BECKINGHAM.
Bechingham was a Beru of Lanum, the archbishop of Yorks Sok. There was also a manor of Roger de Buslies fee, which before his time Osbern had, and discharged the geld or tax for it as three bov. (fn. 1) The land one car. There Goisfrid the man (or tenant) of Roger had one plow, or car, and fifteen acres of meadow,
pasture wood seven qu. long, one broad. In the confessours time this was valued at
10s. in the conquerors at 16s. when the great Surveyor was taken.
(fn. 2) Roger, son of Alexander, 9 H, 3, had an attaint upon an assize between Roger
de Beutost, and Petronilla his wife, &c, concerning tenements in Beckingham.
(fn. 3) In an assize, 12 E 1, Thomas de Bekingham juxta Saundby was plaintiff, Roger de Beutoft, Henry le Ken of Beutoft, and Walter le Clerk, defendants, concerning common of pasture in Beckingham in twenty acres of wood and more, which the
jury found for the plaintiff.
(fn. 4) The jury, 18 E. 1, found that Alan de Bekingham was appealed concerning
the death of Peter de Dynington by Eva, wife of the said Peter, in the thirteenth
year of Edward the first, before the kings justices, and he pleaded that he was a clerk
and a member of the church, so that he could not, nor would answer there; whereupon the justices took an inquisition Ex officio, which found that he was culpable concerning the said death, and therefore he was reposed in Nottingham goal, and there
died; and that he held lands in Bekingham of William Justice, and that John de Bekingham was his son and heir, who by the kings favour, 20 E. 1, (fn. 5) had seisin
granted of two tofts, twenty two acres of land ½. four acres of wood, and 13d. 0b.
Rent in Bekingham, which were seised into the kings hands, by reason of the death of
Peter de Dynington, whom the said Alan his father slew, and afterwards died in prison before he was convict, &c, the lands were held of Robert de Beltoft, and Guerrina his wife, who had seised them as their escaet by a jury.
(fn. 6) Alice and Isabell, sisters of John de Beltoft, 24 E. 1, recovered their seisin of
seventeen acres of wood, and one acre and three roods of meadow in Bekingham, and
Roger de Beltost, and others were in mercy, (or amerced.) (fn. 7) The jury then found
that Hugh, son of Roger de Bekingham, enseoffed Idonea his daughter of (or in) one
mess. one mill, and one car. of land in Bekingham, &c, wherefore she was (dismissed)
without day, and John Winter, and Elizabeth his wife, in mercy.
(fn. 8) In 9 E 2, Bekingham was half a Villa, and the king and Chapter of Southwell
were returned Lords.
(fn. 9) There was a fine levied at Westminster, 5 E. 2, between Robert, son of Alan
de Bekingham, quer. and Robert, son of Robert de Bekingham, and Cecilia (his wife)
daughter of Henry de Sutton, Deforc. of one mess. eighty four acres of land, twenty
of meadow, five of wood, and 8s. rent, with the appurtenances in Bekingham, whereby they were settled on the said Robert, son of Alan, for life, and afterwards on the
said Robert, son of Robert, and on Cecily, and the heirs of Robert, son of Robert.
The jury, 18 R. 2, (fn. 10) found it not to any damage if the king granted to John Bekingham of Bekingham in the Clay, esquire, that he might give two mess. two tofts, fifty
acres of land, ten of meadow, six of wood, and 6s. 8d. rent, with the appurtenances in
Bekingham, to the chaplain of the chantry of the blessed Mary in the parish church of
Beckingham in the Clay, all which were held of Thomas arch-bishop of York in socagc,
paying 3s yearly. (fn. 11) There was the like return of another Ad quod damnum that
year, that the said John might give four mess. twelve tofts, one wind-mill, two hundred and sixty acres of land, fifty of meadow, twenty and four of — shillings rent,
with the appurtenances in the said Bekingham, to the prioress of Brodholme, all which
were likewise held of the said Thomas arch-bishop of York in socage for 2s. per ann.
for all services. (fn. 12) And there was another that he might give one mess. twenty-four
acres of land, five of meadow, with the appurtenances in the said Bekyingham in the
Clay, to Richard vicar of that church, which were likewise held in socage of the said
arch-bishop, paying 12d. per annum.
(fn. 13) Elizabeth, wife of Philip Darcy, chr. 1 H. 4, claimed against Thomas Darcy
divers lands in Bekingham and Walkingham.
(fn. 14) In another recovery, 4 and 5 H. 8, John Wylloughby, esquire, John Markham, esquire, Robert Molyneux, esquire, Robert Sheffeild, junior, esquire, John Dawney, esquire, John Thymylby of Beillsby, Robert Sheffeild of Scotter, and Stephen
Hatfeild, claimed against Robert Belwode, and Agnes his wife, six mess. fifty-eight
acres of land, eleven of meadow, eight of wood, with the appurtenances in Bekyingham
in le Cley. In another, 32 H. 8, (fn. 15) William Spurr claimed against John Mounson,
senior, esquire, two mess. one cottage, one hundred and forty acres of land, forty of
meadow, forty of pasture, and four of wood, with the appurtenances in Bekyngham and
Boyle. In another, 12 Eliz. (fn. 16) Robert Browne, and Richard Frances claimed against
Barth. Frances, three mess. two cottages, two tofts, six gardens, six orchards, one hundred acres of land, forty of meadow, eighty of pasture, twenty of wood, and twenty of
marsh, with the appurtenances in Beckingham, who called to warrant Thomas Mounson,
gent.
(fn. 17) All that tenement lying in Beckingham, late belonging to the priory of Brodholme,
and late in the tenure of William Spurre, and all lands and tenements with it demised,
Feb. 24, 34 H. 8, were granted to John Williams, knight, and Edward North, knight,
and to the heirs of Edward, who had then also licence to alienate lands (fn. 18) there in the
tenure of William Spenser to William Spurre and his heirs, whose daughter and heir
was married to sir Brian Lascells, knight, who procured her to convey her land in Beckingham to Gervas Lacells, his younger son, whose grandchild and heir enjoyed it.
(fn. 19) John Beer, and Henry Lawrence, and the heirs of John, 36 H. 8, had two mess.
&c. in Beckingham, late belonging to Brodholme, late in the tenure of William Marshall,
and Thomas Ellys, extended at 15s. 4d. together with a mess. &c. in Walkingham, belonging to Wirksopp at 7s. per annum, granted in the same patent amongst many other
things.
(fn. 20) The chantry of Beckingham, 6 E: 6, Jan. 2, then in the tenure of William Merring, was granted to Thomas Reeve, and George Cotton, who, Jan. 23, had licence to
alienate the whole to Robert Harryson and his heirs.
The church of Beckingham, as in Southwell may be seen, together with the lands, &c.
anciently did and do still belong to, and make a prebend in that collegiate church, notwithstanding that 4 and 5 Ph. and Mar. Jan. 19, (fn. 21) Hugh Thornehill had licence to
alienate the capital mess. and all glebe lands, tythes, &c. late belonging to that church
to George Nevill, and others, for the use of himself the said Hugh and Elizabeth his
wife, and the heirs of the said Hugh, on the body, or upon the body of the said Elizabeth begotten.
(fn. 22) The owners of Beckinghame town 1612, are thus set down, sir Richard Williamson,
knight, sir Bryan Lascels, knight, the church of Southwell, Francis Williamson of
Walkringham, gent. John Hall, Roger Nettleship, John Damms, Hamond Calton,
Roger Hall, Martin Hill, Nicolas Noddell, John Dawson, James Taylor, William
Halles, John Fraunces, Charles Hall, Richard Hodgeshon, Robert Noddell, Gyles
Maire, &c.
(fn. 23) The vicarage of Bekingham was ten marks: 'Tis now 6l. 5s. 5d. value in the
king's books, and the prebendary continueth patron.
In this town was born William Howell, Dr. of laws, who compiled the history of
the world; and as I hear, since the death of sir Edward Lake, is made chancellour of
the diocess of Lincolne 1674:
Alderman Mennell purchased lands here, which are now his sons.
[Throsby] Beckingham
Lordship is chiefly enclosed. It is partly owned by Thomas Waterhouse, esq.;
other portions belong to Mr. Wells, and Mrs Flint, residents. Mr. Waterhouse lives
happily amongst his neighbours highly respected; and for his amusement, keeps a pack
of harriers.
The church and village are of a corresponding size. The former is dedicated to All
Saints, and is ornamented with a decent tower, three bells. It consists of a nave and
sides aisles, rather gloomy but kept clean. Mary Selby died here about twenty years
since, at the advanced age of 100. A stone in the church-yard, acquaints us that Mary
Taylor died in 1782, aged 90 years.
Patron, the prebendary thereof. (fn. 24) Incumbent, — —, vic. K: B. 6l: 15s: 3d:
Archiepisc. 8d. Val. per ann. in mans. cum parv. claus. & 2 acr. prat. 10s. &c. 30 acr.
terr. & prat. voc: Mease in Beckingham, 1l: 4s: &c.