North Erpingham Hundred: Sustead

SUSTEAD.

Roger Bigot, ancestor to the Earls of Norfolk, had the grant of one freeman of Withri, and one of Ulstan, who held in the time of the Confessor 30 acres of land with one borderer, and the moiety of another, a carucate and an acre and an half of meadow, &c. then valued at 8s. at the survey at 12s. also of 3 villains and a borderer here belonging to his manor of Hanwarth, and 13 borderers with half a carucate, of which Alward was possessed. (fn. 1)

By the Bigots Earls of Norfolk the ancient family of the Felbriggs were enfeoffed of it, and from the Felbriggs it came to the Windhams, as may be seen at large in Felbrigg; and in 1740, Ash Windham, Esq. of Felbrigg was lord, and succeeded by his son, William Windham, Esq. who died in 1761.

William Earl Warren had also the moiety of a freeman, with 15 acres of land, and a borderer with a rood of meadow, the moiety of a mill, and half a carucate, valued then at 2s. 6d. at the survey at 3s. per ann. (fn. 2)

This was held by the family of Damme. In the 19th of Henry VI. John Damme senior, and John, junior, were living; John Damme was lord in 1462, and made his will on August 2d, in that year, which was proved December 29, following, and desires to be buried in the church of Susted; names Elizabeth his wife, and Simon, his eldest son, which Elizabeth was the daughter (as I take it) of John Gresham, of Aylmerton; (fn. 3) and Simon Damme died lord in 1498. Robert Damme, and Isabel his wife, were living in the 21st of Henry VIII.

Thomas Damme was living in the 38th of the said King. In the 35th of Elizabeth, Nicholas Baldwyn, clerk, and Martin Lyndsey, had a præcipe to render to Henry Stow, and Simon Burgall, the manor of Damms in Sustede; and in the 41st of that Queen, John Smith, Gent. and Stephen Drury had one, to render to Martin Fountain, and John Dodman, the said manor, with 3 messuages, 200 acres of land, 40 of meadow, 100 of pasture, 20 of wood, 100 of heath, and 100s. rent.

After this, it was possessed by the Wyndhams, and William Windham, Esq. of Felbrigg died lord of it in 1761, leaving his son and heir a minor.

The tenths were 1l. 16s.—Susted or Sutstod, that is Southstede.

The Church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, and was a rectory, valued at 10 marks, granted by William Bigod, (son and heir of Roger, and steward of the houshold to King Henry I.) to the priory of Thetford, and appropriated thereto. In the reign of Edward I. there belonged to it a house, and 16 acres of land, paid Peter-pence, 4d.: on the Dissolution this rectory was granted by King Henry VIII. to Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk, and is served by a stipendiary curate; in 1542, Nicholas Prat held it, nominated by the Duke of Norfolk; and in 1603, 52 communicants were herein. In the 6th of King James I. Sir Edward Carrel, knight, &c. aliened it on the first of April, to Thomas Blofield, &c. and in 1740, the heirs of Mr. Leonard Blofield nominated the curate.

In the chancel, on a gravestone,

In memory of Thomas Blofield, gent. who died Feb. 7, 1637.

One

In memory of Leon. Blofield, gent. who died February 13, 1676.— Margaret Blofield, relict of Thomas Blofield, died Feb. 7, 1639.

In the church,

Orate p. a'i'a Simonis Damm, qui obt. 8 Oct. 1498.—Mary, late wife of Tho. Blofield, gent. died September 29, 1611.— Hic jacet Johs. Damme, qui obt. 12 cal. - - - - Ao. Dni, 1462.

Also these arms, per pale, or and vert, a lion rampant, gules, Bigod Earl of Norfolk. Sable, a chevron, ermin, between three mullets, or, rather three dolphins, ermine, Damme, azure, an eagle displayed, with two heads, sable, beaked, and peded gules, and crowned, or, being the arms of Sir Simon Felbrigg's lady, who was niece to the King of Bohemia. Damme, impaling, quarterly Jermy and Mounteney. Sable, three talbots, passant, argent.