EAST MARKHAM, Or, GREAT MARKHAM.
There was in Marcham, of the kings land soc to Dunham, which answered for three
car. and an half to the geld. The land ten car. There twenty-five sochm. and
fifteen vill had ten car. There was a church and a priest, fourty acres of meadow, and some small wood. (fn. 1) Another manor in Marcham, Frane before the conquest had, which answered the tax for three bov. The land being two car. There afterward Turold the man or tenant of Roger de Busli, whose fee it was made, had one
car. and one vill. with two oxen in plow. This then kept the former value it had in
the time of Edward the Confessour, viz. 20s. Two other manors in Marcham, Godwin and Ulchel had, before the conq. which were publickly taxed at seven bov. and an
half. The land three car: and an half. There afterwards Ulchel and four sochm: and
two bord: had one car. and an half. This also kept the old value 16s. and was of Rode Buslies fee.
The family of Cressy of Hodsac, were successours of Turold as in Weston is noted, and
had likewise the most considerable interest here, where a branch of that name also continued. (fn. 2) I find Anno Domini 1272, William de Cressy of Marcham, and that 6 E:
3. Roger de Cressi held half a knights fee there. William de Cressy of Markham, 38
E: 3: had on his seal within the circumscription of his name 3 Crescents on a Bend. Sir
William and sir John Cressy of Hoddishac, had a Lion Rampant with a forked Tayle. (fn. 3)
(fn. 4) Avicia, daughter of Ranulf the sheriff, (wife of Jordan de Chevercourt) by the
spontaneous assent of Letice her eldest daughter, & Ranulf de Novoforo (or de Novomercato) her said daughters husband, and their heirs, and of Mabel her second daughter, and her heirs, and likewise of Albreda, her third daughter, and Robert de St. Quintin her husband, and their heirs, gave to the church of St: Mary at Blith, and the monks
there, William, son of Gaufr: de Marcham, and his heirs, and one bovat of land yielding 6s. yearly, which he held of her, which she assigned for the refection of the monks
in the day of her anniversary, that by their intercession her soul in heaven might have
refection with celestial meat and drink, &c. Ranulf de Novoforo, and Letice his
wife, confirmed the gift.
Fulc, son of Roger de Est Marcham, gave to the same monastery a toft and croft,
and six selions of land in Est Marcham.
(fn. 5) Richard de Marcham granted the said monks 20s. per annum, for the moyety
of the mill at Murthild Bridge, which the said prior and monks granted to him and his
heirs; which payment he took his oath he would perform, whether Thomas Fitzwilliam would warrant to them the suit to it or no, and his heirs were to do the like,
and never to implead the said monks concerning the said suit to that mill.
Nigellus de Marcheham the man (or tenant) of William de Lyneham, of the manor of Marcham, 9 E. 1. (fn. 6) offered himself the fourth day against the said William
de Lyncham concerning a plea; who seeing the king lately commanded the said William, that he should not exact of the said Nigellus other customs and services than
ought, and were wont to be done in the times past, in which this manor was in the
hands of the kings of England; he yet ceased not to distreyn the said Nigellus, to
perform the said undue services, in contempt of the king, and to the manifest damage
of the said Nigellus, &c.
Robert, son of John de East Marcham, and Isabell his wife, (or sister) acquired
one bovat of land there, of Robert, son of John de Saundeby, 17 E. 2. (fn. 7) and Anabella, daughter of John de Saundeby, perquired thirteen acres, ½. of Robert de
Saundeby in the same town.
(fn. 8) James, son and heir of Richard Bosevill, of East Markham, 15 R. 3. released
to John de Markham (the Judge) and his heirs, all his right in all the tenements,
&c. which were Adam de Lynhams, in the town and fields of East Markham, and
which were Henry Cressys there.
(fn. 9) The king 29 Jan. 15 R. 2. took the homage of Robert Cressy of East Markham, who married Isabell, daughter and heir of Constantia, who had been wife of
William Paunton, deceased.
[Pedigree]
(fn. 10) Richard Topcliffe, esquire, 1 Eliz. suffered a recovery of the manor of East
Markham, and Robert Williamson, gent. 14 Eliz. (fn. 11) another of the same with the
appurtenances ir East Markham, West Markham, and Sutton on Lound, who called
Richard Topcliffe.
(fn. 12) Robert Williamson in the time of queen Elizabeth, paid for lands in Great
Markham, late Richard Topcliffs, and sometime William Cressyes, 6s. 8d. being
then held by the service of a whole knights fee; and Robert Markham, esquire,
then also paid for lands there sometime — Cressyes, held by half that service, 3s. 4d.
Robert Markham sold his to — Hewyt; and Robert Williamson was grand-father
of sir Thomas Williamson, baronet, father of sir Thomas, the present owner.
(fn. 13) The owners in 1612, are said to be William Hewet of London, knight, Robert Williamson, esquire, Widow Bowyer, Originall Bellamy of Langford grange in
Yorkshire, gent. William Turnell, Henry Wright of Egmanton, Brian Birket of London, James Bellamy, William Rayner, Thomas Jackson, Robert Dunston, Richard
Dunston, Alexander Rayner, Thomas Bellialde, James Dunstone, Robert Grene,
Richard Gunthorp of Kirsall, William Cooke, &c.
These churches of East and West Marcham, seem to have been annexed amongst
many others, as in Lowdham, and other places may be observed, to the kings chapel
of Tikhill.
(fn. 14) King Philip and queen Mar. 10 Nov. 3. and 4 Ph. and Mar. granted to the
abbat and covent of St. Peter at Westminster, amongst other things the advowsons,
donations, and rights of patronage of the chapels of East Markham, Drayton, Bevercotes and Houghton in this county, late belonging to the cathedral church of St. Peter
at Westminster.
(fn. 15) The vicarage of East Markham was twenty marks value, when the abbat of
Westminster was patron. The rectory is now said to be 11l. 18s. 6d. 0b. in the king's
books, and the earl of Clare patron.
In great Markham church, collected by St. Lo Kniveton,
Sable a Bend between 6 crossecroslets Arg. Lungvillers.
Ermine a Fesse Gules betwixt 3. Rats Sab. impales with party per Fesse indented Or and
Azure, on the upper part something Gules, which he supposeth was intended for
Markham.
Sable a Bend between 6 Escallops Or, Folejamb. Impales with Arg. on a Bend. Az. 5
Crosletts Or, Lowdham, and in the same Shield with Arg. a Chevron between 3 Cocks
Gules Arg. a Talbot Ermines.
Upon a Tomb in the Chancel,
Orate pro anima Johannis Markham, Justiciarij, qui ob. in sesto Sti. Silvestri,
Anno Domini 1409.
In a Window,—Orate pro anima Thomæ Cressy, civis London. Over it is Sab. a
Chevron Ermine between 3 Starres Arg And Arg. on a Bend, Cotised Sable 3 crescants Or, Cressy.
Upon a fair Marble Tomb,—Hic-jacet Domina Millicensia Mering quondam Uxor Willielmi Mering, militis quœ ob. 17 Sept. 1419.
Upon that Tomb Mering impales with Bekering. And in the Window by it, Arg. 3
Palmers staves Gules. Burdon impales with the same Cheq. Arg. and Gules a Bend.
sable, Bekering. It seems she was first wife of Sir Nicolas Burdon, then of
Sir John Markham, and last of Sir William Mering. Markham, viz: party
per Fesse Or Az. a demy Lion Ramp. Gules impales with Arg. a Lion Ramp.
Sable qu. Furche, Cressy of Hodsak, and Arg. a Saltier Gules impales
with that Lion Az. 3 Chevrons and a chief Or.
Gules 2 Lions passant Or.
Arg. fretty Az.
[Throsby] East Markham,
East Markham, Is a large open field lordship; it claims a number of freeholders, among the principals are the duke of Newcastle, John White, esqr. and John Kirk, esquire.
The village is very considerable, and stands at an easy distance from Tuxford. Here
is a good mansion belonging to the Carterwrights.
The church also claims particular notice. It is a handsome structure, large, and has
a noble embattled tower with four bells. It is dedicated to St. John Baptist. In a
nich, on the south side, is a figure in the position of praying. See fig. 1. subjoin'd plate.
Within, it is spacious and well lighted. It consists of a nave and side asles. The
chancel, which is also spacious, still retains the old tomb of Markam, noticed by Thoroton, above; but I judge it has been removed from the centre of the chancel, to the
north side-wall. On the side are three plain shields and one at each end. In the chancel also remain several old floor stones, many of them not legible. John-Kirk, gent.
died in 1710, aged 58. William Kirk, esq; died in 1773, aged 58. Edmund Kirk,
esq; died in 1786, aged 67.
That I take to be Merings, mentioned above by Thoroton, is on brass now, on a
floor stone, in the south aisle, partly covered by a pew. On which is a fine brass figure of the lady, which I have copied, fig. 2. That part of the inscription, now
in sight, I have also copied, which reads not exactly as that above.—ina mil licens Meryng
quondam uxor William Meryng militis quæ ob it — In the church yard lies an old stone coffin,
said to be that of Markam. It was taken up near his tomb. As it is the only one I
have seen in this county, I have sketched it, fig. 9. (fn. 16)
Patron, Duke of Newcastle. Abb: Westminster propr. Incumbent, Rev. William
Cheales. King's book, 11l. 18s. 11d. ½. Yearly tenths, 1l. 3s. 10d. ½. Archiepisc.
pro. Syn. 4s. Archidiac pro prox. 7s. 6d. Val. per. ann. in mans, & ter. gleb.
3l: 6s: 8d. in dec: lan: agn: &c: in dec: gran: fœn: lan: &c: apud: West Drayton.