of  four  carucates  of  land ;  and  ten 
socmen  had  half  a  carucate,  and  four  acres  of  meadow.  In  his  deed 
of  appropriation,  the  Abbot  speaks  of  this  manor  as  part  of  the 
property  which  he  had  acquired  from  King  William. 

This  manor  was  comprised  in  the  lease  granted,  in  the  4th  of 
King  John,  by  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  to  Benedict  de 
Blakeham.  In  the  12th  of  Henry  III.,  a  fine  was  levied  between 
John,  son  of  Kalph  de  Quelnetham,  and  Bichard  de  Nowtou,  of  28 
acres  of  land  in  this  parish ;  and  in  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  the 
Convent  held  here  of  the  Abbot,  a  messuage,  and  300  acres  of  land, 
8  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture,  29  acres  of  wood,  and  a  windmill, 
with  foldage,  and  other  rights  ;  and  the  villains  of  the  Convent  held 
220  acres,  with  their  messuages.  Much  of  the  land  in  the  parish 
must  at  this  time  have  been  heath  ground 

In  the  37th  of  Henry  VIII.,  Henry  Payne,  Gent.,  received  from 
the  Crown,  a  grant  in  fee,  of  this  manor,  the  advowson  of  the  church, 
and  the  hereditaments  in  this  parish,  belonging  to  the  dissolved 
Monastery  of  St.  Edmund.  Edmund  Payne,  grand-father  of  the 
grantee  of  Nowton,  was  descended  from  Sir  Thomas  Payne,  of 
Market  Bosworth,  in  Leicestershire  :  William  Payne,  the  father  of 
Henry,  was  in  the  service  of  Edward,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  as 
Bailiff  of  the  manor  of  Hengrave;  and  the  sou  succeeded  his  father 
in  the  same  office,  under  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  and  the  Earl  and 
Countess  of  Bath.  The  Earl  bequeathed  "  to  his  counsel,  Henry 
Payne,  gentleman,  for  a  remembrance,  a  gold  ring  of  the  value  of 
40s. ;"  and  the  Countess,  styling  him  her  "  loving  friend,"  directed, 
by  her  will,  that  he  should  be  associated  with  her  executors,  and 
gave  him  a  legacy  of  twenty  pounds. 

Henry  Payne  died  in  1568,  seized  of  a  house  in  St.  Edmund's 
Bury,  in  College  Street,  where  he  dwelt,  called  the  College  Hall ; 
which  he  devised  to  his  kinsman,  Walter,  son  of  his  late  brother, 
John  Payne,  and  another  house  adjoining.  Mr.  Payne  was  interred 
in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church.  His  descendant,  William 
P.ayne,  of  Bernham,  held  his  last  court  here  in  the  18th  of  James 
I.  ;  after  which  this  property  was  purchased  by  Sir  Daniel  de 


(J72  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Ligne,  of  Harlaxton,  in  Lincolnshire,  who  held  his  first  court  here 
in  1625. 

Sir  Daniel  de  Ligne  is  represented  to  have  heen  a  member  of  the 
illustrious  house  of  De  Ligne,  D'Arombergh.  Taking  refuge  in 
England,  on  account  of  religious  persecution,  he  received  letters  of 
denization,  in  1013,  and  the  honour  of  Knighthood  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  King  James,  at  Oatlands,  in  1620.  In  the  3rd  of 
Charles  I.,  he  was  naturalized,  by  Act  of  Parliament ;  and  served 
the  office  of  Sheriff  of  Lincolnshire,  in  1631.  By  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  Erasmus  de  la  Fountaine,  of  Kirby  Belers,  and  Stonesley, 
in  Leicestershire,  he  had  a  numerous  issue,  and  deceased  in  1656. 

Sir  Erasmus  de  la  Fountaine,  and  William  de  Ligne,  one  of  the 
younger  sons  of  Sir  Daniel,  trustees  for  sale  of  this  property,  held 
a  court  here,  in  1657,  and  shortly  afterward  sold  Nowton  to  the 
Earl  of  St.  Albans  ;  from  whom  it  descended,  with  the  Jermyn  in- 
heritance, to  Frederick  William,  Marquess  of  Bristol. 

In  1832,  Orbell  Eay  Oakes,  Esq.,  purchased  from  the  Marquess 
of  Bristol  the  manor  of  Nowton,  and  part  of  the  lands.  The  site  of 
Nowton  Hall,  now  converted  into  a  farm  house,  continues  to  be  the 
property  of  the  Marquess,  together  with  the  advowson  of  this  pa- 
rish church.  The  custom  of  Borough  English  prevails  in  this 
manor.  The  boundary  line  of  the  parishes  of  Hawsted  and  Now- 
ton is  said  to  pass  through  the  north  and  south  doors  of  Nowton 
church.  Nowton  Cottage,  belonging  to  Henry  James  Oakes,  Esq., 
has  become  a  delightful  residence. 

The  church  is  prettily  situated,  commanding  an  extensive  view 
over  the  neighbouring  parishes.  It  is  a  late  Norman  building,  as 
appears  by  the  style  of  the  north  and  south  doors.  There  are  six 
bells  in  the  tower,  newly  cast.  The  church  has  been  repaired 
throughout,  and  highly  adorned  by  the  munificence  of  the  late  Or- 
bell Ray  Oakes,  Esq. ;  the  windows  are  filled  with  stained  glass, 
imported  from  Flanders,  chiefly  representing  scriptural  subjects,  in 
circular  patterns. 

Sampson,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  acquired  the  advowson  of  this 
church  by  exchange  for  that  of  Hawsted,  with  Thomas  Noel,  who 
released  his  rights  before  the  King's  Justices.  Nicholas  Battely, 
M.A.,  rector  here,  collated  in  1685,  by  Archbishop  Sancroft,  to  the 
vicarage  of  Bekesborne,  and  rectory  of  Ive  church,  in  Kent,  was 
Editor  of  the  improved  edition  of  "  Somner's  Antiquities  of  Cantor- 
bury,"  to  which  he  added  a  volume  intitled  "  Cantuaria  Sacra." 


HUNDRED  OF  TIIINGOE.  673 

His  elder  brother,  John,  Archdeacon  of  Canterbury,  wrote,  among 
other  works,  the  "  Antiquitntcs  Rutupinee,"  and  "  Antiquitates  S. 
Edmundi  Burgi  ad  annum  1272  perductee."  Their  father  was- 
Nicholas  Battely,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  apothecary. 

Robert  Garnham,  many  years  master  of  the  Grammar  School,  at 
St.  Edmund's  Bury,  and  who  justly  supported  a  considerable  repu- 
tation for  classical  learning,  was  rector  of  this  parish,  and  Hargrave, 
in  Suffolk.  Mr.  Garnham  died  in  1798,  aged  83  years,  and  was 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church.  He  was  of  Trinity 
College,  Cambridge.  Marmaduke  Wilkinson  is  the  present  incum- 
bent, who  is  also  rector  of  Redgrave,  where  he  resides. 

ARMS. — Payne :  argent ;  on  a  fess  engrailed,  gules,  between 
three  martlets,  sable,  as  many  mascles,  or;  a  bordure  engrailed,  of 
the  second,  besante.  Oakes :  sable  ;  on  a  fess  engrailed,  between 
six  slips  of  oak  fructed,  or,  three  oak  leaves,  vert ;  a  bordure  en- 
grailed, ermine. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  two  acres  of  arable  land  in  Bury  Field, 
for  which  two  acres  of  land  in  the  parish  of  St.  James,  in  Bury, 
bought  with  a  benefaction  of  £20,  were  exchanged,  on  an  inclosure. 
This  land  is  let  at  £2  14s.  a  year,  and  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  coals, 
which  are  given  to  the  poor  during  winter. 


REED. — REDA,  or  REODA. 

At  the  time  of  the  Conqueror's  survey,  here  were  several  fees 
held  of  divers  persons  ;  the  Beauchamps  held  that  of  St.  Edmund, 
and  their  lands  in  Rede,  passed  to  Simon  Fitz  Richard,  under  a 
fine,  levied  in  the  37th  of  Henry  III.,  by  Henry  de  Beauchamp,  of 
a  messuage,  and  two  carucates  of  land,  which  constituted  the  manor 
of  Rede  Hall.  Out  of  another  portion  of  the  said  fee,  not  vested 
in  Beauchamp,  and  also  chiefly  out  of  the  lands  of  William  de 
Rede,  came  another  manor  in  this  parish,  called  Picard's. 

The  lands  of  William  de  Rede,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Priory  of 
Stoke,  were  parcel  of  the  honour  of  Clare ;  and  his  ancestors  were 
probably  the  original  tenants  under  Riohard  Fitz  Gilbert.  The 
church  was  of  their  gift  to  the  Priory  of  Stoke  ;  and  some  of  the 
lands  which  the  Priory  had  here,  were  derived  from  them.  The 
Monastery  of  St.  Edmund  were  also  partakers  in  the  bountv  of  the 


674  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Kede  family.  The  inheritance  of  William  de  Rede  became  divided ; 
part  descended  to  Nicholas  de  Rede,  the  other  part  to  the  heir  of 
Roger  de  Rede,  and  others ;  and  half  a  fee  ultimately  vested  in 
John  Pykard,  from  whom  the  manor  of  Picard's  (or  Pickard's),  took 
its  name. 

In  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  Simon  Fitz  Richard  was  chief  lord  of 
this  parish,  and  held  220  acres  of  land,  9  acres  of  meadow,  6  acres 
of  pasture,  30  acres  of  wood,  warren,  and  other  rights,  of  John  de 
Beauchamp,  for  half  a  Knight's  fee  ;  and  he,  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford; 
and  the  Earl,  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's.  The  ancestors  of  Si- 
mon Fitz  Richard  were  feudatories  to  the  Earls  of  Clare,  and  had 
their  chief  seat  at  Dunmow,  in  Essex.  In  the  41st  of  Henry  III., 
Simon  Fitz  Richard,  of  Dunmow,  leased  this  manor  to  Master 
William  de  Clare,  Archdeacon  of  Sudbury,  for  twenty  years. 

The  manor  of  Rede  passed  from  the  Fitz  Richards  to  Hugh  de 
Saxham,  who  was  the  owner  of  it  in  the  20th  of  Edward  III.,  on 
whose  decease,  in  the  24th  of  that  King,  without  issue,  his  brother 
and  heir,  Thomas  de  Saxham,  then  parson  of  Troston,  settled  this 
manor,  with  other  property,  upon  Joan,  widow  of  his  son,  Robert 
de  Saxham,  for  life  ;  reversion  to  himself  in  fee  ;  which  reversion 
he  sold  to  Sir  John  Cavendish,  and  others.  Tin's  Thomas  had  been 
married  before  taking  orders. 

Sir  John  Cavendish,  Chief  Justice  of  England,  fell  a  victim  to 
popular  fury,  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  in  1381.  He  was  probably 
only  a  trustee  of  this  estate,  as  it  is  not  comprised  among  the  lands 
of  which  he  was  found  to  die  seized.  In  the  6th  of  Henry  VI., 
Felice  Fraunceys  was  the  proprietor,  and  continued  owner  of  it  the 
15th  of  the  same  reign.  Alexander  Cressener  appears  subsequently 
to  have  held  the  same,  until  it  became  the  property  of  Roger  Drury, 
of  Hawstead ;  who,  in  the  1 3th  of  Henry  VII.,  died  seized  of  the 
manor  of  Rede  Hall ;  and  his  great  grand-son,  Sir  William  Drury, 
in  the  32nd  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  died  seized,  as  well  of  that  manor 
as  of  Pickard's,  and  Tile-kiln  farm,  in  this  parish, 

On  the  partition  of  the  Drury  estates,  in  the  15th  of  James  I., 
this  property  became  allotted  to  William,  then  Lord  Burleigh,  af- 
terwards Earl  of  Exeter,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  her  heirs ; 
and  appears  to  have  devolved,  at  her  decease,  upon  her  grandson, 
Charles,  Viscount  Andover,  eldest  son  of  the  Earl  of  Berkshire. 
The  property  was  subsequently  severed  into  parcels,  and  after  pas- 
sing through  the  hands  of  various  owners,  became  again  united  in 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  075 

possession,  and  now  belongs  to  Frederick  William,  Marquess  of 
Bristol ;  who  inherits  the  manor  of  Picard's  by  descent  from  John, 
first  Earl  of  Bristol,  who,  in  1714,  settled  it  in  jointure  upon  Eli- 
zabeth, his  Countess.  The  other  property  here  has  been  acquired 
by  purchase  from  various  individuals. 

There  was  a  church  here  at  the  time  of  the  Conqueror's  survey, 
endowed  with  12  acres  of  land,  of  the  fee  of  Richard  Fitz  Gilbert. 
It  afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Priory  of  Stoke,  by  the  grant  of 
the  Redes,  who  were  patrons;  and  from  the  year  1311  to  1412, 
that  Priory,  and  from  1418  to  1544,  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  the 
College  of  Stoke,  presented  to  this  living,  as  a  vicarage  :  the  Crown 
subsequently  presented,  sometimes  as  a  rectory,  and  sometimes  as  a 
vicarage.  The  right  of  patronage  remains  in  the  Crown. 

ARMS. — Beauchamp :  vaire  ;  argent  and  azure.  Cressener : 
argent ;  on  a  bend  engrailed,  three  crosslets  fitche,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  following  sums  are  paid  as  rent  charges :  £3 
from  the  manor  of  Hawsted,  the  gift  of  Sir  Robert  Drury  ;  13s.  4d. 
from  Stansfield  Mill,  given  by  Robert  Sparrow ;  5s.  from  the  Kiln 
Farm,  and  the  same  sum  from  land  called  Tyling-kilns,  both  in  this 
parish.  These  doles  are  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  the  pa- 
rish, about  Christmas.  A  poor  widow  of  this  parish  is  placed  in 
the  almshouse  at  Hawsted,  and  receives  the  allowance  of  £5  a  year. 
In  1721,  Thomas  Sparke  devised  his  lands  in  Brockley,  called 
Great  and  Little  Stubbings,  containing  by  estimation  11  acres,  the 
rents  to  be  applied  in  the  buying  of  books  for,  and  the  schooling 
of,  poor  children,  of  and  within  the  parish  of  Reed.  The  land  lets 
at  £12  a  year;  with  this  rent,  and  an  allowance  of  £7,  or  there- 
abouts, from  the  charity  of  the  Hon.  Edward  Hervey,  a  school  is 
supported  in  which  26  children  are  instructed. 


RISBY,  or  RISEBI. 

This  parish  is  said  to  have  been  given  to  the  monks  of  St.  Ed- 
mund by  the  Confessor  ;  and  in  Domesday  Book  it  is  recorded  that 
St.  Edmund  held  Risebi  in  the  time  of  King  Edward,  as  a  manor 
of  two  carucates  of  land.  On  the  apportionment  of  the  lands  of  the 
Monastery  between  the  Abbot  and  Convent,  in  the  9th  of  Edward 
I.,  their  two  carucates  in  this  town,  were  appropriated  to  the  use  of 


676  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

the  Cellarist.     In  the  14th  of  that  reign,  the  church  was  in  the  gift 
of  the  Abbot. 

The  manor  and  advowson  of  the  church  of  Eisby,  and  the  lands 
there  of  the  Monastery,  at  the  time  of  its  dissolution,  were  purchased 
from  the  Crown,  by  Sir  Thos.  Kytson  ;  and  have  passed  by  descent, 
and  family  settlements,  to  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart.  The  Rev.  John 
Daniel  Wastell,  has  a  mansion  on  copyhold  lands,  parcel  of  the 
manor. 

The  family  of  De  Eisby  were  interested  here  in  the  time  of  Henry 
I.  It  is  related  by  Jocelin,  that  the  two  Knights,  William  and 
Norman  de  Eisby,  being  in  mercy  in  the  Abbot's  court,  Sampson, 
the  Abbot,  publicly  addressing  them,  said  that  he,  when  a  cloistered 
mouk,  having  been  sent  to  Durham  on  the  affairs  of  tbe  Monastery, 
and  being  overtaken  by  night  as  he  returned  home  through  Eisby, 
had  sought  hospitality  from  Sir  Norman,  which  was  refused ;  but 
that  having  gone  to  the  house  of  Sir  William,  he  had  received  him 
honourably  :  therefore  the  one  he  adjudged  to  pay  the  full  fine  of 
20s.,  and  to  the  other  his  fine  was  remitted,  with  thanks. 

Norman  de  Eisby  was  living  in  1200,  being  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Walter  de  Eisby ;  who  sold  to  the  Sacrist  of  St.  Edmund,  his 
villain,  Walter  Fitz  Aylward,  with  all  his  progeny ;  and  subsequently 
gave  to  Edmund,  Abbot  there,  the  homage  and  service  of  Eobert 
Hovel,  Knt.,  who  had  been  the  purchaser  of  half  a  Knight's  fee,  of 
Walter  de  Eisby. 

Walter  Fitz  Bernard,  leased  to  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St.  Ed- 
mund the  manor  of  Eisby,  which  he  had  in  farm  of  Sir  Eobert  Ho- 
vel, the  elder,  and  Margery  his  wife ;  to  hold  for  seven  years,  from 
the  feast  of  St.  Michael,  in  the  43rd  of  Henry  III. ;  for  which  lease 
the  Prior  and  Convent  gave  seventy  marks  of  silver. 

In  the  30th  of  Edward  III.,  Eobert,  son  of  Eobert  Hovel,  of 
Wyverston,  in  Suffolk,  granted  to  Eichard  Charman,  of  Bury  St. 
Edmund's,  draper,  the  reversion  of  all  lands  in  Eisby,  which  were 
held  in  dower  by  Agues,  late  wife  of  Sir  Hugh  Hovel ;  and  all  the 
estate  of  Eobert  Hovel,  in  that  parish,  Westly,  Cavenham,  Lack- 
ford,  and  Little  Saxham  ;  and  in  the  32nd  of  that  reign,  William, 
brother  of  Sir  John  de  Eisby,  Knt.,  deceased,  quit  claimed  to  Eichard 
Charman  all  right  to  the  lands  of  Sir  Hugh  Hovel,  in  Eisby.  Sir 
Eobert  Hovel  was  Knight  of  the  Shire  of  Suffolk  in  the  20th  and 
21st  years  of  Edward  III.  His  widow,  in  the  35th  of  that  King, 
released  to  Eichard  Charman  her  estate  here. 


HUNDRED  OF  TIIINGOE.  677 

Sir  Ralph  de  Hemenhalo  and  Emma  his  wife,  in  the  21st  and 
several  subsequent  years  of  Edward  I.,  made  various  purchases  of 
lands  in  this  parish,  parcel  of  the  lands  of  the  socmen;  and  in  the 
40th  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  William  de  Hemenhale  levied  a  fine  to 
Richard  Charman,  of  a  messuage,  mill,  300  acres  of  land,  18  acres 
of  meadow,  and  13s.  4d.  rent,  in  Risby,  Flempton,  and  Westow : 
in  the  44th  of  that  King,  Agnes  Curbi,  late  wife  of  Robert  Hemen- 
hale, released  to  Richard  Charman  her  rights.  The  property  thus 
acquired  by  Richard  Charman,  from  the  Hovels  and  the  Hemen- 
hales,  took  the  name  of  Charman's  manor. 

In  the  22nd  of  Henry  VII.,  Thomas  Lucas,  of  Little  Saxham, 
purchased  Charmau's,  of  William,  son  and  heir  of  William  Child, 
and  Catherine  his  wife,  maternal  descendant  of  Richard  Charman ; 
who  in  the  1 7th  of  Henry  VIII.,  conveyed  it  to  Sir  Thos.  Jermyn, 
of  Rushbrook ;  whose  son,  Thomas  Jermyn,  with  Ann  his  mother, 
sold  this  property  to  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  the  younger;  and  it 
has  passed,  with  the  chief  manor,  to  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart.,  who 
is  the  present  proprietor.  The  advowson  is  vested  in  the  Crown, 
by  exchange  with  Noel  Hill,  late  Lord  Berwick ;  who  derived 
his  title  from  the  Rev.  Richard  Hill,  a  Fellow  of  Eton  College; 
by  whom  it  was  acquired  from  the  representatives  of  the  Kytson 
family. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Giles,  has  a  round  tower,  and  the 
architecture  of  the  building  is  interesting  on  account  of  the  mixture 
of  the  circular  and  pointed  styles.  The  flowing  tracery  of  the  east 
window  is  very  elegant ;  the  side  windows  of  the  chancel  are  less 
enriched,  and  those  in  the  nave,  plain.  All  were  filled  with  painted 
glass  ;  of  which  there  are  relics  in  every  light. 

Among  the  papers  in  the  parish  chest  is  a  receipt,  dated  22nd 
May,  1644,  by  Gregory  Wood,  Gent.,  churchwarden,  of  6s.  8d.  al- 
lowed for  the  use  of  the  poor,  out  of  a  sum  of  40s.,  forfeited  by 
John  Crow,  for  not  taking  away  and  demolishing  of  unwise  pictures 
and  crosses  in  the  church  of  Risby,  according  to  an  ordinance  of 
Parliament. 

ARMS. — Risby :  gules  ;  on  a  bend,  argent,  three  crosslets,  sable. 
Hovel:  sable;  a  cross,  or.  Hemenhale:  or;  on  a  fess,  between 
two  chevronels,  gules,  three  escallops,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  estate  consists  of  a  house,  with  out- 
buildings, and  1 9  acres  of  land,  at  Needham  street,  in  the  parish  of 
Gazeley  ;  rent  £14  12s.  a  year.  The  estate  was  settled,  or  given 


678  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

previous  to  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VII.,  for  the  use  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  Risby,  of  the  poorer  sort,  for  easing  them  of  the  task,  or 
town  charges  to  he  imposed  upon  them.  For  some  time  no  part  of 
the  income  has  heen  applied  in  the  payment  of  taxes,  but  the  rents 
are  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  the  parish,  in  different  sums 
of  money,  according  to  their  necessities. — The  sum  of  £10,  be- 
queathed to  the  poor  people  of  this  parish,  by  William  Firmage,  in 
1599,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  piece  of  land  in  the  parish 
of  Rattlesden  ;  rent  £l  13s.  6d.  a  year.  In  respect  of  Lady  Kyt- 
son's  dole,  the  sum  of  £1  12s.  a  year,  is  received  from  the  lord  of 
the  manor  of  Lackford.  The  produce  of  these  charities  is  distribu- 
ted, with  the  rents  of  the  poor's  land. — In  1812,  Launcelot  Danby, 
by  will,  directed  his  executors  to  invest  £200  on  Government  secu- 
rity ;  the  dividends  of  which  are  given  to  all  the  poor  of  the  parish. 
— The  sum  of  £50,  bequeathed  by  Mr.  John  Spink,  whose  will  was 
proved  in  1822,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  3  per  cent.  Consols, 
which  is  expended  in  bread,  pursuant  to  the  donor's  intention,  and 
given  to  all  the  poor  people  in  the  parish. 


SAXHAM  MAGNA,  or  SEXHAM. 

This  parish  belonged  to  the  Saxon,  Britulf;  whose  lands  the 
Conqueror  bestowed  upon  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund ;  which 
Baldwin,  Abbot  of  that  Convent,  retained  for  the  use  of  that  house, 
but  enfeoffed  his  brother  Frodo,  with  the  other  lands  belonging  to 
Britulf. 

In  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  Adam  de  Creting,  Edmund  de  Heme- 
grave,  Walter  Fresel,  and  others,  held  lands  here  of  the  Abbot : 
those  of  the  former  passed  with  his  manor  of  Barrow.  Sir  Edmund 
de  Hemegrave,  and  Thomas  his  son,  in  the  7th  of  Edward  III., 
enfeoffed  Edmund  de  Mutford  with  their  manor  of  Great  Saxham, 
called  Wodethorp  Hall.  This  manor,  under  the  name  of  Sir 
Thomas's  Tenement,  appears  to  have  been  purchased 'from  the 
feoffees  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Hemegrave,  the  last  of  his  family,  by 
Thomas  Hethe,  of  Hengrave ;  and  subsequently  to  have  been  sold 
to  Humphrey,  Earl  of  Stafford. 

Walter  Fresel  was  son  of  Ralph,  and  held  lands  in  Westly,  de- 
nominated Fresel's  manor.  Richard  Fresel  was  Bailiff  of  the  honour 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  679 

of  Clare,  in  the  3rd  of  Edward  I.  ;  Sir  Richard  Fresel  was  Knight 
of  the  Shire  in  the  24th  of  Edward  III.  ;  and  in  the  41st  of  that 
reign,  Agnes  Fresel  released  to  Henry,  son  of  William  de  Hethe, 
all  lands  holden  hy  her  in  Saxham,  which  had  come  to  her  after  the 
death  of  her  brother,  Richard  Fresel :  in  the  44th  of  that  King,  she 
and  Thomas  de  Scoles,  her  first  husband,  released  to  the  same 
Henry,  all  rents  and  services  due  from  him,  which  had  descended 
to  her  on  the  death  of  Sir  Richard  Fresel,  Knt.  The  mansion  of 
this  family  in  Great  Saxham,  stood  near  Herstwood,  adjoining  Fre- 
sel's  Green. 

Fresel's  tenement  belonged  to  the  Priory  of  the  Nuns  of  Thetford, 
and  was  granted  by  the  Crown,  in  the  3(5th  of  Henry  VIII.,  to 
Thomas  Skipwith,  of  St.  Alban's,  Esq.,  and  Nicholas  Bacon,  the 
Solicitor- General,  afterwards  Lord  Keeper.  Skipwith  subsequently 
released  his  right  to  Sir  Nicholas,  who  conveyed  it  to  Sir  Clement 
Heigham,  of  Barrow.  In  the  25th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  John 
Heigham,  his  son,  sold  Fresel's  to  Thomas  Bacon,  of  Hesset ;  from 
whom  it  passed  to  John  Morley,  and  from  him  to  Sir  Thomas 
Kytson. 

The  manor  of  Great  Saxham,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church, 
part  of  the  possessions  of  the  dissolved  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund, 
were  granted  to  Sir  Richard  Long,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  in  tail 
male.  This  Royal  favourite,  third  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Long,  of 
Wraxall,  was  Gentleman  of  the  Privy  Chamber,  Master  of  the 
Buck-hounds  and  Hawks,  High  Steward,  and  Keeper  of  several  of 
the  Crown  Liberties  and  Demesnes,  and  Captain  of  the  Islands  of 
Guernsey  and  Jersey.  Margaret  his  wife,  afterwards  Countess  of 
Bath,  was  the  rich  widow  of  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  of  Hengrave. 

On  the  death  of  Henry  Long,  their  son,  without  issue,  this  lord- 
ship reverted  to  the  Crown,  and  became  leased  by  several  tenants. 
In  the  31st  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  such  parts  as  were  held  in  lease 
were  purchased  by  Sir  Thomas  Kytson ;  so  that  the  Kytson's  thus 
became  seized  of  the  whole.  In  1597,  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife,  sold  this  manor  and  advowson  to  John  Eldred, 
citizen  of  London,  and  the  same  were  limited  to  him  for  life ;  re- 
mainder to  Rivet  Eldred,  his  son  and  heir  apparent,  in  tail  male ; 
remainder  to  John  Eldred,  his  younger  son,  in  fee.  Herstwood 
was  reserved,  which  the  Eldreds  purchased  from  the  Kytsons,  in  the 
8th  of  James  I. 

John  Eldred,  Esq.,  was  fourth  son  of  John  Eldred,  of  New 


680  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Buckenham,  in  Norfolk ;  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Kevet,  of  Rishangles,  in  this  county,  hy  whom  he  had  a  numerous 
issue.  Mr.  Eldred  was  of  the  Clothworkers'  Company,  and  Alder- 
man of  the  City  of  London ;  and  an  enterprising  Levant  merchant, 
whose  voyage  to  Tripolis,  and  travels  thence  to  Bahylon,  are  des- 
cribed in  "  Hackluyt's  Collection  of  Voyages."  His  death  occurred 
in  this  parish,  where  he  was  interred  on  the  8th  December,  1632. 
Sir  Revet  Eldred,  the  eldest  son  and  heir,  was  created  a  Baronet  in 
1641  ;  and  married  Ann,  daughter  of  John  Blakwey,  of  the  county 
of  Salop  ;  by  whom  he  had  no  issue. 

Sir  Revet  deceased  in  London,  and  was  buried  on  the  9th  De- 
cember, 1652,  in  the  family  vault  in  the  church  of  St.  Michael, 
Basishaw.  He  devised  to  his  two  brothers,  and  three  sisters,  who 
should  be  living  at  his  decease,  each  <£50,  for  mourning  ;  which  he 
says,  was  all  that  he  intended  to  leave  them,  desiring  his  wife,  on 
their  love,  not  to  give  them  any  thing  more ;  the  remainder  he  gave 
to  her,  and  appointed  her  sole  executrix.  Lady  Eldred,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Thomas  Arnold,  Alderman  of  London,  generously 
gave  the  estate  back  to  her  first  husband's  family,  at  her  death. 

Under  her  will,  dated  6th  June,  1671,  made  a  few  days  before 
her  decease,  John,  grandson  and  heir  of  John  Eldred,  next  brother 
and  heir  of  Sir  Revet,  became  seized  of  the  manor,  and  held  his  first 
court  here  in  1672.  By  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Francis 
Hervey  (alias  Mildmay),  of  Mark's,  in  Essex,  he  had  issue  an 
only  son,  John ;  and  two  daughters,  Charity  and  Dorothy ;  and 
dying  on  the  1st  March,  1724,  was  buried  here. 

In  1745,  after  the  death  of  Elizabeth  Eldred,  the  manor  and  ad- 
vowson  of  Great  Saxham  were  sold  to  Hutchison  Mure,  Esq.,  a 
younger  son  of  the  Mures,  of  Caldwell,  in  the  county  of  Renfrew, 
N.  B.  He  died  seized  of  this  estate,  in  1794,  leaving  by  Mary  his 
wife,  Robert  Mure,  his  son  and  heir  ;  from  whom,  in  the  following 
year,  it  was  purchased  by  Thomas  Mills,  Esq.,  father  of  the  present 
possessor. 

Mr.  Mills  was  High  Sheriff  of  this  county  in  1807,  eldest  son  of 
William  Mills,  Esq.,  of  Clapham,  in  Surrey,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife, 
daughter  of  James  Hatch,  Esq.,  of  Clayberry  Hall,  Chigwell,  in 
Essex;  he  deceased  Jan.  5th,  1834,  in  the  84th  year  of  his  age. 
By  Susanna  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Christopher  Harris,  of 
Bellevue,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  he  had  issue  William  Mills,  Esq., 
his  eldest  son  and  successor,  the  present  owner  of  this  estate; 


HUNDRED  OF  THJNUOE.  681 

Christopher  John,  second  son ;  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Mills,  rector 
of  this  parish,  and  Stutton,  in  Samfbrd  hundred,  where  he  resides. 
He  had  also  several  daughters. 

A  manor-house  was  built  here  by  John  Eldred,  the  merchant, 
vulgarly  called  Nutmeg  Hall.  This  building  was  burnt  down  in 
1779  ;  and  the  present  mansion,  begun  by  Hutchison  Mure,  was 
finished  by  Thomas  Mills,  in  1798;  who  also  rebuilt  the  greater 
part  of  the  present  church,  together  with  the  chancel,  about  the 
same  period ;  the  east  and  south  windows  of  which  are  filled  with 
elegant  painted  glass,  brought  by  Mr.  Mills,  from  France  and 
Switzerland ;  in  the  north  windows  of  the  church  are  several  coats 
of  arms  belonging  to  the  Mills  family,  with  impalements  of  their 
intermarriages.*  Near  the  altar  lies  buried  John  Eldred,  the  mer- 
chant. His  bust  stands  in  a  circular  niche,  on  the  south  side  ;  be- 
low it,  on  the  floor,  is  a  marble  slab,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  his 
effigy,  engraved  in  brass,  habited  in  his  alderman's  gown;  which  has 
been  engraved  in  the  "  Archseologia,"  Vol.  xv.,  and  also  in  Mr. 
Gage  Rokewode's  History  of  this  hundred,  with  a  view  of  Great 
Saxham  Hall. 

ARMS. — Fresel :  gules  ;  fretty,  or ;  on  a  chief,  argent,  two  mul- 
lets, sable.  Eldred  :  or ;  'on  a  bend  ragule,  sable,  three  bezants ; 
a  martlet  for  difference.  Mure :  argent ;  on  a  fess,  azure,  three 
martlets  of  the  first,  within  a  bordure  engrailed,  gules.  Mills  :  Er- 
mine ;  a  mill-rind,  sable.  Crest :  a  lion  rampant  gardant,  or. 

CHARITIES. — A  barn,  two  cottages,  and  about  12  acres  of  land, 
in  the  parish  of  Whepstead ;  rent  £11  10s.  a  year.  This  estate 
was  purchased  with  ;£iOO,  given  by  Lady  Eldred,  and  £10,  the  gift 
of  John  Potter,  for  the  poor,  and  £50,  given  by  the  Eev.  Samuel 
Edwards,  to  purchase  land  for  the  equal  benefit  of  the  minister  of 
the  parish,  and  the  poor.  An  allotment  of  somewhat  less  than  two 
acres  in  the  parish  of  Fornham  All-Saints  ;  rent  £&  a  year.  This 
was  set  out  in  lieu  of  land  formerly  devised  by  the  Rev.  Ralph  Weld, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  poor.  A  rent  charge  of  £2,  from  a  messuage 
and  premises  in  Risby-Gate  street,  Bury;  and  a  like  sum  from 

*  The  patron  of  Great  Saxham,  William  Mills,  Esq.,  has  this  year  removed  all 
the  pews  in  the  church,  and  fitted  it  up  with  carved  open  sittings  :  the  canopy  of 
the  family  pew  has  been  converted  into  a  skieen,  the  painted  glass  has  been  all 
placed  in  a  new  east  window,  and  a  very  handsome  altar-piece,  of  ancient  carved 
work,  has  been  erected  there.  The  chancel  has  been  also  fitted  up  by  the  rector, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Mills,  in  accordance  with  the  church  ;  and  the  whole  effect  is 
such  as  bespeaks  it  to  be,  what  God's  house  is  designed  to  be,  the  house  of  prayer. 


682  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

three  acres  of  land  in  this  parish  ;  both  given  by  Holofernes  Allen, 
in  1605.  The  sum  of  £1  3s.  4d.,  from  land  of  William  Mills,  Esq., 
in  Great  and  Little  Saxham,  and  Barrow,  given  by  Edmund  Friend, 
in  1704  ;  and  6s.  8d.  under  Simon  Pitt's  donation,  by  will,  in  1641, 
from  a  close  anciently  called  Mabbs,  now  of  the  Park  of  William 
Mills,  Esq  The  rents  of  the  lands  and  doles  are  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  coals,  which  are  annually  distributed  among  poor  people; 
the  minister  declining  to  receive  his  portion  of  the  rents  of  the 
Whepstead  lands. 


SAXHAM  PAKVA. 

The  Normans,  Albert  and  Fulcher,  held  of  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's,  in  this  parish,  at  the  time  of  the  Conqueror's  survey, 
three  freemen,  upon  two  carucates  and  a  half  of  land ;  the  former 
held  one  carucate,  and  the  latter  a  carucate  and  a  half.  The  de- 
scendants of  both  Knights  appear  to  have  borne  the  name  of  De 
Saxham. 

In  1180,  when  Sampson  became  Abbot,  Gilbert  Fitz  Ralph,  and 
William  Fitz  Eobert,  respectively  held  a  Knight's  fee  here ;  doing 
one  suit  each  to  the  hundred.  In  the  8th  of  Richard  I.,  Gilbert 
Fitz  Ralph  acknowledged  the  service  of  three  Knights'  fees,  for  his 
lands  in  Saxham  and  elsewhere,  to  be  due  to  the  said  Abbot ;  and 
at  the  same  time  Walter  de  Saxham,  who  had  succeeded  William 
Fitz  Robert,  acknowledged  the  service  of  one  Knight's  fee,  to  be 
due  for  his  lands  in  Saxham  and  Ashfield.  In  1200,  they  con- 
tinued seized  of  these  several  fees ;  out  of  the  fee  of  the  one  arose 
the  manor  called  Geddyng's  (or  Topesfeld's),  in  this  parish,  and 
out  of  the  fee  of  the  other,  the  manor  called  Large's. 

The  lands  which  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund  had  acquired 
here,  with  the  advowson,  and  the  lands  belonging  to  Adam  de  Ged- 
dyng,  were  respectively  derived  from  Ralph,  son  of  William  de 
Saxham;  who  inherited  the  three  Knights'  fees  of  Gilbert  Fitz 
Ralph.  The  residue  of  the  lands  here  of  Ralph  de  Saxham  were 
sold  by  him  to  Nicholas  de  Geddyng,  and  constituted  the  manor 
called  Geddyng's.  In  the  10th  of  Edward  II.,  Edmund,  son  of 
Adam  de  Geddyng,  of  this  parish,  quit  claimed  to  William,  son  of 
Walter  de  Hethe,  and  Agues  his  wife,  all  annual  rent  accruing  in 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  OHM 

tlie  lands  holden  of  him,  by  the  said  Walter  and  Agnes,  in  this 
parish. 

In  the  1 3th  of  Henry  IV.,  William  do  Topesfeld  was  seized  of 
Geddyng's  ;  and  in  the  5th  of  Henry  VI.,  William,  son  of  William 
Topesfeld,  enfeoffed  Robt.  Ward,  clerk,  Edmund  Selion,  and  others, 
with  his  manor  of  Geddyng's  ;  who  made  an  estate  in  fee  to  Jane, 
wife  of  the  said  William,  and  she  made  estate  unto  Ralph  Topesfeld, 
and  Alice  his  wife,  and  the  heirs  of  the  said  Ralph,  in  the  tail. 

By  a  deed  of  bargain  and  sale,  in  the  20th  of  Henry  VII.,  Ged- 
dyng's (or  Topesfeld's)  manor  was  conveyed,  by  Alice  Coke  (late 
wife  of  Ralph  Topesfeld),  Thomas  Fige,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  and 
Edward  Poley,  and  Jane  his  wife  (Margaret  and  Jane  being  daugh- 
ters and  heirs  of  Ralph  Topesfeld),  to  Thomas  Lucas. 

The  fee  of  Walter  de  Saxham  became  divided,  and  the  half  which 
comprehended  his  lands  in  this  parish,  passed  to  Thomas  de  Rush- 
brook  ;  and  from  him,  as  it  would  seem,  to  his  sisters  and  co -heirs, 
Agnes,  wife  of  Thomas  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrook,  and  Isabella,  wife 
of  William  le  Large,  who  were  tenants  in  the  14th  of  Edward  I : 
this  fee  belonged  to  John  le  Large,  in  1300,  and  during  the  reign 
of  Richard  II.,  Large's  fee  was  vested  in  Robert  de  Hethe. 

The  name  of  Hethe  (or  De  Bruano)  occurs  in  most  of  the  early 
deeds  relating  to  this  parish  and  neighbourhood.  In  the  14th  of 
Richard  II.,  Robert  de  Hethe,  of  Little  Saxham,  in  the  presence  of 
many  nobles,  at  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund,  submitted  himself  to 
the  Earl  of  Rutland,  in  the  name  of  the  Abbot,  for  having,  at  a  ses- 
sions holden  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  assembled  a  body  of  archers 
for  the  purpose  of  intimidation  ;  and  he  gave  sureties  to  the  Abbot, 
William,  Lord  Zouch,  and  others,  in  the  sum  of  £2000.  He  de- 
ceased in  the  20th  of  that  reign. 

Large's  manor  continued  in  his  descendants  until  the  20th  of 
Henry  VII.,  when  Roger  Darcy,  descendant  of  a  co-heiress  of 
Thomas  Hethe,  sold  the  same  to  Thomas  Lucas ;  who  thus  united 
in  himself  the  possession  of  the  several  manors  of  Geddyng's, 
Large's,  and  Grace's.  The  family  of  Lucas  derived  their  origin 
from  Lucas,  who  in  1180,  held  lands  in  Westly,  parcel  of  the  caru- 
cate  of  St.  Edmund,  and  whose  descendants  filled  the  offices  of  Al- 
derman and  Bailiff  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  at  various  times. 

The  above  Thomas  Lucas  was  Solicitor- General  to  King  Henry 
VII.  ;  having  been  promoted  to  that  office  from  the  household  of 
the  King's  brother,  Jasper,  Duke  of  Bedford,  whom  he  served  as 


684  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Secretary.  In  the  15th  of  the  above  reign,  Richard,  Abbot  of  St. 
Martin's  de  Bello,  bestowed  upon  him  for  his  advice  given,  and  to 
be  given  to  the  Monastery,  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  Thurlow, 
in  Suffolk,  and  an  annual  pension  of  two  and  a  half  marks,  issuing 
out  of  the  vicarage.  Immediately  after  his  purchase  from  the  Dar- 
cies,  he  laid  the  foundations  of  Little  Saxham  Hall,  and  died  on 
the  7th  of  July,  1531. 

By  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  John  Kemys,  of  the  house  of 
Keven  Mabley,  he  had  issue,  three  sons  ;  Jasper,  Henry,  and  John ; 
and  two  daughters.  Anne,  wife  of  Thomas  Barnardiston,  of  Ket- 
ton,  in  this  county  ;  and  Lettice,  wife  of  John  Greenfeld,  of  Exeter. 
Jasper,  the  eldest  son,  who  acquired  the  manors  of  Lackford,  Flemp- 
ton,  and  Westow,  by  marriage  with  Margery,  daughter  and  heir  of 
Eobert  Geddyng,  died  in  his  father's  lifetime,  leaving,  among  other 
children,  Thomas.  He,  and  his  uncle,  John  Lucas,  sold  their  es- 
tates in  Little  Saxham,  to  Sir  John  Croftes. 

It  was  found,  by  an  inquisition  taken  in  the  4th  and  5th  of  Phi- 
lip and  Mary,  that  he  died  seized,  among  divers  manors  and  lauds, 
of  that  of  Little  Saxham,  Large's,  Grace's,  Geddyng's  (or  Topes- 
feld's),  and  of  a  capital  messuage,  in  which  Thomas  Lucas  dwelt, 
in  Little  Saxham,  and  a  pigeon-house  belonging  thereto,  and  also 
of  16  other  messuages,  500  acres  of  land,  20  acres  of  meadow,  200 
acres  of  pasture,  40  acres  of  wood,  200  acres  of  heath,  40s.  rent, 
and  4lbs.  of  cummin,  in  this  and  adjoining  parishes  ;  and  of  the 
advowson  of  the  church  of  Little  Saxham ;  which  hereditaments 
were  of  the  yearly  value  of  ^156  13s.  4d. ;  and  that  Edmund  was 
his  son  and  heir,  and  of  the  age  of  37  years ;  who  survived  his  fa- 
ther only  a  few  days,  dying  on  the  14th  of  February,  1558. 

Thomas  Croftes,  the  eldest  son  and  heir,  was  a  minor  at  his  fa- 
ther's death ;  on  coming  into  possession  of  his  lands,  he  made  the 
Hall  of  Little  Saxham  the  chief  residence  of  his  family,  in  preference 
to  Westow,  which  was  inferior  to  it.  By  Susan,  daughter  of  John 
Poley,  of  Badley,  he  left  many  children,  of  whom  Sir  John  Croftes 
was  his  eldest  sou  and  successor ;  who  was  Knighted  by  Queen 
Elizabeth,  in  1599,  and  deceased  in  1628.  In  1610,  on  the  mar- 
riage of  Sir  Henry  Croftes,  his  eldest  son,  with  his  first  wife,  Little 
Saxham  was  settled  upon  him  in  tail.  He  was  Knighted  by  King 
James,  in  1611 ;  and  sat  in  Parliament  for  the  borough  of  Eye,  in 
1 623  ;  on  the  restoration  he  was  returned  for  St.  Edmund's  Bury, 
and  deceased  in  1667. 


HUNDRED  OF  TJIINGOE.  685 

William,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  was  brought  up  in  the  household 
of  the  Duke  of  York,  became  liis  Master  of  the  Horse ;  was  also 
Captain  of  the  Guard  to  the  Queen  mother,  and  accompanied  the 
Koyal  family  in  their  exile  to  France.  The  "  madcap"  Croftes,  was 
one  of  those  choice  spirits  who  were  at  once  the  delight  and  the  dis- 
credit of  the  court  of  the  "  Merry  Monarch,"  where  he  became  a 
great  favourite.  He  was  appointed  to  the  Royal  bed-chamber ;  at 
the  restoration  was  created  Baron  Croftes,  of  Little  Saxham,  and 
sent  Ambassador  to  the  Court  of  Poland,  to  announce  his  Majesty's 
accession.  The  King  honoured  him  with  a  visit  here,  in  1670. 
He  died  in  J677,  without  issue,  when  the  title  became  extinct. 

The  issue  of  his  uncle,  Anthony,  of  Westow,  succeeded  to  this 
estate ;  in  whose  descendant  it  continued  for  several  ages.  William 
Croftes,  who  died  in  1770,  was  the  last  of  the  family  who  made  the 
Hall  a  residence  Richard  Croftes,  of  West  Herling,  in  Norfolk, 
his  eldest  son  and  heir,  representative  in  Parliament  for  the  town 
of  Cambridge,  pulled  it  down  in  1773.  He  died  in  1783,  and 
under  his  will  this  property  passed  to  his  next  brother,  Charles ; 
who,  as  well  as  his  younger  brother,  William,  died  in  India, 
without  issue. 

Charles  Croftes,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1785,  devised  his  manor 
and  advowson  of  Saxham  to  trustees,  for  his  sisters,  with  power  of 
sale  ;  and  in  1789,  the  trustees  sold  the  same  to  Charles,  Marquess 
Cornwallis ;  who,  in  1795,  exchanged  this  property  for  Westow, 
with  Robert  Rushbrooke,  Esq. ;  and  in  1808,  on  the  marriage  of 
Robert  Rushbrooke,  his  son,  with  Frances  Davers,  an  arrangement 
was  effected  between  the  Earl  of  Bristol,  heir  general  of  the  family 
of  Davers,  and  the  Rushbrooke  family,  whereby  the  latter  received 
Rushbrook  in  exchange  for  their  estate  in  Little  Saxham  ;  which, 
with  the  advowson,  now  belongs  to  the  Marquess  of  Bristol. 

The  Hall  was  one  of  those  picturesque,  brick  embattled,  manor 
houses,  with  towers,  irregular  gables,  finials,  and  clusters  of  orna- 
mental chimneys,  the  style  of  which  prevails  in  an  inferior  degree 
in  the  neighbouring  Hall  of  Westow. 

The  church  is  dedicated  to  St.  Nicholas.  The  original  building 
consisted  of  a  nave,  with  perhaps  a  semicircular  apsis,  and  a  round 
tower,  remarkable  for  the  elegance  of  its  design ;  which,  with  the 
south  entrance,  are  the  chief  Norman  features  remaining.  The 
windows  contain  some  arms,  chiefly  of  the  time  of  Charles  I. ;  and 
there  are  several  memorials  to  members  of  the  Croftes  family ;  the 


G86  HUNDRED  OF  THING OE. 

most  conspicuous  being  a  monument  to  Lord  Croftes,  executed  by 
Storey,  in  Lucas'  chapel,  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel. 

ARMS. — De  Saxliam :  argent ;  six  crosslets  fitchee,  gules  ;  a 
chief  indented,  azure.  Geddyng:  gules;  a  chevron,  ermine,  be- 
tween three  eagles'  heads  erased,  or.  Topes/eld :  gules ;  a  chev- 
ron, ermine,  between  three  martlets,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  yearly  sum  of  £4  16s.  is  paid  as  a  rent  charge, 
out  of  the  estates  of  the  Marquess  of  Bristol ;  which  appears  to  be 
made  in  satisfaction  of  the  produce  of  certain  donations,  viz. :  £10, 
left  in  1599,  by  William  Firmage;  £40,  left  by  William  Lord 
Croftes,  in  1C94;  also  £20,  left  by  William  Croftes,  in  the  same 
year;  and  £20,  left  by  Anthony  Croftes,  in  1712.  In  1814,  Mrs. 
Mary  Green,  by  will,  gave  £200,  to  be  placed  out  on  Government 
security  ;  the  dividends  to  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of  bread  or 
fuel.  This  produces  a  yearly  dividend  of  £8  13s.  8d.  The  income 
from  the  above  charities  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  coals  and 
flour,  which  are  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  the  parish ;  a 
preference  being  given  to  widows,  and  such  as  have  the  largest 
families. 


SOUTH-PARK,  or  SOUTHWOOD. 

This  place  is  extra-parochial,  adjoining  the  parish  of  Hargrave, 
and  was  anciently  styled,  it  has  been  supposed,  Arestedel.  This, 
and  Comby  Park,  were  formerly  appendages  to  the  manor  place  of 
Desening ;  which  the  house  of  Stafford  inherited  from  Margaret, 
wife  of  Ralph,  Earl  of  Stafford,  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  Hugh  de 
Audley,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  by  Margaret  his  wife,  one  of  the  sisters 
and  co-heirs  of  Gilbert  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester  and  Hertford ; 
who  died  seized  of  the  manor  of  Desening,  in  the  24th  of  Edward  I. 

This  property,  which  descended  lineally  from  Ralph,  Earl  of 
Stafford,  to  Edward,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  became  forfeited  to  the 
Crown,  by  his  attainder,  in  1522  ;  and  in  the  15th  of  Henry  VIII., 
became  settled  upon  Charles,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  Mary  his  wife, 
Queen  Dowager  of  Erance,  in  special  tail  male  ;  and  after  her  death, 
and  failure  of  issue,  was,  in  the  27th  of  the  same  reign,  granted  to 
the  Duke  of  Suffolk,  in  fee. 

By  an  indenture  of  the  28th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Lord  Thomas 


HUNDRED  OF  T111XGOE.  687 

Howard,  sold  to  Thomas  Stuteville,  Esq.,  of  Dalham,  the  park  and 
enclosed  ground,  called  Southwood  Park  (or  Sowood  Park),  and 
the  Park  called  Combey ;  and  in  the  4th  of  James  L,  Sir  Martin 
Stuteville  had  livery  of  his  father's  lands,  including  this  estate. 
From  the  Stutevilles  it  passed  to  Simon,  son  of  Simon  Patrick, 
Bishop  of  Ely  (as  in  Dalham),  and  to  John  Affleck,  Esq.,  ancestor 
of  the  Rev.  Sir  Eobert  Affleck,  Bart.,  the  present  owner  of  this 
property. 

Little  Southwood  Park,  which  was  excepted  from  the  bargain  and 
sale  from  Thomas  Lord  Howard  to  the  Stutevilles,  was  conveyed 
by  Lord  Thomas,  to  Sir  John  Heigham,  of  Barrow ;  who  in  the 
30th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  settled  the  same  upon  Thomas  Heigham, 
his  second  son.  It  subsequently  became  the  property  of  Sir  John 
Croftes,  who  purchased  it  in  the  16th  of  James  I.,  from  Martin  and 
George  Nunn,  gentlemen,  who  derived  their  title  from  the  Heigham 
family.  It  became  afterwards  the  property  successively  of  Robert 
Goodrich,  of  Felsham,  Esq.,  and  his  kinsman,  Robert  Goodrich,  of 
Bury  St.  Edmund's,  surgeon,  who  was  seized  of  it  in  1733  ;  and 
since,  of  the  Pytches  family. 


WESTLY,  or  WESTLEA. 

The  fee  of  this  parish  (the  West  Field  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury), 
was  shared  in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror,  between  Richard,  son  of 
Earl  Gislebert,  and  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's.  In  the  5th  of 
Richard  I.,  Geoffry  de  Westley,  son  of  Robert,  released  to  Sampson, 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  by  fine  in  the  King's  Court,  all  right  to  the 
advowson  of  Westly. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  the  two  carucates  in  this  parish,  which 
belonged  to  the  Monastery,  were  appropriated,  by  the  Abbot,  to  the 
use  of  the  Sacrist,  hence  called  Sexton's  manor ;  to  which  belonged 
a  court-leet;  and  was  comprised,  together  with  the  advowson  of  the 
church,  in  the  grant  from  the  Crown,  in  the  31st  of  Henry  VIII., 
to  Sir  Thomas  Kytson ;  and  passed  to  the  Gage  family.  It  was 
lately  vested  in  Mr.  John  Stutter,  who  purchased  the  same,  in  1807, 
from  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart.  The  site  of  the  manor  house  abutted 
upon  the  highway  leading  from  Westly,  to  Fornham  All- Saints, 
near  the  Newmarket  road. 


688  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

Pembroke  (or  Dunham)  Hall  manor,  was  held  of  the  honour  of 
Clare,  by  the  service  of  half  a  Knight's  fee ;  and  during  the  reign 
of  Henry  II.,  Alexander  Fitz  Eeginald  held  in  Westly,  of  the  Earl 
of  Clare,  by  that  service,  the  lands  "which  became  the  estate  of  Ay- 
mer  de  Valence ;  who  probably  acquired  them  by  descent  from  his 
maternal  ancestor,  Eichard  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Pembroke. 

Aymer,  in  the  2nd  of  Edward  II.,  leased  this  manor  to  Walter 
de  Huntingfeld,  for  seven  years,  by  the  usual  services,  and  the  ren- 
der of  a  pair  of  gloves.  This  Earl  deceased  in  the  17th  of  that 
reign,  seized  of  this  estate  ;  and  John  de  Hastings,  Joan  wife  of 
David,  Earl  of  Athol,  and  Elizabeth  Comyn,  afterwards  wife  of 
Kichard  Talbot,  were  his  heirs  :  on  the  partition  of  his  estates,  this 
lordship  was  assigned  to  Joan,  Countess  of  Athol.  David,  her  lord, 
surviving,  held  it  by  courtesy;  and  upon  his  death,  in  the  1st  of 
Edward  III.,  it  passed  to  David,  Earl  of  Athol,  his  son. 

In  the  24th  of  this  reign,  on  the  death  of  William  de  Hastings, 
it  was  found  he  held  this  manor  for  his  life ;  it  subsequently  be- 
longed to  the  Crown,  probably  through  the  attainder  of  the  Percies, 
who  married  the  co-heirs  of  the  Earl  of  Athol.  King  Edward  IV., 
gave  it  to  George,  Duke  of  Clarence ;  after  whose  attainder  it  was 
the  estate  of  John,  Lord  Howard,  afterwards  Duke  of  Norfolk,  by 
exchange.  It  having  become  again  forfeited,  King  Henry  VII., 
granted  the  same  to  his  uncle,  Jasper,  Duke  of  Bedford,  and  Earl 
of  Pembroke ;  on  whose  death,  without  issue,  it  reverted  to  the 
Crown,  subject  to  the  estate  for  life  granted  to  Thomas  Lucas,  by 
Jasper,  Duke  of  Bedford. 

On  the  death  of  Lucas,  this  manor  was  given  to  John,  Lord 
Kussel,  afterwards  Earl  of  Bedford,  in  the  35th  of  Henry  VIII.,  who 
immediately  conveyed  it  to  Edmund  Markant,  and  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  and  his  heirs,  by  the  service  of  the  20th  part  of  a  Knight's  fee. 
In  1620,  Leonard  Tillott,  and  Anthony  Adam,  released  to  John 
Markant,  of  Colchester,  Gent.,  all  right  to  this  property.  In  1627, 
it  belonged  to  the  Eev.  Eobert  Warren,  of  Melford ;  who  joined  with 
John  his  son,  in  1657,  in  selling  the  same  to  Lady  Penelope  Gage. 
It  was  settled  by  her,  in  1661,  upon  her  grand-son,  Francis  Gage ; 
who,  in  1693,  conveyed  it  to  Sir  Thomas  Hervey,  in  whose  de- 
scendant, the  Marquess  of  Bristol,  it  remains. 

Anselm,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  who  governed  the  Monastery 
from  1119  to  1148,  granted  to  Leo,  and  his  heirs,  among  other 
property,  the  land  which  he  held  in  Westly,  of  the  Hall  of  Forn- 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  68!) 

ham,  paying  quarterly  4s.,  in  lieu  of  all  services.  Leo  was  the 
ancestor  of  the  family  of  De  Hemegrave  ;  and  his  lands  in  this 
parish,  denominated  the  manor  of  Leo's  Hall  (or  Luces  Hall),  were 
held,  together  with  Hengrave,  hy  his  descendants,  until  the  extinction 
of  the  male  line  in  the  reign  of  Henry  V.  Sir  Thos.  de  Hemegrave 
had  free  warren  in  his  demesne  of  Westly,  in  the  1 5th  of  Henry  III. 

In  the  13th  of  Henry  VI.,  Thomas  Hethe  was  a  purchaser  of 
the  reversion  of  this  manor,  from  Sir  Thomas  de  Hemegrave ;  and 
upon  the  decease  of  Thomas  Hethe,  his  feoffees,  in  the  19th  of  that 
reign,  sold  the  same  to  Humphrey,  Earl  of  Stafford,  afterwards 
Duke  of  Buckingham :  in  the  22nd  of  Henry  VII.,  Edward,  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  exchanged  this  manor  with  Thomas  Lucas,  for  his 
manor  of  Hanhill  (or  Helion),  in  Suffolk.  It  passed  under  the  will 
of  Lucas,  in  1531,  to  his  second  son,  John  Lucas;  and  parcel  of 
Leo's  Hall  was  lately  the  property  of  William  Brooks,  Gent. 

Walter  Fresel,  of  Great  Saxham,  in  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  held 
of  St.  Edmund,  in  demesne,  a  messuage,  and  forty- six  acres  of 
land  in  this  parish,  by  32d.  yearly,  and  suit  to  the  hundred ;  and 
there  were  tenants  under  Walter.  The  reputed  manor  of  Fresel's, 
in  the  2nd  of  Edward  VI.,  belonged  to  John  Page,  and  contained 
about  180  acres  of  land,  part  of  which  was  holden  of  the  honour  of 
Clare.  Elizabeth  Gage,  of  Coldham  Hall,  in  Stanningfield,  widow 
of  John,  younger  son  of  Sir  William  Gage,  Bart.,  was  a  purchaser 
from  Roger  Houghton,  in  1735,  of  Fresel's,  for  her  son,  the  Rev. 
John  Gage;  under  whose  will,  in  1788,  the  present  possessor,  the 
Priest  officiating  in  the  Catholic  Chapel,  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's, 
derives  his  title. 

To  the  poor  of  the  parish  of  St.  Olave,  Southwark,  belong  29A. 
3n.  24p.  of  land  here ;  and  to  the  trustees  of  the  will  of  Thomas 
Gainsborough,  dated  in  1738,  belong  31  A.  2n.,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Independaut  Minister  of  Sudbury ;  subject  to  the  payment  of 
£2  10s.  for  supporting  the  charity  school  there,  and  of  20s.  a  year 
to  be  spent  at  the  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  the  charity. 

The  advowson  of  this  parish  church,  of  which  the  Gage  family 
became  possessed  by  inheritance  from  the  Kytson's,  was  sold  in 
1736,  by  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart.,  to  Joshua  Grigby  Esq.;  and  he, 
in  the  same  year,  granted  it  to  the  Master,  Fellows,  and  Scholars 
of  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge,  in  whom  the  patronage  is  now  vested. 
It  was  consolidated,  in  1750,  with  Fornham  All- Saints,  where  the 
incumbent  dwells. 


G90  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

The  ancient  parish  church  was  dedicated  to  St.  Thomas  the  Mar- 
tyr ;  but  by  virtue  of  a  license  from  the  diocesan,  dated  9th  Novem- 
ber, 1835,  Divine  service  is  performed  in  a  new  parish  church, 
erected  by  voluntary  contribution;  and  the  old  building  is  now 
in  progress  of  demolition. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £l  a  year,  after  a  deduction  of  4s.  for 
land-tax,  is  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  this  parish ;  and  a 
piece  of  cloth  for  a  coat,  and  a  piece  of  stuff  for  a  gown,  are 
usually  sent  every  two  years,  by  the  agent  of  Sir  Thomas  Gage, 
Bart.,  under  LadyKytson's  gift. 


WHEPSTEAD.— HUEPSTEDE,  or  QUEPSTED, 

Was  given  by  Bishop  Theodred  to  the  monks  of  St.  Edmund,  and 
was  held  by  them  in  the  time  of  the  Confessor,  as  a  manor  of  five 
carucates  of  land  ;  and  there  were  six  freemen  upon  a  curucate  and 
half,  held  by  Kalph,  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  survey,  and  thirty 
acres  of  land  more. 

The  manor  of  Whepstead  was  comprised  in  the  lease  granted  in 
the  4th  year  of  King  John,  by  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's, 
to  Benedict  de  Blakeham ;  and  between  the  year  1255  and  1287, 
the  Monastery  acquired  further  property  here;  thus  in  the  15th  of 
Edward  I.,  the  Convent  held  here  of  the  Abbot,  a  messuage,  and 
445  acres  of  land,  and  22  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture,  and  212 
acres  of  wood,  with  free  warren  and  other  rights  ;  besides  108  acres 
of  land,  and  four  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture,  purchased,  or  ac- 
quired, by  the  Convent,  in  parcels  ;  they  also  held  of  the  Abbot  415 
acres,  which  their  villains  had  with  their  messuages,  and  18  acres 
in  the  hands  of  the  cottarii. 

In  the  31st  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  the  manor  of  Whepstead,  and 
the  advowson  of  the  church,  were  granted  by  the  Crown,  to  Sir 
William  Drury,  of  Hawsted,  and  his  heirs,  by  the  service  of  the 
20th  part  of  a  Knight's  fee,  and  the  yearly  rent  of  27s.  6d. ;  and 
subject  to  a  lease  to  Thomas  Monnynge,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  for 
20  years,  at  £36  4s.  yearly. 

On  the  partition  of  the  Drury  estates  between  the  sisters  and  co- 
heirs of  Sir  Robert  Drury,  in  the  15th  of  James  I.,  this  property  fell 
to  the  share  of  Diana,  wife  of  Sir  Edward  Cecil ;  and  became  li- 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  091 

mited  to  them  in  strict  settlement.  In  1654,  the  manor  and  ad- 
vowson  of  this  parish  became,  by  purchase,  the  property  of  Sir 
Henry  Wood,  of  Loudham,  in  Willford  Hundred.  (See  p.  151.) 

In  1747,  in  pursuance  of  a  commission  under  the  Great  Seal  of 
England,  partition  was  made  of  the  estates  of  Sir  Henry  Wood ; 
under  which  this  property  became  allotted  to  Penelope  Lee,  one  of 
the  co-heirs  of  Mary  Cranmer,  sister  of  Sir  Henry  Wood,  and  wife 
of  Timothy  Lee,  of  Ack worth,  in  the  county  of  York. 

In  the  following  year,  Joshua  Grigby,  Gent.,  of  Bury  St.  Ed- 
mund's, became  the  purchaser  of  the  estate  of  Penelope  Lee,  with 
the  exception  of  the  advowson  of  the  church,  and  of  the  parsonage 
closes.  By  his  will,  dated  in  1770,  he  devised  it  to  his  son  Joshua, 
until  the  testator's  grandson,  Joshua  Grigby,  Esq.,  should  attain  24 
years  of  age,  and  then  to  him  in  fee.  In  1795>  the  grandson  sold 
his  manor  and  lands  here  (except  Plumton  farm)  to  Charles,  Earl, 
afterwards  Marquess,  Cornwallis;  who,  in  1800,  sold  the  same  to 
General  Sir  Thomas  Hammond,  who  had  previously  purchased  the 
Plumton  estate  from  Joshua  Grigby. 

Plumton,  the  seat  of  Sir  Thomas  Hammond,  appears  to  have 
been  a  dairy  and  orchard  farm  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund.  The 
present  possessor  has  made  considerable  additions  to  the  mansion 
(an  engraved  view  of  which  is  given  in  Gage's  "  History  of  Thingoe 
Hundred"),  and  otherwise  improved  the  grounds  and  gardens. 

The  immediate  ancestor  of  Sir  Thomas  was  settled  at  the  ad- 
joining parish  of  Hawsted  ;  namely,  Thos.  Hammond,  who  married 
Susan,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Francis  Asty,  of  Market  Weston,  in 
Suffolk.  He  was  born  in  1583,  died  in  1640,  and  was  buried  at 
Hawsted.  Francis  Thomas  Hammond,  of  Plumton,  the  present 
representative,  is  a  Knight  Grand  Cross  of  Hanover,  and  of  the  Royal 
Order  of  Wirtemberg,  first  Equerry  to  King  George  IV.,  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Edinburgh,  and  General  of  Her  Majesty's  Forces;  by 
Louisa  his  wife,  daughter  of  Admiral  Sir  Richard  King,  Bart.,  he  had 
an  only  child,  Georgina  Augusta  Frances;  who  died  25th  Oct.  1824, 
aged  16,  and  was  buried  at  Dupplin  Castle,  in  Scotland. 

In  the  14 tli  of  Edward  I.,  Richard  Cage  held  three  acres  in 
Whepstead,  of  the  Abbot  of  Edmund's,  by  the  render  of  two  semes 
of  malt ;  and  the  reputed  manor  of  Cage's  (or  Over  Cage  Hall), 
probably  derived  its  name  from  him.  This  farm  was  part  of 
the  estate  which,  at  the  dissolution  of  the  Monastery,  passed  to 
the  Drury  family :  it  now  belongs,  by  title  derived  through  Wood 


692  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

and   Grigby,   to   the    Rev.   James   Dewhurst   Sprigge,   rector   of 
Brockley. 

Doveton  (or  Dovington)  Hall,  in  this  parish,  commonly  called 
Duffin  Hall,  the  property  of  the  Marquess  of  Bristol,  was  purchased 
by  the  Hervey  family,  in  1702,  from  the  trustees  and  executors  of 
John  Frost,  Gent.,  son  and  heir  of  Robert,  and  nephew  and  heir-at- 
law,  and  devisee  named  in  the  will  of  John  Frost ;  who  inherited 
the  same  from  his  grand-father,  Roger  Frost,  who  died  seized 
thereof,  in  1566. 

Hugh  de  la  Ryver  endowed  with  these  lands  the  Hospital  of  St. 
John  the  Evangelist,  called  God's  House,  without  the  south  gate  of 
St.  Edmund's  Bury ;  and  Thomas  Everard,  brother  and  heir  of 
this  Hugh,  in  1292,  released  all  right  in  Doveton,  to  John,  Abbot 
of  St.  Edmund's  :  in  the  37th  of  Henry  VIII.,  Sir  George  Somer- 
set, of  Badmundsfield,  had  a  grant  from  the  Crown  of  the  advowson 
of  this  chapel,  with  all  the  hereditaments  thereto  belonging,  then 
commonly  known  by  the  name  of  St.  Petronilla  (or  Parnel's)  chapel. 

The  advowson  of  this  parish  church  was  severed  from  the  manor 
in  1748,  and  sold  in  1751,  by  Penelope  Lee,  to  Thomas  Horrex, 
Esq. ;  on  whose  death,  without  issue,  it  became  the  property  of  his 
elder  brother,  Edmund  Horrex,  of  Goodman's  Fields,  London.  It 
passed,  in  1770,  from  Edmund,  his  only  son,  to  the  Rev.  Thomas 
William  Temple,  D.D.,  and  afterwards  to  Robert  Freeman,  Esq.,  of 
King's  Lynn,  in  Norfolk ;  under  whose  will,  dated  22nd  January, 
1824,  it  is  now  vested  in  the  Rev.  Thomas  Image,  the  present  pa- 
tron and  incumbent. 

ARMS. — Hammond:  argent ;  on  a  chevron,  sable,  between  three 
ogresses,  each  charged  with  a  martlet  of  the  field,  three  escallops, 
or ;  all  within  a  bordure  engrailed,  vert. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  land  consists  of  12A.  and  28p.  of  land 
in  the  parish  of  Thurston,  tithe  free,  which  lets  at  £  1 5  a  year ;  this 
land  was  obtained  through  the  interference  and  exertions  of  the  Rev. 
Thomage  Image,  the  present  rector,  in  exchange  for  some  detached 
pieces  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Rougham,  containing  10A.  and  2p., 
and  which  then  produced  only  £3  1 7s.  a  year :  house,  barn,  and 
six  acres  of  land,  called  Millpost,  in  the  parish  of  Hawsted,  rent 
£10  a  year  :  on  the  inclosure  of  the  commons,  in  1814,  Mr.  Image 
procured  the  laud  here  to  be  given  in  exchange  for  the  like  quantity 
of  land  in  the  parish  of  Hawsted,  which  had  previously  been  let  at 
£2  10s.  a  year:  cottage  and  garden  in  this  parish,  and  5A.  3n.  28p. 


HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE.  693 

of  land  adjoining  the  same,  let  at  £14  per  annum.  The  rents  are 
expended  in  repairing  and  ornamenting  the  church,  and  defraying 
all  expenses  incident  to  the  office  of  churchwarden. — In  1721,  Tho- 
mas Sparke,  devised  a  copyhold  estate,  consisting  of  a  house,  barn, 
and  24  A.  2R.  13p.  of  land,  in  this  parish,  upon  trust;  the  rents 
thereof  to  he  applied  for  the  buying  of  books  for,  and  the  schooling 
of,  poor  children  of  and  within  the  parish  of  Whepstead.  This  farm 
lets  at  £21  per  annum  ;  and  a  cottage,  which  was  purchased  by  the 
trustees  for  a  school-house,  is  let  to  the  schoolmaster  for  £3  10s.  a 
year.  There  are  usually  from  8  to  12  children  taught  in  the  school, 
as  free  scholars,  the  instruction  given  being  in  reading,  writing, 
cyphering,  and  needle-work. — A  poor  widow  of  Whepstead  is  placed 
in  the  almshouse  at  Hawsted,  and  receives  £5  a  year  ;  and  the  sum 
of  £5  is  distributed  at  Christmas  among  poor  persons  here,  under 
Sir  Eobert  Drury's  gift.  The  poor  are  also  entitled  to  four-ninths 
of  the  rent  of  about  seven  acres  of  land  in  Wickhambrook,  given  by 
Sir  Eobt.  Jarvis :  the  portion  at  present  amounts  to  £3  12s.  a  year. 
John  Wilson  Allen,  late  of  Bath,  Esq.,  gave  £200,  the  proceeds 
thereof  to  be  distributed  to  the  poor  on  Christmas-day  :  the  interest 
has  been  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  blankets. 


MANSTON,  or  MANESTUN,  in  Whepstead,  is  named  in  Domes- 
day Book,  but  not  in  connection  with  this  parish,  to  which  it  is  now 
a  hamlet ;  but  for  ecclesiastical  purposes,  it  was  taken  to  belong  to 
the  parish  of  Whepstead,  although  its  tithes  were  early  appropria- 
ted to  the  Monastery  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  at  Colchester. 

The  fee  of  Mansion  was  divided  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  sur- 
vey, between  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  and  divers  other  persons ; 
and  the  lands  holden  of  the  said  Abbot  here,  were  at  an  early  period 
in  the  hands  of  a  family  bearing  the  name  of  the  place.  In  the  8th 
of  Richard  I.,  anno  1197,  Wilbert  de  Mansion,  acknowledged  be- 
fore the  King's  Justices  in  Westminster,  that  he  held  of  Sampson, 
Abbot  of  Edmund's,  a  fourth  part  of  a  Knight's  fee  in  Manston. 
In  the  23rd  of  Edward  III.,  William,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  gave 
to  Agnes,  late  wife  of  Eichard  de  Manston,  and  Eobert  de  Kettles- 
ton,  rector  of  Brockley,  the  wardship  and  marriage  of  Agnes,  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  de  Manston,  and  heir  of  Henry  de  Brockley ;  and 
this  property  descended  to  John  de  Brockley,  who  in  the  6th  of 
Henry  VI.,  was  seized  thereof. 

The  Sturgeon  family  subsequently  became  owners  of  this  estate ; 


69-1  HUNDRED  OF  THINGOE. 

which  they  derived  under  different  titles.  William  Sturgeon,  of 
Whepstead,  who  died  prior  to  the  6th  of  Henry  VII.,  appears  to 
have  been  the  first  of  the  family  interested  here.  James  Sturgeon, 
who  died  in  1784,  left  two  daughters,  his  co-heirs;  Susan,  wife  of 
the  Rev.  William  Errat  Sims,  of  Nayland,  in  this  county,  and  Sa- 
rah, wife  of  Ezekiel  Sparke,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's ;  and  under 
partition  between  them,  and  the  will  of  their  father,  the  manor  of 
Manston  came  to  the  Sims  family  ;  who,  in  1836,  sold  the  same  to 
John  Jackson,  Esq.,  Solicitor,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's.  Mr.  Jack- 
son married  Sarah,  daughter  of  the  above  Ezekiel  Sparke,  Esq.,  and 
Sarah  his  wife  (late  Sturgeon),  so  that  this  property  may  be  said 
still  to  belong  to  the  family. 

The  Manston  Hall  property  consists  of  151  acres,  of  which  4  6 A. 
2n.,  called  Hawk's  farm,  belong  to  the  manor  and  parish  of  Whep- 
stead ;  the  residue  is  taken  to  be  parcel  of  the  manor  of  Manston. 
The  Hall  is  a  moated  farm-house,  and  stands  on  the  north  side  of 
the  road  leading  to  Lawshall ;  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  is 
Duffield's,  belonging  to  Mr.  Drinkmilk. 

ARMS. — Manston :  gules  ;  a  fess,  ermine,  between  three  mullets 
pierced,  or.  Sturgeon :  azure ;  three  sturgeons  naiant,  in  pale,  or ; 
over  all,  fretty,  gules. 

[For  a  more  ample  account  of  Thingoe  Hundred  we  beg  to  recommend  the  peru- 
sal of  Mr.  Gage  Rokewode's  History  of  the  same  :  to  which  elegant  and  elaborate 
volume  we  stand  chiefly  indebted  for  the  information  contained  in  the  foregoing 
pages,  concerning  this  portion  of  the  county.] 


Or  THEWAR  DESTREU. 


This  Hundred  is  bounded  on  the  South,  by  those  of  Babergh 
and  Cosford ;  on  the  North,  by  the  Hundred  of  Blackbourn ;  on 
the  East,  by  that  of  Stow ;  and  on  the  West,  by  that  of  Thingoe. 

The  fee  is  in  the  Crown,  and  the  government  in  the  Sheriff" 
and  his  officers.  It  contains  the  parishes  annexed: — 


AMPTON, 

BARTON, 

BEIGHTON, 

BRADFIELD  COMBUST, 

BRADFIELD  ST.  CLARE, 

BRADFIELD  ST.  GEORGE, 

DRTNKSTONE, 

FELSHAM, 

FORNHAM  ST.  GENEVIEVE, 

FORNHAM  ST.  MARTIN, 

GEDDING, 

HESSET, 


LIVERMERE  MAGNA, 

PAKENHAM, 

KATTLESDEN, 

KOUGHAM, 

KUSHBROOK, 

STANNINGFIELD, 

TOSTOCK, 

THURSTON, 

TIMWORTH, 

WHELNETHAM  MAGNA, 

WHELNETHAM  PARVA, 

WOOLPIT. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 


AMPTON. — HAMETUNA,  AMETUNE,  or  AMETONE. 

At  the  time  of  the  Norman  survey  here  were  twenty-two  freemen 
upon  two  carucates  of  land.  Kobert  held  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Ed- 
mund, half  a  carucate  of  land,  and  one  plough,  worth  20s.  The 
Abbot  always  held  in  demesne  five  carucates,  and  two  acres  of  mea- 
dow, and  they  could  give  and  sell  their  land.  The  Soc  however  be- 
longed to  St.  Edmund,  and  services  in  Ingham.  This  manor  had 
both  freeholders  and  copyholders  belonging  thereto ;  and  there  was 
a  Court  Baron  incident  to  the  same,  but  not  a  Court  Leet. 

In  the  5th  of  King  John,  Alan,  son  of  Hamon  de  Flemeton, 
held,  jointly  with  Peter  de  Livermere,  a  Knight's  fee,  in  Livermere 
and  Ampton,  and  had  also  the  gift  of  this  parish  church.  The  ad- 
vowson  soon  afterwards  became  appendant  to  the  manor,  and  so 
continues. 

The  family  of  Strange  held  lands  in  this  parish  in  the  time  of 
King  Edward  I.,  as  appears  from  a  feoffment  made  by  Henry,  of 
Ampton,  to  William  Strange,  and  Agnes  his  wife,  and  their  heirs, 
of  two  acres,  to  hold  of  the  chief  lord  of  the  fee,  in  the  23rd  of  that 
reign. 

In  the  21st  of  Richard  II.,  Thomas,  only  son  of  Robt.  Hethe,  of 
Little  Saxhain,  and  Richard  Hethe,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  his 
uncle,  released  to  Sir  Wm.  Berdewell,  Knt.,  all  their  right  in  this 
manor  and  advowson,  which  they  lately  had  of  the  feoffment  of  John 
Strange,  of  Brockley ;  which  late  were  Edmond's,  of  the  adjoining 
parish  of  Ingham. 

Under  a  partition  deed  of  the  1st  of  Richard  III.,  this,  with 
divers  other  estates  in  Suffolk,  that  Dame  Anne,  wife  of  Sir  Walter 
Trumpington,  and  late  widow  of  the  above  Thos.  Hethe,  held  during 
her  life,  were  allotted  to  Sir  Thomas  Darcy,  and  Margaret  his  wife : 
this  Margaret  was  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Margaret,  wife  of  John 
Harleston ;  which  Margaret  Harleston  was  the  sole  daughter  and 
heir  of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Sir  William  Berdewell ;  the  said  Eliza- 
beth being  the  only  child  of  the  above  Thomas  Hethe. 


698  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTHE. 

Thomas  Darcy  died  in  the  1st  of  Henry  VII.,  and  Margaret  his 
widow,  in  the  5th  of  that  King.  Roger,  their  son,  succeeded ;  and 
in  the  34th  of  Henry  VIII. ,  Sir  Thomas  Darcy,  conveyed  this  es- 
tate to  John  Crofts,  Esq.,  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  500  marks, 
and  £20  sterling. 

It  appears  from  a  letter  of  Anthony  Ashe,  addressed  to  William 
Spalding,  that  this  manor  and  advowson,  in  the  4th  and  5th  of 
Philip  and  Mary,  were  held  of  the  Queen,  as  of  the  Barony  of  St. 
Edmund,  by  the  fourth  part  of  a  Knight's  fee ;  that  the  messuage 
called  Coket's,  40  acres  of  land,  2  acres  of  meadow,  10  acres  of 
pasture,  and  4  acres  of  wood,  were  held  of  the  Crown,  as  of  the 
hundred  of  Blackhourn,  hy  fealty ;  and  that  the  tenement  called 
the  Chantry  house,  was -held  of  Richard  Codington,  of  Ixworth, 
Esq.,  by  the  same  service. 

This  estate  continued  in  the  Crofts  family  till  the  42ud  of  Eliza- 
beth ;  when  it  passed  to  Thomas  Coell,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury, 
Gent.,  by  purchase  from  Francis  Crofts,  of  Westow,  Esq.  Mr. 
Coell  resided  here,  and  in  1609,  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Jermyn,  of  Depden,  Esq. ;  which  estate  he  subsequently  inherited, 
and  removed  thither ;  where  his  descendants  remained  seated  for 
several  generations. 

By  a  deed  of  the  13th  of  James  I.,  Mr.  Coell  granted  to  William 
Whettell,  of  Thetford,  Esq.,  the  manor,  advowson,  &c.,  of  Ampton ; 
and  about  1619,  he  removed  hither.  Mr.  Whettell  served  the  office 
of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county,  in  1622;  deceased  in  1628,  and 
was  interred  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church.  He  died  without 
issue,  and  Henry,  afterwards  Sir  Henry  Calthorpe,  inherited  this 
property.  He  was  second  son  of  Sir  Jas.  Calthorpe,  of  Cockthorp, 
in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  and  became  a  lawyer  of  great  eminence,  succes- 
sively Common  Serjeant,  and  Recorder  of  the  city  of  London, 
Solicitor-General  to  Queen  Henrietta  Maria,  and  Attorney  of  his 
Majesty's  Court  of  Wards  and  Liveries.  He  died  Aug.  1,  1637. 

James  Calthorpe,  Esq.,  his  third  and  only  surviving  son,  suc- 
ceeded ;  being  a  minor  of  about  11  years  of  age,  at  the  time  of  his 
father's  decease.  He  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  Suffolk 
in  1656,  during  the  protectorship  of  Cromwell ;  by  whom  he  was 
Knighted  at  Whitehall,  Dec.  10,  in  the  same  year.  Mr.  Calthorpe 
survived  his  lather  just  21  years,  being  interred  in  the  chancel  of 
this  parish  church,  August  1,  1658.  James,  his  eldest  son,  was 
born  at  Ampton,  February  21,  1649;  who,  upon  his  coming  of  age, 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE 

inherited  the  paternal  estate  here ;  and  died  unmarried,  May  2, 
1702.  He  was  the  munificent  founder  of  the  Boys'  Hospital,  iu 
this  parish. 

Christopher  Calthorpe,  Esq.,  his  next  brother,  succeeded ;  who 
was  horn  here,  in  1 652  By  Elizabteh  his  wife,  one  of  the  daughters 
and  co-heirs  of  Gardiner  Kettlehorough,  of  Elmswell,  in  this  county, 
Gent.,  he  left  issue  two  sons,  James  and  Henry  ;  and  three  daugh- 
ters. Mr.  Calthorpe  deceased  at  Ampton,  and  was  buried  here, 
Feb.  3,  1717;  when  James,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded. 

He  was  born  at  Elmswell,  in  1699,  and  appointed  Deputy  Lieu- 
tenant of  this  county,  Dec.  20,  1727.  By  virtue  of  a  warrant  from 
Charles  Fitzroy,  Duke  of  Graiton,  Lord  Chamberlain,  he  was  sworn 
into  the  office  of  Gentleman  Usher  Quarter  Waiter  in  Ordinary  to 
his  Majesty,  Oct.  1,  1731  ;  and  by  another  warrant  from  the  same 
officer,  dated  February  16,  1742,  he  was  appointed  Yeoman  of  the 
Removing  Wardrobe;  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his 
decease. 

Mr.  Calthorpe*  became  a  resident  here  in  1736,  and  immediately 
set  about  improving  his  mansion  and  estate,  by  enlarging  the  former, 
and  inclosing,  planting,  and  otherwise  ornamenting  the  latter ;  di- 
viding his  time  in  attendance  on  his  official  duties  in  town,  and  in 
agricultuial  and  horticultural  pursuits,  when  resident  in  the  coun- 
try. He  deceased,  unmarried,  at  his  house  in  Pall  Mall,  London, 
March  11,  1784,  and  his  remains  were  deposited  in  the  family  vault 
in  this  parish  church.  By  his  death  the  male  line  of  this  ancient 
house  became  extinct  here. 

Henry,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Henry  Gough,  of  Edgbaston,  in  War- 
wickshire, Bart.,  by  Barbara  his  wife,  only  daughter  of  Reynolds 
Calthorpe,  Esq.,  of  Elvetham,  in  Hants,  inherited  this  property;  who 
derive  from  the  ancient  and  honourable  house  of  Gough,t  seated  at 
Woolverhampton,  Bishbury,  and  Perry  Hall,  in  Staffordshire. 

He  married  Frances,  youngest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  General 
Benjamin  Carpenter ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  seven  sons  and  four 
daughters,  three  of  whom  survive  :  namely,  the  Right  Hon.  George 
Gough  Calthorpe,  the  present  peer ;  the  Hon.  Frederick  Gough 
Calthorpe,  the  heir  presumptive  to  the  Barony,  who  married  Aug.  12, 

*  A  full-length  portrait  of  this  gentleman,  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  is  preserved 
in  the  dining-room  at  Ampton  Hall. 

f  Whose  origin,  alliances,  and  descent,  may  be  collected  from  Shaw's  History  of 
that  county,  Collin's  Peerage,  by  Bridges,  and  similar  works. 


700  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

1823,  Lady  Charlotte  Sophia  Somerset,  eldest  daughter  of  Henry 
Charles,  6th  Duke  of  Beaufort,  and  has  issue  ;  and  the  Hon.  Fran- 
ces Elizabeth  Calthorpe,  spinster. 

Sir  Henry,  upon  succeeding  to  this  property,  made  Ampton  his 
chief  seat ;  and  upon  the  death  of  his  uncle,  Sir  Henry  Calthorpe, 
K.B.,  of  Elvetham,  in  Hants.,  succeeded  to  his  estates,  as  heir  ge- 
neral of  that  house,  and  took  the  surname  and  arms  of  Calthorpe, 
to  him,  and  his  issue,  hy  Royal  Licence,  dated  May  7,  1788;  and 
by  patent,  dated  June  15,  1796,  wa>  created  Baron  Calthorpe,  of 
Calthorpe,  in  Norfolk. 

The  family  of  Le  Bole  were  early  interested  here,  who  obtained 
several  grants  of  land  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  V.,  and  subse- 
quently ;  which  passed  to  the  Cokets,  by  the  marriage  of  Alice, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Richard  le  Bole,  with  John  Coket,  Esq., 
of  this  parish  ;  who  was  owner  of  several  estates  in  the  county  of 
Norfolk,  which  he  purchased  in  the  time  of  King  Edward  IV. 

John,  son  and  heir  of  the  said  John  Coket,  married,  and  had  is- 
sue, two  sons  ;  John,  and  Thomas  Coket ;  who  inherited  the  manor 
of  Dunham  Farva,  in  Norfolk,  and  subsequently  possessed  the  estate 
of  Walter  Coket,  at  Ingham,  in  Blackbourn  hundred ;  and  in  the 
9th  of  Henry  VII.,  was  seated  there.  John,  the  eldest  son,  married 
Margaret,  2nd  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Richard  Walden,  of 
Erith,  in  Kent ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  Edward  Coket,  Esq. ;  who 
married  Anne,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas  Froximere,  of  Wych, 
in  Worcestershire,  Esq.,  and  had  issue  Anthony  and  Thomas  Coket, 
Esqrs.  Thomas*  bought  the  manor  of  Brunsthorp,  in  Norfolk,  in 
or  about  1570,  and  resided  there. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  is  a  plain  small  structure,  of 
the  period  of  Edward  IV.  It  contains  several  monuments  to  mem- 
bers of  the  Calthorpe  family,  and  has  a  Chantry  annexed,  founded 
by  John  Coket,  for  one  priest  to  celebrate  every  day  at  the  altar  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  within  the  said  chapel. 

The  Royal  Licence  bears  date  the  12th  March,  18th  Edward  IV., 
1479 ;  by  which  it  became  endowed  with  ten  marcs  per  annum,  is- 
suing out  of  lands  in  Great  and  Little  Livermere,  and  Troston; 
granting  the  further  sum  of  40s.  whenever  the  said  rent  charge  was 
unpaid  by  the  space  of  a  month,  and  a  dwelling  house  for  the  priest, 
opposite  the  church,  with  a  garden  adjoining.  It  was  ordained  that 

*  For  the  pedigree  of  whose  descent  see  Blomfield's  History  of  Norfolk,  Vol.  Tii.  p.  6. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  701 

the  said  Chantry  Priest  should  take  nine  marcs  for  his  salary,  and 
expend  the  remaining  13s.  4d.  in  bread  and  wine  for  masses  at  the 
altar,  in  the  books,  vestments,  and  ornaments  thereof,  and  in  the 
repairs  of  the  house.  This  chapel  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  parish 
church,  and  is  now  used  as  the  family  pew. 

That  learned  divine,  and  well  known  author,  the  Rev.  Jeremy 
Collier,  held  this  incumbency  about  six  years  ;  which  he.  resigned 
upon  his  appointment  to  the  Lectureship  at  Gray's  Inn.  Mr.  Col- 
lier was  a  native  of  Stow  Qui,  in  Cambridgeshire,  and  received  the 
rudiments  of  his  education  at  the  Free  Grammar  School  in  Ipswich, 
whilst  his  father  was  master  thereof,  and  was  removed  from  thence 
to  Caius  College,  Cambridge,  in  1609  ;  where  he  took  his  first  de- 
gree, in  1672;  and  that  of  A.M.,  in  1676;  when  he  entered  into 
holy  orders,  and  officiated  at  the  Countess  Dowager  of  Dorset's,  at 
Knowle,  in  Kent,  until  his  preferment  to  this  benefice,  in  1679. 
His  future  career  may  be  learnt  by  consulting  any  of  our  biogra- 
phical treatises.  He  deceased  in  1726. 

Thomas  Rogerson,  rector  of  this  parish,  was  a  nonjuror,  by  which 
the  public  exercise  of  his  ministry  became  impracticable,  and  he  re- 
signed this  benefice,  to  which  he  was  presented  in  1685,  and  lived 
afterwards  a  peaceable  retired  life.  He  was  eldest  son  of  the  Rev. 
Robert  Rogerson,  A.M.,  rector  of  Denton,  in  Norfolk,  by  Barbara 
his  wife,  daughter  of  William  Gooch,  Esq.,  of  Mettingham,  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Rogerson  deceased  in  1723,  and  was  buried  at  Den- 
ton  ;  to  which  parish  he  gave  the  moiety  of  the  clear  yearly  rent  of 
six  acres  of  land,  towards  the  support  of  a  charity  school  there ; 
the  other  moiety  to  be  distributed  in  bread. 

Ampton  Hall,  the  seat  of  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Calthorpe,  pos- 
sesses a  tasteless  mixture  of  ancient  and  modern  architecture  ;  the 
most  ancient  part  being  of  the  time  and  style  of  James  I.,  with  ail 
addition,  made  between  50  and  60  years  since,  in  the  most  plain 
and  simple  style  ;  it  is  however  delightfully  situated  in  the  midst  of 
rich  woodland  views,  ornamented  with  an  extensive  lake ;  which  al- 
together forms  a  piece  of  picturesque  scenery  not  to  be  surpassed  in 
this  county. 

ARMS. — Coket :  party  per  bend,  argent  and  sable,  three  fleurs- 
de-lis  in  the  same,  counterchanged.  Coell:  argent;  a  bull  passant, 
gules,  in  a  bordure,  sable,  bezantee.  WJiettell :  gules  ;  a  chevron 
ermine,  between  three  hounds  heads'  erased,  or.  Calthorpe:  an- 
ciently,-—ermine  ;  a  maunch,  gules :  now,  and  for  many  ages, — 


702  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTKE. 

cheeky,  or  and  azure ;  a  fess,  ermine.  Gough :  gules ;  on  a 
fess,  argent,  between  three  hoars'  heads  couped,  or,  a  lion  pas- 
sant, azure. 

CHARITIES. — In  1693,  Dorothy,  second  daughter  of  James  Cal- 
thorpe,  of  this  parish,  Esq.,  devised,  hy  will,  £1000  for  the  endow- 
ment of  an  almshouse  here,  for  six  poor  widows,  or  old  maids,  not 
under  60  .years  of  age.    This  lady  deceased  thes  ame  year,  and  after 
the  incidental  expenses  attending  the  funeral,  erection  of  a  monu- 
ment, the  almshouse,  &c.,  were  defrayed,  there  was  a  deficiency  of 
assets,  from  losses  by  bad  debts,  and  otherwise,  and  some  difficulty 
arose  respecting  the  division  of  the  property  ;  which  became  finally 
settled,  by  a  decree  in  Chancery,  by  which  £700  was  appropriated 
to  the  endowment  of  this  almshouse.     When  the  accounts  were 
made  up,  in  1731,  the  money  then  in  hand  amounted  to  £765, 
which  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  £'700  capital  stock  in  the 
Long  South  Sea  Annuities,  paying  then  4  per  cent,  interest,  but 
since  reduced  by  Act  of  Parliament,  to  3  per  cent.    Twenty  pounds 
per  annum  of  the  dividends,  is  paid  to  the  four  inmates,  in  quarterly 
payments  ;  and  the  owner  of  the  lordship  of  Livermere  Parva,  pays 
a  rent  charge  of  £4,  out  of  that  estate,  divisable  among  the  said 
women,  from  £100,  given  by  Mr.  John  Edwards. — By  deed  of  in- 
denture, dated  March  27,  1692,  James  Calthorpe,  Esq.,  of  this  pa- 
rish, conveyed  to  trustees,  his  manor  of  Aldeby,  called  Aldeby  Hall, 
with  the  messuages,  lands,  and  tenements  belonging  to  the  same," 
in  trust,  for  the  erection  and  support  of  an  Hospital  in  this  parish, 
for  the  maintenance,  clothing,  and  support  of  six  poor  boys.     He 
deceased  in  1702,  not  having  revoked  the  said  settlement;  and  at 
a  meeting  of  the  trustees,  in  1713,  the  first  six  boys  were  admitted ; 
at  another  meeting,  held  in  1829,  two  additional  boys  were  admit- 
ted ;  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  1836,  the  trustees  came  to 
the  determination  of  increasing  the  number  of  boys  to  nine  ;  which 
is  the  number  on  the  foundation  at  present. — Mr.  Henry  Edward, 
the  first  master  of  this  charity,  who  died  in  1715,  devised  £100,  the 
interest  to  be  applied  for  the  teaching  of  five  poor  boys,  along  with 
the  other  boys  partakers  of  Mr.  Calthorpe's  charity.     These  have 
since  been  increased  to  seven.     The  boys  are  admissable  from  the 
parishes  of  Ampton,  Great  and  Little  Livermere,  Ingham,  and  Tim- 
worth,  at  seven  years  of  age  ;  and  continue  until  they  arrive  at  the 
age  of  fourteen;  when  they  are  apprenticed  to   some  handicraft 
trade  or  business. — There  are  two  small  pieces  of  land,  containing 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  703 

together  IA.  In.  32p.,  which  belong  to  the  poor;   and  for  which 
10s.  a  year  has  been  usually  paid  as  a  rental. 


GREAT  BARTON. — BRAMBLE  BARTON,  or  BERTUNA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  became  very  early  vested  in  the  Abbot 
of  St.  Edmund's,  partly  by  the  gift  of  Bishop  Thcodred,  and  of 
Edwin,  a  wealthy  personage  :  Erec,  the  Provost,  also  gave  a  certain 
portion.  After  the  suppression  of  that  Monastery,  it  remained  in 
the  Crown,  till  the  last  year  of  King  Edward  VI. 

In  the  first  of  Queen  Mary,  the  lord's  court  was  held  in  the 
names  of  Thomas  Audley,  and  Katherine  his  wife.  This  Thomas 
Audley  was  nephew  of  the  late  Thomas,  Lord  Audley,  of  Walden, 
K.G.,  and  Chancellor  of  England  :  he  resided  at  Bere-church,  near 
Colchester,  in  Essex.  Katherine  his  wife,  was  the  daughter  of 
Sir  Robert  Southwell,  Kut.,  of  Wood-Rising,  in  Norfolk. 

He  died  in  1572;  when  Robert  Audley,  his  eldest  son  and  heir, 
succeeded ;  who  married  Katherine,  2nd  daughter  of  Edward,  3rd 
Lord  Windsor,  by  the  Lady  Katheriue  de  Vere,  only  child  of  John, 
16th  Earl  of  Oxford,  by  his  1st  Countess,  the  Lady  Dorothy  Ne- 
ville, daughter  of  Ralph,  4th  Earl  of  Westmoreland.  This  Robert 
Audley  deceased  in  1624 ;  and  by  an  inquisition,  taken  in  the  1st 
of  Charles,  it  was  found  that  he  died  possessed  (inter  alia)  of  the 
manor  of  Barton  Magna,  of  the  sheep  walks,  rectory,  and  advow- 
son  ;  which  were  held  by  the  said  Robert,  from  the  late  King  James, 
in  chief,  and  by  military  service. 

It  is  probable,  though  not  proved,  that  this  Robert  Audley  built 
the  New  Hall,  or  New  House,  as  it  is  called  in  an  old  map,  of  the 
time  of  James  I.  The  manor,  rectory,  and  advowson,  and  some 
lands  in  the  parish,  remained  in  the  family  of  Audley  till  the  year 
1704 ;  when  Henry,  son  of  Sir  Henry  Audley,  Knt.,  of  Bere-church, 
and  grand-son  of  the  above  Robt.  Audley,  Esq.,  sold  the  whole,  under 
an  Act  of  Parliament,  to  Thomas  Folkes,  Esq. 

Mr.  Folkes  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  was  elder  brother  to 
the  father  of  the  celebrated  Sir  Martin  Folkes,  President  of  the 
Royal  Society.  His  daughter,  and  only  child,  Elizabeth,  married 
Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  Bart.,  in  1725;  whose  first  wife,  Isabella, 


704  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

Dutchess  of  Grafton,  died  in  1722-3.  Under  the  settlement  made 
on  his  marriage  with  Miss  Folkes,  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer  became 
possessed  of  the  manor,  &c.,  of  Barton ;  which  he  devised  at  his 
decease,  in  1746,  together  with  his  other  estates  in  Suffolk,  to  his 
nearest  relation,  Sir  William  Bunbury,  Bart. 

Susan,  the  sister  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  had  married  Sir  Henry 
Bunbury,  of  Stanneye,  in  the  county  of  Cheshire,  Bart.  Their  el- 
dest son,  Sir  Charles  Bunbury,  died  without  issue  ;  but  during  his 
life,  Sir  Thomas  had  adopted  the  second  son,  William,  a  clergyman, 
who  eventually  succeeded  his  brother  in  the  Baronetcy,  and  in  his 
estates  in  Cheshire. 

The  original  name  of  the  Bunburys  was  St.  Pierre.  A  younger 
brother  of  that  Norman  family  passed  into  England  under  the  Con- 
queror; and  he,  or  his  immediate  descendants,  early  acquired  lands 
and  lordships  under  Hugh  Lupus,  the  great  Earl  of  Chester.  In 
the  time  of  King  Stephen,  we  find  Henry  de  St.  Pierre,  Lord  of 
Boneberi  (Bunbury,  in  the  hundred  of  Edisbury,  co.  Chester). 
From  this  lordship  the  family  adopted  their  present  name  ;  though 
some  individuals  retained  that  of  St.  Pierre  so  late  as  the  time  of 
Edward  I.  In  the  reign  of  Edward  III..  David  de  Bunbury,  ac- 
quired by  marriage,  the  manor  of  Stanneye  (in  which  lordship  the 
family  had  previously  held  certain  lands)  ;  and  the  manor  and  es- 
tate of  Stauneye  are  still  held  by  the  lineal  descendant,  the  present 
Sir  Henry  Bunbury,  Baronet. 

Sir  Henry  is  second  son  of  Henry  William  Bunbury,  Esq.,  and 
Catherine  his  wife,  daughter  of  Kane  Horneck,  Esq.,  Capt.  of  the 
Royal  Engineers ;  and  holds  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-  General, 
K.C.B.,  and  F.A.S.  He  was  Quarter- Master- General  of  the  Army 
in  the  Mediterranean,  from  1805  to  1809;  Under  Secretary  of 
State  for  the  War  Department,  from  Dec.  1809  to  April  1816; 
and  sat  in  two  Parliaments  for  Suffolk.  He  succeeded,  as  7th  Ba- 
ronet, upon  the  decease  of  his  uncle,  Sir  Thomas  Charles  Bunbury, 
in  1821  ;  M.P.  for  this  county  forty-three  years. 

Necton  Hall  (or  Conyers)  was  a  distinct  manor,  held  successively 
by  the  Necton,  Conyers,  and  Cotton  families.  It  passed  to  the  lat- 
ter by  the  marriage  of  Edmund,  3rd  son  of  Sir  John  Cotton,  Knt., 
of  Lanwade,  in  Cambridgeshire,  with  Ela,  daughter  and  heiress  of 
John,  only  son  of  Sir  Robert  Conyers,  Knt.  A  sister  of  Sir  Robert 
married  to  Sir  Richard  Harpley,  and  was  interred  in  the  chancel  of 
tiiis  parish  church. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  705 

The  manor  house  stood  near  the  church,  where  the  farm  house 
now  stands,  belonging  to  Sir  Henry  Bunbury,  but  at  present  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  William  Adams.  Necton  Hall  stood  on  the  edge  of 
an  extensive  tract  of  common,  called  up  to  the  time  of  the  enclosure 
of  the  parish,  Conyers  Green :  this  common  was  bounded  on  the  west 
by  the  parishes  of  Fornham  and  Timworth.  A  farm  house,  encom- 
passed by  a  moat,  which  was  bought  by  Sir  Charles  Buubury  from 
Dr.  Ord  (together  with  certain  lands),  stood  on  the  site  of  old  Nec- 
ton (or  Conyers)  Hall.  In  1602,  John,  son  and  heir  of  Edmund 
Boldero,  Gent.,  of  Fornham  St.  Martin,  resided  at  Conyers,  in  Great 
Barton. 

Adjoining  to  the  enclosures  of  this  farm,  on  the  south  side,  was 
a  tract  of  pasture  lands,  known  from  ancient  times  by  the  name  of 
the  "  Ox-pastures."  These  came  into  the  possession  of  Sir  Henry 
Bunbury,  in  1826,  in  consequence  of  an  exchange  of  property  with 
the  trustees  of  Sir  Joseph  Williamson's  charity,  at  Thetford ;  but 
they  consisted  of  only  60  acres,  or  thereabouts,  so  that  40  acres  or 
so,  must  have  been  severed,  or  sold  separately,  since  the  time  of  Sir 
Thomas  Kytson.  From  this  Knight  they  had  descended  to  Sir 
William  Gage ;  who  sold  the  60  acres  to  the  trustees  of  the  afore- 
said charity,  in  1718. 

The  King's  Justices  sat  at  Catteshale,  in  this  parish,  in  the  33rd 
of  Henry  II.  ;  how  much  earlier  the  Pleas  of  the  Crown  for  the  Li- 
berty of  St.  Edmund  had  been  held  here  does  not  appear ;  they 
continued,  however,  generally  to  be  held  at  Catteshale,  from  that 
time  until  the  removal  of  the  Hall  to  Henhow,  another  spot  in  its 
vicinity ;  where  the  Abbot's  Hall  of  Pleas  for  the  Liberty  was  es- 
tablished by  Royal  authority,  in  the  33rd  of  Edward  I. 

The  church  is  a  handsome  structure,  but  contains  no  memorial 
to  any  of  the  lords  of  the  soil.  In  the  church-yard  is  a  Latin  in- 
scription in  memory  of  John  Dickenson,  Head  Master  of  the  Gram- 
mar School  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury;  who  deceased  in  1643,  aged 
70  years:  and  to  Thomas  Webb,  Gent.,  late  of  Bedford;  who  died 
the  21st  of  August,  1815,  aged  93  years. 

It  was  early  appropriated  to  Bury  Abbey.  Anselm,  who  go- 
verned the  same  from  the  year  1 1 1 9,  to  1 148,  gave  to  William,  son 
of  Albold,  and  Robert,  his  son  and  heir,  in  fee  farm,  as  a  compensa- 
tion for  some  claim,  and  by  way  of  exchange  for  the  churches  of 
Barton  and  Culford,  the  land  in  Hawsted  of  Geoffrey,  Sacrist  of  the 
Monastery,  which  had  belonged  to  Leveva,  late  wife  of  Odo,  the 


70C  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

goldsmith  ;  reserving  a  rent  of  40s.  to  the  altar  of  St.  Edmund.  It 
has  ever  since  been  appendant  to  the  manor. 

Barton  Hall,  the  residence  of  Sir  Henry  Bunbury,  is  a  good  fa- 
mily mansion,  and  contains  some  excellent  pictures,  and  valuable 
portraits,  by  the  best  masters  ;  it  has  also  a  spacious  and  well  fur- 
nished library.  The  situation  is  pleasing  and  agreeable ;  and  the 
mansion,  grounds,  and  entire  parish,  have  been  very  greatly  im- 
proved, under  the  judicious  superin tendance  and  direction  of  the 
present  possessor.  Sir  Henry  Charles  Blake,  Bart.,  also  resides  in 
this  parish ;  and  his  brother,  the  Rev.  William  Robert  Blake,  is 
now  vicar  of  Great  Barton.  (See  parish  of  Langham.)  Patron  : 
Sir  Henry  Edward  Bunbury,  Bart. 

ARMS. — Conyers  :  azure  ;  a  maunch,  or.  Cotton  :  sable ;  a 
chevron,  between  three  griffins'  heads  erased,  argent  Folkes :  per 
pale,  vert  and  gules,  a  fleur  de-lis,  argent.  Bunbury  :  argent ;  on 
a  bend,  sable,  three  chessrooks  of  the  field. 

CHARITIES. — In  1492,  William  Howardly,  vicar  of  this  parish, 
devised  by  will,  40  marcs,  and  the  residue  of  his  personal  estate,  to 
be  laid  out  in  land  ;  the  profits  thereof  to  be  applied  in  the  repara- 
tion of  the  parish  church,  and  the  residue  for  the  ease  and  benefit 
of  the  poor  people  inhabiting  within  the  town  of  Great  Barton. 
He  also  gave  three  tenements  for  the  habitation  of  poor  persons, 
and  a  tenement,  with  two  pieces  of  land,  for  the  poor.  The  charity 
estate  now  consists  of  a  farm,  comprising  a  dwelling  house,  barn, 
homestall,  and  48A.  SR.  30p.  of  land.  The  land  comprised  in  this 
farm  was  allotted,  and  exchanged  on  occasion  of  the  Barton  inclo- 
sure,  in  1805,  in  lieu  of  all  lands  and  premises  held  under  How- 
ardly's  donation.  An  allotment  of  50  acres  was  awarded,  also  upon 
this  inclosure,  to  trustees ;  the  rents  thereof  to  be  applied  in  the 
purchase  of  fuel  for  the  poor  :  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase 
of  coals,  which  are  sold  to  the  poor  at  a  reduced  price. 


BEIGHTON,  or  BEGATONA. 

The  lordship  and  advowson  of  this  parish  were  parcel  of  the  pos- 
session of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's :  at  the  dissolution  of  that 
Monastery,  they  became  the  property  of  the  Crown,  and  so  remain. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  707 

Kirby  mentions  a  donation  for  a  monthly  lecture  here,  but  does 
not  say  the  amount,  or  by  whom  given,  and  of  which  we  learn  no 
further  particulars. 

Two  sums,  of  £20,  and  £1Q,  are  mentioned  in  the  printed  re- 
turns of  Charitable  Donations  in  178G,  as  belonging  to  the  poor  of 
this  parish,  and  then  vested  in  one  William  Scott ;  but  there  are  no 
such  funds  now  existing,  and  no  account  can  be  given  of  the  cir- 
cumstances under  which  they  were  lost. 


BRADFIELD  COMBUST,  or  BRADEFELLA. 

Bishop  Athulf  (or  Eadulf),  who  is  placed  in  the  catalogues  prior 
to  the  Theodreds,  gave  a  part  of  this  parish  to  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's.  It  is  called  Brent  (or  Burnt)  Bradfield,  probably  on 
account  of  the  destruction  of  the  Hall  by  fire,  in  1327  ;  the  period 
of  the  violent  attack  made  by  the  townsmen  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury 
on  the  Abbey  and  its  possessions. 

Kirby  says  this  lordship  was  the  estate  of  Giles,  Lord  Badles- 
mere;  whose  daughter,  Margery,  married  William,  Lord  Koos;  and 
the  same  was  assigned  to  her,  upon  the  decease  of  her  mother,  in 
the  15th  of  Edward  III. ;  and  that  Thomas,  Lord  Roos,  died  seized 
thereof,  in  the  8th  of  the  following  reign. 

In  1525,  William,  Lord  Willoughby,  died  seized  of  a  lordship 
here  ;  whose  widow,  the  Lady  Mary  Salines,  held  the  same  during 
her  life ;  and  upon  her  decease  it  passed  to  Katherine,  their  sole 
daughter  and  heiress ;  who  married,  first,  Charles  Brandon,  Duke 
of  Suffolk,  and  afterwards,  Richard  Bertie,  of  Bersted,  in  Kent,  Esq. 

Bradfield  Hall  subsequently  became  vested  in  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn ; 
of  whom  it  was  purchased  in  1620,  by  a  member  of  the  Young  fa- 
mily, who  became  settled  in  this  parish.  Arthur  Young,  of  London, 
Gent.,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Bartholomew  Canham,  of  this 
parish ;  and  inherited  certain  property  here  in  right  of  such  marriage. 
He  deceased  in  1G90,  aged  71  years;  she  in  1704,  aged  73 ;  they 
were  buried  in  this  churchyard. 

Bartholomew  Young,  Esq.,  their  son,  succeeded ;  who  had  issue, 
by  Catherine  his  wife,  Arthur  Young,  LL.D.,  one  of  his  Majesty's 
Justices  of  the  Peace  for  this  county,  Prebendary  of  the  Church  of 


70S  HUNDRED  Ot  THEDWASTRE. 

Canterbury,  and  forty  years  rector  of  this  parish,  and  Bradfield  St. 
Clare.  Capt.  Bartholomew  Young,  his  father,  deceased  in  1724 ;  when 
Dr.  Arthur  Young  inherited  this  estate.  He  married  Ann  Lucretia, 
daughter  of  John  Coussmaker,  Esq.,  of  Weyhridge,  in  Surrey ;  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons,  John  and  Arthur,  and  one  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth Mary  ;  who  married  John  Tomlinson,  Esq.,  of  East  Barnet, 
in  Hertfordshire.  He  deceased  in  1759  ;  she  survived  until  1785  ; 
when  Arthur,  their  younger  son,  became  possessed  of  the  entire  es- 
tate in  this  his  native  parish. 

He  is  well  known  to  the  public  as  a  voluminous  writer  on  Agri- 
cultural and  Political  Economy,  and  as  a  personage  to  whom  the 
community  at  large  owes  great  obligations.  His  indefatigable  ex- 
ertions in  the  promotion  of  agriculture,  will  entitle  Arthur  Young 
to  the  veneration  of  future  ages.  He  was  Secretary  to  the  Board 
of  Agriculture,  and  a  Member  of  the  Koyal  Society  nearly  fifty 
years  :  his  name  will  be  found  inserted  in  the  lists  of  most  of  the 
Agricultural  Societies  of  the  United  Kingdom. 

He  deceased  in  1820,  at  the  venerable  age  of  79  years,  the  last 
ten  of  which  he  had  been  blind  ;  but,  with  the  aid  of  an  amanuensis, 
he  still  devoted  his  time  to  the  illustration  of  his  favourite  pursuit. 
The  striking  features  in  this  gentleman's  personal  qualities  were,  an 
ardent  industry,  indefatigable  perseverance,  and  a  lively  imagination. 

The  Rev.  Arthur  Young,  his  only  son,  succeeded ;  who  took  the 
degree  of  B.A.  at  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  in  1793.  He  com- 
piled, for  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  in  1807,  "A  General  Eeport  on 
Inclosures  ;"  and  in  1808,  the  "  Survey  of  the  Agriculture  of  Sus- 
sex." Mr.  Young,  on  more  than  one  occason  gave  expression  to  some 
very  singular  ideas  on  politics,  and  soon  after  the  peace,  published 
a  declaration  in  the  newspapers,  saying  that  he  had  purchased  lands 
in  the  Crimea,  where  no  tax-gatherer  is  seen ;  and  inviting  his 
countrymen  to  emigrate  with  him  to  that  blissful  region. 

He  was  on  his  return  through  Russia,  from  selling  this  tract  of 
country,  said  to  amount  to  10,000  acres,  purchased  by  him  in  1810 
(after  drawing  up  "  A  Statistical  and  Agricultural  Survey  of  the  Go- 
vernment of  Moscow,"  by  the  appointment  of  Alexander,  Emperor 
of  Russia,  in  1805),  when  his  death  occurred,  at  Kaffa,  in  the 
Crimea,  Sept.  24,  1827,  in  the  57th  year  of  his  age.  Tlu's  estate 
devolved  to  his  sister,  Miss  Young,  the  present  proprietor. 

In  the  time  of  Henry  III.,  Jervace  de  Bradfieid,  married  Alice, 
one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  William  de  Drayton,  of  Dray- 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  709 

ton  Hall,  at  Seaming,  in  Norfolk;  she  survived,  and  re-married 
William  de  Bellomoute  (or  Beaumont). 

Blomefield,  the  Norfolk  historian,  mentions  the  Jervaces,  of  Sut- 
ton  Hall,  in  this  parish  ;  and  that  Edmund  Wright  married  Jane, 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas  Russell,  brother  to  John,  Earl  of 
Bedford,  by  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  Jervaces,  and  resided 
there.  His  descendant  soon  afterwards  became  seated  at  Kilver- 
stone,  in  Norfolk.  A  branch  of  the  Rokewode  family  were  also 
seated  in  this  parish  :  Sir  Robert  Rokewode,  Knt.,  lived  here  in  the 
time  of  King  Charles. 

The  church  is  a  singular  structure,  and  contains  several  memo- 
rials to  the  Young  family :  to  John  Bidwell  Edwards,  Esq.,  who 
died  in  1824  ;  and  some  former  rectors  of  this  parish.  The  Rev. 
Henry  Hasted,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  is  patron  ;  and  his  only  son, 
the  Rev.  Henry  John  Hasted,  is  now  incumbent. 

Two  small  brooks  take  their  rise  in  this  place,  one  passing  to 
Bury,  and  joining  the  river  Lark,  proceeds  to  King's  Lynn,  in  Nor- 
folk ;  the  other  runs  to  Lavenham,  and  joins  the  river  Stour,  falling 
into  the  ocean  at  Harwich,  in  Essex. 

ARMS. — Young :  argent;  a  bend  cottised,  and  lion  rampant,  sa- 
ble. Edwards :  ermine ;  a  lion  rampant,  gules  ;  on  a  canton,  or, 
an  eagle  displayed,  sable. 


BRADFIELD  ST.  CLARE, 

Is  so  called  from  the  St.  Cleers  (or  De  Sancto  Claro),  who  were 
ancient  lords  of  this  manor  :  of  this  family  was  Hamo  de  St.  Cleer, 
mentioned  in  the  Pipe  Rolls,  in  the  1st  of  King  Henry  II.,  and 
also  in  the  Register  of  the  Abbey  of  Colchester. 

The  chief  seat  of  Gerebert  de  St.  Cleer  was  situated  in  this  pa- 
rish, within  a  noble  park.  He  lived  in  the  reign  of  Richard  I.  ; 
and  in  the  9th  of  King  John,  sold  lands  at  Marlingford,  in  Nor- 
folk :  in  the  1 6th  of  the  following  reign,  he  conveyed  lands  in  this 
parish,  to  John  de  St.  Cleer,  probably  his  son.  He  deceased  in  the 
37th  of  that  King ;  and  John,  his  son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  who 
held  his  first  court  for  Morley's  manor,  at  Grimston,  in  Norfolk,  in 
the  41st  of  the  same  reign  ;  when  he  is  stated  to  have  held  a  whole 
fee,  and  not  to  have  been  a  Knight. 


710  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

In  the  80th  of  Edward  I.,  John  de  St.  Cleer  did  homage  to  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  for  this  manor.  Guy  de  St.  Cleer  was 
Escheator  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in  the  29th  of  Edward  III.;  and 
Pain  de  St.  Cleer,  released  to  Edward  de  St.  John,  and  Joan  his 
wife,  all  his  right  in,  the  manor  at  Grimston,  in  the  49th  of  that 
reign. 

The  latest  account  we  meet  with  of  this  family  is  in  the  time  of 
Henry  VI.  Sir  Philip  de  St.  Cleer  deceased  in  the  time  of  Henry 
IV.,  lord  of  this  parish,  and  Wethersfield,  in  Suffolk  ;  leaving  a 
widow,  Margaret,  and  two  sons  :  John,  who  died  without  issue,  and 
Thomas,  who  died  in  the  17th  of  Henry  VI. ;  leaving  three  daugh- 
ters, his  co-heirs :  Elizabeth,  Alianora,  and  Editha. 

In  the  17th  of  Kichard  II.,  it  appears  that  Eobert  Monceaux, 
and  Joan  his  wife,  held  this  lordship  during  her  life.  This  Joan 
was  the  daughter  and  heir  of  John,  son  of  Sir  John  Rattlesden, 
lord  of  Fakenham  Aspes,  in  this  county,  and  widow  of  Eobert 
Hovell. 

This  lordship  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Wenyeves,  of 
Brettenham  ;  and  in  1764,  Edward  Wenyeve,  Esq.,  was  owner 
thereof.  It,  with  the  advowson,  now  belongs  to  the  Rev.  Robert 
Davers,  of  Bradfield  St.  George. 

ARMS. — St.  Cleer:  azure;  a  sun  in  his  glory.  Monceaux: 
or ;  a  saltier,  gules  ;  on  a  chief  of  the  same,  three  escallops,  argent. 


BRADFIELD  ST.  GEORGE,  or  MONKS'  BRADFIELD, 

Is  so  called  because  the  Abbot  and  monks  of  St.  Edmund's  were 
owners  of  the  manor  and  advowson,  by  the  grant  of  Earl  Ulf  ketel, 
and  Bishop  Alfric.  At  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  they  were 
granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrook,  Knt. ;  from  -which 
family  they  passed  to  that  of  Davers  ;  and  the  Rev.  Robert  Davers, 
is  the  present  lord,  patron,  and  incumbent,  who  resides  here. 

A  branch  of  the  ancient  and  illustrious  house  of  Bacon  became 
very  early  interested  here.  Robert,  the  fourth  in  descent  from 
Grimbald  (See  p.  497),  appears  to  have  been  the  first  of  that  family 
who  bore  the  name  of  Bacon.  William,  his  brother,  held  under  the 
Abbot  of  Edmund's,  in  this  parish,  and  resided  here. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  711 

In  the  "  Album  Registrum  de  Veatiarii"  mention  is  made  of  a 
deed  of  this  William  Bacon,  concerning  a  tenement  in  Bradfield, 
which  Eddicus  Schute  held  there  ;  and  in  another  smaller  register 
of  St.  Edmund's,  there  is  also  a  deed  of  Abbot  Sampson,  and  this 
William  Bacon,  respecting  arable  lands  in  this  parish.  Abbot 
Sampson  lived  in  the  time  of  King  Richard  I.,  and  John ;  and  in 
the  "  Registrum  Lakynhethe,"  Wido  Bacon  is  said  to  have  held  in 
Monks'  Bradfield,  a  messuage,  &c.,  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's. 

The  above  WTilliam  Bacon  is  also  noticed  among  the  Knights 
bearing  banners,  as  well  Normans  as  of  other  provinces,  in  the  time 
of  Philip  II.,  of  France  ;  and  by  a  daughter  of  Thomas,  Lord  Bar- 
dolph,  was  father  of  another  William,  of  this  parish  ;  whose  son, 
Adam  Bacon,  was  living  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  and  left  two 
sons;  Wido  Bacon,  of  Bradfield,  who  died  without  issue,  and 
Robert  Bacon,  of  the  parish  of  Hesset. 

CHARITIES. — Four  poor  children  belonging  to  this  parish,  are 
sent,  under  Thomas  Sparke's  charity  (See  Rougham),  to  the  school 
on  Bradfield  Green ;  and  instructed  by  the  mistress  thereof,  in 
reading  and  the  catechism.  The  children  are  nominated  by  the 
tenant  of  the  estate  subject  to  the  payment  of  the  charity. 


DRINKSTONE. — DRINGESTON,  or  DRINCESTONA. 

In  1196,  Gilbert  Peche,  a  benefactor  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's, held  two  Knights'  fees  of  that  house,  in  this  parish,  Har- 
leston,  and  Wordwell.  The  bulk  of  the  Peche  inheritance  was  given, 
in  the  12th  of  Edward  I.,  by  Gilbert,  son  and  heir  of  Hugh  Peche, 
to  the  King,  and  Eleanor  his  Queen. 

In  the  9th  of  the  above  reign,  Thomas  de  Lovayne  held  a  lord- 
ship in  this  parish,  hence  called  Lovayne's  manor ;  from  whom  it 
passed  to  the  Bouchiers,  who  married  the  heir  general  of  that  noble 
house :  it  continued  in  the  Bouchiers,  Earls  of  Essex,  for  several 
descents ;  from  whom  it  descended  to  the  family  of  Devereux,  their 
their  successors  in  that  Earldom. 

The  manor  of  Drinkstone  Hall,  to  which  the  advowson  was  ap- 
pendant,  was  the  estate  of  George  Goodday,  Esq.,  of  Fornham  All- 
Saints;  upon  whose  decease,  in  1758,  without  issue,  it  passed  to 


712  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWA8TRE. 

Sarah,  his  sister  and  sole  heir,  the  wife  of  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas 
Moseley,  of  the  city  of  London,  younger  brother  of  Richard  Mose- 
ley,  of  Owsden,  in  Suffolk. 

This  manor,  with  Lovayne's,  extends  over  the  greater  part  of  the 
parish,  and  lately  belonged  to  John  Moseley,  of  Glemham  House, 
in  this  county  ;  hut  in  1841,  were  offered  for  sale  by  public  auction, 
and  purchased  by  John  George  Hart,  Esq.,  for  £7000.  The  ad- 
vowson  was  purchased  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Patteson,  and  since  by 
John  Edgar  Rust,  Esq.,  whose  son,  the  Rev.  Edgar  Rust,  is  the 
present  incumbent  and  patron. 

A  branch  of  the  Bacon  family  were  formerly  concerned  here; 
the  lineal  ancestors  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Knt.,  Lord  Keeper  of 
the  Great  Seal  of  England,  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  :  this 
appears  by  the  following  extract  from  a  grant  of  arms,  dated  Feb. 
22,  1568,  made  by  Sir  Gilbert  Dethick,  Knt.,  Garter  Principal 
King  at  Arms,  to  the  said  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon. 

"Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Knt.,  is  the  second  son  of  Robert  Bacon,  late  of  Drinkstone, 
in  the  Countie  of  Suffolk,  Gent.,  which  Robert  was  son  and  heir  of  John  Bacon, 
son  and  heir  of  John  Bacon,  son  and  heir  of  Walter  Bacon,  of  Drinkstone  aforesaid, 
son  and  heir  of  Robert  Bacon,  who  lived  in  the  times  of  Henry  IV.,  and  King  Henry 
V.,  and  was  High  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  King 
Henry  IV.,  aforesaid,  which  Robert  Bacon  was  son  and  heir  of  Henry  Bacon,  son 
and  heir  of  Adam  Bacon,  son  and  heir  of  John  Bacon,  Knt.,  second  son  of  Sir  Ed- 
mund Bacon  Knt.,  and  heir  to  Dame  Margery,  the  wife  of  Sir  Edmund  Bacon,  Knt., 
daughter  and  heir  of  Robert  Quapludde,  Esq.,  which  Sir  Edmund  was  son,  the  se- 
cond, and  heir  of  William  Bacon,  who  lived  in  the  time  of  the  reign  of  Edward  II., 
where  upon  it  was  granted  to  him  and  his  posterity,  to.  bear  two  several  Coats  of 
Arms  quarterly  ;  the  first  for  Bacon,  gules,  on  a  chief,  silver,  two  mullets,  sable  ; 
the  second,  for  Quapludde,  barry  of  six  pieces,  gold  and  azure,  a  bend,  gules." 

The  eldest  son  of  the  above  Robert  Bacon,  Gent.,  of  this  parish, 
by  Isabella  his  wife,  daughter  of  John  Cage,  of  Pakenham,  in  Suf- 
folk, was  Thomas  Bacon,  of  Northaw,  in  Hertfordshire,  who  died 
without  issue ;  and  their  third,  and  youngest  son,  was  James  Ba- 
con, Alderman  of  London,  father  of  Sir  James  Bacon,  of  Friston, 
in  this  county,  Knt.  The  daughters  of  the  said  Robert  Bacon  were: 
Barbara,  married  to  Robert  Sharp,  and  Anne,  to  Robert  Blackman, 
both  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury. 

The  family  of  Grigby  were  also  owners  of  an  estate  in  Drinkstone. 
Joshua  Grigby,  an  eminent  Solicitor,  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  and 
Town  Clerk  of  that  borough,  was  lord  of  the  manor  of  Gonvile, 
at  Windham,  in  Norfolk,  and  owner  of  this  estate.  He  married,  in 
1 728,  Mary,  daughter  of  Richard  Tubby,  of  Brockdish,  in  Norfolk, 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  718 

Esq.,  and  left  issue,  a  son,  Joshua  Grigby,  Esq.,  and  a  daughter, 
who  married  Samuel  Horsey,  Esq. 

Mr.  Grigby  received  the  early  part  of  his  education  at  the  Gram- 
mar School,  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  from  whence  he  was  removed  to 
Clare  Hall,  Cambridge  ;  where  he  proceeded  to  the  degree  of  LL.B., 
in  1754.  Ho  was  bred  to  the  bar;  and  in  1784,  was  elected,  after 
a  strong  contest,  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Shire  for  this  county. 
He  erected  the  mansion  in  this  parish  about  the  year  1760,  and 
surrounded  it  with  handsome  plantations  ;  and  dying  in  1 798,  was 
interred  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church. 

Joshua  Grigby,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  was 
Deputy  Lieutenant,  and  a  Magistrate  for  this  county,  and  served 
the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  Suffolk,  in  1810.  Mr.  Grigby  was 
twice  married;  namely,  in  1784,  to  Miss  Brackenbury;  and  in 
1827,  to  Anna,  the  second  daughter  of  William  Crawford,  of  Haw- 
leigh  Park,  Esq.  He  deceased  March  6,  1829,  without  issue.  His 
relict  enjoys  the  mansion  and  park,  with  a  handsome  annuity,  de- 
vised out  of  his  estates  ;  which  devolved  to  his  nephew,  John  Har- 
court  Powell,  Esq.,  who  is  the  present  owner. 

ARMS. — Lovayne :  gules  ;  a  fess,  argent,  between  fourteen  bil- 
lets, or.  Grigby :  ermine  ;  on  a  fess,  gules,  between  three  mullets 
of  the  2nd,  an  ox  passant,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — In  1564,  John  Wrenn,  by  deed  of  feoffment,  set- 
tled land  in  this  parish,  now  in  three  closes,  containing  nearly  15 
acres,  to  be  ploughed,  tilled,  and  sown,  by  poor  householders  of 
Drinkstone,  for  their  own  profit.  This  land  lets  at  .£17  10s.  a 
year,  and  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  corn,  which  is  dis- 
tributed among  poor  householders  living  in  the  parish. — Thomas 
Casborne,  by  will,  in  1692,  devised  the  residue  of  his  real  estates 
to  be  disposed  of  for  the  setting  and  keeping  to  work  the  poor  peo- 
ple within  the  parish  of  Drinkstone.  The  property  derived  under 
this  will  consists  of  a  house,  outbuildings,  and  27A.  2R.  26p.  of 
land,  with  other  land,  called  Shortlands,  both  in  this  parish,  which 
let  together  at  the  annual  rents  of  £46  ;  which  is  applied  in  ap- 
prenticing poor  children  of  Drinkstone,  with  premiums  to  each,  of 
between  £20  and  £30. — A  cottage  and  small  garden,  appropriated 
by  usage  to  the  relief  of  poor  widows,  together  with  the  site  of  a 
cottage  which  was  burnt  down,  were  let  in  1814,  for  20  years,  at 
£1  1 5s.  a  year  ;  the  tenant  to  take  down  and  re-build  the  cottage. 
The  rent  is  laid  out  in  coals,  which  are  given  to  poor  widows. — The 


714  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

rents  of  a  piece  of  land,  containing  five  acres,  let  at  £6  6s.  a  year, 
and  a  rent  charge  of  18s.  6d.  a  year,  are  applied  to  the  repairs  of 
the  church. — In  1804,  the  Rev.  Richard  Moseley,  devised  by  will, 
£700  to  be  laid  out  in  3  per  cent.  Consolidated  Annuities  ;  the  di- 
vidends thereof  to  be  applied  for  establishing  and  supporting  a  Sun- 
day-school, and  weekly  day-school,  for  teaching  poor  children  be- 
longing to  or  residing  in  the  parishes  of  Drinkstone  and  Rattlesden, 
to  read  and  write.  This  legacy  has  been  laid  out  in  the  purchase 
of  £1091  3s.  6d.  3  per  cent.  Consols,  and  the  dividends  are  ex- 
pended as  the  testator  directs. 


FELSHAM,  or  FEALSHAM. 

This  was  the  lordship  of  Ulfketel,  Earl  of  the  East  Angles,  which 
he  granted  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's ;  and  in  the  9th  of  Ed- 
ward L,  Edward  Pechee  held  the  same,  in  fee,  of  the  said  house. 

In  1379,  Catherine  de  Brews  held  of  the  King,  in  capite,  half  a 
Knight's  fee  in  this  parish  and  Thorp-Morieux,  half  a  Knight's  fee 
in  Felsham,  called  Old  Hall,  the  third  part  of  a  Knight's  fee  in 
Penibrigge,  called  Pechcroft's,  and  the  same  quantity  in  Felsham 
and  Gedcling,  with  one  Knight's  fee  in  Bradfield  ;  and  William  de 
Ufford,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  the  son  of  Margaret,  the  sister  of  Thomas 
de  Norwich,  the  father  of  the  said  Catherine,  was  her  next  heir, 
aged  36  years. 

The  lordship  was  lately  vested  in  John  Haynes  Harrison,  Esq., 
a  Major  in  the  army ;  and  by  the  last  returns,  Felsham  Hall  be- 
longed to  William  Luard,  of  Witham,  in  Essex.  The  present  in- 
cumbent is  Thomas  Anderson,  on  his  own  petition. 

John  Reynolds,  Esq.,  had  an  estate  and  residence  in  this  parish ; 
who  was  High.  Sheriff  for  this  county,  in  1735,  and  deceased  in 
1759.  He  was  au  eccentric  person,  and  erected  a  mausoleum,  in 
a  meadow  a  short  distance  from  the  parish  church,  for  the  reception 
of  his  remains,  owing  to  a  dispute  with  the  rector,  and  with  the  view 
to  deprive  him  of  his  accustomed  fee. 

ARMS. — Reynolds:  azure;  a  chevron,  ermine,  between  three 
cross  crosslets,  fitchey,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  and  poor's  estate  consists  of  a  messuage 
in  this  parish,  called  the  Church-house,  used  as  a  poor  house ;  and 


HUNDRED  OF  THE DWASTRE.  715 

8£  acres  of  land  in  the  same  parish,  let  at  £25  a  year :  twenty  acres 
of  land,  with  a  barn  thereon,  in  the  parish  of  Buxhall,  let  at  £25 
per  annum  :  half  an  acre  of  land  in  Drinkstoue,  formerly  used  as  a 
stone  quarry,  but  at  present  unprofitable :  a  messuage,  or  baker's 
shop,  and  garden,  in  Brackland  street,  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  rent 
£10  a  year,  under  a  building  lease.  The  rents  are  received  by  the 
rector,  as  treasurer  to  the  charity,  and  applied  in  conformity  with 
the  trust ;  the  sum  of  £10  being  laid  out  in  bread,  which  is  distri- 
buted on  Sundays  among  poor  persons  ;  and  the  residue,  subject  to 
the  repair  of  the  premises  and  other  outgoings,  being  appropriated 
to  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the  payment  of  the  churchwar- 
dens' expenses. 


FORNHAM  ST.  GENOVEVE,  or  GENEVIEVE. 

This  lordship  was  parcel  of  the  possession  of  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's  ;  and  at  the  suppression  of  that  Monastery,  was  granted 
to  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  Kut.,  of  Hen  grave  Hall ;  and  passed,  with 
his  other  large  possessions,  to  the  Gage  family ;  from  whom  it 
passed  to  that  of  Gipps. 

In  1721,  Richard  Gipps,  of  Badley,  Esq.,  sold  this  estate  to 
Edward  Whi taker,  Esq.,  Serjeant- at-Law  ;  of  whom  Samuel  Kent, 
Esq.,  purchased  the  same,  in  1731.  Mr.  Kent  represented  the  bo- 
rough of  Ipswich  in  Parliament  for  several  years,  was  Purveyor  of 
Chelsea  Hospital,  and  High  Sheriff  of  Surrey,  in  1730.  He  was 
son  of  Thomas  Kent,  an  eminent  Norway  merchant. 

Mary,  his  only  surviving  child,  married  Sir  Charles  Egerton, 
Knt,  High  Sheriff  of  the  city  of  London,  in  1743  ;  and  left  an  only 
son,  Charles  Egerton,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  who  assumed  the  sur- 
name of  Kent,  in  compliance  with  the  will  of  his  grand-father ;  and 
was  created  a  Baronet,  in  1782.  Sir  Charles  sold  this  estate,  in 
1789,  to  Bernard  Howard,  Esq. ;  who,  in  1815,  succeeded  to  the 
Dukedom  of  Norfolk.  He  deceased  March  16,  1842;  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  only  son,  the  13th  and  present  Duke  of  Norfolk, 
of  the  house  of  Howard,  who  inherited  this  estate. 

Fornham  Hall,  the  occasional  residence  and  favourite  retreat  of 
the  late  noble  Duke,  was  almost  entirely  re-built  by  him.  It  is 
pleasantly  situated,  but,  from  the  nature  of  the  country,  does  not 


716  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

boast  much  variety  of  scenery.  Two  private  engravings  of  this  man- 
sion, by  Mr.  W.  B.  Cooke,  from  drawings  by  Mr.  Thomas  Wright, 
were  executed  at  the  cost  of  the  Rev.  Frederick  Henry  Turner  Barn- 
well,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury. 

This  estate  was  brought  to  the  hammer  on  the  19th  of  July,  1843 ; 
comprising  the  mansion,  park,  and  pleasure  grounds,  advowson  of 
Fornham  St.  Martin,  two  villa  residences,  a  water  corn  mill,  forty 
cottages,  and  upwards  of  1600  acres  of  wood,  pasture,  and  arable 
land.  It  was  knocked  down  to  Lord  Manners,  for  the  sum  of 
£75,500,  exclusive  of  the  timber.  His  lordship  is  only  child  of  the 
late  Sir  Thomas  Manners -Sutton,  Baron  Manners,  of  Foston,  in  the 
county  of  Lincoln,  formerly  Lord  Chancellor  of  Ireland ;  and  suc- 
ceeded to  the  Peerage  upon  the  decease  of  his  father,  May  31,  1842. 

The  church  was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
last  century,  from  the  circumstance  of  a  lad  shooting  at  a  bird  on 
the  roof;  and  nothing  remains  but  a  ruin  In  the  "  Church  Notes" 
of  the  late  Sir  John  Cullum,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Martin,  the  latter  of 
whom  visited  this  place,  in  1759,  it  is  described  as  having  "  a  square 
low  steeple,  three  bells,  boarded  shaft  and  weathercock,  church  and 
chancel  both  of  an  height,  and  thatched,  a  porch  on  the  south  side, 
and  an  old  coffer  in  the  steeple." 

There  were  within  the  church  memorials  of  "  Tyldesley,"  de- 
scended from  a  family  of  the  same  name  and  place,  in  Lancaster, 
dated  1727,  1728,  1729,  and  1733.  Some  flat  stones  to  the  names 
of  Cropley,  and  Markes,  from  1693  to  1717;  two  small  brasses 
lost.  In  the  church-yard,  some  persons  named  Short,  were  buried, 
between  1604  and  1731,  who  lived  here,  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's, 
and  neighbouring  places  ;  one  was  Physician  to  King  Charles  II. 
Here  also  rest  the  remains  of  Alicia,  widow  of  Robert  Plampin, 
Esq.,  of  Chadacre  Hall,  in  this  county,  and  formerly  wife  of  Lord 
Chief  Baron  Reynolds  ;  she  died  in  1776.  Among  the  marriages 
in  the  register,  is  the  following : — "  1760,  December  30th,  William 
Beale  Brand,  Esq.,  and  Ann  Smyth."  This  lady  was  the  daughter 
of  Sir  Robert  Smyth,  Bart.,  of  Isfield,  in  Sussex,  and  of  Lady 
Louisa  Hervey,  his  wife,  daughter  of  John,  1st  Earl  of  Bristol. 

Lieutenant  John  Coswell,  of  the  71st  regiment,  who  bravely  fell 
whilst  leading  on  his  company  to  charge  the  enemy,  through  the 
village  of  Elf'ueutes  D 'Honor,  in  Portugal,  was  the  only  son  of  the 
late  Mr.  Thomas  Coswell,  of  this  parish.  This  gallant  young  officer 
had  been  in  nine  different  actions  since  his  entrance  into  the  army. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  717 

from  the  West  Suffolk  Militia ;  having  served  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  Buenos  Ayres,  Monte  Video,  and  at  the  battles  of  Vimiera, 
and  Corunna  ;  at  the  Island  of  Walcheren  ;  and  in  the  last  engage- 
ments in  Portugal,  where  he  fell  May  3,  1811,  in  the  28th  year  of 
his  age.  A  tablet  recording  his  memory  is  placed  on  the  north  side 
of  the  church  of  Fornham  All-Saints. 

.  In  1826,  a  most  curious  discovery  was  made  in  this  parish:  a 
pollard  ash  was  felled  near  the  church,  which  had  the  appearance  of 
great  antiquity,  being  18  feet  in  girth,  much  decayed,  and  standing 
on  an  hillock,  which  seemed  to  have  been  left  at  a  distant  period, 
when  the  rest  of  the  soil  round  it  had  been  lowered.  On  its  fall, 
the  ground  was  torn  up  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  immediately 
under  the  trunk,  many  skeletons  were  found,  lying  in  a  circle,  with 
the  heads  inwards,  piled  on  tiers  from  the  depth  of  four  feet ;  but 
it  is  remarkable  that  no  warlike  instruments  were  found.  It  is  well 
known  that  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  in  1173,  this  village  was  the 
scene  of  a  sanguinary  and  decisive  battle :  it  is  therefore  probable 
that  these  were  the  slain  of  the  victorious  party,  from  the  careful 
yet  singular  manner  in  which  the  bodies  were  deposited.  Single 
bodies,  bones,  and  remnants  of  arms,  and  armour,  have  been  not 
(infrequently  found  in  the  same  neighbourhood.  In  clearing  out , 
the  river  a  few  years  ago,  a  ring  was  found,  exactly  answering  the 
description  of  one  related  to  have  been  lost  by  the  Countess  of  Lei- 
cester, in  her  flight,  after  this  battle. 

CHARITIES. — A  rent  charge  of  £3  8s.  a  year,  from  Culford  lands, 
the  property  of  the  Duke  of  Norfolk;  with  a  dole  of  10s.  from 
lands  in  Fornham  All- Saints,  late  the  property  of  Edward  Mower, 
deceased;  £l  from  the  manor  of  Lackford,  under  Lady  Kytson's 
gift ;  and  a  piece  of  cloth  for  a  coat,  and  a  piece  of  stuff  for  a  gown, 
are  usually  sent  alternate  years,  from  the  same  charity.  The  doles 
are  expended  in  clothing,  in  blankets,  and  coals. 


FORNHAM  ST.  MARTIN. 

This,  as  the  foregoing  parish,  continued  in  the  hands  of  St.  Ed- 
mund until  the  dissolution  of  the  Abbey ;  and  in  the  following  year 
was  purchased  by  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  Knt :  it  lately  belonged  to 
Henry  Charles,  Duke  of  Norfolk ;  his  Grace's  father  having  ac- 


718  HUNDRED  OF  THEtWASTRE. 

quired  the  same,  in  1815,  from  the  late  Sir  Charles  Egleton  Kent, 
Bart. ;  being  part  of  the  property  bought  with  Lackford,  from  Philip 
Holman,  Esq.,  in  1760,  by  Samuel  Kent,  Esq.;  who  had  it  from 
Sir  William  Gage,  of  Firle,  in  Sussex,  Bart. 

The  family  of  Boldero  were  settled  in  this  parish  in  the  time  of 
Henry  VII.  In  the  10th  of  that  reign,  John  Boldero,  of  Fornham 
St.  Martin,  leased  the  manor  of  Great  Horningsherth,  of  William, 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church,  and  ma- 
norial rights,  for  14  years  ;  at  a  rent,  payable  to  the  Cellarist,  of 

20  quarters  of  wheat,  20  quarters  of  malt,  and  20  quarters  of  peas, 
beside  faggots,  brushwood,  and  straw. 

Edmund  Boldero,  of  this  parish,  married  Elizabeth  Smythye ; 
who  survived,  and  re-married  to  Roger  Cocksall,  whose  widow  she 
was  in  the  34th  of  Henry  VIII. ;  and  purchased  Babwell  Friary, 
and  died  seized  thereof  in  the  4th  and  5th  of  Philip  and  Mary ; 
when  John  Boldero,  of  Fornham  St.  Martin,  her  eldest  son  and 
heir,  by  her  first  husband,  inherited  the  same,  with  the  Fornham 
estate  ;  and  died  seized  thereof  in  the  26th  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

By  his  testament,  dated  19th  March,  1582,  he  confirms  a  will, 
or  disposition,  executed  by  him,  of  Babwell  Friary  ;  and  after  giving 
various  pecuniary  and  specific  bequests  to  the  numerous  branches 
of  his  family  therein  named,  appoints  his  son-in-law,  Roger  Barker, 
his  nephew,  John  Gipps,  and  his  sons,  John  and  George  Boldero, 
executors.  Edmund,  the  eldest  son  and  heir,  took  the  estate  of  his 
father  in  this  parish.  The  site  of  the  Friary,  with  the  lands  be- 
longing to  it,  in  Fornham  All- Saints,  passed  to  his  son  George. 
This  Edmund  Boldero  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Edmund 
Page,  of  Finningham  ;  and  deceased  the  45th  of  Queen  Elizabeth, 
leaving  John  Boldero,  of  Couyers,  in  Barton,  his  son  and  heir,  aged 

21  years  at  the  time  of  his  father's  decease.     Elizabeth,  his  widow, 
re-married  John  Gold,  who  was  living  in  the  8th  of  James  I. 

Henry  Ord,*  Esq.,  inherited  a  good  estate  here,  by  his  marriage 
with  Anne,  only  child  of  Francis  Hutchiuson,  Esq.,  of  this  parish, 
by  Ann,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Anthony  Craven,  of  Lench- 
wyke,  Bart.  He  deceased  in  1755,  and  was  buried  at  Hampstead ; 
Anne,  his  widow,  survived  him  38  years,  and  died  April  4,  1794, 

*  Craven  Ord,  Esq.,  of  Greenstead  Hall,  Essex,  for  some  years  a  Vice-President 
of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  a  younger  brother  of  Dr.  Ord,  was  a  distinguished 
member  of  this  family.  For  an  account  of  the  sale  of  his  very  valuable  historical 
Manuscripts,  see  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  vol.  xcix.  2.  65  ;  and  vol.  c.  1.  254  ; 
and  hit  Obituary,  vol.  cii.  1.  469. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  719 

aged  82  years,  at  her  house  in  James  street,  Bedford-row ;  and  was 
buried  at  Barnet,  Hants.  Mr.  Ord  was  of  the  King's  Remem- 
brancer's Office,  in  the  Exchequer. 

The  Rev.  John  Ord,  D.D.,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded  to  this  estate. 
He  was  rector  of  Burgh  and  Ickburgh,  Norfolk  :  formerly  of  Christ 
College,  Cambridge,  and  many  years  one  of  the  four  Chairmen  at 
the  Quarter  Sessions  for  Suffolk.  Dr.  Ord  deceased  Sept.  8,  1816, 
and  was  interred  in  this  church-yard.  His  grand-son,  John  Thomas 
Ord,  Esq.,  is  the  present  owner  of  this  estate,  and  resides  in  a  neat 
mansion  here,  called  Fornham  House. 

The  manor  and  advowson  were  included  in  the  purchase  lately 
made  by  Lord  Manners,  of  the  foregoing  parish  of  Fomham  St. 
Genevieve. 

Prior  to  the  dissolution  of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund,  the  wills 
of  this  neighbourhood  were  generally  proved  in  this  parish  church, 
as  the  Abbot  would  not  allow  the  Archdeacon  of  Sudbury,  or  his 
deputy,  to  exercise  any  act  of  authority  within  the  town  of  St. 
Edmund's  Bury. 

CHARITIES. — A  dole  of  £2,  is  received  from  Lackford  manor, 
given  by  Lady  Kytson;  10s.  from  Ampton manor;  10s.  from  Forn- 
ham ;  10s.  from  Mr.  Ord's  estate;  and  the  same  sum  from  land 
late  Vardy's,  and  afterwards  Mower's.  A  coat  and  gown  are  sent 
usually  alternate  years,  under  Lady  Kytson's  donation,  and  given 
to  poor  persons.  A  piece  of  ground,  containing  2R.  14p.,  was  al- 
lotted on  the  inclosure,  in  lieu  of  old  town  property :  this  is  inter- 
mixed with  the  Duke  of  Norfolk's  estate,  and  as  rent  thereof,  he 
pays  £1  a  year.  The  rent  of  a  cottage,  called  the  Church-house, 
was  formerly  received  by  the  churchwardens,  and  applied  in  the  re- 
paration of  the  church  ;  but  since  its  reparation  at  the  expense  of 
the  rector,  the  rents  have  been  retained  by  him,  for  re-imbursement. 


GEDDING,  or  GELDINGA. 

The  ancient  house  of  Geddyng  derive  their  name  from  this  parish ; 
of  whom  was  Sir  John  de  Geddyng,  Knight  of  the  Shire  in  the 
1st  of  Edward  L,  and  the  same  who  gave  evidence  respecting  the 
heir  of  the  house  of  Blakeham,  in  the  25th  of  that  King;  whose 
deposition  was,  that  he  was  then  aged  fifty  years,  dwelling  six  leagues 


720  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

from  Chelsworth,  and  that  the  said  Benedict,  son  of  Benedict  de 
Blakeham,  was  21  years  of  age  on  the  morrow  of  the  Nativity  of 
St.  John  the  Baptist  last ;  and  that  he  was  born  at  Chelsworth,  and 
baptized  in  the  church  there.  And  being  asked  how  he  knew  this; 
said,  that  Robert  de  Geddyng,  parson  of  the  same  church,  was  his 
uncle,  and  died  four  days  after  the  birth  of  the  said  Benedict ;  and 
that  he,  Sir  John,  was  heir  of  the  said  parson,  and  that  it  was  21 
years  and  more  since  his  death. 

The  ancestors  of  Sir  John  Geddyng  held  this  lordship,  and  lands 
in  Brettenham,  in  the  7th  of  Richard  I.,  if  not  earlier.  He  appears 
to  have  been  the  last  of  the  family  concerned  here ;  this  branch 
having  terminated  in  heirs  general.  Collateral  branches  however 
became  seated  at  Foisted,  Little  Saxham,  Lackford,  and  various 
other  places  in  this  county. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  VI.,  the  family  of  Chamberlain  were 
resident  here;  of  whom  was  Sir  William  Chamberlain,  K.G.,  a 
warrior  of  great  bravery  and  renown  during  that  reign.  He  mar- 
ried Anne,  only  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Sir  Robert  Herling,  of 
East  Herliug,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.  He  died  without  issue,  in  1462, 
and  was  interred  under  a  stately  monument,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  chancel  of  East  Herling  church ;  which  edifice  is  supposed  to 
have  been  re-built  by  him,  about  1449.  His  lady  survived,  and 
re-married  to  Sir  Robert  Wingfield,  Knt,  Comptroller  of  the  House- 
hold to  King  Edward  IV. ;  and  afterwards,  to  John,  Lord  Scroop. 
Sir  Robert  Chamberlain  was  concerned  here,  in  1454,  and  subse- 
quently other  members  of  that  house. 

This  Sir  Robert  Chamberlain,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
and  heir  of  John  Fitz  Ralph,  was  son  of  Sir  Roger  Chamberlain, 
Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in  the  19th  of  Henry  VI.,  by  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  John  Martin,  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  son 
of  Ralph  Chamberlain,  who  lived  in  this  parish  in  the  time  of  Henry 
IV. ;  eldest  son  of  Roger  Chamberlain,  of  Stoke  by  Nayland,  where 
his  ancestors  originated,  and  long  held  a  lordship  of  the  same  name. 

In  1735,  a  member  of  the  Bokenham  family  held  this  lordship, 
and  was  seated  here  ;  and  in  1764,  his  daughters  and  co-heirs  in- 
herited the  same ;  it  subsequently  became  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Mary 
Johnson,  daughter  of  Christopher  L'Estrange,  by  Isa  his  wife, 

daughter  of Harvey,  of  Cockfield,    and  relict  of  Samuel 

Johnson,  Esq.     Gedding  Hall  and  manor  now  belongs  to  Thomas 
L'Estrange  Ewen,  Esq.,  of  Dedham,  in  Essex. 


HUNDRED  OF  TMEUWASTKE.  721 

ARMS. — Geddyng:  checquy,  argent  and  gules ;  on  a  fess,  azure, 
three  buckles,  or.  Chamberlain,  of  Stoke  by  Nayland:  argent, 
fretty ;  on  a  chief,  sable,  three  torteaux.  Chamberlain,  of  East 
Herling :  gules ;  a  chevron  between  three  escallops,  or ;  with  a 
label  of  three  points. 


HESSET. — HEDGSETT,  or  HETESETA. 

This  manor,  with  the  advowson  appendant,  became  vested  in  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  by  the  grant  of  Earl  Ulfketel,  and  con- 
tinued so  until  the  suppression  of  that  house  by  King  Henry  VIII. ; 
who  in  the  32nd  of  his  reign,  granted  the  same  to  Thomas  Bacon, 
Esq.,  whose  ancestors  had  been  previously  seated  here  for  many  ages. 

This  branch  of  the  house  of  Bacon  derives  fiom  that  previously 
seated  in  the  neighbouring  parish  of  Bradfield  St.  George.  Robert, 
second  sou  of  Adam  Bacon,  who  lived  there  in  the  time  of  Edward 
I ,  appears  to  have  been  the  first  member  of  that  family  who  be- 
came seated  at  Hesset.  John  Bacon,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 

/ 

fourth  generation,  married  Helena,  daughter  of  Sir  George  Tillott, 
Knt.,  of  Rougham,  in  Norfolk;  and  secondly,  Julian,  daughter  of 
Berdewell. 

The  issue  by  the  former  marriage  removed  to  Drinkstone,  whilst 
those  of  the  latter  continued  to  reside  in  this  parish  ;  and  in  the 
reign  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  Robert  Bacon,  Knt.,  married  Isabella, 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Bartholomew  D'Avilers,  of  Arwarton, 
in  this  county  ;  after  which  marriage  this  branch  of  the  family  as- 
sumed the  ARMS  of  that  of  D'Avilers:  argent;  three  escutcheons, 
gules :  with  this  augmentation, — on  a  fess,  engrailed,  as  many 
mullets,  or. 

Edmund  Bacon,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Richard  Oornwallis,  Esq.,  and  had  issue  eight  sons,  and  as  many 
daughters.  She  deceased  Dec.  25th,  1624;  and  her  husband  the 
9th  of  Feb.  next  following.  Henry  Bacon,  Esq.,  their  third  son, 
succeeded  to  this  property;  and  deceased  without  issue,  in  1651 ; 
when  Lionel  Bacon,  Esq.,  their  fifth  son,  succeeded ;  and  died  also 
without  issue,  in  1653;  and  it  appears  this  estate  became  the  in- 
heritance of  his  surviving  sisters  and  co-heirs.  Elizabeth,  the 
eldest,  married  Calibut  Walpole,  Esq.,  of  Houghton,  in  Norfolk ; 


722  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

ancestor  of  the  Earls  of  Orford.     Anne,  another  daughter,  married 
John  Aldrich,  Gent. 

Robert  Walpole,  Esq.,  deceased  in  1812,  and  is  huried  in  the 
church  of  the  adjoining  parish  of  Beighton,  where  he  resided  upon 
his  own  estate,  which  extended  partly  into  this  parish  ;  and  which 
was  probably  acquired  by  him  as  a  descendant  of  the  above  Calibut, 
and  Elizabeth  Walpole. 

The  family  of  Aldrich  were  owners  of  the  lordship  and  advowson 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  17th  century.  Thomas  Aldrich,  Esq.,  of 
this  parish,  who  derives  from  a  Staffordshire  family  of  that  name, 
deceased  in  1691,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church.  By  Eli- 
zabeth his  wife,  daughter  of  William  Cropley,  Esq.,  he  had  issue,  a 
son,  Thomas  Aldrich,  Esq.,  lord  and  patron  of  Hesset;  who  died 
in  1729,  and  was  also  buried  here. 

It  subsequently  became  the  property  of  the  Leheup  family,  by 
purchase ;  and  so  continued  until  the  decease  of  Michael  Peter, 
only  son  of  Michael  William  Leheup,  Esq.,  in  1838,  without  issue; 
when  it  passed  to  the  issue  of  Merielina  Agnes,  his  sister,  late  wife 
of  the  Eev.  Thomas  Ellis  Rogers,  rector  of  this  parish  and  Lack- 
ford  ;  and  Michael  Edward  Rogers,  Esq.,  their  only  son,  is  the 
present  proprietor. 

The  family  mansion  of  the  Leheups,  in  this  parish,  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  never  re-built.     They  afterwards  resided  at  St.  Ed- 
mund's Bury.     The  church  is  a  handsome  structure,  the  work  of  a 
member  of  the  Bacon  family ;    and  John  Hoo,  and  Katherine  his 
wife,  erected  a  chapel  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel ;    at  the  east 
end  of  which,  in  the  church-yard,  are  the  remains  of  an  old  tomb, 
inscribed  with  this  distich,  as  given  in  "  Magna  Britannica  :" 
REDENF.S  RECTOR,  ORES,  PRO  QUO  ROGO  LECTOR 
VERMIBUS  HIC  PONOR,  sic  TRANAT  OMMS  HONOR. 

Near  the  south  porch  entrance  stands  an  ancient  holly  tree,  said 
to  have  been  planted  by  a  member  of  the  Bacon  family  ;  several  of 
whom  lie  interred  beneath  its  shade.  It  has  attained  an  immense 
size,  the  trunk  measuring  six  feet  in  circumferance,  and  was  for- 
merly a  very  handsome  object,  but  is  now  fast  approaching  to  de- 
cay. The  village  is  supplied  with  water  from  a  spring  that  takes 
its  rise  in  the  church-yard. 

ARMS. — Aldrich:  vert;  on  a  fess,  or,  a  bull  passant,  of  the 
field.  Leheup  :  gules ;  three  bee-hives,  beset  with  bees,  diversely 
volant,  or. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  723 

CHARITIES. — The  following  lands  and  tenements,  held  under 
deeds  of  a  very  ancient  date,  in  trust,  partly  for  the  use  of  the  poor, 
and  partly  for  the  common  good  and  benefit  of  the  town  of  Hesset, 
have  long  been  under  the  care  and  controul  of  the  churchwardens  : 
a  field,  called  Holden's  (or  Heath  Close),  containing  2  acres; 
Cloyton  Close,  IA.  2R. ;  Watson's  Orchard,  3R. ;  a  close,  called  Hin- 
derslay's,  2A.  ;  the  Town  Grove,  SA.  ;  the  Town  Close,  and  a  parcel 
of  land  formerly  taken  in  exchange  for  land  called  Blackditch,  con- 
taining together,  2A.  SR.  ;  the  Town,  or  Clock  Yard,  IR.  :  total, 
12A.  IR.,  producing  an  aggregate  rental  of  £16  16s.  6d.  A  portion 
of  which  is  distributed  yearly,  at  Christmas,  among  poor  persons, 
in  money  and  bread ;  and  the  residue  is  carried  to  the  churchwar- 
dens' general  account. — A  messuage,  called  the  Guildhall,  and  four 
cottages,  used  as  poor  houses,  occupied  rent  free. — The  sum  of 
£200,  Old  South  Sea  Annuities,  part  of  the  sum  of  £335  10s., 
mentioned  in  the  report  of  Sir  Jeffery  Burwell's  charity,  for  the 
parish  of  Rougham,  stands  in  the  name  of  the  Accountant  General 
of  the  Court  of  Chancery,  in  trust  for  the  poor  of  Hesset.  The 
dividends  are  received  once  in  four  years,  and  distributed,  in  money, 
among  the  poor  of  the  parish,  at  the  discretion  of  the  minister  and 
churchwardens. 


LIVERMERE  MAGNA,  or  LIUELMERA. 

The  Abbot  and  Convent  at  Ely  held  a  manor  in  this  parish,  in 
1045  ;  and  Wilfric,  the  6th  Abbot  of  that  house,  privately  made 
over  the  same  to  Gudmund,  his  brother.  The  monks  re-claimed 
the  same  ;  and  Thurston,  his  successor,  prosecuted  their  claim,  and 
came  to  an  agreement  that  Gudmund  should  enjoy  it  for  life.  In 
the  interim  the  Norman  invasion  occurred,  and  Hugh  de  Montford, 
who  accompanied  the  Conqueror  as  Standard  Bearer,  obtained  pos- 
session of  the  same  ;  and  withheld  it  from  the  Monastery. 

Humphrey  Fitz  Drogo  held  a  Knight's  fee  in  Great  Livermere, 
and  the  church  was  in  his  gift.  He  also  had  lands  in  Rougham. 
This  Humphrey,  and  Richard  his  brother,  were  witnesses 'to  the 
charter  of  confirmation,  which  Hugh,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's, 
made  to  William  Fitz  Leo,  of  the  manor  of  Hengrave,  in  the  reign 
of  King  Richard  I. 


724  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

In  1 1 84,  Thomas  de  Mendham,  of  Mendham  Hall,  in  Suffolk, 
held  a  Knight's  fee  in  this  parish.  He  appears  to  have  exercised 
the  office  of  Constable  of  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund  ;  and  pro- 
hahly  held  the  same  of  the  Abbot  of  that  house. 

Bromhill  manor,  in  this  parish,  was  anciently  in  the  Thelnetham 
family ;  Matthew  de  Thelnetham  was  lord  thereof  in  the  time  of 
Henry  III. ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  that  of  Bokenham,  by  the 
marriage  of  Julian,  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  de  Thelnetham, 
with  Hugh,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Hugh  de  Bokenham,  of  Snet- 
terton,  in  Norfolk.  Julian  survived,  and  held  a  life  interest  in  this 
estate;  and  in  1385,  she  and  her  trustees,  settled  the  same  on 
Hugh  her  son,  on  his  marriage  with  Joan,  daughter  of  Kobert 
Ashfield,  Esq. ;  who  died  about  1393  ;  and  in  1399,  the  trustees 
covenanted  to  settle  the  same  on  Hugh,  and  Joan,  daughter  of  Sir 
John  Brewse,  Knt.,  and  their  heirs  male ;  reserving  Julian's  life 
interest  in  it. 

This  Hugh  died  prior  to  1425,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been 
buried  in  this  parish  church,  under  an  altar  tomb  formerly  to  be 
seen  there,  at  the  north  end  of  the  communion  table  ;  from  which 
two  brass  figures  are  engraved  in  the  "  Antiquarian  Eepertory," 
Vol.  4  :  or  it  may  have  been  in  memory  of  another  Hugh  Boken- 
ham, who  married  Emme,  daughter  of  Kobert  Scarke,  who  died  in 
1467,  and  was  buried  here ;  and  gave  this  manor  to  Emme  his 
wife,  for  her  life. 

This  estate  continued  in  the  Bokenham  family  for  several  ages  ; 
many  of  whom  resided  here.  Thomas  Bokenham,  Esq.,  of  this 
parish,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Jenoure,  of  Great 
Dunmow,  in  Essex;  and  deceased  in  1535,  leaving  issue  by  this 
lady,  John  and  Dorothy.  Elizabeth  survived,  and  re-married  to 
Richard  Codington,  Esq.,  of  Ixworth;  and  held  this  estate  during 
her  life. 

John,  her  only  son,  and  the  last  male  heir  of  this  ancient  house, 
married  Lucy,  daughter  of  Sir  Clement  Heigham,  of  Barrow,  Knt.; 
and  deceased  in  1551,  without  issue  ;  when  Dorothy,  his  only  sister 
and  heir,  inherited.  She  married  Thomas  Carryll,  of  Sussex,  Esq., 
and  died  in  1560;  her  husband,  in  1563;  leaving  Sir  John  Carryll, 
of  Warnham,  in  that  county,  their  son  and  heir;  who,  in  1577,  had 
livery  of  this  manor. 

A  branch  of  the  Claxton  family,  soon  after  this,  became  inter- 
ested here ;  it  is  supposed  by  the  marriage  of  Hamon  Claxton,  Esq., 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  725 

with  Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  Clarke,  of  Oakley,  in  Somerset- 
shire. He  was  second  son  of  William  Claxton,  Esq.,  of  Chediston, 
in  Blithiug  hundred,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  John  Throg- 
morton,  of  Allhallows,  in  South  Elmham.  Mrs.  Anne  Claxton 
died  in  1605,  and  was  buried  at  St.  Mary's,  in  Coslany,  in  Norwich; 
and  Haraond  Claxton,  Esq.,  her  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded  to 
this  property. 

He  married  Phillippa,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Bacon,  Bart., 
of  Redgrave;  and  deceased  in  1671 ;  when  Maurice,  their  son,  in- 
herited ;  who  married  Dorothy,  youngest  daughter  of  Sir  Henry 
Felton,  Bart.,  of  Playford ;  by  whom  he  had  an  only  child,  Eliza- 
beth Claxton;  who  died  in  1683.  Maurice  Claxton,  Esq.,  her 
father,  deceased  in  1687  ;  Dorothy  his  wife,  re-married  to  Sir  John 
Poley,  Knt.,  of  Boxstead,  and  survived  until  1713.  The  above 
members  of  this  family  were  all  interred  within  the  altar  rails  of 
this  parish  church. 

This  estate  subsequently  became  the  property  of  Baptist  Lee, 
Esq.,  by  purchase ;  he  deceased  in  1768,  and  devised  the  same  to 
Nathaniel  Lee  Acton,  Esq.,  who  deceased  in  1836,  seized  thereof; 
and  it  passed  to  his  eldest  sister  and  heiress,  who  survived  him  but 
a  few  months ;  when  it  became  the  inheritance  of  his  next  sister, 
Harriet,  Lady  Middleton,  relict  of  Sir  William  Fowle  Middleton, 
Bart.,  late  of  Shrubland  Park,  who  is  now  owner. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  John  Chetham,  Gent.,  was  a 
resident  in  this  parish.  He  was  patron  of  the  rectory  of  Oxburgh, 
in  Norfolk;  conveyed  to  him  in  the  19th  of  that  reign,  by  John 
Hethe,  of  Lynn  Regis,  in  that  county.  Mr.  Chetham  gave  the  ad- 
vowson  of  Little  Eversden,  in  Cambridgeshire,  to  Queen's  College, 
Cambridge,  in  1572;  in  consideration  whereof  he,  and  his  heirs, 
were  to  nominate  to  one  of  the  smaller  scholarships  there.  A  me- 
morial, in  brass,  to  Katherine  his  wife,  remains  in  the  chancel  of 
this  parish  church.  She  died  January  2,  1577. 

It  also  contains  a  flat  stone,  without  inscription,  but  inlaid  with 
a  brass  shield,  that  bears  the  ARMS  and  crest  of  Clarke  :  or ;  two 
bars,  azure ;  in  chief,  three  escallops,  gules  :  most  likely  in  memory 
of  Thomas  Clarke,  Esq.,  whose  daughter  married  Hamond  Claxton, 
as  above  stated.  It  has  also  memorials  to  several  former  rectors  ; 
among  whom  may  be  noticed  William  Martin,  who  died  in  1727, 
father  of  that  well-known  antiquary,  "  honest  Tom  Martin,"  of  Pal- 
grave  ;  also  to  Joseph  Lathbury,  who  died  in  1775  ;  to  Joseph,  his 


726  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

son,  who  died  in  1804  ;  some  of  whose  classical  criticisms  may  be 
seen  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  Vol.  38,  p.p.  224,  379  ;  and 
to  Peter  Lathbury,  his  nephew,  who  deceased  in  1820. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  is  consolidated  with  that  of 
Little  Livermere  ;  the  patronage  is  annexed  to  the  manors,  and  the 
present  incumbent  is  the  Kev.  Augustus  Asgill  Colville,  third  son 
of  Kobert  Colville,  Esq ,  and  Amelia  his  wife,  eldest  daughter  of 
Sir  Charles  Asgill,  Bart.,  Alderman  of  the  city  of  London. 

ARMS. — Bokenham:  (seep. 491.)  Lee:  argent;  a  fess,  sable; 
two  pellets  in  chief,  and  a  martlet  in  base,  of  the  second. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate,  of  which  the  original  donation, 
or  purchase,  is  unknown,  consists  of  four  tenements,  with  a  croft 
adjoining,  containing  IA.  2R. :  these  tenements  were  rebuilt  by  Mr. 
Lee  Acton,  at  his  own  expense,  in  1792,  and  are  occupied  by  poor 
widows,  rent  free  :  three  tenements,  with  gardens,  containing  nearly 
half  an  acre  of  ground,  let  at  £9  a  year :  two  inclosures,  called  the 
Town  Fields  ;  21  acres  of  land,  called  the  Clay  Pit ;  4A.  2R.,  and 
another  piece  of  land,  in  this  parish,  containing  IA.  IR.  These 
lands  are  partly  intermixed  with  the  late  Mr.  Lee  Acton's  property, 
who  held  the  whole  at  the  yearly  rental  of  £30  ;  which  is  expended 
in  the  purchase  of  coals,  blankets,  and  clothing  for  the  poor. 


PAKENHAM. — PACKENHAM,  or  PACHENHAM. 

This  lordship  and  advowson  became  vested  in  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's,  by  the  gift  of  Edward  the  Confessor ;  and  was  held  in 
fee  of  the  said  Convent,  by  a  distinguished  family,  who  derived  their 
name  from  this  parish.  The  earliest  we  meet  with  is  John  de  Pa- 
kenham,  Steward  to  the  Bishop  of  Ely  in  the  37th  of  Henry  III. 

Of  this  personage  Blomefield,  the  Norfolk  historian,  relates  the 
following  remarkable  account : — "  That  coming  into  the  Exchequer 
Court,  where  the  King  himself  was  sitting,  he  claimed  a  monstrous 
fish,  taken  in  one  of  the  Bishop's  wards,  whose  ancestors  claimed 
wreck  at  sea  :  the  King  himself  made  answer,  and  ordered  him  to 
produce  the  charter  by  which  he  claimed ;  which  being  done,  it  was 
then  asked  if  the  fish  was  taken  on  the  land,  or  in  the  sea  ?  and  it 
was  answered,  in  the  sea,  not  far  from  the  land,  and  taken  alive ; 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  727 

when  the  King  replied,  that  since  it  was  acknowledged  that  the 
fish  was  taken  alive  in  the  sea,  it  could  not  be  wreck,  and  he 
would  further  consider  of  it;  and  the  cause  was  adjourned  to  the 
Parliament."* 

Simon,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  gave  lands  to  John,  son  of  John 
de  Pakeuham,  about  1260  :  he  was  lord  of  a  manor  at  Dersingham, 
in  Norfolk  ;  and  in  the  20th  of  Edward  I.,  John,  son  of  William, 
son  of  John  de  Pakenham,  for  £300  sterling,  settled  the  lordship 
of  this  parish,  with  that  of  Belaugh,  in  Norfolk,  on  Edmund  de 
Pakenham,  aud  his  heirs.  He  was  nephew  of  the  said  John ;  and 
married  Mary,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Edmund  Comyn,  of  Fa- 
kenham  Aspes  ;  who  was  his  widow,  and  died  possessed  of  the  said 
manors,  in  the  35th  of  Edward  III. ;  and  Eufemia  was  her  sister, 
and  heir. 

To  which  particular  branch  of  this  numerous  family  this  estate 
passed,  we  are  not  informed.  That  brave  warrior,  Sir  William  de 
Berdewell,  married  Margaret,  the  daughter  of  John,  son  of  Theo- 
bald, son  of  Thomas  de  Pakenham,  and  heiress  general  of  that 
branch ;  but  Pakenham  is  not  named  in  the  will  of  Sir  William 
Berdewell,  as  part  of  his  possession. 

It  appears  the  L'Estranges,  about  this  time  became  interested 
here,  by  the  marriage  of  John  L'Estrange,  Esq.,  with  Alice,  daugh- 
ter and  heir  of  Nicholas  Bemant,  of  this  parish,  Gent.,  and  Maud 
his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Pyke,  and  Eleanor  his  wife, 
daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  William  de  Kushbrook,  Knt.,  and  Joan 
his  wife,  daughter  of  Walter  Welles,  Esq.,  of  Eayne  Parva,  in 
Essex.  The  will  of  this  John  L'Estrange  was  proved  in  1436 ; 
and  Roger,  their  son,  succeeded. 

John,  his  eldest  son,  inherited  ;  and  in  the  5th  of  Edward  IV., 
by  the  name  of  John  L'Estrange,  of  the  city  of  Norwich,  Esq., 
grandson  and  heir  of  John  L'Estrange,  late  of  Hunstanton,  in 
Norfolk,  and  Alice  his  wife,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Bemaut,  late  of 
Pakenham,  in  Suffolk,  released  his  right  in  the  manor  of  Shelley, 
in  this  county :  he  deceased  without  issue,  in  1476 ;  and  Henry 
L'Estrange,  Esq.,  was  found  to  be  his  brother  and  heir.  He  mar- 

*  This  happened  in  the  39th  of  the  above  reign.  Upon  which  the  said  author 
notices  : — "  First,  that  the  King  himself  sate  in  the  Exchequer  at  this  period,  asked 
questions,  gave  answers,  and  judgment;  secondly,  that  no  person  eould  claim  wreck 
but  by  charter ;  and  thirdly,  that  the  cause  was  adjourned  to  the  Parliament :  query 
may  be  made,  if  this  word  Parliament  occurs  in  any  record  prior  to  this  time." 


728  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

ried  Catherine,  daughter  of  Koger  Drury,  Esq.,  of  Hawstead.  His 
will  is  dated  in  1483  ;  and,  amongst  other  property,  he  died  seized 
of  a  manor  in  this,  and  the  adjoining  parish  of  Stowlangtoft. 

This  estate  is  still  known  by  the  name  of  Beaumont  Hall ;  and 
is  now  the  joint  property  of  the  Eev.  Augustus  Cooper,  of  Syleham 
Hall,  in  this  county,  and  Edward  Frederick  Sheppard,  Esq.,  of 
Colchester,  in  Essex  ;  and  has  been  long  in  the  occupation  of  Mr. 
John  Cockerill.  It  was  doubtless  the  site  of  the  ancient  dwelling 
of  Nicholas  Bemant,  whose  daughter  and  heiress  married  to  John 
L'Estrange,  as  above  stated. 

Malkin's  Hall  manor,  in  Pakenham,  was  formerly  the  property 
of  T.  B.  Evans,  Esq ,  of  Norwich;  who  sold  the  same  to  Sir 
George  Wombwell,  Bart. :  it  has  since  passed  with  the  Stowlang- 
toft estate,  and  now  belongs  to  Henry  Wilson,  of  that  parish,  Esq. 

The  lands  belonging  to  the  Barton  Mere  estate  are  partly  in  this 
parish.  The  mansion  was  formerly  the  residence  of  certain  mem- 
bers of  the  L'Estrange*  family  ;  it  since  became,  by  purchase,  the 
property  of  John  Curwin,  Esq. ;  and  afterwards  belonged  to  Wm. 
Hollingsworth,  Esq.,  who  married  the  widow  of  Eobt.  Moone,  Esq. 
It  is  now  the  estate  and  residence  of  Thomas  Quayle,  Esq.,  in  right 
of  his  wife,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Hollingsworth,  by  her 
first  husband. 

The  principal  manor,  and  advowson  of  the  vicarage  append  ant, 
with  the  impropriation,  were  probably  granted  soon  after  the  sup- 
pression of  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund,  to  the  Springs,  of 
Lavenham  ;  a  member  of  which  family  became  seated  here  about 
the  commencement  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign,  and  held  the  said 
property. 

The  first  of  this  house  who  settled  in  Pakenham,  appears  to  have 
been  William,  only  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Spring,  of  Lavenham, 
Knt.,  and  Dorothy  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave, 
Knt.,  of  Smallbridge,  in  the  parish  of  Bures,  in  Babergh  hundred. 
Sir  John  deceased  in  the  1st  of  Edward  VI.,  and  was  buried  at 
Hitcham ;  leaving  the  said  William,  his  son,  a  minor. 

*  Hamon  L'Estrange  resided  here,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish 
church,  in  1660.  Hamon,  his  son,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Edward  Asty,  who 
was  also  buried  here,  in  1667.  His  second  wife,  Barbara,  daughter  of  Edward 
Bullock,  Esq.,  of  Essex,  died  in  1704,  and  lies  interred  at  Holm  by  the  Sea,  in 
Norfolk.  Hamon,  his  son,  resided  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  and  married  Isabella 
Harvey,  of  Cockfield,  in  this  county. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  729 

He  was  Knighted  by  Queen  Elizabeth ;  and  served  the  office  of 
High  Sheriff  for  this  county  in  1578  ;  the  year  in  which  her  Ma- 
jesty made  her  progress  through  Norfolk  and  Suffolk ;  by  whom 
she  was  received  in  this  county,  attended  by  a  splendid  retinue,  and 
magnificently  entertained.  Sir  Wm.  Spring  married  Anne,  fourth 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  of  Hengrave,  Knt.,  whom  he  sur- 
vived; and  re-married,  Susan,  daughter  of  Sir  Ambrose  Jenny n, 
Knt.,  of  liushbrook.  He  deceased  in  1599,  leaving  one  son,  and 
three  daughters. 

From  Sir  William  Spring,  and  Anne  his  wife,  descended  the 
Springs  of  Pakenham  ;  whose  intermarriages  may  be  seen  by  the 
table  annexed : — 

Sir  William  Spring,  Knt.     Anne  Kytson. 

I 1 

John  Spring,  Esq.  Obt.  1601.=Mary,  dau.  of  Sir  John  Trelawny,  Knt., 

j • 1  of  Trelawny,  in  Cornwall. 

SirWm.  Spring,  Knighted  by  K.  James I.= daugh.  of  Sir  Wm.  Smith,  of  High 

\ 1  Hall,  in  Essex. 

SirWm.  Spring,  Knighted  by  Charles  1.  =Elizabeth,  d.  of  Sir  Hamon  L'Estrange, 
created  a  Bart.  1641.  Obt.  Dec.  17, 1654.  |  Knt. 

I 1 

Mary,  d.  of  Sir=Sir  Wm.  Spring,  Bart,=Sarah,  dau.  of  Sir  Robert  Cordell,  Bart. 
Dudley  North,  Obt.  Apr.  30, 1684.  I  of  Melford. 

K.B.  (No  issue).        I—  , 

Sir  Thomas  Spring,  Bart.  _  Merilina,  5th  d.  and  co-heir  of  Thomas 
Ob.  Apr.  2,  1704.         |  Lord  Jermyn. 

I 1 1 

Sir  Wm.  Spring,  Bart.,  who         Merilina,  married  to         Mary,  raarr.  to  the  Rev. 
died  unmarried,  in  1736-7.       Thos.  Discipline,  Esq.,  John  Symonds,  rector 

of  St.  Edmund's  Bury.  of  Horningsherth. 

The  Baronetage  descended  to  his  uncle,  Sir  John  Spring ;  who 
died  in  1769,  without  surviving  issue,  when  the  same  became  ex- 
tinct. The  estates  became,  by  deed  of  partition,  dated  in  1748, 
divided  between  the  above  sisters  and  co-heirs  of  Sir  Wm.  Spring  ; 
the  manor  and  vicarage  were  inherited  by  Mrs.  Discipline  ;  other 
estates,  with  the  impropriation,  passed  to  Mrs.  Symonds. 

Merilina,  the  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Mrs.  Discipline, 
married  Michael  Leheup,  Esq. ;  whose  great  nephew  now  possesses 
her  share  of  this  estate.  Delariviere,  her  sister,  married  John  God- 
bold,  Esq. ;  who  sold  his  share,  the  manor  and  patronage  of  the 
vicarage,  to  the  father  of  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Calthorpe  ;  who  is 
now  owner. 

The  heirs  of  Mrs.  Symonds  still  hold  the  estates,  with  which  the 
deed  of  partition  invested  them ;  of  which  the  impropriation,  with 
the  old  dowager  house  and  farm  (or  New  House),  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  Rev.  Walter  John  Spring  Casborne  ;  whose  grand- 


730  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

father,   the  Eev.  John  Casborne,  married  the  daughter  of  Mrs. 
Symonds. 

The  church*  is  situated  on  an  eminence,  and  possesses  some 
peculiarities  in  its  structure,  from  the  central  position  of  the  tower; 
there  being  very  few  in  this  county  similarly  constructed.  There  is 
also  much  variety  in  the  architecture  of  the  building ;  the  south 
door  being  in  the  Norman  style,  and  the  lancet  windows  in  the 
chancel  bespeak  considerable  antiquity,  whilst  other  parts  are  of 
comparative  modern  construction. 

The  chancel  contains  various  memorials  to  the  Spring,  Discipline, 
Symonds,  and  Casborne  families.  A  grey  marble  slab  that  records 
the  decease  of  Mrs.  Symonds,  the  last  surviving  daughter  of  Sir 
Thomas  Spring,  Bart.,  has  this  inscribed  at  the  foot : — "John  Sy- 
monds, LL.D.,  died  18th  of  February,  1807,  aged  78  years."f 

John  Goodson,  vicar  of  this  parish,  held  a  manor,  or  free  tene- 
ment, at  North  Lopham,  in  Norfolk ;  whose  name  it  still  retains. 
In  1393,  John  Atte  Stretesende,  in  Pakenham,  exchanged  the  in- 
cumbency of  Aldham,  in  Norfolk,  for  that  of  Milend,  by  Colchester. 

ARMS. — Pakenham:  quarterly,  or  and  gules  ;  in^the  first  quar- 
ter, an  eagle  displayed,  vert.  Spring :  argent ;  on  a  chevron,  be- 
tween three  mascles,  gules,  as  many  cinquefoils,  or. 

CHARITIES. — By  indenture,  dated  in  1826,  reciting  that  Kobert 
Stoke,  by  will,  dated  2nd  March,  1525,  gave  to  the  church  and 
town  of  Pakenham,  the  lands  therein  mentioned,  that  his  obit  might 
be  kept  yearly,  and  the  surplus  profit  might  be  used  to  the  profit  of 
the  church  of  Pakenham ;  and  that  Nicholas  Palfrey,  by  will,  dated 
in  1529,  gave  to  the  poor  of  Pakenham,  ^613  6s.  8d.,  to  be  laid  out 
in  lands  for  their  use ;  and  that  the  said  sum,  and  the  further  sum 
of  ;£12  13s.  4d.,  being  a  stock  of  the  parish,  in  the  hands  of  some 
of  the  inhabitants,  had  been  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  lands,  which 
had  been  conveyed,  in  trust,  to  employ  the  rents  towards  the  relief 
of  the  poor  people  of  Pakenham  :  and  reciting  that  Sir  Robert  Gar- 

*  An  etching  of  this  edifice  is  given  in  Davy's  "  Architectural  Antiquities  of 
Suffolk." 

•f-  This  gentleman  was  highly  distinguished  for  his  literary  attainments ;  he  re- 
sided at  St.  Edmund's  Hill,  near  St.  Edmund's  Bury  ;  was  Recorder  of  that 
borough,  and  Professor  of  Modern  History  and  Languages,  in  the  University  of 
Cambridge  ;  to  which  he  succeeded  in  1771,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Gray,  the  cele- 
brated poet.  He  was  formerly  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  B.A.,  1752; 
M.A.,  1754;  LL.D.,  1772,  by  Royal  Mandate;  and  was  afterwards  of  Trinity 
College ;  where  he  gave  his  lectures  in  Modern  History. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  731 

diner,  by  will,  dated  sometime  before  1651,  bequeathed  £40  to  be 
laid  out  in  land,  the  rents  thereof  to  be  employed  for  the  relief  of 
the  poor  people  of  Pakenham  ;  and  that  the  said  £40  had  been  laid 
out  in  the  purchase  of  land  at  Stanton,  which  had  been  conveyed, 
upon  trust,  to  employ  the  rents  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  people  of 
Pakenham  ;    and  that  by  indenture  of  feoffment,  of  1697,  the  said 
several  parcels  of  land,  together  with  divers  messuages,  and  parcels 
of  land  in  the  parish  of  Pakenham,  and  parishes  near,  being  other 
charity  estates  belonging  to  the  parish  of  Pakenham,  concerning  the 
original  gift  whereof,  and  the  purposes  for  which  the  same  was 
given,  nothing  was  known,  were  granted  and  enfeofFed  to  certain 
persons  therein  named,  as  new  feoffees,  for  certain  purposes,  which 
could  not  be  ascertained  with  certainty,  by  reason  of  several  words 
in  such  last  mentioned  indenture  being  obliterated,  but  which  so  far 
as  could  be  discovered,  were  "  that  the  rents  should  be  laid  out  to- 
wards payment  of  tenths,  fifteenth,  and  other  taxes,  to  be  imposed 
on  the  town  of  Pakenham,  and  all  other  charges  of  the  same  town :" 
and  reciting,  that  by  other  indentures  of  feoffment  of  1741,  that  the 
receipts  should  be  applied  to  the  reparation  of  the  parish  church,  and 
for  other  common  town  charges  ;  and  the  residue,  for  and  towards  , 
the  maintenance  of  the  poor  of  the  said  parish.     In  1822,  a  petition 
was  presented  to  the  Lord  Chancellor,  stating  that  the  trustees  had 
for  some  years  past  applied  all  the  clear  rents  of  the  charity  towards 
the  repairs  of  the  church  of  Pakenham,  no  part  thereof  having  been 
applied  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  ;  and  submitting  that  that  was  not 
a  proper  application ;  and  praying,  that  it  might  be  referred  to  one 
of  the  Masters,  to  approve  of  a  scheme  for  their  future  application. 
It  further  recites  that  the  Master,  by  his  report,  dated  28th  April, 
1824,  stated,  in  what  the  charity  estates  consisted,  and  that  the 
same  were  then  worth  to  be  let,  £58  14s.  6d.  a  year ;   which  was 
to  be  applied  to  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  the  relief  of  the 
poor ;  the  present  rent  applicable  to  the  repairs  of  the  church,  being 
£6  15s. — In  1651,  John  Cooke  gave,  by  will,  £100,  to  be  laid  out 
in  lands ;  the  rents  thereof  to  be  yearly  given  by  the  owner  of  his 
messuage  called  Redcastle,  in  Pakenham,  or  his  assigns,  amongst 
ten  of  the  poor  people  of  Ixworth,  and  ten  of  the  poor  of  Pakenham. 
The  legacy  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  three  pieces  of  land  in  the 
parish  of  Horningsheath,  containing  in  the  whole  10A.,  which  lets 
at  £15  a  year;  and  the  owner  of  Redcastle  Farm,  Thomas  Quayle, 
Esq.,  has  the  administration  of  this  charity. — Thomas  Bright,  the 


732  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

elder,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1713,  reciting  that  his  son,  Thomas 
Bright,  had  by  his  note  obliged  himself  to  lay  out  ;£100  in  the  pur- 
chase of  land  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  Thurston  and  Paken- 
ham,  as  should  be  directed  by  his,  the  testator's,  will ;  directed  the 
rents  thereof  be  applied  in  buying  twelve  pair  of  shoes  and  stock- 
ings, to  be  given  to  twelve  such  poor  men  and  women,  or  children, 
of  the  said  parishes,  as  should  most  want  or  deserve  the  same.  In 
satisfaction  of  this  charity,  <£5  a  year  is  laid  out  in  articles  of  clothing, 
by  the  owner  of  the  Netherhall  estate. 


KATTLESDEN. — EATELESDEN,  or  RACHESDENA. 

In  the  10th  of  King  John,  Hubert  de  Eandeston,  sued  Jeffrey  de 
Lodne,  for  a  carucate  of  land  in  this  parish,  of  his  inheritance ; 
which  William  his  brother  held  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II. :  Jeffrey 
pleaded  that  he  held  the  same  by  his  marriage  with  the  daughter  of 
Hervey  de  Glanville ;  so  that  Robert  de  Creke,  who  married  the 
daughter  of  William  de  Glanville,  ought  to  warrant  it. 

The  names  of  Adam  de  Ratlesden,  and  Sir  John  de  Ratlesden, 
occur  in  the  time  of  Henry  III.,  and  following  reign  ;  who  were 
probably  related  to  the  above  Hubert,  and  most  likely  derived  their 
names  from  this  parish,  and  were  interested  here. 

Rattlesden  Hall,  and  Woodhall,  in  this  parish,  were  purchased  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  by  James  Revett,  Esq.,  who  became  seated  here. 
He  was  a  Counsellor- at-Law,  Gustos  Rotulorum,  and  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  this  county  :  he  deceased  in  1587,  and  was  interred 
in  this  parish  church.  Mr.  Revett  is  supposed  to  have  been  ho- 
noured with  a  visit  from  Queen  Elizabeth,  during  her  progress 
through  Suffolk,  in  1578;  where  Churchyard  says,  "all  things 
were  well,  and  in  very  good  order,  and  meat  liberally  spent."  The 
family  of  Revett  were  originally  of  Rishangles,  in  Hartismere  hun- 
dred, and  after  of  Bildeston,  and  Brandcston  Hall. 

The  manor  and  estate  of  Clopton  Hall,  in  this  parish,  which  ex- 
tends into  Woolpit,  appears  to  be  the  same  that  Kirby  says  belonged 
to  the  Bishop  of  Ely,  in  the  Confessor's  time ;  but  subsequently 
became  alienated.  In  the  14th  of  James  I.,  William  Castleton, 
Esq.,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  possessed  this  estate,  and  divers  lands 
djacent ;  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  William  Castleton,  Esq., 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWA9TRE.  733 

of  the  saine  place ;  who  was  created  a  Baronet  by  King  Charles  I., 
in  1641.      (Seep.  488). 

Clopton  Hall  paid  fee  farm,  or  quit  rent,  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's, as  chief  lord  ;  which  was  by  some  means  omitted  for  about 
fifty  years  ;  but  upon  discovery,  the  arrears  were  demanded,  and  full 
payment  was  made,  at  the  rate  of  20s.  per  annum  ;  a  sum  imposed 
on  the  mansion. 

This  estate  became  vested  in  the  Fiske  family,  who  resided  here  for 
several  ages  ;  of  whom  Adam  Chadwick,  Esq.,  purchased  the  same; 
and  the  present  owner  is  Capt.  Winsor  Parker,  who  resides  here. 

George  Goodday,  of  Fornham  All- Saints,  who  died  unmarried, 
in  17f)8,  devised  by  his  last  will,  dated  in  1735,  his  manor  of  Rat- 
tlesden  Hall,  to  Sarah  his  mother,  for  her  life ;  which  devolved 
upon  Sarah,  his  sister  and  sole  heir,  wife  of  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas 
Moseley,  of  the  city  of  London,  younger  brother  of  Richard  Mose- 
ley,  of  Ousden,  in  this  county ;  who  held  also  the  patronage  of  the 
rectory.  John  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  Glemham  House,  their  grand-son, 
held  this  property,  which  he  has  recently  sold  to  Henry  Leheup 
Cocksedge,  Esq. 

Woodhall  manor  was  lately  the  estate  of  Sir  Joshua  Ricketts, 
Rowley,  of  Tendring  Hall,  Bart. ;  who  married  Charlotte,  only 
daughter  of  the  above  John  Moseley,  Esq. :  this  has  been  purchased 
by  Capt.  Winsor  Parker,  of  Clopton  Hall.  Shelland  Hall,  in  this 
parish,  belongs  to  Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  of  Polsted  Hall. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  land,  which  is  in  two  parcels,  containing 
together  seven  acres,  is  let  to  two  persons,  at  rents  amounting  to  • 
gether  to  £10  per  annum ;  and  the  rents  are  distributed  among  the 
poor  belonging  to  the  parish,  in  small  sums,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
parish  officers. — A  small  tenement  and  yard,  appropriated  to  the 
use  of  the  church,  are  occupied  by  the  parish  clerk ;  the  rent,  £3  a 
year,  being  retained  by  him  as  part  of  his  salary.  (For  Moseley's 
charity,  see  Drinkstone.) 


ROUGHAM. 

Ording,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  from  1148  to  1156,  gave  to  his 
cousin  Herbert,  clerk,  son  of  Robert,  the  land  which  he  held  of  the 
fee  of  Solomon,  his  uncle,  in  Rougham  ;  and  all  the  land  which  be- 


734  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

longed  to  Wlmar,  son  of  Sacca,  in  Grisetoft.    Grisetoft,  in  Rougham, 
is  on  the  bounds  of  Great  Barton. 

Chavent,*  in  this  parish,  was  the  seat  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Naun- 
ton,  who  was  third  son  of  Hugo  de  Naunton,  and  Eleanor  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Eobert  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford  ;  who  in  the  time  of 
Edward  II. ,  were  resident  at  Naunton  Hall,  in  the  parish  of  Ren- 
dlesham,  in  this  county. 

Sir  Thomas  granted  a  rent  charge  of  20s.,  out  of  his  lands  in 
Monewden,  to  the  Abbot  of  Sibton,  in  1367;  in  exchange  for  a 
mill,  in  Tostock.  His  only  daughter  and  sole  heiress,  Margery, 
married  Sir  Roger  Drury,  Knt.,  son  of  Nicholas  Drury,  Esq.,  of 
the  adjoining  parish  of  Thurston,  and  of  Joan  his  wife,  daughter 
and  heiress  of  Sir  Simon  Saxham,  of  the  same  parish.  He  de- 
ceased in  1418;  his  lady  in  1405,  and  were  both  interred  at  the 
east  end  of  the  north  aisle  of  Rougham  church ;  where  a  brass  still 
remains  to  their  memory,  an  etching  of  which  appears  in  the  "  Gen- 
tleman's Magazine"  for  1813,  part  2,  p.  17. 

The  principal  lordship  of  this  parish  belonged  to  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund's,  of  the  gift  of  Earl  Ulf  ketel ;  and  so  continued  until 
the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery;  when  it  was  granted  by  the 
Crown,  to  a  descendant  of  the  above  Sir  Roger  Drury,  of  the  fourth 
generation ;  probably  John  Drury,  of  Rougham,  Esq.,  who  de- 
ceased in  1553  ;  in  whose  descendants  it  continued  till  1640  :  this 
branch  of  the  Drury  family  having  been  resident  here  for  upwards 
of  two  centuries.f 

This  estate  became  soon  after  vested  in  Edmund  Burwell,  Esq. ; 
who  married  Mary,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Jeffrey  Pitman,  of 
Woodbridge,  Esq.  He  deceased  in  1652,  and  was  buried  in  the 
chancel  of  this  parish  church.  Sir  Jeffrey  Burwell,  Knt.,  their  son, 
succeeded  ;  who  died  in  1684,  and  was  also  buried  here.  He  left 
issue,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  the  only  daughter  of  Thomas  Dere- 
haugh,  Esq.,  an  only  child,  Mary,  wife  of  Robert  Walpole,  Esq.,  of 
Houghton,  in  Norfolk ;  mother  of  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  Prime  Mi- 
nister to  King  George  I.,  afterwards  Earl  of  Orford. 

Mr.  Walpole  succeeded  to  this  property  upon  the  decease  of  Sir 

*  There  is  a  wood,  called  Chavent,  on  the  east  side  of  Rougham,  which  has  for 
many  years  been  the  property  of  the  lords  of  the  manor  of  the  adjoiaing  parish  of 
Hesset. 

•f  A.  spot  on  the  corner  of  the  estate,  formerly  belonging  to  the  Drurys,  has  ap- 
parent remains  of  a  moat  surrounding  it ;  which  is  said  to  have  been  the  old  site  of 
Rougham  Place. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  785 

Jeffrey  Burwell,  and  sold  the  same  to  Sir  Robert  Davers,  Bart. : 
who  having  acquired  a  large  fortune  in  Barbadoes,  returned  to  Eng- 
land, and  purchased  this,  with  other  estates  in  Suffolk.  Sir  Robert 
deceased  about  the  year  1688,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Sir 
Robert  Davers,  Bart.,  who  married  the  Hon.  Mary  Jermyn,  eldest 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas,  Lord  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrook ;  by 
which  marriage  he  acquired  that  estate,  and  removed  thither,  upon 
the  death  of  Lord  Jermyn,  in  1703. 

It  was  soon  after  purchased  by  Clement  Corrance,  Esq.,  of  Par- 
ham  ;  who  represented  Orford  in  Parliament  from  1708  to  1714. 
He  married,  in  1705,  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Davers,  2nd 
Bart. ;  and  died  in  1724,  was  buried  here ;  when  John,  his  eldest 
son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  who  by  a  second  marriage  with  Anne, 
daughter  of  Robert  Chester,  Esq.,  of  Cokenhatch,  in  the  county  of 
Herts,  left  an  infant  daughter,  Ann  Corrance,  his  sole  heiress. 

Mr.  Corrance  died  in  1742,  and  his  only  daughter  in  1747 ; 
and  this  estate  devolved  upon  the  issue  of  Mary,  the  daughter  of 
Clement  Corrance,  sister  of  the  said  John;  who  married  William 
Castle,  Esq.,  whose  son,  William  Castle,  Esq.,  left  an  only  child, 
Catherine;  who  married,  in  1788,  to  Edward  Bouverie,  Esq.,  of  / 
Delapre  Abbey,  in  the  county  of  Northampton. 

The  present  Rougham  Place,  built  by  Sir  Robert  Davers,  1st 
Bart.,  with  the  Drury  estate,  were  purchased  of  Mr.  Bouverie  by 
the  Rev.  Roger  Kedington,  A.M. ;  a  gentleman  descended  from 
one  of  the  most  ancient  families  in  Suffolk.  He  deceased  in  1818. 
Mr.  Kedington  was  thrice  married ;  by  his  second  wife,  who  de- 
ceased some  years  previous,  he  had  an  only  daughter,  married  to 
Philip  Bennett,  Esq. ;  and  by  his  third  wife,  a  sister  of  the  late 
Lord  Berners,  of  Didlington,  in  Norfolk,  whom  he  survived,  he  left 
no  issue. 

He  devised  this  estate  to  his  son-in-law,  Philip  Bennett,  Esq. ; 
who  is  the  present  proprietor,  and  resides  here.  This  gentleman 
almost  immediately  set  about  the  erection  of  a  new  mansion,  which 
is  situated  on  a  gentle  eminence,  a  short  distance  northward  from 
Rougham  Place,  and  presents  a  pleasing  and  singular  specimen  of 
Gothic  architecture.  Capt.  Philip  Bennett,  his  eldest  son  and  heir 
apparent,  resides  there.  The  other  property  in  this  parish,  men- 
tioned by  Kirby  as  the  inheritance  of  the  Cooke  and  Maltyward  fa- 
milies, now  belongs  to  Mr.  Bennett ;  who  is  proprietor  of  nearly 
the  entire  parish. 


730  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

Eldo  (or  Oldhaugh),  in  Eougham,  a  grange  belonging  to  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  was  granted  to  the  Jermyns,  of  Eushbrook; 
from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Springs,  by  the  marriage  of  Merilina, 
5th  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Thomas,  Lord  Jermyn,  with  Sir  Win. 
Spring,  of  Pakenham,  Bart. ;  whose  2nd  daughter  and  co-heir, 
brought  it  by  marriage,  to  the  Symonds  family ;  of  whom  it  was  pur- 
chased by  the  late  Thomas  Cocksedge,  Esq.,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's; 
whose  grand-son,  Thomas  Martin  Cocksedge,  is  now  proprietor. 

A  most  interesting  discovery,  illustrative  of  the  funeral  customs 
of  the  Anglo  Eomans,  has  been  recently  made  in  this  parish,  upon 
the  estate  of  Philip  Bennett,  Esq.  At  the  corner  of  the  two  roads 
leading  to  Hesset  and  Bradfield  Combust,  and  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  highway,  stands  the  half  of  a  hill,  called  Eastlow  Hill ;  and  a 
short  distance  therefrom  were  two  semicircular  mounds,  between  50 
and  60  feet  in  diameter,  covered  with  herbage  and  shrubs.  Some 
men  were  engaged  in  clearing  away  one  of  these  mounds,  and  when 
near  the  centre,  the  pick  of  the  workman  broke  into  an  oven  shaped 
cist,  or  cavern,  containing  sepulchral  remains.  In  this  chamber 
was  a  large  glass  urn,  about  half  full  of  burnt  bones,  by  the  side  of 
which  was  a  plain  iron  lamp.  Unfortunately,  from  the  carelessness 
of  the  man  who  made  the  discovery,  the  urn  was  broken. 

The  adjoining  tumulus  has  however  since  been  opened  under  the 
sanction  of  Mr.  Bennett ;  and  by  securing  the  valuable  assistance  of 
Professor  Henslow,  taking  care  that  nothing  should  be  injured  by 
want  of  judgment  in  the  opening,  or  in  securing  and  preserving 
it  afterwards. 

Of  the  excavation  and  contents  of  this  tumulus  a  minute  and 
interesting  account,  from  the  pen  of  the  Eev.  J.  S.  Henslow,  ap- 
peared in  the  Bury  papers  of  the  20th  Sept.,  1843.  Under  it  was 
a  chamber  about  four  feet  square,  composed  of  Eoman  tiles,  roofed 
in  with  the  same  materials,  and  a  coating  of  coarse  stucco  ;  within 
was  a  glass  cinerary  urn,  which  unfortunately,  owing  to  the  joint 
effects  of  time  and  corruption,  had  fallen  to  pieces  :  every  thing  else 
was  entire,  and  eight  pieces  of  pottery  appeared  still  to  retain  the 
very  position  in  which  they  had  been  placed  by  the  sorrowing  friends 
and  attendants  of  the  deceased,  sixteen  or  seventeen  centuries  before. 

John  Selot,  D.D.,  rector  of  this  parish,  and  Eollesby,  in  Norfolk, 
was  also  master  of  Beck  Hospital,  in  Billingford,  in  that  county, 
and  of  St.  Giles  Hospital,  in  Norwich;  and  in  1472,  was  appointed 
Archdeacon  of  Sudbury. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTUE.  737 

ARMS. — Bennett :  gules ;   a  bezant,  between  three  demi  lions 
rampant,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  estate  comprises  a  messuage  in  this  pa- 
rish, used  as  an  almshouse,  and  2^A.  of  laud  on  Rougham  Green ; 
which  was  taken  in  exchange  for  lands  purchased  with  benefactions 
given  by  John  Sparke,  and  William  Ling ;  let  at  £6  a  year ;  which 
is  distributed  to  poor  men  of  the  parish :  an  allotment  of  9A.  2u. 
80p.,  awarded,  on  the  inclosure,  is  rented  by  the  parish,  at  the  yearly 
sum  of  £l'3  10s. ;  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  which  are  dis- 
tributed among  the  poor  of  the  parish :  an  allotment  of  3A.  25?., 
was  also  awarded  in  lieu  of  other  lands,  and  lets  at  £7  10s.  a  year; 
the  rent  is  carried  to  the  churchwardens'  account. — By  deed  of  the 
23rd  of  King  Charles  II.,  Sir  Jefiery  Burwell,  Knt.,  settled  a  mes- 
suage, and  four  acres  of  land  in  this  parish,  in  trust,  to  employ  the 
yearly  rents  towards  the  clothing  of  poor  women :  this  estate  com- 
prises four  cottages  with  gardens,  and  about  4^A.  of  land,  let 
together  for  £25  a  year;  which  is  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
stuff  for  gowns ;  and  the  clear  residue  of  the  same  is  applied  in  the 
payment  of  interest  upon,  and  part  liquidation  of,  a  debt  incurred 
in  erecting  two  of  the  cottages  :  the  sum  of  £80,  bequeathed  by  Sir  t 
Jeffery  Burwell,  to  purchase  £4  per  annum,  to  be  applied  towards 
placing  out  apprentice  a  poor  child,  &c. ;  the  same  was  expended 
in  the  purchase  of  £135  10s.  10d.,  Old  South  Sea  Annuities;  the 
dividends  of  which  are  applied,  subject  to  the  payment  of  20s.  a 
year  to  the  parish  clerk,  in  binding  out  a  poor  child  apprentice, 
from  time  to  time. — In  1702,  Roger  Kedington,  directed,  by  will, 
£200  to  be  laid  out  in  lands,  to  be  vested  in  trustees,  to  apply 
the  rents  in  binding  out  a  boy  apprentice  every  two  years,  to  be 
chosen  alternately  from  poor  boys  born  within  this  parish,  or  the 
parish  of  St.  Mary,  in  Bury  St.  Edmund's ;  one  at  the  end  of  two 
years,  from  each  parish,  by  turns.  This  legacy  was  laid  out,  with 
some  addition  made  to  it,  by  the  testator's  niece,  Martha  Cooke,  in 
the  purchase  of  an  estate  at  Barningham,  conveyed  to  trustees,  in 
1758  :  it  comprises  21  A.  3R.  19p.  of  land,  and  lets  at  £35  per  an- 
num.— Edward  Sparke,  by  will,  dated  in  1720,  devised  his  estate 
in  Thurston,  to  Thomas  Sparke,  his  brother,  for  life ;  and  after  his 
decease,  to  the  charity  school  in  this  parish ;  willing,  that  four  poor 
children,  of  the  parish  of  Thurston,  should  be  educated  at  the  said 
school ;  and  he  further  gave  to  the  said  charity  school  in  Rougham, 
all  his  lands  and  tenements  in  that  parish,  bought  of  Mr.  Sterne ; 


738  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

and  he  willed  the  wood,  growing  on  the  said  estate,  for  firing,  for 
the  charity  scholars ;  and  eight  children  of  the  town  of  Eougham 
to  be  taught  yearly,  and  that  the  nomination  of  the  schoolmaster 
and  children  shall  be  wholly  in  the  minister  of  Eougham.  The 
charity  estate  consists  of  a  dwelling-house  for  the  master,  with  a 
school  room,  out-buildings,  and  orchard,  and  TA.  27p.  of  land,  in 
this  parish,  of  which  SA.  27p.  are  occupied  by  the  master,  and  the 
rest  of  the  land  lets  at  £12  a  year;  and  a  farm  house,  with  out- 
buildings, and  14A.  of  land,  in  the  parish  of  Thurstou,  let  at  £35 
per  annum.  Thomas  Sparke,  by  will,  in  1721,  after  confirming 
the  above  devise  of  his  brother  Edward,  charged  his  messuage  in 
Rougham,  called  Ducklins,  with  the  payment  of  £7  16s.  per  an- 
num, to  be  laid  out  in  bread,  and  given  to  the  poor  of  the  said  pa- 
rish, for  ever  :  viz.,  twelve  three-penny  loaves  to  twelve  poor  people, 
every  Sunday,  at  the  church.  He  further  willed  that  the  owners  of 
his  estate  should  pay  for  the  schooling  of  four  other  poor  children 
of  Rougham,  and  four  of  Bradfield  St.  George,  for  ever ;  to  be  no- 
minated by  Ceser  Adamson,  his  successor,  his  heirs,  and  assigns. 
The  sum  of  £4=  is  paid  to  the  mistress  of  a  school  on  Bradfield 
Green,  for  teaching  eight  poor  children  belonging  to  the  above  pa- 
rishes. This  rent  charge  is  paid  out  of  another  estate  in  this  parish. 


RUSHER  0 OK,  or  RYSCEBROC. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  became  very  early  vested  in  the  Ab- 
bot of  St.  Edmund's  ;  under  whom  a  family,  who  derive  from  that 
of  Scotland,  of  Scotland  Hall,  in  Polstead,  and  who  assumed  the 
name  of  Rushbrook,  held  here.  In  1180,  Scotland  de  Rushbrook 
held  lands  in  Rushbrook,  of  Sampson,  Abbot  of  the  said  Monas- 
tery; and  in  the  28th  of  Henry  III.,  Walter,  son  of  Walter  de 
Saxham,  granted  to  Thomas,  son  of  Michael  de  Rushbrook,  ISA. 
SR.  of  arable  land  in  Little  Saxham. 

This  Thomas,  son  of  Michael,  was  grand-son  of  Scotland  de 
Rushbrook ;  and  from  him,  as  it  would  seem,  the  property  held 
here  passed  to  his  sister  and  co-heir,  Agnes,  wife  of  Thomas,  father 
of  John  Jermyn,  of  this  parish.  Isabella,  the  other  sister  and  co- 
heir, married  William  le  Large  ;  which  John  Jermyn,  and  William 
le  Large,  were  tenants  in  the  14th  of  Edward  I. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  739 

Thus  the  family  of  Jermyn  became  owners  of  Rushbrook  at  the 
commencement  of  the  thirteenth  century.  Their  lineal  descendant, 
Sir  Thomas  Jermyn,  of  this  parish,  Comptroller  of  the  Household 
and  a  Privy  Councillor  to  King  Charles  I.,  by  Catherine,  daughter 
of  Sir  William  Killegrew,  had  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Henry.  The 
younger  son  was  Master  of  the  Horse,  and  Chamberlain  to  the 
Queen  Dowager  Henrietta,  and  is  said  to  have  been  privately  mar- 
ried to  her  Majesty.  In  1643,  he  was  created  Lord  Jermyn,  Baron 
of  St.  Edmund's  Bury ;  with  the  remainder  to  his  elder  brother, 
Thomas :  at  the  accessioo  of  Charles  II.,  he  was  advanced  to  the 
Earldom  of  St.  Alban's,  sent  Ambassador  to  France,  and  after  his 
return,  was  appointed  Lord  Chamberlain  to  his  Majesty's  Household. 

He  died  without  issue,  in  1683.  His  elder  brother,  Thomas 
Jermyn,  of  Eushbrook,  by  Rebecca  Rodway,  afterwards  wife  of 
Viscount  Brounker,  had  issue, — Thomas,  who  succeeded  his  uncle 
in  the  title  of  Lord  Jermyn ;  Henry,  created  Lord  Dover ;  and 
Henrietta,  wife  of  Henry,  younger  son  of  Sir  John  Gage,  Bart. 

Thomas,  Lord  Jermyn,  the  eldest  son,  married  Mary  Merry, 
grand-daughter  of  Sir  John  Gage ;  and  by  her  had  an  only  son, 
Thomas,  an  officer  in  the  navy  ;  who,  in  1692,  being  then  in  his 
1 6th  year,  met  his  death  by  the  fall  of  the  mast  of  a  ship ;  and 
five  daughters,  co-heirs  to  their  father.  Mary,  the  eldest  daughter, 
married  Sir  Robert  Davers,  2nd  Baronet  of  that  house ;  who  in  her 
right  became  possessed  of  Rushbrook,  and  removed  hither  from 
Rougham  Place. 

Sir  Robert  D  avers  frequently  represented  this  county  in  Parlia- 
ment during  the  reigns  of  Queen  Anne  and  King  George  I.  He 
deceased  in  1722,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Sir  Robert 
Davers,  Bart.,  Auditor  of  the  Excise;  who  died  in  1723,  without 
issue ;  when  Sir  Jermyn  Davers,  his  brother,  succeeded  to  the  title 
and  estates.  He  had  been  elected  M.P.  for  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  in 
1722,  and  was  chosen  Knight  of  the  Shire  of  Suffolk,  in  1727. 
Sir  Jerrayn  married  Margaretta,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  the  Rev. 
Edward  Green,  rector  of  Drinkstone,  and  deceased  in  1743. 

Robert  and  Henry  Davers  died  before  their  father,  and  unmarried. 
Charles,  the  third  son,  succeeded  his  father.  He  formerly  repre- 
sented Weymouth  and  Melcombe  Regis  in  Parliament,  and  was 
Chief  Steward  of  the  Liberty  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury ;  for  which  bo- 
rough he  was  returned  Member  in  five  successive  Parliaments.  Sir 
Charles  deceased  in  1806,  unmarried ;  when  the  title  became  extinct. 


740  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

Elizabeth,  his  only  surviving  sister,  married  Frederick,  4th  Eaii 
of  Bristol,  and  Bishop  of  Deny  ;  whose  eldest  son  and  heir,  Fred- 
erick William,  the  present  Marquis  of  Bristol,  succeeded  to  this  es- 
tate as  heir  general  of  the  D  avers  family  ;  and  upon  the  marriage 
of  Bobert,  sou  of  Eobert  Kushbrooke,  Esq.,  with  Francis  Davers, 
in  1808,  an  arrangement  was  effected  between  Lord  Bristol  and  the 
Rushbrooke  family,  whereby  the  latter  received  Rushbrook  in  ex- 
change for  their  estate  in  Little  Saxham :  Colonel  Robt.  Rushbrooke, 
Esq.,  M.P.  for  West  Suffolk,  is  now  owner  of  this  estate. 

Rushbrook  Hall,  the  seat  of  the  gallant  Colonel,  is  situated  on 
an  eminence,  surrounded  by  an  extensive  park,  find  was  erected  in 
Queen  Elizabeth's  time ;  where  her  Majesty  was  honourably  enter- 
tained in  her  progress  through  Suffolk,  in  1578,  by  Sir  Robert 
Jermyn,  Knt. 

The  church  stands  a  short  distance  from  the  Hall.  The  east 
window  contains  some  rich  specimens  of  stained  glass;  and  the 
chancel  and  south  aisle  have  several  fine  monuments  to  members  of 
the  Jermyn  and  Davers  families.  The  nave  is  fitted  up,  after  the 
manner  of  some  of  our  collegiate  churches ;  the  seats,  reading  desk, 
and  pulpit,  present  some  good  specimens  of  oak  carving,  executed 
by  Colonel  Rushbrooke. 

ARMS. — Rushbrooke:  sable;  a  fess,  between  three  roses,  or. 
Jermyn :  argent ;  a  crescent,  between  two  mullets  in  pale,  sable. 
Davers :  argent ;  on  a  bend,  gules,  three  martlets,  or. 

CHARITIES. — Lord  Jermyn's  Almshouse  comprises  four  tene- 
ments, occupied  by  three  poor  women,  and  one  poor  man  ;  and  it  is 
endowed  with  two  annuities,  or  yearly  rent  charges,  of  £15  8s.  4d., 
and  £5,  some  pieces  of  land,  and  the  sum  of  £125,  three  per  cent. 
Consols.  The  first  is  payable  out  of  a  house  in  St.  James's  Square, 
London,  now  belonging  to  the  Marquis  of  Clanricarde ;  the  other, 
out  of  the  moiety  of  the  manor  of  Thorpe  Hall,  in  West  Wrotham, 
in  Norfolk,  belonging  to  Wyrley  Birch,  Esq.,  which  has  not  of  late 
been  duly  received.  The  land  is  in  three  pieces,  lying  in  the  parish 
of  St.  Mary,  in  Bury,  containing  together  10A.  £R.  13p. ;  rent  £8 
per  annum.  An  allowance  of  fuel,  and  2s.  a  week  to  each  of  the 
almspeople,  and  occasional  supply  of  clothing.  Another  almshouse 
in  this  parish,  consisting  of  four  tenements,  was  erected  by  Sir 
Jermyn  Davers,  Bart.,  in  or  about  the  year  1724,  but  is  unendowed. 
The  building  is  kept  in  repair  by  the  owner  of  the  Rushbrooke  es- 
tate, for  the  time  being,  and  is  occupied  by  poor  families  rent  free. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  741 


STANNINGFIELD,  or  STANFELLA. 

In  the  37th  of  King  Henry  III.,  Benedict  de  Blakeham  had  a 
grant  of  free  warren  in  his  demesne  of  Blakenham,  Lackford,  Chels- 
worth,  and  Stanningfield ;  in  the  15th  of  Edward  II.,  Edmund  de 
Illighe,  son  of  Thomas,  and  Alice  his  wife,  had  a  like  grant  in  all 
his  lands  in  this  parish ;  and  in  the  20th  of  the  next  reign,  he  ap- 
pears to  have  held  the  same,  being  then  a  Knight. 

Sir  Edmund  deceased  in  1349  ;  and  Sir  Eichard  de  Illighe,  his 
son,  in  the  32nd  of  Edward  III.,  granted  this  manor,  to  which  the 
advowson  was  appendant,  to  Sir  John  de  Kokewode,  and  Joan  his 
wife.  This  Sir  John  was  of  Stoke  by  Nayland,  and  was  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  Kobert  de  Eokewode,  and  Mafiotta  Weyland,  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  Robert  de  Rokewode,  and  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir 
Michael  de  Bures,  son  and  heir  of  Alan  de  Rokewode,  by  Elizabeth, 
sister  and  co-heir  of  John  de  Clerebecke  ;  in  whose  right  Alan  de 
Rokewode  was  seized  of  lands  in  Acton,  in  this  county,  in  the  30th 
of  Edward  I.,  anno  1301. 

Of  this  family,  Sir  John  de  Rokewode  represented  the  county  of , 
Suffolk  in  Parliament,  in  the  34tli  and  42nd  years  of  Edward  III., 
and  Sir  William,  in  the  8th  of  Henry  V.     Several  of  them  have 
met  with  tragical  ends.  , 

Ambrose  Rookwood,  of  this  parish,  was  implicated  in  the  Gun- 
powder Plot,  and  executed  at  Tyburn,  in  1605.  His  offence  was 
the  having  concealed  the  knowledge  of  some  part  of  the  plot,  com- 
municated to  him,  and  Sir  Everard  Digby,  by  his  friend  Catesby. 
Sir  Robert,  the  son  of  Ambrose,  was  a  faithful  adherent  to  King 
Charles,  and  lost  two  of  his  sons  in  the  Royal  cause :  one  of  them, 
Captain  Robert  Rookwood,  being  killed  at  Oxford ;  and  the  other, 
Captain  William,  at  Alresford  :  and  lastly,  Sir  Robert's  grand-son, 
Ambrose,  who  had  a  command  in  the  Guards,  in  the  time  of 
King  James  II.,  at  St.  Germains,  was  executed  at  Tyburn,  in 
1696,  having  been  concerned  in  the  treason  called  the  Barclay 
conspiracy. 

Sir  John  de  Rokewode,  who  acquired  this  estate,  married  Joan, 
daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Swynborne  ;  and  in  his  descendant  the  ma- 
nor and  advowson  continue  vested.  Thomas  Rookwood,  the  last 
lineal  heir  male  of  this  ancient  house,  died  in  1728,  leaving  issue 
by  Tarnworth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Roger  Martin,  of  Melford, 


742  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

Bart.,  an  only  child,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John,  younger  son  of  Sir 
William  Gage,  of  Hengrave,  Bart.  He  left  issue  l»y  her,  two  sons; 
Sir  Thomas  Eookwood  Gage,  who,  previous  to  the  death  of  Sir 
William  Gage,  had  used  the  name  and  arms  of  Eookwood  only, 
pursuant  to  the  conditions  of  a  settlement  executed  in  1 728,  of  the 
Eookwood  property,  by  Elizabeth  his  mother ;  and  John  Gage, 
who  founded  the  Catholic  chapel  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's. 

This  estate  was  lately  vested  in  John  Gage  Rokewode,  Esq.,  of 
Lincoln's  Inn,  Barrisler-at-Law,  Director  of  the  Society  of  Anti- 
quaries, F.E.S.,  and  F.L.S.,  fourth  and  youngest  son  of  Sir  Thomas 
Gage,  the  6th  Baronet,  of  Hengrave  Hall,  by  his  first  wife,  Char- 
lotte, daughter  of  Tbos.  Fitzherbert,  of  Swinnerton,  in  Staffordshire, 
Esq.  On  the  decease  of  bis  brother,  Eobt.  Joseph  Gage  Eookwood, 
in  1838,  without  surviving  issue,  Mr.  Gage  inherited  tbe  Eokewode 
estate,  with  their  mansion  of  Coldham  Hall,  in  this  parish ;  which 
had  descended  from  his  great-grandmother,  Elizabeth  Eookwood, 
the  mother  of  the  5th  Baronet. 

Mr.  Gage  established  his  reputation  as  an  antiquarian  author  by 
the  publication,  in  1822,  of  "  The  History  arid  Antiquities  of  Hen- 
grave,  in  Suffolk,"  in  a  handsome  4to.  volume.  This  tasteful  and 
well-arranged  work,  was  rendered  generally  acceptable  from  the  pe- 
culiarly interesting  architectural  character  of  the  mansion  it  describes, 
and  the  valuable  original  documents  introduced.  In  1838,  Mr.  Gage 
published,  in  a  large,  handsome,  and  highly  embellished  4to.,  "  The 
History  and  Antiquities  of  Suffolk.  Thingoe  Hundred."  This,  as 
the  title  implies,  was  part  of  a  larger  intended  work,  and  forms  a 
model  which,  in  most  respects,  it  will  be  advisable  to  imitate,  but 
difficult  to  surpass. 

He  was  elected  Fellow  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  in  1818,  and 
Director  in  1829,  and  thenceforward  took  a  more  active  part  in  its 
proceedings.  Mr.  Gage  Eokewode  edited  for  the  Camden  Society, 
in  1840,  a  very  curious  piece  of  monastic  biography,  entitled 
"  Chronica  Jecelini  de  Brakelonda,"  &c.  He  was  also  an  occa- 
sional contributor  to  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  and  to  the 
"  Collectanea  Topographica  et  Genealogica ;"  in  the  latter  of  which 
he  printed,  in  Vol.  2,  an  ancient  manuscript,  containing  the  gene- 
alogy and  charters  of  the  Eokewode  family,  with  a  continuation. 

As  an  antiquary  Mr.  Eokewode  was  highly  accomplished ;  well 
versed  in  English  history,  in  records,  in  genealogy,  and  heraldry, 
with  a  correct  eye,  and  an  elegant  taste  in  art.  Whilst  out  with  a 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  743 

shooting  party,  at  Claughton  Hall,  in  Lancashire,  he  was  suddenly 
seized  with  an  affection  of  the  heart,  wheu  in  the  open  fields  ;  and, 
on  being  removed  to  a  neighbouring  cottage,  shortly  after  expired, 
October  14,  1842.*  His  nephew,  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  Bart.,  suc- 
ceeds to  the  Stanuingfield  estate. 

Coldham  Hall,  the  present  family  mansion,  was  erected  in  1575; 
the  more  ancient  residence  of  the  Kokewodes  stood  nearer  the 
church  :  the  moat  and  fish-ponds}  that  remain,  serve  to  point  out 
its  site.  The  present  house  stands  high,  and  commands  from  some 
points,  a  fair  view  over  a  woody,  irregular  country.  The  Hall 
windows  are  ornamented  with  stained  glass,  and  its  walls  decorated 
with  family  portraits,  and  a  considerable  variety  of  ancient  armour, 
in  good  preservation. 

The  church  has  some  Norman  remains,  particularly  the  north 
door.  The  east  window,  and  some  of  the  chancel  lights,  are  fair 
specimens  of  the  time  of  the  Edwards.  The  chancel  contains  an 
altar-tomb  under  a  canopy,  Avith  various  shields  carved  upon  it, 
displaying  the  arms  of  Kokewode,  Clerebecke,  Swynbourne,  Swyn- 
ford,  and  Clopton  ;  supposed  to  be  the  tomb  of  Thomas  Rokewode, 
living  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VII. ;  whose  wife  was  Anne,  daughter 
of  John  Clopton,  of  Kentwell  Hall,  in  Long  Melford. 

ARMS. — Illighe :  ermine ;  two  chevronels,  sable.  Rokewode : 
argent ;  six  chess-rooks,  sable. 

The  celebrated  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Inchbald  was  a  native  of  this 
parish.  She  was  the  daughter  of  a  farmer,  named  Simpson,  and 
was  born  in  1753.  Having  devoted  much  of  her  early  life  to 
reading,  and  losing  her  father,  she,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  went  to 
London,  without  the  knowledge  of  her  family,  and  made  an  effort 
to  obtain  an  engagement  on  the  stage.  This  brought  her  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Inchbald,  who  offered  her  marriage,  which  was  accepted. 
With  this  gentleman,  who  was  an  actor  of  reputation,  she  went  to 
Scotland,  and  after  performing  there  four  seasons,  visited  York; 
but  at  the  end  of  two  years,  the  health  of  Mrs.  Inchbald  declining, 
she  and  her  husband  went  to  France.  In  1779,  she  became  a 
widow,  at  Leeds,  where  her  husband  was  buried. 

Mrs.  Inchbald  now  came  to  London,  and  made  her  first  appear- 
ance at  Covent  Garden,  as  Bellario,  in  the  play  of  "  Philaster/' 

*  A  portrait  of  Mr.  Rokewode,  of  which  the  original,  by  Mrs.  Carpenter,  is  at 
Hengrave  Hall,  has  been  engraved  in  mezzotinto.  There  is  also  an  excellent  bust, 
bv  R.  C.  Lucas. 


714  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

October  3,  1 780.  She  next  turned  her  attention  to  dramatic  com- 
position, and  in  1784,  appeared  at  the  Haymarket  Theatre,  her 
farce,  called  "  A  Mogul  Tale ;"  the  success  of  which  encouraged 
the  manager  to  bring  out  her  comedy  of  "  I'll  Tell  You  What."  In 
1789  she  quitted  the  stage,  and  from  that  period  depended  chiefly 
on  her  literary  labours.  Mrs.  Inchbald  died  at  Kensington,  Aug. 
1st,  1821,  and  was  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  that  parish. 

CHARITIES. — In  1636,  John  Corder  devised  his  messuage,  called 
King's,  with  the  lands  and  appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  in 
Lawshall ;  the  rents  to  be  paid  to  the  minister  and  churchwardens 
of  divers  parishes,  to  be  distributed  yearly  in  the  first  week  in  Lent, 
among  such  poor  of  the  said  parishes  as  they  should  think  fit,  in 
bread.  A  portion  of  the  revenues  of  this  charity  is  given  among 
poor  persons  of  this  parish. 


TOSTOCK.— TOTESTOC,  or  TOTSTOCHA. 

Tostock  belonged  to  the  Saxon  Britulf,  whose  lands  the  Con- 
queror bestowed  upon  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund.  This  Britulf 
was  son  of  Leomar  :  and  his  inheritance,  besides  this  parish,  com- 
prised Great  Saxham,  Chevington,  Dunham,  and  Somerton.  It 
appears  that  Baldwin,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  retained  Saxham, 
and  Chevington,  for  the  use  of  the  Monastery ;  and  enfeofied  his 
brother,  Frodo,  with  the  other  lands,  and  gave  Mendham  and  Lod- 
don,  in  lieu  of  Saxham  and  Chevington. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  John  de  Manston,  received  in 
marriage  with  Agnes,  daughter  and  heir  of  William  de  Tostock, 
half  the  manor  of  Tostock,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church. 

Tostock  Hall  manor  was  devised  by  Kobert  Berdewell,  of  Belaugh, 
in  Norfolk,  Esq.,  who  deceased  in  1455,  to  his  grand-son,  William 
Berdewell,  of  West  Herling,  in  the  same  county,  Esq.  His  grand- 
son, Eobert  Berdewell,  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  Bacon, 
of  Hesset,  in  this  county,  Esq.,  and  died  in  the  King's  service 
abroad,  about  1512:  the  following  year  his  widow  re-married, 
William  Kokewode;  and  after  his  decease,  to  Eobert  Keene,  of 
Thrandeston;  whose  widow  she  was,  in  1558,  and  held  the  above 
manor. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  745 

In  the  time  of  King  Charles  I.,  Henry  Lamho,  Gent.,  held  a 
good  estate  in  this  parish ;  which  he  sold  to  Sir  Dudley  North, 
Knt.,  eldest  son  of  the  Lord  North,  of  Catlege,  in  Cambridgeshire  ; 
who  was  owner  thereof,  in  1655,  and  made  Tostock  Place  his  oc- 
casional residence.  It  afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Moseley  fa- 
mily, and  was  lately  the  estate  of  John  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  Glemham 
House,  who  held  the  manor  and  advowson  ;  which  were  purchased 
by  the  late  George  Brown,  Esq.,  whose  widow  has  a  life  interest 
therein. 

In  1636,  Henry  Sulyard,  A.M.,  held  this  incumbency,  with 
Quiddenham,  in  Norfolk,  on  the  presentation  of  Sir  John  Holland, 
Bart.  The  Eev.  James  Oakes  is  the  present  incumbent,  on  his 
own  petition. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  estate  comprises  £A.  IR.  8p.  of  land  in 
this  parish,  and  three  acres  in  the  parish  of  Bayton,  and  is  vested 
in  trustees,  under  a  conveyance,  executed  pursuant  to  the  directions 
of  the  Court  of  Chancery,  in  1817  ;  to  be  distributed  in  bread, 
flour,  stockings,  flannel  shirts,  and  waistcoats,  or  coats,  on  the  1st 
of  January,  yearly,  among  the  necessitous  poor  belonging  to  and 
residing  within  this  parish.  The  land  is  let  at  rents  amounting  to- 
gether to  £10  a  year ;  and  the  same  is  applied  strictly  in  conformity 
with  the  directions  contained  in  the  conveyance. 


THUKSTON,  or  TORSTUNA. 

Albold,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  gave  to  the  widow  of  Goceline 
de  Lodne,  about  1110,  in  fee,  the  land  that  Goceline  held  at  his  de- 
decease  ;  paying  for  the  land  in  this  parish,  20s.  per  annum,  to  the 
Sacrist  of  that  Monastery. 

In  the  24th  of  Henry  III.,  Ernald  de  Otley  acknowledged  to 
hold,  of  John  de  Cramaville,  and  Lucy  his  wife,  his  free  tenement 
in  Thurston,  by  the  payment  of  20s.  rent,  and  the  service  of  a  4th 
part  of  a  Knight's  fee.  Lucy,  who  survived,  and  re-married  John 
Algar,  was  probably  the  daughter  and  heir  of  Keginald  de  Brockley. 

The  family  of  Drury  derive  from  one  of  that  name  who  accom- 
panied William  the  Conqueror  into  England.  John  Drury,  son 
and  heir  of  Drury  the  Norman,  settled  in  this  parish.  Henry  Drury, 
Esq.,  the  5th  in  descent  from  the  said  John,  was  called  Henry  of 


740  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

Thurston.  His  second  wife,  who  died  without  issue,  was  Cecily, 
daughter  of  John  Renire,  of  this  parish.  By  lu's  first  wife,  Hawise, 
daughter  of  Eichard  Greene,  of  Barkway,  near  London,  he  had  se- 
veral children.  Nigel,  his  second  son,  was  Sheriff  of  London  in 
the  1st  of  Edward  I.;  and  Sir  Roger,  his  third  son,  was  parson  of 
Bradfield. 

John  Drury,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  and  by 
Am  able  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Newton,  had  two  sous, 
Nicholas,  and  Roger,  parson  of  Bacton,  in  the  reign  of  Edward 
III.  Nicholas  Drury,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  the  eldest  son  and  heir, 
married  Joan,  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Sir  Simon  Saxham,  of 
Thurston,  by  Agnes  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Fresel,  of 
Great  Saxham,  Knt.,  by  Katherine  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir 
of  Sir  John  Geddyng,  of  Geddyng,  Knt.  This  Agnes,  after  the 
decease  of  her  brother,  Richard  Fresel,  without  issue,  prior  to  the 
41st  of  Edward  III.,  became  his  sole  heiress. 

Nicholas,  by  his  will,  dated  at  Rougham,  the  7th  of  Richard  II., 
entailed  his  lands  to  Roger,  his  eldest  son,  and  his  heirs  male ;  re- 
mainder to  Nicholas,  bis  second  son,  in  tail ;  remainder  to  John, 
his  third  son,  in  tail :  and  for  default  of  such  issue,  to  be  sold,  and 
given  to  charitable  uses.  He,  and  his  wife,  with  divers  of  his  an- 
cestors, were  buried  in  this  parish  church,  in  a  chapel  erected  by 
the  Drurys,  at  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle. 

The  descendant  of  Roger,  the  eldest  son,  settled  at  the  adjoining 
parish  of  Roughain  ;  Nicholas's  descendants  were  for  many  ages 
seated  at  Hawsted  ;  and  John  was  of  Wetherden.  Nicholas,^-  the 
son  of  Nicholas  (from  whom  the  Hawsted  branch  descended),  after 
the  decease  of  his  father  and  mother,  continued  to  reside  in  this 
parish,  in  Saxham's  ancient  place,  which  his  mother  conveyed  to 

*  By  his  will,  dated  4th  January,  1452,  he  ordered  his  body  to  be  buiied  in  the 
parish  church  of  Thurston,  near  his  parents  ;  and,  after  various  legacies,  ordered 
that  xxvis.  viijd.  should  be  distributed  among  the  poor  for  the  soul  of  Roger  Drury, 
Knt.,  his  brother.  And  gave  to  Elizabeth,  late  wife  of  the  testator's  son,  Henry 
Drury,  his  bowl  with  the  cover  GRAVEN  WITH  A  MOLET  ;  and  to  each  of  her  chil- 
dren xxs. ;  to  Roger,  the  testator's  son,  his  great  bowl  of  silver  with  the  cover,  j 
powder  box  of  silver,  j  silver  salt,  and  all  his  silver  spoons,  and  other  plate,  all  his 
bedding,  linen,  brass,  and  other  vessels,  and  household  effects ;  to  Felice,  wife  of 
the  said  Roger,  xxs.  ;  and  to  each  child  of  the  said  Roger  xiijs.  iiijd. ;  and  to  the 
testator's  daughter,  Elizabeth  Monk,  xxs.  Subject  to  other  legacies,  the  residue 
was  directed  to  be  disposed  of  for  the  benefit  of  the  testator's  soul ;  and  he  ap- 
pointed his  son,  Roger  Drury,  and  John  Hardhed,  chaplain,  executors  ;  who 
proved  the  •will  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  2nd  September,  1456. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  747 

him,  and  his  heirs  ;  whereby  it  was  called  Drury's.  He  and  his 
wife,  Joan,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hethe,  of  Mildenhall,  Esq.,  wer» 
also  interred  in  this  parish  church,  in  a  chapel  in  the  north  aisle, 
opposite  to  his  father's.  From  these  three  brothers  the  numerous 
branches  of  this  illustrious  house,  afterwards  seated  in  various  places 
in  this  and  the  adjoining  counties,  descended. 

Netherhall  Manor  House  stands  partly  in  Pakenham,  not  far 
from  that  parish  church.  The  Ashfields,  who  were  originally  of 
Stowlaugtoft,  appear  to  have  been  first  seated  there  about  the  reign 
of  Henry  VII.  George  Ashfield,  of  Netherhall,  married  Margery, 
daughter  of  John  Cheke,  of  Bludshall,  in  Debenham ;  and  deceased 
in  the  9th  of  Henry  VIII.  The  following  statement  will  show  his 
descendants,  in  the  elder  branch,  and  their  intermarriages  : — 

George  Ashfield  ^Margery  Cheke. 
. j 

Margaret,  dau.  of  Sir=Robert  Ashfield  =Alice,  dau.  of  Sir  Thos.  Termin,  Knt. 

Simon  le  Grosse,  Knt.  (no  issue).  1 1 

Alice,  dau.  of  William  Clapton,  of=Robert  Ashfield=Frances,  d.  of  Robt.  Spring, 

Lyston,  in  Essex.         \ 1  Esq.,  of  Lavenham  (had  issue.) 

Sir  Robert  Ashfield,  Knt.=Anne,  dau.  of  Sir  John  Tasburgh,  Kut. 

T 1 

Sir  John  Ashtield,  Knt.,  Gent  of  the  Privy  Council  to  —Elizabeth,  dau.  and  heir  of 
Charles  I.  Created  a  Bart,  in  1626.  Obt.  in  1635.  |  Sir  Richd.  Sutton,  Knt. 

1 1 

dau.  and  co-heir  of  Sir^Sir  Richard  Ashfield,  =  Dorcas,  daughter  of  James7 

Richard  Rogers,  Knt,  of  Obt.  in  1684.  Hore,  Esq.,  of  the  Mint. 

Eastwood,  Gloucestershire. 

Sir  Bichard  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Sir  John  Ashfield,  Bart; 
vho  married  Anne,  daughter  of  James  Hore,  Esq.,  of  the  Mint, 
and  had  issue.  He  was  living  in  1692;  but  his  estate  was  de- 
stroyed. The  Baronetcy  was  extinct  in  1727. 

The  Netherhall  manor  and  estate  passed  to  the  Bright  family. 
Thomas  Bright,  Esq.,  who  deceased  in  1727,  resided  there  ;  whose 
son,  Thomas,  succeeded ;  and  died  in  1736.  It  subsequently  be- 
came the  estate  of  Edmund  Tyrell,  Esq. ;  who  sold  the  same  to 
George  Chinery,  Gent.,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's  ;  from  whose  widow 
it  passed  to  William  Chinery  Bassett,  Esq.,  the  present  proprietor, 
who  resides  here. 

The  patronage  of  the  vicarage  is  still  in  the  Tyrell  family; 
Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  of  Polstead  Hall,  being  the  present  owner: 
the  rectoral  tithes  belong  to  Gill  Stedman,  Gent.,  of  Pakenham. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  estate  comprises  a  double  cottage  and 
garden,  near  the  church  ;  rent  ^65  4s.  a  year  :  land  near  the  Brook, 
in  Thurston,  5 A.  IR.  18p.,  let  at  £7  10s.  per  annum  :  3A.  17p.  in 
the  same  parish;  rent  £4  17s.  a  year:  allotments  in  Barton  3A. 


748  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

17p.,  let  at  £4:  per  annum.  The  land  near  the  Brook  was  devised 
by  Thomas  Rose,  in  1492,  one  half  of  the  rents  for  the  reparation 
of  the  church,  the  other  half  for  the  easement  of  the  poor  and  needy 
people  of  this  parish,  and  for  the  tax  of  the  King,  when  it  should 
fall  to  he  paid.  The  original  acquisition  of  the  rest  of  the  property 
is  unknown. — The  town  lands  comprise  VA.  SE.  24p.  in  Stanton, 
and  5\.  IR.  18p.  in  Badwell  Ash;  rent  of  each,  £IQ  per  annum. 
The  land  in  Stanton  was  purchased  with  a  gift  from  Sir  Robert 
Gardener,  Knt.,  and  other  money  belonging  to  the  inhabitants.  It 
is  unknown  whence  the  parcel  of  land  in  Badwell  was  derived. — An 
allotment  of  10A.  3R.  14p.,  under  an  iuclosure  act,  was  set  out  in 
trust  for  the  poor,  in  lieu  of  a  right  of  cutting  furze  on  the  common ; 
rent  about  £9  a  year ;  which  is  laid  out  in  coals,  and  divided  among 
poor  inhabitants  belonging  to  the  parish. — The  sum  of  £20,  given 
by  Charles  Warren,  in  1662,  for  ten  of  the  poorest  widows  and  men 
of  Thurston,  was  in  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Tyrell,  of  this  parish,  widow 
of  Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  at  interest,  at  5  per  cent.  (An  account  of 
Bright's  charity  is  given  in  Pakenham.) 


TIMWORTH.—  TIMWRTHA,  or  TIMEWORDA. 

A  family  who  most  likely  derived  their  name  from  this  parish, 
occurs  at  a  very  early  period.  In  the  2nd  of  King  Henry  III.,  Sir 
William  de  Timworth  held  a  manor  at  West  Derham,  in  Norfolk, 
that  assumed  its  name  from  that  family  ;  he  also  gave,  in  1217,  the 
church  of  Derham  St.  Andrew,  to  the  Abbot  and  monks  of  that 
Monastery;  which  became  appropriated  thereto.  Richard  de  Tim- 
worth,  held  the  fourth  part  of  a  fee  of  the  honour  of  Wirmegay,  in 
the  same  reign;  and  in  the  14th  of  Edward  I.,  Thomas  de  Tim- 
worth  was  lord  of  the  manor  of  Timworth,  in  West  Derham.  This 
family  had  also  an  interest  in  the  parish  of  Pauxford,  in  Norfolk, 
in  the  20th  of  Henry  III. 

Guy  de  Tymworth  was  chief  lord  of  this  parish  in  the  14th  of 
Edward  I. ;  and  in  the  17th  of  Richard  II.,  it  belonged  to  Richard 
de  Tymworth  ;  and  descended  to  his  son,  John  de  Tymworth.  They 
were  the  common  ancestors  of  Strange,  of  Timworth,  Ampton,  and 
Brockley.  John  Strange  was  son  of  Robert  de  Tymworth,  and 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  749 

Mabell  his  wife;  and  in  1367,  he  presented  to  the  churches  both  of 
Tim  worth  and  Ampton  :  in  1386,  Joan,  widow  of  William  Strange, 
presented  to  Timworth.  The  wife  of  John  Strange  was  Elizabeth, 
sister  and  heir  to  William,  son  and  heir  of  Geoffrey  Boteler,  of 
Botelers,  at  Walden,  in  Essex. 

There  were  three  children  of  John  Strange,  and  Elizabeth ; 
namely,  John,  who  died  without  issue,  in  his  father's  life  time ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Warren ;  and  Agnes,  wife,  first  of  Robert 
Mordaunt,  of  Turvey,  in  the  county  of  Bedford,  and  secondly,  of 
Thomas  Foderingay.  In  the  time  of  Henry  VI.,  Agnes  Foderingay, 
and  Robert  Mordaunt,  her  son,  released  to  Elizabeth  Warren,  their 
right  in  the  manor  of  Timworth,  and  its  appurtenances.  Agnes 
survived  her  sister  (who  died  without  issue),  and  became  the  sole 
heir.  Robert  Mordaunt,  her  son,  was  ancestor  of  the  Earls  of 
Peterborough,  and  Monmouth. 

This  estate  soon  afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Hethe  family ; 
for,  by  the  will  of  Thomas  Hethe,  of  Mildenhall,  dated  in  1440,  he 
gives  all  his  lands  in  Timworth,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church  of 
Timworth,  after  the  decease  of  Elizabeth  his  wife,  to  remain  to 
William,  his  second  son,  in  tail ;  remainder  to  John,  his  third  son; 
remainder  to  George,  his  eldest  brother ;  remainder  to  the  testator's1 
right  heirs. 

It  is  probable  this  William  Hethe  resided  upon  his  estate,  in  this 
parish.  He  deceased  without  issue,  as  did  John,  his  younger  bro- 
ther ;  and  this  estate  reverted  to  George  Hethe,  of  Mildenhall,  their 
elder  brother,  or  his  son,  Francis  Hethe,  of  that  parish  ;  whose  only 
daughter  and  heiress  Margaret,  married  George  Bokenham,  of 
Great  Livermere,  Esq. 

This  manor  and  advowson  for  several  generations  has  passed  as 
part  and  parcel  of  the  Culford  estate,  and  so  continues  ;  the  present 
proprietor  being  the  Rev.  Edward  Richard  Benyon,  who  also  holds 
the  incumbency. 

Robert  Tymworth  occurs  rector  of  Blakeney,  in  Norfolk,  between 
1375  and  1382. 

ARMS. — Strange :  gules ;  an  eagle  displayed,  argent,  within  a 
bordure  engrailed,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  lands  comprise  a  piece  of  pasture,  in 
West  Stow,  and  Culford,  somewhat  above  an  acre,  purchased  by 
benefactions  ;  rent  £2  a  year :  and  the  Yard  Acre,  in  Timworth, 
about  one  acre,  with  one  acre  in  Timworth  field ;  rent  £1  8s.  :  dis- 


750  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

tributed  among  poor  persons,  about  Christmas.     It  is  unknown  by 
whom  this  land  was  given. 


WHELNETHAM  MAGNA.— WELTHAM,  or  QUELNETHAM. 

A  Convent  of  Crossed  (or  Crouched)  Friars,  was  established  in 
the  chapel  of  St.  Thomas  the  Martyr,  in  this  parish,  prior  to  the 
year  1273  ;  but  it  does  not  appear  who  was  their  founder.  It  was 
subordinate  to  the  chief  house  of  the  order,  situate  near  the  Tower 
of  London ;  and  there  was  a  house  of  the  same  order,  called  Bar- 
ham  (or  Bergham)  Priory,  at  Linton,  in  Cambridgeshire,  which 
was  a  cell  to  the  Priory  of  Whelnetham. 

The  possessions  of  this  Convent  were  considerable.  In  the  5th 
of  Edward  III.,  they  held  four  messuages,  and  240  acres  of  land, 
in  Acton,  and  Waldingfield;  and  in  1347,  a  patent  was  granted  to 
them  for  60  acres  of  land,  in  Cockfield,  and  Whelnetham  :  in  1521, 
they  held  a  messuage,  chapel,  and  52  acres  in  Barham. 

In  ancient  documents  these  friars  are  designated,  "  Fratres  S. 
Trinitatis,  or  S.  Crucis,  in  Whelnetham,"  or  "  the  Brethren  of  the 
Chapel  of  St.  Thomas,  near  Bury."  John  de  Forneux,  Robert  de 
Bures  de  Aketon,  and  William  Rokewode,  are  named  as  benefac- 
tors ;  and  in  1539,  Anthony  Rous  obtained  a  grant  of  the  same. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  was  con- 
cerned here ;  and  a  lordship  and  estate  in  this  parish  belonged  to 
Sir  Bartholomew  de  Burghersh,  in  which  he  obtained  a  grant  of 
free  warren,  to  himself,  and  Cecily  his  wife,  and  their  heirs.  He 
deceased  in  the  43rd  of  Edward  III.,  seized  thereof;  when  it  passed 
to  Elizabeth,  his  daughter  and  sole  heir,  wife  of  Sir  Edward  De- 
spencer.  Edmund  de  Langley,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Agincourt,  died  possessed  thereof,  in  the  3rd  of  Henry  IV.  He 
was  5th  son  of  King  Edward  III.,  was  born  at  the  Royal  Palace  of 
Langley,  and  surnamed  Langley,  from  that  his  native  place.  In  the 
36th  of  Edward  III.,  he  was  created  Earl  of  Cambridge,  and  sub- 
sequently Duke  of  York. 

A  family  who  derived  their  name  from  this  parish  at  a  very  early 
period,  were  also  interested  here  :  in  the  time  of  Edward  III.,  this 
manor  and  advowson  were  vested  in  Sir  John  de  Whelnetham 
Magna,  Knt. ;  and  in  the  44th  of  that  reign,  his  inheritance  be- 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE .  751 

came  divided  between  his  three  daughters,  and  co-heirs :  this  estate 
appears  to  have  been  assigned  to  Margery,  his  second  daughter ; 
•who  married,  first,  Sir  John  Brokesbourne,  Knt.,  secondly,  John  de 
Cockfield,  Esq.,  and  thirdly,  Sir  John  Sutton,  Knt.,  who  died  be- 
fore the  8th  of  Richard  II.,  when  Margery  his  widow  was  living. 

Sir  John  de  Whelnetham  deceased  prior  to  the  39th  of  Edward 
III. ;  for  in  that  year,  Simon  Sudbury,  Bishop  of  London,  granted 
to  all  who  would  pray  for  the  soul  of  Sir  John  de  Whelnetham, 
Knt.,  deceased,  whose  body  was  buried  in  the  church  of  Great  Whel- 
netham, and  for  the  souls  of  lady  Alice,  late  his  wife,  of  Sir  John  de 
Brokesbourne,  Knt.,  John  de  Cockfield,  Esq.,  and  others,  forty  days 
pardon.  Eleanor,  only  daughter  of  Sir  John  Brokesbourne,  by 
Margery  his  wife,  married  Sir  William  Rayiiforth,  and  they  held 
this  manor,  with  Alpheton,  and  divers  lands  in  Lawshall. 

It  subsequently  became  the  inheritance  of  the  Jermyns,  of  Rush- 
brook  ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Springs,  of  Pakenham,  by  mar- 
riage of  the  co-heiress  of  Thomas,  Lord  Jermyn,  with  Sir  William 
Spring,  Bart. ;  whose  daughter  aud  co-heir  brought  it  by  marriage 
to  the  Symonds  family  ;  and  John  Symonds,  Esq.,  LL.D.,  devised 
the  same  to  John  Benjafield,  Esq. ;  who  married  Mariana,  daughter 
of  Thos.  Symonds,  Captain  R.N.,  and  niece  to  Professor  Symonds. 

A  branch  of  the  Gipps  family  were  living  in  this  parish,  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  II.  Sir  Richard  Gipps,  of  Great  Whelnetham, 
was  Master  of  the  Revels  to  that  King  ;  and  received  the  honour  of 
•Knighthood  at  Whitehall,  in  1083.  lie  was  the  writer  of  "  Anti- 
quitates  Suffolciencis ;"  or  an  Essay  towards  recovering  some  ac- 
count of  the  Ancient  Families  in  the  County  of  Suffolk;  a  little  work 
which  remains  in  manuscript,  and  of  which  there  are  several  copies. 
The  author  of  this  Essay  says,  that  his  family  was  anciently  seated 
at  Ipswich,  and  that  Sir  Richard  Gipps,  of  Horningsherth,  was  a 
younger  branch.  Sir  Richard  Gipps,  of  this  parish,  died  in  1708, 
and  was  buried  here. 

The  advowson  was  formerly  vested  in  Lady  Gage,  who  conveyed 
the  same  to  Thomas  Folkes,  Esq.,  of  Great  Barton ;  and  it  formed 
part  of  the  fortune  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer's  second  wife,  Miss 
Folkes ;  it  has  since  passed  with  the  Barton  Hall  estate. 

CHARITIES. — In  1814,  Mrs.  Mary  Green,  by  will,  directed  £200 
to  be  placed  out  on  Government  security,  in  the  names  of  the  rec- 
tor and  churchwardens  of  this  parish.  With  this  legacy  was  pur- 
chased the  sum  of  J&289  12s.  6d.  stock,  3  per  cent.  Consols ;  and 


752  HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE. 

the  dividends,  ;£8  13s.  8d.  a  year,  are  laid  out  yearly  in  the  pur- 
chase of  coals,  which  are  distributed  amongst  the  poor  inhabitants, 
by  the  officiating  minister  and  churchwardens. 


WHELNETHAM  PARVA. 

This  manor  and  advowson  in  their  early  descent  appear  to  have 
passed  with  the  foregoing  parish  of  Great  Whelnetham  ;  and  from 
the  Jermyns,  came,  with  the  Rushbrook  property,  into  the  possession 
of  the  D avers  family :  they  are  now  vested  in  Frederick  William, 
Marquis  of  Bristol,  as  heir  general  of  that  house.  Henry  John 
Hasted  is  the  present  incumbent. 

Camden  mentions  the  discovery  of  abundance  of  Roman  remains 
in  this  vicinity ;  and  of  late,  Roman  pottery,  coins,  &c.,  have  some- 
tim6s  been  found  in  the  neighbourhood. 


WOOLPIT.— WOLPETT,  or  WLFPETA. 

This  lordship  and  advowson  became  vested  in  the  Abbot  of  Ed- 
mund's at  Bury,  by  the  gift  of  Earl  Ulf  ketel ;  and  King  Henry  II., 
obtained  from  Hugh,  Abbot  of  that  Monastery,  in  free  alms,  this 
parish  church,  for  his  clerk,  Walter  de  Constances  ;*  and  in  con- 
sideration thereof,  by  charter,  dated  at  Westminster,  granted  that 
after  the  decease  of  Walter,  or  his  resignation,  the  church  should 
be  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  sick  monks. 

The  Abbots  continued  to  hold  the  same  until  the  suppression  of 
that  house ;  when  it  passed  to  the  Crown,  who  held  them  until  Sir 
Robert  Gardiner,  Knt,  obtained  a  grant  thereof,  in  the  time  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  or  King  James  I.  He  deceased  in  1619,  and  de- 
vised this  estate  to  his  nephew,  Gardiner  Webbe,  of  Elmswell,  Esq., 
who  died  in  1674.  Sir  Robert  gave  an  annual  rent  charge  of  £10, 
issuing  out  of  this  manor,  to  the  almshouse  founded  by  him  at  the 
adjoining  parish  of  Elmswell. 

The  family  of  Watson  appear  to  have  been  formerly  residents 

*  Walter  de  Constances  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  in  1183.  In  the 
next  year,  this  Prelate  (surnamed  "  the  Magnificent")  was  translated  to  the  Arch- 
bishopric of  Rouen. 


HUNDRED  OF  THEDWASTRE.  753 

here ;  of  whom  was  William  Watson,  Esq.,  Keeper  of  the  Ordinance 
of  the  Tower  of  London  ;  whose  grand-son,  John  Watson,  Esq.,  of 
this  parish,  was  ancestor  of  the  Watsons  noticed  in  the  parish  of 
Eingshall,  in  Bosmere  and  Claydou  hundred. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  handsome  structure,  par- 
ticularly the  south  porch  entrance.  The  interior  is  furnished  with 
open  benches,  carved,  and  presents  a  fine  specimen  of  our  ancient 
mode  of  fitting  up  churches.  The  chancel  is  separated  from  the 
nave  by  a  Gothic  screen  of  carved  oak,  and  contains  a  double  pis- 
cini,  and  a  very  elegant  brass  lectern,  in  form  of  an  eagle  with  ex- 
panded wings ;  which  is  in  good  preservation.  The  interior  has 
been  recently  repaired,  and  the  carved  work  and  ornamental  parts 
restored,  under  the  superintendance  and  direction  of  the  Rev.  Luke 
Flood  Page,  the  present  rector.  This  church  contains  no  ancient 
monumental  inscriptions. 

In  a  meadow  near  the  church  is  a  far-famed  well,  called  Lady's 
Well,  being  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin ;  the  resort  of  pilgrims 
in  former  ages.  A  chapel  is  said  to  have  formerly  existed  near  this 
spring,  but  no  vestiges  of  such  at  present  remain. 

The  learned  Dr.  Gale  is  inclined  to  place  Sitomagus  at  this  place, v 
rather  than  Thetford,  as  the  distances  apply  more  accurately.  Ro- 
man coins  are  sometimes  found  in  the  vicinity ;  and  in  digging  for 
the  foundation  of  the  bridge  in  the  Bury  road,  a  Roman  sword  was 
discovered  ;  the  blade  was  composed  of  brass,  but  without  any  hilt. 
CHARITIES. — The  poor's  lands  are  vested  in  trustees,  and  consist 
of  two  closes,  containing  5A.  2R.  23p.,  let  at  £12  per  annum;  two 
others,  given  by  William  Kent,  containing  7A.  2n.  5p.,  rent  .£19  a 
year ;  another,  given  by  Catherine  Webb,  contains  3R.  7p.,  let  at 
£4  a  year;  another,  given  for  bread,  of  IA.  2R.  10p.,  rent  £3  per 
annum ;  these  are  in  this  parish :  and  three  pieces  in  Rattlesden, 
containing  5A.  2R.  34p.,  rent  £10  ;  given  by  Sir  Robert  Gardiner. 
Total  rents,  £48  per  annum ;  which  are  distributed  among  poor 
people  belonging  to  the  parish,  in  money  and  bread.  Certain  lands, 
in  Woolpit  and  Hunston,  containing  together  about  6|-  acres,  are 
let  at  the  rent  of  £14  a  year,  or  thereabouts  ;  and  the  rents  are  ap- 
plied in  repairing  the  church. — In  1728,  Francis  Beales  devised 
two  tenements  to  be  occupied  by  poor  persons ;  and  the  rents  to  be 
given  in  bread  to  52  poor  persons,  twelve  of  them  to  have  a  penny 
loaf  every  Sunday. 


BLACBRUNA,  or  BLACBRUNE. 


This  Hundred  lies  upon  the  utmost  bounds  Northward  of  this 
County  ;  being  separated  from  Norfolk  by  the  river  Ouse,  and 
is  East  of  Lackford,  and  West  of  Hartismere  Hundreds.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  South  by  the  Hundreds  of  Stow,  Thedwastre, 
and  Thing oe ;  and  contains  the  parishes  annexed : — 


ASHFIELD, 
BADWELL  ASH, 
BARDWELL, 
BARNHAM, 
BARNINGHAM, 
CONEY  WESTON, 
CULFORD, 
ELMSWELL, 
EUSTON, 

FAKENHAM  GREAT, 
FAKENHAM  LITTLE, 
HEPWORTH, 

HlNDERCLAY, 
HOPTON, 
HONINGTON, 
HUNSTON, 

INGHAM, 


IXWORTH, 

IXWORTH  THORP, 

KNATTISHALL, 

LANGHAM, 

LIVERMERE  PARVA, 

NORTON, 

ElCKENGALE  INFERIOR, 

SAPISTON, 

STANTON, 

STOWLANGTOFT, 

THELNETHAM, 

TROSTON, 

WALSHAM  LE  WILLOWS, 

WATESFIELD, 

WESTON  MARKET, 

WESTOW, 

WORD  WELL. 


In  the  3rd  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  it  was  granted  to  Sir  Nicholas 

Bacon,  Knt.,  Lord  Keeper,  as  parcel  of  the  possession  of  the 

suppressed  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund  at  Bury ;   it  has  since 

passed  as  the  Redgrave  estate,  and  note  belongs  to  George  St. 

Vincent  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Redgrave  Hall. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 


ASHFIELD,  or  EASCEFELDA. 

In  the  8th  of  King  Kichard  I.,  Walter  de  Saxham,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded William  Fitz  Robert,  acknowledged  the  service  of  one 
Knight's  fee  to  be  due  for  his  lands  in  this  parish,  and  Saxham ; 
which  fee  became  afterwards  divided,  the  lands  in  Ashfield,  which 
constituted  half  a  Knight's  fee,  went  to  William  de  Criketot,  and 
the  other  half  of  the  fee,  which  comprehended  the  lands  in  Saxham, 
passed  to  Thomas  de  Eushbrook. 

In  the  47th  of  Edward  III.,  Thomas  de  Ickworth  granted  to 
Richard  de  Pakeuham,  and  Joan  his  wife,  all  right  in  the  manor  of 
Ashfield,  and  other  lands,  formerly  Sir  William  Criketot's,  Knt. 
This  Thomas  married  Joan,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  de 
Geddyng ;  and  left  issue  an  only  son,  Thomas ;  and  a  daughter, 
Katherine,  wife  of  Sir  John  Cokerill,  Kut.  Thomas  de  Ickworth, 
the  son,  married  Agnes,  sister  and  heir  of  John  Tamworth ;  and 
left  issue  an  only  son,  Ralph  de  Ickworth,  who  died  without  issue  ; 
and  his  aunt,  Katherine  Cokerill,  became  entitled  to  the  reversion 
of  his  estates. 

There  was  issue  of  this  Katherine  Cokerill,  a  son,  John,  who  died 
in  her  life  time  ;  leaving  an  only  child,  Katherine  aged  six  years  at 
the  time  of  her  grand-mother's  decease,  in  the  6th  of  Henry  VI. 
Katherine,  the  grand-daughter,  died  in  the  10th  of  the  same  reign; 
when  the  title  to  the  inheritance  of  the  Ickworth  family  was  for  a 
time  in  dispute.  Katherine,  the  grand-mother,  was  of  Albergh 
Wykes,  in  this  county. 

In  1429,  John  Howse,  Esq.,  did  homage  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Ed- 
mund at  Bury,  for  his  estates  in  this  parish.  His  descendants  were 
afterwards  seated  at  Moringthorp,  in  Norfolk .  The  family  of  Smith 
became  early  seated  at  the  Lee,  in  this  parish,  lineal  descendants  of 
Richard  Hovel,  Esquire  of  the  Body  to  King  Henry  V. ;  members 
of  which  houss  were  anciently  settled  at  Walsham-le-Willows,  and 
Wetherden. 


758  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

The  more  immediate  ancestors  of  Robert  Smith,  Esq.,  of  this 
parish,  having  adopted  that  name,  were  designated  Hovel,  alias 
Smith,  until  he  relinquished  entirely  the  former  name.  Elizabeth, 
his  daughter  and  co-heir,  married  the  Eev.  Thomas  Thurlow,  rector 
of  Ashfield  :  their  great-grand-son,  Edward  Thos.  Hovel  Thurlow, 
3rd  Baron  Thurlow,  is  the  present  lord  of  this  manor,  and  resides 
here. 

The  direct  ancestors  of  Lord  Thurlow  were  resident  at  Burnham 
Ulp,  in  Norfolk,  in  the  16th  century ;  and  like  many  other  noble 
families,  owes  its  elevation  to  the  learned  profession  of  the  law. 
Edward,  eldest  son  of  the  above  Thomas,  and  Elizabeth  Thurlow, 
was  born  in  this  parish,  in  1732 ;  and  having  been  called  to  the  Bar 
in  1758,  obtained  a  silk  gown  in  1761,  was  appointed  Solicitor- Ge- 
neral in  1770,  Attorney- General  the  next  year,  and  was  constituted 
Lord  High  Chancellor  in  1778;  when  he  was  elevated  to  the  Peer- 
age, as  Baron  Thurlow,  of  Ashfield,  in  Suffolk.  He  deceased,  un- 
married, in  1806,  at  Brighton 

His  next  brother,  Thomas,  who  embraced  the  clerical  profession, 
was  elevated  to  the  Deanery  of  Rochester  in  1779  ;  from  which  he 
was  promoted  to  the  Bishopric  of  Lincoln,  thence  translated  to  the 
see  of  Durham;  and  died  in  1791.  He  married  Anne,  daughter 
of  William  Beere,  Esq. :  his  eldest  son,  Edward,  succeeded,  on 
his  uncle's  demise,  to  the  Barony,  and  was  father  of  the  present 
noble  Peer. 

Ashfield  Lodge  was  the  estate  and  residence  of  James  Mingay, 
Esq.,  senior  King's  Council,  a  Bencher  of  the  Inner  Temple,  Re- 
corder of  Aldborough,  and  many  years  Chairman  of  the  Quarter 
Sessions  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  He  practised  as  a  King's  Counsel 
twenty-two  years :  as  an  Advocate  Mr.  Mingay  possessed  a  persua- 
sive oratory,  infinite  wit,  and  most  excellent  fancy.  He  was  elected 
M.P.  for  Thetford  in  1800,  but  retired  the  following  year.  He 
deceased  in  1812,  at  his  seat  in  this  parish. 

His  nephew,  John  James  Garnham,  Esq.,  Major  of  the  West 
Suffolk  Militia,  succeeded  to  this  property ;  and  deceased  at  Gra- 
nard,  in  Ireland,  whilst  accompanying  his  division  of  the  regiment 
on  their  rout  from  Armagh  to  Tullamore,  Dec.  18,  1813,  aged  32 
years.  This  property  now  belongs  to  Lord  Thurlow. 

ARMS. — Cockerill:  argent;  a  cross,  between  four  cockerells, 
gules.  Howse :  argent ;  a  chevron,  between  three  griffins'  heads, 
couped,  sable.  Thurlow,  quartering  Hovel:  1st  and  4th;  argent; 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  759 

on  a  chevron,  between  two  chevronels,  sable,  three  portcullises,  with 
chains  and  rings  of  the  field  :  2nd  and  3rd  ;  sable  ;  a  cross,  or,  for 
Hovel. 

CHARITIES. — By  an  inquisition,  taken  in  the  21st  of  James  L, 
under  a  Commission  of  Charitable  Uses,  it  was  found  that  Nicholas 
Fyrmage,  of  London,  merchant,  gave  by  will,  in  1620,  his  land  in 
Hackford,  and  £300,  to  be  laid  out  in  lands,  to  .a  preaching  minister 
of  God's  word,  for  a  Sunday  sermon  in  the  afternoon,  to  be  preached 
in  the  parish  church  of  Ashfield  Magna :  viz.,  to  the  preacher,  8s. 
in  money  for  every  sermon ;  and  every  quarter  in  the  year,  to  twelve 
of  the  poorest  householders  in  the  parish  26s. ;  that  is  to  say,  2s.  a 
piece ;  also  to  the  sexton,  for  ringing  the  great  bell,  to  every  ser- 
mon, 2s.,  upon  every  quarter-day,  as  aforesaid ;  and  2s.  to  the  pa- 
rish, to  find  them  bell  ropes.  The  farm  at  Hackford  produces  a 
rent  of  £40  per  annum,  and  the  sum  of  £300  was  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  lands,  called  Hoo  Wood,  containing  about  44  acres, 
with  a  messuage  built  on  part  thereof,  in  Stowmarket,  and  Stowup- 
land ;  rent  £54  a  year,  with  a  cottage  that  lets  for  £4  per  annum. 
The  rents,  after  the  payments  are  made  to  the  sexton  and  parish, 
are  divided  into  five  parts,  of  which,  four  are  paid  to  a  lecturer,  and 
one  is  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  poor. — William  Clarke,  in  the 
13th  of  Charles  I.,  charged  a  close  of  3  acres  in  this  parish,  called 
Wrong  Haunt,  with  the  payment  of  20s.  a  year ;  to  be  laid  out 
towards  binding  apprentices  children  of  the  poor  inhabitants  of 
Ashfield. — There  are  two  cottages  adjoining  the  churchyard,  occu- 
pied by  poor  persons,  rent  free,  and  repaired  by  the  parish. — The 
church  lands  produce  a  rental  of  about  £5,  which  is  carried  to  the 
churchwardens  general  account. 


BAD  WELL  ASH,  or  LITTLE  ASHFIELD. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  L,  the  principal  lordship  of  this  parish  was 
vested  in  William  de  Criketot.  The  Prior  of  St.  Mary,  at  Ixworth, 
held  the  advowson  of  this  and  the  foregoing  parish  of  Ashfield 
Magna,  with  certain  manorial  rights ;  which  were  granted,  with  the 
said  Monastery,  at  its  dissolution,  to  Richard  Codington,  and  Eli- 
zabeth his  wife. 

Robert  Clough,  Esq.,  of  Feltwell,  in  Norfolk,  formerly  held  a 


7GO  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

lordship  here ;  which  passed  to  his  three  daughters  and  co-heirs, 
one  of  whom  was  surviving  until  lately.  This  was  styled  Shacker- 
land  Hall  manor. 

Tiptoft's  farm,  and  Brook  Hall  farm,  with  a  reputed  manor  called 
Brook  Hall,  in  this  parish,  and  Great  Ashfield,  lately  the  estate  of 
John  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  Glemham  House,  were  sold  in  1841,  to 
Mr.  George  Mayhew,  who  resides  here. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  handsome  structure;  the 
buttresses  are  curiously  inlaid  with  flints,  representing  a  hammer, 
horseshoe,  and  pincers,  as  rehusses  for  the  names  of  Smith  and 
Hammersmith,  who  were  probably  concerned  in  the  erection  of  the 
porch  entrance.  It  contains  memorials  to  John  Garnham,  Gent., 
late  of  Shackerland  Hall,  who  died  in  1791 ;  and  to  John  Gam- 
ham,  Esq.,  of  Ashfield  Lodge,  one  of  the  principal  burgesses  of  the 
borough  of  Thetford,  in  Norfolk,  who  deceased  in  1801  ;  also  to 
Anne  and  Alice  Garnham. 

CHARITIES. — Under  the  will  of  Thomas  Blackerby,  dated  the 
13th  of  King  Charles  I.,  the  sum  of  £l  4s.  is  paid  as  a  rent  charge 
upon  the  tithe  of  Stowupland,  and  distributed  in  bread  to  the  poor. 
— The  parish  estate  (which  has  been  vested  in  trustees  from  a  re- 
mote period,  to  bestow  the  rents  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  and  also 
for  repairing  the  parish  church  and  steeple)  consists  of  a  town 
house,  and  divers  small  parcels  of  land,  the  rents  of  which  amount 
to  about  £12  per  annum ;  which  is  carried  by  the  churchwardens 
to  their  general  account,  and  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church. 


BARD  WELL,  or  BEORDE  WELLA. 

At  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey,  this  lordship  belonged  to 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  at  Bury ;  and  Baldwin,  Abbot  of  that 
Monastery  from  1065  to  1097,  granted  the  same  to  Ralph  de 
Berdewelle  in  fee :  in  1 196,  William,  son  of  a  Ralph  de  Berdewelle, 
held  it  at  two  Knights'  fees ;  as  he  acknowledged  in  a  fine  then  le- 
vied between  him  and  Abbot  Sampson. 

In  1338,  John  de  Berdewelle  was  lord ;  and  William,  his  son, 
had  free  warren  granted  him  in  this  parish,  and  Thorp.  William, 
the  son  of  William,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hethe, 
of  Hengrave,  and  died  seized  of  this  manor ;  which,  by  failure  of 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  7C1 

male  issue,  reverted  to  Sir  William  de  Berdewelle,  the  renowned 
warrior,  who  was  the  heir  general,  being  son  of  Sir  William,  son  of 
John  de  Berdewelle,  by  his  second  wife,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Furneaux,  Knt.,  of  Middle  Herling,  in  Norfolk. 

This  Sir  William  was  born  in  1367,  and  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  John,  son  of  Theobald,  son  of  Thomas  de  Pakenham, 
and  heiress  general  of  that  branch  of  the  house  of  Pakenham. 
His  will  is  dated  in  1434,  in  which  he  desires  to  be  buried  in  the 
chancel  of  this  parish  church ;  to  the  reparation  of  which  church 
he  gives  40s.,  and  20s.  to  repair  the  roads.  His  \vill  is  dated  at 
St.  Edmund's  Bury,  where  he  died  very  soon  after :  he  appears, 
however,  to  have  made  Bardwell  his  chief  residence,  and  died  seized 
thereof,  and  Wykes,  in  Bardwell.  John,  his  eldest  son,  and  his 
issue,  William  and  Eose,  deceased  before  Sir  William  :  Robert,  the 
second  son,  succeeded  to  his  father's  large  inheritance,  and  settled 
at  West- Herling,  in  Norfolk.  He  deceased  in  1455,  at  about  which 
period  the  interest  of  this  family  appears  to  have  ceased  here. 

The  family  of  Croftes  became  soon  after  interested  here,  probably 
by  grant  from  the  Crown,  as  parcel  of  the  possession  of  the  dis- 
solved Monastery  of  St.  Edmund.  Sir  John  Croftes,  of  Westow, 
Knt.,  by  his  will,  dated  in  1557,  entailed  upon  his  second  son, 
Thomas  Croftes,  his  manor  and  park  of  Bardwell,  and  other  lands  ; 
with  remainder  over  to  Thomas  and  Henry,  sons  of  the  testator's 
eldest  son,  Edmund  Croftes. 

This  Thomas  married  Margaret,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Coppledike,  of  the  county  of  Lincoln,  and  resided  in  this  parish ; 
where  he  deceased  in  1595,  leaving  issue  two  sons,  Charles  and 
Thomas,  and  as  many  daughters.  Charles,  the  eldest  son  and  heir, 
by  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth,  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Pierce, 
of  Northwold,  in  Norfolk,  had  issue,  Charles,  his  son  and  heir,  and 
two  others.  He  deceased  in  1617,  and  was  buried  in  Ixworth- 
Thorp  church. 

Sir  Charles  Croftes,  Knt.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded  to 
this  estate,  and  deceased  in  1660;  leaving  by  his  first  wife,  two 
daughters,  and  co-heirs,  Bridget,  and  Cicilie,  who  married  Francis 
Brewster,  of  Wrentham,  Esq.  Bardwell  passed  by  marriage  with 
Bridget,  the  eldest  daughter,  to  Thomas  Beade,  Esq.,  of  Wrangle, 
in  Lincolnshire ;  whose  great-grand-son  and  heir,  Thomas  Croftes 
Beade,  Esq.,  dying  without  issue,  the  same  was  sold  under  the  trust 
of  his  will,  dated  3rd  of  March,  1769. 


762  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

The  principal  manor  is  now  vested  in  Sir  Henry  Charles  Blake, 
Bart.,  of  Great  Barton.  The  Earl  of  Albemarle,  and  Thomas  Hal- 
lifax,  Esq.,  of  Chadacre  Hall,  also  hold  courts  here ;  the  latter  at 
Wicken  Hall.  George  Henry  Fitzroy,  Earl  of  Euston,  holds  free- 
hold estates  on  Bardwell  Heath ;  and  Lord  Charles  Fitzroy,  in 
Bowbeck,  a  hamlet  of  this  parish. 

The  church  contains  memorials  to  several  members  of  the  Croftes 
and  Reade  families,  and  the  windows  exhibit  some  fine  specimens  of 
ancient  stained  glass  :  the  effigy  of  Sir  William  Berdewell*  still  re- 
mains in  a  north  window,  in  a  very  tolerable  state  of  preservation ; 
but  some  small  parts  having  been  lost,  are  now  supplied  from  the 
mutilated  remains  of  other  figures  of  the  same  kind,  with  which  the 
windows  of  this  church  were  once  richly  ornamented.  Another 
window  contains  a  male  and  female  figure,  conjectured  to  represent, 
from  the  shield  on  the  body,  and  over  the  head  of  the  man,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Drury  family. 

In  the  15th  of  Edward  III.,  John  de  Hapisburgh,  rector  of  this 
parish,  and  Robert  de  Shelton,  clerk,  conveyed  a  part  of  the  manor 
of  Bacton,  in  Norfolk,  to  found  a  chantry  in  the  Priory  church  of 
Bromholm  St.  Andrew,  in  that  parish  ;  and  in  the  8th  of  Richard 
II.,  license  was  granted  to  appropriate  the  church  of  Bardwell,  in 
Suffolk,  to  the  said  Monastery. 

The  patronage  of  this  living  became  vested  in  St.  John's  College, 
Oxford,  in  the  time  of  Charles  II.,  by  the  gift  of  Ellen,  widow  of 
Theodore  Goulston,  M.D.,  who  being  in  her  own  right  possessed 
of  the  impropriatiou,  procured  license  to  annex  it  to  the  vicarage, 
of  which  she  also  was  patron ;  and  gave  them,  so  annexed,  to  the 
said  College.  The  present  incumbent  is  the  Rev.  Henry  Adams, 
formerly  Fellow  of  that  Society. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  is  appropriated,  under  a  decree  of 
the  Court  of  Chancery,  made  in  1639,  to  public  uses,  relating  to 
the  celebration  of  Divine  service,  and  the  good  of  the  town  of 
Bardwell,  in  such  things  as  should  be  most  needful.  The  property 
consists  of  a  building,  called  the  Guild  Hall,  used  for  the  residence 
of  the  poor ;  four  cottages,  let  at  moderate  rents ;  and  several  pieces 
of  land,  lying  dispersed,  containing  in  the  whole  54A.  2R.  34p.,  the 
yearly  rents  of  which  amount  to  £87  lls. ;  and  are  applied  in  the 

*  A  coloured  print  of  the  figure  of  Sir  William,  was  published  in  1805,  by  Win. 
Fowler,  of  Winterton,  Lincolnshire  :  for  a  more  particular  account  of  it,  and  the 
other  figures  in  this  church,  see  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,1'  for  1825,  part  ii.  p.  21. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  763 

reparation  of  the  Guild  Hall,  and  cottages,  and  of  the  church,  the 
payment  of  the  churchwardens'  expenditure,  the  wages  of  the  parish 
clerk  and  sexton,  and  an  allowance  of  £13  a  year  for  the  support 
of  a  charity  school :  the  surplus  is  divided  among  all  the  poor 
people  of  the  parish,  in  different  sums,  according  to  the  number  of 
their  children.  There  is  also  a  yearly  sum  of  £5,  paid  by  the  Duke 
of  Graftou,  which  is  applied  with  the  rent  of  the  town  land. — In 
1677,  Thomas  Reade  devised  £50,  to  be  laid  out  in  lands  of  the 
yearly  value  of  50s.,  to  be  given  for  teaching  poor  children  to  read: 
this  legacy,  with  £10,  given  by  Sir  Charles  Croft  Reade,  was  laid 
out  in  the  purchase  of  certain  property  in  Upthorpe  street,  in  Stan- 
ton,  producing  a  rental  of  £4  10s.  a  year  ;  which,  together  with  the 
£13  a  year  allowed  as  above,  are  paid  to  a  schoolmistress  for  teach- 
ing a  certain  number  of  children,  and  furnishing  them  with  books. 
— A  dole  of  3s.  4d.  a  year,  the  gift  of  John  Green,  about  1595,  for 
the  benefit  of  poor  widows,  is  charged  on  a  piece  of  land  in  Ixworth 
Thorp,  called  Guttrage's  Acre,  lately  the  property  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Brett. — In  the  12th  of  Charles  II.,  Robert  Garrard  devised  £20 
for  the  purchase  of  land,  the  revenue  to  be  for  the  payment  of  2s. 
each,  on  Christmas- day,  to  ten  of  the  poorest  widows  in  Bardwell. 
This  benefaction,  with  £3  paid  out  of  the  common  town  stock,  was 
laid  out  in  1661,  in  the  purchase  of  land  in  Bardwell,  producing  a 
yearly  rent  of  £3  ;  which  is  distributed  accordingly. — In  or  about 
1822,  John  Jeffes  gave  £3  a  year,  payable  on  St.  Thomas's  day,  to 
provide  a  dinner  for  ten  poor  men,  and  ten  poor  women,  of  Bard- 
well, on  Christmas- day  ;  which  the  testator  charged  on  his  estate  in 
this  parish,  now  the  property  of  his  son,  Mr.  John  Jeffes ;  who  pays 
for  a  dinner  for  twenty  poor  persons,  at  the  rate  of  2s.  a  head,  and 
divides  the  residue  among  the  same  persons. 


It  appears  by  an  entry  in  the  parish  accounts,  that  the  whole 
years  rent  of  the  town  land,  in  1592,  was  £19  2s.  8d. ;  and  in  the 
same  account  these  items  immediately  follow  : — 

A  notte  of  the  charges  groweing  frome  the  towne  of  Bardewell,  answered  by  TB 
Gibert  Hill,  John  Greene,  Thomas  Doe,  and  John  Jue,  for  the  year  past,  date  2 
die  Nouember,  as  ffolloweth  : — 

In  Pirns  for  a  bell  rope      -         -         -         -         -        .•    i    '"        •       .  •    4s.  2d. 

Ite  to  the  ploum  for  a  dayes  worke  his  wages  his  soulder  and  his  borde-     3s.  4d. 

Ite  to  his  man n  for  wages  and  horde  -         •-••-•..''      8d. 

Ite  to  the  ringers  on  the  coronation  daye   -         -        -        -        -        -     2s.  6d. 

Ite  for  a  lood  of  strawe 3s. 


7G-1  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

Ite  to  2  pore  menn  the  28  day  of  Nouember  last  gatheringe  with  the  brode  seale  12d. 
Itm  for  butter  for  the  quens  shipes  the  fridaye  next  after  St.  Andrew  last  5s. 

Itm  to  Waller  for  Oyl  for  the  bells 3d. 

Itm  the  ingrossinge  of  the  Towne  reconynge       .....          12d.. 

Itm  for  Ridmrd  Sillotte  dinner  at  Ixworth  when  he  ded  hennes  to  the  purvyar  6d. 
Ite  at  Ixwath  for  deliuye  of  hennes  tenor     ......          6d. 

Ite  at  the  genall  for  puttinge  in  the  bille  indented  and  Sillotte's  dinner  -          7d. 
Ite  for  washing  of  the  surplise    .....          ..          -4d. 

Im  to  a  shipe  wright  maymed  in  her  maities  worke       ...          -          4d. 
Im  for  an  hundred  bricke  brought  to  the  towne  house  -         ...        15d. 
Itm  towards  the  taxe  for  the  towne  of  Bardewell  pd.  about  christmas  last  £\  16d. 
Itm  the  whole  years  rent  to  the  manor  of  Wakes-         ....         17d. 

Itm  to  Ringer  for  keepinge  the  towne  harniss     -----  3d. 

Itm  to  Warner  for  Buttlars  boye  his  aparrell     -----      8s. 

Ite  to  him  for  making  of  the  said  Apparrell        -----          15d. 

Ite  for  a  payer  of  shoues  for  him        __-_---          12d. 
Ite  for  v  hundred  and  fortye  tyles      -------     5s.  4d. 

Ite  for  ij  loode  of  stones  and  the  carrage    -         -         -         -         -         -          16d. 


BAENHAM,  or  BERNHAM,  St.  GKEGOEY  and  St.  MAETIN. 

These  were  formerly  distinct  parishes,  and  a  ruin  of  the  church 
of  St.  Martin  still  remains.  They  were  consolidated  in  1639  ;  in 
1682  the  Bishop  authorized  the  sale  of  St.  Martin's  hells,  and  for  the 
future  ordered  St.  Gregory  to  he  the  sole  church.  In  the  Euston 
Register,  Lord  Arlington  is  said  to  have  rebuilt  Barnham  church. 
The  entire  parish  is  now  the  property  of  his  descendant,  the  present 
Duke  of  Graf  ton. 

Among  the  rectors  here,  was  Henry  Sything,  of  St.  Martin's  pa- 
rish, Official  to  the  Archdeacon  of  Sudbury  in  1439,  successively 
vicar  of  Framsden,  master  of  Sudbury  College,  rector  of  Finning- 
ham,  Wortham,  and  Gnateshall.  Dr.  John  Croftes,  brother  to 
William,  Lord  Croftes,  of  Little  Saxham,  and  afterwards  Dean  of 
Norwich,  buried  in  that  Cathedral :  he  was  instituted  to  these  con- 
solidated livings  in  1 639,  and  sequestrated  in  1 644.  Of  him  Bishop 
Kennet  in  his  Chronicle,  p.  324,  relates  the  following  particulars: — 

"  Dr.  John  Croftes,  when  sequestered  from  his  living  of  Barnham,  had  for  his 
successor  one  Legate,  who  had  personated  '  Ignoramus'  in  Cambridge,  when  that 
play  was  acted  there  before  King  James  I.,  and  continued  ever  after  a  perfect  Co- 
median in  the  pulpit.  And  though  he  had  never  paid  Dr.  Croftes  the  fifths  any 
more  than  once,  yet  the  Dr.  generously  proffered  him  £5Q  a  year,  after  he  was  re- 
possessed of  his  living  in  1660,  on  condition  that  he  would  continue  there,  and 
serve  the  cure.  But  having  been  instrumental  in  bringing  King  Charles  I.  to  the 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  7G5 

block,  he  was  forced  to  fly  beyond  the  seas,  and  settled  in  Maryland  ;  the  Governor 
of  which  place  told  Dr.  Croftes  (who  met  him  one  day  by  chance,  and  inquired  after 
Mr.  Legate)  that  he  had  taken  him  into  custody  the  very  morning  he  came  away, 
for  heading  a  faction,  and  as  it  seems  endangering  a  tumult  there." 

Charles  Brandon  Fairfax,  was  inducted  to  this  rectory,  and  to 
Euston,  in  1718,  by  the  presentation  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  Bart., 
in  right  of  Isabella  his  wife,  Dowager  Duchess  of  Grafton.  In  1 723, 
Mr.  Fairfax  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Christopher  Calthorpe, 
Esq.,  of  Ampton,  and  became  Dean  of  Downe,  in  Ireland.  He 
died  in  July,  1723  ;  having  been  Chaplain  to  the  Duke  of  Grafton 
when  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland. 

Another  remarkable  personage,  Arthur  Kynnesman,  A.M.,  Head 
Master  of  the  Grammar  School  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  was  rector 
from  1722  to  1770,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  here,  aged  88 
years.  Of  him  Richard  Cumberland,  who  was  one  of  his  pupils, 
has  given  some  amusing  details,  in  his  Memoirs  of  his  own  Life. 
Mr.  Kynnesman  was  a  friend  of  the  pre-eminent  scholar  Dr.  Bentley, 
and  was  presented  to  this  living  by  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer. 

In  the  2nd  of  King  John,  Simon  de  Pierpoint,  Attorney  of  John 
L'Estrange,  demanded  of  Ralph  de  Plaiz,  the  manor  of  Bernham, 
in  Suffolk,  by  Thetford,  as  heir  to  Reginald  de  Brun,  his  uncle ; 
which  Hugh  de  Plaiz  gave,  with  Helewise  his  daughter,  to  Ralph, 
son  of  Herluine ;  and  Reginald  de  Brun  gave  it,  in  the  time  of 
King  Henry  II.,  to  the  monks  of  Thetford.  Soon  after  this,  Mar- 
tin, Prior  of  Thetford,  released  a  carucate  of  land  in  Bernham,  to 
John  L'Estrange,  on  his  giving  him  20s.  per  annum,  in  Tottington, 
in  Norfolk. 

In  the  year  1364,  the  Prior  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  at  Thetford, 
had  license  to  receive  in  mortmain,  lands  in  Bernham,  Baraingham, 
and  Knattishall ;  and  in  1392,  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  at  Bury, 
licenced  the  said  Prior,  to  purchase  the  tenement  called  Pleyfords, 
in  Bernham,  standing  near  the  rectory  house  of  St.  Martin's  parish, 
with  the 'homages,  services,  rents,  and  a  fold  course  for  400  sheep 
thereto  belonging,  with  seven  score  acres  of  arable  land,  worth  a 
half-penny  per  acre ;  all  which  formerly  belonged  to  Master  Walter 
de  Elveden,  being  held  of  the  fee  of  St.  Edmund,  and  were  pur- 
chased of  the  said  Walter,  by  Peter,  rector  of  Fakenham  Parva,  and 
others ;  for  which  license  the  Abbot  reserved  a  relief  of  2s.  9d.  at 
the  installation  of  every  Prior,  besides  the  former  services. 

In  1400,  the  jury,  on  a  writ  of  ad  quod  damnum,  returned  answer 
that  it  would  be  no  prejudice  to  the  King,  if  Nicholas  Wychingham 


766  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

settled  upon  the  Convent  of  the  Nunnery  in  Thetford,  one  messuage, 
110  acres  of  land,  two  of  meadow,  four  of  pasture,  a  free  fold,  and 
two  free  fisheries,  in  the  waters  and  fields  of  Bernham,  in  Suffolk ; 
upon  which  it  became  settled,  by  the  King's  license. 

Sir  Richard  Fulmerston,  Knt.,  died  in  1567,  seized  of  the  house, 
and  site  of  the  Priory  of  the  Austin  friars  in  Thetford  ;  and  he  held 
ten  acres  of  land  in  this  parish,  parcel  of  the  possession  of  that 
Monastery. 

CHARITIES. — It  appears  from  returns  made  to  Parliament  in 
1776,  that  in  1737,  Charles,  Duke  of  Grafton,  patron  of  this  rec- 
tory, demised  to  the  rector,  exclusive  of  any  right  of  common,  a 
piece  of  ground  belonging  to  the  poor  inhabitants,  of  one  rood,  for 
950  years,  paying  unto  the  parish  officers  10s.  per  annum;  and 
that  in  1736,  John  Cooke,  surviving  feoffee,  let  to  Charles,  Duke 
of  Grafton,  for  999  years,  a  wasted  messuage,  and  3A.  of  land,  and 
also  half  a  rood  of  land,  paying  a  yearly  rent  charge  to  the  said  pa- 
rish officers,  of  40s.  These  sums  are  paid  by  the  respective  par- 
ties, and  the  amount  is  distributed  in  bread  among  poor  persons. 
— William  Firmage,  of  this  parish,  by  occupation  a  shepherd, 
devised  by  will,  in  1599,  to  this,  and  eighteen  other  parishes,  £10 
each ;  to  be  assured  to  the  poor  of  those  parishes  for  ever.  He 
also  bequeathed  40s.  to  one  James  Blande  ;  and  to  the  same  per- 
son, to  keep  his  dog,  and  to  use  him  well,  so  long  as  he  should  live, 
the  further  sum  of  TEN  POUNDS. 


BARNINGHAM,  or  BNINGHAM. 

The  Norman,  Fulcher,  held  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  a  ca- 
rucate  of  land  in  this  parish,  as  well  as  lands  in  Hepworth,  Thel- 
netham,  Hopton,  and  Gnattshall,  besides  a  carucate  and  a  half  in 
Little  Saxham,  by  the  service  of  three  Knight's  fees,  due  to  the  said 
Abbot.  The  descendants  of  this  Knight  appear  to  have  borne  the 
name  of  De  Saxham. 

Roger  de  Risby  granted  to  Thomas  de  Hemegrave,  Knt.,  and 
Katherine  his  wife,  an  acre  of  land  in  Berningham :  among  the  wit- 
nesses are  Adam  de  Horningsheath,  and  Eustace  de  Berningham. 
This  was  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III. 

Eustace  de  Berningham,  Knt.,  confirmed  to  Thomas,  son  of 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  767 

William,  son  of  Thomas  de  Hemegrave,  and  to  Beatrice  his  wife, 
four  acres  of  land  in  Berningham  :  among  the  witnesses  are  Mat- 
thew de  Thelnetham,  and  Adam  de  Horningsherth,  Knts.  Petro- 
nilla  de  Carleton  released  to  Thomas,  son  of  William  de  Hemegrave, 
two  shillings  in  Berningham  :  among  the  witnesses  is  Eustace  de 
Berningham,  Knt.* 

This  Sir  Thomas  de  Hemegrave  deceased  in  1264  ;  when  it  was 
found,  by  an  inquisition  taken  at  Berningham,  that  he  died  seized 
of  manors  or  lands  in  that  parish,  Westley,  and  Tudenham ;  with 
the  advowsons  of  Tudenham,  and  Giselam,  in  Suffolk. 

In  .1864,  the  Prior  of  the  Augustine  Canons  of  the  Holy  Sepul- 
chre, in  Thetford,  had  license  to  receive,  in  mortmain,  lands  in  this 
parish,  and  Gnattshall,  in  Suffolk, 

The  family  of  Shelton  long  resided  here  ;  who  derived  their  name 
from  a  village  in  Norfolk,  and  were  anciently  seated  at  Stradbrooke, 
in  this  county.  Sir  Ralph  Shelton,  of  Shelton,  in  Norfolk,  Knt., 
was  High  Sheriff  for  that  county  in  1571.  His  second  wife  was 
Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  Barrow,  Esq.,  of  Barningham ;  from 
which  marriage  descended  the  Sheltons  of  this  parish. 

Maurice,  only  surviving  son  of  William  Barrow,  son  and  heir  of 
the  above  Thomas,  resided  here  in  1655;  and  devised  this  estate- to 
Maurice  Shelton,  Esq.,  only  son  of  Henry,  only  surviving  son  of 
Sir  Ralph  Shelton,  Knt.,  by  Anne  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  the 
above  Thomas  Barrow,  Esq.  ;  after  whose  decease  it  descended  to 
Maurice  Shelton,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir ;  who  was  owner  thereof 
in  the  year  1676. 

Maurice,  his  eldest  son,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Robert 
Kemp,  Esq.,  of  Gissing,  in  Norfolk,  succeeded  :  he  married  Martha, 
daughter  of  Robert  Appleton,  Esq.,  of  Great  Waldingfield,  in  this 
county,  and  deceased  without  issue ;  when  this  estate  passed  to  his 
next  brother,  Henry  Shelton,  of  this  parish,  Esq. ;  who  married 

*  John  Berningham  was  probably  a  descendant  of  this  Knight,  of  whom  Fuller 
makes  the  following  mention  : — "John  Barnyngham,  born  at  a  village  so  named,  in 
Suffolk ;  was  bred  a  Carmelite,  in  Ipswich,  and  afterwards  proceeded  Doctor  in 
Oxford  :  thence  going  to  Sorbon  (the  cock-pit  of  controversies)  was  there  admitted 
to  the  game  degree.  Trithemius  takes  notice  of  his  parts  and  perfections,  allowing 
him  '  FESTIVUM  INGENIUM  KT  AD  duo»cuNQUE  DEFLEXUM,'  having  a  subtle  and 
supple  wit,  so  that  he  could  be  what  he  would  be,  a  great  master  of  defence  in  the 
schools,  both  to  guard  and  hit.  Bale  saith,  he  saw  his  works  in  Cambridge,  fairly 
written  in  four  great  volumes.  Weary  with  his  long  race  beyond  the  seas,  he  returned 
at  last  to  the  place  whence  he  started  ;  and,  retiring  to  his  convent,  whereof  he  was 
ruler,  at  Ipswich,  died  there  January  22,  1448." 


768  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

Hester,  daughter  of  Sir  Jolm  Churchman,  of  Illington,  in  Norfolk, 
Knt. ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  two  sons,  Maurice  and  Henry. 

He  deceased  in  1690,  and  was  buried  at  Shelton,  and  Maurice 
his  eldest  son,  succeeded ;  who  sold  the  estate,  called  Barningham 
Park,  to  the  Duke  of  Graf  ton,  and  removed  to  St.  Edmund's  Bury. 
The  Rev. George  Hunt  is  the  present  incumbent,  on  his  own  petition. 

ARMS. — Shelton :  azure ;  a  plain  cross,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  comprises  a  messuage,  divided 
into  tenements,  and  another  cottage,  lately  re-built,  both  occupied 
by  poor  persons ;  and  several  parcels  of  land  in  this  parish,  con- 
taining together  17A.  3R.  34p.,  is  vested  in  trustees ;  to  the  intent 
that  the  rents  should  be  disposed  of  in  keeping  the  premises  in  re- 
pair, in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  payment  of  common  town 
charges,  and  the  residue,  for  the  use  of  the  poor.  The  rents  amount 
together  to  £34  18s.  a  year. — An  allotment  of  20A.  which  was  set 
out  for  the  poor,  in  lieu  of  their  right  to  cut  fuel  on  the  open  lands, 
is  let  in  different  parcels  to  poor  labouring  persons,  at  rents  amount- 
ing in  the  whole  to  £21  a  year;  which  is  laid  out  in  coals  for  the 
poor. — In  1622,  William  Fuller  gave  a  benefaction  of  £10,  which 
was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  piece  of  land  that  produces  a 
rental  of  £1  Is.  a  year,  and  the  money  is  laid  out  in  bread  for  the 
poor. — Sir  Stephen  Smith,  clerk,  rector  of  Blow-Norton  in  Norfolk, 
in  1430,  gave  all  his  lands  and  tenements  in  this  parish,  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  Fellow,  to  be  in  Priest's  orders,  to  perform  divine 
offices  for  the  dead  in  Gonville  and  Caius  College,  Cambridge,  and 
to  preach  thrice  every  year  at  Barningham  church,  on  St.  Marga- 
ret's day,  in  Advent,  and  in  Lent,  and  in  his  sermons  to  pray  for 
and  make  mention  of  him  his  benefactor,  and  that  he  should  be 
called  Stephen  Smith's  Priest,  and  may  be  chosen  out  of  any  place 
or  county.  The  lands  were  then  worth  £4=  per  annum ;  in  Dr. 
Caius  time,  £5  per  annum.  There  is  a  convenient  farm  house,  70A. 
of  pasture,  24A.  3R.  arable,  besides  advantage  of  topwood  in  great 
plenty :  money  rent,  per  annum,  £8  6s.  8d. ;  corn  rent,  wheat  2% 
quarters,  malt  3  quarters  3  bushels. 


CONEY  WESTON,  or  CUNEGESTUNA. 
The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  the 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  769 

Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  at  Bury  ;  and  since  the  dissolution  of  that 
house,  appears  to  have  passed  the  same  as  the  adjoining  parish  of 
Barningham. 

In  1764,  it  was  the  property  of  John  Reilly,  Esq.,  lord  also  of 
Westhorp,  in  Hartismere  hundred  ;  and  was  subsequently  purchased 
by  Mr.  Bridgman ;  whose  son,  Edward  Bridgman,  Esq.,  is  the  pre- 
sent owner,  and  has  a  neat  mansion  here,  where  he  generally  resides. 

This  gentleman  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county 
in  1842.  The  rectory  is  consolidated  with  that  of  Barningham. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  consists  of  two  cottages,  occupied 
by  parish  paupers ;  and  about  8  acres  of  land  in  this  parish,  and 
Barningham;  the  rents  of  which  amount  to  about  £10  per  annum; 
which  are  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church:  the  surplus, 
when  any  remains,  being  paid  to  the  overseers,  for  the  general  sup- 
port of  the  poor. — A  benefaction  of  £10,  given  by  William  Firmage, 
in  1599,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  piece  of  land,  part  of  a 
close,  in  Rattlesden,  rent  £l  10s.  6d.  a  year;  which  is  distributed 
among  the  labouring  poor  of  the  parish. — A  piece  of  fen  land,  con- 
taining 10  acres,  was  set  out  on  an  inclosure,  about  60  years  since, 
for  the  use  of  the  poor,  for  cutting  fuel ;  the  herbage  of  which  lets 
for  £5  a  year :  distributed  with  Firmage's  charity. 


CULFORD,  or  CULEFORDA. 

The  advowson  of  this  parish  church  was  very  early  appropriated 
to  Bury  Abbey.  Anselm,  who  governed  that  Monastery  from  1119 
to  1148,  granted  to  William,  son  of  Albold,  and  Robert  his  son  and 
heir,  in  fee  farm,  as  a  compensation  for  some  claim,  and  by  way  of 
exchange  for  the  churches  of  Culford,  and  Barton,  the  lands  in 
Hawsted,  of  Geoffrey,  Sacrist  of  that  house,  which  had  belonged  to 
Leveva,  late  wife  of  Odo  the  goldsmith ;  reserving  a  rent  of  40s.  to 
the  altar  of  St.  Edmund's. 

The  manor  was  also  probably  at  that  period  vested  in  that  Mo- 
nastery, and  has  since  been  appendant  to  the  rectory.  In  1368, 
Sir  Nicholas  de  Tamworth,  was  lord  of  this  parish,  and  patron  of 
the  church  ;  and  William  de  Lovetoft  was  rector,  by  his  presenta- 
tion. He  held  the  same  in  fee  of  the  said  Abbot. 

In  the  8th  of  Henry  VI.,  John  Coote  did  homage  to  the  Abbot 


770  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

of  St.  Edmund's,  for  his  lands  in  this  parish,  and  Little  Hornings- 
herth.  This  was  formerly  the  fee  of  Philip  de  Clopton,  and  Joan 
Cosyn ;  and  in  the  10th  of  Henry  VII.,  Richard  Coote  died  seized 
of  part  of  the  same,  leaving  Robert  his  son  and  heir :  the  greater  part 
thereof  became  vested  in  Philip  Barnard,  Esq.,  and  J.  Hacon,  Gent. 
In  1195,  Ralph  de  Mineres  held  half  a  Knight's  fee  in  Culford. 

The  manor  and  advowson  continued  the  estate  of  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's  until  the  suppression  of  that  house,  when  it  was  granted, 
by  the  Crown,  to  Christopher  Coote,  Esq.  The  Bacons  afterwards 
acquired  the  same.  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  premier  Baronet,  erected 
a  mansion  upon  his  estate  here,  in  1591,  where  he  occasionally  re- 
sided ;  and  devised  the  same  to  Nathaniel,*  his  seventh  son,  with 
an  estate  worth  £1000  per  annum.  He  was  a  Knight  of  the  Bath ; 
and  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Hercules  Meantys,  Esq.,  and  relict 
of  Sir  William  Cornwallis,  of  Brome,  Knt. 

By  this  lady  he  had  issue  one  son,  Nicholas  ;  and  two  daughters. 
Anne,  the  eldest,  married  her  cousin  german,  Sir  Thomas  Meantys, 
Knt.,  Clerk  of  the  Privy  Council ;  and  to  her  second  husband  she 
took  Sir  Harbottle  Grimstone,  of  Bradfield,  in  Essex.  By  each 
marriage  she  had  an  only  daughter,  both  of  whom  deceased  in  child- 
hood ;  as  did  Sir  Nathaniel's  other  daughter,  Jane  Bacon. 

Sir  Nathaniel  travelled  into  Italy,  and  studied  painting  there,  but 
his  manner  and  colouring  approaches  nearer  to  the  style  of  Flemish 
artists.  Mr.  Walpole  says  that  at  Culford,  where  he  lived,  are 
preserved  some  of  his  works  ;  and  at  Gorhambury,  his  father's  seat, 
is  a  large  picture  in  oil  by  him,  of  a  cook- maid  with  dead  fowls,  ad- 
mirably painted.  In  the  same  house  is  a  whole  lengh  portrait  of 
Sir  Nathaniel,  painted  by  himself,  drawn  on  paper,  his  sword  and 
pallet  hung  up ;  and  a  half-length  of  his  mother,  by  him.  At 
Redgrave  Hall  there  were  two  other  pieces  by  the  same  hand,  the 
one,  "  Ceres,  with  Fruit  and  Flowers,"  the  other,  "  Hercules  and 
the  Hydra." 

*  "  His  history  has  been  much  confounded  with  that  of  his  uncle,  Sir  Nathaniel 
Bacon,  of  Stiffkey,  in  Norfolk,  Knt. ;  for  he  has  been  made  to  take  his  uncle's  place 
of  relationship  toward  the  Lord  Keeper,  his  grand-father,  and  the  Lord  Chancellor, 
the  Viscount  St.  Alban's.  He  has  also  had  given  to  him  the  two  wives,  and  the 
three  daughters  of  his  worthy  uncle,  and  his  uncle's  monument  likewise  ;  of  all,  or 
any  of  which,  having  a  monument,  wife,  and  children  of  his  own,  he  stands  in  no 
need.  The'se  errors  have  been  continued  from  the  '  Biographia  Brittanica,'  through 
several  other  works,  to  '  Chalmer's  Biographical  Dictionary,'  and  '  Walpole's  Anec- 
dotes,' edited  by  Mr.  Dallaway."— GENT.'S  MAGAZINE,  1826,  part  1,  p.  395. 


HUNDRED  OF  15LACKKOURN.  771 

Sir  Nathaniel  deceased  in  1627,  and  devised  this  estate  to  Lady 
Jane  his  wife  ;  who  survived  until  1659:  Nicholas,  her  only  son  by 
her  last  husband,  deceased  the  following  year,  without  issue ;  and 
this  property  devolved  upon  Frederick,  Lord  Cornwallis,  her  son  by 
Sir  William  Cornwallis,  her  first  husband.  Lord  Cornwallis  is 
characterized  by  Lloyd  as  "  a  man  of  so  cheerful  a  spirit  that  no 
sorrow  came  next  his  heart ;  and  of  so  resolved  a  mind  that  no  fear 
came  into  his  thoughts ;  a  well  spoken  man,  competently  seen  in 
modern  languages,  and  of  a  comely  and  goodly  personage." 

He  deceased  in  1662,  and  his  lineal  descendants  in  the  elder 
branch,  continued  to  make  Culford  Hall  one  of  their  principal  resi- 
dences ;  until  the  decease  of  Charles,  2nd  Marquis  Cornwallis,  in 
1823,  without  male  issue;  when  the  Marquisate  expired;  but  the 
other  honours  reverted  to  his  Lordship's  uncle,  the  Right  Eev.  James 
Cornwallis,  D.C.L.,  Lord  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry,  and 
Dean  of  Durham. 

The  following  year  this  noble  domain,  consisting  of  the  lordships, 
advowsons,  and  entire  parishes  of  Culford,  Ingham,  Timworth, 
Westow,  and  Wordwell,  containing  11,000  acres  of  land,  a  modern 
mansion,  with  the  fixtures  and  furniture,  was  purchased  by  Richard 
Benyon  de  Beauvoir,  Esq.,  of  Englefield,  in  Berkshire.  The  con- 
sideration money  was  £200,000  inclusive  of  the  timber.  This 
gentleman,  after  expending  a  large  additional  sum  in  the  general 
improvement  of  the  estate,  has  recently  presented  the  same  to  his 
nephew,  the  Rev.  Edward  Richard  Benyon,  who  is  the  present  pro- 
prietor. 

Culford  Hall  was  erected  by  Charles,  1st  Marquis  Cornwallis, 
upon  the  site  of  the  more  ancient  mansion  built  by  Sir  Nicholas 
Bacon.  It  is  a  plain  substantial  roomy  building ;  the  north  front 
has  a  semicircular  projection  in  the  centre,  with  a  portico  entrance. 
It  contains  no  remarkable  works  of  art. 

The  church  is  a  small  neat  structure,  and  contains  various  me- 
morials to  members  of  the  Bacon  and  Cornwallis  families. 

ARMS. — Coote  (see  p.  666).  Cornwallis  (see  p.  454).  Ben- 
yon :  vaire ;  on  a  chief,  argent,  three  mullets,  gules,  pierced  of  the 
second.  Beauvoir :  argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  cinquefoils, 
gules. 


772  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

ELMSWELL,  or  ELMESWELLAM. 

King  Edwin  granted  this  lordship  and  demesne  to  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund's,  and  the  manor  house  became  one  of  the  country 
seats  belonging  to  the  heads  of  that  house.  After  the  suppression 
of  the  Monastery,  it  continued  in  the  Crown,  until  the  8th  of  King 
James  I.,  when  it  was  granted  to  Sir  Eobert  Gardiner,  Knt,  who, 
in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  was  Chief  Justice  in  Ireland 
eighteen  years,  and  for  two  years  Viceroy  there. 

Sir  Kobert  was  thrice  married  ;  first,  to  Anne  Cordall ;  secondly, 
to  Thomasine  Barker;  and  lastly,  to  Anne,  the  widow  of  John 
Spring,  Esq.,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  William  Spring,  Knt.  He  had 
issue  an  only  son,  William,  by  his  first  wife ;  who  died  unmarried 
at  the  age  of  24  years.  In  1614,  when  he  executed  the  settlement 
concerning  the  almshouse,  he  was  resident  at  Pakenham,  having 
probably  removed  thither  after  his  marriage  with  the  widow  of  Mr. 
Spring,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Sir  John  Trelawny,  Kut.,  of  Tre- 
lawny,  in  Cornwall.  Sir  Kobert  deceased  in  1019,  and  was  buried 
at  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  of  this  parish  church,  where  a 
sumptuous  monument  remains  to  his  memory. 

Gardiner  Webbe,  Esq.,  his  nephew,  inherited  this  estate  a.s  de- 
visee;  who  died  in  1668,  and  it  became  afterwards  divided;  the 
manors  of  this  parish,  Woolpit,  and  Drinkstone,  being  the  estate 
of  Sir  Henry  Wood,  Knt.,  of  Loudham  Park,  in  this  county  ;  and 
upon  his  decease,  in  1671,  a  partition  of  his  estates  being  made  by 
the  Court  of  Chancery  in  1747,  when  this  appears  to  have  been 
allotted  to  the  heir  of  Elizabeth  Webb,  Sir  John  Chapman,  Bart., 
and  the  advowson  was  at  this  period  appendant  to  the  lordship ;  the 
whole  estate  became  the  property  and  residence  of  Gardiner  Ket 
tleborough,  Gent.;  and  passed  to  Christopher  Calthorpe,  KHJ ,  by 
his  marriage  with  Elizabeth,  one  of  the  daughters  and  co- heirs  of 
the  said  Gardiner  Kettleborough.  Mr.  Calthorpe  resided  at  Elms- 
well  Hall  until  the  decease  of  his  elder  brother,  James  Calthorpe, 
Esq.,  of  Ampton,  in  1702,  when  he  inherited  that  estate,  and  re- 
moved thither.  He  deceased  in  1717,  and  James,  his  eldest  son 
and  heir,  born  in  1699,  at  Elm  swell,  succeeded  to  this  estate. 

In  or  about  1736,  Mr.  Calthorpe  sold  this  property  to  Sir  Robt. 
Smyth,  Bart.,  of  Isfield,  in  Sussex ;  who  married  Lady  Louisa  Ca- 
roline Isabella  Hervey,  4th  daughter  of  John,  1st  Earl  of  Bristol ; 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  773 

by  whom  he  had  issue,  Hervey,  his  successor ;  and  Anna  Mirabella 
Henrietta,  who,  in  1660,  married  William  Beale  Brand,  Esq.,  of 
Polstead  Hall,  in  this  county.  Sir  Robert  deceased  in  1773. 

Sir  Hervey  Smyth,  his  only  son,  was  born  in  1734,  at  Ampton ; 
and  was  Aide-de-Camp  to  General  Wolfe,  at  the  siege  of  Quebec ; 
afterwards  Colonel  in  the  Foot  Guards.  He  died  at  Elmswell,  in 
1811,  unmarried;  when  the  Baronetcy  expired.  The  Elmswell 
Hall  estate  was  purchased  by  Zachariah  Pattle,  Gent. ;  and  is  now 
the  property  of  Sir  George  Francis  Seymour,  Capt.  R.N.,  G.C.H., 
and  C.B.,  by  purchase. 

"  An  Original  Description  of  the  Manor  of  Elmeswell,  parcell  of 
the  possessions  of  Gardiner  Webbe,  Esq.  (viz.)  of  so  much  thereof 
as  doe  ly  in  the  parish  and  boundes  of  Elmeswell  afforsaid,  within 
the  county  of  Suffolk,  was  taken  and  made  on  the  ninth  of  October, 
Anno  Domini  1627,  by  Thomas  Waterman,"  and  was,  in  1786,  in 
the  hands  of  John  Nichols,  Esq.,  who  published  "  Collections  to- 
wards the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Elmeswell  and  Campsey,  in 
the  County  of  Suffolk,"  in  No.  52,  of  his  "  Bibliotheca  Topogra- 
phica  Britannica,"  wherein  he  introduces  part  of  a  curious  article 
for  erecting  a  tomb  for  Sir  Kobert  Gardiner,  in  Elmeswell  church, 
from  the  original,  in  the  possession  of  Thomas  Martin,  17£>1. 
Drawings  of  the  alrnshouse,  the  monument,  and  of  the  church  and 
font,  by  J.  Johnson,  were  also  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Nichols. 

At  a  court-baron  held  at  Elmeswell,  in  1786,  appeared  Edward 
Marsh,  aged  90  ;  who  had  a  brother,  Wm.  Marsh,  aged  93.  Both 
these  copyholders  had  duly  attended  the  courts  during  the  greater 
part  of  that  century ;  and  their  family  had  lived  in  the  parish  500 
years. 

The  church  stands  high,  and  the  tower,  which  is  lofty,  commands 
a  beautiful  and  extensive  view  of  the  surrounding  country.  The 
memory  of  Sir  Robert  Gardiner  is  preserved  by  a  monument,  where 
the  honourable  Knight  is  represented  as  large  as  life,  reclining  his 
head  on  his  left  arm,  a  book  in  one  hand,  his  gloves  in  the  other, 
under  him  his  armour ;  at  his  feet  his  crest,  a  rhinoceros  ;  which 
has  given  birth  to  a  ridiculous  story,  that  his  son,  who  is  kneeling 
by  him,  was  devoured  by  a  wild  boar. 

ARMS. — Gardiner :  per  fess,  argent  and  sable,  a  pale,  counter- 
changed  ;  three  griffins'  heads  erased,  of  the  second.  Smyth,  of 
Isfield :  azure ;  two  bars  unde,  ermine ;  on  a  chief,  or,  a  demi-lion 
issuant,  sable. 


774  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

CHARITIES. — Sir  Robert  Gardiner,  by  deed,  dated  the  12th  of 
James  I.,  reciting  that  he  had  erected  within  the  manor  of  Elms- 
well,  an  almshouse,  containing  five  rooms,  and  had  assigned  to  every 
of  the  rooms  a  parcel  of  ground  for  a  garden,  and  a  yard  to  set 
wood  in,  the  whole  containing  by  estimation  near  half  an  acre  of 
ground ;  and  that  he  had  placed  in  each  of  four  of  the  rooms  one 
poor  widow,  and  in  the  fifth,  being  somewhat  larger  than  the  rest, 
two  poor  widows  ;  he  thereby  appointed  that  the  almshouse  should 
be  used  for  the  habitation  of  six  poor  aged  women,  being  and  con- 
tinuing widows,  to  be  chosen  out  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  parishes 
of  Elmswell  and  Woolpit,  three  from  each,  being  of  the  age  of  60 
years.  The  owners  of  the  mansion-house  of  the  manor  of  Elmswell 
were  to  keep  the  said  houses  in  good  reparation ;  and  appointed  to 
each  of  the  poor  £3  1  Os.  a  year,  to  be  paid  monthly ;  one  load  of 
firewood  to  each  yearly,  and  one  gown  ready-made,  of  coarse  blue 
cloth  or  stuff ;  and  for  the  payment  of  the  same  he  granted  a  yearly 
rent  of  £16,  out  of  his  estate  in  Thelnetham,  and  £10  yearly  out  of 
the  manors  of  Elmswell  and  Woolpit.  He  also  gave  £100  to  pur- 
chase lands  for  the  poor  in  the  almshouse,  and  d£30  to  purchase 
lands  for  the  poor  of  the  parish  ;  and  these  sums  were  laid  out  in 
the  purchase  of  about  14  acres,  at  Combs;  of  which  three-fourths 
are  appropriated  to  the  former,  and  the  residue  to  the  latter ;  rent 
;£15  a  year. — The  poor  estate  contains  20A.  £R.  ;  the  church  estate, 
25A.  SR.  16p. ;  and  two  small  allotments  containing  IR.  10p.  The 
rental  of  which  amounts  to  about  £8Q  per  annum. 


EUSTON,  or  EUESTUNA. 

At  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey,  Robert  de  Verley  held  a 
lordship  in  Burnham  Thorp,  in  Norfolk,  which  passed  to  the  Earl 
Warren,  and  by  a  branch  of  that  family,  to  the  Bardolphs.  By  the 
escheat  rftlls  of  the  3rd  of  Edward  III.,  Philip  Verley  died  seized 
of  two  fees  in  Euston,  and  Burnham  Thorp,  &c.,  belonging  to  the 
Lord  Bardolph  ;  by  which  it  would  seem  that  Verley  manor,  in  this 
parish,  had  passed  as  that  at  Burnham.  Walter  de  Pateshull  held 
the  reversion  of  this  estate,  and  succeeded  upon  the  demise  of  Philip 
de  Verley,  but  died  very  soon  after ;  and  Sir  Richard  Pateshull 
succeeded,  who  was  living  in  the  20th  of  Edward  III. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  775 

This  was  subsequently  the  inheritance  of  a  branch  of  the  Roke- 
wode family.  John  Eokewode  held  Verley's  manor  in  Euston,  of 
Thomas  Beaufort,  Duke  of  Exeter,  in  the  5th  of  King  Henry  VI., 
as  parcel  of  the  honour  of  Wormegay ;  and  John,  Lord  Bardolph, 
died  in  the  45th  of  Edward  III.,  seized  of  the  manor  of  Euston 
Verley,  in  this  parish.  The  property  and  advowson  of  this  parish 
were  for  three  centuries  in  the  ancient  family  of  Rokewode ;  of 
whom  John  Rokewode,  Escheator  of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk,  in  1376, 
was  living  here  in  1387. 

Roger  Rookwood,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married  Olivia,  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  John  Wychingham,  Esq.,  of  Great  Wichingham,  in 
Norfolk ;  and  in  1558,  she  had  letters  of  administration  granted  of 
the  goods,  &c.,  of  her  husband,  deceased.  This  Olivia  died  in  1563, 
leaving  two  daughters  and  co-heirs  :  Jane  married  Christopher 
Calthorpe,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1606,  seized  of  the  manors  of  Euston, 
Knatteshall,  Stanton,  &c. ;  she  survived,  and  re-married  Sir  Jerome 
Bowes,  of  London.  Anne,  her  sister,  married  Henry  Cornwallis, 
Esq.,  of  Coxford  Abbey,  in  Norfolk. 

Nicholas  Rookwood,  Chief  Prothonotary  of  the  Common  Pleas, 
in  1543,  and  M.P.  for  Thetford  1554,  died  in  1557.  Edward 
Rookwood,  son  of  the  said  Nicholas,  was  born  about  1554,  xand 
by  reason  of  his  long  minority,  the  Crown  presented  to  the  rec- 
tory several  times;  the  last  time  in  1573.  Queen  Elizabeth,  in 
one  of  her  progresses,  being  on  her  way  to  Norwich,  lodged  one 
night  at  this  gentleman's  house,  Euston  Hall,  on  Sunday,  August 
10,  1578;  but  the  next  morning,  before  she  departed  a  popish 
image  of  the  Virgin  was  found  in  the  hay  house,  which  was  treated 
with  the  grossest  indignities  in  the  Queen's  own  presence.  Mr. 
Rookwood  himself  was  compelled  to  attend  the  Court  to  Norwich, 
where  he  was  committed  to  prison.  He  survived  this  transaction 
however  55  years,  and  was  buried  at  Euston,  January  19,  1633-4, 
aged  79  years. 

The  estate  soon  after  passed  to  Sir  George  Fielding,  Earl  of 
Desmond,  K.B.,  who  presented  to  the  rectory  in  1662.  He  was 
second  and  youngest  son  of  William,  first  Earl  of  Denbigh,  by  Su- 
san, sister  of  George  Villiers,  Duke  of  Buckingham ;  and  married 
one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Sir  Michael  Stanhope,  by 
whom  he  had  issue  five  sons,  and  as  many  daughters.  Sir  George 
deceased  in  1665,  in  the  49th  year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  at 
Euston.  William,  the  eldest  son,  succeeded  his  father  as  Earl  of 


77G  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

Desmond,  and  also  his  uncle  Basil)  who  deceased  in  1675,  without 
issue)  in  the  Earldom  of  Denbigh. 

At  the  decease  of  Sir  George  Fielding,  the  estate  was  purchased 
hy  Sir  Henry  Bennet,  Earl  of  Arlington,  one  of  the  Cahal  of  King 
Charles  II.  He  was  second  son  of  Sir  John  Bennet,  Knt.,  of 
Dawley,  in  Middlesex,  hy  Dorothy  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Croftes,  Knt.,  of  Little  Saxham,  where  he  was  haptized,  Sept.  6, 
1618  ;  and  was  raised  to  the  Peerage  in  1663,  as  Baron  Arlington. 
In  1672  he  was  created  Earl  of  Arlington,  and  Viscount  Thetford; 
and  installed  a  Knight  of  the  Garter  His  lordship  married  Isa- 
bella, daughter  of  Lewis  de  Nassau,  Lord  of  Beverwaert,  and  Count 
of  Nassau.  He  died  in  1685,  and  was  buried  at  Euston. 

His  only  daughter  and  sole  heir,  Isabella,  was  married  in  1672, 
when  only  five  years  old,  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  ;  and 
re-married  in  1679,  when  only  twelve,  by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester, 
to  Henry  Fitz  Boy,  first  Duke  of  Grafton;  whose  lineal  descendant, 
the  present  Duke,  is  still  the  sole  proprietor  of  this  estate. 

In  1454,  John  Brygge,  Esq.,  devised  to  Margaret  his  wife,  all 
his  lands,  fold  courses,  and  water  mills,  in  Euston,  which  of  right 
were  hers,  in  fee  tail,  and  his  sheep  there,  for  life;  she  being  to 
leave  the  manor  and  full  stock,  to  William  Brygge,  her  son.  It 
appears  that  upon  his  second  marriage,  he  removed  from  Salle  to 
Thetford,  for  he  gave  his  house  there,  of  her  inheritance,  in  which 
he  dwelt,  to  his  wife. 

The  church  anciently  stood  on  a  spot  north  of  Euston  Hall,  now 
a  nursery  garden ;  but  the  present  structure  was  built  on  a  different 
site,  by  Lord  Arlington.  It  is  recorded  on  the  outward  wall,  that 
"  Isabella,  Dutches  of  Grafton,  and  Countesse  of  Ewston,  layed 
this  Stone,  21st  day  of  April,  1676." 

In  1307,  Sir  Thomas  de  Bottetourt,  Sub-Deacon,  held  this  in- 
cumbency, with  Troston ;  but  upon  being  instituted  to  the  rectory 
of  Titshall,  with  the  parochial  chapel  of  St.  Margaret,  in  Norfolk, 
the  Bishop  obliged  him  to  swear  he  would  immediately  resign  one, 
unless  he  obtained  a  dispensation  from  the  Pope,  as  soon  as  he  re- 
ceived the  profits  of  the  third.  He  was  probably  a  near  relation  of 
John  de  Bottetourt,  Governor  of  Framlingham  Castle  at  the  same 
period.  James  Devereux  Hustler,  B.D.,  F.R.S.,  late  Fellow  and 
Tutor  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  is  the  present  incumbent  of 
this  parish,  with  Barnham,  and  resides  here. 

This  domain  is  very  extensive,  including  a  park  of  near  1,500 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  777 

acres.  Euston  Hall  is  a  noble  pile,  constructed  of  red  brick,  but 
destitute  of  decorations  within  or  without  It  was  not  built  alto- 
gether, but  formed  by  additions  to  the  ancient  mansion  of  the 
Kookwoods,  after  it  was  purchased  by  Lord  Arlington,  who  ex- 
pended a  large  sum  in  its  completion.  It  is  surrounded  by  trees  of 
immense  growth,  and  the  scenery  in  its  vicinity  is  delightful.  The 
Temple  forms  a  pleasing  object  from  many  points  of  view  in  the 
neighbourhood.  Views  of  both  these  buildings  are  given  in  Storer 
and  Greig's  "  Illustrations  of  Robert  Bloomfield's  Works." 

ARMS. — Pateshull :  argent ;  a  fess,  between  three  crescents, 
sable.  Rokewode  (see  p.  743).  Fielding:  argent;  on  a  fess, 
azure,  three  lozenges,  or.  Bennet  (see  p.  737).  Fitz  Roy :  the 
Royal  arms ;  over  all  a  sinister  baton,  compony,  argent  and  azure. 


FAKENHAM  GREAT,  or  FACHENHAM. 

In  ancient  documents  this  parish  is  written  Fakenham  Aspys,  or 
Aspes,  and  was  formerly  the  lordship  of  Gundred  de  Warren,  asde- 
scendant  of  the  Warrens,  Earls  of  Surrey.  It  subsequently  passed 
by  marriage,  to  the  Neviles  ;  and  from  them  reverted  to  the  Crown. 

In  the  25th  of  Edward  III.,  Edmund,  eldest  sou  of  Sir  Edmund 
de  Pakenham,  and  Rohesia  his  wife,  was  found  to  hold  at  his  de- 
cease, in  right,  and  by  the  inheritance  of  Mary  his  wife,  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  Edmund  Comyn,  the  lordship  of  this  parish,  and 
Thomas  de  Pakenham  was  their  son  and  heir ;  who  in  the  27th  of 
that  reign,  did  homage  for  all  the  lands  belonging  to  his  grand- 
mother, Rohesia,  then  deceased.  Mary,  his  mother,  died  about  the 
35th  of  that  reign.  Eufemia,  her  sister,  married  William  de  la 
Beche,  by  whom  she  had  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Sir  Roger 
Elmrugg,  Knt. 

John,  son  of  Sir  John  de  Rattlesden,  was  lord  of  this  manor  in 
the  36th  of  the  above  reign ;  and  Joan,  was  found  to  be  his  daugh- 
ter and  heir,  the  wife  of  Robert  Hovell,  whom  she  survived ;  and 
re-married  to  Robert  Monceaux,  who  in  the  17th  of  the  next  reign, 
held  jointly,  during  her  life,  the  lordships  of  Weston  Market,  and 
Bradiield  St.  Clare,  in  this  county.  John  de  Rattlesden  held  of  the 
heirs  of  Comyn,  of  the  Barony  of  Valoins. 


778  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

Reginald  de  Weste  died  seized  of  the  manor  of  Fakenham  Aspes, 
in  the  29th  of  Henry  VI.,  which  he  held  by  grant  from  the  Crown; 
his  sou  succeeded,  who  stood  high  in  favour  with  King  Henry  VIII. 
It  afterwards  became  the  inheritance  of  a  branch  of  the  very  ancient 
and  illustrious  house  of  Tollemache,  who  resided  here  for  many 
years,  at  a  place  now  called  "  Burnt  Hall." 

Many  entries  relative  to  the  family  of  Tollemache  occur  in  this 
parish  register.  In  1822,  some  workmen,  who  were  making  a 
grave  in  the  chancel,  came  upon  the  bodies  of  two  females,  in  good 
preservation,  but  without  any  coffins.  These  perhaps  were  Mary 
and  Margaret,  daughters  of  Sir  Lionel  Tollemache,  Knt.  and  Bart., 
and  the  Lady  Elizabeth  his  wife,  who  were  buried  in  1642,  within  a 
mouth  of  each  other. 

After  the  Tollemaches,  the  estate  belonged  to  the  Taylors. 
Thomas  Taylor,  Esq.,  was  lord  of  this  manor,  and  patron  of  the 
living.  He  married  Fayth,  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  John  Rey- 
nolds, Gent.,  of  Fen-Ditton,  in  the  county  of  Cambridge.  The 
Rev.  Reynolds  Taylor,  their  son,  died  in  1692;  to  whose  memory  a 
handsome  marble  tomb  is  erected,  within  the  altar  rails  of  this  pa- 
rish church,  upon  which  his  ancestry  is  very  fully  set  forth.  From 
this  gentleman's  family  the  estate  was  purchased  by  Charles,  2nd 
Duke  of  Graftou;  whose  grand-son,  the  present  Duke,  is  still  the 
sole  proprietor. 

In  ancient  documents,  of  the  time  of  Edward  I.,  and  following 
reigns,  the  names  of  Gerard,  Churchman,  and  Grenegres,  frequently 
occur ;  members  of  families  having  an  interest  here,  and  in  parishes 
adjacent. 

The  church  is  a  rectory,  dedicated  to  St.  Peter.  Henry  Rewse, 
S.T.B.,  a  preacher  licensed  by  the  University  of  Cambridge,  held 
this  living,  with  East  Herling,  in  Norfolk,  in  1595,  and  was  buried 
here  in  1631.  Augustus  Fitzroy,  M.A.,  third  son  of  Lord  Henry 
Fitzroy,  late  rector  of  Euston  with  Barnham,  is  the  present  incum- 
bent, and  resides  here. 

This  village  furnishes  the  scenes  of  several  pieces  in  Bloomfield's 
poems.*  Fakenham  Wood,  the  largest  perhaps  in  the  county,  was 
his  favourite  resort,  in  his  boyish  days. 


*  A  view  of  this  parish  from  Euston  Park,  presenting  the  "  White  Park  Gate," 
through  which  the  terror-struck  villager  fled,  when  pursued  by  the  long-eared  appa- 
rition, is  given  in  Storer  and  Greig's  "  Illustrations"  of  that  author. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  770 


FAKENHAM  PARVA. 

This  was  fonnerly  a  separate  rectory ;  the  ndvowson  of  which 
was,  for  three  centuries,  in  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St.  Dioiiys, 
near  Southampton  ;  from  whom  it  came  to  the  Rookwoods.  One 
of  that  family  was  presented  to  the  rectory  in  1524. 

The  property  was  purchased  of  the  Book  woods  by  Lord  Arlington ; 
who  united  the  rectory  with  Euston,  and  they  were  afterwards  con- 
solidated, in  1739.  No  vestiges  of  the  church  now  remain,  and  all 
the  land  in  the  parish  is  included  in  Euston  Park. 

Rushworth  College,  in  Norfolk,  held  lands  and  tenements  at  the 
period  of  its  dissolution,  hoth  in  this  parish  and  Fakenham  Magua. 


HEPWORTH,  or  HEPWORDA. 

Fulcher,  the  Norman,  held  lands  in  this  parish,  of  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund's,  according  to  Abbot  Baldwin's  feudal  book.  His 
descendants  appear  to  have  borne  the  name  of  De  Saxham.  Lemar 
de  Saxham  is  a  witness  to  Aedric  Latimer's  charter  to  St.  Edmund, 
in  the  12th  of  Henry  I. 

The  family  of  De  Hepworth  were  very  early  interested  here;  from 
whom  it  passed  to  that  of  Riveshale  (or  Rushale),  by  the  marriage 
of  Sir  Henry  de  Riveshale,  Knt.,  with  Helen,  daughter  and  co-heir 
of  William,  son  of  Walter  de  Hepworth  ;  with  whom  he  had  a  part 
of  this  lordship.  After  the  decease  of  Helen,  he  married  Amy,  her 
sister,  by  which  marriage  he  obtained  another  portion  of  this  manor. 
She  was  his  widow  in  1284,  and  had  her  dower  in  the  third  part  of 
this  manor. 

In  or  about  1285,  Sir  John  de  Riveshale,  their  son  and  heir, 
married  Winesia,  daughter  of  Ralph,  son  of  William  de  Pevense ; 
who  survived  and  held  this  estate  in  dower.  In  1315,  John  de 
Riveshale,  their  son  and  heir,  inherited  the  same  ;  he  left  an  only 
daughter,  Winesia,  his  sole  heiress;  who  in  1345,  held  this  lordship. 
By  her  marriage  with  Sir  Oliver  Wythe,  Knt.,  he  inherited  the  same 
in  her  right. 

Sir  Jeffrey  Wythe  was  a  resident  in  Hepworth  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  I.  He  married  Isabel,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  William 


780  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

de  Stalham,  and  was  father  of  the  above  Sir  Oliver  Wythe.  Sir 
John  Wythe,  whose  will  was  proved  in  1387,  appears  to  have  been 
the  last  of  the  family  concerned  here.  He  left  an  only  daughter 
and  heiress,  Amy ;  married  to  Sir  John  Calthorpe.  Sibilla,  her 
mother,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Edmund  de  Omer,  re-married  to 
Sir  William  Calthorpe,  father  of  the  above  Sir  John. 

Brett's  manor,  with  the  appurtenances,  in  this  and  some  adjoining 
parishes,  belongs  to  the  Guildhall  feoffment  in  Bury  St.  Edmund's. 
John  (alias  Jankin)  Smyth,  Esq.,  who  appears  to  have  been  Alderman 
of  that  town  in  the  3rd  of  Edward  IV.,  devised  this  property  to  trus- 
tees, by  will,  in  1480,  for  the  endowment  of  a  Chantry  in  the  parish 
church  of  St.  Mary,  in  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  and  other  uses,  declared 
to  be  superstitious ;  for  which  it  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown. 

It  was  purchased  in  1569  ;  and  in  a  rental  made  in  1586,  this 
estate  is  entered  as  follows  : — "  The  rental  of  all  such  rents  and 
farms  of  the  messuages,  lands,  and  tenements,  sometime  of  the 
said  John  Smyth,  Esq.,  lately  bought  for  better  assurance  as  con- 
cealed lands,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  and  defraying  of  other 
charges,  as  taxes  and  tallages,  payable  at  any  time  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Bury." 

This,  with  other  lands  subsequently  purchased  by  the  feoffees,  as 
Bokenham's,  in  Hepworth,  conveyed  by  deed  dated  in  1613,  and 
also  lands  here,  late  Keble's,  conveyed  in  1670,  makes  an  entire 
estate  in  this  parish,  belonging  to  the  said  feoffment,  that  produces 
a  rental  of  £450  per  annum,  or  thereabouts. 

In  1764,  this  lordship  was  vested  in Ord,  Esq.,  and  Mr. 

Nunn ;  and  Keeve's  Hall,  with  North  Hall,  both  in  this  parish, 
lately  belonged  to  John  Sparke,  Esq.  In  1516,  William  Onge,  of 
this  parish,  was  a  benefactor  to  the  Old  House  of  Friar  Preachers, 
in  Thetford. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  is  a  rectory  in  the  patronage 
of  King's  College,  Cambridge :  amongst  its  incumbents  may  be 
noticed  John  Tomeston,  who  was  Official  to  the  Archdeacon  of 
Sudbury,  in  the  1.4th  century.  The  Kev.  John  Hayter,  formerly  of 
Eton,  and  a  Fellow  of  King's,  held  this  living  of  the  gift  of  that 
College.  Mr.  Hayter  was  employed  by  the  Prince  Regent  for  many 
years,  in  unrolling  and  desciphering  the  manuscripts  found  at  Her- 
culaneum :  for  this  purpose  he  went  to  Naples  in  the  year  1802,  and 
remained  many  years  in  Italy. 

He  was  Chaplain  in  Ordinary  to  the  Prince  Regent,  and  received 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  781 

a  salary  to  support  him  in  his  learned  researches.  In  1776,  he  ob- 
tained the  gold  medal,  given  hy  Sir  William  Browne,  for  the  best 
Greek  Ode  in  imitation  of  Sappho.  Mr.  Hayter  died  at  Paris, 
Nov.  29,  1718.  The  Rev.  Edward  Eene  Payne  is  the  present  in- 
cumbent of  this  parish. 

ARMS. —  Wythe:  azure;  three  griffins  in  pale,  pass,  guardant,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  comprises  a  messuage,  and  about 
44  acres  of  land,  of  which  about  1 7  acres  are  old  inclosure,  and  the 
residue  consists  of  allotments  under  an  Inclosure  Act,  in  1817 : 
rent,  £63  per  annum ;  which  is  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the 
church,  and  payment  of  the  churchwardens'  disbursements :  the 
surplus  is  added  to  the  funds  raised  by  rate  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. — Wm.  Asty  gave  £10,  Catherine  Asty  £14,  and  John  Reeve 
£10,  as  benefactions  to  the  poor  ;  which  were  laid  out  in  1711,  in 
the  purchase  of  a  messuage,  called  Ringbells,  and  half- an- acre  of 
land.  An  allotment  of  14A.  OR.  23p.  was  awarded  to  the  poor  as 
an  equivalent  for  the  privilege  of  getting  fuel  from  the  commons 
and  wastes :  rent  about  £34  a  year ;  which  is  laid  out  in  the  pur- 
chase of  coals,  and  other  fuel,  and  distributed  among  the  poor. 


HINDERCLAY,  or  HILDERCLEA, 

Was  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  Bury  Abbey,  by  the  gift  of  Earl 
Ulfketel ;  and  at  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  the  lordship 
and  advowson  appendant,  were  granted  with,  and  have  since  passed 
as  the  Redgrave  domain.  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson,  Esq.,  is  the 
present  proprietor. 

In  1362,  Sir  Thomas  de  Erpingham  was  rector  of  this  parish. 
He  was  a  younger  brother  of  Sir  Robert  de  Erpingham,  of  Erping- 
ham, in  Norfolk ;  grandfather  of  Sir  Thomas  Erpingham,  the  most 
renowned  warrior  of  that  age. 

In  1515,  Robert  Wyxle,  of  this  parish,  was  a  benefactor  to  the 
Augustine,  or  Friars  Eremites,  of  the  New  House,  at  Thetford. 

Thomas  Symonds,  Commissary  and  Official  of  Sudbury  Arch- 
deaconry in  1550,  was  rector  of  Hinderclay,  Capel,  and  Stoke-Ash, 
all  in  this  county.  The  present  incumbent  is  Thomas  Daniel  Holt 
Wilson,  who  resides  here. 


782  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  in  this  parish  six  parcels  of  land,  con- 
taining nearly  8  acres  :  rent  £25  a  year ;  which  is  applied,  confor- 
mable to  usage,  in  payment  of  the  charges  of  the  churchwarden's 
office. 


HOPTON,  or  HOPETUNA. 

The  Norman,  Fulcher,  held  lands  in  this  parish  soon  after  the 
Conquest ;  his  descendants  subsequently  appear  to  have  borne  the 
name  of  De  Saxham.  Lemer  de  Saxham  is  a  witness  to  Aedric 
Latimer's  charter  to  St.  Edmund,  as  mentioned  in  the  parish  of 
Hepworth. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  the  demesne  was  in  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's;  and  in  the  23rd  of  Edward  IV.,  Henry,  Viscount  Bour- 
chier,  K.G.  (son  of  William  Bourchier,  Earl  of  Ewe,  in  Normandy), 
Lord  Treasurer,  died  possessed  of  a  manor  here.  He  was  Earl  of 
Essex,  in  right  of  Anne,  his  mother,  eldest  daughter  of  Thomas,  of 
Woodstock. 

In  1764,  the  manor  was  vested  in Cavendish ;  and  now  be- 
longs to  Thomas  Thornhill,  Esq.,  of  Bidlesworth,  in  Norfolk. 

In  1342,  Henry  de  Pakenham  held  this  incumbency,  and  ex- 
changed with  Hugh  de  Saxham  for  that  of  Cley,  in  Norfolk.  In 
1506,  Thomas  Harlyng,  priest,  of  Hopton,  gave  20d.  to  the  Guild, 
at  Fersfield,  in  Norfolk.  In  1543,  Eobert  Wright,  rector  of  this 
parish,  was  appointed  one  of  the  Commissioners  in  order  to  take 
down  Middle  Herling  church.  The  advowson  is  now  in  the  Crown, 
and  the  Kev.  Henry  Dawson  is  the  present  incumbent. 


HONINGTON. — HUNEGETUNA,  or  HONEWETONE. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  part  of  the  possession  of  the  Abbot 
of  St.  Edmund's,  but  has  been  for  several  generations  in  the  house 
of  Fitz  Eoy :  his  Grace,  George  Henry  Fitz  Roy,  Duke  of  Grafton, 
is  the  present  proprietor.  The  advowson  is  in  the  patronage  of  the 
Crown. 

King  Edward  IV.,  under  the  seal  of  the  Dutchy  of  Lancaster,  in 
the  3rd  year  of  his  reign,  leased  to  Richard  Fulmerston,  Esq.,  for 

V 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  783 

30  years,  Euston  and  Honington  Bridges,  in  Suffolk,  being  parcel 
of  the  Dutchy,  at  20s.  a  year ;  and  Queen  Elizabeth  granted  the 
same  to  the  Corporation  of  Thetford,  for  ever,  in  fee  farm,  paying 
the  said  rent,  and  keeping  the  said  bridges  in  repair,  and  taking  toll 
under  certain  regulations. 

The  family  of  Curteis  were  interested  here.  Anne,  wife  of  Au- 
gustin  Curteis,  Gent.,  deceased  in  1585,  and  was  buried  in  the 
chancel  of  this  parish  church;  he  survived  until  1591,  and  was 
buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Simon  and  St.  Jude,  Norwich  ;  leaving 
two  daughters  and  co- heirs :  namely,  Bridget,  who  married  Sir 
John  Pettus,  Knt.,  Mayor  of  Norwich  in  1608;  and  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  George  Duke,  Gent. 

He  was  member  of  an  ancient  family  of  that  name,  who  became 
settled  at  Brampton,  in  this  county,  in  the  time  of  Edward  III. ; 
whose  ancestor,  Koger  Duke,  was  Sheriff  of  London,  in  the  llth  of 
Henry  III.,  and  Mayor  of  that  city  from  1227  to  1231,  inclusive. 
This  Geo.  Duke  was  second  son  of  Geo.  Duke,  Esq.,  of  Brampton, 
and  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Blennerhasset,  Knt.,  of 
Frenze,  in  Norfolk.  He  deceased  in  1594,  and  his  remains  were 
interred  within  the  altar-rails  of  this  parish  church. 

George,  his  only  son,  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Richard 
Braham,  of  Wandsworth,  and  became  seated  there ;  who,  for  ser- 
vices done  to  King  Charles  I.,  and  King  Charles  II.,  had  an  aug- 
mentation to  his  arms.  He  had,  with  other  issue,  Edward,  of 
Middlesex,  M.D.;  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Robert 
Tollemache,  Esq.,  of  Helmingham ;  by  which  lady  he  left  a  son, 
Tollemache  Duke,  of  Bentley,  in  this  county. 

Robert  Rushbrooke,  Gent.,  had  a  good  estate  in  this  parish.  He 
married  Susanna,  daughter  of  Geo.  Barham,  Gent. ;  and  deceased 
in  1753,  was  buried  here.  Barham  Rushbrooke,  Esq.,  Barrister- 
at-Law,  his  son,  succeeded  to  this  property.  He  resided  at  Westow 
Hall,  which  he  inherited  in  right  of  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  daughter 
and  only  issue  of  John  Edwards,  Esq.,  of  that  parish.  The  estate 
in  Honington  now  belongs  to  Colonel  Robert  Rushbrooke,  Esq., 
M.P.,  of  Rushbrooke  Hall,  his  grandson. 

Honington  will  in  future  be  celebrated  as  the  birth-place  of  Robt. 
Bloomfield,  author  of  "  The  Fanner's  Boy,"  "  Rural  Tales,"  &c.,  one 
of  the  simplest  and  most  captivating  of  our  pastoral  poets.  A  cottage 
near  the  church  was  inhabited  by  the  family,  where  the  poet  drew 
his  first  breath ;  and  his  mother  finished  her  career  under  its  humble 


78-1  HUNDRED  OF  BLACK.BOURN. 

roof,  in  the  year  1804.  This  cottage  stood  on  the  margin  of  the 
village  green,  a  spot  containing  not  more  than  half-an-acre,  the  en- 
closure of  which  Nathaniel  Bloomfield,  a  brother  of  Robert,  -so  pa- 
thetically laments,  in  an  "  Elegy  on  the  Enclosure  of  Honington 
Green."* 

Isaac  William,  another  brother  of  the  poet,  resided  through  life 
in  the  house  in  which  he  was  born,  and  was  a  man  who  certainly 
possessed  unusual  mental  powers,  considering  he  was  only  an  un- 
educated obscure  cottager. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  retains  some  Norman  fea- 
tures ;  the  south  entrance  being  through  an  archway  of  that  style 
of  architecture,  highly  ornamented.  John  Price,  master  of  the 
Grammar  School  at  Thetford,  for  many  years,  was  rector  here.  Of 
this  gentleman  Mr.  Blomefield,  the  Norfolk  historian,  speaks  in 
terms  of  the  highest  commendation :  he  was  his  pupil  for  ten  years, 
at  the  said  school.  Mr.  Price  deceased  in  1736.  John  Cole  Gal- 
laway,  another  master  of  Thetford  School,  was  master  also  of  the 
Free  School  at  Botesdale,  which  he  resigned  in  1774,  after  having 
obtained  the  rectory  of  Honington,  which  he  also  resigned,  by  ex- 
change with  the  Kev.  William  Hicks,  for  the  vicarage  of  Hinckley, 
in  Leicester,  in  1778;  where  he  deceased,  in  1804. 

ARMS. — Curteis :  paly  of  eight,  azure  and  or,  a  fess  cheque, 
sable  and  or.  Duke  (see  p.  170). 

Mem.— -This  village  suffered  severely  by  fire,  during  the  harvest 
of  1782  or  1783;  the  parsonage  house,  and  outbuildings,  a. farm 
house,  with  all  its  appurtenances,  and  several  tenements  were  re- 
duced to  ashes. 

CHARITIES. — The  charity  estate  consists  of  7A.  2x..  of  land,  in 
Quake  Fenn,  in  Stanton;  rent  £10  a  year.  It  is  unknown  how 
this  land  was  originally  settled.  Part  of  the  rent  was  formerly  ap- 
plied in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  church-yard  fences  :  the 
whole  is  now  expended  in  the  purchase  of  fuel,  and  distributed 
among  the  poor. — A  close  in  the  parish  of  Ixworth,  containing 
about  16  acres;  rent  £18  18s.:  given  in  bread  to  the  poor  weekly. 
This  appears  to  have  been  given  in  1633,  by  John  Williams,  Bishop 
of  Lincoln,  Lord  Keeper ;  afterwards  translated  to  York. — An  al- 
lotment of  25  acres,  in  lieu  of  right  of  commonage ;  rent  .£35  a 

*  A  view  of  the  church  and  cottage  is  given  in  Storer  and  Grieg's  "  Illustrations 
of  Bloomfield's  Works  ;"  also  a  portrait  of  his  mother,  taken  on  her  first  visit  to 
London,  in  the  summer  of  1804,  about  six  months  previous  to  her  decease. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  785 

year :   expended  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  and  given  to  the  poor. 
This  was  awarded  under  an  Act  passed  in  1799. 


HUNSTON,  or  HUNTERSTUNA. 

The  lordship  and  demesne  of  this  parish  anciently  belonged  to 
William  de  Langham  ;  and  afterwards  became  vested  in  the  Prior 
of  St.  Mary,  at  Ixworth.  At  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  it  was 
included  in  the  grant  made  to  Kichard  Codington,  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife,  as  parcel  of  the  possession  of  the  said  Monastery. 

Edmund  Frost,  Gent.,  deceased  in  1700,  and  was  buried  in  the 
church  of  St.  George,  at  Tombland,  in  Norwich,  with  Letitia  his 
wife.  He  resided  at  Hunston  Hall,  and  was  probably  owner  of  that 
estate.  Judith,  their  daughter,  married  Daniel  Meadows,  Gent.,  of 
Norwich,  and  died  1719. 

John  Henry  Heigham,  Esq.,  is  the  present  lord  of  this  manor, 
patron  of  the  perpetual  curacy,  and  nearly  sole  proprietor  of  the  en- 
tire parish ;  who  commonly  resides  at  his  neat  family  mansion  in 
this  village.  His  ancestor  became  possessed  of  this  estate,  by 
marriage  with  the  heiress  of  the  Lurkin  family,  with  John  Heigham, 
Esq.,  of  Eougham;  who  derive  from  a  junior  branch  of  the 
Heighams,  of  Barrow,  in  Thingoe  hundred. 

Mr.  Heigham's  direct  lineal  ancestor  was  Arthur  Heigham,  rec- 
tor of  Redgrave,  and  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Coell, 
Esq.,  of  Depden,  in  this  county  ;  which  Arthur  was  only  son  of  Sir 
Clement  Heigham,  of  Barrow,  Kiit.,  by  his  second  wife,  Anne, 
daughter  of  John  Appleyard,  Esq.,  of  Denston,  in  Norfolk.  He 
deceased  in  1648,  and  was  buried  at  Redgrave. 

ARMS. — Frost :  argent ;  a  fess,  gules,  between  three  threefoils, 
azure.  Heigham :  sable  ;  a  fess,  checquy,  or  and  azure,  between 
three  nags'  heads  erased,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — By  indenture  dated  in  1723,  reciting  that  Mary 
Page  was  entitled  to  a  close  called  Denby's,  and  a  piece  of  meadow 
adjoining,  containing  together  15  acres,  in  Hunstou  and  Langham, 
for  the  term  of  1000  years,  from  the  16th  of  James  I. ;  she,  the 
said  Mary  Page,  assigned  to  trustees,  10A.  of  the  said  close,  for  the 
residue  of  the  said  term,  upon  trust,  after  her  decease,  to  employ 
the  rents  in  payment  of  the  following  sums  yearly  :  viz.,  £2  to  the 


786  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBODRN. 

parson  of  Hunston,  for  instructing  children  and  young  persons  in 
the  parish,  in  the  church- catechism ;  £l  10s.  to  a  mistress,  to  teach 
poor  children  to  read,  knit,  spin,  &c.;  £l  10s.  towards  clothing  such 
poor  children ;  10s.  to  the  mistress,  to  provide  firing  in  winter  for  the 
children;  10s.  to  provide  school  books ;  and  10s.  to  be  distributed 
every  Christmas  day,  among  poor  persons.  The  land  assigned  by 
the  deed,  with  an  allotment  of  2 A..  3  IP.,  is  let  at  the  yearly  rent  of 
£11  10s.,  subject  to  a  reduction  of  .£1  12s.  for  land  tax.  Six  chil- 
dren are  now  taught ;  and  each  of  them  has  the  allowance  of  10s. 
for  clothing,  as  well  as  the  books  directed  to  be  provided  by  the 
deed. 


INGHAM. 

The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  was  owner  of  this  lordship,  and  the 
family  of  Hethe  probably  held  the  same  in  fee  of  that  Monastery. 
In  the  will  of  Thomas  Hethe,  of  Mildenhall,  dated  in  1440,  he  de- 
vises all  his  lands  in  Ingham  to  remain  to  John,  his  youngest  son, 
in  tail ;  remainder  to  William  and  George,  his  elder  brothers. 

The  family  of  Coket  also  held  here,  of  the  said  Abbot.  By  an 
Indenture  dated  the  9th  of  King  Henry  VII.,  between  Thomas,  son 
of  John  Coket,  of  Ampton,  and  Agnes  the  wife  of  Walter  Coket, 
late  of  Ingham,  it  was  agreed  that  the  said  Thomas  Coket  should 
have  and  hold  unto  him  and  his  heirs,  "  all  the  messuages,  landes, 
and  tenements,  that  were  the  said  Walter  Coket's,  in  the  townes, 
and  fields  of  Ingham,  Timworth,  and  Ampton,  or  elsewhere  ;  and 
that  the  feoffees  of  the' said  Walter  shall  make  estate  of  and  in  all 
the  said  premises ;  upon  condition  that  he  allow  to  the  said  Agnes 
certain  apartments  in  the  said  messuage,  and  the  occupation  of  the 
garden,  and  certain  closes  to  the  said  tenement  annexed,  in  common 
with  him,  to  walk  and  take  her  pleasure  therein,  at  any  time  needful, 
as  she  shall  require,  without  interruption  or  gainsaying ;  and  also 
the  yearly  annuity  of  .£14,  from  the  said  Thomas  Coket  to  the 
said  Agnes." 

Soon  after  the  dissolution  of  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund,  this 
estate  became  vested  in  the  Bacon  family ;  it  has  since  passed  as 
part  and  parcel  of  the  Culford  estate,  and  so  continues. 

The  church  contains  a  memorial  to  Edward  Leedes,  who  was 
chosen  master  of  the  Grammar  School  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  in* 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  787 

1663,  and  continued  in  that  office  for  the  long  period  of  40  years  ; 
and  under  whose  management  it  attained  the  highest  degree  of  re- 
spectability. He  deceased  in  1707.  Several  other  members  of  his 
family  are  buried  here.  It  also  contains  an  inscription  to  the 
memory  of  Robert  Lowe,  who  held  this  rectory  for  the  unusual  long 
period  of  57  years  ;  and  died  in  1727,  aged  91  years. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  lands  comprise  7  acres  in  different  pieces, 
intermixed  with  lauds  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Richard  Benyon  ;  yearly 
rent  £4  4s. :  and  2  acres  in  Timworth-field,  also  intermixed  with 
land  of  Mr.  Benyon  ;  annual  rent  £l  4s. — The  late  John  Booty,  by 
indenture,  in  1771,  settled  £100  stock,  South  Sea  Annuities,  in 
trustees,  upon  trust,  that  the  dividends  should  be  yearly  distributed 
among  the  industrious  poor  of  this  parish :  yearly  dividend  £3. 
The  rents  of  the  poor's  land,  and  the  dividends  are  distributed  ac- 
cordingly. 


IXWORTH. — ADIXEWRD,  or  ICSEWRDA, 

Is  the  only  Market-Town  in  this  hundred  ;  and  its  market  has  been 
discontinued  for  a  considerable  period.  The  high  road  from  Bury 
St.  Edmund's  to  Norwich  and  Yarmouth,  by  way  of  Scole  Inn, 
passing  through  the  midst  of  this  town,  furnishes  a  regular  convey- 
ance by  stage  coaches,  and /a  plentiful  traffic  of  other  passengers. 

The  repeated  discovery  of  Roman  antiquities  in  this  vicinity,  fur- 
nishes undoubted  proof  of  that  ancient  race  having  been  formerly 
located  in  this  neighbourhood.*  Roman  coins  are  often  found  here ; 
and  not  long  since  remains  of  a  Roman  erection  was  discovered,  upon 
a  piece  of  arable  land,  about  half-a-mile  from  the  town,  on  the  road 
from  thence  to  Stowmarket,  a  short  distance  from  the  highway,  on 

*  According  to  the  opinion  of  some  antiquaries,  Ixworth  was  the  VILLA  FAUSTINI 
of  Antoninus  :  including,  it  is  believed,  Dr.  Mason ;  in  whose  manuscript  on  Roman 
Roads,  is  described  the  route  of  the  Ikeneld  Street,  in  the  line  from  "  Royston  to 
Caistor ;  as  dividing  two  furlongs  south  of  Cavenham,  and  one  branch  goes  by 
Lackford  Church  north  of  Westow,  south  of  Wordwell  enclosures,  at  the  east-end 
of  which  it  joins  the  second  branch,  which  from  Cavenham  passed  through  Flemp- 
ton  over  the  river  at  Westow,  then  one  mile  and  a  half  to  Wordwell,  as  before, 
Honington  two  miles  north  of  Ixworth,  where  it  passes  the  road  from  Castleacre  to 
Shulbnry,  south  of  Barningham  Park,  through  the  street  and  by  the  church  of  Coney 
Weston,  passes  the  county  river  between  Gatesthorp  church  and  Garboldesham.'' 


788  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

a  slight  elevation.  It  evidently  consisted  of  the  remains  of  a  Hy- 
pocaust,  the  flues  for  heating  the  same  being  apparent.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  no  further  search  has  since  been  prosecuted ;  the 
knowledge  we  possess  of  the  domestic  architecture  of  the  Komans 
being  so  very  imperfect,  every  information  that  can  be  gained  is 
desirable.  Fragments  of  Eoman  pottery  were  also  recently  found  in 
abundance,  in  sinking  cellars  for  a  new  parsonage  house,  adjoining 
the  churchyard :  some  of  the  vessels  were  in  tolerable  preservation. 

This  town  is  also  memorable  for  a  Priory  of  Augustine,  or  Black 
Canons,  founded  by  Gilbert  le  Blund,  lord  of  Ixworth.  It  was 
built  near  the  parish  church,  about  the  year  1100  ;  and  soon  after 
destroyed,  during  the  intestine  wars :  William,  son  of  Gilbert  the 
founder,  rebuilt  and  re-endowed  the  same  ;  but  not  exactly  in  the 
same  situation.  The  latter  site  occupied  about  30  acres  of  land,  in 
the  hands  of  the  Prior  and  Convent,  at  the  dissolution.  It  was  de- 
dicated to  the  honour  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  and  endowed  with 
rectories,  advowsons,  or  portions  of  nine  churches,  in  this  county, 
and  one  in  Norfolk. 

The  annexed  pedigree  shows  the  descent  of  the  Le  Blunds'  es- 
tate ;  and  the  several  possessors,  who  were  respectively  patrons  of 
this  Monastery,  and,  no  doubt,  benefactors  to  it : — 

Gilbert  le  Blund.  =Alice  de  Colkyoke. 


I 1 

William  le  Blund.  =Sarah  de  Montechency.* 

Hubert  le  Blund. = Agnes  de  Insula. 
, 1 

William  le  Blund.=Cecilia  de  Vere. 
T_  _1_  _i ! 

Win.  le  Blund,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Lewis.       Agnes  le  Blund.        Royesia  le  Blund. 

Alicia  de  Capella.  Wm.  Criketot,  1st.  of  Ousden. 

I 1       Robt.  de  Valoins  succeeded  Wm. 

Wna.  Criketot,  2nd.  succeeded  Wm.  le  Blund  in  a         le  Blund  in  the  other  moiety, 
moiety.  He  mar.  Maria,  daugh.  of  Gilbert  Peche.        He  married  Eva  Criketot. 

t 1  i 1 

Wm.  Criketot,  3rd.=Joan,  dau.  of  Wm.          Rohesia.=Edniund  Pakenham,  Knt. 

I 1         Watteville.  \ 1 

Wm.  Criketot,  4th.=IsabelIaBracebrigge.        Edmund,  Knt.=  Mary,  dau.  of  John 

I 1  I 1 1       Comyn,  of 

Wm.  Criketot,  5th.— Joan  Poyninges.         Edmund,  Knt.         Thomas,      Scotland 

I 1 1 1     Obt.  S.P.         Knt.  Obt.  S.P. 

William,  6th.  Edmund,  Canon       Johanna,  Prioress  of  Campsey. 

Obt.  unmarried.  of  Ixworth. 

*  In  1121,  Ralph  de  Montecheucy  gave  the  advowson  of  Little  Melton,  in  Nor- 
folk, which  was  confirmed  by  his  nephew,  Warine,  to  Gilbert,  Prior  of  this  house  ; 
to  which  it  was  appropriated  by  Pope  Honorius  II.  The  rectory  house,  and  24 
acres  of  glebe,  with  the  great  tithes,  were  assigned  to  the  Convent ;  who  presented 
the  vicars  till  its  dissolution.— MONASTICON  ANGLICANUM,  torn,  ii.,  p.  185. 


HUNDHED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  789 

The  Prior  also  held  manors  in  Ixworth,  Ashfield,  Badwell  Ash, 
Hunston,  Ixworth  Thorp,  Norton,  Sapeston,  Walsham,  Downham, 
and  Wyken;  with  80  acres  in  Downham,  by  Brandon,  3  messuages, 
and  360  acres  of  land  in  Hunston,  Langham,  &c.,  and  a  mill  at  Ix- 
worth. In  "  Taxatius  Ecclesiasticus,"  1291,  Norfolk,  in  6  parishes, 
£3  9s.  Cd. ;  Suffolk,  in  23  parishes,  £23  16s.  8£d. ;  and  the  clear 
value,  according  to  Dugdale  and  "Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  was  £168 
19s.  7£d.  The  alms  annually  distributed  on  certain  anniversaries, 
£20  15s.,  including  the  sum  of  £10  for  the  care  and  instruction  of 
six  poor  boys  in  the  Monastery. 

In  the  27th  of  Edward  I.,  Sir  William  de  Criketot  was  found  to 
hold  this  manor,  with  Ashfield  and  Ousden,  in  soccage,  of  Hugh, 
Lord  Bardolph  ;  and  William  de  Criketot  was  his  son  and  heir. 

In  the  25th  of  Edward  III.,  Kohesia,  widow  of  Sir  Edmund  Pa- 
kenham,  settled  by  fine  on  Hervey  (or  Henry)  her  son,  rector  of 
Bardwell,  the  moiety  of  the  manor  of  Ixworth ;  remainder  to  the 
Prior  there  ;  except  one  penny  rent,  and  the  moiety  of  the  advow- 
son  of  the  Priory  here. 

In  the  35th  of  the  same  reign,  he  held  the  mediety  of  the  advow- 
son  of  the  Priory  church  of  Ixworth,  and  Id.  annual  rent,  with  the 
appurtenances  in  Bardwell,  by  the  service  of  the  100th  part  of  a 
Knight's  fee ;  and  in  the  37th  of  that  King,  Henry  de  Pakenham 
held  the  same. 

In  1534,  the  Prior,  John  Jervys,  and  sixteen  monks,  subscribed 
to  the  King's  supremacy;  and  in  1538,  Kichard  Codington,  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife,  obtained  a  grant  of  this  Monastery,  in  exchange 
for  the  manor  of  Nonesuch,  in  Surrey.  Eichard  Codington,  Esq., 
deceased  in  1567.  He  was  the  representative  of  an  ancient  family 
in.  Surrey,  deriving  its  name  from  the  manor  and  parish  of  Cud- 
dington  ;  and  was  tempted,  by  the  offer  of  several  valuable  manors 
in  the  Eastern  counties,  to  relinquish  his  ancestral  domain  to  King 
Henry  VIII. ;  who  erected  thereon  his  far-famed  Palace  of  None- 
such. He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Jenoure,  Esq.,  of 
Great  Dunmow,  in  Essex,  and  widow  of  Thomas  Bokenham,  Esq., 
of  Great  Livermere ;  and  died  without  issue. 

It  subsequently  passed  to  the  Fiennes  family  :  the  Hon.  Richard 
Fiennes,  who  died  in  1674,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  this 
parish  church,  held  the  same.  He  was  4th  son  of  William  Fiennes, 
1st  Viscount  Saye  and  Sele ;  and  by  Susanna,  his  2nd  wife,  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  William  Cobb,  of  Adderbury,  in  Oxfordshire,  he  had  a 


790  HUNDKED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

son,  Kichard,  in  holy  orders ;  whose  son,  Richard  Fiennes,  became 
6th  Viscount  Saye  and  Sele,  and  died  without  issue  in  1781  ;  when 
the  Viscouuty  expired. 

This  estate,  soon  after  the  decease  of  the  Hon.  Richard  Fiennes, 
became  the  property  of  the  Nortons ;  a  branch  of  a  very  ancient 
and  eminent  Hampshire  family.  Richard,  eldest  son,  by  a  second 
marriage,  of  Colonel  Richard  Norton,  of  Southwick,  in  Hants., 
Esq.,  appears  to  have  been  the  first  of  the  family  concerned  here. 
He  died  in  1708,  without  issue,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of 
this  parish  church.  Thomas,  son  of  his  brother,  William  Norton, 
Esq.,  succeeded  to  this  estate  ;  at  whose  decease  it  passed  to  Colonel 
Richard  Norton,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1781,  and  settled  the  same  upon 
Isabella  his  wife,  daughter  of  Julius  Hutchinson,  and  Betty  his  wife, 
daughter  of  William  Norton,  of  Wellow,  in  Hants.,  during  her  na- 
tural life. 

Mrs.  Isabella  Norton  died  in  1792,  when  this  property  became 
the  inheritance  of  John  Cartwright,  Esq.,  of  the  parish  of  St.  Mary 
Stoke,  in  Ipswich  ;  in  right  of  Isabella  his  wife,  daughter  and  co- 
heir of  the  said  Richard  and  Isabella  Norton.  Mr.  Cartwright  de- 
rive from  a  family  of  that  name  long  seated  in  Northamptonshire : 
his  grand-son,  Richard  Norton  Cartwright,  Esq.,  is  the  present  repre- 
sentative of  this  branch  of  the  family,  and  proprietor  of  this  estate. 

Ixworth  Abbey,  the  residence  of  this  gentleman,  is  of  modern 
construction,  erected  upon  the  site  of  part  of  the  ancient  Priory ; 
but  little  of  which  remains,  except  a  room  under  ground,  formerly 
a  crypt,  or  confession ary,  belonging  to  the  Monastery ;  which  has 
recently  been  restored,  and  is  now  in  excellent  preservation,  and  ap- 
propriately fitted  up.  In  effecting  alterations  in  this  vicinity,  sepul- 
chral and  other  remains  have  been  frequently  discovered.  Mr. 
Cartwright  has  preserved  the  lid  of  the  stone  coffin  in  which  the  re- 
mains of  John  Poyk  (or  Pryke),  the  twelfth  Prior  of  this  house,  were 
deposited,  with  divers  other  relics  found  here. 

A  branch  of  the  highly  respectable  family  of  Boldero,  were  resi- 
dent in  this  town  for  many  generations,  and  held  considerable  pro- 
perty here,  and  elsewhere.  The  earliest  member  of  this  family  who 
settled  at  Ixworth,  appears  to  have  been  George  Boldero,  Gent., 
who  deceased  in  1C 65;  and  his  descendants  continued  to  reside 
here  until  the  death  of  George  Boldero,  clerk,  January  17,  1836, 
without  issue ;  when  the  male  line  of  this  branch  of  the  family  be- 
came extinct. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  791 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  lay  impropriation,  at- 
tached to  the  manor ;  and  the  impropriator  appoints  and  pays  a 
perpetual  curate.  The  chancel  contains  a  table  monument  within 
a  circular  arch,  highly  ornamented,  in  memory  of  Richard  Coding- 
ton,  Esq.,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife ;  with  divers  memorials  to  other 
individuals.  The  tower  is  handsomely  ornamented,  with  shields 
and  devises,  in  flint  work.  The  age  of  this  portion  of  the  structure 
may  be  very  nearly  ascertained  from  the  circumstance  that  the  name 
of  Robert  Schot  appears  upon  a  stone  inserted  in  the  buttress,  at 
the  south-east  angle,  with  the  arms  of  Bury  Abbey ;  over  which 
Monastery  he  presided  from  1470  to  1473,  and  no  doubt  was  a 
principal  contributor  towards  the  erection  of  this  building.  This 
Abbot  appears  also  to  have  been  called  Robert  de  Ixworth,  and  was 
most  likely  a  native  of  this  place.  There  is  also  an  inscription  on 
the  south  side  of  the  tower,  but  so  much  defaced  it  cannot  be  de- 
ciphered. 

ARMS. — Blund :  lozenge  ;  or  and  sable.  Codington :  gules  ; 
a  cross,  or,  fretty,  azure.  Fiennes :  azure  ;  three  lions  rampant, 
or.  Norton :  vert ;  a  lion  rampant,  or.  Cartwright :  ermine  ;  a 
fess,  between  three  fire  balls,  sable,  issuing  flames,  proper. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  and  poor's  land  consist  of  a  piece  of 
land,  called  Brewster's,  in  Pakenham,  containing  about  IA.  SR., 
which  is  appropriated  to  the  reparation  of  the  church  ;  rent  £1  5s. 
a  year :  a  close  of  about  7A.,  near  the  road  to  Stowmarket,  was  al- 
lotted under  an  Inclosure  Act,  in  lieu  of  other  lands,  to  the  intent 
that  one  half  of  the  rent  should  be  paid  to  the  churchwardens,  one 
fourth  distributed  among  the  poor,  and  one  fourth  given  to  twenty 
widows  belonging  to  the  parish ;  rent  £6  per  annum :  a  piece  of 
laud,  containing  IA.  2R.  32p.,  part  of  a  close  in  Rattlesden,  called 
Little  Seal  Close,  was  purchased  with  £10,  given  by  William  Fir- 
mage,  in  1599,  to  the  poor  of  Ixworth ;  rent  £1  5s.  per  annum. — 
Sir  Robert  Gardiner,  Knt.,  bequeathed  £50  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Ixworth,  to  buy  lands  for  the  relief  of  the  poor ;  and  Ann  Webb 
gave  £1Q  for  the  like  purpose,  to  which  William  Webb  added  £10. 
The  sum  of  £4  10s.  is  paid  by  the  owner  of  "  Mansfield  Closes," 
on  account  of  these  bequests. — There  is  an  annual  payment  of  £1, 
issuing  out  of  a  piece  of  land,  called  Foulslough,  in  Ixworth,  dis- 
tributable among  the  poor  in  groats  on  Michaelmas-day.  It  is  un- 
known how  this  charity  originated. — There  is  a  customary  donation 
of  £5  in  money,  and  12  loads  of  wood,  at  10s.  a  load,  out  of  the 


792  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

manor  of  Ixworth.  This  charity  passes  under  the  name  of  Mrs. 
Codington's  gift,  but  no  particulars  of  its  origin  are  known. — The 
sum  of  £7  10s.  a  year  is  received  from  Cooke's  charity,  mentioned 
in  Pakenham. — William  Varey,  Esq.,  by  will,  dated  in  1789,  di- 
rected £1000,  Three  per  Cent.  Consols,  to  be  set  apart  so  that  the 
dividends  might  be  distributed  annually ;  one  half  among  the 
working  poor  of  Ixworth  who  do  not  receive  any  weekly  alms, 
maintenance,  or  collection,  from  the  parish ;  the  other  half  to  two 
proper  persons,  a  man  and  a  woman,  for  keeping  a  Sunday-school. 


IXWORTH  THORP,  or  TORP. 

The  author  of  "Magna  Britannia"  makes  this  manor  to  have 
been  anciently  vested  in  Thomas  de  Pakenham ;  it  subsequently 
became  parcel  of  the  possession  of  Ixworth  Priory ;  and  at  the 
dissolution  of  that  house,  was  included  in  the  grant  made  to  Richard 
Codington,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.  The  rectory  was  appendant  to 
the  lordship. 

This  estate  afterwards  became  the  inheritance  of  the  Croftes 
family,  of  the  adjoining  parish  of  Bardwell.  Charles,  son  and  heir 
of  Thos.  Croftes,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  was  twice  married  :  Elizabeth, 
his  first  wife,  was  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Piers,  of  Northwold, 
in  Norfolk,  Gent. ;  by  whom  he  had  three  sons :  Charles,  John,  and 
Robert ;  and  as  many  daughters.  Elizabeth,  his  eldest  daughter, 
married  Robert,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Robt.  Drury,  of  Rougham,  Knt. ; 
the  other  daughters  were,  Susan  and  Margaret. 

His  second  wife  was  Thomasine,  daughter  of  Ralph  Shelton, 
Esq.,  of  Brome,  in  Norfolk  ;  by  whom  he  had  no  issue.  He  de- 
ceased in  1616  ;  she  in  the  following  year :  they  were  both  interred 
in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church ;  as  was  John  Croftes,  Esq., 
his  second  son,  brother  of  Sir  Charles  Croftes,  Knt.,  of  Bardwell. 
The  said  John  deceased  in  1644.  This  estate  passed  as  that  of 
Bardwell;  and  in  1764,  was  the  inheritance  of  Thomas  Croftes 
Reade,  Esq.,  of  that  parish. 

John  Lamb,  Esq.,  of  Golden  Square,  London,  purchased  this 
estate  of  the  trustees,  under  the  will  of  the  above  Thomas  Croftes 
Reade,  Esq.,  dated  in  1769.  Mr.  Lamb  deceased  in  1798,  and 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  793 

was  buried  in  this  parish  church ;  when  Sir  James  Bland  Burgess, 
Bart.,  succeeded  to  this  property  ;  and  assumed,  by  Royal  permis- 
sion, in  1821,  the  surname  of  Lamb  only,  and  the  arms  of  Lamb, 
quarterly  with  those  of  Burgess.  Sir  James  was  known  in  the  li- 
terary world  as  coadjutor  of  Cumberland,  in  some  poetical  works, 
and  as  a  dramatic  writer. 

In  1795,  he  obtained  the  office  of  Marshal  of  his  Majesty's 
Household;  which  he  held  at  his  demise,  in  1824.  Sir  Charles 
Montolieu  Lamb,  Bart.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded  to  this 
estate,  and  is  now  proprietor  of  the  entire  -parish. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  a  cottage,  barn,  and 
21  A.  IR.  37p.  of  land,  lying  in  the  several  parishes  of  Ixworth 
Thorp,  Troston,  and  Honington  ;  and  is  vested  in  trustees,  upon 
trust,  to  apply  the  rents,  after  deducting  the  reasonable  charges  of 
repairs,  to  the  reparation  of  the  parish  church,  and  next  for  and 
towards  other  common  town  charges,  and  the  residue  thereof  for 
and  towards  the  maintenance  of  the  poor  of  the  parish  :  rent  £20 
per  annum. — John  Wright,  by  will,  dated  in  1674,  bequeathed  £2Q 
to  be  laid  out  in  lands ;  the  revenue  and  profits  thereof  to  be  dis- 
tributed yearly,  on  the  day  of  his  burial,  among  three  of  the  poorest 
widows  of  this  parish ;  and  in  default  of  such,  to  three  of  the  poorer 
people  of  the  parish.  This  legacy,  together  with  £10  belonging  to 
the  parish,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  the  North  Croft  Close, 
in  the  parish  of  Hopton,  containing  by  estimation  5  acres :  rent 
£  7  7s.  a  year :  two  thirds  thereof  is  applied  as  the  will  directs,  and 
the  residue  to  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  parish. 


KNATTISHALL. — GNATTSHALL,  or  GNEDESHALLA. 

The  Norman,  Fulcher,  held  lands  in  this  parish,  of  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund's,  at  the  period  of  the  Conquest ;  and  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  III.,  the  Eustace  (or  Fitz  Eustace)  family,  held  considerable 
property  in  Gnateshall. 

In  the  33rd  of  Edward  III.,  John  de  Herling,  of  East  Herling, 
in  Norfolk,  obtained  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  this  manor,  and  died 
seized  thereof;  leaving  the  same  to  Sir  John  de  Herling,  his  eldest 
son  and  heir.  It  subsequently  passed  as  the  lordship  of  East  Her- 
ling, and  ultimately  became  the  estate  of  Sir  Thomas  Lovcll,  K.G. ; 


794  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

who  deceased  in  1524,  and  devised  the  same  to  his  cousin,  Francis 
Lovell,  Esq. :  he  deceased  in  1550.  Thomas,  his  son,  being  of 
age,  inherited  all  the  possessions  that  Sir  Thomas  Lovell,  K.G., 
devised  to  his  father. 

In  the  6th  of  Henry  VIII.,  Thomas  Coupe,  of  Garholdesham,  in 
Norfolk,  confirmed  to  Reginald  Eldred,  of  Gnateshall,  yeoman,  and 
others,  lands  in  Gnateshall,  lying  between  a  messuage  and  a  croft 
of  John  Eldred's;  and  in  the  19th  of  the  same  reign,  Richard 
Bryan,  and  John  Wellys,  in  pursuance  of  the  will  of  Reginald  El- 
dred, late  of  this  parish,  deceased,  confirmed  to  Agnes  Eldred,  his 
widow,  John  Eldred,  of  Easthop,  Reginald  Eldred,  Gent.,  and  John 
Eldred,  younger  son  of  the  said  Agnes,  a  messuage  and  thirteen 
pieces  of  land  in  Gnateshall,  to  the  use  of  the  said  Agnes,  in  fee. 
In  the  same  year,  John  Eldred,  of  this  parish,  and  others,  confirmed 
to  his  elder  brother,  John  Eldred,  and  to  John  Eldred,  of  Easthop, 
and  others,  two  messuages  in  Gnateshall,  to  the  use  of  John  El- 
dred, the  elder. 

Thomas  Gnateshall  (or  Eldred)  held  an  office  in  St.  Edmund's 
at  the  period  of  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery ;  and  Robert  El- 
dred is  a  witness  to  a  grant  of  lands  in  this  parish,  of  John  Eldred, 
yeoman,  in  the  3rd  of  Edward  VI.  John  Eldred,  Esq.,  of  Great 
Saxham,  is  described  as  fourth  son  of  John  Eldred,  of  Buckenham, 
in  Norfolk,  son  of  John  Eldred,  of  Knatshall,  in  Suffolk,  son  of 
William,  who  was  son  of  John  Eldred,  of  Knatshall. 

In  1764,  this  manor  was  vested  in Cavendish,  Esq.,  and 

has  subsequently  passed  with  the  Ridlesworth  estate;  Thomas 
Thornhill,  Esq.,  being  the  present  lord  and  patron.  The  living  is 
consolidated  with  that  of  Ridlesworth. 

In  1720,  Robert  Wright,  D.D.,  held  this  hiving;  he  was  also 
rector  of  West  Herling,  in  Norfolk,  and  of  the  sinecure  living  of 
Hackney,  and  a  Prebendary  in  the  church  of  Litchfield. 


LANGHAM, 

Was  anciently  the  lordship  and  demesne  of  Sir  Wm.  de  Criketot ; 
and  in  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  was  vested  in  the  family  of 
Langham.  Sir  William,  son  of  Sir  William  de  Langham,  of  this 
parish,  a  descendant  of  Ralph  de  Langham,  a  person  of  note  about 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  795 

the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  married,  about  the  year  1341,  Joan,  sister 
and  sole  heiress  of  Sir  John  de  Wateville ;  who  brought  him  a  con- 
siderable estate  at  Hempsted,  and  Pantfield,  in  Essex. 

Sir  William,  upon  his  marriage  with  this  heiress,  became  seated 
at  Hempsted  Hall ;  where  his  descendants  continued  to  reside  until 
the  decease  of  Richard  Langham,  Esq.,  whose  only  daughter  and 
heiress,  Alice,  married  Thomas  St.  John,  Esq. ;  and  after  his  decease 
she  re-married  with  John,  son  and  heir  of  John  Cotton,  Esq.,  of 
Ridware  Hamstall,  in  Staffordshire ;  who,  in  her  right,  inherited 
Langham,  in  Suffolk,  and  Hempsted  and  Pantfield,  in  Essex ;  where 
he  resided. 

His  lineal  descendant,  George  Cotton,  Esq.,  married  Frances, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Felton,  Esq.,  of  Playford,  in  this  county;  by 
whom  he  had  several  children.  Abigail,  one  of  his  daughters,  mar- 
ried Robert  Cooke,  Esq.,  of  this  parish.  He  deceased  in  1592,  and 
devised  this  estate,  with  his  Essex  property,  to  his  eldest  son  and 
heir,  Thomas  Cotton,  Esq. ;  who  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir 
Henry  Warner,  Knt.,  of  Mildenhall ;  who,  about  1611,  sold  a  part 
of  his  Essex  estate  ;  and  this  property  most  likely  passed  into  other 
hands  about  that  time. 

About  the  commencement  of  the  last  century  it  was  the  estate  of 
the  Tumor  family.  In  1734,  John  Turner,  Esq.,  resided  at  Lang- 
ham  Hall.  He  married  Bridgett,  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Sir 
Thomas  Gery,  of  Ealing,  in  Middlesex,  Knt. ;  who  deceased  in 
1746,  and  her  remains  where  deposited  in  this  parish  church.  Mr. 
Turnor  became  afterwards  reduced  in  circumstances,  and  retired  to 
Great  Livermere  ;  where  he  died,  in  1766,  and  was  buried  in  that 
parish  church. 

This  estate  was  purchased  by  Patrick  Blake,  Esq.,  son  of  Andrew, 
2nd  sou  of  Patrick  Blake,  Esq.,  of  the  Island  of  Montserrat ;  a 
family  of  ancient  British  origin,  who  derive  from  the  house  of  Blake, 
of  Cumner,  in  the  county  of  Galway,  in  Ireland ;  a  younger  branch 
of  which  emigrated,  and  settled  in  the  above  Island,  and  St.  Chris- 
topher. 

He  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1 772,  and  married  Anabella,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Sir  William  Bunbury,  Bart.;  by  whom  he  had  two  sons, 
successive  Baronets  :  Sir  Henry  Charles  Blake,  his  grandson,  the 
4th  Baronet,  is  the  present  representative  of  this  house,  who  resides 
at  Great  Barton.  The  estate  is  now  the  property,  by  purchase,  of 
Joseph  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Highbury  Hill,  Islington. 


796  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

ARMS. — Langham :  argent ;  a  fess,  gules,  with  a  label  of  three 
points,  azure.  Cotton :  azure ;  an  eagle  displayed,  argent,  beaked 
and  legged,  gules.  Blake :  argent ;  a  fret,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — In  1630,  John  Jolly  bequeathed  JGIOO,  for  the 
purchasing  of  lands ;  the  rents  whereof  he  willed  should  be  em- 
ployed for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  this  parish.  The  property 
purchased  with  this  legacy  consists  of  a  house,  occupied  by  poor 
persons ;  a  piece  of  land  adjoining,  24p.,  let  at  12s.  a  year;  and 
three  pieces  of  land,  containing  altogether  about  12A.,  rent^ll  per 
annum  :  which  is  distributed  among  poor  persons  in  different  sums. 
— It  is  stated  in  the  parish  terrier,  that  the  rents  and  profits  of  a 
house,  and  certain  lands  called  Hollymote  lands,  are  appropriated 
to  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  other  charges  belonging  to  the 
churchwardens  office :  the  house  lets  at  £2  a  year,  and  part  of  the 
land,  containing  about  6A.,  is  let  at  £8  a  year.  The  extent  and 
precise  situation  of  the  rest  of  the  land  is  unknown  ;  but  in  respect 
of  part  thereof,  the  sum  of  ^63  12s.  a  year  is  paid  by  the  owner  of 
the  manor,  and  the  sum  of  3s.  6d.  a  year  is  paid  in  respect  of  two 
other  small  pieces,  which  are  intermixed  with  the  property  of  other 
persons. 


LIVERMEKE  LITTLE,  or  LITLA  LIUERMERA. 

In  the  reign  of  King  John,  Alan,  son  of  Hamon  de  Flemeton, 
held,  jointly  with  Peter  de  Livermere,  a  Knight's  fee  in  this  parish 
and  Ampton :  the  name  of  Sir  Adam  de  Livermere  occurs  in  the 
time  of  King  Edward  I. ;  and  in  1349,  William  de  Livermere  was 
rector  of  Croxton,  near  Thetford,  in  Norfolk.  Bartholomew,  son 
of  Henry  de  Livermere  parva,  is  witness  to  a  very  ancient  document, 
without  date,  relating  to  Ampton. 

The  family  of  Croftes  had  formerly  considerable  interest  in  this 
parish.  In  the  36th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Thomas  Croftes,  of  Little 
Saxham,  Esq.,  granted  to  Anthony  Penning,  Esq.,  in  consideration 
of  the  sum  of  £2,100,  the  manor  of  Little  Livermere,  called  Mur- 
ryelle,  with  the  appurtenances,  and  the  advowson  of  that  parish 
church ;  and  a  certain  messuage,  and  1 00  acres  of  land,  situate  in 
Little  and  Great  Livermere,  which  sometime  were  John  Sampson's ; 
also  one  wood,  called  Oakwood,  and  a  pasture,  called  Oak  Close, 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  797 

and  two  other  pightles,  containing  both  together  not  above  three 
acres,  being  all  reputed  to  be  parcel  of  the  manor  of  Ampton. 
(Seep.  111.) 

Anthony  Penning,  Esq.,  deceased  in  1630  ;  and  not  long  after, 
the  Cokes  were  in  possession  of  this  estate.  Richard  Coke,  Esq., 
of  Broom  Hall,  in  this  parish,  by  the  arms  he  bore,  appears  to  have 
been  a  member  of  a  family  of  that  name  very  early  seated  at  Trusley, 
in  the  county  of  Derby.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Arundel,  of  Trerice,  in  Cornwall. 

Richard,  their  son,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Robert  Mal- 
tyward,  of  Rougham,  Esq.,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thos. 
Cracherode,  of  Topesfield,  in  Essex.  He  died  in  1688,  and  was 
buried  in  this  parish  church;  she  survived  until  1716,  and  was  also 
buried  here.  They  left,  it  appears,  no  issue  ;  and  the  unfortunate 
Arundel  Coke,  Esq.,  Barrister-at-Law,  who  was  executed  in  172^,  J/ 
at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  was  heir  apparent  to  this  estate  ;  which  is 
said  to  have  been  given  by  a  member  of  his  family,  to  the  Duke  of 
Grafton,  who  occasionally  resided  here.  It  subsequently  became 
the  property  of  Baptist  Lee,  Esq. ;  and  has  since  passed  as  the  ad- 
joining parish  of  Livermere  Magna. 

Livermere  Hall  was  built  by  a  member  of  the  Coke  family  ;  and 
has  been  considerably  enlarged  and  improved  by  its  subsequent 
proprietors.  The  park  is  flat,  but  so  well  wooded,  and  judiciously 
disposed,  as  to  render  it  a  delightful  spot.  An  extensive  piece  of 
water  adds  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  scenery. 

The  church  is  a  small  structure,  situated  in  the  park,  a  short 
distance  from  the  Hall.  In  1375,  the  King  granted  license  to  the 
Prioress  and  nuns  of  the  Monastery  of  St.  George,  at  Thetford, 
that  they  might  appropriate  the  church  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  in 
Little  Livermere,  to  their  house  ;  it  being  a  rectory  in  their  patro- 
nage :  but  the  Bishop  not  consenting,  it  was  never  effected.  In 
1420,  John  Banham,  rector  thereof,  deceased,  and  was  buried  in 
the  chapel  of  St.  Mary's  College,  Baily-End,  Thetford ;  to  which 
he  devised  two  new  Antiphonars,  and  one  Gradual.  The  living  is 
now  consolidated  with  Livermere  Magna. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £1Q,  bequeathed  to  the  poor  of  this 
parish  by  William  Firmage,  in  1599,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase 
of  land,  in  Chevington,  containing  IA.  2R.  36p.,  rent  £l  per  annum; 
which  is  laid  out  in  blankets,  or  other  clothing,  and  given  to  poor 
persons  of  the  parish. 


708  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

NORTON. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  III.,  the  principal  lordship,  called  Norton 
Hall,  was  vested  in  the  Pakenham  family,  which  they  acquired  from 
Agnes  de  Norton  ;  and  it  passed  to  the  Bardewells,  hy  the  marriage 
of  Sir  Wm.  de  Berdewell  with  Margaret,  sole  daughter  and  heiress 
of  John,  son  of  Theohald,  son  of  Thomas  de  Pakenham. 

Sir  William  deceased  in  1434,  seized  of  this  manor;  John,  his 
eldest  son  and  heir,  and  his  issue,  were  pre-deceased  ;  and  Robert, 
his  second  son,  succeeded  to  his  large  inheritance.  He  died  in  1455, 
and  devised  this  estate  to  Edmund  de  Berdewell,  his  grandson  ;  se- 
cond son  of  Wm.  de  Berdewell,  Esq.,  of.  West  Herling,  in  Norfolk. 
This  lordship  was  lately  vested  in  Thos.  Woodward,  of  Sproughton, 
Gent.,  and  is  still  the  estate  of  his  representative. 

Little  Haugh,  another  manor  in  this  parish,  was  the  estate  and 
residence  of  the  Mileson  family.  Borodale  Mileson,  Esq.,  deceased 
in  1677,  and  was  huried  in  this  parish  church.  The  estate  passed, 
by  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  this  family,  to  that  of  Edgar ;  and 
Mileson  Edgar,  Esq.,  sold  the  same  to  Alderman  Macro,  of  St. 
Edmund's  Bury ;  whose  son,  the  Rev.  Cox  Macro,  D.D.,  inherited 
the  same,  and  deceased  in  1767.  Mary,  his  daughter,  married  Wm. 
Staniforth,  Esq.;  she  died  in  1775,  he  in  1786,  and  were  hoth  bu- 
ried here  ;  as  was  Katherine,  relict  of  Robert  Staniforth,  who  died 
in  1800. 

It  subsequently  became  the  property  of  John  Patteson,  Esq.,  Al- 
derman of  Norwich,  by  marriage  with  Miss  Staniforth,  heiress  of 
that  house ;  who  sold  the  same  to  Robert  Braddock,  Gent. :  he 
died  in  1812,  and  was  buried  here;  having  devised  this  estate  to 
his  nephew,  Robert  Braddock,  Gent. ;  whose  son,  a  minor,  is  now 
owner  thereof. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Andrew,  is  in  the  patronage  of 
Peter  House,  Cambridge :  among  its  rectors  may  be  noticed  that 
eminent  divine,  Nicholas  Bound,  D.D.,  who  was  elected  Fellow  of 
that  College  in  1570  ;  and  on  the  3rd  of  September,  1585,  being 
then  S.T.P.,  he  was  instituted  to  this  incumbency.  On  the  19th  of 
July,  1577,  he  was  incorporated  A.M.,  of  the  University  of  Oxford  ; 
and  deceased  the  8th  of  February,  1607. 

He  was  author  of  several  popular  theological  works,  some  of 
which  have  lately  been  re-published.  His  "  Doctrine  of  the  Sab- 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  799 

bath  Plainly  Laid  Down,"  &c.,  first  published  in  1595,  made  a 
considerable  stir.  It  was  considered  as  tending  too  much  to  the 
Judaizing  celebration  of  the  Lord's  day  ;  and  was  opposed  by  Arch- 
bishop Whitgift,  and  other  dignitaries  of  his  time.  The  "  Book  of 
Sports"  would  however  have  received  countenance  from  men  of 
acknowledged  piety  at  that  period,  who  imputed  puritanical  tenets 
to  Dr.  Bound,  but  perhaps  with  little  reason. 

The  chancel  contains  some  ancient  seats,  with  curious  specimens 
of  antique  carvings  :  there  are  some  memorials  to  members  of  the 
Cocks  family.  The  font  is  also  highly  deserving  of  notice,  being 
very  antique,  and  singularly  ornamented.  Aldersey  Dicken,  D.D., 
is  the  present  incumbent,  and  resides  here. 

Little  Haugh  is  now  in  the  occupation  of  Peter  Huddleston,  Esq., 
and  is  a  comfortable  family  residence,  pleasantly  situated.  The 
staircase  is  particularly  handsome,  being  painted  by  Tillemans,  a 
celebrated  artist  from  Antwerp  ;  who  was  patronized  by  many  per- 
sons of  rank  and  respectability,  and  amongst  others  by  Dr.  Macro, 
at  whose  house  he  died,  in  1734,  when  upon  a  visit  at  Little  Haugh. 
It  contained  a  small  but  very  valuable  library,  rich  in  old  poetry, 
and  other  rare  works,  collected  by  Dr.  Macro  ;  which  was  disposed 
of  to  Mr.  Beatniffe,  a  Norwich  bookseller,  for  a  very  trifling  sum  ; 
by  the  sale  of  which  he  is  said  to  have  realized  an  immense  profit. 

Tradition  reports  that  King  Henry  VIII.,  was  induced  to  search 
for  gold  in  this  parish,  and  that  vestiges  of  the  works  were  visible 
not  many  years  since. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  estate  comprises  a  cottage,  in  Norton, 
in  two  tenements,  occupied  by  poor  widows,  rent  free ;  and  13A. 
3R.  7p.  of  land,  in  three  parcels,  allotted  on  an  inclosure,  in  lieu  of 
other  lands  formerly  purchased  with  different  benefactions;  rent 
£26  a  year  :  of  which  52s.  is  given  yearly  in  bread  to  the  poor,  12s. 
to  the  minister  of  Norton  for  an  anniversary  sermon  on  the  19th  of 
September,  and  Is.  to  the  sexton  the  same  day,  and  the  residue  is 
distributed  annually  among  the  poor  of  the  parish. — In  1650,  John 
Fiske  settled  2%A..  of  meadow  land  in  Ixworth,  pursuant  to  the  will 
of  his  father,  William  Fiske,  to  provide  one  dozen  of  bread  weekly, 
for  the  poor  of  Norton. — By  deed,  dated  in  1773,  William  Stani- 
forth,  in  fulfilment  of  a  charitable  devise  contained  in  the  will  of  his 
father-in-law,  the  Kev.  Cox  Macro,  D.D.,  dated  in  176G,  settled  the 
sum  of  £600,  Three  per  Cent.  Consols,  in  trust ;  the  dividends  to 
be  applied  in  the  purchase  of  12  poor  men's  coats,  of  strong  cloth, 


800  HUNDKED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

and  12  poor  women's  gowns  and  petticoats,  of  strong  stuff,  to  be 
given  away  every  Easter-day.  The  fund  now  consists  of  £724  8s. 
8d.,  Three  per  Cent.  Reduced  Annuities;  the  dividends  of  which, 
amounting  to  £21  14s.  8d.,  are  received  and  applied  to  the  purposes 
of  the  trust. 


RICKENGALE  INFERIOR.— RIKINCHALA,  or  RICHINGEHALLA. 

The  lordship  and  advowson  of  this  parish  were  both  vested  in 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  at  Bury,  by  the  gift  of  Ulfketel,  Earl 
of  the  East  Angles  ;  and  so  continued  until  the  suppression  of  that 
Monastery.  It  was  part  and  parcel  of  the  Redgrave  estate,  which 
Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  obtained  by  purchase  from  Sir  Thomas  Darcy, 
Knt.;  and  has  continued  to  pass  with  that  property,  George  St. 
Vincent  Wilson,  Esq.,  being  now  lord  and  patron. 

The  church  is  supposed  to  be  the  work  of  some  Abbot  of  the  above 
religious  house ;  but  parts  of  this  edifice  are  evidently  of  very 
different  eras  ;  the  aisle  being  most  modern,  and  of  superior  exe- 
cution :  it  is  nearly  as  large  as  the  nave  of  the  church.  The  round 
tower  is  a  handsome  structure.  A  memento  of  the  late  Lord  Eldon, 
who  was  educated  at  Botesdale  school,  remains  in  this  church,  viz., 
his  name,  carved  with  a  knife,  on  one  of  the  pews  in  the  chancel. 

Clement  Chark  (alias  Denston),  B.D.,  and  Archdeacon  of  Sud- 
bury  in  1429,  a  great  favourite  of  Bishop  Alnwyk,  who  strongly  op- 
posed the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  was  rector  of  this  parish,  and 
Hengrave,  and  lord  of  the  manor  of  Westwode.  There  occurs 
much  in  the  register  called  "  Curteys,"  belonging  to  the  Abbey  of 
St.  Edmund,  to  his  discredit ;  but  it  is  supposed  from  dislike,  for 
his  acting  with  the  Bishop  against  them.  He  was  Prebend  of  Ke- 
ton,  in  St.  Mary  le  Grand ;  which  he  exchanged  for  Tamworth 
College  Deanery  ;  and  was  also  rector  of  Burwell  St.  Mary,  which 
he  resigned  in  1439. 

Simon  Driver,  D.D.,  Commissary  of  Sudbury  Archdeaconry  in 
1499,  was  rector  either  of  this  parish,  or  Rickengale  Superior,  and 
also  of  Gislingham,  in  this  county.  In  1789,  Henry  Stebbing, 
D.D.,  held  this  living,  with  Garboldesham,  in  Norfolk,  on  the 
presentation  of  Sir  Edmund  Bacon,  Bart. :  he  was  Archdeacon  of 
Wilts.,  Chaplain  in  Ordinary  to  his  Majesty,  Preacher  to  the  Hon. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  801 

Society  of  Gray's  Inn,  Lecturer  of  Bow  Church,  Cheapside,  London, 
and  author  of  "  Polemical  Tracts,"  in  folio,  with  other  works. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  9  acres  was  awarded,  on  an  inclo- 
sure,  in  lieu  of  lands  held  from  ancient  time,  for  the  general  use  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  parish,  and  of  two  pieces  of  land,  containing 
by  estimation,  IR.  12p.,  which  had  been  devised  by  John  Barnes, 
in  1731,  the  rent  to  be  distributed  among  poor  persons  noc  receiving 
weekly  collection.  The  allotment  lets  at  £25  8s.  a  year :  the  sum 
of  10s.  a  year  is  distributed  in  respect  of  Barnes's  charity,  among 
the  poor,  in  bread ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  rent  is  applied  to  the 
reparation  of  the  church,  or  similar  purposes.  The  land  separately 
allotted  for  the  poor  of  this  parish,  from  Kookwood's  charity,  con- 
tains £A.  3R.  2p.,  rent  £7  17s.  6d.  a  year;  which  is  laid  out  in 
bread,  and  given  to  the  poor  about  Christmas. — The  sum  of  £IQ, 
devised  by  John  Brown  in  1731,  is  in  the  hands  of  the  church- 
warden, at  interest  of  10s.;  which  is  also  given  in  bread. 


SAPISTON,  or  SAPESTUNA. 

At  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey,  Gilbert  le  Blund  held  a 
manor  in  this  parish  ;  and  granted  the  same  to  the  Priory  of  Black 
Canons  founded  by  him  at  Ixworth.  At  the  suppression  of  that  Mo- 
nastery, this  manor  and  rectory,  with  a  grange,  passed  to  Kichard 
Codington,  Esq.,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife ;  being  included  in  the 
grant  made  to  them  of  the  site  of  that  house. 

In  the  17th  of  Edward  II.,  Thomas  and  David  de  Sapiston  held 
a  messuage,  54  acres  of  land,  8  acres  of  marsh,  and  the  liberty  of 
one  fold,  in  this  parish,  parcel  of  the  manor  of  Blakenham  Magna, 
which  was  held  of  the  King  in  capite,  as  of  the  Castle  of  Norwich, 
by  the  service  of  22d.  ward  to  the  said  Castle. 

Henry  Drury,  Esq.,  was  also  owner  of  a  manor  in  Sapiston ;  in 
respect  of  which  he  did  homage  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  in 
1432.  By  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Geo.  Eton,  he  had  issue 
a  son,  Henry,  who  died  an  infant,  and  a  daughter  Jane ;  who  mar- 
ried, first,  Thomas  Hervey,  and  secondly,  Sir  Wm.  Carewe ;  whose 
will  bears  date  in  1501;  in  which  he  devises  Sapiston  manor  to  his 
eldest  son,  John,  by  a  second  marriage,  and  then  a  minor,  and  an- 
cestor of  the  Carews  of  Crowcombe,  in  Somersetshire.  Sir  William 


802  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

was  buried  in  St.  Mary's  church,  Bury  St.  Edmund's :  his  altar 
tomb  is  to  be  seen  in  the  chancel,  with  the  recumbent  effigies  of 
himself  and  Margaret  his  wife.  He  died  in  1525. 

The  lordships,  and  perpetual  curacy,  were  formerly  in  the  Crown, 
and  now  belong  to  the  Duke  of  Graf  ton ;  who  is  owner  of  nearly 
the  whole  parish. 


STANTON,  or  STANTUNA, 

Consists  of  two  parishes,  St.  John,  and  All  Saints.  King  Edward, 
the  Confessor,  gave  the  manor  and  advowson  of  the  latter  parish  to 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  ;  and  at  the  suppression  of  that  house, 
they  were  granted  to  Sir  Robert  Jermyn,  Knt.  The  advowson  of 
St.  John's  formerly  belonged  to  Robert  Ashfield,  Esq.,  and  after- 
wards the  Rushbrookes ;  who  resided  at  Bowbeck,  a  hamlet  be- 
longing to  the  adjoining  parish  of  Bardwell. 

The  manors  and  advowsons  of  both  parishes  became  the  property 
of  the  Capell  family;  and  the  livings  were  consolidated  in  1756. 
The  entire  estate  has  since  passed  in  the  same  course  of  transmis- 
sion as  the  manor  of  Troston ;  and  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft,  Esq.,  of 
Troston  Hall,  is  now  lord  and  patron  of  both  parishes. 

The  towers  of  both  these  parish  churches  are  singularly  con- 
structed :  that  of  All  Saints  is  situated  at  the  west  end  of  the  south 
aisle,  and  forms  the  porch  entrance  to  the  nave.  In  the  centre  of 
this  aisle,  against  the  south,  is  a  highly  ornamented  arched  canopy, 
the  burial  place,  it  is  conceived,  of  the  founder  of  this  portion  of 
the  edifice ;  and  which  he  probably  endowed  as  a  chantry  chapel. 
The  piscina,  which  still  remains  in  the  south  east  angle  of  this 
aisle,  proves  the  former  existence  of  an  altar  there.  The  font  is 
also  deserving  of  notice,  being  light  and  elegant ;  the  chancel  con- 
tains another  piscina,  and  beside  it,  three  handsome  stone  stalls. 

That  of  Stanton  St.  John  is  built  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave, 
upon  arches  facing  north  and  south,  leaving  an  open  roadway,  or 
passage,  through  the  building.  The  chancel  contains  a  memorial 
to  William  Martin,  late  rector  here,  and  grand -father  to  that  well 
known  antiquary,  "  honest  Tom  Martin,"  of  Palgrave :  also  to  some 
members  of  the  Rushbrooke  family.  John  Taylor,  rector  of  Stan- 
ton,  was  Official  to  the  Archdeacon  of  Sudbury  in  1539.  Some 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  803 

members  of  the  Capell  family  were  also  rectors  here.  The  Hon.  and 
Kev.  Frederick  Hamilton,  eldest  son  of  Lord  Archibald  Hamilton, 
and  grand-son  of  a  former  Duke  of  Hamilton,  held  these  incumben- 
cies nearly  20  years ;  which  he  accepted  in  exchange  with  a  former 
incumbent,  Thomas  Pemberton,  for  some  valuable  preferment  in 
Ireland.  Mr.  Hamilton  deceased  in  1811,  and  was  succeeded  by 
the  Rev.  George  Bidwell ;  who  is  the  present  rector. 

The  name  of  Futter  occurs  here,  in  the  16th  century.  John 
Futter,  of  Stanton,  held  three-fourths  of  a  lordship  in  1546,  at 
Brisingham,  in  Norfolk ;  who  devised  the  same  to  Robert,  his  son ; 
who  in  1561,  made  settlement  thereof  to  divers  uses.  Robert  Fut- 
ter, Gent.,  presented  to  the  church  of  Brisiugham  in  1554. 

CHARITIES. — Two  parcels  of  land,  one  called  Chilsaw  Croft,  con- 
taining about  TA.,  and  the  other  called  Thorns,  containing  about 
SA.,  are  held  at  rents  amounting  together  to  £20  a  year ;  which  are 
employed  towards  repairing  and  maintaining  the  parish  churches 
of  Stanton. — A  dwelling-house,  purchased  in  1779,  with  money 
belonging  to  the  parishioners,  and  a  cottage,  and  small  piece  of  land, 
which  belonged  to  one  Phillis  Clarke,  are  occupied  by  poor  people, 
rent-free. — In  1605,  Catherine  Tricker,  by  will,  directed  her  execu- 
tors to  lay  out  £20  in  the  purchase  of  land  ;  which  land  now  lets 
at  £2  a  year ;  distributed  on  St.  Thomas's  day  in  money  and  bread. 
— A  benefaction  of  £10,  given  by  William  Firmage  in  1599,  was 
laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  IA.  2u.  32p.  of  land,  in  Rattlesden,  rent 
£1  11s.  a  year;  which  is  laid  out,  with  the  rents  of  the  poors'  al- 
lotment, in  the  purchase  of  coals. — Two  allotments  of  32A.  and  12A., 
respectively,  were  awarded,  on  an  inclosure,  to  trustees,  in  trust  for 
the  poor ;  rents,  amounting  together  to  £90  a  year,  are  laid  out  as 
above,  and  given  to  the  poor. 


STOWLANGTOFT,  or  STOUA. 

This  parish  is  supposed  to  have  received  the  additional  name  of 
Laugtof't  from  a  family  who  were  formerly  interested  here,  and  to 
distinguish  it  from  other  parishes  of  the  same  name,  in  this  and  ad- 
joining counties.  The  name  of  Langetot  (orLangtoft)  occurs  from 
the  1st  of  King  John,  to  the  period  of  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  In 
the  9th  of  Edward  III.,  Jeffrey  Peche  resided  at  the  Hall,  or  manor 


804  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

house,  of  Stowlangtoft.  The  Prior  and  Convent  of  Wormegay,  in 
Norfolk,  held  lands  in  this  parish,  during  that  reign,  and  were  taxed 
at  3s.  4d.  for  the  same. 

The  Ashfields  were  seated  here  from  the  time  of  Edward  III. ; 
when  they  acquired  this  estate  by  purchase.  The  will  of  John  Ash- 
field,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  was  proved  in  1394 ;  wherein  he  bequeathed 
to  Agnes  his  wife,  the  third  part  of  his  goods ;  to  Joan  Bokenham, 
his  sister,  40s. ;  to  each  of  the  churches  of  Bicham  Well,  in  Norfolk, 
40d. ;  and  names  Kobert,  his  father,  executor.  In  the  5th  of  Henry 
IV.,  Sir  John  Strange,  Knt.,  granted  to  John  de  Bohun,  Earl  of 
Hereford,  the  custody  of  all  the  manors,  &c.,  late  Eobt.  Ashfield's, 
during  the  minority  of  Robert  Ashfield,  cousin  and  heir  of  the  said 
Robert. 

Robert  de  Ashfield,  great-grand-son  of  the  first  proprietor  of 
Stowlangtoft,  married  two  wives  ;  and  by  the  second,  Cicely,  eldest 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  Tendring,  of  Brockdish,  in  Norfolk, 
Esq.,  he  had  three  sons,  and  a  daughter,  Margaret ;  who  married  in 
1459,  Thos.  de  Beaupre,  Esq.,  of  Outwell,  in  Norfolkl  By  the  first, 
Eleanor  Curzon,  he  had  a  son  and  heir,  John  Ashfield.  His  will 
bears  date  in  1459,  wherein  he  bequeathed  his  body  to  be  buried  in 
Stowlangtoft  church,  by  Eleanor  his  first  wife  :  to  Cicely,  his  second 
wife,  his  utensils  in  his  manor  of  Bicham  Well,  and  for  her  life  that 
lordship,  with  the  appurtenances  ;  remainder  to  John  Ashfield,  ju- 
nior, his  eldest  son,  by  Cicely,  in  tail ;  remainder  to  William,  his 
son,  rector  of  Stowlangtoft,  for  life ;  remainder  to  Reginald,  his  son, 
and  his  heirs. 

John  Ashfield,  Esq.,  his  only  son  by  the  first  marriage,  succeeded 
to  this  property ;  and  married  Florentia,  daughter  of  John  Boteler, 
of  Mepertishale,  in  Bedfordshire.  He  deceased  in  the  21st  of  Ed- 
ward IV. ;  and  his  widow,  in  the  22nd  of  Henry  VII.  John,  their 
son,  died  in  the  15th  of  that  Bang,  1499  ;  leaving  by  Margaret  his 
wife,  daughter  of  John  Wentworth,  of  Gosfield,  in  Essex,  a  son  and 
successor,  George  Ashfield,  Esq. ;  who  became  seated  at  Netherhall, 
in  Thurston.  (See  p.  747.)  Sir  Robert  Ashfield,  who  sold  this 
inheritance  to  Paul  D'Ewes,  Esq.,  was  great- grand- son  of  the  said 
George  Ashfield,  Esq.,  and  succeeded  to  this  estate  in  the  10th  of 
James  I. 

This  Paul  D'Ewes  was  one  of  the  six  Clerks  in  Chancery,  son  of 
Gerard  D'Ewes,  of  Upminster,  in  Essex,  and  a  lineal  descendant  of 
the  ancient  family  of  D'Ewes,  Lords  of  Kessal,  in  the  Dutchy  of 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  805 

Guelderland.  By  his  marriage  with  Cecilia,  only  daughter  and  heir 
of  Eichard  Syraonds,  Esq.,  of  Coxden,  in  Dorsetshire,  he  had  Sy- 
monds,  his  heir,  with  several  other  children.  Paul  D'Ewes  de- 
ceased in  1630,  and  was  hurled  in  this  parish  church. 

Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,  of  this  parish,  was  born  at  Coxden,  the 
seat  of  his  maternal  grand-father,  in  1602;  and  indicated  a  love  of 
literature  at  a  very  early  age.  He  commenced  even  while  a  student 
at  Cambridge,  those  historical  studies,  in  wluch  he  eventually  at- 
tained such  distinction ;  and,  almost  at  the  same  early  period,  gained 
the  friendship  and  esteem  of  Cotton,  Selden,  Spelman,  and  many 
others  of  the  first  rank  in  the  republic  of  letters.  The  labours  of 
Sir  Symonds  have  contributed  not  a  little  to  illustrate  the  general 
history  of  Great  Britain;  and  his  most  prominent  work,  "The 
Journals  of  the  Parliaments  during  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth," 
exists,  as  an  able  record  of  the  important  transactions  of  that 
eventful  reign. 

Fuller  says,  "  his  genius  addicted  him  to  the  study  of  antiquity  ; 
preferring  rust  before  brightness,  and  more  conforming  his  mind  to 
the  garb  of  the  former,  than  mode  of  the  modern  times.  He  was 
studious  in  Koman  coin,  to  discriminate  true  ones  from  such  as 
were  cast  and  counterfeit.  He  paused  not  for  price  to  procure  a 
choice  piece ;  and  was  no  less  careful  in  conserving,  than  curious 
in  culling,  many  rare  records.  He  had  plenty  of  precious  medals, 
out  of  which  a  methodical  architect  might  contrive  a  fabric  for  the 
benefit  of  posterity.  His  treasury  afforded  things  as  well  new  as 
old,  on  the  token  that  he  much  admired  that  the  ordinances  and 
orders  of  the  late  Long  Parliament  did  in  bulk  and  number  exceed 
all  the  statutes  made  since  the  Conquest.  He  was  loving  to  learned 
men,  to  whom  he  desired  to  do  all  good  offices ;  and  died  about  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1653." 

In  1640,  Sir  Symonds  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this 
county,  having  been  Knighted  some  time  previously ;  and  in  the 
Long  Parliament,  which  met  in  1640,  was  elected  Member  for 
Sudbury :  the  following  year  he  was  created  a  Baronet,  by  King 
Charles  I. ;  yet,  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  he  adhered 
to  the  Parliament,  and  took  the  solemn  league  and  covenant  in  1643. 
He  continued  to  sit  in  the  House  of  Commons  until  December  1648, 
when  he  was  turned  out,  with  others  who  were  thought  to  retain 
some  little  regard  for  the  person  of  the  King,  and  the  old  constitu- 
tion. Sir  Symonds  deceased  the  18th  of  April,  1650.  The  mar- 


806  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

riage  alliances  of  himself  and  his  descendants,  are  showed  in  the 
annexed  statement : — 

1st.  Anne,  dau.  &  heir=Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,— 2nd.  Elizabeth,  dau.  and  co-heir  of 


of  Sir  Wm.  Clopton,  Knt. ;       1st.  Baronet, 
by  whom  he  had  two  dau., 
Cecilia,  wife  of  Sir  Thos.  Darcy,  Bart, 
and  Isolda,  who  died  unmarried,      \- 


Sir  Henry  Willoughby,  Bart.,  of 
Risley,  in  Derbyshire.  She  re- 
married Sir  John  Wray,  Bart. 


Sir  Willoughby  D'Ewes,  2nd  Bart.— Priscilla,  dau.  and  co-heir  of  Francis 

Obt.  in  1685.     i 1  Clinton,  Esq.,  of  Stourton,  Lincolns. 

Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,  3rd  Bart.  Obt.  1722. =  Delariviere,  dau.  and  co-heir  of  Thos. 

I 1  Lord  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrook. 

Sir  Jermyn  D'Ewes,  4th  Bart.,  who  died  unmarried  in  1731,  when  the  Baronetcy 

became  extinct. 

The  lordship,  demesne,  and  advowson,  of  this  parish,  became 
soon  after  vested  in  Thomas  Norton,  Esq.;  and  in  1760,  the  entire 
parish  was  purchased  by  Sir  Thomas  Eawlinson,  Knt.,  Alderman  of 
London,  and  Lord  Mayor  of  that  city  in  1754  :  it  descended  to  Sir 
Walter  Kawlinson,  Knt.,  his  only  son  and  heir,  who  was  elected,  in 
1773,  Alderman  of  the  city  of  London,  but  resigned  his  gown  in 
1777.  He  was  also  representative  in  Parliament  for  Queenborough, 
and  afterwards  for  the  borough  of  Huntingdon.  He  married  Mary, 
2nd  daughter  of  Sir  Eobert  Ladbroke,  Knt.;  and  deceased  in  1805, 
without  surviving  issue,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 

Sir  Geo.  Wombwell,  Bart.,  his  nephew,  succeeded  to  this  estate  ; 
being  only  son  of  Geo.  Wombwell,  Esq.,  who  was  created  a  Baronet 
in  1778,  by  Susannah  his  wife,  only  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Raw- 
linson,  Knt. ;  who  in  1825,  sold  the  same  to  Joseph  Wilson,  Esq., 
of  Highbury  Hill,  Islington,  and  Little  Massingham,  Norfolk,  whose 
son,  Henry  Wilson,  Esq.,  resides  at  Stowlangtoft  Hall. 

The  church  is  situated  on  an  eminence,  within  a  double  entrench- 
ment, and  is  dedicated  to  St.  George.  It  was  erected,  it  is  sup- 
posed, in  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  or  beginning 
of  that  of  Richard  II.  Robert  Ashfield,  who  deceased  in  1401,  de- 
vised £22  towards  the  completion  of  the  south  porch.  It  is  a  light 
handsome  building,  and  the  interior  is  fitted  up  with  old  open  oak 
seats,  ornamented  with  ancient  carved  work.  On  those  in  the 
chancel  are  ecclesiastical  figures,  supporting  shields  with  the  arms 
of  Ashfield,  Tendring,  &c. ;  which  shews  that  those  seats  were  placed 
there  in  the  time  of  Robert  Ashfield,  who  married  the  co-heiress  of 
John  Tendring,  and  who  deceased  in  or  about  1460. 

It  contains  memorials  to  Paul  and  Sir  Willoughby  D'Ewes,  with 
several  others  to  members  of  that  family ;  but  none  to  Sir  Symonds, 
as  stated  by  Kirby  ;  nor  does  it  appear  whether  he  was  buried  here, 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  807 

the  parish  register  of  that  period  being  lost.  Also  a  mural  monu- 
ment to  the  Right  Hon.  Lady  Anne  Wombwell,  daughter  and  co- 
heir of  Henry  Belasyse,  Earl  Fauconberg,  who  died  in  1808 ;  and 
to  Sir  Walter  Rawlinson,  and  his  lady.  The  church-yard  contains 
the  remains  of  Peter  Tillemans,  a  noted  landscape  painter,  and  na- 
tive of  Antwerp ;  but  no  memorial  marks  the  spot :  he  died  in  1 734, 
at  the  house  of  Dr.  Macro,  in  the  adjoining  parish  of  Norton. 
Samuel  Kickards,  A.M.,  is  the  present  incumbent,  and  resides  in  a 
recently  erected  parsonage  house,  near  the  church. 

The  mansion  called  Stow  Hall,  was  partly  pulled  down  several 
years  since ;  but  the  remains  received  great  additional  improvement 
during  the  ownership  of  Sir  Walter  Eawlinson,  and  since  by  his 
successor ;  and  also  the  present  proprietor,  who  has  made  it  a  com- 
fortable and  pleasing  family  residence. 

ARMS. — Ashjield :  sable  ;  a  fess  between  three  fleurs-de-lis,  ar- 
gent. Tendring,  of  Brockdish :  azure ;  on  a  fess,  between  two 
chevronels,  argent,  a  crescent  of  the  first.  D'Ewes :  or ;  a  fess 
vair,  between  three  quarterfoils,  gules.  Rawlinson :  gules ;  two 
bars,  gemells,  between  three  escallops,  argent.  Wombwell :  gules ; 
a  bend  between  six  unicorns'  heads,  erased,  argent.  Wilson :  sa- 
ble ;  a  wolf  salient,  or ;  on  a  chief  of  the  last,  a  pale  of  the  first, 
charged  with  a  fleur-de-lis,  argent,  between  two  pellets. 

CHARITIES. — There  is  an  almshouse  in  four  tenements,  in  this 
parish,  occupied  by  poor  widows ;  and  a  piece  of  land,  of  about  an 
acre,  adjoining,  which  is  partly  used  as  garden-ground  for  the  alms- 
house,  and  partly  let  at  £1  Is.  a  year.  The  rent  is  carried  to  the 
overseers'  account,  and  the  almshouse  is  repaired  out  of  the  poor's 
rate.  It  is  unknown  when,  or  by  whom,  this  charity  was  founded. 


THELNETHAM,  or  THELUETEHAM, 

Is  commonly  called  Feltham.  Fulcher,  the  Norman,  held  lands 
here  in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror.  It  soon  afterwards  be- 
came vested  in  a  family  who  derived  their  name  therefrom.  The 
earliest  we  find  of  that  name,  is  Matthew  de  Thelvetham,  whose 
daughter,  Agnes,  is  supposed  to  have  married  Sir  Adam  de  Gissing ; 
of  which  Matthew,  she  is  said  to  have  held  her  tenement  at  Gissing, 
in  Norfolk,  at  a  quarter  of  a  fee.  This  was  in  the  time  of  Edw.  T  , 


808  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

and  Peter  de  Thelnetham  occurs  about  the  same  period ;  who,  in 
1283,  sold  to  Sir  Robert  de  Tateshale,  three  messuages,  185  acres 
of  land,  and  20s.  rent,  in  Besthorp,  in  Norfolk. 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  Hugh  de  Bokenham  married  Julian, 
sole  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  John  de  Thelvetham ;  by  which 
marriage  he  inherited  this  manor,  Great  Livermere,  and  other  pro- 
perty :  it  subsequently  passed  to  those  members  of  the  Bokenham 
family  who  were  owners  of  Market  Weston  ;  and  in  1764,  was  the 
estate  of  Dr.  Thurston,  of  that  parish.  The  lordship  now  belongs 
to  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  of  Oakley  Park,  Bart. 

The  patronage  of  the  rectory  appears  to  have  been  anciently 
vested  in  the  Gonvile  family ;  several  of  whom  held  this  incum- 
bency. Sir  Edmund  Gonvile,  founder  of  Eushworth  College,  in 
Norfolk,  of  Gonvile  Hall,  in  Cambridge,  and  as  some  suppose  of 
the  Eriar  Preachers,  in  Thetford,  and  of  St.  John's  Hospital,  at 
Lynn  Eegis ;  was  instituted  to  this  rectory  in  1320,  by  Adam  de 
Tyryngtone,  rector  of  Hopton.  This  he  resigned  for  Rushworth, 
in  1326  :  when  William  de  Gonvile,  his  brother,  became  rector,  and 
so  continued  until  1350 ;  when  Edmund  de  Gonvile  was  instituted 
to  Thelnetham,  on  his  brother's  resignation.  The  Eev.  Samuel 
Colby  is  now  patron  and  incumbent  of  this  parish. 

Sir  Eobert  Gardiner,  Knt.,  gave  a  rent  charge  of  £16  per  annum, 
out  of  certain  lands  and  tenements  situate  in  this  parish,  and  lately 
purchased  of  Eobert  and  William,  sons  of  one  Thos.  Smyth,  towards 
the  support  of  an  almshouse,  founded  by  Sir  Eobert,  in  1614,  at 
Elmswell,  in  this  hundred. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  28A.  IR.  34p.  was  awarded,  on  an 
inclosure,  in  1821,  to  the  trustees  of  the  town  estate,  in  lieu  of 
other  lands  previously  held  by  them.  This  let  at  rents  amounting 
together  to  £32  12s.  a  year;  and  the  income  is  applied  to  the  re- 
paration of  the  church,  and  the  payment  of  other  expenses  incidental 
to  the  office  of  churchwarden  ;  the  surplus  being  paid  to  the  over- 
seers, for  the  general  support  of  the  poor  of  the  parish. — A  bene- 
faction of  £10,  given  by  Wm.  Firmage,  for  the  poor  of  this  parish, 
was  laid  out  for  the  purchase  of  land  in  Eattlesden,  for  which  the 
rent  of  £l  12s.  a  year  is  paid. — An  allotment  of  40  acres,  or  there- 
abouts, was  set  out  on  the  inclosure  for  providing  turf,  &c.,  for  fuel 
for  the  poor,  which  is  used  accordingly. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  809 


TROSTON,  or  TROSTUNA. 

This  lordship  became  very  early  vested  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's; and  Henry,  Abbot  of  that  Monastery  from  1234  to  1248, 
purchased  from  William,  son  of  Alexander  de  Barewe,  the  advowson 
of  this  parish  church,  which  his  ancestors  had  endowed.  Thomas 
de  Mendham,  of  Mendham,  in  Suffolk,  confirmed  by  charter  to  St. 
Edmund's,  lands  in  Troston,  exchanged  for  lands  in  Thelnetham, 
between  Peter  de  Thelnetham,  and  William  his  brother. 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  the  family  of  De  Saxham  were  in- 
terested here.  On  the  death  of  Sir  Hugh  de  Saxham,  without  issue, 
in  the  24th  of  that  King,  his  brother  and  heir,  Thomas  de  Saxham, 
then  parson  of  Troston,  who  had  been  married  before  taking  orders, 
settled  the  manor  of  Rede,  together  with  three  carucates  of  land  in 
Troston,  Honington,  Little  Livermere,  &c.,  upon  Joan,  widow  of 
his  son,  Robert  de  Saxham,  deceased,  for  life ;  remainder  to  Richard 
de  Wikes,  and  Henry  de  Weting,  clerks,  for  their  lives ;  reversion 
to  himself  in  fee.  This  reversion  he  sold  to  Sir  John  Cavendish, 
and  others. 

His  will  bears  date  in  1865  ;  in  which  he  orders  his  body  to" be 
buried  in  the  church-yard  of  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund,  if  he 
died  within  the  Four  Crosses ;  otherwise,  to  be  buried  at  Troston. 
He  bequeathed  to  the  high  altar  of  the  church  of  Troston,  for  tithes 
forgotton,  20s. ;  and  ordered  that  every  poor  person  attending  his 
funeral  should  have  one  loaf,  price  one  penny.  And  he  directed 
that  his  executors,  during  the  minority  of  John,  son  and  heir  of  his 
son  Robert,  should  receive  the  rents  of  his  lands  in  Troston,  and 
Little  Saxham,  to  fulfil  his  will ;  appointing  Robert  Terevald,  clerk, 
William  le  Neve,  clerk,  and  William  Morle,  rector  of  Troston, 
executors. 

John  de  Saxham,  his  grand-son,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Richard  Houldich,  of  Didlington,  in  Norfolk ;  and  deceased  about 
the  7th  of  Richard  II.,  without  issue.  He  gave,  by  his  will,  dated 
in  1384,  lands  and  tenements  in  this  parish,  and  Little  Saxham,  to 
the  Priory,  or  College,  at  Ingham,  in  Norfolk  •  and  was  buried  in 
the  chapel  of  St.  Mary,  in  that  parish  church.  He  died  seized  of 
considerable  property  in  Troston  and  Little  Saxham. 

The  principal  lordship,  with  the  advowson,  continued  in  the  Ab- 
bey until  its  dissolution  ;  but  to  whom  the  manor  was  granted  we 


810  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

are  not  informed  :  the  patronage  remains  in  the  Crown.  The  names 
of  Edmund  Bacon,  Esq.,  Thomas  Lambe,  and  Fitz  Numi  Lambe, 
Esq.,  who  were  benefactors  to  this  parish,  occur  about,  or  soon 
after,  that  period.  The  latter  married  Charlotte,  eldest  daughter  of 
Sir  William  Gage,  of  Hengrave,  Bart.  He  deceased  in  17;)3,  and 
was  buried  in  Flempton  church. 

In  1080,  it  was  purchased  by  Robert  Haddocks,  Esq.,  of  Welsh 
extraction;  and  Robert  Maddocks,  Esq.,  who  deceased  in  1735, 
and  was  buried  here,  inherited  the  same.  His  relict  remarried  to 
the  Rev.  Benjamin  Brundish,  who  died  in  173!) :  she  survived  until 
1703  ;  when  it  passed  to  her  nephew,  Edward  Capell,  Esq.,  son 
of  Gamaliel  Capell,  formerly  rector  of  Stanton  All-Saints,  and  St. 
John.,  by  Hester  his  wife,  sister  and  heir  of  Robert  Maddocks,  of 
this  parish,  Esq.  Mr.  Capell  was  Deputy  Inspector  of  Plays,  and 
a  writer  of  considerable  notoriety.  He  was  editor  of  a  fine  edition 
of  Shakspear's  Plays,  on  which  he  spent  more  than  twenty  years; 
but  although  it  appeared  in  10  vols.,  8vo.,  it  was  without  notes : 
in  1783,  these  were  published,  in  3  vols.,  4  to.,  and  evince  consider- 
able research.  He  was  also  the  editor  of  a  volume  of  poems,  called 
"  Prolusions ;"  and  the  altered  play  of  "  Antony  and  Cleopatra," 
acted  at  Drury  Lane  in  1758. 

Mr.  Capell  was  a  native  of  this  parish  :  born  in  1713 ;  and  de- 
ceased in  1781.  His  remains  were  deposited  in  the  chancel  of 
Stanton  All- Saints  church,  with  divers  of  his  ancestors.  His  ne- 
phew, Capel,  son  of  Christopher  Lofft,  Esq.,  and  his  wife,  daughter 
of  the  above  Gamaliel  Capell,  of  Stanton,  succeeded  to  his  estates. 
He  was  born  at  Boswell  Court,  Fleet  street,  London,  in  1751,  and 
educated  at  Eton;  whence  he  removed  to  Peter  House,  Cambridge; 
after  which  he  became  a  law  student,  and  in  due  time  was  admitted 
a  Practitioner  at  the  Bar. 

He  is  well  known  as  the  friend  of  the  poet  Bloomfield  ;  a  warm 
politician,  a  distinguished  author  in  the  law  department,  an  earnest 
black  letter  bibliomaniac,  and  in  private  life,  an  amiable  man.  He 
was  almost  a  constant  resident  for  nearly  35  years  in  this  village  ; 
after  which,  having  travelled  into  France  and  Italy,  he  deceased  at 
Moncalieri,  near  Turin,  in  1824,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in 
the  cemetery  of  the  protestant  church  of  Sancto  Germano,  near  the 
town  of  Pinerolo,  in  Piedmont.  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft,  Esq.,  his 
eldest  surviving  son,  succeeded  to  this  property,  and  is  the  present 
proprietor. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  811 

Troston  Hall,  the  residence  of  this  gentleman,  is  one  of  those  old 
fashioned  dwellings  that  bespeak  comfort  and  hospitality ;  in  and 
about  which  the  late  proprietor  was  at  considerable  pains  to  render 
every  appendage  consistent  with  his  own  peculiar  taste.  To  this 
end  he  has  inscribed  almost  every  tree  in  its  vicinity  either  to  names 
of  eminent  literary  characters,  or  to  such  as  were  endeared  by  the 
ties  of  kindred  or  friendship. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  .St.  Mary,  contains  some  memorials  to 
the  Haddocks  and  Lofft  families.  In  1337,  Walter  de  Salopia  was 
rector  here ;  which  he  exchanged  for  West  Herling,  in  Norfolk, 
with  Sir  Thomas  de  Saxham.  Thomas  de  Troston  was  admitted 
Prior  of  Woodbridge  Priory,  25  August,  1373. 

CHARITIES. — By  indenture,  dated  the  18th  of  Charles  I.,  reciting 
that  Thomas  Lambe  had  given  £20,  and  other  persons  £14,  for 
purchasing  lands  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  Troston  ;  and  that 
Fitz  Nun  Lambe  had  contracted  with  certain  persons  for  the  pur- 
chasing of  lands  for  the  said  sum,  and  the  further  sum  of  £2  10s. 
paid  by  the  said  F.  Lambe  himself ;  the  said  parties  conveyed  unto 
Roger  Greengrass,*  and  others,  certain  pieces  of  land  in  the  open 
fields  of  Troston,  to  the  intent  that  they  should  be  leased  to  the  said 
F.  Lambe  for  1000  years,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  34s. ;  the  same  to 
be  distributed  among  such  poor  of  Troston,  as  the  churchwardens, 
with  the  approbation  of  the  said  F.  Lambe,  and  his  heirs,  and  the 
said  R.  Greengrass,  and  his  heirs,  being  resident  in  Troston,  should 
think  most  fit. — An  allotment  of  IA.  22p.,  set  out  in  lieu  of  other 
lands,  lets  at  £l  Is.  a  year,  which  is  appropriated  to  the  repair  of 

*  A  family  of  this  name  are  of  ancient  standing  in  this  parish,  as  the  following 
transcript  of  an  old  Inventory  shews  : — "  A  Trew  Inventory  of  all  suche  moveabyll 
goodys  as  were  Robt.  Grenegres  of  Troston,  p'sed  by  John  Wenyf  and  Robt.  Bryon 
of  the  same  towne,  1540.  ffyrst  iij  Hors  ye  p'se  33s.  4d.  It.  ij  Nete  and  ij  bullocks 
ye  p'se  33s.  4d.  It.  a  Carte  and  a  Tumbrell  2s.  a  plowgge  wt.  ye  barneys  20d. 
It.  iij  Swyne  the  p'se  3s.  It.  ij  bras  potts  the  p'se  6s.  8d.  It.  iiij  Candelsteyeks 
3s.  4d.  It.  ij  laton  Basyns  5s.  x  Hennys  and  a  Cok  20d.  It.  viii  Shepe  the  p'se 
13s.  4d.  It.  iij  posnetts,  3s. — iij  bedstedgs  12d. — ij  Tabyls  the  p'ce  I2d. — a  Spete 
of  yron  8d.  an  Andyron  the  pee  4d.  a  Salt  2d.  a  Stole  and  a  Sack  4d.  a  Faa 
and  a  Sedelep  6d. — ij  Ducks  the  pee  4d.  an  Olde  gowne  12d.  a  Treuet  2d. — ij  Cbe- 
tyls  2s. — iiij  pewt.  platers  3s.  a  Tramell  6d.  a  Gredyron  3d.  ij  Tubbys  8d.  a 
Tabyll  Clothe  6d.  a  Sythe  6d.  iij  Rakys  the  p'ce  Id.  a  pecke  2d.  a  Bushell  4d. 
a  Brass  pane  8d.  Son.  total  £6  Os.  (id. 

[Copied  from  the  original,  in  the  possession  of  Philip  James  Case,  Esq.,  Bury 
St.  Edmund's.  We  have  also  seen  the  last  will  of  Ralph  Grenegres,  of  Fakenham 
Magna,  dated  1440  ;  wherein  he  bequeaths  to  Ralph,  son  of  John  Grenegres,  of 
Troston,  6s.  8d.  A  family  of  that  name  are  still  residents  in  this  parish.] 


812  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

the  church ;  and  another  allotment,  under  an  Inclosure  Act,  in 
1806,  containing  14A.  In.  3 IP.,  was  awarded  to  the  intent  that  the 
rents  should  he  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  fuel  for  the  poor :  rent, 
£22  a  year,  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  which  are  given  to 
poor  families. — The  rent  of  £1  14s.  is  paid  hy  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft, 
Esq.,  of  Troston  Hall,  and  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  blankets, 
which  are  given  to  poor  people  of  the  parish. 


WALSHAM-LE-WILLOWS,  or  WALSAM. 

At  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey,  Gilbert  de  Blount  (or  Blund) 
held  a  lordship  in  this  parish,  which  he  granted  towards  the  en- 
dowment of  the  Priory  founded  by  him  at  Ixworth.  It  continued 
in  that  house  until  its  dissolution ;  and  was  soon  after  granted  to 
Richard  Codington,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  with  the  rectory,  and 
certain  lands,  called  East  House  lands. 

In  the  20th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Knt.,  Lord 
Keeper,  had  a  Court  of  Survey,  of  the  chief  manor  of  Walsham,  and 
also  of  the  manor  of  Church-house,  and  the  customs  of  the  tithes  of 
the  rectory.  The  tithes  continued  in  the  Bacon  family,  until  1673, 
when  they  were  purchased  by  John  Hunt,  Gent.,  of  Cambridge ; 
whose  descendants  held  the  same  until  1 782 ;  when  they  were  pur- 
chased by  John  Sparke,  Gent.;  whose  son,  in  1835,  sold  portions 
to  divers  persons  having  estates  in  this  parish ;  and  the  residue, 
with  the  rectory,  and  site  of  the  manor  of  Church-house  (or  Parso- 
nage-house), to  Samuel  Golding,  Gent.,  who  is  the  present  owner, 
and  has  a  neat  residence  and  good  estate  here,  formerly  Aston's ; 
since,  Barton's. 

Sir  Robert  Bacon,  Bart.,  had  a  survey  of  the  manors  of  Walsham, 
and  Walsham  Church-house,  as  lord,  in  1695 ;  and  these  lordships 
continued  in  his  family,  and  their  successors,  the  Holts,  until  about 
60  or  70  years  since;  when  they  were  sold  to  James  Powell,  a  mer- 
chant, in  London  ;  whose  mother's  family,  named  Barton,  resided 
in  this  parish.  Thomas  Baden  Powell,  clerk,  the  present  owner, 
succeeded  his  father. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  III.,  Edmund  de  Pakenham  was  owner  of 
a  manor  and  demesne  here ;  which  afterwards  passed  to  the  De  la 
Poles :  in  the  28th  of  Henry  VI.,  William  de  la  Pole,  Duke  of 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  813 

Suffolk,  died  seized  thereof;  when  it  passed  successively  to  his  sons, 
John  and  Edmund ;  and  hy  the  attainder  of  the  latter,  in  the  5th  of 
Henry  VIII.,  it  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown. 

George,  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  who  about  that  time  was  appointed 
Steward  of  the  King's  Household,  and  a  member  of  his  Privy 
Council,  obtained  a  grant  of  this  estate.  He  deceased  in  1538; 
and  it  remained  for  several  generations  in  his  descendants.  This 
seems  subsequently  to  have  been  also  vested  in  the  Hunt  family. 

Hooper  John  Wilkinson,  Esq.,  has  a  mansion  and  good  estate  here, 
late  the  property  of  Mrs.  Miller ;  upon  which  is  the  site  of  the  Wai- 
sham  manor,  formerly  Freeman's :  and  John  Hector  Munro,  Esq., 
has  another  mansion,  and  part  of  the  estate  of  the  late  John  Sparke, 
Gent.  Thomas  Hutton  Wilkinson,  Esq.,  has  a  seat  here,  lately 
erected  by  Mr.  Clement  Rogers,  after  purchased  of  him  ;  formerly 
Rushbrooke's. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  handsome  structure,  and 
contains  several  memorials  to  members  of  the  Hunt  family.  It  has 
also  a  very  fine  carved  screen,  highly  ornamented ;  and  two  piscinas 
have  recently  been  opened,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Golding,  the 
impropriator ;  one  in  the  chancel,  and  the  other  in  the  church. 
They  are  in  excellent  preservation,  and  sedilias  appear  near  eacK 

It  has  been  supposed  that  prior  to  the  dissolution  of  Ixworth 
Priory,  there  were  two  officiating  clergymen  in  this  parish ;  one 
living  in  the  Priory,  or  site  of  Church-house  manor,  and  another  in 
the  Rectory  House  of  the  impropriator.  The  Priory  is  still  a  good 
old  house,  in  excellent  preservation,  and  well  worth  the  inspection  of 
the  curious  in  ancient  architecture. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  comprises  the  Guildhall,  or  work- 
house, a  piece  of  ground,  containing  Zn.,  and  a  Town  House,  with 
about  the  same  quantity  of  ground :  also  divers  pieces  of  land  in 
this  parish,  containing  altogether  about  54 A.,  which  produces  an 
aggregate  yearly  rental  of  £83  8s  6d.  :  also  a  barren  piece  of  land 
in  Bad  well  Ash,  called  Gravel  Pits,  of  2A.  ;  rent  13s.  6d. :  and  IA. 
2R.  of  land  in  Stanton  ;  rent  £1  3s.  6d. — The  rents  are  applied,  by 
two  officers,  called  Town- Wardens,  to  the  purposes  of  paying  the 
taxes,  and  outgoings  affecting  the  estate,  the  reparation  of  the  build- 
ings occupied  by  the  poor,  and  of  the  parish  church ;  the  payment  of 
other  expenses  of  the  churchwardens  office  ;  the  expense  of  collect- 
ing the  lord's  quit-rents,  and  free-rents,  the  salary  of  the  parish 
clerk  ;  repairing  bridges,  and  providing  gowns,  and  other  articles  of 


814  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

clothing,  for  widows,  and  poor  women ;  and  the  surplus  is  laid  out 
in  coals  for  the  poor. — The  portion  of  Rookwood's  charity,  men- 
tioned in  Eickinghall  Superior,  consists  of  about  3A. ;  rent  £3  15s. 
2d.  a  year  ;  which  is  laid  out  with  the  above. 


WATESFIELD,  or  WATLESFELDA, 

Is  commonly  called  Watchfield.  In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  the  lord- 
ship and  demesne  was  vested  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's ;  and 
at  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  was  included  in  the  grant  made  to 
Sir  Thomas  Darcy,  Knt. :  it  afterwards  passed,  by  purchase,  to  the 
Bacon  and  Holt  families.  James  Powell,  Gent.,  purchased  the  same, 
with  the  Walsham  estate ;  and  it  now  belongs  to  Jas.  Powell,  Esq., 
his  eldest  son.  The  style  is  Wattisfield  Hall,  with  Gyffords  and 
Halymote. 

In  1788,  died  the  Eev.  Thomas  Harmer,  of  this  parish;  an  ac- 
complished scholar  in  oriental  literature  and  antiquities.  He  was 
upwards  of  54  years  pastor  of  a  dissenting  congregation  in  this  pa- 
rish, and  was  a  gentleman  greatly  and  deservedly  esteemed  in  the 
literary  world.  Mr.  Harmer  was  author  of  "  Observations  on  Di- 
vers Passages  of  Scripture,"  first  published  in  1765,  in  one  volume; 
and  re-printed  in  two  volumes,  in  1777:  "Notes  on  Solomon's 
Song,"  in  1765  and  1775  ;  also  "  Observations  on  the  Manners  and 
Customs  of  the  East." 

Habakkuk  Crabb  succeeded  him  in  the  ministry  here.  He  was 
a  native  of  this  village,  the  youngest  son  of  Mr.  Denny  Crabb,  of 
Wattisfield ;  and  imbibed  his  earliest  principles  from  Mr.  Harmer, 
his  predecessor.  Mr.  Crabb  received  his  academical  education  at 
Daventry,  under  Dr.  Ashworth  ;  and  first  officiated  as  a  minister  at 
Stowmarket;  he  removed  from  thence  to  Cirencester;  and  was 
afterwards  employed  in  the  education  of  youth  at  Devizes,  in  Wilt- 
shire :  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Harmer  he  removed  to  this,  his  na- 
tive village ;  owing  however  to  some  differences  of  opinion  in  religion, 
between  Mr.  Crabb  and  his  congregation,  he  was  soon  dismissed 
from  hence ;  and  removed  to  Eoyston,  in  Cambridgeshire ;  where 
he  died  December  25,  1794. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  lands  have  been  vested  in  trustees  from 
a  very  remote  period,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  parish.  They 


HUNDRED  Or  BLACKBOURN.  815 

are  situated  in  the  several  parishes  of  Watesfield,  Stanton,  and 
Thelnetham  ;  and  amount  altogether  to  about  54  acres,  producing 
an  aggregate  rental  of  upwards  of  <£70  per  annum.  These  are  ap- 
plied in  defraying  the  churchwardens'  expenses  relating  to  his  office, 
and  the  salaries  of  the  parish  clerk  and  constable  :  the  surplus  has 
lately  been  expended  in  the  purchase  of  coals,  sold  afterwards  to  the 
poor  at  a  reduced  price. — The  sum  of  .£33  6s.  8d.,  bequeathed  by 
Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Knt.,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  lands ; 
the  rents  thereof  to  be  bestowed  on  the  reparation  of  the  causeway, 
called  Watesfield  Causeway,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  four 
acres  of  land  in  this  parish ;  which  was  conveyed  to  trustees,  by 
deed,  dated  the  4th  of  Charles  L,  in  trust,  for  the  said  purpose. 
The  rent  is  applied,  by  the  surveyors  of  the  highways,  to  their  ge- 
neral purposes  ;  the  said  causeway  now  forming  part  of  the  turnpike 
road  leading  from  Scole  Bridge  to  Bury  St.  Edmund's. 


WESTON  MARKET,  or  WESTUNA. 

The  Knights  Hospitalers  at  Great  Carbrook,  in  Norfolk,  held 
divers  lands  in  this  parish  ;  and  the  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia" 
states,  that  Hugh  Hovell  was  anciently  vested  with  the  principal 
manor.  Robert  Hovell  married  Joan,  daughter  of  John,  son  of  Sir 
John  de  Rattlesden ;  who  survived,  and  re-married  Robert  Mon- 
ceaux :  in  the  17th  of  Richard  II.,  it  appears  that  Robert  Monceaux, 
and  Joan  his  wife,  held  this  lordship,  during  her  life. 

A  branch  of  the  Bokenham  family  were  formerly  concerned  here. 
Wiseman  Bokenham,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  was  father  of  Richard 
Bokenham,  Esq.,  who  married  Katherine,  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Knevet,  K.B.,  of  Ashwell-Thorp,  in  Norfolk ;  which  Katherine,  by 
the  decease  of  all  her  brothers  and  sisters  without  issue,  became 
sole  heiress.  Her  first  husband  was  John  Harris,  of  London,  Gent. 

In  1720,  she  being  then  wife  to  the  said  Richard,  claimed,  and 
was  confirmed,  in  the  Barony  of  Berners,  by  descent  from  Sir  John 
Bouchier,  K.G.  (created  Baron  Berners  in  the  33rd  of  Henry  VI.), 
after  it  had  been  dormant  from  the  23rd  of  Henry  VIII.,  to  that 
period.  Her  ladyship  deceased  in  1743,  aged  89,  and  without 
issue ;  when  the  dignity  fell  again  into  abeyance.  She  was  buried 
by  her  second  husband,  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church.  The 


816  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

Barony  descended  to  the  heirs  of  Thomas  Knevet,  Esq.,  of  Mut- 
ford,  in  this  county. 

In  1734,  Kirby  states  that  this  manor  passed  from  the  family  of 
Bokenham  to  that  of  Tyrell ;  and  that  it  was  then  vested  in  Thomas 
Tyrell  (alias  Bokenham  Tyrell),  son  of  Thomas  Tyrell,  Esq.,  of 
Gipping ;  and  in  1764,  he  says,  Dr.  Thurston  was  owner  thereof, 
and  was  seated  here.  He  deceased  in  1776,  when  his  nephew, 
Framlingham  Thurston,  Esq.,  Barrister-at-Law,  succeeded  to  this 
property;  and  died  in  1789,  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's;  whither  he 
went  the  day  previous,  to  attend  his  duty  at  the  quarter  sessions,  as 
county  Magistrate. 

The  family  derive  from  Thurston,  of  Thetford,  who,  with  Ralph, 
his  son,  were  Mint-masters  there  at  the  conquest,  and  had  the  same 
arms  as  those  borne  at  the  present  day  by  his  descendants.  John 
Thurston,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  is  the  present  representative  of  this 
ancient  house. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  is  described  in  the  parish  terrier, 
to  consist  of  a  town  house  and  yard,  occupied  by  poor  persons; 
eleven  pieces  of  land,  containing  in  the  whole  12A.  2R.,  by  estima- 
tion ;  and  a  piece  of  land  in  Winterthrift.  The  land  is  principally 
in  Weston,  and  a  part  in  the  parish  of  Barningham.  By  ancient 
deeds  it  appears  that  the  rents  should  be  applied  to  the  use  of  the 
church,  and  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  Weston  Market. — Half-an- 
acre  of  land  in  Knateshall,  has  been  exchanged  for  the  same  quantity 
in  Hopton,  which  lets  at  the  yearly  rent  of  1  Os. :  this  is  laid  out  in 
bread. — A  rent  charge  of  6s.  8d.,  is  payable  for  the  poor  out  of  land 
belonging  to  John  Thurston,  Esq.,  which  was  puchased  about  30 
years  ago,  of  a  Mr.  Walne. — Two  allotments  of  fen  ground,  con- 
taining together  about  26A.,  were  awarded,  upon  an  Inclosure  Act, 
in  1816,  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  to  cut  turf  thereon  for  fuel ;  and 
16A.  of  furze  ground  were  allotted,  in  like  manner,  and  for  a  similar 
purpose. — The  sum  of  £S  appears  to  have  been  formerly  given  for 
the  poor,  but  of  this  donation  nothing  is  now  known. — In  1506, 
Eobert  Moriel,  of  Rockland-Tofts,  in  Norfolk,  gave  by  will,  %n. 
20p.  of  land  in  Weston  Market,  to  that  church ;  on  condition  that 
the  rector  paid  3s.  4d.  to  the  rector  of  Hindercley,  and  3s.  4d.  to 
the  rector  of  Couuston  (Coney  Weston),  to  pray  for  his  soul;  and 
four  cows,  the  profits  of  which  were  to  be  expended  in  keeping  his 
anniversary.  The  family  of  Moriel  held  Ladies  manor,  in  Rock- 
land-Tofts. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  817 

WESTOW. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  became  very  early  ill  the  possession 
of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  ;  and  in  the  8th  of  Kichard  I.,  Kobert 
de  Horniugsherth,  by  fine  before  the  King's  Justice's  at  Westmin- 
ster, acknowledged  the  service  of  half  a  Knight's  fee  to  be  due  for 
his  lands  in  this  parish,  and  Horningsherth,  to  Sampson,  Abbot  of 
that  Monastery. 

To  Kobert  de  Horningsherth  succeeded  Walter ;  and  in  the  14th 
of  Edward  L,  it  was  certified,  that  Isabella,  the  daughter  of  this 
Walter  de  Horningsherth,  held  freely  in  Westow,  of  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund's,  a  messuage,  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 

The  De  Blakehams  were  interested  here  about  this  period ;  which 
soon  afterwards  passed  to  the  family  of  De  St.  Philibert,  as  in  Lack- 
ford  ;  which,  in  the  24th  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  John  de  St.  Philibert 
conveyed  to  Thomas  de  Aspal ;  and  it  subsequently  passed  to  the 
family  of  Geddyng  and  Lucas. 

By  a  monumental  inscription  to  Thomas,  son  of  Edmund  Croftes, 
in  the  chancel  of  Westow  church,  his  ancestors  are  said  to  have 
held  Jenny's  manor,  in  that  parish,  from  the  time  of  King  Edward 
I. ;  and  who  acquired  the  manor  of  Westow,  parcel  of  the  dissolved 
Monastery  of  St.  Edmund,  from  the  Crown,  in  the  31st  of  Henry 
VIII.  Sir  John  Croftes,  to  whom  the  grant  was  made,  was  of  the 
Household  of  Mary,  Queen  of  France,  wife  of  Charles  Brandon, 
Duke  of  Suffolk ;  and,  in  compliment  to  his  Koyal  mistress,  he 
placed  her  achievement  over  the  gate  of  his  mansion,  Westow  Hall, 
built  by  him. 

By  his  will,  dated  in  1557,  he  directed  that  his  body  should  be 
buried  in  Westow  church ;  bequeathing  to  the  same  £4,  for  vest- 
ments and  books  :  to  the  poor  of  every  township  in  the  hundred  of 
Blackbourn  he  left  6s.  8d. ;  all  his  household  stuff  at  Westow,  he 
gave  to  Edmund,  his  son ;  and  he  gave  to  each  of  his  executors, 
for  their  trouble,  one  hundred  hogg  sheep.  Edmund,  son  and  heir 
of  Sir  John,  by  Rose  Sampson  his  wife,  widow  of  John  Bledlowe, 
of  London,  survived  his  father  only  a  few  days  ;  dying  on  the  14th 
February,  1558,  and  lies  buried  at  Westow. 

His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  of 
Hengrave ;  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Thomas  Croftes,  of  Little 
Saxham,  and  Henry,  who  died  without  issue.  By  his  second  wife, 


818  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

Eleanor,  daughter  of  Thomas,  Lord  Borough,  he  had  a  son,  John 
Croftes,  of  Wangford,  who  died  without  issue  :  and  two  daughters. 
Thomas  Croftes,  the  eldest  son,  was  a  minor  at  his  father's  death. 
On  coming  into  possession  of  his  estate,  he  made  the  Hall  of  Little 
Saxham  the  chief  residence  of  his  family,  in  preference  to  Westow, 
which  was  inferior  to  it. 

On  the  marriage  of  his  grand-sou,  Sir  Henry  Croftes,  in  1610, 
Little  Saxham  was  settled  upon  him,  in  tail ;  and  this  estate  was 
limited  in  remainder  expectant,  upon  the  deaths  of  Thomas  the 
grand-father,  and  Sir  John  the  father,  to  Anthony  Croftes,  the  se- 
cond son,  who  was  father  of  Sir  John  Croftes,  of  Westow  ;  who  was 
created  a  Baronet  in  1660,  but  deceased  in  1664,  without  surviving 
issue,  when  the  title  became  extinct.  He  married  Bryars,  daughter 
and  sole  heir  of  George  Wharton,  of  Wrotham,  in  Kent,  Esq.  She 
became  possessed  of  this  estate,  and  devised  the  same  to  the  Hon. 
Edward  Proger,*  of  St.  Martin-in-the-Fields,  Groom  of  the  King's 
Bed-chamber;  whom  she  appointed  sole  executor.  Lady  Croftes 
deceased  in  1669  ;  and  was  buried,  with  her  husband,  at  Westow. 

The  will  of  Edward  Proger  is  dated  2nd  July,  1713 ;  in  which  he 
devised  all  his  real  estate  to  his  three  daughters :  Frances,  the 
youngest,  afterwards  wife  of  Sir  Sydenham  Fowke,  Knt.,  inherited 
Westow ;  and,  under  the  will  of  Lady  Fowke,  her  nephew,  John  Ed- 
wards, took  the  same ;  and  assumed  the  name  of  Proger  Herbert. 
His  mother  was  Mary,  second  daughter  of  Edward  Proger. 

He  deceased  in  1758;  when  John  Edwards,  his  eldest  son  and 
heir,  succeeded  to  this  property;  who  deceased  in  1775,  leaving  an 
only  child,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Barham  Eushbrooke,  Esq.,  Barrister- 
at-Law  ;  who  inherited  in  her  right.  He  died  in  1782  ;  she  sur- 
vived until  1794  :  both  were  buried  at  Westow. 

Robert  Eushbrooke,  Esq.,  their  only  son,  succeeded  ;  who  after- 
wards exchanged  it  with  Charles,  1st  Marquess  Cornwallis,  for  the 
manor  and  advowson  of  Little  Saxham  ;  and  upon  the  decease  of 
his  only  son,  the  late  Marquess,  in  1823,  it  was  purchased,  with 
his  Lordship's  other  domain,  by  Eichard  Benyon  de  Beauvoir,  Esq. ; 
whose  nephew,  the  Eev.  Edward  Eichard  Benyon,  is  the  present  lord, 
patron,  and  sole  proprietor  of  this  parish. 

The  remains  of  the  manor  house,  Westow  Hall,  convey  an  idea  of 

*  Some  account  of  the  "  gay  Proger,"  who  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-six,  from 
cutting  teeth,  will  be  found  in  the  "  Notes  to  Grammont's  Memoirs,"  published  by 
Carpenter,  in  1811.  At  Rushbrooke  Hall  is  a  portrait  of  him,  by  Sir  Peter  Lely. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  819 

magnificence  :  the  gate  house  is  a  singular  specimen  of  brick  build- 
ing, of  the  period  of  King  Henry  VIII. ;  an  etching  of  which  is 
given  in  "  Britton's  Architectural  Antiquities."  The  church,  situated 
a  short  distance  to  the  south-east,  contains  many  monuments  to 
different  owners  of  the  manor,  to  which  the  advowson  has  always 
been  appendant. 

Among  the  incumbents  of  this  parish  may  be  found  George  Gar- 
diner, D.D.,  a  native  of  Berwick,  in  Northumberland.  He  was  27 
years  minor  canon  of  Norwich  Cathedral,  and  minister  of  St.  An- 
drew, in  that  city;  and  in  1565,  was  installed  a  Prebend  in  the 
above  Cathedral :  in  1571,  was  instituted  to  the  rectory  of  St.  Martin 
Outwich,  London;  in  1573,  he  was  collated  to  the  Archdeaconry  of 
Norfolk ;  and  the  same  year,  was  made  Dean,  and  Chaplain  in  Or- 
dinary to  Queen  Elizabeth.  Dr.  Gardiner  died  in  1589,  and  was 
buried  in  his  own  Cathedral. 

Wm.  Bois,  born  at  Halifax,  in  Yorkshire,  and  educated  at  Trinity 
College,  Cambridge,  was  father  of  that  eminent  Greek  Lecturer,  John 
Bois ;  one  of  the  persons  employed  by  King  James  I.,  to  translate  a 
new  version  of  the  Bible.  Mr.  Bois  held  this  li ving  at  the  period  of 
his  decease,  in  1591  ;  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish 
church.  John,  his  son,  is  also  said  to  have  held  this  rectory  a  short 
time,  but  that  appears  doubtful. 

John  Croftes,  D.D.,  Dean  of  Norwich  Cathedral,  held  this  living, 
with  the  consolidated  rectories  of  Barnham  St.  Martin,  and  St.  Gre- 
gory. He  was  installed  Dean  of  Norwich,  through  the  interest  of 
William,  Lord  Croftes,  his  brother,  in  1660;  and  died  in  1670. 
The  present  incumbent  is  Thomas  Hubbard,  M.A.,  by  the  presenta- 
tion of  Richard  Benyon  de  Beauvoir,  Esq.  Mr.  Hubbard  resides 
in  a  newly  erected  parsonage  house,  near  the  church,  and  holds  the 
adjoining  incumbency  of  Wordwell. 

ARMS. — Croftes :  or  ;  three  bulls'  heads  couped,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £10,  devised  to  the  poor  of  this  parish, 
by  William  Firmage,  in  1599,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  land 
in  Rattlesden,  containing  SA.  3R. ;  let  at  £3  a  year,  which  is  dis- 
tributed among  the  poor. — Two  pieces  of  laud  in  Culford  Field, 
surrounded  by  land  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Benyon,  for  which  he  pays 
£].  10s.  a  year;  which  sum  is  appropriated  to  the  repairs  of  the 
church. — Two  pieces  of  land  in  the  In-field,  in  Westow,  containing 
together  about  an  acre ;  not  being  worth  more  than  5s.  an  acre,  it 
has  not  been  usual  to  call  for  the  rent  of  it.  This  is  also  church  land. 


820  HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN. 

WORD  WELL,  or  WRIDEWELLA. 

The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  became  early  possessed  of  this  manor, 
to  which  the  advowsou  was  appendant ;  and  the  Thos.  de  Wordwell 
whom  Kirby  mentions,  probably  held  them  in  fee  of  that  Monastery. 

The  portion  which  Fulcher,  the  Norman,  held  of  the  above  Abbey, 
in  Snarehill,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  was  held  of  the  said  Abbey, 
by  the  15th  part  of  a  Knight's  fee,  of  Wordwell  manor,  by  William 
Fyshe  and  John  Byntleton  ;  and  in  1345,  William  Fyshe  and  Peter 
Byntleton  had  it,  and  paid  2s.  4d.  relief,  as  heirs  of  the  former. 

Henry  Drury  was  owner  of  this  manor ;  in  respect  of  which  he 
did  homage  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  in  1432.  His  death 
occurred  in  the  life-time  of  his  father,  Nicholas  Drury,  as  appears 
by  his  testament,  dated  in  1454  ;  in  which  he  makes  a  bequest  to 
Elizabeth,  late  wife  of  his  son,  Henry  Drury.  This  Elizabeth  pre- 
sented to  the  living  of  Wordwell  in  1455. 

Jane,  heiress  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Drury,  married,  first,  Thos. 
Hervey,  and  secondly,  Sir  Wm.  Carewe ;  and  in  the  1 6th  of  Edward 
IV.,  John  De  la  Pole,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  gave  Sir  William  Carewe  the 
wardship  of  William,  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Hervey :  Elizabeth 
Drury  was  then  recently  dead,  having  probably  had  the  custody  of 
her  grandson. 

In  the  1st  of  Richard  III.,  William  Hervey  was  of  full  age ;  and 
in  the  following  year,  intermarried  with  Joan,  daughter  of  John 
Coket,  of  Ampton,  in  Suffolk.  William  Carewe,  Richard  Heigham, 
John  Coket,  and  Clement  Clerk,  being  seized  of  the  manor  of 
Wordwell,  and  lands  in  Great  and  Little  Livermere,  and  Sopiston, 
to  the  use  of  William  Hervey,  Gent.,  and  his  heirs,  they,  by  deed 
dated  at  Wordwell,  the  2nd  of  Richard  III.,  confirmed  the  same  to 
the  said  Wm.  Hervey,  and  Joan  his  wife,  iu  special  tail.  William 
survived ;  and  the  lands  descended  to  John,  as  sou  and  heir  of  the 
said  William  and  Joan. 

This  estate  continued  in  the  house  of  Hervey,  their  descendants, 
until  1799;  when  Frederick,  Earl  of  Bristol,  Bishop  of  Deny,  with 
his  only  son,  Frederick  William,  Lord  Hervey,  conveyed  the  same 
to  Charles,  first  Marquess  Cornwallis ;  and  the  same  passed,  by  the 
sale  of  the  Culford  estate,  to  Richard  Benyon  de  Beauvoir,  Esq.; 
whose  nephew,  the  Rev.  Edward  Richard  Benyou,  of  Culford  Hall, 
is  now  lord  and  patron. 


HUNDRED  OF  BLACKBOURN.  821 

The  church  is  a  small  structure,  but  possesses  some  interesting 
features.  The  arch  which  divides  the  nave  from  the  chancel,  is  of 
Norman  architecture,  as  is  the  north  entrance ;  these,  with  some 
ancient  carvings,  a  view  of  the  church,  and  old  font,  are  engraved 
in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  for  1824,  part  i.  p.  297.  Kobert 
Butts,  A.M.,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Ely,  was  instituted  to  this  living 
in  1720  ;  and  Bernard  Mills,  D.D.,  in  1750. 

In  the  Register  of  Baptisms,  the  following  entry  occurs  : — "  1765 
-  Booty,  sou  of  Thos.  and  Eliz.  Harvey,  20  May."  This  dis- 
tinguished native  of  the  parish  went,  at  a  very  early  age,  to  sea, 
under  the  patronage  of  Augustus  John,  Earl  of  Bristol.  Having 
acquitted  himself  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  superiors,  he  was 
in  due  time,  advanced  to  the  rank  of  Post  Captain ;  and  having,  in 
1812,  while  commanding  his  Majesty's  sloop,  "Rosaria,"  displayed 
much  gallantry  in  action  with  a  French  flotilla,  off  Dieppe,  was 
honoured  by  the  appointment  of  C.B.,  by  a  grant  of  armorial  en- 
signs, and  the  reward  of  out-pension  of  Greenwich  Hospital.  Capt. 
Harvey  deceased  at  Thetford,  July  16,  1833  ;  and  his  remains  re- 
pose in  this  churchyard. 

The  Manor  House,  near  the  church,  the  birth-place  of  Captain 
Harvey,  has  near  its  western  entrance,  the  remains  of  a  venerable 
oak,  which,  at  about  five  feet  from  the  ground,  measures  22  feet  in 
circumference,  and  is  said  to  have  contained  twenty  persons  within 
its  now  hollow  trunk,  at  the  same  time. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Mary,  Thomas  Baxter  held  lands  and  tene- 
ments in  this,  and  adjacent  parishes,  and  resided  here.  His  will 
bears  date  in  1557;  in  which  he  devises  to  the  high  altar  of  Word- 
well,  for  tithes  and  oblations  forgotten,  and  too  little  paid,  12d.  ; 
and  to  the  reparation  of  the  said  church,  2s. ;  and  directs  his  body 
to  be  buried  in  the  holy  sepulchre  of  the  churchyard  of  Wordwell. 


LACKFORDS,  or  LACFORDA. 


This  Hundred  is  divided  by  the  river  Ouse,  from  the  county 
of  Cambridge,  on  the  West ;  by  the  Little  Ouse,  from  Norfolk, 
on  the  North ;  and  is  bounded  on  the  East  and  South,  by  the 
Hundreds  of  BlacJcbourn,  Thingoe,  and  Risbridge.  It  contains 
the  following  parishes  : — 

HERINGSWELL, 
HIGHAM, 
ICKLINGHAM, 
LAKENHEATH, 

MlLDENHALL, 

THETFORD, 

TUDDENHAM, 

WANGFORD, 


BARTON  LITTLE, 

BRANDON, 

CAVENHAM, 

DOWNHAM, 

ELVEDON, 

ERE  SWELL, 

EXNING, 

FRECEINGHAM,  * 


And  WORLINGTON. 


The  fee  of  this  Hundred  is  in  the  Crown,  and  the  government 
in  the  Sheriff,  and  his  officers. 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 


BARTON  MILLS. — LITTLE  BARTON,  or  BERTUNNA. 

This  parish  was  sometimes  designated  iti  old  writings  "  Barton 
Togryng"  (that  is,  Twa-grind),  because  there  were  two  mills,  or 
else  one  mill  had  two  pair  of  stones;  which  was  not  usual  in 
early  times. 

In  1504,  Rohert  Wyset,  of  this  parish,  gave  a  legacy  to  the  bre- 
thren of  the  order  of  St.  Dominican,  inThetford,  to  celebrate  placebo, 
dirge  and  mass  of  requiem,  and  ten  masses  in  their  church,  for  ten 
days  next  following  his  decease.  He  also  gave  1  Os.  for  the  same 
purpose,  to  the  Austin  Friars,  in  that  town.  In  the  time  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  a  family  named  Balam  resided  here ;  who  held  property 
at  Walsoken,  in  Norfolk,  called  St.  Rokes,  in  capite,  and  the  ser- 
vice of  26s.  8d.  per  annum. 

Shardelowe's  manor,  in  this  parish,  became  early  vested  in  a  fa- 
mily of  that  name.  Sir  John  de  Shardelowe,  of  Little  Barton,  was 
one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  sat  for  a  time  in  the 
King's  Bench.  Robert  de  Shardelowe,  another  of  the  family,  was 
one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Common  Pleas  during  the  reign  of  Henry 
III.  Sir  John  died  in  the  18th  of  Edward  III.,  leaving  Sir  John 
de  Shardelowe,  his  grandson,  and  heir. 

By  an  inquisition  then  taken,  it  was  found  that  the  lands  of  Sir 
John  de  Shardelowe,  in  Barton,  Mildenhall,  Brandon,  Downham, 
and  Cavenham,  had  been  conveyed  by  him  to  his  sons,  John  and 
Thomas,  his  brother,  Edmund  de  Shardelowe,  parson  of  Herings- 
well,  and  his  grandson,  John,  son  of  Edmund  de  Shardelowe,  de- 
ceased, to  hold  to  himself  for  life ;  remainder  to  his  grandson,  John, 
in  tail  male ;  that  the  said  Sir  John  had  died  on  the  5th  of  March, 
then  last  past,  and  that  John,  his  grandson  and  heir,  was  of  the  age 
of  2 1  years. 

Sir  John,  the  grandson,  was  Knight  of  the  Shire  of  Suffolk  in 
the  4Gth  of  Edward  III.,  and  Collector  of  the  Fifteenths,  two  years 
afterwards.  His  will  was  dated,  and  proved,  in  1391  ;  wherein  he 


826  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

ordered  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  church  of  Thompson,  in  Nor- 
folk, near  his  parents  and  ancestors ;  gave  to  the  college  of  the 
same  church,  100s.;  to  a  chaplain,  to  celebrate  there  for  a  year 
after  his  decease,  seven  marks  ;  to  the  high  altar  of  the  church  of 
All- Saints,  of  Fulburn,  Barton,  near  Mildenhall,  and  Flempton, 
half-a-mark;  to  each  clerk  of  the  said  parishes,  12d. ;  and  half-a- 
mark  for  the  repairs  of  each  of  the  same  churches :  and  after  various 
bequests  to  religious  houses,  he  gave  to  Elizabeth,  his  daughter, 
100  marks,  on  her  marriage,  or  50  marks  if  she  became  a  religious ; 
and  ordered  £20  to  be  expended  at  his  funeral,  in  charity. 

Sir  Kobert  de  Shardelowe,  his  son  and  heir,  had  issue  by  Ela  his 
wife,  Sir  John  de  Shardelowe,  Knight  of  the  Shire  for  Suffolk,  in 
the  10th  of  Henry  VI.  He  made  proof  of  his  age  in  the  8th  of 
Henry  V.;  and  in  the  following  year,  married  Margaret,  daughter 
of  William  Loveneye,  of  Stratton,  in  this  county.  He  deceased  in 
the  1 1th  of  Henry  VI.,  without  issue  ;  and  Sir  Thomas,  son  of  Sir 
Robert  de  Brews,  his  cousin  german,  was  his  heir. 

It  appears  another  manor  in  this  parish  became  vested  in  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  at  Bury,  by  the  grant  of  Richard  Hoo ; 
and  after  the  suppression  of  that  house,  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
Crown,  until  the  7th  of  Edward  VI. ;  when  it  was  granted  to  Simon 
Steward,  Esq.,  of  Lakenheath  (where  the  family  will  be  more  fully 
noticed). 

The  church  was  appropriated  to  the  College  of  Stoke  by  Clare  : 
at  the  dissolution  the  patronage  became  vested  in  the  Crown,  and 
so  continues.  John  Rhodes,  A.M.,  rector  of  this  parish,  was  in- 
stalled a  Prebend  of  the  sixth  stall  in  Norwich  Cathedral,  in  1666, 
and  deceased  the  next  year.  James  Davies,  and  Thomas  Mallabar, 
rectors  of  this  parish,  were  both  benefactors  to  the  same  :  the  latter 
erected  a  new  parsonage  house,  and  purchased  other  property,  to 
add  to  the  premises  a  garden.  He  was  eldest  son  of  John  Mallabar, 
Esq.,  of  Ely ;  and  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Samuel 
Clark,  Bart.,  of  Snailwell,  in  Cambridgeshire.  He  died  in  1732, 
and  was  buried  here.  John  Fox,  A.M.,  is  the  present  incumbent. 

This  church  contains  memorials  to  William  Glascock,  sen.,  Esq., 
son  of  Sir  William  Glascock,  Knt.,  and  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of 
Sir  Thomas  Guybou,  Knt.,  of  Thursford,  in  Norfolk  :  he  died  in 
1715,  aged  82 ;  she,  in  1712  :  and  to  Thomas  Thoresby,  Esq.,  who 
died  in  1790,  and  Isabella  his  wife. 

Here  was  formerly  a  chantry,  founded  probably  by  a  member  of 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  827 

the  Shardelowe  family.  Mr.  Blomefield  says,  that  the  College  of 
Thompson,  in  Norfolk,  originated  in  the  time  of  Edward  I.,  from 
the  Boutetorts,  lords  of  that  parish  :  the  chaplains  were  afterwards 
removed  to  the  Chantry  at  Barton,  near  Mildeuhall,  and  subsequently 
returned  to  Thompson.  In  1349,  Sir  Thomas  de  Shardelowe,  Knt., 
and  Sir  John  de  Shardelowe,  Knt.,  his  brother,  endowed  the  Col- 
lege, or  Perpetual  Chantry,  at  Thompson,  with  the  church  of  St. 
Martin  there  ;  and  the  same  year,  John  Spore,  of  Barton,  was  pre- 
sented to  that  rectory,  by  the  Master  and  Brethren  of  the  Chantry 
of  Barton,  by  Mildenhall. 

The  manor  was  not  long  since  vested  in  William  Walker,  Esq. 
Barton  Hall  was  lately  the  freehold  estate  of  Robert  Sculthorp  Ken- 
dall, Esq.  Barton  Place  belongs  to  William  Thomas  Squire,  Gent., 
who  resides  there. 

ARMS. — Shardelowe :  argent ;  a  chevron,  gules,  between  three 
cross  croslets  fitchee,  azure  ;  which  still  remain  in  some  of  the  win- 
dows of  this  parish  church.  Crest,  a  plume  of  feathers :  supporters, 
two  stags.  Glascock :  ermine ;  a  chevron,  sable,  between  three 
cocks,  azure,  armed,  whattled,  and  legged,  or.  Thoresby:  argent, 
a  chevron,  between  three  lioncels,  rampant,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — In  1G92,  the  Rev.  James  Davies  devised  to  the  use 
of  the  poor  of  this  parish  14  acres  of  fen-ground,  in  Turf-fen  (or 
Fodder-fen),  in  Mildenhall.  This  is  let  at  £12,  or  £13  a  year;  and 
the  rent  is  distributed  at  Easter,  among  the  poor  parishioners. — The 
Rev.  Thomas  Mallabar,  by  a  codicil,  dated  in  1732,  devised  a  parcel 
of  land  in  Barton  to  the  rector  of  the  parish  for  the  time  being, 
subject  to  the  payment  of  20s.  a  year  on  Christmas -day ;  which  is 
distributed  accordingly. 


BRANDON,  or  BRANDONA. 

This  is  a  tolerable  well-built  town  :  it  has  a  market  on  Fridays, 
which  was  formerly  discontinued,  but  has  been  revived  of  late,  and 
has  now  a  pretty  good  supply  of  com  for  sale.  It  is  situate  on  the 
Little  Ouse ;  which  is  navigable  from  hence  to  Lynn  Regis,  and 
Thetford. 

The  manor  and  advowson  of  the  church,  which  is  a  well-built 
edifice,  were  anciently  vested  in  the  Bishoprick  of  Ely.  In  the  43rd 


828  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

of  Henry  III.,  William  de  Wendling  farmed  the  lordship  of  Hugh, 
Bishop  of  Ely.  He  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  personage  who  was 
one  of  the  King's  Justices  in  the  55th  of  that  reign,  and  the  founder 
of  Wendling  Abbey,  in  Norfolk. 

They  became  alienated  in  the  4th  of  Queen  Elizabeth ;  and  in 
the  3rd  of  James  I.,  were  granted  to  Charles,  Duke  of  York.  They 
subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Holt  family,  of  Redgrave  ;  and 
their  representative,  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson,  of  Redgrave  Hall, 
Esq.,  is  the  present  patron  of  the  living.  The  manor  belongs  to 
Edward  Bliss,  Esq.,  by  purchase ;  who  has  erected  a  neat  mansion 
upon  the  same,  where  he  resides.  In  1836,  Mr.  Bliss  served  the 
office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county. 

Brandon  is  remarkable  for  having  given  birth  to  Sir  Simon  Eyre, 
son  of  John  Eyre,  of  this  town,  bred  in  London ;  first,  as  an  up- 
holsterer, then  a  draper ;  in  which  he  prospered,  and  was  elected 
Lord  Mayor  of  the  city  in  1445.  He  was  the  founder  of  Leaden- 
Hall  ;  and  left  5000  marks  to  charitable  uses.  He  deceased  in 
1459,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary  Woolnoth,  Lom- 
bard street,  London.  This  town  also  gave  name  to  the  illustrious 
family  of  Brandon,  Dukes  of  Suffolk  ;  and  afterwards  conferred  the 
title  of  Baron,  on  Charles  Gerard ;  who  became  advanced  to  the 
Earldom  of  Macclesfield.  The  Duke  of  Hamilton  was  also  created 
a  Peer  of  England,  by  the  title  of  Baron  Dutton,  and  Duke  of 
Brandon. 

Certain  lands  and  tenements  were  formerly  granted  to  the  brethren 
of  the  Merchants'  Gild,  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  in  Lynn  Regis,  and  to 
their  successors;  of  which  120  acres  of  arable,  3  acres  of  pasture, 
the  liberty  of  a  fold  course  for  340  sheep,  and  the  rent  of  2 Id.  per 
annum,  lay  in  Brandon  Ferry,  in  the  tenure  of  John  Atmere  ;  which 
was  granted  by  Edward  VI.,  in  the  2nd  year  of  his  reign,  to  the 
Mayor  and  burgesses  of  Lynn  Regis,  aforesaid. 

ARMS. — Eyre :  gules  ;  a  porcupine  saliant,  argent ;  quitted  and 
chained,  or. 

CHARITIES. — In  1646,  Robert  Wright  devised  his  real  estate, 
upon  trust ;  the  rents  thereof  to  be  employed  by  the  trustees,  in  the 
payment  of  £30  a  year  towards  the  maintenance  of  an  able  school- 
master, to  instruct  the  youth  of  the  towns  of  Brandon,  Downham, 
and  Wangford,  in  Suffolk,  and  Weeting,  in  Norfolk,  in  grammar, 
and  other  literature ;  and  that  the  residue  of  the  rents  should  be 
employed  towards  building  and  purchasing  a  dwelling-house  for  the 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  829 

schoolmaster,  and  a  convenient  school-house  to  teach  his  scholars 
in,  and  for  repairing  the  same  as  occasion  should  require  ;  the  over- 
plus to  be  divided  yearly,  into  four  equal  parts  ;  whereof  three  parts 
should  be  disposed  of  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  people  of  Brandon; 
and  the  other  fourth,  being  subdivided  into  two  equal  parts,  one 
moiety  should  be  disposed  of  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  people  of 
Downham,  and  the  other  moiety  for  the  benefit  of  poor  people  of 
Wangford.  The  whole  of  the  income  of  the  school  is  derived  from 
a  rent  charge  of  £40  a  year,  out  of  the  rectory  of  Downham,  and 
rents  of  allotments  under  inclosure  acts,  amounting  to  about  £10 
a  year.  There  are  40  boys  who  attend  the  school  as  free  scholars. 
— The  poor's  estate  consists  of  an  almshouse,  containing  five  rooms, 
in  Ferry  street,  with  certain  lands,  containing  together  about  38^- 
acres ;  aggregate  rents,  £62  :  which  are  distributed  at  Christmas 
among  all  the  poor  of  the  parish. — Under  an  Inclosure  Act,  passed 
in  1807,  the  commissioners  allotted  116  acres  of  land,  upon  trust, 
for  purchasing  fuel,  to  be  distributed  among  the  poor  inhabitants 
of  this  parish,  legally  settled  therein  :  this  land  produces  a  rent  of 
£16  per  annum.  There  is  a  flint  quarry  on  the  land,  which  is  let 
at  a  groundage  rent  of  5s.  for  every  load  of  flints  taken  from  it. — 
There  are  several  other  minor  benefactions,  and  doles,  in  this  parish. 


CAVENHAM,  or  KAVENHAM. 

This  lordship  in  its  early  descent  passed  as  South-Park  (or  South- 
wood),  in  Thingoe  hundred;  and  like  it  appears  to  have  formerly 
been  an  appendage  to  the  manor  place  of  Desening.  In  the  21st 
of  Edward  III.,  Hugh  de  Audeley,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  died  seized 
of  the  manor  of  Desening,  Cavenham,  and  Haverhill;  which  he  held, 
by  the  courtesy  of  England,  after  the  death  of  Margaret  his  wife, 
sister  and  co-heir  of  Gilbert,  son  and  heir  of  Gilbert  de  Clare,  by 
Joan  of  Acres,  his  2nd  wife,  daughter  of  King  Edward  I.  The  ad- 
vowson  was  parcel  of  the  possession  of  Stoke  Priory,  by  the  grant 
of  Richard  de  Clare.  The  patronage  is  now  in  the  Crown. 

The  manor  called  Shardelowe's,  in  Cavenham,  in  1522,  became 
forfeited  to  the  Crown,  by  the  attainder  of  Edward,  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham ;  and  was  afterwards  settled  upon  Charles  Brandon,  Duke 
of  Suffolk,  and  Mary  his  wife,  Queen  Dowager  of  France,  in  special 


880  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

tail  male  ;  and  after  their  death,  and  failure  of  male  issue,  was,  in 
the  27th  of  Henry  VIII.,  granted  to  the  Duke  of  Suffolk,  in  fee; 
who,  in  the  30th  of  that  reign,  sold  the  same  to  Sir  Thomas  Audley, 
Lord  Chancellor,  afterwards  Lord  Audley.  On  the  death  of  Lord 
Audley,  in  1544,  his  only  child,  Margaret,  Duchess  of  Norfolk,  suc- 
ceeded to  this  lordship  ;  which  passed  from  her  to  her  son  and  heir, 
Lord  Thomas  Howard,  who  became  Earl  of  Suffolk.  In  the  9th 
of  Charles  I.,  it  was  the  property  of  Thomas,  son  of  Sir  Martin 
Stuteville,  Knt.,  of  Dalham,  in  Risbridge  hundred. 

In  1734,  Richard  Weeb,  Esq.,  was  owner  of  this  lordship  and 
demesne;  he  deceased  in  1746,  when  William,  his  brother,  suc- 
ceeded; who  died  in  1754,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church. 
In  1764,  this  estate  was  vested  in  George,  4th  Viscount  Townshend; 
and Johnson,  Esq.,  had  a  seat  here,  where  he  commonly  re- 
sided ;  this  afterwards  became  the  possession  of  Thomas  le  Blanc, 
Esq. ;  who  sold  the  same  to  Charles,  1st  Marquess  Cornwallis ; 
and  his  son  sold  it  to  Henry  Spencer  Waddington,  Esq.,  who  is  the 
present  owner,  and  lord  of  the  manor.  He  resides  at  Cavenham 
Hall,  and  is  now  representative  in  Parliament  for  the  western  divi- 
sion of  this  county. 

In  1 234,  Herbert  de  Alencon,  acknowledged  that  he  held  his  free 
tenement  in  Gazeley,  Heigham,  and  Cavenham,  of  the  Prior  of  the 
Augustine  Canons  in  Thetford,  by  divers  services;  in  lieu  of  which 
he  agreed  to  pay  him  a  rent  of  5s.  6d.  per  annum. 

ARMS. —  Weeb:  argent;  a  cross  wavy;  in  the  first  quarter,  an 
eagle  displayed,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  lands  consist  of  six  acres,  or  there- 
abouts, in  Rickinghall ;  rent  £9  a  year  :  and  about  the  same  quantity 
in  Thelnetham,  and  an  allotment  there  of  about  one  acre ;  let  at 
;£10  10s.  a  year.  A  benefaction  of  £10,  bequeathed  to  the  poor  by 
William  Firmage,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  an  acre  of  land  in 
Eattlesden ;  rent  £  I  per  annum.  An  allotment  of  80  acres,  was 
set  out  for  the  poor,  on  the  inclosure  of  this  parish,  in  lieu  of  their 
right  of  cutting  fuel  on  Cavenham  Heath ;  let  at  rents  amounting 
together  to  £22,  or  thereabouts,  which  is  distributed  at  Easter ;  and 
part  thereof  is  sometimes  given  in  coals,  among  poor  people  of  the 
parish. 


HUNDRED  OF  LACE.FORD.  831 


DOWNHAM. — DUNHAM,  or  SANDY  DOWNHAM. 

This  village  is  situate  upon  the  banks  of  the  river  Ouse,  and  in 
the  9th  of  Edward  L,  was  the  lordship  and  demesne  of  the  Abhot 
of  St.  Edmund's,  at  Bury  ;  which,  at  the  suppression  of  that  Mo- 
nastery, was  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Kytson,  Knt. ;  and  at  about 
the  same  period,  Richard  Codington,  Esq.,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife, 
obtained  the  grant  of  another  manor  in  this  parish,  as  parcel  of  the 
possession  of  Ixworth  Priory ;  to  which  the  impropriation  was 
attached. 

Thomas  Wright,*  Esq.,  held  a  manor,  and  a  considerable  estate 
in  this  parish,  where  he  resided.  He  was  eldest  son  and  heir  of 
John  Wright,  Esq.,  of  West  Lexham,  and  Ovington,  in  Norfolk ; 
and  derive  from  the  Wrights  of  Kilverstone,  in  that  county.  Mr. 
Wright  deceased  in  1669,  and  was  buried  here;  and  Robert,  his 
eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded. 

He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  George  Wenyeve,  Knt.,  of 
Brettenham,  in  this  county,  by  Christian  his  wife,  daughter  of 
Dudley,  Lord  North  ;  by  whom  he  had  Thomas  Wright,  Esq.,  his 
successor  here ;  who  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Roger  North,  Esq., 
of  Rougham,  in  Norfolk  ;  she  died  without  issue.  His  second  wife 
was  Frances,  daughter  of  Thomas  Wright,  Esq.,  of  East  Herling, 
in  Norfolk;  by  whom  he  had  issue.  He  died  in  1754;  and  in 
1764,  this  estate  was  in  his  heirs. 

This  estate  subsequently  became  the  property  of  Charles  Sloane, 
3rd  Baron  Cadogan ;  who  was  created  Viscount  Chelsea,  and  Earl 
Cadogan,  in  1800  ;  and  deceased  at  his  seat  in  this  parish,  April  3, 
1807,  in  his  79th  year  :  he  was  succeeded  in  his  honours  and  es- 
tates by  his  son,  Charles  Henry,  Earl  Cadogan.  This  is  now  the 
estate  of  Lord  William  Powlett,  who  resides  at  Downham  Hall,  in 
this  parish. 

In  1411,  the  King  licensed  Edmund  Blankpayn,  of  Euston,  to 
settle  certain  lands,  and  a  free  fold- course,  which  were  John  Howys', 
lying  in  Faverton-field,  which  was  part  in  this  parish,  and  part  in 
Thetford,  upon  the  Prior  and  monks  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  St. 
Andrew,  in  Thetford. 

*  This  gentleman  drew  up  an  account  of  a  remarkable  sand-flood,  which  happened 
iu  1668,  at  this  place.  It  was  published  in  the  "  Philosophical  Transactions,''  No. 
17  ;  and  re-printed  in  the  "  Suffolk  Traveller,"  in  1764. 


832  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

ELVEDON. — HELUEDONA,  or  ELUEDENA. 

Sir  Kichard  de  Lerling,  lord  of  Lerling,  in  Norfolk,  had  a  charter 
of  free  warren  in  this  lordship,  in  1252  ;  and  in  1280,  William  de 
Lerling,  rector  and  lord  of  Lerling,  granted  to  William,  Kichard, 
and  Kohert,  sons  of  the  above  Kichard,  this  manor  ;  who  conveyed 
the  same  to  the  Gonviles ;  and  the  above  charter,  was  confirmed  to 
William  de  Gonvile,  in  1286.  He  married  Maud  de  Lerliug,  in 
1304,  heiress  general  of  that  house  ;  who  brought  the  inheritance 
of  the  Lerling  estates  to  the  Gonvile  family. 

In  1354,  John  and  Edmund  de  Gonvile,  granted  to  Master  Walter 
de  Staines,  of  this  parish,  all  their  lands,  tenements,  &c.,  in  Elvedon, 
which  they  had  of  the  feoffment  of  William  de  Lerling ;  it  being  the 
whole  they  had  there,  except  the  manor  and  other  revenues  settled  on 
Kushworth  College.  This  was  called  Staines  manor. 

The  Master  of  that  College  obtained,  in  1392,  a  license  in  mort- 
main, for  Koger  Cornwayle,  Adam  Foxle,  and  Thomas  Bray,  to 
settle  two  messuages,  a  carucate  of  land,  sixty  acres  of  pasture,  and 
4s.  rent,  in  this  parish,  upon  his  College. 

By  indenture,  dated  the  4th  and  5th  of  Philip  and  Mary,  Thomas, 
Duke  of  Norfolk,  sold  to  Sir  Kichard  Fulmerston,  Knt.,  the  manors 
of  Elvedon  and  Staines,  in  Suffolk  ;  and  the  advowson  of  Elvedon, 
&c.,  and  Snarehill  manor  and  warren,  in  Norfolk,  in  exchange  for 
other  lands. 

Sir  Kichard  died  Feb.  3,  1567,  seized  of  the  manor  of  Elvedon 
(or  Elden),  worth  £26  14s.  2d. ;  and  the  manor  of  Elvedon  Monkes 
Hall,*  and  Staynes,  in  Elvedon,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church 
there,  &c. ;  worth  £29.  Frances,  his  sole  daughter  and  heiress, 
married  to  Edward  Clere,  Esq.,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Clere,  of 

*  This  it  is  conceived  is  the  manor  to  which  the  advowson  was  appendant,  and 
which  continued  the  property  of  the  Abbot  and  monks  of  St.  Edmund's  in  the  14th 
of  Edward  I.  :  and  Mr.  Gage  Rokewode  states,  in  his  "  History  of  Thingoe  Hun- 
dred," p.  275,  that  Wluard  (a  tenant  in  chivalry  of  Baldwin,  Abbot  of  that  Monas- 
tery, and  to  whom  Baldwin  granted  Elvedon,  which  had  been  the  demesne  of  the 
Monastery),  or  his  immediate  issue,  gave  back  Elvedon  to  the  Monastery,  in  ex- 
change for  Ickworth ;  and  this  family  he  presumes  assumed  the  name  of  De  Ick- 
worth.  The  same  author  also  states  (p.  34),  that  it  was  agreed  between  Abbot 
William,  and  Thomas  Lucas,  that,  upon  the  appropriation,  by  Thomas,  of  the 
church  of  St.  Andrew,  of  Elvedon,  to  the  use  of  the  Convent,  the  Abbot  would  re- 
lease to  Lucas  £12,  part  of  a  yearly  rent  charge  of  £13  19s.  6d.,  reserved  to  the 
Monastery,  out  of  Lackford. 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  833 

Ormesby,  in  Norfolk,  Knt. ;  who,  in  her  right,  became  heir  of  Sir 
Richard's  large  possessions.     She  died  in  1579. 

This  estate  subsequently  became  the  property  of  the  Right  Hon. 
Augustus  Keppel,  second  son  of  William,  2nd  Earl  of  Albemarle, 
and  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Charles  Lennox,  1st  Duke  of  Rich- 
mond. This  gentleman  adopted  the  naval  profession  ;  and  for  his 
distinguished  and  gallant  services  as  Admiral,  was  created  Viscount 
Keppel,  of  Elvedon,  in  Suffolk.  His  lordship  resided  here  for  many 
years,  and  died,  unmarried,  in  1786.  He  was  interred  in  the  chancel 
of  this  parish  church. 

His  nephew,  William  Charles,  4th  and  present  Earl  of  Albemarle, 
succeeded  to  this  property;  and  afterwards  sold  the  same  to  William 
Newton,  Esq.,  who  is  the  present  owner,  and  resides  at  Elvedon  Hall. 

This  parish  was  formerly  of  some  note,  for  the  Session  of  certain 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  held  here ;  who,  when  the  King's  Commis- 
sioners, appointed  to  apprehend,  try,  and  punish,  the  riotous  inhabi- 
tants of  Bury,  in  1327,  for  the  outrages  committed  by  them  against 
the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  that  town,  only  indicted  them  for  a  tres- 
pass, boldly  proceeded  against  them  as  felons  ;  on  which  they  were 
brought  to  trial,  and  nineteen  suffered  death. 

ARMS. — Keppel:  gules  ;  three  escallop  shells,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £6  a  year  is  paid  as  rent  of  a  piece  of 
pasture  land  in  Rattlesden,  and  an  acknowledgment  of  4s.  is  paid 
by  the  lord  of  the  manor,  for  a  piece  of  inclosed  land  in  Elvedon, 
part  of  which  is  planted.  The  sum  of  £3  a  year,  for  the  poor  of 
this  parish,  and  the  like  sum  for  the  poor  of  St.  Andrew's,  Norwich, 
are  paid  by  the  rector  out  of  a  portion  of  tithes,  pursuant  to  the 
will  of  Suckling  Jay,  Esq.,  dated  in  1675.  The  yearly  income  from 
these  sources  is  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  the  parish,  not 
receiving  regular  parochial  relief. 


ERESWELL. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  III.,  Sir  Ralph  de  Rochester  held 
this  lordship  of  the  King,  in  capite,  as  of  his  honour  of  Bologne ; 
from  whom  it  passed,  by  the  marriage  of  his  heiresses,  into  the 
Scales  and  Tudenham  families. 

In  the  25th  of  Edward  I.,  Robert  de  Scales  held  half  a  Knight's 


834  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

fee  here,  in  capite.  He  was  son  of  Eobert  de  Scales,  by  Alice  his 
wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Kalph  de  Rochester ;  and  died  in  the  33rd  of 
that  reign.  Eva,  the  other  daughter  of  Sir  Ralph,  by  Maud  his 
wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Hamon  Peche,  married  Sir  Robert  Tudenham ; 
who  deceased  in  the  4th  of  Edward  II. ;  and  between  these  daughters 
Sir  Ralph's  large  possessions  became  divided. 

In  the  54th  of  Henry  III.,  Sir  Robert  de  Tudenham,  and  Eva 
his  wife,  granted  Barton  Burial  manor,  in  Norfolk,  by  fine,  to  Ro- 
bert de  Weston,  and  Hawise  his  wife,  in  exchange  for  a  lordship  in 
this  parish.  This  entire  estate  continued  in  their  descendants  for 
several  ages.  Sir  John  de  Tudenham,  their  grand-son,  married 
Margaret,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Robert,  sister  and  co  heir  of  Sir 
John  de  Weyland.  He  died  in  1302  ;  and  by  his  will  desired  to  be 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  St.  Peter's  church,  of  Ereswell ;  of  which 
parish  he  was  lord. 

Sir  Robert  de  Tudenham,  their  son,  succeeded;  and  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Herliug,  Esq.,  of  East  Herling,  in 
Norfolk ;  and  had  issue  two  sons,  Robert  and  Thomas,  who  died 
without  issue  ;  and  Margaret,  their  sister  and  sole  heir,  succeeded, 
in  1461.  She  married  Edmund  Bediugfield,  Esq.,  of  Bedmgfield, 
in  this  county,  whom  she  survived  ;  he  dying  in  1451. 

Her  will  is  dated  at  Ereswell,  24th  May,  1474  ;  wherein  she  be- 
queaths her  body  to  be  buried  before  the  image  of  the  Holy  Cross, 
near  the  altar  of  the  Virgin,  in  the  nave  of  the  church  of  St.  Peter, 
of  Ereswell ;  £40  for  vestments,  books,  and  necessary  ornaments, 
and  to  the  repair  of  the  said  church  ;  53s.  4d.  for  a  vestment,  in 
which  her  chantry-priest  was  to  officiate  on  high  festivals,  before 
the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  ;  and  40s.  for  another  to  officiate  in, 
on  other  holidays :  to  St.  Lawrence  chapel,  in  Ereswell,  53s.  4d.  ; 
and  ten  marks  to  the  poor  dwelling  in  her  manor  of  Ereswell,  and 
other  her  manors  in  Suffolk,  and  Norfolk;  an  house,  with  gardens, 
pastures,  meadow  grounds,  and  42  acres  of  land,  with  liberty  of  fold- 
age,  and  certain  rents  and  services  thereto  belonging,  for  a  chantry 
priest  to  officiate  daily  in  the  church  of  St.  Peter,  for  her  soul,  and 
those  of  her  relatives  departed  :  a  silver  cup  to  the  altar  of  the  Virgin, 
in  the  church  of  Ereswell ;  to  every  priest  assisting  at  mass  on  the 
day  of  her  funeral,  8d. ;  to  every  clerk,  2d. ;  every  poor  man  and 
woman  at  her  burial  praying  for  her  soul,  2d. ;  to  every  poor  boy, 
2d. ;  and  to  the  Lady  Alice  Tudenham,  a  nun,  at  Crabhouse,  ten 
marks ;  besides  divers  bequests  to  various  religious  houses. 


HUNDRED  OF  LAC1LFORD.  835 

In  1533,  Robert  Bedingfield  was  instituted  to  this  rectory.  He 
was  second  son  of  Sir  Edmund  Bedingfield,  of  Oxburgh,  in  Nor- 
folk ;  a  pensioner  of  Corpus  Cbristi  College,  Cambridge,  and  a 
benefactor  thereto,  by  making  the  west  windows  of  the  building, 
leading  from  the  College  to  Bennet  church  (which  was  then  used 
as  a  chapel  for  the  College),  at  his  own  charge.  He  died  in  1539. 

At  the  above  period  the  manor  and  advowsou  were  probably  ap- 
pendant ;  they  have  since  been  severed  :  the  former  being  vested 
in  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Ely  Cathedral,  and  the  latter  in  the 
patronage  of  I.  B.  Evans :  the  Rev.  Edward  Evans  is  the  present 
incumbent. 

The  chapel  of  St.  Lawrence,  was  situated  at  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  this  parish,  towards  Lakenheath ;  now  in  ruins.  The 
chantry  attached  to  the  parish  church,  was  valued,  at  the  dissolution, 
at  £9  4s.  6d.  per  annum. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  estate  consists  of  two  double  cottages, 
with  small  gardens,  used  as  a  poor  house ;  an  allotment  of  14A. 
14p ,  let  at  £3  15s.  a  year;  2A.  36p.  in  Home  Crofts ;  and  IR.  2p. 
in  Rowley  Croft ;  let  together  at  20s.  a  year.  The  rents  are  distri- 
buted among  the  poor. — Samuel  Fisher,  in  1712,  and  Richard 
Griffin,  in  1717,  each  bequeathed  £20  for  the  benefit  of  the  working 
poor  of  this  parish ;  which  sums  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  per- 
son who  became  a  bankrupt,  and  no  dividend  has  yet  been  declared. 


EXNING,  or  IXNING.— (See  p.  532.) 


FRECKINGHAM,  or  FRAKENAHAM, 

Is  a  peculiar  of  Rochester  diocese,  and  has  been  from  the  period  of 
the  Norman  survey.  The  advowson  is  in  the  patronage  of  Peter- 
House,  Cambridge.  In  1764,  the  lordship  and  demesne  was  vested 
in  Sir  Robert  Clarke,  Bart.,  of  Snailwell,  in  the  county  of  Cam- 
bridge ;  4th  Baronet  of  that  house,  and  second  sou  of  Sir  Robert 
Clarke,  Bart.,  M.P.  for  the  county  of  Cambridge,  by  Mary  his  wife, 
only  surviving  daughter  of  Arthur  Barnardiston,  Esq.  It  was  lately 
the  estate  of  Nathaniel  Barnardiston,  Esq. 


836  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1777,  appeared  an  engraving 
of  a  carving  on  alabaster,  which  was  discovered  in  the  wall  near  the 
north  door  of  the  nave  of  this  parish  church.  It  represents  the 
figure  of  a  Bishop,  in  pontificalibm ;  holding  in  his  left  hand  the 
leg  of  a  horse,  which  has  heen  recently  torn  off,  and  in  the  act  of 
striking  the  hoof  with  a  hammer.  Near  him  stands  the  horse,  by  a 
rack,  on  three  legs.  In  the  back-ground  is  a  forge  ;  and  round  it, 
horse-shoes  and  other  implements  belonging  to  a  farrier.  It  was 
well  carved  in  relievo,  and  coloured. 

Various  opinions  were  at  the  time  broached  as  to  what  this  figure 
was  designed  to  represent ;  and  the  result  is  that  St.  Eloy  is  the 
personage  intended,  "  who  when  applied  to,  to  shoe  a  horse  (for  the 
saint  was  a  blacksmith),  used  to  take  off  the  beast's  foot,  and  carry 
it  into  the  smithy,  where  he  shod  it  neatly  ;  and  then  carrying  it  to 
its  owner,  joined  it  to  the  leg  by  the  sign  of  the  Cross  and  prayer." 

In  1816,  died  the  Eev.  Henry  Bates,  D.D.  He  was  rector  of 
this  valuable  living  43  years,  and  also  of  Boxford,  in  the  gift  of  the 
Crown  ;  and  was  formerly  of  St.  Peter's  College,  Cambridge  ;  where 
he  proceeded  A.B.  1759,  A.M.  1762,  and  D.D.  1782.  Dr.  Bates 
was  an  active  Magistrate  for  this  county.  The  Rev.  George  Paley 
is  the  present  incumbent. 

ARMS. — Clarke :  or ;  on  a  bend  engrailed,  azure,  a  mullet,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — In  1710,  Katherine  Shore  devised  her  land  and  te- 
nements in  this  parish  to  the  poor ;  the  rents  to  be  laid  out  in  cloth, 
to  make  gowns  for  poor  women  of  the  village.  The  estate  now 
held  as  belonging  to  this  charity,  consists  of  a  cottage,  let  at  £4  a 
year,  and  about  nine  acres  of  land,  let  at  £21  per  annum;  which, 
after  deducting  necessary  expenses,  is  distributed  accordingly. — Cer- 
tain yearly  payments  used  to  be  rendered  under  the  name  of  Her- 
ring Money,  but  have  since  been  withheld. 


HEEINGSWELL. — HYRNINGWELLA,  or  HERNIGAWELLA. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  the  demesne  and  advowson  of  this  pa- 
rish belonged  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  at  Bury  ;  and  subse- 
quently to  Walter  de  Norwich,  one  of  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer, 
who  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren  therein ;  from  whom  it  passed 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  837 

as  his  other  estates,  to  Katherine  de  Brews,  and  Robert  de  Ufford, 
Earl  of  Suffolk. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  it  became  vested  in  the  Howard 
family  ;  and  the  site  and  demesne  of  the  manor,  in  1595,  was  hired 
by  Eustace  Tirrell,  Gent.,  of  the  Lord  Thomas  Howard,  at  the  an- 
nual rent  of  £40  ;  as  an  acquittance  of  that  date  proves. 

In  1764,  the  manor  and  advowson  belonged  to  John  Holden, 
Esq. ;  and  they  since  became  vested  in  Robert,  son  of  Hutchison 
Mure,  Esq.,  of  Great  Saxham ;  a  younger  son  of  the  Mures  of 
Caldwell,  in  the  county  of  Renfrew,  N.B.  Mr.  Mure  deceased  in 
1815:  George  Mure,  Esq.,  is  the  present  owner;  who  resides  at 
Heringswcll  House,  in  this  parish.  John  Turner  Hales,  Esq.,  has 
also  a  seat  here,  where  he  commonly  resides.  He  has  the  patronage 
of  the  living. 

In  1249,  Isabella,  Countess  of  Arundel  and  Sussex,  gave  to  the 
Nunnery  founded  by  her  at  Marham,  in  Norfolk,  a  messuage,  and 
all  the  lands  which  she  had  purchased  of  Roger  Ulketyl,  of  Attyl- 
burgh ;  with  liberty  of  a  foldage,  common  of  pasture,  homages,  wards, 
reliefs,  escheats,  &c. ;  and  Stephen,  son  of  Wymer  de  Brandon,  re- 
mited  to  the  said  foundress,  Gs.  yearly  rent,  from  six  solidates 
of  land,  bought  by  her  of  the  said  Roger,  belonging  to  his  fee  in 
Heringswell.  All  which  was  confirmed  by  deed  to  the  said  Nun- 
nery, of  John,  Earl  Warren,  in  memory  of  his  most  dear  sister, 
Isabella  de  Albany,  in  the  7th  of  Edward  I. 


HIGHAM  GREEN,  is  a  hamlet  of  GAZELEY. 


ICKLINGHAM. — ETCLINGAHAM,  or  ECCLINGAHAM, 

Consists  of  two  parishes,  St.  James  and  All  Saints,  having  two  pa- 
rish churches  ;  and  were  anciently,  both  advowsons  and  manors, 
vested  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's ;  and  so  continued  until  the 
dissolution  of  that  house,  when  the  rectory  and  lordship  of  the  for- 
mer parish  were  granted  to  Sir  Anthony  Rous,  Knt.,  of  Deiinington, 
in  Hoxne  hundred. 

In  the  3rd  of  Edward  VI.,  Thomas,  son  of  Robert  Spring,  had 


838  HUNDRED  OF  IACKFORD. 

livery  of  the  said  manor,  to  which  the  advowson  was,  and  still  is, 
appendant.  It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Hollands,  of 
Quidenham,  in  Norfolk.  Sir  Thomas  Holland,  of  that  parish,  Knt., 
deceased  in  1629,  seized  of  Sexton's  manor,  in  Icklingham,  with  the 
advowson  of  St.  James's  church  there. 

Of  the  rectors  of  this  parish  the  following  may  be  noticed. 
Nicholas  Bagot,  who  resisted  the  Abbot's  jurisdiction,  and  was  sup- 
ported by  Wm.  Alnwick,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  the  collection  of  the 
tenths,  granted  to  the  King  in  Parliament.  This  was  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  VI.,  about  1434.  Samuel  Garey,  S.T.B.,  installed  Pre- 
bend of  the  Chancellor,  in  Norwich  Cathedral  (or  the  Sacrist's 
Prebend),  August  9,  1620 :  he  held  this  incumbency,  with  Winfar- 
thing,  in  Norfolk,  by  the  presentation  of  John  Holland,  Esq.,  trustee 
to  the  Howard  family ;  but  was  deprived  of  all  during  the  usurpation, 
and  died  before  the  restoration.  Dr.  Garey  published,  in  1618,  a 
book  called  "  Great  Britain's  Little  Kalendar,"  and  was  author  of 
many  sermons,  and  other  theological  tracts. 

William  Bosworth,  A.M.,  was  also  rector  of  this  parish ;  and 
Quidenham,  in  Norfolk.  He  died  in  1685.  James  Baldwin  was 
presented  to  both  these  livings  by  Sir  John  Holland,  Bart.,  which 
he  resigned  in  1731.  John  Talbot  also  held  this  incumbency, 
whose  ancestors  resided  at  Gouvile  Hall,  at  Windham,  in  Norfolk, 
and  were  owners  of  that  manor.  He  died  in  1689. 

A  branch  of  the  Geddyng  family  were  anciently  interested  here, 
and  probably  held  in  fee  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's.  Weever 
mentions  a  memorial  in  this  church  to  William  Geddyng,  who  died 
in  1457.  It  appears  a  grant  was  made  of  the  manor  to  the  Earl  of 
Essex;  and  in  1700,  Garrard  Peel  was  presented  to  this  rectory,  by 
the  Earl  of  Essex. 

It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Gwilt  family :  the  entire 
parishes  are  now  the  property  of  the  representatives  of  that  house ; 
the  benefices  are  consolidated,  and  the  Rev.  Daniel  Gwilt,  of  Ick- 
lingham  All  Saints,  is  the  present  incumbent.  The  estate  has  been 
in  this  family  rather  more  than  a  century. 

Roman  remains  are  frequently  found  in  this  neighbourhood ;  and 
Icklingham  has  been  supposed  to  be  the  Cambretonium  of  Antonius. 
In  the  chancel  of  All  Saints  church,  a  considerable  quantity  of  Ro- 
man tiles  are  preserved,  which  were  ploughed  up  some  years  since 
in  the  vicinity. 

Sir  John  Michell,  twice  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  viz.,  in  1424, 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  839 

and  1436,  was  a  native  of  one  of  these  parishes,  and  bore  for  his 
arms  :  sable  ;  a  chevron,  or,  between  three  escallops,  argent.  Sir 
John  was  styled  Stockfishmonger :  he  was  buried  at  St.  Magnus 
church,  by  London  Bridge.  His  father  was  John  Michell,  of  lek- 
lingham,  in  Suffolk. 

In  the  1 7th  of  Edward  I.,  thfe  Queen  mother,  in  right  of  her  ward, 
brought  actions  against  more  than  a  hundred  persons,  for  depasturing 
in  Lackford  on  land ;  which  was  averred,  by  the  one  party,  to  be 
separate  pasture ;  and  by  the  other,  to  belong  to  Icklingham,  and 
to  be  their  common  of  pasture. 

CHARITIES. — In  the  19th  of  Henry  VII.,  Alice  Dix,  settled  by 
deed,  all  her  messuages  and  lands  in  the  town  and  fields  of  Ickling- 
ham, in  feoffees,  for  certain  superstitious  uses.  This  estate  com- 
prises a  cottage,  with  about  1|-  acre  of  land,  in  St.  James's  parish, 
and  a  barn,  close,  and  several  pieces  of  heath-ground,  containing 
250  acres,  in  the  parish  of  All  Saints ;  rent  of  the  whole,  £45  a 
year  :  which  is  laid  out,  after  deducting  necessary  expenses,  in  the 
purchase  of  hempen  cloth. 


LAKENHEATH. — LAKINGAHETHA,  or  LAKINGHETHE. 

Aelfgiva,  Queen  of  Canute,  gave  to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's, yearly,  four  thousand  eels,  with  her  gifts  winch  appertained 
thereto  at  Lakinghethe. 

The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  gave  the  King  fifty  marcs  for  an  in- 
quest to  be  had,  whether  the  market  at  Lakinghethe,  newly  acquired 
by  the  monks  of  Ely,  was  an  injury  to  the  town  and  market  of  St. 
Edmund.  The  return  to  the  inquisition,  finding  the  market  to  be 
an  injury,  was  made  in  the  4th  of  King  John.  They  appear  how- 
ever to  have  obtained  another  grant,  in  1309,  for  a  market  and  fair 
here.  The  principal  manor,  and  the  advowson,  are  still  vested  in 
the  cathedral  church  of  Ely. 

Fotheringhay  College,  in  Northamptonshire,  held  lands  here,  part 
of  which  King  Edward  VI.,  in  the  7th  year  of  his  reign,  granted  by 
letters  patent  to  Sir  Kichard  Lee,  to  alienate  a  moiety  of  Redmore ; 
being  a  moiety  of  164  acres,  lying  in  Feltwell,  Helguy,  and  South- 
rey,  in  Norfolk,  and  Lakenheath,  in  Suffolk ;  with  the  rights  of 
fishery  in  those  parishes,  and  the  moiety  of  all  the  Lode,  called 


840  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

Barlode,  and  the  moiety  of  25  acres  of  marsh,  called  Norlands,  to 
Nicholas  Bacon,  Esq. :  in  the  38th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Robert 
Wingfield  died  seized  of  the  same. 

The  other  moiety  was  also  held  by  Sir  Richard  Lee,  and  conveyed 
by  him,  in  the  1st  of  Queen  Mary,  to  Sir  Ambrose  Jermyu,  of  Rush- 
brook:  in  the  25th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  had 
licence  to  alienate  it  to  Henry  Warner,  Esq. ;  and  in  the  21st  of 
Charles  I.,  Henry  Warner,  Esq.,  was  found  to  die  possessed  of  the 
manor  of  Redmore,  the  whole  being  probably  then  in  him ;  and 
Henry  was  his  son  and  heir,  aged  8  years. 

A  branch  of  the  Steward*  family  were  seated  here  in  the  time  of 
Queen  Elizabeth ;  whose  ancestor  came  into  England,  and  settled 
there  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.  Sir  John  Steward  (or  Stuart)  was 
in  the  train  of  James,  of  Scotland,  when  that  Prince  landed  on  the 
English  coast,  in  his  voyage  from  France,  in  1406  ;  and  was  de- 
tained in  England.  He  was  subsequently  Knighted  for  his  per- 
formances in  a  tournament  held  in  Smithfield,  in  the  10th  of  the 
above  reign ;  and  was  the  first  of  his  name  and  family  who  settled 
in  England. 

Simeon  Steward,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  was  son  and  heir  of  Nicholas 
Steward,  Esq.,  of  Upwell,  in  Norfolk,  by  Cecilia,  daughter  and 
heiress  of  Baskervill ;  and  married  Joan,  daughter  and  co-heir  of 
Edward  Pechey,  of  Soham,  in  Cambridgeshire,  Gent.  He  deceased 
April  30,  1568;  and  was  buried  under  an  altar  monument  in  this 
parish  church.  His  lady  was  buried  in  the  Savoy  church ;  and  from 
her  monument  there  Pinkerton  has  a  portrait  of  her  in  his  "  Icono- 
graphia  Scotica." 

John,  their  4th  son,  married  Anne,  daughter  and  sole  heir  of 
Humphry  Shouldham,  Esq.,  a  member  of  an  ancient  Norfolk  family, 
and  resided  at  Marham,  in  that  county;  where  he  died  in  1603, 
and  was  buried,  with  Anne  his  wife,  who  deceased  the  following 
year.  Alicia  Steward,  his  sister,  died  in  1573. 

Undley  Hall,  in  this  parish,  belongs  to  the  Rev.  William  Hamil- 
ton Turner,  of  Barley  rectory,  Royston ;  and  is  now  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  Mr.  Thomas  Waddelow. 

ARMS. — Steward :  or  ;  a  less  cheque,  azure  and  argent.   Another 

*  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  and  mother  of  the  Protector,  was  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  Richard  Steward,  Knt,  of  Ely ;  descended,  though  very  remotely,  from 
the  Royal  house  of  Scotland,  and  probably  a  member  of  the  Lakenheath  family ; 
branches  of  which  extended  into  Norfolk  and  Cambridgeshire. 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFOUD.  84 1 

branch  of  the  family  obtained  an  additional  coat  armour  :  argent ; 
the  lion  of  Scotland,  debruised  with  a  ragged  staff,  or. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  estate  consists  of  a  piece  of  land  in  Mil- 
denhall,  containing  4A.  IR.  6p.,  in  Holmsley  field ;  rent  £6  6s.: 
a  piece  of  land  in  Hockwold,  in  Norfolk,  containing  10A.  2p. ;  rent 
£20  :  and  another  piece  of  land,  containing  HA.  2p.,  in  Feltwell, 
in  the  same  county;  let  at  £14  10s.  a  year.  These  lands  were  set- 
tled by  Joane  Sty  ward,  in  the  10th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  trustees, 
and  the  rents  are  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  this  parish. — A 
rent  charge  of  1 2s.  is  paid  in  respect  of  a  house  in  LakenhSath,  the 
property  of  Mr.  Thomas  Rolfe,  and  is  added  to  and  given  with  the 
rents  of  the  poor's  estate. — Under  the  Bedford  Level  Act,  in  the 
15th  of  Charles  II.,  154  acres  of  fen-ground  in  this  parish,  were 
allotted  and  set  out  for  the  use  of  the  poor ;  which  is  parcelled  out 
among  them,  for  the  purpose  of  digging  turf  for  fuel. — John  Han- 
slip,  in  1762,  gave  by  deed,  a  rent  charge  of  £6  a  year,  out  of  cer- 
tain hereditaments  in  the  parish  of  Mildenhall,  to  be  applied  for  the 
benefit  of  60  poor  and  ancient  families  in  Lakenheath. — George 
Goward  conveyed,  by  deed,  in  1744,  to  trustees,  18  acres  of  inclosed 
land  in  the  parish  of  Soham,  in  the  county  of  Cambridge,  and  di- 
rected that  out  of  the  rents  £6  a  year  should  be  distributed  to  the 
poor  of  Soham,  in  bread,  and  the  like  sum  to  the  poor  of  this  pa- 
rish, in  bread  ;  and  the  residue  to  be  applied  towards  the  education 
of  poor  boys,  in  Lakenheath  ;  and  30  boys  here  are  instructed  as 
free  scholars. — John  Evans  and  Kobert  Kitchener,  in  1750,  con- 
veyed a  piece  of  fen-ground,  in  Mildenhall,  containing  13 A.,  upon 
trust ;  to  apply  the  rents  towards  the  education  of  poor  boys,  of  this 
parish;  rent  £10:  and  14  poor  children  are  taught  to  read  from 
the  produce.  There  are  some  few  other  minor  bequests  belonging 
to  this  town. 


MILDENHALL,  or  MILDENEHALLA. 

The  Confessor  gave  Mildenhale  to  St.  Edmund ;  and  afterwards 
Stigand,  the  Archbishop,  held  it  under  the  Monastery,  during  the 
life  of  the  King.  It  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Crown  at  the  time  of 
the  Norman  survey,  and  was  then  worth  £70  ;  being  valued  in  the 
days  of  King  Edward  at  £40.  Among  the  Crown  lands  sold  by 


842  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

King  Kichard,  immediately  after  his  accession,  was  this  manor ; 
which  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  who  assisted  at  the  coro- 
nation, bought. 

In  1 198,  King  Kichard  confirmed,  by  charter,  to  Abbot  Sampson, 
this  manor  and  advowson,  as  the  right  of  the  monks,  which  they 
held  in  the  time,  and  as  of  the  gift  of  King  Edward  ;  and  by  another 
charter,  the  same  manor,  except  Icklingham,  was  placed  at  the  dis- 
position of  the  Sacrist,  so  that  he  paid  yearly  12s.  to  the  Hospital 
of  St.  Saviour,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor;  60s.  on  the  anniversary 
of  the  King,  and  the  Abbot,  for  pittances  to  the  monks ;  and  20s. 
on  those  days  to  the  poor.  At  the  accession  of  King  John,  the 
Abbot  gave  him  £200  for  a  confirmation  of  the  charter  of  his  prede- 
cessor, and  especially  Mildenhall. 

In  the  time  of  King  Richard  II.,  a  younger  branch  of  the  Hethe 
family  became  seated  at  Hethe's  place,  in  this  parish.  The  first 
who  resided  here  appears  to  have  been  Thomas,  third  son  of  John 
de  Hethe,  of  Little  Saxham,  in  this  county,  and  Amy  his  wife.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  de  Mountford,  of  Hockwold, 
in  Norfolk;  by  whom  he  had  three  sons,  and  five  daughters :  namely, 
Jane,  wife  of  Nicholas  Drury ;  Anne,  who  married  Thomas  Ged- 
dyng  ;  Agnes,  Isabella,  and  Alianor. 

His  will  bears  date  in  1440  ;  by  which  he  gives  to  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  all  his  lands  in  Suffolk ;  she  finding  all  necessaries  of  life  to 
his  sons,  George,  William,  and  John ;  and  also  to  his  daughters, 
Agnes,  Isabella,  and  Alianor,  until  their  marriage  :  and  after  the 
decease  of  his  wife,  all  his  lands  in  Mildenhall  to  remain  to  the  said 
George,  in  tail ;  remainder,  successively,  to  the  said  William,  and 
John  ;  remainder  to  the  heir  of  the  said  Elizabeth  his  wife :  and  he 
directed  that  the  profits  of  his  farm  in  Lackford  and  Flempton,  and 
the  profits  of  the  sale  of  1,600  sheep,  should  be  applied  for  the 
benefit  of  his  daughters. 

George,  the  eldest  son,  succeeded ;  whose  son,  Francis,  succeeded 
him:  he  appears  to  have  been  seated  at  the  adjoining  parish  of 
Worlington.  He  married  Grace,  daughter  of  Thomas  Teye,  of 
Essex ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  two  daughters :  Agnes,  the  eldest, 
died  young ;  Margaret  married  George  Bokenham,  of  Suetterton, 
in  Norfolk,  Esq.;  and  Grace,  his  relict,  re-married  to  William  de 
Grey,  Esq.,  of  Merton,  in  the  same  county.  Francis  Hethe  de- 
ceased in  1470,  and  was  buried  at  Feltwell,  in  Norfolk. 

The  family  of  Pope  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  consi- 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  843 

derable  here,  formerly.  The  name  of  "  Pope,  Armiger"  is  found 
on  the  Court  Rolls  in  the  time  of  Henry  IV.  It  is  probable  that 
they  lived  at  first  at  West  Row,  near  the  river ;  an  old  timber-built 
house,  with  the  lauds  annexed  to  it,  which  now  belongs  to  a  charity, 
administered  by  a  society  of  dissenters,  still  retains  the  name  of 
Pope's  farm.  But  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.,  this  family  possessed 
the  manor  of  Womhill  (or  Wamhill)  Hall. 

Besides  the  Abbot's  great  manor  of  Mildenhale,  there  were  three 
small  manors  within  the  parish  :  Wamhill,  lying  between  the  town 
and  the  West  Row  ;  Camills,  at  West  Row  ;  and  Aspale,  situated 
between  Beck  and  Holywell  Rows.  This  last  mentioned  manor  was 
given  to  the  Abbey  of  Bury,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.,  by  Thomas 
Walbar,  clerk,  and  John  Bertram. 

Wamhill  Hall  became  the  seat  of  the  Warner  family,  who  derive 
from  the  Warners  of  Besthorp,  in  Norfolk.  By  an  ancient  pedigree 
of  this  house,  it  appears,  that  in  1374,  John  Warner,  Esq.,  of  Bes- 
thorp, deceased  without  issue,  or  relations;  and  devised  his  paternal 
estate  to  Thomas,  a  younger  son  ot  his  most  intimate  friend,  Sir 
James  Whetenhale,  Knt.,  of  Cheshire ;  upon  condition  of  his  as- 
suming the  name  and  arms  of  Warner. 

This  Thomas  became  thereupon  seated  at  Besthorp ;  to  whom 
succeeded  Henry  Warner,  Esq. ;  to  whom  succeeded  Robert  Warner, 
Esq.,  of  Besthorp  ;  who  deceased  in  1488.  Henry*  his  eldest  son 
and  heir,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Blennerhasset,  of  South- 
hill,  in  Bediordshire ;  from  whom  descended  the  Warners  of  Mil- 
deuhall,  and  Plum.:ede,  in  Norfolk. 

Sir  Edward  Warner,  Knt.,  their  eldest  son,  Lieutenant  of  the 
Tower  of  London,  resided  here  until  his  marriage,  in  1560,  with 
Audrey,  daughter  and  heir  of  William  Hare,  Esq.,  of  Beeston,  in 
Norfolk,  and  relict  of  Thomas  Hobart,  Esq.,  of  Little  Plumstede, 
in  the  same  county  ;  when  he  removed  thither.  Sir  Edward  de- 
ceased in  1565,  without  issue  ;  and  Sir  Robert  Warner,  Knt.,  his 
brother  and  heir,  then  55  years  of  age,  succeeded  to  the  Mildenhall 
estate ;  and  Henry,  his  son,  had  livery  of  his  lands  and  manors,  in 
1578. 

The  Mansion  House  at  Wamhill  (now  a  farm  house)  was  probably 
built  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  Sir  Henry  Warner,  Knt. ; 
who  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Wingfield,  Knt.,  of  Le- 
theringham.  Sir  Butts  Bacon,  created  a  Baronet  in  1627,  was  the 
5th  son  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  of  Redgrave.  He  married  Dorothy, 


844  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Warner,  of  Wamhill ;  and  held  an  estate  in 
this  parish. 

Aspale  manor,  after  the  suppression  of  the  Monastery  of  St.  Ed- 
mund, was  granted,  or  sold,  hy  the  Crown ;  and  passed,  in  the  time 
of  Philip  and  Mary,  by  purchase,  to  Lord  North,  of  Kirtling ;  whose 
second  son,  Sir  Henry  North,  settled  in  Mildeuhall.  He  acquired, 
by  successive  purchases,  a  fair  estate  in  the  parish,  and  (it  is  pro- 
bable, but  not  certain)  built  the  Mansion  House,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing in  the  town  of  Mildenb.aH. 

He  married  Mary,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Kichard  Knevit,  Esq. ; 
and  was  succeeded  by  Sir  Roger  North,  his  son  and  heir ;  whose 
eldest  son  and  successor,  Henry,  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1660; 
whose  only  son,  Sir  Henry,  deceased  in  1695,  without  issue  ;  when 
the  honour  became  extinct. 

Peregrine,  his  sister  and  heir,  married  to  William  Hanmer,  Esq., 
of  Hanmer,  in  the  county  of  Flint ;  to  whom  Sir  Henry  devised  his 
whole  estate.  By  this  lady  he  had  issue  an  only  son,  Thomas ; 
who  succeeded  as  4th  Baronet  of  that  house.  This  gentleman  was 
returned  to  Parliament,  at  the  accession  of  Queen  Anne,  for  the 
county  of  Flint;  elected  in  1707,  by  the  county  of  Suffolk;  and 
placed  in  the  Speaker's  chair  in  1712.  In  reference  to  that  event 
is  the  following  couplet  of  Dr.  Johnson  : — 

"  Illustrious  age  !  how  bright  thy  glories  shone, 
When  Hanmer  fill'd  the  chair,  and  Anne  the  throne." 

Sir  Thomas  made  this  his  principal  residence ;  and  was  distin- 
guished in  the  literary  as  the  political  world :  a  splendid  edition  of 
Shakespeare's  plays,  published  by  the  University  of  Oxford,  to  which 
he  presented  the  M.S.,  testify  to  his  refined  judgment,  and  critical 
acumen.  He  married,  first,  in  1698,  Isabella,  dowager  Dutchess  of 
Grafton,  only  daughter  and  heir  of  Henry  Bennet,  Earl  of  Arling- 
ton ;  and  secondly,  Elizabeth,  only  daughter  and  heir  of  Thomas 
Folkes,  Esq.,  of  Great  Barton,  in  this  county  ;  but  had  no  issue. 
He  deceased  in  1746,  when  the  Baronetcy  became  extinct. 

This,  with  his  other  Suifolk  estates,  he  devised  to  his  nephew, 
William,  second  son  of  Sir  Henry  Bunbury,  Bart.,  by  Susan  his 
wife,  sister  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer;  whom  he  had  previously 
adopted ;  and  who,  upon  the  decease  of  his  elder  brother,  Sir  Charles 
Bunbury,  eventually  succeeded  to  the  Baronetcy :  his  representative, 
Sir  Henry  Edward  Bunbury,  Bart.,  of  Great  Barton  Hall,  is  now 
proprietor  of  the  manor  of  Mildenhall,  and  patron  of  the  vicarage. 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  845 

Sir  Robert  Mortimer,  of  Attleburgh,  in  Norfolk,  Knt,  died  in 
1387,  seized  of  a  manor  in  this  parish  ;  when  his  inheritance  be- 
came divided  between  his  three  grand- daughters  and  co-heirs,  and 
this  manor  was  apportioned  to  Margery,  the  youngest ;  who  married 
Sir  John  Fitz  Ralph,  of  Great  Elingham,  in  Norfolk ;  and  the  same 
was  settled  on  him  for  life 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  Gilbert  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester, 
and  Joan  his  wife,  held  jointly,  certain  lands  in  this  parish,  and  half 
a  Knight's  fee. 

Sir  William  Gee,  and  afterwards  his  widow,  resided  at  Milden- 
hall ;  and  held  lands  in  the  parish  during  the  first  half  of  the  17th 
century. 

Mildenhall  is  the  most  considerable  town  in  this  hundred,  con- 
stituting a  half  hundred  of  itself;  and  has  a  small  weekly  market 
on  Fridays.  Towards  the  fens,  which  extend  eastward  to  Cambridge- 
shire, are  several  streets,  called  by  the  inhabitants,  Rows ;  which  of 
themselves  are  as  large  as  ordinary  villages.  It  has  furnished  Lon- 
don with  two  Lord  Mayors  :  Sir  Henry  Barton,  who  held  that  ho- 
nourable office  in  1416,  and  in  1430,  when  he  ordained  lanterns 
with  lights  to  be  hung  out  in  the  evening,  betwixt  Hallontide  and 
Candlemas.  He  is  believed  to  have  been  a  munificent  benefactor  to 
the  church  of  his  native  parish :  his  tomb,  without  any  inscription, 
stands  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave.  Sir  William  Gregory,  also  a 
native  of  this  place,  filled  the  same  office  in  1451. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  spacious  handsome  struc- 
ture, with  a  fine  open  roof,  of  rich  carved  work ;  and  contains  va- 
rious monuments  to  members  of  the  North  and  Bunbury  families. 
To  the  north  of  the  church  stands  the  ancient  mansion  of  the  Norths, 
and  subsequently  the  residence  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  and  the 
Bunburys.  It  contains  numerous  apartments,  but  the  rooms  in 
general  are  of  small  dimensions. 

ARMS. — Hethe :  argent ;  three  ogresses,  sable  ;  on  the  first,  a 
cross,  argent.  Whetenhale :  vert ;  a  cross  engrailed,  argent.  War- 
ner :  party  per  bend,  argent  and  sable,  quartering  a  fleur-de-lis,  or. 
North  (see  p.  536).  Bunbury  (see  p.  706).  Fitz  Ralph:  or; 
three  chevronels,  gules;  on  each,  five  fleurs-de-lis,  argent.  Barton: 
ermine ;  on  a  saltier,  sable,  an  annulet,  or,  voided  of  the  first. 
Gregory:  party  per  pale,  argent  and  azure,  two  lions  rampant 
guardant,  endorsed,  counterchanged. 

CHARITIES. — Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  by  indenture,  dated  in  1783, 


840  HUNDRED  Of  LACKFORD. 

reciting  that  he  had  erected  an  Almshouse,  consisting  of  four  se- 
veral dwellings,  in  Mildenhall,  adjoining  to  the  west  side  of  the 
church-yard,  conveyed  the  same  to  eleven  .trustees,  to  the  intent  that 
four  poor  persons  should  have  each  of  them  one  of  the  said  houses; 
and  he  thereby  granted  two  yearly  rent  charges,  of  £38,  and  40s., 
to  be  issued  out  of  certain  property  in  this  town,  upon  trust ;  with 
the  sum  of  £38,  to  pay  each  of  the  poor  persons  in  the  Almshouse, 
2s.  6d.  weekly,  and  40s  at  Michaelmas,  yearly,  to  provide  for  each 
of  them  a  suit  of  clothes  and  linen  ;  and  20s.  yearly,  at  or  before 
Michaelmas,  for  providing  three  loads  of  turf  for  each  ;  and  with 
the  sum  of  40s.  to  repair  the  Almshouse,  and  recruit  the  bedding, 
and  household  goods  therein. — There  are  also  six  cottages,  with 
gardens  behind,  on  the  south  side  of  the  church-yard,  occupied  by 
six  poor  persons,  placed  in  them  by  the  parish  officers.  It  is  un- 
known when  or  by  whom  they  were  erected,  and  they  are  kept  in 
repair  at  the  parish  expense. — In  1710,  Catherine  Shore  devised 
certain  lands  in  Westrow ;  the  rents  to  be  laid  out  in  cloth,  to  be 
made  into  gowns  for  poor  women  of  the  parish ;  and  in  1 828,  fifty 
poor  women  participated  in  this  charity. — The  poor's  lands  and  te- 
nements are  under  the  management  of  the  churchwardens  for  the 
time  being  ;  and  consist  of  various  property,  as  doles,  rent  charges, 
and  allotments,  for  the  benefit  of  the  High  Town,  and  the  divers 
hamlets  or  divisions  thereof.  The  incomes  arising  from  these  sources 
are  variously  distributed,  agreeable  to  the  directions  of  the  donors. 


THETFOKD,  or  TETFORT. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  III.,  this  celebrated  borough  com- 
prehended twenty  parishes ;  thirteen  of  which  were  situated  on  the 
Suffolk  side  of  the  Little  Ouse :  only  one  now  remains,  that  of  St. 
Mary.  The  Priory  of  Cluniac  Monks  was  first  founded  on  the 
Suffolk,  but  soon  removed  to  the  Norfolk  side.  The  house  of  Be- 
nedictine Nuns,  and  those  of  the  Canons  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre, 
and  Dominican  Friars,  continued  on  the  Suffolk  side  until  their 
dissolution. 

The  Monastery  of  Benedictine  Nuns  was  the  most  ancient  of  any 
in  Thetford,  being  originally  founded  by  Uvius,  the  first  Abbot  of 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

St  Edmund's  at  Bury,  in  the  time  of  King  Canute.  In  1 176,  Hugh 
de  Norwold,  Abbot  of  Bury,  removed  the  nuns  from  Lyng,  in  Nor- 
folk, to  this  Monastery.  The  church  of  St.  George,  in  which  the 
monks  had  hitherto  officiated,  was  now  made  conventual,  and  the 
revenues,  which  at  first  were  very  inconsiderable,  from  this  period 
received  many  additions. 

It  continued  a  Benedictine  Nunnery  until  the  dissolution.  In 
1540,  Sir  Richard  Fulmerston,  of  Ipswich,  obtained  a  grant  of  the 
same,  and  made  it  his  residence.  Frances,  his  daughter  and  sole 
heir,  carried  it  by  marriage,  to  the  Clere  family.  It  subsequently 
became,  by  purchase,  the  estate  of  Sir  William  Campion  ;  and  his 
descendant,  Henry  Campion,  Esq.,  in  1738,  inherited  the  same.  It 
was  lately  the  property  of  Sir  Robert  John  Buxton,  Bart. 

The  Canons  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  was  founded  by  William  de 
Warren,  the  third  Earl  Warren.  King  Stephen,  in  1139,  gave  the 
demesne  of  the  burgh,  and  the  advowsous  of  all  the  churches  on  the 
Suffolk  side,  to  the  said  Earl ;  who  immediately  founded  this  house, 
endowing  it  with  all  that  he  had  received  from  the  King,  and  with 
various  other  emoluments  and  privileges.  At  the  suppression  of 
this  Monastery,  Sir  Richard  Fulmerston  obtained  a  lease  thereof, 
for  21  years,  at  £15  8s.  a  year;  and  in  1540,  had  an  absolute  grant 
of  the  site  and  lands  thereto  belonging,  to  him  and  his  heirs.  It 
was  not  long  since  the  property  of  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Petre. 

The  Dominican  Friars'  Monastery  was  upon  the  site  of  the  an- 
cient parish  church  of  St.  Mary,  afterwards  the  Cathedral  of  the 
see,  then  the  residence  of  the  Cluniac  monks,  for  a  time  ;  in  the 
yard  belonging  to  which  the  free  school  was  afterwards  partly 
erected.  John  Plantagenet,  7th  Earl  of  Warreu  and  Surrey,  and 
lord  of  Thetford,  and  Henry,  Earl  of  Lancaster,  placed  the  Preach- 
ing Friars  here,  between  the  years  1325  and  1345.  The  patronage 
of  the  house  was  in  the  lords  of  the  burgh.  In  1347,  the  site  of 
Domus  Dei  (or  God's  House),  was  given  to  these  friars.  This  was 
also  granted  to  Sir  Richard  Fulmerston,  in  1540,  and  has  passed  as 
the  former  house. 

There  appears  to  have  been  a  school  in  this  town  at  a  very  early 
period ;  it  is  mentioned  from  1328,  to  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth 
century;  after  which  it  declined,  or  was  discontinued,  until  Sir 
Richard  Fulmerston  erected  one,  and  paid  the  master  during  his 
life ;  and  at  his  decease,  by  will,  dated  in  1560,  ordered  his  heirs 
to  erect  and  establish  a  Free  Grammar  School  in  Thetford,  and 


848  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

build  a  convenient  house  for  that  purpose,  either  in  Trinity  church- 
yard, or  the  Black  Friars'  yard. 

In  1610,  an  Act  of  Parliament  was  passed,  constituting  a  cor- 
porate body,  to  be  styled  "  The  Master  and  Fellows  of  the  School 
and  Hospital  of  Thetford ;"  consisting  of  a  master,  in  Priest's  or- 
ders, an  usher,  and  four  poor  persons  in  almshouses.  The  present 
owners  are  the  trustees  of  the  charity  ;  the  corporation  of  Thetford 
being  patrons  and  governors. 

St.  Mary's,  anciently  called  St.  Mary's  the  Less,  is  the  only  pa- 
rish church  now  standing  on  the  Suffolk  side  of  the  town.  It 
belonged  to  Roger  Bigod  at  the  conquest ;  and  was  given  by  him 
to  the  Priory  of  his  foundation,  in  this  town.  It  was  served  by  one 
of  the  monks  of  that  house,  until  its  dissolution ;  when  it  was 
granted  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  ;  and  soon  after,  the  Duke  con- 
veyed the  same  to  Sir  Richard  Fulmerston  ;  but  the  church,  being 
in  decay,  continued  without  service,  until  he  repaired  it,  and  en- 
dowed a  preacher  to  serve  therein. 

The  Fulmerstones  are  supposed  to  have  been  a  Norfolk  family ; 
where  they  were  seated  many  years  previous  to  the  time  of  Sir 
Richard.  In  1479,  Robert  Fulmerston,  of  Stow,  was  one  of  the 
feoffees  of  Henry  Bixle,  of  Thetford,  of  and  in  Ladies'  manor,  in 
Rockland  Tofts,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  in  1494,  Robert  Fulmerston,  and 
others,  his  co -feoffees,  held  their  first  court  for  that  manor ;  which, 
in  1498,  they  conveyed  to  others. 

Sir  Richard  himself  was,  probably,  a  native  of  Norfolk,  and  born 
at  or  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Lopham;  for  in  1566,  Thomas  Ful- 
merstou,  his  relation,  resided  in  that  parish,  and  had  two  sons, 
Thomas  and  Richard,  and  a  brother,  Christopher,  who  had  a  son 
named  John.  Sir  Richard  was  Marshal  of  the  King's  Bench  in  the 
time  of  Edward  VI.  After  the  dissolution  of  the  Monasteries,  he 
appears  to  have  obtained  various  grants  of  lands,  &c.,  belonging  to 
those  houses. 

He  received  the  honour  of  Knighthood  between  the  years  1557 
and  1565.  By  Alice  his  wife,  he  had  a  daughter,  Frances,  aged  at 
his  death,  28  years  ;  and  married  to  Edward  Clere,  Esq. ;  who,  in 
her  right,  became  heir  of  Sir  Richard's  great  possessions.  By  his 
will,  which  is  dated  Jan.  23,  1566,  he  directed  his  body  to  be  buried 
in  the  parish  church  of  St.  Mary,  in  Thetford,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  chapel  there,  without  pomp  and  vain  glory. 

ARMS. — Fulmerston ;  or  ;  on  a  fess,  azure,  a  rose  between  two 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  849 

garbs,  gules  ;    between  three  sea  mews  of  the  2nd.,  beaked  and 
membered  of  the  3rd. 


TUDDENHAM,  or  TODENHAM. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  says  this  lordship  was  vested 
in  Edmund  de  Hemegrave ;  and  Mr.  Gage  Kokewode  mentions  a 
deed,  dated  at  Tudenham,  in  1352,  whereby  Sir  Edmund  de  Heme- 
grave conveyed  to  Richard  de  Brews,  Thomas  de  Shardelowe,  Ed- 
mund de  Thorpe,  Knights,  and  other  trustees,  his  manors  of  Heme- 
grave, Tudenham,  Westle,  and  other  property.  He  was  one  of  the 
Knights  returned  to  Parliament  for  the  counties  of  Norfolk  and 
Suffolk,  in  the  46th  of  King  Edward  III. 

In  1680,  Thomas  Shelley,  Esq.,  died  seized  of  the  manors  of 
Banstead  and  Netherhall,  in  this  parish ;  and  was  buried  in  the 
chancel  of  Tuddenham  St.  Mary's  church,  with  Frances  his  wife, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Edward  Asty,  Gent.  She  deceased  in  1 695. 
Henry  Goldwell,  Esq.,  one  of  the  burgesses  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury, 
married  Frances,  their  daughter  and  heiress.  He  died  in  1693,  she 
survived  until  1712 ;  they  were  both  buried  here. 

The  Eev.  George  Boldero,  late  of  Ixworth,  held  a  manor  and 
freehold  estate  in  this  parish  ;  which  were  purchased  by  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Ellis  Rogers,  rector  of  Hessett  and  Lackford ;  who  is  the 
present  proprietor. 

The  principal  lordship,  to  which  the  advowson  is  appendant,  has 
for  the  last  century  been  vested  in  the  Herveys,  Earls  of  Bristol ; 
and  Frederick  William,  Marquess  of  Bristol,  is  now  owner  of  the 
same. 

In  1464,  the  Prior  of  the  Augustine  Canons  in  Thetford,  sued 
John  Legat,  rector  of  this  parish,  for  an  annual  pension  of  £6,  due . 
to  the  said  Prior,  which  had  been  detained  some  years ;  and  he  re- 
covered it,  by  proving  that  it  was  always  taxed  at  12s.  to  the  tenths, 
for  this  portion.  This  was  included  in  the  grant  to  Sir  Richard 
Fulmerston,  Knt. 

Among  the  rectors  of  this  parish  may  be  noticed  Charles  James 
Blomfield,  the  present  Bishop  of  London  :  to  which  he  was  pre- 
sented in  1817  ;  and  which  he  resigned  upon  his  presentation  to  the 
living  of  St.  Botolph,  Bishopsgate,  London,  in  1820. 


850  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  1GA.  SR.  29p.,  was  set  out  on  an 
inclosure,  in  1796,  in  lieu  of  open  field  land,  held  from  ancient  time 
for  the  repairs  of  the  church.  The  present  rent  of  which  is  £13  5s. 
a  year ;  applied  to  defray  the  ordinary  disbursements  of  the  church- 
wardens.— In  1711,  Jane  Wotton  devised  the  yearly  rent  of  £6,  out 
of  the  parsonage  of  Tuddenham,  to  be  distributed  amongst  the  poor 
there.  This  annuity  is  paid  by  the  rector,  and  distributed  at  Christ- 
mas.— In  1728,  John  Cockerton  devised  his  messuages,  lands,  and 
hereditaments,  in  this  parish,  in  trust,  for  a  master  to  keep  a  free 
school  here,  to  teach  all  such  poor  boys  and  girls  in  the  parish,  of 
such  parents  there  as  should  not  occupy  above  the  estate  of  £10,  to 
read,  write,  account,  and  learn  Latin  ;  and  after  all  necessary  charges 
deducted  out  of  the  rents,  the  surplus  should  go  yearly  to  the  school 
master,  for  his  salary.  There  is  a  dwelling-house,  and  two  pightles, 
containing  together  about  SA.,  which  are  occupied  by  the  school 
master,  and  the  residue  of  the  property  produces  a  rental  of  £70  a 
year. 


WANGFORD  ST.  DENNIS,  or  WAMFORDAM. 

Among  the  tenants  in  chivalry  of  Baldwin,  Abbot  of  St  Ed- 
mund's, was  Wluard,  who  at  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey,  held 
of  the  Abbot,  the  manors  of  Wungford  and  Flempton ;  and  to  whom 
Baldwin  afterwards  granted  Elvedon,  which  had  been  the  demesne 
of  the  Monastery;  and  the  manors  of  Wangford,  Flempton,  and 
Ickworth,  and  lands  in  Horningsherth,  will  be  found  held  together 
until  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  as  two  Knights'  lees;  the  possessors 
from  the  time  of  King  Henry  II.,  bearing  the  name  of  De  Ickworth. 
Wluard,  or  his  immediate  issue,  gave  back  Llvedon  to  the  Monas- 
tery, in  exchange  for  Ickworth. 

A  branch  of  the  Wright  family  were  formerly  seated  here.  Jermyn 
Wright,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  born  in  1608,  was  son  of  Thomas 
Wrio-ht,  Esq.,  of  Kilverstone,  in  Norfolk,  by  Jane  his  wife,  daughter 
of  John  Jermyn,  Esq.,  of  Depden,  in  this  county,  by  Anne,  his  se- 
cond wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Drury,  Knt.,  of  Hawsted.  He 
married  Anne,  daughter  of  Richard  Batchcroft,  of  Bexwell,  in 
Norfolk,  Esq. 

Sir  Robert  Wright,  Knt.,  their  son,  succeeded  to  this  estate,  and 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

resided  here.  He  was  first  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Common  Pleas, 
and  afterwards,  in  the  reign  of  James  II.,  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's 
Beuch.  Sir  Robert  married,  first,  to  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Moor,  Gent,  of  St.  German's  Wigenhale,  Norfolk;  who  died  without 
issue,  and  was  buried  there,  in  1662.  His  second  wife  was  Susan, 
daughter  of  Matthew  Wren,  Bishop  of  Ely;  by  whom  he  had  a  son, 
Robert,  who  emigrated  to  South  Carolina;  and  three  daughters. 
His  third  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Scroggs, 
Knt.,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's  Bench.  William,  their  son, 
was  an  infant  in  1702. 

In  1764,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was  vested  in  Rowland  Holt, 
Esq.,  of  Redgrave,  in  Hartismere  hundred ;  and  has  since  continued 
in  the  proprietors  of  that  estate,  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson,  Esq., 
of  Redgrave  Hall,  being  now  owner.  The  rectory  is  also  in  his 
patronage,  and  consolidated  with  that  of  Brandon. 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  the  Prior  of  Bromehill,  in  Weting, 
Norfolk,  was  taxed  for  his  lands  here,  6s. ;  which  were  of  the  grant 
of  Thomas,  son  of  Richard  de  Ickworth :  and  John  Austyn,  rector 
of  Wangford,  who  died  in  1416,  and  was  buried  in  the  chapel  of  St. 
Mary's  College,  in  Baily-End,  Thetford,  gave  ten  marks  to  orna- 
ment the  said  chapel ;  and  to  the  Master  of  the  same  chapel,  a  le- 
gacy of  18s.  4d. ;  and  40s.  to  build  a  perke*  in  the  church  of  the 
Friars  of  the  Old  House,  in  that  town ;  and  also  a  legacy  to  the 
Nunnery  there. 

ARMS. —  Wright:  sable;  a  chevron,  engrailed,  between  three 
fleurs-de-lis,  or ;  on  a  chief  of  the  2nd.  three  spear  heads,  azure. 


WORLINGTON,  or  WRIDLINGTON. 

In  the  third  of  King  Henry  III.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Maud, 
wife  of  William  de  Beauchamp,  late  wife  of  Roger  de  Scales,  and 
Robert,  sou  of  the  said  Roger,  of  40s.  rent,  in  this  parish,  with  two 
marks  in  Wetherden ;  claimed  as  dower. 

Robert  de  Scales,  his  son  and  heir,  paid  £21  5s.  relief,  for  the 
lands  that  he  held  in  capite,  in  the  34th  of  the  above  reign ;  and 
died  about  the  51st  of  the  same  King :  in  which  year  Sir  William 
de  Clifford,  Escheator,  accounted  for  £8 1  8s.  4d.  issues  of  the  lands 

*  This  was  either  a  rood-loft,  or  a  pedestal  for  some  image  to  stand  upon. 


852  HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD. 

of  the  said  Robert,  in  this  parish,  Micldleton,  and  Eainham,  in 
Norfolk,  for  the  use  of  John  de  Britannia. 

Thomas,  Lord  Scales,  was  killed  in  endeavouring  to  effect  his  es- 
cape from  the  Tower  of  London,  in  the  38th  of  Henry  VI.  He  left 
a  son,  Thomas ;  who  died  it  is  supposed  a  minor  ;  and  a  daughter, 
Elizabeth  ;  who  in  the  2nd  of  Edward  IV.,  was  the  wife  of  Anthony, 
son  and  heir  of  Richard  Wodevile,  Earl  Rivers.  This  Anthony  was 
shortly  afterwards  summoned  to  Parliament  as  Lord  Scales. 

In  the  6th  of  Edward  IV.,  he  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  conveyed 
by  fine,  to  Simon  Baxter,  and  others,  in  trust,  this  manor,  and 
Stonham  Aspal,  with  all  the  other  estates  which  were  of  her  inheri- 
tance ;  and  in  the  1 3th  of  the  said  reign,  the  Lady  Elizabeth  died, 
without  issue.  By  this  fine  these  manors  and  estates  were  settled 
on  the  said  Anthony  and  Elizabeth,  and  their  heirs.  In  1483,  he 
was  arrested  by  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  at  Northampton,  in  coming 
to  London  with  the  young  King  Edward  V.,  of  whom  he  had  the 
governance;  and  was  soon  after  brought  to  the  scaffold.  Lord 
Scales  left  no  legitimate  issue. 

On  the  accession  of  King  Henry  VII.,  Elizabeth,  daughter  and 
heir  of  Sir  John  Howard,  wife  of  John  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford, 
was  found  one  of  the  heirs  of  Elizabeth,  late  Lady  Scales,  above- 
mentioned.  The  other  was  Sir  William  Tyndale ;  and  between 
them  her  large  possessions  became  divided  :  this  estate  was  assigned 
to  Sir  William  Tyndale. 

By  an  inquisition  taken  in  15G8,  it  was  found  that  Henry  Payne, 
late  of  Nowtoii,  died  seized  of  this  manor,  and  lands  in  this  parish, 
Mildenhall,  and  Barton,  purchased  from  Sir  Thomas  Tyndale ;  and 
which  the  deceased  had  settled  by  indenture,  successively  upon 
Henry  and  Thomas,  sons  of  his  brother  Edward,  in  tail  male ;  re- 
mainder to  Nicholas,  another  brother  of  the  deceased ;  remainder  to 
the  right  heirs  of  Anthony  Payne,  the  brother  of  the  deceased. 

The  family  of  Pamplin  appears  to  have  been  formerly  interested 
here  :  Captain  Pamplin,  who  married  a  Guybon,  resided  in  this  pa- 
rish, in  or  about  1640.  The  Hethes,  of  Mildenhall,  were  also  con- 
cerned here  prior  to  this 

Sir  Grey  Cooper,  Bart.,  of  Gogar,  in  Scotland,  died  at  his  seat 
in  this  parish,  July  30,  1801,  in  his  76th  year.  He  represented 
Rochester  in  Parliament  in  1765,  and  was  distinguished  as  a  zea- 
lous adherent  of  the  Marquess  of  Rockingham.  When  that  noble- 
man attained  office,  Sir  Grey,  then  Mr.  Cooper,  was  appointed  Se- 


HUNDRED  OF  LACKFORD.  853 

cretary  of  the  Treasury ;  which  office  he  held  during  the  subsequent 
administration  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  and  Lord  North.  In  1783, 
he  was  made  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Treasury ;  and  in 
1796,  sworn  a  member  of  the  Privy  Council.  He  was  a  political 
writer  of  considerable  notoriety,  and  an  able  speaker  in  Parliament ; 
and  the  warmest  of  his  political  opponents  have  never  branded  his 
character  with  any  charge  of  moral  dishonour.  Sir  Frederick  Grey 
Cooper,  of  Barton  Grange,  Somersetshire,  6th  Baronet  of  this  house, 
is  now  lord  of  this  manor. 

Richard  Blackerby,  a  noted  nonconformist  preacher,  was  a  native 
of  this  parish.  He  was  educated  at  Trinity  College,  Cambridge ; 
and  was  well  skilled  in  the  learned  languages,  which  he  taught  at 
Ashen,  near  Clare,  in  this  county ;  where  he  had  a  considerable 
number  of  scholars,  some  of  whom  have  been  men  of  eminence. 
There  is  a  small  oval  portrait  of  Mr.  Blackerby,  published  in  "  Clark's 
Lives,"  and  further  particulars  concerning  him.  He  deceased  in 
1648. 

ARMS. — Cooper :  argent ;  a  chevron,  gules,  charged  with  another, 
ermine,  between  three  laurel  leaves,  slipped,  proper. 

CHARITIES. — In  1620,  John  Mortlock  devised  30s.  to  poor  peo- 
ple here,  being  of  honest  conversation,  to  be  paid  annually  outvof 
certain  lands  now  belonging  to  John  Godfrey,  of  this  parish. — 
Thomas  Blackerby  in  1688,  gave  by  will,  to  five  several  towns,  in- 
cluding this  parish,  24s.  a  year  each,  to  buy  six  loaves  of  bread 
weekly,  to  be  distributed  to  six  protestant  poor  people  in  every  pa- 
rish, that  should  constantly  come  to  church. — The  sum  of  24s.  a 
year,  for  this  parish,  is  paid  as  a  rent  charge,  issuing  out  of  the  im- 
propriate  rectory,  or  tithes,  of  Stowupland. — A  benefaction  of  £50, 
given  by  some  person  unknown,  is  secured  on  the  tolls  of  the  turn- 
pike road  from  Thetford  to  Newmarket,  with  interest  of  £5  per  cent. 
These  several  yearly  sums  are  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  bread, 
which  is  distributed  among  poor  persons,  weekly. 


Or  KISEBRUGE. 


This  Hundred  is  bounded  on  the  East,  by  the  Hundreds  of 
Babergh,  Lackford,  and  Thingoe  ;  on  the  West,  by  Cambridge- 
shire ;  on  the  North,  by  Lackford;  and  on  the  South,  by  the 
river  Stour,  which  divides  it  from  Essex.  It  contains  the  fol- 
lowing parishes : — 

BARNARDISTON, 
BRADLEY  MAGNA, 
BRADLEY  PARTA, 
CLARE, 
CHEDBURGH, 
CHILTON, 
COOLINGE, 
DALHAM, 


DENHAM, 

DENSTON, 

DEPDEN, 

GAZELY, 

HATERHILL, 

HAWKEDON, 

HUNDON, 


KEDINGTON, 
KENTFORD, 

LlDGATE, 

MOULTON, 

OUSDEN, 

POSLINGFORD, 

STANSFIELD, 

STOKE, 

STRADDISHALL, 

THURLOW  MAGNA, 

THURLOW  PARVA, 

WHIXOE, 

WlCKHAMBROOK, 

WETHERSFIELD, 

GREAT  &  LITTLE  WRATTING. 


In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  /.,  the  fee  of  this  Hundred  was 
in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury  ;  but  since  the  dissolution 
of  that  Monastery,  has  been  in  the  Crown  ;  and  the  government 
in  the  Sheriff,  and  his  officers. 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 


BAENAKDISTON,  or  CHILBOURNE. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states,  that  in  the  9th  of  Ed- 
ward I.,  this  was  the  lordship  and  demesne  of  Margaret  de  Wil- 
loughby ;  and  subsequently  of  Thomas  de  Woodstock,  Earl  of 
Buckingham,  and  Duke  of  Gloucester,  6th  son  of  King  Edward 
III. ;  and  was  one  of  the  estates  with  which  he  endowed  the  College 
of  Fleshy,  in  Essex,  on  its  foundation,  in  the  16th  of  Kichard  II. 

This  parish  is  however  chiefly  remarkable  as  having  given  name 
to  the  ancient  and  Knightly  family  of  Barnardiston  ;  the  various 
branches  of  which  became  seated  at  Kedington,  Brightwell,  and 
Wyverston,  in  this  county.  Two  members  of  this  house  were  ad- 
vanced to  the  dignity  of  Baronets  :  namely,  Sir  Thomas  Barnar- 
diston, Bart.,  so  created  by  Charles  II.,  April  7,  1663  (he  resided  at 
Kedington)  ;  and  Sir  Samuel  Barnardiston,  of  Brightwell,  Bart., 
the  llth  of  May,  within  the  same  year.  The  former  title  became 
extinct  about  1750,  and  the  latter  expired  the  21st  of  Sept.,  1712. 
Nathaniel  Barnardiston,  Esq.,  of  the  Ryes,  at  Little  Heny,  in  Essex, 
is  the  present  representative  of  this  family. 

CHARITIES. — Two  small  parcels  of  land,  containing  together 
something  less  than  an  acre,  rent  14s.  per  annum,  which  is  distri- 
buted among  poor  widows  at  Christmas.  (For  Vernon's  gift,  see 
parish  of  Great  Wratting,  in  this  hundred.) 


GREAT  BRADLEY. 

Roger  Bigod,  Earl  of  the  East  Angles,  and  founder  of  the  Priory 
of  Cluniac  Monks  at  Thetford,  appears  to  have  been  interested  here. 
He  gave  to  that  Monastery  all  the  right  that  he  held  in  the  churches 
of  his  demesne  ;  among  which  both  the  Bradleys  are  named :  and 
William  Bigod,  his  son.  and  heir,  Steward  of  the  Household  to  King 


858  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

Henry  I.,  confirmed  his  father's  grants ;  and  added,  among  other 
gifts,  two  parts  of  the  tithes  of  Bradley. 

In  the  8th  of  Edward  III.,  Thomas  de  Botetourt  held  the  lord- 
ship of  this  parish,  in  right  of  Joan  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir 
of  John  de  Somery,  Baron  of  Dudley.  She  survived,  and  in  her 
widowhood,  during  the  minority  of  John,  her  eldest  son  and  heir, 
procured  a  charter  of  free  warren,  in  this  and  all  her  other  demesne 
land ;  and  left  this  manor,  so  privileged,  to  her  son,  Thomas  Scroope, 
the  noted  enthusiastic  monk. 

He  was  a  native  of  this  parish,  and  derive  from  the  illustrious 
family  of  Scroope,  in  Yorkshire.  He  was  first  a  monk  of  the  Be- 
nedictine order ;  afterwards  aspiring  to  greater  perfection,  he  em- 
braced the  profession  of  a  Dominican  ;  and  subsequently  submitted 
himself  to  the  discipline  of  the  Carmelites ;  and  after  preaching 
about  the  country,  clothed  in  sackcloth,  withdrew  to  a  house  of 
that  order,  in  Norwich ;  where  he  continued  twenty  years,  leading 
the  life  of  a  recluse. 

After  this  he  travelled  abroad,  and  was  advanced  to  the  Bishopric 
of  Dromore,  in  Ireland ;  which  he  afterwards  resigned,  and  returned 
into  these  eastern  counties,  became  Suffragan  to  the  Bishop  of 
Norwich,  and  vicar  of  Lowestoft,  where  he  died  in  1491 ;  and  was 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  that  parish  church,  being  nearly  100  years 
of  age. 

In  1764,  Thomas  Brand,  Esq.,  was  lord  of  this  .manor,  and  pa- 
tron of  the  living ;  whose  eldest  son  and  heir,  Thos.  Brand,  Baron 
Dacre,  by  the  Hon.  Gertrude  Roper,  a  Peeress  in  her  own  right, 
sister  and  heiress  to  Charles  Trevor  Eoper,  18th  Lord  Dacre,  is 
now  owner  of  this  property. 

ARMS. — Brand :  azure  ;  two  swords  in  saltier,  argent,  pommels 
and  hilts,  or ;  within  a  bordure,  engrailed,  of  the  second. 


LITTLE  BRADLEY,  or  BRADELEIA. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states,  that  in  the  9th  of  Ed- 
ward I.,  the  lordship  and  demesne  of  this  parish  were  vested  in 
Jourdan  Witherfield.  In  the  39th  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  John  de  As- 
pale,  by  deed,  settled  the  manor  of  Overhall,  in  Little  Bradley,  upon 
himself,  and  Katherine  his  wife,  in  tail.  She  was  the  daughter  and 


HUNDRED  OF  11ISBRIDGK.  859 

heir  of  Sir  Gilbert  Peche ;  and  there  was  issue  of  this  Sir  John 
and  Katherine,  an  only  child,  Mirabel,  wife  of  William  Geddyng. 
Their  grnndson,  John  Geddyng,  in  the  7th  of  Edward  IV.,  conveyed 
Pychard's  fee,  and  Overhall,  in  Little  Bradley,  to  John,  Duke  of 
Suffolk,  Sir  John  Heveninghnm,  and  other  trustees ;  and  died  in 
the  following  year.  The  wardship  of  Kobert,  his  son  and  heir,  was 
granted  to  Anthony,  Earl  Rivers,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

The  family  of  Underbill  were  certainly  very  early  interested  here ; 
their  arms  are  placed  upon  a  stone  shield,  wrought  in  the  masonry 
of  the  tower  of  Little  Bradley  church ;  and  also  in  ancient  stained 
glass,  in  one  of  the  south  windows  of  the  nave  of  that  building. 

It  appears  to  have  passed,  by  the  marriage  of  an  heiress  of  that 
family,  to  the  Knightons.  Anne,  the  only  daughter  of  Thomas 
Knighton,  Gent.,  of  this  parish,  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Knighton, 
Esq.,  of  Bayford,  in  Hertfordshire,  married  Richard  le  Hunte,  Gent., 
son  and  heir  of  Wm.  le  Hunte,  of  Ashen,  in  Essex,  Esq.  :  a  family 
of  note,  for  many  generations  established  at  Springfield,  in  that 
county,  from  whence  they  removed  to  Ashen  ;  and,  upon  the  above 
marriage,  to  this  place. 

This  Richard  le  Hunte  died  in  1540  :  Anne  his  wife,  remarried 
Thos.  Soame,  Gent.,  of  Betley,  in  Norfolk  ;  and  deceased  in  1558. 
The  descendants  of  Richard  le  Hunte  continued  to  reside  at  Hunt's 
Hall,  in  Little  Bradley,  for  several  generations.  The  last  of  the 
family  appears  to  have  been  Thomas  le  Hunte,  Esq.,  son  of  Sir 
George  le  Hunte,  Knt.,  of  this  parish  ;  who  died  in  1703,  aged  76, 
and  lies  interred  under  an  altar  tomb,  on  the  south  side  of  the  church- 
yard, in  the  parish  of  Carleton  Rode,  Norfolk ;  with  Margaret  his 
wife;  who  died  in  1716,  aged  80  years. 

Alice,  only  daughter  of  Richd.  le  Hunte,  Esq.,  by  Anne  Knighton 
his  wife,  was  the  second  wife  of  John  Daye,  printer  and  publisher 
of  the  works  of  Bishop  Latimer,  Archbishop  Parker,  and  Fox,  tho 
martyrologist ;  who  was  a  native  of  Dunwich,  in  this  county.  He 
commenced  business  about  1546  ;  but  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary, 
for  some  time  suffered  imprisonment,  and  afterwards  fled  the  king- 
dom. However  he  had  returned  in  1556  ;  and  after  the  accession  of 
Elizabeth,  received  a  large  share  of  the  patronage  of  those  labourers 
in  the  cause  of  the  Reformation  with  whom  he  had  previously  suf- 
fered ;  and  became  one  of  the  principal  publishers  in  England. 

Mr.  Daye's  death  occurred  at  Walden,  in  Essex,  on  the  23rd  of 
July,  1584  ;  and  he  was  buried  on  the  2nd  of  the  following  month, 


860  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church  His  monument  still  remains 
in  good  preservation  ;  an  engraving  of  which  is  inserted  in  the 
"  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1832,  part  ii.,  p.  417  ;  accompanied 
with  a  very  curious  and  interesting  memoir ;  with  some  further 
notices  at  p.  597,  of  the  same  volume. 

Sir  Stephen  Soame,  Knt.,  Sheriff  of  London  in  1589,  and  Lord 
Mayor  in  1598,  was  a  native  of  this  parish;  being  second  son  of 
Thomas  Soame,  hy  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Knighton, 
and  relict  of  Eichard  le  Hunte,  as  above  stated.  He,  and  his  de- 
scendants, were  seated  at  the  adjoining  parish  of  Little  Thurlow  for 
many  generations. 

This  entire  parish  is  now  the  joint  property  of  William  Lamprell, 
Esq.,  who  resides  at  the  Hall ;  and  Charles  Lamprell,  Gent.,  his 
brother,  who  lives  at  Canning's  farm,  near  the  church.  His  son, 
Charles  Wigglesworth  Lamprell,  is  the  present  incumbent,  and  re- 
sides at  Great  Thurlow,  in  this  hundred. 

ARMS. — Underhill:  gules  ;  six  annulets,  or  ;  three,  two,  and  one. 
Knighton :  barry  of  eight,  argent  and  azure ;  on  a  canton  of  the 
1st,  a  tun,  gules.  Le  Hunte :  vert;  a  saltier,  or.  Daye :  ermine; 
on  a  chief  indented,  azure,  two  eagles  displayed,  argent. 


CLARE. 

This  town  is  seated  on  the  river  Stour,  which  separates  in  its 
course  for  many  miles,  the  counties  of  Essex  and  Suffolk.  It  has 
a  tolerable  market  for  grain  on  Fridays,  and  was  formerly  a  place 
of  much  note ;  celebrated  for  a  Castle  not  inferior  in  grandeur  to 
any  of  the  feudal  mansions  in  the  kingdom.  It  occupied  the  angle 
formed  by  the  junction  of  a  small  stream  with  the  Stour;  which 
situation,  when  improved  by  art,  rendered  it  a  military  position  of 
considerable  importance,  upon  the  borders  of  the  East  Anglian 
kingdom.  The  whole  site  occupies  upwards  of  twenty  acres;  few  ves- 
tiges however  now  remain  to  attest  the  existence  of  such  a  structure. 

Inspecting  the  first  foundation  of  this  Castle,  nothing  authentic 
is  recorded,  but  it  has  been  supposed  to  have  been  erected  during 
the  heptarchy :  no  mention,  however,  is  made  of  it  in  history,  till 
two  centuries  afterwards.  In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  or 
Canute,  the  honour  of  Clare  was  composed  chiefly  of  the  great  pos- 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDOE.  861 

sessions  in  Suffolk  and  Essex,  of  Alfric,  son  of  Withgar  (or  Wisgar). 
This  Thane  had  the  custody  for  Queen  Emma,  of  the  franchise  of 
the  eight  hundreds  and  a  half  in  Suffolk;  since  known  as  the 
Liberty  of  St.  Edmund.  The  Collegiate  Church  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  at  Clare  Castle,  afterwards  removed  to  Stoke  by  Clare,  was 
founded  by  him,  with  the  consent  of  his  son,  Withgar. 

The  honour  of  Clare  was  included  in  the  grant  made  by  William 
the  Conqueror  to  his  kinsman,  Kichard  Fitz  Gilbert ;  and  from  this 
place  he  was  sometimes  designated  Richard  de  Clare,  but  more  com- 
monly \vent  by  the  name  of  Tonebruge,  from  his  residence  in  that 
town ;  now  called  Tunbridge.  He  gave  this  lordship  to  his  son, 
Gilbert  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Hertford.  This  Earl,  in  the  year  1090, 
gave  the  above-named  church  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  in  the  Castle 
of  Clare,  to  the  Benedictine  Abbey  of  St.  Mary,  at  Bee,  in  Nor- 
mandy. He  considerably  augmented  the  revenues  of  this  church. 
These  monks  continued  within  the  Castle  until  1 124  ;  when  Richard 
de  Tonbrigge,  Earl  of  Clare,  removed  the  Monastery  to  the  church 
of  St.  Augustine,  at  Stoke. 

The  above  Richard  is  thought  to  have  been  the  first  of  the  family 
dignified  with  the  title  of  Earl  of  Clare ;  which  continued  in  his 
descendants  to  the  time  of  Edward  II. ;  when  Gilbert,  the  son  of 
Gilbert,  Earl  of  Clare,  by  Joan  de  Acres,  daughter  of  King  Edward 
I.,  dying  without  issue  male,  the  honour  became  extinct ;  but  was 
subsequently  revived  by  new  creations. 

The  Castle  and  honour  of  Clare  passed  to  the  Mortimers,  Earls 
of  March,  by  the  marriage  of  Edmund  Mortimer,  with  Phillippa, 
sole  daughter  and  heiress  of  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence ;  and  Ed- 
mund, son  of  Roger  Mortimer,  and  grand-son  of  this  Edmund  and 
Phillippa,  inherited  the  same.  Fuller  thinks  it  most  probable  that 
he  was  born,  where  he  was  buried,  at  Clare.  After  the  death  of  King 
Richard  II.,  he  was  the  next  heir  to  the  Crown.  "  Happy  had  he 
been,"  says  that  writer,  "  if  either  nearer  to  it,  so  as  to  enjoy  the 
honour  thereof,  or  farther  off,  so  as  not  to  be  envied  and  suspected 
for  his  title  thereunto  by  King  Henry  the  fourth." 

"  He  employed  this  Edmund  in  a  war  against  Owen  Glendower, 
the  Welsh  rebel,  on  the  same  design  that  Saul  sent  David  to  fight 
against  and  fetch  the  fore-skins  of  the  Philistines.  If  he  proved 
conqueror,  then  was  King  Henry  freed  from  a  professed  foe ;  if 
conquered,  then  was  ho  rid  of  a  suspected  subject.  But  Mortimer 
went  by  the  worst ;  and,  being  taken  prisoner,  the  King  (though 


862  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

often  solicited)  never  endeavoured  his  enlargement,  till  at  last  he 
dearly  ransomed  himself.  Yet  did  he  but  exchange  a  Welsh  for 
an  Irish  prison ;  kept  twenty  years  in  his  own  castle  of  Trim,  in  the 
end  of  the  reign  of  cunning  Henry  IV.,  all  the  reign  of  courageous 
Henry  V.,  and  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  innocent  Henry  VI. ; 
their  different  tempers  meeting  in  cruelty  against  this  poor  prisoner." 
He  died  in  1424,  without  issue,  leaving  Anne,  his  sister,  his  heir. 
Eichard  Plantagcnet,  succeeded  to  the  Earldom,  and  inherited  his 
estate. 

The  whole  site  of  the  Castle  was  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  the 
Crown,  from  the  accession  of  Edward  IV.,  till  the  year  1553  ;  when 
Edward  VI.,  granted  it,  together  with  other  lands,  to  Sir  John 
Cheke ;  which  were  resumed  to  the  Crown  by  Queen  Mary,  in  the 
first  year  of  her  reign ;  and  since  that  time  it  has  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  Barnardiston  family;  prior  to  1655,  Sir  Thomas 
Barnardiston  was  owner  of  it.  It  has  been  many  years  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  family  of  Elwes,  of  Stoke  College ;  and  now  belongs 
to  John  Payne  Elwes,  Esq.,  of  that  place. 

Near  the  ruins  of  the  Castle  stands  Clare  Priory,  formerly  a  Mo- 
nastery of  Austin  Friars  (or  Friars  Cremites),  the  foundation  of  which 
is  ascribed  to  Richard  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester ;  who  introduced 
this  order  of  friars  in  England,  in  1248  ;  and  about  that  period  es- 
tablished them  here,  in  their  Priory  and  Conventual  Church  ;  which 
had  afterwards  several  noble  benefactors  and  patrons.* 

Mr.  Taylor,  in  his  "  Index  Monasticus,"  observes,  that  "  this 
Priory,  as  it  now  remains,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  best 
preserved  memorials  of  monastic  times  and  institutions  to  be  seen 
in  the  diocese  of  Norwich.  The  whole  appearance  of  the  building 
is  in  excellent  accordance  with  its  original  destination.  The  con- 
ventual church,  in  which  so  many  persons  of  distinction  were  in- 

*  Henry  Bederic,  a  native  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  was  a  monk  of  this  Priory. 
Having  in  his  youth  shown  a  ready  capacity,  and  a  great  zeal  after  learning,  his  su- 
periors were  desirous  to  improve  these  excellent  qualities,  and  for  this  end  sent  him 
not  only  to  our  English,  but  also  to  foreign  Universities;  where,  by  close  applica- 
tion to  his  studies,  he  acquired  such  popularity,  that  he  became  a  Doctor  of  the 
Sorbonne  at  Paris.  Soon  after  he  returned  to  England,  where  he  was  much  fol- 
lowed, and  greatly  admired  for  the  eloquence  of  his  preaching.  This  qualification, 
together  with  great  integrity  and  ready  skill,  so  recommended  him  to  favour,  that 
he  was  elected  Provincial  of  his  order  throughout  England  ;  in  which  station  his 
commendable  conduct  obtained  very  general  esteem.  He  was  the  author  of  several 
works  on  theology,  and  flourished  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II. 


HUNDRED  OF  R1SBRIDGE.  863 

terred,  is  situated  on  the  north-east  side  of  the  friary,  and  is  now 
appropriated  to  the  purposes  of  a  barn.  The  remains  of  a  bridge, 
having  originally  four  or  five  arches,  over  the  moat,  shows  the 
former  communication  between  the  adjoining  Castle  and  the  Friary." 

After  the  dissolution  of  Monasteries,  the  friary  and  its  demesne 
lands,  lying  in  the  adjoining  parishes  of  Clare,  Ashen,  and  Bel- 
champ  St.  Paul,  being  altogether  about  150  acres,  were  granted,  in 
the  31st  of  Henry  VIII.,  to  Richard  Friend:  it  has  since  passed 
into  the  families  of  Cocksall.  nnd  Barker  (who  married  the  two 
daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Friend),  Barnardiston,  Butler,  and  in 
1764,  it  belonged  to  Mr.  Poulter ;  in  1787  was  the  property  of 
William  Shrive,  who  devised  the  same  to  Lieut.  Col.  Barker ;  in 
whose  family  it  still  remains. 

Part  of  the  building  appears  to  have  been  fitted  up  as  a  mansion- 
house,  soon  after  its  suppression;  and  has  continued  to  be  inhabited 
ever  since  by  the  successive  owners  of  the  estate,  or  their  tenants, 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  is  a  handsome 
structure,  with  a  square  tower,  and  is  now  the  principal  ornament  of 
the  town.  From  its  stately  appearance,  there  is  every  reason  to  sup- 
pose that  it  was  erected  at  the  cost  of  the  lords,  who  allowed  the 
towns  people  the  use  thereof.  Among  other  persons  of  distinction 
interred  here,  is  Edmund,  Earl  of  March  ;  who  deceased  in  1424. 
It  also  contains  a  monument,  supposed  to  be  in  memory  of  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knightly  family  of  Cavendish. 

It  appears  from  the  patent  rolls,  that  King  John  visited  Clare, 
Sept.  16,  1216,  just  before  his  decease  ;  when  flying  from  one  re- 
treat to  another  for  refuge,  pursued  by  his  rebellious  Barons. 

The  Brises,  whose  estates  on  failure  of  the  male  line  in  1827,  de- 
volved upon  the  descendant  of  the  marriage  of  Thomas  Ruggles, 
Esq.,  and  Ann  Brise,  were,  for  several  generations  resident  in  Surrey. 
Shadrach  Brise,  Esq.,  purchased  in  1671,  Cavendish  Place,  in  this 
county  ;  whither  he  removed  his  family  in  1679.  He  married  Eli- 
zabeth, daughter  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Pakeman,  minister  of  Har- 
row-on-the-Hill ;  and  dying  in  1699,  left,  with  several  other  children, 
a  sou,  Joshua  Brise,  Esq.,  born  in  1675. 

This  gentleman,  after  passing  many  years  in  mercantile  business 
in  London,  retired  to  this  town,  and  purchased,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, various  estates.  Mr.  Brise  died  in  1749,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son,  Shadrach  Brise,  Esq.,  of  Clare  ;  fur  many  years 
.an  active  magistrate  of  this  county;  who  was  appointed  in  1762, 


864  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

High  Sheriff  for  Suffolk.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John 
Cator,  Esq. ;  hut  dying  without  issue,  in  1788,  he  entailed,  by  will, 
his  Suffolk  estates,  on  his  only  surviving  brother,  for  life ;  and  after 
his  decease,  on  his  nephew,  Thomas  Buggies,  Esq. ;  and  then  on  his 
son,  the  present  proprietor. 

Samuel  Brise,  Esq.,  of  this  town,  and  of  Pentlow  Hall,  in  Essex, 
deceased  at  Clare,  in  1827,  aged  95;  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
great  nephew,  the  present  John  Buggies  Brise,  Esq.,  of  Clare,  and 
Spain's  Hall,  in  Essex.  Mr.  Buggies  Brise,  is  a  Barrister  of  the 
Inner  Temple  ;  and  was  appointed  in  1829,  High  Sheriff  of  this 
county.  Upon  inheriting  the  possessions  of  his  grand-mother's  fa- 
mily, he  assumed  the  additional  surnamt:  and  arms  of  Brise. 

ARMS. — Clare :  or  ;  three  chevronels,  gules.  Mortimer,  Earl 
of  March  :  barry  of  six,  or  and  azure  ;  on  a  chief  of  the  first,  three 
pallets,  between  two  esquires,  bast  dexter  and  sinister  of  the  second; 
an  inescutcheon,  argent.  Brise:  lozengy,  gules  and  argent ;  within 
a  bordure,  sable,  fleury  of  eight  quateribils,  a  cross  of  the  second. 
Ruggles  :  argent ;  a  chevron  between  three  roses,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  lands  lie  in  this,  and  adjoining  parishes; 
and  the  rents  are  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and  payment 
of  other  expenses  incidental  to  the  office  of  churchwarden.  These 
consist  of  about  22  acres,  with  five  cottages,  and  the  site  of  a 
blacksmith's  shop  ;  which  produce  an  aggregate  rent  of  about  ,£110 
per  annum. — The  poor's  and  almshouse  land,  consist  of  about  14 
acres  ;  which,  together  with  certain  cottages,  produce  a  rent  of  about 
£50  a  year :  appropriated  partly  in  support  of  the  almshouse  (which 
consist  of  four  cottages  near  the  church-yard,  occupied  by  eight 
poor  widows),  and  partly  in  providing  bread  for  the  poor. — In  1668, 
William  Cadge  devised  a  rent  charge  of  i'25  per  annum,  out  of  cer- 
tain estates  his  property;  the  same  to  be  applied  as  follows:  £10 
yearly  to  be  paid  to  a  school-master,  for  instructing  10  poor  boys 
in  Clare,  in  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic ;  and  the  residue  to  be 
laid  out  for  and  towards  clothing  eight  poor  widows,  born  and  in- 
habiting in  Clare.  This  annuity  having  fallen  greatly  in  arrear,  the 
churchwardens  entered  into  possession,  about  the  year  1735,  of  an 
estate  called  Bockard's,  in  the  parish  of  Barnardiston,  which  they 
have  ever  since  held  as  belonging  to  the  parishioners,  subject  to  the 
payment  of  the  charges  mentioned  in  the  will. — By  letters  patent, 
dated  in  the  1st  and  2nd  years  of  Philip  and  Mary,  their  Majesties, 
in  consideration  of  100  marks,  demised  unto  Ambrose  Gilbert,,  and 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  865 

others,  the  demesne  of  the  manor  of  Earbury  otherwise  (Earhury 
Hall),  parcel  of  the  honour  of  Clare,  comprising  about  1,000  acres, 
for  99  years  ;  to  the  intent  that  they  should  grant  the  same  to  those 
that  were  tenants  and  inhabitants  thereof,  for  the  term  of  97  years, 
at  the  yearly  rent  of  £3 1  1 3s.  4d. ;  and  in  the  letters  patent  was 
contained  a  covenant  by  the  lessees,  to  permit  such  tenants  and  in- 
habitants of  the  borough  of  Clare  as  had  not  within  the  said  borough 
above  15  acres  of  land,  to  depasture  their  kine  and  horses  upon  the 
land  and  pasture  called  Houndwall,  and  Earbury  Garden,  parcel  of 
the  said  demesne,  at  the  yearly  sum  of  20d.  for  every  cow  for  the 
summer,  and  8d.  for  the  winter  ;  and  the  sum  of  £3  6s.  8d.  was  re- 
served as  the  rent  of  the  parcel  of  ground,  and  as  part  of  the  reserved 
rent  of  £31  13s.  4d.,  payable  to  the  Crown.    Under  this  demise  the 
piece  of  ground  was  held  and  enjoyed  by  the  poorer  tenants  within 
the  borough  for  depasturing  their  cattle,  subject  to  the  government 
of  the  headborough  of  Clare.     In  the  2nd  of  James  I.,  his  Majesty 
granted  the  reversion  of  the  demesnes  of  the  manor  to  Sir  Henry 
Bromley,  in  fee-farm,  subject  to  the  above  reserved  rent ;    and  a 
proposal  was  made  by  Sir  Henry,  to  settle,  in  consideration  of  the 
sum  of  £200,  the  piece  of  ground  called  Houndwall,  and  Earbury 
Garden,  to  be  used  by  the  poorer  inhabitants  in  perpetuity,  as  it 
had  previously  been  used ;   but  some  disputes  having  arisen-upon 
the  negotiation,  it  became  finally  settled,  in  the  8th  of  James  I.,  by 
a  decree  in  Chancery.    This  pasture  contains  by  estimation  62  acres, 
and  has  been  conveyed  from  time  to  time  to  new  feoffees  in  succes- 
sion, who  hold  a  yearly  meeting  in  Easter  week,  when  this  pasture 
is  let  in  gates,  or  depasturing,  for  40  cows,  the  sum  usually  paid  for 
each  cow,  is  25s.  to  the  poorer  classes,  and  40s.  to  others ;  but 
there  is  generally  a  sufficient  number  of  applicants  of  the  former 
description.     The  income  arising  from  the  letting  of  the  pasture  in 
this  manner,  usually  amounts  to  about  £50  a  year ;   which,  after 
deducting  the  necessary  charges,  is  distributed  among  the  poorer 
inhabitants  of  Clare,  belonging  to  the  parish,  who  have  no  cows 
depastured. 


CHEDBURGH,  or  CILEBURNA. 
The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  says,  this  lordship  anciently 


8CG  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGK. 

belonged  to  Thomas  de  Verdon.  The  Drury  and  Sparrow  families 
were  interested  here  at  a  subsequent  period. 

It  now  forms  part  of  the  domain  of  the  noble  house  of  Hervey  ; 
almost  the  entire  parish,  with  the  advowson  of  the  rectory,  being 
the  property  of  Frederick  William,  Marquess  of  Bristol. 

The  church  is  a  small  mean  structure,  and  contains  a  memorial 
to  one  of  its  former  incumbents,  Thomas  Knowles,  D.D.;  who  also 
held  the  rectory  of  Ickworth,  and  was  a  Prebendary  of  Ely  Ca- 
thedral, also  Lecturer  of  St.  Mary's  parish,  Bury  St.  Edmund's. 
Doctor  Knowles  deceased  in  1802.  George  Ingram,  A.M.,  is  the 
present  rector. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  ££  a  year  is  distributed  among  the  poor 
of  this  parish ;  and  a  poor  widow  of  this  parish,  and  Heed,  alter- 
nately, is  entitled  to  be  placed  in  the  almshouse  at  Hawstead,  and 
receive  £5  a  year.  These  are  from  thd  gift  of  Sir  Eobert  Drury, 
Knt. — A  piece  of  land,  containing  3|-  acres,  or  thereabouts,  in  the 
parish  of  Langham,  which  was  purchased  in  the  8th  of  James  I., 
with  donations  of  Henry  Sparrow,  and  Oliver  Sparrow,  for  the  rec- 
tor and  the  poor,  lets  at  £3  10s.  a  year ;  of  which  the  rector  retains 
two-thirds,  and  distributes  the  residue  among  poor  persons;  together 
with  the  yearly  sum  of  10s.  which  is  paid  under  a  donation  of  An- 
thony Sparrow,  as  a  rent  charge  out  of  a  mill  at  Stanstead. 


CHILTON, 

Is  a  hamlet  of  Clare,  which  Mr.  Kirby  has  confounded  with  Chipley, 
in  the  parish  of  Poslingford.  The  remains  mentioned  by  that  author, 
are  part  of  a  chapel,  which  was  anciently  served  by  one  of  the  canons 
of  Chipley  Priory. 


COOLING,  or  CULINGE. 

This  lordship  was  the  inheritance  of  William  d'Eureux,  Earl  of 
Salisbury,  by  his  marriage  with  Eleanor  de  Viteri,  daughter  of 
Tirrel  de  Mainers,  and  in  her  right ;  and  passed  to  William  Long- 
espee,  illegitimate  sou  of  Bang  Henry  II.,  by  fair  Kosamond ;  who 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  867 

married  Ela,  only  daughter  of  the  said  Wm.  d'Eureux,  and  Eleanor 
his  wife.  He  was  also  Earl  of  Salisbury  and  Somerset.  William  his 
son,  succeeded,  and  died  without  issue,  in  the  time  of  Henry  III. 

In  the  next  reign  it  was  in  the  possession  of  Robert  de  Aspal ; 
and  in  the  32nd  of  that  King,  John  de  Benestede  obtained  a  charter 
of  free  warren  in  his  demesne  lands  here,  and  left  it  so  privileged  to 
his  heirs. 

In  the  17th  of  Edward  I.,  Warine  Fitz  Hugh  had  an  interest 
here,  in  right  of  Alice  his  wife,  relict  of  John  de  St.  Clere  ;  and 
left  two  daughters  and  co-heirs.  Mabel  married  Robert  de  St.  Lys; 
and  Alice,  Walter  de  Clopton ;  who  contended  for  the  lands  of 
Warine,  in  this  parish,  and  his  other  property  iii  Norfolk  :  upon  a 
division  of  his  estate,  the  property  in  Cooling  was  assigned  to 
Mabel ;  and  Alice  had  the  residue. 

Catherine,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  de  Aspal,  married 
Sir  Robert  Norwood,  of  Norwood,  in  Kent.  Joan,  their  daughter 
and  heir,  married,  first,  Roger,  Lord  Scales,  who  died  in  the  10th 
of  Richard  II. ;  and  lady  Joan  afterwards  re-married  to  Sir  Edmund 
Thorp,  of  Ashwell  Thorp,  in  Norfolk.  In  1 408,  John  Spencer,  and 
Katherine  his  wife,  released  to  Sir  Edmund  Thorp,  and  Joan  his 
wife,  a  moiety  of  this  manor,  which  she  had  in  right  of  her  mother, 
Catherine,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  the  above  Sir  John  de  Aspale. 
Joan  deceased  in  1415,  and  directed  the  lordship  of  Cooling  to  be 
sold. 

John  Farewell,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Park,  Esq. ;  who  married,  first,  Sir  Thomas  Mortimer,  of 
Attleburgh,  in  Norfolk,  Knt. ;  and  secondly,  John  Fastolf,  of  Castor, 
near  Yarmouth ;  by  whom  she  had  Sir  John  Fastolf,  the  renowned 
warrior,  K.G.,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  Mr.  Farewell  died  in 
1401,  and  the  lady  Mary  his  wife,  in  1406. 

Thomas  Wolriche,  of  Cooling,  Esq.,  married  Susan,  2nd  daughter 
of  Gregory  Pratt,  Esq.,  of  Ryston,  in  Norfolk,  and  relict  of  Thomas 
Gawsell,  of  Watlington,  in  the  same  county  ;  who  died  in  1600,  and 
was  buried  at  Watlington. 

Branches,  a  handsome  mansion  in  this  parish,  was  in  1764,  the 
residence  and  estate  of  Ambrose  Dickens,  Esq. ;  and  not  long  since, 
of  Henry  Usborne,  Esq.,  High  Sheriff  for  this  county  in  1823.  It 
consists  of  the  manor,  great  and  small  tithes,  and  2176  acres  of 
land,  including  the  park. 

In  the  25th  of  Edward  III.,  John,  son  of  Sir  John  de  Shardelow, 


868  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

Knt.,  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  Thomas  his  brother,  gave 
the  advowson  of  this  parish  church  to  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge, 
founded  by  William  Bateman,  Bishop  of  Norwich  ;  who,  in  1351, 
procured  it  to  be  appropriated  to  the  said  College,  and  the  cure  was 
to  be  served  by  stipendiary  curates,  paid  by  the  College  ;  who  were 
to  pay  also  a  pension  of  two  marks  a  year  to  the  see,  for  the  loss  of 
its  first  fruits. 

CHARITIES. — Ten  acres  of  land  in  this  parish  are  held  by  the  pa- 
rish clerk,  as  annexed  to  his  office ;  and  the  rents  thereof  are  re- 
ceived by  him. — A  portion  of  rent  payable  for  the  poor  of  Cowlinge, 
out  of  Deyne's  charity  (mentioned  in  the  Moulton  report  of  chari- 
ties), amounts  at  present  to  £20  per  annum  ;  which  is  laid  out  in 
the  purchase  of  blankets  and  sheets,  given  to  poor  persons  not  re- 
ceiving parochial  relief. 


DALHAM. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  Queen  Margaret  held  this  manor  ;  and 
Sir  Walter  de  Norwich,  a  Parliamentary  Baron,  in  the  time  of  Ed- 
ward II.,  obtained  a  grant  thereof,  with  the  advowson,  and  held  the 
same  in  fee.  It  passed,  with  his  other  large  possessions,  to  John, 
his  grand- son  ;  who  devised  them  to  Katherine  de  Brews,  his  cousin 
and  heir ;  who  soon  afterwards  became  a  nun  :  William  de  Ufford, 
Earl  of  Suffolk,  was  found  to  be  her  heir,  and  succeeded  to  this 
estate. 

It  subsequently  became  the  property  and  residence  of  the  Stute- 
villes ;  a  family  of  distinction  and  respectability,  who  came  into 
England  with  the  Conqueror,  and  were  settled  at  Dalham  Hall,  in 
Suffolk,  and  Brinkley,  in  Cambridgeshire,  for  several  centuries.  It 
is  now  merged  in  the  Isaacson  family  :  four  brothers  of  the  latter, 
having  married  the  four  daughters  of  Thomas  Stuteville,  Esq.,  of 
Newmarket,  the  last  heir  male,  about  a  century  since. 

At  about  the  same  period  this  estate  was  purchased  by  Simon 
Patrick,  Bishop  of  Ely  ;  whose  son  sold  the  same  to  Gilbert  Affleck, 
Esq.,  M.P.  for  Cambridge ;  whose  ninth  son,  Edmund  Affleck,  Esq., 
a  gallant  naval  officer,  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1782,  in  conside- 
ration of  his  distinguished  conduct  in  the  command  of  the  centre 
division  in  the  memorable  engagement  between  Admiral  Sir  George 


HUNDRED  OF  RI8BRIDGE.  869 

Kodney,  and  the  French  squadron  under  Count  De  Grasse.  He 
received  also  the  thanks  of  both  houses  of  Parliament. 

Sir  Edward  was  twice  married,  but  dying  without  issue,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  nephew,  Gilbert  Affleck,  Esq.,  of  this  parish ;  who 
also  deceased  in  1808,  without  issue;  when  the  title  devolved  upon 
his  first  cousin,  Sir  James,  a  Lieutenant- General  in  the  army,  and 
Lieutenant- Colonel,  for  38  years,  of  the  15th  dragoons.  He  died, 
unmarried,  in  1833 ;  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Sir  Robert 
Affleck,  Bart.,  his  brother,  who  is  the  present  owner  of  this  estate. 

Dalham  Hall,  the  seat  of  the  present  honourable  Baronet,  was 
erected  in  1705,  by  Dr.  Patrick,  Bishop  of  Ely  ;  and  stands  upon 
an  eminence,  that  commands  a  pleasing  and  extensive  view  of  the 
surrounding  neighbourhood.  It  is  a  handsome  red  brick  structure, 
and  contains  a  good  collection  of  pictures  by  first  rate  artists  of  the 
old  school. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  neat  building,  containing 
memorials  to  divers  of  its  ancient  patrons.  Weever  mentions  one 
to  Thomas  Stuteville,  who  died  in  1449,  and  another  of  the  same 
name,  who  died  in  1460,  with  their  wives.  The  steeple  is  of  mo- 
dern erection,  having  been  re-built  in  1625.  A  massive  obelisk  of 
Portland  stone,  eighteen  feet  high,  and  weighing  upwards  of  eight 
tons,  has  been  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  late  General  Sir  James 
Affleck,  Bart.,  in  this  church-yard ;  inclosed  in  a  circular  iron  pa- 
lisading. The  church  also  contains  a  mural  tablet  to  the  memory 
of  this  gallant  officer. 

ARMS. — Stuteville :  barry  of  ten,  argent  and  gules  ;  a  lion  ram- 
pant, sable.  Affleck :  argent ;  three  bars,  sable. 


DENHAM. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  I.,  the  Bigods  appear  to  have  bee"n 
interested  here.  William  Bigod,  Steward  of  the  Household  to  that 
Monarch,  granted  certain  lands,  called  Egga's  lands,  in  this  parish, 
to  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew,  in  Thetford, 
founded  by  Roger,  his  father ;  and  Herlewyne,  of  Denham,  gave 
four  sticks  of  eels  to  that  Monastery,  at  about  the  same  period. 

By  an  indenture  made  in  the  28th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Thomas, 
Lord  Howard,  sold  to  Thomas  Stuteville,  Esq.,  of  Dalham,  the 


870  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

manor  of  Abbot's  Denham,  which  probably  included  the  above  lands, 
and  also  the  park  and  enclosed  ground,  called  Southwood  Park ; 
which  has  since  passed  as  part  and  parcel  of  the  Dalham  estate. 

Little  Southwood  Park,  which  was  excepted  out  of  the  bargain 
and  sale  from  Thomas,  Lord  Howard,  to  the  Stutevilles,  was  con- 
veyed, by  Lord  Thomas,  to  Sir  John  Heigham,  of  Barrow  ;  and  is 
described  as  lying  in  this  and  adjoining  parishes,  and  as  parcel  of 
the  manor  of  Abbot's  Denham  ;  also  Leasure  Grove,  with  customary 
land,  called  Peppers,  and  other  lands,  parcel  of  the  same  manor. 

The  principal  manor  appears  to  have  been  early  vested  in  the 
Hethe  family.  By  deed  dated  the  20th  of  Eichard  II.,  Kobert  de 
Hethe  enfeoffed  Thomas  Astley  and  others,  in  certain  lands  therein 
named  ;  comprehending,  among  other  property,  the  manor  of  Den- 
ham  ;  and  the  feoffees  re-granted  the  same  to  the  said  Robert,  and 
Margery  his  wife,  and  his  heirs.  He  only  survived  a  few  days,  and 
Thomas  was  found  to  be  his  son  and  heir,  of  the  age  of  13  years. 
In  the  18th  of  Henry  VI.,  this  Thomas  conveyed  by  deed,  his  ma- 
nor of  Denham,  justa  Barrow,  to  Sir  Brian  Stapleton  and  others ; 
after  the  decease  of  himself,  and  Anne  his  wife,  to  fulfil  his  will. 
There  not  being  any  male  issue  of  this  Thomas  Hethe,  or  of  Eliza- 
beth his  sole  daughter  and  heiress,  the  wife  of  William  Berdewell, 
the  trust  for  sale  created  by  his  will  took  effect. 

This  estate  subsequently  became  the  property  of  the  ancient  fa- 
mily of  Lewkenor,  who  were  seated  at  Parham,  in  Sussex,  in  the 
time  of  Edward  IV. ;  and  it  is  stated  in  "  Strype's  Memorials,"  that 
Edward  Lewkenor,  who  married  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert 
Wroth,  of  Enfield,  in  Middlesex,  was  Groom  Porter  to  King  Edward 
VI.  and  Queen  Mary  ;  that  being  implicated  in  Sir  Thomas  Wyatt's 
rebellion,  he  was  arraigned,  and  condemned,  at  Guildhall,  in  1556  ; 
but  died  a  prisoner  in  the  Tower,  before  execution.  An  Act  of  Par- 
liament was  passed  in  the  1st  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  for  restoring  in 
blood  his  issue. 

Sir  Edward  Lewkenor,  Knt.,  of  Kingston  Bowsey,  in  Sussex,  was 
his  eldest  son  and  heir.  He  married  Susan,  eldest  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  Thomas  Heigham,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  and  became  seated 
here.  Sir  Edward  deceased  in  1605,  and  was  buried  here.  Sir  Ed- 
ward, his  son  and  heir,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Ne- 
ville, of  Billingbeare,  in  Berkshire ;  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  and 
three  daughters.  He  died  in  1618,  and  was  buried  at  Denham. 

Edward  Lewkenor,  Esq.,  his  only  surviving  son,  was  baptized 


HUNDRED  OF  RiSBRIDGE.  87  t 

here,  1 7th  May,  1613 ;  and  married  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir 
Wm.  Russel,  Bart.,  of  Chippenham,  in  Cambridgeshire  ;  by  whom 
he  had  a  daughter  and  sole  heir,  who  married  to  Horatio,  1st  Viscount 
Townshend.  He  died  in  1685.  Mrs.  Lewkenor  survived,  and  re- 
married to  John  Gauden,  D.D.,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Worcester. 

Lady  Townsheud  died  in  1673,  without  issue;  and  this  estate 
continued  in  that  noble  family  for  several  generations.  It  is  now 
the  property  of  William  Francis  Gamuel  Farmer,  Esq.,  of  Cudding- 
ton,  in  Surrey,  who  is  sole  proprietor  of  this  parish. 

Mr.  Kirby  states  "  that  this  place  was  extra-parochial,  until  Sir 
Edward  Lewkenor  built  a  church,  or  chapel,  here,  and  endowed  it 
with  the  tithes."  This  is  certainly  a  mistake,  the  first  entry  in  the 
parish  register  is  in  the  30th  of  Henry  VIII.,  1539;  four  years 
prior  to  Sir  Edward's  birth :  nor  is  it  probable  that  he  ever  endowed 
the  living  with  tithes,  seeing  it  is  now  merely  an  unendowed  per- 
petual curacy.  At  the  reformation  it  most  probably  was  wholly 
alienated  to  Sir  Edward  Lewkenor,  whereby  it  remains  tithe  free  to 
this  day.  He  possibly,  about  six  years  before  his  death,  might  have 
repaired  the  ruined  church,  or  chapel,  and  settled  an  officiating 
clergyman  here,  with  a  stipend  of  £100  per  annum,  the  present 
endowment. 

Richard  de  Clare,  in  addition  to  the  original  endowment  of  the  Mo- 
nastery in  Clare  Castle,  enriched  it  with  the  churches  of  Cavenham 
and  Denham,  and  tithes  in  Denham,  &c.,  in  the  time  of  Henry  I. 

ARMS. — Lewkenor :  argent ;  three  chevronels,  azure.  Towns- 
hend (see  p.  209). 

CHARITIES. — In  1662,  Dame  Mary  Townshend  devised  by  her 
will,  £100  to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  lands;  the  rents  and 
profits  whereof  should  be  yearly  employed  for  putting  out  poor  or- 
phan children  apprentices.  This  sum  was  laid  out  in  the  2nd  of 
James  II.,  in  the  purchase  of  an  estate  in  the  parish  of  Cowlinge, 
consisting  of  a  messuage,  a  parcel  of  land,  called  the  Moat  Grove, 
containing  3A.,  another  parcel,  called  Rust  Croft,  by  estimation  OA. 
IR.,  and  a  parcel,  formerly  part  of  Mune's  Green,  containing  about 
8  poles.  This  property  lets  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £14,  the  tenant 
undertaking  to  keep  the  premises  in  repair. — The  yearly  sum  of  £2 
is  paid  as  a  rent  charge  out  of  the  Denham  Hall  estate,  which  is 
understood  to  have  been  given,  or  settled,  by  a  member  of  the 
Townshend  family,  the  former  proprietors;  and  is  distributed  among 
the  poor  at  Christmas. 


872  HUNDRED  OF  RISBB.IDGE. 


DENSTON. — DENARDESTON,  or  DAMARDESTUNA. 

Here  was  a  College,  or  Chantry,  of  regular  canons  ;  consisting  of 
a  warden,  and  certain  number  of  priests,  founded  by  John  Denston ; 
on  the  day  of  whose  anniversary,  40s.  were  customarily  given  here 
to  the  poor.  In  or  about  1474,  Sir  John  Howard,  Knt.,  and  John 
Broughton,  jun.,  are  styled  founders. 

It  was  endowed  with  the  collegiate  church  of  Denston,  with  a 
manor  called  Beamonds,  and  with  lands  in  Lilsey,  Monk's  Eleigh, 
Groton,  and  Bradley  Parva  :  the  gross  value  in  "  Liber  Valorum," 
and  "  Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  was  £25  9s.  2|d.  In  1548,  Sir  Thos. 
Smith,  Knt.,  and  John  Smith,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  same,  and  it 
has  since  passed  with  the  lordship. 

In  the  9th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Thomas  Smith  sold  the  above 
manor,  vicarage,  and  site  of  the  said  College,  to  William,  son  of 
William  Burd,  citizen  and  mercer  of  London ;  who  died  in  1591, 
and  was  buried  here.  It  was  purchased  of  a  William  Burd,  Esq., 
by  John  Kobinson,  Esq.,  very  soon  after.  Mr.  Eobinson  died  in 
1609  :  John,  his  son,  died  at  the  great  age  of  96,  in  1673  ;  and 
Bridget  his  wife,  daughter  of  Kobert  Jenkinson,  Esq ,  of  London, 
died  in  1675,  aged  90.  John  their  son,  born  in  1625,  at  Denston 
Hall,  died  in  1659. 

Lieut. -General  Eobinson,  son  of  John  Kobinson,  Esq.,  Lieut.  - 
Colonel  in  the  Coldstream  regiment  of  Foot  Guards,  married  Ee- 
becca,  eldest  daughter  of  Eobert,  Lord  Clive  ;  and  died  at  Paris  in 
1819,  aged  62.  This  gallant  officer,  during  the  revolutionary  war, 
raised  and  commanded  a  corps  of  Fencibles  ;  and  was  one  of  the 
members  in  Parliament  for  Bishop  Castle,  for  many  years. 

This  lordship  was  not  long  since  vested  in  William  Eobinson, 
Esq. ;  but  by  the  registration  in  1840,  it  appears  to  be  the  estate 
of  William  Pigott,  Esq.,  of  Dulliugham  House,  Cambridge  ;  and 
Samuel  Yate  Benyon,  Esq.,  occupies  Denston  Hall,  the  park,  and 
a  farm  in  this  parish. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states  that  Sir  Thos.  de  Grey 
anciently  held  a  lordship  in  this  parish  ;  and  Sir  William  de  Clop- 
ton,  who  married  Anet,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey,  had  free- 
warren  in  his  lands  in  Denardeston,  in  the  22nd  of  Edward  III. 
He  died  in  the  first  of  Eichard  II. 


HUNDRED  OF  KISBRIDQE.  873 

Roger,  Earl  of  Clare,  who  died  in  1173,  confirmed  to  the  monks 
of  Bee,  dwelling  in  Clare  Castle,  the  gift  of  Gilbert  de  Bailol,  of 
two  parts  of  the  tithes  of  Denardeston,  in  Suffolk ;  and  Hugh  de 
Hosdene,  and  Maud  his  wife,  gave  20s.  rent  in  this  parish,  to  the 
Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew,  in  Thetford. 

ARMS. — Robinson:  vert;  a  chevron  between  three  bucks  stan- 
ding at  gaze,  or.  Plgott :  ermine ;  three  lozenges  in  fess,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  yearly  sum  of  13s.  4d.  is  paid  by  Mr.  John 
Everard,  of  Stansfield,  in  respect  of  Anthony  Sparrow's  charity; 
and  also  13s.  4d.  paid  out  of  an  estate  in  this  parish,  late  the  pro- 
perty of  General  Robinson,  being  an  ancient  rent  charge,  the  origin 
of  which  is  unknown.  These  doles  are  distributed  amongst  the 
poor,  yearly,  with  the  communion  money. 


DEPDEN,  or  DEPDANA. 

The  De  Wancey  family  were  anciently  lords  in  this  parish.  Ralph 
de  Wancey  confirmed  to  his  brother,  Walter  de  Wancey,  in  tail,  the 
lands  in  Rede,  which  he  held  of  the  fee  of  Goldewin  de  Mansion. 
Among  the  witnesses  is  Thomas  de  Barewe,  who  was  living  in  the 
reign  of  Richard  I.  In  the  2.2nd  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  William  de 
Clop  ton  had  free  warren  in  his  lands  in  Depden. 

A  branch  of  the  Jermyn  family  were  interested  here  prior  to  the 
time  of  Queen  Elizabeth ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Coells.  In 
the  42nd  of  that  reign,  Thomas  Coell,  of  Bury  St.  Edmuud's,  Gent., 
purchased  the  manor  and  advowson  of  Ampton,  in  Thedwastre  hun- 
dred; and  in  1609,  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Thomas  Jermyn, 
Esq.,  of  this  parish ;  who  was  owner  of  a  considerable  estate  here, 
and  which  Mr.  Coell  afterwards  inherited,  and  removed  hither. 

His  descendants  continued  to  reside  here  until  the  decease  of 
Thomas  Coell,  Esq.,  of  Depden  Hall,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John 
Coell,  Knt.;  when  the  male  line  became  extinct.  He  died  in  1698, 
leaving  Frances  his  daughter,  by  Cecily  his  first  wife,  daughter  of 
Sir  Henry  Croftes,  of  Little  Saxham,  Knt.,  sole  heir  to  his  estate. 

She  married  Richard  Thornhill,  of  Ollantigh,  in  Kent,  Esq.  ; 
and  Coell  Thornhill,  their  son,  sold  this  estate  to  Hutchison  Mure, 
Esq.,  of  Great  Saxham;  who  presented  to  this  incumbency  in  1769. 
It  has  since  been  the  property  of  George  Chenery,  Gent. ;  and  is 


874  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

now  the  lordship  of  Alexander  Adair,  Esq.  The  advowson  is  in 
the  Crown. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  possesses  some  Norman  fea- 
tures; the  south  entrance  being  of  that  character,  and  very  highly 
ornamented.  Amongst  its  rectors  we  find  Thomas  Tillot,  a  native 
of  this  county,  and  pensioner  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge, 
in  1627.  He  held  this  living  and  Saxham  ;  from  both  of  which  he 
was  sequestered  in  1644,  and  was  very  harshly  and  severely  treated ; 
but  at  the  restoration,  he  recovered  his  benefices,  and  enjoyed  the 
same  till  his  death,  in  1681. 

Anthony  Sparrow,  successively  Archdeacon  of  Sudbury,  President 
of  Queen's  College,  Cambridge,  Bishop  of  Exeter  and  Norwich,  was 
a  native  of  this  place.  He  was  son  of  Samuel  Sparrow,  a  wealthy 
inhabitant  of  Depden,  born  in  1612.  His  first  preferment  was  to 
the  benefice  of  Hawkedou,  in  this  hundred.  In  1667,  he  was  made 
Bishop  of  Exeter,  and  in  1676,  was  translated  to  the  see  of  Norwich; 
and  died  in  1685.  Bishop  Sparrow  presented  a  handsome  service  of 
communion  plate  for  the  use  of  this  parish  church. 

ARMS. —  Wancey:  gules;  six  gauntlets,  argent.  Coell  (seep. 
701).  Thornhill :  two  bars  gemelles,  argent ;  a  bend  of  the  last : 
on  a  chief  of  the  second,  a  tower,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  poor's  estate  consists  of  a  cottage,  and  between 
three  and  four  acres  of  land  in  the  parish  of  Hargrave,  given  for 
the  poor  by  Dr.  Macro,  in  1733  ;  which  lets  at  .£10  a  year.  A 
yearly  sum  of  £2  for  the  poor,  charged  by  Anthony  Sparrow,  on  a 
mill  at  Stansfield,  is  paid  by  the  proprietor.  The  produce  of  these 
charities  is  distributed  among  poor  persons. 


GAZELY,  or  GAIESLY. 

Herbert  de  Alencon,  in  1234,  acknowledged  that  he  held  his  free 
tenement  in  Gazely,  Heigham,  and  Cavenham,  of  the  Prior  of  Au- 
gustine Canons  in  Thetford,  by  divers  services ;  instead  of  which  he 
agreed  to  pay  him  a  rent  of  5s.  6d.  per  annum.  This  Herbert  was 
Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  1227. 

The  principle  manor  appears  to  have  been  vested  in  Richard  de 
Clare,  by  his  marriage  with  Amice,  second  daughter  and  sole  heir 
of  William,  Earl  of  Gloucester.  It  has  recently  passed  in  the  same 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  875 

way  as  the  manor  of  Dalham ;  and  the  Kev.  Sir  Robert  Affleck, 
Bart.,  of  that  parish,  is  the  present  lord  and  impropriator. 

The  manor  of  Disninge  Hall,  with  its  members,  in  the  29th  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  was  held  by  Robert  Tailour  :  it  now  belongs  to 
William  Frances  Gamuel  Farmer,  Esq.,  of  Cuddington,  in  Surrey. 
The  family  of  Heigham  takes  its  name  from  Heigham,  a  hamlet  of 
this  parish  ;  where  they  held  lands  of  the  honour  of  Clare. 

The  church  was  appropriated  to  the  College  at  Stoke  by  Clare ; 
and  in  the  9th  of  James  I.,  was  granted  to  Francis  Moore,  and 
Francis  Philips.  The  vicarage  is  now  in  the  patronage  of  Trinity 
Hall,  Cambridge,  with  the  hamlet  of  Kentford,  adjoining. 

The  church  contains  memorials  to  some  members  of  the  Heigham 
family ;  and  a  quaint  inscription  to  Thomas  Nuce,  S.T.B.,  Fellow 
of  Pembroke  Hall,  Cambridge,  rector  of  Oxburgh,  and  Cley  All 
Saints,  in  Norfolk,  a  Prebend  of  Ely  Cathedral,  and  vicar  of  this 
parish ;  who  deceased  in  1617. 

CHARITIES. — A  rent  charge  of  7s.  6d.  a  year,  given  by  George 
Warren,  in  1683 ;  and  another  of  10s.  a  year,  devised  by  Simon 
Pitts,  in  1641,  are  payable  for  the  poor  out  of  land  belonging  to 
Charles  Hammond,  Esq.,  of  Newmarket ;  and  the  amount  of  these 
sums  is  expended  every  third  year  in  herrings,  which  are  distributed 
amongst  the  poor,  by  the  acting  churchwardens. 


HAVERHILL,  or  HAVERHELLA. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states,  that  in  the  9th  of  Ed- 
ward I.,  Henry  de  Helin  held  this  manor.  In  the  4th  of  Henry 
IV.,  Lord  Stafford  held  the  same,  with  Desening  manor ;  which,  in 
the  28th  of  Henry  VI.,  were  vested  in  Humphrey  Stafford,  Duke  of 
Buckingham,  Lord  Constable ;  who  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  North- 
ampton, in  the  38th  of  that  reign.  In  the  1st  of  Richard  III., 
Henry,  Lord  Grey,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  manors  of  Haverhill, 
and  Hersham  Hall,  in  this  parish. 

Osbert  de  Baliol  gave  this  church  to  Castle-Acre  Priory,  in  Nor- 
folk ;  and  Simon,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  confirmed  to  the  said  Priory 
five  marks  per  annum  pension,  out  of  the  said  church :  in  the  1 5th 
of  Richard  II.,  the  church  of  Haverhill,  with  its  chapel,  was  appro- 
priated of  the  gift  of  the  said  Osbert.  In  the  29th  of  Henry  VIII., 


876  HUNDRED  OF  RISBEIDGE. 

the  rectory  and  advowson  of  the  vicarage  were  granted  to  Thomas, 
Lord  Cromwell. 

The  family  of  Turner  appear  to  have  been  early  interested  here. 
Weever  mentions  a  Henry  Tumor,  Esq.,  and  Margaret  and  Joan  his 
wives,  also  John  Turnor,  their  son,  being  buried  in  the  nave  of  this 
parish  church,  in  1464  ;  and  says,  that  in  a  window  of  the  said 
nave,  were  the  effigies  of  William  and  John  Gyfford,  with  Alice  his 
wife.  Granger  makes  Sir  Christopher  Turnor,  Baron  of  the  Ex- 
chequer, to  have  been  a  descendant  of  the  Tumor's  of  Haverhill,  in 
Suffolk.  He  was  born  at  Miltou-Ernys,  in  Bedfordshire,  in  1607. 

Samuel  Ward*  was  a  native  of  this  town,  the  eldest  son  of  the 
Kev.  John  Ward,  minister  of  the  gospel  here.  He  was  born  in 
1577,  and  educated  at  Sidney  Sussex  College,  Cambridge,  of  which 
society  he  became  a  Fellow;  and  in  1604,  was  appointed  Town 
Preacher  of  Ipswich.  "  He  was,"  says  Fuller,  "  an  excellent  artist, 
linguist,  divine,  and  preacher,  had  a  sanctified  fancy,  dexterous  iu 
designing  expressive  pictures  representing  much  matter  in  a  little 
model ;  and  possessed  the  singular  art  of  attracting  people's  affec- 
tions, as  if  he  had  learned  from  the  load-stone  (into  whose  magnific 
virtue  he  was  an  inquisitive  searcher),  to  draw  iron  hearts.  But 
excellent  as  he  was,  he  found  some  foes  as  well  as  friends,  who  com- 
plaining of  him  to  the  High  Commission  Court,  brought  him  into 
considerable  trouble.  He  was  at  length  silenced  by  an  order  from 
the  Star  Chamber."  His  works  were  printed  during  his  life  time 
in  one  volume :  London,  1627  ;  small  4to.  Mr.  Ward  was  buried 
in  the  chancel  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary  at  the  Tower,  Ipswich. 

Samuel  Fairclough,f  A.M.,  was  also  a  native  of  this  parish,  and 
one  of  the  most  finished  scholars  and  celebrated  preachers  among 
the  modern  puritans  of  his  time.  He  was  educated  at  Queen's  Col- 
lege, Cambridge ;  was  sometime  Lecturer  at  Lynn,  in  Norfolk ;  and 
was  afterwards  successively  minister  of  Barnardiston  and  Kedington, 
in  this  county ;  to  which  benefices  he  was  presented  by  Sir  Na- 
thaniel Barnardiston,  Knt.  In  1662,  he  was  ejected  for  noncon- 
formity ;  and  died  in  1667. 

Mr.  John  Webb,  author  of  a  beautiful  descriptive  poem,  entitled 
"  Haverhill,"  1810,  12mo.,  has  added  another  name  to  the  list  of 

*  An  original  portrait  of  this  divine  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Raw,  of 
Washbrook,  near  Ipswich. 

f  There  is  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Fahclougli  in  "  Clarke's  Lives,"  folio  ;  also  in  the 
"  Nonconformist  Memorial." 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDOE.  877 

those  poets  who  have  not  been  indebted  to  education.  He  also  was 
a  native  of  Haverhill ;  and  in  the  preface  to  his  poems,  he  informs 
his  readers  that,  "  born  in  the  vale  of  obscurity,  he  never  experienced 
any  of  the  benefits  that  result  from  education  :  his  days  have  been 
spent  in  scenes  of  honest  industry,  and  Iris  leisure  intervals  devoted 
to  amusive  and  instructive  studies." 

In  his  delineations  of  local  character,  he  has  noticed,  with  the 
above  worthies,  other  persons  connected  with  this  place ;  as  Thomas 
Cobb,  a  resident  here,  who  suffered  martyrdom  at  Thetford,  in  1555: 
Stephen  Scanderett,  A.M.,  a  silenced  minister  of  Haverhill,  who 
deceased  in  1706  :  Samuel  Curteen,  a  medical  practitioner,  for  some 
years,  at  Haverhill,  his  native  place ;  a  person  as  remarkable  for 
talent  and  ability,  as  for  his  great  and  singular  prostitution  of  them ; 
who  ended  his  days  in  1767,  in  a  sordid  and  miserable  shed  in  this 
town :  Ambrose  Curteen,  his  brother,  who  was  also  brought  up  in 
the  medical  profession,  and  resided  at  Haverhill  for  many  years  ; 
another  eccentric  character,  who  turned  recluse,  and  spent  most  of 
his  time  in  projecting  useless  schemes,  till  death  closed  his  opera- 
tions, in  1778. 

In  1734,  the  advowson  of  this  vicarage  belonged  to  George  Cold- 
ham,  Esq.,  of  this  parish ;  whose  daughter,  Hannah,  married  Mat- 
thew, eldest  son  and  heir  of  Charles  Howland,  Esq.,  of  Stone  Hall, 
Little  Canefield,  Essex ;  and  Rachael  their  daughter,  married  Sir 
George  Beaumont,  6th  Baronet  of  that  house.  His  only  surviving 
son,  Sir  George  Howland,  died  without  issue,  in  1827  ;  when  the 
title  devolved  upon  his  cousin,  Sir  George  Howland  Willoughby 
Beaumont,  Bart. ;  who  is  now  lord  and  patron. 

ARMS. — Howland :  argent ;  two  bars,  and  three  lions  rampant, 
sable,  in  chief.  Beaumont :  azure  ;  semee  of  fleurs-de-lis,  a  lion 
rampant,  or. 


HAWKEDON,  or  HAUOKEDUNA. 

In  1154,  Kichard  Fitz  Gilbert  granted  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's, lands  in  Hawkedon,  belonging  to  Pridington  ;  and  Robert 
de  Clopton  gave  to  the  said  Abbot,  four  acres  in  the  fields  of  Thur- 
ston,  which  appears  a  separate  manor  here  ;  of  which  Gilbert  D'Um- 
£reville  died  seized,  in  the  4th  of  Richard  II. ;  and  was  most  likely 


878  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

the  same  property  in  which  Sir  William  de  Clopton  had  a  grant  of 
free  warren,  in  the  22nd  of  Edward  III. ;  whose  progenitor  was 
Thurston  de  Clopton. 

Thurston  Hall  manor,  in  the  7th  of  Henry  IV.,  was  vested  in  Sir 
Robert  Harrington,  Knt.,  who  died  seized  thereof;  when  it  de- 
scended to  Sir  John  Harrington,  Knt.,  his  son  and  heir ;  and  Sir 
William  his  brother,  succeeded ;  they  both  served  King  Henry  V., 
in  his  wars  with  France. 

In  the  5th  of  Edward  VI.,  this  estate  was  vested  in  the  family  of 
Everard :  Eichard  Everard,  Gent.,  died  seized  of  the  same,  in  1670; 
and  Dorothy  his  wife,  eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Golding,  Esq., 
held  the  same  during  her  natural  life.  She  deceased  in  1678,  when 
Geoffrey  Maltyward,  Gent.,  succeeded,  in  right  of  Frances  his  wife, 
eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  the  above  Richard  and  Dorothy 
Everard.  Mary,  their  other  daughter,  married  to  Thomas  Smyth, 
Gent. 

Everard,  son  of  the  above  Geoffrey  Maltyward  and  Frances  his 
wife,  was  incumbent  of  this  living,  by  the  presentation  of  his  father, 
in  1709.  He  died  in  1728,  when  Alice  Maltyward  (probably  his 
widow),  presented.  In  1736,  Plampin  Richardson  held  this  manor 
and  advowson ;  and  in  1750,  Wm.  Gilly,  Gent.,  who  died  in  1782. 
The  Rev.  William  Gilly,  his  son,  rector  of  this  parish  27  years,  by 
his  father's  presentation,  deceased  in  1787  ;  and  Mrs.  Anne  Gilly, 
relict  of  Wm.  Gilly,  Gent.,  in  1788,  presented  William  Gilly,  clerk, 
their  grand- son  to  this  rectory. 

It  was  soon  afterwards  the  property  of  John  Gotts,  Gent.,  by  pur- 
chase ;  from  whom  it  passed,  by  marriage,  to  the  Wiseman  family  ; 
who  sold  the  same  to  Orbell  Ray  Oakes,  Esq.;  whose  son,  Henry 
James  Oakes,  Esq.,  is  now  lord  and  patron. 

The  Cresseners,  a  family  of  Norman  extraction,  became  seated 
here  soon  after  the  conquest,  and  their  chief  place  of  residence  was 
called  Cresseners,  until  very  lately ;  they  were  also  interested  in 
Reed,  in  Thingoe  hundred ;  and  from  thence  branched  themselves, 
about  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.,  into  Essex  and  Norfolk ;  and  held 
several  considerable  lordships  in  those  counties. 

This  family  became  allied  in  marriage  with  the  illustrious  houses 
of  Mortimer  and  Ferrers,  Earls  of  Derby  and  Nottingham:  William 
Cressener,  of  Cresseners,  in  Hawkedon,  Esq.,  married  Margaret, 
relict  of  Richard  Lord  Scrope,  of  Bolton,  daughter  of  Ralph  Nevil, 
first  Earl  of  Westmoreland ;  from  whom  the  Cresseners  of  Morley, 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  879 

in  Norfolk,  and  those  at  Earl's  Colne,  in  Essex,  are  lineally  de- 
scended. Their  ancient  place  of  burial  was  at  the  Black  Friars 
Convent,  in  Sudbury. 

He  deceased  in  1454,  and  his  wife  survived  until  1461.  Alex- 
ander Cressener,  their  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  and  was 
Sheriff  of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  in  the  5th  and  21st  of  King  Edward 
IV.  He  was  one  of  the  gentlemen  summoned,  in  1483,  to  be  created 
K.B.,  at  the  intended  coronation  of  Edward  V. ;  for  this  family  were 
very  much  attached  to  the  house  of  York.  He  held  the  manor  of 
Hawkedon,  with  200  acres  of  land ;  and  also  those  of  Mortimers, 
Netherhall,  Cresseners,  and  Moores,  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  with 
divers  property  in  Essex ;  and  died  in  1498,  seized  thereof 

John,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  died  in  1497  ;  and  John  Cressener, 
born  in  1484,  succeeded  his  grand-lather.  He  was  a  military  man, 
and  attended  King  Henry  VIII.,  to  the  siege  of  Tournay,  in  1513; 
where  he  received  the  honour  of  Knighthood  for  his  bravery,  and 
died  in  1536  ;  at  about  which  period  the  interest  of  this  family  pro- 
bably ceased  in  this  parish.  This  appears  to  have  been  the  property 
latterly  held  by  the  Hammond  family,  who  were  seated  here ;  and 
now  belongs  to  John  Hammond,  Esq.,  of  Ashley,  in  Cambridge- 
shire. John  Frost,  Gent.,  is  now  owner  of  Hawkedon  Hall,  and 
resides  there. 

Swan  Hall,  was  long  in  the  family  of  Abbot ;  and  was  subse- 
quently purchased  by  the  Stewarts,  who  held  the  same  in  1764  ;  it 
has  since  belonged  to  the  Kev.  Koger  Kedington,  of  Rougham.  He 
died  in  1818.  It  is  now  the  property  of  George  Weller  Poley,  Esq., 
of  Boxstead  Hall. 

CHARITIES. — From  one  and  a  half  to  two  acres  of  land  at  Stans- 
field,  are  held  by  the  churchwardens  of  this  parish,  for  the  use  of 
the  poor,  under  the  gift  of  a  Mr.  Shaw ;  which  land  forms  part  of  a 
field  belonging  to  Stansfield  glebe :  rent  30s.  a  year. — The  sum  of 
10s.  a  year  is  paid  by  Mr.  John  Everard,  of  Stausfield,  in  respect 
of  a  charity  given  by  Anthony  Sparrow. — Twenty  shilling  a  year, 
the  gift  of  a  Mr.  Ray,  are  paid  out  of  a  farm  at  Denston,  belonging 
to  William  Pigott,  Esq.,  of  Dullingham  House.  These  sums  are 
laid  out  in  bread,  which  is  given  away  at  Christmas,  amongst  the 
poor. 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 


HUNDON. 

In  the  22nd  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  William  de  Clopton  had  free 
•warren  in  his  lands  in  this  parish.  He  died  in  the  1st  of  Richard 
II.  The  lordship  and  demesne  belonged  to  the  honour  of  Clare, 
and  in  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  Gilbert  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester, 
held  the  same  ;  and  afterwards  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence,  third  son 
of  Edward  III.,  died  seized  thereof,  and  left  it  to  his  only  daughter 
and  heir,  Philippa  ;  who  married  Edmund  Mortimer,  Earl  of  March, 
who  inherited  the  same  in  her  right. 

It  continued  in  that  house  until  the  death  of  another  Edmund 
Mortimer,  without  issue,  in  1424  ;  when  it  passed  to  his  sister's 
son,  Richard  Plantagenet,  Duke  of  York  (who  claimed  the  Crown), 
as  heir  to  the  said  Philippa ;  and  his  son,  Edward  IV.,  obtained 
the  same. 

This  lordship  has  passed  latterly  as  that  of  Great  Thurlow,  being 
bought  by  James  Vernon,  Esq. ;  and  Henry,  his  son,  succeeded : 
upon  the  decease  of  John,  his  son,  in  1818,  it  devolved  upon  Are- 
thusa,  his  sister,  wife  of  Sir  Robert  Harland,  Bart. ;  who  is  now 
owner  thereof,  and  impropriator  of  the  great  tithes. 

Here  was  a  reputed  manor,  parcel  of  the  possession  of  the  College 
at  Stoke  by  Clare,  which  was  granted  in  1548,  to  Sir  John  Cheke, 
and  Walter  Mildmay,  with  Great  Park,  Estry  Park,  and  Broxley 
Park,  in  this  parish.  The  church  was  also  appropriated  to  the  said 
College,  by  the  gift  of  Alostan,  priest  of  Hundon ;  and  granted, 
with  the  said  reputed  manor,  at  the  suppression  of  the  said  College. 
The  patronage  of  the  vicarage  now  belongs  to  Jesus  College,  Cam- 
bridge. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  is  a  neat  and  spacious  build- 
ing. In  an  erection  attached,  is  a  splendid  monument  in  memory 
of  Arethusa,  wife  of  the  late  James  Vernon,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1728. 
In  1687,  more  than  200  Saxon  coins  were  found  in  digging  a  grave 
in  this  church-yard. 

CHARITIES. — The  charity  estate  here  consists  of  a  messuage,  in 
Hundon,  used  for  the  parish  workhouse :  another  messuage,  divided 
into  two  tenements,  one  of  which  is  occupied  as  an  almshouse  for 
aged  poor  persons,  and  the  other  is  appropriated  to  the  use  of  a 
school :  a  messuage  (anciently  called  Rogeron's),  with  several  par- 
cels of  land  in  Hundon,  and  Bamardiston,  comprising  in  the  whole, 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  881 

118  acres,  let  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £120  :  this  estate  is  vested  in 
trustees,  and  held  upon  trust,  for  the  repair  of  the  parish  church, 
and  causeways  in  the  parish,  the  relief  of  the  poor,  and  other  chari- 
table uses. — In  1 690,  "William  Rich,  by  will,  charged  his  messuage, 
land,  and  appurtenances,  in  Wood  street,  in  this  parish,  with  the 
payment  of  40s.  a  year ;  to  be  laid  out  in  bread,  and  distributed 
amongst  poor  people  in  Hundon.  The  property  subject  to  this 
payment  belongs  to  William  Choat. — By  deed,  enrolled  in  Chancery, 
dated  in  1737,  James  Vernon,  after  reciting  that  he  had  largely  con- 
tributed towards  the  erecting  and  fitting  up  of  three  workhouses  in 
Hundon,  Wickhambrook,  and  Stradishall,  for  the  encouragement 
and  support  of  the  industrious  poor  residing  in  those  parishes,  and 
was  desirous  that  certain  yearly  sums  should  be  paid  for  the  better 
support  and  carrying  on  of  the  said  charitable  designs,  granted  cer- 
tain rent  charges  for  that  purpose :  the  sum  he  appropriated  for 
this  parish,  was  £'22  a  year,  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  and 
keeping  in  repair  the  monument  house,  and  the  monument,  which 
the  said  James  Vernon  had  lately  erected  for  himself  and  family, 
near  the  parish  church  of  Hundon;  the  surplus  to  be  laid  out,  £1Q 
a  year,  towards  the  salary  of  a  person  to  have  the  charge  of  the 
workhouse,  and  the  residue  was  to  be  expended  in  teaching  so  many 
poor  children  as  the  parish  officers  for  the  time  should  think  fit. 
Sixteen  poor  children  receive  instruction  under  this  charity. 


KEDINGTON,  or  KEDITUNA. 

At  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey,  this  was  the  estate  of  Ralph 
Baynard ;  whose  grand-son,  William  Baynard,  forfeited  his  Barony 
and  estates,  by  joining  in  a  conspiracy  with  Helias,  Earl  of  Mayne, 
and  others,  against  King  Henry  I. ;  which  were  granted  by  the 
Crown,  to  Kobert,  a  younger  son  of  Richard  Fitz  Gilbert,  ancestor 
of  the  most  ancient  Earls  of  Clare. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  estate  of  Margaret  de  Wilby 
(or  Willoughby) ;  it  subsequently  became  the  property  of  Sir  John 
de  Tudenham ;  who  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert,  sister 
and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  de  Weyland.  He  died  in  1392,  and  by  his 
will,  dated  at  Kedington,  desired  to  be  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Eres- 
well  church  ;  of  which  parish  he  was  also  lord.  (See  Ereswell.) 


882  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

The  Knightly  family  of  Barnardiston  were  settled  at  Kedington, 
ever  since  the  year  1500;  and  produced  many  persons  of  distin- 
guished eminence.  The  name  was  assumed  from  the  parish  of 
Barnardiston,  in  this  hundred,  of  which  they  were  proprietors  from 
the  conquest.  Kedington  Hall  they  acquired  with  the  heiress  of 
the  family  of  Newmarch  ;  which  surname  it  appears  they  adopted, 
and  anciently  bore,  in  conjunction  with  that  of  Barnardiston.  The 
estate  of  this  family  amounted,  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  to 
£4000  per  annum.  During  the  civil  commotions,  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  I.,  this  family  is  remarkable  for  having  given  rise  to  the 
appellation  of  "  Roundhead." 

Sir  Thomas  Barnardiston,  Knt.,  of  this  parish,  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Roger  Newport,  of  Pelham,  in  Hertfordshire.  In  Ked- 
ington church,  in  the  south  window,  there  is  to  be  seen,  says  Weever, 
"  a  Barnardiston,  kneeling,  in  his  compleat  armour,  his  coat  armour 
on  his  breast,  and  behind  him  his  seven  sons.  In  the  next  part  of 
the  glass  is  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Newport,  kneeling,  with  her 
coat  armour  likewise  on  her  breast,  and  seven  daughters  behind 
her,  and  under  a  latin  inscription,  much  defaced." 

The  same  author  mentions  a  monument  under  the  second  arch, 
on  the  south  side  of  this  church,  and  gives  the  inscription ;  by  which 
it  appears  the  said  Sir  Thomas  was  buried  at  Cotys,  in  Lincolnshire; 
and  by  his  last  will,  gave  certain  lands  here,  called  Brockholes,  of 
the  annual  value  of  seven  marks,  towards  the  maintenance  of  a 
chantry  in  this  church ;  and  the  said  dame  Elizabeth,  upon  his  de- 
cease, obtained  a  license  for  founding  the  same,  and  increased  the 
revenues  to  the  yearly  value  of  twelve  marks.  She  deceased  in 
1520,  and  was  buried  beneath  this  tomb. 

These  were  the  common  ancestors  of  the  numerous  branches  that 
afterwards  settled  in  divers  places  in  this  and  adjoining  counties; 
of  whom  may  be  noticed,  Sir  Nathaniel  Barnardiston,  Knight  of 
the  Shire  for  this  county  five  times  ;  who  also  sat  once  for  Sudbury, 
and  was  esteemed  the  greatest  ornament  of  his  family ;  and  is  styled 
by  Fairclough,  who  wrote  his  life,  "  one  of  the  most  eminent  pa- 
triots of  his  time,  and  the  23rd  Knight  of  his  family." 

Sir  Nathaniel  died  in  1653,  and  his  death  called  forth  a  multitude 
of  elegiac  verses,  which  were  published  together  in  a  4to.  volume  of 
70  pages ;  which  volume,  in  the  "  Bibliotheca  Anglo-Poetica,"  1815, 
published  by  Longman  and  Co.,  is  marked  at  the  enormous  price  of 
twelve  guineas !  Two  of  his  descendants  were  honoured  with  the  title 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  883 

of  Baronets :  Sir  Thomas  Barnardiston,  Knt.,  of  this  parish,  his 
eldest  son,  in  1663  ;  and  Samuel  Barnardiston,  Esq.,  of  Brightwell 
Hall,  the  same  year.  The  former  title  expired  about  1750,  and  the 
latter  in  1712.* 

The  present  representative  of  this  house,  is  Nathaniel  Clarke 
Barnardiston,  Esq.,  of  the  Ryes,  at  Little  Heny,  in  Essex. 

Sir  Samuel  Barnardiston,  5th  Baronet,  deceased  without  issue, 
in  1735-6  ;  and  this  estate  was  the  jointure  of  Catherine  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Sir  Rowland  Wynne,  of  Notley  Abbey,  in  Yorkshire, 
Bart. ;  but  upon  her  decease,  it  came  to  his  nephew,  Sir  John  Bar- 
nardiston, Bart. ;  who  had  sold  the  reversion  to  Mr.  Merlins,  gold- 
smith, of  London.  Sir  Joshua  Rickets  Rowley,  Bart.,  of  Tendring 
Hall,  is  principal  proprietor.  It  is  all  freehold  property  in  this 
parish. 

The  church  contains  several  monuments  to  members  of  the  Bar- 
nardiston family.  Among  its  rectors  was  Samuel  Fairclough  (noticed 
in  Haverhill),  who  was  succeeded  by  John  Tillotson,  afterwards 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  Barrington  Blornfield  Syer  is  the  pre- 
sent incumbent,  on  his  own  petition. 

An  ancient  seal  found  here  in  1805,  circumscribed  "  Sigillum 
ad  causas  ville  Dionensis"  is  engraved  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Ma- 
gazine" for  1806,  p.  217. 

CHARITIES. — The  charity  estate,  which  is  situate  in  the  parish  of 
Stunner,  in  Essex,  and  belongs  jointly  to  this  parish  and  Stunner, 
consists  of  a  farm-house,  barn,  and  34A.  3R.  34p.  of  land  ;  renf  £85 
a  year.  The  rent  is  paid  in  moieties  to  the  churchwardens  of  the 
respective  parishes,  and  the  share  received  for  this  parish  is  appro- 
priated, one  half  to  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  the  other  half  to 
the  educating  and  apprenticing  poor  children. — The  church  and 
town  lands  are  between  two  and  three  acres,  in  this  parish ;  rent 
about  £8  per  annum ;  and  there  are  besides  several  small  rent 
charges,  and  doles,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  about  30s. ;  of  which 
the  sum  of  4s.  3d.  is  distributed  equally,  according  to  ancient  cus- 
tom, among  thirteen  poor  widows,  at  Christmas,  and  the  residue  is 
carried  to  the  churchwardens  general  account. 


*  The  Rev.  Thomas  Mills,  rector  of  Stutton,  in  this  county,  is  in  possession  of  a 
MS  account  of  this  family,  drawn  up  by  the  Rev.  Mark  Noble,  and  illustrated  with 
many  beautiful  drawings  of  portraits,  monuments,  &c.,  from  the  pencil  of  the  late 
Mrs.  Mills. 


884  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

KENTFORD, 

Is  a  hamlet  of  Gazely,  and  the  livings  are  consolidated  ;  it  however 
is  esteemed  a  chapelry  of  Kennet,  in  Cambridgeshire  :  the  manors 
have  always  been  united,  and  were  anciently  in  the  Bigods,  Earls 
of  Norfolk  ;  from  whom  they  passed,  with  the  title,  to  the  Brother- 
tons,  and  Mowbrays  ;  and  upon  the  division  of  the  Mowbray  estates, 
between  the  noble  families  of  Howard  and  Berkeley,  this  property 
was  assigned  to  the  latter. 

William,  Marquess  of  Berkeley,  died  in  1492,  without  issue,  and 
settled  the  same  upon  Richard  de  Willoughby,  and  his  heirs  ;  and 
John  de  Willoughby  died  in  1557,  seized  thereof.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  ensuing  century,  it  was  in  Lord  Petre's  family  ;  and 
soon  afterwards  in  that  of  Barnardiston.  In  or  about  the  year  1 777, 
John  Onslow,  who  had  lately  assumed  that  name  in  exchange  for 
Williams,  and  was  allied  by  marriage  to  the  Barnardistons,  sold  this 
estate  to  Oliver  Godfrey,  Gent.  William  Francis  Gamuel  Farmer, 
Esq.,  is  now  lord. 

Isabella  de  Albany,  the  foundress  of  the  Nunnery  at  Marham,  in 
Norfolk,  in  1249,  gave  to  that  Convent,  lands  in  Kentford,  Gazely, 
and  Needham  street,  in  Gazely.  Thomas  de  Chawmbre,  John  de 
Rothings,  and  Stephen,  son  of  John  de  Rossebrook,  gave  them 
lands  there,  and  in  Heriugswell. 

In  the  17th  of  Edward  II.,  John  de  Ward,  held  of  Sarah,  Abbess 
of  Marham,  in  Kentford,  20  acres  of  land,  and  5  acres  of  meadow ; 
and  in  Needham,  8  acres  of  land ;  and  paid  2s.  per  annum  for  the 
latter,  and  18s.  4d.  per  annum  for  the  former.  In  the  8th  of  Henry 
VII.,  these  lands  produced  a  revenue  to  the  Convent  of  only  26s. 
8d. ;  no  great  increase  in  value  for  nearly  two  centuries.  They 
were  purchased  of  Roger  Ulketyl,  of  Attylburgh,  by  the  said  Isabella, 
who  was  widow  of  Hugh  de  Albany,  Earl  of  Arundel  and  Sussex,  and 
daughter  of  William,  5th  Earl  of  Warren  and  Surrey,  and  of  Maud 
his  wife,  daughter  of  William  Marshal,  Earl  of  Pembroke. 

CHARITIES. — Under  an  Inclosure  Act,  passed  in  1826,  several 
parcels  of  ancient  poor  lands  were  exchanged  for  three  allotments 
in  Worlington  field,  containing  together  17 A.  IR.  17p. ;  and  the 
rents  are  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  this  parish. 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBUIDGE.  885 


LIDGATE. 

At  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey,  this  was  parcel  of  the  fee  of 
William  de  Watcville ;  and  subsequently  the  Conqueror  gave  it, 
together  with  Blunham,  to  Ralph,  to  hold  in  fee  of  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund's,  by  the  service  of  Dapifer  (or  Steward) ;  and  Abbot 
Albold,  between  the  years  1115,  and  1119,  granted  the  lands,  with 
the  office  held  by  the  said  Ralph,  to  Maurice  de  Windsor,  and  his 
heirs  ;  and  King  Stephen  confirmed  the  grant. 

In  1130,  Maurice  de  Windsor,  and  Egidia  his  wife,  gave  to  the 
Cathedral  of  Norwich,  a  chapel  of  St.  Edmund,  with  lands  at  Hoxne; 
that  therein  might  be  placed  a  Convent  of  monks,  to  pray  for  the 
soul  of  Ralph,  the  Dapifer,  who  had  new  built  the  same  from  the 
ground. 

Henry  de  Hastings  claimed  to  be  Hereditary  Steward  of  the 
Liberty  of  St.  Edmund,  as  heir  of  Maurice  de  Windsor.  King 
Henry  II.,  by  his  writ,  or  charter,  confirmed  to  the  Queen's  Dapifer, 
Ralph  de  Hastings,  the  land  and  tenement  of  his  predecessor,  Ralph, 
Steward  of  St.  Edmund's,  and  of  Maurice  de  Windsor,  his  maternal 
uncle.  And  by  another  charter,  at  a  later  time,  the  King  confirmed 
to  his  Steward,  William  de  Hastings,  the  Stewardship  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's, and  the  lands  belonging  to  it,  as  the  same  had  been  held 
by  his  respective  paternal  and  maternal  uncles,  Ralph  and  Maurice. 

This  William  de  Hastings  held  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's, 
five  Knights'  fees,  including  Lidgate,  and  Blunham ;  and  these  de- 
scended, with  the  Stewardship,  to  Henry,  his  son  and  heir,  the 
claimant  of  the  privilege.  He  was  a  minor  in  1188,  his  office 
being  then  filled  by  Robert  de  Flamaville ;  who  held  it  at  the  time 
of  his  being  one  of  the  Wardens  of  the  Abbey,  during  the  vacancy. 

Henry  accompanied  King  Richard  to  the  Holy  Land  ;  and  dying 
without  issue,  William  de  Hastings,  ancestor  of  the  Earls  of  Pem- 
broke, in  the  7th  of  Richard  I.,  paid  100  marcs  as  his  relief  for  the 
lands  and  office  of  his  brother  Henry.  In  the  6th  of  Edward  III., 
John  de  Hastings,  2nd  Earl  of  Pembroke,  of  that  house,  held  this 
lordship  ;  and  John,  his  sou,  succeeded,  who  deceased  in  1390. 

It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Jermyu  family  ;  and  upon 
the  decease  of  Thomas,  Lord  Jermyn,  of  Rushbrook,  it  passed  to 
Sir  Robert  Davers,  Bart.,  in  right  of  Mary  his  wife,  eldest  daughter 
and  one  of  the  co-heirs  of  the  said  Lord  Jermyn ;  and  Sir  Jermyn 


886  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

Davers,  his  second  son,  and  4th  Baronet  of  that  house,  sold  the  same 
to  Charles  Seymour,  6th  Duke  of  Somerset,  K.G. ;  his  Grace  gave 
the  same,  with  Cheveley,  and  other  property  in  this  vicinity,  in  mar- 
riage with  his  daughter,  Lady  Frances  Seymour,  with  John,  Marquess 
of  Granhy,  in  1750.  His  grandson,  John  Henry  Manners,  5th  Duke 
of  Rutland,  is  now  owner  of  this  lordship  and  advowson. 

This  parish  is  memorable  for  having  given  hirth  and  name  to 
John  Lydgate,  a  monk  of  the  Benedictine  Ahbey  of  St.  Edmund's 
Bury,  and  one  of  our  earliest  English  poets.  Few  writers  have 
been  more  admired  by  their  contemporaries,  yet  none  have  been 
treated  with  more  severity  by  modern  critics. 

The  learned  Editor  of  the  "  Eeliques  of  Ancient  Poetry"  men- 
tions him  with  compassionate  contempt.  Mr.  Ritson  ridicules  his 
"  cartloads"  of  poetical  rubbish  :  Mr.  Pinkerton  considers  him  as 
positively  stupid :  and  Mr.  Ellis,  with  the  caution  of  a  man  of  correct 
taste  and  judgement.  But  Warton  alone  has  thought  it  worth  while 
to  study  with  attention,  or  to  attempt  a  general  discussion  of  his 
literary  character  ;  and  his  opinion  is  highly  in  his  commendation. 
Lydgate  died  about  the  year  14.41,  and  was  buried  in  the  Abbey 
church  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's. 

Kirby  mentions  a  mount  moated  round  near  the  church,  on  which 
remains  the  ruins  of  a  Castle.  Scarcely  any  vestiges,  even  of  the 
foundation  are  now  left ;  but  the  moats  are  still  to  be  seen.  The 
inhabitants  usually  call  it  King  John's  Castle  :  its  ruins  have  been 
dug  up  to  repair  the  roads  in  the  neighbourhood.  Nothing  further 
is  known  of  its  history. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  situate  on  an  eminence,  a 
short  distance  from  the  village,  is  a  neat  structure.  A  handsome 
new  rectory  was  built  in  1842  ;  and  John  William  Travis,  A.M.,  is 
the  present  incumbent. 

ARMS. — Hastings,  Earl  of  Pembroke  :  or ;  a  maunch,  gules. 
Seymour,  Duke  of  Somerset :  or ;  on  a  pile,  gules,  between  six 
fleurs-de-lis,  azure,  three  lions  of  England,  quartering,  gules,  two 
wings  inverted  and  conjoined,  or.  Manners,  Duke  of  Rutland : 
or ;  two  bars,  azure  ;  a  chief,  quarterly  of  the  last,  and  gules  ;  on 
the  1st  and  4th,  two  fleurs-de-lis,  or ;  on  the  2nd  and  3rd,  a  lion 
of  England. 

CHARITIES. — An  allotment  of  TA.  2R.  l£p.  was  awarded,  on  an 
inclosure,  in  1814,  in  lieu  of  land  appropriated  from  ancient  time 
to  the  payment  of  the  clerk's  wages,  and  to  the  repairs  of  the  church. 


HUNDRED  OF  RI8BR1DGE.  887 

A  bam  has  been  built  upon  the  land,  and  the  premises,  together  with 
an  adjoining  allotment,  of  2A.  2R.  12p.,  belonging  to  the  parish,  are 
let  at  £15  a  year.  The  rent  is  carried  to  the  same  account  with  the 
parochial  rates ;  and  out  of  the  fund  are  paid  £2  a  year  to  the  parish 
clerk,  and  £6  a  year  to  the  mistress  of  a  sunday-school ;  the  residue 
goes  towards  the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  the  support  of  the  poor. 


MOULTON,  or  MODETUNA. 

The  Cokefield  (or  Cockfield)  family  became  very  early  enfeoffed 
in  this  lordship.  Adam  de  Cokefield  married  Agatha,  one  of  the 
four  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Sir  Robert  Aguillon,  and  Agatha,  his 
wife.  He  deceased  in  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  King  Edward 
L,  and  Robert  was  his  son  and  heir;  on  whose  death,  without  issue, 
in  the  25th  of  that  reign,  Joan  his  sister,  became  his  heir. 

She  married  William  de  Beauchamp.  In  the  7th  of  Edward  II., 
she  gave  half  a  mark  for  licence  to  agree  with  William  de  Wengrave, 
for  the  manors  of  Moulton  and  Waldingfield,  in  this  county,  and 
Feltwell,  in  Norfolk.  By  their  daughter  and  heir,  it  passed  to  Sir 
John  de  Chyvereston ;  who  was  made,  by  King  Edward  III.,  on 
his  taking  of  Calais,  the  first  Governor,  or  Captain  thereof. 

In  the  25th  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  John  settled  this  lordship  upon 
himself  for  life ;  remainder  to  Hugh  de  Chyvereston,  his  second 
son,  and  his  heirs ;  it  being  held  by  Sir  William  Beauchamp,  of 
the  Castle  of  Acre,  by  one  Knight's  fee,  duriiig  his  life.  In  the 
44th  of  that  reign,  Sir  John  sold  this  manor  to  Lady  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Sir  Andrew  Lutterell ;  who  about  the  47th  of  that  King, 
had  a  grant  of  free-warren  here,  and  in  Debenham. 

This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Hugh  Courtney,  Earl  of  Devon- 
shire, by  Margaret  his  wile,  daughter  of  Humphrey  de  Bohun,  Earl 
of  Hereford;  and  married,  first,  Sir  John  de  Vere,  third  son  of 
John,  Earl  of  Oxford.  She  died  in  the  19th  of  Richard  II. ;  and 
Sir  Hugh  Lutterell,  lord  of  Dunster  Castle,  in  Somersetshire,  was 
her  son  and  heir.  He  died  in  the  6th  of  Henry  VI.,  seized  of  this 
manor  ;  and  John  was  found  his  son  and  heir.  He  married  Ka- 
therine,  relict  of  Sir  John  Stretch,  Knt. 

The  lordship  is  now  vested  in  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Rutland. 
Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge,  has  a  considerable  estate  in  Moulton. 


888  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

This  parish  is  a  peculiar  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  is 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Dean  of  Booking.  The  patronage  of 
the  rectory  belongs  to  Christ  College,  Cambridge.  The  Rev.  George 
Hutton  Greenhall,  A.M.,  is  now  rector. 

ARMS. — Cockfield:  azure;  a  cross,  counter-compony,  argent 
and  gules.  Lutterell :  or  ;  a  bend,  between  six  martlets  in  a  bor- 
dure  engrailed,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  4  acres  of  land  in  Freck- 
enham,  called  King's  Fen;  rent  £  10  a  year:  and  of  13  acres  of 
land,  in  divers  parcels,  in  the  open  fields  of  Moultou ;  rent  £9  a 
year.  These  rents  are  applied  in  the  reparation  of  the  church,  and 
of  the  bridges  in  the  parish. — Another  charity  estate,  consists  of  5 
acres  of  land,  forming  part  of  a  garden  and  pleasure  ground,  attached 
to  a  house  in  Newmarket,  belonging  to  Mr.  Thomas  Crockford,  for 
which  he  pays  a  yearly  rent  of  £20  ;  which  is  distributed  equally 
among  poor  families  of  the  parish,  in  money,  or  fuel,  at  their  option. 
— The  sum  of  ^£12,  which  was  devised  by  a  Mr.  Worthington,  in 
or  about  the  year  1755,  has  always  been  deposited  with  the  rector 
for  the  time  being,  at  interest  of  10s.  per  annum  ;  which  is  given 
in  bread  amongst  poor  persons. — By  deed  of  feoffment,  of  the  35th 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  William  Deynes  enfeoffed  certain  trustees  in 
all  his  lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments,  commonly  called  Wissed 
Pudges,  and  Colehart,  lying  in  Cowlinge,  containing  by  estimation, 
50  acres,  to  the  intent  that  the  yearly  issues  and  profits  should  be 
disposed  of  and  divided  amongst  the  poor  and  needy  persons  abiding 
in  the  towns  of  Barrow,  Cowliuge,  Moulton,  and  Hargrave.  This 
estate  comprises  a  farm  house,  with  outbuildings,  and  75A.  &R.  20p. 
of  land ;  let  at  the  annual  rent  of  £80,  which  sum  is  divided  into 
four  equal  portions,  and  one  of  them  appropriated  to  the  poor  of 
each  of  the  four  parishes. — The  sum  of  7s.  6d.  is  payable  out  of  an 
estate  in  this  parish,  now  the  property  of  Charles  Hammond,  Esq., 
which  is  given,  either  in  bread  or  money,  with  other  charity  funds. 


OUSDEN,  or  OVESDEN. 

The  family  of  Criketot  were  very  early  interested  here.  Sir 
William  de  Criketot,  of  this  parish,  married  Agnes,  sister  and  co- 
heir of  William  de  Blund,  of  Ixworth,  who  was  slain  at  the  battle 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDOE.  889 

of  Lewes,  in  Sussex,  between  King  Henry  III.,  and  his  Barons,  ill 
1264.  In  the  27th  of  the  next  reign,  Sir  William  de  Criketot  was 
found  to  hold  this  manor,  in  soccage,  of  Hugh,  Lord  Bardolph ; 
leaving  William  de  Criketot,  his  son  and  heir. 

This  estate  continued  in  his  descendants  until  the  extinction  of 
that  house,  in  the  time  of  Edward  III.  In  the  15th  of  that  reign, 
Sir  Thomas  Fitz  Eustace  died  seized  of  the  manor  of  Ousden, 
leaving  by  Agnes  his  wife,  Thomas,  his  son  and  heir,  and  John. 
John  survived  his  brother,  who  died  without  issue.  On  the  death 
of  Agnes  his  mother,  in  the  35th  of  that  King,  he  was  found  her 
heir,  and  of  the  age  of  22  years.  John  died  in  the  43rd  of  this 
reign,  leaving  Philip,  his  son  and  heir,  aged  half-a-year  and  upward. 
Christina,  the  widow  of  the  deceased,  in  the  same  year,  had  the 
custody  of  the  lands  of  her  son,  in  this  parish. 

In  the  47th  of  this  King,  Thomas  de  Ickworth,  granted  to  Richard 
de  Pakenham,  and  Joan  his  wife,  all  right  in  the  manor  of  Ashfield, 
and  other  lands,  formerly  of  Sir  William  Criketot,  Knt. ;  and  in 
the  4th  of  Richard  II.,  Thomas  Ickworth  released  to  Richard  Walde- 
grave,  all  right  to  the  manor  of  Ousden. 

This  lordship  and  advowson  were  purchased,  in  or  about  1576, 
by  Humphrey  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  St.  Nicholas  Cold  Abbey,  Secondary 
of  Wood  Street  Counter,  London,  second  son  of  Nicholas  Moseley, 
Esq.,  of  the  Mere,  at  Enville,  in  Staffordshire. 

In  1571,  he  purchased  Tunstall,  in  Staffordshire,  andv  married 
Margaret,  the  second  daughter  of  Sir  Clement  Heigham,  of  Barrow, 
in  this  county,  Knt.,  Lord  Chief  Baron  of  the  Exchequer  in  Queen 
Mary's  reign;  and  by  her,  who  deceased  in  1608,  left  five  sons, 
and  three  daughters.  Of  the  former,  Richard  Moseley,  Esq.,  of 
Tunstall,  his  heir,  removed  thence  to  this  parish,  in  1614,  and  was 
here  buried,  in  1630. 

He  married,  first,  Letitia,  daughter  and  co-heir  of Clarke, 

Esq.,  of  Farnham,  in  Sussex ;  and  secondly,  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Sir  Arthur  Heveningham,  Knt.,  and  widow  of  Sir  Augustine  Pettus, 
Knt.  By  the  former,  who  deceased  in  1619,  he  had  several  chil- 
dren. The  lineage  of  the  eldest  branch  is  as  follows : — 

Richard  Moseley,  Esq.,  bora  in  1608— Judith,  dau.  of  Sir  Thomas  Playters,  Bart., 

died  in  1642.       j 1         of  Satterley. 

Humphrey  Moseley,  Esq., died  in  1663=Lucy,  dau.  of Gipps,  of  St.  Edmund's 

I 1         Bury. 

Richard  Moseley,  Esq.,  died  in  l/17=Mary,  dau.  of Cooke,  Esq.,  of  London, 

I 1 — I 1  died  in  1716. 

William  Cooke  Moseley,  his  heir.      Richard.     Stephen.     Who  each  died  issueless. 


890  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

Sarah,  their  only  sister,  married  in  1700,  to  George  Goodday,  of 
Fornham  All  Saints,  in  this  county ;  and  had  issue,  George  Good- 
day,  of  the  same  parish  ;  and  Sarah,  who  married  to  her  cousin, 
Thomas  Moseley,  Esq. ;  to  whom  the  representation  of  the  family 
passed,  upon  the  decease  of  his  cousins,  without  issue. 

This  gentleman  married  Miss  Goodday,  as  above  stated,  and  by 
her  had  issue,  William,  their  heir ;  and  Richard,  in  holy  orders, 
rector  of  Drinkstone  ;  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Farnham  Ray,  of  Bradfield  St.  George;  and  died  in  1803,  without 
issue. 

William  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  and  Fornham  All  Saints 
(which  estate  he  inherited  in  right  of  his  mother,  who  eventually 
became  heir  to  her  brother),  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham Cocksedge,  Esq.,  of  Drinkstone ;  and  by  her  had  issue,  John, 
his  heir,  and  two  daughters. 

Mr.  Moseley  died  in  1785,  was  buried  at  Fornham,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  only  son,  the  present  John  Moseley,  Esq ,  of  Great 
Glemham ;  who,  in  1800,  sold  this  estate  to  John  Smith,  Esq.,  a 
Staffordshire  gentleman ;  of  whom  the  late  James  Thomas  Hand, 
clerk,  purchased  the  same,  in  1804.  Mr.  Hand  deceased  in  1835, 
without  issue  ;  and  devised  this  property  to  Thomas  James  Ireland, 
Esq.,  who  is  now  lord  and  patron. 

Ousden  Hall,  the  seat  of  this  gentleman,  was  erected  in  Queen 
Elizabeth's  time.  The  porch  at  the  north  entrance  is  however  all 
that  remains  of  the  original  structure,  that  has  not  been  modernized. 
It  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  rising  ground,  that  commands  an 
agreeable  prospect  over  the  neighbourhood. 

The  church  stands  near  the  Hall,  and  is  peculiar  from  the  central 
position  of  the  tower,  which  rests  upon  heavy  Norman  arches. 
Here  is  also  a  north  chapel,  the  burial  place  of  the  Moseley  family. 
It  also  contains  an  Archa  Domini*  or  Lord's  Box ;  from  which 
the  poor  that  passed  by  were  relieved,  as  far  as  its  revenues  would 
admit.  A  tomb  on  the  north  side  of  this  churchyard,  records  the 
death  of  Isaac  Blomfield,  great-grandfather  to  the  Right  Rev.  Chas. 
James,  now  Bishop  of  London.  He  filled  the  office  of  churchwarden 
of  this  parish  27  years,  and  died  in  1770,  aged  80  years. 

*  There  was  formerly  in  every  church,  and  at  the  dining  halls  of  most  of  the 
nobility,  a  box  of  this  nature,  commonly  called  the  POORS'  Box  :  in  the  former 
they  are  now  not  very  commonly  met  with,  and  have  entirely  disappeared  from  the 
latter. 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBKIDGE.  891 

Mr.  George  Frost,  for  many  years  a  highly  respected  inhabitant 
of  Ipswich,  and  one  whose  peculiar  merits  as  an  artist  were  well 
known  in  that  vicinity,  was  a  native  of  this  parish.  At  an  early  age 
Mr.  Frost  evinced  a  strong  inclination  for  drawing,  which  he  in- 
dulged at  such  intervals  as  his  necessary  avocations  would  permit ; 
and  by  the  power  of  his  natural  talents  alone,  exercised  with  steady 
and  persevering  application,  he  raised  himself  to  distinguished  ex- 
cellence. His  productions,  and  more  particularly  his  drawings,  were 
admirable,  and  exhibited  satisfactory  proofs  of  the  character  and 
genius  of  a  master. 

He  was  a  most  ardent  admirer,  and  a  close  and  correct  imitator, 
of  the  productions  of  his  countryman,  the  celebrated  Gainsborough : 
the  last  work,  which  closed  the  career  of  his  pursuits,  was  an  excel- 
lent copy  of  Gainsborough's  large  view  of  the  Mall,  in  St.  James's 
Park ;  it  was  painted  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age,  and  must  be  con- 
sidered an  extraordinary  performance.  Mr.  Frost  died  at  Ipswich, 
on  the  28th  of  June,  1821,  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age. 

John  Meadows,  clerk,  third  son  of  Daniel  Meadows,  Gent.,  of 
Chattisham,  in  Samford  hundred,  was  rector  of  this  parish.  He 
was  baptized  at  Chattisham,  in  1622 ;  admitted  at  Emanuel  College, 
Cambridge,  in  1639 ;  and  afterwards  removed  to  Christ's  College,  in 
1644.  Mr.  Meadows  was  presented  to  this  incumbency,  and  resided 
here  in  1653,  from  which  he  was  ejected  in  1662,  and  died  in  1696. 
By  his  wife,  Sarah  Fairfax,  he  had  issue  John  Meadows,  of  Needham 
Market,  and  several  other  children.  Christopher  Hand  Bennet,  A.M., 
is  the  present  rector. 

ARMS. — Moseley:  sable;  a  chevron  between  3  mill  picks,  argent. 

CHARITIES. — The  town  estate  consists  of  cottages,  called  the 
Town  House,  occupied  by  poor  persons,  and  two  pieces  of  arable 
land  near  the  same,  containing  together  about  three  acres  ;  rent  £4 
10s.  a  year;  applied  to  the  payment  of  the  wages  of  the  parish 
clerk,  and  the  repairs  of  the  church. — In  1593,  William  Deynes 
gave,  by  will,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  13s.  4d.  a  year,  out  of  a 
piece  of  land  in  Barrow,  now  or  late  the  property  of  Waller  Wright, 
Esq. — By  deed,  dated  in  1 743,  enrolled  in  Chancery,  Richard  Mose- 
ley, Esq.,  charged  a  farm  in  this  parish,  belonging  to  Thomas  James 
Ireland,  Esq.,  with  the  payment  of  £10  a  year  to  the  schoolmaster 
for  the  time  being,  for  the  teaching  of  twenty  poor  children.  This 
annuity  is  paid  to  the  master  of  a  school  in  Ousden,  appointed  by 
the  lord  of  the  manor. 


892  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

POSLINGFORD. — POSLINDEORDA,  or  POSLINGEWRDA. 

At  the  time  of  the  Norman  survey,  the  lordship  of  this  parish 
was  vested  in  Ealph  Baynard,  and  passed  to  Jeffrey,  his  son  and 
successor  ;  whose  son,  William  Baynard,  joining  in  a  conspiracy 
with  Helias,  Earl  of  Mayne,  and  others,  against  King  Henry  I., 
forfeited  his  Barony  of  Bainard  Castle ;  and  this  estate  became  for- 
feited to  the  Crown.  In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  Richard  de  Cornerd 
held  the  same. 

Bulley  Hall,  in  Poslingford,  appears  to  have  been  the  estate  of 
Sir  John  Wentworth,  of  Gosfield,  in  Essex  ;  who  deceased  in  1567, 
leaving  two  daughters  and  co-heirs  :  Mary,  who  died  without  issue; 
and  Anne,  married,  first,  to  Sir  Hugh  Rich,  son  and  heir  to  Richard, 
Lord  Rich  ;  afterwards  to  Henry  Maltravers,  son  and  heir  to  Henry 
Fitz  Alan,  Earl  of  Arundel ;  and  thirdly,  to  Sir  William  Dean,  of 
Dean's  Hall,  in  Great  Maplested,  in  Essex. 

This  lady  being  sole  heir  to  her  father,  had  livery  of  his  large 
inheritance,  about  the  13th  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  and  in  the  19th 
of  that  reign,  she  conveyed,  by  indenture,  to  Jerome  Bettenham, 
and  James  Walton,  with  other  property,  the  manors  of  Overhall, 
Netherhall,  Howton,  Impey,  and  Bulley  Hall,  in  Posliugford,  Hun- 
don,  Stansfield,  Cavendish,  and  Clare,  in  Suffolk,  for  200  years  next 
after  her  decease,  which  happened  in  1580. 

By  an  inquisition  taken  in  the  7th  of  Charles  I.,  at  Ipswich,  it 
was  found  that  Sir  Edward  Villiers,  Knt.,  died  seized  of  the  manors 
of  Overhall  and  Netherhall,  in  this  parish ;  and  the  manors  of  Im- 
peys  and  Bulley  Hall,  &c.,  in  Suffolk ;  and  that,  by  Barbara  his 
wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John  St.  John,  he  had  a  son  and  heir,  William 
Villiers,  aged  20,  in  1625.  Sir  Edward  deceased  in  1626. 

In  1734,  Posliugford  Hall  was  the  seat  of  George  Golding,  Esq.; 
and  in  1764,  New  House,  in  this  parish,  is  said  to  have  been  the 
residence  of  a  person  of  that  name.  By  the  register  of  electors  for 
this  division  of  the  county,  in  1840,  the  Hall  was  the  property  of 
Charles  Hodges  Weare,  Esq.,  of  Tavistock  Place,  London ;  and 
Samuel  Weare,  Esq.,  is  now  lord  of  this  manor.  Clopton  Hall  be- 
longs to  the  Rev.  John  Newman  Stubbin,  rector  of  Offton,  in  this 
county.  Bulley  Green  Farm  is  also  named  in  the  above  register. 

The  advowson  was  appropriated  to  the  Priory  of  Dunmow,  in 
Essex ;  and  at  the  suppression  of  that  house,  was  granted  to  Robert 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  893 

Kateliffe,  Earl  of  Sussex.  It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the 
Goldings ;  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thomas  Weston  is  now  impro- 
priator  of  the  rectory,  and  patron  of  the  vicarage  ;  who  resides  at 

Poslingford  Park,  in  a  neat  mansion,  about  one  mile  north  of  this 
village. 

Chipley  (or  Chippele)  Priory,  was  situate  in  this  parish  ;  of  which 
nothing  decisive  appears  to  be  known,  otherwise  than  as  a  small 
house  of  Augustine  Canons,  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary ;  which 
being  ruined  in  the  buildings,  and  not  exceeding  £10  per  annum, 
was  conveyed,  by  Walter  Lyhart,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  in  1468,  to 
the  College  of  Stoke  next  Clare  ;  which  College  possessed  the  pa- 
tronage of  the  same. 

This  estate  has  been  in  the  Vernon  family ;  and  Sir  Kobert  Har- 
land,  Bart.,  is  the  present  owner,  in  right  of  his  wife.  The  Priory 
has  been  converted  into  a  farm  house,  and  is  still  partially  remain- 
ing. The  conventual  church,  or  chapel,  was  entirely  demolished  in 
1818;  previously  to  which  it  was  appropriated  to  the  purpose  of  a 
cow-house.  Many  human  bones,  and  some  stone  coffins,  were  dis- 
turbed by  the  workmen,  at  this  time,  in  digging  about  the  cemetery. 

The  demesne  of  this  Monastery  appears  to  have  occupied  upwards 
of  200  acres,  of  a  wet  and  poor  soil. 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  consists  of  a  parcel  of  land  here, 
called  the  Church  Croft,  containing  7  acres ;  and  another  parcel  of 
3  roods,  called  the  Town  Meadow ;  which  are  held  in  trust^  for  the 
reparation  of  the  parish  church,  and  the  better  maintenance  of  the 
poor. — Two  cottages,  with  gardens,  comprising  about  a  rood  of 
ground.  This  property  produces  a  rent  of  £18  11s.  6d.  a  year. 
The  sum  of  7s.  a  year  is  distributed  among  the  poor,  and  the  residue 
is  expended  in  keeping  the  church  in  repair. — In  1668,  William 
Cadge,  by  will,  charged  his  messuage  and  farm,  called  Lynns,  in 
this  parish,  with  20s.  a  year,  to  be  distributed  amongst  the  poor. — 
A  cottage  in  two  tenements,  is  occupied  rent  free  by  poor  persons, 
put  in  by  the  overseers ;  the  premises  being  kept  in  repair  out  of 
the  parish  rates. 


STANSFIELD,  or  STANESFELDA. 
In  the  time  of  Edward  I.,  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey  held  a  lordship 


894  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

in  this  parish ;  and  in  the  22nd  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  William  de 
Clopton  had  free  warren  in  his  lands  in  Stansfield.  He  married 
Agnet,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey,  and  died  in  the  1st  of 
Richard  II. 

In  the  5th  of  Henry  III.,  Peter  de  Narford,  gave  the  rectory  of 
this  parish  church  to  the  Priory  of  Mountjoy,  at  Heverland,  in  Nor- 
folk. He  was  lord  of  the  manor  of  Narford  (or  Oldhall),  in  that 
county  ;  and  his  descendant,  Robert  de  Narford,  was  principal  Go- 
vernor, or  Warden,  of  Dover  Castle,  in  the  reign  of  King  John, 
under  Hubert  de  Burgh. 

At  the  dissolution  of  the  above  Monastery,  this  benefice  reverted 
to  the  Crown ;  and  so  continues.  The  lordship  of  this  parish  is  also 
vested  in  the  Crown. 

Cordell  Hall,  in  Stansfield,  was  the  estate  of  Robert  Kedington, 
Gent,  who  resided  here  in  1764  ;  and  a  lordship  in  this  place  now 
belongs  to  George  Weller  Poley,  Esq.,  of  Boxstead  Hall,  in  this 
county. 

CHARITIES. — The  rent  of  two  parcels  of  land  in  this  parish,  called 
the  Town  Meadow,  and  the  Church  Croft,  containing  each  about  an 
acre,  let  at  £8  a  year  ;  which  is  carried  to  the  account  of  the  church 
rate. — Robert  Kedington  gave  a  donation  of  £1,  to  be  paid  out  of 
an  estate,  called  Cordell  Hall. — 13s.  4d.  paid  by  the  proprietor  of 
Stansfield  Mill,  in  respect  of  Anthony  Sparrow's  charity. — 6s.  8d. 
paid  from  a  farm  in  this  parish,  called  Cook's  Farm  ;  and  two  tene- 
ments, the  gift  of  the  Rev.  R.  Shaw,  for  the  use  of  poor  widows. 


STOKE  justa  CLARE,  or  STOCHES. 

This  parish  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  an  alien  Priory  of  monks  of 
the  Benedictine  order,  a  cell  to  Bee  Abbey,  in  Normandy.  In  1124, 
Richard  de  Tonbrigge  (or  De  Clare),  Earl  of  Hertford,  translated 
these  monks,  whom  his  father  had  placed  in  his  Castle  of  Clare, 
first,  into  the  parish  church  of  St.  Augustine,  and  after,  into  their 
Priory  here ;  which  he  founded  for  them,  and  endowed  with  the 
manor  of  Stoke  Ho. 

It  was  afterwards  released,  by  King  Richard  II.,  in  1395,  from 
its  subjection  to  the  said  foreign  Abbey ;  and  in  1415,  Edmund 
Mortimer,  Earl  of  March,  its  patron,  obtained  the  King's  permission 


HUNDRED  OF  RISERIDGE.  895 

to  change  this  institution  into  a  College  for  secular  priests.  Richard 
de  Clare,  in  addition  to  the  original  endowments  of  this  Monastery, 
enriched  it  with  the  churches  of  Stoke,  Stoke  Ho,  Cavenham,  and 
Denham ;  tithes  in  Denham,  the  mills  of  Clare  and  Stoke,  twelve 
houses  in  Clare,  &c. 

It  consisted  of  a  Dean,  from  six  to  ten  Prebendaries  (or  Canons), 
eight  Vicars,  four  Clerks,  six  Choristers,  besides  officers  and  ser- 
vants. The  constitutions  framed  for  this  College  were  made  by 
Thomas  Barnesley,  in  1422,  who  was  then  Dean,  by  the  command 
of  the  founder  and  patron,  Sir  Edmund  Mortimer,  Earl  of  March, 
and  of  Ulster,  who  was  interred  in  this  College.  The  site  thereof, 
with  the  court-yard,  orchard,  and  divers  houses  within  the  precincts, 
contained,  at  the  dissolution,  about  six  acres  of  land,  with  lands  and 
rents  in  various  counties,  and  portions,  pensions,  tithes,  &c.,  in 
about  56  parishes.  Its  clear  value,  in  "  Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  in 
1534,  was  £324  4s.  l£d. 

This  Collegiate  Church  was  in  the  patronage  of  the  Queens  of 
England.  A  list  of  its  Deans,  with  some  brief  notices  of  each,  was 
drawn  up  by  the  famous  and  learned  Matthew  Parker,  who  was  the 
last  Dean  of  this  College,  and  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 
Their  names  were  as  follows  : — 

1415.  Thomas  Baruesley.  1497.  John  Ednam,  S.T.P. 

1454.  Walter  Blaket,  A.M.  1517.  Robert  Bekensawe,  S.T.P. 

1454.  William  Wilflet,  S.T.P.  1525.  William  Grene,  S.T.P. 
1470.  Richard  Edenham,  S.T.P.  1529.  Robert  Shorten,  S.T.P. 
1493.  Wm.  Pykenham,  L.L.D.  1535.  Matthew  Parker,  S.T.P. 

It  was  dissolved  in  the  1st  of  Edward  VI.,  1548  ;  and  the  same 
year,  granted  to  Sir  John  Cheke,  and  Walter  Mildmay ;  and  sub- 
sequently became  the  property  of  the  Trigge  family  ;  from  whom 
it  passed  to  that  of  Elwes,  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  Gervase  Elwes, 
Bart.,  with  Amy,  daughter  of  Dr.  Trigge,  of  Highworth,  in  Wiltshire. 

Sir  Gervase  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1660,  and  resided  at  Stoke 
College.  Gervase,  his  eldest  surviving  son,  married  Isabella,  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  Thomas  Hervey,  Knt.,  of  Ickworth,  and  sister  of  the  first 
Earl  of  Bristol.  He  deceased  before  his  father,  and  upon  the  death 
of  Sir  Gervase,  in  1705,  Hervey,  his  grand- son,  succeeded  to  the 
title  and  estates;  who  died,  unmarried,  in  1763;  when  his  estates 
passed  to  the  son  of  his  sister,  Amy  Meggot,  and  the  Baronetcy 
expired. 

John  Meggot,  who  inherited  the  estates  of  his  uncle,  Sir  Hervey 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

Elwes,  having  previously  (in  1751)  assumed  the  surname  and  arms 
of  Elwes,  was  afterwards  well  known  as  Elwes,  the  Miser,  and  so 
distinguished  for  integrity,  generosity,  and  parsimony.  "  Mr.  Elwes, 
as  one  of  the  commoners  of  England,  in  three  successive  Parlia- 
ments, maintained  a  conduct,"  says  his  biographer,  "  which  purer 
times  might  have  been  glad  to  boast,  and  which  later  times  may  be 
proud  to  follow.  The  minister  that  influenced  him  was  his  con- 
science. He  obeyed  no  mandate  but  his  opinion.  He  gave  that 
opinion  as  he  held  it  to  be  right.  In  one  word,  his  public  conduct 
lives  after  him,  pure  and  without  a  stain.  In  private  life  he  was 
chiefly  an  enemy  to  himself.  To  others  he  lent  much — to  himself 
he  denied  every  thing." 

Mr.  Elwes  died  in  1789,  at  Marcham,  in  Berkshire,  M.P.,  for 
that  county.  His  property,  in  land  and  money,  was  immense.  The 
former  devolved  to  his  nephew,  the  son  of  the  late  Colonel  Timms, 
of  the  Horse  Guards,  and  was  estimated  at  £7000  per  annum.  The 
latter,  to  the  amount  of  some  hundreds  of  thousands,  was  equally 
divided  between  his  two  illegitimate  sons. 

John  Timms,  who  on  inheriting  the  entailed  estates  of  his  great 
uncle,  Elwes,  assumed  the  surnames  of  Hervey  Elwes,  died  at  Stoke 
College,  in  1824.  John  Payne  Elwes,  Esq.,  High  Sheriff  of  this 
county  in  1826,  is  now  owner  of  this  estate,  and  resides  here.  His 
mansion  is  still  called  the  College,  having  been  erected  upon  the 
site  of  the  original  building.  A  small  portion  of  the  latter  was  in- 
corporated with  the  modern  house.  The  Collegiate  Church  of  St. 
John  is  demolished. 

The  present  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Augustine,  is  a  neat  struc- 
ture, and  was  appropriated  to  Stoke  College.  The  benefice  is  a 
perpetual  curacy :  Lady  Kush  is  patroness,  relict  of  Sir  William 
Beaumaris  Kush,  Knt. 

ARMS. — Elwes :  or  ;  a  fess,  azure,  surmounted  by  a  bend,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — Mary  Barnes,  by  will,  dated  in  1681,  gave  £450 
to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  lands ;  and  she  directed,  that  one 
moiety  of  the  revenues  and  profits  thereof  should  be  employed  for 
ever  in  binding  out  children  of  this  parish  apprentices ;  and  that 
the  other  moiety  should  be  laid  out  in  like  manner,  for  the  parish 
of  St.  Margaret,  Lothbury,  The  fund  received  in  respect  of  the 
moiety  of  the  £450,  for  the  charity  at  Stoke,  was  laid  out  and  ap- 
plied, in  1745,  in  the  purchase  of  land  in  the  parish.  The  property 
comprises  10A.  2R.  2£p.  of  land  in  three  parcels,  and  is  let,  together 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  897 

with  IR.  34p.  of  glebe  land,  at  the  annual  rent  of  £33  for  the  whole; 
the  sum  of  £l  10s.  being  the  portion  of  rent  for  the  glebe  land. 
The  residue  is  applied  as  directed  by  the  donor. — Richard  Brown,  by 
his  will,  dated  in  1526,  charged  a  tenement,  called  Stowers,  at 
Ashen,  in  Essex,  and  divers  lands  thereto  belonging,  with  the  yearly 
payment  of  6s.  8d.  to  each  of  the  six  poor  folk  that  should  dwell  in 
an  almshouse,  by  him  appointed  to  be  erected,  in  Stoke.  The  alms- 
house  consists  of  three  cottages  in  Stoke,  which  are  occupied  by  six 
poor  widows;  and  the  sum  of  £2  10s.  is  paid  by  the  owner  of  the 
said  property. — A  piece  of  land  in  Whixoe,  called  Hancock's ;  rent 
£4:  10s.  a  year. — In  the  19th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  William  Bend- 
low,  Sergeant-at-Law,  granted  for  the  relief  of  poor  people  in  Stoke, 
an  annual  rent  of  20s.,  out  of  certain  property  called  Glyns,  in  the 
parish  of  Finchingfield,  in  Essex.  The  annual  produce  arising 
from  these  charities  is  divided  among  poor  people  in  the  almshouse, 
and  other  poor  widows  in  the  parish. — Thomas  Edwards  granted  an 
annuity  of  £l  for  poor  persons  of  Stoke,  out  of  a  piece  of  land  there, 
called  Tainter  Croft. — The  yearly  sum  of  40s.  is  paid  by  custom, 
out  of  a  piece  of  land,  called  the  Town  Close,  in  this  parish. — In 
1599,  Ralph  Turner  devised  a  cottage,  near  the  place  called  Huddes 
Gap,  which  is  now  occupied  by  two  aged  persons,  who  receive  an 
annuity  of  6s.  8d.  each,  devised  by  the  said  R.  Turner. — Sir  Gervase 
Elwes,  Bart.,  by  his  will,  proved  in  1706,  gave  a  certain^sum  for 
the  augmentation  of  the  perpetual  curacy  of  this  parish  ;  and  £30 
a  year  has  been  paid  by  the  owners  of  the  testator's  property  at 
Stoke,  to  the  minister  for  the  time  being. 


STRADDISHALL,  or  STRATESELLA. 

The  Cloptons  were  anciently  interested  here.  In  the  22nd  of 
Edward  III.,  Sir  William  de  Clopton  had  free  warren  in  his  lands 
in  Straddishall.  He  was  the  elder  brother  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Clop- 
ton,  who  acquired  Kentwell,  in  Melford,  by  marriage  with  the 
daughter  of  Mylde. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  16th  century,  John  Hoult,  Esq.,  appears 
to  have  been  seated  here.  At  the  commencement  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, the  principal  manor,  with  the  patronage  of  the  church,  were 
vested  in  the  house  of  Cavendish,  Earls  of  Devonshire.  It  subse- 


898  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

quently  became  vested  in  the  Veruon  family ;  and  is  now  the  estate 
of  Sir  Kobert  Harland,  Bart.,  in  right  of  dame  Arethusa  his  wife, 
only  sister  and  heiress  of  the  late  John  Vernou,  Esq.,  who  deceased 
in  1818,  unmarried. 

Straddishall  Place,  in  this  parish,  to  which  a  manor  is  attached, 
is  the  property  and  residence  of  William  Eayner,  Esq.,  who  has  a 
neat  mansion  near  the  church ;  which  is  a  rectory,  dedicated  to  St. 
Margaret :  and  amongst  its  rectors  may  be  noticed  Patrick  Mur- 
dock,  D.D.,  a  native  of  Scotland;  who  was,  in  1729,  engaged  as 
tutor  to  Mr.  John  Forbes,  the  son  of  the  Bight  Hon.  Duncan 
Forbes,  many  years  Lord  President  of  the  Court  of  Session,  in 
Scotland.  In  1749,  he  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of  Kettlebas- 
ton,  by  William  Leman,  Gent.,  which  he  resigned  in  17CO  ;  when 
he  was  presented,  by  Edward  Vernon,  Esq.,  to  the  vicarage  of  Great 
Tlmrlow.  He  died  in  1774. 

Dr.  Murdock  was  the  intimate  friend  of  James  Thomson,  the 
poet ;  and  was  a  polite  scholar,  an  ingenious  mathematician,  and 
philosopher.  He  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Eoyal  Society  in 
1745,  and  communicated  several  papers.  He  also  wrote  the  Life 
of  his  friend  Thomson,  which  is  usually  prefixed  to  his  works ;  with 
some  other  publications. 

The  Kev.  Kichard  Valpy  D.D.,  Head  Master  of  Beading  School 
for  many  years,  also  held  this  incumbency ;  to  which  he  was  pre- 
sented, in  1787,  by  his  intimate  friend,  the  late  Bev.  James  Cullum, 
uncle  of  the  present  Bev.  Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum,  Bart.,  of  Hard- 
wick  House,  in  this  county.  Dr.  Valpy  was  an  eminent  classic  : 
in  the  midst  of  business,  he  found  leisure  to  compose  a  series  of 
elementary  works  on  almost  every  branch  of  education.  Compelled 
to  pass  the  greater  part  of  the  year  at  Beading,  he  visited  his  pa- 
rishioners regularly  in  his  Christmas,  or  Midsummer  vacation;  and 
composed  for  them  a  summary  of  religion,  in  order  to  give  himself 
at  all  times  an  "  imaginary  presence"  among  them.  This  work  he 
entitled  an  "  Address  from  a  Clergyman  to  his  Parishioners."  It 
has  passed  through  eight  editions.  He  died  in  1836,  in  the  82nd 
year  of  his  age.  Charles  Jenkin,  D.D.,  is  the  present  incumbent, 
who  resides  at  Heringswell. 

CHARITIES. — John  Hoult,  by  will,  dated  in  1573,  gave  a  tene- 
ment in  Straddishall,  next  his  mansion  house,  on  the  north  side 
thereof,  unto  the  township  of  Straddishall,  for  the  habitation  of  two 
of  the  poorest  men  and  women  ;  and  that  £3  a  year  should  be  paid 


HUNDRED  OF  KISBRIDGE.  899 

ont  of  the  mansion-house  in  Straddishall,  for  ever,  for  the  relief  of 
the  poor  men  or  women  dwelling  within  the  said  tenement ;  and 
subject  to  the  rent  charge,  he  devised  the  said  mansion-house  to  his 
wife,  for  life ;  and  after  her  decease,  to  his  daughter,  Alice  Hoult, 
and  her  issue. — The  poor's  land  consists  of  5A.  3p.,  in  two  parcels ; 
rent  £7  per  annum,  which  has  been  distributed  among  the  poor  of 
the  parish  in  general,  in  bread  or  money. — The  premises  subject  to 
the  payment  of  £10  for  the  support  of  the  workhouse,  the  gift  of 
Henry  Vernon,  Esq.,  at  present  belongs  to  William  Pigott,  Esq., 
being  a  farm,  part  situate  in  this  parish,  and  part  in  Hundon. — A 
rent  charge  of  8s.,  named  in  the  Parliament  Returns  in  1786,  is  by 
some  means  lost. 


GREAT  THURLOW.— THRILLANURA,  or  THIRLAWE. 

This  lordship  was  anciently  vested  in  Sir  Gilbert  Peche.  Ka- 
therine,  his  daughter  and  heir,  married  Sir  John  de  Aspale,  who 
acquired  the  same,  and  Pletchendon,  in  Essex,  in  her  right.  He 
died  in  the  39th  of  Edward  III.  Katherine  survived,  and  married 
Sir  Thomas  Notbeme.  She  deceased  in  the  7th  of  Henry  IV., 
1406,  seized  of  the  said  manors. 

By  her  first  husbaud  she  left  an  only  daughter,  Mirabel,  aged  36; 
the  wife  of  William  Gedding  :  and  by  her  second  marriage, \another 
daughter  and  co-heir,  Margaret,  aged  26  ;  the  wife  of  John  Hynk- 
legh,  Esq.  William  Gedding,  and  Mirabel  his  wife,  passed  by  fine, 
their  share  of  the  above  property,  to  John  Hynklegh,  and  Margaret 
his  wife.  He  died  in  1432,  she  survived  until  1442  :  they  were 
both  interred  in  this  parish  church. 

Margaret,  at  the  time  of  her  decease,  held  this  property,  and  left 
two  daughters,  co  heirs  :  Alice,  wife  of  John  Marshall ;  and  Cecily, 
wife  of  Henry  Caldebeck.  The  latter  became  possessed  of  this  es- 
tate, and  left  two  daughters,  co-heirs  :  Thomasine,  married  to  John 
Tumor,  of  Huverhill,  in  this  county;  and  Margaret,  married  to 
Geoffrey  Eladwell,*  of  Great  Thurlow.  The  former  inherited  Plet- 
chendon, and  the  latter  the  lordship  of  this  parish. 

*  Margery,  daughter  of  this  Geoffrey  Bladwell,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  married 
Robert  Geddyog  ;  and  there  was  issue  of  this  marriage  an  only  child,  Margery; 
whose  wardship  having  been  obtained  by  the  Solicitor-General,  Thomas  Lucas,  of 
Little  Saxham,  he  married  the  heiress  to  his  eldest  son,  Jasper. 


900  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGK. 

John  Bladwell,  Esq.,  probably  their  son,  died  in  1534,  and  -with 
Anne  his  wife,  was  buried  in  this  parish  church.  The  family  con- 
tinued to  reside  here  for  several  generations.  Giles  Bladwell,  Esq., 
was  living  here  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  :  William,  his  son, 
purchased  largely  in  Norfolk,  in  the  two  following  reigns.  It  ap- 
pears the  family  ceased  about  the  time  of  Charles  I. 

This  lordship  about  that  period  became  vested  in  the  King  family. 
John  King,  Esq.,  is  mentioned  by  Kirby  ;  and  Capt.  Robert  King, 
Esq.,  of  Great  Thurlow,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Steward,  Esq.,  of  Barton  Mills,  and  widow  of  Sir  Robert  Kemp, 
Kut.,  of  Finchingfield,  in  Essex. 

The  Waldegraves,  of  Smallbridge,  in  Bures,  were  concerned  here; 
and  Sir  John  Cordell,  Bart.,  of  Melford,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Waldegrave,  Esq.,  and  had  issue,  John  his  heir ;  Eliza- 
beth, married  to  Thomas  King,  Esq.,  eldest  son  of  the  above  Capt. 
Robert  King,  Esq.,  of  this  parish  ;  and  Margaret,  married  to  Charles 
Eirebrace,  Esq.,  only  sou  of  Sir  Charles  Firebrace,  Bart.  Their 
brother  deceased  without  issue,  in  1704,  and  the  above  Elizabeth 
and  Margaret  were  his  co-heirs. 

Thomas  King,  Esq.,  was  killed  in  a  duel  about  1698,  with  Sir 
Sewster  Peyton,  Bart.:  Elizabeth,  his  widow,  deceased  in  1706; 
when  this  estate  devolved  to  her  sister,  Margaret ;  whose  son,  Sir 
Cordell  Firebrace,  Bart.,  M.P.  for  this  county,  sold  the  same  to 
James  Vernon,  Esq. ;  whose  son,  Henry,  became  seated  here.  John 
Vernon,  Esq.,  his  only  son,  succeeded ;  who  deceased  unmarried  in 
1818,  and  was  buried  at  Great  Thurlow.  He  was  the  last  male  heir 
of  this  family,  and  his  estates  devolved  upon  his  only  sister,  Are- 
thusa,  wife  of  Sir  Robert  Harland,  Bart.,  of  Orwell  Park,  in  this 
county ;  who  is  the  present  proprietor  of  this  estate. 

In  the  time  of  King  Richard  II.,  in  1898,  here  was  an  Hospital, 
dedicated  to  St.  James  ;  which  was  subordinate  to  the  foreign  Hos- 
pital of  Hautpays ;  and  being  of  the  value  of  60s.,  this  house  was 
granted,  amongst  other  lands,  in  1468,  to  God's  House  College 
(now  King's  College),  in  Cambridge. 

The  church  of  Thurlow  Magna,  appropriated  to  this  Hospital, 
was  returned,  in  1291,  to  be  of  the  annual  value  of  £10  13s.  4d. 
In  the  loth  of  Henry  VII.,  Richard,  Abbot  of  St.  Martin's  de  Bello, 
bestowed  upon  Thomas  Lucas,  Solicitor- General,  of  Little  Saxham, 
for  his  advice  given  and  to  be  given  to  the  Monastery,  the  advowson 
of  the  church  of  Thurlow,  in  Suffolk ;  and  an  annual  pension  of 


HUNDRED  OF  RLSBUIDGE.  901 

two  marks  and  a  half,  issuing  out  of  the  vicarage.  He  died  in  1531, 
and  devised  10s.  to  this  church,  for  tithes  and  ohlations  forgotten. 

The  patronage  of  the  church  remains  in  the  hands  of  the  Crown. 
Among  its  vicars  may  be  noticed  the  late  Rev.  James  Cullum,  Pre- 
bendary of  Lincoln,  and  also  rector  of  Nacton,  and  Levington,  in 
this  county ;  uncle  to  the  Rev.  Sir  Thomas  Gery  Cullum,  the  pre- 
sent Baronet.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Sir  John,  the  5th  Ba- 
ronet, by  his  second  wife,  Susannah,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Gery, 
Knt.  Mr.  Cullum  was  of  Christ's  College,  Cambridge,  B.A.  1777, 
M.A.  1780  ;  and  was  presented  to  Great  Thurlow,  in  1786,  by  Lord 
Chancellor  Thurlow  ;  instituted  to  Nacton  and  Levington,  in  1787; 
and  collated  to  the  Prebend  of  Carlton  cum  Thurlow,  by  Bishop 
Tomline,  in  1810.  He  died  in  1835,  at  Chelsworth  House,  the 
seat  of  Sir  Robert  Pocklington ;  and  was  buried  in  that  parish 
church. 

Weever  mentions  Thomas  Underbill,  Esq.,  and  Anne  his  wife, 
being  buried  under  a  tomb  in  the  choir  of  this  parish  church,  and 
who  died  in  1508;  also  Thomas  Knighton,  Gent.,  and  Alice  his 
wife,  who  died  in  1532.  Some  members  of  the  Vernon  family  are 
also  interred  here. 

ARMS. — Peche :  argent ;  a  fess  between  two  chevrons,  gules. 
Bladwell :  per  pale,  argent  and  gules,  a  lion  rampant,  sable.  Ver- 
non :  or ;  on  a  fess,  azure,  three  garbs  of  the  first. 

CHARITIES. — Mention  is  made  in  the  printed  returns  of  Donations 
in  1786,  of  two  benefactions  to  the  poor,  of  £20,  and  £10,  placed 
formerly  in  the  hands  of  Henry  Vernon,  Esq. ;  and  of  interest  being 
paid  thereon  by  his  executors  till  1781,  when  the  payment  is  stated 
to  have  ceased  ;  and  has  never  been  resumed.  (For  Vernon's  cha- 
rity see  report  for  the  parish  of  Great  Wratting.) 


LITTLE  THURLOW,  or  TRIDLANUA. 

The  lordship  and  advowson  of  this  parish  were  formerly  vested  in 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  at  Bury ;  and  since  the  dissolution  of 
that  house,  became  the  estate  of  the  Soame  family,  who  resided 
here  for  many  generations.  The  first  of  this  family  who  became 
interested  here,  was  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  Soame,  Gent,  and 
Aune  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  Francis  Knighton,  Esq.,  of  the 


002  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

adjoining  parish  of  Little  Bradley,  and  widow  of  Richard  Le-Hunt, 
of  Hunt's  Hall,  in  that  parish.  He  died  in  the  1 1th  of  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth, seized  of  lands  in  Little  Bradley,  and  this  parish,  called  by 
several  names  ;  and  divers  property  in  the  county  of  Norfolk. 

Sir  Stephen  Soame,  Kut.,  his  brother,  who  was  Sheriff  of  London 
in  1589,  and  Lord  Mayor  in  1598,  was  the  first  of  that  family  who 
became  seated  here  ;  and  was  a  liberal  benefactor  to  the  parish.  He 
married  Anne,  daughter  of  William  Stone,  Esq.,  of  Segenhoe,  in 
Bedfordshire ;  by  whom  he  had  a  numerous  family.  Sir  Stephen 
deceased  in  1619,  aged  75,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church 

Sir  William  Soame,  Knt.,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  succeeded ; 
who  was  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  in  the  8th  of  Charles  I. ;  and  William, 
his  grandson,  was  advanced  to  a  Baronetcy  by  King  Charles  II., 
in  1684-5  ;  with  remainder,  default  of  male  heirs  of  his  own  body, 
to  Peter  Soame,  Esq.,  of  Heydon,  in  Essex.  Sir  William  deceased 
without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  Baronetcy  by  the  above  Sir 
Peter  Soame,  under  the  especial  limitation  in  the  patent. 

Sir  William  bequeathed  this  estate  to  his  uncle,  Bartholomew 
Soarne,  of  London,  woollen  draper;  in  whose  descendant  it  still 
continues.  Mrs.  Soame,  a  widow  lady,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  is 
now  principal  proprietor  here,  and  holds  the  manor  and  advowson 
of  the  living.  The  late  Dr.  William  Chafy,  Master  of  Sidney  Sus- 
sex College,  Cambridge,  held  an  estate  in  this  parish,  called  Temple 
End  Farm. 

Little  Thurlow  Hall,  the  noble  old  mansion,  erected  by  Sir  Ste- 
phen Soame,  Knt.,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  was  consumed 
by  fire  in  1809  ;  being  then  the  property  of  Henry  Soame,  Esq., 
and  occupied  by  Colonel  Stevenson.  It  was  supposed  to  have  been 
occasioned  by  a  large  fire  kept  in  an  open  chimney  of  the  great 
Hall,  during  the  severe  weather,  to  prevent  the  fire  arms  from  rust- 
ing, which  communicated  with  some  cross  beams  in  the  second 
floor.  It  has  not  since  been  rebuilt. 

The  church  contains  a  splendid  monument  in  memory  of  Sir 
Stephen  Soame,  and  several  others  to  members  of  that  family. 
Amongst  its  rectors  may  be  noticed  Nicholas  Clagett,  A.M.,  Arch- 
deacon of  Sudbury  in  1699.  He  also  held  the  incumbency  of 
Hitcham,  in  this  county,  in  the  gift  of  the  Crown.  Thomas  Crick, 
B.D.,  is  now  rector  of  this  parish. 

ARMS. — Soame :  gules  ;  a  chevron  between  three  mallets,  or. 

CHARITIES. — Sir  Stephen  Soame,  Kut.,  by  his  will,  dated  in  the 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  903 

15th  of  James  I.,  declared,  that  an  almshouse  which  he  had  built 
in  this  parish,  should  be  for  the  habitation  of  eight  poor  unmarried 
persons,  men  and  women ;  and  for  the  ninth  room  in  the  midst  of 
the  almshouse,  he  appointed  it  for  the  habitation  of  a  ninth  person, 
such  an  one  as  could  read,  and  who  he  willed  should  every  day, 
both  forenoon  and  afternoon,  read  prayers  there,  with  the  rest  of 
the  almsiblk :  and  he  gave  for  the  maintenance  of  the  said  eight  or 
nine  poor  persons,  and  to  every  of  them  14d.  a  week ;  and  for  pay- 
ment thereof,  his  executors  were  to  purchase  land  worth  £30  a  year, 
or  a  rent  charge  of  £'30  a  year,  out  of  some  manor  or  lordship ;  and 
should  by  the  same  purchase  provide,  that  every  year,  eight  loads  of 
good  faggots  should  be  brought  and  laid  in  at  the  almshouse,  for 
the  use  of  the  poor  people,  every  one  to  have  a  load  ;  and  that  every 
two  years,  every  one  of  the  poor  persons  should  have  a  gown  of 
cloth,  worth  5s.  a  yard,  made  and  given  to  them  :  and  after  reciting 
that  he  had  erected  a  school  house  in  Little  Thurlow,  the  same 
should  be  employed  as  a  free-school  for  that  and  several  adjoining 
parishes,  and  all  other  towns  in  the  county  of  Suffolk ;  and  he  be- 
queathed to  the  schoolmaster  £20  a  year,  and  to  the  usher  £10  a 
year.  The  manor  of  Carlton,  in  Cambridgeshire,  and  the  farms  and 
lands  subject  to  these  annuities  and  allowances,  lately  belonged  to 
John  Frith  Soame,  Esq.,  of  Beverley,  in  Yorkshire. — It  is  stated 
in  the  returns  of  charitable  donations,  made  in  1786,  that  Josiah 
Houghton  settled,  in  1693,  a  house  and  land  for  the  poor\  of  this 
parish.  It  is  now  a  disputed  point  whether  this  estate  is  to  be  con- 
sidered the  property  of  the  parish,  or  a  charity. 


WHIXOE.— WYDEKESO,  or  WYKSHO. 

By  a  fine  levied  in  the  8th  of  King  John,  it  appears  that  Hamon, 
son  of  Nicholas  de  Capra,  and  Mariota  his  wife,  held  three  quarters 
of  a  fee  here,  of  Walter  Fitz  Kobert ;  and  Michael  Capra  held  the 
same,  or  had  some  interest  therein,  in  the  10th  of  Kichard  I. ;  and 
in  the  6th  of  that  reign,  the  Prior  of  St.  Leonard,  at  Goines,  in 
Essex,  demanded  a  mill  of  William,  son  of  Jeffrey  Capra,  in  this 
parish  :  which  Priory  was  founded  by  Michael  de  Capra,  and  Bo- 
hesia  his  wife.  Jeffrey  de  Capra  was  lord  of  Wyksho. 

In  the  time  of  Richard  II.,  Sir  Hamon  Sutton,  Knt.,  held  this 


904  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

manor,  and  resided  here  ;  from  whom  it  passed  to  the  Peytons,  by 
the  marriage  of  Joan,  his  daughter  and  heir,  with  John,  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  John  de  Peyton,  Knt.,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  Gernon,  Knt.,  of  Lees,  in  Essex. 

The  manor  of  Water  Hall,  in  this  parish,  now  belongs  to  John 
Payne  Elwes,  Esq.,  of  Stoke  near  Clare,  in  this  county  ;  and  Fre- 
derick Elwes,  clerk,  is  the  present  incumbent  of  this  parish.  Rose 
Hill,  in  Whixoe,  is  the  estate  and  residence  of  Josiah  Nottidge,  Esq. 


WICKHAMBROOK.     BADEMONDESFELDA. 

Badmondisfield  manor,  in  this  parish,  now  commonly  called  Bans- 
field  Hall,  at  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey,  was  vested  in  the 
Crown.  It  appears  soon  afterwards  to  have  been  in  possession  of 
the  Courtenay  family  ;  whose  co- heiresses  allied  with  the  houses  of 
Cantilupe  and  Engaine  ;  and  upon  a  division  of  their  estates,  in  the 
time  of  King  Henry  III.,  this  property  was  apportioned  to  the  latter. 

It  subsequently  came  to  the  family  of  Bures  ;  and  in  the  6th  of 
Edward  II.,  John  de  Hastings  held  this  lordship,  with  that  of  the 
adjoining  parish  of  Lidgate ;  in  whose  descendant  it  is  supposed  to 
have  continued,  until  it  became  the  estate  of  Charles  Somerset,  Esq., 
son  of  Sir  George  Somerset,  second  son  of  Charles,  Earl  of  Wor- 
cester, in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VIII. 

From  the  Somersets  it  passed  to  the  North  family :  and  Sir 
Henry  North,  second  son  of  Robert,  Lord  North,  who  in  the  28th 
of  Queen  Elizabeth  served  with  his  father  in  the  Low  Countries, 
and  was  Knighted  by  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  deceased  at  his  seat  at 
Badmondisfield,  in  this  parish,  in  1620;  and  was  buried  in  Mil  - 
denhall  church,  where  a  handsome  monument  remains  to  his 
memory. 

His  grandson,  Henry  North,  of  Mildenhall,  who  was  created  a 
Baronet  in  1660,  conveyed  this  lordship  to  the  Warner  family;  in 
a  line  of  descent  from  whom  the  present  possessor,  Nathaniel  War- 
ner Bromley,  Esq.,  inherits  the  same. 

The  manor  house  is  surrounded  by  a  moat,  and  a  park  of  some 
extent ;  and,  though  now  much  reduced,  still  retains  some  remains 
of  antiquity.  By  an  old  map,  of  1598,  it  appears  that  Badmondis- 
field Park  extended  considerably  into  Lidgate ;  to  the  rector  of 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  905 

which  parish  this  estate  has  immemorially  paid  a  modus  of  2s.  Od., 
in  lieu  of  tithes. 

Robert  de  Kedington  gave  an  estate  in  Wickhambrook,  to  Walter 
Amyas,  Master  of  a  Chantry  in  the  chapel  of  Badmondisfield,  to 
hold  to  him,  and  to  his  successors,  as  an  addition  to  the  maintenance 
of  a  chaplain,  to  be  appointed  by  him,  and  his  successors  for  ever, 
to  offer  up  prayers  every  day  in  the  said  chnpel,  for  the  souls  of  the 
faithful  departed  ;  as  appears  from  an  inquisition,  ad  quod  damnum, 
taken  at  Clare,  in  the  43rd  of  Edward  III.,  1369.  Kirby  mentions 
this  chapel  as  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  in  the  patronage  of  the  Hast- 
ings and  Grey  families ;  but  was  granted  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  in 
1583,  to  William  Mansey,  of  London :  all  traces  of  which  are  now 
lost. 

Gaines  Hall  is  another  manor  in  this  parish,  of  considerable  ex- 
tent, but  has  no  mansion  or  demesne  appeudant.  This  was  formerly 
the  estate  of  William  Moseley,  Esq.,  of  Ousden ;  from  whom  it  de- 
scended to  John  his  son  ;  who  disposed  of  the  same,  when  he  sold 
the  Ousden  property.  Mrs.  Sarah  Sparke,  widow  of  the  late  Eze- 
kiel  Sparke,  Esq.,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  now  holds  this  estate. 

Gifford's  is  a  lordship  of  small  extent,  formerly  vested  in  Sir  Hugh 
Francis ;  since,  in  Thomas  Heigham,  Esq.,  a  valiant  soldier  in  the 
reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth;  who  deceased  in  1630,  and  was  buried 
in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church ;  to  whose  memory  his  nephew, 
Sir  Henry  Knollys,  of  Stanford,  in  Berkshire,  Knt.,  caused  a  mo- 
nument to  be  erected,  setting  forth  his  brave  exploits,  and  many 
virtues. 

Gifford's  manor,  with  Clopton  House,  were  purchased  by  the 
trustees  of  William,  Baron  Baynard,  with  money  devised  by  his 
Lordship,  in  1698,  to  the  parish  of  Thaxted,  in  Essex,  for  charitable 
uses ;  and  is  now  vested  in  the  trustees  of  the  said  charity,  in  trust. 
Gifford's  Hall  was  not,  it  appears,  included  in  this  purchase,  but 
became  the  property  of  John  Owers ;  since,  of  George  Chinery, 
Gent. ;  and  was  lately  vested  in  Elizabeth,  his  only  daughter ;  it 
now  belongs  to  Wotton  Isaacson,  Gent.,  who  resides  here. 

Gesynges  is  another  property,  of  considerable  antiquity,  contigu- 
ous to  the  Bansfield  Hall  estate,  having  formerly  a  large  hall  and 
dwelling  house,  surrounded  with  a  moat.  This  estate  formerly  be- 
longed to  the  family  of  Cradock ;  of  whom  was  Samuel  Cradock, 
B.D.,  and  Fellow  of  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge;  an  eminent 
nonconformist  divine,  who  held  the  rectory  of  North  Cadbury,  in 


900  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE. 

Somersetshire  ;  which,  upon  the  passing  of  the  Act  of  Uniformity, 
in  1662,  he  resigned,  retired  to  this  place,  and  preached  gratuitously 
in  the  neighbourhood,  during  the  26  years  he  resided  here  ;  where 
he  also  educated  many  who  afterwards  became  eminent  members  of 
the  nation,  in  church  and  state.  Mr  Cradock  became  minister  of 
a  congregation  of  dissenters  some  few  years  prior  to  his  decease,  at 
Bishop's  Stortford;  which  took  place  there,  in  1706,  in  the  86th  year 
of  his  age.  He,  and  his  widow,  were  buried  at  Wickhambrook  ;  in 
the  chancel  of  which  church  are  tablets  to  their  memories.  Mr. 
Cradock  was  author  of  a  "  History  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament;" 
"  Harmony  of  the  Four  Evangelists,"  and  other  works. 

Thomas  Priest  died  at  Gesynges,  in  this  parish,  in  1772:  he 
married  Elizabeth  Cradock,  in  1730;  who  died  in  1763,  without 
surviving  issue.  Mr.  Priest  left  this  estate  to  be  sold  :  it  was  pur- 
chased by  a  member  of  the  Chinery  family,  and  now  belongs  to 
Nathaniel  Warner  Bromley,  Esq.,  of  Badmondisfield,  by  purchase. 

Clopton  (or  Wickham)  House,  the  former  residence  of  Major 
Robert  Sparrow,  and  since  the  property  of  Robert  Edgar,  Esq.,  of 
Ipswich,  has  been  for  the  most  part  pulled  down  :  after  the  decease 
of  Mr.  Edgar,  this  estate  was  sold  ;  when  the  late  Gen.  Robinson, 
of  Denston  Hall,  became  the  principal  purchaser. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  is  a  vicarage  in  the  gift  of 
the  Crown.  Samuel  Shepherd,  Gent.,  of  Exning,  held  the  impro- 
priation;  and  upon  a  division  of  his  property  between  his  co- 
heiresses, it  was  assigned  to  Francis,  Marquess  of  Hertford,  in  right 
of  Isabella  Ann,  his  wife  ;  who  in  1800,  sold  the  same.  The  pro- 
prietors of  land  have  since,  for  the  most  part,  purchased  the  tithes 
arising  from  their  estates,  which  were  payable  to  the  lay  impropriator. 

Clopton,  now  a  hamlet  of  Wickhambrook,  occurs  in  Domesday 
Book,  but  Wickhambrook  is  not  named.  The  Cloptons,  of  Clopton, 
in  Wickhambrook,  were  feudatories  of  the  honour  of  Clare ;  and 
Thurstan  de  Clopton  is  a  witness  to  the  grant,  in  1154,  by  Richard 
Fitz  Gilbert,  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  of  lands  in  Hawkedon, 
belonging  to  Pridington.  Sir  William  de  Clopton  was  the  elder 
brother  of  Sir  Thos.  de  Clopton,  who  acquired  Kentwell  by  marriage 
with  the  heiress  of  Mylde,  and  became  parent  of  a  Knightly  race, 
subsequently  owners  of  Hawsted.  Sir  William  in  the  22nd  of  Ed- 
ward III.,  had  free  warren  in  his  lands  in  this  parish.  He  deceased 
in  the  1st  of  Richard  II. ;  and  held  the  12th  part  of  a  fee  of  the 
Earl  Marshal,  in  Wickhambrook. 


HUNDRED  OF  UISBRIDGE.  907 

A  Roman  oval  shaped^iw/a,  thickly  plated,  and  set  with  a  stone 
resembling  an  amethyst,  also  a  cast  in  brass,  intended  to  represent 
some  bird,  with  several  Roman  coins,  were  ploughed  up  in  a  field, 
called  Four-acre  Honey-comb,  belonging  to  the  Lodge  Farm,  in  this 
parish  ;  plates  of  which  may  be  seen  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Maga- 
zine" for  1788,  p.  702. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  and  poor  estate  consists  of  a  tenement, 
and  several  parcels  of  laud  lying  together  in  this  parish,  and  con- 
taining in  the  whole,  about  15  acres;  let  at  the  annual  rent  of 
£15.  The  sum  of  £2  5s.  is  deducted  from  the  rent  as  applicable  to 
the  repairs  of  the  church,  and  the  residue  is  applied  for  the  be- 
nefit of  the  poor. — The  following  yearly  sums  are  received  and  dis- 
tributed with  the  preceding  charity  :  20s.,  the  gift  of  a  Dr.  Palmer; 
20s.,  the  gift  of  Charles  Owers ;  10s.,  the  gift  of  Benjamin  French; 
and  £3,  paid  from  Stansfield  Mill,  under  Anthony  Sparrow's  charity. 
— In  1785,  Mrs.  Anne  Warner  devised  the  sum  of  ^£400,  Three  per 
Cent.  Reduced  Annuities ;  and  the  dividends  are  distributed  with 
the  funds  above  noticed. — Mrs.  Elizabeth  Chinery,  by  will,  dated 
in  1818,  directed  £'250  stock,  in  the  Three  per  Cents.,  to  be  pur- 
chased; the  dividends  thereof  to  be  applied  in  the  purchase  of  hempen 
cloth,  to  be  given  away  to  such  ten  poor  families  belonging  to  this 
parish  as  the  trustees  for  the  time  being  shall  think  most  deserving. 
— The  sum  of  £10  a  year  is  received  from  William  Rayner,  Esq., 
as  owner  of  the  land  in  this  parish  charged  therewith,  under  the  gift 
of  Henry  Vernon,  Esq. ;  and  the  amount  is  applied  for  the  benefit 
of  the  governor  of  the  workhouse. 


WETHERSFIELD,  or  WEDRESFELDA. 

The  author  of"  Magna  Britannia"  states  that  William  de  Grimsby 
was  very  early  in  the  possession  of  this  lordship.  Robert,  son  and 
heir  of  William  de  Stuteville,  a  firm  adherent  to  King  Henry  III., 
during  his  war  with  the  Barons,  was  taken  and  imprisoned  by  Henry 
de  Montford ;  and  obliged  to  sell  his  manor  in  this  parish,  to  Sir 
Giles  Argentine,  one  of  their  party,  to  redeem  himself ;  which  was 
restored  to  him,  in  the  50th  of  that  King,  when  the  Barons  became 
defeated. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  and  advowson  of  the  church,  are  now 


908  HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGK. 

vested  in  Thomas  Duffield,  Esq. ;  who  is  owner  of  a  great  part  of 
the  soil.  Lord  Thurlow  has  an  estate  here,  and  the  School  and 
Hospital  at  Bethnal  Green,  founded  in  1 722,  by  Thomas  Parmiter, 
has  some  property  in  this  parish. 

Vincent  Pearce,  S.T.P.,  curate  of  St.  Mary  in  Thetford,  in  1639, 
rector  of  Sidestern,  in  Norfolk,  Wangford,  and  Wethersfield,  in 
Suffolk,  was  installed  a  Prehend  in  Norwich  Cathedral,  in  1060. 
He  was  Chaplain  to  Charles  I.,  Charles  II.,  and  James  II. ;  and 
died  in  1673,  was  interred  in  the  choir  of  the  above  Cathedral. 

CHARITIES. — There  is  a  cottage,  in  four  tenements,  in  this  parish, 
occupied  rent  free,  by  poor  persons  ;  and  a  blacksmith's  shop  let 
for  £2  a  year,  or  thereabouts,  the  rent  of  which  is  applied  in  keep- 
ing the  cottage  in  repair.  It  is  unknown  how  these  premises  became 
appropriated  to  the  poor. 


GKEAT  &  LITTLE  WRATTING.— WARACATINGE,  or  VRATINGA. 

In  the  31st  of  Henry  II.,  Gilbert,  son  of  Walter  Pykard,  was  in 
the  custody  of  Gilbert  de  Vere,  by  grant  from  the  Crown ;  of  whom 
they  held  in  chief,  Great  Wratting,  and  was  of  the  age  of  twenty 
years.  The  Pykards  were  tenants  of  the  Earls  of  Oxford.  In  the 
14th  of  Edward  I.,  Walter  Pykard,  of  Wratting,  held  100  acres  of 
land,  of  the  King,  in  chief,  by  the  serjeantry  of  finding  for  him  one 
footman,  with  a  bow  and  four  arrows,  as  often  as  the  King  went 
into  Wales  with  his  army,  for  forty  days,  at  his  own  proper  cost. 

Sir  Thomas  Clopton,  Knt.,  of  Clopton,  in  Wickhambrook,  had 
free  warren  in  his  lands  in  Wratting.  He  died  in  the  1st  of  Eichard 
II.  They  were  feudatories  of  the  honour  of  Clare.  The  Canons 
of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  in  Thetford,  held  a  certain  portion  of  lands 
in  Wratting  Parva,  which  was  taxed  at  4^d.  This  was  granted  to 
Sir  Richard  Fulmerston,  Knt. ;  and  afterwards  belonged  to  Sir  Ed- 
ward Clere,  who  married  his  sole  daughter  and  heir. 

The  lordship  of  Great  Wratting  is  the  estate  of  the  Right  Hon. 
Edward  Thomas  Hovell  Thurlow,  Baron  Thurlow,  of  Ashfield,  in 
this  county.  Little  Wratting  is  entirely  freehold  property. 

An  amphora,  and  patera,  were  found  in  a  field  called  nine  acres, 
upon  monks  land,  belonging  to  Sotterley  Green  Farm,  in  the  parish 
of  Great  Wratting  (the  Ad  Ansam  of  Salmon) :  engravings  of  which 


HUNDRED  OF  RISBRIDGE.  909 

appeared  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1804,  p.  1006.  It  is 
evident  from  the  great  quantity  of  Roman  pottery,  coins,  urns,  &c., 
found  in  this  field,  it  was  originally  the  site  of  a  station,  or  villa. 
Whether  Salmon  is  correct  in  supposing  it  the  Ad  Ansam  may  be 
doubted  ;  as  Witham,  in  Essex,  is  generally  thought  to  be  such. 

The  patronage  of  both  these  parish  churches  is  vested  in  Thomas 
Blomefield  Syer,  clerk  ;  who  is  also  the  present  incumbent  of  each 
rectory. 

GREAT  WRATTING  CHARITIES. — The  rent  of  a  close,  containing 
2£  acres  of  land,  called  the  Town  Close,  has  been  appropriated, 
from  ancient  time,  to  the  repairs  of  the  parish  church,  and  is  carried 
for  that  purpose  to  the  general  account  of  the  churchwardens ;  the 
yearly  rent  of  which  is  £5  5s. — Two  tenements,  under  one  roof, 
belonging  to  the  same  estate,  are  occupied  by  poor  persons,  rent 
free.  The  premises  are  worth,  to  let,  about  £5  per  annum  each. — 
By  indenture  of  feoffment,  dated  in  1747,  the  Hon.  James  Vernon, 
conveyed  to  certain  feoffees,  a  messuage,  called  the  Weathercock 
Farm,  with  the  yard  thereto  belonging,  in  Great  Wratting,  and  also 
a  yearly  rent  charge  of  £10,  to  be  issuing  out  of  all  the  lands,  mea- 
dows, &c.,  to  the  said  messuage  belonging,  to  employ  the  said  mes- 
suage as  a  workhouse,  and  to  apply  the  said  yearly  rent  charge  for 
the  use  and  benefit  of  the  governor  of  the  said  workhouse.  The 
messuage  has  ceased  to  be  used  as  a  workhouse,  and  a  part  only  of 
the  building  now  remains,  which  is  occupied  by  poor  persons  of  this 
parish,  rent  free ;  and  in  consequence  of  the  disuse  of  the  workhouse, 
the  rent  charge  has  not  been  paid  for  many  years. 


BABENGA,  or  BABENBERGA, 


7*  situate  upon  the  utmost  Southern  boundary  of  the  county, 
upon  the  river  Stour,  which  divides  it  from  Essex  ;  and  on  the 
West,  is  bounded  by  the  same  stream,  and  the  Hundred  of  Ris- 
bridge  ;  on  the  North,  by  the  Hundreds  of  Thingoe  and  Thed- 
wastre  ;  and  on  the  East,  by  those  of  Cosford  and  Samford. 
It  contains  the  following  parishes  :  — 


ACTON, 

ALPHETON, 

ASSINGTON, 

BOXFORD, 
BOXSTEAD, 

BtJRES, 

BRENT-ILLEIGH, 

CAVENDISH, 

CHILTON, 

COCKFIELD, 

CORNARD  MAGNA, 

CORNARD  PARVA, 

EDWARDSTON, 

GLEMSFORD, 

GROTON, 

HARTEST, 


LAVENHAM, 
LAWSHALL, 
MELFORD, 
MILDEN, 
MONKS-ILLEIGH, 
NEWTON, 
NEYLAND, 
POLSTEAD, 
PRESTON, 
SHIMPLING, 
SOMERTON, 
STANSTEAD, 
STOKE  BY  NEYLAND, 
SUDBURY, 

WALDINGFIELD  MAGNA, 
WALDINGFIELD  PARVA, 
And  WISTON. 


The  fee  was  anciently  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds ;  but 
since  the  dissolution  of  that  Monastery,  has  been  in  the  Crown ; 
and  the  government  in  the  Sheriff",  and  his  officers. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 


ACTON,  or  ARETONA. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  I.,  there  were  three  principal  families 
seated  in  this  parish :  namely,  Bures,  Kokewode,  and  Clereheckes. 
The  former  were  seated  at  Acton  Hall  for  many  ages.  William 
Harvey,  Clarencieux,  King  at  Arms,  mentions  the  following  mem- 
bers of  this  family  who  were  buried  in  Acton  church  :  Andrew  de 
Bures,  who  died  April  12,  1360  ;  and  Sir  Kobert  de  Bures,  his  son, 
who  died  October  7,  1361  ;  also  Alice  de  Bryan,  daughter  and  heir 
of  Sir  Eobert  de  Bures,  Knt.,  and  wife  of  Sir  Edmund  de  Bryan, 
the  younger,  Knt.  These  fine  brasses  are  still  in  the  church. 

This  branch  of  the  family  terminated  in  the  male  line  upon  the 
decease  of  Henry  Bures,  Esq.,  in  1528  :  who  left  issue  by  Anne  his 
wife,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave,  of  Smallbridge,  in  Bures, 
three  daughters :  Joan,  Bridget,  and  Anne.  These  co-heirs  mar- 
ried, Sir  William,  Thomas,  and  Edmund  Butts,  sons  of  Sir  William 
Butts,  Knt.,  Physician  to  King  Henry  VIII. 

Joan  and  Bridget,  the  wives  of  Sir  William  and  Thomas  Butts, 
died  without  issue ;  and  Anne,  the  only  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Edmund  Butts,  and  Anne  his  wife,  married  Nicholas,  eldest  son 
and  heir  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Lord  Keeper,  who  inherited  this 
estate  in  her  right ;  and  it  continued  in  their  descendants  for  many 
generations.  In  1764,  Sir  Eichard  Bacon,  Bart.,  of  Colchester,  in 
Essex,  held  this  property.  It  now  belongs  to  Earl  Howe,  who  is 
lord  of  the  manor,  by  purchase  from  the  Bacon  family. 

The  manor  and  seat  of  the  Eokewodes  is  now  wasted,  but  was 
situate  near  the  highway,  between  Clerebeckes  and  the  church.  In 
the  30th  of  Edward  I.,  Koger  de  Stoke,  and  Joan  his  wife,  Alan  de 
Eokewode,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  Godfrey  de  Leyes,  and  Alice 
his  wife  (which  Joan,  Elizabeth,  and  Alice,  were  grand- daughters 
and  heirs  of  Henry  de  Clerebecke),  gave  the  King,  for  their  relief, 
100s. :  viz.  60s.  for  half  a  fee  in  this  parish,  and  50s.  for  half  a  fee 
in  Chydockford,  in  Dorsetshire. 


914  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

This  Alan  de  Rokewode  left  issue  Sir  Robert  de  Rokewode,  of 
Acton ;  and  by  Margaret,  daughter  of  Michael  de  Bures,  was  father, 
among  other  children,  of  Sir  Robert  de  Rokewode,  of  Acton ;  whose 
son,  Sir  John  de  Rokewode,  of  Stoke  by  Neyland,  in  the  32nd  of 
Edward  III.,  acquired  the  manor  of  Stanningfield,  from  Richard, 
son  of  Edmund  de  Illighe. 

The  family  of  Clerebeckes  were  seated  where  the  chief  mansion 
of  Daniels  was  afterwards  built,  called  Acton  Place;  and  in  1619, 
belonged  to  Francis,  son  of  John  Daniel,  Esq.,  of  Acton  ;  who  died 
in  1596.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Richard  Martin,  Esq.,  of  Mel- 
ford.  John  Daniel,  Esq.,  their  son,  inherited  this  estate ;  and 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Waldegrave,  Knt.  He 
died  about  1690  ;  when  Charles,  his  sou  and  heir,  succeeded.  John 
Daniel,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir,  had  no  issue :  and  prior  to  his  de- 
cease, sold  this  estate  to  Robert  Jennens,  Esq. 

Mr.  Jennens  was  Aid-de-Camp  to  the  great  Duke  of  Marlborough, 
and  grandson  of  Humphrey  Jennens,  of  Erdington  Hall,  in  the 
county  of  Warwick,  Esq. ;  who  acquired  an  ample  fortune  as  iron- 
master, in  Birmingham.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  and  heir  of 
Carew  Guidott,  Esq.,  lineally  descended  from  Sir  Anthony  Guidott, 
Knt.,  a  noble  Florentine,  employed  on  sundry  embassies,  by  King 
Edward  VI.  Mr.  Jennens  deceased  in  1725. 

William  Jennens,  Esq.,  his  only  son  and  successor,  was  baptized 
in  1701;  and  King  William  III.,  was  his  god-father.  He  was 
afterwards  Page  to  George  I. ;  and  during  the  long  period  of  his 
life,  remained  a  bachelor  :  at  the  period  of  his  decease,  he  was  ac- 
counted the  richest  commoner  in  England. 

He  died  June  19th,  1798,  and  intestate  :  his  remains  were  in- 
terred in  the  family  vault  in  this  parish  church  ;  on  opening  which 
the  coffins  of  his  father  and  mother  only  were  found  therein,  the 
former  of  whom  had  been  buried  73,  and  the  latter,  37  years.  Mr. 
Jennens'  own  aunt  was  mother  to  William  Hanmer,  Esq.,  of  the 
Fenns ;  who  married  his  first  cousin,  Miss  Jennens,  of  Gopsal ;  by 
whom  he  had  a  daughter,  Hester. 

She  married  Asheton,  afterwards  Lord  Viscount  Curzon;  by 
whom  he  had  a  son,  the  Hon.  Penn  Asheton  Curzon  ;  who  married 
Lady  Sophia  Charlotte,  Baroness  Howe;  and  deceased  in  1797; 
leaving  George  Augustus  William  Curzon,  who  was  born  in  1788, 
and  became  heir  at  law  to  all  the  real  estate  of  Mr.  Jennens.  He 
died  in  1805,  when  his  brother,  Richard  William  Penn  Curzon, 


HUNDRED  OF  BABEKGU. 

now  Earl  Howe,  succeeded,  and  is  the  present  proprietor  of  the 
Acton  estate. 

Acton  Place,  formerly  the  seat  of  the  Daniels,  was  began  to  be 
re-built  by  Robert  Jennens,  Esq  ,  in  an  extensive  and  splendid  style ; 
and  carried  on  by  William,  his  sou  and  successor,  but  never  com- 
pleted. The  great  body  of  this  fine  structure,  since  the  decease  of 
Mr.  Jennens,  has  been  taken  down,  and  nothing  now  remains  of 
this  once  noble  mansion,  but  the  stables  aud  other  offices,  which 
form  one  wing ;  and  a  small  mansion  which  has  been  formed  out  of 
the  other  wing.  The  park  and  gardens,  by  which  it  was  surrounded, 
are  now  cultivated  fields. 

Sir  John  de  Creke  died  in  or  about  the  1 1th  of  Edward  I. ;  and 
the  Escheator  gave  an  account  of  £26  of  the  issues  of  the  lands  of 
the  said  John,  in  this  parish,  from  November  25th  to  June  16th 
following  :  Sarah  his  sister,  wife  of  Roger  Fitz  Peter  Fitz  Osbert, 
was  his  heir.  In  the  25th  of  the  same  reign.  Sir  Hugh  de  Tal- 
mache  held  of  the  Crown,  the  manor  of  Bentley,  and  the  fourth  part 
of  the  village  of  Aketon,  in  the  hundred  of  Babergh,  by  Knight's 
service. 

Mr.  Kirby  says  "  Ambrose  Kedington,  Esq.,  has  a  seat  in  this 
parish,  by  the  side  of  Babergh  Heath."  The  ancestors  of  this 
gentleman  became  very  early  seated  at  Kedington,  in  this  county : 
Robert  de  Kedyngton,  of  Kedington  Hall,  was  buried  in  that  parish 
church,  in  1391 :  Walter  de  Kedyngton  was  instituted  to  the  church 
of  Barnardiston,  in  1360,  on  the  presentation  of  Sir  Thomas  Bar- 
nardiston,  Knt. :  John  de  Kedyngton,  of  Clare,  chaplain,  was  buried 
in  that  parish  church,  in  1430. 

This  Walter  and  John  are  supposed  to  be  younger  brothers  of 
the  above  Robert  de  Kedyngton  ;  whose  son,  Philip,  inherited  his 
estates  at  Kedington,  Reed,  and  divers  other  places  ;  and  died  about 
the  year  1416.  The  estate  at  Reed  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  as 
Henry  Kedington,  of  Reed,  gave  by  will,  in  1559,  to  Rose  his  wife, 
for  life ;  remainder  to  his  eldest  son,  Robert ;  who  was  born  at 
Reed,  in  1536,  and  lived  there  several  years  ;  afterwards  he  resided 
at  Moulton,  and  again  at  Reed,  and  lastly  at  Risby  ;  where  he  was 
buried  in  1615. 

Roger,  his  third  son  by  his  first  marriage,  was  born  at  Reed,  in 
1567  ;  and  became  settled  at  Lavenham  :  he  was  buried  there  in 
1659.  Roger,  his  eldest  son,  was  born  at  Lavenham,  in  1598; 
and  had  a  considerable  estate  at  Lavenham,  Acton,  Waldingfield 


916  HUNDRED  OP  BABERGH. 

Magna,  &c.  He  appears  to  have  been  the  first  of  the  family  who 
resided  at  Acton,  about  the  commencement  of  the  17th  century; 
for  Ambrose,  his  eldest  surviving  son,  was  born  there  in  1028,  and 
inherited  a  part  of  his  father's  estate  at  Acton,  Waldingfield  Magna, 
Newton,  &c.  He  was  buried  at  Acton  in  1692. 

Ambrose  Kedington,  Esq.,  his  only  son,  was  born  at  Acton  in 
1676  ;  and  married  Judith,  daughter  of  Ambrose  Brinkley,  of  Law- 
shall,  Esq.  He  had  a  renewed  grant  of  arms  in  1709:  namely, 
ermine  ;  on  a  bend,  azure,  six  scimiters  placed  sal  tire- wise,  proper  ; 
having  formerly  borne  the  same  arms  in  a  field  argent.  He  deceased 
in  1 744,  and  was  buried  at  Acton. 

Kobert,  their  fourth  son,  inherited  the  Acton  estate.  He  pulled 
down  the  mansion  house  mentioned  by  Kirby,  and  built  a  new  one 
upon  that  part  of  his  paternal  estate  situate  in  Great  Waldingfield. 
Mr.  Kedington  deceased  without  issue,  in  1787  ;  and  devised  this 
property  to  Robert  Kedington,  grandson  of  his  brother  Henry,  and 
only  son  of  Robert  Kedington,  Gent.,  and  Martha  his  wife,  third 
daughter  of  William  Snell,  Gent,  of  Needham  Market. 

This  Robert  Kedington  was  in  holy  orders ;  and  married  Ca- 
therine, fifth  daughter  of  Josiah  Rodwell,  Gent.,  late  of  Little  Li- 
vermere.  He  died  in  1831,  without  issue  ;  when  this  estate  passed 
to  his  only  surviving  sister,  Marianne,  wife  of  John  Medows  Rod- 
well,  Esq.,  of  the  above  parish.  Mrs.  Rodwell  is  the  last  surviving 
member  of  this  branch  of  the  Kedington  family. 

The  advowson  of  this  parish  church  became  very  early  appro- 
priated to  the  Priory  at  Hatfield  Peverell,  in  Essex ;  and  at  the 
suppression  of  that  Monastery,  was  granted  to  Giles  Leigh,  Esq.,  of 
Walton  Leigh,  in  Surrey.  It  has  since  become  appendant  to  the 
manor.  Earl  Howe  has  the  patronage  of  the  vicarage,  which  is 
endowed  with  a  portion  of  the  tithes  ;  and  his  Lordship,  as  impro- 
priator,  receives  the  residue.  Lawrence  Ottley,  A.M.,  is  the  present 
vicar. 

ARMS. — Bures :  ermine ;  on  a  chief  indented,  sable,  two  lions 
rampant,  or.  Butts :  azure  ;  on  a  chevron,  between  three  estoils, 
or,  as  many  lozenges,  gules.  Daniel:  argent;  four  fusils  in  pale, 
sable. 

CHARITIES. — Ambrose  Kedington,  in  1691,  gave  by  will,  to  six 
poor  widows  of  this  parish,  not  receiving  relief  from  the  same,  two 
penny-worth  of  bread  every  Sunday ;  and  each  of  them  one  pair  of 
shoes  yearly,  on  the  24th  of  December  ;  and  he  charged  three  closes, 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  917 

called  the  Coppice,  in  Great  Waldingfield,  containing  10  acres,  with 
the  payment  of  this  gift. 


ALPHETON. 

This  lordship  in  its  early  descent  passed  as  that  of  Great  Whel- 
netham,  in  Thedwastre  hundred  ;  from  Sir  John  de  Whelnetham, 
to  Sir  John  Brokesbourne,  Knt.,  in  right  of  Margery,  daughter  and 
one  of  the  co-heirs  of  Whelnetham ;  whose  only  daughter,  Eleanor 
Brokesbourne,  married  Sir  William  Raynforth ;  who  inherited  the 
same  in  her  right. 

It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Littles  ;  and  latterly,  in  the 
Barnardiston  family :  the  late  Mr.  Barnardiston  succeeded  to  it  on 
the  death  of  Lady  Clarke,  who  was  a  Little.  It  now  belongs  to 
Nathaniel  Clarke  Barnardiston,  Esq.,  of  the  Byes,  at  Little  Heny, 
in  Essex.  The  advowson  appears  to  have  been  held  by  divers 
persons :  the  present  patron  and  incumbent  is  Thomas  Gustavus 
Dickinson,  A.M.,  who  resides  here. 

CHARITIES. — The  yearly  sum  of  10s.,  being  the  interest  of  £10, 
given  by  George  Clopton,  for  the  poor ;  and  a  portion  of  the  rent 
of  Corder's  charity  estate  (see  Lavenham),  being  at  present  £l  7s. 
a  year,  are  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  the  parish,  either  in 
bread  or  money. 


ASSINGTON,  or  ASETONA. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was  vested 
in  Roger  Corbet ;  who  appears  to  have  been  seated  here ;  and  Sir 
Piers  Corbet  was  a  Knight  Banneret,  during  that  reign.  In  the 
2nd  of  the  following  King,  Sir  Thos.  Corbet  was  at  the  tournament 
at  D  unstable. 

Robert  Corbet,  of  this  parish,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Edmund  de  Thorp,  of  Ashwell  Thorp,  in  Norfolk,  and  was  living 
in  the  time  of  Edward  III.  Guy  Corbet,  Esq.,  their  sou,  succeeded ; 
whose  son,  Robert,  married  Beatrix,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Sir 
Richard,  sister  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Thomas  de  la  River;  and  died 


918  HUNDRED  OF  BABEKGH. 

without  issue  in  14(38;  leaving  Sybill,  his  daughter  and  heir;  who 
married  John  Grevill,  Esq. ;  and  died  without  issue,  in  the  23rd  of 
Henry  VI.,  seized  of  this  lordship. 

Guy  Corbet,  Esq.,  her  uncle,  succeeded ;  and  by  Joan  his  wife, 
had  Sir  Kichard,  his  son  and  heir ;  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  John  Dorward,  of  Booking,  in  Essex.  Guy  Corbet's  will  is  dated 
in  1433  ;  wherein  he  desires  to  be  buried  in  the  south  aisle  of  As- 
sington  church,  and  gives  a  legacy  to  the  Priory  of  Campsey,  in  this 
county. 

The  Assington  Hall  estate  was  sold  by  Sir  Miles  Corbet,  Knt., 
to  Robert,  son  of  John  Gurdon,  Esq.,  of  Dedham,  in  Essex  :  a  de- 
scendant of  a  Norman  family,  whose  name  is  in  the  roll  of  Battle 
Abbey.  Mr.  Gurdon  married  Rose,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Robert 
Sexton,  Esq.,  of  Lavenham,  in  this  county.  He  served  the  office 
of  Sheriff  for  Suffolk,  and  deceased  in  1577  ;  when  John,  his  son, 
succeeded  to  this  property. 

He  married  Amy,  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  William  Brampton, 
Esq.,  of  Letton,  in  Norfolk.  This  gentleman  was  Sheriff  of  Suffolk 
in  1585,  and  deceased  in  1023;  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
Brampton  Gurdon,  Esq.,  High  Sheriff  for  Suffolk  in  1025,  and 
several  times  Member  of  Parliament  for  the  borough  of  Sudbury. 

John,  his  son,  by  his  first  marriage,  inherited  this  estate ;  and 
married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Calthorpe  Parker,  Knt.  He  repre- 
sented the  county  of  Suffolk  in  the  Long  Parliament ;  and  was  one 
of  the  committee  appointed  to  sit  in  judgement  upon  King  Charles 
L,  but  did  not  attend  the  trial.  This  elder  branch  continues  to  be 
seated  here,  the  property  having  regularly  descended  to  the  present 
possessor,  John  Gurdon,  Esq.,  of  Assington  Hall. 

In  the  15th  of  Edward  IV.,  Elizabeth  Weldon,  widow,  by  a  letter 
of  attorney,  empowered  Thos.  St.  John,  Esq.,  to  enter  into  all  lands 
in  this  parish,  and  in  Tyrington,  and  Feltwell,  in  Norfolk.  She 
was  daughter  and  heir  of  William  Southcote,  of  Battlebridge,  in 
Surrey,  Esq. ;  and  married,  first,  to  Richard  Lanham ;  after,  to 
Richard  Weldon ;  and  is  supposed  to  have  inherited  this  property 
in  right  of  her  descent  from  Sir  Godfrey  de  Stratton,  whose  daugh- 
ter and  heir,  Alice,  married  Roger  Cavendish. 

In  the  18th  of  Edward  I.,  Sir  Andrew  de  Nevile  claimed  the  pa- 
tronage and  advowson  of  the  church  of  Assington  St.  Edmund;  and 
he  released  the  same  to  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Hatfield  Peverell, 
in  Essex  :  upon  the  dissolution  of  that  house,  it  was  granted  to 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  919 

Giles  Leigh,  Esq.  The  patronage  is  now  in  John  Gurdon,  Esq., 
and  the  present  vicar  is  John  Hallward,  A.M.,  of  East  Thorpe,  in 
Essex. 

ARMS. — Corbet:  or;  a  raven,  proper.  Gurdon:  sable  ;  three 
leopards'  faces  jessant  fleurs-de-lis,  or. 

CHARITIES. — In  1593,  John  Winterflood  devised  to  the  poor  of 
this  parish,  four  bushels  of  meslin,  payable  out  of  the  manor  of 
Aveley  Hall,  to  be  distributed  in  bread  at  Christmas ;  and  four 
bushels  of  meslin,  out  of  the  rectory  or  priory  of  Assington,  to  be 
distributed  in  bread  at  Easter  :  under  this  donation  four  bushels  of 
wheat  are  brought  to  Assington  church,  and  distributed  among  the 
poor  at  Christmas,  and  the  like  quantity  of  wheat  at  Easter,  by  or 
on  behalf  of  the  owners  of  the  manor  and  farm  of  Aveley  Hall,  and 
the  rectorial  tithes  of  Assington. — Two  acres  of  half  year  land,  in 
Aldfleet  Meadow,  purchased  in  1665,  with  donations  of  the  Gurdon 
family,  for  supplying  linen  for  the  poor,  let  at  £3  a  year. — In  1690, 
Thomas  Alston,  devised  26s.  a  year,  to  be  distributed  in  sixpenny 
loaves  of  meslin,  to  six  poor  people ;  and  the  annuity  is  paid  as  a 
rent  charge  upon  a  farm  belonging  to  John  Gurdon,  Esq. — A  rent 
charge  of  £2  15s.  a  year,  to  be  laid  out  in  cloth  or  stuff,  was  de- 
vised by  John  Gurdon,  Esq.,  in  1752,  and  confirmed  by  his  son 
and  heir,  Nathaniel  Gurdon,  Esq.,  by  deed  enrolled  in  Chancery ; 
and  in  1777,  John  Gurdon,  Esq.,  bequeathed  £100  tovthe  Grammar 
School  at  Boxford,  for  which  the  master  should  teach  two  poor  chil- 
dren of  this  parish  to  read  and  write. 


BOXFORD. 

Peyton  Hall,  in  this  parish,  became  very  early  vested  in  a  family 
of  that  name ;  who  had  a  common  progenitor  with  the  Uffords, 
who  became  Earls  of  Suffolk  :  the  founder  of  both  being  William 
Malet,  a  Norman  Baron,  who  obtained  grants  of  divers  loidships 
from  the  Crown ;  amongst  which  this  appears  to  have  been  included. 
Reginald,  the  first  upon  record  who  assumed  the  name  of  Peyton, 
held  the  manors  of  Peyton  Hall,  in  Boxford,  and  Ramsholt,  in  Will- 
ford  hundred ;  where  the  family  has  already  been  briefly  noticed. 

William  de  Peyton,  his  eldest  son,  held  certain  lands  in  Boxford, 
of  the  fee  of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury  ;  and  King  Stephen 


920  HUNDRED  OF  BAfeERGH. 

granted  to  John  de  Peyton,  brother  of  this  William,  all  his  lands  in 
Peyton,  to  hold  as  his  ancestors  hefore  held  the  same.  Peter,  his 
third  son,  lord  of  Peyton  Hall,  held  lands  in  Ramsholt  and  Peyton 
in  the  time  of  King  John. 

Sir  John  de  Peyton,  who  flourished  under  Henry  III.,  was  lord 
of  Peyton  Hall,  in  Boxford  ;  and  possessed  lands  in  Stoke  Neyland. 
Sir  John,  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  served  in  Parliament  in  the  29th 
of  Edward  I.,  as  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Shire  for  Suffolk ;  and 
deceased  soon  after.  It  was  Sir  John  de  Peyton,  his  grandson,  who 
married  Margaret,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  Gernon,  Knt., 
of  Lees,  in  Essex ;  in  whose  right  he  possessed  the  manor  of  Wicken, 
in  Cambridgeshire  ;  and  in  the  17th  of  Richard  II.,  he  jointly  with 
her,  held  part  of  the  manor  of  Esthorpe,  by  the  service  of  one 
Knight's  fee  :  but  does  not  appear  to  have  inherited  any  property  in 
Boxford  in  right  of  such  marriage,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Kirby. 

This  estate  passed  through  a  long  line  of  ancestry  to  Sir  Algernon 
Peyton,  Bart,  (second  sou  of  Algernon  Peyton,  D.D.,  rector  of  Dod- 
dington,  in  Cambridgeshire),  so  created  in  1066-7;  who  succeeded 
to  the  estates  and  representation  of  his  family  on  the  decease,  with- 
out issue,  in  1660,  of  his  elder  brother,  Sir  John  Peyton,  Bart,  of 
Doddington.  Sir  Algernon  married  Frances,  daughter  and  heir  of 
Sir  Robert  Sewster,  Knt.,  of  Ravely,  in  the  county  of  Huntingdon. 

Sir  Algernon  appears  to  have  resided  at  Peyton  Hall ;  and  his 
only  son  and  heir,  Sir  Sewster  Peyton,  succeeded  to  his  title  and 
estates.  He  married  Anne,  second  daughter  of  George  Dashwood, 
Esq.,  of  London.  Algerina,  his  sister,  married  George  Dashwood, 
Esq.,  a  Colonel  in  the  Army,  brother  to  the  wife  of  Sir  Sewster 
Peyton ;  and  had  a  son,  George  Dashwood,  Esq.,  who  married  his 
cousin,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Sewster ;  whose  son,  Henry  Dash- 
wood,  Esq.,  upon  the  decease  of  his  uncle,  Sir  Thomas  Peyton, 
Bart.,  in  1771,  without  issue,  inherited  his  property  ;  and  assumed 
in  consequence  the  surname  and  arms  of  Peyton. 

The  Peyton  Hall  estate  probably  passed  to  George  Dashwood, 
Esq.,  upon  his  marriage  with  Algerina,  daughter  of  Sir  Algernon 
Peyton,  Bart. ;  and  their  son,  George  Dashwood,  Esq.,  is  the  person 
whom  Mr.  Kirby  says  held  this  property  in  1764,  and  had  a  resi- 
dence in  or  near  Sudbury,  called  Wood  Hall. 

Coddenham  Hall,  in  Boxford,  has  a  manor  attached,  and  was 
formerly  vested  in  the  Brands,  of  Edwardston,  in  this  hundred; 
afterwards  in  Thomas  Bennet,  Esq. ;  and  now  belongs  to  William 


HUNDRED  OK  BABKRGH. 

Green,  Esq.,  who  resides  there.  Shaker's  Hall  is  the  property  and 
residence  of  Hugh  Green,  Gent. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  spacious  structure,  and 
has  a  spire  steeple,  containing  a  peel  of  eight  tuneable  bells.  The 
patronage  is  in  the  Crown,  and  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Augustus  Fre- 
derick Phipps,  brother  to  Constantine  Henry  Phipps,  Marquess  of 
Normanby,  is  the  present  incumbent. 

ARMS — Peyton:  (seep.  156.)  Snelling :  gules;  three  eagles' 
heads  erased,  argent ;  a  chief  indented,  ermine. 

CHARITIES. — The  Grammar  School  was  established  by  a  charter 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  dated  in  the  38th  year  of  her  reign ;  which, 
after  reciting  that  John  Snelling  and  Philip  Gostlinge,  in  order  to 
promote  learning  and  the  instruction  of  the  youth  of  Boxford,  Gro- 
ton,  and  Edwardston,  had  granted  to  John  Gurdon,  and  others,  a 
messuage,  garden,  and  orchard,  in  Boxford,  ordained  that  there 
should  be  a  free  grammar-school  there  for  the  instruction  of  youth  ; 
to  consist  of  a  master  and  usher ;  that  37  persons  therein  named 
should  be  governors  of  the  possessions,  &c.,  of  the  school,  and  be 
incorporated  ;  that  they  should  have  power  to  appoint  a  schoolmaster 
(being  at  least  a  Master  of  Arts),  and  an  usher,  &c.  The  property 
consists  of  a  dwelling  house,  including  a  school-room,  and  garden, 
at  Boxford,  in  the  occupation  of  the  master,  and  a  piece  of  land  of 
about  10  acres,  in  Edwardston,  let  at  £20  per  annum  ?  with  certain 
stock,  standing  in  the  names  of  trustees,  producing  about  ^£13  a 
year.  In  consequence  of  the  smallness  of  the  endowment  the  school 
has  long  ceased  to  be  maintained  or  attended  as  a  free  grammar- 
school.  The  master  however  is  required  to  provide  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  eight  boys,  as  free  scholars,  in  reading,  writing  and  arith- 
metic ;  who  receives  the  rent  of  the  land,  and  the  dividends  of  the 
stock,  and  is  at  the  expense  of  repairing  the  school  premises. — The 
town  lands  comprise  about  23  acres,  in  this  parish,  and  Groton ; 
rent,  amounting  to  £'36  per  annum,  is  applied  with  the  poor  rates, 
conformable  to  long  usage. — White's  and  Bennett's  charities,  amount- 
ing to  ^11  a  year,  are  expended  in  sending  fourteen  poor  children 
to  school. — Plumb's  and  Doggett's  charity  ;  rent  £  16  per  annum, 
is  laid  out  in  bread  and  distributed  to  the  poor,  quarterly. — There 
are  also  two  cottages  used  as  almshouses,  the  acquisition  of  which 
is  unknown. 


922  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

BOXSTEAD,  or  BOESTEDA. 

In  the  6th  of  King  Kichard  I.,  Theobald  Walter  was  petent  in  a 
fine,  and  William  Harvie  tenent,  of  the  third  part  of  a  Knight's  fee, 
in  this  parish,  and  Belaugh,  in  Norfolk,  conveyed  to  Theobald;  who 
re-conveyed  it  to  William,  and  his  heirs ;  and  the  said  WTilliam  re- 
leased his  right  in  all  the  lands  which  ^w ere  Hervey  Walter's,  grand- 
father to  Theobald. 

In  the  55th  of  Henry  III.,  John  de  Pakenham,  by  fine  levied, 
purchased  of  Robert  Walerand,  the  manor  of  Belaugh,  &c.,  and  of 
William  Hervey,  their  heirs  and  successors,  for  lands  in  this  parish, 
and  Parham,  in  Suffolk ;  to  be  held  of  Robert  and  his  heirs,  by  one 
penny  yearly  rent ;  and  in  the  1st  of  Edward  I.,  by  an  extent  of 
the  3rd  part  thereof,  valued  at  £6  Os.  Id.,  it  was  found  to  be  held 
by  Maud,  wife  of  Robert  Walerand. 

This  lordship  was  vested  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  in  the 
9th  of  Edward  I.,  but  subsequently  became  alienated  ;  being  held 
by  Robert  Harleston,  Esq.,  who  was  attainted  for  his  adherence  to 
the  house  of  Lancaster,  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Edward  IV. 
He  granted  the  same  to  his  brother,  Richard  Plantageuet,  Duke  of 
Gloucester,  afterwards  King  Richard  III.  Before  the  contest  for 
the  Crown,  the  Harlestons  were  a  family  of  eminence  in  this  county. 
John  de  Harleston,  with  Gilbert  Debenham,  were  Knights  of  the 
Shire  in  the  Parliament  of  the  20th  of  Henry  VI. 

This  parish  has  since  been  remarkable  as  the  residence  for  many 
ages  of  the  very  ancient  and  Knightly  family  of  Poley ;  whose  dif- 
ferent branches  afterwards  became  seated  at  Badley,  Columbine 
Hall,  in  Stowmarket,  and  other  places  in  this  county.  The  last 
Knight  of  this  house,  Sir  John  Poley,  represented  the  borough  of 
Sudbury  in  Parliament,  in  1688.  He  died  in  1705. 

About  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  Boxstead  Hall  and  manor 
passed  to  the  Wellers,  who  assumed  the  name  of  Poley  ;  and  George 
Weller  Poley,  Esq.,  is  the  present  owner  of  this  estate,  and  resides 
in  the  old  family  mansion.  The  Marquess  of  Downshire  has  an 
estate  here,  called  Moor  House  Manor  Farm ;  and  Osgood  Gee, 
Esq.,  was  not  long  since  owner  of  Truckett's  Hall  Manor  Farm  : 
the  residue  of  the  parish,  or  nearly  so,  belongs  to  Mr.  Poley. 

The  living  is  consolidated  with  that  of  Hartest,  and  both  are  in 
the  patronage  of  the  Crown.  Boxstead  was  anciently  appropriated 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  923 

to  the  Priory  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  St.  Andrew  in  Thetford,  of 
the  gift  of  Robert,  son  of  Godbold.  Lancelot  Thexton,  S.T.B., 
rector  of  these  parishes,  was  installed  to  the  first,  or  Chancellor's 
Prebend,  in  Norwich  Cathedral,  in  1576.  Harvey  A  spin,  LL.B., 
of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,  was  instituted  to  the  same 
in  1739.  He  deceased  in  1791,  and  was  buried  at  Cockfield.  John 
Maddy,  D.D.,  is  the  present  incumbent;  who  also  holds  the  rectories 
of  Somerton  and  Stansfield. 

The  church,  situated  upon  an  eminence  near  the  Hall,  is  a  neat 
structure,  and  contains  various  memorials  to  the  Poley  family : 
among  which  may  be  noticed  a  splendid  monument,  erected  in  1725, 
in  memory  of  Sir  John  Poley,  and  Abigail  his  wife.  The  roof  of 
the  nave  has  been  noticed  as  being  beautifully  ornamented  with 
carved  foliage,  and  in  some  parts,  gilded. 

ARMS. — HarleNton :  argent ;  a  fess,  ermine,  between  two  bars 
gemelles,  sable.  Poley  :  (see  p.  566.) 

CHARITIES. — John  Poley,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  by  deed  dated  in 
1572,  conveyed  certain  lands  and  tenements  at  Burwell,  in  Cam- 
bridgeshire, and  Exning,  and  Fornham  All  Saints,  in  this  county, 
in  trust ;  the  rents  to  be  equally  divided  among  the  poor  of  Box- 
stead,  Hartest,  Stanstead,  Glemsford,  and  Somerton.  The  estate 
belonging  to  this  charity  now  consists  of  24A.  2R.  16p.  of  land,  at 
Burwell,  allotted  on  an  enclosure,  in  1828,  in  lieu  of\the  old  charity 
land  at  Burwell,  and  about  7  or  8  acres  in  Exning  field ;  rent  £42 
a  year;  also  15  acres  of  land  in  Fornham,  let  at  the  annual  rent  of 
;£13,  and  now  forming  part  of  Heugrave  Park.  The  clear  income 
is  divided  among  the  poor ;  and  each  of  the  five  parishes  receive 
about  £8  a  year. 


BURES.— BUERS,  or  BURE, 

Is  the  place  where  St.  Edmund,  King  of  the  East  Angles,  was 
crowned  ;  and  not  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  as  Brompton  supposes ;  nor 
yet  Burne,  in  Lincolnshire,  as  Mr.  Camden  states.  This  circum- 
stance is  determined  by  a  passage  of  Geoffrey  de  Fontibus  (who  wrote 
prior  to  the  year  1156),  remaining  in  manuscript  in  the  University 
Library  at  Cambridge  :  a  translation  of  the  same  is  given  in  Kirby's 
"  Suffolk  Traveller,"  1st  edition  of  1735,  p.  95  ;  and  re-printed  in 
the  subsequent  impressions  of  that  work. 


924  HUNDRED  OF  BABEKGH. 

The  very  ancient  family  of  Bures,  derive  their  name  from  this 
parish.  Sir  Andrew  de  Bures  was  interested  here  in  the  time  of 
King  Edward  III.,  and  held  considerable  property  as  of  the  honour 
of  Clare,  both  in  this  county  and  Essex.  By  Alice  his  wife,  daugh- 
ter and  heir  of  Sir  John  de  Eoydon,  he  left  two  sons,  Robert  and 
Andrew.  Sir  Andrew  deceased  April  12,  1360  ;  Robert,  his  eldest 
son,  succeeded,  but  survived  his  father  only  till  October  7,  1.361. 
The  descendants  of  Andrew  became  seated  at  Acton,  in  this  hundred. 

This  parish  is  however  chiefly  memorable  from  the  family  of  Wai- 
grave,  who  became  very  early  seated  at  Smallb ridge,  in  Bures  St. 
Mary ;  and  who  are  said  to  have  flourished  in  this  kingdom  prior 
to  the  Norman  Conquest,  and  to  have  been  originally  seated  at  Wai- 
grave,  in  Northamptonshire.  The  first  of  the  family  who  became 
seated  here,  was  Sir  Richard  Walgrave,  Knt. ;  who  inherited,  in 
right  of  Joan  his  wife,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Silvester,  of  this 
parish. 

He  was  the  great-great-grandson  of  that  eminent  citizen,  John 
de  Walgrave  ;  who  so  far  back  as  the  year  1205,  served  the  office 
of  Sheriff  of  London.  Sir  Richard  represented  this  county  in  Par- 
liament in  the  reigns  of  Edward  III.,  and  Richard  II. ;  and  was 
chosen  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons  in  1382.  He  deceased 
in  1401,  and  Joan  his  wife  in  1397  ;  they  were  both  buried  in  this 
parish  church. 

Sir  Richard  Walgrave,  Knt.,  their  son,  succeeded  to  the  inheri- 
tance of  his  mother,  and  was  styled  Lord  of  Bures  and  Silvesters. 
He,  with  Lord  Clinton,  and  others,  was  appointed,  in  1402,  to  keep 
the  seas;  and  landing  10,000  men  in  Britanny,  won  the  town  of 
Conquest,  with  the  isle  of  Rhee.  In  the  7th  of  Henry  IV.,  he 
granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Rempston,  and  others,  the  manor  and  ad- 
vowson  of  Polstead,  and  the  lordship  of  Newland  Hall,  in  this 
county ;  and  in  the  8th  of  the  following  reign,  he  granted  to  Sir 
William  Bardwell,  and  others,  his  manors  of  Smallbridge  and  Bures; 
Gaines  Hall,  in  Wickhambrook,  and  Newhall,  in  Ousden. 

Sir  Richard  married  Joan,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Thomas 
Montchensy,  of  Edwardston,  in  this  hundred ;  who  brought  a  large 
estate  into  this  family.  He  deceased  in  1434,  but  Joan  his  wife 
survived  till  1450  :  they  were  both  buried  in  this  parish  church ; 
as  was  Sir  Thomas  Walgrave,  his  grandson,  who  died  in  1500,  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  Fray, 
Knt.,  Lord  Chief  Baron  of  the  Exchequer. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  925 

William,  Edward,  and  Richard,  the  three  sons  of  the  above  Sir 
Thomas  Walgrave,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  were  the  progenitors  of 
different  branches  of  this  ancient  house ;  who  became  seated  at 
divers  places,  chiefly  in  the  county  of  Essex.  Edward,  the  second 
son,  settled  at  Borley,  in  that  county  ;  and  was  ancestor  of  the  pre- 
sent family;  who  were  honoured  with  the  title  of  Baronet  in  1643, 
Baron  Waldegrave  in  1685-G,  and  advanced  to  the  still  more  ho- 
nourable title  of  Earl  in  1729 ;  and  became  seated  at  Navestock,  in 
Essex. 

It  appears  uncertain  at  what  time  this  property  became  alienated 
from  the  Waldegraves.  Kirby  states  that  "  King  Edward  IV.,  in 
the  19th  of  his  reign,  granted  to  Anne,  the  wife  of  William  Lord 
Bouchier,  the  manors  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall,  otherwise  called 
Silvester's,  in  Bures  St.  Mary. 

William,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Walgrave,  is  styled  of 
Smallbridge :  he  died  in  1526  ;  and  George,  his  eldest  son,  born 
in  1483,  survived  his  father  only  two  years,  and  was  also  of  Small- 
bridge.  Anthony,  his  younger  brother,  is  called  of  Ferriers,  in 
Bures. 

The  present  lord  of  this  manor  is  Osgood  Hanbury,  Esq.,  of 
Coggeshall,  in  Essex  ;  who  has  the  patronage  of  the  vicarage,  and 
holds  part  of  the  impropriation :  Arthur  Hanbury,  A.M.,  is  the 
present  incumbent.  The  church  was  anciently  appropriated  to  the 
Monastery  of  Stoke  by  Clare,  of  the  grant  of  Gilbert  de  Clare. 

ARMS. —  Waldegrave:  per  pale,  argent  and  gules. 

CHARITIES. — In  1803,  Mrs.  Dorcas  Bridges  bequeathed  £353 
17s.  7d.,  Three  per  Cent.  Stock,  in  trust  for  the  benefit  of  poor 
widows  of  this  parish,  not  receiving  parochial  relief :  this  Stock 
produces  a  dividend  of  £10  8s.  3d.  a  year,  which  is  distributed  ac- 
cordingly.— In  1825,  Mr.  John  Dupont  devised  20s.  a  year,  out  of 
a  house  in  Bures  hamlet,  for  the  benefit  of  poor  widows  of  that 
hamlet,  being  members  of  the  established  church. 


BRENT-ILLEIGH,  or  ILLELEIA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  became  very  early  vested  in  the  family 
of  Illegh  (Uligh,  or  Ely) ;  from  whom  it  passed,  in  the  time  of 
Henry  III.,  to  that  of  Shelton,  by  the  marriage  of  Ralph  Shelton, 


926  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGII. 

with  Catherine,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Henry  de  Illegh;  who 
brought  him  a  large  inheritance,  for  he  paid  18  marks,  and  did 
homage  to  that  King  for  three  whole  fees.  He  obtained  the  grant 
of  a  market  here,  which  has  been  long  discontinued. 

This  estate  continued  in  their  descendants  for  many  ages.  In 
1244,  Ralph  de  Shelton  was  dead,  and  Henry,  his  son  and  suc- 
cessor, also  held  three  fees.  Nicholas  de  Shelton  was  lord  of  Brent 
Illegh  in  1257  ;  and  in  that  year  gave  lands  there  to  the  Abbot  and 
Convent  of  St.  Osith,  in  Essex  :  in  1270,  Henry  de  Shelton,  held 
divers  lands  of  this  Nicholas,  with  the  manors  of  Arsa  (or  Illeye) 
Combusta,  Brent  (or  Burnt)  Illeye.  Eobert,  his  son  and  heir,  had 
livery  of  the  same  at  his  father's  decease  ;  and  in  1286,  had  liberty 
of  free  warren  therein.  This  Sir  Eobert  settled  lauds  here,  to  main- 
tain lights  in  this  parish  church :  he  deceased  in  1305. 

In  1330,  it  was  found  that  Sir  Ealph  Shelton,  senior,  held  this 
estate,  jointly  with  Joan  his  wife;  and  that  he  died  in  that  year, 
leaving  only  three  infant  daughters  :  in  1405,  the  jury  present  that 
Joan,  widow  of  Sir  Ealph  de  Shelton,  senior,  died  seized  of  Brent 
Illeye  manor ;  and  having  no  heirs  by  Sir  Ealph,  the  same  reverted 
to  Sir  Ealph,  son  of  Sir  Ealph,  who  was  then  58  years  of  age.  He  de- 
ceased in  1424,  and  was  buried  in  Great  Snoring  church,  in  Norfolk. 

Sir  John,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Shelton,  Knt,  called  Sir  John 
Shelton  the  younger,  was  High  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  in  1522,  and 
again  in  1525  ;  had  livery  of  the  manors  of  Brent  Illeye,  and  Mil- 
ding,  in  this  hundred.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry 
Parker,  Knt.,  son  and  heir  of  Henry,  Lord  Morley;  and  was  one 
of  those  gentlemen  that  joined  Queen  Mary  at  Kenninghall,  in  order 
to  advance  her  to  the  Crown.  He  died  in  1558,  and  was  probably 
the  last  of  his  family  concerned  here. 

It  subsequently  became,  by  purchase,  the  property  of  the  Col- 
mans.  Dr.  Colman,  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  erected  at  the 
end  of  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church,  a  parochial  library,  and 
well  furnished  it  with  books ;  other  members  of  his  family  have 
since  been  liberal  benefactors  to  this  place  (see  Charities).  The 
last  of  the  family,  Edward  Colman,  Esq.,  devised  this  estate  to  his 
nephew,  Edward  Goat,  Esq. ;  whose  son,  Edward,  in  1764,  inhe- 
rited the  same. 

The  present  lord  of  the  manor  and  patron  of  the  benefice  is 
Thomas  Brown,  Esq.,  M.D.,  of  Queen  Anne  street,  Cavendish 
square,  London,  and  Brent  Illeigh  Hall. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABEKGH.  927 

Mr.  Bloraefield,  the  Norfolk  historian,  states  that  in  1299,  the 
wife  of  Sir  John  de  Bosco  (or  Bois),  of  Burnt  Illey,  in  Suffolk, 
claimed  Felthorp  manor,  in  Norwich,  as  her  dower.  He  was  pro- 
bably the  same  personage  whom  that  author  says  was  second  son  of 
Sir  Robert  de  Bosco  (or  Bois),  to  whom  he  gave  the  8th  part  of 
Fersfield,  in  Norfolk,  or  a  quarter  of  a  fee  ;  which  was  held  of  Bury 
Abbey.  This  John  built  a  residence  at  Fersfield  ;  married  a  wife, 
named  Catherine,  and  settled  there,  calling  his  part,  the  manor  of 
Newhall ;  which  name  he  himself  is  called  by  in  several  evidences 
of  the  time  of  Edward  II.,  in  which  John  de  Nova  Aula  (or  New- 
hall),  is  said  to  hold  a  manor  there.  He  died  in  1335,  without  issue. 

CHARITIES. — Edward  Colman,  Esq.,  erected  in  this  parish  an 
almshouse,  in  six  tenements,  each  containing  two  apartments,  for 
the  residence  of  poor  men  and  women ;  and  conveyed  by  deed  to 
trustees,  in  1736,  an  estate  in  Preston,  which  consists  of  a  farm 
house,  barn,  and  77  acres  of  laud,  let  at  £72  a  year;  which  is  ap- 
plied in  supplying  the  inmates  with  clothing,  fuel,  and  medical 
attendance ;  the  surplus,  after  deducting  all  necessary  outgoings,  is 
divided  among  the  almspeople,  in  money. — In  1698,  Edward  Col- 
man devised  i'200,  to  be  laid  out  in  land ;  the  rents  to  be  employed 
in  binding  out  yearly  one  poor  boy,  born  and  brought  up  in  this 
parish,  apprentice  to  some  trade.  This  legacy  was  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  land  in  Lavenham,  called  Lavenham  Mead,  containing 
about  3£  acres,  which  produces  a  yearly  rent  of  £10  10s. — The  rent 
of  a  piece  of  land  called  Monks  Ely  Mead,  in  that  parish,  rent  18s. 
a  year,  and  also  the  rent  of  five  tenements  in  this  parish,  being  £7 
a  year,  have  been  usually  distributed  among  poor  persons. 


CAVENDISH,  or  KAVANADISC. 

William  the'  Conqueror  gave  this  lordship  to  Ralph  de  Limesi, 
a  Norman  Baron,  his  sister's  son.  Gerard  de  Limesi,  great-grand- 
son of  this  Ralph,  had  issue,  John  de  Limesi ;  whose  son,  Hugh, 
died  without  issue ;  and  the  Barony  of  Limesi,  of  which  this  parish 
was  a  part,  became  divided  between  Hugh  de  Odyngseles,  a  Fleming, 
who  married  Basilia,  and  David  de  Lindsey,  a  Scot,  who  married 
Alianore,  the  daughters  of  Gerard,  and  sisters  and  co-heirs  of  the 
said  John  de  Limesi. 


928  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

David  de  Lindsey  had  by  this  Alianore  several  children.  David, 
their  eldest  son,  was  lord  here  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III. ;  and  in 
1223,  a  precept  was  directed  to  the  Sheriff  of  this  county,  to  deliver 
to  this  David,  then  in  custody  of  the  King  of  Scotland,  seizen  of 
all  his  lands  in  his  bailiwick,  which  were  detained,  because  he  had 
not  done  his  service  to  the  King  in  his  Welsh  expedition. 

This  David,  and  his  brothers,  dying  without  issue,  his  moiety  in 
this  lordship  passed  to  Sir  Henry  de  Pinkeney,  Knt.,  by  his  mar- 
riage with  Alice,  sister  and  heiress  of  David ;  and  their  son,  Sir 
Henry,  granted  the  same,  by  deed,  to  Sir  William  de  Odyngseles, 
lord  of  the  other  moiety,  son  of  Sir  William,  and  grandson  of  the 
above  Sir  Hugh  de  Odyngseles  ;  who  then  became  possessed  of  the 
entire  manor. 

This  Sir  William  de  Odyngseles  married  Ela,  daughter  of  William 
Longspee,  Earl  of  Salisbury  ;  by  whom  he  had  issue,  Edmund,  who 
died  without  issue,  and  four  daughters,  his  co-heirs  ;  amongst  whom 
this  lordship  became  again  divided.  Ida,  married  John  de  Clinton; 
from  whom  the  advowson,  and  other  lands  in  this  parish,  passed,  in 
1870,  to  Sir  John  Cavendish ;  who  had  previously,  in  1359,  ob- 
tained the  manor  of  Overhall,  in  Cavendish,  by  his  marriage  with 
Alice,  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  de  Odyugseles. 

Sir  John  was  a  native  of  this  parish,  whose  father  derive  from  a 
junior  branch  of  the  Gernon  family,  became  seated  here,  and  as- 
sumed the  name  of  Cavendish.  He  was  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court 
of  King's  Bench ;  and  in  the  4th  of  Richard  II.,  was  elected  Chan- 
cellor of  the  University  of  Cambridge ;  the  next  year  he  was  com- 
missioned to  suppress  the  insurrection  raised  in  the  city  of  York ; 
in  which  year  the  rabble  seized  upon  him,  and  dragged  him  into 
the  market-place  at  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  and  there  caused  him  to 
be  beheaded ;  being  incensed  in  a  more  than  ordinary  degree  against 
him,  his  son  John,  having  killed  the  notorious  Wat  Tyler;  for 
which  service,  he  was  Knighted  in  Smithfield,  and  had  a  grant  of 
£40  per  annum  from  the  Crown,  settled  on  him,  and  his  heirs. 

In  the  "Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1835,  part  1,  p.  612,  ap- 
pears a  woodcut  from  a  drawing  sent  by  Richard  Almack,  Esq., 
F.A.S.,  of  Long  Melford,  of  a  piece  of  ancient  sculpture,  discovered 
in  front  of  a  large  chimney,  within  an  old  house  on  Cavendish 
Green ;  the  last  remains  of  a  mansion  once  occupied  by  the  Ca- 
vendishes. It  is  a  shield  of  the  arms  of  Cavendish,  impaling  those 
of  Spring. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERQH.  929 

In  the  communication  annexed,  Mr.  Almack  observes  that  Thomas 
Cavendish,  Clerk  of  the  Pipe  in  the  Exchequer,  who  died  in  1524, 
married  Alice,  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  John  Smith,  of  Podbrook 
Hall,  in  Cavendish,  and  that  their  arms  in  stucco  were  formerly  to 
be  seen  in  this  house,  in  three  shields,  quarterly.  Geo.  Cavendish, 
the  eldest  son  of  this  marriage,  died  seized  of  the  manor  of  Cavendish 
Overhall,  about  1562.  The  initials  G.C.  are  placed  over  the  above 
engraved  arms ;  and  which  Mr.  Almack  supposes  applies  to  this 
George  Cavendish. 

In  the  recent  edition,  by  Mr.  Singer,  of  "  Cavendish's  Life  of 
Cardinal  Wolsey,"  and  the  Dessertation,  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Hun- 
ter, F.S.A.,  there  re-printed,  it  is  clearly  proved  that  this  George 
Cavendish  was  the  Gentleman  Usher  of  Cardinal  Wolsey,  and  his 
faithful  friend  and  historian ;  and  not  his  younger  and  more  for- 
tunate brother,  Sir  William,  the  immediate  ancestor  of  the  noble 
family  of  Cavendish,  Dukes  of  Devonshire. 

A  portion  of  the  inheritance  of  the  Odyngseles  passed  to  the  De 
Greys,  by  the  marriage  of  Margaret,  second  daughter  and  co-heir 
of  Sir  William  de  Odyngseles,  and  Ela  his  wife,  with  Sir  John  de 
Grey,  son  and  heir  of  William  de  Grey,  of  this  parish,  third  son  of 
Henry  de  Grey ;  a  great  favourite  with  Richard  I.,  and  also  his  suc- 
cessors, John,  and  Henry  III. 

Thomas  de  Grey,  their  son  and  heir,  married  previous  to  1306, 
to  Alice,  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of  Sir  Richard  de  Cornherd,  Knt. 
In  1321,  the  said  Thomas  and  Alice,  held  divers  lands  of  Richard 
Cornherd,  their  father,  and  Cavendish  manor,  worth  £10  13s.  4d., 
at  one  fee.  He  died  in  that  year  ;  Alice  his  wife  survived,  and  the 
next  year,  she  settled  land  here  on  her  sons,  Roger,  and  John  de 
Grey. 

Sir  Thomas  de  Grey,  Knt.,  their  son  and  heir,  succeeded.  He 
married  Isabell,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Fulk  Baynard,  of 
Merton,  in  Norfolk,  Esq. ;  and  they  became  settled  at  Merton,  in 
the  ancient  seat  of  the  Baynards.  Sir  Roger  de  Grey,  his  brother, 
succeeded ;  who  by  his  will,  proved  in  1371,  declared  that  he  had 
enfeoffed  Sir  William  Bawde,  priest,  and  others,  in  his  manors  of 
Cavendish,  Little  Cometh,  and  Preston,  in  Suffolk.  The  estate 
appears  soon  after  to  have  been  alienated  from  this  house. 

Grey's  Hall,  in  this  parish,  so  designated  from  the  above  family, 
who  resided  there  in  the  time  of  Edward  IV.,  became  the  property 
and  residence  of  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  Colt,  Esq.,  of  Carlisle ; 


930  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

hence  called  Colt's  Hall,  which  name  it  still  retains.  He  was  Chan- 
cellor of  the  Exchequer,  and  one  of  the  Privy  Council  to  Edward  IV. ; 
and  married  Jane,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Trusbut,  Esq.  He  de- 
ceased about  the  12th  of  the  said  reign,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish 
church. 

Their  descendants  continued  to  reside  here  for  many  ages.  Sir 
George  Colt,  of  Cavendish,  Knt.,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  William 
Poley,  Esq.,  of  Boxstead  ;  whose  eldest  son  and  heir,  Sir  Henry, 
succeeded.  He  died  beyond  sea,  in  the  llth  of  Charles  I.,  seized 
of  the  manor  of  Greys,  alias  Coltshall,  in  Cavendish,  and  Posling- 
ford,  in  this  county.  George  Colt,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded, 
and  married  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  Dutton, 
of  Sherborne,  in  Gloucestershire,  Esq.  He  spent  his  fortune  in 
the  service  of  King  Charles  I.,  and  Charles  II.,  and  sold  his  pro- 
perty in  this  parish,  and  several  other  good  estates.  He  was  drowned 
on  board  a  Dutch  skipper,  January  20th,  1658. 

It  appears  that  Miles,  son  of  Miles  de  Hastings,  and  Dionise  his 
wife,  daughter  of  Peter  Goldington,  of  Stoke  Goldington,  in  Bed- 
fordshire, held  a  lordship  here.  Philip,  their  eldest  son  and  heir, 
died  in  1282,  and  Alice  his  widow,  recovered  in  the  same  year, 
against  Miles  de  Hastings,  her  father-in-law,  £10  a  year,  in  land 
in  Cavendish,  for  her  dower. 

But  it  appearing  that  those  lands  were  settled  on  Thomas,  Nicho- 
las, and  Margery,  the  younger  children  of  Miles,  with  the  consent 
of  her  husband,  she  had  £20  a  year  in  Quidenham,  in  Norfolk,  with 
a  water  mill  there,  instead  thereof.  In  the  22nd  of  King  Edward 
IV.,  Henry  Wentworth,  of  Nettlestead,  in  this  county,  died  seized 
of  a  manor  in  Cavendish.  He  was  second  son  of  Koger  Wentworth, 
and  married  a  Howard. 

John  Ruggles  Brise,  Esq.,  of  Clare,  is  now  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Cavendish :  but  Earl  Howe  is  owner  of  considerable  property  here. 
Thomas  Halifax,  Esq.,  erected  an  elegant  mansion  in  this  parish ; 
which  was  sold  in  1812,  to  a  member  of  the  Ogden  family.  Hough- 
ton  Hall,  another  neat  seat  in  this  parish,  belongs  to  Charles 
Heigham,  Esq.  The  ancient  manor  Halls  are  now  occupied  as 
farm  houses. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  handsome  building,  in 
the  patronage  of  Jesus  College,  Cambridge.  Among  its  rectors 
maybe  noticed,  Richard  Warren,  D.D.,  Archdeacon  of  Suffolk; 
who  was  instituted  to  this  living  in  1720,  where  he  died,  and  was 


HUNDRED  Oi  BABEUGU. 

buried,  in  1748.  His  son,  Dr.  John  Warren,  successively  Bishop 
of  St.  David's,  and  Bangor,  was  probably  a  native  of  Cavendish ; 
born  in  1728,  and  deceased  in  1800.  He  was  buried  in  the  north 
transept  of  Westminster  Abbey,  where  there  is  a  monument  to  his 
memory ;  and  was  brother  to  Dr.  Richard  Warren,  the  celebrated 
physician. 

ARMS. — Limesi:  gules;  three  eagles  displayed,  or.  Odyng- 
seles :  argent ;  a  fess,  and  two  mullets  in  chief,  gules.  Cavendish : 
(see  p.  70).  Grey :  harry  of  six,  argent  and  azure  ;  on  a  chief  ol 
the  first,  three  annulets,  gules.  Colt :  argent ;  a  fess,  between  three 
colts  in  full  speed,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — A  free  school,  founded  in  1696,  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Grey,  who  endowed  it  with  a  farm  at  Pentlowe,  in  Essex,  then  of 
the  yearly  value  of  £25 ;  of  which  he  directed  that  £15  should  be 
paid  yearly  to  the  master,  for  teaching  1 5  poor  children  of  this  pa- 
rish in  the  English,  Latin,  and  Greek  tongues  ;  that  £2  should  be 
laid  out  in  providing  books  and  stationery  for  the  said  free  scholars  ; 
and  that  the  remaining  £8  per  annum  should  be  employed  either 
in  apprenticing  some  of  the  free  scholars,  or  in  preparing  one  or 
two  of  them  for  the  University  of  Cambridge,  and  in  assisting  to 
maintain  them  till  they  took  their  first  degree.  The  school  farm 
comprises  7 9 A.  OR.  19p.,  and  is  let  for  £100  per  annum.  By  an 
order  of  the  Court  of  Chancery  in  1816,  the  powers  of  the  trustees 
were  extended,  and  there  are  now  20  free  scholars,  for  whose  in- 
struction the  master  receives  £'3Q  a  year,  and  a  further  sum  of  £10 
to  find  them  books,  &c.  The  direction  as  to  fitting  out  children 
for  the  University  does  not  appear  to  have  been  ever  acted  upon, 
but  apprentice  fees  are  given  with  two  or  three  of  the  boys  every  year. 


CHILTON. 

This  place  is  chiefly  remarkable  as  the  residence  of  a  branch  of 
the  ancient  and  Knightly  family  of  Crane,  long  settled  in  this  county, 
and  Norfolk :  of  whom  was  Sir  Robert  Crane,  of  Chilton,  Bart. ;  so 
created  in  1626.  He  was  High  Sheriff  of  this  county  in  1632,  and 
Knight  of  the  Shire  in  several  Parliaments.  By  his  first  wife,  Do- 
rothy, daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Hobart,  Bart.,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  he  had  no  issue. 


932  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

Sir  Eobert  married  secondly,  Susan,  daughter  of  Sir  Giles  Aling- 
ton,  Knt.,  of  Horseheath,  in  Cambridgeshire ;  by  whom  (who  re- 
married Isaac  Appleton,  Esq.,  of  Waldingfield),  he  had  four  daugh- 
ters, his  co-heirs:  namely;  Mary,  married  to  Sir  Ralph  Hare,  Bart.; 
Jane,  married  first,  to  Sir  William  Airmine,  Bart.,  and  secondly,  to 
John,  Lord  Belasyse ;  Susan,  married  to  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  K.B.; 
and  Katherine,  married  to  Edmund  Bacon,  Esq.,  nephew  of  Sir 
Robert  Bacon,  Bart.  Sir  Robert  Crane  deceased  in  1642-3,  when 
the  Baronetcy  expired. 

His  estates  became  divisible  between  these  co-heirs;  andChilton 
appears  to  have  been  apportioned  to  Sir  William  Airmine,  Bart.,  of 
Osgodby,  in  Lincolnshire ;  whose  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir,  mar- 
ried Sir  Thomas  Woodhouse,  Bart.,  of  Kimberley,  in  Norfolk  ;  and 
their  grandson,  Sir  Airmine  Woodhouse,  Bart.,  in  1764,  was  lord 
of  the  manor  here,  styled  Waldingfield  Hall,  Carbonels,  with  Chil- 
ton.  Sir  Airiaiiie  married  Letitia,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of 
Sir  Edmund  Bacon,  Bart.,  of  Garboldesham,  in  Norfolk. 

This  has  been  generally  considered  a  hamlet  of  Great  Walding- 
field ;  aud  the  rector  of  that  parish  receives  a  certain  portion  of  the 
tithes  of  Chilton  at  the  present  time.  The  seat  of  the  Cranes  was  a 
good  old  family  mansion,  now  reduced  to  a  farm  house,  the  property 
of  William  Howe  Wyndham,  Esq.,  of  Felbrigge  Hall,  in  Norfolk ; 
who  is  lord  of  the  manor,  and  patron  of  the  benefice. 

Weever  has  this  notice  of  Chilton  church  : — "  Robart  Crane  of 
Stonam  parua,  and  lady  Anne  his  wyefe,  doughter  of  sir  Andro 
Egard,  knight,  de  Buckingham  ad  castrum,  which  dysceased  23  of 
Octob.  an.  dom.  1500. — Georg  Crane,  son  and  heyre  of  Robart 
Crane,  esquyer,  and  lady  Anne  his  mother,  desceased,  1491. — Sir 
Ralph  Butle,  lord  of  Sudley,  and  Alyce  his  wyef,  doughter  of  Day- 
necourte,  in  a  glasse  wyndoo  there  founde." 

ARMS. — Crane:  argent;  a  fess  between  three  crosses  bottonee 
fitchee,  gules.  Wyndham  :  azure  ;  a  chevron  between  three  lions' 
heads  erased,  or. 


COCKFIELD. — COOKFIELD,  or  COTHEFELDA, 

Is  a  village  of  large  extent,  having  two  manors,  Cockfield  Hall,  and 
Earl's  Hall ;  the  former  being  vested  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's, 
by  the  gift  of  Earl  Alfgar,  after  the  decease  of  Ethelfled,  his  daugh- 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  983 

ter ;  and  then  King  Edgar  gave  to  the  said  Ethelfled,  Chelsworth 
manor,  which  she  gave,  together  with  Cockfield,  to  the  said  Abbey, 
according  to  her  father,  the  Earl's  will ;  and  the  Cockfield  family, 
who  are  supposed  to  derive  from  a  younger  son  of  the  noble  house 
of  De  Vere,  Earls  of  Oxford,  held  here  of  the  said  Abbot. 

Alberic  de  Vere  had  a  younger  brother,  Roger,  who  held  this 
lordship  of  the  said  Abbot,  immediately  after  the  Conquest ;  and 
Abbot  Anselm,  who  lived  in  the  time  of  Henry  I.,  granted  the  ser- 
vice of  Roger,  to  his  brother  Alberic,  at  the  King's  request :  from 
this  parish  they  assumed  the  surname  of  Cokefield.  Anselm  also 
granted  to  Adam  de  Cokefield,  and  his  heirs,  by  the  service  of  one 
Knight,  the  land  in  Cockfield  and  Lilesey,  in  Suffolk,  which  his 
father  Lemmerus  held  in  his  life  time,  as  the  men  of  St.  Edmund's 
swore  and  testified,  in  the  presence  of  Talbot,  the  Prior,  and  others. 

In  the  3rd  of  Richard  L,  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  leased 
to  Adam  de  Cokefield  for  life,  the  manors  of  Groton  and  Semere, 
which  had  been  previously  farmed  by  his  father,  Robert  de  Coke- 
field  ;  and  in  the  3rd  of  Henry  III.,  Rohais  his  widow,  released  to 
Thomas  de  Burgh,  and  Nesta  his  wife,  her  dower  in  the  lands  of 
her  late  husband,  Adam  de  Cokefield,  in  Cokefield,  Semere,  and 
Groton ;  other  lands  being  assigned  to  her. 

This  Nesta  was  the  only  child  of  Adam  de  Cokefield,  and  Rohnis 
his  wife.  After  the  decease  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Burgh,  she  became 
the  wife  of  John  de  Beauchamp,  who  died  about  the  24th  of  the 
above  reign ;  and  married,  thirdly,  to  Matthew  de  Leyham.  In  the 
26th  of  Henry  II.,  this  Matthew  de  Leyham,  and  Nesta  his  wife, 
granted  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  five  carucates  of  land  in 
this  parish ;  the  Abbot  releasing  all  claim  to  the  lands  belonging 
to  his  Convent,  in  Lilesey,  Groton,  Semere,  and  Rougham.  The 
interest  of  the  Cokefield  family  appears  to  have  ceased  here  at  the 
above  period. 

After  the  suppression  of  the  above  Monastery,  Cockfield  Hall 
manor  became  vested  in  the  Spring  family  ;  and  Sir  William  Spring, 
Knt.,  of  Pakenham,  died  seized  thereof,  in  the  42nd  of  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth; when  John  Spring,  Esq.,  his  only  son,  succeeded;  who 
deceased  the  following  year. 

Earl's  Hall,  so  designated  from  the  Veres,  Earls  of  Oxford,  who 
inherited  the  same  for  many  ages,  until  the  extinction  of  the  title  in 
that  house  by  the  decease  of  Aubrey  de  Vere,  20th  Earl  of  Oxford, 
of  his  family,  without  issue,  Marcli  12th,  1702.  In  1764,  these 


93-1  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

manors  were  both  vested  in  John  Moore,  Esq.,  of  Long  Melford* 
and  since  the  decease  of  his  descendant,  Eichard  Moore,  Esq.,  late 
of  Kentwell  Hall,  in  the  said  parish,  they  were  purchased  by  James 
Cuddon,  Esq.,  of  Norwich,  who  is  the  present  owner. 

The  manor  houses  of  Cockfield  Hall,  and  Earl's  Hall,  have  been 
converted  into  farm  houses ;  the  former  belongs  to  Samuel  Buck, 
Esq.,  and  the  latter,  to  Robert  Martin  Carss,  Esq.,  of  Little  Whel- 
netham.  Pepper's  Hall,  formerly  a  good  family  mansion,  was  for 
several  years  the  estate  and  residence  of  the  Harvey  family  ;  after, 
it  belonged  to  the  Rev.  Harvey  Aspin,  who  deceased  in  1791  ;  when 
it  passed  to  the  issue  of  Nathaniel  Acton,  Esq.,  of  Bramford  Hall, 
whose  second  wife  was  Dorothy  Aspin.  It  has  subsequently  passed 
into  various  hands,  by  purchase. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  is  a  good  structure,  and  con- 
tains a  very  ancient  and  handsome  monument  in  a  recess  of  the 
north  wall,  near  the  east  window,  but  to  whose  memory  it  was  erected 
is  not  known  ;  and  on  the  same  side,  an  elegant  altar  monument, 
executed  by  Mr.  Nicholas  Stone,  in  memory  of  several  members  of 
the  Harvey  family.  Mr.  Peck,  in  his  "Desiderata  Curiosa,"  vol.  1, 
lib.  vi.,  p.  22,  gives  a  long  inscription  from  this  church,  to  John 
Knewstub,  rector  of  the  parish. 

This  gentleman  was  a  native  of  Kirby  Stephen,  and  Fellow  of 
St.  John's  College,  Cambridge ;  was  instituted  to  this  benefice  in 
1597,  and  deceased  in  1624.  Mr.  J.  Knewstub  wrote  "  A  Confu- 
tation of  monstrous  and  horrible  Heresies,  taught  by  Henry  Nailor, 
and  embraced  by  a  certain  number,  who  call  themselves  the  Familie 
of  Love."  London:  imprinted  by  Thomas  Dawson,  1579,  4to. 
In  "  Magna  Britannia"  it  is  stated  that  in  this  parish,  was  held  one 
of  the  earliest  meetings  of  dissenters,  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time ; 
and  that  a  Mr.  Knewstubb,  was  then  minister,  who  was  a  favourer 
of  such  principles,  advised  an  assemblage  of  ministers  to  deliberate  on 
religious  matters  ;  but  what  passed  at  this  meeting  never  transpired. 

Francis  Robins,  mentioned  below,  was  rector  here  ;  and  William 
Ludlam,  B.D.,  and  F.R.S.,  who  deceased  March  16th,  1788.  He 
was  celebrated  for  his  mechanical  genius,  and  discoveries  in  me- 
chanics and  mathematics,  published  in  the  "  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions" of  the  Royal  Society. 

ARMS. — Harvey :  argent ;  three  saddles,  sable.  Aspin :  azure ; 
three  chevronels,  argent,  between  as  many  quarterfoils,  or.  Colce- 
fald:  (see  p.  888.) 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  935 

CHARITIES. — In  1720,  the  Rev.  Francis  Eobins  devised  £.3  per 
annum  to  the  poor  of  this  parish ;  which  is  paid  out  of  the  estate  of 
Sir  Edmund  Filmer,  Bart.,  of  East  Sutton,  in  Kent.  The  poor  pa- 
rishioners also  receive  20s.  from  Conder's  charity  (see  Glemsford) ; 
and  £3  10s.  a  year  in  respect  of  a  messuage  and  rood  of  ground  in 
Cockfield,  anciently  called  the  Town  House  ;  and  a  rent  charge  of 
£l  4s.  out  of  Church  Close,  in  Bradfield  St.  Clare,  left  by  Edward 
Nice,  in  1671. 


CORNARD  MAGNA.— CORNIERDA,  or  COKNERDA. 

This  manor  became  very  early  vested  in  a  family  who  assumed 
the  name  of  the  parish.  In  the  time  of  King  John,  John  de  Corn- 
herd  was  Sheriff'  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  four  successive  years ;  in 
1206,  and  three  following  years. 

It  continued  in  this  house  for  several  generations ;  and  finally 
passed  to  that  of  Grey,  by  the  marriage  of  Alice,  sole  daughter  and 
heiress  of  Sir  Richard  de  Cornherd,  Knt.,  with  Thomas  de  Grey,  of 
Grey's  Hall,  in  Cavendish,  Esq.,  in  or  about  1304  ;  who  about 
1317,  sold  the  same  to  the  Abbess  and  Convent  of  Mailing,  in 
Kent.  The  advowson  appears  to  have  been  included  in  this  grant. 

They  continued  in  the  said  house  until  its  dissolution,  when  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  obtained  a  grant  of  the  same,  in  exchange 
for  other  property  ;  but  were  resumed  by  the  Crown,  in  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth's reign.  In  1735,  John  Eldred,  Esq.,  held  the  same;  and 
they  have  since  been  held  by  divers  persons.  The  executors  of  the 
late  J.  G.  Sparrow,  Esq.,  are  now  lords  of  the  manor,  impropriators 
of  the  benefice,  and  patrons  of  the  vicarage.  Grey's  farm  is  now 
the  property  and  residence  of  Mr.  Thomas  Fitch,  and  Little  Grey's, 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Dyer. 

Sir  William  de  Bois  was  founder  of  the  chancel  of  Fersfield,  and 
patron  and  rector  of  that  church.  He  afterwards  resigned  that  rec- 
tory, and  was  instituted  to  Garboldisham  All  Saints,  in  Norfolk ; 
which  he  also  resigned,  for  the  vicarage  of  Great  Cornard,  in  Suffolk; 
of  which  place  he  died  vicar,  about  1352,  and  was  buried  at  Fersfield. 

ARMS. — Cornherd :  argent ;  a  fess  between  two  chevronels,  azure. 
Bois :  ermine  ;  a  cross,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — Apiece  of  arable  land,  containing  about  3  acres, 


936  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

was  allotted  on  an  inclosure,  in  lieu  of  other  land,  formerly  appro- 
priated to  the  use  of  the  poor ;  this  land  is  let  for  40s.  a  year, 
which  is  distributed  in  money  and  bread,  amongst  the  poor,  at 
Christmas. — The  site  of  two  cottages,  formerly  belonging  to  the 
poor,  is  occupied  as  garden  ground,  at  a  rent  of  10s.  a  year,  and 
belongs  to  the  poor. 


CORNARD  PARVA,  or  CORNIERDA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  in  its  early  descent,  passed  the  same 
as  that  of  Great  Cornard,  from  the  family  of  Cornherd  (or  Corn- 
herth)  to  that  of  Grey ;  but  continued  much  longer  in  that  house. 
By  the  will  of  Sir  Roger  de  Grey,  proved  in  1371,  it  appears  that 
he  had  eufeoffed  Sir  William  Bawde,  priest,  and  others,  in  this  manor. 

In- 1632,  Sir  William  de  Grey,  of  Merton,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  died 
seized  of  Causton's  Hall  manor,  in  Cornard  Parva ;  and  the  present 
noble  representative  of  that  family,  Thomas  de  Grey,  Lord  Wal- 
singham,  still  holds  considerable  property  here.  Causton's  manor 
belongs  to  John  Newman  Sparrow,  Esq. ;  and  the  Rev.  William 
Pochin  is  the  present  patron  and  incumbent,  who  resides  here. 

CHARITIES. — The  yearly  sum  of  £l,  for  five  poor  persons,  and 
6s.  Sd.,  for  the  minister  of  this  parish,  devised  by  Thomas  Stephens, 
in  1628,  are  paid  as  a  rent  charge  on  land,  called  Bones,  the  pro- 
perty of  Mr.  Sandall. — The  Rev.  Henry  Grossman,  by  will  dated 
in  1790,  directed  the  interest  of  £100,  Three  per  Cent.  Stock,  to 
be  applied  for  the  support  of  a  Sunday  school  in  Little  Cornard ; 
which  is  paid  by  the  rector  to  a  school. 


EDWARDSTON,  or  EDUARDESTDNA. 

A  junior  branch  of  the  ancient  and  honourable  house  of  Mont- 
chensy  became  very  early  seated  in  this  parish,  and  were  possessed 
of  the  lordship,  to  which  the  advowsoii  was  appendant ;  and  Hubert 
de  Montchensy  (Munchensi,  or  de  Monte  Caniso)  gave,  during  his 
life,  about  the  year  1114,  the  church  of  Edwardston,  and  all  its  ap- 
purtenances, lands,  and  tithes,  in  the  same  town,  two  acres  of  land 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  937 

near  the  church,  and  divers  property  in  other  parishes,  to  the  Mo- 
nastery of  Abingdou,  in  Berkshire. 

Hubert  de  Montchensy,  son  of  the  above  mentioned  Hubert,  was 
a  benefactor,  about  the  year  1 160,  to  the  Abbey  of  Colne,  in  Essex; 
the  Convent  of  which  appointed  two  monks  to  pray  for  his  father's 
soul,  in  their  church  of  Edwardston ;  and  afterwards  to  pray  for 
Hubert's  soul,  and  those  of  his  heirs ;  in  the  church  of  Colne. 

The  monks  who  had  been  placed  by  Hugo  at  Edwardston,  were 
therefore  removed  by  Abbot  Walkelin,  to  Colne,  in  Essex,  which 
was  also  a  cell  to  Abingdon  ;  and,  in  their  stead,  two  secular  priests 
continued  to  pray  in  the  church  of  Edwardston,  according  to  the 
will  of  Hubert.  The  impropriation  of  the  great  tithes  of  this  parish 
was  given  to  Colne,  by  Hubert;  and  so  remained  until  the  dis- 
solution. 

It  is  probable  here  was  no  more  than  a  residence  for  the  officiating 
monks;  and  the  endowments  of  this  cell  were  annexed,  in  1559,  to 
the  see  of  Ely,  in  exchange  with  the  Crown,  for  some  valuable  ma- 
norial property.  The  Bishop  of  Ely  pays  to  the  vicar  of  this  church, 
after  the  rate  of  twelve  pence  a  day,  or  .£18  5s.  per  annum. 

This  lordship  passed  from  the  above  family  to  that  of  Waldegrave, 
by  the  marriage  of  Jane,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Thomas 
Montchensy,  of  Edwardston,  with  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave,  Lord 
of  Bures  and  Silvesters  ;  who  deceased  in  1486,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Sir  William  Waldegrave,  his  son  and  heir  ;  and  it  continued  in 
his  descendants  until  about  1598,  when  Sir  William  Waldegrave  sold 
the  same  to  John  Brand,  a  rich  clothier,  of  Boxford,  in  this  hundred. 

The  earliest  member  of  this  house  was  Robert  Bronde,  a  native 
of  Catton,  near  Norwich ;  who  first  advanced  the  Brondes,  and  has 
been  considered  the  founder  of  the  family  who  afterwards  became 
seated  here.  He  was  instituted  rector  of  St.  Mary  in  the  Marsh, 
in  1526,  and  was  Prior  of  the  Cathedral  Monastery  in  that  city. 
In  1529  he  was  preferred,  by  King  Henry  VIII.,  to  the  Abbey  of 
St.  Albans,  in  the  room  of  Cardinal  Wolsey;  and  deceased  in  1542. 

This  estate  passed  to  Sir  Robert  Kemp,  Bart.,  by  his  marriage 
with  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  John  Brand,  Esq.,  of 
Edwardston;  who  sold  the  same,  in  1714,  to  William  French,  citizen 
and  draper  of  London,  who  was  lord  and  patron  here  in.  1764. 
Charles  Dawson,  Esq.,  is  the  present  proprietor  of  this  estate,  and 
resides  at  Edwardston  Hall ;  and  George  Augustus  Dawson,  A.M., 
of  Groton  House,  is  now  vicar  of  this  parish. 


938  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

A  branch  of  the  Alston  family  were  formerly  seated  here  ;  whose 
descendants  hecame  Baronets,  of  Odell,  in  Bedfordshire.  Thomas 
Alston,  Esq.,  of  this  parish,  was  second  son  of  Edward  Alston, 
Esq.,  of  Saxham  Hall,  in  the  parish  of  Newton,  in  this  hundred, 
and  married  Dorothy,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Henry  Holmsted, 
Esq.,  of  Maplested,  in  Essex  ;  hy  whom  he  left  an  only  sou,  Ed- 
ward, who  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Arthur  Penning,  Esq.,  of 
Kettlehorough,  in  Suffolk ;  and  had  issue,  Sir  Edward,  of  London, 
an  eminent  Physician,  and  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians  ; 
and  Joseph  Alston,  Esq.,  of  Chelsea ;  who  was  created  a  Baronet 
in  1681. 

Isaac,  third  son  of  the  ahove  Sir  Joseph  Alston,  Bart.,  inherited 
this  property,  and  commenced  the  erection  of  a  new  house  here,  but 
did  not  live  to  complete  it.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  and  co- 
heir of  Henry  Seile,  of  London ;  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
Joseph,  of  Edwardston ;  who  married  Lauren tia,  only  daughter  of 
the  Kev.  Charles  Trumbull,  LL.D.,  rector  of  Hadleigh,  and  niece 
of  Sir  William  Trumbull,  Knt.,  Secretary  of  State  to  King  William; 
and  left  one  son,  Joseph,  who  deceased  without  issue.  This  estate 
was  sold  by  a  member  of  the  Alston  family,  probably  Sir  Evelyn 
Alston,  who  died  without  issue  in  1783,  when  the  Baronetcy  became 
extinct. 

Thomas  de  Edwardston,  so  named  from  this  his  native  place,  was 
educated  at  Oxford,  and  became  a  monk  of  the  Augustine  order,  at 
Clare,  in  this  county.  He  was  an  eminent  scholar,  and  being  con- 
fessor to  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence,  accompanied  him  into  Italy, 
where  he  appears  to  have  had  the  care  of  some  Archbishopric  during 
a  vacancy,  but  never  was  Archbishop,  as  stated  by  some  authorities. 
He  deceased  at  Clare,  in  the  year  1396,  and  was  buried  there. 

ARMS. — Montchensy  :  or ;  three  inescutcheons,  vair.  Brand : 
(see  p.  858.)  Alston :  azure ;  ten  estoils,  or ;  four,  three,  two, 
and  one. 

CHARITIES. — In  1709,  Isaac  Brand  gave  by  will  £100,  to  be 
laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  land  in  this  parish  ;  the  rents  and  profits 
to  be  distributed  to  the  most  industrious  and  aged  poor  people  of 
Edwardston,  on  Easter  Sunday.  This  sum  was  laid  out  in  the  pur- 
chase of  certain  property  here,  which  has  since  been  sold,  and  the 
produce  expended  in  the  purchase  of  Government  Stock  ;  the  divi- 
dends of  which  produce  £7  8s.  a  year,  which  is  laid  out  in  the  pur- 
chase of  linen  cloth,  and  given  among  the  poor. — By  deed  of  1722, 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  939 

John  Brand  gave  two  rent  charges,  of  20s.  each,  for  buying  bread, 
to  be  given  to  the  poor  of  this  parish,  and  Boxford. — Joseph  Chaplin 
gave  by  will,  in  1725,  £250,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  land; 
the  rents  to  be  applied,  yearly,  for  providing  coats  and  shoes  for 
five  poor  men,  and  gowns,  petticoats,  and  shoes  for  five  poor  women, 
of  this  parish.  This  sum,  with  £53,  devised  by  Sir  Joseph  Alston, 
Bart.,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  farm  in  Polstead,  comprising 
a  barn  and  22A.  2n.  of  land ;  this,  with  an  allotment  of  one  acre, 
lets  at  £26  a  year,  which  is  expended  accordingly. — The  Town 
Lands  comprise  a  messuage,  used  as  a  workhouse,  and  three  small 
pieces  of  land;  rent,  £8  a  year;  which,  after  deducting  certain  ex- 
penses, is  paid  to  the  master  of  a  Sunday-school. — In  1 580,  Edward 
Appleton,  of  this  parish,  left  three  yearly  rent  charges  out  of  a  farm, 
called  Hocker's  on  the  Hill,  situate  in  Edwardston :  viz.,  40s.  each 
to  Great  and  Little  Waldingfield,  and  20s.  to  this  parish,  for  the 
poor  thereof.  These  annuities  have  not  been  paid  during  the  last 
twenty  years  :  the  land  charged  is  supposed  to  belong  to  the  Dawson 
family,  but  cannot  be  ascertained  with  certainty. 


GLEMSFORD,  or  CLAMESFORDA. 

In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  here  was  a  collegiate  society 
of  priests,  or  brethren,  under  the  government  of  a  Dean,  and  en- 
dowed with  several  immunities  and  privileges  ;  which  King  Stephen, 
Henry  II.,  and  Henry  III.,  confirmed  :  after  which  period  nothing 
further  is  known  of  this  institution. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  at  the  period  of  the  Norman  survey, 
was  vested  in  Odo  de  Campania,  a  near  relative  of  King  William ; 
who  was,  by  him,  created  Earl  of  Albemarle  and  Holderness :  his 
large  inheritance  passed  to  Stephen,  his  son  and  heir. 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  it  was  appropriated  to  the  church  of 
Ely ;  and  some  rents  are  still  paid  to  the  Bishop  of  that  See,  who 
has  the  patronage  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  in  Glemsford ;  but 
Edward  Stedmau,  Esq.,  is  now  lord  of  the  manor. 

By  deed,  dated  the  34th  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  William  Methwold 
sold  all  his  lands  and  tenements  in  this  parish,  called  Methwold's 
and  Wymbold's,  to  John  Smith,  of  Cavendish.  He  was  member 


940  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

of  a  family  seated  at  Langford,  in  Norfolk  ;  who  held  a  lordship 
there,  and  presented  to  that  parish  church  in  1408. 

There  is  a  small  silk  manufactory  in  this  place,  which  employs 
about  sixty  persons  ;  and  some  of  the  inhabitants  are  employed  in 
weaving  silk  and  velvet  for  the  Sudbury  manufacturers ;  but  the 
trade  has  of  late  been  declining  here. 

CHARITIES. — In  1670,  Thomas  Hammond  gave  a  field,  called 
New  Croft,  in  this  parish,  containing  about  nine  acres,  the  rents 
thereof  to  be  divided  among  six  of  the  most  ancient  men,  inhabitants 
of  Glemsford  :  the  rent,  which  is  about  £12  a  year,  is  given  ac- 
cordingly.— Here  are  also  several  doles  and  rent  charges,  the  total 
receipts  of  which  amount  to  about  £7  7s. ;  which,  with  a  portion 
of  Corder's  charity,  amounting  to  about  £2  10s.  per  annum,  is  dis- 
tributed soon  after  Christmas,  among  poor  persons. — A  house  in  the 
church-yard,  formerly  Used  as  a  school  house,  is  now  partly  used  for 
the  residence  of  paupers,  and  is  partly  let  at  a  rent  of  50s.  a  year  ; 
which  is  carried  to  the  churchwardens'  account. — A  piece  of  laud, 
containing  about  one  acre,  in  Glemsford,  was  conveyed  by  Edmund 
Boldero,  D.D.,  in  1669,  upon  trust;  this  land  is  let  at  £l  5s.  a 
year,  and  the  rent  is  laid  out  in  buying  Bibles,  and  religious  books, 
given  to  poor  people. — Captain  Nicholas  Kerrington,  in  or  about 
"1687,  gave  by  will,  ,£5  a  year  to  the  poor  of  this  parish ;  but  the 
annuity  was  not  charged  on  land,  and  is  lost. 


GROTON,  or  GROTENA. 

The  lordship  and  demesne  of  this  parish  became  very  early  parcel 
of  the  possession  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  at  Bury ;  and  in 
the  3rd  of  Richard  I.,  Abbot  Sampson  leased  the  same  to  Adam 
de  Cokefield,  for  life ;  which  had  been  before  held  by  Robert  de 
Cokefield,  his  father. 

In  the  3rd  of  Henry  III.,  Rohais,  his  relict,  released  to  Thomas 
de  Burgh,  and  Nesta  his  wife,  her  dower  in  the  lands  of  her  late 
husband,  Adam  de  Cokefield,  in  this  parish,  Cockfield,  and  Semere; 
other  lands  being  assigned  to  her  instead  thereofi 

This  Nesta  de  Burgh  was  the  only  child  of  Adam  de  Cokefield, 
and  Rohais  his  wife.  She  married,  afterwards,  to  John  de  Beau- 
champ  ;  and,  thirdly,  to  Matthew  de  Leyham.  In  the  26th  of  the 


HUNDKIil)  OF  BABEUGII.  941 

above  reign,  this  Matthew  de  Leyhara,  and  Nesta  his  wife,  granted 
to  the  Abhot  of  St.  Edmund's,  five  carucates  of  land,  in  Cockfield  ; 
the  Abbot  releasing  to  them  all  claim  to  the  lands  belonging  to  his 
Monastery,  in  this  parish,  Lindsey,  Rougham,  and  Semere. 

Nesta  de  Leyham  deceased  without  issue,  about  the  82ud  of 
Henry  III. ;  when  the  King  commanded  Edmund,  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's,  to  restore  to  Bartholomew  de  Creke,  Ralph  de  Eerners, 
and  William  de  Bellomonte,  the  manors  of  Groton  and  Semere  ;  in 
which  the  Abbot  had  no  title,  except  through  Henry,  late  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund's  (deceased  in  the  same  year),  who  had  intruded,  whilst 
Nesta,  to  whom  the  said  Bartholomew,  Ralph,  and  William  were 
cousins  and  heirs,  was  in  extremis,  by  reason  of  a  lease  granted  by 
Matthew  de  Leyham,  her  husband,  against  her  will,  to  John  de 
Cramaville. 

The  Abbot  continued  in  possession;  for  in  the  14th  of  Edward 
I.,  a  writ  of  right  was  brought  for  the  recovery  of  the  lands,  by 
John  de  Creke,  Ralph  Berncrs,  and  Godfrey  de  Bellomonte,  the  then 
heirs  of  Nesta ;  descended  from  her  three  aunts,  Alice,  Beatrix,  and 
Gunnora ;  and  it  would  seem  to  have  been  decided  by  duel,  in 
their  favour. 

In  the  21st  of  the  same  reign,  Godfrey  de  Bellomonte  died  with- 
out issue,  lord  of  a  third  part  of  Semere  and  Groton  ;  and  Sir  John 
de  Bellomonte  was  found  to  be  his  brother  and  heir ;  who  was  lord 
in  the  25th  of  that  reign,  and  left,  by  Alice  his  wife,  a  son  and  heir, 
Richard ;  who  held  the  same  in  the  27th  of  that  King. 

Kirby  states,  that  at  the  dissolution  of  Bury  Abbey,  this  estate 
was  granted  to  Adam  Winthorp,  Esq. ;  by  which  it  appears  that 
Monastery  became  again  possessed  thereof.  It  continued  in  that 
family  until  purchased  by  Thomas  Waring,  Esq.,  about  the  fourth 
of  King  Charles  I.  Richard  Waring,  Esq.,  appears  to  have  suc- 
ceeded, and  resided  here ;  and  Thomas,  who  was  probably  the  son 
of  the  second  son  and  heir  of  Richard  Waring,  Esq.,  died  about  the 
year  17C9,  aged  84,  or  thereabouts. 

He  resided  at  the  parsonage  house,  in  Groton ;  to  whom  the  liv- 
ing belonged ;  and  by  his  will  devised  the  same,  with  other  property, 
to  his  cousin,  Walter  Waring,  Esq.,  M.P.  for  Coventry ;  who  de- 
ceased about  1781,  leaving  an  only  son  ;  who  died  without  issue, 
some  years  since. 

Sir  Joshua  Ricketts  Rowley,  Bart.,  of  Tendring  Hall,  is  now  lord 
of  the  manor.  J.  VV.  Willett,  Esq.,  is  patron  of  the  living ;  and 


942  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

the  Rev.  John  Hallifax,  A.M.,  of  Edwardstone,  is  the  present  in- 
cumbent. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £10,  bequeathed  by  John  Doggett,  for 
the  poor  of  this  parish,  was  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  piece  of 
land,  called  Powers,  containing  1%  acres;  which  was  conveyed  to 
trustees,  in  the  1st  of  Charles  I.  ;  rent  £l  15s.  a  year;  which  is 
laid  out  in  bread,  and  distributed  among  poor  people. — In  1650, 
William  Moore  devised  for  the  poor  of  Boxford  and  Groton,  about 
14  acres  of  copyhold  land,  in  the  former  parish;  rent  £16  a  year. 
The  rent  is  divided  between  the  two  parishes,  and  applied  in  each 
with  the  poor  rates. — Four  tenements  in  Groton  are  used  as  alms- 
houses  for  poor  persons.  ' 


HAUTE  ST,  or  HERTERST. 

•This  lordship,  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  time,  belonged  to  the 
Monastery  at  Ely ;  and  at  the  dissolution,  became  appropriated  to 
the  Bishopric ;  from  which  it  was  alienated  in  the  4th  of  Queen 
Elizabeth.  It  is  now  vested  in  George  Weller  Poley,  Esq.,  of  Box- 
stead  Hall. 

The  advowson  is  consolidated  with  that  of  Boxstead,  and  the  pa- 
tronage belongs  to  the  Crown.  Robert  Butts,  D.D.,  successively 
Bishop  of  Norwich  and  Ely,  was  a  son  of  William  Butts,  rector  of 
this  parish,  and  probably  born  here.  He  was  educated  at  the  Gram- 
mar School,  St.  Edmund's  Bury;  and  from  thence  admitted  of  Tri- 
nity College,  Cambridge. 

In  1703,  he  was  appointed  Lecturer  at  Bury  ;  and  in  1717,  was 
presented  by  the  Earl  of  Bristol,  to  the  rectory  of  Ickworth.  In 
1728,  he  was  nominated  one  of  his  Majesty's  Chaplains  in  Ordi- 
nary; in  1731,  was  installed  Dean  of  Norwich  ;  and  the  year  fol- 
lowing, consecrated  Bishop  of  that  see.  In  1738,  he  was  translated 
to  Ely  ;  where  he  died  in  1748,  and  was  buried  in  that  Cathedral. 
Dr.  Butts  published  some  Sermons,  preached  on  public  occasions  ; 
and  two  Primary  Charges  to  the  Clergy  of  his  diocese,  of  Norwich 
and  Ely. 

CHARITIES. — In  1721,  Thomas  Sparke  devised  a  messuage,  and 
about  40  acres  of  laud ;  rent  £50  a  year  :  from  which  20s.  per  an- 
num is  paid  to  the  ministers  and  churchwardens  of  Brockley,  Rede, 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  943 

and  Hartest,  and  £6  a  year  for  schooling  poor  children  of  Brockley : 
the  residue,  after  payment  of  necessary  expenses,  is  applied  in  send- 
ing poor  children  of  this  parish  to  school. — In  1646,  Thomas 
Wright  left  two  cottages  for  the  residence  of  poor  widows  not  charge- 
able to  the  parish  ;  and  for  their  reparation,  he  charged  an  adjoining 
cottage,  called  Penns,  with  the  yearly  payment  of  10s. — The  poor 
of  this  parish  have  about  25s.  yearly  from  Corder's  charity,  in  Glems- 
ford ;  and  a  fifth  part  of  Poley's  charity,  in  Boxstead. 


LAVENHAM,  or  LAUENHAM, 

Was  formerly  a  Market  Town,  and  once  famous  for  its  manufacture 
of  blue  cloths ;  for  the  better  regulation  of  which,  and  employing 
and  providing  for  the  poor,  it  became  divided  into  three  guilds,  or 
trading  companies :  namely ;  the  guild  of  St.  Peter,  granted  by 
John,  Earl  of  Oxford,  the  2nd  of  Edward  VI.,  whose  Hall  is  in  the 
High  street ;  that  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  granted  by  the  same  Earl, 
in  the  6th  of  the  above  King,  whose  Hall  was  in  Prentice  street ; 
and  the  Guild  of  Corpus  Christi,  granted  by  another  John,  Earl  of 
Oxford,  in  the  31st  of  Henry  VIII.,  whose  Hall  is  in  the  Market 
place. 

On  the  decline  of  their  manufacture,  these  companies  became 
dissolved,  but  the  town  still  retained  a  considerable  trade  for  making 
serges,  shalloons,  &c.  Of  all  these  nothing  now  remains ;  its  market 
has  been  long  since  disused,  and  its  former  government,  under  six 
headboroughs,  discontinued,  none  having  been  chosen  since  the 
year  1775;  and  but  little  is  left  of  its  ancient  wealth  and  consi- 
deration. 

The  lordship  of  this  town  was  granted,  by  William  the  Norman, 
after  the  decisive  battle  of  Hastings,  in  1066,  to  his  brother-in-law, 
Aubrey  de  Vere,  as  a  reward  for  his  service.  He,  with  Beatrice  his 
wife,  were  founders  of  Colne  Priory,  in  Essex,  and  were  both  buried 
there,  as  appears  by  the  following  inscription  from  "  Weever's  An- 
cient Funeral  Monuments  :"- 

"  HERB  LYETH  AULBERY,  THB  FIRST  EARL  OF  GUINKS,  SONNB  OF  ALPHONSUS 
DB  VEER,  THE  WHYCHE  AULBERY  WAS  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THIS  PLACE,  AND 
BETTRYS  HYS  WYF,  SYBTER  OF  KYNG  WILLIAM  THE  CONQUEROUR." 

The  original  manor  house  appears  to  have  stood  close  to  what  is 


944  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

now  called  Lavenham  Hall,  and  its  extensive  ruins  are  still  visible: 
the  piece  of  land  known  by  the  name  of  Saffron  Panes,  was  the 
garden  belonging  to  the  same.  A  large  park  was  also  attached. 
This  mansion  was  the  occasional  residence  of  the  De  Veres,  Earls 
of  Oxford,  from  the  above  period,  until  the  alienation  of  the  lord- 
ship, in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth ;  when  Edward  de  Vere,  Lord 
High  Chamberlain,  and  17th  Earl  of  Oxford,  of  that  house,  sold 
the  same  to  Paul  D'Ewes,  Esq. 

Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,  Bart.,  his  son  and  heir,  succeeded ;  and 
appears  to  have  resided  at  Lavenham ;  an  infant  son  of  his,  by  Anne 
his  first  wife,  sole  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  William  Clopton, 
of  Kentwell  Hall,  in  Melford,  being  buried  in  this  parish  church  : 
his  name  Clopton;  he  died  1631.  Sir  Symonds  most  likely  re- 
moved to  Stowlangtoft  soon  after  the  decease  of  his  father,  which 
happened  in  1630.  This  lordship  subsequently  became  vested  in 
the  Moore  family,  of  Melford ;  and  now  belongs  to  the  Eev.  James 
Pye,  A.M. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  stands  at  the  west  end  of  the 
town,  and  is  not  only  the  principal  ornament  thereof,  but  is  ac- 
counted the  most  beautiful  fabric  of  its  kind,  in  tliis  county.  It  is 
constructed  chiefly  of  free  stone,  and  curious  ornamental  flint  work, 
and  was  erected  chiefly  at  the  expense  of  some  of  the  De  Veres, 
Earls  of  Oxford ;  and  the  Springs,  who  were  opulent  clothiers  in 
this  town.* 

The  advowson  was  formerly  appendant  to  the  manor,  but  now 
belongs  to  Gonville  and  Caius  College,  Cambridge.  Amongst  its 
rectors  may  be  noticed,  John  de  Giglis,  LL.D. :  he  resigned  in 
1497,  being  then  made  Bishop  of  Worcester.  Ambrose  Copinger, 
D.D.,  a  native  of  Lavenham,  being  second  son  of  the  Kev.  Henry 
Copinger,  also  rector  here  (see  p.  524).  Dr.  Copinger  succeeded 
to  this  living  on  the  decease  of  his  father,  in  1622,  and  died  in  or 
about  1644. 

William  Gurnall,f  A.M.,  the  author  of  "  The  Christian  in  Com- 
plete Armour,"  succeeded,  by  the  presentation  of  Sir  Symonds 

*  See  Shoberl's  "  History  of  Suffolk"  fora  further  description  of  this  beautiful 
edifice.  A  ground  plan,  and  description  of  the  same,  is  also  inserted  in  the  "  Gen- 
tleman's Magazine"  for  1787,  p.  378. 

•f-  For  a  full  and  interesting  narrative  of  this  pious  and  learned  divine,  see 
M'Keon's  "  Inquiry  into  the  Birth-Place,  Parentage,  Life,  and  Writings  of  the 
Rev.  William  Gurnall,  M.A.,  formerly  rector  of  Lavenham,  in  Suffolk,"  8vo.  1830 ; 
also  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine''  for  1838,  part  1,  p.  597. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  945 

D'Ewes,  in  1644  ;  he  however  did  not  receive  canonical  institution 
till  the  year  1662,  when  his  appointment  was  confirmed,  on  the  pre- 
sentation of  Thomas  Bowes,  Esq.,  of  Bromley  Hall,  in  Essex.  Mr. 
Gurnall  deceased  in  1 679,  and  was  buried  at  Laveuham ;  but  no  stone 
marks  the  place  of  his  interment,  or  records  a  memorial  of  his  worth. 

This  town  has  given  birth  to  several  persons  of  eminence ; 
amongst  whom  may  be  noticed,  Richard  de  Lanham,  who  was  Pro- 
fessor of  Divinity  at  Oxford,  and  Confessor  to  King  Richard  II. ; 
he  was  beheaded,  with  Archbishop  Sudbury,  by  the  followers  of  Wat 
Tyler,  in  1381  :  Thomas  Lavenham,  who  flourished  about  the  be- 
ginning of  the  1 5th  century,  and  is  mentioned  among  the  eminent 
saints  and  authors  of  Suffolk  ;  also  John  Lavenhnm  (alias  Hunt), 
who  was  a  monk  of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund's,  at  the  period  of  its 
suppression :  a  William  Lavenham,  who  was  minister  here  from 
1354,  till  1361,  was  probably  a  native  of  this  place. 

Thomas  Spring,  the  rich  clothier,  was  most  likely  born  at  Laven- 
ham, at  least  he  long  resided  there,  and  acquired  his  wealth  by  its 
woollen  trade.  Thomas,  his  eldest  son,  was  bom  here  prior  to  1486, 
and  was  a  liberal  benefactor  to  the  church  and  town  :  Sir  John 
Spring  was  his  eldest  son,  and  also  a  native  of  Lavenham.  He 
married  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave,  and  settled 
at  Hitcham,  in  this  county,  where  he  was  buried.  The  Springs,  of 
Pakenham,  who  were  honoured  by  Charles  I.,  with  the  title  of  Ba- 
ronet, derive  also  from  this  family. 

Sir  Thomas  Cooke,  Royal  Merchant,  and  Knight  of  the  Bath, 
was  the  son  of  Robert  Cooke,  of  this  town,  and  born  here  about 
1420.  This  distinguished  native  was  Sheriff  of  London  in  1453, 
Lord  Mayor  of  that  city  in  1462,  and  in  the  year  1465,  was  made 
K.B.,  by  King  Edward  IV.  He  became  possessed  of  Gidea  Hall 
estate,  near  Rumford,  in  Essex ;  where  his  descendants  flourished 
for  several  generations. 

The  Rev.  George  Ruggle,  A.M.,  author  of  the  latin  comedy  of 
"Ignoramus,"  was  baptized  at  Lavenham,  Nov.  13th,  1575,  and 
received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  at  the  grammar  school  of 
his  native  place ;  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  was  entered  at  the 
University  of  Cambridge.* 

Peregrine  Branwhite,  an  ingenious  poet,  and  popular  author,  was 

*  For  a  copious  account  of  Mr.  Ruggle,  see  "Biographia  Dramatica,"  Vol.  1, 
parti,  p.  610;  and  John  Sidney  Hnwkin's  "Biographical  Preface"  to  "!GNO- 


940  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

born  at  Lavenham,  July  18th,  1745.  He  published  a  poem  called 
"  Astronomy ;  or  a  description  of  the  Solar  System,"  with  some 
minor  poems,  and  is  said  to  have  left  some  poems  and  other  works 
in  manuscript.  He  died  in  London,  June  24th,  1794.  William 
Blair,  the  celebrated  surgeon,  of  Great  Russell  street,  Bloomsbury 
square,  deserves  also  to  be  noticed  here.  He  was  the  son  of  William 
Blair,  M.D.,  by  Ann  Gideon  his  wife,  and  was  born  at  Lavenham 
on  the  28th  of  January,  1766.  He  died  in  1822. 

Susannah  Elizabeth  Onslow,  second  daughter  and  co-heiress  of 
Nathaniel  Hillier,  Esq.,  formerly  of  Lavenham,  but  late  of  Stoke 
Park,  in  Surrey,  was  born  here  in  1786.  Miss  Hillier  painted  very 
beautifully,  and  obtained  the  silver  medal  for  some  of  her  produc- 
tions. In  1812,  she  married  the  Hon.  Thomas  Cranley  Onslow, 
son  of  Lord  Onslow. 

Isaac  and  Jefferys  Taylor,  both  well  known  in  the  literary  world, 
were  sons  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  Taylor,  and  Ann  his  wife,  and  natives 
of  this  place  ;  the  former  was  born  here,  in  1787,  and  the  latter  in 
1792.  Isaac  was  brought  up  as  a  designer  and  miniature  painter; 
and  his  brother  to  the  profession  of  an  engraver ;  but  like  most  of 
their  family,  turned  their  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  literature. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Ribbans,  late  wife  of  Mr.  Ribbans,  schoolmaster* 

*  The  following  somewhat  curious  document  may  be  thought  worth  preserving. 
Mr.  Smythies,  the  husband  of  the  lady  whom  it  concerns,  was  master  of  the  Free 
Grammar  School  in  Lavenham  from  1732  to  1746. 

"  Robert  Nash,  Doctor  of  Laws,  Vicar  General  in  Spirituals  of  the  Right  Reve- 
rend Father  in  God,  Thomas,  by  divine  permission  Lord  Bishop  of  Norwich,  law- 
fully  constituted.  To  our  well-beloved  in  Christ,  Mrs.  Aune  Smythies,  the  wife  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Smythies  of  Lavenham  in  the  co"unty  of  Suffolk  and  Diocese 
of  Norwich,  health  in  our  Lord.  Whereas  we  have  received  sufficient  and  credible 
testimony  of  your  skill  and  knowledge  in  the  art  of  cureing  blotches,  breakings  out, 
and  such  like  diseases  called  the  King's  Evil.  And  whereas  we  have  received  your 
consent  and  subscription  to  the  articles  of  religion  agreed  upon  by  the  Archbishops, 
Bishops,  and  Clergy  of  both  provinces,  at  the  Convocation  holden  in  London  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  Christ  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty  two,  and  confirmed  by 
regall  authority  ;  and  also  your  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  Majesty  King  George  the 
second,  according  to  a  late  Act  of  Parliament  in  that  case  made  and  provided,  have 
thought  fit  to  license,  and  by  these  presents  do  license  you  publickly  to  use  and 
practice  the  said  art  of  cureing  blotches,  breakings  out,  and  such  like  diseases,  called 
the  King's  Evil,  within  the  diocese  of  Norwich,  and  do  will  this  our  licence  to  en- 
dure during  our  pleasure  and  your  good  demeanour,  and  no  longer  nor  otherwise. 
Dated  the  twenty-sixth  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  forty-three.  John  Narker,  Notary  Publick, 

Depy.  Regr." 
(The  Episcopal  Seal  affixed.) 


HUNDRED  OF  BABE11GH.  947 

of  Lavcnlmm,  deserves  to  bo  noticed  in  this  place.  She  was  tho 
youngest  daughter  of  William  East,  and  was  born  here  in  1795. 
"  A  Poem  on  Lavenham  Church,"  is  attributed  to  her  pen  ;  also  a 
work,  entitled  "  Effusion  of  Genius."  She  died  in  1821.  Her  fa- 
ther was  post-master  of  Lavenham  for  upwards  of  fifty  years. 

CHARITIES — A  Grammar- School  appears  to  have  existed  here  at 
an  early  period,  but  we  have  met  with  no  traces  of  its  original  insti- 
tution. The  most  ancient  endowment  of  the  school  consists  of  an 
annuity,  or  yearly  rent  charge,  of  £5,  given  by  the  will  of  Richard 
Peacock,  in  1047.  In  or  about  1G99,  the  school  premises  were 
purchased,  which  consist  of  a  dwelling-house  for  the  master,  a  school 
room  attached,  a  stable,  garden,  and  some  small  pieces  of  ground, 
the  whole  being  in  extent  about  one  acre  and  half.  The  only  other 
endowment  is  an  annuity  of  £16,  issuing  out  of  the  manor  of  Greys, 
in  Great  Cornard,  and  Newton,  in  this  county. — The  old  town  lands 
were  partly  settled  and  appropriated  for  the  charitable  relief,  help, 
and  maintenance  of  the  poor  of  Lavenham,  and  for  repairing,  amend- 
ing, and  sustaining  the  almshouses  of  the  town ;  and  part  thereof 
was  devised,  by  William  Lummas,  in  1573,  for  the  use  and  profit 
of  the  poor  people  of  Lavenham.  The  aggregate  annual  rents 
amount  to  about  £186  ;  which  are  applied  in  repairing  and  main- 
taining the  almshouses,  in  the  purchase  of  hempen  cloth  for  shirts, 
&c. ;  the  expense  thereof  being  usually  about  £80  a  year ;  and  in 
occasional  donations  of  money  to  poor  persons  in  distress. — There 
are  also  sundry  cottages  in  Lavenham,  which  are  under  the  order  of 
trustees,  as  part  of  the  trust  estate;  and  are  repaired  out  of  the 
income  of  the  lands. — The  Rev.  Henry  Copinger,  devised  in  1621, 
to  four  of  the  most  aged,  needy,  and  impotent  people  in  this  town, 
certain  property,  which  now  produces  a  rent  of  £25  10s.  a  year; 
and  the  same  is  divided  equally  between  four  poor  aged  persons,  as 
life  pensioners. — Isaac  Creme,  by  will,  dated  in  1655,  devised  certain 
property  here,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor ;  the  rents  of  which  amount 
to  about  £60  per  annum. — In  1806,  Henry  Steward  gave  £2,000 
Stock  ;  the  dividends,  £53  1 7s.  6d.  a  year,  are  paid  in  support  of 
two  national  schools. — Here  are  divers  other  minor  charities ;  for 
a  more  particular  account  of  which,  consult  Mr.  Hugh  M'Keon's 
"  Inquiry  into  the  Rights  of  the  Poor  of  the  Parish  of  Lavenham." 
8vo.  1829. 


948  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

LAWSHALL,  or  LAWESSELAM. 

This  lordship  and  advowson  anciently  belonged  to  the  Abbot  and 
Convent  of  Ramsey,  in  Huntingdonshire,  of  the  grant  of  Alfwinus, 
the  son  of  Bricius,  in  the  year  1022;  and  so  continued  until  the 
dissolution  of  that  Monastery ;  when  it  was  granted,  with  the  bene- 
fice, to  John  Hither,  Esq. 

In  1734,  they  were  vested  in  Thomas  Lee,  Esq. ;  to  whom  suc- 
ceeded Baptist  Lee,  Esq.,  of  Livermere  Parva  ;  who  deceased  in 
1768,  and  devised  the  same  to  his  nephew,  Nathaniel  Lee  Acton, 
Esq.,  who  died  in  1836,  seized  thereof;  when  it  passed  to  his  eldest 
sister  and  heiress,  who  survived  but  a  few  months  ;  and  it  became 
the  inheritance  of  his  next  sister,  Harriet,  Lady  Middleton,  relict  of 
Sir  William  Fowle  Middleton,  Bart.,  late  of  Shrubland  Park,  in  this 
county ;  who  is  now  proprietor  of  the  manor,  and  patroness  of  the 
living. 

From  the  armorial  bearings  of  Mr.  Lee,  it  would  appear  he  was 
a  descendant  of  the  Lees,  of  London,  and  Bilsley,  in  Warwickshire; 
a  member  of  which  family,  Sir  Robert  Lee,  Knt.,  Merchant  Taylor, 
was  Mayor  of  London,  in  the  44th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  bore 
the  same  arms.  He  deceased  in  1605,  and  was  buried  in  St.  An- 
drew's Undershaft,  in  that  city. 

The  Hanningfields  were  formerly  interested  here.  Anne,  daugh- 
ter and  co-heir  of  William  Hanningfield,  of  Hanningfield  Hall,  in 
Lawshall,  was  the  third  wife  of  Roger  Drury,  Esq.,  of  Hawsted  ; 
who  deceased  in  1500,  and  was  buried  there.  Hanuingfield  farm, 
in  this  parish,  now  belongs  to  the  dowager  Lady  Middleton. 

Ambrose  Brinkley,  Esq.,  resided  in  this  parish,  and  married  Ju- 
dith, surviving  heir  of  Thomas  Burlz,  of  Depden,  Gent.,  who  died 
in  1741,  and  is  buried  at  Lawshall.  Ambrose  Kedington,  Esq.,  of 
Acton,  married  Judith,  their  daughter.  Some  members  of  the  Burlz 
family  are  also  buried  in  this  church-yard.  Nathaniel  Colville, 
D.D.,  is  rector  of  this  parish,  and  resides  here;  he  is  an  active  Ma- 
gistrate for  the  county,  and  Chairman  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  for 
the  Bury  Division. 

A  Roman  entrenchment,  that  crosses  the  turnpike  road  from  Bury 
to  Sudbury,  by  the  7th  mile  stone,  extends  into  this  parish,  and  that 
of  Cockfield. adjoining;  and  is  one  of  the  many  places  fixed  upon 
as  the  "  Combretonium"  of  that  ancient  race. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  949 

CHARITIES. — The  parish  estate  has  been  vested  in  trustees,  from 
an  early  period,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  and  repair  of  the  high- 
ways. It  comprises  about  1 1  acres  of  land,  and  a  cottage,  let  for 
4;  15  Us.  per  annum,  altogether.  About  8  acres  of  the  land  is  in 
the  parish  of  Shimpling. — In  1628,  Thomas  Stevens  devised  40s.  a 
year  for  the  poor,  and  6s.  8d.  a  year  for  the  minister  of  this  parish, 
out  of  an  estate  at  Edwardston  ;  the  poor  also  receive  about  £2  per 
annum  from  Corder's  charity.  The  income  arising  from  these 
sources,  is  expended  in  providing  articles  of  clothing  for  the  Sunday 
school  children,  and  in  coals  for  the  poor. — A  school  room  was 
erected,  about  1820,  by  Mrs.  Barriugton  Purvis,  upon  a  piece  of 
land  near  the  parish  church,  but  it  appears  uncertain  whether  it  was 
part  of  the  parish  estate. 


MELFOED,  or  MELAFOKDA. 

This  is  the  largest  village  in  extent  and  population  in  this  county  ; 
consisting  principally  of  one  street,  about  a  mile  in  length,  hence 
called  Long  Melford.  It  contains  three  good  mansions,  the  seats 
of  families  of  distinction  and  eminence,  for  many  successive  gene- 
rations. 

Melford  Hall  is  situate  on  the  east  side  of  the  village  green,  and 
is  an  ancient,  spacious,  brick  building,  in  the  style  of  the  Elizabethan 
age,  with  four  small  round  towers  in  front,  surrounded  by  a  park, 
well  stocked  with  deer.  It  was  formerly  one  of  the  country  resi- 
dences of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  ;  and  after  the  suppression  of 
that  Monastery,  was  granted,  with  the  manor,  and  advowson  of  the 
church,  to  Sir  William  Cordell,  Knt.,  in  the  37th  of  Henry  VIII. 

The  ancient  family  of  Cordell  were  seated  for  a  considerable  period 
in  this  county ;  and  Sir  William  attained  great  eminence  as  a  lawyer, 
filling  the  important  office  of  Master  of  the  Kolls,  in  the  time  of 
Queen  Elizabeth.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  and  heir  of  Eichard 
Clopton,  Esq.,  but  died  without  issue,  in  the  23rd  of  the  above 
reign :  his  estates  devolved  on  his  sister,  the  wife  of  Eichard  Aling- 
ton,  Esq  ;  and  by  the  marriage  of  their  only  child,  Mary,  were 
conveyed  to  Sir  John  Savage  ;  whose  son  was  raised  to  the  peerage, 
by  the  title  of  Viscount  Colchester ;  and  John,  his  son,  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  dignity  of  Earl  Eivers. 


950  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

In  the  time  of  Charles  L,  Melford  Hall  was  the  estate  of  Mary, 
widow  of  the  third  Earl  Rivers,  who  suffered  greatly  by  plunder, 
during  the  civil  war;  and  this  estate  lay  in  mortgage  to  Sir  John 
Cordell,  made  to  him  by  the  first  Earl  Rivers.  It  was  afterwards 
sold  to  Sir  Robert  Cordell;  who  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1660, 
and  made  this  place  his  seat.  Sir  John,  his  grandson,  died  without 
issue,  in  1704;  when  the  Baronetcy  became  extinct.  His  sisters, 
Elizabeth  and  Margaret,  became  his  co-heirs. 

The  former  married  Thomas  King,  Esq.,  of  Great  Thurlow,  who 
was  killed  in  a  duel,  in  1698  ;  Elizabeth,  his  relict,  died  without 
issue,  in  1706,  when  Margaret  became  sole  heir  to  her  brother's  es- 
tate. She  married  to  Charles  Firebrace,  Esq.,  eldest  son  of  Sir 
Basil  Firebrace,  Bart.,  who  inherited  in  her  right,  and  deceased  in 
1727  ;  when  Sir  Cordell  Firebrace,  Bart.,  their  only  son,  M.P.  for 
this  county,  in  the  time  of  George  II.,  succeeded  ;  who  died  without 
issue,  in  1759,  when  the  Baronetcy  became  extinct;  and  the  estates 
passed  to  the  Earl  of  Denbigh,  son  of  Hester,  his  sister,  and  wife 
^>f  Basil  Fielding,  4th  Earl  of  Denbigh. 

Melford  Hall  about  thisv  period  became  the  estate  of  the  Parker 
family,  by  purchase  ;  and  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  Bart.,  who  succeeded 
jupon  the  decase  of  Sir  William,  his  brother,  in  1830,  is  the  present 
(proprietor,  and  lord  of  this  manor ;  who  lately  represented  West 
;  Suffolk  in  Parliament.  Sir  Hyde  is  the  8th  Baronet  of  his  house; 
|  and  resides  chiefly  at  his  seat  in  this  parish. 

Kentwell  Hall,  in  Melford,  stands  a  little  to  the  north  of  the 
church,  in  a  well  wooded  park.  It  was  formerly,  and  for  many  ages, 
the  seat  of  the  Cloptons  ;  a  family  who  took  their  name  from  a  vil- 
lage in  this  county.  In  the  43rd  of  Henry  III.,  William  de  Clopton 
held  property  in  Wickhambrook ;  and  his  grandson,  Sir  Thomas, 
acquired  the  manor  of  Kentwell,  by  marriage  with  Catherine,  daugh- 
ter and  heiress  of  William  Mylde ;  who  deceased  in  the  48th  of  the 
above  reign. 

Their  descendants  continued  to  reside  at  Kentwell,  until  the  de- 
cease of  Sir  William  Clopton,  Knt. ;  who,  by  Anne  his  first  wife, 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Barnardiston,  of  Clare,  left  a  daughter  and 
sole  heir,  Anne,  the  wife  of  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,  who  inherited  the 
same  in  her  right ;  whose  only  surviving  child,  Sissilia,  married  Sir 
Thomas  Darcy,  Bart.,  of  St.  Osith,  in  Essex.  She  deceased  in 
1661,  and  left  no  surviving  issue. 

It  subsequently  became  the  property  of  Sir  Thomas  Robinson, 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  951 

Knt.,  Prothonotary  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas ;  who  was  created 
a  Baronet  by  King  Charles  II.,  in  1681-2;  and  his  grandson,  Sir 
Thomas,  early  in  the  last  century,  sold  this  estate  to  John  Moore  ; 
whose  descendant,  Richard  Moore,  Esq.,  died  seized  thereof;  and 
it  was  soon  afterwards  purchased  by  Robert  Hart  Logan,  Esq.,  who 
was  High  Sheriff  for  this  county  in  1828,  and  elected  a  representative 
in  Parliament  for  the  western  division  of  the  same  county,  in  1837. 
He  deceased  April  13,  1838  ;  and  this  estate  was  soon  afterwards 
purchased  by  the  trustees  of  the  present  proprietor,  Edward  Sarkie 
Bence,  Esq.,  then  a  minor,  who  now  resides  here. 

At  the  south  end  of  the  town  the  family  of  Martin  were  seated, 
in  a  good  old  mansion,  now  much  reduced  in  extent,  and  called 
Melford  Place.  This  very  ancient  and  Knightly  family  became  set- 
tled here  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II. ;  where,  in  1438,  Richard  Martin 
died,  leaving  a  son,  Lawrence ;  who  purchased  lands,  in  1449,  of 
William,  then  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  and  exchanged  others.  He 
died  in  1460,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church;  to  the  erection 
of  a  portion  of  which  he  was  a  liberal  benefactor. 

The  great- great-grandson  of  this  Lawrence,  Roger  Martin,  Esq., 
was  so  remarkable  for  benevolence,  that  when  advanced  in  years, 
and  not  able  to  go  far  from  home,  he  contrived  a  whistle  at  the 
end  of  his  cane  to  collect  the  poor  around  him.  In  the  14th  of 
Henry  VIII.,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Commissioners  for  levying 
the  subsidy  granted  to  that  King;  having  previously  been  called  to 
the  bar,  and  chosen  a  Bencher  of  Lincoln's  Inn.  In  the  reign  of 
Queen  Mary,  upon  being  offered  the  Secretaryship  of  State,  he  re- 
plied, that  for  himself  he  was  highly  satisfied  with  the  sufficiency 
God  had  bestowed  upon  him ;  and  as  for  his  son,  he  would  inherit 
a  competency,  sufficient,  if  he  proved  an  honest  man,  but  if  he  be- 
came otherwise,  far  too  much.  This  excellent  person  reached  nearly 
his  hundredth  year. 

From  him  lineally  descended  Roger  Martin,  Esq.,  who  was  created 
a  Baronet  in  1667;  and  Roger,  his  nephew,  a  son  of  his  brother 
Lawrence,  was  Sheriff  of  London  in  1559,  and  Mayor  of  that  city 
in  1567.  In  1764,  Sir  Roger  Martin,  Bart.,  was  a  resident  here; 
whose  son,  Sir  Mordaunt,  appears  to  have  alienated  this  property, 
and  removed  to  Burnham  Westgate,  in  Norfolk  ;  where  he  died  in 
1815.  Sir  Roger,  his  son,  the  present  and  fifth  Baronet  of  this 
house,  is  senior  Merchant  and  second  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeal, 
at  Moorshedabad,  on  the  Bengal  establishment.  Melford  Place 


952  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

was  not  long  since  the  property  of  the  Spaldings,  and  now  belongs 
to  Charles  Westropp,  Esq.,  who  resides  there. 

The  church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,*  situate  on  the  Green,  at  the 
north  end  of  the  village,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  many 
fine  churches  in  this  county  ;  and  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  the  ar- 
chitecture of  the  fifteenth  century. 

This  fine  edifice  is  supposed  to  have  been  erected  towards  the  latter 
part  of  the  15th  century,  and  particular  individuals,  or  families, 
built  certain  portions,  as  recorded  by  inscriptions  on  the  parapets. 
These  inscriptions  are  accurately  given  by  an  Architectural  Anti- 
quary, from  copies  taken  in  1821,  and  inserted  in  the  "  Gentleman's 
Magazine"  for  1833,  part  ii.,  p.  114 ;  who  observes,  that  "  these  are 
the  best  ornaments  on  the  exterior  of  Melford  church.  The  extent 
and  proportions  of  the  building  are  magnificent.  The  windows  are 
crowded  and  very  handsome,  and  the  spaces  over  and  between  them 
have  not  escaped  enrichment ;  but  the  taste  and  talent  of  the  sculptor 
are  not  seen  to  advantage  in  any  part  of  this  superb  edifice." 

The  rectory,  the  residence  of  Edward  Cobbold,  A.M.,  the  present 
incumbent,  was  re-erected  by  him,  on  the  site  of  an  old  and  dilapi- 
dated one,  and  is  pleasantly  situated  on  an  eminence,  near  the  church, 
commanding  an  extensive  view  beyond  the  village,  of  the  hills  of 
Ballingdon,  and  the  adjacent  country,  on  the  borders  of  Essex. 
John  Cobbold,  Esq.,  is  now  patron  of  the  benefice.  Alan  de  Ely 
was  instituted  to  this  benefice,  and  resigned  Blickling,  in  Norfolk, 
to  which  he  appears  to  have  been  twice  instituted,  in  1301  and  1311, 
by  John  Salmon,  alias  Ely,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  and  Prior  of  Ely, 
his  brother.  Alan,  in  1308,  was  collated  to  the  Archdeaconry  of 
Sudbury,  and  in  1324,  to  that  of  Suffolk. 

John  Eeeve,  alias  Melford,  was  a  native  of  this  place,  and  was 
elected  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  in  Bury,  in  1514  ;  being  the  last 
who  presided  over  that  richly  endowed  Monastery.  Of  his  life  but 

*  This  fine  structure  is  well  illustrated  in  Vol.  ii.  of  "  Neale's  Views  of  Churches," 
by  six  fine  plates.  Mr.  Neale  has  given  a  good  account  of  the  same  ;  which  he  was 
enabled  to  do  by  the  kindness  of  the  Rev.  W.  T.  Spurdens,  who  communicated 
some  interesting  M.S.  collections.  The  first  is  a  minute  account  of  the  church, 
and  beautifully  painted  glass,  written  by  a  former  rector,  in  1688;  and  the  second 
is  a  curious  M.S.,  by  Roger  Martin,  Esq.,  written  about  the  time  of  the  reformation, 
giving  very  interesting  particulars  of  the  religious  ceremonies  observed  here.  Also 
one  of  the  most  curious  lists  of  ancient  church  furniture  and  utensils,  ever  made 
public.  These  were  reprinted  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1830,  part  ii. 
p.p.  206,  and  352.  An  interesting  communication  from  Richard  Almack,  Esq., 
concerning  this  church,  is  also  inserted  in  the  same  volume,  p.  204. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  953 

few  particulars  are  recorded.  lu  1522,  a  commission  was  directed 
to  him,  to  ascertain  the  bounds  of  Ipswich,  a  jury  impanneled,  and 
their  return  filed  in  Chancery.  At  the  grand  funeral  solemnity  of 
Abbot  Islip,  at  Westminster,  in  1 532,  he  was  the  principal  assistant. 
On  Nov.  4th,  1539,  he  was  compelled  to  surrender  his  splendid 
Monastery  into  the  hands  of  Henry  VIII. :  an  annual  pension  of 
500  marks  was  assigned  him,  and  he  retired  to  a  private  station. 
He  appears,  however,  to  have  fallen  a  victim  to  the  severity  of  the 
change,  having  survived  only  four  months.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  the  centre  of  the  chancel  of  St.  Mary's  church,  in  St.  Ed- 
mund's Bury. 

Sir  John  Milborne,  draper,  son  of  John  Milborne,  of  this  parish, 
was  Mayor  of  London  in  1521,  the  13th  of  Henry  VIII.  He  was 
founder  of  fourteen  almshouses  by  the  Crossed  Friars'  church  ;  in 
which  church  he  was  first  buried,  and  afterwards  removed  to  St. 
Edmund,  in  Lombard  street.  Kirby  states  that  James  Johnson, 
Bishop  of  Worcester,  was  son  of  a  rector  here,  and  born  at  Melford. 

ARMS. — Cordell :  gules ;  a  chevron,  ermine,  between  three  griffins' 
heads  erased,  argent.  Firebrace :  azure ;  on  a  bend,  or,  three 
crescents,  sable,  between  two  roses,  argent,  seeded,  or,  bearded,  vert. 
Parker:  (seep.  170.)  Clopton:  sable;  a  bend,  argent,  between 
two  cottises  dancette,  or;  an  ermine  spot  in  chief,  of  the  bend. 
Robinson:  (see  p.  371.)  Martin:  argent;  a  chevron,  between 
three  mascles,  sable,  within  a  bordure  engrailed,  gules. 

CHARITIES. — Trinity  Hospital,  in  this  parish,  was  founded  by  Sir 
William  Cordell,  Knt.,  Master  of  the  Rolls,  by  will,  dated  1st 
January,  1580,  and  by  letters  patent,  obtained  in  pursuance  thereof, 
in  the  33rd  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  The  charity  at  present  consists  of 
a  warden,  and  12  brethren,  and  two  sisters  to  attend  upon  them. 
The  warden  is  supplied  with  a  gown  and  suit  of  black  cloth,  and 
two  pair  of  shoes  yearly ;  and  each  one  of  the  brethren  has  a  suit 
of  black  cloth,  and  two  pair  of  shoes  yearly,  and  a  gown  every  al- 
ternate year.  There  is  a  common  hall  wherein  they  dine,  and  to 
each  brother  is  allowed  lib.  of  meat,  1  quart  of  beer,  and  an  allow- 
ance of  bread,  daily.  The  warden  is  allowed  double  commons,  but 
receives  compensation  instead  thereof  in  money.  The  two  sisters 
have  a  similar  allowance  of  provision,  but  are  not  supplied  with  any 
kind  of  clothing  from  the  funds  of  the  charity,  nor  do  they  dine 
at  the  same  table  with  the  warden  and  brethren.  The  will  directs 
that  each  brother  shall  receive  20s.  by  equal  quarterly  payments, 


954  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

the  wardens  40s.,  and  each  sister  40s. ;  but  these  payments  have 
been  increased.  The  Hospital  consists  of  a  quadrangle,  and  is  di- 
vided, so  far  as  regards  three  sides,  into  12  separate  lodgments,  for 
the  12  brethren,  who  have  each  a  keeping-room  and  bed-chamber; 
the  fourth  side  contains  the  common  hull,  the  warden's  apartments, 
and  accommodation  for  the  two  sisters,  together  with  kitchen,  brew- 
house,  &c.  The  whole  is  kept  in  excellent  repair  ;  and  the  income 
of  the  charity  is  applied  in  maintaining  and  clothing  the  inmates. 
The  total  expenditure  averages  upwards  of  £800  per  annum. — Here 
are  also  several  ancient  doles,  amounting  to  about  £13  or  £14  a 
year  ;  which  are  distributed  annually  among  poor  persons  belonging 
to  the  parish. — The  church  and  poors'  estate  comprises  a  cottage, 
barn,  and  about  18  acres  of  land  ;  rent  £33  a  year.  This  property 
appears  to  have  been  given  by  the  will  of  William  Skeyne,  in  1518. 
— John  Hill  devised,  in  1495,  the  white-rents  (or  quit-rents)  and 
woods  belonging  to  the  manor  of  Bower  Hall,  in  the  parish  of  Pent- 
low,  in  Essex,  to  be  disposed  of  among  the  poor  people  in  Melford; 
rent  altogether  about  £12  a  year  :  these,  with  a  yearly  pension  of 
£2  8s.  Id.,  payable  out  of  the  Exchequer,  under  a  grant  from  King 
Edward  VI.,  to  the  support  of  a  free  school  here,  are  paid  to  the 
parish  schoolmaster,  for  teaching  12  poor  boys  ;  and  in  1713,  John 
Moore  bequeathed  £300,  the  interest  to  be  employed  for  the  pay- 
ment of  a  schoolmistress,  to  teach  1 0  poor  boys,  and  the  like  num- 
ber of  girls. 


MILDEN. — MILDING,  or  MELLINGA. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes  this  lordship  to  have 
been  anciently  vested  in  Eemigius  de  Milding,  who  was  riving  in 
1290  ;  and  it  subsequently  passed  to  the  Alyngton  family,  long 
seated  at  Horseheath,  in  Cambridgeshire  ;  from  whom  it  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Canhams ;  and  in  1764,  was  vested  in  John  Canham, 
Esq.,  who  was  seated  at  the  Hall,  now  a  farm  house  ;  the  estate  at 
present  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Powney. 

In  the  17th  of  Richard  II.,  Sir  John  de  Sutton  died  seized  of  a 
lordship  in  this  parish,  and  Sir  Richard  de  Sutton  was  found  to  be 
his  brother  and  heir ;  the  same  it  is  supposed  that  afterwards  became 
the  inheritance  of  a  branch  of  the  Hobart  family,  formerly  seated 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  955 

at  Monks-Illeigh,  and  Loyham,  in  this  county.  In  the  20th  of 
Henry  VIII.,  Henry,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Walter  Hobart,  Knt.,  by 
Anne  his  first  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Heydon,  Knt.,  held  a 
manor  here,  and  was  patron  of  the  benefice.  John  Gurdon,  Esq., 
of  Assington,  is  now  patron. 

Wells  Hall,  in  this  parish,  Mr.  Kirby  states  belonged  to  the 
Shoreland  family ;  of  whose  heirs  it  was  purchased  by  Paul  D'Ewes, 
Esq. ;  and  was  subsequently  sold  to  the  Colmans,  of  Brent-Illeigh ; 
and  passed  with  that  estate,  to  Edward  Goate,  Esq.  The  principal 
owners  in  this  parish  have  now  the  manorial  rights  of  their  own 
estates. 

CHARITIES. — There  are  three  cottages  in  the  parish  of  Monks- 
Illeigh,  appropriated  to  the  poor  of  this  parish ;  which  are  let  at 
£&  2s.  a  year,  but  no  rent  has  lately  been  obtained. — The  yearly 
sum  of  £l,  given  by  one  Canham,  is  paid  as  a  rent  charge  out  of  a 
cottage  and  small  piece  of  land,  the  property  of  the  Rev.  Henry 
Powney,  and  given  among  poor  persons.— In  1 700,  the  Rev.  William 
Birkett  devised  the  rent  of  two  cottages  and  an  orchard ;  these 
premises  are  let  at  £5  2s.  a  year,  and  the  rents  are  applied  towards 
the  support  of  a  day  school. — The  sum  of  £GQ,  formerly  given  by 
Thomas  Cauham,  for  the  poor,  was  lost  many  years  since,  by  the 
insolvency  of  a  person  in  whose  hands  it  was  placed. 


MONKS-ILLEIGH,  or  ILLELEIA. 

Brithnoth,  Earl  of  Essex,  who  was  killed  by  the  Danes  at  the 
battle  of  Maiden,  in  991,  gave  this  manor  and  advowson  to  the 
monks  of  St.  Peter,  in  Canterbury,  hence  called  Monks-Illeigh.  It 
remains  a  peculiar  of  that  see  ;  the  Archbishop  is  patron  of  the  be- 
nefice, and  the  manor  belongs  to  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  that 
Cathedral. 

The  Hobart  family  were  formerly  seated  at  the  Tye,  in  Essex. 
Thomas  Hobart,  of  that  place,  married  Eleanor,  daughter  and  heiress 
of  John  Tayler,  alias  Amfrey,  and  deceased  in  1450  ;  leaving  three 
sons :  namely,  William,  who  purchased  and  settled  in  this  parish, 
and  was  owner  of  a  good  estate  here  in  1473. 

Thomas,  another  son,  removed  to  Leyham,  in  this  county ;  which 
estate  he  devised  to  William,  his  eldest  son ;  who  married  Anne, 


956  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

daughter  of  Sir  Philip  Tilney ;  from  whom  the  Hobarts  of  Monks- 
Illeigh,  and  afterwards  of  Lindsey,  and  those  of  Milding,  and  others 
who  settled  in  London,  are  descended. 

James  Hobart,  the  younger  son  of  the  said  Thomas  and  Eleanor 
his  wife,  was  a  native  of  this  parish,  and  was  the  first  of  the  family 
that  settled  in  Norfolk ;  whom  Fuller  describes  as  "  a  right  good 
man,  of  great  learning  and  wisdom."  He  was  bred  to  the  profession 
of  the  law,  which  he  studied  in  Lincoln's  Inn,  with  eminent  success; 
being  reader  there  in  1447.  In  1484,  he  was  elected  one  of  the 
Governors  of  Lincoln's  Inn ;  in  1486,  was  constituted  Attorney- 
General  ;  and  afterwards  sworn  of  the  Privy  Council  of  King  Henry 
VII.  In  1496,  he  was  elected  Kecorder  of  Norwich,  and  burgess 
in  Parliament,  about  the  same  period,  for  that  city  ;  and  in  1508, 
was  made  a  Knight.  Sir  James  lived  to  a  very  advanced  age,  and 
truly  merited  the  character  given  him  by  the  learned  Camden  ;  that 
he  deserved  well  of  the  church,  the  country,  and  the  commonweal. 
He  resided  at  Hales  Hall,  at  Loddon,  in  Norfolk ;  and  was  buried 
in  Norwich  Cathedral. 

Thomas  Ely,  a  Carmelite  friar  of  Ipswich,  and  a  great  proficient 
in  learning,  at  Cambridge,  was  also  a  native  of  this  parish.  He 
removed  to  Bruges,  in  Flanders,  and  their  opened  a  seminary  for 
lectures  and  disputations ;  which  he  continued  till  his  decease,  about 
the  year  1320. 

Dr.  Robert  Cottesford,  rector  of  this  parish  and  Hadleigh,  suffered 
much  by  sequestration,  for  his  adherence  to  the  canons  and  constitution 
of  the  established  church,  during  the  period  of  the  commonwealth. 

CHARITIES. — The  sums  of  £10,  given  by  Frances  Causton,  and 
£20  given  by  the  Rev.  William  Moore,  for  bread  for  the  poor,  were 
laid  out  towards  the  purchase  of  land  in  Lavenham,  called  Butt 
Field,  containing  about  2%  acres;  rent  ^£4  10s.  a  year:  expended 
in  bread. — Here  are  also  two  cottages  occupied  by  poor  persons  rent 
free. — A  piece  of  laud,  containing  about  2£  acres,  understood  to 
have  been  anciently  appropriated  to  the  repairs  of  the  parish  clock, 
is  let  at  present  at  £6  15s.  a  year,  and  the  rent  is  carried  to  the 
churchwardens'  account. 


NEWTQN,  or  NIWETONA. 
The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes  this  lordship  to  have 


HUNDRED  OF  IJABERGH.  957 

been  anciently  vested  in  William  de  Butvillein ;  probably  Newton 
Hall  manor,  which  now  belongs  to  Earl  Howe ;  and  Buxton's  a 
freehold  farm  to  which  a  manor  was  formerly  attached,  is.  the  pro- 
perty of  the  Kev.  Henry  Thomas  Causton,of  Highgate.in  Middlesex. 

Saxham  (Sayham,  or  Siam)  Hall,  in  this  parish,  was  for  many 
ages  the  estate  and  residence  of  the  Alstons,  a  family  upon  record 
so  early  as  the  time  of  Edward  I. ;  when  Willam  Alston,  of  Stisted, 
in  Essex,  for  want  of  warranty  of  Brockscroft,  in  Stisted,  granted 
and  confirmed  to  John  de  Carpenter,  of  Naylinghurst,  in  Braintree, 
so  much  of  the  better  land  in  Stisted  except  his  mansion  house  there. 

John  Alston,  of  Newton,  descended  from  the  above  mentioned 
William,  of  Stisted,  and  was  father  of  William  Alston,  of  Newton ; 
who  by  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Symons,  had  a  son  and 
heir,  Edward  (or  Edmund)  Alston,  of  Saxham  Hall,  in  Newton ; 
who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Coleman,  and  had  two 
sons  :  William,  his  heir ;  and  Thomas,  of  Edwardston. 

William,  the  elder  son  and  heir,  was  born  at  Newton,  in  1537, 

and  married  Mary,  daughter  and  co-heir  of Holmsted,  Esq., 

of  Maplested,  in  Essex ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  several  children, 
whose  descendants  became  settled  at  Marlesford,  Polstead,  Laven- 
ham,  and  various  other  places  in  this  and  adjoining  counties. 
Thomas  Alston,  baptized  at  Newton  in  1713,  buried  there  in  1785, 
appears  to  be  the  last  of  the  family  who  resided  herer 

Edward,  his  sou,  married  Frances,  daughter  and  heir  of  Daniel 
Constable,  of  Manningtree,  in  Essex,  and  became  settled  there ; 
whose  son,  Edward  Daniel  Alston,  Esq.,  lately  deceased  at  Palgrave, 
in  this  county.  The  Eev.  Edward  Constable  Alston,  of  Cransford 
Hall  and  vicar  of  that  parish,  his  only  son,  is  the  present  represen- 
tative of  this  branch  of  the  family.  Siam  Hall  is  now  the  estate  of 
Thomas  Layzell  Tiffen,  Esq.,  who  resides  there ;  but  the  Alstons 
still  retain  property  in  this  parish. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  was  formerly  in  the  patronage 
of  the  Alston  family,  but  now  of  St.  Peter's  College,  Cambridge. 
A  late  rector,  George  Borlase,  B.D.,  was  Casuistical  Professor,  and 
Kegistrar  of  that  University,  and  for  many  years  Fellow  and  Tutor 
of  the  said  College.  He  was  son  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  William  Borlase, 
author  of  "  The  Natural  History  of  Cornwall,"  &c. ;  and  deceased 
Nov.  5,  1809.  Charles  Smith,  B.D.,  is  the  present  incumbent. 

CHARITIES. — The  rent  charge  doles  here,  amounting  to  ^61  16s. 
8d.,  the  gifts  of  William  Alston,  in  1564,  Edward  Alston,  in  1591, 


958  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

Kobert  Plampin,  in  1603,  and  John  Plampin,  in  1618,  are  collected 
once  in  seven  years,  and  then  distributed  in  money  among  poor 
persons  of  the  parish,  by  the  minister  and  parish  officers. 


NEYLAND. 

This  lordship  was  included  in  the  grant  made  by  Henry  III.,  to 
Hubert  de  Burgh,  when  he  created  him  Earl  of  Kent ;  but  after- 
wards falling  into  disgrace  with  that  Monarch,  he  was  obliged  to 
part  with  several  of  his  castles  and  lands,  to  secure  the  quiet  enjoy- 
ment of  the  residue.  In  1339,  Jeffrey  le  Scroop  held  the  same,  of 
the  lordship  of  Cawston,  in  Norfolk,  by  the  service  of  one  rose  a 
year ;  and  Sir  Henry  le  Scroop,  Knt.,  his  son,  held  it  after  him,  in 
1392,  by  the  same  service. 

This  town  had  formerly  a  weekly  market  on  Fridays,  and  a  flou- 
rishing woollen  manufacture,  but  both  are  now  lost.  It  also  gave  a 
title  of  honour  to  Sir  Kichard,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Jerome  Weston, 
of  Eoxwell,  in  Essex,  and  lord  of  this  manor ;  who  having  been 
employed  in  various  embassies,  and  discharged  several  offices  of 
trust  with  integrity,  in  the  reign  of  James  I.,  and  his  successor,  was 
by  the  latter  advanced  to  the  Peerage,  by  the  title  of  Baron  Weston, 
of  Neyland. 

He  was  presently  afterwards  constituted  Lord  Treasurer  of  Eng- 
land, and  appointed  a  Knight  of  the  Garter;  and  in  the  8th  of 
Charles  I.,  was  created  Earl  of  Portland  :  these  honours  were  en- 
joyed for  some  successions  by  his  descendants,  but  upon  the  decease 
of  the  fourth  Earl  of  Portland  without  issue,  in  1688,  they  became 
extinct  in  this  family. 

They  held  the  lordship  of  this  town,  and  the  patronage  of  the 
benefice,  which  is  a  perpetual  curacy ;  which  are  now  both  vested 
in  Sir  Joshua  Bicketts  Rowley,  of  Tendring  Hall,  Bart. ;  and  the 
impropriator  is  Patrick  Power  Mannock,  of  Gilford's  Hall,  Esq. 
The  church,  situated  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  is  its  chief  ornament, 
but  contains  nothing  remarkable,  except  a  few  ancient  monuments 
for  persons  formerly  eminent  here  as  clothiers,  and  some  modern 
tablets ;  one  of  which  is  in  memory  of  the  Rev.  William  Jones,  A.M., 
author  of  the  "  Catholic  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity,"  and  perpetual 
curate  here.  The  present  incumbent  is  William  Erratt  Sims,  A.M., 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  959 

of  West  Bergholt,  in  Essex.  In  1834,  the  spire  steeple  being  greatly 
decayed  was  removed,  and  the  present  tower  erected. 

ARMS.— JFijs/ow,  Earl  of  Portland  :  or;  an  eagle  regardant  and 
displayed,  sable. 

CHARITIES. — In  pursuance  of  a  decree  of  the  Court  of  Chancery, 
for  regulating  and  determining  the  management  and  administration 
of  the  income  of  certain  estates  and  funds  held  for  charitable  pur- 
poses, in  this  parish,  under  ancient  deeds  and  subsequent  convey- 
ances to  trustees ;  disposed  of  in  the  manner  proposed  in  a  scheme 
approved  by  one  of  the  Masters  of  the  Court  of  Chancery.  This 
income,  arising  from  different  sources,  amounts  to  about  £160  per 
annum,  besides  stock  in  the  funds,  arising  from  the  sale  of  property, 
is  appropriated  to  charitable  uses. — The  sum  of  £2  10s.  is  received 
yearly,  under  the  will  of  Thomas  Love,  dated  in  1564,  from  an  es- 
tate situate  between  Lexdeh  and  Colchester,  in  Essex ;  which  is 
laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  bread,  and  distributed  yearly  on  Shrove 
Tuesday;  and  £2  10s.  a  year,  the  gift  of  Abraham  Caley,  is  also 
distributed  in  bread  to  the  poor,  on  the  5th  November. 


POLSTEAD,  or  POLESTEDA. 

Hugh  de  Polstede  was  anciently  concerned  here ;  upon  whose 
death,  in  the  15th  of  Henry  III.,  it  became  divided  between  his 
three  daughters  and  co-heirs :  Hawise,  Petronella,  and  liohesia ; 
for  in  the  next  year,  the  two  latter  had  a  right  of  patronage  to  this 
parish  church. 

Hawise,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  Thomas  de  Lambourn  ;  who 
resigned  his  right  in  the  manor  of  Polstede  Hall,  in  Burnham  West- 
gate,  in  Norfolk,  for  that  of  Polstede,  in  Suffolk  ;  and  in  the  43rd 
of  Edward  III.,  William  de  Cheyne,  who  married  Joan,  sister  and 
heir  of  William  de  Lambourn,  held  the  said  manor. 

Petronella  married  Edmund  de  Kemesek ;  and  by  deed,  dated 
the  1st  of  Edward  II.,  she  conveyed  her  portion  or  right  in  this 
lordship,  to  Sir  James  Lambourn  (son  of  the  above  Thomas  and 
Hawise),  and  Mary  his  wife.  Rohesia  de  Polstede,  married  Kobert 
le  Moyne,  and  had  an  only  daughter  and  heir,  Emma ;  who  mar- 
ried Sir  Ralph  d.e  Hemenhale ;  and  in  the  time  of  Richard  II., 
Richard  de  Hemenhale  died  seized  of  the  lordship  of  Polsted  Hall. 


900  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

The  ancient  house  of  Geddyng  were  formerly  resident  in  this 
place ;  from  whom  the  Geddyngs,  subsequently  interested  in  Flemp- 
ton,  Lackford,  &c.,  are  supposed  to  have  originated. 

This  lordship  became  afterwards  vested  in  the  Brand  family, 
who  held  the  same  for  about  four  descents.  In  1764,  William 
Beale  Brand,  Esq.,  was  proprietor  ;  and  in  1814,  it  passed  to  Mary 
Anne,  wife  of  T.  W.  Cooke,  Esq.,  who  deceased  in  1825 ;  his  relict 
afterwards  re-married  to  Charles  Tyrell,  Esq. ;  who  now  resides  at 
Polstead  Hall,  a  handsome  mansion  enclosed  with  a  well  wooded 
park  of  considerable  extent,  and  holds  the  lordship  in  her  right. 

This  parish  is  rendered  notorious  as  the  scene  of  the  most  cold 
blooded  and  sanguinary  murder  that  ever  disgraced  the  annals  of 
crime,  perpetrated  by  William  Corder,  on  the  person  of  Maria  Mar- 
tin, both  natives  of  this  village,  at  a  place  called  the  Ked  Barn,  on 
the  18th  of  May,  1827  ;  for  which  offence  he  received  the  just  sen- 
tence of  the  law  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  August  11,  1828.  The 
scene  of  this  transaction,  the  Ked  Barn,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  De- 
cember 26,  1842. 

The  church  is  a  neat  structure,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary ;  the  pa- 
tronage is  in  F.  E.  Eeynolds,  Esq. ;  and  the  Eev.  James  Coyte, 
A.M.,  is  the  present  incumbent. 


PEESTON. — PRESTETONA,  or  PRESTETUNE. 

In  the  time  of  King  Henry  II.,  Ealph  de  Lodne,  with  the  consent 
of  Joceline  his  son,  gave  by  deed  without  date,  to  the  Nunnery  of 
Wykes,  in  Essex,  with  Beatrice  his  daughter,  the  tithe  of  his  house, 
and  land  in  this  parish.  This  was  at  the  period  when  William 
Turbe  was  Bishop  of  Norwich. 

The  Mortimers  were  early  concerned  here,  and  held  a  lordship 
styled  after  their  name.  In  1332,  John  de  Mortimer,  Knt.,  of  At- 
tleburgh,  in  Norfolk,  and  Eleanor  his  wife,  settled  this  manor  upon 
Thomas  de  Ipswich,  vicar  of  this  parish,  and  Nicholas  de  Hoo, 
chaplain ;  probably  a  settlement  in  trust,  as  it  continued  several 
generations  in  that  family,  and  passed  through  heirs  general,  to  the 
Ferrers,  and  Cressenor  families. 

In  1321,  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey,  and  Alice  his  wife,  held  one  mes- 
suage, one  carucate,  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  one  acre  of  meadow, 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  961 

and  10s.  rent,  of  William  de  Buteveylu,  in  Preston,  Little  Cornard, 
and  adjoining  parishes,  as  part  of  the  inheritance  of  the  said  Alice, 
daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Sir  Richard  de  Cornherd,  of  Cornard,  in 
this  county,  Knt. ;  and  by  the  last  will  and  testament  of  Sir  Roger 
de  Grey,  of  Merton,  in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  proved  in  1371,  it  appears 
that  he  had  enfeoffed  Sir  William  Bawde,  priest,  and  others,  in  his 
manors  of  Preston,  Cavendish,  and  Little  Cornard. 

A  family  of  the  name  of  Preston  were  formerly  resident  here. 
William  Preston,  of  this  parish,  Gent.,  married  Rose,  daughter  of 

Whipple,  of  Dickleburgh,  in  Norfolk  ;  a  descendant  of  theirs, 

Jacob  Preston,  Esq.,  was  lord  and  patron  of  Beeston,  in  Norfolk, 
in  1658  ;  he  married  Frances,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Isaac 
Appleton,  of  Little  Waldingfield,  in  this  county  ;  and  was  father  of 
Sir  Isaac  Preston,  who  was  Knighted  in  1695,  by  King  William, 
at  Whitehall. 

The  Priory  manor  here  was  so  designated  as  anciently  belonging 
to  the  Priory  of  the  Holy  Trinity  in  Ipswich,  who  presented  to  the 
vicarage,  until  the  dissolution  of  that  house ;  and  the  manor  of 
Maisters,  in  this  parish,  was  vested  in  the  Masters  of  a  commandry 
of  Knights  Hospitalers,  or  Knights  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  at 
Battisford,  in  this  county.  These  two  manors  were  granted  to  An- 
drew Judde,  in  the  35th  of  Henry  VIII.,  and  are  supposed  to  be 
the  property  that  soon  afterwards  became  the  inheritance  of  the 
Ryece  family. 

Robert,  son  of  Robert  Ryece,  Esq.,  who  was  seated  here  in  the 
time  of  King  Edward  VI.,  has  been  already  noticed  in  the  introduc- 
tion to  this  work.  He  married  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  Thomas 
Appleton,  Esq.,  of  Little  Waldingfield  ;  who  died  in  1629.  Mr. 
Ryece  survived  her  about  nine  years,  being  buried  Sept.  15,  1638, 
within  the  communion  rails  in  this  parish  church,  near  the  remains 
of  his  wife.  Mr.  Ryece  held  the  patronage  of  this  living,  and  was 
a  benefactor  to  this  his  native  village,  and  an  honour  to  the  place 
that  gave  him  birth. 

The  principal  manor  of  Preston  Hall  belonged  to  the  Veres,  Earls 
of  Oxford,  until  the  time  of  Henry  VIII. ;  when  it  appears  to  have 
passed  to  John,  Lord  Latimer,  whose  first  wife  was  Dorothy,  daugh- 
ter of  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  who  inherited  this  lordship  as  heir  to  the 
said  Earl ;  and  John  his  son  had  livery  of  the  same  in  the  35th  of 
Henry  VIII.,  who  was  living  in  the  20th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  but 
had  no  issue  male  by  Lucy  his  wife,  daughter  of  Henry,  Earl  of 


9G2  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

Worcester ;  and  by  the  marriage  of  his  four  daughters  and  co-heirs, 
his  estates  became  divided. 

Kirby  states  that  John,  14th  Earl  of  Oxford,  died  without  issue, 
about  the  18th  of  the  above  reign;  when  this  property  descended 
to  his  sister  and  heir,  the  wife  of  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield,  Knt.,  in 
whose  family  it  continued  three  generations ;  and  that  it  was  lately 
purchased  by  Sir  William  Beachcroft,  Knt.,  Alderman  of  London. 
Sir  Benjamin  Collins  Brodie,  Bart.,  F.R.S.,  Serjeant  Surgeon  to 
the  Queen,  is  now  lord  of  Preston  Hall,  and  Swift's  manors,  in  this 
parish  ;  Maister  manor  belongs  to  Mr.  Thomas  Wright,  and  Mor- 
timer's is  the  estate  of  Mr.  William  Makin. 

AHMS. — Preston :  ermine  ;  on  a  chief,  sable,  three  crescents,  or. 
Brodie  :  azure  ;  on  a  chevron,  between  three  mullets,  argent,  three 
civic  wreaths,  vert. 

CHARITIES. — By  an  Act  of  Parliament,  passed  in  or  about  the 
year  1660,  for  consolidating  the  appropriate  rectory  of  Preston  St. 
Mary,  late  the  property  of  Mr.  Robert  Ryece,  with  the  vicarage  of 
Preston,  and  confirming  the  presentation  thereof  to  the  Master  and 
Fellows  of  Emanuel  College,  in  Cambridge,  it  was  enacted,  in  pur- 
suance of  the  intention  of  the  said  Robert  Ryece,  and  in  considera- 
tion of  his  transferring  the  advowson  and  right  of  presentation  of 
the  consolidated  rectory  and  vicarage,  to  the  said  Master  and  Eel- 
lows,  that  the  incumbent  of  the  church  of  Preston,  for  the  time 
being,  should  pay  yearly  .£5,  to  the  intent  that  two  poor  boys  should 
be  clothed,  and  put  out  apprentice,  of  this  parish ;  and  that  if  there 
were  none  such  in  Preston,  the  same  number  were  to  receive  the 
benefit  from  the  parish  of  Lavenham.* — In  1814,  Mary  Green  de- 
vised £200,  to  be  placed  out  on  government  security  ;  the  dividends 
to  be  expended  in  bread  or  fuel  for  the  poor.  With  this  legacy 
£289  12s.  6d.  Stock,  Three  per  Cent.  Consols,  was  purchased: 
dividends,  £S  13s.  8d.  a  year,  laid  out  accordingly. 


SHIMPLING,  or  SIMPLINGA. 

At  the  time  of  the  Norman  survey,  this  was  one  of  the  lordships 
which  Odo  de  Campania,  Earl  of  Albemarle  and  Holderness,  was 

*  Robert  Ryece  transferred  the  advowson  and  right  of  patronage,  as  above,  by 
deed,  dated  the  llth  of  October,  1620.     19th  James  I. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  903 

possessed  of;  a  near  relative  of  William  the  Conqueror.  How  long 
it  continued  in  his  house  is  uncertain,  hut  in  the  first  of  Edward 
III ,  Robert  Fitz  Walter  died  seized  thereof;  which  became  assigned 
to  Joan  his  wife,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  de  Moulton,  of 
Egremond,  as  part  of  her  dowry. 

This  lady  survived  until  1302,  when  Walter  Fitz  Walter,  her 
grandson,  made  proof  of  his  age,  and  had  livery  of  all  his  lands. 
He  was  an  active  soldier,  and  valiant  chieftain,  both  at  home  and  in 
foreign  expeditions,  during  the  above  reign;  and  having  accompanied 
John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  into  Spain,  where  from  the  hot 
temperature  great  numbers  of  our  men  died,  and  among  others,  says 
Holingshed,  "  one  of  the  greatest  Barons  of  all  the  company,  the 
Lord  Fitz  Walter."  This  happened  in  the  10th  of  Richard  II. 

Eobert  Fitz  Walter,  his  eldest  son,  lived  to  be  of  age,  but  de- 
ceased before  his  father ;  who  held  this  manor  until  his  decease : 
when  Philippa,  relict  of  his  son  Robert,  and  daughter  of  John  de 
Mohun,  lord  of  Dunster,  succeeded  to  this  estate,  and  held  the 
same  as  part  of  her  dower,  until  her  decease  in  1431.  She  re- 
married to  Edward  Plantagenet,  Duke  of  York,  and  Earl  of  Rutland, 
who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Agincourt. 

Sir  Walter  Fitz  Walter,  second  son  of  Walter  Lord  Fitz  Walter, 
brother  and  heir  of  the  above  Eobert,  married  Joan,  daughter  of  Sir 
John  Devereux  ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  two  sons, -Humphrey  and 
Walter,  and  a  daughter,  Eleanor.  He  deceased  in  1408.  Hum- 
phrey, his  son,  died  in  his  minority,  and  prior  to  his  becoming 
possessed  of  the  paternal  estate,  which  descended  to  his  brother, 
Walter ;  who  inherited  this  lordship  upon  the  decease  of  the  said 
Philippa. 

This  Walter  died  about  1432 ;  Elizabeth  his  wife,  survived,  and 
held  in  dower  the  manor  of  Shimpling  and  Thorn.  She  deceased 
in  1403,  leaving  two  daughters  and  co-heirs  :  Anne,  wife  of  Thomas 
Ratcliffe,  Esq.,  who  died  without  issue ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married 
to  Sir  John  Ratcliffe,  Knt.,  brother  of  the  said  Thomas ;  who  was 
soon  after  summoned  to  Parliament,  as  Lord  Fitz  Walter ;  and  in- 
herited in  her  right  all  the  honours  and  possessions  of  that  noble 
family. 

In  1531,  Henry  Ratcliffe,  afterwards  Earl  of  Sussex,  and  Eliza- 
beth his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Howard,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  held 
this  lordship.  He  was  in  great  favour  with  Queen  Mary,  of  her 
Privy  Council,  and  a  Knight  of  the  Garter ;  and  deceased  in  1550 ; 


964  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

when  Thomas,  their  son,  succeeded,  as  3rd  Earl  of  Sussex ;  and 
this  estate  probably  continued  in  his  descendants  during  the  re- 
mainder of  that  century. 

In  1600,  John  Snelling,  Gent.,  of  Boxford,  co-founder  of  the 
Royal  School  there,  held  this  estate  ;  and  in  1622,  Simon  Wells, 
D.D.,  was  lord.  He  was  rector  of  Brockley.  James  Cobbes,  Esq., 
of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  held  his  first  court  baron  for  the  manor  of 
Shimpling  Thorn,  Oct.  22,  1655.  He  married  Martha,  one  of  the 
daughters  of  William  Barnes,  of  East  Winch,  in  Norfolk,  Esq.,  and 
widow  of  Edmond  Isty,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  Gent.  Mr.  Cobbes 
deceased  in  1685,  and  was  buried  in  Great  Saxham  church.  The 
Harveys,  of  Cockfield,  subsequently  held  this  property;  from  whom 
it  passed  to  the  Aspin  and  Acton  families ;  of  whom  it  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Plampins,  and  annexed  to  their  estate. 

Chadaere  Hall,  in  this  parish,  was  for  many  ages  the  estate  and 
residence  of  the  Plampin  family,  to  which  the  manor  is  attached  ; 
and  in  1823,  it  was  purchased  of  the  trustees  of  the  Rev.  John 
Plampin,  by  Thos.  Hallifax,  Esq. ;  who  has  since  erected  a  splendid 
family  mansion  upon  the  estate,  his  present  residence.  This  gen- 
tleman filled  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  this  county  in  1838. 

In  the  time  of  King  John,  or  Henry  III.,  Robert  Mantell,  of 
Essex,  held  lands  in  Shimpling;  and  Sir  Fulk  Baynard,  of  Merton, 
in  Norfolk,  Knt.,  married  Petronilla,  his  daughter ;  with  whom  he 
had  the  said  Robert's  lands  here,  after  the  decease  of  Ralph  Mantell, 
who  held  the  same  for  life. 

The  ancient  family  of  Harlestone,  who  derive  from  the  noted  Sir 
John  Herolveston  (so  often  mentioned  in  our  early  English  Chro- 
nicles, for  his  martial  exploits,  in  the  time  of  Richard  II.),  held  es- 
tates in  this  place.  In  the  4th  of  Edward  IV.,  Elizabeth,  widow  of 
John  Harleston,  of  Shimpling,  in  Suffolk,  died  seized  of  considerable 
property  in  Norfolk ;  and  by  an  inquisition  of  the  21st  of  Henry 
VIII.,  Sir  Richard  Fitz  Lewis  was  found  to  die  seized  of  the  same 
property.  He  married  Alice,  daughter  and  heiress  of  a  Harleston. 

The  patronage  of  the  living  has  been  for  upwards  of  a  century  in 
the  Eiske  family,  who  had  also  a  good  estate  here.  Thomas  Fiske 
was  presented  to  this  rectory  in  1735,  and  the  last  incumbent  was 
Thomas  Fiske.  The  patronage  and  incumbency  now  belongs  to 
Miles  Cooper  Bolton,  "A.M.  The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  George, 
contains  among  other  memorials  to  the  Plampins,  a  mural  monu- 
ment to  John  Plampin,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1730  ;  and  another,  by 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  965 

Wcsmacot,  to  Elizabeth  Frances  Plampin,  wife  of  John  Plampin, 
Esq.,  of  Chadacre,  most  beautifully  executed. 

ARMS. — Fitz  Walter  :  or  ;  a  fess  between  two  chevrons,  gules. 
Wells :  or  ;  a  lion  rampant,  double  queued,  sable,  in  a  bordure,  en- 
grailed, gules.  Cobbes :  argent;  a  chevron  between  three  cocks, 
gules,  armed  and  wattled,  or. 

The  only  CHARITY  is  50s.  per  annum,  known  as  "  Corder's  Gift," 
arising  from  a  farm  at  Lawshall,  which  is  distributed  among  the  poor. 


SOMERTON,  or  SOMERLEDETONA. 

In  1274,  Thomas  de  Burgo  (or  Burgh)  gave  the  ninth  sheaf  of 
all  his  demesne  lands  in  this  manor,  and  Burgh,  in  Cambridgeshire, 
in  exchange  for  the  advowson  of  this  parish  church ;  which  the  Prior 
of  the  Augustine  Canons  in  Thetford  conveyed  to  him. 

Sir  John  de  Ingaldesthorp  deceased  in  1420,  seized  of  the  lord- 
ship of  this  parish ;  which  he  inherited  in  right  of  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  daughter  of  Sir  John  de  Burgh,  of  Burgh  Green,  in  Cambridge- 
shire, and  sister  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Burgh.  The  lady 
Elizabeth  died  in  the  following  year. 

This  estate  subsequently  became  the  property  of  -Lord  Viscount 
Blundell,  an  Irish  Peer ;  and  the  patronage  of  the  benefice  is  now 
vested  in  the  Marquess  of  Downshire,  a  descendant  of  the  Blundells. 
George  Weller  Poley,  Esq.,  is  now  lord  of  the  manor. 

Somerton  Hall,  the  estate  and  residence  of  Joseph  Eaton  Hale, 
Esq.,  is  a  commodious  and  neat  family  mansion,  pleasantly  situated. 
The  church  is  a  small  ancient  structure,  dedicated  to  St.  Margaret ; 
and  the  Rev.  John  Maddy,  D.D.,  is  the  present  incumbent.  It  con- 
tains several  memorials  to  members  of  the  Blundell  family.  The 
poor  parishioners  have  a  fifth  part  of  Poley's  charity.  (See  Boxstead.) 


STAN  STEAD,  or  STANESTEDA. 

In  1247,  Giles,  son  of  Giles,  and  grandson  of  Osbert  de  Wache- 
sham,  had  a  charter  of  free  warren  in  this  lordship.  He  was  Sheriff 
of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  1290,  and  deceased  in  1294 ;  leaving 


966  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

Giles  his  son  and  successor ;  who  paid  £6  5s.  for  relief  of  his  father's 
lands :  viz.,  a  fee,  and  a  fourth  part,  in  this  parish. 

In  1315,  Giles  (or  Gerard)  de  Wachesham,  was  lord  of  Stan- 
stead  ;  and  in  1358,  a  fine  was  levied  between  Sir  Robert  de  Wa- 
chesham, and  Joan  his  wife  (daughter  of  Simon  de  Hetherset), 
Ralph  de  Denton,  and  others  ;  by  which  the  advowson  of  this  parish 
church  was  settled  on  themselves,  and  their  issue. 

The  above  Robert  de  Wachesham  left  an  only  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  Sir  Thomas  Gerbridge  ;  who  inherited  this  estate 
in  her  right.  He  left  an  only  daughter,  Alice ;  who  married  Sir 
Edmund  Berri,  Knt.,  who  left  two  daughters,  his  co-heirs.  Agnes, 
married  to  Sir  William  Paston,  afterwards  Judge  Paston,  and  Alice, 
to  Sir  Thomas  Bardolph,  Knt. ;  who  in  1454,  released  their  right 
to  Agnes  and  Sir  William,  in  the  manor  and  advowson  of  Stanstead : 
they  continued  in  the  Paston's  for  several  descents. 

The  manors  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall,  in  Stanstead,  were  vested 
in  the  late  Hart  Logan,  Esq.,  of  Kentwell  Hall,  in  Melford ;  and 
are  now  the  estate  of  Edward  Sarkie  Bence,  Esq.  Spring  Hall,  in 
this  parish,  is  the  property  and  residence  of  Robert  Mapletoft,  Esq. 
It  is  a  neat  family  mansion,  and  pleasantly  situated ;  to  which  a 
good  estate  is  attached. 

CHARITIES. — Three  pieces  of  land,  called  Huntsman's  Yard,  Dol- 
lon's,  and  Calfe's  meadow,  containing  together  about  4|-  acres; 
amount  of  rents,  £5  10s.  a  year. — A  portion  of  the  rent  of  Poley's 
charity  estate,  amounting,  in  1827,  to  £7  7s. ;  a  portion  of  the 
rent  of  Corder's  charity  estate,  amounting,  in  1827,  to  £l  7s. ;  the 
yearly  sum  of  5s.,  being  a  rent  charge  given  by  Jerome  Calfe,  for 
the  poor,  by  will  dated  in  1640;  and  the  sum  of  7s.  6d.  a  year, 
paid  out  of  the  poors'  rates,  as  the  interest  of  a  benefaction  of  £7 
10s. ;  which  sums  are  distributed  at  Christmas,  yearly,  among  the 
poor  of  the  parish,  in  various  portions,  according  to  the  size  and 
necessities  of  the  families. 


STOKE  justa  NEYLAND,  or  STOKES. 

In  the  "  Notitia  Monasfaa"  of  Dr.  Tanner,  it  is  stated  that  "  as 
early  as  the  middle  of  the  tenth  century,  here  was  a  Monastery  of 
some  note,  and  many  good  donations  thereunto,  made  by  Earl 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  967 

Alfgar,  and  afterwards  by  his  two  daughters,  Aethelfled  and  Aegel- 
fled  ;  this  being  the  burial  place  of  that  noble  family,  and  perhaps 
it  was  founded  by  some  of  them." 

Earl  Alfgar  lived  in  the  time  of  King  Edmund,  who  died  in  948, 
and  of  Theodred,  Bishop  of  London,  who  died  in  962.  It  is  about 
this  time  mentioned  as  a  place  of  some  antiquity,  but  nothing  fur- 
ther occurs  of  it  as  a  Monastery.  It  appears  to  have  been  situate 
about  a  mile  westward  from  the  church,  and  is  still  styled  Stoke 
Priory :  now  the  estate  of  Isaac  Hoy,  Esq.,  who  resides  upon  the 
same,  in  a  neat  mansion,  erected  in  1829  ;  probably  upon  the  site 
of  this  ancient  religious  house. 

This  parish  is  of  large  extent,  and  is  pleasantly  situated :  the 
river  Stour  bounds  it  on  the  south,  and  the  Brett  on  the  east.  It 
is  intersected  by  two  small  rivulets,  and  contains  two  good  mansions, 
Gifford's  Hall,  and  Tendring  Hall ;  to  each  of  which  manorial  rights 
are  attached :  the  latter  anciently  belonged  to  a  family  of  that  name. 
In  the  31st  of  Edward  I.,  William  de  Tendring  had  a  grant  of  a 
market  and  fair  at  Stoke  by  Neyland. 

Sir  John  Howard,  Knt,  married  to  his  second  wife,  Alice,  daugh- 
ter and  heiress  of  Sir  William  Tendring,  of  this  parish,  Knt.,  by 
Catherine  Clopton,  his  wife ;  upon  this  marriage,  he  settled  the 
manor  of  Brokes,  in  Suffolk,  Fersfield,  in  Norfolk,  &c.,  on  their 
trustees,  to  the  use  of  himself  and  wife,  for  life,  and  his  heirs  ;  by 
deed  dated  in  1398.  She  died  in  1426,  leaving  to  Sir  John,  her 
husband,  this  lordship,  with  Bacon's  manor  here,  for  his  life.  He 
survived  until  1437.  They  were  both  buried  in  this  parish  church, 
near  the  grave  of  Sir  William  Tendring,  her  father. 

Sir  Robert  Howard,  Knt.,  their  eldest  son,  married  Margaret, 
eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  de  Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk  ;  whose 
only  son,  John,  was  the  first  Duke  of  Norfolk  of  the  Howard  family. 
He  married,  first,  Catherine,  daughter  of  William,  Lord  Molines, 
who  died  in  1452;  and  secondly,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Chedworth,  Knt. ;  who,  after  he  fell  in  the  battle  of  Bosworth  field, 
in  support  of  the  cause  of  Richard  III.,  re- married  John  Norreys, 
Esq. ;  and  died  about  the  9th  of  Henry  VII.  These  ladies  were 
both  interred  in  this  parish  church ;  by  which  it  would  seem  that 
the  Howards  were  interested  here  at  the  period  of  their  decease. 

From  the  above  family  it  passed  to  the  Lords  Windsor ;  and  after 
the  reformation,  became  the  seat  of  the  family  of  Williams.  Sir 
John  Williams,  Knt.,  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1736,  built  the 


1)68  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

present  fine  mansion  ;  which,  by  purchase,  became  the  property  of 
Sir  William  Rowley,  K.B.;  a  distinguished  naval  commander,  and 
one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty.  Joshua,  his  son,  succeeded ; 
who  gave  many  proofs  of  his  courage  .and  conduct  in  the  naval 
service,  for  which  he  was  created  a  Baronet,  in  1786.  His  grand- 
son, Sir  Joshua  Ricketts  Rowley,  Bart.,  Post  Captain  R.N.,  suc- 
ceeded to  this  estate  at  the  decease  of  his  father,  in  1832,  and  is  the 
present  proprietor ;  making  Tendring  Hall  his  principal  residence. 

Gifford's  Hall,  in  this  parish,  is  the  estate  of  Patrick  Power  Man- 
nock,  Esq.,  who  resides  generally  on  the  continent.  This  mansion 
surrounds  a  quadrangular  court,  the  entrance  to  which  is  by  a  tower 
gateway,  said  to  have  been  erected  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of 
Henry  VIII.* 

This  estate  is  supposed  to  have  been  formerly  vested  in  the  Gif- 
ford  family ;  and  was  purchased,  in  the  6th  of  Henry  VI.,  by  Philip 
Mannock  ;  whose  ancestors  had  resided  at  the  neighbouring  village 
of  Stoke,  in  the  time  of  Edward  III.,  and  who  are  stated  to  have 
come  originally  from  Denmark,  and  to  have  flourished  in  England 
under  the  Danish  Kings. 

William  Mannock,  Esq.,  died  in  the  6th  of  Philip  and  Mary;  and 
the  inquisition,  taken  soon  afterwards,  sets  forth  that  he  died  seized 
of  the  manors  of  Holton  Hall,  Raymes,  Giffords,  and  Chamberlains, 
in  Stoke  Neyland ;  and  that  Francis,  his  son  and  heir,  is  five  years 
old.  Francis,  grandson  of  this  Francis,  was  created  a  Baronet  by 
King  Charles  I.,  in  1627  ;  and  Sir  George  Mannock,  the  ninth 
Baronet  of  this  house,  was  killed  by  the  overturning  of  the  Dover 
mail,  June  3,  1787  ;  and  dying  issueless,  the  Baronetcy  expired. 

Capel  manor,  in  this  parish,  was  at  an  early  period  in  possession 
of  a  family  of  that  name.  King  Henry  I.  gave  Jakeham  to  Hugh 
Capel,  by  the  service  of  two  Knights'  fees.  Sir  Richard  de  Capel 
was  Lord  Justice  of  Ireland,  in  1261.  John  Capel,  Esq.,  of  Stoke 
Neyland,  who  died  in  1449,  left  three  sons  and  a  daughter,  all  in 
minority.  John,  the  eldest,  held  the  estate  in  Suffolk ;  William, 
the  second  son,  ancestor  of  the  Earls  of  Essex,  was  a  most  eminent 
merchant  in  London,  and  acquired  an  immense  fortune.  At  the 
coronation  of  King  Henry  VII.,  he  was  Knighted :  served  the  office 
of  Sherifi  for  London  in  1489  ;  of  Lord  Mayor,  in  1503  ;  and  was 

*  An  etching  of  this  gateway  is  given  in  Britton's  "  Architectural  Antiquities," 
in  "Excursions  through  Suffolk,"  also  in  Davy's  "Architectural  Antiquities," 
with  copious  descriptions  of  the  building. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  969 

representative  in  Parliament  for  that  city  from  1491  to  1514.  Sir 
William  was  a  native  of  this  place,  and  died  in  1515.  He  was 
buried  in  a  chapel  of  his  own  founding,  in  St.  Bartholomew's 
church,  near  the  Royal  Exchange,  London. 

The  ancient  family  of  Peyton,  of  Peyton  Hall,  in  Boxford,  were 
formerly  interested  here.  John  de  Peyton,  Knt.,  served  in  Parlia- 
ment as  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Shire  for  this  county,  in  the  29th 
of  Edward  L,  soon  after  which  he  died,  and  was  huried  in  this  pa- 
rish church  ;  as  was  the  Lady  Christiana  Apleton,  widow  of  William 
de  Apleton,  and  after,  the  wife  of  Sir  Kohert  de  Peyton,  son  of  the 
above  John.  Her  funeral  is  stated  to  have  been  conducted  with 
great  pomp  and  ceremony :  amongst  the  expenses,  fifty  quarters  of 
wheat  are  set  down  at  £4,  10s.;  one  hogshead  of  wine,  £53  4s. ; 
four  muttons,  5s.  each  ;  eight  bacon  hogs,  24s. ;  ten  calves,  &c. 

A  member  of  the  ancient  house  of  Umfreville,  Earls  of  Angus,  in 
Scotland,  resided  in  this  parish.  Sir  Charles  Umfreville,  of  Stoke 
by  Neyland,  was  Knighted  May  12,  1661  :  he  was  son  of  William 
Umfreville,  Esq.,  of  Langham,  in  Essex,  by  Elizabeth  his  first  wife, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Thomas  Gotts,  Esq.  Sir  Charles  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Humphrey  Jaggard,  Esq.,  of  Parndon,  in 
Essex;  and  dying  in  1696,  left  two  daughters,  his  co-heirs :  Eli- 
zabeth, married,  first,  to  Miles  Mitchell,  secondly,  te Gibbs ; 

and  Sarah,  married  to  Samuel  Brewster,  Esq.,  of  Lincoln's  Inn. 

The  church  of  St.  Mary,  in  Stoke,  is  a  fine  structure,  and  con- 
tains various  monuments  to  members  of  the  different  families  con- 
nected with  the  parish.  The  benefice  is  a  vicarage,  in  the  patronage 
of  Sir  Joshua  R.  Rowley,  Bart.;  and  the  proprietor  of  Gifford's 
Hall  is  impropriator  of  the  rectorial  tithes.  Amongst  its  vicars 
may  be  noticed  the  following : — 

John  Leycestre,  LL.B.,  Corrector  and  Commissary  General  of 
Suffolk  Archdeaconry,  in  1502;  and  in  1506,  Commissary  of  Sud- 
bury  Archdeaconry ;  rector  also  of  Campsey  Ash,  and  Stonham 
Aspal,  in  this  county. — William  Jones,  A.M.,  F.R.S.,  author  of  the 
"  Catholic  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity,"  which  has  been  repeatedly  re- 
printed, and  various  other  popular  works  on  natural  philosophy,  was 
vicar  of  this  parish,  with  the  chapel  of  Neyland.  Mr.  Jones  resided 
at  Neyland,  and  died  January  6,  1800.  His  works  have  been  pub- 
lished in  12  vols.  8vo.,  with  his  life  prefixed.  The  vicar  of  this 
parish  had  a  portion  of  tithe,  valued  at  six  marks,  from  Bagthorpe, 
in  Norfolk. 


•970  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

ARMS.  —  Tendring :  azure;  a  fess  between  two  chevrons,  argent. 
Rowley:  argent;  on  abend  engrailed,  between  two  Cornish  choughs, 
sable,  three  escallops  of  the  field.  Mannock :  sable  ;  a  cross  flory, 
argent.  Umfreville :  gules ;  eight  crosses  patonce,  in  the  centre 
a  cinquefoil,  or. 

CHARITIES. — By  deed,  dated  the  15th  of  James  I.,  Lady  Anne 
Windsor  granted  four  messuages  in  this  parish,  for  an  hospital  for 
four  poor  women  of  Stoke ;  and  she  thereby  granted  to  the  said 
women  a  yearly  rent  charge  of  £8,  to  be  issuing  out  of  her  manor 
of  Higham,  payable  quarterly. — Five  small  tenements,  in  or  near 
the  church-yard,  given  by  Thomas  Purslowe,  in  1675,  are  occupied 
by  poor  persons,  rent  free,  and  are  kept  in  repair  at  the  expense  of 
the  parish. — The  parish  lands  comprise  three  parcels,  containing 
together  12A.  OR.  33p.,  let  at  £15  11s.  a  year;  and  one  acre,  or 
thereabouts,  inclosed  in  the  park  of  Sir  Joshua  Kowley,  Bart. ;  rent 
£l  Is.  These  rents  have,  for  many  years  past,  been  paid  to  the 
minister,  for  preaching  an  afternoon  sermon  on  Sundays,  throughout 
the  year. 


SUDBUBY 

Is  situated  upon  the  river  Stour;  has  no  local  connection  with 
Thingoe,  and  now  belongs  to  Babergh  hundred ;  was  at  the  time 
of  the  Domesday  survey,  returned  in  the  former  hundred,  and  ac- 
counted a  fourth  part,  or  three  leets  of  the  same.  This  town  was 
parcel  of  the  estate  of  the  mother  of  Earl  Morcar,  forfeited  to  the 
Conqueror. 

It  was  anciently  denominated  South-burgh,  in  contradistinction 
to  Norwich,  then  called  North-burgh ;  and  is  a  borough  and  market 
town  of  great  antiquity,  formerly  of  much  more  importance  than  at 
present.  It  comprises  three  parishes,  with  the  same  number  of 
churches ;  and  is  a  town  corporate,  which  has  returned  two  repre- 
sentatives to  Parliament  ever  since  the  1st  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 
Under  the  new  Municipal  Act,  this  borough  is  included  in  schedule 
A.,  to  have  a  commission  of  the  peace,  and  a  court  of  quarter  ses- 
sion. The  Town  Council  now  consists  of  a  Mayor,  four  Aldermen, 
and  twelve  Councillors.  It  is  not  divided  into  wards. 

Sudbury  gives  name  to  one  of  the  two  Archdeacons  of  this  county, 
and  the  title  of  Baron  to  the  Duke  of  Gi'afton  ;  it  also  gave  the  title 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  971 

of  Viscount  to  Sir  Paul  Bayning,  Knt.,  who  was  created  a  Baronet 
in  1612;  constituted  Sheriff  of  Essex  in  1617;  advanced  to  the 
title  of  Baron  Bayning,  of  Horksley,  in  Essex,  in  1627-8  ;  and  to 
the  further  dignity  of  Viscount  Sudbury,  in  Suffolk,  the  same  year. 
His  ancestors  were  originally  of  Neyland.in  this  county,  and  Dedham, 
in  Essex.  He  deceased  at  his  house  in  Mark- lane,  London,  July 
29,  1629;  when  Paul  Viscount  Bayning,  his  only  son,  succeeded 
to  his  large  inheritance. 

It  was  one  of  the  earliest  places  at  which  King  Edward  III.,  set- 
tled the  Flemings,  whom  he  invited  to  this  country,  to  instruct  his 
subjects  in  the  woollen  manufacture,  which  continued  to  flourish 
here  for  some  centuries  ;  but,  like  several  other  places  in  this  county, 
now  possesses  scarcely  any  remains  of  its  former  trade  ;  it  however 
retains  a  small  silk  manufactory. 

The  Dominican,  or  Black  Friars,  became  established  in  their 
Convent  here  about  the  year  1272,  through  the  aid  of  Baldwin  de 
Simperling  (or  Shimpling),  and  Mabilla  his  wife,  together  with 
John  Chertsey ;  and  in  1352,  Nicholas  Either  gave  to  these  friars 
four  acres  of  land,  and  three  acres  of  pasture,  in  Sudbury,  to  enlarge 
the  site  of  their  Convent.* 

In  1539,  it  was  granted  to  Thomas  Eden,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Star 
Chamber,  and  Griselda  his  wife,  daughter  of  Edward  Waldegrave, 
of  Sudbury.  The  last  remains  thereof  were  pulled  down  in  1779  ; 
and  the  site,  which  was  the  property  of  the  late  Rev.  John  Newman, 
has  been  sold,  by  Lawrence,  his  son. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  Wulfrie,  Master  of  the  Mint  to  that 
Monarch,  gave  the  church,  or  chapel,  of  St.  Bartholomew,  near  this 
town,  to  the  Abbey  of  Westminster ;  whereupon  a  Priory  of  Bene- 
dictine monks  was  fixed  here,  as  a  cell  to  that  Abbey  ;  and  continued 
till  its  dissolution.  The  endowment  appears  to  have  consisted  of 
76|-  acres  of  land,  and  3^  acres  of  meadow ;  and  after  the  dissolution 
of  this  cell,  its  possessions  were  annexed  to  the  endowments  of  the 
Dean  and  Chapter  of  Westminster  ;  who  are  the  present  possessors. 

An  hospital  was  founded  here,  by  Amicia,  daughter  of  William, 
Earl  of  Gloucester,  and  wife  of  Richard,  Earl  of  Clare,  in  the  time 
of  King  John  ;  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  same,  with  the  house, 
or  chapel  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  which  the  same  lady  gave  to  the 

*  A  view  of  this  Priory  was  published  in  1748,  by  Mr.  Joshua  Kirby.  The  de- 
scription annexed  to  it  is  confounded  with  that  of  the  Benedictine  cell,  and  an 
Austin  Priory,  mentioned  through  mistake,  by  Weever. 


972  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

monks  of  Clare.  For  the  further  support  of  this  hospital  the  found- 
ress endowed  it  with  five  acres  of  land,  one  of  meadow,  and  one  of 
pasture  ;  right  of  pasturage  for  4  cows,  and  20  sheep  ;  besides  other 
lands,  rents,  &c.  It  was  dedicated  to  the  honour  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  his  mother. 

Here  was  also  a  society  called  "the  Brothers  of  St.  Thomas  the 
Martyr,"  which  was  situated  near  a  place  called  Sidolves  Mere.  The 
ruins  of  their  chapel  are  said  to  be  still  seen,  on  a  hill,  which  is 
called  chapel  hill,  on  the  right  hand  of  the  London  road. 

Dr.  Tanner  notices  a  society  of  religious  persons,  in  the  church  of 
St.  Gregory,  in  this  town,  mentioned  in  the  will  of  Ethelflede,  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  tenth  century.  Nothing  further  occurs  re- 
specting this  church,  than  of  its  being  only  parochial,  appropriated 
to  the  nuns  of  Nun-Eaton,  in  Warwickshire,  till  the  year  1374; 
when  it  was  purchased  of  them  by  Simon  de  Sudbury,  then  Bishop 
of  London,  and  soon  after  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

In  the  following  year,  he,  with  John  de  Chertesy,  his  brother, 
procured  a  license  to  make  it  Collegiate  ;  and  founded  a  College, 
dedicated  to  St.  Gregory,  on  the  site  of  his  father's  house  ;  endowing 
the  same  with  divers  manors,  rents,  and  revenues  ;  which  were  stated 
in  the  3rd  of  Richard  II.,  tq  be  of  the  annual  value  of  £17  Os.  O^-d. ; 
but  in  the  license  of  the  7th  of  that  King,  the  endowment  of  this 
College  appears  to  be  estimated  at  £4.0  per  annum. 

It  consisted  of  a  warden  (or  custos],  five  secular  canons,  and 
three  chaplains.  The  valuation,  in  "Valor  Ecclesiasticus,"  A.D. 
1534,  is  £122  18s.  3d.  Gross  value,  £147  2s.  9d.  The  site  of 
the  College,  with  the  court  yard,  and  several  houses  within  the  pre- 
cincts, occupied  about  3  acres  of  land.  A  part  of  the  house  is  still 
standing  :  it  was  not  long  since  sold,  by  Peter  Upcher,  Esq.,  to  Mr. 
Branwhite  Oliver.  At  the  dissolution,  Sir  Thomas  Paston,  Knt., 
obtained  the  grant  of  it. 

Simon  de  Sudbury  was  a  native  of  this  town,  his  family  name 
being  Theobald.  He  was  early  made  Chaplain  to  Pope  Innocent 
VI.  At  his  return  to  England,  he  was  appointed  Chancellor  of 
Salisbury;  and  in  1361,  Bishop  of  London.  In  1375,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  see  of  Canterbury.  He  performed  the  solemnity  of 
crowning  King  Eichard  II. ;  and  was  made  Chancellor  of  England 
in  1380. 

Archbishop  Sudbury  lost  his  life  in  Wat  Tyler's  rebellion,  being 
murdered  on  Tower  Hill,  in  1381.  The  rebels  had  taken  particular 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  973 

offence  at  his  having  imprisoned  one  John  Ball,  a  famous  incendiary 
preacher,  in  Maidstone  gaol.  Besides  founding  the  above  College, 
he  re-built  a  portion  of  St.  Gregory's  church,  in  Sudbury,  where 
his  remains  were  deposited.  There  is  a  portrait  of  him  in  "  Strait's 
Regal  Antiquities." 

In  the  church-yard  of  St.  Gregory,  in'  this  town,  was  an  ancient 
Hermitage;  concerning  which  is  the  following  petition,  from  "  Lib. 
Institut,"  p.  10.  vol.  1. 

"To  youre  Ryght  Reverent  Lordshepe  and  Faderhod  in  God.  We  John  Hunt, 
Meyr  of  the  Tonn  of  Sudbery,  Henry  Roberds,  John  Tournour,  &c.,  Parrisshyeos 
to  the  Cherche  of  Saynt  Gregory  of  the  same  Tonn,  in  humble  wyze  comand  us,  at 
it  befalleth  us  to  ycure  worshepfull  Estates  to  do.  And  forasmnche  as  we  been  in- 
formed that  on  Richard  Appelby  of  Sudbery,  conversaunt  with  John  Levynton,  of 
the  same  Tonn,  Heremyte,  wheche  Richard,  is  a  Man  as  to  oure  Consicience  knowen, 
a  trewe  Membre  of  Holy-Cherche,  and  a  gode  gostly  Levere,  &c.,  huth  besought 
unto  your  Lordshepe  to  be  admitted  into  the  Ordre  of  aa  Herrnyte,  and  ye  by  youre 
gracious  and  special  Councell,  would  not  admitt  him  lesse  yanne  he  wer  sekyr  to  be 
inhabited  in  a  Solitary  Place,  wher  Virtues  myght  increase,  and  Vice  to  be  exiled. 
We  consederyng  youre  paternell  Ordynaunce,  and  hys  holy  Desyr,  sadly  set  as  we 
truste  to  God  it  shall,  and  in  hym  better  and  better  be  founde.  have  grainted  hym 
be  the  Asent  of  all  the  sayd  Parysh  and  Cherch  Reves,  to  be  inhabited  with  ye  sayd 
John  Levynton,  in  his  Solytary  Place  and  Hermytage,  whych  yat  is  made  at  the 
Cost  of  the  Parysh,  in  the  Cherch-Yard  of  Seynt  Gregory  Cherch,  to  dwellyn  to- 
gedyr  as  yey  leven  or  whiche  of  them  longest  leveth,  wherefore  our  Ryght  Reverent 
Lord  and  Fader  in  God,  we  entewrly  beseke  youre  gracious  benyngnyte  to  adtuitte 
hym  into  that  Ordre,  there  to  abyde  your  Bedeman,  the  Lords  of  the  Tonn  and  the 
Paryshiens,  as  we  doe  truste  to  God  he  will  be  persevarint,  wheche  God  graunte 
hym  grace  to.  Moreover,  Rygt  Reverent  Lord  and  Fader  in  God,  forasmoche  as 
we  will  yat  yis  oure  Leter  and  Graunt  to  be  not  annulled,  but  be  us  confirmed,  we 
have  in  Wytuess  put  to  oure  Scales,  goven  and  graunted  at  Sudbery,  the  xvhi  Day 
of  Janyver,  in  the  Yere  of  Lord  M.C.C.C.C.XXXI1I." 

In  the  42nd  of  Henry  III.,  Catherine,  widow  of  Roger  Curple, 
of  Fincham,  in  Norfolk,  granted  lands  in  this  town,  to  Roger  of  the 
Exchequer.  Members  of  the  ancient  houses  of  Spelman,  Walde- 
grave,  and  Eden,  were  also  formerly  concerned  here.  Robert,  the 
youngest  son  of  Stephen  Spelman,  of  Stow  by  Breccles,  in  Norfolk, 
had  lands  at  Attleburgh ;  and  went  from  thence  into  Suffolk,  about 
1349  ;  he  was  succeeded  by  Sir  Anthony,  his  son,  in  1391;  whose 
son  and  heir,  Robert  Spelman,  Gent.,  lived  in  St.  Gregory's  parish, 
in  this  town,  in  1421  ;  and  married  a  Grimston. 

John,  the  eldest  son  of  Stephen  Spelmau,  of  Spelman's  Place,  in 
Stow,  was  succeeded  by  Henry,  his  eldest  son  and  heir;  whose 
youngest  son,  Robert  Spelman,  priest,  Bachelor  in  the  degrees,  was 
instituted  to  Snetterton  Utraque,  in  Norfolk,  in  1446,  at  the  pre- 


974  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

sentation  of  Edmund  de  Bokenham,  Esq. ;  and  in  1464,  he  was 
made  Master  of  St.  Gregory's  College,  in  Sudbury,  on  the  death  of 
Henry  Sethyng,  late  master. 

Weever  mentions  the  following  members  of  the  Waldegrave  family, 
as  buried  in  All  Saints  church,  in  this  town : — John  Waldegrave, 
Esq.,  son  and  heir  of  Edward  Waldegrave,  and  Isabella  his  wife, 
who  deceased  in  1514  :  George  Waldegrave,  Esq.,  son  and  heir  of 
Sir  William  Waldegrave,  Knt.,  and  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir 
Robert  Drury,  Knt.;  he  died  in  1528:  and  John  Waldegrave,  Esq., 
son  and  heir  of  Edward  Waldegrave,  who  deceased  in  1543. 

Edward  Waldegrave,  Esq.,  of  the  Friers,  in  this  town,  was  second 
son  of  Sir  Thomas  Waldegrave,  of  Bures,  in  this  county,  by  Eliza- 
beth his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Frey,  Lord  Chief  Baron 
of  the  Exchequer.  He  married  Mabel,  daughter  and  heir  of  John 
Cheney,  Esq.,  of  Pynto,  in  Devonshire  ;  by  whom  he  had  John 
Waldegrave,  Esq.,  his  son  and  heir ;  who  married  Lora,  daughter 
of  Sir  John  Rochester  ;  from  whom  is  descended  the  noble  family 
formerly  seated  at  Navestock,  in  Essex.  He  died  in  1548,  and  was 
buried  as  above  stated. 

Sir  Thomas  Paston,  Knt.,  who  obtained  the  grant  of  St.  Gregory's 
College,  conveyed  the  same,  in  1544,  to  Thomas  Eden,  Esq.,  Clerk 
of  the  Star  Chamber ;  who  married  Gresilda,  eldest  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward Waldegrave,  of  this  town,  Esq.,  and  had  issue,  four  sons,  and 
three  daughters.  Sir  Thomas,  the  eldest  sou  and  heir,  married, 
first,  Elizabeth,  niece  of  Sir  John  St.  Clere,  of  Clere  Hall,  in  St. 
Osyth,  in  Essex  ;  by  whom  he  had  Sir  Thomas  Eden,  Kut.  His 
second  wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Bryan  Darcy,  of  Tiptre,  Esq., 
in  the  same  county  ;  by  whom  he  had  issue,  St.  Clere,  John,  and 
William,  and  five  daughters. 

St.  Clere  Eden,  Esq.,  died  possessed,  among  other  estates,  of  the 
advowson  of  the  rectory  and  vicarage  of  All  Saints  church,  in  Sud- 
bury. John  succeeded  his  brother;  and,  in  1629,  married  Anne, 
daughter  of  Richard  Harlakenden,  of  Earl's  Colne,  Esq. ;  by  whom 
he  had  issue  John  and  William,  who  both  died  without  issue,  and 
their  estate  devolved  upon  Anne,  their  only  sister;  who  married 
Geffrey  Littel,  of  Halsted,  Gent. ;  and  John,  their  eldest  son,  who 
was  Sheriff  for  the  county  of  Essex  in  1694,  succeeded.  He  was 
buried  in  All  Saints  church,  Sudbury,  in  1720,  with  divers  of  his 
ancestors,  of  the  Eden  and  Littel  families.  Richard  Eden,  was 
warden  of  St.  Gregory's  College  at  the  period  of  its  suppression. 


HUND11ED  OF  BABERGH.  975 

Since  the  date  of  the  letters  patent,  the  owners  for  the  time  being 
of  the  impropriate  rectory,  rectorial  tithes,  &c.,  of  St.  Gregory,  in 
this  town,  have  presented  to  the  perpetual  curacy  of  St.  Gregory, 
and  also  appointed  the  master  of  the  grammar  school,  in  Sudbury. 
During  great  part  of  the  last  century,  the  rectory,  tithes,  &c.,  be- 
longed to  the  family  of  Upcher ;  and  in  1812,  they  were  purchased 
by  Sir  Lachlan  Maclean,  of  Sudbury,  M.D.,  the  present  owner. 

The  property  conveyed  is  described  as  the  rectory  of  the  parish 
church  of  St.  Gregory,  and  the  chapel  of  St.  Peter  thereto  annexed, 
in  Sudbury,  with  all  glebe  lands,  tithes,  oblations,  and  emoluments, 
to  the  said  rectory,  chapel,  and  churches  belonging,  within  the  towns, 
fields,  precincts,  and  territories  of  Sudbury,  and  of  Ballingdon,  in 
the  county  of  Essex,  or  any  other  towns  next  adjoining;  and  also 
the  free  disposition  of  the  free  school,  in  Sudbury. 

Amongst  the  eminent  natives  of  this  town,  the  following  may  be 
briefly  enumerated  : — Richard  Sibbs,  a  learned  puritan  divine,  born 
in  1573,  and  whom  Fuller  thus  notices  :  "  he  was  bred  a  Fellow  of 
St.  John's  College,  in  Cambridge,  and  proved  afterwards  a  most 
profitable  preacher  to  the  Honourable  Society  of  Gray's  Inn,  whence 
he  was  chosen  master  of  St.  Katherine's  Hall,  in  Cambridge.  He 
found  the  house  in  a  mean  condition,  the  wheel  of  St.  Katherine 
having  stood  still  (not  to  say  gone  backwards)  for  some  years  to- 
gether :  he  left  it  replenished  with  scholars,  beautified  with  build- 
ings, better  endowed  with  revenues.  He  was  most  eminent  for  that 
grace,  which  is  most  worth,  yet  cost  the  least  to  keep  it,  viz.,  Chris- 
tian humility.  He  died  in  1031." 

William  Jenkin,  a  nonconformist  divine,  the  son  of  a  puritan 
minister,  and  born  here  in  1612.  He  was  educated  at  St.  John's 
College,  Cambridge,  and  in  1641,  was  chosen  minister  of  Christ 
church,  near  Newgate,  London  ;  of  which  he  was  deprived  for  non- 
conformity, in  1662.  He  was  sent  to  the  Tower  for  being  concerned 
in  Love's  plot,  but  was  released  on  petitioning  Cromwell.  In  1 684, 
he  was  committed  to  Newgate,  on  the  conventicle  act,  and  died  there 
four  months  afterwards.  His  works  are :  "  An  Expositon  of  the 
Epistle  of  Jude,"  folio  ;  some  sermons,  and  controversial  pieces, 
and  a  Latin  treatise. 

Thomas  Gainsborough,  an  admirable  English  artist,  was  born 
here  in  1727,  where  his  father  was  a  clothier;  and  at  a  very  early 
age,  manifested  a  remarkable  propensity  for  the  art  in  which  he  was 
destined  so  highly  to  excel.  He  was  sent,  while  yet  very  young,  for 


976  HUNDEED  OF  BABERGH. 

instruction,  to  London  ;  where  he  first  practised  the  art  of  mo- 
delling figures  of  animals,  in  which  he  attained  great  excellence. 
He  drew,  under  the  direction  of  Gravelot,  the  ornaments  for  Hou- 
braken's  Heads,  and  painted  small  landscapes  for  sale. 

At  length  he  undertook  portraits ;  and  after  a  residence  for  some 
years  at  Ipswich  and  Bath,  he  finally  fixed  himself  in  the  metropolis, 
in  1774.  In  other  respects,  Gainsborough  possessed  all  the  cha- 
racteristics of  original  genius.  His  talents  for  music  were  extraor- 
dinary, and  with  a  very  limited  knowledge  of  books,  he  wrote  letters 
in  the  first  style  of  elegance.  He  died  at  his  house  in  Pall  Mall, 
Aug.  2,  1788;  and  was  buried  in  Kew  church-yard. 

He  had  a  brother,  a  dissenting  minister,  at  Henley  upon  Thames, 
who  possessed  as  strong  a  genius  for  mechanics,  as  he  had  for  paint- 
ing. At  his  death,  he  left  all  his  models  of  machines,  engines, 
dials,  and  other  curiosities,  to  the  painter ;  by  whom  they  were 
presented  to  one  of  his  earliest  patrons,  the  well  known  Governor 
Thicknesse.  A  sun  dial,  of  ingenious  contrivance,  was  given  by 
that  gentleman  to  the  British  Museum.  It  has  also  been  stated, 
that  an  elder  brother  than  either  of  these,  who  continued  to  reside 
in  this  town,  was  scarcely  inferior  to  them  for  proficiency  in  the 
arts. 

William  Enfield,  LL.D.,  an  amiable  Unitarian  preacher,  compiler 
of  the  "  The  Speaker,"  and  numerous  other  valuable  works,  was  also 
born  at  Sudbury,  in  1741  ;  and  in  1770,  was  appointed  tutor  and 
lecturer  in  the  Belles  Lettres,  at  Warrington  Academy  ;  a  situation 
which  he  filled  for  some  years  with  general  approbation,  and  un- 
wearied diligence.  Some  time  after  the  dissolution  of  the  academy 
at  that  place,  he  was,  in  1785,  chosen  pastor  of  the  Octagon  meet- 
ing-house, at  Norwich  ;  the  duties  of  which  charge  he  fulfilled  till 
his  death,  in  1797.  The  very  numerous  list  of  subscribers  to  his 
Posthumous  Sermons,  in  8  vols.  8vo.,  attest  the  general  estimation 
in  which  this  amiable,  elegant,  and  justly  admired  writer,  was  held. 

ARMS. — Town  of  Sudbury :  a  talbot  sejant;  on  a  chief,  a  lion 
passant,  guardant,  between  two  fleurs-de-lis. 

CHARITIES. — A  grammar  school  was  founded  and  endowed  here, 
by  the  will  of  William  Wood,  master,  or  warden,  of  the  College  of 
Sudbury,  dated  in  1491  ;  willing  a  certain  messuage,  and  croft  of 
land,  and  the  inclosures  adjacent,  with  their  appurtenances,  within 
the  parish  of  St.  Gregory,  in  this  town,  to  be  enfeoffed  in  certain 
trustees,  to  the  intent  that  the  warden  of  the  said  College,  and  his 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  977 

successors,  should  nominate  a  master  to  dwell  in  the  said  messuage, 
and  there  teach  grammar,  and  continually  and  daily  instruct,  for 
ever,  hoys,  and  others  able  to  resort  to  the  said  school ;  to  receive 
the  annual  issues  and  profits  of  the  said  premises.  The  property  of 
the  school  derived  from  the  above  will,  consists  of  a  dwelling  house, 
school,  garden,  and  a  piece  of  pasture  ground  of  about  an  acre 
and  half,  in  the  town  of  Sudbury :  in  addition  to  which,  former 
masters  of  the  school,  as  far  as  can  be  traced,  were  also  in  receipt 
of  the  rents  of  a  farm  of  95  acres  of  land,  at  Maplestead,  in  Essex; 
but  some  doubt  as  to  the  actual  right  of  the  masters  of  the  school 
to  the  farm  has  been  lately  suggested.  Whether  such  right  has 
been  since  established  or  otherwise  we  are  not  informed. — St.  Leo- 
nard's Hospital  was  founded  by  John  Colneys,  in  the  reign  of  Ed- 
ward III.;  and  certain  statutes,  bearing  date  in  1372,  were  made 
for  its  regulation,  by  Simon  Theobald,  Bishop  of  Norwich.  It  ap- 
pears that  the  estates  of  the  Hospital  were  vested  in  feoffees,  in  the 
24th  of  Henry  VII. ;  but  no  subsequent  feofTment  has  been  met 
with.  The  Hospital  is  situate  near  Sudbury,  on  the  road  to  Long 
Melford,  and  it  contains  three  separate  dwellings,  with  a  garden  ad- 
joining, and  nearly  five  acres  of  ground,  in  two  fields  near  the  Hos- 
pital, lying  on  opposite  sides  of  the  road  above  mentioned.  From 
neglect  or  otherwise,  the  vacancies  in  this  charity  were  not  filled  up, 
nor  its  funds  properly  applied  when  the  Commissioners  made  their 
last  report. — In  1062,  Richard  Firmin  gave  four  acres  of  land  on 
Windmill  hill,  in  Sudbury ;  which  now  lets  at  £8  a  year,  and  the 
rent  is  laid  out,  and  distributed  among  the  poor  of  the  different  pa- 
rishes, in  the  proportions  directed  by  the  donor. — In  1620,  Martin 
Cole  devised  a  yearly  rent  charge  of  £14,  out  of  Shemford  Mills,  in 
Henny,  and  two  meadows,  called  the  Holmes,  in  Lamarch,  in  Essex, 
upon  trust;  £10  to  provide  100  yards  of  French  canvas,  and  with 
20s.  to  make  the  same  into  shirts  and  smocks,  to  be  given  to  the 
poor  of  the  three  parishes  in  this  town ;  6s.  8d.  each  to  the  minis- 
ters of  All  Saints  and  St.  Gregory,  to  preach  sermons  on  Ascension 
day ;  and  6s.  8d.  to  the  town  clerk,  to  enter  the  names  of  the  poor 
receiving  the  bequest ;  and  that  40s.  should  be  in  a  love  feast,  or 
meeting  of  the  two  minister's,  and  the  mayor,  alderman,  and  bur- 
gesses of  Sudbury,  in  remembrance  of  the  testator. — Nath.  King, 
in  1668,  devised  52s.  yearly,  out  of  the  George  Inn,  in  Sudbury; 
50s.  thereof  to  buy  100  sixpenny  loaves,  to  be  given  to  the  poor 
receiving  the  shirts  and  shifts,  one  loaf  to  each ;  and  2s.  to  be  spent 


978  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

in  wine  at  the  love  feast ;  and  he  directed  that  after  the  decease  of 
certain  persons,  the  said  premises  should  go  to  the  poor,  and  the 
rent  thereof,  after  payment  of  the  52s.,  be  laid  out  in  buying  and 
making  coats  of  grey  cloth,  to  be  given  to  the  poor  of  St.  Peter's 
parish.  The  premises  are  let  on  lease  for  21  years,  at  the  annual 
rent  of  £32  ;  the  lessee  covenanting  to  lay  out  £150  in  repairing 
and  rebuilding. — In  1706,  Thomas  Carter  devised  out  of  the  rent 
of  his  estates,  to  provide  for  50  of  the  poorest  men,  50  coats,  worth 
14s.  a  piece  ;  and  for  50  of  the  poorest  women,  50  mantles  or  cloaks, 
to  cost  10s.  each;  to  be  inhabitants  of  Sudbury :  the  annual  sum 
of  £61  10s.  is  paid  in  behalf  of  this  bequest:  and  Roger  Scarlin 
charged  his  messuage  and  lands  in  Boxford,  with  the  yearly  sum  of 
£10,  to  be  laid  out  by  the  trustees  of  Carter's  charity,  in  stockings 
and  shoes,  for  the  most  necessitous  poor  men  and  women  partaking 
of  that  charity;  and  Susan  Girling,  a  sum  sufficient  to  provide 
hempen  cloth  for  shirts  and  shifts  for  the  50  men  and  50  women, 
receiving  the  coats  and  cloaks  under  Carter's  charity. — Susan  Gir- 
ling, above  named,  devised  to  the  same  trustees,  her  messuage,  lands, 
&c.,  in  Hitcham  and  Wattisham,  and  her  share  of  a  real  estate  in 
Preston,  in  trust ;  to  apply  the  rents  for  the  teaching  of  poor  chil- 
dren in  Sudbury. — The  sum  of  £50  was  bequeathed,  by  the  Rev. 
William  Maleham,  in  1775,  for  the  benefit  of  these  schools. — Here 
are  also  several  other  minor  donations,  given  in  support  of  schools 
and  other  purposes;  and  also  various  small  doles  distributed  in 
bread  and  money. 


King 's  Reign.  A.  D.  Members  for  Sudbury. 

George  III.     1768  Patrick  Blake. — Walden  Hanmer. 

1774  Thomas  Fonnereau. — Philip  C.  Crespigney. 
Sir  P.  Blake,  Bart. — Sir  W.  Haumer,  Bart. 
1780  Sir  P.  Blake,  Bart. — Philip  Claude  Crespigney. 

Sir  James  Harriot,  Knt. 
1784  William  Smith.— James  Langston. 
1790  Thomas  C.  Crespigney. — John  Coxe  Hippesley. 
1796  Sir  James  Harriot,  Knt. — William  Smith. 

1801  Imperial  Parliament.     The  same. 

1802  Sir  John  Coxe  Hippesley,  Bart. — John  Pytchcs. 

1806  The  same. 

1807  Sir  J.  C.  Hippesley,  Bait. — Emauuel  F.  Agar. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  979 

1812  Sir  John  0.  Hippesley,  Bart. — Charles  Wyatt. 

1818  William  Heygate. — John  Broadhurst. 

George  IV.      1820  William  Heygate. — Charles  Augustus  Tulk. 

1826  Bethlell  Walrond.— John  Wilks. 

William  IV.     1830  Bethlell  Walrond.— Sir  John  Walsh,  Bart. 

1831  Sir  John  Walsh,  Bart. — Digby  Wrangham. 

1832  Sir  John  Walsh,  Bart. — Mich.  Angelo  Taylor. 
1835  J.  Bagshaw.— B.  Smith. 

Victoria.  1837  Sir  Edward  Barnes. — Sir  John  Hamilton. 


In  consequence  of  corrupt  practices  at  the  last  election,  in  1841, 
the  two  members  were  unseated ;  and  proceedings  have  since  been 
in  progress  in  Parliament  for  the  disfranchisement  of  the  borough. 
This  inquiry  is  still  in  progress,  and  Sudbury  is  in  the  mean  time 
virtually  disfranchised ;  but  has  some  hope  of  recovering  its  former 
privileges. 


W 


WALDINGFIELD  MAGNA,  or  WALINGAFELLA. 

The  Carbonels  are  the  earliest  family  we  meet  with  concerned 
here.  Sir  John  Carbonel,  Knt.,  was  seated  in  this  parish  towards 
the  close  of  the  13th  century.  He  married  Christian,  daughter  of 
Sir  Willian  le  Latimer ;  by  whom  she  had  issue  a  son,  William 
Carbonel,  heir  to  his  father's  inheritance. 

This  lady  re-married  to  Sir  Robert  de  Bosco;  and  in  1308,  he 
held  the  third  part  of  the  manor  of  Carbonels,  in  Waldingfield 
Magna,  with  the  advowson  of  that  parish  church,  in  right  of  the 
said  Christian's  dower,  and  of  the  inheritance  of  William  Carbonel. 
She  deceased  about  1313.  The  family  soon  afterwards  became  set- 
tled at  Badingham,  in  Hoxne  hundred.  (See  p.  376.) 

The  Appleton's  appear  to  have  succeeded.  Weever  mentions 
several  of  that  family  buried  in  Great  Waldingfield  church  :  namely, 
John  Appleton,  who  deceased  in  the  14th  of  Henry  IV. ;  John  Ap- 
pleton,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  who  died  in  1468, — he  in  1481; 
Thomas  Appleton,  who  died  in  1507  ;  and  Robert,  in  1526  ;  with 
other  members  of  that  house,  who  died  in  the  interim  of  those  dates. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states,  .hat  two  considerable 
manors  in  this  parish,  Acton  and  Moreves,  were  the  lordships  and 
demesne  of  James  Butler,  Earl  of  Ormond  and  Wiltshire,  Lord 


9HO  HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH. 

Treasurer,  who  was  beheaded,  and  his  estates  became  confiscated ; 
which  Edward  IV.  granted  to  Henry,  Viscount  Bouchier,  Earl  of 
Essex,  Lord  Treasurer ;  who  died  seized  of  the  above,  and  the  other 
estates  of  the  Earl  of  Wiltshire,  in  the  23rd  of  that  King,  and  left 
them  to  his  grandson,  Henry,  then  but  1 1  years  of  age.  He  sub- 
sequently became  a  great  favourite  of  King  Henry  VII.,  and  obtained 
livery  of  the  possessions  of  his  ancestors,  in  which  the  above  manors 
were  included. 

The  manor  of  Moreves,  with  those  of  Overhall  and  Silvesters,  in 
the  parish  of  Bures,  are  said  to  have  been  granted  by  Edward  IV., 
to  Sir  Thomas  Waldegrave,  Knt. ;  and  the  former,  sometimes  styled 
Morvi's,  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Kerington  (or  Keding- 
ton)  family;  and  is  now  the  estate,  with  Babergh  Hall,  in  this 
parish,  of  John  Medows  Rodwell,  Esq.,  of  Little  Livermere,  in  right 
of  Marianne  his  wife,  sister  and  sole  heiress  of  the  late  Rev.  Robert 
Kedington,  the  last  possessor  of  that  name.  (Eor  further  particu- 
lars concerning  his  ancestry,  see  p.  915.) 

Brandeston  Hall  manor,  in  Great  Waldingfield,  was  released,  iu 
or  about  the  year  1300,  by  Hawise,  widow  of  Sir  Roger  de  Bevant, 
to  the  Nunnery  of  Dartford,  in  Kent.  It  now  belongs,  by  purchase, 
to  William  Mills,  Esq.,  of  Great  Saxham. 

In  the  5th  of  Edward  III.,  William  Castelayne,  John  de  Rikell, 
and  others,  granted  the  manor  of  Beedles,  in  Waldingfield,  to  John, 
youngest  son  of  Sir  Robert  de  Peyton,  Knt.,  of  Peyton  Hall,  in 
B  oxford. 

This  parish  has  furnished  London  with  a  Lord  Mayor,  in  the 
person  of  Sir  John  Spencer,  cloth  worker,  son  of  Richard  Spencer, 
of  Great  Waldingfield,  who  served  that  honourable  office  in  the  36th 
of  Queen  Elizabeth.  His  ARMS  :  argent ;  two  bars  gemells,  be- 
tween three  eagles  displayed,  sable. 

The  church  is  a  good  structure,  in  the  perpendicular  style  of  ar- 
chitecture, and  contains  several  memorials  to  members  of  the  Ke- 
dington family.  It  is  in  the  patronage  of  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge ; 
and  the  Rev.  Henry  Kirby,  A.M.,  is  the  present  incumbent. 

CHARITIES. — Edward  Appleton,  of  Edwardston,  Gent.,  devised, 
by  will,  in  1580,  40s.  per  annum  to  the  poor  of  this  parish,  and  a 
like  sum  to  the  poor  of  Little  Waldingfield  ;  and  20s.  per  annum 
to  the  poor  of  Edwardston ;  all  which  he  charged  on  an  estate  in 
the  latter  parish,  called  "  Hockers  on  the  Hill."  No  payment  has 
been  made  on  account  of  this  charity  since  the  death  of  Job  Hanmer, 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  981 

Esq.,  late  of  Holbrook  Hall,  in  Little  Waldingfield ;  and  it  appears 
no  means  now  exist  of  ascertaining  the  property  thus  charged. — 
The  sum  of  £50,  formerly  given  by  a  person  named  Coleman,  to 
provide,  with  the  interest,  bread  for  poor  widows,  was  placed  at  in- 
terest in  the  hands  of  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  Preston,  D.D.,  and  he 
having  died  insolvent,  the  charity  was  lost. 


WALDINGFIELD  PARVA,  or  WALDINGEFELDA. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  this  lordship  was  held  jointly  by  William 
Beauchamp,  and  William  Fitz  Ralph ;  and  appears  afterwards  to 
have  passed  as  that  of  Moulton,  in  Risbridge  hundred :  Sir  Hugh 
Lutterill  died  seized  thereof  in  the  6th  of  Henry  VI.  The  Rev. 
Barrington  Bloomfield  Syer,  of  Kedington,  is  now  lord  of  this 
manor,  impropriator  of  the  rectory,  and  patron  and  incumbent  of 
the  benefice. 

Holbrook  Hall,  in  this  parish,  is  a  neat  mansion,  and  has  been 
for  several  years  the  seat  of  a  branch  of  the  Hanmer  family.  Wai- 
den  Hanmer,  Esq.,  Barrister-at-Law,  and  M.P.  for  Sudbury,  who 
was  created  a  Baronet  in  1774,  married  Anne,  youngest  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  Henry  Vere  Graham,  Esq.,  of  Holbrook  Hall,  and 
inherited  the  same  in  her  right.  Sir  Walden  died  in  1783. 

Job  Hanmer,  Esq.,  a  Captain  in  the  Royal  Navy,  their  second 
son,  succeeded  to  this  estate ;  and  married  Maria,  daughter  of  John 
Syer,  Esq.,  of  Lavenham:  he  deceased  in  1814,  leaving  issue  a 
daughter,  who  was  married,  first,  to  Thomas  Waring,  Esq.,  and  se- 
condly, to  Wm.  Fowke,  Esq.  Wm.  Walden,  his  son,  died  in  1823, 
unmarried ;  when  Job  Hanmer,  Esq.,  Captain  R.N.,  his  brother, 
succeeded  to  this  estate ;  and  married,  in  1823,  Harriet,  youngest 
daughter  of  the  late  Thomas  Dawson,  Esq.,  of  Edwardston  Hall ; 
who  died  in  1831.  Charles  Hanmer,  Esq.,  is  now  owner  of  Hol- 
brook Hall. 

Arthur  Jackson,  an  eminent  nonconformist  divine,  was  a  native 
of  this  parish.  He  was  ejected  from  the  living  of  St.  Faith's,  in 
London,  in  1662;  and  fined  ^6500  for  refusing  to  give  evidence 
against  Christopher  Love,  and  also  imprisoned ;  he  was  chosen  a 
Commissioner  at  the  Savoy  conference.  He  wrote  a  Commentary 
on  the  Bible,  3  vols.  4to. ;  and  died  in  1666,  aged  73  years. 


982  HUNDRED  OF  BA13ERGH. 

CHARITIES. — Five  parcels  of  land  in  this  parish,  containing  about 
12  acres ;  of  which  the  rents  and  profits  were,  by  the  will  of  John 
Wincoll,  dated  in  1580,  directed  to  be  distributed  among  poor 
people  inhabiting  in  Little  Waldingfield  :  yearly  rent,  £20  10s. — 
Three  pieces  of  land,  by  estimation  8  acres,  with  a  tenement  and 
barn  thereon,  at  Washbrook  ;  these  premises  let  at  £9  per  annum  : 
three  pieces  of  land  at  Felsham,  containing  9A.  2R.  9p.,  formerly 
purchased  with  £100,  bequeathed  by  Mary  Williamson,  in  1697; 
rent  £10  a  year.  The  rents  of  the  land  in  this  parish  and  Wash- 
brook,  are  distributed  among  poor  persons  of  the  parish  not  receiv- 
ing parochial  relief;  and  the  rent  of  the  Felsham  land  is  employed 
in  apprenticing  boys. — Isaac  Appleton,  in  1608,  devised  to  Isaac, 
his  son,  and  his  heirs,  four  tenements,  in  or  adjoining  the  church- 
yard, in  Little  Waldingfield  ;  and  directed  poor  men,  or  widows,  to 
be  placed  therein  ;  and  he  directed  six  loads  of  wood  to  be  yearly 
distributed  among  the  four  houses.  The  tenements  are  occupied 
by  poor  persons,  but  the  supply  of  wood  has  been  long  discontinued. 
— A  house  here,  vested  in  feoffees,  by  deed,  in  1629,  has  been  long 
used  as  a  pest-house  ;  and  when  not  wanted  for  such  purpose,  is 
occupied  by  two  parish  paupers. — Thomas  Appleton,  Esq.,  by  will, 
dated  in  1603,  directed  his  son  and  his  heirs,  to  satisfy  to  the  poor 
people  of  this  parish,  ten  loads  of  wood  every  year  ;  but  they  have 
not  derived  the  benefit  of  this  donation  for  a  very  long  time.  (For 
Edward  Appleton's  gift  see  parish  of  Great  Waldingfield.) 


WISTON,  or  WISSINGTON. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  states  that  this  lordship  was 
anciently  vested  in  Michael  Lord  Poinings ;  whose  son  and  heir, 
Thomas  Lord  Poiniugs,  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren  in  the 
same  ;  from  whom  it  passed,  so  privileged,  to  Michael,  his  son  and 
heir,  and  his  descendants. 

At  the  period  of  the  general  survey,  the  church  and  a  manor  here 
belonged  to  the  great  Suene,  of  Essex,  whose  chief  seat  was  at  Kaley 
(or  Ealeigh),  in  that  county;  under  whom  the  Godebolds  held,  in 
Edward  the  Confessor's  reign.  In  the  time  of  Henry  I.,  Robert, 
son  of  Godebold,  founded  a  Priory  at  Little  Horksley,  in  Essex,  to 
the  honour  of  St.  Peter,  for  Cluniac  monks. 


HUNDRED  OF  BABERGH.  983 

He,  and  Beatrix  his  wife,  gave  to  the  Cluniac  Monastery,  at 
Thetford,  all  their  churches ;  upon  condition,  that  the  Prior  at 
Thetford,  should  send  as  many  monks  to  serve  God  in  the  church 
of  St.  Peter,  at  Horksley,  as  the  place  could  conveniently  maintain. 
And  for  their  hetter  subsistance  they  assigned  certain  other  churches 
to  this  Priory  ;  amongst  which  the  church  of  Wiston,  in  Suffolk,  is 
included. 

This  was  one  of  the  small  Monasteries  which  Cardinal  Wolsey 
obtained  to  make  part  of  the  endowment  of  his  College  at  Oxford, 
and  which  reverted  afterwards  to  the  Crown  ;  and  this  vicarage  still 
continues  in  the  patronage  of  the  throne. 

The  manorial  property  in  this  parish  belonging  to  the  family  of 
Godebold,  passed  with  their  other  estate,  about  the  time  of  King 
John,  to  that  of  Horkesley  ;  and  a  member  of  that  family  held  the 
same  in  the  9th  of  Edward  I.  Sir  Joshua  Ricketts  Rowley,  Bart., 
has  an  estate  here,  and  probably  is  owner  of  the  manor. 


COSFORDA,  Or  COSFORT. 

Is  bounded  on  the  East,  by  the  Hundreds  ofBosmere  and  Clay- 
don,  and  part  of  the  Hundred  of  Samford  ,•  on  the  South,  by 
those  of  Samford  and  Babergh ;  on  the  West,  by  that  of  Ba- 
bergh ;  and  on  the  North,  by  the  Hundreds  of  Stow  and  Thed- 
wastre.  It  contains  the  following  parishes  : — 


ALDHAM, 

BILDESTON, 

BRETTENHAM, 

CHELSWORTH, 

ELMSETT, 

HADLEIGH, 

HlTCHAM, 

KETTLEBARSTON. 


KERSEY, 
LEYHAM, 
LINDSEY, 
NAUGHTON, 
NEDGING, 
SEMERE, 

THORP  MORIEUX, 
WATTISHAM, 
And  WHATFIELD. 


In  the  3rd  of  Richard  I.,  Adam  de  Cokefield  released  his  claim 
to  this  Hundred  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's ;  and  in  the  9th 
of  Edward  I.,  the  fee  teas  in  the  said  Abbot ;  but  since  the  dis- 
solution of  that  house,  has  been,  and  now  is,  in  the  Crown  ;  and 
the  government  in  the  Sheriff",  and  his  officers. 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 


ALDHAM. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish  was  for  several  generations  vested  in 
the  Veres,  Earls  of  Oxford  ;  until  it  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown, 
by  the  attainder  of  John,  Earl  of  Oxford,  in  the  time  of  Edward 
IV. ;  who  granted  the  same  to  his  brother,  Richard,  Duke  of  Glou- 
cester ;  who  in  the  1  Ith  of  that  reign,  was  appointed  Chamberlain 
of  the  King's  Household,  and  had  the  same  settled  upon  him  in 
special  entail. 

It  appears  soon  after  to  have  been  in  the  Howard  family ;  and 
subsequently  belonged  to  Thomas  Coke,  Earl  of  Leicester,  who  de- 
ceased in  1759,  possessed  thereof:  in  1704,  Sir  Joshua  Vauneck, 
Bart.,  was  owner  of  this  estate.  The  present  proprietor  is  Thomas 
Barrett  Leunard,  Esq.,  of  Hyde  Park  Terrace,  Middlesex,  in  right 
of  Mary  his  second  wife,  only  daughter  of  the  late  Bartlett  Bridger 
Shedden,  Esq.,  of  this  parish. 

Mr.  Leonard  is  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  Thos.  Barrett  Lennard,  Bart., 
of  Bell  House,  in  Essex,  and  M.P.  for  Maldon,  in  that  county.  He 
is  owner  of  this  lordship,  and  has  the  patronage  of  the  advowson. 

CHARITIES. — In  1G27,  John  Goodale  gave,  by  will,  20s.  a  year 
out  of  his  estate  at  Roydon,  now  the  property  of  the  Rev.  Newman 
Stebbing,  to  be  distributed  yearly  in  bread  on  St.  John's  day.  This 
annuity  is  duly  applied  by  the  churchwardens. — The  sum  of  £20, 
left  by  the  Rev.  John  Sponer,  for  the  poor,  has  been  lost  by  insol- 
vency of  a  person  to  whom  the  money  had  been  lent  at  interest. 


BILDESTON,  or  BILESTUNA. 

This  is  a  small  mean  built  town,  having  formerly  a  market  on 
Wednesdays,  which  has  been  long  discontinued.    It  was  once  noted 


HUNDRED  OF  COSF011D. 

for  its  manufacture  of  blue  cloth  and  blankets,  and  at  that  period  was 
probably  more  populous  than  at  present. 

In  the  3rd  of  Henry  III.,  a  fine  was  levied  between  John  de 
Dereham,  and  Hawise  his  wife,  late  widow  of  Philip  de  Hauvile, 
and  Ralph  de  Hauvile,  of  her  dower  at  Duntou,  in  Norfolk,  and 
elsewhere  ;  when  Kalph  assigned  them  lands  in  this  parish  for  life ; 
who  released  lands  in  Dunton  to  Ralph. 

This  was  the  lordship  and  demesne  of  Henry  Bourchier,  Earl  of 
Essex,  who  died  seized  thereof  in  the  23rd  of  Edward  IV. ;  when 
Henry  Bourchier,  son  and  heir  of  William,  Viscount  Bourchier,  who 
deceased  before  his  father,  succeeded  his  grandfather.  William, 
Lord  Parr,  having  married  Anne,  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  latter, 
had  livery  of  all  the  lands  of  her  inheritance,  in  the  33rd  of  Henry 
VIII.,  amongst  which  this  lordship  and  advowson  were  included. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  17th  century,  Bartholomew  Beale,  Esq., 
held  this  lordship  and  advowson,  and  was  seated  here.  He  left  two 
daughters  and  co-heirs  :  Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  married  William  Al- 
ston, Esq.,  of  Bradford,  a  Barrister  of  Gray's  Inn,  and  only  son  of 
Samuel  Alston,  Esq.,  of  Marlsford,  in  Loes  hundred ;  the  other 
daughter  married  Jacob  Brand,  Esq.,  of  Polstead,  in  this  county ; 
between  whom  this  estate  was  held  jointly. 

Mr.  Alston  deceased  in  1649,  and  William,  his  eldest  son,  suc- 
ceeded to  a  moiety  of  this  property.  In  1734,  William  Alston, 
Esq.,  was  seated  at  Bildeston ;  and  William  Beale  Brand,  Esq., 
held  the  other  moiety  in  17C4.  Mrs.  Mary  Anne  Tyrell,  wife  of 
Charles  Tyrell,  Esq.,  of  Polstead  Hall,  is  now  owner  of  this  estate 
and  manor.  The  late  Richard  Wilson,  Esq.,  erected  a  neat  resi- 
dence in  this  parish,  and  was  proprietor  of  a  good  estate  here.  He- 
was  elected  representative  in  Parliament  for  Ipswich,  in  1806,  with 
the  Hon.  Capt.  Stopford.  A  branch  of  the  Revett  family  were  also 
formerly  resident  here.  ' '  William  Revett,  of  Bildeston,  in  Suffolk, 
Esq.,  widower,  married  Elizabeth  Drury,  Gent.,  3  June,  1632."- 
Besthorp  register. 

The  church  is  a  handsome  structure,  situate  on  an  eminence  a 
short  distance  westward  from  the  town  ;  besides  which  here  was  for- 
merly a  chapel,  dedicated  to  St.  Leonard,  in  which  there  was  a 
chantry,  called  Erdington's  chantry.  The  ancient  manor  house 
stands  near  the  parish  church.  The  Rev.  Charles  Johnson,  A.M. 
is  now  patron,  and  holds  the  incumbency. 

CHARITIES. — The  church  lands  consist  of  20  acres,  situate  in  this 


HUNDRED  OF  C08FORD.  989 

parish  ;  which  let  at  i'30  per  annum,  and  is  expended  in  the  repa- 
ration of  the  church. — Two  cottages,  the  residence  of  poor  persons, 
rent  free,  and  a  meadow  in  Chelsworth,  called  Smock  Meadow, 
yearly  rent  .£f>,  which  is  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  linen  for  poor 
widows ;  and  the  sum  of  £27,  in  the  hands  of  the  churchwardens, 
is  appropriated  to  buying  fuel  for  the  poor.  It  is  not  known  how 
the  fund  was  given. 


BEETTENHAM.— BRETTHAM,  or  BRETENHAMA. 

This  by  some  authors  has  been  supposed  to  be  a  Roman  station, 
the  Combretonium  of  Antoninus  ;  but  Mr.  Blomefield,  the  Norfolk 
historian,  thinks  a  parish  of  the  same  name  in  that  county,  the  more 
likely  place,  because  Eoman  antiquities  have  been  discovered  at  the 
latter  place,  and  he  had  not  heard  of  any  being  found  here  ;  others 
suppose  it  to  have  been  at  Icklingham,  in  this  county. 

Thomas,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  certified  to  William,  Bishop 
of  Norwich,  the  acknowledgement  of  William  Deacon,  of  Bretten- 
ham,  that  the  church  of  Brettenham  belonged  to  the  Monastery  of 
St.  Edmund ;  and  that  he  had  done  fealty  for  it  to  Abbot  Ording  ; 
who  presided  over  that  house  from  1148  to  1150.  ' 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  Gilbert  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester, 
held  this  lordship.  His  second  wife  was  Joan  de  Acres,  daughter 
of  that  Monarch  ;  and  Gilbert,  their  son,  succeeded,  who  died  with- 
out issue.  In  1344,  Hugh,  Lord  Audley,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  was 
patron  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  in  Brettenham  :  he  married  Mar- 
garet, second  sister  and  co-heir  of  the  above  Gilbert  de  Clare. 

Thomas  of  Woodstock,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  probably  succeeded 
to  this  estate.  Anne,  his  daughter,  married  Edmund  Stafford, 
Earl  of  Stafford :  Humphrey,  their  son,  presented  to  this  church  in 
1432,  and  was  created  Duke  of  Buckingham,  in  1444  :  it  continued 
in  his  descendants  until  the  death  of  Edward  Stafford,  Duke  of 
Buckingham,  who  was  beheaded  in  1521  ;  when  it  became  forfeited 
to  the  Crown,  and  still  remains  in  that  patronage.  The  Crown 
first  presented  in  1552. 

The  family  of  Winiffe  (or  Wenyeve)  became  interested  hero 
shortly  after  this.  Thomas,  eldest  son  of  George  W7iniffe,  and  Mary 
his  wife,  died  in  1G1 1,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church.  Their 


990  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

descendants  were  seated  in  Brettenham,  for  several  generations  :  of 
whom  was  Edward  Wenyeve,  Esq.,  High  Sheriff  of  this  county  in 
1652;  and  Sir  George  Wenyeve,  Knt,  who  deceased  in  1706. 

Another  member  of  this  house,  John  Wenyeve,  Esq.,  was  Sheriff 
of  Suffolk  in  1784,  and  died  in  J801  :  this  estate  continued  in  his 
descendants  until  the  death  of  George  Wenyeve,  Esq.  ;  when  it 
passed  to  Colonel  John  Camac,  Esq.,  who  married  Miss  Wenyeve, 
his  daughter  and  heiress.  Since  his  decease,  the  estate  and  manor 
has  been  vested  in  trustees,  and  is  now  in  the  Chancery  Court. 

The  church  is  singularly  constructed,  from  the  steeple  being 
placed  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  south  side  of  the  nave,  which 
forms  the  porch  entrance.  Besides  several  memorials  to  members 
of  the  above  family,  it  contains  one  to  Margaret,  daughter  and  heir 
of  Ambrose  Gilbert,  of  Dovercourt,  in  Essex,  and  relict  of  Law- 
rence Torkington,  Esq.,  of  Stukeley,  in  Huntingdonshire,  who  died 
in  1674  :  to  Eobert  their  son,  and  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  and  sole 
heiress  of  William  Gilbert,  of  Colchester. 

Brettenham  Hall  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  gentle  elevation  in  a 
small  but  well  wooded  park,  in  which  are  several  venerable  oaks  ; 
and  has  undergone  some  judicious  alterations  and  improvements 
since  it  came  into  the  possession  of  Colonel  Camac :  it  contains  a 
good  collection  of  pictures,  by  first  rate  artists.  The  river  Bret 
(or  Breton)  takes  its  rise  from  a  piece  of  water  in  the  park,  and 
divides  this  parish  from  that  of  Hitcham. 

CHARITIES. — These  comprise  a  rent  charge  of  £4.  a  year,  issuing 
out  of  a  field  called  Crouch  Field,  given  by  James  Durrant,  by  will, 
in  1644,  to  be  distributed  to  the  poor  of  the  parish  ;  and  a  piece  of 
land  containing  about  2§-  acres,  appropriated  to  the  reparation  of 
the  church. 


CHELSWORTH,  or  CERLESWRDA. 

Aethelfled,  the  daughter  of  Alfgar,  had  this  lordship,  of  the  grant 
of  King  Edgar ;  and  at  her  father's  request,  gave  the  same  to  the 
Abbey  of  St.  Edmund  at  Bury  ;  and  Sampson,  Abbot  of  that  Mo- 
nastery, by  a  fine  levied  in  the  4th  of  King  John,  granted  to  Bene- 
dict, son  of  Richard  de  Blakeham,  in  fee  farm,  the  said  manor,  with 
other  property  in  this  county  ;  and  it  belonged  to  the  said  Benedict 
in  1198. 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  991 

In  the  15th  of  Henry  III.,  Thomas  de  Blakeham,  in  an  action 
brought  hy  him  against  Richard,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  touching 
the  service  of  the  mill  in  Chelsworth,  and  the  farm  of  the  manor  of 
that  parish,  pleaded  that  he  held  the  mill  under  a  fine  between  him 
and  Abbot  Hugh,  in  King  John's  time ;  and  the  manor  under  a 
fine  between  Sampson,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's,  and  Benedict,  son 
of  Richard  de  Blakeham,  whose  heir  he  was.  In  the  37th  of  the 
same  reign,  Benedict  de  Blakelmm,  probably  the  son  of  Thomas, 
had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  his  demesne  of  Chelsworth,  &c. 

Sir  Benedict  de  Blakeham,  his  son,  was  Steward  of  the  House- 
hold of  Alianor,  the  Queen  mother,  and  a  witness  to  her  charter  of 
foundation  of  St.  Katheriue's  Hospital,  near  the  Tower  of  London, 
in  1273.  In  1271,  he  married  Joan,  only  child  of  William  de  Has- 
tings, by  Isabella,  afterwards  wife  of  Bartholomew  de  Arden.  Joan, 
at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  Sir 
Benedict  had  summons  for  the  expedition  against  the  Welsh,  in  the 
10th  of  Edward  I. ;  and  dying  in  the  12th  of  the  same  reign,  left 
Benedict,  his  son  and  heir,  a  minor,  in  ward  to  the  Queen  mother. 

The  heir  of  the  house  of  Blakeham  made  proof  of  his  age  in  the 
25th  of  Edward  I.,  and  on  the  Gth  of  February  in  that  year,  he  did 
homage  to  the  King,  for  his  lands  ;  being  thereupon  summoned  to 
perform  military  service  beyond  the  seas  ;  and  from  that  time  the 
fortunes  of  the  youth  became  involved  in  mystery. 

Under  a  fine  levied  by  Benedict  de  Blakeham,  Hugh  de  St.  Phi- 
libert,  and  John,  his  son,  in  the  30th  of  Edward  I.,  the  manor  of 
Chelsworth  was  settled  upon  Thomas  de  Blakeham,  for  his  life  ; 
with  remainder  to  Hugh  de  St.  Philibert,  and  John,  his  sou,  and 
the  heirs  of  John  ;  and  as  the  whole  of  the  other  property  of  Bene- 
dict de  Blakeham  devolved  in  possession,  at  the  decease  of  Hugh  de 
St.  Philibert,  upon  John,  his  son,  it  appears  that  he  had  divested 
himself  of  all  his  inheritance,  paternal  as  well  as  maternal,  soon  after 
his  coming  of  age. 

Sir  John  de  St.  Philibert,  son  and  heir  of  Hugh,  made  proof  of 
his  age,  and  did  homage  for  his  lands,  in  the  7th  of  Edward  II. ; 
and  in  the  10th  of  that  King,  received  a  confirmation  of  free  warren 
in  Chelsworth.  He,  dying  in  the  7th  of  Edward  III.,  left  issue  by 
Ada  his  wife,  daughter  of  John  de  Botetourt,  John,  his  heir ; 
Thomas,  who  died  without  issue ;  Margery,  wife  of  Sir  Richard  de 
Plays,  Knt. ;  Alice,  wife  of  Sir  Brian  Staplelou,  K.G. ;  and  Maud, 
wife  of  Sir  Warren  Trussel;  which  Margery,  Alice,  and  Maud, 


#92  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

became  the  heirs  general  of  the  family  of  St.  Philibert,  on  the  failure 
of  issue  of  their  brother. 

In  the  25th  of  Edward  III.,  Sir  John  de  St.  Philibert,  the  son, 
released  to  Sir  Richard  de  Plays,  all  his  right  in  the  manor  of 
Chelsworth ;  and  by  an  inquisition  taken  there  in  the  34th  of  that 
King,  it  was  found  that  Sir  Richard  de  Plays,  deceased,  held,  jointly 
with  Margery  his  wife,  then  living,  the  manor  of  Chelsworth. 

This  estate  passed  from  the  house  of  Plays,  to  that  of  Howard, 
by  the  marriage  of  Margery,  only  child  of  Sir  John  de  Plays  by  his 
first  wife,  Margery,  daughter  of  Sir  Walter  de  Norwich,  with  Sir 
John  Howard,  ancestor  of  the  Dukes  of  Norfolk.  He  died  in  1437, 
and  Elizabeth,  his  granddaughter,  succeeded  :  she  married  John  de 
Vere,  1 2th  Earl  of  Oxford  ;  lord  in  her  right.  He  was  beheaded  in 
1461  ;  and  in  the  12th  of  Edward  IV.,  she  settled  this,  with  other 
lordships,  on  Richard,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  in  trust,  for  the  use  of 
her  heirs. 

In  the  18th  of  the  said  King,  the  Duke's  trustees  confirmed  this 
manor  to  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  St.  George,  at  Windsor,  for  the 
endowment  of  a  chantry  in  the  said  chapel.  This  however  did  not 
take  place ;  and  upon  the  accession  of  Henry  VII.  to  the  throne, 
the  Vere  family  became  restored  to  their  honours  and  estates,  amongst 
which  this  lordship  was  included.  It  probably  continued  in  this 
noble  house  until  the  time  of  Edward  de  Vere,  17th  Earl  of  Oxford, 
who  alienated  much  of  his  property,  and  deceased  in  1604. 

It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  family  of  Jenney,  of  whom 
it  was  purchased,  in  1737,  by  Robert  Pocklington,  Esq. ;  who 
erected  a  handsome  mansion,  and  became  seated  here.  Chelsworth 
House  is  now  the  estate  and  residence  of  Sir  Henry  Edmund  Austin, 
Knt.,  who  is  owner  of  the  lordship  ;  which  he  inherited  upon  the 
decease  of  Sir  Robert  Pocklington,  Knt.,  Sept.  21, 1840.  Sir  Robert 
was  Knight  of  the  Imperial  Order  of  Maria  Theresa,  and  formerly 
of  the  15th  Hussars. 

The  remains  of  a  large  building,  noticed  by  Mr.  Kirby,  as  situated 
upon  a  rising  ground  near  the  church,  was  Blakenham  Hall,  the 
mansion  and  principal  residence  of  the  ancient  and  Knightly  family 
of  the  Blakehams,  for  several  ages. 

ARMS. — Plays :  per  pale,  or  and  gules,  a  lion  passant,  argent. 
Howard :  gules  ;  on  a  bend,  between  six  crosslets  fitchee,  argent, 
an  escutcheon,  or ;  thereon  a  demi-lion  in  a  double  treasure,  coun- 
terflory,  with  an  arrow  through  the  mouth  of  the  first. 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  993 

CHARITIES. — In  1580,  Robert  Nightingale  devised  a  copyhold 
estate,  held  of  the  manor  of  Chelsworth,  for  the  use  of  the  poor. 
It  comprises  about  21  acres  of  land,  lying  in  four  different  fields  in 
the  parish,  and  is  let  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £32  ;  which  is  laid  out  in 
the  purchase  of  coals  and  clothing,  and  distributed  among  poor  per- 
sons of  the  parish. — A  yearly  rent  charge  of  30s.,  given  for  the  use 
of  the  poor,  by  Elizabeth  Thurloe,  is  paid  out  of  an  estate  in  this 
parish,  belonging  to  the  late  Sir  Robert  Pocklington,  and  is  laid  out 
in  bread,  which  is  distributed  on  lady-day,  at  the  church. 


ELMSETT,  or  ELMESETA. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  Joan  de  Bathun  held  the  lordship  of 
this  parish ;  and  it  probably  continued  in  that  family  several  de- 
scents. In  1 330,  Thomas  le  Archer  was  rector  here,  who  was  allied, 
it  is  supposed,  to  that  family ;  as  he,  and  Richard  his  brother,  in  the 
above  year,  presented  to  the  church  of  Ridlesworth,  in  Norfolk,  and 
held  that  manor ;  which  they  seem  to  have  inherited  in  right  of  the 
heiress  of  the  house  of  Bathonia  (or  Bathun). 

Richard  Gideon  Glanville,  Esq.,  was  owner  of  this  manor  in  17G4. 
It  was  lately  the  estate  of  E.  Reeve,  Esq. ;  and  now,  of  James  Cud- 
den,  of  Norwich,  Esq.  The  advowson  of  the  rectory  belongs  to 
Clare  Hall,  Cambridge. 

The  church,. dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  is  a  neat  structure,  pleasantly 
situated  on  an  eminence.  It  contains  a  memorial  to  Edward  Sher- 
land,  Esq.,  of  Gray's  Inn ;  descended  from  the  family  of  Sherland, 
of  Sheppy  Isle,  in  Kent.  He  died  in  1009,  unmarried.  On  the 
descent  of  the  opposite  hill  is  a  dropping  well,  which  deserves  the 
inspection  of  the  curious. 

Elmsett  is  remarkable  as  the  native  place  of  John  Bois,  an  emi- 
nent scholar  and  divine,  who  was  born  here  in  1560.  His  father 
was  first  curate,  and  afterwards  rector,  of  this  parish.  Mr.  Bois 
was  taught  the  rudiments  of  learning  by  his  father,  and  afterwards 
went  to  Hadleigh  School ;  at  fourteen  years  of  age  he  was  admitted 
at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge.  He  was  ten  years  first  Greek 
Lecturer  in  his  College,  and  was  appointed  one  of  the  Cambridge 
Translators,  when  James  I.  ordered  the  new  version  of  the  Bible. 


i)94  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

He  succeeded  to  the  living  of  Boxworth,  in  Cambridgeshire,  in 
1596,  and  held  a  Prebend  stall  in  Ely  Cathedral.  He  died  in  1643. 
Hopton  Haynes,  A.M.,  rector  of  this  parish,  was  a  son  of  Hopton 
Haynes,  Esq.,  Assay  Master  of  the  Mint,  and  principal  Tally  Writer 
of  the  Exchequer ;  an  elder  brother  of  Dr.  Samuel  Haynes,  Canon 
of  Windsor,  the  learned  Editor  of  "  A  Collection  of  State  Papers." 
Mr.  Haynes  held  this  living  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century, 
during  39  years,  and  died  June  25th,  1766,  aged  68  years. 

Another  remarkable  personage,  William  Talbot,  A.M.,  Chancellor 
of  Sarum,  was  rector  of  this  parish  from  1766  to  1811.  He  was 
formerly  of  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge ;  where  he  proceeded  A.B.  in 
1742,  A.M.  1746,  and  was  many  years  Fellow  and  Tutor  of  that 
Society,  by  which  he  was  presented  to  this  living.  Mr.  Talbot  died 
Nov.  25,  1811,  aged  91  years:  he  was  the  oldest  incumbent  in 
the  diocese  of  Norwich,  and  the  oldest  member  of  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 

CHARITIES. — The  yearly  sum  of  3s.  is  paid  out  of  a  piece  of  land, 
called  the  Grove,  now  parcel  of  the  glebe,  under  the  gift  of  the  Rev. 
Richard  Glanville,  and  is  laid  out  in  bread ;  which  is  distributed 
among  six  poor  persons,  conformably  to  the  donor's  intention. — 
The  Rev.  Moses  Coe,  in  1726,  bequeathed  4;  15,  that  two  thirds  of 
the  interest  thereof  might  be  distributed  among  the  poor  attending 
the  church  service  and  sacrament,  and  the  residue  to  such  poor  chil- 
dren as  made  the  best  responses  when  examined  in  the  catechism. 


HADLEIGH,  or  HETLEGA, 

Is  a  market  town  of  considerable  importance,  situated  upon  the 
north  side  of  the  river  Breton.  It  formerly  enjoyed  the  privileges 
of  a  corporation,  and  was  governed  by  a  mayor,  alderman,  and  com- 
mon council ;  but  a  quo  warranto  being  brought  against  them, 
they  surrendered  their  charter  during  the  reign  of  James  II.,  and 
no  other  has  been  since  granted.  It  had  anciently  two  weekly  mar- 
kets, but  now  only  one,  on  Mondays.  The  woollen  trade  also  once 
flourished  in  this  town,  but  is  now  completely  reduced. 

This  town  is  principally  noted  as  the  burial  place  of  Guthrum 
(Guthrin,  or  Gormo)  the  Dane ;  one  of  those  chieftains,  who, 
towards  the  close  of  the  ninth  century,  issuing  from  the  heart  of 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  995 

Scandinavia,  carried  all  the  horrors  of  the   most  savage  warfare 
throughout  the  coasts,  and  even  the  interior  of  England. 

He  arrived  in  this  country  in  878,  at  the  head  of  an  army  of 
pagan  Danes,  no  less  cruel  than  himself;  and  it  was  into  the  camp 
of  this  ferocious  leader,  that  our  patriot  King  Alfred,  was  introduced, 
in  the  disguise  of  a  harper ;  a  stratagem  which  enabled  him  to  de- 
tect the  insecurity  of  his  foes ;  and  their  want  of  discipline,  led,  very 
soon  afterwards,  to  their  total  defeat. 

Upon  this  Guthrin  consented  to  embrace  Christianity,  and  had 
the  government  of  the  East  Angles  assigned  him,  where  he  settled ; 
fixing  on  the  site  of  Hadleigh  as  a  central  situation  for  his  capital. 
Here  he  continued  to  reside,  and  reign,  nearly  eleven  years ;  and 
died,  according  to  the  testimony  of  history,  a  sincere  convert  to 
Christianity,  about  the  year  889.  He  was  buried  within  the  ground 
now  occupied  by  the  present  church  of  Hadleigh. 

In  1767,  the  supposed  tomb  of  Guthrin,  in  this  parish  church, 
was  opened ;  when,  deep  beneath  the  surface,  was  discovered  a  mas- 
sive grave  of  stone,  the  floor  of  which  was  tesselated  with  small  square 
glazed  tiles,  and  covered  with  some  light  blue  ashes ;  circumstances 
which  seem  to  corroborate  the  record,  and  the  local  appropriation  of 
antiquity.  The  tomb  here  shewn  for  his  does  not  bear  the  appear- 
ance of  such  antiquity,  but  is  of  a  much  later  date. 

The  principal  manor,  which  is  very  extensive,  anjl  styled  Peyton 
Hall,  appears,  in  1764,  to  have  been  the  estate  of  Ebenezer  Maurice, 
Esq. ;  and  since,  of  the  Lloyds,  of  Hintlesham  Hall ;  and  now  be- 
longs to  Capt.  Hamilton  Lloyd  Anstruther,  Esq.,  their  representative. 
Hadleigh  Hall  manor  lately  belonged  to  the  Kev.  Edward  Jermyn. 

Poudhall,  in  this  parish,  became  the  estate  and  seat  of  the  an- 
cient family  of  D'Oyley,  by  the  marriage  of  Edward  D'Oyley,  Esq. 
with  Anne,  sister  and  sole  heir  of  Thomas,  son  of  Helmin  Legate,* 
of  Pondhall,  in  Hadleigh,  Esq. ;  where  he  and  his  descendants  con- 
tinued to  reside,  until  their  removal  to  Shotesham,  in  Norfolk. 

This  Edward  was  a  member  of  the  D'Oyley  family,  very  early 
seated  at  Wrentham,  in  this  county.  He  deceased  about  1447.  In 
1466,  John  D'Oyley,  their  son  and  heir,  had  license  granted  him  to 
have  a  chapel  in  Pondhall,  for  the  use  of  his  family.  He  died  in 

*  la  the  43rd  of  Edward  III.,  Helmin  Legate  obtained  a  patent  to  impark  300 
acres  of  land,  20  acres  of  meadow,  180  acres  of  pasture,  and  139  acres  of  wood,  in 
Hadleigh,  in  Suffolk ;  and  in  the  45th  of  the  same  reign,  he  obtained  another  patent 
to  embattle  his  mansion,  called  "  le  Pond  Hall,"  in  the  same  parish. — PAT.  ROLLS. 


996  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

1483,  and  was  buried,  with  Elizabeth  his  wife,  in  St.  John's  Chapel, 
in  Hadleigh  church ;  to  which  town  the  family  were  great  bene- 
factors. 

Edward  D'Oyley,  Esq.,  their  son  and  heir,  married  Anne,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Cotton,  of  Landwade,  in  Cambridgeshire,  Esq.,  and  died 
in  1534.  Henry,  their  sou  and  heir,  succeeded  ;  and  was  Knighted 
by  King  Henry  VIII.,  at  Bologne,  in  Erance.  He  was  thrice  mar- 
ried :  first,  to  Joan,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Stede,  of  Marshland, 
by  whom  he  had  no  issue ;  secondly,  to  Jane,  daughter  and  sole  heir 
of  John  Elwyn,  of  Wigenhall,  in  Norfolk,  Esq. ;  and  thirdly,  to 
Margaret,  natural  daughter  of  John,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  relict  of 
Sir  John  Timperley,  of  Hintlesham,  in  this  county. 

Sir  Henry  deceased  in  1563,  seized  of  Pondhall,  and  Topesfield 
Hall,  in  this  parish ;  Cosford  manor,  in  Whatfield ;  and  divers  other 
estates  in  Suffolk.  Henry,  his  son  and  heir,  married  Anne,  sister 
and  sole  heir  of  Edward,  son  of  Edmund  White,  of  Shotesham,  in 
Norfolk;  who  died  unmarried  in  1558  ;  when  he  removed  to  the 
old  seat  of  the  Whites,  in  that  parish,  and  had  livery  of  it  the  same 
year.  The  above  property,  however,  continued  in  his  descendants 
for  many  generations.  Pondhall  became  afterwards  the  property  of 
the  Earl  of  Dysart,  by  purchase.  Topesfield  Hall  became  vested  in 
the  Strutt  family ;  of  whom  was  Sir  Deuner  Strutt,  Bart.,  son  of 
John  Strutt,  Esq.,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of 
Edward  Denner,  Esq.,  of  Little  Warley,  in  Essex. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  peculiar  of  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  who  has  the  patronage.  It  stands  in  the  centre  of 
the  town,  and  is  its  chief  ornament ;  being  a  handsome  structure, 
with  a  spire  steeple,  of  wood.  Its  interior  is  elegantly  fitted  up,  and 
contains  a  beautiful  altar-piece,  erected  by  Dr.  Wilkins,  one  of  the 
late  rectors.  It  has  also  some  fine  specimens  of  ancient  stained 
glass,  and  contains  various  curious  and  interesting  memorials.* 

Among  the  many  pious  and  eminent  personages  who  have  held 
this  valuable  living,  may  be  noticed  William  de  Pykenham,  LL.D., 
Dean  of  Stoke  College,  and  Archdeacon  of  Suffolk,  in  1471.  He 
was  rector  of  Raleigh,  in  Essex,  in  1462 ;  vicar  of  Hatfield  Regis, 
in  1465 ;  and  a  Prebend  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  in  1472.  Dr. 
Pykenham  built  the  curious  brick  gate,  or  tower,  before  the  parsonage 
house  here,  and  also  the  outward  wall  and  gate  to  the  Archdeacon's 

*  For  a  more  particular  account  of  these,  we  beg  to  refer  our  readers  to  a  "  De- 
scription of  Hadleigh,"  published  by  Mr.  John  Raw,  of  Ipswich,  in  1815  :  8vo. 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  997 

house,  in  St.  Mary  at  Tower  parish,  near  the  north  gate,  in  Ipswich. 
He  was  principal  official  or  Chancellor  of  Norwich,  in  1471,  and 
Proctor  of  the  clergy.  He  deceased  in  1497. 

Dr.  Rowland  Taylor  was  presented  to  this  rectory  in  1 544,  by 
Thomas  Cranmer,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  whose  domestic  Chap- 
lain he  was ;  whom  Fuller  describes  as  a  great  scholar,  a  painful 
preacher,  charitable  to  the  poor,  of  a  comely  countenance,  proper 
person,  but  inclined  to  corpulency,  and  cheerful  behaviour.  In 
the  sanguinary  persecutions,  which  disgraced  the  reign  of  Queen 
Mary,  this  learned  and  godly  divine  suffered  martyrdom  for  his  firm 
adherence  to  the  doctrines  of  the  reformation.  He  was  burned 
February  9,  1555,  on  the  common  in  this  parish:  a  rude,  unhewn 
stone,  with  a  mis-spelt  inscription,  marks  the  spot.  It  is  now  sur- 
rounded with  an  iron  railing. 

Thomas  Aldrich,  A.M.,  Proctor  of  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
Master  of  Bennet  College,  and  Archdeacon  of  Sudbury  in  1569, 
held  this  rectory;  and  was  succeeded  by  John  Still,  D.D.,  in  the 
Archdeaconry,  in  157G,  who  was  rector  here  in  1571  ;  and  while 
so,  was  commissioned  one  of  the  Deans  of  Booking,  in  1572 ;  he 
was  installed  Canon  in  the  church  of  Westminster,  in  the  following 
year.  Dr.  Still  was  also  Master  of  St.  John's ;  then  of  Trinity 
College ;  from  whence  he  was  promoted  to  the  see  of  Bath  and 
Wells,  in  1592  ;  and  died  in  1607.  He  wrote  "  Gammer  Gurton's 
Needle,  a  Comedy:  London,  1575  ;"  and  was  Margaret  Professor  of 
Divinity  in  the  University  of  Cambridge. 

David  Wilkins,  D.D.,  presented  to  this  rectory  in  1719 ;  was 
some  time  Chaplain  to  Lord  Chancellor  Parker ;  and  was  preferred 
to  the  Archdeaconry  of  Suffolk  in  1724,  by  virtue  of  the  Arch- 
bishop's option,  on  Dr.  Prideaux's  death.  He  published,  "  Concilia 
Magna  Britannia  et  Hibernia,  a  Synodo  Verolamiensi :"  London, 
1733;  in  4  folio  volumes.  Dr.  Wilkins  also  wrote  an  "Account 
of  the  Church  and  Town  of  Hadleigh,  in  Suffolk,"  which  remains 
in  M.S. ;  deposited  in  the  rectorial  library.  He  erected  the  elegant 
altar-piece  in  this  parish  church,  in  1744,  the  year  before  he  died; 
and  his  immediate  successor,  Thomas  Tanner,  D.D.,  caused  the 
whole  of  the  east  window,  over  the  communion  table,  to  be  erected, 
and  painted  at  his  charge. 

The  late  rector,  Edward  Auriol  Hay  Drammond,  D.D.,  for  33 
years  officiated  as  minister  of  this  large  and  populous  parish,  and 
deceased  Dec.  30,  1829.  He  was  fourth  son  of  the  Hon.  and  Most 


998  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

Eev.  Kobert  Hay  Drummond,  Lord  Archbishop  of  York,  by  Hen- 
rietta, daughter  and  co- heiress  of  Peter  Auriol,  Esq.,  merchant  of 
London.  The  present  incumbent  is  Henry  Barry  Knox,  A.M., 
Rural  Dean. 

That  profound  and  accomplished  scholar,  John  Overall,  was  a 
native  of  this  town,  and  brought  up  in  the  grammar  school  here ; 
then  in  considerable  estimation  for  the  talent  with  which  it  was  con- 
ducted. He  went  immediately  from  thence  to  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge  ;  and  was  afterwards  chosen  Fellow  of  Trinity  College. 
In  1596,  he  took  his  degree  of  D.D.,  when  he  was  appointed  Ee- 
gius  Professor  of  Divinity,  and  Master  of  Catherine  Hall,  in  the 
same  university. 

Dr.  Overall  became  the  successor  of  Dr.  Nowell,  as  Dean  of  St. 
Paul's,  in  1601 ;  and  was  chosen  Prolocutor  of  the  Lower  House  of 
Convocation,  towards  the  commencement  of  King  James's  reign. 
His  erudition  and  piety  were  rewarded,  in  1614,  by  the  Bishopric 
of  Litchfield  and  Coventry ;  and  by  a  translation  to  the  see  of  Nor- 
wich, in  1618  ;  which  he  enjoyed,  however,  little  more  than  a  year, 
dying  there  May  12,  1619  ;  and  was  buried  in  his  own  cathedral. 

He  was  styled  by  Camden,  "  a  prodigious  learned  man  ;"  and  by 
Wood,  "  the  best  scholastic  divine  in  the  English  nation."  Bishop 
Overall  was  author  of  the  celebrated  "  Convocation  Book ;"  he  was 
also  one  of  the  translators  of  the  Bible  ;  and  is  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Churton,  in  his  Life  of  Nowell,  as  having  written  that  part  of  the 
church  catechism  which  includes  the  sacraments. 

Hadleigh  can  also  boast  the  honour  of  having  produced  two  once 
celebrated  poets  :  William  Alabaster,  and  Joseph  Beaumont.  The 
former  highly  celebrated  in  his  day,  for  the  depth  of  his  erudition, 
and  the  beauty  of  his  latin  verses ;  the  latter,  for  his  theological 
attainments,  and  his  vernacular  poetry. 

William  Alabaster  was  born  here  in  1567,  and  received  the  early 
part  of  his  education  at  the  grammar  school  of  his  native  town ; 
from  whence  he  was  sent  to  that  of  Westminster ;  and  from  the 
latter,  to  Trinity  College,  Cambridge;  where  he  commenced  A.B. 
in  1587,  and  A.M.  in  1591  ;  in  1592,  he  was  incorporated  of  the 
University  of  Oxford ;  and  Wood,  in  his  "  Athena  Oxoniensis" 
speaks  of  him  as  an  ornament  to  that  University,  calling  him  "  the 
.rarest  poet  and  Grecian  that  any  one  age  or  nation  produced." 

He  held  the  rectory  of  Thorfield,  in  Hertfordshire ;  was  made  a 
Prebendary  of  St.  Paul's ;  and  in  1614,  D.D.  After  a  life  occupied 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  999 

to  the  last  in  literary  and  philosophical  pursuits,  Dr.  Alabaster  died, 
in  1640,  in  the  74th  year  of  his  age.  Amongst  his  various  learned 
productions,  he  wrote,  in  1592,  nnd  in  the  25th  year  of  his  age,  his 
"  Roxana,"  a  latin  tragedy  ;  which  was  acted,  as  soon  as  finished, 
at  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  and  procured  the  author  the  most 
unbounded  applause. 

Joseph  Beaumont,  the  author  of  "  Psyche,  an  Allegorical  Epic," 
and  of  a  collection  of  minor  poems,  was  born  at  Hadleigh,  on  the 
1 3th  of  March,  1615.  His  father*  first  placed  him  in  the  grammar 
school  of  his  native  town,  where  he  prosecuted  his  studies  with  so 
much  assiduity  and  success,  as  to  render  himself,  in  a  very  extraor- 
dinary degree  for  his  age,  familiar  with  the  best  writers  of  antiquity; 
and  the  proficiency  thus  early  acquired,  enabled  him  to  enter  Peter- 
house,  in  Cambridge,  in  his  sixteenth  year ;  where,  as  soon  as  he 
had  obtained  his  Bachelor's  degree,  the  master  gave  him  the  first 
Fellowship  in  his  College  that  became  vacant ;  and  he  subsequently 
became  tutor  and  moderator. 

In  1643,  he  was  obliged  to  quit  the  University,  then  in  possession 
of  the  usurper ;  when  he  retired  to  this  town,  where  he  appears  to 
have  written  his  "  Psyche ;"  which  he  had  scarcely  completed  when 
he  was  induced  to  leave  Hadleigh,  by  an  invitation  from  Dr.  Wren, 
Bishop  of  Ely,  to  reside  in  his  house,  as  his  domestic  Chaplain ; 
and  in  the  year  1650,  he  bestowed  upon  him  in  marriage,  his  step- 
daughter, Miss  Brownrigg ;  who  was  possessed  of  a  considerable 
estate,  together  with  the  manor  of  Tattingstone,  in  this  county  ;  and 
with  her,  at  Tattingstone  Place,  he  passed  the  succeeding  ten  years, 
and,  perhaps,  the  happiest  period  of  his  life. 

At  the  restoration,  he  took  immediate  possession  of  the  benefices 
to  which  he  had  been  formerly  presented,  by  his  great  patron,  Bishop 
Wren ;  and  was  also  admitted  into  the  first  list  of  his  Majesty's 
Chaplains,  and  created  D.D.,  in  1660,  by  Koyal  mandate.  Other 
preferment  quickly  followed:  in  1663,  he  was  presented  to  the 
Mastership  of  Peterhouse ;  and  in  1670,  was  called  to  fill  the  Di- 
vinity Chair  at  Cambridge.  In  this  very  important  situation  he 
passed  the  residue  of  his  life,  a  period  of  29  years ;  which  office  he 

*  Descended  from  a  younger  branch  of  the  ancient  family  of  Beaumont,  in  Lei- 
cestershire, and  who  died  in  1653,  had  been  for  many  years  a  woollen  manufacturer 
in  Hadleigh,  then  a  very  wealthy  trading  corporation  ;  and  being  a  man  not  only 
in  easy  circumstances,  but  of  great  respectability,  he  had  been  repeatedly  elected 
into  the  office  of  Chief  Magistrate  of  this  town. 


1000  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  even  to  his  84th  year ;  and  de- 
ceased Nov.  23,  1699. 

William  Fuller,  D.D.,  was  son  of  Andrew  Fuller,  of  this  town; 
born  here  about  1580,  and  educated  at  Catherine  Hall,  Cambridge; 
successively  vicar  of  St.  Giles,  Cripplegate,  London,  1G28;  Dean 
of  Ely,  1636 ;  and  in  1645,  Dean  of  Durham.  Dr.  Fuller  died  in 
1659. 

To  these  worthies  of  Hadleigh,  we  must  not  omit  to  add  the  name 
of  Nathan  Drake,  M.D. ;  who,  although  not  a  native,  was  a  highly 
respected  inhabitant,  and  skilful  medical  practitioner  here,  for  nearly 
half  a  century.  He  is  however  more  generally  known  by  his  various 
literary  works.  The  walk  of  literature  adopted  by  Dr.  Drake,  was 
that  of  light  essays,  and  ingenuous  illustrations  of  our  standard 
authors. 

These  were  of  a  very  miscellaneous  character,  but  pleasing  and 
elegant  in  style.  Their  most  striking  characteristics  are,  perhaps, 
grace  and  amenity,  rather  than  force  or  originality.  The  amiable 
character  of  their  author  is,  in  fact,  impressed  on  all  his  productions; 
and  in  that  character,  as  developed  and  displayed  in  his  writings, 
exist  their  greatest  charm.  Dr.  Drake  deceased  at  Hadleigh,  June 
7th,  1836,  aged  70. 

Their  is  an  old  brick  building  at  the  further  end  of  Benton  street, 
in  Hadleigh,  called  "  The  Nunnery ;"  but  there  is  no  authority  for 
stating  it  ever  was  a  religious  house,  although  it  has  every  appear- 
ance of  having  been  such.  The  porch  and  gateway  is  now  converted 
into  a  stable,  and  the  ancient  house  into  cottages,  which  are  in  a 
very  dilapidated  state.  The  building,  now  used  as  a  barn,  appears 
to  have  undergone  no  alteration  since  its  erection.  The  premises 
are  nearly  surrounded  with  a  brick  wall,  and  altogether  have  a  very 
interesting  appearance. 

ARMS. — Town  of  Hadleigh :  azure ;  a  chevron,  erminois,  be- 
tween three  woolsacks,  argent.  D'Oyley:  gules;  three  bucks' 
heads,  cabossed,  argent.  Overall:  or;  a  cross  patee,  between 
four  annulets,  gules.  Strutt :  sable ;  a  chevron,  between  three 
cross  crosslets,  fitchee,  or. 

CHARITIES. — By  indenture  of  the  17th  of  Henry  VI.,  William 
Clopton,  Esq.,  granted  to  certain  trustees,  a  piece  of  land  in  Had- 
leigh, called  Church  Croft,  belonging  to  the  manor  of  Topesfield 
Hall,  with  a  building  thereon,  and  the  market  and  fair  used  to  be 
held  there,  as  belonging  to  the  said  manor,  with  the  liberties,  rights, 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  1001 

and  customs  to  the  same,  with  certain  exceptions,  to  hold  to  the 
said  trustees ;  rendering  annually  to  the  said  William  Clopton  and 
his  heirs,  6s.  8d.  yearly  rent.  The  property  and  privileges  com- 
prised in  this  grant,  is  termed  the  Market  Rent  Trust,  and  now 
produces  an  aggregate  yearly  rental  of  nearly  £90 ;  which,  after 
deducting  certain  necessary  expenses,  is  applied  for  the  repairs  of 
the  parish  church. — The  estates  and  property  derived  under  sundry 
charitable  donations  for  the  poor  of  this  town,  which  have  for  a  long 
period  been  combined,  are  vested  in  trustees,  called  the  Grand  Feof- 
fees, and  the  fund  constituted  by  the  pecuniary  gifts,  appears  to  have 
been  from  time  to  time  laid  out  upon  the  real  property,  or  in  current 
expenses  of  the  general  trust,  as  the  particulars  of  the  property  can- 
not in  all  instances  be  distinguished,  with  reference  to  the  separate 
donations.  The  aggregate  annual  amount  of  this  feoffment  is  about 
£740.  This  income  is  applied  to  the  support  of  certain  almshouses, 
erected  and  endowed  by  William  Pykenham,  D.D.,  by  his  will,  dated 
the  12th  of  Henry  VII. ;  with  others  endowed  by  Thomas  Goad, 
D.D.,  which  are  attached  to  the  former;  with  others  erected  about 
1540,  by  John  Raven ;  the  whole  including  36  inmates,  who  receive 
4s.  6d.  per  head,  per  week ;  and  in  fuel  for  the  poor,  bread  at  church, 
a  schoolmaster's  salary,  &c.  &c. — There  was  formerly  a  grammar 
school  at  Hadleigh,  kept  in  a  building  in  the  church-yard,  but  it 
has  long  been  discontinued;  the  only  known  endowment  for  its 
support  is  the  gift  of  £100,  by  Elias  Jordayn,  in  1655  ;  which  is 
included  in  the  above  feoffment. — There  are  some  few  other  cha- 
ritable donations,  not  included  in  the  said  feoffment,  and  also  some 
lost  charities,  mentioned  in  the  Commissioners'  Report  concerning 
the  same. 

Mem. — In  1802,  Hadleigh  was  made  a  Post  Town,  and  a  daily 
communication  established  between  that  place  and  Ipswich. — Nov. 
22,  1813  ;  the  new  Corn  Exchange,  erected  by  subscription  at 
Hadleigh,  was  opened  for  the  transaction  of  business. — In  1840,  a 
large  parcel,  consisting  of  several  hundreds  of  silver  English  coins, 
was  found  here,  in  repairing  the  threshold  of  an  old  house,  near 
the  church. 


HITCHAM,  or  HECHAM. 
In  the  9th  of  King  Edward  I.,  this  manor  belonged  to  the  see  of 


]  002  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

Ely,  to  which  the  advowson  was  appendant ;  and  the  Bishops  thereof 
presented,  until  the  4th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  when  the  Crown  first 
presented ;  in  whose  patronage  it  still  continues. 

Anciently  there  was  a  family  who  derived  their  name  from  this- 
parish.  In  the  29th  of  Edward  III.,  Ealph,  son  of  John  de  Hecham, 
recovered  against  Robert  de  Hecham,  and  others,  seisin  of  lands  in 
Hecham  ;  and  Sir  William  de  Hecham  was  witness  to  a  deed,  with- 
out date,  relating  to  lands  in  Gislingham,  in  this  county. 

A  branch  of  the  Spring  family  appears  to  have  been  formerly  in- 
terested here.  John,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Spring,  Esq., 
of  Lavenham,  by  Anne  his  first  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Appleton, 
Esq.,  was  Knighted  by  King  Henry  VII. ;  and  married  Dorothy, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave,  Knt.,  of  Smallbridge,  in  this 
county.  He  deceased  in  1 547,  and  was  buried  in  this  parish  church ; 
leaving  one  son,  William,  who  became  seated  at  Pakenham ;  and 
two  daughters. 

The  manor  was  probably  vested  in  the  Waldegrave  family ;  and 
now  belongs  to  Robert  Mapletoft,  Esq.,  of  Spring  Hall,  in  Stan- 
stead.  He  is  also  owner  of  Hitcham  Hall,  a  large  commodious 
farm  house;  and  Plains  Farm,  and  102  acres  of  wood.  Wether- 
den  Hall,  an  ancient  farm  house  in  this  parish,  encompassed  by 
a  moat,  was  formerly  the  residence  of  a  branch  of  the  Waldegrave 
family. 

William  Burkett,  a  celebrated  Commentator  on  the  New  Testa- 
ment, was  a  native  of  this  parish,  and  not  Northamptonshire  as 
stated  by  several  biographers.  He  was  son  of  the  Rev.  Miles  Bur- 
kett, who  was  ejected  for  nonconformity,  and  was  born  July  25, 
1650.  His  first  schoolmaster  was  a  Mr.  GofFee,  of  Bildeston;  from 
whence  he  was  removed  to  Stowmarket,  and  from  thence  "to  another 
school  at  Cambridge ;  and  was  afterwards  admitted  of  Pembroke 
Hall,  in  that  university. 

He  entered  upon  the  ministry  as  chaplain  in  a  private  family ; 
and  was  first  employed  at  Milden,  in  Suffolk,  where  he  continued 
21  years ;  first  as  curate,  and  afterwards  a's  rector  of  that  parish. 
In  1692,  he  obtained  the  vicarage  of  Dedham,  in  Essex;  where 
he  continued  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1703. 

The  church  is  a  fine  structure,  the  roof  of  which  is  beautifully 
carved :  the  south  porch  is  particularly  handsome.  The  tower  has 
a  peal  of  six  bells. 

Thos.  Pells,  LL  D.,  Prebendary  in  Chapel-field  College,  Norwich, 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  1003 

and  Official  Principal,  or  Chancellor  of  this  diocese,  in  1530,  was 
rector  of  this  parish. 

William  Battie,  D.D.,  in  the  early  part  of  his  life,  held  the  livings 
of  Alderton  and  Bawdsey,  upon  the  Suffolk  coast ;  and  in  the  year 
1065,  whilst  a  resident,  the  Duke  of  York,  being  with  his  fleet  near 
those  villages,  went  on  shore,  and  enquiring  of  a  peasant  where  he 
might  obtain  some  refreshment,  was  answered,  "  our  parson  keeps  a 
cup  of  good  cyder."  The  Duke  calling  at  the  parsonage,  was  hos- 
pitably received.  Pleased  with  his  generous  host,  the  Koyal  Admi- 
ral, remarking  he  had  some  interest  at  court,  asked  if  there  was  any 
preferment  in  the  county  to  which  he  would  wish  to  succeed.  The 
priest,  ignorant  of  the  rank  of  his  guest,  and  but  little  crediting  his 
professions,  replied,  to  be  rector  of  Hitcham  would  make  him  a 
happy  man. 

This  parish  became  vacant  in  the  year  1G67,  upon  the  decease 
of  Mr.  Ampthill,  and  the  Duke  was  reminded  of  his  promise  by 
some  conversation  with  his  brother,  who  observed,  the  ministers 
were  teasing  him  with  their  squabbles  about  a  Suffolk  living,  on  the 
disposal  of  which  they  could  not  agree.  His  Highness  enquired 
the  name  of  the  place ;  which  being  mentioned,  he  replied,  "  it  is 
two  years  since  I  promised  it."  "  It  is  yours,"  returned  the  King, 
"  and  the  disputes  of  my  courtiers  are  ended." 

Dr.  Battie  was  instituted,  made  King's  Chaplain,  and  afterwards 
Prebendary  of  St.  Paul's.  Loving  the  apple  for  its  juice,  or  re- 
garding it  for  the  interest  it  procured  him,  he  planted  the  orchard 
at  Hitcham  rectory  with  the  best  fruit  for  making  cyder ;  and  many 
of  the  trees  were  there  in  1753,  when  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Mills  suc- 
ceeded the  Rev.  Mr.  Colman  (Dr.  Battle's  successor)  as  rector  of 
this  parish. 

Dr.  Battie  deceased  in  1706,  and  was  buried,  with  Catherine  his 
first  wife,  daughter  of  Richard  Coleman,  Esq.,  of  Bentley,  in  this 
county,  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church.  The  Rev.  John  Ste- 
vens Henslow,  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, is  the  present  incumbent. 

CHARITIES. — The  feoffment  estate  is  held  in  trust  for  the  poor  of 
the  parish,  and  comprises  three  tenements,  usually  occupied  by  poor 
persons  rent  free,  and  2SA.  3R.  of  land,  let  at  rents  amounting  to 
£53  per  annum ;  which  are  distributed  annually,  among  poor  per- 
sons belonging  to  the  parish,  after  deducting  necessary  expenses 
for  repairs,  &c. — In  1663,  Sir  George  Waldegrave  devised  two  te- 


]Q04  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

nements,  as  an  almshouse  for  poor  persons  ;  and  the  lord  of  the 
manor,  ahout  twenty  years  since,  erected  two  other  tenements,  in 
lieu  of  the  former,  which  are  occupied  by  poor  persons,  placed 
therein  by  the  rector  and  churchwardens. — In  1714,  Benjamin 
Sparrow  granted  a  rent  charge  of  18s.  a  year,  for  the  teaching  of 
two  poor  children.  Mr.  Abraham  Dakin  is  now  owner  of  the  land 
so  charged. — A  piece  of  land,  subject  to  the  payment  of  a  noble 
and  a  mark,  is  held  by  the  rector,  which,  with  a  voluntary  addition 
made  by  him,  making  in  the  whole  £5,  is  yearly  laid  out  in  bread, 
and  given  to  poor  persons. 


KETTLEBASTON,  or  KETTLEBERSTON. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  this  was  the  lordship  and  demesne  of 
Thomas  de  Kydeware ;  and  subsequently  of  Henry,  Lord  Scrope  ; 
who,  iu  the  time  of  Henry  VI.,  became  attainted  for  his  adherence 
to  the  house  of  York,  and  his  estates  were  forfeited  to  the  Crown ; 
when  this  manor  was  granted  to  Sir  John  Phelip,  and  Alice  his 
wife,  and  their  heirs. 

Sir  John  died  without  issue ;  when  it  reverted  to  the  Crown,  and 
Sir  William  de  la  Pole  obtained  a  re- grant  thereof.  He  married 
Alice,  relict  of  the  above  Sir  John  Phelip,  and  daughter  of  Thomas 
Chaucer,  of  Donington,  in  Oxfordshire,  son  of  Geoffery  Chaucer, 
the  poet ;  by  whom  he  obtained  large  possessions. 

The  parish  of  Nedging  was  included  in  the  above  grant,  to  hold 
jointly  by  the  service  of  carrying  a  golden  sceptre,  with  a  dove  on 
its  head,  upon  the  coronation  day  of  the  King's  heirs  and  successors; 
as  also  another  sceptre  of  ivory,  with  a  golden  dove  on  its  head, 
upon  the  day  of  the  coronation  of  the  then  Queen,  and  all  other 
Queens  of  England,  in  time  to  come.  He  died  seized  of  these 
manors,  so  privileged ;  and  left  the  same  to  John,  his  son  and  heir, 
by  the  said  Alice. 

This  William  de  la  Pole  was  a  brave  and  skilful  officer,  and  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Henry  V.,  served  with  much  reputa- 
tion in  the  wars  of  France,  and  was  made  a  Knight  of  the  Garter. 
In  1444,  he  was  created  Marquess  of  Suffolk,  and  was  afterwards 
made  Lord  Chamberlain,  Lord  High  Admiral,  and  raised  to  the 
dignity  of  D  uke  of  Suffolk.  His  rapid  advancement  excited  j  ealousy, 


HUNDRED  OF  C08FORD.  1005 

and  he  became  charged  with  divers  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors, 
for  which  he  was  committed  to  the  Tower,  and  sentenced  to  five 
years  banishment ;  but  being  seized  on  his  passage  near  Dover,  his 
head  was  struck  off  on  the  gunwale  of  a  boat,  in  1449,  and  his  body 
thrown  into  the  sea. 

A  branch  of  the  Waldegrave  family  are  said  to  have  been  for- 
merly seated  here;  and  the  Lemans  afterwards  succeeded;  from 
whom  the  Beachcrofts  inherited,  in  whom  it  was  vested  in  1764. 
Mrs.  Beachcroft  is  now  proprietor  of  the  manor,  and  John  Kobert 
Fiske  is  patron  of  the  benefice,  and  the  present  incumbent. 

CHARITIES. — Two  parcels  of  land  in  this  parish,  containing  about 
half  an  acre  each ;  the  rents  of  which  are  laid  out,  partly  in  the 
purchase  of  coals,  and  partly  in  clothing  the  children  who  attend 
the  Sunday  school. 


KEKSEY, 

Is  chiefly  remarkable  for  a  Priory  of  Augnstine,  or  Black  Canons, 
founded,  it  is  supposed,  by  the  Cokefeld  family,  as  early  as  1184  ; 
the  "  Parvum  Monasterium  de  Kersey"  being  then  accounted  as 
half  a  leet  to  the  hundred  of  Cosford.  In  1190,  Sir  Nigel  de  Rif- 
fley,  Knt.,  occurs  as  a  benefactor.  Edmund,  Earl  of  Kent,  had  the 
advowson  of  the  church,  of  the  gift  of  Edward  III. 

Thos.  de  Burgh  is  said  to  have  founded  an  hospital,  or  free  chapel, 
of  St.  Mary  and  St.  Anthony  here,  previous  to  the  year  1218;  Geof- 
frey de  Burgh,  his  brother,  Archdeacon  of  Norwich,  being  witness  to 
the  grants,  which  were  confirmed  by  Pope  Honorius  in  the  following 
year.  This  Thomas  married  Nesta  de  Cokefeld. 

This  Hospital,  some  few  years  afterwards,  was  converted  into  a 
Priory  of  Canons  of  the  order  of  St.  Austin,  and  denominated  "  the 
Church  and  Canons  of  our  Lady  and  St.  Anthony,  of  Kersey." 
Nesta,  after  the  death  of  Thomas  de  Burgh,  increased  her  gifts  to 
the  same,  bestowing,  among  other  hereditaments,  the  mother  church 
of  Kersey.  This  lady  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  John  de  Beau- 
champ,  and  in  the  24th  of  Henry  III.,  they  added  to  the  donations 
made  to  this  Priory.  He  deceased  shortly  afterwards,  and  Nesta, 
in  her  widowhood,  confirmed  these  donations. 

Nesta  took  a  third  husband,  Matthew  de  Leyham,  whose  family 


1006  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

were  seated  at  Leyham,  in  this  hundred ;  and  a  last  donation,  by 
the  consent  of  Matthew  de  Leyham,  was  made  to  these  Canons, 
Nesta  giving  them,  with  her  hody  to  he  buried  in  their  church,  cer- 
tain lands  and  services  in  Liudsey,  and  Kersey.  She  died  without 
issue,  about  the  32nd  of  Henry  III. 

The  grant  of  Nesta  de  Cokefeld  specifies  the  messuage  late  the 
hospital,  and  30  acres  of  land  adjoining  ;  and  the  tithes  of  the  mills 
of  Cockfield,  Semere,  Lindsey,  and  Kersey ;  to  sustain  the  lights  in 
the  church  of  St.  Anthony.  Three  acres  were  added  by  Thomas 
de  Burgh. 

In  1533,  it  was  granted,  by  Henry  de  Grey,  Lord  Powis,  to 
King's  College,  in  Cambridge  ;  and  the  Provost  and  Fellows  of  that 
College  are  now  patrons  of  this  parish  church,  and  lessors  of  the 
Priory  estate  :  Ei chard  Newman,  Esq.,  is  the  present  lessee.  In 
"  Taxatio  Ecclesiastica,"  1291,  its  valuation  is  ^£24  14s.  10d. 

Sampson's  Hall,  in  this  parish,  was  formerly  the  seat  of  a  family 
of  that  name  ;  but  since,  of  Sir  Thomas  Thorrowgood,  Knt.,  High 
Sheriff  for  this  county  in  1760  ;  upon  whose  decease  it  passed  to 
his  only  child,  Mrs.  Katherine  Thorrowgood,  who  died  unmarried, 
in  1802,  and  devised  this  valuable  inheritance  to  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.  Christopher  Tennant,  perpetual  curate  of  Higham,  in  this 
county,  grand- daughter  of  John,  the  father  of  Sir  Thomas  Thor- 
rowgood. Her  remains  were  deposited  in  the  family  vault  in  this 
parish  church.  Mr.  Teunant  died  at  Sampson's  Hall,  October  5, 
1807,  aged  67.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Jones,  of  Enfield,  in  Middlesex, 
is  now  proprietor  of  this  estate ;  and  Kersey  Hall  manor  belongs  to 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Reeve,  A.M. 

CHARITIES. — In  1580,  Robert  Nightingale  gave,  by  will,  a  tene- 
ment in  Kersey,  for  one  or  more  persons  to  dwell  in ;  and  he  also 
gave  a  piece  of  copyhold  land,  the  rent  to  be  distributed  among  the 
poor,  yearly,  on  Good  Friday  :  and  he  charged  his  copyhold  land, 
holden  of  the  manor  of  Sampson's  Hall,  with  40s.  a  year,  for  in- 
structing poor  children  in  learning.  The  cottage  has  been  re-built 
at  the  expense  of  the  parish,  arid  is  inhabited  by  three  poor  families. 
The  copyhold  land,  which  contains  2A.  2R.,  lets  at  4>5  10s.  a  year, 
and  is  distributed  on  Good  Friday,  as  the  donor  directed.  The 
annuity  of  40s.  is  paid  to  a  schoolmistress,  for  teaching  six  poor 
children  to  read. 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  1007 

LEYHAM. — LEIHAM,  or  LAFHAM. 

The  several  manors  of  Overbury  Hall,  Netherbury  Hall,  and 
Potts  Hall,  are  noticed  iu  ancient  documents  as  belonging  to  this 
parish.  The  former  became  very  early  vested  in  the  Leyham  family, 
who  resided  there,  and  had  very  considerable  estates  in  this  county, 
and  Norfolk. 

Sir  Peter  de  Leyham  was  living  in  King  John's  time,  and  was  a 
benefactor  to  Langley  Abbey,  in  Norfolk ;  and  paid  his  portion  in 
certain  fees  towards  the  aid  for  the  marriage  of  the  daughter  of  King 
Henry  III.  Robert  de  Leyham  succeeded,  and  was  followed  by 
Reginald,  his  son  and  heir,  who  deceased  in  1244  ;  leaving  John  de 
Leyham,  his  son  and  heir,  a  minor.  This  John  was  found  to  hold 
Overbury  Hall,  in  Leyham,  of  the  Earl  Marshal,  at  one  Knight's  fee. 

In  the  18th  of  Edw.  I.,  he  died  seized  thereof;  leaving  the  same 
to  John,  his  son,  then  two  years  of  age;  who  deceased  in  1209, 
without  issue ;  and  Sir  Richard  de  Brampton  was  found  to  be  his 
cousin  and  heir;  who,  in  1305,  settled  the  same  upon  Thomas,  his 
son,  and  his  heirs.  In  1310,  Robert  de  Reydon,  of  Reydon,  in 
Suffolk,  had  a  charter  of  free  warren  in  this  manor ;  having  pur- 
chased the  same  of  Thomas  de  Brampton. 

Sir  John,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Sutton,  married  Alice,  relict 
of  Sir  Andrew  de  Bures,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  John  de  Reydon, 
of  Ovevbury  Hall,  in  Leyham ;  and  in  the  36th  of  Edward  III., 
Sir  John  de  Sutton,  and  Alice  his  wife,  sold  Overbury  Hall  manor 
to  Sir  Richard  de  Sutton,  his  brother ;  who  left  an  only  daughter 
and  heir,  Joan ;  who  married,  first,  to  Sir  Robert,  son  and  heir  of 
Sir  Andrew  de  Bures,  of  Acton,  in  this  county,  and  afterwards  to 
Richard  de  Waldegrave. 

Netherbury  Hall  was  probably  the  manor  and  estate  that  belonged 
to  Hugh  de  Spencer,  in  the  9th  of  Edward  I. ;  and  which  subse- 
quently became  vested  in  Edmund  of  Woodstock,  son  of  that  Mo- 
narch, and  Earl  of  Kent ;  who  died  seized  of  the  manors  of  Kersey 
and  Leyham,  in  the  4th  of  Edward  III. :  Edmund,  his  son,  died 
seized  of  the  same,  and  unmarried :  Joan,  his  sister,  then  the  wife 
of  Sir  Thomas  Holland,  Earl  of  Kent,  was  found  to  be  his  next 
heir ;  who  died  seized  of  these  manors  in  the  9th  of  Richard  II. 

It  passed  to  Thomas,  their  son ;  whose  two  sons  deceased  with- 
out issue.  Roger  Mortimer,  Earl  of  March,  who  married  Eleanor, 


1008  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

one  of  their  sisters,  inherited  this  portion  of  their  estate ;  and  died 
without  issue,  in  the  3rd  of  Henry  VI.,  seized  of  the  above  lord- 
ships. In  the  28th  of  that  reign,  Henry  Grey,  Lord  Powis,  held 
the  manor  of  Kersey,  and  one  third  of  a  manor  in  this  parish. 

In  the  1st  of  Edward  IV.,  Sir  John  Howard,  afterwards  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  had  a  grant  of  a  manor  in  Leyham,  with  other  estates,  for- 
feited by  the  attainder  of  John  Tip  toft,  Earl  of  Worcester,  beheaded 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  In  the  6th  of  Edward  IV.,  Eichard 
Grey,  Lord  Powis,  died  seized  of  the  same ;  leaving  it  to  John,  his 
sou  and  heir,  and  his  descendants. 

In  the  3rd  of  Henry  VII.,  Philippa  Koos,  Lady  le  Roos,  widow, 
one  of  the  sisters  and  heirs  of  John  Tiptoft,  Earl  of  Worcester, 
Joan  Ingoldesthorpe,  another  sister  and  heir,  and  Edward  Dudley, 
then  Lord  Dudley,  the  next  of  kin,  and  another  heir  of  the  said 
Earl,  acknowledged  that  they  held  of  the  King,  in  capite,  a  third 
part  of  a  capital  messuage  in  the  manor  of  Leyham,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land  and  a  half,  four  acres  of  pasture,  &c., 
rendering  one  capon,  and  the  third  part  of  one  capon,*  and  the 
third  part  of  one  pound  of  pepper,  and  by  the  service  of  the  one 
fortieth  part  of  one  Knight's  fee. 

These  manors  and  mansion  were  for  some  time  vested  in  the 
Hodges  family  ;  of  whom  they  were  purchased  by  the  D'Oyleys; 
and  in  1764,  were  the  property  of  Peregrine  D'Oyley,  Gent.  A. 
C.  lleeve,  Esq.,  was  not  long  since  proprietor  of  this  estate.  Henry 
Offord,  Esq.,  of  Hadleigh,  is  now  lord ;  and  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge,  has  the  patronage  of  the  living.  Henry  Hunter  Hughes, 
B.D.,  is  incumbent. 

CHARITIES. — In  1727,  the  Eev.  William  Baker  gave,  by  will, 
£30,  to  be  put  to  interest,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  the  parish, 
and  the  produce  thereof  to  be  laid  out  in  bread.  This  legacy  was. 
laid  out  in  1740,  in  the  purchase  of  a  field,  of  about  one  acre,  which 
is  now  let  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £3  15s.,  which  is  distributed  in  bread. 


LINDSEY,  or  LILESEY. 
The  family  of  Cokefeld,  of  Cockfield,  in  Babergh  hundred,  were- 

*  We  are  not  to  suppose  the  capon  was  divided  ;  but  having  a  current  talue  set 
upon  it,  one  third  of  that  value  was  to  be  paid. 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  1009 

very  early  interested  in  this  parish ;  a  branch  of  which  house  ap- 
pears to  have  been  seated  here.  This  family  terminated  in  Nesta 
de  Cokefeld ;  and  in  the  34th  of  Henry  III.,  Bartholomew  de  Creke, 
the  eldest  co-heir  of  this  lady,  levied  a  fine  of  one  third  part  of  the 
manor  and  advowson  of  Lilesey,  late  parcel  of  her  possession. 

Ralph  Berners  was  the  second  co-heir  of  Nesta ;  and  Ralph,  his 
eon,  held  another  third  part  in  the  18th  of  Edward  I. :  in  the  25th 
of  that  reign,  John  de  Bellomonte,  was  seized  of  two  third  parts  of 
this  manor ;  the  share  of  Ralph  Berners  having  been  added  to  his 
own,  by  purchase. 

It  appears  that  the  inheritance  of  the  Crekes  had  passed  to  Wm. 
de  Montecaniso,  in  whose  right,  as  derived  from  the  elder  sister, 
and  because  his  lands  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Crown,  the  King 
claimed,  and  obtained  the  next  presentation,  to  the  chapel  of  St. 
James  of  Lilesey. 

Lindsey  Hall  is  now  the  property  of  Joseph  Arthey,  Gent.,  who 
resides  there.  The  impropriation  belongs  to  King's  College,  Cam- 
bridge. It  is  a  perpetual  curacy,  consolidated  with  that  of  Kersey. 
Lindsey  Hall  manor  belongs  to  James  Cuddon,  of  Norwich,  Esq. ; 
and  Beaumont's  manor  is  the  property  of  Messrs.  Sparke,  Holmes, 
and  Jackson,  Solicitors,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  by  purchase  from 
the  representatives  of  the  Hanmer  family. 

Raven's  Hall,  a  considerable  farm  in  this  parish,  and  several 
other  estates  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  had  been  for  many  years 
pending  in  the  Court  of  Chancery,  were  finally  awarded  to  Mr.  John 
Palmer,  at  the  March  assizes,  held  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  in  1804. 
This  property  has  since  passed  into  divers  hands. 

CHARITIES. — A  yearly  sum  of  15s.,  paid  by  Mr.  John  Arthey,  as 
the  owner  of  a  piece  of  pasture  land  in  Lindsey,  is  distributed  by 
him  at  Christmas,  under  the  name  of  Grinsey's  charity,  among  30 
poor  widows. — In  1 580,  Robert  Nightingale  charged  his  field,  called 
fifteen  acres,  with  the  payment  of  5s.  a  year.  There  are  no  traces 
of  the  payment  having  ever  been  made,  and  the  land  charged  ap- 
pears to  be  altogether  unknown. 


NAUGHTON. 
The  author  of  "  Magua  Britannia"  makes  this  lordship  to  have 


1010  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

been  anciently  vested  in  Thomas  de  Okefield.  Kirby  states  that 
the  heirs  of  the  D'Autreys,  held  the  same,  and  that  the  advowson 
was  in  the  Stuhbin  family.  The  latest  report  makes  Sir  F.  Omma- 
ney  to  be  patron  ;  but  it  is  now  in  dispute.  The  manor  belongs  to 
Alexander  Adair,  Esq. ;  and  the  Kev.  William  Edge  is  the  in- 
cumbent. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £20,  bequeathed  to  the  poor  by  the 
Eev.  Henry  Jones,  in  1723,  is  placed  in  a  savings  bank  at  Ipswich, 
and  the  interest  thereof  is  given  to  aged  and  poor  persons. — A  rent 
charge  of  3s.  4d.  a  year,  out  of  a  field  called  Gazeley's,  in  this  pa- 
rish, was  given  for  the  poor,  as  understood,  by  Kobert  Nightingale, 
in  1583 ;  but  it  has  always,  as  far  back  as  can  be  traced,  been  car- 
ried by  the  churchwardens  to  their  general  account. 


NEDGING,  or  NIEDINGA. 

In  the  9th  of  Edward  I.,  Henry  de  Staunton  is  said  to  have  held 
this  lordship  :  it  was  afterwards  included  with  Kettlebaston,  in  the 
grant  made  to  Sir  William  de  la  Pole  ;  and  they  continued  to  be 
held  jointly  by  the  Earls  of  Suffolk,  and  partake  in  the  same  privi- 
leges. The  Eev.  William  Edge  is  now  owner  of  the  manor,  patron 
of  the  benefice,  and  incumbent ;  and  has  a  neat  residence  here. 

The  following  copy  of  an  old  inventory,  transcribed  from  the 
original,  in  the  Editor's  possession ;  may  gratify  the  curious  in 
such  matters : — 

Ao  1576. 

A  trewe  Inventory  of  all  the  moveable  goods  and  cattails  of  Nycholas  Pegge  late 
of  Nedginge  in  the  Countye  of  Suff.  and  dyoces  of  Norwych,  deceased,  taken  and 
made  the  next  daye  after  hys  dep'ture,  Videlt,  the  21  daye  of  Julye  in  theightenth 
yeare  of  the  reigne  of  ower  Sou'gne  ladye  Queue  Elyzabeth  by  Robert  Osmond, 
Thomas  Grymwade,  Wyllm  Corbould,  John  Pament,  Edmund  Gryce,  and  Rychard 
Ralffe. 

In  p'ms  too  maeres  pryce  ---..--         53s.  4d. 

Itm  too  mylch  neat  pryce  ------         -  £3. 

Itm  nyne  lambes  pee-  -......-         18s. 

Itm  too  ewes  pryce     ---------          6s. 

Itm  too  hogges  pryce  -- 10s. 

Itm  the  pullary  pee     ---------  3s.  4d. 

Itm  the  plough  and  plough  harnes         -..--.  4s. 

Itm  vij  acres  of  Somerlond  to  the  valewe  of  ....         18s.  8d. 

Itm  one  payer  of  harrows  pee        -------  ifid. 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  1011 

Itm  vi  acres  and  di  of  wheat  and  barley  pee  -  £3. 

Itm  one  grene  of  grasse  pee  -         -         -         -         »         •         -  6s.  8J. 

Itm  iiij  acres  of  peaces  and  bullemong*  p'ce  -  16s. 

Itm  in  the  halle,  one  table,  too  formes  ij  chayers  and  one  tramell  pee  2s. 

Itm  in  the  bedchamber  too  old  bedds  and  that  which  longe  to  them, 

ij  old  hutches  and  the  lynen  .......  16s. 

Itm  in  the  butterey  one  porssenett.f  ij  old  kettells,  vi  peeces  of  pew- 
ter, one  fryeng  pann,  ij  saltes,  ij  candlesticks,  one  spytt,  too  ale- 
potts,  too  tubbs,  one  chesepresse,  ix  cheses,  syx  treing  dyses, 
one  dosen  trenchers,  one  traye,  and  one  payle,  pee  9s.  2d. 

Suma  totalis       ....- £14  4s.  6d. 


SEAMERE,  or  SEAMERA. 

The  lordship  of  this  parish,  in  its  early  descent,  passed  the  same 
as  that  of  Groton,  in  Babergh  hundred.  It  subsequently  became 
the  inheritance  of  a  branch  of  the  De  la  Pole  family  :  John  Moo- 
nines,  who  was  in  the  service  of  John  de  la  Pole,  Duke  of  Suffolk, 
was  a  resident  at  Seamere  Hall,  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII. ; 
whose  daughter  married  Sir  Clement  Heigham,  Knt.,  of  Barrow, 
Chief  Baron  of  the  Exchequer,  in  Queen  Mary's  reign. 

In  1764,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Cooke,  A.M.,  was  rector  here,  patron 
of  the  incumbency,  and  proprietor  of  the  principal  part  of  the  pa- 
rish. His  grandson,  James  Young  Cooke,  clerk,  is  now  rector,  and 
owner  of  this  property.  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Tyrell,  wife  of  Charles 
Tyrell,  Esq.,  of  Polstead  Hall,  is  now  owner  of  the  manor.  Joseph 
Clarke  Archer,  Esq.,  has  the  estate  of  Semer  Lodge,  and  resides 
there. 

In  1263,  Sir  Henry  de  Riveshale  (or  Rushale),  Knt.,  obtained  a 
charter  of  free  warren  in  this  manor,  of  King  Henry  III.  He  mar- 
ried Helen,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  William,  son  of  Walter  de 
Hepworth,  lord  of  Hepworth,  in  Blackbourn  hundred ;  with  whom 
he  obtained  a  moiety  of  that  manor.  After  the  death  of  Helen,  he 
married  Amy,  her  sister,  by  which  marriage  he  obtained  another 
portion  of  that  manor. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  contains  a  monument,  with 
a  very  quaint  and  pedantic  Latin  inscription,  which  has  puzzled 
many.  It  is  inserted  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1826, 

*  A  mixture  of  oats,  pease,  and  vetches, 
f  A  kind  of  skillet 


1012  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

part  ii.,  p.  595  ;  and  a  translation  of  the  same  is  given  in  the  next 
volume  of  that  periodical,  part  i.,  p.  98.  It  is  in  memory  of  the 
Rev.  John  Bruning,  formerly  rector  here;  who  deceased  in  1663, 
aged  66  years. 

CHARITIES. — A  rent  charge  of  20s.  a  year,  is  paid  out  of  land  in 
the  parish  of  Roydon,  belonging  to  the  Kev.  Mr.  Newman,  having 
been  devised  by  John  Goodall,  in  1607,  to  be  given  in  bread  to  the 
aged  poor  of  Seamere  ;  and  the  sum  of  20s.  a  year,  is  paid  out  of 
the  poor  rates,  for  providing  bread  for  the  poor,  as  interest  of  £20, 
arising  from  the  sale  of  a  cottage  which  formerly  belonged  to  the 
poor. 


THORP  MORIEUX,  or  TORP. 

In  the  17th  of  Edward  I.,  Bartholomew  de  Castello,  was  lord  of 
the  manor  of  Throgton,  or  Castell's,  in  this  parish ;  who,  by  Alie- 
nora  his  wife,  had  John,  his  son  and  heir,  living  in  the  25th  of 
Edward  III.,  and  paid  50s.  for  half  a  fee  held  here,  of  the  Earl  of 
Oxford ;  who  held  of  the  Earl  of  Clare. 

The  Prior  and  Convent  of  Wormegay,  in  Norfolk,  held  lands  in 
this  parish  ;  and  in  the  time  of  Edward  III.,  were  taxed  at  20s.  lOd. 
for  the  same. 

This  parish  however  received  its  additional  appellation  of  Morieux, 
from  a  family  of  that  name,  much  earlier  concerned  here.  By  an 
inquisition,  taken  in  1436,  John  L'Estrange,  Esq.,  was  found  to  die 
seized  of  the  manor  of  Thorp  Morieux,  with  those  of  Brook  Hall, 
and  Maydenhall,  in  Felsham,  in  this  county. 

These  lordships  were  obtained  by  the  L'Estrange  family  in  the 
8th  of  Richard  I.,  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  John  L'Estrange,  with 
Alianora,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Richard  Walkfare,  Knt.,  by 
the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Thomas  Morieux,  of  this  parish. 

Henry  L'Estrange,  Esq.,  succeeded  the  above  John,  as  his  brother 
and  heir,  in  J436  ;  and  married  Katherine,  daughter  of  Roger  Drury, 
Esq.,  of  Hawsted,  in  this  county.  His  will  is  dated  in  1483,  wherein 
he  appoints  masses  to  be  celebrated  for  the  souls  of  Sir  Hugh,  and 
Sir  Thomas  Morieux,  Knights. 

It  appears  he  held,  amongst  other  property,  the  manors  of  Cas- 
tell  Hall,  Thorp  Morieux,  Brook  Hall,  arid  Maydenhall.  Katherine 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  1013 

his  widow,  re-married  Sir  Robert  Ratcliffe,  of  Attlebnrgh,  in  Nor- 
folk. Sir  Roger  L'Estrange,  their  eldest  son,  was  Esquire  of  the 
body  to  King  Henry  VII.,  and  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in 
the  2nd  of  that  reign.  John,  his  only  son  and  heir,  dying  under 
age,  Robert  his  brother,  was  found  to  be  his  heir,  by  inquisition  held 
in  the  2 1st  of  the  same  King,  1506. 

He  married  Anne,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Thos.  L'Estrange, 
of  Walton  D'Eivile,  in  Warwickshire ;  by  whom  he  had  Sir  Thomas ; 
and  deceased  in  1511.  Sir  Thomas  L'Estrange  had  settled  on  him, 
and  his  heirs,  by  the  executors  of  his  uncle,  Sir  Roger,  in  perfor- 
mance of  his  last  will,  the  manors  of  Thorp  Morieux  and  Felsham. 

He  died  in  the  30th  of  Henry  VIII.,  leaving  Nicholas,  his  son 
and  heir;  who  had  livery  of  these  manors.  Sir  Nicholas  was 
knighted  in  Ireland,  the  year  of  his  father's  decease ;  was  Sheriff 
of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  1547,  and  Knight  of  the  Shire  for  the 
former  county,  in  the  1st  of  Edward  VI.  He  deceased  in  the  22nd 
of  Queen  Elizabeth ;  about  which  time  the  interest  of  the  family 
appears  to  have  ceased  here. 

In  1764,  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was  vested  in  John  Risby, 
Esq. ;  and  the  patronage,  in  the  Fiske  family.  John  Haynes  Har- 
rison, Esq.,  of  Copford  Hall,  in  Essex,  is  now  patron,  by  his  mar- 
riage with  the  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  Rev.  John  Fiske,  of 
Thorp  Morieux,  who  died  in  1778  ;  and  Thomas  Thomas  Harrison 
is  the  present  incumbent.  Henry  Sparrow,  Esq.,  is  now  lord  of 
the  manor,  the  property  in  which  is  mostly  freehold. 

CHARITIES. — The  sum  of  £10,  given  by  William  Bowl,  for  the 
poor,  is  held  by  Robert  Mumford,  of  Thorpe  Hall,  at  interest  of  5 
per  cent.,  which  is  distributed  annually  among  poor  persons. 


WATTISHAM,  or  WACHESHAM. 

The  ancient  family  of  Wachesham,  who  derive  their  name  from 
hence,  became  very  early  seated  in  this  place.  In  1234,  Isabel, 
probably  relict  of  Osbert  de  Wachesham,  resided  here  ;  and  Giles, 
son  of  Giles,  grandson  of  Osbert  de  Wachesham,  had  a  grant  of 
free  warren  here,  in  1247. 

He  deceased  in  1294,  and  Giles  his  son,  inherited  ;  who  paid  20s. 
for  relief  of  his  father's  lands  in  Wattisham,  which  he  held  by  ser- 


1014  HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD. 

jeantry,  under  the  same  tenure  that  Eowland  le  Sarcere  held  lands 
in  Hemingstone,  in  Bosmere  and  Claydon  hundred.  In  the  33rd 
of  Edward  III.,  Sir  Robert  de  Wachesham  held  here.  Giles,  son 
of  Osbert  de  Wachesham,  gave  to  Castleacre  Priory,  in  Norfolk, 
two  parts  of  the  tithes  of  this  parish. 

Messrs.  Last,  Wallace,  and  Last,  Solicitors,  of  Hadleigh,  now 
hold  this  lordship.  The  Hall,  occupied  as  a  farm  house,  is  still 
surrounded  by  a  moat,  or  partly  so. 

The  church  was  appropriated  to  the  Prior  and  Canons  of  Bricet, 
in  Bosmere  hundred  ;  and  was  granted  to  the  Provost  and  Fellows 
of  King's  College,  Cambridge,  who  are  now  patrons  and  impropria- 
tors.  The  Rev.  Francis  Barnes,  D.D.,  and  for  fifty  years  Master 
of  St.  Peter's  College,  Cambridge,  was  some  time  curate  of  this  pa- 
rish. He  deceased  in  1838,  aged  94.  This  venerable  gentleman 
held  the  Professorship  of  Casuistry,  in  the  above  University,  and 
was  a  scholar  of  the  first  rank  and  respectability.* 


WHATFIELD.— WHEATFIELD,  or  WATEFELDA. 

The  author  of  "  Magna  Britannia"  makes  the  possession  of  this 
lordship  to  have  been  early  vested  in  Thomas  de  Okefield.  Mr. 
Kirby  mentions  four  manors  here,  namely  :  Cosford,  Barrard's, 
Honiham,  and  Whatfield  Hall. 

The  former  he  states  was  the  estate  of  Sir  Henry  D'Oyley ;  and 
in  1764,  belonged  to  the  Earl  of  Dysart :  the  next  was  the  property 
of  Sir  William  Spring,  Bart. ;  and  afterwards  belonged  to  the  heirs 
of  the  late  Thomas  Martin,  Gent. :  this  is  now  styled  Barrett's  Hall, 
and  is  vested  in  George  Henry  Bower,  of  Rossington,  and  John 
William  Bower,  of  Barmston,  both  in  Yorkshire,  who  each  hold 
jointly  one  fourth  part. 

Hornham  belonged  to  Robert  Barwell,  Gent.,  and  lately  to  Sir 
Robert  Pockliugton,  of  Chelsworth,  Knt. ;  and  Whatfield  Hall  was 

*  In  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine"  for  1762,  p.  230,  is  an  account  of  a  family  in 
this  parish,  which  had  lately  been  a 'Dieted  with  the  loss  of  their  limbs,  published 
by  Dr.  Wollaston,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's.  See  also  some  further  account  as  to  the 
supposed  cause  of  this  deplorable  calamity,  in  the  same  publication,  for  1763,  p. 
49 }.  The  name  of  the  family  was  Downing.  The  church  contains  a  tablet  that 
records  this  singular  circumstance. 


HUNDRED  OF  COSFORD.  10 15 

formerly  vested  in  William  Vesey,  Gent.,  who  is  buried  in  this  pa- 
rish church  ;  in  1764,  it  was  the  property  of  Wm.  Mayhew,  Gent., 
of  Colchester,  in  Essex.  Mrs.  Mary  Anne  Tyrell,  of  Polstead,  is 
the  present  proprietor. 

The  patronage  of  this  rectory  belongs  to  Jesus  College,  Cam- 
bridge. Among  its  incumbents  may  be  noticed  the  Rev.  George 
Clubbe,  A.M.,  of  Catherine  Hall,  Cambridge ;  and  John,  his  son, 
rector  of  this  parish,  and  vicar  of  Debenham,  author  of  "  The 
History  and  Antiquities  of  the  Ancient  Villa  of  Wheatfield,  in  the 
County  of  Suffolk ;"  an  admirable  piece  of  irony,  levelled  at  mo- 
dern antiquaries;  first  published  in  1758,  and  re-printed  by  Dods- 
ley,  in  1761,  in  the  second  volume  of  "  Fugitive  Pieces." 

Mr.  Clubbe  also  published,  in  1763,  "Physiognomy;"  and,  in 
1765,  "  A  Letter  of  Advice  to  a  Young  Clergyman."  These  tracts, 
with  some  others,  were  collected  together,  and  published  at  Ipswich, 
in  2  vols.  12mo.,  1771.  The  author  died  March  2,  1773,  aged  70, 
and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church.  Mr.  Clubbe 
left  eight  surviving  children ;  one  of  whom,  William,  was  vicar  of 
Brandeston,  in  this  county ;  and  another,  John,  a  physician  of 
eminence,  at  Ipswich  :  they  were  both  persons  of  considerable  at- 
tainments, and,  like  their  father,  possessed  a  rich  fund  of  natural 
humour. 

The  Rev.  John  Plampin,  A.M.,  succeeded  Mr.  .Clubbe,  as  rector 
of  Whatfield.  The  Rev.  Frederick  Calvert,  A.M.,  is  the  present 
incumbent. 


CONCLUSION. 


At  length,  after  a  lapse  of  nearly  three  years  from  its  commence- 
ment, we  have  arrived  at  the  close  of  our  undertaking ;  and  are 
desirous,  before  taking  our  final  leave,  to  apologize  to  our  Sub- 
scribers for  having  trespassed  upon  their  indulgence,  by  extending 
the  publication  somewhat  beyond  the  size  originally  proposed ;  and 
at  the  same  time  to  offer  this  as  a  reason  for  not  complying  with  the 
advice  of  several  esteemed  friends  (whose  opinions  we  nevertheless 
highly  appreciate),  to  insert  lists  of  patrons,  incumbents,  &c.  &c. 

The  two  principal  towns  in  the  county,  Ipswich  and  St.  Edmund's 
Bury,  have  been  passed  over  unnoticed :  having  nothing  to  add  to 
what  has  been  already  published  respecting  those  places,  we  judged 
it  best  to  omit  them  altogether. 

It  only  remains  to  request  those  whose  generous  aid  we  have 
received  during  the  progress  of  the  work,  to  accept  our  best  thanks, 
individually  and  collectively ;  and  to  submit  the  same  to  a  candid 
public  :  assuring  them  that  nothing  has  been  inserted  that  may  not 
be  proved  by  some  authentic  document,  written  or  printed. 

We  feel  confident  that  the  experienced  antiquary  will  make  due 
allowance  for  any  errors  he  may  discover ;  and  should  he,  moreover, 
admit,  that  the  materials  are  tolerably  well  selected  and  disposed, 
we  shall  rest  abundantly  satisfied  with  the  success  of  our  efforts. 


APPENDIX. 


By  au  "  Act  to  Amend  the  Representation  of  the  People  in  Eng- 
land and  Wales,"  passed  the  7th  of  June,  1832,  2nd  William  IV. : 

The  Boroughs  of  Aldeburgh,  Dunwich,  and  Orford,  in  this  county, 
ceased  to  return  any  Member  or  Members  to  Parliament,  from  and 
after  the  end  of  that  present  sessions.  The  Borough  of  Eye,  in  the 
same  county,  is  to  return  one  Member,  and  no  more,  to  any  future 
Parliament. 

The  County  of  Suffolk  is  to  be  divided  into  two  divisions ;  and 
that  in  all  future  Parliaments  there  should  be  four  Knights  of  the 
Shire,  instead  of  two,  to  serve  for  the  said  County : — i.  e.  two 
Knights  of  the  Shire  for  each  division. 

The  Members  returned  for  the  above  Boroughs,  up  to  the  time 
of  passing  the  said  Act  of  Parliament,  are  inserted  with  the  account 
of  those  places  ;  and  those  for  the  towns  of  Ipswich  and  Bury  St. 
Edmund's,  together  with  the  several  Knights  of  the  Shire,  and 
Sheriffs  for  the  County,  continued  from  "  The  Suffolk  Traveller," 
of  1764,  to  the  present  time,  are  annexed. 


Members  for  Ipswich. 

Oeo.III.   1768  Thomas  Stanton  —  William  Wollaston. 
1774  The  same. 
1780  The  same. 

1784  William  Middleton.— John  Cator.* 
1790  Sir  John  Hadley  D'Oyly.— Charles  Alex.  Crickett. 
1796  Charles  Alex.  Crickett. — Sir  Andrew  S.  Hamond. 
1802  The  same.     In  the  place  of  Crickett,  dec. 
William  Middleton. 

1806  Hon.  Robert  Stopford.— Richard  Wilson. 

1807  Sir  Home  Popham. — Robert  Alex.  Crickett. 
1812  Robert  Alexander  Crickett. — John  Round,  jun. 
1818  Robert  Alexander  Crickett. — William  Newton. 

Oeo.  IV.  1820  William  Haldimand. — Thomas  Barrett  Lennard. 

*  Gator's  election  void,  and  Charles  Alexander  Crickett  elected. 


1018  APPENDIX. 

1826  Charles  Mackinnon. — Kobert  Adam  Dundas. 
Wm.  IV.  1830  The  same. 

1831  James  Morrison. — Rigby  Wason. 

1832  The  same. 

1835  Kobert  Adam  Dundas.* — Fitzroy  Kelly. 

1837  Henry  Tufnell. — Thomas  Gibson. 

1844  John  Neilson  Gladstone. — Sackville  Lane  Fox. 


Knights  of  the  Shire  for  Suffolk. 

Geo.IIL  1768  Sir  Thos.  C.  Bunbury,  Bart. — Sir  J.  Rous,  Bart. 

(In  the  room  of  Rous,  Rowland  Holt.) 

1774  Sir  Thomas  Charles  Bunbury. — Rowland  Holt. 

1780  Sir  Thomas  Charles  Bunbury. — Sir  John  Rous. 

1784  Sir  John  Rous,  Bart. — Joshua  Grigby. 

1790  Sir  John  Rous. — Sir  Thomas  Charles  Bunbury. 

1796  Sir  Thomas  Charles  Bunbury. — Lord  Brome. 

1801  1st  Imperial  Parliament.     The  same. 

1802  Sir  Thomas  Charles  Bunbury. — Lord  Brome. 

(In  the  room  of  Lord  Brome,  T.  S.  Gooch.) 

1806  Sir  T.  C.  Buiibury. — Thomas  Sherlock  Gooch. 

1807  The  same. 

1812  Thomas  Sherlock  Gooch.— Sir  W.  Rowley,  Bart. 

1818  The  same. 
Geo.  IV.  1820  The  same. 

1826  The  same. 
Wm.  IV.  1830  Sir  Henry  Edward  Bunbury.— Charles  Tyrell. 

1831  The  same. 

Eastern  Division. 

1832  Lord  Henniker. — Robert  Newton  Shawe. 
1835  Lord  Henniker. — Sir  Charles  Broke  Vere. 

Victoria.   1837  The  same.     Lord  Rendlesham  in  lieu  of  Vere,  dec. 

Western  Division. 
Wm.  IV.   1832  Charles  Tyrell.— Sir  Hyde  Parker,  Bart. 

1835  Henry  Wilson. — Robert  Rushbrooke. 
Victoria,    1837  Robert  Rushbrooke. — Hart  Logan. 

1844  Henry  Spencer  Waddington,  in  lieu  of  Logan,  dec. 


Members  for  St.  Edmund's  Bury. 

Geo.  III.  1768  Charles  Fitzroy. — Augustus  John  Hervey. 
*  Dundas  and  Kelly's  election  roid,  and  Morrison  and  Wason  the  sitting  Member*, 


APPENDIX.  1019 

1 774  Augustus  John  Hervey. — Sir  Charles  Davers,  Bart. 

Lord  H.  S.  Conway,  in  lieu  of  Hervey,  a  Peer  in  1 775. 
1780  Lord  Henry  S.  Conway. — Sir  Charles  Davers,  Bart. 
1784  G.  Ferdinand  Fitzroy. — Sir  Charles  Davers,  Bart. 
1790  Lord  Charles  Fitzroy. — Sir  Charles  Davers,  Bart. 
1790  Sir  Charles  Davers,  Bart. — Lord  Frederick  Hervey. 
1802  Lord  Charles  Fitzroy. — Lord  Frederick  Hervey. 

Lord  Templetown,  in  lieu  of  Hervey,  a  Peer  in  1803. 

1806  Lord  Charles  Fitzroy. — Lord  Templetown. 

1807  The  same. 

1812  Lord  Charles  Fitzroy.— F.  T.  H.  Foster. 

1818  Earl  of  Euston. — Hon.  Arthur  Percy  Upton. 
Geo.  IV.  1820  Lord  John  Fitzroy. — Hon.  Arthur  Percy  Upton. 

1826  Earl  of  Euston. — Earl  Jermyn. 
Wm.  IV.  1830  The  same. 

1831  Earl  Jermyn. — Charles  Augustus  Fitzroy. 

1832  The  same. 
1835  The  same. 

Victoria.  1837  The  same. 
1844  The  same. 


High  Sheriffs  of  Suffolk. 

Geo.  III.  1765  George  Golding,  of  Thorington,  Esq. 
j7pp  |  Gabriel  Trusson,  of  Kelsale,  Esq. 

J  William  Wollaston,  of  Great  Finborough,  Esq. 

1767  William  Chapman,  of  Loudham,  Esq. 

1768  Osborn  Fuller,  of  Carlton,  Esq. 

1769  Hutchison  Mure,  of  Great  Saxham,  Esq. 

1770  Eleazer  Davy,  of  Ubbeston,  Esq. 

1771  John  Freston  Scrivenor,  of  Sibton,  Esq. 

1772  Nathaniel  Acton,  of  Bramford,  Esq. 

1773  Thomas  Maynard,  of  Wrentham,  Esq. 

1774  Edmund  Tyrell,  of  Gipping,  Esq. 

1775  Richard  Moore,  of  Melford,  Esq. 

1776  John  Frere,  of  Bacton,  Esq. 

1777  Robert  Sparrow,  of  Worlingham,  Esq. 

1778  Reginald  Rabet,  of  Bramfield,  Esq. 

1779  John  Sheppard,  of  Campsey  Ash,  Esq. 

1780  Samuel  Rush,  of  Benhall,  Esq. 

1781  Charles  Kent,  of  Fornham  St.  Genoveve,  Esq. 

1782  William  Middleton,  of  Crowfield,  Esq. 

1 783  Robert  Trotman,  of  Ipswich,  Esq. 

1 784  John  Wenyeve,  of  Brettenham,  Esq. 

1785  Sir  Thomas  Gooch,  of  Benacre,  Bart. 

1786  James  Sewell,  of  Stutton,  Esq. 

1 787  John  Medows  Theobald,  of  Henley,  Esq. 


1020  APPENDIX. 

1788  Sir  Thos.  Chas.  Bunbury,  of  Great  Barton,  Bart. 

1789  Nathaniel  Lee  Acton,  of  Livermere  Parva.,  Esq. 

1790  Miles  Barne,  of  Satterly,  Esq. 

1791  Sir  William  Rowley,  of  Stoke,  Bart. 

1792  Alexander  Adair,  of  Flixton,  Esq. 

1793  George  Doughty,  of  Leiston,  Esq. 

1794  Charles  Purvis,  of  Darsham,  Esq. 

1795  Jacob  Whitbread,  of  Loudham,  Esq. 

1796  John  Clayton,  of  Sibton,  Esq. 

1797  Chaloner  Arcedeckne,  of  Glemham,  Esq. 

1798  John  Sheppard,  of  Campsey  Ash,  Esq. 

1799  George  Eush,  of  Benhall,  Esq. 

1800  William  Beaurnarice  Rush,  of'Raydon,  Esq. 

1801  Charles  Streynsham  Collinson,  of  Sproughton,  Esq. 

1802  Thomas  Cocksedge,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  Esq. 

1803  Sir  Harry  Parker,  of  Melford,  Bart. 

1804  Sir  Robert  Pocklington,  of  Chelsworth,  Knt. 

1805  George  Nassau,  of  Trimley  St.  Martin,  Esq. 

1806  Michael  Wm.  le  Heup,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  Esq. 

1807  Thomas  Mills,  of  Great  Saxham,  Esq. 

1808  John  Vernon,  of  Nacton,  Esq. 

1809  John  Dresser,  of  Ely  ford,  Esq. 

1810  Joshua  Grigby,  of  Drinkstone,  Esq. 

1811  Roger  Pettiward,  of  Great  Finborough,  Esq. 

1812  Richard  Moore,  of  Melford,  Esq. 

18.13  Harry  Spencer  Waddington,  of  Cavenham,  Esq. 

1814  Edward  Hollond,  of  Benhall,  Esq. 

1815  Charles  Tyrell,  of  Gipping,  Esq. 

1816  Sir  Charles  Blois,  of  Cockfield  Hall,  Bart. 

1817  Sir  Robert  Harland,  of  Nacton,  Bart. 

1818  Charles  Berners,  of  Woolverston,  Esq. 

1819  Andrew  Arcedeckne,  of  Glavering  Hall,  Esq. 
Geo.  IV.  1820  George  Thomas,  of  Woodbridge,  Esq. 

1821  Philip  Bennett,  of  Rougham  Hall,  Esq. 

1822  Ambrose  Harbord  Steward,  of  Stoke  Park,  Esq. 

1823  Henry  Usborne,  of  Branches  Park,  Esq. 

1824  John  Fitz  Gerald,  of  Bredfield,  Esq. 

1825  Sir  Henry  Edward  Bunbury,  of  Great  Barton,  Bart. 

1826  John  Payne  Elwes,  of  Stoke  near  Clare,  Esq. 

1827  John  Francis  Leathes,  of  Herringfleet,  Esq. 

1828  Hart  Logan,  of  Kentwell  Hall,  Esq. 

1829  John  Ruggles  Brise,  of  Clare,  Esq. 

T   1QonlJ°hn  Wilson  Sheppard,  of  Campsey  Ash,  Esq. 

5UJ  Sir  Wm.  F.  F.  Middleton,  of  Shrubland  Park,  Bart. 

1831  John  Read,  of  Primrose  Hill,  Holbrook,  Esq. 

1832  Joseph  Burch  Smyth,  of  Stoke  Hall,  Ipswich,  Esq. 

1833  Sir  Thomas  Sherlock  Gooch,  of  Benacre,  Bart. 

1834  John  Garden,  of  Redisham  Hall,  Esq. 


APPENDIX.  1021 

1835  Robert  Sayer,  of  Sibton  Park,  Esq. 

1836  Edward  Bliss,  of  Brandon,  Esq. 

1837  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  of  Long  Melford,  Bart. 
Victoria.   1838  Thomas  Halifax,  sen.,  of  Chadacre  Hall,  Esq. 

1839  Arthur  John  Brooke,  of  Horningsherth,  Esq. 

1840  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson,  of  Redgrave,  Esq. 

1 84 1  Sir  Joshua  Ricketts  Rowley,  of  Tendring  Hall,  Bart. 

1842  Edward  Bridgman,  of  Coney  Weston,  Esq. 

1843  William  Long,  of  Saxmundham,  Esq. 

1844  Sir  Philip  Broke,  of  Nacton,  Bart. 


The  following  List  of  Sheriffs,  fills  up  the  chasm  left  by  Mr. 
Kirby.  It  was  transcribed  from  one  in  possession  of  the  late  Rev. 
William  Layton,  of  Ipswich,  extracted  from  the  Gazettes  by  his  in- 
timate friend,  the  Rev.  Peter  Sandiford,  D.D.,  late  rector  of  Fulmo- 
destou,  with  Croxton,  in  Norfolk. 

Chas.  II.  1671  John  Clarke,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  Esq. 

1674  Francis  Sherwin,  of  Esq. 

1675  Joseph  Warner,  of  Sudbury,  Esq. 

1676  The  same. 

1677  John  Acton  of  Bramford,  Esq. 

1678  Sir  Willoughby  D'Ewes,  of  Stowlangtoft,  Bart. 

1679  Sir  John  Rous,  of  Henham,  Bart. 

1680  Sir  Robert  Brooke,  of  Yoxford,  Knt. 
1681 

1682  Thomas  Walgrave,  of  Smallbridge,  in  Bures,  Esq. 

1683  The  same. 

1 684  Jacob  Garrett,  of  Greeting  St.  Mary,  Esq. 
Jam.  II.    1685  Sir  John  Cordell,  of  Melford,  Bart. 

1686  Jeffery  Nightingale. 

1687  Sir  John  Castleton,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  Bart. 

1688  John  Clerke,  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  Esq. 
Wm.&M.16K9  Edmund  Sheppard,  of  Campsey  Ash,  Esq. 

1690  Sir  Dudley  Cullum,  of  Hawsted,  Bart. 

1691  Sir  Joseph  Brand,  of  Edwardston,  Knt. 

1692  George  Goodday,  of  Fornham  All  Saints,  Esq. 

1693  John  Hammond,  of 

1694  William  Cooke,  of  Linstead,  Esq. 

1695  Daniel  Browning,  of 
1696 

1697  John  Pack,  of  Stoke  Ash,  Esq. 

1698  John  Cornwallis,  of  Wingfield,  Esq. 

1699  Thomas  Aldrich,  of  Hessett,  Esq. 

1 700  Samuel  Warner,  of  Parham,  Esq. 

1701  Henry  Cooper,  of  Yoxford,  Esq. 


1022  APPENDIX. 

1 702  John  Scrivener,  of  Sibton,  Esq. 

1703  Sir  Kichard  Allen,  of  Somerleyton,  Bart. 

1704  Richard  Phillips,  of  Ipswich,  Esq. 

1705  Thomas  Kerridge,  of  Shelly,  Esq. 

1706  Leicester  Martin,  of 

1707  Thomas  Macro,  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury,  Esq. 

1708  Richard  Norton,  of  Ixworth  Abbey,  Esq. 

1709  John  Sheppard,  of  Campsey  Ash,  Esq. 

1710  Stephen  Bacon,  of 

1711  Thomas  Bloss,  of  Burstall,  Esq. 

1712  Francis  Coleman,  of  Hacheston,  Esq. 

1713  John  Ewer,  of  Chediston,  Esq. 

1714  John  Sheppherd,  of  Campsey  Ash,  Esq. 

1715  Jonathan  Myles,  of 

1716  Joseph  Chaplin,  of  East  Bergholt,  Esq. 

1717  John  Inwood,  of 

1718  .Edward  Clarke,  of  East  Bergholt,  Esq. 

1719  Nicholas  Jacob,  of  Armeninghall,  Esq. 

1720  Bartholomew  Young,  of  Bradfield,  Esq. 

1721  John  Pitt,  of  Great  Bealings,  Esq. 

1722  Sir  Jasper  Cullum,  of  Hawsted,  Bart. 

1723  John  Boggas,  of  Finborough  Magna,  Esq. 


INDEX  TO  PARISHES. 


A  LIST  OF  THE  SEVERAL  PARISHES  IN  SUFFOLK,  with  a  reference 
to  the  page  where  they  are  to  be  found.  (See  column  1.) 

A  REGISTER  OF  THE  RESPECTIVE  VALUE  OF  EACH  BENEFICE  IN 
THE  COUNTY,  founded  on  an  average  of  three  years,  to  1831,  as 
made  by  the  Incumbents  themselves ;  compiled  from  the  Report  of 
the  Commissioners,  appointed  to  enquire  into  the  Revenues  of  the 
Established  Church  in  England  and  Wales,  and  presented  to  Par- 
liament in  June,  1835.  (See  column  2.) 

THE  COMMUTED  VALUE  OF  EACH  BENEFICE,  where  the  same  has 
"been  completed.  (See  column  3.) 

THE  LAST  POPULATION  RETURNS,  made  in  1841.  (See  column  4.) 

Val.  Retd.  Com.Val.  Popul. 

Page.  £.  £.           1841. 

Acton  All  Saints 913  ....  225  ....  375  ....  555 

Akenham  St.  Mary 561  seeClaydon.  —  ....  117 

Aldborough  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  165  ....  220  ....     —  ....1557 

Alderton  St.  Bartholomew 137  ....  565"....  733  ....  620 

Aldham       ....  987  ....  290  ...      —  ....  298 

Aldringham  St.  Andrew      203  ....  59  ....  205  ....  259 

All  Saints  South  Elmham 333  ....  270  ....  274  ....  224 

Alpheton     917  ....  260  ....  275  ....  321 

Ampton  St.  Peter       697  ....  172  ....  155  ....  147 

Arwerton  St.  Andrew 3  ....  —  ....  305  ....  199 

Ashbocking  All  Saints        563  ....  333  ....  375  ....  3^1 

Ashby 303  ....  214  ....     —  ....  53 

Ash  by  Campsey,  St.  John  Baptist  85  ....  350  ....  432  ....  374 

Ashfield  All  Saints,  and  Thorp  ....  511  ....  53  ....  466  ....  313 

Ashfield,  in  Blackbourn      757  ....  65  ....     —  ....  3U6 

Aspal 445  ....  149  ....  251  ....  132 

Assington  St.  Edmund       917  ....  390  ....  447  ....  778 

Athelington  St.  Peter 375  ....  155  ....  150  ....  Ill 

Alnesbourn  Priory       62 

Bacton        446  ....  475  ....  750  ....  800 

Badingham 375  ....  582  ....     —  ....  864 

Badley  St.  Mary 565  ....  40  ....     —  ....  83 

Badwell  Ash  St.  Mary        759  ....  69  ....     —  ....  458 

Bailham  St.  Peter                       ....  576  ....  256  ....  300  ....  275 


1024  INDEX  TO  PARISHES. 

Val.  Rctd.  Com.Val.  Popul. 

Page.  £.  £.           1841. 

Bardwell      760  ....  597  ....  788  ....  826 

Barham  St.  Mary        566  ....  342  ....  —  ....  576 

Barking  St.  Mary       570  ....  510  ....  800  ....  465 

Barnardiston  All  Saints      857  ....  191  ....  —  ....  207 

Barnby        291   ....  —  ....  130  ....  296 

Barnham  St.  Gregory 764   ....  —  ....  400  ....  412 

Barnham  St.  Martin   764  ....  —  ....  —  ....     — 

Barningham  St.  Andrew     766  ....  770  ....  967  ....  508 

Barrow        631  ....  690  ....  820  ....  995 

Barsham  Holy  Trinity        350  ....  531  ....  445  ....  250 

Barton,  Great,  Holy  Innocents  ....  703  ....  —  ....  500  ....  774 

Barton  Little       825  ....  550  ....  600A 640 

Battisford  St.  Mary    573  ....  312  ....  400  ....   520 

Bawdsey  St.  Mary       139  ....  170  ....  —  ....  468 

Bealirigs,  Great,  St.  Mary 41   ....  250  ....  300  ....  377 

Bealings,  Little,  All  Saints 43  ....  140  ....  204  ....  322 

Beccles  St.  Michael    352  ....  241  ....  350  ....4086 

Bedingfield  St.  Mary 378  ....  269  ....  400  ....  336 

Bedfield  St.  Nicholas 380  ....  286  ....  383  ....  358 

Beighton      706  ....  175  ....  —  ....  384 

Belstead,  Little,  St.  Mary  6  ....  295  ....  —  ....  261 

Belton  All  Saints        304  ....  362  ....  440  ....  401 

Benacre  St.  Michael    203  ....  440  ....  —  ....   194 

Benhall  St.  Mary        168  ....  173  ....  —  ....  749 

Beutley  St.  Mary        8  ....  180  ....  190  ....  419 

Bildeston     987  ....  346  ....  435  ....  857 

Bing 144 

Blakenham,  Great,  St.  Mary      ....  578  ....  166  ....  195  ....  180 

Blakenham,  Little,  St.  Mary       ....  579  ....  280  ....  253  ....   119 

Blaxhall  St.  Peter        171   ....  498  ....  500  ....  576 

Blundeston  St.  Mary 305  ....  617  ....  455  ....  592 

Bliburgh  Holy  Trinity        204  ....  45  ....  —  ....  592 

Blyford  All  Saints       210....  —  ....  411   ....  223 

Boulge  St.  Michael     144  ....  222  ....  134  ....     45 

Botesdale     449  see  Redgrave 633 

Boxford  St  Mary         919  ....  710  ....  658  ....  889 

Boxsted       922  ....  —  ....  375  ....  200 

Boyton  St.  Andrew     145  ....  365  ....  —  ....  239 

Bradfield  St.  George  710  ....  550  ....  —  ....  479 

Bradfield  St.  Clare      709  ....  275  ....  280  ....  240 

Bradfield  Combust      707  .....  180  ....  230  ....   192 

Bradley,  Great    857  ....  407  ....  600  ....  544 

Bradley,  Little    858  ....  100  ....  250  ....     33 

Bradwell  St.  Nicholas 308  ....  597  ....  632  ....  270 

Braiesworth         451   ....  149  ....  200  ....   151 

Bramfield  St.  Andrew 211  ....  172  ....  210  ....  746 

Bramford  St.  Mary     580  ....  79  ....  80  ....  833 


INDEX  TO  PARISHES.  1025 

Val.  Retd.  Com.Val.  Popul. 
Page.  £.  £.  1841. 

Brampton  St.  Peter     208  ....  360  ....  420  ....  322 

Brandeston  All  Saints 81  ....  100  ....     —  ....  555 

Brandon  St.  Peter  and  Paul       ....  827  ....  500  ....  560  ....2002 

Brantham  St.  Michael        10  ....        -  ....   500  ....  404 

Bredfield  St.  Andrew 146  ....  249  ....  325  ....  468 

Brent  Illeigh  St.  Mary       925  ....  369  ....  393  ....  289 

Brettenham  St.  Mary 989  ....  377  ....     —  ....  367 

Bricet  St.  Mary 582  ....  100  ....     —  ....  214 

Bricet  St.  Lawrence    584  see  Offton.     —  ....     — 

Brightwell  St.  John  Baptist        ....  43  ....     54  ....     —  ....     81 

Brockford    454  see  Wether  ing  set.       277 

Brockley  St.  Andrew 636  ....  330  ....       -  ....  380 

Bromeswell  St.  Edmund     147  ....  150  ....     —  ....  200 

Broom  St.  Mary 452  ....  561  ....     —  ....  328 

Brotherton 329  see  Hopton.          ....     — 

Browston     328  ....     —  ....       -  ....     64 

Brundish     380  ....     —  ....  105  ....  525 

Brusyard  St.  Peter      173  ....     39  ....     92  ....  296 

Bulchamp    214  ....     —  ....     —  ....  109 

Bucklesham  St.  Mary 45  ....  500  ....  524  ....  255 

Bungay  Holy  Trinity 341   ....  256  ....     —  ....1861 

Bungay  St.  Mary        341  ....  115  ....     —  ....2248 

Bures  St.  Mary 923  ....  273  ....  327  ....  984 

Burgate  St.  Mary       455  ....  560  ....  550  ....  369 

Burgh  St.  Botolph      46  ....  247  ....  356  ....  266 

Burgh  Castle  St.  Peter       309  ....  400  ....  369  ....  327 

Burstal        11  see  Bramford. 

Butley  St.  John  Baptist     174,83  ....     85  ....     88  ....  364 

Buxhall  St.  Mary       523  ....  578  ....  680  ....  533 

Buxlow 214  see  Knoddishall. 

Campsey  Ash  St.  John       85  ....  350  ....  432  ....  374 

Capel  St.  Mary  12  ....  682  ....  528  ....  608 

Capel  St.  Andrew 148  see  Butley.     —  ....  222 

Carlton  Colvile  St.  Peter    291   ....  345  ....  387  ....  785 

Carlton,  in  Hoxne       382  see  Kelsale.       -  ....  133 

Cavendish  St.  Mary     927  ....  547  ....        -  ....1353 

Cavenham  St.  Andrew         829  ....   113  ....   120  ....  277 

Charsfield  St.  Peter     88  ....     66  ....  160  ....  551 

Chattisham  St.  Mary 12  ....  168  ....  142  ....  215 

Chedburgh  All  Saints 865  ....       -  ....  150  ....  284 

Chedistou  St.  Mary    215  see  Halesworth 433 

Chelsworth  All  Saints         990  ....  266  ....  270  ....  284 

Chelmondiston  St.  Andrew 13  ....  312  ....     —  ....  564 

Chevington  All  Saints        639  ....  396  ....  587  ....  624 

Chilesford  St.  Michael        176  ....  295  ....     —  ....  220 

Chilton        931   ....   150  ....  208  ....     98 

Chilton,  by  Stow        529 


INDEX  TO  PARISHES. 

Val.  Retd.    Com.Val.  Popul. 
Page.  £.  £.  1841. 

Clare  St.  Peter  and  Paul    860  ....   195  ....     —  ....1550 

Claydon  St.  Peter       586  ....  549  ....  506  ....  418 

Clopton  St.  Mary       47  ....  538  ....  694  ....  389 

Copdock  St.  Peter       14  ....  483  ....     —  ....  299 

Cockfield  St.  Peter     932  ....  635  ....1050  ....  951 

Coddenham  St.  Mary 588  ....1009  ....  644  ....  924 

Combs  St.  Mary 526  ....  511  ....  880  ....1064 

Coney  Weston  St.  Mary     768  ....     —  ....  433  ....  244 

Cookley  St.  Michael    216  see  Huntingfield 324 

Coolinge  St.  Margaret        866  ....  100  ....     —  ....  882 

Cornard  St.  Andrew    935  ....  155  ....  145  ....  938 

Cornard  All  Saints      936  ....     —  ....  500  ....  396 

Corton  St.  Bartholomew     311   ....  119  ....  120  ....  442 

Cotton  St.  Andrew     456  ....  355  ....  485  ....  545 

Covehithe  St.  Andrew        217  see  Benacre.  —  ....   186 

Cransford  St.  Peter     176  ....  305  ....  330  ....  303 

Cratfield  St.  Mary       219  ....  290  ....   115  ....   720 

Creeling  St.  Mary      594) 196 

Greeting  All  Saints    593k...  663  ....  766  ....  286 

Greeting  St.  Olave      593) 30 

Greeting  St.  Peter       529  ....  320  ....  401   ....  213 

Cretingham  St.  Andrew     90  ....  142  ....   173  ....  411 

Crowfield     595  see  Coddenham 385 

Culford  St.  Mary        769  see  Ingham.   — -  ....  352 

Culpho  St.  Botolph     49....     55....     54....     70 

Dallinghoo  St.  Mary 93,148  ....  384  ....  427  ....  346 

Dagworth    530  —  ....   169 

Dalham  St.  Mary        868  ....  419  ....     —  ....  394 

Darmsden    597  see  Barking.  —  ....     61 

Darsham  All  Saints     221   ....     62  ....     —  ....  528 

Debenham  St.  Mary   511  ....  154  ....  282  ....1667 

Denham  St.  John  Baptist 869  see  Hoxne.     —  ....  313 

Denham  St.  Mary       384  .:..   100  ....     —  ....  182 

Dennington  St.  Mary 384  ....  841   ....1092  ....  979 

Denston  St.  Nicholas 872  ....     51  ....     —  ....  339 

Depden  St.  Mary        873  ....  350  ....  455  ....  345 

Downham  St.  Mary    831  ....     59  ....     —  ....     68 

Drinkstone  All  Saints 711   ....     —  ....  546  ....  505 

Debach  with  Boulge  149  ....  222  ....     —  ....  121 

Dunwich  All  Saints     223  ....     40  ....     —  ....  237 

Dunningworth      177  see  Tuns  tall. —  ....     25 

Dodnash  Priory 9 

Earl  Soham  St.  Mary 94  ....  515  ....  484  ....  741 

East  Bergholt  St.  Mary      15  ....1117  ....  820  ....1461 

Easton  Bavent  St.  Nicholas        ....  228  see  Benacre.  —  ....     10 

Easton  All  Saints       97  ....  242  ....  321   ....  415 

Edwardston  St.  Mary 936  ....  203  ....  263  ....  495 


INDEX  TO  PARISHES. 


1027 


Val.  Retd.  Com.Val.  Popul. 

Page.  £.  £.           1841. 

Ellough  All  Saints      360  ....  257  ....     —  ....  155 

Elmset  St.  Peter         993  ....  580  ....  630  ....  446 

Elmswell  St.  John       772  ....  404  ....  500  ....  671 

Elvedon  St.  Andrew    832  ....  298  ....  300  ....  240 

Eudgate      360 

Ereswell  St.  Peter       833  ....  519  ....  640  ....  501 

Euston  with  Burnham         774  ....  645  ....  696  ....  255 

Exniug  St.  Martin      532  ....  311   ....  240A....1259 

Eye  St.  Peter  and  Paul       457  ....  331   ....  338  ....2493 

Eyke  All  Saints 100  ....  402  ....  500  ....  502 

Fakenham  St.  Peter    777  ....  240  ....  271   ....  213 

Fakenliam  St.  Andrew        779  see  Euston.    —  ....     — 

Falkenham  St.  Ethelbert    50  ....  291   ....  300  ....  290 

Farnlmm  St.  Mary      178  ....  78  ....  240  ....   186 

Felixstow  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  51  see  Walton.   -  -   ....  552 

Felsham  St.  Peter       714....  -  ....  367  ....  398 

Fiuborough,  Great      534  ....  130  ....   146  ....  467 

Finborough,  Little       537....  11....     96....     64 

Finninglmm  St.  Bartholomew     ....  462  ....  350  ....  450  ....  480 

Flempton  St.  Catherine       641  ....  398  ....  400  ....  210 

Flixton  St.  Mary         334  ....  140  ....     —  ....  192 

Fhxton  St.  Andrew     312  ....  —  ....   158  ....     23 

Flowton  St.  Mary       597  ....  140  ....   140  ....   179 

Fordley        229  ....  569  ....  441   ....     — 

Eornham  All  Saints    642  ....  738  ....  770  ....  336 

Fornlmm  St.  Genoveve       715  ....  —  ....  140  ....     70 

Fornham  St.  Martin   717  ....  305  ....  350  ....  294 

Foxlmll  All  Saints       52  see  Brightwell 200 

Framlingham  St.  Michael 101  ....1201   ....1250  ....2523 

Framsden  St.  Mary     515  ....  260  ....  344  ....  829 

Freckenham  St  Andrew     835  ....  600  ....  laud 495 

Fressingfield  St.  Peter         391  ....  597  ....  399  ....1456 

Fiesiou  St.  Peter         ....  18  ....  369  ....  376  ....  224 

Friston  St.  Mary         178  ....  194  ....     —  ....  455 

Fritton  St.  Edmund    313  ....  249  ....  270  ....  230 

Frostenden  All  Saints 229  ....  348  ....  372  ....  428 

Gazely  All  Saints        874  ....  415  ....  456  ....  445 

Gedding       '..  719  ....  100  ....  150  ....   173 

Gedgrave     179  ....  —  ....     —  ....     69 

Gipping       537  Donative.      —  ....     93 

Gisleharn  Holy  Trinity       292  ....  331  ....  410  ....  260 

Gislinoharn  St.  Mary 464  ....  503  ....  624  ....  669 

Gleraham  All  Saints  180  ....  329  ....  305  ....  370 

Glernhara  St.  Andrew 181....  —  ....     —....333 

Glemsford  St.  Mary    939  ....  582  ....     —  ....1366 

Gorleston  St.  Andrew         314  ....  381   ....     —  ....2351 

Gosbeck  St.  Mary       598  ....  316  ....     —  ....  316 


1028                              INDEX 

TO  PAR1SHE 

.8. 

Val.  Retd.  Com.Val. 

Popul. 

Page. 

£.              £. 

1841. 

Groton  St.  Bartholomew     .... 

....     940 

....      —   ....   457   .. 

..  624 

Grundisburgh  St.  Mary 

....       53 

....  472  ....  542  .. 

..  874 

Gunton  St.  Peter        

....     315 

....   149  ....   145  .. 

..     77 

Hacheston  All  Saints  

....     105 

....     —  ....   169  .. 

..  518 

Hadleigh  St.  Mary      

....     994 

....  929  ....1325  .. 

..3679 

Halesworth  St.  Mary  

....     231 

....  450  ....     —  .. 

..2662 

Hardwick    

....     646 

extra  parochial.  .. 

..     19 

Hargrave     

....     649 

....  188  ....     —  .. 

..  457 

Harkstead  St.  Mary    

....       19 

....  518  ....  479  .. 

..  338 

Harleston    

....     539 

....   175  ....     —  .. 

..     90 

Hartest  All  Saints       

....     942 

....  652  ....  611  .. 

..  812 

Hasketon  St.  Andrew  

55 

....  290  ....  375  .. 

..  508 

Haslewood  

....     183 

see  Aldborough.  .. 

..  108 

Haughley  St.  Mary     

....     540 

....  158  ....  350  .. 

..  916 

Haverhill  St.  Mary     

....     875 

....  125  ....  220  .. 

..2451 

Hawkedon  

....     877 

....  275  ....  400  .. 

..  339 

Hawsted  All  Saints     

....     650 

....  428  ....  581  .. 

..  457 

Helminghara  St.  Mary 

....     600 

....  461   ....  540  .. 

..  284 

Helmly  All  Saints       

56 

....  150  ....     —  .. 

..     71 

Hemingston  St.  Gregory    .... 

....     598 

....  381  ....  369  .. 

..  381 

Hengrave     

....     656 

see  Flemjiton. 

..  228 

Henham      

....     234 

see  Wauyford. 

..  128 

Henley  St.  Peter  

....     604 

....     05  ....  118  .. 

..  329 

Henstead  St.  Mary     

....     235 

....  423  ....     —  .. 

..  280 

Hepworth  St.  Peter     

....     779 

....  498  ....     —  .. 

..  582 

Herringfleet  St.  Margaret  .... 

....     316 

Donative.       -—  .. 

..  197 

Heringswell  St.  Ethelbert  .... 

....     836 

....  200  ....  360A.. 

..  219 

Hessett  St.  Ethelbert  

....     721 

....  255  ....     —  .. 

..  417 

Heveniugham  St.  Margaret 

....     237 

....  436  ....  550  .. 

..  417 

Higham  St.  Mary       

....       20 

....  238  ....  220  .. 

..  259 

Higham  Green    

....     837 

....     —  ....     —   .. 

..  370 

Hinderclay  St.  Mary  

....     781 

....  408  ....  400  .. 

..  387 

Hintlesham  St.  Nicholas    .... 

....       20 

....  477  ....  450  .. 

..  583 

Hinton        ....     

....     240 

....     —  ....     —  .. 

..  136 

Hitcham  All  Saints    

....  1002 

....  865  ....1159  .. 

..1065 

Hollesley  All  Sain.s  

....      149 

....  830  ....  943  .. 

..  590 

Holton  St.  Peter  

....     240 

....   147  ....     —  .. 

..  541 

Holton  St.  Mary         

....       23 

....  257  ....  220  .. 

..  187 

Holbrook  All  Saints   

....       22 

....  424  ....  490  .. 

..  747 

Homersfield  St.  Mary  

....     337 

....  360  ....  143  .. 

..  291 

Honington  All  Saints  

....     782 

....  332  ....  333  .. 

..  273 

Hoo  St.  Andrew  

....     107 

....     44  ....     —  .. 

..  211 

Hopton  All  Saints      

....     782 

....  284  ....     —  .. 

..  623 

Hopton  St.  Margaret  

....     315 

....  102  ....     —  .. 

..  251 

Horhara  St.  Mary       

....     396 

....  311  ....  452  .. 

..  442 

Horningsherth,  Great  

....     660 

....  459  ....  500  .. 

..  575 

Horniagsherth,  Little  

....     664 

—  ....     —  .. 

— 

INDEX  TO  PARISHES. 


1029 


Val.  Retd.  Com.Val.  Popul. 

Page. 

£. 

£.         1841. 

Horsecroft  

663 

....     —  ....     34 

Hoxne  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul    .... 

399 

....  450 

....  405  ....1333 

Hulverstreet        

360 

— 

....     —  ....  293 

Hundon  All  Saints     

880 

....  201 

....     —  ....1095 

Hunston  St.  Michael  

785 

....     55 

....     —  ....  162 

Huntingfield  St.  Mary        

241 

....  800 

....     _  ....  397 

Ickliugham  All  Saints  

837 

....  504 

....  564  ....  254 

Icklingham  St.  James  

837 

....     — 

....     —  ....  271 

Ickworth      

666 

....  238 

....     —  ....     62 

Iken  St.  Botolph         

183 

....  311 

....     —  ....  342 

Ilketslmll  St.  Andrew  

346 

....  139 

....     —  ....  548 

Ilketshall  St.  John      

346 

....  311 

....  230  ....     71 

Ilketslmll  St.  Lawrence       

346 

....     47 

....     —  ....  221 

Ilketshall  St.  Margaret       

346 

....  131 

....  121  ....  315 

Ingham  St.  Bartholomew   

786 

....  549 

....     —  ....  208 

Ixuing  (or  Exning)    

835 

....  311 

....land  1259 

Ixworth  St.  Mary        

787 

....  101 

....     —  ....1064 

Ixworth  Thorp    

792 

....     21 

Donative.     142 

James  St.  South  Elmham  

339 

....  300 

....  384  ....  289 

Kedington  St..  Peter  and  St.  Paul 

881 

....  498 

....  701  ....  710 

Kelsale  St.  Mary         

404 

....  700 

....  714  ....1126 

Kentford  St.  Mary      

884 

....     — 

....  180  ....  152 

Kenton  All  Snints       

113 

....  137 

....  150  ....  287 

Kersey  St.  Mary  

1005 

....  112 

....  420  ....  787 

Kesgrave     

56 

....     58 

....     —  ....     88 

Kessingland  St.  Edmund    

292 

....  428 

....  405  ....  676 

Kettlebaston  St.  Mary        

1004 

....  223 

'....  300  ....  203 

Kettleborough  St.  Andrew  

109 

....  290 

....  410  ....  355 

Kirkley  All  Saints       

294 

....  163 

....  142  ....  467 

Kirton  St.  Martin        

57 

....  400 

....     —  ....  607 

Knattishall  All  Saints  

793 

....  184 

....  120  ....     79 

Knodishall  St.  Lawience     

244 

....  350 

....     —  ....  397 

Lackford  St.  Lawrence       

668 

....  271 

....     —  ....  193 

Lakenheath  St.  Mary  

839 

....  136 

....     —  ....1579 

Langharn  St.  Mary     

794 

....  221 

....  280  ....  293 

Lavenham  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul 

943 

....  658 

....  850  ....1871 

Lawshall  All  Saints     

948 

....  428 

....  746  ....  925 

Laxfield  All  Saints     

407 

....     — 

....  220  ....1172 

Leiston  St.  Margaret  

246 

....  376 

....  435  ....1111 

Letheringham  St.  Mary      

116 

....     42 

....     —  ....  164 

Levington  St.  Peter    

57 

see  Nacton.    —  ....  214 

Leyham  St.  Andrew    

1007 

....  800 

....  800  ....  549 

Lidgate  St.  Mary        

885 

....  473 

....  480  ....  450 

Lindsey  St.  Peter        

1008 

....     — 

....  320  ....  290 

Linstead  St.  Peter       

248 

....     97 

....     82  ....     93 

Linstead  St.  Margaret        

248 

....     78 

....     —  ....  205 

Livennere  St.  Peter     

723 

....  433 

....     —  ....  320 

1030  INDEX  TO  PARISHES. 

Val.  Retd.    Com.Val.  Popul. 
Page.  £.  £.  1841. 

Livermere  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  796  ....     —  ....     —  ....  172 

Lound  St.  John  Baptist      319  ....  458  ....  415  ....  412 

Loudham     151  ....     93 

Lowestoft  St.  Margaret       320  ....  329  ....  350  ....4837 

Mansion      693 

Margaret  St.  South  Elmham      ....  339  ....  250  ....  136  ....  181 

Marlsford  St.  Andrew 119  ....  285  ....  380  ....  424 

Martlesham  St.  Mary 59  ....  370  ....  423  ....  510 

Melford  Holy  Trinity 949....     —  ....     —....2597 

Mellis  St.  Mary ,.     466  232  ....  333  ....  530 

Mells  St.  Margaret 250  ....     —  ....     —  ....  123 

Melton  St.  Andrew     152  ....  347  ....  395  ....  980 

Mendham  All  Saints  410  ....  122  ....     52  ....  823 

Mendlesham  St.  Mary        468  ....     —  ....  504  ....1340 

Metfield  St.  John        416  ....     69  Donative.     702 

Mettingham  All  Saints       348  ....  140  ....     —  ....  409 

Michael  St.  South  Elmham        ....     340  see  Rumburgh 145 

Mickfield  St.  Andrew 606  ....  347  ....  390  ....  263 

Middleton  Holy  Trinity      250  see  Fordham 599 

Milding  St.  Peter        954  ....  320  ....  340  ....  186 

Mildenhall  St.  Mary 841  ....  369  ....     —  ....3731 

Monewden  St.  Mary  121  ....  265  ....  292  ....  220 

Monks  Illeigh  St.  Peter     955  ....  422  ....  570  ....  732 

Monks  Soham  St.  Peter     419  ....  530  ....  445  ....  404 

Moulton  St.  Peter       887  ....  477  ....  397  ....  379 

Mutford  St.  Andrew    295  ....     —  ....  280  ....  422 

Nacton  St.  Martin      60  ....  250  ....  513  ....  765 

Naughton  St.  Mary    1009  ....  193  ....  190  ....  137 

Nedging  St.  Mary       1010  ....  165  ....  191  ....  195 

Needham  St.  John  Baptist 607....     91....     —  ....1353 

Nettlestead  St.  Mary 608  ....  192  ....  196  ....     98 

Nicholas  St.  South  Elmham      ....  340  ....  270  ....  274  ....     90 

Normanston         ....     329 

Northcove  St.  Botolph        360  ....  353  ....  220  ....  219 

Northales  St.  Andrew 252  see  Bet/acre.         ....  186 

Norton  St.  Andrew     798  ....  458  ....  611  ....  879 

Nowton  St.  Peter        67L  ....  314  ....     —  ....  159 

Newbourn  St.  Mary    63  ....  192  ....  220  ....  163 

Newton  St.  Mary        544  ....     —  ....  168  ....  543 

Newton  All  Saints      956  ....     —  ....  597  ....  443 

Newmarket  St.  Mary 543  ..,.  375  ....     —  ....2134 

Neyland  St.  James      958  ....  139  ....     —  ....1114 

Oakley  St.  Nicholas    473  see  Brome.           ....  355 

Occold  St.  Michael     474  ....  362  ....  404  ....  578 

Offton  St.  Mary 611   ....   124  ....   189  ....  417 

Onehouse  St.  John  Baptist         ....  546  ....  200  ....     —  ....  303 

Orford  St.  Bartholomew      ....  184  fee  Sudborne.       ...1109 


INDEX  TO  PARISHES.  1031 

Val.  Retd.  Com.Val.  Popul. 

Page.  £.              £.           1841. 

Ottley  St.  Mary 64  ....  510  ....  670  ....  647 

Oulton  St.  Michael     324  ....  378  ....  462  ....  673 

Ousden  St.  Peter        888  ....  285  ....  laud 340 

Pakefield  All  Snints    298  ....  186  ....  205  ....  581 

Pakenham  St.  Mary   726  ....  281  ....       -  ....1105 

Palgrnve  St.  Peter       475  ....  317  ....  441   ....  730 

Parham  St.  Mary 187  ....  299  ....   177  ....  514 

Peasenhatt  St.  Michael      252  ....  117  ....  123  ....  845 

Peter  St.  South  Elmham    340  ....  250  ....     —  ....     91 

Pettaugh  St.  Catherine       518  ....  123  ....   194  ....  266 

Pettestree  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  154  ....  93  ....     96  ....  303 

Play  ford  St.  Mary       65  ....  209  ....     53  ....  253 

Polstead  St.  Mary       959  ....  627  ....  871   ....  989 

Posliugford          892  ....  100  ....  100  ....  343 

Preston  St.  Mary        960  ....  402  ....  514  ....  406 

Rarasholt  All  Saints    155  ....  17  ....     70  ....   192 

Rattlesdeu  St.  Nicholas      732  ....  500  ....  775  ....1142 

Raydon  St.  Mary        24  ....  544  ....  511   ....  692 

Raydon  St.  Margaret 254  ....  220  ....  218  ....  433 

Redgrave  St.  Mary     478  ....  777  ....     —  ....  719 

Redisham  St.  Peter     362  ....  50  ....     —  ....  165 

Redlingfield         477  ....  71   ....     —  ....  240 

Reed  All  Saints 673  ....  274  ....  286  ....  241 

Rendham  St.  Michael         190  ....  96  ....  101  ....  412 

Rendlesham  St.  Gregory     123  ....  —  ....  420  ....  325 

Rickingale  Superior  St.  Mary    ....  4*2)  R.n       lft_o  ....  768 

Biokiogale  Interior  St.  Mary     ....  800  j  ""  *                    ....432 

Ringsfield  All  Saints 303  ....  448  ....     —  ....  311 

Ringshall  St.  Katherine      613  ....  —  ....  562  ....  356 

Risby  St.  Giles   675  ....  750  ....  575  ....  360 

Rishangles  St.  Margaret     483  ....  323  ....     —  ....  261 

Rougham  St.  Mary     733  ....  756  ....  940  ....  969 

Rumburgh  St.  Michael       256  ....  130  ....     —  ....  435 

Rushbrook  St.  Nicholas      738  see  bradjield 1 75 

Rushmere  St.  Andrew 06  ....  156  ....     —  ....  564 

Rushmere  St.  Michael        299  ....  217  ....     —  ....   134 

Bancroft  St.  George    337  ....  —  ....  220  ....  258 

Sapeston  St.  Andrew 801  ....  78  ....     —  ....  255 

Satterly  St.  Margaret 364  ....  257  ....  290  ....  223 

Saxham,  Great,  St.  Andrew        ....  678  ....  330  ....  369  ....  271 

Saxham,  Little,  St.  Nicholas      ....  682  ....  300  ....     —  ....  230 

Saxinundham  St.  John  Baptist  ....  191  ....  275  ....  283  ....1097 

Saxstead  All  Saints     419  ....  —  ....  340  ....  447 

Semere  All  Saints       1011  ....  385  ....  370  ....  370 

Shadingfield  St.  John  Baptist     ....  367  ....  264  ....  303  ....  177 

Shelland      547  ....  40  Donative.     109 

Shelley  All  Saints       25  ....  72  ....     —  ....  139 

Shimpling  St.  George         962  ....  —  ....  600  ....  517 


1032 


INDEX  TO  PARISHES. 


Val.  Retd.  Com.Val.  ] 

Popul. 

Page.           £.              £. 

1841. 

Shipmeadow  St.  Bartholomew    .... 

367  ....  214  ....  220  .... 

265 

Shotley  St.  Mary         

26  ....  604  ....  585  .... 

464 

Shottishnm  St.  Margaret    

156   ....  248  ....  250  .... 

283 

Sibton  St.  Peter  

257  ....  200  ....     —  .... 

564 

Siztwell       

260  ....     —  ....     —  .... 

66 

Snape  St.  John  Baptist       

194  see  Frisian.    —  .... 

542 

Soham  Monks  St.  Peter      

419  ....  580  ....  445  .... 

404 

Soham  Earl  St.  Andrew     

94  ....    515  ....  484  .... 

741 

Somersham  St.  Mary  

614  ....  245  ....  280  ... 

484 

Soraerleyton  St.  Mary         

326  ....  386  ....     —  ... 

514 

Soraerton  St.  Margaret       

965  ....  207  ....  300  ... 

143 

Sotherton  St.  Andrew  

261   ....     —  ....  280  ... 

222 

South  Cove  St.  Lawrence   

264  ....  274  ....  267  ... 

194 

South  Park  

686  ex  Ira  parochial.  ... 

16 

Southtown  

329  ....  200  ....     —  ... 

1428 

Southwold  St.  Edmund      

201   ....     60   ....     —  ... 

2186 

Southolt  St.  Margaret         

422  ....     —  ....  237  ... 

211 

Specksall  St.  Peter      

265  ....   277  ....  297  ... 

215 

Sproughton  All  Saints        

27  ....  519  ....  510  ... 

585 

Staniagfield  St.  Nicholas    

741   ....  308  ....  350  ... 

327 

Stanstead  St.  James    

965  ....     —  ....  277  ... 

.  387 

Stanton  All  Saints      ] 
Stanton  St.  John        , 

802  ....  843  ....  977  ... 

.1029 

Stansfield  All  Saints   

893  ....  395  ....  500  ... 

.  510 

Sternfield  St.  Mary  Magdalene  .... 

195  ....  297  ....  300  ... 

.  193 

Stoke  by  Clare  St.  Augustine 

894  ....   130  ....   117  ... 

.  8fi8 

Stoke  Ash  All  Saints  

4S4  ....  275  ....  358  ... 

.  423 

Stoke  Neyland  St.  Mary     

966  ....  278  ....     —  ... 

.1362 

Stonham  Aspal  St.  Mary    

615  ....  504  ....  666  ... 

.   772 

Stonham  Earl  St.  Mary      

618  ....  515  ....  659  ... 

.  878 

Stonharn,  Little,  St.  Mary  

621  ....  360  ....  330  ... 

.  368 

Stoven  St.  Margaret    

266  ....     69  ....     —  ... 

.   127 

Stowlangtoft  St.  George     

803  ....  307  ....  243  ... 

.  183 

Stowmarket  St.  Peter  ^ 

1          ....  281   ....   199  ... 

.3043 

Stowupland  , 

•549  ....     _  ....  257  ... 

.  903 

Stradbrook  All  Saints         

423  ....  712  ....1050  ... 

.1637 

Stradishall  St.  Margaret     

897  ....  32")  ....  400  ... 

.  379 

Stratford  St.  Marv      

30  ....  296  ....  325  ... 

.  647 

Stratford  St.  Andrew  

196  ....  137  ....     —  ... 

.  201 

Stuston  All  Saints       

486  ....   174  ....     —  ... 

.  252 

Stutton  St.  Peter         

31   ....  550  ....     —  ... 

.  492 

Sudbourn  All  Saints   

197  ....  577   ....  6CO  ... 

.  623 

Sudbury  All  Saints     1 

....   119  ....     — 

Sudbury  St.  Gregory  

^970  ....   160  ....     — 

•5085 

Sudbury  St.  Peter       

....     —  ....     — 

Sutton  All  Saints        

157  ....  2!)9  ....  310  ... 

.   707 

Sweffling  St.  Mary      

199  ....  262  ....  300  ... 

.  308 

SwiUand  St.  Mary      

623  ....  227  ....  252  ... 

.  270 

INDEX  TO  PARISHES.  1033 

Val.  Retd.  Com.Val.  Popul. 

Page.  £.  £.  1841. 

Syleham  St.  Mary       421  ....  88  ....     —  ....  399 

Tannington  St.  Mary 428  ....  196  ....     83  ....  252 

Tattingston  St.  Mary 32  ....  414  ....  402  ....  628 

Theberton  St.  Peter    266  ....  354  ....     —  ....  580 

Thelnetbara  St.  Nicholas    807  ....  508  ....     —  ....  561 

Thetford  St.  Mary       846  ....  83  ....       -  ....1207 

Thorndon  All  Saints   488  ....  600  ....  711  ....  732 

Thornham,  Great        490  ....  497  ....     —  ....  374 

Thornham,  Little         491  ....  —  ....     —  ....  203 

Thorp  Ixworth  All  Saints   792  ....  20  Donative.     141 

Thorp  Morieux  St.  Mary    1012  ....  500  ....  620  ....  418 

Thorp,  by  Debenham,  St.  Mary....  519  ....  53  ....     —  ....  343 

Thorp,  in  Blything      2fi9  ....  —  ....     —  ....   142 

Thoringtou  St.  Peter 268  ....  239  ....  283  ....  157 

Thrandiston  St.  Margaret  492  ....  391  ....     —  ....  373 

Tlmrleston  St.  Mary  628 

Thurlow,  Great,  All  Saints         ....  899  ....  300  ....  518  ....  431 

Thurlow,  Little,  St.  Peter  901  ....  401  ....     —  ....  422 

Thurston  St.  Peter      745  ....  250  ....     —  ....  599 

Thwaite  St  George     493  ....  193  ....  234  ....  176 

Timworth  St.  Andrew 748  see  Ingham.  —  ....  212 

Tostock  St.  Andrew    744  ....  210  ....  307  ....  367 

Trimley  St.  Martin     67  ....  423  ....     —  ....  486 

Trimley  St.  Mury        70  ....  355  ....  480  ....  430 

Troston  St.  Mary        809  ....  332  ....  332  ....  409 

Tuddenham  St.  Martiu       71  ....  50  ....  110  ....  423 

Tuddenimm  St.  Mary 849  ....  2H4  r...     —  ....  428 

Tunstall  St.  Michael  199  ....  352  ....  526  ....  658 

Ubbeston  St.  Peter      '  270  ....  2(37  ....  316  ....  243 

Ufford  St.  Mary 158  ....  299  ....  340  ....  673 

Uggeshall  St.  Mary     271  ....  614  ....  3<JO  ....  295 

Walderswick  St.  Andrew     272  ....  41   ....     —  ....  339 

Waldiogfield  St.  Lawrence 979  ....  598  ....  710  ....  676 

Waldiugfield,  Little     981  ....  112  ....  146  ....  420 

Waldriugfield  All  Saints     72  ....  187  ....     —  ....   174 

Walsharn  le  Willows  St.  Mary    ....  812  ....  93  ....     —  ....1265 

\Valpole  St.  Mary        274  ....  82  ....     —  ....  615 

Walton  St.  Mary 72  ....  290  ....  290  ....  907 

Wangford  St.  Dennis 850  ....  —  ....  240  ....     46 

Wangford  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  275  ....  79  ....       -  ....  690 

Wantisden  St.  John  Baptist       ....  200  ....  64  ....     —  ....   110 

Washbrook  St.  Mary 33  ....  —  ....  224  ....  506 

Watis6eld  St.  Margaret      814  ....  336  ....     —  ....  601 

Wattisham  St.  Nicholas      1013  ....  100  ....     —  ....  240 

Wenhara  St.  John       34  ....  211  ....  275  ....  198 

Wenham,  Little  34  see  Capel  St.  Mary.    87 

Wenhaston  St.  Peter 276  ....  110  ....  142  ....  971 

WesthaU  St.  Andrew  .,  277  .  .  195  ...  150  .,,.  412 


1034  INDEX  TO  PARISHES. 


Westhorp  St.  Margaret       
Westley  St.  Thomas  Becket 
Westleton  St  Peter     

Page. 

495 
687 
278 
626 
815 
768 
368 
817 
279 
555 
4  98 
429 
907 
430 
1014 
750 
752 
690 
36 

Val.  Retd.    C 
£. 

....  293  .... 

....  292  .... 
....  242  .... 

....  260  .... 
....  302  .... 
see  Bli/fkbu 
....  371   .... 
....  604  .... 

....  465  .... 
....   102  .... 
....  393  .... 
....  314  .... 
....   160  .... 
....  468  .... 
....   194  .... 

om.Val.  Popul. 
£.            1841. 
350  ....  264 
329  ....   144 
325  ....  897 
350  ....  324 
330  ....  330 
433  ....  244 
—  ....  211 
—  ....  279 
rgh. 
—  ....  515 
713  ....  788 
330  ....  184 
590  ....  640 
90  ....  771 
—  ....  394 
405   ....  514 
155  ....  206 
—  ....  681 
158  ....  238 
250  ....  422 
—  ....   164 
105  ....1400 
115  ....  574 
350  ....1623 
506   ....   623 
-  ....  155 
242  ....   156 
—  ....  217 
150  ....  668 
—  ....  399 
90  ....  470 
420  ....  252 
—  ....  543 
331  ....  348 
—  ....4952 
—  ....  942 
239  ....  216 
.  -  -  ....     66 
335  ....  208 
land  351 
680  ....  786 
8(50  ....1116 
341   ....  355 
250  ....  239 

Westerfield  St.  Mary  Magdelene 
Western  Market  St.  Mary    
Weston  Coney  St.  Peter  •  
Weston  in  Wanoibrd  

Westow  St  Mary        

Westwood  Lodge         

Wetherden  St.  Mary  

Wetheringsett  All  Saints     
Wethersdale  St.  Mary  Magdelene 
Wethersfield  St.  Mary         
Weybread  St  Mary     

Whatfield  St.  Margaret       
Whelnetham,  Great     

Whelnetharn  St.  Mary  Magdelene 
Whepstead  

Wherstead  St.  Mary    

Whitton  St.  Botolph  

628 
903 

....  250   .... 
180 

Whixoe        

Wickham  Market  All  Saints 
Wickham  Skeith  St.  Andrew 
Wickhambrook  All  Saints  
Wilby  St.  Mary  
Willingbam  All  Saints        
Willingham  St.  Mary  

160 
501 
904 
432 
360 
369 
624 
434 
519 
2*0 
982 
74 
504 
127 
752 

....  208  .... 
....  129  .... 
....  210  .... 
....  509  .... 
....  257  .... 

....     56   .... 
....   100  .... 
....   169  .... 
....   105  .... 
....  300  .... 
....  463  ..:. 
....  273  .... 
....  439  .... 
....  350  .. 

Willisbam  St.  Mary    . 

J 

Wingfield  St.  Andrew  

Winston  St.  Andrew   

Wissett  St.  Andrew     

Wiston  St.  Mary         

Witnesbam  St.  Mary  

Wiverstone  St.  George        
Woodbridge  St.  Mary  

Woolpit  St.  Mary        

Woolverstone  St.  Mary       
Wordvvell  All  Saints    

36 
820 
369 
851 
439 
502 
908 
908 
282 
505 
284 

see  Westow 
....  260  .... 
....  197  .... 
....   777  .... 
....  521   .... 
....  450  .... 

Worlingham  All  Saints       
Worlington  All  Saints         
Worlingworth  St.  Mary      
WortbatnEastg.  &Everard  St.  Mary 
Wratting,  Great,  St.  Mary  
Wratting,  Little  

Wrentbam  St.  Nicholas      
Yaxley  St.  Mary  

....  483  .... 
....   150  .... 
.   161   . 

578 
139 
171 

....1020 
....  507 
...1251 

Yoxford  St.  Peter 

INDEX  TO  ARMS. 


Acheson,  871 
Acton,  578 
Adnir,  336 
Affleck,  869 
A  Ian  the,  611 
Aldborongh,  166 
Aldrich,  722 
Alexander,  377 
Allcocke,  566 
Allen,  328 
Allmot,  594 
Allyngtou,  232 
Alston,  938 
Andrew,  578 
Anguish,  528 
Argentein,  232 
Ash  burn  ham,  572 
Ashfield,  807 
Aslack,  369 
Aspal,  616 
Aspin,  934 
Aylmer,  536 
Bacon  6,481, 570,721 
Badlesraere,  635 
Bainard,  235,266 
Baker,  394 
Baldry,  553 
Bardolf,  48,  389 
Barker,  70 
Barnard,  563 
Barnardiston,  45 
Bavne,  366 
Barrow,  498 
Barton,  845 
Bateman,  336 
Bayles,  434 
Bayning,  595 
Beauchamp,  675 
Beaumont,  877 
Beauvoir,  771 


Bedingfield,  90 
Bence,  269 
Bennett,  737 
Benyon,  771 
Bertie,  143 
Bladvvell,  901 
Blagge,  666 
Blake,  796 
Blakeham,  670 
Blanchard,  115 
Blennerhasset,  152 
Blois,  54 
Blomeville,  592 
Blund,  791 
Blundeston,  307 
Blundeville,  66 
Bockinge,  565 
Bohun,  612 
Bois,  935 
Bokenham,  491 
Boldero,  645 
Borrett,</25,  408. 
Botetourt,  472 
Bothe,  570 
Bovile,  118 
Boyland,  488 
Braham,  11,  88 
Brand,  858 
Brandon,  498 
Brews,  35 
Brewster,  75 
Bright,  585 
Brise,  864 
Brodie,  962 
Broke,  62 
Brome,  133 
Brooke,  159 
Brownrig,  484 
Bull,  106 
Bumstede,  369 


Bunbury,  706 
Bures,  916 
Burgate,  455 
Burnaville,  557 
Burrell,  143 
Butley  Abbey,  175 
Butts,  916 
Calthorpe,  701 
Camell,  309 
Cantrell,  600 
Capell,  616 
Carbonel,  7 
Cartwright,  791 
Castleton,  488 
Catelyn,  438 
Cavendish,  70 
Chamberlain,  721 
Chapman,  152 
Charles,  112 
Cheke,  514 
Cheppyne,  592 
Church,  600 
Churchill,  94 
Clare,  864 

Clarke,  468,725,836 
Claxton,  216 
Clench,  23 
Clopton,  953 
Cobbes,  965 
Cockerill,  758 
Cockfield,  888 
Codington,  791 
Coell,  701 
Coke,  269 
Coket,  701 
Colman,  106 
Colt,  931 
Colville,  292 
Conanle  Petit,  611 
Conyers,  706 


1036 

Cooke,  250 

Cooper,  853 
Coote,  666 
Copinger,  526 
Copledike  399 
Cordell,  953 
Corbet,  919 
Coruwallis,  454 
Cornherd,  935 
Corrance,  126 
Cotton,  96,  706 
Crane,  932 
Cressener,  675 
Creting,  635 
Croftes,  819 
Cuddon,  367 
Cullum,  649 
Curteis,  784 
Cutler,  383 
Bade,  94 
Dagworth,  531 
Daniel,  916 
Darcy,  649 
Daundy,  92 
Davers,  740 
D'Avilers,  6 
Daye,  860 
De  la  Pole,  235 
Despencer,  611 
Devereux,  121 
D'Ewes,  807 
Deynes,  592 
Doughty,  268 
Dove/98,  584 
Downing,  266 
Downs,  514 
D'Oyley,  1000 
Drury,  655 
Duke,  170 
Dunwich,  226 
Earle,  369 
Edgar,  474 
Edwards,  709 
Eldred,  681 
Elmham,  498 
Elwes,  896 
Ely,  520 
Everard,  250 


INDEX  TO  ARMS. 

Eye,  461 

Eyre,  488,  828 
Fairfax,  129 
Fastolf,  60 
Felbrigg,  66 
Felton,  27 
Fielding,  777 
Fiennes,  791 
Finch  am,  11 
Firebrace,  953 
Fitz  Eustace,  655 
FitzOsbert,  272,318 
Fitz  Ralph,  845 
Fitzroy,  777 
Fitz  Walter,  965 
Fleetwood,  282 
Flixton  Nunnery,  336 
Foderingey,  638 
Folkes,  706 
Framlingham,  514 
Francis,  367 
Freset,  681 
Freston,  415 
Frost,  785 
Fulmerston,  848 
Fylet,  655 
Gage,  659 
Gardeville,  485 
Gardiner,  773 
Garneys,  115 
Gawdy,  18 
Gedding,  686,  721 
Geslingham,  465 
Gibson,  622 
Giffard,  635 
Gilbert,  536 
Gillet,  133 
Gipps,  566 
Glanville,  118,  143 
Glascock,  827 
Glover,  88 
Godbold,  418 
Goldingham,  7 
Gonvile,  307 
Gooch,  204 
Goodday,  645 
Goodwin,  622 
Gough,  701 


Green,  434 
Gregory,  845 
Grigby,  713 
Grimston,  484 
Gresham,  576 
Grey,  14,  931 
Gurdon,  919 
Hacun,  584 
Hadleigh,  1000 
Hammond,  692 
Hansard,  394 
Hare,  339 
Harlnud,  62 
Harleston,  923 
Harman,  126 
Hartopp,  282 
Harvey,  502,  934 
Harwood,  597 
Hasting:,,  886 
Hawes,  83 
Heighatn,  785 
Hemegrave,  298 
Hemenhale,  677 
Henniker,  440 
Hervey,  668 
Hesilrigge,  403 
Hethe,  845 
Heveningham,  239 
Hill,  526 
Hitcham,  58 
Hobart,  325 
Holt,  481 
Honing,  383 
Hoo,  108,  282 
Hovel,  677,  758 
Howard,  992 
Rowland,  877 
Howse,  758 
Humphrey,  540 
Huntingfield,  399 
Ickworth,  642 
Ilketshale,  348 
Illighe,  743 
Ingham,  431 
Ives,  304 
Jeggon,  489 
Jenney,  246 
Jenoure,  617 


Jenny,  45 
Jermyn,  740 
Jernegan,  272,  328 
Kedington,  916 
Kemp,  270 
Kent,  642 
Kenton,  1 15 
Keppel,  833 
Kerdiston,  235 
Kerrison,  403 
Killegrew,  491 
Kuapp,  576 
Knevet,  298 
Knighton,  860 
Kytson,  659 
Lane,  88 
Langham,  796 
Leathes,  318 
Lee,  726 
Leheup,  722 
Le  Hunte,  860 
Leman,  90 
L'Estrange,  26 
Lewkenor,  871 
Limesi,  931 
Liston,  7 
Little,  570 
Lovayne,  713 
Loveday,  584 
Lowdbam,  152 
Lowthe,  92 
Lucas,  642 
Lutterell,  888 
Lytton,  570 
Major,  440 
Malbye,  617 
Maunock,  970 
Manners,  886 
Mansion,  694 
Martin,  953 
Mayuard,  403 
Meadows,  75 
Mendham,  416 
Metcalfe^55,  617 
Mettingham,  349 
Michell,  839 
Middleton,  570,  655 
Mills,  681 


INDEX  TO  ARMS. 

Monceaux,  710 
Montalt,  518 
Montchensy,  938 
Morley,  518 
Mortimer,  566,  864 
Morton,  593 
Moseley,  645,  891 
Mulso,  92 
Munbee,  662 
Mure,  681 
Murray,  603 
Musket,  540 
Nassau,  99 
Naunton,  126 
Needham,  572 
Nerford,  282 
Newton,  452 
Noon,  59 
North,  536 
Norton,  791 
Oake,  570 
Oakes,  673 
Odyngseles,  931 
Overall,  1000 
Pakenham,  730 
Park,  348 
Parker,  6,  170 
Paston,  307 
Passelewe,  635 
Pateshull,  777 
Payne,  673 
Peohe,  901 
Pecke,  99 
Penning,  112 
Penrice,  309 
Peyton,  156 
Phelip,  389 
Pigott,  873 
Pitman,  129 
Plays,  992 
Playters,  272,  366 
Pleijs,  465 
Plumer,  418 
Poley,  566 
Porter,  270 
Preston,  962 
Pretyman,  447 
Purvis,  222 


1037 

Ramsey,  115 
Rant,  415 
Ratcliffe,  518 
Raven,  595 
Rawliuson,  807 
Rede,  355 
Reeve,  325,  495 
Rendlesham,  126 
Reve,  123 
Reveley,  49 
Reymes,  20 
Reynolds,  714 
Rich,  355 
Risby,  677 
Robinson,  371,  873 
Rokewode,  743 
Rosier,  106 
Rous,  235,  389 
Rowley,  970 
Ruggles,  864 
Rushbrooke,  740 
Sackville,  452 
Salter,  576 
Sampson,  66 
Sancroft,  394 
Saxham,  686 
Sayer,  92,  611 
Seekford,  43 
Seymour,  886 
Shardelow,  35,  827 
Shaw,  94 
Shelton,  768 
Sheppard,  88 
Sicklemore,  499 
Skot,  88 
Smallpiece,  418 
Smith,  121,  220 
Smythe,  447,  773 
Snape,  195 
Snelling,  921 
Soame,  902 
Sorterlee,  272 
Soterley,  366 
Southwell,  569 
Sparrow,  371,  612 
Spencer,  126,  980 
Spring,  730 
Stapleton,  431 


1038 

Staverton,  101 
Slabbing,  112 
Steward,  307,  840 
Stirling,  90 
St.  Cleer,  710 
St.  Philibert,  642 
Strange,  749 
Strutt,  1000 
Sturgeon,  694 
Stuteville,  869 
Suckling,  351 
Sudbury,  976 
Sulyard,  542 
Swift,  579 
Sydnor,  307 
Tasburgh,  336 
Tateshale,  26 
Taverner,  318 
Tendring,  807,  970 
Theobald,  572 
Thomas,  638 
Thornhill,  874 
Thoresby,  827 
Thorp,  298 
Thurlow,  758 
Thurston,  403 


INDEX  TO  ARMS. 

Tibetot,  611 
Tilney,  26 
Timperley,  22 
Tollemache,  603 
Topesfeld,  686 
Touchet,  49 
Townshend,  209 
Tudenhara,  54 
Twaites,  520 
Tye,  99 
Tyrell,  538 
Ufford,  143 
Umfreville,  970 
Underbill,  860 
Vanneck,  239 
Verdon,  59 
Vere,  605 
Vernon,  901 
Vesey,  22 
Visdelieu,  27 
Waldegrave,  925 
Wancey,  874 
Wareyn,  115 
Warner,  188,  845 
Warren,  474 
Watson,  614 


Weeb,  830 
Wells,  965 
Wentwortb,  328 
Weston,  959 
Weyland,  90 
Whetenhale,  845 
Whettell,  701 
Whiuburgh,  204 
White,  188 
Willisham,  115 
Willoughby,  143 
Wilson,  438,  807 
Windsor,  578 
Wingfield,  45 
Wodehouse,  565 
Wollaston,  536 
Wolveston,  49 
Wombwell,  807 
Wood,  152 
Wrighte,  390,  851 
Wyard,  123 
Wyndham,  932 
Wythe,  518,  781 
Yallop,  355 
Yaxlee,  468 
Young,  553,  709. 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Abrincis,  419 

Aclieson,  360.  370 

Acton,  577,  j>8(),  587,  725,  934, 

948,  964 
Adair,  333,  392,  414,  431,  593, 

614,1010 

Affleck,  687,  868,  875 
Airmine,  932 
Alabaster,  998 
Albany,  837,  884 
Albemarle,  19,  762,  833 
Albold,  651 
Alderson,  377 
Alclred,  643 
Aldrich,  722,  997 
Alencon,  830,  874 
Alexander,  376,  531 
Alfgar,  967,  990 
Alfred,  419 
Alfricus,  94,  261,  861 
Alfwinus,  948 
Algar,  636 

Alington,  231,  544,  954 
Allin,  292,  305,  326 
Allraott,  592 
Alston,  120,  389,  581,  938,  957, 

988 

Alvard,  100 
Amundeville,  549 
Amyas,  236 
Andover,  674 
Andrews,  577 
Anguish,  292, 297, 304, 314, 320, 

325,  328 
Anos,  334 
Anstruther,  21,  995 
Appleby,  25 
Appleton,  979 
Appleyard,  611 
Arcedeckne,  105,  118,  138,  148 


Archer,  584,  1011 

Arderne,  429 

Argall,  232,  564 

Argentein,  231,  38 J,  544,  907 

Arlington,  776 

Armiger,  64,  122,  492 

Arnold,  321,  356,  576 

Arras,  562 

Arthey,  1009 

Ascelme,  221 

Ashburnham,  528,  551,  571,  597 

Ashby,  634 

Ashfield,  747,  804 

Ashley,  645 

Aslack,  369 

Aspale,277,  615,  669,  858,  867, 
899 

Aspin,  923,  934,  964 

Astley,  430 

Athol,  688 

Athulf,  429,  475 

Atkin,  298,  589 

Atkinson,  42,  72 

Auberville,  174 

Audley,  70-3,  829 

Austyn,  851,  992 

Aylmer,  33,  561,  586 

Ayton,  96 

Bacon,  3,138, 154, 178,  265,305, 
325,  452,  479,  569,  590,  596, 
710,  721,  770,  800,  843 

Badlesmere,  631,  707 

Baker,  393 

Baldry,  553 

Baldwin,  278 

Bale,  218 

Baliol,  875 

Barber,  120,  392 

Bardewell,  697,  744,  760,  798 

Bardolf,  48,  386,  774 


1040 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Barewe,  631 

Barker,  50,  69,  253,  259,  575, 

613,  863 
Barnard,  503 
Barrmrdiston,  45,  52,50,72,100, 

200,504,835,857,802,882,917 
Barne,  46,  254,  305 
Barnharn,  429 
Barningham,  764 
Barrow,  422,  497 
Barry,  422 
Barton,  845 
Bassett,  747 
Bateman,  197,  333,  415 
Battely,  672 
Bates,  836 
Baltic,  1003 
Bathun,  993 
Baxter,  410,  821 
Bayley,  195 
Bayning,  971 

Baynard,  234,  265,  881,  892 
Beachcroft,  962,  1005 
Beale,  128,  988 
Beauchamp,  519,  673,  981 
Beaumont,  33,387,727,  877,  998 
Beauvoir,  771,  820 
Bedell,  661 
Bederic,  862 
Bedingfield,  13,  34,  82,  89,  221, 

278,  378,  407,  464,  478,  484 
Belet,  548 
Bellemonte,  941 
Bence,  238,  268,  353,  361,  405, 

951,966 
Benjafield,  751 
Bennett,  735,  776 
Benyon,  749,  771,  820 
Berman,  253 
Berners,  5,  14,  19,  37 
Berney,  411 
Bernham,  261 
Berrill,  486 
Belham,  617 
Belts,  46,  231 
Bevant,  210,  228,  391,  980 
Bigod,  94,  107,  205,  269,  284, 

341,  404,  857,  869 


Bird,  619 

Bixlev,  230,  266 

Black,  84 

Blackerby,  552,  853 

Bladwell,'  899 

Blagge,  065 

Blake,  706,  762,  795 

Blakenham,  578,  641,  669,  690, 

741,  817,  990 
Blanc,  830 

Blennerhasset,  151,  350,  486 
Blewett,  579 
Bliss,  828 
Blobold,  418 
Blois, 49,  53, 206,  264,  278,  286, 

405 

Bloomfield,  783,  849 
Blosse,  11 

Blourit,  504,  78^  801 
Blund,  495,  812 
Blumville,  65,  315,  446,  590 
Blundell,  965 
Blundeston,  305,  319 
Bockinge,  519,  563 
Bohun,  277,  363,  393,  548,  583, 

612,  628 

Bois,  819,  935,993 
Bokenlmm,  485,  490,  654,  724, 

808,  815 

Boldero,  644,  660,  718,  849 
Bole,  700 
Bologue,  384 
Bolton,  964 
Bonham,  564 
Bonhote,  343 
Bordeshawe,  27 
Borlase,  957 
Borrelt,  408,  425 
Bosco,  295,  446,  595 
Boteler,  543 
Bothe,  568,  604 
Bottetort,  469,  776,  858 
Bouchery,  579 

Bouchier,  548,  782,  980,  988 
Boughton,  634 
Bound,  798 
Bouverie,  735 
Bovil,  93,116,137,375,  384,  422 


INDEX  TO  NAMES . 


1041 


Bowers,  31,  1014 

Bowet,  282 

Boyland,  486,  606 

Boytou,  23,  534,  544 

Braddock,  798 

Bradley,  407,  609 

Braham,  10,  87,  105,  498,  502 

Brampton,  1007 

Brancaster,  348 

Brand,  50:2,  808,  937,  960,  988 

Brandon,   221,  247,   251,   407, 

413,  496,  528,  541,  829 
Bransby,  411 
Branwlnte,  946 
Braunch,  113 
Brews,  34,  45,  392,  423,  562, 

604,  714 
Brewster,  283 
Briars,  437 
Bridges,  41 
Bridgman,  593,  769 
Briggs,  811,  776 
Brighteyeve,  261 
Bright,  585,  747 
Brinkley,  948 
Brise,  863,  930 
Bristol  28,  86,  640 
Britlmoth,  955 
Brittone,  19 
Britulf,  639,  678,  744 
Brockdish,  471 
Brockley,  636 
Brodie,  962 

Broke,  18,  27,  46,  61,  627 
Brokesbouru  751,  917 
Brome,  132,  487 
Bromley,  904 
Brooke,  159,  206,  236,  277,  286, 

375,  445,  661 
Brotherton,  70,95, 107,149,341, 

404 

Brown,  247,  745,  926 
Brownrig,  484,  625 
Bruere,  492,  505 
Brun,  765 
Brussard,  190 
Bull,  27,  85,  105,  597 
Bulleyn,  172 


Bumstede,  369 

Bimbury,  144,  393,  703,  844 

Bungeye,  343 

Burch,  568 

Burd,  416,  872 

Bures,  904,  913,  924 

Burgate,  455 

Burgli,  277,  544,  958,  965 

Burghersh,  47,    199,  251,  292, 

523,  546,  563,  604,  623,  756 
Burkett,  1002 
Burleigh,  193,  674 
Burnaville,  577.  579,  613 
Burnedish,  381,  549 
Burser,  34 
Burwell,  157,  734 
Busshe,  470 
Butler,  36,  535,  979 
Butts,  58,  942 
Butvillein,  957 
Buxton,  847 
Cadomo,  257 
Cage,  11,  42,  72,  69J 
Caldebeck,  899 
Culdvvell,  419 
Calthorpe,  3,  264,347,  430,  452, 

698,  729,  772 
Camac,  890 
Camel),  309,  465 
Campania,  19,  33, 121,  939,962 
Campion,  847 
Candler,  23,  592 
Canham,  954 
Canning,  19,  501 
Cantrell,  590,  599 
Capell,  615,  802,  810,  968 
Caperon,  125 
Capper,  96 
Capra,  903 

Carbonel,  93,  376,  979 
Cardinall,  15 
Carell,  43 
Carewe,  801 
Carey,  242 
Carr,  603 
Carter  7 

Carthe'w,  128,  203,  229,  610 
Cartwright,  50,  790 


1042 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Casborne,  729 

Castelayne,  980 

Castle,  55 

Castello,  1012 

Castleton,  486,  782 

Caston,  119 

Catelyn,  37,  435 

Causton,  48,  957 

Cavendish,   67,   199,  308,  674, 

897,  928 
Celtey,  97 
Chadwick,  733 
Chamberlen,  138,  720 
Chambers,  321,  426 
Chaplin,  16 
Chapman,  76,  85,  100,  200,  380, 

417,  422,  772 
Chark,  800 
Charles,  97,  109 
Charman,  676 
Chaucer,  234 
Chedworth,  5 
Cheke,  513,  862 
Cheney,  205,  257 
Chepenhale,  392 
Chertesy,  972 
Chester,  150 
Chetham,  725 
Chevalier,  445,  514 
Cheyne,  959 
Chilton,  472 
Chinery,  747,  873,  905 
Choppinge,  590 
Church,  600 
Churchill,  93 
Chyvereston,  887 
Clagett,  902 
Clare,  148,  261,  468,  597,  674, 

845,  989 
Clarke,  835 
Clavering,  206,  212 
Claxton,  215,  724 
Claydon,  576,  579,  586 
Clayton,  259 
Clench,  23,  46,  592 
Clerebeckes,  913 
Clerke,  531 
Clifford,  421 


Clifton,  539 

Clopton,  236,  652,770,877,894, 

906,  950 
Clough,  759 
Clubbe,  82,  597,  1015 
Clyatt,  175 
Cobbes,  964 
Cobbold,  952 
Cockerill,  564,  757 
Cocks,  19 

Cocksedge,  733,  736 
Codington,759, 785,801, 812,831 
Coell,  698,  873 
Coga,  103 
Coke,  36,  212,  219,  243,  268, 

797,  987 

Cokefield,  887,  932,  940,  1005 
Coket,  700,  786 
Colby,  381 
Colchester,  604 
Coldham,  877 
Coleman,  431 
Colet,  388 
Collett,  627 
Collier,  701 
Collinson,  28 

Colman,  106,  451,  638,  926 
Colt,  929 

Colville,  113,  291,  599 
Colvin,  43 
Comers,  462 
Constance,  752 
Conyers,  462,  704 
Cooke,  249,  624,  945,  1011 
Cooper,  422,  728,  852 
Coote,  664,  769 
Copinger,  523,  944 
Copledike,  397 
Corbet,  917 
Corder,  960 
Cordebeof,  469 
Cordell,  900,  949 
Cornard,  892,  935 
Cornwallis,  5,  91,  451, 473,  486, 

492,  685,  771,  820,  830 
Cornwall,  391 
Corrance,  123,  188,  735 
Coswell,  716 


1NDKX  TO  NAMES. 


1043 


Cottesford,  956 

Cotton,  96,  121,  704,  795 

Courteney,  248,  904 

Covel,  662 

Crabbe,  166,  189,  814 

Cradock,  905 

Cramaville,  745 

Crane,  587,  590,  618,  931 

Craven,  381 

Crawford,  542 

Crawley,  551,  566,  571 

Creke,  250,  335,  526,  915 

Crespigny,  594 

Cressi,  205 

Cressiner,  674,  878 

Creting,  633 

Crewe,  33 

Criketot,  210,  277,684,757,794, 


Crofts,  764,  792,  796,  819 

Cromwell,  30,  876 

Cropley,  548 

Cuddon,  367,  934,  993,  1009 

Cullum,  645,  647,  652,  901 

Curson,  89,  634,  914 

Curteen,  877 

Curteis,  783 

Curwin,  728 

Dacres,  218,  858 

Dade,  93,  428 

Dagworth,  81,  530 

Balling,  342 

Daly,  276 

Dalynghoo,  93 

Darner,  238 

Dameron,  604,  627 

Daniel,  914 

Danmartin,  469 

Darcy,  478,  549,  660,  665,  698 

Dashwood,  238,  920 

Daundy,  91,  528 

Davers,  710,  734,  739,  885 

Davies,  826 

D'Avilers,  3,  308,  452 

Davy,  547 

Dawson,  47,  363,  937 

Dawtrey,  585 

Daye,  362,  590,  859 


Deacon,  989 

Deane,  419 

De  Grey,  34 

Delapole,  20,  30,  230,  235,  242, 

391,435,458,496,541,1004, 

1011 
De  Limesey,  113 
Denny,  250,  349,  689 
Denston,  872 
Denton,  221 
Dereham,  988 
Dernford,  52 
Desmond,  776 
Despencer,  47,  171,  229,  292, 

609,  632 
D'Eureux,  866 
Devereux,  96,  119,  548 
D'Ewes,  804,  944,  950 
Deynes,  590 
Dibdin,  534 
Dickens,  867 
Dillingham,  50,  53 
Discipline,  729 
Diss,  153 
Dixon,  642 
Donovan,  398 
Doughty,  59,  267 
Douglas,  115 
Dove,  102,  120,  584,  598 
Downing,  224,  265 
Downshire,  922,  965 
Doyley,  282,  995,  1008,  1014 
Drake,  1000 
Drinkmilk,  634 
Driver,  618,  800 
Drowries,  28 
Drury,  5,  56,119,549,  637,  652, 

666,  674,  734,  745 
Drummond,  997 
Duffield,  551,  908 
Duke,  169,  208,  287,  347,  369, 

405,  783,  801,  820 
Dunston,  380 
Dunthorne,  390 
Duuwich,  278 
Dysart,  31,  996,  1014 
Dyson,  422 
Earle,  369 


1044 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Eccleston,  596 

Echard,  125,  351 

Eden,  971,  974 

Edgar,  10,  180,  253,  259,  300, 

377,  474,  590,  624,  798,  906 
Edge,  1010 
Edwards,  156,  818 
Edwardston,  938 
Edwin,  772 
Egmont,  5 

Eldred,  679,  794,  935 
Elmham,  495 
Eltham,  149 
Elveden,  765 
Elwes,  862,895,  904 
Ely,  952,  956 
Enfield,  976 
Engaine,  904 
Erpingham,  781 
Esohois,  256 
Essington,  44,  52 
Estley,  264 
Eston,  97 
Etheldreda,  532 
Etheridge,  391 
Evans,  728,  835 
Evanson,  579 

Everard,  249,  381,  692,  878 
Everatt,  661 
Ewen,  721 
Ewer,  504 

Eyre,  225,  329,  486,  828 
Fabian,  533 
Fairclough,  876 
Fairfax,  129,  571,  765 
Falbek,  489 
Falconbergh,  359 
Farewell,  867 
Farmer,  871,  875,  884 
Fastolf,  23,  60,  123,  287,  304, 

325,  518 
Faywether,  585 
Felbrigg,  65,  392,451 
Felton,  26,  66,  370,  633 
Fenn,  4 62 
Fenton,  592 
Fernley,  529 
Feynes",  109 


Fielding,  775 

Fiennes,  789 

Finchem,  11 

Finningham,  462 

Firebrace,  900,  950 

Firmage,  766 

Fiske,  733,  964,  1013 

Fitz  Bernard,  676 

Fitz  Brian,  582 

Fitz  Drogo,  723 

Fitz  Eustace,  651,  889 

Fitz  Gerald,  144 

Fitz  Gilbert,  861,  877 

Fitz  Norman,  252 

Fitz  Osbert,  271,  320,  326 

Fitz  Ralph,  113,  682,  981 

Fitz  Reginald,  688 

Fitz  Richard,  674 

Fitz  Robert,  239,  682,  757 

Fitzroy,  761,  764,  766, 768,  782 

Fitz  Walter,  963 

Flack,  530 

Fleetwood,  281 

Flemeton,  699,  796 

Fletcher,  571 

Fletwick,  55 

Fludger,  51 

Flyut,  579 

Foderingey,  636 

Folkes,  703,  751,  818 

Forthe,  175,  611 

Fowler,  315 

Framlingham,  113,  382,  511 

Francis,  367,  634,  905 

Frank,  139 

Fraunceys,  674 

Freak,  251 

Freeman,  692 

French,  937 

Frere,  462,  474,  492 

Fresel,  678,  689 

Fressiugfield,  411 

Freston,  259,  413,  501 

Friend,  863 

Frodo,  410 

Frost,  692,  785,  879,  891 

Fulcher,  313,  766,  779,  793 

Fuller,  383,  609,  1000 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


1045 


Fulraerston,  387,  766,  782,  832, 

847 

Fuller,  803 
Fylet,  654 
Gage,  539,  621,  640,  658,  670, 

688,  715 

Gainsborough,  690,  975 
Gale,  458 
Gardeman,  589 
Gardevile,  470 
Gardiner,  752,  772,  819 
Gardner,  263,  534 
Garneys,!  14,  239,  292, 326, 347, 

362,  470 

Garnham,  673,  758 
Garravd,  595,  615 
Galford,  3«9 
Gavel,  348 

Gawdy,lK,  338,415,429, 51 2,518 
Gedclyng,  636, 669,682,719, 859, 

960 

Gee,  36,  845,  922 
Geslingham,  464 
Giffard,  578,  631 
Giglis,  944 
Gilbert,  535 
Gillett,  132,  188 
Gillingwaler,  322 
Gilly,  878 

Gipps,  566,  638,  665,  715,  751 
Glanville,!  16, 137, 174, 246, 526, 

552,  612,  993 
Glascock,  826 
Glemham,  171,  180 
Gloucester,  644,  987 
Glover,  86,  230 
Goal,  926,  955 
Godbold,  344,  418,  729,  982 
Godfrey,  16,  661,  884 
Godsalve,  258 
Gold,  212 
Golding,  812,  892 
Goldinglmm,  6 
Goldwell,  440,  849 
Golly,  102 

Gonvile,  305,  808,  832 
Gooch,  203,  218,  229,  264,  370 
Goodall,  619,  733 


Goodday,  643,  711,  890 

Goodrich,  687 

Goodwin,  59,  108,  621 

Gordon,  236 

Gosebeck,  598 

Gosnold,  64,  414,  589 

Golls,  878 

Gough,  699 

Goulslon,  762 

Gralia,  477 

Gray,  492 

Green,  414,  438,  634,  921 

Greengrass,  811 

Gregory,  845 

Grt-lle,  579 

Gresham,  400,  574,  618 

Grey,  14, 247, 287, 875, 893, 929, 

935,960,1006 
Grigby,  638,  690,  712 
Grimsby,  907 
Grimslone,  483 
Grosseiesle,  425 
Grove,  599,  640 
Guadir,  256 
Gunning,  265 
Gurdon,  53,  918,  955 
Gurnall,  944 
Guthrum,  994' 
Gwilt,  838 
Haberham,  103 
Hackluyt,  499,  590 
Hacun,  584 
Haggit,  531 
Hales,  837 
Hall,  661 
Halliday,  236 
Hallifax,  762,  964 
Halsled,  654 
Halton,  278 
Haraillon,  124,  803 
Hammond,  159,  691,  879 
Hanbury,  925 
Hand,  890 
Hankey,  16 

Hanmer,  144,  393,703,  844,  981 
Hanningfield,  948 
Hansard,  392 
Hapisburgh,  762 


1046 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Harbottle,  595 
Hardicheshall,  375,  384 
Hardy,  580 

Hare,  173,  191,  338,  520 
Harland,  7,  45,  52,  62,  215,  880, 

893,  900 

Harleston,  922,  964 
Harman,  124 
Harmer,  814 
Harrington,  361,  878 
Harrison,  714,  1013 
Hart,  19,  34 
Hartopp,  281 

Harvey,  248,  501,821,  934,964 
Harwood,  596 
Hastings,  885,  904,  930 
Hawes,  83,  563 
Haynes,  587,  994 
Hayter,  780 
Hayward,  72 
Head,  31 
Hecham,  1002 
Heckford,  615 
Heigham,  20, 632, 679,  687, 785, 

875,  905 
Helegaye,  664 
Helin,  875 


766,  849 

Hemenhale,  456,  677,  959 
Henley,  125 

Henniker,41,  392,  439,491,  513 
Hepworth,  779 
Herbert,  182,  333,  4CO 
Hereford,  185 
Herling,  305,  311,  793 
Herold,  487 
Heron,  606 

Hertford,  176,  183,  198 
Hervey,  26,  634,  650,  667,  689, 

820^849,  866 
Hethe,  657,  682,  689,  697,  749, 

786,  842,  870 
Heveningham,  237,  415 
Hewett,  44 
Heydou,  459 
Heyman,  394 
Heythuson,  325 


Hickling,  488 

Hill,  525 

Hilton,  72 

Hingeston,  146,  628 

Hitcham,  57,  102 

Hoare,  459 

Hobart,  325,  411,  430,  446, 498, 

954 

Holbrooke,  32,  56,  67,  123 
Holden,  837 
Holland,  170,  199,230,405,411, 

838,  1007 
Holies,  315 
Hollingsworth,  728 
Holishe,  225 
Holman,  670 
Holmes,  391,  411 
Holmsted,  389 
Holt,  377,  456,  468,  479,  489, 

663,  828,  851 

Honings,  221,  382,  458,  483 
Hoo,90,107,122,  281,  473,  606, 

826 

Hopkins,  138 

Hopton,  206,  235,  279,  286 
Horkesle,  660 
Horningsherth,  664,  817 
Horrex,  692 
Horxley,  519 
Hosdeue,  71 
Hotham,  389,  536 
Hougbton,  525 
Hoult,  897 

Hovell,  504,  557,  676,  757,  815 
Howard,  36,  50,  105,  123,  230, 

243,  688,  715,  830,  967,  g87, 

992,  1008 
Howe,  5,  914,  957 
Howes,  489,  549,  757 
Howland,  229,  877 
Hoy,  967 
Hughes,  16 

Humphrey,  474,  484,  540 
Hunt,  812 
Huntingfield,  144,  219,  241,248, 

274,  397,  407,  412 
Hynklegh,  899 
Ickworth,  641,  666,  757 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


1047 


Ilkelsbale,  346 

Illighe,  741,  925 

Image,  692 

Inchbald,  743 

Ingaldestliorp,  965 

Ingham,  25,  429 

Ingiose,  303,  815 

Ingunr,  399 

Ireland,  890 

Isaacson,  905 

Itcliingham,  350 

Ives,  304 

Jackson,  610,  694,  981 

Jacob,  407 

Jeggon,  488 

Jenkin,  975 

Jennings,  570 

Jennens,  89,  914 

Jenney,  146,  244,  267,  464,  992 

Jenoure,  616 

Jermy,  31,  44,  52,  416,  590 

Jermyn,  243,  260, 468,  660,  677, 

707,  735,  751,  802,  840,  873, 

885,  995 
Jernegan,  271, 303,320,361, 391, 

422,  621 
Jervace,  709 
Jersey,  549 

Johnson,  165,  178,  195 
Johnstone,  313 
Jones,  969,  1006 
Jordaines,  590 
Judde,  961 
Keddington,  735,  879,  894,  905, 

915,  980 
Keeble,  614 
Keene,  9 

Kemp,  270,  584,  937 
Kendall,  827 
Kent,  138,  670,  715 
Kenton,  113,519 
Kenwellmarsh,  592 
Keppel,  833 

Kerdiston,  196, 21 4, 234,261,478 
Kerrich,  25 
Kerrison,401, 425,451,473,492, 

808 
Kersey,  28 


Kettle,  661 

Kettlebars,  90 

Kettleborough,  772 

Kilderbee,  177 

Killegrew,  485,  490 

King,  77,  900 

Kingsfield,  533 

Kirby,  J80,  569 

Knapp,  576 

Knevet,  297,  399 

Knewstub,  934 

Knighton,  859,  901 

Knipe,  512 

Knowles,  866 

Knox,  9D8 

Kynnesman,  765 

Kytson,  634,  639,  650,  670,  679, 

68#,  715,  830 
Lambe,  568,  745,  792 
Lambourn,  959 
Lampet,  44 
Lamprell,  860 
Lancaster,  10,  12,  46 
Lane,  85,  123 
Langham,  785,  794 
Langley,  750 
Langrey,  106 
Langtoft,  803 
Lanham,  945 
Lany,  220 
Last,  1014 

Latimer,  22,  75,  138,  529,  961 
Lavenham,  447 
Laxfield,  223,  407 
Layton,  28 
Leake,  321,  625 
Leatbes,  318 
Lee,431,691,725,797,840,848, 

1012 

Leedes,  786 
Legate,  995 
Le  Grys,  328 
Lebeup,  722,  729 
Lehunte,  859 
Leicester,  219 
Leigb,  916 
Leman,  89,  118,  210,  276,  358, 

368,436,  611,  1005 


1048 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Lennard,  987 

Leo,  656,  689 

Lepel,  125 

Lerling,  832 

Le  Rus,  423 

L'Estrange,  25,  459,  727,  765 

Leward,  714 

Lewis,  343 

Lewkenor,  870 

Leycestre,  969 

Leyham,  1007 

Ligne,  672 

Ligue,  430 

Lillingstone,  28 

Limesi,  927 

Little,  568 

Livermere,  697,  796 

Lloyd,  21,  995 

Locke,  272 

Lodge,  609 

Lodne,  745,  960 

Lofft,  810 

Logan,  954,  966 

Long,  4,  123,  191,  389,  592,  679 

Longspee,  866 

Lorraine,  384 

Losinga,  421 

Loyayne,  711 

Loveday,  583 

Lovel,  219,  793 

Lowdham,  151,  315,  486 

Lowe,  787 

Lowthe,  91 

Lucas,  664,  669,  677,  683,  688 

Lunchamp,  295 

Luson,  305,  315 

Luther,  138,  585 

Lutterill,  887,  981 

Lydgate,  886 

Lymburgh,  593 

Lynch,  550 

Lyston,  376 

Lytton,  568 

Maclean,  975 

Macro,  798 

Maddocks,  810 

Maddy,  923 

Major,  392,  439 


Makin,  962 

Malbye,  616 

Malet,  1 16,  223,  246,  380,  407, 

430,  457 
Mullabar,  826 
Maltaward,  878 
Malyn,  474 
Manby,  313 
Mann,  422 

Manners,  544,  716,  886 
Mannock,  23,  958,  968 
Mansion,  693,  744 
Mantell,  964 
Mapletolt,  966,  1002 
Markant,  689 
Mnrkes,  544 
Marlesionl,  119 
Marriott,  146 
Marsh,  773 
M  artel,  194 

Martin,  476,  951,  1014 
Masca,  338 
Masey,  203 
Mauclere,  608 
Maurice,  329,  995 
Mauteby,  313 
Mawbray,  342 
Mawe,  125 
Mawer,  139 
Mayhew,  760 
Maynarcl,  401 
Mays,  31,  101 

Meadows,  12,  74,  519,  604,  891, 
MedeBeld,  519 
Mekylfeld,  211 
Melnes,  250 
Mendham,  724 
Merc,  588 
Messange,  71 
Metcalfe,  607,  617,  654 
Methwold,  939 
Metingham,  349 
Michell,  838 
Mickelby,  276 
Micklewaite,  363 
Middleton,  415,  569,  587.  596. 

607,  616,  948 
Milborne,  953 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Milding,  954 

Mildumy,  236 

Mileson,  798 

Miller,  247,  343 

Mills,  114,  634,  680,  883,  980 

Mingay,  758 

Minter,  71 

Modercoppe,  410 

Mole,  62 

Molyns,  324 

Monceaux,  710 

Montalt,  515 

Montford,  723 

Moonines,  1011 

Moor,  43 

Moore,  609,  934,  951 

Moreaux,  1012 

Morley,  516 

Morrison,  42 

Morse,  230,  299 

Mortimer,  262,  565,  845,  861, 

880,  960,  1007 
Moseley,  180,  504,643,712,733, 

745/760,  888,  905 
Mossells,  26 
Mott,  506 
Mounteney,  544 
Moyne,  959 
Mulso,  91 
Mumbee,  661 
Munchensi,  20,  94,  936 
Mundeford,  634,  649 
Mundeville,  195 
Munro,  813 
Murdock,  898 
Mure,  680,  837,  873 
Musket,  540 
Mussenden,  318 
Myiioth,  580 

Narford,  240,  256,  280,  615,  894 
Nash,  321 
Nassau,  70,  72,  108 
Naughton,  118,  123,  138,  734 
Necton,  704 
Nedham,  415,  570 
Neville,  63,432,  918 
Newton,  451,  833 
Nicholls,  306 


Nightingale,  498 

Noel,  651 

Noon,  59,  63 

North,  128,  144,  182,  203,  299, 

408,  535,  745,  844,  904 
Northwold,  636 
Norton,  789,  798,  806 
Norwich,  93,  211,  252,  268,274, 

287,  308,  348,  836,  868 
Notbeme,  899 
Nottidge,  904 
Nottingham,  221 
Noyes,  408 
Nunne,  363 
Nursey,  43 
Nuttall,  624 
Oake,  568,  612 
Oakes,  16,  504,  672,  878 
Odingsells,  308,  928 
Odo,  651 
Offwood,  542 
Okefield,  1010,  1014 
Oneby,  152 
Onslow,  884 
Ord,  718 
Ording,  733 
Orgill,  210 
Orwell,  607 
Osborne,  383 
Oswi,  511 
Otley,  745,  816 
Overall,  998 
Owers,  905 
Oxford,  32,  337,  562 
Packard,  229,  251 
Page,  689 

Pakenham,  726,757,777,792,8 18 
Palmer,  645 
Paman,  640 
Park,  349 

Parker,  4,  170,  733,  950 
Parkyns,  215 
Pane,  548 
Parson,  328 
Paston,  305,  966,  974 
Passelewe,  631 
Pateshull,  774 
Patrick,  687,  868 


1050 


INDEX  TO  NAMES 


Patteson,  798 

Pattle,  773 

Paul,  533 

Pavilli,  228 

Payne,  650,  671,  832 

Paynell,  64 

Peacock,  580 

Pearce,  908 

Peche,  583,  711,  714,  803,  899 

Pecke,  97 

Peke,  619 

Pelyt,  368 

Penning,  111,  796 

Penrice,  309 

Pernham,  552 

Peter,  847,  884 

Pettiward,  536,  546 

Pettour,  598 

Pettow,  252 

Pettus,  215 

Peyton,  155,  904,  919,  969,  980 

Phelip,  90,  385,  1004 

Philibert,  991 

Philipson,  609 

Phillips,  638 

Philpot,  274 

Pierpoint,  7,  203,  218,  235,  282 

Pigott,  872 

Pirnho,  285 

Pitman,  128 

Pitts,  41,  108,  513 

Plampiu,  852,  964 

Playters,  254,  271,299,  360,  365 

Plays,  765,  992 

Plowman,  329 

Pocklington,  992,  1014 

Poinings,  283,  982 

Pole,  545 

Poley,  551,  565,  879,  894,  922, 

942,  965 
Polstede,  959 
Pope,  44,  52,  842 
Porter,  270 
Powell,  812 
Powis,  21 
Powle,  298 
Powlett,  473,  831 
Powney,  954 


Prescot,  401 

Preston,  961 

Pretty,  101 

Pretyman,  446,  489,  498 

Priest,  906 

Proctor,  530 

Proger,  818 

Pry  like,  393 

Pryme,  494,  634 

Purvis,  222,  278 

Pye,  944 

Pyeshale,  381 

Pykard,  674,  908 

Pykenham,  996 

Pypard,  20,  535 

Qunyle,  728 

Quinton,  500 

Eabett,  212 

liaikes,  576 

Rainforth,  751,  917 

Ramsey,  114 

Rant,  414 

Ratcliffe,  516,  963 

Rattlesden,  145,  732,  777 

Raven,  595, 

Rawlinson,  806 

Ray,  549 

Raydou,  21,  30,  36 

Ray  ley,  417,  429 

Rayner,  898 

Reade,  761,  792 

Rebow,  64,  545 

Rede,  352,  673 

Redislmll,  100 

Redisbam,  362 

Redysham,  269 

Reeve,  325,  493,  952 

Reilly,  498,  769 

Rendlesham,  122,  124 

Reppes,  415 

Reve,  122,  322 

Revetshale,  779 

Revett,  81,  122,  424,  553,  732 

Reymes,  20,  36 

Reynolds,  7,  144,  492,  714 

Reydon,  1007 

Rhodes,  826 

Ribbans,  946 


INDBI  TO  NAMES. 


1051 


Rich,  358 

Richardson,  878 

Richmond,  347 

Rickingale,  482 

Rington,  428 

Risbye,  595,  676,  766,  1013 

Rishanger,  484 

Rither,  948 

Rivers,  949 

Riveshale,  1011 

Roberts,  281,  310 

Robins,  934 

Robinson,  369,  872,  906,  950 

Rochester,  833 

Rochford,  70,  81,  97 

Rodwell,  980 

Rogers,  29,  661,  722,  849 

Rogerson,  701 

Rokes,  119 

Rokewode,  709,  741,  775,  913 

Ross,  707 

Rosier,  106 

Rous,  90,217, 235, 254, 272, 376, 

387,  419,  750,  837 
Rouse,  128 
Rowe,  614 
Rowley,  23,  63,  733,  883,  941, 

968,  983 
Rufus,  423,  608 
Ruggles,  864,  945 
Rungeston,  93,  380 
Rus,  562 

Rush,  24,  26,  170 
Rushbrooke,  685,  738,  783,  802, 

818 

Russel,  28,  688 
Rust,  550 
Rydevvare,  1004 
Ryece,  961 
Ryver,  692 
Sackville,  50, 119, 178,  311,  451, 

483,  501,  513 
Safford,  349 
Salisbury,  587 
Salter,  575 
Saltfletus,  100 
Sampson,  19,  28,  66 
Sancroft,  338,  391,  417 


Sapiston,  801 

Sarcere,  598 

Saunders,  315 

Savoy,  109,  608 

Saxham,  674,  682,  757,  809 

Sayer,  92,  259,  315,  402,  610 

Scales,  555,  833,  851 

Scot,  85,  367 

Scotland,  738 

Scrivener,  259 

Scroop,  858,  958,  1004 

Seckford,  41,  72,  127,  628 

Seething,  258 

Segrave,  211,  252 

Selot,  736 

Senges,  258 

Seymour,  421,  773,  886,  926 

Shardelow,  641,  825,  867 

Shaw,  45,  52,  56,  93 

Shawe,  591 

Shedden,  987 

Shelley,  547,  849 

Shelton,  424,  497,  767,  926 

Shepherd,  557 

Sheppard,  86, 1 78, 200, 230, 470, 

494,  625,  728 
Shimpling,  971 
Shipmeadow,  367 
Shipp,  193 
Short,  645 
Shotford,  519 
Shouldham,  120 
Shrive,  863 
Shrubeland,  568 
Sibbs,  975 

Sicklemore,  499,  581 
Sims,  694 
Skakelthorp,  388 
Skerning,  333 
Skipwith,  679 
Skippon,  30,  120 
Sloane,  831 
Smallpiece,  417 
Smart,  410 
Smith,  120,  219,  281,  357,  385, 

310,415,447,471,492,540, 

568,  772,  780,  872 
Smythies,  945 


1052 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Snell,  609 

Snelling,  579,  964 

Soame,  494,  618,  SCO,  901 

Somerset,  904 

Sone,  270 

Sorrel,  605 

Soitelee,  271,  364 

Southwell,  298,517,566,660,665 

Spalding,  952 

Sparke,  780,  812,  905 

Sparrow,  276,370,612,628,  874, 

906,  935,  1013 
Sparshall,  355 
Spelman,  973 
Spencer,  124,  980,  1007 
Sprigge,  638,  692 
Spring,  728,736,  751,837,1002, 

1014 

Squire,  827 

Stafford,  686,  875,  989 
Stanford,  564 
Stanhope,  157,  198 
Stauiforth,  798 
Stnpleton,  204,  293 
Staunton,  19,  1010 
Staverton,  100 
Stebbing,  96,  111 
Stedman,  747,  939 
Steward,  306,  826,  840 
Steyning,  95 
Stigund,  841 
Still,  997 
Stone,  114 
Strnfford,  165 
Strange,  636,  697,  749 
Strutt,  996 
Stubbin,  892 
Sturgeon,  693 
Sturm y,  523 

Stuteville,  687,  830,  868,  907 
Stutter,  688 
Style,  401,  590,  600 
St.  Cleer,  709 
St.  Edmund,  102 
St.  Eloy,  836 
St.  Philibert,  669 
Suckling,  351,  368 
Sudbury,  972 


Sulyard,  30,  341,  355,  745 

Sutton,  19,  903,  954,  1007 

Swift,  579 

Swillington,  206,  251 

Swyniford,  466 

Sydney,  265 

Sydnors,  236,  305,  313 

Syer,  909 

Symonds,  328,  729,  736,  751 

Sything,  764 

Talbot,  20,  994 

Tallcmache,8,140,200,419,517, 

565,  584,  602,  654,  778 
Tamworth,  769 
Tanner,  997 
Tasburgh,  335 
Tateshale,  25 
Tavel,  87 
Taverner,  274 
Taylor,  498,  778,  875,  997 
Temple,  298,  692 
Tendring,  967 
Theobald,  576,  604 
Theodred,  660,  690 
Thellusson,  124 
Thelnetham,  724,  807 
Thexton,  923 
Thicknesse,  51 
Thomas,  638 
Thoresby,  826 

Thornhill,  415,  782,  794,  873 
Thorpe,  297,  398,  451,  462, 495, 

527,  601 

Thorrowgood,  1006 
Throkmorton,  333 
Thurkell,  402 
Thurlow,  557,  758,  908 
Thurston,  401,  422,  808,  816 
Tibetot,  576,  580,  608,  632 
Tiffen,  957 
Tillot,  873 
Tilney,  25,  421 
Timperley,  20 
Tomline,  545 
Tonbrigge,  894 
Tony,  421 
Topesfield,  683 
Tostock,  744 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


1053 


Tovell,  188 

Townsend,209,265,586,830,871 

Trigg,  895 

Trotman,  136 

Tudenham,  53,88,311,319,626, 

834,881 
Turner,  112 
Tumor,  664,  795,  876 
Tusser,  11 

Tye,  90,  97,  293,  351 
Tyinwortli,  748 
Tyndale,  852 
Tyre]],  170,  302,  414,  446,  456, 

491,537,  549,  733,  747,  810, 

960,  988,  I  Oil 
Ufford,    46,  139,  149,  158,  185, 

212,282,  341,  391,  458,  467, 

488,  5$8,  541,  837 
Ulfketel,  478,  714 
Umfreville,  877,  969 
Underbill,  859,  901 
Ungle,  589 
Upcher,  975 
Urquhart,  564 
Usborne,  867 
Uvedale,  572 
Uvius,  846 
Valence,  254 

Valoins,  49,  55,  85, 105, 185, 187 
Valpy,  898 
Vanneck,  217, 23S,  243, 248,398, 

987 

Vaux,  34, 155, 199, 280,  363, 628 
Veel,  391 

Verdon,  49,  59,  63,  866 
Vere,  70,  295, 4 11, 424, 605, 933, 

943,  961,  987,  992 
Verehaugh,  376 
Verley,  191,  774 
Vemon,  45,  61,  215,  254,  246, 

580,  880,  893,  900 
Vesey,  22,  1015 
Vestries,  195 
Villiers,  247,  892 
Vince,  395 
Visdelieu,  26,  176 
Vyse,  195 
Wachesham,  502,  612,965, 1013 


Waddington,  830 

Waldegrave,  900,  924,  937,  074, 

980, 1005 
Walerand,  922 

Walker,  139, 143,  157,  609,  827 
Wallace,  1014 
Walpole,  431,  722,  734 
Walsham,  411,  636 
Wancey,  873 
Ward,  19,  101,  414,  876 
Wareyn,  272 
Waring,  941 
Warner,  187,  840,  904 
Warra,  384 
Warren,  326,  474,  663,  689,777, 

847,  930 
Warwick,  33 
Wateville,  649,  885 
Watheby,  360 
Watson,  613,  753 
Weare,  892 
Webb,  876 
Webbe,  753,  772 
Weeb,  830 
Wells,  964 
Wendling,  823 
Weudon,  76 
Wentworth,  165,' 326,  414,  427, 

609,  632,  892 
Wenyeve,  710,  989 
Weste,  778 
Westley,  687 
Western,  33 
Weston,  893,  958 
Westropp,  952 
Weyland,  81,  88,  121,  171,  229, 

517,  523,  577,  623, 
Whelnetham,  750,  917 
Whettell,  19,  698 
Whinburgh,  203 
Wbiston,  294 
Whitaker,  715 
Whitbread,  85,  152,  159 
White,  33,  153,  188,  640 
Whiteford,  582 
Whitypole,  563  628 
Wicklow,  106 
Wigson,  664 


1054 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. APPENDIX. 


Wilkinson,  813 

Willett,  941 

Wilkins,  997 

Williams,  23,  634,  968 

Willan,  403,  485 

Willishnm,  113 

Willoughby,  85,   140,  187,  528, 

707,^857 
Wilson,  277,  297,  436, 456,  468, 

480,  585,  728,  781,  796,  800, 

828,  851,  988 

Windsor,  577, 597, 625, 885, 967, 
Wingfield,  10,  41,  63,  93,  10s, 

117,  127,305,  385,  391,  421, 

434,  595,  611,  615 
Winter,  392 
Winthorp,  941 
Wiseman,  878 
Witherfield,  858 
Wluard,  666,  850 
Woderove,  329 
Wogan,  391,  411 
Wollaston,  37,  421,  536 
Wolriche,  867 
Womack,  661 
Wombwell,  124,  728,  806 


Wood,  85,  100,  151,  200,  208, 

691,  772,  976 
Woodcock,  252 
Woodhouse,  293,501,  564,  595, 

932 

Woodstock,  857,  1007 
Woodward,  563,  798 
Wordwell,  820 
Wotton,  284 
Wrattislaw,  71     • 
Wray,  638 

Wright,  176,493,  794,  831,  850 
Wrighto,  389,  9  62 
Wroth,  315 
Wyard,  122,  381 
Wychingham,  765 
Wymark,  300 
Wyndesore,  258 
Wyndham,  g32 
Wyset,  825 
Wythe,  779 
Wytheresdale,  429 
Yallop,  353,  361 
Yaxlee,  467,  505 
Yokesford,  287 
Young,  551,  707. 


APPENDIX.— Members  of  Parliament  for  Ipswich  1017 

Members  of  Parliament  for  St.  Ed's.  Bury....  1018 

Knights  of  the  Shire  for  Suffolk 1018 

High  Sheriffs  of  Suffolk   1019,  1021 


FINIS. 


IPSWICH  : 
PRINTED  BY  JOSHUA  PAGE,  ST.  CLEMENT'S  FORE  STREET. 


DA       Page,  Augustine 
6?0        A  topographical  and 
39P33    genealogical  history  of 
the  County  of  Suffolk 


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