CLAWORTH, CLAVORD.
In Clavord of the Kings Soc of Maunsfeld in his Warpentac of Wardebec or Ofwaldbec, was
one car. and six bov. for the geld. (fn. 1) The land three car. twelve sochm: one vill:
eighteen bord: had ten car: meadow two quarent. long, one qu: and an half broad.
The value in the Conquerours time was 26s. 4d. at which time there was of Roger de
Buslies fee, which before the Conquest Grumchell had, who paid for his manor to the
geld as two bov. The land four bov. There Fulco the man of Roger had three
sochm: three bord: with three car: ½ meadow two quarent. and an half long, and
eighteen perches broad, pasture wood three qu: and ten perches long, and as much
broad. The value of this in King Edward the Confessours time was 4s. then in King
Williams 5s.
(fn. 2) In the record of Nom: Vill: 9 E: 2, Clauworth and Wyston answered for a whole
villa. The King, Thomas de Latymar, and Robert de Hardeshull, are there certified
to be lords.
This Robert and his ancestors had their name, as in Mr: Dugdale's book of Warwickwickshire may be seen, (fn. 3) from a place called Hartshill in that county, where it seems
they had their principal or most usual residence. The first notice that I can take of
any of them in relation to this county is 2 H: 2, (fn. 4) when Ranulf Fitz-Engelram the
sheriff accounted for lands granted to Robert, son of Hugh, in Claword, C. and xiis: and
the like, 1 Joh. (fn. 5) to William, son of Hugh, viz. C. and xiis: in Clawrd. William de
Hardredesfeild, 10 Nov. 6 H: 3, (fn. 6) made fine for having the town of Claworth which
concerned him as his inheritance. Robert de Hardreshull 10 H. 3, made fine for
his relief, and had the land which William his father held of the king in capite in Claworth. Will. de Hardredeshull 31 H: 3, (fn. 7) paid a mewed spar-hauk into the exchequer, for certain lands which he held in Claworth of the king. Berta de Herdreshill
held the whole town of Claworth, (fn. 8) except six bovats of land which were held in dower.
William, son of Robert, held one hundred and 12s: land in Claworth, paying yearly a
mewed spar-hawk: it was then in the kings hand, and William de Hardreshill made
fine (fn. 9) of one hundred marks for it, but then had not found pledges, which it seems
he did ere long, for the sheriff of Warwick and Leycestershires, 8 H: 3, (fn. 10) put into his
account that Will. de Hardredeshill ought twenty marks for his relief, for having Claworde in Nottss. by the pledge of the earl of Chester, and Falkes de Breant. His fathers
name was Robert, and so was his sons. Robert de Hardreshull 10 H: 3, (fn. 11) made fine
and had seisin, &c. as before is noted.
(fn. 12) Nicolas de Hekham dean of Lincolne in 9 E: 1, recovered the presentation to
three parts of the church of Claworth against Robert de Hardreshull, who in 51 H: 3,
recognized it to be the right of the said dean, (another said that Robert de Austric,
ancestor of the said Robert, recognized in the time of king Henry). Henry, son of
Nicolas Daubeney of Claworth, claimed lands in Claworth, 3 E: 3, as partible amongst
heirs males, (fn. 13) against his brother William, son of the said Nicolas. The jury, 11
R: 2, (fn. 14) found it not to the kings loss if he granted licence to Nicolas Daubeney parson of the church of Claworth, to give one mess. one hundred and twenty acres of land,
with the appurtenances in Claworth, to a chaplain of a certain chantry by him to be
founded in that church, which mess. and lands were held of Robert de Herdsill of Claworth, by the service of 11s: per annum, and two appearances at the kings turn of Bersedelaw, which Robert held them over of the heirs of John de Hardesill, chr. by the
service of a fore sperhawk, and they of the king in capite.
(fn. 15) By a fine levyed at Westminster 9 E: 2, in the octaves of the holy Trinity, John
de Sandale passed the manor of Claworth Wodehouses, with the appurtenances, to John
de Heydon, who by another, the morrow after St: John Baptist, settled it on Margery
de Willughby for her life, and after on Thomas, son of the said Margery, and the heirs
of his body, remainder to John brother of Thomas, and the heirs of his, remainder
to Katherin, sister of John, and the heirs of her body, remainder to the right heirs of
the said Margery.
(fn. 16) Thomas de Bernardeston and his heirs had free-warren granted 26 Jan: 21 E: 3,
in all his demesne lands in Whetelaw in Yorkshire, Great Cotes in Lincolneshire, Clauworth
and Wodehous in this county, Kedyton in Suffolk and Essex, and Bernardeston in Suffolk.
(fn. 17) Thomas le Latimar of Werdon, 3 H: 2, had free-warren in Claworth, Heyton, and
Wyston.
(fn. 18) By an inquisition taken at Nottingham 24 Sept: 6 E: 6, it appeareth that Thomas
Wawyn alias Leche, esquire, died 18 Apr: then last past, seised of the manor of Claworth, and lands in Wyeston, and Bole, and in Saunby, and fishing in Everton: his wife's
name was Barbara, his son Charles Wawyn alias Leche, was then, viz: at the taking
the inquisition, aged thirteen years four months and eleven days. William Mason, and
Nicolas Fenton 16 Eliz: (fn. 19) claimed against Charles Wawen, gent: John Lyllyman, and
Brian Whitwell, one toft, sixty acres ½ of land, twenty-six of medaow, thirty of pas
ture, and 140 of more, with the appurtenances in Claworth and Wyeston, who called
Robert Lawe, senior, gent: and Thomas Lawe, son and heir of the said Robert, and
Robert Lawe, junior, son of the said Robert.
(fn. 20) William Hastings, esquire, Anthony Fitz-Herbert, sergeant at law, John Porte,
esquire, John Talbot, doctor of divinity, and John Bothe, chaplain, 14 H: 8, claimed
against John Norres, and Richard Norres, four mess: one hundred and 32 acres of
land, 36 acres of meadow, and fifty of pasture, with the appurtenances in Claworth:
the ancestors of Norreys are some of them mentioned in Little Greeneley, and thereabouts.
John Burgon also suffered several recoveries 20 H: 8, and afterwards, of one mess:
and divers parcels of twenty or thirty acres of land, &c.
Mr: Wawen is still a considerable owner there, and the dean of Lincolne patron.
(fn. 21) Robert Tipheved, who about 27 E: 1, was hanged for selony, held in Claworth the fourth part of a mess: and of one bovat of land which the king had in his
hand a year and a day.
The prior of Matersey had a grange and good lands there, part whereof was granted
to Sir Anthony Nevill 4 November, 31 H: 8, (fn. 22) with the site of the monastery of
Mattersey, the residue have been passed sithence. Sir Anthony Nevill 3 and 4 Ph:
and Mar: (fn. 23) Apr: 8, had licence to alienate certain mess: lands and tenements in
the towns, fields and parishes of Stirton, Clayworth, and Wieston, to the use of Julian
Portington, one of the daughters of John Portington, for term of her life, and after
her decease to the use of Alexander Nevill, son of the said Sir Anthony, who settled lands also in Mattersey to the use of himself for life, and after to the said Julian
for her life, and then to the said Alexander.
Thomas Markham the younger son of Sir John Markham, by the heir of Strelley
had lands there, which he conveyed to Sir Griffin his eldest son, (not very long since
dead) but upon his attainder they were passed to Sir John Harington, 30 June 2 Jac:
and since sold to others, in which patent (fn. 24) of Sir Griffins estate, were granted the
manors of Gamulston, and Claworth, and four mills, two corn-mills, and two walk-mills,
and other mess: lands and tenements in Claworth, Weyston, and Saunby, and 100l: rent
issuing out of the manors of Laxton, Weston, Sutton, and Knesall, and other lands in
Laxton, Weston, Sutton, and Knesall, and the rectory of Laxton, and the manor of
Egmanton, and the manors of Laxton, Laxton Morehouse, and Knesall, and the park of
Knesall:
(fn. 25) The owners of Claworthe town in 1612, are said to be Gilbert earl of Shrowsbury, Thomas Wawyn, esquire, Nicolas Stringer, gent: Peter Dickenson, senior, Robert Hydes, John Ward, senior, Raph Calton, senior, Thomas Woodcock, Richard
Lillyman, Edward Whitwell, Nicholas Bett, William Venson, one mess: one toft, one
garden, one orchard, fifteen acres of land, Anthony Bingham, Richard Jackson, William Bett. William Donnel, John Elton, John Fox.
(fn. 26) The rectory of Claworth was 24l: 'Tis now 26l: 10s: 10d: value in the King's
books and the dean of Linconle continueth patron:
[Throsby] Claworth
Lordship was enclosed in 1791. It contains 2076 acres; rector's glebe 281,
acres. Lord of the manor and chief proprietor Peter Dickinson, esq: some land here
is set apart in lieu of tithes; other proprietors are Jonathan Acklom, esq: Mr: A.
Hartson, and others. Clay land chiefly.
Claworth Woodhouse, notwithstanding its name, is within the manor of Wiseton,
which is denominated Wiseton cum Woodhouse, and pays a chief rent to Mr: Acklom
of 3l: 4s:—The hall house here was in the form of half an H, was large, and belonged
to a family of considerable property, of the name of Wawen. The last possessor of
that name, sold the reversion of his then estate, at Claworth, with the house, to the
predecessor of the present Dickensons of Claworth, about the beginning of this century.
The church of Claworth is dedicated to St: Peter. In it there is an old inscription
in the chancel, on a brass plate in black-letter:—
Humphery Fitzwilliam, esq: was buried at — the 18th day of — Anno
1556, who had to wife Ann, dau: of William Dallyson, of Laughton, in the county
of Lincoln, esq: which Ann was buried at — the last day of June, Anno 1558,
and had issue, sons, William, Roger, Edward, Humphery; and daughters, Margaret,
Dorothy, and Anne, whose souls God rest.
A monument is placed against the wall, I suppose, of brick plaistered. The
ornaments and arms in plaister.
On the north side of the chancel:—Elizabethæ Teneræ nuper Conjugis Richard's
Acklom de Wiseton: in Fac Paroch: Arm: et Joh'is Stanhope de Alta: Melwood,
in Insula Axholmiæ Com: Lincoln: Arm:
Filiæ piæ et Cohæredis, obiit Eboraci 17°: die martij Ao. Dni. 1722, Ætais suæ 25°.
On the north side in the chancel:—
Et infra Cancellos Beatæ Ecclesiæ
Sanctæ Helenæ in Urbe illa Sepelitur.
Cum duobus Infantibus
Uno Puero post vitam brevem unius Mensis
Anno Precedente ibi Sepulto.
Altera Filia Mortua Nata octo Autem dies
Ante mortem Dilectissimæ Matris.
Alia atq. Puella Ao. Ætatis Suæ 3°.
Ah præmature etiam direpta,
Infra hoc jacet.
Nec. prolem aliam Reliquit.
Virtutes ejus Amabiles Dilectissimam
Marito Omnibus Gratam reddiderunt Eam.
— Mors illis Lucrum —
Charissimæ Conjugi, Posuit Hoc Marmor,
Maritus vere Mæstus.
Isabella Acklom,
Dilecta Puella.
Obiit 4°. die Junii Ao. Dni. 1722.
Ætatis suæ 30.
Richard Acklom, aged 64, was buried at Bawtry, Yorkshire, May 1758: his second
wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Cooke, bart: of Wheatley, Yorkshire, was
likewife buried there, aged 69.
On the west of the church-yard:—
John Bottomley, died August 24, 1786, aged 66 years. He served in the family
of Acklom's, esq: of Wiseton, above fifty years with fidelity, honesty, and attachment; lived with three generations of the said family, and saw the fifth. Jo: Acklom,
esq: of Wiseton, in gratitude to the fidelity of Mr: Thomas Robinson, (fn. 27) who lived
72 years in the family, and died May 8, 1773, aged 85; ordered this stone to be
placed over his grave; he chusing to be buried in this church-yard.
On the South side of the chancel:—
Henricus Sampson,
Levertoniæ ad Austrum natus,
Coventriæ bonis Literis et Linguis institutus
Aulæ Pembrochianæ apud Cantabrigienses Socius.
Lugduni Batavorum in Medicina Doctor creatus.
Collegii Medicorum quod Londini est, Socius Honorarius,
Theosophiæ, quæ primo pura, inde et pacifica studiosus,
Donee
Unœ cum Senectæ Astmate estiam sœvo,
Tanquam mari turbido, jactatus, quassus, fractus,
Claworthum tandem appulit et Portum invenit.
Ubi Exuvias deposuit
Ossa scilicet juxta Filii Ossa sita:
Alteram sui partem, quæ nec carnem habuet nec ossa
Immortalitatem spirantem, Patri spirituum,
Qui solus immortalitatem habet, sursum redidit.
Die 23 Julij. Anno Domin. 1700, ætat, suæ 71:
In memoriam tam chari Capitis
Hoc marmor mœrens posuit
Conjux viduata tedis.
Anna Sampson.
Ad pedem hujus Columnæ, est
Depositum Gulielmi Sampson,
Fratris Henrici Leverton ad austrum nati, In Aula
Pembrockianæ
Cantabrigiæ educati, Socii,
Cuoledisque electi, nuperque
Prebendæ de Cliston in Sanctam
Mariam Lincoln Prebendarii,
Et hujus Ecclesiæ Rectoris,
Pastorisque Qui obiit tertio
Kalendas Novembris Anno Domini
1702: Annog Ætatis Sexaginta
Septimo, ubi requiescit in Spe
beatæ Resurrectionis.
In gratam Viri tam eruditi
Memoriam Nepos Hæresque ejus
Sampson King Civis Londinensis
hoc marmor erexit.
In Clayworth church-yard, is the subsequent comical inscription:—
Bless'd be He that set this Stone,
That I may not be forgotten,
And curst be He that moves my bones
Before that they be rotten.
In the chancel, and within the rails of the altar are the following monuments and
inscriptions:—
A marble monument to the memory of Lacey Dickenson, gent. who departed this
life January 24, 1720.
On the ground a black marble stone in the chancel,—Here lies the body of Mrs.
Sarah Dickenson, daughter of Lacy Dickenson, gent. she departed this life the 5th day
of July, 1721.
There are other gravestones to the Dickenson family.
In the chancel,—Here lyeth the body of Katherine the wife of Edward Stanhope, of
Grimston, esq: eldest daughter of Dr. Anthony Topham, dean of the cathedral church
of Lincoln, who departed this life the 5th day of July, 1653.
There is a marble tablet to the memory of Michael Hartshorne, gent. and his wife,
and other inscriptions of the same family.
In the neighbourhood of this place, was produced by a cow, a monstruous annimal
resembling in many parts the human. The face resembled that of an old man; its size
that of a child ten years old. It's breast or chest like a woman's. It had no hair
but a little above the hoofs or feet, and on the upper lip. This description of the
creature was given by a clergyman of Claworth, and inserted in the Gentleman's
Magazine for 1752, page 287. It had ears like a calf covered with down; it's feet
cloven.
Patron, dean of Lincoln. Incumbent, Sir Richard Kaye, bart. rec. K. B. 26l.
10s. 10d. Yearly tenths 2l. 13s. 1d. Archiepisc. pro Syn. 4s. Archidiac. pro
Prox. 7s. 6d. Val. in mans. ter. gleb. decim. &c.