Loddon Hundred: Chatgrave

CHATGRAVE.

Ralph Bainard Lord Bainard, who came, on the invasion, with William Duke of Normandy into England, had a grant of this lordship on the deprivation of Toret, (and Einbold held it at the survey under Ralph,) containing 2 villains, 19 borderers, 4 servi, 2 carucates in demean, one and a half among the tenants, paunage for 16 swine, 12 acres of meadow, a mill, 2 runci, 4 cows, &c. there were also in Toret's time, 200 sheep, always valued at 40s. It was 9 furlongs long and 8 broad, paid 2d. gelt. Thirteen freemen, with the moiety of another, held in soccage, under Toret, 99 acres, and there were 4 carucates and a half among the tenants, with 5 acres of meadow, valued at 10s. which the Lord Bainard claimed by exchange. (fn. 1)

Toret is also called Torn, and was a thane, or nobleman, of King Edward's.

The family of Edisfeld, or Edgefield, was soon after the conquest enfeoffed of this lordship.

William de Edisfeld was living in the reign of Henry II. and Peter in that of Richard I.

Peter de Edisfeld, by Hawise his wife, had a daughter and heir, Lecia, or Lœtitia, who marrying Sir William de Rosceline, was lord in her right. To this Lecia, William, son of — de Plumstede, granted lands for 5 marks of silver, by deed, sans date, (about the 40th of Henry III.) but if she died s.p. they were to go to William, (chaplain of Lecia,) his brother, and Alice his sister, and the longest liver of them, &c. witnesses, Sir Rog. de Hales, Sir Jn. de Lodnes, Will. de Wyssenford, &c.

William, son of Rosceline, was living in the 3d of King John, and then gave an account for the profits of half the 12th year of that King, for Robert Fitz-Roger, sheriff of Norfolk, and gave an account of an 100l. in the 3d of Henry III. to have the King's grace and favour, with the lands of his brother Roger; the Roscelines held it of the Lords Fitz-Walter, on the death of Sir Thomas Rosceline, who died s. p.

About the 15th of Edward III. it came to his 6 sisters and coheirs; Joan, the 4th sister and coheir, married John Lord Willoughby of Eresby, to whom all the other sisters conveying their rights, he was lord of this manor.

William Lord Willoughby, married to his 2d wife, Joan, daughter of Thomas Holland Earl of Kent, who died possessed of it in the 12th of Henry VI. then styled duchess dowager of York, and relict of Sir Henry Bromflet.

It was sold by William Lord Willoughby, in the reign of Henry VII. and Sir Robert Drury sold it by fine to Sir Robert Southwell, in the 19th of that King.

In 1521, Walter Hubberd, Esq. presented to this church; and in the 20th of King Henry VIII. being then a knight, son and heir of Sir James Hobart, settled this lordship and advowson of the church, with the manors of Oulton, Horninger, Backton, Rushes, Jenney's, and Gissingham, Capel, &c. in Suffolk, on Henry Hobart, Esq. his son and heir, which Henry was lord in 1550, and presented to this church.

James Hobart, Esq. son and heir of Henry, presented in 1581, and Sir Henry Hobart in 1611.

Anthony Hobart, Esq. conveyed it in 1634, in fee, to James his son and heir, who sold it in the 12th of Charles I. to Henry Humbarston, Gent. son of William Humberstone by Joan, daughter of John Smith of Lanham in Suffolk, son of John Humberstone of Lodne.

The said Henry married first, Anne, daughter of Gyles Bladwell of Thirlow Magna in Suffolk; and secondly, Mary, daughter, of Henry Yaxley of Beauthorp, and by his first wife, had William Humberstone, Esq. of Hales Hall in Lodne, who married Mildred, daughter of Charles Waldgrave, Esq. of Staningfeld; he sold this estate.

Sir Nevill Catlyn was lord in 1670, and presented to this church, as did Lady Mary Catlyne, in 1702.

In 1742, Sir Charles Turner was lord and patron.

Ralph Lord Bainard had also a gant of another lordship in this town, of which Leuric, a freeman, who held it under the commendation of Herold, in the Confessor's time, was deprived.

It was held by Jeffrey under the Lord Baynard, at the grand survey, with 2 carucates of land, 4 villains, 6 borderers, one servus, &c. 2 carucates in demean, &c. among the tenants, &c. 12 acres of meadow, a mill, 2 cows, &c. with a church endowed with 50 acres, and one of meadow, valued at 12 oras; 6 socmen, and a moiety of one, had 23 acres; and there was a freeman under Lefric's protection, with 17 socmen and a moiety, with one carucate, &c. and half a carucate, and half an acre of meadow, valued at 30s. at the survey at 40s. (fn. 2) This came by an exchange.

Robert, son of Corbun, claimed this land, and had livery, but Bainard was first seized of it, and Robert afterwards; but the hundred knew not by what means. The soc belonged to the hundred.

Jeffrey, who held this lordship at the survey, was a near relation to Ralph Lord Bainard.

Juga, widow of Ralph, held it in capite, and was foundress of the famous priory of Dunmow in Essex.

Her son, Jeffrey, succeeded, and William his son and heir, taking part with Elias Earl of Maine in France, and other conspirators against King Henry I. was deprived of his barony of Bainard castle in London, which was granted to Robert, a younger son of Richard Fitz Gilbert, whose son, Walter Fitz Robert, married Maud, eldest daughter and coheir of Sir Richard de Lucy, chief justice of England, and was father of Robert Fitz-Walter; lord of Bainard's castle, of whom this lordship was held, by a younger branch of the Bainards, descended from Jeffrey abovementioned.

Thomas, son of Robert Bainard, held it of Walter Fitz-Robert, in the reign of Richard.

In the 52d of Henry III. Sir Robert Baynard, Cassandra his wife, and Robert his son, confirmed lands granted to the abbey of Langley.

Sir Robert Baynard was living in the 13th of Edward I. and in the 31st of that King, Robert Baynard and Felicia his wife, were querents in a fine, Robert de Bosevill deforcient, of 90 messuages, 2 mills, 400 acres of land, 8 of meadow, 24 of wood, 6 of marsh, 10 of alder, who as a trustee, settled them on Robert and Felicia in tail. In the following year a fine was levied between Joan, widow of Robert Baynard, and Robert Baynard and Maud his wife.

In the 4th year of Edward III. it was found that Robert Baynard, here, in Whetacre, &c. had 4 fees of the barony of Baynard, with Maud his wife, that the capital messuage here, after repairs, was nothing worth.

There were 120 acres of arable land, valued at 60s. per ann. 4 acres of meadow at 4s. a watermill at 6s. 8d. and a windmill at 10s. rents of assise, 4s. at Easter and St. Michaelmas; copyholders works, 29s. 4d. and that Thomas was his son and heir, aged 26, who in the 10th of the said King, sold by fine to Sir Thomas Roscelyn this lordship, &c. part of which Maud, widow of Sir Robert Baynard, held for life; but in the 46th of said King Edward, Sir Edmund de Thorp and Joan his wife, sister and heir of Thomas Barnard, brought their action against John Lord Willoughby, for the aforesaid manor, sold by her brother, as being intailed, but to no effect, so that it remained in the family of Willoughby, and being united to their manor beforementioned, passed with that, as may be there seen.

Also a family that assumed their name from this town, had an interest herein; Agnes daughter of Philip de Shategrave, held one fee with Robert or Ralph Bainard, of Walter Fitz Robert, in the reign of King Richard I. and Robert de Chategrave and Emme his wife were living in the 6th of Edward I.

William Gerburgh, sen. in the 52d of Henry III. purchased of Agnes de Bugeham, by fine, a messuage, and 60 acres of land, 6 of marsh, and 40s. rent here, in Langley, and Lodne; and William his son, and Sibill, his wife, were living in the 16th of Edward I. and in the 23d of that King conveyed lands in this town, &c. to Robert, son of Robert Baynard and Felicia his wife.

The tenths were 2l. 0s. 1d.—Deducted 16s.

The temporalities of St. Bennet of Holm 4s. 2d.

Prior of Buttley's Manor.

In the 20th of Henry III. William de Aubervile granted by fine to Adam, prior of Buttele, the 3d part of the advowson of this church, and of Somerton, and Upton in Norfolk; of Wantesden, Capele, Benhale, Baudsey, and Finburgh, with the moiety of the church of Glemham Parva, and 3 parts of 2 carucates of land in Somerton, and 2 in Buttele. (fn. 3)

The Lady Cassandra Baynard gave by fine to Walter, prior of Buttley St. Mary in Suffolk, a messuage, with 12 acres of land, and the advowson of this church, in the 56th of Henry III.

Sir Walter Hobart died lord of this, with Lilleford's lands or manor, Baynard's, &c. as lord of the whole town.

The abbot of Langley had lands here: Robert de Raveningham conveyed by fine, to William, abbot of Langley, in the 6th of Ed I. lands here, and Robert Baynard, in the 10th of that King, bought lands in this town, &c. of Robert, son of Thomas de Raveningham, and Robert Baynard in the 12th of Edward II. gave to that abbey 100 acres of land, with 5s. rent in Chatgrave.

Sir Walter Hobart died possessed of it, of which family see in Hales, and after them Sir Nevil Catlyn.

The Church was a rectory dedicated to All-Saints, and being granted by the Lady Cassandra Bainard to the priory of Buttley was appropriated thereto; and in the reign of Edward I. the prior had a manse and a carucate of land; it was valued at 10 marks, and there was a vicarage valued at 40s. Peter-pence 10d. carvage 7d. the prior of Norwich had a portion of tithe both great and small, being out of two parts of the demeans of Robert, son of Thomas Bainard, and of the demeans of Phil. de Chategrave, confirmed by John de Grey, and Thomas de Blomvile Bishops of Norwich, valued at two marks; (fn. 4) and by a composition after made, it was let to the prior of Buttley at 6 marks per ann. and belonged to the Almoner, the vicar also had a pension of 40s. per ann. paid by the prior of Buttley.

Vicars.

1304, Robert Rykinghale, instituted vicar, presented by the prior of Buttley

1326, Thomas de Totyngton. Ditto.

1341, Matt. de Readham. Ditto.

1350, Richard de Dysse. Ditto.

1352, Edward Torald. Ditto.

Robert Hert, vicar.

1359, Wiiliam Coupere. Ditto.

John Selestre, vicar.

1401, Richard Talyour. Ditto.

1409, William Gerald. Ditto.

1410, John Clere.

On June 22, 1420, John Bishop of Norwich, on account of the poverty of this vicarage dissolved it, with the appropriation, and it became a rectory in the patronage of the prior of Buttley, and paid to a whole tenth of the King 13s. 4d. and for Norwich portion 3s. 4d.

Rectors.

John Chykering, rector.

1422, John Stercroft, by the prior.

1453, David Henchenesson, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1455, John Reydon, a canon Premonst. by the Bishop.

1465, Robert Bury

1479, Thomas Twylyt, by James Hobert, Gent.

1513, John, abbot of Langley, by the Bishop's, vicar-general.

1521, William Tant, by William Hubberd, Esq.

1530, Nicholas Hert. Ditto.

1533, John Peyntour. Ditto.

1550, William Colling, by Henry Hubberd of Lodne, Esq.

1558, Thomas Lupton. Ditto.

1581, Henry Westcoe, by James Hubbard, Esq.

1611, William Read, by Sir Henry Hubbard, Esq.

1641, Silvester Child.

1670, William Fuller, by Sir Nevill, Catlyn.

1702, John Baron, by the Lady Mary Catlyne, widow.

Abraham Baker, resigned in 1718, and Samuel Conold, by Sir Charles Turner.

John Fayerham, in 1759, by Sir William Beauchamp Proctor, Bart.

In the chancel, a gravestone,

In memory of Silvester Child, rector of Chetgrave, who died January 12, 1669.

Also,

Hic deponitur Jana, pia et charissima conjux Henrici Webster de Chedgrave, in comit. Norff. Generosi, quæ fato cessit Janu. 21, 1694.

The steeple stands at the north-east end of the chancel, and there is one bell.

The town takes its name form Chat, or Ket, the name of a river, thus Chatesworth in Derbyshire; Chatteress in Cambridgeshire, &c.