Taverham Hundred: Maideston

MAIDESTON

Was a village adjoining to, and a beruite of Fretenham, or Heynford. Roger of Poictiers was lord of it, and Albert was lord before the Conquest; one carucate of land belonged to it, 2 villains, with a carucate, a mill, valued at 30s. but at the survey at nothing, probably accounted for in Fretenham, or Heynford, and it was 3 furlongs long, and 3 broad. (fn. 1)

Robert, son of Charles, grants by fine this manor, in the 3d of Edward I. to Thomas Charles and Joan his wife in tail.

Thomas Charles was lord of Meydington, (called after Moyton-Hall,) in the 3d of Edward I. with view of frank pledge, free-warren, a tumbrel, &c. a fair and a weekly mercate on Friday.

In the sixth of that King it was found that Walter de Kam, a long time before his death, had enfeoffed William Charles of a messuage, 70 acres of land, an acre and half of meadow, and 20s. rent per ann. in Fretenham and Maindenton, so that Thomas Charles and Joan his wife, who were impleaded by John de Oketon and Alice his wife, were amerced; and in the 27th of the said King, he impleaded Thomas de Wardon, parson of Fretenham, &c. for entering on his free-warren, and destroying and taking his hares, partridges, &c. to the damage of 20l.

In the 17th of Edward III. John de St. Maur, conveyed to Sir John Wingfield, by fine, this lordship which Thomas Atte Church held for the life of Catherine his wife.

In the 3d of Henry IV. Sir John White of Shotesham was lord of Mayton-Hall in Fretenham, held by a quarter of a fee of the honour of Lancaster, late St. Maurs.

Sir John, gave it to John White, Esq. his son, by his second wife Joan, or Julian, daughter of Peter Hovel, Esq. of Swannington: this John, with Alice his wife, daughter and heiress of Robert Burnham of Lynn, are interred in Fretenham church.

Margaret, their daughter and heiress, brought it by marriage to Giles St. Lowe, Esq. she dying on the 24th of December, 1435, was buried by them.

In the first year of King Edward IV. on February 24, Sir John Howard, Kt. (afterwards duke of Norfolk) had a grant of this lordship, called Meyton-Hall, late Giles Saintlow's, of London, attainted;—of Hereford-Hall, late Thomas Daniel's, of Rising, in Norfolk;—of the manors of Layham and Whersted in Suffolk;—Smitheton-Hall in Essex;—Dantlesby, and Devilishe in Dorsetshire, lately belonging to James, Earl of Wiltshire, and Sir Nicholas Latimer attainted.

But this grant was soon after (as far as it related to this lordship) recalled, for it appears, that Giles left by Margaret his wife, one daughter, Elizabeth, married to Henry Statham, Esq. who died in 1481, and left Joan their daughter and sole heir, married to John Sacheverell, and Sir Henry Sacheverell conveyed it by fine, in the 18th of Henry VIII. to Sir John Shelton, &c. But yet the Whites of Shotesham had some interest herein.

Edmund White, Esq. who married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Froximere of Bromesthorp in Norfolk, died seized of it, in 1521, leaving George his son and heir, who was an ideot, and died s. p. in 1546, and this manor, &c. was settled by Thomas Duke of Norfolk, his guardian, on Edmund White, Esq. his uncle, who died in 1538, so that on George's death it came to Edward White, son of Edmund, who died single in 1558, and his inheritance descended to his sister Anne, the wife of Henry Doyley of Pondhall in Suffolk, Esq. who had livery of it in the said year.

In the 18th of James I. Thomas Blofield, Gent. and Edward Coke, Gent. had a præcipe to deliver it to Sir John Heveningham, Sir Thomas Holland, Edward Paston, Esq. &c.

The Earl of Yarmouth was lord in 1700, and Harbord Harbord, Esq. in 1740.

The Church of Fretenham is a rectory, dedicated to St. Swithin, the ancient valor was 26 marks.—Peter-pence 16d.—Carvage 5d. ob. and the abbey of St. Martin of Sees, or de Sez, in Normandy, of the Benedictine order, founded by Roger de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury, and father Roger of Poictiers, lord of this manor, and patron, had a portion of 5s.

Rectors.

Thomas de Wardon occurs rector in the 28th of Edward I.

1308, Mr. Walter de Pickeryng, by Matt. de Reedham.

1308, Thomas Falstolf, presented by Sir Thomas Bardolf.

1343, Peter de Felthorp, by Cecilia, relict of Sir Thomas Bardolf.

1343, Roger de Felthorp.

1354, John de Cressingham, by John Bateman, guardian of Thomas, son and heir of John Bardolf of Spikesworth.

1358, Henry de Blacktoft. Ditto.

1372, Mr. William de Swynflet, by Thomas Bardolf.

1384, John Aleym, by William Essex.

Richard Woddes, rector about 1600.

1620, Thomas Child, compounded November 28, for first-fuits, &c.

Henry Dickenson, rector in 1667.

Jos. Alanson, died rector in 1736.

1736, William Berney, by Robert Britiff, Esq.

1764, Mr. - - - - - - Carthew, by Sir William Harbord, Bart. lord and patron.

The present valor is 10l. and pays first-fruits and tenths.

On a gravestone in the chancel, with a brass plate, O Chryst Jesu pitie and mercy have On Alys Burnham that whylom was the wyff, Of Gylys Thorndon which lyeth here in grave.

And her defend from warre of fendy's stryff, Make her partable of eternall lyff.

By the merits of thy passion, Which with thy bloud madest our redemption.

On another adjoining,

Hic jacet Margareta filia Joh. Whyte, filij secundj Joh. Whyte, militis, uxor. Ægidij Seyntlowe, Arm et D'na de Mayton, filia Alice, filie et heredis Robtj Burnham de Lynne, et uxor Joh. Whyte 2di. p' dicti, et obijt in vigilia natalis D'nj. A^o. D'nj. 1435.

On the stone these arms, argent, a chevron between three nails, gules, St. Low, impaling, gules, a chevron, between three boars heads couped, argent, White.

In the chancel windows were azure, three cinquefoils, or, Lord Bardolf; and gules, three cinquefoils, argent, Bardolf of Spixworth, or, a saltire, sable, Felthorp.