A file containing some of the earliest historical records of Henham. In some instances ‘Henham’ refers to a person but I’ve included it out of interest for the demographics of the name itself.
1. ACTS OF THE COURT OF HIGH COMMISSION During the Month of November 1634
From: Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1634-5 (1864), pp. 314-337.
Thomas Hanchett, John Cock, of Ugley, Essex, Matthew Edwards, of Stanstead, and Peter Vanson, of Haineham [Henham ?], Essex. Appeared and took oath to answer articles.
fol. 126 Thomas Hanchett, John Cock, Matthew Edwards, and Peter Vanson, of Henham, Essex. Hanchett is examined, and all ordered to answer the articles before any prosecutor is named.
2. ACTS OF THE COURT OF HIGH COMMISSION, Calendar of State Papers Domestic:
Charles I, 1635-6 (1866), pp. 81-133. Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1635-6.
fol. 266. Samuel Southen and Thomas Davies alias Johnson, yeoman, of Henham, Essex. The like.
fol. 273 Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1635-6
Samuel Butcher [Southen ?], clerk, and Thomas Davy alias Johnson, of Henham, Essex. Counsel for the office had till next court day to signify whether they would insist on defendants’ answers.
fol. 279 Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1635-6
Samuel Southton [Southen], clerk, late of Henham, Essex. Time assigned for the promoter to prove his case.
fol. 295 Samuel Southen, clerk, of Henham, Essex. Assigned to next court day.
From: ‘Acts of the Court of High Commission’, Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1635-6 (1866), pp. 81-133.
3. Subsidy Roll 1319: Broad Street Ward, Two Early London Subsidy Rolls (1951), pp. 222-227.
34.Peter de Henham, appr. of Thomas le Hodere, adm. 1311 LBD 143.
Replaced by Katerina de Hanham 1332 S (2s.).
4. ‘Wills: 7 Edward I (1278-9)’,
Calendar of wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 1: 1258-1358
ANNO 7 EDWARD I. Monday next after Feast of Purification of V. Mary [2 Feb.].
Monday, 6 March.
Henham (Geoffrey de).’”To Cristiana his wife his house in the parish of H. Trinity the Less for life, on condition that she assign it to no one except John their son during her life; remainder at her decease to the said John. To Geoffrey his son an annual quitrent of half a mark in the parish of Colemanchirche; and to Isabella his younger daughter forty-six pence annual rent in Smethefeld, parish of S. Edmund without Neugate. No date.
Roll 10
5. ‘Folios li – lx’, Calendar of letter-books of the city of London: D: 1309-1314
Petrus ae Henham.
The same day, Peter de Henham, late apprentice of Thomas le Hodere, admitted to the freedom, &c., before the said Aldermen and the Chamberlain-5s. because not enrolled immediately after the end of his term. His ingress appears in the old paper of apprentices in the Ward of Creplegate, anno 14 [Edward I.].
6. ‘Houses of Austin canons: Priory of Berden’, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 2 (1907), pp. 143-144.
THE PRIORY OF BERDEN
Nothing is known of the origin of this house, though it was probably founded by some of the Rochefords, lords of the manor of Berden. It appears to have been at first a hospital. It was dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. Its possessions are valued in the Taxation of 1291 at £6 9s. 10d. yearly. The priory was leased in 1537 to a Henry Parker; and in January, 1539, it was granted for £100 to him and Mary his wife in tail male, with the rectory of Berden and various possessions in Berden, Manuden, Elsenham, Henham, Takeley, Rickling, Clavering, Ugley, Rochford, Brent Pelham and Stokyng Pelham, of the total yearly value of £23 7s. 0d., at a rent of £2 7s. 0d.
7. ‘Theydon Garnon: Parish government and poor relief’, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 4: Ongar Hundred (1956), pp. 271-273
Occasionally, at least, paupers’ children were bound out as apprentices. In June 1785 it was decided to advertise in the Chelmsford papers in order to get 3 or 4 boys placed as apprentices; in the following month one was apprenticed to a baker at Henham
8. ‘Queen Elizabeth – Volume 27: January 1563′, Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Edward, Mary and Elizabeth, 1547-80 (1856), pp. 215-218
Jan 28th. 1563 28′30. Probates of the wills of William Lambe of Buttisbury, James Lambe, clerk, Vicar of Henham, Essex, 1563.
9. ‘Volume 72: June 1654′, Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1654
(1880), pp. 194-232.
June 14th. 20. Petition of Lawrence Wright, M.D., patron of Henham vicarage, Essex, to the Protector. The vicarage is only worth 50l., the parish large, and long destitute of a preaching minister; has lately obtained one approved by the Committee for Public Preachers, but is in danger of losing him for want of maintenance. Begs 50l. a year from the trustees for ministers, as the augmentations of 30l. to Mr. Latham of Stifford and 34l. to Mr. Ball of Fornes Pelhams, co. Herts, cease, by both being settled in other livings.
10. ‘Deeds: C.1501 – C.1600′, A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 1 (1890),
pp. 536-546
C. 1519. Grant by Alexander de Walden, knight, to the reverend Sir Walter Fitzwaiter, lord of Wodeham, Roger de Wylasham, Thomas Tyrell, knights, Richard Upston, parson of the church of Schymplyngges, and Nicholas, perpetual vicar of Henham, of his manor of Riclyngge and all his lands, &c., in Uggelee, Berden, and the hamlet of Bolton, co. Essex, and his manor of Macchyngge, in the same county.
Witnesses:’” Walter Fitzwalter, Walter atte Lee, Thomas Morwell, William Wauton, knights, and others (named). Ricklicg, 8 June, 51 Edward III.
11. Calendar of State Papers Domestic: William and Mary, 1689-90
June 1st. 1689 The Earl of Shrewsbury to Lord Lumley. I enclose an information against Richard Carr, of Henham, within your lieutenancy, and desire you will enquire into the matter, and, if needful, arrest him. Now you are “upon entering” into Northumberland, I must acquaint you that I am informed that some officers of the army have been seizing the horses of papists in that county. This duty is entrusted to the justices of the peace, by the late Act of Parliament, and to the deputy-lieutenants by the Act for the militia. You will take care that these carry out their duties so that the officers of the army may be willing to leave the matter in their hands.
12. ‘Charles I – volume 35: September 1-17, 1626′, Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1625-26 (1858), pp. 418-430
Sept. 5.Henham.
24. Robt. Earl of Sussex to “the high and mighty Prince, George Duke of Buckingham.” Thanks for restoring him to that place in which for so many years he had been employed. Submits the names of his intended Dep. Lieuts. to the Duke’s approval.
13. ‘Houses of Cluniac monks: The priory of St Mary, Thetford’, A History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 2 (1906), pp. 363-369
19. Vincent, prior of Thetford, on 16 March, 1287, nominated Henry de Henham his fellow monk, and Guy de Holbeach to act as his attorneys until Michaelmas, as he was going beyond the seas.
14. ‘Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Walden’, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 2 (1907), pp. 110-115
The oath of supremacy was taken on 1 July, 1534, by Robert Baryngton, abbot, Simon Walden, prior, Robert Aschden, Denis Henham, Richard Wallden, John Cambryge, Thomas London, John Wymbysche, Thomas Roston, Henry Thaxsted, John Walden, Thomas Litilbere, Thomas Wallden, William Ikilton, John London, Thurstan Walden, Thomas Haulsted, Thomas Lyncolne and Edward Some.
15. ‘Folios cli – clx: Mar 1365 -’, Calendar of letter-books of the city of London: G: 1352-1374 (1905), pp. 185-196.
16. ‘Parishes: Little Hallingbury’, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 8 (1983),
pp. 124-131.
Between 1157 and 1162 Henry, son of Henry of London, was presented to the rectory of Little Hallingbury, which his father, possibly a canon of St. Paul’s, had previously refused. Several other rectors are known by name before the mid 14th century, but the list is far from complete until the 17th century. The poverty of the living tended to result in pluralism and non-residence. Robert Neville, rector c. 1500′14, was also vicar of Henham.
17. ‘Roll A 27: (i) 1383-85′,
Calendar of the plea and memoranda rolls of the city of London: volume 3: 1381-1412 (1932), pp. 50-83.
5 Nov. 1384
John Grene, servant of Edmund Wodhull, cutler, bailed by Walter Kynton, John Essex, Robert de Eye and Martin Godard, cutlers, under penalty of £100.
John Raulyn, John Wylde, Richard Kenyngton, Gerard Furbour, John Albon and Nicholas Doby, armourers, were mainprised by William Thornhull, William Trippelowe, John Shirewode, John Whyte, John Henham, John Herman, Michael Dundalk and John Grove, armourers, under penalty of £200, to fulfil the condition set forth in the bail of Roger Mordon.
18. Deeds: C.4601 – C.4700′, A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds:
Volume 6 (1915), pp. 105-119.
Cambridge C. 4676. Grant by John Barlee, gentleman, son and heir of Richard Barlee, late deceased, to Thomas Barlee, the younger, Henry Tofte, John Chaunci, Robert Barlee, son of Thomas Barlee, and William Chaunci, gentlemen, and William Grygge, of Hatfelde Regis, of all the land, &c., in Lythyngton, Bassynborne and Stepylmorden which descended to him after his said father’s death; to the intent that they may grant to him and to Elizabeth Thornhill, late the wife of William Thornhill, and to the heirs of her body by him begotten, land, &c. parcel thereof, to the value of 10l. yearly and the residue to him and his heirs; attorneys to deliver seisin, Robert Leventhorpe, of Henham, gentleman, and Edmund Symmes of Hatfeld. 22 September, 16 Henry VII. Copy on parchment.
19. ‘Parishes: Sheering’, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 8 (1983),
pp. 240-249. Francis Tutte, 1778′1824, was in 1796 granted a dispensation, on strict conditions, to hold Sheering in plurality with Henham. For much of his long incumbency Sheering seems to have been served by curates.
20. ‘The Calendar – Roll A 10: (i) 1364-5′, Calendar of the plea and memoranda rolls of the city of London: volume 2: 1364-1381 (1929), pp. 1-28 6 March 1365
William Moot, brewer, John de Henham and Thomas Fraunceys, hakeneymen, were attached to answer charges of being concerned in an affray by night in Candlewickstreet Ward, of keeping their doors open after curfew and of being nightwalkers against the peace. They were committed to prison, but the same day were mainprised to keep the peace and released.
21. ‘Calendar of assize rolls: Roll BB’, London Possessory Assizes: a calendar (1965), pp. 46-72. Sat. 19 Jul. 1382.
163. Custance, prioress of St. Helen Bysshopesgate, complains that on Sat. 7 Jun. 1382 John Wakelee, taverner, and Maud his wife disseised her of 9s. 8d. rent in the par. of St. Martin Oteswych. The defs. make default. The pl., asked to show her title, answers by Gilbert Meldebourne her attorney that she and her predecessors have held the rent time out of mind, but that when on the day above-named she sought payment from the defs. they refused to pay. The jury comes by William Palmere, Nicholas Marchant, William atte Castell, John Swanton, John Ollescomp, Andrew Smyth, John Langborn, Gilbert Hoo, John Henham, John Tot, John Ive and Richard Sheryngton. Verdict for the pl. Defs. in mercy. Damages [not assessed].
Folio clvii b. Custod’ pueror’ Will’i Credell. Saturday before the Feast of Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr [7 July], 39 Edward III. [A.D. 1365], the guardianship of Thomas and Margery, children of William Credell, scrivener, committed to Thomas atte Noket, draper, by John de Bernes and Walter Forester, Aldermen and John de Cantebrigge, the Chamberlain. Sureties, viz., John de Henham and John Toote, “drapiers.”