Clavering Hundred: Whetacre

WHETACRE.

Ralph Lord Bainard, for his services, was rewarded with this town, by the Conqueror, on the expulsion of Toret, a thane of King Edward, and was held by Geffrey under the Lord Baynard; it contained, on the Conqueror's grant, 2 carucates of land, 6 villians, 12 borderers with 2 servi, 2 carucates in demean, and 2 among the tenants, &c. 30 acres of meadow, 2 runci, and 11 cows, &c. 160 sheep, &c. and 6 freemen belonging to the lord's fold, and under his protection, held in King Edward's time 18 acres of land, a carucate and a half, with one acre of meadow; and there were 2 churches endowed with 60 acres, and valued at 5s. and the manor was valued at 30s. but at the survey at 50s. it was one leuca long, and half a leuca broad, and paid 16d. gelt. (fn. 1)

Jeffrey, who held it under the Lord Baynard, was a near relation of the Lord Bainard, who held it in capite. Juga, widow of that lord possessed it, and was succeeded by her son Jeffrey. William, his son, 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 succeeded, and the descendants of Jeffrey abovementioned held it of him; Thomas, son of Robert Bainard, holding it in the reign of Richard I. Robert Baynard had a charter A^o. 12, Edward II. for two fairs and two mercates here.

By an inquisition taken at Norwich, on the death of Robert Baynard, (fn. 2) of Whetacre, on April 16, A^o. 4 Edward III. the jurors find that he died seized of a capital messuage of no value, besides the repairs, a pigeon-house valued at 12d. per ann. 180 acres of arable land valued at 4l. 10s. 6d. per acre, 100 acres of salt marsh at 100s. per ann. 20 of gross wood, without underwood, valued at 2d. per acre, a windmill at 20s. per ann. rents of assize payable at Lady-day, Midsummer, and Michaelmas, 6l. 6s. 4d. copyholders days works between Michaelmas and St. Peter ad vincula 10s. and between that feast and Michaelmas 20s. pleas and perquisites of court 10s. per ann. held of the Lord FitzWalter, and Thomas was his son and heir, aged 26.

This Thomas Bainard sold this lordship, in the 10th of the said King, to Sir Thomas Rosceline, from whom it came (as may be seen at large in Edgfield) to John Lord Willoughby of Eresby, and from them to Richard Bertue, by the heiress, whose son Peregrine, was Lord Willoughby in his mother's right, and presented to the church in 1602.

John Wentworth, Esq. was lord of both manors, and patron of the two churches, September 21, A^o. 16 James I. and Sir John Wentworth was his son and heir.

Matthew Bluck, Esq. one of the six clerks in Chancery, was lord in 1675, and in this family it remained, till conveyed to William Grimston, Esq.

The Lord Bainard had also the grant of another lordship in this town, of which a freeman of Herold the King was deprived, and consisted of 2 carucates of land, 10 villains, 5 borderers, 4 servi 2 carucates in demean, and 2 among the tenants, &c. with 30 acres of meadow; Robert, son of Corbution, (or Corbun,) claimed it, and had livery. Here was pasture for 200 sheep, 2 runci, 7 cows, &c. 6 bee skeps, 7 freemen under commendation belonged to the lord's fold, with 18 acres of land, 2 carucates and an acre of meadow, valued then at 30s. at the survey at 45s.; this came to the Lord Bainard, by an exchange, and Frankus held it of him. (fn. 3)

The ancient family of De Edisfeld or Edgfield, was soon after the Conquest enfeoffed of this lordship, and held it in the reign of Henry II. from whom it came by an heiress, to Sir William de Rosceline, and was held of the Lord Fitz Walter, as in Chatgrave, Edgfield, &c. Sir Thomas Rosceline dying sine prole, it came to the Lords Willoughby, &c. as above.

The tenths were 3l. 10s.— Deducted 10s.—Temporalities of Norwich priory 13s. 4d.

The temporalities of Langley abbey 3l. 5s. 5d. a manor is said to belong to Whetacre.

Here were two churches; one dedicated to St. Peter, a rectory valued at 11 marks, the rector had a manse with 3 acres of land, Peter-pence were, 16d. carvage 4d. ob. This is called Whetacre Burgh.

Rectors.

In 1301, John Baynard, instituted rector, presented by Lady Joan, relict of Sir Robert Baynard.

1304, Thomas Baynard, by ditto.

1316, John Baynard, by Sir Robert Baynard. (fn. 4)

1325, Gerard de Horstede, by ditto; he is called Esquire of the Laby Roscelyne, went in a lay-coloured habit (veste stragulata) and had not the clerical tonsure.

1334 John de La Grene, by Sir Thomas Roscelyn.

1355, Mr. William Graa, by Sir William Synthwait, in right of his wife Joan, late relict of John Lord Willoughby.

1365, William Malebys, by ditto.

1376, Sim. de Kilpesham, by Sir Robert de Willoughby, Lord Eresby.

1379, Mr. Robert de Weston, by William Ufford Earl of Suffolk, Sir Roger Scales, Sir Robert Howard, &c.

1382, John Sayer, by Robert Lord Willughby.

1398, Henry Wodestoke, by ditto.

1398, Robert Coucliff, by ditto.

1401, William Linchewyk, by ditto.

1403, John Burges, by ditto.

1414, Richard Facon, by Robert Lord Willoughby.

1434, William Themilby, by ditto, in right of the manor of Whetacre.

1436, William Castell, by Sir William Tireshit, Richard Yardesburgh, and John Wyles, Esq. feoffees of Robert Lord Willoughby.

1444, Henry Bramerton, by Robert Lord Willoughby.

1465, John Mareys, by Richard de Wells Lord Willughby.

1480, Robert Monger, by Richard Hastings Lord Welles.

1500, William Ward, by ditto.

1501, William Hantensale, by Sir Richard Hastings.

1508, George Washingham, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1536, Richard Hill, by Mary Lady Willoughby, widow.

1545, Andrew Hawes, by Catharine Dutchess of Suffolk, daughter of William Lord Willughby,

1553, Henry Bacon, by Richard Bertier, Esq. of Ormsthorp in Lincolnshire, in right of his wife Catharine.

1555, Robert Ullothornes, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1556, Henry Hill, by the assignees of William Heronden, a trustee of Richard Bertie, Esq. &c.

1602, Edward Stanhawe, by the assignees of Peregrine Lord Willoughby.

1618, Christopher Milne, by Euseb. Paget, clerk.

1659, Henry Watts, by Ann Melling.

Daniel Benton, rector.

1669, Phil. Prime, by Thomas Garneys, Esq.

1713, Thomas Page, by William Grimstone. Esq.

1764, Mr. Samuel Boycot.

The present valor is 7l. 6s. 8d. and is discharged.

The other church is dedicated to All-Saints. John de Bumstede is said to have had an interest in the patronage, but in the beginning of Edward II. the family of Baynard; the rector had then a beautiful manse, and it was valued at 5l. Peter-pence 12d. carvage 4d. ob.

Rectors.

1316, Sim. de Berningham, presented by Sir Robert Baynard.

Sim. Croppe, rector.

1357, William de Merse, by Sir William Synthweit.

1360, John Hoppe, by William Ufford Earl of Suffolk.

1404, John Draper, by William Lord Willougby.

1405, John Goldspring, by ditto.

1409, John Tenalby, by ditto.

1409, Nicholas Tydd, by ditto.

1412, Richard Newman, by Robert Lord Willoughby.

1437, Andrew Dean, by ditto.

1445, John Annotson, by ditto.

1450, William Gilbert, by ditto.

1476, John Mareys, by Rich. Hastings Lord Welles and Willoughby.

1494, John Hoker, by ditto.

1497, Robert Proveyt, L.L. B. by ditto.

1510, John Shilton, by William Lord Willoughby.

1510, Edward Lamson, by ditto.

Nicholas Chamberlin.

1522, Thomas Bingley, by ditto.

1538, John Thuxton.

1539, Nicholas Dade, by ditto.

1440, Roger Gavell, by Charles Duke of Suffolk, and Catharine his Dutchess.

1555, Mr. William Botiler, by the Bishop, a lapse,

1556, Thomas Robinson, by William Herenden, Esq.

1557, Henry Hill, by ditto.

1572, Roger Gavel, by Richard Bertie, Esq. in right of Catherine his wife.

1602, Euseb. Paget, by the assigns of Peregrine Bertie; he returned 68 communicants in 1603.

1650, Henry Watts.

1658, John Morris, by Lady Anne Wentworth.

1673, Thomas Lunn.

1675, Phil. Prime, by Matthew Bluck, Esq.

1713, Thomas Page, by William Grimston, Esq.

1715, John Guavas, by ditto.

1758, Mr. Christopher Smear, presented by Lynn Smear, clerk.

The presented valor, is 6l. 6s. 4d. and is discharged.

On a stone, with a brass plate, by the font,

Rob'tus London, arcâ, cum conjuge, sacra; Hac fatum subiens, consepilitur humo. Ambo fælices, numerosâ prole beati, Complent hospitio, pacificiq; dies Illa obt. Junij 1620. Ille Oct. 1627,

There was an ancient family of the Whitacres, who had an interest in a lordship. (fn. 5)

William de Whitacre was found to hold one fee of the barony of Baynard, in this town, in the begining of King Henry the Third's reign.