OSWARDEBEC SOK, OSWALDBEC.
It appears in the book of Doomsday that Oswardebec, before the Conquest, was a Wapentac, containing all the towns between the rivers of Idel and Trent, beginning with
Rameton and Treswell, and so to Retford, which is now called the North Clay Division
of Bassetlaw, with the addition of those first named towns, most of which Wapentac of
Oswardbec was either of the fee of Roger de Buslie, or soc to the kings great manor of
Maunsfeld, except some parcels belonging to the arch-bishop of York, as in the particular
townships immediately foregoing which make it up, may be observed, and as in South
Leverton is already said.
(fn. 1) King John confirmed to Roger de Montebegonis, the whole land of Oswaldbec,
with the appurtenances, which he gave him when he was earl Moreton for the service
of a knights fee. Roger de Munbegun, 1 Joh. gave the king half a mark of silver for
having Oliva, who had been wife of Robert de St. John, with her whole land and her
inheritance; she was lady of Tuxford, and cost him more, as in that place may be seen.
The king, 10 H. 3, (fn. 2) assigned to Oliva, who had been wife of Roger de Montebegonis,
the manor of Oswardebec in the name of Dower, as the said Roger held it July 20, it was
then worth 40l. and 19s. per annum. (fn. 3) Galfr. Gyny had then also seisin of land of
the gift of the said Roger in that Soc. (fn. 4) Roger de Monte Bogonis had Oswaldbeck,
Barthon, Brademere, and Bulewell in this county, Bughdon, Haverbergh, Stratton, with
the Soc, and Medeburne in Leicestershire. Henry Monegoden was heir of Roger de
Montebegonis, and 13 H. 3, (fn. 5) Oswardebek was granted to the king.
(fn. 6) The king, 22 H. 3, granted to Henry de Hastings, and Ada his wife, and to
Ada in fee, for her reasonable part happening to her of the inheritence which was
Johns, late earl of Chester her brothers, of the county (or earldom) of Chester, the
manor of Bromesgrave in the county of Worcester, the manor of Bolsover, with the
castle in the county of Darby, the manor of Maunsfeld, with the Soc, and the manor
of Oswardebec in this county, the manors of Worfeild, Stratton, and Cuverdoure in the
county of Salop, the manors of Wiggington and Wolverhampton in the county of Stafford. (fn. 7) Henry de Hastings held the whole town of Oswardbeck, with the Soc, viz.
Oswaldbeck (now scarcely known) Leyton, Stretton, Littilburg, Weteleg, Sudbeck, Wiston,
and Wellam, in exchange of the king for lands which he had in the county (or earldom) of Chester, and he had of it yearly 38l. and 19s. It descended with this noble
family of Hastinges, as in Maunsfeld and South Leverton may be partly observed.
(fn. 8) The jury, 15 E. 3, found no damage if the king granted Hugh de Hastings
licence to acquire to himself of Laurence de Hastings earl of Pembrok, the Sok and
demesne of Oswaldebeck, with the appurtenances. (fn. 9) The jury, 13 R. 2, found that
John de Hastinges, late earl of Pembroke, by his deed before his death, enfeoffed
Walter Amyas, &c. in his Sok called Oswaldebekesoken. (fn. 10) And 21 R. 2, that Richard
earl — held the Sok of the dowry of his Wife. Philippa, wife of John de
Hastings, earl of Pembrok (son of John) 2 H. 4, (fn. 11) died seized of it, Edmund late
earl of March was her cousin and heir.
(fn. 12) The jury, 12 H. 4, said that William de Bellocamp lord Aburgavenny, when
he died held joyntly with Joane his wife, the Sok called Oswaldbeksoken; and that
Richard de Bellocampo was his son and heir. Joane, who had been wife of William
de Bellocampo, knight, lord Bergavenny held this Sok, when she died about 14 H.
6, (fn. 13) leaving Elizabeth, daughter of Richard de Bellocamp, earl of Wor cester her son,
her heir, which Elizabeth was married to Edward Nevill, (fn. 14) knight, a younger son
of the earl of Westmerland, by whom she had George Nevill lord Bergavenny, which
Edward and Elizabeth held this Sok, (fn. 15) 17 H. 6.
(fn. 16) George Nevyle lord Bergavenny, 18 H. 7, suffered a recovery of the manor
of Oswardebek Soke, with the appurtenances, and eight mess. three hundred acres of
land, one hundred of meadow, one hundred of pasture, and 20l. rent, with the appurtenances in South Bek, Wheteley, Stretton, South Leverton, Fenton, Cotom, Clareburgh, Wellum, Moregate, Grenley, Wyston, Wodhouse, and Lyttilborough, to sir Reginald
Bray, sir Edward Poinings, sir Thomas Fenys, sir John Pecche, knights, John Mordant, James Hobart, &c.
(fn. 17) In the year 1612, John Thorneaughe, knight, was bayliff of the kings liberty
of Oswaldbek Sok.
[Throsby] Oswaldback,
Now a hamlet. We find before the conquest it was of that importance as to give
name to a wapentac.