Henham Estate Ownership

Official Records of the Ownership of the Henham Estate

Some of the following records actually concern Henham in Suffolk and can be very confusing to those who may not be aware of the latter. I’ve included it so that readers will be cautious when reading other sources.

1199 – 87 / 45 1199 – 1200 AD 1 John. Trinity Term

Matilda de Oilli, dem(andant), Robert Fitz Walter ten(ant). All the town of Merl with appurtenances, in Normandy. Tenant acknowledged it to be ‘the right and marriage’ of dem. and quitclaimed to her and her heirs. Dem. quitclaimed to tenant all her dower of the gift of Walter Fitz Robert, father of tenant except Henham with appurtenances which remain to her for life, and except the service of 5 knights, to wit, the service of one knight from Geoffrey de Essendon, of two knights from Geoffrey de Rocheford, and of two knights from William de Haveringefeld. Dem. gave tenant 40 marks of silver. Reversion of Henham and services to tenant.

1261 – 86 / 33 Patent Rolls 45 Henry 111 August 5th 1261 AD

Windsor. Wheras the king gave to Edward his son the wardship of the lands of Walter, son of Robert, and he granted to Geoffrey de Laziman the king’s brother, the manor of Henham, late of the said Walter, and this manor, after the retirement of the said Geoffrey from England was taken into the king’s hands and let to Ida late the wife of the said Walter; the king has restored the said manor to his brother saving to Ida the crops of this autumn and all other issues up to Michaelmas next, with the farm of the said term, on condition that she render to the said Geoffrey the farm which she ought to render to the king during the said wardship

1261 – 22. Close Rolls, October 1261

Pro Galfrido de Lezyniaco. —Rex Ide que fuit uxor Walteri filii Roberti salutem. Cum dudum concesserimus Edwardo filio nostro custodiam terrarum predicti Walteri, quondam mariti vestri, usque ad legitimam etatem heredum ejusdem Walteri, ac idem Edwardus dilecto fratri nostro Galfrido de Leziniaco manerium de Henham, quod fuit predicti Walteri, concesserit habendum usque ad legitimam etatem predictorum heredum, et demum post recessum ipsius fratris nostri ab Anglia manerium illud in manum nostram ceperimus et dimiserimus vobis ad beneplacitum nostrum, nosque nuper eidem fratri nostro manerium illud cum pertinenciis reddiderimus, salvis vobis bladis autumpni ultimo transacti et omnibus aliis exitibus et proventibus ejusdem manerii usque ad festum Sancti Michaelis proximo preteritum una cum firma ejusdem termini; ita quod vos reddatis prefato Galfrido firmam quam nobis reddere debuistis ad dictum terminum pro manerio predicto; vobis mandamus quod prefato fratri nostro vel ejus certo attornato has litteras deferenti de predicto manerio cum pertinenciis plenam seisinam habere et firmam illam sibi persolvi faciatis sicut predictum est. Teste rege apud Sanctum Paulum Lond’ viij. die Octobris.

From: ‘Close Rolls, October 1261′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III: volume 11: 1259-1261 (1934), pp. 443-449.

1262 – 87 / 34 1262 AD April 10th. Westminster
Whereas Edward the king’s son, to whom the king granted the wardship of the lands and heirs of Walter, son of Robert, tenant-in-chief, gave to Geoffrey de Laziman, the king’s brother, the wardship of the manor of Henham; and As (sic) late the wife of the aforesaid Walter after the said Geoffrey retired from England , held the said manor of the king, at farm, whereas she paid a part at the Exchequer and still owes a part, the king commands her to pay what is styll in arrears to the said Geoffrey to whom she has restored the wardship of the said manor, and to make him competent restitution of the stock of the said Geoffrey which she found there when she received the manor.

1298 – 87 / 51 26 Edward 1 1298 AD Easter
Hum. de Waledon, pl. William de Ballito and Alice his wife, imp. One messuage, 10 acres of land and 1/2 acre of meadow in Henham and Plachedon. Plea of warranty of charter. Def. quitclaimed to pl. and his heirs. Consideration £1 sterling.

1318 – 87 / 37 March 1st. 1318 AD 11 Edward 11
Licence for Robert son of Walter to demise at farm, to whomsoever he will, for a term of 5 years. his manors of Burnham, Wodeham, Rengdon, Henham and Teye, co. Essex, held in chief: if however he shall die during that period, his heir being a minor, then the lessee shall answer to the king for the farm during the said term

1328 – 18. Close Rolls, Edward III – August 1328

Aug. 6. 1328 York.
To Simon de Bereford, escheator beyond Trent. Order to deliver to Joan, late the wife of Robert le fitz Wautier, tenant in chief, the following of the said Robert’s lands, which the king has assigned to her as her dower by the assent of Henry de Percy, to whom the king committed the custody of two parts of the lands of the said Robert during the minority of Robert’s heir: the manor of Henham, co. Essex, of the yearly value of 27l. 12s. 8d.; the manor of Hemenhale, co. Norfolk, of the yearly value of 48l. 1s. 10¾d.; and the manor of Shymplinge, co. Suffolk, of the yearly value of33l. 7s. 0¾d

From: ‘Close Rolls, Edward III: August 1328′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: volume 1: 1327-1330 (1896), pp. 305-319

1364 – 87 / 57 1364 AD Calendar of Inquisition Vol X1 page 499

Joan, late the wife of Robert Fitz Wauter (daughter of John de Multon). Writ to the mayor of London. 26th June 37 Edward 111 1364 AD. Parish of St. Olaf, Old Jewry….. the reversion of the premises belongs to Walter, son of John Fitz Warter, who is her heir and is 18 years of age.

Hemenhal – Walter, son of John Fitz Wauter, aged 19 years on the day of St Petronella the Virgin last, is her heir.
Essex. Shenefeld. Walter Fitz Water, son of John Fitz Water, the son of Robert Fitz Water is the latter’s heir.

1364 – 87 / 58 Writ 25 June 37 Edward 111 1364 AD
Lincoln. Inq. (indented) taken at Flete, Thursday after St. Peters Chains, 37 Edward 111. The deceased is called Joan Fitz Wauter, lady of Egremont in this and the following inquisition. Flete. A third part of the manor, held for life by gift of Thomas Coulynge, parson of the church of Dysse, with remainder to Walter Fitz Walter, knight and Thomas and Robert his brothers, in common, and the heirs of their bodies, and with further remainder, failing such heirs, to the right heirs of Joan. It is held of the duke of Lancaster, as of the house of Lancaster, by service of a third part of two parts of a knight’s fee, and by rendering yearly to the duke 2/ 2 1/2 and a third part of 1/2d. for ward of Lancaster. Walter and Thomas are alive, and Robert their brother is dead and has an heir whose age the jurors know not because he dwells in the county of Essex. She died on Friday before St. Botolph, 37 Edward 111.’

1377 – 86 / 20 Ancient Deeds
Grant by Alexander de Walden, knight, to the Reverend Sir Walter Fitzwalter, 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, etc in Uggelee, Berden, and the hamlet of Bolton, county Essex, and his manor of Macchyngge, in the same county.

Witnesses: – Walter Fitzwalter, Walter atte Lee, Thomas Mouvell,
William Wanton, knights, and others (named)
Rickling 8th June 51 Edward 111 (1377AD)

1378 – 15. Index – H, I
Aug. 18. Westminster 1378. John Tebaud to Peter Tebaud his brother. Quitclaim of the manor of Plegeden co. Essex, which the said John and Peter had by charter of John Malwayn. Witnesses: John Baryngton, Robert House, William Botiller of Hanham. Dated Plegeden, the eve of All Hallows 1 Richard II

From: ‘Close Rolls, Richard II: August 1378′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: volume 1: 1377-1381 (1914), pp. 206-212.

1387 – 86 / 23 10 Richard 11 April 27th 1387 AD

Westminster. To Nicholas Fitz Richard escheator in Essex. Order to remove the king’s hand and meddle no further with a rent of £ 4 a year, wherewith by letters patent of June 8 Richard 11 Walter Fitz Waulter charged to manor of Henham, which at his death he held in chief as part of the barony of Fitz Waulter, in favour of John Rikynghal clerk, or with the issue thereof taken since the said Walter’s death; as is found by divers inquisitions, taken by the escheator, that the said manor was so charged until the said John should be advanced to a benefice, and that he is not yet advanced; and for a fine by him paid in the hanaper the king has confirmed the said letters patent.

1387 – 86 / 24 11 Richard 11 Sept. 14th 1387 AD
Westminster. To the keepers or farmers of the manor of Henham co. Essex, for the time being. Order to pay to John Rekyngale clerk. £ 4 a year, until he be advanced to a benefice, and the arrears since April last, on which day for a fine by him paid in the hanaper the king confirmed letters of patent of Walter Fitz Waulter knight. dated June 8 Richard 11 long before his death, whereby he charged the said manor, by him held in chief at his death as parcel of the barony of Fitz Wauter, with £ 4 yearly payable to the said John until etc, as found by divers inquisitions taken by Nicholas Fitz Richard the escheator.

1388 – 87 / 59 The De Vere Family (1858 AD Essex Transactions. Old Series.1.84).
Robert de Vere, 9. Earl of Oxford, was by Richard 11, created Marquis of Dublin – died 1388 – this great child of honour bore in his shield three crowns, by special grant from his infatuated sovereign. “This bearing of 3 crowns, quartered with De Vere, may also be seen in the Gentleman’s magazine for October 1818, as on a tile found at Henham, in this county, where the De Veres had possessions”.

19. Close Rolls, Richard II – March 1389

Feb. 28. 1389 Westminster. To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Writ of supersedeas in respect of their demand against Thomas duke of Gloucestre to answer for a yearly farm of 180l. 11s. 4d. for the manors of Burneham, Wodeham Wauter, Little Donemowe, Henham and Reyndoun co. Essex late of Walter Fitz Wauter of Wodeham knight, although on 15 July 11 Richard II the king committed to him the wardship of the same at that rent, being in the king’s hand by the said Walter’s death and by reason of the nonage of his heir, from Midsummer then last until the lawful age of the heir, and order to discharge the said duke and other the farmers and tenants thereof; as John bishop of Hereford the treasurer, recollecting a bargain made between him and the duke, has borne witness before the king that the duke should have to farm for 158l. 13s. 8d. (sic) a year the manors aforesaid with a hamlet called Ultynge and a moiety of the lordship of Maldoun, which by inadvertence are omitted in the king’s letters patent; and the duke having given up those letters patent in chancery to be cancelled, by other letters patent of the aforesaid date the king committed to him the wardship of the said manors, hamlet and moiety from Midsummer aforesaid at the rent above mentioned, maintaining the houses and buildings to the same pertaining and bearing all charges,40l. a year being allowed of his farm for maintenance of the heir. Proviso that answer be made by the duke for the farm of 158l. 13s. 4d.(sic) a year.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Richard II: March 1389′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: volume 3: 1385-1389 (1921), pp. 661-665

1395 – 87 / 56 1395 AD
Quin of ???. John de Cobeham, knight. John de Belle Monte, knight John de Cobeham, and Thomas Remys.pl. Walter Fitz Wauter , knight, def. The castle of Egremont, and one third of the manor of Egremond, and the advowsons of the churches of Gosford and Distyngton, co. Cumberland, a third part of the manor of Hunstanton, co. Suffolk, and the manor of Reydon, Asshedon, Dunmowe, and Henham and a third part of the advowson of the church of Asshedon, co. Essex. Def. quitclaimed to pl. and the heirs of Thomas. Consideration £1,000

1398 – 5. Close Rolls, Richard II – 1398
Walter lord Fitz Wauter and lord of Wodeham to Robert de Teye, Robert Newport, John Basset, Henry Teye and John Gyffarde, their heirs and assigns. Charter with warranty of his purparty of the manor of Egremounde co. Comberland and the [whole] manors of Reyndoun, Henham, Little Donemowe, Thurstanton and Asshedon co. Essex. Witnesses: John Maldoun, Edmund de Dounne, Thomas Wrenche, John Hamound, John Hokyn. Dated St. Michaels church Wodeham Wauter, 14 Richard II.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Richard II: 1398′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: volume 6: 1396-1399 (1927)

1398 – 86 / 27 1398 AD 21 Richard 11 June 14th (Papers dated at Henham)

Phillippa Lady Fitz Wauter to Alexander Walden, William, Bourcher, knights, Robert Newport, Richard Baynarde of Messynge, John Basset of Chishulle, Alexander de la Garderobe, and Simon Cisterne clerk, to whom Walter lord fitz Wauter and lord of Wodeham has given the reversion of the manors of Hemedale and Disse co. Norfolk, Shymplynge atte Thorne, co. Suffolk, Wymbisshe and Sherynge, co. Essex, and the advowson of the churches of the said manors and of Hemyngly church co. Lincoln, with the knight’s fees etc, now held for life by the said Phillippa, as his writing dated Henham manor, 29 January 21 Richard 11 is contained. Indenture of attornment.

Dated 1 February 21 Richard 11.
Memorandum of acknowledgement 17th June.

1406 – 87 / 38 November 20th 8 Henry 1V 1406 AD. Westminster.
Licence, for 40 marks paid in the hanaper, by John Cobeham, knight, and Thomas Remys, for them to enfeoff Joan, late the wife of Walter Fitz Wauter, Knight, of the manors of Reydon, Asshedon, Dunmowe, and Henham, and the third part of the advowsons of the church of Aschedon, co. Essex, and the third part of the manor of Thustanton, co. Suffolk, held in chief, to hold to herself and the heirs of her body by the said Walter with remainder to his right heir.

1425 – 6. Close Rolls, Henry VI – 1425-1426

Walter lord Fitz Wauter and lord of Wodeham, lord of Haydepuys and Rochetisson in Normandy, to Lewis Johan, Richard Baynarde, John Tyrell, Robert Darsy, Richard Fox, William Neulonde, Robert Molynton, William Faukeswelle and Richard Duryvalle clerk, their heirs and assigns. Quitclaim with warranty of the manors of Wodeham Wauter, Ultynge, Burnham, Cage, Crixhicche, Lexden, Great Teye, Little Dunmowe and Henham co. Essex, and of his purparty of the manors of Multon, Flete, Beausolas in Algerkyrke and Skyrbeke with rents and services in Kirton co. Lincoln, and all his lands, rents and services and reversions, with woods, commons, ways, hays, wards, marriages, heriots, reliefs, escheats, knights’ fees, fisheries, warrens, parks, mills, suits of court, franchises, neifs and all that goes with them, advowsons etc. in Wodeham Wauter, Ultyng, Burnham, Cage, Crixhicche, Lexden, Great Teye, Little Dunmowe, Henham, Multon, Flete, Beausolas, Skyrbek and Kyrton which the said Walter by charter gave to them, their heirs and assigns. Dated 16 July 3 Henry VI.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Henry VI: 1425-1426′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: volume 1: 1422-1429 (1933), pp. 268-269.

1425 – 86 / 28 4 Henry V1 1425 AD
Walter lord fitz Wauter and of Wodeham, lord of Hayclepuys and Rochetisson in Normandy, to Richard Pynchebeke, Richard Welby, Henry Stampe and Edward Hagar. Letter of attorney, appointing them to give Lewis Johan, Richard Baynarde, John Tyrell, Robert Davey, Richard Fox, William Newtonde, Robert Molyton, William Faukeswell and Richard Durivalle clerk, their heirs and assigns, seisin of the manors of Wodham Wauter, Ultyng, Burnham, Cage, Crixhuthe, Lexden, Great Teye, Little Dunmow and Henham, co. Essex and his purparty of the manors of Multon, Flete, Beausolas in Algarkyrke, and Skyrbeke with the rents and services of this tenants in Kyrton co Lincoln, and all his lands, rents and services, reversions, woods, commons, wards, marriages, heriots, reliefs, knight’s fees, fisheries, warrens, parks, mills, suits of court, franchises, neifs and all that goes with them, advowsons, etc in Wodeham Wauter, Ultynge, Burnham, Cage, Crixhittle, Lexden, Great Teye, Little Dunmowe, Henham, Multon, Flete, Beausolas, Skyrbeke, and Kyrton.

Dated 12 July 3 Henry V1. (also charter of warranty of above signed by various witnesses, amongst them Lord Ferrers (space left for name)).

1432 – 7. Close Rolls, Henry VI – 1432
To the escheator in Essex. Order to take the fealties of Henry Stampe and Richard Skylfull, and to give them livery of a messuage and half a virgate of land in Henham in the tenure of William Couper sometime of Richard Chirchegate, a tenement and half a virgate of land there called Turnoures in the tenure of John Turnour, and a tenement and half a virgate of land there called Appultounes in the tenure of Richard Mountagu, parcels of the manor of Henham; as it is found by inquisition, taken before the escheator, that Richard Baynarde and Robert Molynton were seised of that manor, which is held in chief, and for good service of Richard Fox to Walter late lord Fitz Wautier made a grant and livery of the said parcels to the said Henry and Richard Skylfull and to their assigns during the life of Richard Fox, that they entered the same without licence of the king, and that by reason of their trespass the same are taken into the king’s hand; and for a fine paid in the hanaper the king has pardoned that trespass, further granting so far as in him lies that the said grantees shall have the premises again and hold the same to them and their heirs.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Henry VI: 1432′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: volume 2: 1429-1435 (1933), pp. 143-148

8. Close Rolls, Henry VI – November 1425
Walter lord fitz Wauter and of Wodeham, lord of Haydepuys and Rochetisson in Normandy, to Richard Pynchebeke, RichardWelby, Henry Staumpe and Edward Hager. Letter of attorney, appointing them to give Lewis Johan, Richard Baynarde, John Tyrell, Robert Darsy, Richard Fox, William Neulonde, Robert Molynton, William Fawkeswell and Richard Durivalle clerk, their heirs and assigns, seisin of the manors of Wodham Wauter, Ultyng, Burnham, Cage, Crixhuthe, Lexden, Great Teye, Little Dunmowe and Henham co. Essex, and his purparty of the manors of Multon, Flete, Beausolas in Algarkyrke and Skyrbeke with the rents and services of his tenants in Kyrton co. Lincoln, and all his lands, rents and services, reversions, woods, commons, wards, marriages, heriots, reliefs, knights’ fees, fisheries, warrens, parks, mills, suits of court, franchises, neifs and all that goes with them, advowsons etc. in Wodeham Wauter, Ultynge, Burnham, Cage, Crixhitthe, Lexden, Great Teye, Little Dunmowe, Henham, Multon, Flete, Beausolas, Skyrbeke and Kyrton. Dated 12 July 3 Henry VI.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Henry VI: November 1425′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: volume 1: 1422-1429 (1933), pp. 257-260.

Hundred of Diss – Introduction
Sir Walter Fitz-Robert, son of Robert de Tonnebrigge, the fifth son of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, sirnamed de Tonebrigge, the first Earl of Clare, who came in with the Conqueror, of whose gift he had the castle and town of Clare in Suffolk, with Tunbridge in Kent, and divers other great lordships in England. This Earl was son of Gilbert, sirnamed Crispin, Earl of Brion in Normandy, and son of Jeffery, natural son to Richard I. of that name, Duke of Normandy: he bare, as the Fitz-Walters ever after did, the Earl of Clare’s shield varied, which is or, three chevrons gul. The Fitz-Walters being or, a fess between two chevrons gul. He had two wives, Maud de Bocham, (as Mr. Weaver,) or rather Margaret de Bohun, (as Mr. Dugdale,) and Maud, daughter of Sir Richard de Lucy, as aforesaid, in whose right he had this manor, to which he first obtained a charter for a fair, on the eve, day, and morrow after the feast of St. Simon and Jude, and three days following. He was Justice itinerant in Norfolk and Suffolk, and died in 1198, being buried in the midst of the quire of the priory church of Little Dunmow in Essex, of which Robert de Tonebrigge, his father, was first founder; he was sometimes called Walter of Clare, sometimes Robert Fitz-Walter, but mostly Walter Fitz-Robert; he left Robert the Valiant his heir.

Sir Robert Fitz-Walter, Knt. son of Sir Walter Fitz-Robert, commonly called Robert the Valiant, had two wives, Gunnora, daughter and heiress of Philip de Valoines, and Rohesia or Rose, who survived him, and had the manor of Diss, Hemenhale, (which always went with Diss,) Theye, and Diss hundred in dower. He it was that first divided this manor, by giving a moiety of the two parts which he possessed to Sir Gilbert Pecche, Knt. with his daughter Alice (some say sister) in free marriage, with the third part of the hundred and market, and so there branched a third manor, which was called Pecche’s Fee. This Robert was leader of those barons that rose against King John, the beginning of which was on this occasion, as the book of Dunmow informs us.

“About the year 1213, there arose a great discord between King John and his Barons, because of Matilda, sirnamed the Fair, daughter of Robert Fitz-Walter, whom the King unlawfully loved, but could not obtain her nor her father’s consent thereunto; Whereupon (and for divers other like causes) ensued war throughout the whole realm; the King banished the said Fitz-Walter, among others, and caused his castle called Baynard, and other his houses, to be spoiled, which being done, he sent a messenger unto Matilda the Fair, about his old suit in love, and because she would not agree to his wicked motion, the messenger poisoned a boiled or potched egg, against she was hungry, and gave it unto her, whereof she died in 1213.” Her tomb was standing between two pillars in the priory church of Little Dunmow, when Mr. Weaver published his book.

In the year following her banished father was restored to the King’s favour upon this occasion. “King John being then in France with a great army, it happened that a truce was taken between the two Kings of England and France, for the term of five years; and a river or arm of the sea being betwixt either host, there was a knight in the English host that cried to them of the other side, willing some one of their knights to come and just a course or two with him; whereupon, without stay, Robert Fitz-Walter, being on the French part, made himself ready, ferried over, and got on horseback, and shewed himself ready to the face of his challenger, whom, at the first course, he stroke so hard with his great spear, that horse and man fell to the ground, and when his spear was broken, he went back again to the King of France, which King John seeing, By God’s tooth, quoth he, (for such was his usual oath,) he were a King indeed that had such a knight. The friends of Robert hearing these words, kneeled down and said, O King, he is your knight, it is Robert Fitz-Walter’; whereupon the next day he was sent for, and restored to the King’s favour, by which means peace was concluded, and he received his livings, and had licence to repair his castle of Baynard, and all his other castles. “Notwithstanding this, he afterwards joined the Barons that stood against the same King for their liberties, during his whole reign; and, at the King’s death, by his advice there was an agreement made between them and the succeeding King, from which time he was always in great favour, both in court and country. Holinshed, that faithful historian, gives him this character, that he was “both excellent in counsel, and valiant in war.” He went with Ralph Earl of Chester’s army, to aid the Christians against the Infidels, who had besieged the city of Damieta in Egypt, where he performed noble achievements: “After which, this strenuous knight, this Mars of men, this marshal of God’s army and holy church, (for so he was stiled by the common multitude,) lived in all affluence of riches and honour, till 1234, when he died, and was buried by his daughter in the said church. Holinshed says, anno 1235, in Advent, died the noble Baron the Lord Fitz-Walter.”

Robert Fitz-Walter, his son, often called Walter FitzRobert, succeeded; he was a man of renown in those days, and in great favour with his prince; he inherited the lands of his father, except this manor and those of Hemenhale and Theye, which were held in dower by Rose his stepmother, who possessed them to 1256, from which time he held them, and dying seized in 1258, was buried in the conventual church of Dunmow, leaving Robert, his son and heir, then ten years old, who was knighted in1274, and had a great part of his possessions in his own hands before that time, though this manor, with Hemenhale and Theye, was in the hands of Stephen Fitz-Walter, his uncle, (as I take him to be,) as guardian and trustee to the said Robert. This Stephen in 1286 claimed a market every Wednesday and Friday, with all rights belonging to a market, and it was allowed in Eire. It seems that King Henry I. established this market, for he granted it to Sir Richard de Lucy, along with the manor; at this time the jury also find, that the said Stephen held a third part of the hundred, which was worth five marks yearly; that Ernald de Montiniaco (Arnold Mounteny)held of him another third part, which was worth 60s. per annum, and that Richard de Boyland held of the said Stephen another part, which was worth 28s. per annum; and that this Stephen, as capital lord of the whole, paid into the Exchequer a rent of 40d. a year, being entitled, in his part, to view of frankpledge, assize of bread and ale, infangenthef, weyf, and all other liberties which belonged to a hundred, all which soon after came to Robert Fitz-Walter aforesaid, for I find him in possession in his own name. In 1293, he was summoned to attend King Edward I. into Gascoign, in order to recover his inheritance from the French King, to which place he went, in the retinue of Edmund Earl of Lancaster. In 1296, he was in the Welsh expedition, and in 1299, in the Scotch wars. It was this man that aliened Baynard castle in London, and Montfitchet Tower, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, reserving his Barony that belonged to it, to himself and his heirs: he was the first of this family that styled himself Lord of Wodeham in Essex, where he had a seat and a fine park. He had two wives, Devorgil, daughter and coheir of John de Burgh, son of Hubert de Burgh, late Earl of Kent, and Chief Justice of England, and Eleanor daughter of Earl Ferrers, by whom he had Robert his son, who succeeded him. In this year he obtained a charter of confirmation for a fair every year at his manor of Diss, upon the eve, day, and morrow after the feast of St. Simon and Jude, and three days following. He was one of those parliamentary Barons that sealed the letter to the Popeanno 1301, denying that the kingdom of Scotland was his fee, or that he had any jurisdiction in temporal affairs. He sealed with his paternal coat, supported by two harpies, which seal of his I have seen affixed to several deeds, and in particular to a grant made in1298, to William Partekyn of Prilleston, (now Billingford,) dier, by which he granted, for his homage and service, and half a mark of silver in hand paid, two messuages in Diss, with liberty of washing his wool and cloths in Diss Meer, whenever he would, with this reserve, that the gross die should be first washed off, and that he should not suffer the drain of his dying office to run into the Meer.

The Escheat Rolls of the 19 of Edward II. say, that he held Diss at three knights fees, and Hemenhale by barony. Dugdale and others imagine that he died this year, because we find that from the28th of January the escheator accounted for the profits of his estates till the 12th of February following, when he delivered seizin to Robert Fitz-Walter, son of the said Robert, who was of full age; but this is an errour, for at that time we find that he renounced all the temporal goods of this life, and, as Mr. Weaver tells us rightly, then entered himself a friar minor in the friery at Colchester, which he himself, in 1309, had founded, and there took upon him the habit of a religious votary, where he spent the rest of his days.

In the catalogue of emperors, kings, princes, and other potent persons, that have entered into this religious order, this Robert was one. It seems as if the church of Diss was built by this man, his arms cut in stone still remaining several times on the south porch.

Robert Fitz-Walter, Lord of Wodeham, his son, married in his father’s lifetime, first to Joan daughter of John de Botelort in 1304, by whom he had no issue; and after to Joan, (fn. 40) one of the daughters and coheirs of John de Moulton of Egremond, who survived him, and had for her dowry an assignation of the manors of Henham in Essex, Diss, and Hemenhale in Norfolk, &c. In 1361, this Joan purchased by fine of Nicolas de Walcote and Joan his wife, one messuage 80 acres of land, 60 acres of meadow, 6 acres of pasture, 4 acres of wood, and 14s. per annum quit-rent in Diss, Frenze, and Burston, which was added to the capital manor, and was part of Walcote manor that was granted by one of the Mounteneys, to William de Walcote, the father or grandfather of this Nicolas. She it was also that brought the Castle of Egremond in Cumberland, and a third part of that manor, and many others, to this family.

This Robert was in the expedition made into Scotland in 1326, and died the year following, leaving John, his son, then 13 years old, possessed of two parts of his estate, the third being held by the said Joan in dower; he was a ward of Henry de Percy’s; but in the ninth of Edward III.by the King’s special favour, his homage was accepted, and livery made to him; Diss manor then was valued at 31l. Hemenhale at 48l. Fincham at 6l. 13s. 4d. He was in the French wars in 1359, being one of those appointed to accompany Sir Walter Manny in that skirmish at the barriers of Paris, the Duke of Normandy then lying in that city, and was then knighted. He married Eleanor daughter of Henry Lord Percy, his guardian, was summoned to parliament from the15th to the 34th of Edward III. exclusive, and died upon Monday the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, anno 1360, leaving Walter, his son and heir, 16 years of age, Joan his mother surviving him; she died in 1362, whereupon Walter her grandson was found to be next heir, and 19 years of age, this manor being then held at three fees as of the Barony of Baynard Castle.

Walter Lord Fitz-Walter, making proof of his age in 1362, and doing his homage, had livery of all his lands. In the 44th of Edward III. he was in that expedition made into Gascoign, and there reputed one of the most expert soldiers in the whole realm; but being taken prisoner in those wars, was forced to mortgage his castle and lordship of Egremond for 1000l. towards raising his fine for his redemption. In 1372, an invasion being feared from the French, having raised what power he could for defence of Essex, he was commanded to repair into Norfolk for the safeguard of those parts. In 1379, he procured the King’s charter for a weekly market every Friday, at his lordship of Hemenhale in Norfolk, and a fair yearly on the eve, day, and morrow after the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. Soon after, in 1381, he did great service in Essex against the rebels under Jack Straw, by suppressing those that endeavoured to make head there. Many other great and noble exploits of this man may be seen in the first volume of Dug. Baron. fol. 222, and in the second volume of Holinshed’s Chronicle, fol.405, 419. He was Lieutenant to Thomas Duke of Gloucester, Constable of England, in the great cause between the Lords Lovell and Morley, for the arms of Burnel, in the Court of Chivalry, anno 1384,and 1386, in which year he died in Spain, on Wednesday before St. Michael, being one of those that accompanied John Duke of Lancaster, King of Castile and Leon, in his expedition thither, where the English, not able to bear the heat of the country, died in great numbers. “Among others there died before the breaking up of the camp, one of the greatest Barons of all the company, the Lord Fitz-Walter.”

I have seen an ancient deed of this Walter, in French, by which, as Lord of Diss, he granted a messuage and 8acres of land to one William Moundry; it was dated at Henham40 E. III. to which his seal was fastened, being his paternal coat, and an estoil between two plumes for his crest. (circumscribed, Sigillum Walteri Filtj-Walteri.) His first wife was Eleanor, by whom he had no issue; his second, as Mr. Dugdale tells us, was Philippa, daughter and coheir to John de Mohun Lord of Dunster, and widow of Edward Duke of York; she survived him. But Le Neve, in his Collections, differs in this point; for, as he justly observes, this Philippa, widow of that Edward Duke of York who was killed in the battle of Agincourt, in the third year of Henry V. could never be the wife of this Sir Walter Fitz-Walter, who died the tenth of Richard II. before that battle was fought: to reconcile this we must observe, that Robert Fitz-Walter, the eldest son of this Walter, lived to be of age, though he died before his father, without issue; and he it was that married Philippa aforesaid, who, after his death, married again to Edward Plantagenet Duke of York, and Earl of Rutland, who held Diss manor, hundred, and market, together with Hemenhale, till he was killed as aforesaid, and from his death she held them till 1431,in which year it appears, by the inquisition then taken, that she died seized, and that Sir Walter Fitz-Walter, second son, and now heir, of Walter Lord Fitz-Walter, brother and heir of Sir Robert Fitz-Walter, first husband of the said Philippa, had livery of the manors of Diss and Hemenhale, with their appurtenances, all which (except the advowsons) were held in dower by the said Philippa; but they went with the rest of the estate of the said Robert, and had been in possession of the said Walter ever since 1389, when he had livery to them, as heir to Walter his father, and Robert his elder brother; and accordingly I find, he presented to Diss, in 1390 and in 1399; Philippa aforesaid levied a fine, to Alexander Walden, Sir Richard Bouchier, Knight, and others, settling these manors on herself for life, after to the said Walter and his heirs, as his inheritance. This Walter married Joan daughter of Sir John Devereux, Knight; he died in1408, and ordered his body to be buried in Henham church, leaving Joan his wife, who soon after married to Hugh Burnel, and two sons, Humphry and Walter, and one daughter named Eleanor.

Humphry Lord Fitz-Walter, his eldest son, was under age at his father’s death, and was a ward of King Henry the Fifth’s, who granted the custody of him to John de Beauford Earl of Somerset; the earl dying soon after, left him to his executor, Henry Beauford Bishop of Winchester, but dying before he came of age, he never was in possession of his inheritance, but it went to his brother, Walter Fitz-Walter, who was under age, and had not possession of his estate till 1428, at which time he had livery thereof, but not of Diss and Hemenhale till 1431, when Philippa died, who had held them all this time in dower. In this year he settled them in trust on his feoffees,

Richard Baniard, and Simon Cistern, rector of Berningham, who presented here jointly with him; and immediately after that settlement I find a pardon passed the great seal, for the alienation of his manors of Hemenhale, Diss, and Diss half hundred, without the King’s license.

This Walter was one of the most active men in the French wars, in the time of that victorious prince Henry V. who in the eighth year of his reign, for the great services that he had done him, gave to him and his heirs male all the lands and lordships which Sir John Cheney, Knt. deceased, held in the dutchy of Normandy, which reverted to the crown, for default of heirs male of the said John, and were of the value of 5000 scutes.

He was then a very young man, not being of full age till 1422,though in 1421 he was taken prisoner by the French, but soon got released; he died about 1432, (in which year the probate of his will bears date,) and desired to be buried in Dunmow priory, ordering his executors to make an arch in the wall, near his mother’s grave, allowing 40 marks to defray the expense, and requested that his own, and his wife and children’s bodies should be there deposited.

Elizabeth his wife survived him, who held in dower Hemenhale and Diss manors, with the hundred of Diss in Norfolk, the manors of Shimpling and Thorne in Suffolk, of Wodeham-Walter, Henham, Leiden, Vitring, Dunmow-parva, Burnham, Winbush, and Shering in Essex; she after married to William Massey, and lived to June 14, 1463, at which time she died, leaving Anne, wife of Thomas Ratcliff, Esq. and Elizabeth, (then single,) her daughters and heiresses; Anne had no issue, but Elizabeth afterwards married to John Ratcliff, Knt. brother of the said Thomas, who was soon after summoned to parliament as Lord Fitz-Walter, and in right of his wife enjoyed all the honours and possessions of this noble family; and though we have different accounts of this matter, the escheat roll confirms it to me that this Elizabeth was the wife of John, and not of Thomas Ratcliff, as is said by some.

This family, as Mr. Le Neve thinks, came first into this county in 1411, when John Ratcliff, Esq. father of this Sir John Ratcliff, married Cecily, the widow of Sir John de Herling, by which he much advanced his family. This Sir John, after he was Lord Fitz-Walter, sided with Edward IV. against King Henry VI. and being by him appointed to keep the passage at Ferrybridge, which the Lord Clifford resolved to gain by surprise, was there slain, on Saturday before Palm Sunday, 1460, as he rose from his bed unarmed, with a poll ax only in his hand, in order to appease the fray, as he thought, among his own men, leaving his estate in possession of Elizabeth his wife, and John Ratcliff, afterwards Lord Fitz-Walter, his son, all which the said John enjoyed till 1493, when he was attainted of treason, and being apprehended, was brought into England with several other knights, among which was Sir Robert Ratcliff, who was beheaded, but the Lord Fitz-Walter was pardoned; after that he went to Calais, and being there laid in hold, was beheaded, because he would have corrupted the keepers, with many promises, to have escaped out of the same, intending, as was thought, to have gone to Perkyn, at that time a pretender to the crown against Henry VII. who, at the time of his attainder, seized upon all his revenues, and among them, on this manor, hundred, and advowson, together with the manor of Watton’s, or Cock-street, and Walcote in Diss, both which were become members of the great manor; and in 1498, the King presented here, by reason of the forfeiture and attainder of John late Lord Fitz-Walter. They remained in the Crown till Henry VIII. restored them to Robert Ratcliff, son of the said John, who was in so great favour with that king, that he not only restored him in blood and estate, but made him knight of the garter, Lord Fitz-Walter, Egremond, and Burnel, and afterwards, on the 16th of June, 1523, created him Viscount Fitz-Walter, and on the 8th of December, 1529, Earl of Sussex: he had three wives; by Elizabeth daughter of Henry Stafford Duke of Buckingham, he had Henry Lord Fitz-Walter, who succeeded him; he died at Chelsey the 28th of November, 1542, and is buried in the church of Boreham, in London diocese, with two other earls, his son and grandson, under a sumptuous monument, as appears by their inscriptions in Mr. Weaver’s Funeral Monuments, fol. 635.

From: ‘Hundred of Diss: Introduction’, An Essay towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: volume 1 (1805), pp. 1-39.

9. Close Rolls, Henry VI – 1425
Walter lord Fitz Wauter and of Wodeham, lord of Haydepuys and Rochetisson in Normandy, to Lewis Johan, Richard Baynarde, John Tyrell, Robert Darsy, Richard Fox, William Neulonde, Robert Molynton, William Faukeswelle and Richard Duryvalle clerk, their heirs and assigns. Charter with warranty of the manors of Wodeham Wauter, Ultyng, Burnham, Cage, Crixhicche, Lexden, Great Teye, Little Dunmowe and Henham co. Essex, his purparty of the manors of Multon, Flete, Beausolas in Algerkyrke and Skyrbeke with the rents and services of his tenants in Kyrton co. Lincoln, and all his lands, rents and services, reversions, woods, commons, ways, hays, wards, marriages, heriots, reliefs, escheats, knights’ fees, fisheries, warrens, parks, mills, suits of court, franchises, neifs and all that goes with them, advowsons of churches, abbeys, priories, almshouses and chapels, and other rights etc. in the towns abovementioned. Witnesses: (fn. 1) lord Ferrers, (fn. 1) lord Gray of Wylton, Lewis Robesarde lord Boucer, William Coggeshale, Maurice Bruyn knights of Essex, Ralph lord Cromwelle, Robert Roos, Robert Hakbeche knights, Richard Pynchebeke, Richard Welby esquires of Lincolnshire. Dated Wodeham Wauter, 12 July 3 Henry VI.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Henry VI: 1425′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: volume 1: 1422-1429 (1933), pp. 260-261.

11. Index – H, I
Page 457 – Charter of Walter fitz Wauter the elder knight, son of Sir Robert fitz Wauter lord of Wodham, giving with warranty to Walter fitzWauter lord of Wodham, his heirs and assigns, all the grantor’s purparty of the manor of Flete, and all lands, rents and services which he has or ever had in the town of Flete or elsewhere in Lincolnshire. Dated Henham, 1 October 50 Edward III From: ‘Close Rolls, Edward III: November 1376, Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: volume 14: 1374-1377 (1913), pp. 450-465.

Page 545 – Writing of Sir Walter fitz Wautier lord of Wodeham, granting to Alexander de la Garderobe the office of warrener everywhere in the said Walter’s lordship in the town of Burnham co. Essex, and the fee thereof, taking for his wages one quarter of wheat every eight weeks during his life in the manor of Burnham by the hands of the said Walter’s bailiff there, pasture and keeping (custodian) for forty ewes with the lord’s ewes at le Redewerde, pasture and keeping for 40ewes with the lord’s ewes at Douniswyk, keeping and pasture for three kine with the lord’s kine, and hay and pasture for one horse of the hay and pasture of the said manor, with power to distrain therein if his wages be fifteen days in arrear, or if he be hindered of the pasture, hay or keeping aforesaid. Dated Henham co. Essex, 1 August41 Edward III

From: ‘Close Rolls, Edward III: May 1377′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: volume 14: 1374-1377 (1913), pp. 542-547

1376 – 27. Close Rolls, Edward III – November 1376

October 24th.
Charter of Walter fitz Wauter the elder knight, son of Sir Robert fitz Wauter lord of Wodham, giving with warranty to Walter fitz Wauter lord of Wodham, his heirs and assigns, all the grantor’s purparty of the manor of Flete, and all lands, rents and services which he has or ever had in the town of Flete or elsewhere in Lincolnshire. Dated Henham, 1 October 50 Edward III.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Edward III: November 1376′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: volume 14: 1374-1377 (1913), pp. 450-465

1377 – 26. Close Rolls, Edward III – May 1377
Writing of Sir Walter fitz Wautier lord of Wodeham, granting to Alexander de la Garderobe the office of warrener everywhere in the said Walter’s lordship in the town of Burnham co. Essex, and the fee thereof, taking for his wages one quarter of wheat every eight weeks during his life in the manor of Burnham by the hands of the said Walter’s bailiff there, pasture and keeping (custodian) for forty ewes with the lord’s ewes at le Redewerde, pasture and keeping for 40ewes with the lord’s ewes at Douniswyk, keeping and pasture for three kine with the lord’s kine, and hay and pasture for one horse of the hay and pasture of the said manor, with power to distrain therein if his wages be fifteen days in arrear, or if he be hindered of the pasture, hay or keeping aforesaid. Dated Henham co. Essex, 1 August41 Edward III.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Edward III: May 1377′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: volume 14: 1374-1377 (1913), pp. 542-547.

13. Index – H, I
Sept. 14. Westminster 1387
To the keepers or farmers of the manor of Henham co. Essex for the time being. Order to pay to John Rekynghale clerk 4l. a year until he be advanced to a benefice, and the arrears since 26 April last, on which day for a fine by him paid in the hanaper the king confirmed letters patent of Walter Fitz Wauter knight, dated in June 8 Richard II long before his death, whereby he charged the said manor, by him held in chief at his death as parcel of the barony of Fitz Wauter, with 4l.yearly payable to the said John until etc., as it is found by divers inquisitions taken by Nicholas Fitz Richard the escheator.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Richard II: August 1387′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: volume 3: 1385-1389 (1921), pp. 342-346.

April 27. Westminster 1387
To Nicholas Fitz Richard escheator in Essex. Order to remove the king’s hand and meddle no further with a rent of 4l. a year, wherewith by letters patent of June 8 Richard II Walter Fitz Waulter charged the manor of Henham, which at his death he held in chief as parcel of the barony of Fitz Waulter, in favour of John Rikynghal clerk, or with the issues thereof taken since the said Walter’s death; as it is found by divers inquisitions, taken by the escheator, that the said manor was so charged until the said John should be advanced to a benefice, and that he is not yet advanced; and for a fine by him paid in the hanaper the king has confirmed the said letters patent.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Richard II: June 1387′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: volume 3: 1385-1389 (1921), pp. 237-246.

1398 – 25. Close Rolls, Richard II – June 1398
Walter lord fitz Wauter and lord of Wodeham to Alexander Walden,William Bourchier knights, Robert Newport, Richard Baynard of Messynge, John Basset of Chishulle, Alexander de la Garderobe and Simon Cisterne clerk, their heirs and assigns. Gift with warranty of the reversions of the manors of Hemenhale and Disse co. Norffolk with the knights’ fees, wards, marriages etc., rents, services of freeholders and neifs, now held for life by Philippa lady fitz Wauter of the said Walter’s heritage, and of the manor of Shymplynge ate Thorne co. Suffolk, the manors and advowsons of Wymbissh and Sherynge co. Essex, and the advowson of Hemyngby church co. Lincoln, with the knights’ fees etc., now held in dower by the said Philippa with reversion to the said Walter and to his heirs. Witnesses: Aubrey de Veer earl of Oxford, John de Bourchier, William Coggeshale, Ralph Shelton knights, Robert Teye, William Rokewode. Dated at his manor of Henham, 29 January 21 Richard II.

From: ‘Close Rolls, Richard II: June 1398′, Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: volume 6: 1396-1399 (1927), pp. 311-316. 12 June. June 14. Westminster.

1432 – 1. Close Rolls, Henry VI – July 1432 , Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: volume 2 (1933)
June 5. 1432 Westminster.
To the escheator in Essex. Order to give Elizabeth late the wife of Walter lord Fitz Wautier livery of the manors and advowsons with the exceptions hereinafter mentioned; as it is found by inquisition, taken before the escheator, that at his death the said Walter held jointly with her the manor of Wodeham Wautier, with the exceptions of a tenement there parcel of the said manor called ‘Brians tenement,’ all lands, rents and services called the ‘Neweshepen,’ a [field] called ‘Manfelde,’ three parcels of land in Wodeham Wautier and Ultynge called ‘Curleighmersshe, Fordecroft’ and ‘Beryhalle’ parcel of the said manor, a field called the ‘Westfelde,’ a pasture called the Faune, the profit of the second crop of two meadows, one called the ‘Holemede’ the other the ‘Curleighmede,’ a tenement in Wodeham with lands, meadows and pastures called Heywardes parcel of the said manor, a tenement there with appurtenances called Stubbardes, and a meadow there called ‘Bradmede’ parcel of the said manor, by demise of Robert Darcy and Richard Fox, and held likewise the manor of Lexeden, except a tenement called ‘Fraunceys tenement’ in the hamlet of Lexeden within the liberty of Colcestre parcel thereof, by feoffment of John Tyrell and Robert Molynton, the manor of Burnham, except the courts, wards, marriages, reliefs, escheats, the warren and mill thereto belonging, by demise of John Chedyoke knight and others, the manors of Henham and Little Dunmowe with the exception of a messuage and half a virgate of land in Henham sometime of Richard Chirchegate in the tenure of William Couper, a tenement and half a virgate there called Tournoures in the tenure of John Tournour, and a tenement and half a virgate there called Appultounes in the tenure of Richard Mountagu, all parcel of the manor of Henham, and except a tenement and one virgate of land called ‘Stacyesalyne’ and another tenement and 15 acres of land called Hesdes, both in the town of Henham and parcel of the said manor, by gift of the said John Chedyoke and others, and held the manors and advowsons of Wymbysshe and Sherynge by grant of Richard Baynarde and Simon Cisterne clerk to the said Walter and Elizabeth for life made without the king’s licence, that the manors of Wodeham Wautier, Burnham, Henham, Little Dunmowe, Wymbysshe and Sherynge are held in chief by knight service, and the manor of Lexeden of the king in free burgage as is all the town of Colcestre, and that by his death and by reason of the said trespasses those manors and advowsons, with the exceptions aforesaid, are taken into the king’s hand; and for a fine paid in the hanaper the king has pardoned those trespasses; and he has taken the fealty of the said Elizabeth for those and other lands in Norfolk and Suffolk.

4. Houses of Austin Canons – Priory of Little Dunmow

Robert Fitz Richard and Maud his wife confirmed the possessions of the canons and granted lands and tithes in Henham
In the Taxation of 1291 the temporalities of the priory were valued at £40 19s. 2½d. yearly, the principal amounts being £11 2s. 8d. in Little Dunmow, £5 9s., 3½d., in Burnham, £4 5s. 9½d.,in Rayne and £3 11s. 8d., in four parishes in London. Property was also owned in Henham. The church of Henham in Essex was also appropriated.

Other subjects mentioned in the register are an extent (fn. 22) of the manor of Henham on Tuesday before Midsummer, 1275; and the order (fn. 23) for consecrating a church.

An interesting book of accounts is preserved (fn. 26) of miscellaneous expenditure by Prior Geoffrey, beginning at the week before Palm Sunday, 23 Henry VIII, and ending the third Sunday after Trinity, 27 Henry VIII. The total amounts to £45 4s. 7d., of which the following are specimen entries:—

First Sunday after Epiphany, my cost to my lord Fywater 3s. 10d., reparations at Henham ‘jauncell’ 4s. 4d.
On 20 July 1536 the king granted (fn. 31) to Robert, earl of Sussex, the late patron, in tail, the site and church of the priory, the manors of Little Dunmow and Clopton Hall, the rectories and advowsons of Little Dunmow, Henham, Old Saling, Burnham, Sturston, Hempnall and Poslingford, annuities from the rectories of Boughton and Barton Bendish and other possessions of the priory in London, Little and Great Dunmow, Tolleshunt Major, Lambourne, Henham, Old Saling and Burnham in Essex, Sturston, Hempnall, Boughton and Barton Bendish in Norfolk and Poslingford in Suffolk; with the exception of the manors of Westwikhall and Estwik and a marsh in Burnham; the whole being of the yearly value of £121 14s. The manors of Westwykehall and Estwyke and lands called Westwyke and Estwyke in Burnham were granted (fn. 32) to Robert Riche of London and Elizabeth his wife and his heirs on 25 November,1543.

A History of the County of Essex: Volume 2 (1907)

1467 – Pa D 53 15 Deed relating to Henham, Essex. March 1467 – held at Nottingham University Library, Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections
Contents: The King, for 40 marks paid to him in his hanaper, grants licence to John Dynham, esquire, and Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Rattecliff de Fitzwalter, esquire, to grant to Richard Illyngworth, Knight, John Say, Knight, and Thomas Urswyk, the manor of Hemnalle, Norfolk, the manors of Shymplyng and Thurstonten, Suffolk, the manors of Henham, Wymbussh, Lexden, Sheryng, Burneham, Asshedon, Little Dunmowe, Wodeham Walter and Roydon, Essex. Dated 15 March 7 Edward IV

1513 – 31. Henry VIII, December 1513
14. John Wylde of Henham, Essex, husbandman. Pardon. Del. Knoll, 8 Dec. 5 Hen. VIII. S.B. Pat. 5 Hen. VIII. p. 2, m. 5. [4599.]
From: ‘Henry VIII: December 1513′, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 1: 1509-1514 (1920), pp. 1102-1121.

Cases before the Committee – November 1650
Claimants on the Estate of Sir Alex. Ratcliffe, Essex
20 Nov. 1650. James Bellew and John Poole complain that the rents of the manor and rectory of Henham, Essex, of which they are seized, are stayed in the tenants’ hands, and petitioners hindered by the County Committee from letting such part thereof as is unlet; they beg to know the cause.

From: ‘Cases before the Committee: November 1650′, Calendar, Committee for Compounding: Part 4 (1892), pp. 2595-2635.

1519 – 23. Deeds – C.1501 – C.1600
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).

Rickling, 8 June, 51 Edward III.

From: ‘Deeds: C.1501 – C.1600′, A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 1 (1890), pp. 536-546.

35. Henry VIII – September 1538 26-30
Sept. — Grants.
Sir Thos. Audeley, Chancellor. Licence to alienate the site, ground, circuit, &c. of the late monastery of Walden, Essex, with the manors of Brokewalden, Pounces, Matenys, Seynt Alottys, Abbotys in Thunderley, Mynchon in Arkesden, Chyssyll, Ellesnam and Terlyng, advowsons of the vicarages of Walden, Arkesdon, Magna Chyssyll, Ellesnam and Terlyng, Essex; and all other lands in Walden, Brokewalden, Lyttebury, Newporte, Pounces, Matenys, Seynt Alottys, Thunderley, Arkesden, Beerden, Assheden, Wenden Magna, Wenden Parva, Henham, Depden Elmedon, Terlyng, Leigbes, Hatfeld Peverell, Boreham, Whitteham, Blakenotley, Falborne and Fairsted, Essex, Lynton and Reche, Camb., and Sturmer, Suff.; and the manors of Corney Bury, Braughynge, and Mylkeley, Herts; rectories and advowsons of Braughyng, Leyston, and Alswike; and all other lands in Braughyng, Mylkeley, Corney Bury, Leyston, Buntyngford, Wydyale, Westmyll, Ware, Stondon, Nuttehamsted, Barkewaye, Thorley and elsewhere, Herts; with reservations; to John Eyre and James Vawdye, to be regranted within a month to Sir Thomas and dame Eliz. his wife, and the heirs of the said Sir Thos. for ever. Berechurch, 8 Sept. Pat. 30 Hen. VIII., p. 5, m. 28.

From: ‘Henry VIII: September 1538 26-30′, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 13 Part 2: August-December 1538 (1893), pp. 164-194

1539 – 32. Letters and Papers – February 1539, 26-28
February 1539&c., the rectory of Beerden with the tithes, and all possessions of the priory in Beerden, Manyden, Elsnam, Henham, Takeley, Rykelyng, Clavering, Ugley, Rocheford, Pelham Combusta, and Stokyng Pelham, Essex and Herts, in as full manner as _ (blank) the late prior held them. Annual value, 23l. 7s., rent 47s. Westm., 10 Jan. 30 Hen. VIII. Del. Westm., 23 Jan.—P.S. Pat. p. 7, m. 12.

From: ‘Letters and Papers: February 1539, 26-28′, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 14 Part 1: January-July 1539 (1894), pp. 143-166.

1543 – 86 / 32 21 Henry V1 February 14th. 1543 AD
Westminster. To the escheator in Essex. Order to remove the king’s hand and meddle no further with the manor of Pleccheden, delivering to John Marchall, Alice his wife, Henry Caldeceke and Cicely his wife any issues thereof taken as the king has learned by inquisition, taken by the escheator, that Margaret who was wife of John Hynkeley at her death held no lands in Essex in chief in demesne nor in service, but held the same manor in socage of Richard Nevylle earl of Salisbury by the service of rendering 4d. a year, and that the said Alice and Cicely are her daughters and next heirs, and are of full age

1572 – general court of Thomas, Earl of Sussex SEAX 86/1A

1575 SEAX 86/1B Pledgdon with Canons in Henham, general court of Thomas, Earl of Sussex

1579 – D/DMy/15M50/38 20 December 1579. Covenant to stand seised manors, lordships and farms of HENHAM. Covenant by Thomas, Earl of Sussex to stand seised to uses in estates for augmentation of jointure of wife Frances, and for settling estates on male heirs, on brother Henry Radcliffe and sons of uncle Humphrey Radcliffe.

1597 – Q/SR 141/102 12 October, 1597 SESSIONS ROLLS EASTER 1598
Indictments of John Angar of Lindsell, husbandman, Richard Baron of HENHAM, gentleman, John Bromley of Broxted, labourer, and Richard Dytton of Lindsell, husbandman, for hunting with greyhounds in the park of Robert, Earl of Sussex Called Honham park, at Honham, and killing a deer there. The said Angor acknowledged, indicted under the Statute of 5 Elizabeth.

1599 – 780A/1/2/1 Feoffment [18th century copy] 20 November 1599 – held at Portsmouth Museums and Records Service
Contents:
[i] The Right Honourable the Earl of Sussex Viscount Fitzwater Lord Egremont Burnells and Botort Thomas Kempe of Little Bricett in the county of Suffolk and Thomas Kirbye of Henham in the county of Essex, gentleman

[ii] Jonas Latelais, gentleman, secretary to the Earl of Sussex Feoffment of manor or seigniorye of Northcloake, Eastoake and Westhaye on Hayling Island in the county of Southampton forever

Consideration ‘a certain sum of money’

1614 – D/DMy/15M50/39 20 January 1614 Settlement on Marriage of Henry, Lord Fitzwalter and Jane Stanhope, daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope, manors, lordships and farms of HENHAM

1623 D/DMy/15M50/123 1614 – 1623 Valuations of lands of Robert, Earl of Sussex inc. manor of HENHAM

1630 – D/DM/L6 c.1630
Copy of evidence in case Sir Hen, Mildmay v. Edmund Ditchfield and others (incl. Edward Earl of Sussex, Sir William Withipool and wife Jane, Lady Fitzwalter, widow of Henry Radcliffe, Viscount Fitzwalter, heir of Robert Earl of Sussex), concerning tithes of rectories of HENHAM….

1630 – D/DM/L6 c.1630 MILDMAY FAMILY
Copy of evidence in case Sir Hen, Mildmay v. Edmund Ditchfield and others (incl. Edward Earl of Sussex, Sir William Withipool and wife Jane, Lady Fitzwalter, widow of Henry Radcliffe, Viscount Fitzwalter, heir of Robert Earl of Sussex), concerning title to manor of Little Dunmow Priory and other priory lands [no details], manor of Mangapp and farms called Brocketts and Kettles in Burnham, vicarage impropriate of Lt. Dunmow, and tithes of rectories of Sailing, HENHAM and Hempnall (co. Norfolk), all part of Fitzwalter inheritance descending to Mildmays through Frances Radcliffe, mother of Sir Henry Mildmay, and daughter of Henry Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex. Including descent of property from dissolution, Ditchfield’s answer to charges, and depositions identifying lands and title deeds, clarifying the intentions of Robt., last Earl of Sussex, etc.

1642 – Par/400/24/7 Declaration of uses May 1642 – held at West Sussex Record Office
Contents: Robert Earl of Essex, Richard Viscount Lumley, Sir Richard Guerney kt., bt., Lord Mayor of London, Sir Christopher Newton of Newton St. Lowe, co. Som., K.B., Sir George Whitmore kt., and Alderman, William Rolfe and Henry Hann, esq., and Henry Jackson, gent., all of London, surviving feoffes of Henry Smith’s Charity, to churchwardens and overseers of Hurstpierpoint.

Whereas foeffees had purchased premises from the estate left by Henry Smith for the benefit of the poor of the parishes in proportion stated:
Co. Essex, Terling, £14; Braintree, £6; Henham, £12; Tolleshunt D’Arcy, £12.

(a) affirm premises to be in trust for parishes aforesaid, and that (b) may resort to premises for payment of £8 yearly and may in conjunction with other parishes remove and put in tenants according to the terms of the trust.

1651 – 33. Townships – Salford
Sir Alexander Radcliffe’s estates, apparently in Essex only, were sequestered by the Parliament; this would complete the ruin of the family; Cal. of Com. for Compounding, iv, 2617. The manor of Henham was sold in 1651; W. Farrer’s deeds.

From: ‘Townships: Salford’, A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4 (1911), pp. 204-217.

1689-1725 – D/DPn
Descent of the Manor of Sheering Hall, 1689-1725, from the evidence of D/Dpn T1/1-45, T2/1-16, supplementing and correcting the account in Morant, History of Essex , vol.II, p.500. Lord Viscount Hewitt (d. 1689) left all his estates, which included the Manor of Sheering Hall, to his four sisters. They instituted proceedings in Chancery in order that a fair division might be made and the commission established by that court allotted the Manor of Sheering to Dame Elizabeth Anderson (1691-2). She died in 1698 leaving it in trustees’ hands to be sold and they agreed to sell it to Thomas Filmer for £5,200 [D/DPn T1/29]; he died, however, before the formal conveyance could be completed and the transaction was not finally settled until 1706. His daughters, Mary Filmer and Susanna Eddowes, in 1718 sold it for £6,300 to Robert Chester, a director of the South Sea Co.; he later acquired other property in Sheering which had also formed part of the original Hewitt estate as divided in 1692; both were forfeited upon the failure of the South Sea Co. and sold by the trustees to Samuel Feake for £11,325. \b D/Dpn T3-23. These bundles of deeds all relate to properties in Sheering acquired by the Glyn family, principally Rev. Thomas Clayton Glyn, in the early part of the nineteenth century. \b D/Dpn F1,2. Upon the death of their brother Samuel in 1774, Anne and Mary Feake inherited as co-heiresses the Manors of HENHAM and Sheering, etc.; Mary Feake died unmarried in 1803 leaving her moiety to Thomas Glyn and his wife Henrietta, wife Henrietta, which moiety was in turn inherited by their eldest son the Rev. Tho. Clayton Glyn. In 1844 it was agreed to make a partition of the whole estate, as there were too many co-heirs, and in that partition the Manor of Sheering, Durrington House and the Sheering Estates fell to the Rev. T.C. Glyn.

1725 – D/Y 1/1/175/1
23 August 1725 HOLMAN MANUSCRIPTS – Correspondence obtaining information for Holman’s History of Essex. Letter to William Holman from James Smith Sending as much answer as he can but he is not very curious about these matters. Plegden Hall and manor was in the Crew family which became extinct in with the death of Lord Crew, Bishop of Durham. He left the estate to Mr Cartwright of Northamptonshire who is the present possessor of it. The main estate in the town here was purchased by Dr Wright father of Sir Henry Wright between 1640 and 1660. Lady Wright, widow of Sir Henry held it as her jointure, and annexed an estate worth £34 per annum to the vicarage. Lady Wright’s daughter inherited the estate and sold it to Sir John Blunt from whom it went and remains in the Trustees of the South Sea Company. 4 or 5 houses a little distance from HENHAM called Little HENHAM and the manor there is called Plegden Canons, but he does not know why. There are no almshouses or charitable donations except a small amount which they have in common with 13 other parishes. Mr Dale knows about this. He knows of no manor in Ugley called Brends Hall.

1757 – D/DPn/F1 1757-1803
Wills and Settlements of the Feake family of Durringtons in Sheering relating chiefly to the Manors of HENHAM, Pledgdon Cannons alias the Rectory of HENHAM, and Sheering, the rectory and advowson of HENHAM, Parsonage Farm and the Cock in HENHAM and messuages called Durringtons, New House and Collins in Sheering

1788-1850  – D/DPn/F2 1788-1850 RECORDS OF MANOR OF SHEERING HALL
Glyn family Settlements relating chiefly to the Rev. T.C. Glyn’s share of the Sheering and HENHAM Estates acquired as heirs of the Feake family, and also to other properties in Sheering acquired by him. Schedules of farm and field-names, etc. on deeds 1844, 1850

1805-1886 – D/DPn E1 1805-1886
Sale catalogue, particulars and valuations, correspondence etc. relating to estates chiefly in Sheering and HENHAM, the property of Rev. Thomas Clayton Glyn and Glayton William Feake Glyn. Includes Particulars (field-names, cultivation and acreages) of New House and Sheering Hall Farms (1861), detailed solicitor’s bill for costs of exchange of land between C.W.F. Glyn and Mr. Barnard under the authority of the Inclosure Commissioners (1861), rough map of two cottages at Sheering (1850), sale catalogue of Sand-Pitts Farm (124 acres) at HENHAM (1812), and valuation (1860) and Agreement to purchase (1861) Wood End Green Farm in HENHAM, with map [sand pit marked on property], latter also relating to manors of HENHAM Hall and Rectory, and tithes, parsonage and about 200a. in HENHAM. Also including similar papers relating to property at Hackney, Middlesex and New Chapel Farm, Godstone, Surrey

White’s Directory of Essex 1848
HENHAM is a pleasant village, on an eminence, about 2 miles North East of Elsenham Railway Station, and 5 miles West South West of Thaxted. It is sometimes called Henham on the Hill, and its parish contains 855 souls, and 2958 acres of land, of which 162 souls, and 1190 acres, are in PLEDGDON hamlet, which is in Clavering Hundred, and distant 1½ mile North East of the church. The grounds of the whole parish are generally high, fertile, and well wooded; and on the north side of it is Little Henham, near the chief source of the river Granta, or Cam. At Domesday Survey, the parish was held by Ralph Baynard, Eado Dapifer, and Geofrey de Mandeville, and here are still three manors. Peter Stewart Feake Martin, Esq., of Halstead, is lord of the manors of Henham Hall and the Parsonage, or Rectory; and W.C. Smith, Esq., of Newport, is lord of the manor of Pledgdon, or Plechedon Hall. An estate called The Broom, was formerly held by the Watts, Blount, and Fell families. Several small copyholders have estates here, subject to arbitrary fines.

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales…., by John Marius Wilson. circa 1866

HENHAM, a village and a parish in the district of Bishop-Stortford, and county of Essex. The village stands on a hill, 2 miles NE by E of Elsenham r. station, and 6 NE of Bishop-Stortford; and has a post-office under Bishop-Stortford. The parish also includes the hamlet of Pledgdon, and comprises 2,958 acres. Real property, £4,671. Pop., 875. Houses, 186. The property is divided among a few. The manor belongs to Joseph Baxendale, Esq. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Rochester. Valie, £390. Patron, the Rev. J. Taddy. The church consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with tower and spire; and is large and good. There an Independent chapel, a national school, and charities £48.

1618-1879 – T/B 285/1 Calendar of deeds of the Henham Estate (Radcliffe Wright, Feake, and Baxendale families) [with index to properties

1887 – Henham.– (or Henham on the Hill), par. and vil., W. Essex, 6 miles NE. of Bishop Stortford, 2995 ac., pop. 812; P.O.; in vicinity is the seat of Henham Hall. (John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))

HENHAM, a village and a parish in the district of Bishop-Stortford, and county of Essex. The village stands on a hill, 2 miles NE of Elsenham r. station, and 6 NE of Bishop-Stortford; and has a post office under Bishop-Stortford. The parish includes also the hamlet of Pledgdon, and comprises 2, 958 acres. Real property, £4, 671. Pop., 875. Houses, 186. The property is divided among a few. The manor belongs to Joseph Baxendale, Esq. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £390.* Patron, the Rev. J. Taddy. The church consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with tower and spire; and is large and good. There are an Independent chapel, a national school, and charities £48.
(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

1883 – SECOND SUPPLEMENT TO The London GazetteOf FRIDAY, the 2nd of MARCH.SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1883,

AT  the Court at Windsor, the 3rd day of March, 1883.
PRESENT, The QUEEN’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
SHERIFFS appointed by Her Majesty in Council
for  the year 1883. – Hertfordshire. Salisbury Baxendale, of Bonningtons, Ware, Esq.

1898 – The Auction Of Properties And Lands In Henham And Ugley on 12th May 1898 at The George Hotel, Bishops Stortford
This information has been taken from a sale catalogue in the Baxendale papers of Miss Winmill’s collection. The auction was by the direction of Salisbury Baxendale, the then Squire of Henham (who died in 1907 aged 79 yrs). His father was one of three partners who bought Pickfords, a family-run canal-carrier and transformed it into Britain’s largest removal company. Joseph Baxendale rose to become Chairman.

This sale was the most important auction of property in the village, typifying the break-up of so many estates in Britain at the end of the nineteenth century. A copy of the auction catalogue can be seen in our SEAX section or at Essex Archive Office where it has the reference number SALE B5190. The sale catalogue shows a handwritten note ‘Mr Thomas Wright’ at the top.

1925 – Sale of Coopers hall

1. the property is sold subject to the Conditions following etc etc
2. the day for the completion of the purchase shall be on or before 24th day of June 1925
3. vendor’s solicitors : Ackland Son & Baily of King Street, Saffron Walden
4. the Vendors are the executors and trustees of the Will of the late Thomas Wright formerly of Henham aforesaid. The Title shall commence; as to part of the property with a Conveyance on Sale dated the 10th day of September 1873 and made between Thomas Holgate of the one part and the said Thomas Wright of the other part and as to the remainder of the property with a Conveyance on Sale dated the 8th day of March 1899 and made between Salisbury Baxendale of the one part and the said Thomas Wright of the other part

1932 –  THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 APRIL, 1932.
SALISBURY BAXENDALE, Deceased.
Pursuant to the Trustee Act, 1925.

NOTICE is hereby given that all creditors and (persons (having any claims or demands against the estate of Salisbury Baxendale, late
of Golf Mount, Eddington, Herne Bay, in the county of Kent, who died on .the 16th day of February, 1932, and in whose Will was proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice on the 21st day of March, 1932, by Edward Warren Clarke, the sole executor therein named, are hereby required to send the particulars, in writing, of their claims or demands to us, the undersigned, as Solicitors for the said executor, on or before the 2nd day of June, 1932, after which date the said executor will proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased amongst the persons entitled thereto, having regard only to the debts, claims and demands of which (he shall then have had notice; and he will not be liable for the assets of the said deceased or any part thereof, so distributed, to any person or persons of whose claims or demands he shall not then have had notice.— Dated this 29 day of March, 1932.

CLARKE SQUARE and MILLS, 28, Bolton Street, Piccadilly, W.I, Solicitors for the
(123) said Executor