Freebridge Hundred and Half: North Lynn

NORTH LYNN.

The principal lordship of this hamlet or town, was, in the Confessor's reign, in the abbot of Bury, his lordship of Islington extending into it, and at the survey it was found that he had 6 socmen, who held here of the said manor, 26 acres of land, also a carucate and a saltwork, valued at 40s. per ann. (fn. 1)

The patronage of the church was in the abbot of Bury, as lords, and Hubert, son of Brixi, of North Len, granted to Sampson, abbot of Bury, by deed, sans date, about the reign of Henry II. all the right he had in the patronage. (fn. 2)

In the 10th of Richard I. a fine was levied, whereby Laurence, son of Toke, conveyed to Alan, son of William de Wigenhale, 10 acres of land, a toft and a salt-work; the said Laurence also conveyed in the said year, to Robert, son of Thomas, and to Henry his brother, 5 acres of land in Nordlenn, with 5 acres of salt marsh in Waldhog, a saltwork, and a toft. (fn. 3)

Besides the lordship of Bury abbey, the Bishop of Ely Lord Scales, &c. had lordships that extended herein, as I have shewn in South Lynn.

William, son of Peter, enfeoffed John his brother, of lands here, and in Clenchwarton, in the 9th of King John; this seems to have come to Robert de London, by the marriage of Maud, daughter of William; and in the 17th of Henry III. the said Robert and Maud conveyed by fine, to Thomas de Ingaldesthorp, 80 acres of saltmarsh, viz. the whole marsh called Eye, to be held of Maud and her heirs by the yearly rent of 17s. and 6d. (fn. 4)

And in the said year, William de Sculham had conveyed to him, by the said Robert and Maud, several lands, with a mill, to be held of them.

In the 43d of Henry III. Giles de Vernon and Joan his wife, conveyed by fine, to William de Wendling, clerk, 40s. per ann. rent in this town, Tilney, Clenchwarton, and Wigenhale.

In the 14 of Edward I. Alice, late wife of Walter Fenne, sued William de Lindesley, for the moiety of a messuage, and 60 acres of land; and Roger, son of Philip de Bek, passed by fine to Herlewyn de le Suthsoken, (that is South Lynn, which proves South Lynn, as well as North and West Lynn, to be hamlets, and then so accounted, to Lynn Episcopi, or Bishop's Lynn,) lands in North Lenne, and North Clenchwarton, in the 2d year of Edward II.

In the 14th year of the said King, William de Fenne sold to John de Fitton, by fine, 2 messuages with lands in this village, and North Clenchwarton.

Catherine, daughter of Simon, son of Theobald de Askeby of Lincolnshire, surrendered by fine, to Nicholas, son of John Page, of Norwich, several great parcels of land in North and South Lenn, and Lenne Bishop, in the 13th of Edward III. and in his 33d year, Sir Robert de Causton, Knt. and Cecilia his wife, were querents in a fine, and Robert Lovell and Etheldreda his wife, deforciant, of lands here, and several adjoining towns, viz. 140 acres of land, 63 of meadow, 17 of marsh, and 30s. rent per ann. conveyed to Sir Robert from the heirs of Etheldreda; and John de Tydd of Feltwell, and Margaret his wife, conveyed, in the 41st of the said King, two messuages, and 39s. rent in this town, and Lenne Episcopi, with the ferry over the water.

King Edward IV. in his 19th year, February 14, granted to Anne late wife of Sir William Bourchier, Knt. and sister of Elizabeth Queen consort, and the heirs male of their body, to be held in soccage, one capital messuage, 8s. and 3d. rent per ann. 80 acres of marsh, and 140 acres of pasture, with messuages, pasture lands and marshes in Clenchwarton, a ferry-right in Len Bishop's, a messuage, and two gardens in South Len, parcel of the possessions of Robert Gibbon, attainted. Sir William died before his father, Henry, Earl of Essex, and left by Ann his wife, Henry his son and heir, Earl of Essex. The lady remarried George Earl of Kent, and after Sir Edward Wingfeld.

The Guybons were a family of good estate in this town, and derive their pedigree from John Guybon, father of Walter; this John was living here, and Margaret his wife, as appears by a fine in the 14th of Edward II. and Walter their son.

(fn. 5) (fn. 6)

William Guybon, eldest son of Thomas, by Agnes his 2d wife, was of Watlington and from him the Guybons of Thursford descend.

The temporalities of West Derham abbey, were in North Lenne, 1428, 11s. 6d. of Wirmegey priory, 11s. 6d.—Of Westacre, abbey, 20s. 9d.—Of Norwich priory, 3s.—Of Wendling abbey, 3s. 4d.—Bury abbey, 16s. 9d.

The Church is a rectory, dedicated to St. Edmund.

The ancient valor was 15 marks, Peter-pence, 1d. the present valor is 30l. 1s. 8d. and pays first fruits, &c.

The church has for many years past been destroyed by the waters, and is now a sinecure.

Rectors.

Mr. John de Snoring was rector, and on his death John de Carleton was instituted in 1305, presented by the abbot, &c. of Bury.

1308, Ralph de Wykes.

1308, John de Carlton.

1332, William de Lenn, by the King, in the vacancy of the abbey.

1332, Martin de Fincham, alias Godsep.

1344, William de Lilleford.

1347, Walter de Baketon.

1352, Thomas Straunge.
John Muriel, rector.

1376, Ralph de Friskeneye.

1478, Robert Franceys.

1405, Thomas de Watlington.

1420, John Brocklee.

1420, Thomas Crishale.

1426, Thomas Ledlady.

1446, John Brampton.

1451, Thomas Eyton.

1464, Mr. William Wode, licentiate in the decrees.

1475, Mr. Alexander Kyng.

1482, Mr. Richard Furneys, A. M.

1487, Thomas Style.

1489, John Byrd: by his will, dated in 1505, he calls himself parson of Old Lynn, and wills to be buried in the chancel, and bequeaths to his successours, parsons of this parish, all the lands he purchased and bought of this township, to the intent, "that they and every one shall specially have my soul in remembrance, in the beed roll of the said church, every Sunday for ever more, if they do not, then the lands to the township, that they shall have my soul prayed for in the bede rolle Sunday.—Item, I give the said church 6s. 8d. and a rede dole in Geywode, to the black friars of Lynn."

1505, Mr. William Cliff instituted.

1509, John Waleys.

1539, John Jakes.

1546, Richard Gaytfold, presented by the King, on the suppression of Bury abbey.

On the 18 of December, in the 6th of Edward VI. the patronage was granted to Edward Lord Clynton, and William Hereson.

1593, Alexander Roberts, S.T B.

1621, Thomas Scot.

1626, William Scot, presented by Charles Scot, Gent. assignee of —Guybon.

1648, Brian Smith, by Thomas Hammond, Esq.

1649, Robert Henson, by Henry Box, and Mary his wife.

1668, John Henson, by the King, a lapse.

1711, Mark Foster, by Henry Box, Esq.

17—, Peter Bateson.

1729, Thomas Jenkins.

1756, Mr. Philip Pyle.