WALPOLE
Takes it name from the great wall, or sea bank, raised to defend
it, and from a pool, or deep water near to that wall. Of this great
parish, only this account is to be found in the great survey, or book
called Domesday.
John, nephew of Waleran, held in Walpola half a carucate of land,
with 6 borderers, who had half a carucate valued at 5s. per ann. which
was possessed by a freeman in the Confessor's time. (fn. 1) Waleran was
some officer under the Conqueror, and Earl of Mellant, in Normandy.
He held also one in Ringstead, one in Hunstanton, and in Titchwell,
in Smithden hundred;—also in Weyland hundred, the lordships of
Carbrook Magna and Parva;— in Shropham hundred, one at Bretenham; and one at Saxlingham, in the hundred of Hensted. All which
he had of the gift of the Conqueror, and dying before the survey was
made, they were then held by John, his nephew and heir.
Earl of Clare's Manor.
How long it continued in this John's possession does not appear;
probably on his death it was granted to the Giffard's family, Earls of
Bucks, who had considerable possessions in this tract and neighbourhood; and by the marriage of a daughter and heiress of Giffard, the
second Earl, was brought into the family of the Earls of Clare.
In the 47th of Henry III. Richard de Clare Earl of Clare was
found, as appears from the escheat rolls, to have held lands in Walpole,
by knight's service.
In the 52d of that King Hamon Moynstrail had a manor here,
which I take to be this; andthen gave license of distress for rent due
to the prioress of Carhow, for lands in Hecham; and in the 7th of
Edward I. Adam Mustroil settled lands here, and in Hunstanton, on
Hamon his son, by fine.
In the 21st year of King Edward I. John Lovell and his tenants
held this manor by the 3d part of a fee, of the Earl of Gloucester, and in
the 1st of Edward II. John Lovell of Tichmersh, settled it with that of
Hunstanton, on William Lovell, and the heirs of his body, by fine then
levied: the said William was found in the 8th of that King to die
seized of it, held of the honour of Clare.
It appears, in the 20th of Edward III. from the inquisitions, that
William Lovell, and his tenants held in Walpole the 3d part of a fee
of the Earl of Gloucester, which John Lovell formerly held, and had
a charter for free-warren in all his demean lands here, and in Hustanton; and in the 22d of Richard II. Roger Mortimer, Earl of March,
was found to hold in capite, one fee in this town, Hunstanton and
Walton, held by William Lovell, as parcel of the honour of Clare, and
John Lovell held the 3d part of a fee of the Earl of March, in Walpole,
and was under age, and the King's ward in the 3d of Henry IV.
Edmund Mortimer Earl of March was found to hold one fee in
Walpole, Hunstanton and Walton, held by William Lovell, in the 3d
of Henry VI. and in the 13th of Edward IV. the jury present that
Robert Fitz Symon held, the day he died, the manors of Hunstanton
and Walpole, Mocking, in Essex, Lillingston, Lovell, in Oxfordshire,
the moiety of the manor of Archester, in Northamptonshire, and that
Joan, the wife of Robert Timperley, was his daughter and heir, then
22 years old.
John Pell was lord of Lovell's manor, with messuages, lands and
tenements in the 13th and in the 42d of Elizabeth.
John Richards, alias Glover, and Joan his wife, had a præcipe to
deliver to John Moore, the manor of Lovells in this town, and
Terrington, &c.
By an inquisition taken at Norwich October 1, in the 5th year of
King Charles I. after the death of Henry Reppes, Esq. who died the
23d of March, 1628, it was found that he died possessed of this manor
of Lovells held of the King, of his honour of Clare, by knight's service; and is called a decayed and reputed manor.
Valentine Upwood, Esq. lord, and Samuel Upwood in 1716.
Besides this little lordship, there were two very considerable ones
in this township of Walpole, one belonging to the church of Ely, another to the Earl Warren, at the time when Domesday Book was made;
and yet no account occurs, or is to be found in Domesday Book, of
these; or any mention made of Walpole, (excepting the account of
John, nephew of Waleran's manor above observed) and the reason is
that the manor of the aforesaid John, was the only independent
manor, held in capite of the King, in this town, and had its site
herein: whereas the lordships of the church of Ely, and the Earl
Warren, though held also in capite, were dependent manors, on the
church of Ely's capital manor of West Walton, and Wisbeach, and the
Earl Warren's capital manor, in the said town of Walton, which had
their sites there, and extended in Walpole, Turington, &c. and so were
valued and accounted for under the capital manor of West Walton,
&c. where, no doubt, all duties and services of those who held lands in
Walpole, and Tyrington, of the aforesaid Bishop, and Earl, were
constantly performed and due.
Ely Manor.
Oswi, a noble Saxon, and Leofleda his wife, father and mother of
Alwyn, gave, on the admission of their son Alwyn into the monastery
of Ely, (where he became a monk, and was after Bishop of Elmham,
in Norfolk, in 1021,) the manors of Walpole, with those of Wisbeach,
Walsoken, West Walton, Tyrington, in Norfolk, Statchworth, Catlidge,
Dullingham, and March, in Cambridgeshire, Denbenham, Woodbridge,
and Brightwell, in Suffolk: (fn. 2) the said Leofleda, was daughter of
Brithnod, duke and alderman of the East-Angles, slain at the battle
of Maldon in Essex, by the Danes, in 1093.
On the back part of the stalls, on the north side of the quire, facing
the north transept of the cathedral of Ely, are some very antique
paintings of Saxon Bishops, &c. one representing the Bishop aforesaid,
with this writing,—Alwyno. Episco. Helm.
Another representing Brithnod, and—Brithnod' Dux Northumb.
both being here buried, as tradition will have it.
This lordship continued in the priory, till it was changed into an
episcopal see, in the reign of Henry I. when it was assigned to the
Bishop, as part of his revenue; and in the 35th of Henry III. the
Bishop of Ely had a charter of free warren in all his demean lands in
this town.
In the 3d of Edward I. the Bishop was found to have return of all
writs, and pleas de namio vetito, and would not permit the King's
bailiff to enter into his liberty within the towns of West Walton, Walsoken, Walpole, and Tyrington; the amercements of all his men
within the same, with wreck at sea, assise of bread and beer, a gallows,
&c. and besides this, about the said time he was found to have the patronage of the church of St. Peter, in Walpole, the fees and homages of Sir
Stephen de Marisco, and Sir Roger de Mustrail, the demean lands were
141 acres, a rood and a half of arable land, to be tilthed with two ploughs
of 6 oxen each, and three scots to harrow; the meadow lands were
30 acres, with 17 of pasture, common of pasture in West Fen, &c. the
stock was 6 cows, one boar, and 200 sheep, one windmill; the free
tenants were Henry, son of Osbert de Walpole, Sir Stephen de Marisco,
the lady Agnes de Walpole, widow, Sir William, son of Herlewin, of
Terrington, the heirs of Alan, son of Algar, &c. (fn. 3)
In the 16th of Edward III. the Bishop of Ely, and the prior of
Lewes, brought their action against several persons in this town, for
hindering the weekly mercate, which they had here on Thursday,
breaking in pieces the stalls, tumbrell, and pillory, for which they
were outlawed, but in the 21st of the said King, had a pardon.
In the year 1454, (William Grey, then Bishop of Ely) this lordship
was valued at 49l. 4s. 10d. per ann. but in an account of it, made in
the 2d and 3d of Philip and Mary, it was but 40l. 8s. 9d. q. per ann.
It remained in the see of Ely, till the death of Dr. Cox, in 1581,
when it came to the Crown, by act of parliament in the 4th of Elizabeth, and Thomas Bendish, Esq. farmed the demean lands in 1500: (fn. 4)
and in the 8th of James I. the quitrents of the free and customary
tenants amounted to 25l. 4s. 8d q. per ann. and the farm 18l. 15s. 5d.
And that year granted, November 12, to John Eldred, and J.
Verdon, Gent, (valued at 48l. 5s. 9d.) to farm.
Marshe's, or Colevile's Manor.
In the 2d year of King Richard II. Sir William Marsh, Knt. and Mary
his wife, conveyed 60 acres of land here by fine to Thomas de Cockfield, clerk, Henry de Lesingham, and James Walsham; this Sir William was lord of a manor held under the Bishop of Ely; and in the
3d of Edward I. Geffrey de Marisco, or Marsh, held a knight's fee of
the Bishop in this town, Walton, and Walsoken, had the assise of
bread and beer, of his tenants, and at the same time Sir Stephen de
Marisco was a free tenant, or lord of part of this town, whose daughter
and heir, Desiderata, brought the manor of the family de Marisco, to
Roger de Colvile (by marriage) son of Sir Roger de Colvile, of Caxton
in Cambridgeshire.
In the 15th of Edward I. a fine was levied between Jeffrey de
Sandiacre, and Roger, son of Roger de Colvile and Desiderata his wife,
of this manor, who acknowledged it to be the right of Desiderata, and
she and her husband Roger conveyed it to Jeffrey for life, remainder
to the heirs of Desiderata. This Roger died in the 28th of that
King, and left Jeffrey his son and heir
Sir John Colvile (fn. 5) and his tenants held, in the 3d of Henry IV. (as
appears by an inquisition then taken at Bishop's Lynn, on Monday
before the feast of St. Agnes the Virgin, before Sir John White, Knight,
&c.) half a fee in Walpole, Walton, and Walsoken, of the Bishop of
Ely, and the Bishop held it in capite. In the said year, on Monday
next after the feast of the Epiphany, John Lynstock, Nicholas Deguisson,
capellani, grant by deed to Sir John Colvil, Knt. John Manning of
Crimplesham, John Karvill, of Wigenhale, Richard Peverell, of Tylney,
Simon Derby, vicar of Terrington, Edmund Massingham, of Walton,
&c. all the manors and lands which they had in Walpole, West Walton,
Walsoken, Emneth, Well Barsham, Hyndryngham, Kettleston, and
Creyk, of the gift of Richard Bennett;—witnesses, Walter Goddard,
Sim. Calow, Richard Boure, Thomas de Vere, and Thomas de Geyton;
and in the 9th of Henry VII. Francis Colvile died seized of it, and
left Richard, his son and heir, who died lord of this manor, and one
in Walsoken, Ao. 17 of Henry VIII. held of the Bishop of Ely.
Walpole's Manor.
The truly ancient family of the Walpoles, of Houghton in Norfolk,
Earls of Orford, were many ages past enfeoft in lands, and a lordship
in this town, from which, according to the Norman custom, they
assumed their name. Of this family was Jeffrey de Walpole, son of
Reginald, as appears by deed sans date. (fn. 6)
Amongst the names of those knights who owed service to the Bishop
of Ely, as appears from an Exchequer book, Jocelinus de Walpol is
named to hold half a fee in Walpol, Walton, and Hakebech; (fn. 7) and among
the free tenants of the said Bishop, Adam de Walpol is said to hold half
a virgate, and a piece of pasture, paying one mark per ann. and
Jocelinus de Walpol half a virgate; Osbert de Stradsett the fourth part
of a virgate, John Normon, William de Sculham, Alan, son of Algar,
Ralph, son of Joceline, and Roger his brother, Andrew de Tirington,
and William de Camera, &c.
Ralph, son of Joceline, appears to have three sons, Thomas, Alan,
and Richard de Walpole, from a pleading in the 34th of Henry III.
when Peter and William de Walpole were sons of Thomas de Walpole.
And before this, in the 12th of the said King, a fine was levied between
Claricia, daughter of Alan de Walpole, Thomas de Cheyle and Christian his wife, Robert Chamberlain, and Mariona his wife, petents, and
Henry de Walpole, tenent, of 40 acres of land in this town, granted to
Henry; and in the 19th of the said reign, Richard de Walpole was
petent in a fine, and Walter, son of Alan, and Katharine his wife
tenent, of lands here. A son of Joceline, was a benefactor to the
priory of Lewes.
About this time lived Sir Henry de Walpol, Knight, who by deed,
sans date, granted to Thomas de Spalding, burgess of Lynn, for his
homage and service, and for 20 marks sterling, certain lands in Terington, to be held of him and his heirs, paying to the lords of the fee
the accustomed services and dues, viz. 6d. (de censu) at the feast of
St. Michael, and to him and his heirs one clove at the feast of St.
John Baptist; witnesses to this deed, sans date, are Sir William de
Tyrington, Sir John de Wygenhale, Knights; Hugh de Dunstone, Nicholas de Hecham, Walter Mareschal, William de Mundeford, Nicholas
de Burw. John de Bausey, clerk, &c.
To this is affixed his seal, a fess between two chevrons; which arms
are born at this day by the Earl of Orford; of the same family was
Ralph de Walpole, who was Bishop of Ely in the reign of Edward I.
and bore the same arms.
Before this, it is said that the family removed from Walpole to
Houghton in Norfolk, on the marriage of Richard, son of Reginald de
Walpole, with Emme, daughter of Walter, son of William de Havelton or Houghton; but they still continued to have an interest and a
manor here.
For in the 5th of Edward II. Henry de Walpole, (and Alice his wife)
appears to be lord both of Houghton and Walpole, by a fine then
levied.
In the 3d of that King lands in Tylney and Wigenhale were settled
on John son of Alexander de Walpole, by Alexander his father; and
in the 6th of the said reign, Bartholomew de Walpole, son of John de
Walpole, and Catharine his wife, held lands in Walpole.
Henry, son of Henry de Walpole, by his will, dated 1442, orders
his trustees of this manor, to enfeof Henry his son, in tail, in the
same; and Thomas Walpole, Gent. son of John Walpole, Esq. by his
deed, dated March 30, in the 12th of Henry VII. granted to Thomas
Aleyn of Walpole, a messuage, lands, and a salt-work with the grains,
&c. in this town.
John Walpole of Houghton, Esq. by his will, dated February 28,
in the 30 of Elizabeth, and proved in April following, bequeaths to
Katharine his wife, all his lands in Walpole and Walton, to her and
her heirs, towards the preferment of the marriage of his daughters.
Rochford's Manor.
The ancient family of de Rochford had also a manor in this town,
held, as it seems, of the see of Ely. Of these I shall treat as I find
them in due order and time, from ancient authentick records and
evidences. They take their name from a town in Essex, of which
they were enfeoffed soon after the conquest.
Waleran de Rochford was witness to a deed of Thomas, son of Thomas Darcy, of lands given by him to Kirksted abbey in Lincolnshire,
in the reign of King Stephen. (fn. 8)
About this time lived Simon de Rocheford, who gave lands at Soberie in Berkshire, to the priory of Clarkenwell, (fn. 9) and Emme his wife
lands to the abbey of Vaude or Valle Dei (fn. 10) in Lincolnshire.
Wido de Rochford was a witness to the foundation deed of the abbey
of Nutely in Bucks, founded by Walter Giffard Earl of Bucks, in the
reign of Henry I. and John de Rocheford, son of Guy or Wido de
Rocheford, was under age, 16 years old, had a brother aged 12, and a
sister 18. (fn. 11)
This John was a ward of King Henry II. in his 30th year, and his
land at Rocheford in Essex was valued at 12l. per ann. and half Beredon in Essex, with one hide of the fee of Earl William, was 11l. 10s.
per ann.
William de Rocheford, by deed sans date, gave to the church of
Beverley in Yorkshire, Thomas de Newton his villain, cum tota sequela;
witnesses, Sir Thomas de Becock, Waleran de Sancta Letitia, Rayner
de Aldeburgh, and Master Roger de Richmond.
Digarius de Rocheford was seneschal of Anjou in France, in the first
of Richard I. John de Rocheford, son of Guy, (as I take it,) paid 10s.
scutage to the sheriff of Norfolk, towards the redemption of the King,
in the 6th or Richard I. and in the 8th of that King, paid 20s. for one
fee, scutage, for the army in Normandy.
Robert de Rocheford was a witness to the grant of Elsenham church
in Essex, to the monastery of Walden, by Beatrix de Maundevile
Lady Say; about this time, John de Rocheford abovementioned was
ving, and had an interest in ppleton, and Flithaam, in the 20th of
Henry III.
In the 9th of that King, John Donetland conveyed by fine the
fourth part of a fee, in Langeford, to Ralph de Rochford, who granted it back to the said John for life, remainder to Robert de Rocheford, his brother, and his heirs: and John was patron of the church
of Rochford in Essex, in 1219, and lord.
John de Rochford de Kirby, and Margaret his wife, were living in
the 34th of Henry III. and in the 40th of that King, Sir Ralph de
Rochford was querent, and Eudo or Guy de Rochford, and Grecia his
wife impedients, of lands in Seneberch in Somersetshire; and in the
45th of that King, the manor of Hyptoft Hall in Freston, and Toft
and Holland, in Lincolnshire, were conveyed by fine to Sir Ralph, &c.
Sir Guy de Rochford, lord of Rochford, purchased of John de Burgh
Earl of Kent, all his marshes in Rochford, and held in capite at Berden,
a messuage with a garden, dove-house, above 600 acres of arable
land, 6 of meadow, 30 of pasture, and 3s. rent per ann. with a wood,
wind-mill, and advowson of the rectory, by the service of one fee,
and the patronage of Rochford.
In 1272, he was witness, with 10 other Norfolk knights, to a deed
of John de Burgh Earl of Kent, (son and heir of Hubert de Burgh Earl
of Kent) whereby he granted to his valet, Baldwin de Cankewell, the
lordship of Newton by Castleacre; the witnesses were Sir John de
Vaux de Shotesham, Tho. Rosselyne, William de Weyland, Guy de
Rochford, Richard de Sandchirche, Anselm de Geyse, John de Bretton,
Richard de Belhouse, William de Gyney, William de Calthorp, Knights,
&c. Sir Guy died in the following year, 1273.
He was found to hold Rochford as the head of his barony, and
Margaret his widow had her dower in that manor, and marshes of
Foulness.
On the death of Sir Guy, his estate descended to Sir John de Rochford, son of a brother of Sir Guy, on a Quo Warranto brought in the
3d of Edward I. on account of wreck of sea, and other privileges belonging to the manor of Rochford. The said John pleaded that they
were given to his uncle Guy, by John de Burgo, Earl of Kent, and
confirmed by King Henry III.
To this John, Ralph de Rochford and Agnes his wife, conveyed
lands by fine, in the counties of Stafford, Derby, and Nottingham;
and Theobald de Nevile conveyed to the said Ralph, the manor of
Fenne in Lincolnshire, and Grave in Warwickshire, in the 12th of the
said King.
Sir John de Rochford, Sir Richard de la Rokeley, &c. were witnesses
to a grant of Sir William Baud, Knight, of Coringham in Essex, of a
fat buck and doe, yearly, to the church of St. Paul in London, in the
30th of that King, in which year he died.
Sir Robert de Rochford was his son and heir, and presented to the
church of Rochford, in 1321. In the 17th of Edward II. the King
confirmed to him, and Christian his wife, the grant of the marshes
abovementioned, and it appears by the escheat rolls, that he died in
the eleventh year of Edward III. that he and Isabel his wife, daughter
of William Fitz-Warin, held the manors of Rochford and Berdon,
with 1100 acres of marsh in Rochford, and that Thomas was his son
and heir, aged 25.
About this time lived Sir Waleran de Rochford, who with Jeffrey de
la Legh, was a knight of the shire of Hertford, in parliament, in the
8th of Edward II.
Sir Thomas Rochford, son of Sir Robert, released to Adam, son of
Geffrey de Derham, of Suffolk, in the 11th of Edward III. all his right
in the manor of Bernehalle.
After this I meet with nothing more of this family in Essex. Newcourt observes, (fn. 12) that soon after the year 1324, there being no heir
general, the estate escheating to the Crown, King Edward III. in his
14th year, granted the honour of Rayleigh, (to which the lordship of
Rochford belonged,) with the hundred of Rochford, to William de
Bohun Earl of Northampton. But that there were other branches of the
family is manifest.
Sir Ralph Rochford (as I have observed) was living in the 40th of
Henry III. (fn. 13) and in the 30th of Edward I. Sir Ralph, with Henry
Spigurne were the King's justices, and held the assise, tried several
causes at Lynn, in Norfolk, on Tuesday after Whitsunday-week; and
in the 7th of Edward II. had a pardon for adhering to Thomas Earl
of Lancaster, and for the death of Peirs de Gaveston, the King's great
favourite. He was father of Sir Saier de Rochford, a commissioner
of the banks and sewers in Lincolnshire, in the 16th of Edward III.
In the 22d of Edward III. a fine was levied between him and Joan
his wife, and John Cleymond of Kirkton, who conveyed lands in
Walpole, and at Brandeston in Suffolk, St. Botolph, Benington, Tofts,
and Shirbeck in Lincolnshire, to Sir Sayer and Joan, in tail.
Ralph de Rochford, in the 26th of Edward III. was a commissioner
to view and repair the banks in Marshland. And in the 28th of that
King, Sir Ralph, (son of Sir Sayer de Rochford, Knight, and Maud
his wife,) were querents, and Sir Sayer de Rochford of Slivekey in
Norfolk, and Ralph de Bigeney, deforcients, of lands in Walpole,
Hindringham, Barsham, Keteleston, Creyke, and Geyst in Norfolk:
and in the said year, Sir Ralph, and Maud his wife, granted to Sir
Saier de Rochford of Stivekey a messuage with a windmill in Walpol,
with all his lands and tenements in Walpol, Walsoken, Enemeth, and
messuages in Hindringham, with all the services, rents, wards, reliefs,
escheats, villains, by deed, dated on Thursday after the feast of St.
Winwaloy.
To this Sir Ralph and Maud his wife Robert Lacock of Walsingham,
clerk, &c. in the 41st of Edward III. granted messuages, lands, tenements, rents, services, &c. in East Barsham, Norfolk.
Sir Ralph was buried in the church of St. Peter's, in Walpole, with
his wife Maud, who is said to be a daughter and coheir of Sir James
Walpole, and was here buried in 1369.
About this time lived Sir John de Rochford, probably eldest son of
Sir Ralph; to whom John de Atte-Chambre, and Margaret his wife,
conveyed lands in the 32d of Edward III. and Sir William Skipwith,
and Alice his wife, in the 40th of that King, surrendered to him the
manor of Calthorp, Covenham, and Uphall in Lincolnshire.
There was also John Rochford, Esq. who married Joan, daughter
of Sir Ralph, sister and heir of Robert de Grendon, of Grendon in
Warwickshire, (fn. 14) by whom he had Sir Ralph Rochford, which John
married to his 2d wife Isabella, widow of John de Rochford, who had
dower granted her by her son-in-law, Sir Ralph, in the — of the said
King.
This Ralph married Joan, daughter of Sir Hugh de Meynill, by
whom he had a daughter and heir, Margery, and Joan his widow
remarried Hugh de Askeby.
Sir Sayer de Rochford, probably brother of Sir John, and a son of
Sir Ralph, was an eminent soldier in the wars of France; in the 33d
of King Edward III. undertook to keep safely the King of France
(then a prisoner in England) at Somerton castle in Lincolnshire, and
was to be allowed him 2s. per day; (fn. 15) Sir John de Kirton was joined
with him in this charge, and being a banneret was to have 4s. per
day; and they were allowed for each esquire with them, 12d. per day.
This seems to be the Sir Saier at Stivekey, who married Joan, one
of the daughters and coheirs of Sir Roger Hillary, by whom he had
Sir John de Rochford; and by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir
Ralph Perlye, Sir Ralph Rochford.
John, son of Sir Sayer de Rochford, and Alice his wife, is mentioned
in a fine levied in the 5th of Richard II. and Sir John de Rochford,
Knight, in another fine of lands in Holbeach, in the 8th of that King;
and was witness to a grant of John de Halmeton, of an annual rent
of 10 marks, issuing out of the lands of Sir John de Litsbury in Tyd
St. Mary's, to Frederic de Tilney.
In the same year Sir Ralph Rochford had the manor and advowson
of the church of Askele, by Parteney in Lincolnshire, conveyed to him
by Reginald Curteys and Cecilia his wife.
This Sir Ralph is said to be the son of Sir Saer the elder, by his first
wife, Eliz. daughter of Sir Ralph de Arley, and dying in 1401, was
buried in the church of St. Giles's, Cripplegate, and found to die
seized of Arley and Slowley, in Warwickshire, held of Sir John
Odingsels by the service of one knight's fee; and John Rochford, Esq.
was his son and heir.
Sir John de Rochford was steward to the Bishop of Ely, and constable of Wisbeach castle, in the 20th of Richard II. whose only son,
William, was buried in the church of St. Peter's of Walpole.
I also find mention made of Sir John de Rochford, alderman of the
gild of Boston, in 1383, where he seems to have had his chief residence; and in the 10th of Richard II. was appointed a commissioner
to assess the loan demanded of 200 marks from the inhabitants thereof,
for the King in his necessities, dated Sep. 22, and died on the feast
of St. Lucia, the Virgin, in 1410; (fn. 16) leaving, as some say, three daughters and coheirs, by Alice his wife, daughter of Sir Hugh Hastings;
his mother Joan, dying, as appears by the eschaet rolls, in 1403.
Sir John Holbeach married a daughter and coheir of Sir John
Rochford of Lincolnshire; and Anne, one of Holbeach's daughters
and coheirs, married Thomas Barrington, sheriff of Essex, ao. 30
Henry VI.
On a division of the estate of Sir Roger Hillary, in the 13th of
Henry IV. Elizabeth, Lady Clinton, was found to be a cousin and coheir
(by a daughter of Sir Rog. and sister of the Lady Joan Rochford) as
were Joan and Margaret, two of the daughters and coheirs of Sir
John Rochford, and Alice his wife, Joan being then the wife of Robert Roos of Gedney in Lincolnshire, Esq. and Margaret the widow of
Sir Frederick Tilney of Boston.
At the same time John Gibthorp, a minor, son of Sir William Gibthorp, and Alice his wife, daughter also and coheir of Sir John
Rochford, were proved to be cousins of the Lady Elizabeth Clinton, and
coheirs of Sir Roger Hillary, Knight and Bart.
The Rochfords were such a numerous family, and of so many
branches, that it is not easy to distinguish, or make a regular descent
of them, and we find that they varied on this account their arms:
some bore quarterly, or and gules, in a bordure sable, bezanty: others
the same quarterly, in a bordure indented, uncharged: I find also an
annulet bore in the first quarter, also a de-lis, bore by some: the crest
of the Rochfords was a man's head, with a prolix beard, thereon an
high almain cap, on a wreath, mantled ermin.
We must now return to Henry Rochford, Esq. who was found to
be son and heir of Sir Ralph, in 1401, which Sir Ralph, with Sir
Robert de Leek, Sir Philip de Tilney, Sir John Bussey, and Sir John
Rochfords, Knts. had a patent from King Richard II. in this year,
September 25th, to proclaim, and take care that the grasiers in Holland and Kestevan, in Lincolnshire, presume not to sell any of their
cattle, or horses, at a higher price than was customary, and was father
of Sir Ralph brother of Henry, who in 1401, had order from King
Henry IV. to pay 50 marks out of the lordship of Newenton Longevile, in Buckinghamshire, (which he farmed of the King) to Sir Thomas
Erpingham. On the attainder of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk,
in the 6th of the said King, he had, with Sir John Tiptot, a grant of
all the apparel, pertaining to the body of that Duke, and all his harness for peace and war, as well for great horses called coursers, or
saddles for tilts and tournaments; was governor of the castle of
Hammes, in France, and lieutenant of Guien.
In the 5th of Henry VI. Sir William Mallory and Margaret his
wife, conveyed messuages and lands to him, and Richard Leek, Esq.
in North and South Stoke, in Lincolnshire, and in the said year he surrendered his right in the manor of Wychampton, in Dorsetshire, to Sir
Gilbert Kyghley. He was living at Walpole, in 1446, and died before
1455. In the leidger book of Boston, Margaret, late the wife of Sir
Ralph Rochford, is said to die in that year.
In the east window of the north isle of St. Peter's church of Walpole,
is to be seen the effigies of this knight in armour, (as I take it,) and
that of his lady, on their knees; on his surtout are the arms of Rochford, quarterly, or and gules, in the 2d quarter an annulet sable, in a
bordure of the same, bezanty. On the outward vest, or mantle of the
lady are the said arms, and on her inward vest, gules, an eagle displayed, or, with an annulet on the breast of the eagle, sable, she
being a Godard: the same arms of Rochford and Godard, impaled,
are, or were to be seen in a window of the north isle of the church of
Braintree, in Essex.
In the 3d of Henry IV. Sir Henry Rochford conveyed in trust to
Richard Revel, vicar of Walpole, all his manors, lands, and tenements
in Walpole, West Walton, Emneth, Well, Barsham, Hindringham,
Kettleston, and Creke; he was also lord of Arley, and Sloley, in Warwickshire, which he sold to Thomas Bate: in the 7th of Henry V. he
was returned by the justices of the peace of this county, as a person
of ancient coat armour, and one of the 20 lances, able to serve the
King in his wars.
He is said to have married two wives; by Isabel, the first, daughter
of Sir Steph. Burdet, he had three daughters; Alice, married to Sir
Robert Leake, Mabel, to Sir John Hamelyn, and Isabel to Clement
Derby; four sons; Ralph, John, Thomas, and Henry: by Elizabeth,
his second wife, daughter of Nicholas de Reresby, two daughters;
Mary, the wife of Thomas Aungvine, and Margaret, the wife of Henry
Bellingham.
William de Worcester, in his MSS. abovementioned, says he married
a daughter of — Braunch, relict of Sir —; and it appears
that the Lady Catharine Braunche, widow of Sir — Braunche, by
her will dated in 1420, and proved September 5, following, bequeaths
to Catharine, daughter of Sir Henry Rochford, Knt. 10 marks, and to
John, son of Sir John Rothenale, a silver cup with a foot. In the 7th
of Henry VI. Sir Henry, with John, and Thomas his sons, Esq. sold
lands in Tilney, and in the 14th of that King was a commissioner for
the fen banks, &c.
Ralph Rochford, Esq. (son and heir of Henry) was by some called
a Knight. Thomas Rochford, Esq. his brother, by his will dated
January 30, 1438, and proved February 25 following, requires to be
buried in the chapel of St. Mary, in the church of St. Peter of Walpole,
names Margaret his wife executrix, to whom he gives his lands in
Ringsted and Holme, to pay his debts, and if she should be with
child, the issue to have them, and she her dower in his lands at
Walpole. (fn. 17) (fn. 18)
In the 33d of Henry VI. in a deed of this Ralph, of lands in Castle
Rysing, dated September 26, at Walpole, he styles himself Ralph
Rochford, late Esq. now clerk, (nup. Armiger modo Clericus) by his
wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Marmaduke Constable, he had 3 sons;
Henry, the eldest, Ralph, of Langholm, and Saier, of Barton.
Henry had a lordship in Boston, called Fenn's, and that of Rochford
in Shirbeck, and in the 7th of Henry VII. Sir Henry Rochford, Knt.
was one of the justices of the peace, and of the goal delivery, within
the Bishop of Ely's liberty in Norfolk.
After this I find nothing more of the Rochfords; as the Bishop of
Ely was the capital lord, and their estate was held of him it was
vested in that see, and so continued, till granted by act of parliament,
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to the Crown, on an exchage of
lands with the Bishop.
Denver's Manor, Or Godard's,
Had its rise from a division of that lordship, which Henry de Walpole,
son of Osbert de Walpole held, who dying without issue, his two aunts,
Isabel and Alice, sisters of Osbert, were heirs to it. In the 41st of
Henry III. a fine was levied between Isabel, and Walter de Denver,
and Alice his wife, tenents of a moiety of 2 carucates of land, 4l. 11s.
0½d. rent, with the moiety of the rent of 8000 turf in Walpole, Tylney,
Well, and Lynn, which Isabel claimed as her part of the inheritance
of Henry, son of Osbert de Walpole, nephew of Isabel and Alice, which
Isabel released to Alice, with the land which William de Wendling
held for life, of the said inheritance in Wisbeach Littleport and
Crekemere, in Cambridgeshire, and which Robelina, widow of the said
Henry, and Sarah, widow of Osbert de Walpole held in dower.
Osbert was son of Sir Walter de Denver, and in the 21st of Edward I.
John, son of Osbert and Egelina, his mother, and Sir Robert de
Hackbeach held also lands here; Sir Robert Howard, and their under
tenants, held half a fee here, in Walton, and Hackbeach, of the Earl
Warren.
The aforesaid Walter de Denver and Alice his wife, in the 34th of
Henry III. sued James de Creik and Sarah his wife, Henry de Walpole
having granted to her the wool of his stock of 300 sheep in his manor
of How, by East Derham, in Norfolk, till the marriage of Alice; and
was detained from her.
Sir John de Denver, Knt. de Hakebeche, &c. held in the 20th of
Edward III. half a fee here, in Walton, &c. of the Bishop of Ely,
which John, son of Osbert de Walpole, and Egelina his mother, &c.
formerly held.
Walter Godard held it in the 5th of Richard II. and Catharine his
wife, with 2 messuages, 140 acres of land, 4l. rent per ann. &c. in
Walpole, Tilney, Walton, Well, &c. and the advowson of Walpole
chapel. Catharine seems to be heiress of Denvers. Walter presented
to that church in 1395.
From the Denvers it came by marriage to the Godards, who quartered the arms of the Denvers, of whom see in Tyrington; of this family was Sir John Godard, governour of Loviers, in Normandy, in
the 6th of Henry V. under the Duke of Clarence, on whose death in
the 9th of Henry VI. several lands in Lincolnshire, &c, came to his
son and heir John, a minor, who dying without issue, Agnes, (wife of
Sir Brian Stapleton,) then the wife of Robert Wadesley, Esq. of Yorkshire, and Sir Robert Ughtred (fn. 19) were his cousins and next heirs. But
in the said reign, it appears that Robert Godarde was lord, and was
buried in the church of Tyrington in 1448, into which town this manor extended, and he quartered the arms of Denver; Elizabeth his
daughter and heir seems to have married Robert Sutton, Esq.
In the 20th of Henry VII. a fine was levied between Sir James
Hobart, Sir Richard Southwell, Sir Henry Ogard, Knts. and Richard
Braunche, Esq. querents, and Thomas Sutton and Elizabeth his wife,
daughter and heir of Robert Godard, (as I take it) deforciants, of the
manor of Denvers, and lands in Walpole, Tylney, Terrington, Clenckwarton, Walton, Lynn, and Well, and the advowson of the chantry
in the chapel of St. Catherine, in Walpole, and Sir James Hobart, in
the 2d of Henry VIII. settled on Walter Hobart, his son and heir,
and Anne his wife, and their heirs male, a rent charge of 6l. 13s. 4d.
per ann. out of this manor, and Sir Walter Hobart of Hales-Hall, in
Lodne, had the advowson of the chapel of St. Mary, at the Fen end,
in Walpole, in the 20th of the said King.
Afterwards it came to the Hunstons, a family of good account in
Lincolnshire, Marshland, &c. John Hunston, Gent. had an estate in
the 40th of Edward III. in Tydd St. Maries, Lincolnshire, and Thomas Hunston, Gent. had lands, and lived at Walpole, in the 1st of
Richard II. Thomas Hunston, in the 17th of Edward IV. and Thomas
in the 19th of Henry VIII.
Henry Hunston, of Walpole, Esq. was living in the reign of Henry
VIII. and married Jane, daughter of Sir John Audley of Swaffham,
Knt.
William Hunston, of Walpole, Gent. had a patent from Sir Gilbert
Dethick, dated February 6th, in the 3d and 4th of Philip and Mary,
of these arms and quarterings, 1st, sable, four lozenges, 1, 2, 1, ermine
in a bordure engrailed, or;—in the 2d quarter the arms of Denvers;
— in the 3d quarter, sable, three lozenges, in a triangle ermin, the
arms of Haltoft, as I take it;—and in the 4th quarter, a lion's head
caboshed, or, lingued gules, in chief, three plates between two flaunches,
ermin; the crest, a hind's head couped or, in his mouth a holly slip,
vert, with berries, gules. He died in the 9th of Elizabeth, and left
William, his son and heir aged 26, who was lord in the 38th of that
Queen.
Thomas Hunston, Esq. sold it to John Hare, Esq. son of John Hare,
citizen, and mercer of London, with several messuages, lands, &c.
that came to the Hunstons from the Godards, Walpoles, and Rochfords,
called in the conveyance, the manors of Denvers, and Walpoles; and
Henry Hare, Lord Colraine, his direct heir, died possessed of it in
1749, and on his death descending to an alien, was in the King's hands.
Prior of Lewes's Manor
Was a part, or member of the prior's capital manor in West Walton,
given by William, the first Earl Warren, as is observed in that town.
In the reign of Henry II. the prior had a mill of the gift of Sowline,
son of Nicholas de Walpole, and Sir Henry de Walpole gave the tithe
of 300 sheep, in the marshes of Fridland, and Redland, in Walpole,
which he and his father Joceline, held of them.
John, son of Robert, son of Gilbert de Walpole, granted all the lands
which his ancestors held here, for 10 marks; witnesses, Sir William
de Terington, Sir Hugh de Pinkeney, Sir Drue de Acton, Geff. de Marisco, &c.
In the 3d of Edward I. the prior was found to have wreck at sea,
a gallows, assise of bread and beer, &c. of his tenants in Marshland,
the advowson of the church of St. Andrews, of Walpole, of the gift of
Hamelin Plantaginet, Earl Warren, a weekly mercate, on Thursday,
and a fair on the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, and for two days
more, which belonged equally to the prior and the Bishop of Ely.
Adam Grey of West Walton gave a messuage, a toft, and 16 acres
of land, in this town, West Walton, with the right of a free bull, late
Julian's, widow of Richard Betele, bedel of Cambridge, by deed in
the 4th of Henry V.
The temporalities of it in 1428, were valued at 34l. 3s. 4d.
After the Dissolution it came to the Crown, and was granted December 22, in the 29th of Henry VIII. to Thomas Duke of Norfolk,
with the appropriated rectory, and advowson of the vicarage, and
passed from that family to the Hares, as may be seen at large in West
Walton.
Henry Hare Lord Colrain died possessed of it in 1749; on his death
it came as an eschaet to the Crown.
There were lands in this parish called Wyldole, belonging to the late
nunnery of Elvestow, in Bedfordshire, granted in the 2d of Queen Mary,
to Thomas Reve and Giles Isham.
Pannel's Manor.
The Welbys of Lincolnshire, had a considerable interest in this town.
Joan Welby, widow of Moulton, possessed it, and on her son Richard
Welby's Esq. marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Calthorp, of Ludham in Norfolk, settled it on them September 10, in the
8th of Edward IV. Christopher Langholm, Esq. on the death of his
brother, had livery of it in the 29th of Henry VIII. held, as is said,
of the prior of Lewes; in the 3d and 4th of Philip and Mary, Christopher Langholm conveyed it to Richard Goodrick; and Thomas
Hewer had prœcipe, in the 3d of Elizabeth, to deliver it to Andrew
Ogard.
After this it came to the Coneys. John Coney lived here in the
reign of Henry VIII. and Thomas Coney, Gent. of Sutton in Lincolnshire, was father of William Coney, Esq. of Walpole, who bore sable,
a fess between two cottises, or, and three coneys sejant, argent: the
crest, a talbot's head couped, issuing out of a mural coronet, or.
This William was a justice of the peace, and by Abigail his wife,
daughter of—Tilson of Gedney, had a son Robert, who married
Alice, daughter of Sir Robert Barkham, Knt. of Waynfleet, in Lincolnshire, and was father of Robert, a minor, in 1664, who dying sans
issue, William Coney, Esq. his brother, was his heir, and by Edith,
daughter of Sir Humphrey Edwin, Lord Mayor of London, in 1697,
was father of Edwin Coney, Esq. high sheriff of Norfolk, in 1734,
whose son, by—,daughter of—Turner, Esq. of Lynn, now
possesses it.
St. Peter's Church is one of the most beautiful parish churches
in England, built of free-stone, consisting of a nave, 2 isles, and a
chancel, all covered with lead; at the west end stands a noble, stately
tower of stone, embattled.
On the stone work of the south porch, as you enter, are the arms of
Goddard, and Denver, quarterly with Goddard's crest, an eagle's head
erect; and on the stone-work towards the east end, near the great
arch, the arms of Rochford: these families (as I take it) were the
chief benefactors to the building of the church, which was about the
beginning of the reign of King Henry VI. In the year 1423, I find
the windows to be glazed and set up.
At the east end of this south isle, lie several marble grave-stones.
Hic jacet Robertus Cony, Armiger, de Walpole, in comit. Norf. qui
ex uxore Alicia, filiâ Rob. Barkham de Wainfleet, in comit. Lincoln.
Equitis auratj; 8 filios et 6 filias suscepit, Norfolciam, Ao. 1673,
Vicecomes tuebatur. vir in patriam devotus, in Deum devotissimus, in
regem fidelis, in suos liberalis, in alios benevolus, in probos suavis, in
malos severus, in omnes humanus; obt. 5, Apr. 1707, œtat. 72.
On the summit are the arms of Cony, sable, a fess between two
cottises, or, and three coneys sejant, argent, impaling Barkham, argent,
three pallets, gules, and a chevron over all, or.
Another,
In memory of Robert Cony, son of Robert Cony, Esq; and Alice his
wife, &c. who died Nov. 8, 1683, aged 21.
One,
In memory of Alice, wife of Robert Cony, Esq; who died Oct. 3,
1676, œtat. 41.
Also one,
In memory of William Cony, Esq; son of Robert Cony, Esq; and
Alice his wife, &c. who died Jan. 6, 1742, aged 82: who married
Edith, daughter of Sir Humphrey Edwin, Kt. of the city of London:
with the arms of Cony, impaling - - - - - - -, a cross flory engrailed
between four birds, - - - - -.
On an altar monument here, now deprived of its brasses, were
painted anciently these arms, sable, four fusils, or lozenges, 1, 2, and
1, ermin in a borbure engrailed, or--Hunston; impaling, azure, a
chevron, between 3 bucks trippant, or—Green; also Hunston, with
Audley and Touchet, quarterly, viz. gules, a fret, or, and ermin a chevron, gules. By this it appears that this was for one of the family of
Hunstons, who had a lordship in this parish.
On the pavement here are several gravestones for the family of
Richers.
John Richers, Gent. who dyed a batchelor, Sept. 1, 1707, aged 40°
— Bernard Richers.— Valery Richers, Gent. who died a
batchelor, in 1708, aged 75.—Matthew Richers, Gent. who died
June 19, 1713, and Sarah his wife, in 1716.
In the east window of this south isle, which was formerly ornamented with curious painted glass, is to be seen the effigies of a person on his knees, with a great broad belt hanging over his shoulder,
therein a great broad sword, and this label;
Tu sis memor mej, Jacobe, in p'se'tia Dej.
In the said window, no doubt, was the figure of St. James, before
whom he was a supplicant.
Here was the altar and chantry of St. James. The person here
represented was Sir Thomas Daniel, a person of eminency in the reign
of King Henry VI. governour of Rising castle, in Norfolk, and had a
patent in the 16th of Edward IV. to found this chantry, and endow
it with 32 acres, &c. of land; who bore argent, four fusils in pale, sable.
In one of the upper windows of this isle, is a profane representation
of the Supreme Being, habited in a loose purple gown, with a long
beard, resting his right hand on a staff of gold, and crowned with
glory; pointing out the fore finger of his left hand, as dictating to the
Virgin Mary, who is seated before him, with a pen in her hand, and
paper on a desk before her. The deity stands at the door, or entrance
of a castle, embattled, and with turrets, surrounded by a wall embattled; within this wall is the Virgin, and many angels are looking
down from the tower, &c.; there has been a legend, and the word—
Convertit—is now legible.
The artist has represented a great degree of majesty in the face of
the Deity, and seems, like Phidias of old, to have had those verses of
Homer in his thoughts;
[I, KAIK[?]ANEIEIN] &c. Hom. Iliad. lib. 1, &c.
On the font is this date,
Ano. [..] Dni. [..] m. [..] c. c. c. c. c. === and [..] thanks
Against the walls of the nave are painted the insignia of the 12
tribes of Israel; and at the upper end a gravestone,
In memory of Robert Butler, Esq; who took to wife Elizabeth
Wright, and died August 1, 1630, in her 59th year: with the arms of
Butler, a chevron between three cups, with handles.
In the windows on the north side of the nave, (over the arches,)
were these arms;—argent, three flowers-de-lis, azure, between seven
cross croslets fitché, in a bordure, sable, Hillary;—argent, three
buglehorns, sable, garnished, or, Blower;—gules, a spread eagle, or,
Goddard;—gules, three dexter gauntlets, pendant, or, and a canton
checque, or and azure, Denver; quarterly or and gules, in the 2d quarter, an annulet sable, in a bordure of the last bezantee, Rochford;—
quarterly, (in the first and fourth,) argent, and sabel, Hoo;—in the 2d
argent, a crescent sable, in the 3d argent, a mullet, sable;—azure, on
a fess sable, three roses between three acorns, argent, Daniel; Rochford, with his crest, a man's head, with a long beard, and an high cap,
ermine.
Against the upper pillar of the nave, on the north side, was the
staircase leading to the rood loft; over the door is to be seen an old
piece of painting of the Virgin and the child Jesus, and on a scroll,
Orate p. bono statu Joh. Nelson, et p. aiab; parentu. et benefactor.
suor.
And on the opposite pillar on the south side, the painted figure of
St. John the Evangelist.
On the windows of the north isle, are the arms of Goddard, Denver,
Howard, of the East-Angles, and the see of Ely, the triangular emblem
of the Trinity, St. George's arms, and argent, a saltier, vert, Noon;—
also argent, a chevron, between three wolves heads erased, gules,
Lovell; here were also argent, a chevron, between three griffins heads
erased gules, Tilney,—Rochford, and Goddard, impaling Denvers.
The east end of this isle is taken in by a screen, and was the chapel
and burial-place of the Rochfords. On the pavement lies a large
marble gravestone, whereon has been a long great cross of brass,
standing on a pedestal of four steps, with a cross on the head of it,
and six shields, three on each side, all reaved, as is the inscription,
which was on a rim of brass round it, of which this only remains,
Hic jacet Willm. filius === constabularij castri de Wisbeache
[===] Januarij Ao. Dni. Millo.
This is said to be in memory of William, only son of Sir John
Rochford, who left three daughters and coheirs.
South of this stands a large altar monument, ornamented with
curious brass work, and the effigies of a knight in armour, a lion at
his feet, with that of his lady, and a dog at her feet, over his head are
two shields, with Rochford's arms and a flower-de-lis, in the 1st and
4th quarter, the two shields over the lady are gone, and so is the rim
of brass that went round it, with its inscription, this only remaining;
=== Domina Mátilda, uror ej.
que obijt === Anno Dni. Millesimo tricentesimo, sexagesimo nono:
Weaver says this is the monument of Sir Ralph Rochford, Knt (fn. 20) this
Sir Ralph (as I have above observed) was son of Sir Saier de Rochford,
and married Matilda, daughter and coheir (as is said) of a Walpole.
The east window of this chapel is beautified with the effigies of
many saints, &c.; at the bottom of the pannels are the pourtraitures
of a man in armour on his knees; on his surtout, argent, a bend ingrailed, azure, and a chief gules; this I take to be for Ralph Lord
Cromwell, Lord Tateshale, governour of Rising castle, in the time of
Henry VI. and that of his wife, who appears by her arms, on her
vest, or inward garment, to be a Rochford, quarterly, or and gules,
&c. and on her outward garment, the arms of Cromwell. Also the pourtraiture of a Rochford in armour, with the shield of Rochford, and an
annulet sable, in the 2d quarter, and his lady with the arms of Godard,
on her inward vest, with an annulet, azure, on the breast of the ealge.
Another pourtraiture of a Rochford, and a lady with the arms of
Rochford on her outward vest, and of Cromwell (though obscure) on
her inward vest.
On the pavement of the chancel, lie several gravestones—one with
a brass plate,
In memory of Henry Frencham A.M. sometime fellow of Magdalen
College, Oxford, and for the space of 30 years parson of Walpole, a
faithful feeder of his flock, who took to wife Anne Walvard, widow,
daughter of Robert Baynard Esq; by whom he had Barnabas and
Anne, he died Jan. 31, 1629, in the 71st year of his age; with these
arms cut in stone, viz. six coats, quarterly—1st, a fess between two
chevrons—2d, an eagle displayed, with two necks—3d, a bend fusily
—4th, a cross ingrailed—5th, a cross moline—6th, as the first; the
crest, an unicorn's head erased.
On another with a brass plate,
Of your charite pray for the soule of Syr John Whetom, su'tyme
p'sone of Walpole, and of Leveryngt. whiche decessy'd the xxiiii day
of July m. v. xxxvii, on whose sowle J'hu have m'cy.
On a brass plate
Si quœris advena, suas hic deposuit reliquias Barnabas Frenchamus,
juvenis ultra annos pius, supra vires sedulus, cujus in interitu, duplex hoc
potuit malum, herede patrem orbare et conjuge. Proh flebile fatum consumptio rapuit filium et tristitia conjugem. Tam chari pignoris damnum
non prius deflere destitit luctuosa parens, quam eundem cum filio tumulum habuit, et in cœlo, solium, audijt Deus, et dedit; obijt filius Augusti
25°. mater Novemb. 15. Ao, 1652, Ao. Æt. 87: with a quartered shield
as above.
A gravestone,
In memory of Francis Ireland, vicar 32 years, died Janu. 7, 1632,
in his 69th year.
Another with a brass plate for,
John Austin—Sub hoc marmore tanquam incarceratum jacet corpus
Joh. Austin, Gen. donec D'nus apparet in judicio, et sepulchra reddant
mortua, in cujus memoriam Maria nuper uxor ejus hoc condit; filios
eorum si numeras tres sunt, unicam tantum filiam, pie et religiose, et
pacifice vixit, et non sine dolore multo de suis et bonis accubuit. Sepult.
decimo tertio Junij Ano. Dnj Mill'imo, sexcentesimo, vicesimo, octavo:
with this shield, - - - - -, a chevron between three crosses patteé.
Elizabeth Frencham, the virtuous wife of Michael Beresford, deceased
May 31, 1654, aged 21.
Here lyeth William Crane, Gent. son of William Crane, minister, in
Burford, in the county of Wilts, who departed this life the 10th of Nov.
in the 33d year of his age, ano. D'ni 1682.
On a marble grave-stone, argent, three lozenges, azure, each
charged with an escalop, or; crest a stag's head erased, with a branch
in his mouth,—Hart,
H. S. E. Gulielmus Hart, clericus, rector et vicarius de Walpole,
dignissimus, rectoris munus. per unum et quinquaginta, vicarij per duos
et quadraginta annos fideliter executus est, officio satisfecit; Theologus
ad primœvœ religionis normam fide, moribusq; incorruptissimus, ingenij,
facundiœ, pictatis laude florentissimus, varicœq; eruditionis elegantiâ,
ornatissimus vir. Vitœ ad amussim dispositu atq; ordinatœ sanctitas,
summa comitas, par ab omnibus diligebatur, colebatur, probissimus,
gravissimus, venerabilis senex. Amicitiâ ejus nihil fidelius, sermonibus
nihil jucundius, nihil doctius, perpetuâ mentis, corporisq; sanitate
et vigore usus est, et in ipso fere œtatis flore tantam non oetogenarius
decessit, In altissimâ tranquillitate, pariq; veneratione admortalitatis
finem pervenit mensis Maij die 2do. A. D. 1726, œtat. suœ lxxix.—
Juxta jacent Alicia Hart, Gulielmi et Susannœ filia, quæ decem annos
nata animam Deo reddidit, et Gulielmus eorund. nepos, Gulielmi et
Mariæ Hart de Boston, in com. Linc. filius primogenitus ad cœlum
redire maturavit quinq; menses natus, infantulus.
On a mural monument under an arch in the south wall, is the small
effigies of a man kneeling before a desk, with a book—
En pius ornator Templi, benefactor egenis,
Solamen pariœ consorti fidus amicus.
Robertus Butler, obiit primo die Aug. Ano. 1630, œtat. sua 59, ej.
monumentum hoc, Gulielmus Coney, generosus, statuit Ao. Dom. 1632.
Abi viátor, et ad tuos reversus narra te vidisse locum in quo Pater
Patriœ jacet; and Butler's arms as above.
On the windows on the south side of this chancel, have been
painted several saints; St. Alban, St. William Archbishop of York;
St. Hugh Bishop of Lincoln; St. Cuthburga, St. Etheldreda with a
crosier; St. Sexburga, with a palm branch, are still remaining: at
the bottom an orate for the persons that glazed it, the date of the
year 1423 is to be seen in three of the windows, and under the 5th
window,
Orate p. aiab; Rich. Bowre, === ejusd. === ista' fenestra'
vitrari fecerunt Ao. Dni. m. ccccxxiii.
On the windows on the north side also, have been many; in the
3d window is St. John the Evangelist, and—Orate p. aiâ Joh. Frecup,
=== Ao. Dni. mo. ccccxxv.—St. John, of Beverly, Archbishop.
of York. In the 4th m. ccccxxiii, and in the 5th, St. Edmund,
Archbishop of Canterbury.
The ascent to the communion table consists of many steps, under
it is an arch, which will contain many horses, for the use of those
parishioners, who are obliged, by the badness and length of the ways,
to come on horseback to church.
Rectors.
John de Langton was rector in the reign, of King Edward I.
Bishop of Chichester, &c.
1300, Roger de Noston.
1305, John de Leek, collated by the Bishop of Ely.
Bernard de la Bret.
1310, Richard de Ideshale, presented by the King; the temporalities of the see of Ely, being then in his hands, said to be void by the
residence of Bret, in the court of Rome.
1310, Guicard, son of Amadeus Lord De la Bret, by papal provision.
1319 John de Gysslingham, by papal provision.
1320, Mr. John de Brecham, LL. D. by the Bishop of Ely, an
exchange for Redgrave, in Suffolk.
1326, Mr. Ralph de Pagrave (exchanged for Sudburn, &c. in
Suffolk) by the Bishop.
1328, Mr. Laur. Falstof. Ditto.
1330, Mr. John of Oxford, Ditto.
Robert de Fulborn occurs rector, either of this church, or
St. Andrew's Walpole, the time not mentioned.
1361, John de Swynleigh, by the King, in the vacancy of the see:
he was chaplain to King Edward III. who gave him the prebend
which William de Cusantia held in the collegiate church of St.
Stephen, Westminster, August 6, 1360, and the custody of the free
chapel, of St. Anne de Alvedely, in 12 days after, on the 21st of
October, in the said year, the King also gave him the prebend of
Isledon, in the church of St. Paul's, London. (fn. 21)
1375, Thomas de Cockfield, by the Bishop, prebend of CarltonKyme, &c. in the church of Lincoln.
1393, Mr Mathew de Ashton. Ditto.
1400, Thomas Patesley, Ditto, archdeacon of Ely in 1387.
1411, Bartholemew Colman, (exchanged with Patesley, for Denington, in Cambridgeshire) Ditto.
John Whetom, died rector 1537.
Andrew Pern, S.T.B. afterwards dean of Ely.
1594, William Brown compounded for first fruits, May 13, 1594.
1598, John Fox, compounded December 15,
1599, Henry Frencham, compounded August 4, 1599, presented by
the Queen.
1675, William Hart.
1726, Henry Fish, by the King, vicar also of Middleton, in Norfolk,
presented by the Crown.
1743, William Everard. Ditto.
This rectory was formerly valued at 46 marks per ann. and was
called the portion of John de Langton, so taxed when he was rector.
Peter-pence 13d. the present valor is 21l. and pays first fruits and
tenths.
Besides the chantry of St. James, there was in this church the
chantry of St. Catherine, also the chantry of St. Edmund and St.
Thomas, but in which church they were I cannot say. The chantry
of St. Thomas was valued at 4l. 13s. 9d. and that of St. Edmund, at its
dissolution in King Edward the Sixth's time at 6l. 8s. 4d. and I find
these pensions paid to to the late chantry priests.—William Clerk,
late incumbent of a chantry, in 1555, 4l. 1s. 6d. per ann.—William
alias Robert Lynne, late incumbent of a chantry in Walpole church 5l.
per ann.—William Ebden, late incumbent of, &c. in Walpole church
5l. per ann.
On the first of June, in the 5th of King James I. the chapel called
the chantry chapel of St. Edmund, in Walpole, with one rood of land
adjoining, (by which it seems to be distinct from the church, and in
some part of the township) was granted to William Herick, and
Arthur Ingram, together with 20 acres of land and pasture, in the
village and fields of Walpole, in the tenure of John Repps;—also 12
acres of arable land in Walpole, in the tenure John Neale;—5 acres
in Walpole, in the tenure of St. Edmund's chantry;—20 acres of land
and pasture in Walpole, in the tenure of William Catharn;—9 acres
of land and pasture there in the tenure of William Bynns;—13 acres
of land and pasture in the tenure of John Brewer;—5 acres of land
and pasture in the tenure of the chantry;—2 acres of land and
pasture in the tenure of William Daniel, also all those lands, tenements, &c. whatsoever belonging to the said chantry of St. Edmund,
which came to King Edward VI. on its dissolution, and were valued
at 10l. per ann. In 1590, all this was farmed by Mary Butler at 10l.
0s. 7d. per ann.
Here was also the chantry of St. Mary in Walpole Fen, valued at 5l.
2s. 1d. per ann. the advowson of this was in the Godards, &c. afterwards
in the Hobarts, &c. as above mentioned.
In the 38th of Henry VI. John Glodesforth and Anne his wife conveyed messuages and lands in Tilney, Islington, Walpole, &c. with the
advowson of St. Mary's chapel of Walpole, to John Lyhert, and Henry
Hobart conveyed this chapel in the Fen end, in the 36th of Hen. VIII.
to Nicholas Rookwood.
There is a curious print of this church, dedicated to the late Lord
Colerain, who was (as I presume) at the charge of it.
St. Andrew's Church: this is a regular, well built church consisting of a nave, a north and south isle, a chancel, with a south porch,
all covered with lead.
At the west end is a square steeple, with 4 bells.
In the north windows of the chancel were these arms;—Blower;—
Rochford, impaling, argent, a fess dauncette between six cross crosslets, sable;—Rochford, impaling, argent, on a fess, between three
cinquefoils, sable, three crescents, or, Denver;—argent, a lion rampant
and crusily of cross crosslets, gules, crowned or, Brews;—azure, three
crescents, argent, Thorp:—azure, a saltier and chief or Bruce;—
Calthorp;—Carvile;—Derham:—Stapleton; sable, a cross engrailed
or, Peyton:—and argent, a cross flory, sable, Hasilden, quarterly.
On the south windows, ermine, Earl of Richmond, and Duke of
Britan;—Woodhouse;—gules, a bend nebuleè between three cinquefoils, argent, - - - -; argent, a cross sable, Norwich priory;—sable on
a bend, argent, three lis of the first;—sable, three martlets, or;—or,
two lions passant, azure, Dudley;—vairy, gules and argent;—argent,
a bend ingrailed gules, Culpeper;—argent, a chief ermine;—sable, a
bend between three crescents, or, Debenham.
Rectors.
In 1229, Alexander was rector, when it appears that he had a vicar
under him. Ralph, then his vicar, perceiving the tithes of certain
lands in this parish, of right belonged to the prior and convent of
Lewes, and that Adam, his predecessor, by violence took the said
tithes by the assent of Alexander, rector, restored the same. (fn. 22) The
tithes here mentioned were those which William the first Earl Warren
gave to the aforesaid priory; and in 1230, Thomas Bishop of Norwich
ordained that the rector of this parish should pay to the priory afore6 marks per ann. and so take the said tithes to himself, and the rector
of Lewes's mediety in West Walton 4 marks per ann.
Brisgotus, rector, sans date.
1294, Boga de Clare occurs rector of Walpole; this church, as I
take it.
John de Brews was rector in the reign of Edward I. the
rectory was then taxed at 64 marks per ann. Peter-pence 16d. the
prior of Lewes had a portion of tithe, valued at 5l. per ann.
Robert de Spiney, resigned in 1325.
1325, William de Cliff, by the prior, &c. of Lewes, an exchange
for Leek in York diocese.
1339, Thomas de Lewes, by John Earl Warren, on a grant from the
King, of the advowson: the priory of Lewes being in the King's
hands, on account of the wars.
1344, The King presented to this church, the temporalities being
in him.
Vicars.
1362, Walter Colton, presented to the vicarage (newly erected) by
the prior, &c. of Lewes. In the 26th of Edward III. the prior had a
grant to appropriated this church.
Hugh de Chintriaco, prior of Lewes, ordered May 5, 1361, that
whereas the churches of Walpole, and East Greensted, in Sussex, were
appropriated to that house, 30s. per ann. should be paid to the sacrist,
and another sum to the monks for cloathing out of the profits of the
said churches; this appropriation was confirmed by Andrian, minister
of the order of the Cistericians, on the feast of the purification in the
said year; and on this the prior was taxed for tithes of the rectory
at 42 marks, 8s. 10d. ob. q. and the vicar at 21 marks 4s. 5d. q.; and
and on July 31, 1372, it was agreed by indenture between the prior
and Walter, vicar, that he should obtain a confirmation to be made
between them.
—, Richard Bennet.
1409, Richard Chamberlain, on Bennet's resignation, an exchange
for Askeby Terreby, in Lincoln diocese, by the prior of Lewes.
Richard Revell occurs vicar in 1401.
John Cannock.
1472, William Canyngston.
1504, Thomas Leman, instituted.
1504, John Daycot, vicar, wills to be buried on the north side of
this church, before his hall; gives 30 stone of lead to the church
work, and a suit of vestments of white damask branched with angels
of gold, or lily pots, like the red suit in the said church, and a cow to
the parish.
On the 22d, of December, in the 29th of Henry VIII. this appropriated rectory, with the advowson of the vicarage, was granted to
Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk, which was conveyed by fine to the
King, by Robert, the prior, and the convent of Lewes.
The prior from time beyond memory, used to pay to the Bishops
of Norwich an annual pension of 3l. 11s. 1d. out of this rectory appropriated, but Robert, the late prior, and convent having demised
this rectory to Nicholas Fordham, Gent. for 60 years, the Bishop of
Norwich released the pension to Fordham, for the term of his lease
July 12, Ao. 1 Edward VI.
1597, Robert Dixon, on March 22d, compounded for first fruits.
1599, Francis Ireland, October 23d compounded, presented by John
Holland, Esq. hâc vice.
1632, William Sandford, March 17, compounded.
1684, William Hart.
1725, Thomas Coleborn, by Henry Lord Colerain, on Hart's death.
1762, Mr. Smith, by the Lord Chancellor.
The present valor is 26l. 13s. 4d. and pays tenths and first fruits.
In this town the Romish saint, St. Godric, is said to have been
born, who was at first a pedlar, and after went on a pilgrimage to
Rome and Jerusalem, and lived a hermit at Finchale, near Durham,
where he died in 1170; (fn. 23) many miracles are ascribed to him, and his
girdle that he left had so great a virtue in it, as to make barren
women fruitful.
The sea bank at this town from St. Hellin's chapel next Terrington,
to Novechgate in West Walton, is 3 miles in length.
At a place called Cross Keys, in this parish, is a passage over the
Washes, at the mouth of the river Nene, to Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire, (when the tide is out, and before its reflux,) for horses and carriages, and King John passing over here into Lincolnshire, a little
time before his death, not observing this, lost most of his baggage, or
carriages, by the reflux of the tide.
Here is a guide always attending to conduct passengers over,
bearing a wand, or rod in his hand, probably in imitation of Moses,
who held a rod, when he conducted the Israelites through the Red
Sea.