Sheffield and its Environs 13th to the 17th century.

by Thomas Walter Hall.

PREFACE

My thanks are due to Colonel H. Brooke Taylor, for permission to search his chambers in the Town Hall at Bakewell for hidden treasure, in the shape of pre-reformation land charters court rolls and the like; to Mr Robert Shirley of Waterhouse Farm near Longnor, for a sight of his t.i.tle deeds to Hawksyard; to his son Mr Edwin Leslie Shirley of Hawksyard, for a very pleasant visit to his ancestral home in The Moorlands of Staffordshire, with its medieval tradition and interesting a.s.sociations; and to Mr James R. Wigfull, for an excellent little map of Hawksyard and the surrounding country.

It is only through the kindness and good nature of others, that a systematic search for local history can proceed and although contributions acc.u.mulate in small quant.i.ties, there is no more fruitful or reliable source of information, as to people and places of bygone days, than the land charters and court rolls covering the period from the Domesday survey to the reformation.

Many bundles of old t.i.tle deeds, unopened for centuries, yet lie hidden in out-of-the-way corners and on inaccessible shelves; it should be part of the work of every archaeological society to extract from all available deeds, relating to its own district, whatever useful history they may contain.

Every countryside, every village and every town becomes a more interesting place to its inhabitants, when its history is known. The names of persons and places become intelligible, dates and letters on buildings can be accounted for, disused bridle roads and paths can be traced, the heraldry of the stained gla.s.s in the church and of the tombstones in the churchyard can be read with understanding, local genealogies can be extended and long cherished family traditions can often be verified or explained.

It is therefore of importance that whenever these ancient writings make their appearance, there should be some person or a.s.sociation of persons ready and willing to examine them, not only with the object of extracting any local history they may contain, but also of recording it in a form suitable for future reference.

T. WALTER HALL.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo Ethel Eadon_

Before 1290. =Charter= of Jordan de Pickeburne. (Brodsworth near Doncaster)]

The Brooke Taylor Collection.

I

13th century. Prior to the statute _Quia Emptores_, 18 Edw I (1290).

=Charter= (Lat) confirming a grant from Jordan son of Thomas de Pickeburne to Gilbert Cook of Rickehale, for a certain sum of money, which he gave to the grantor by hand as a fine (_in gersumma_), of one acre of land and a half, with the appurtenances, in the north field of Pickeburne at the green hill, lying between the proper land of the grantor on the one part and land which Jordan Wlm' formerly held on the other part; of which one end b.u.t.ted upon the field of Hanepol and the other end on land of Sir Marmeduke Darel; and also a plot of meadow ground in the meadows of Pickeburne; to wit, it lay in length and in breadth one rod and three quarters, between the meadow of the fee of Rockelay and the meadow of Robert Knou?s, of which one end b.u.t.ted upon the south cave (_antrum australe_) and the other end upon the north cave (_antrum boreale_); to hold and to have of the grantor and his heirs to the said Gilbert and his heirs or whomsoever; and howsoever and whatsoever time he should wish to give, to bequeath, to a.s.sign or to sell, in fee and inheritance free quietly peacefully and entirely; with all rights of common, eas.e.m.e.nts, liberties and appurtenances, without reservation; paying thenceforth annually to the grantor and his heirs one halfpenny of silver on the day of saint John the baptist, for all secular services, exactions, taxes, suits of court and demands; warranty of t.i.tle etc. =Witnesses=: Helias de Scauceby, Thomas his son, Henry of the same place, William Joye of Pickeburne, Hugh son of Beatrice, Thomas Fossard of the same place (_sic_), William de Fonte. =Vellum=: one skin 6 4, seal missing. =Notes=: this interesting charter, of which a photographic reproduction is given as a frontispiece, is in perfect condition, except that the seal is missing. It is a subinfeudation of lands in the township of Pickburn-with-Brodsworth, in the parish of Brodsworth and wapentake of Strafforth, four miles north-west of Doncaster; for which Gilbert Cook paid a gersuma or fine to Jordan de Pickburn. In the reign of Edward the confessor, Pickburn was part of the lands of Alsie the Saxon lord; but after the conquest it was held by Nigel Fossard under the earl of Morton, who accompanied William from Normandy in his successful invasion of England. The earl subsequently forfeited his English possessions and Nigel Fossard, his subinfeudatory, came to be acknowledged tenant of the crown. Gilbert Cook may have been descended from Alberus de Coci (Cook), who after the conquest held Hickleton and part of Cadeby. No trace of Rickehale can be found. Jordan Wlm' is clearly written, probably it is a contraction of Woolmer?

Hanepol is mentioned in Domesday, it was a manor before the conquest, belonging to Swein. The modern name is Hampole and it lies about two miles north of Pickburn.

Sir Marmeduke Darel was living 31 Hen III (1247), in which year he had a charter of free warren at Brodsworth. The Darels got Brodsworth from the de Buslis; they continued in possession from the beginning of the 13th to the beginning of the 16th century; the last of the Darels being Sir Thomas, who died without issue 23rd November 1505; see "South Yorkshire"

vol I, page 315.

The fee of Rockley was in Worsborough and this land near Pickburn must have adjoined part of that fee. The Rockleys were settled in Worsborough at the time of the conquest and continued in undisturbed possession until the civil wars. Knou?s may in later times have been Knovis. Scauceby now Scawsby, lies two miles south-east of Pickburn. It appears to have been a more important place in Saxon times than it is to-day. It is mentioned in Domesday as Scalchebi. Helias may mean Ellis. The surname Joye has a small i for the initial letter.

Nigel Fossard above mentioned was, after the death of the earl of Morton, one of several landowners in the deanery of Doncaster who held direct from the crown; his fee included lands at Brodsworth and he also had a house at Doncaster; but his baronial seat was Mulgrave Castle in north Yorkshire.

William de Fonte was probably the prior of Ecclesfield, which priory belonged at the date of this charter to the abbey of Fontenelle or saint Wandrille in Normandy.

Probably William de Fonte engrossed this charter and added his name as the last witness, which was a common practice of monks and scriveners.

Judith, niece of William I and wife of earl Waltheof lord of Hallam, placed a colony of monks from Fontenelle at Ecclesfield; probably in the 11th century, as she was married in 1070; see "Archaeologia" vol 26, page 352. From charter-evidence it is certain that the priory was in existence in 1141. From this it may be a.s.sumed that this beautifully written charter had its origin in Ecclesfield priory, and was taken by prior William to Pickburn, where the other witnesses would meet, to see possession of the land given and the grant confirmed by deed.

=Genealogy deduced.=

(i) THOMAS DE PICKEBURNE = ......

JORDAN both living shortly before 1290

(ii) HELIAS DE SCAUCEBY = ......

THOMAS both living shortly before 1290

II

13th century. Prior to the statute _Quia Emptores_, 18 Edw I (1290).

=Charter= (Lat) confirming a grant from William de Mertone to Henry son of Roger Palmer, of one toft in the town of Mertone and two acres of his land; that toft and those acres which Roger his son formerly held of him to the end of all things; to wit, the said Roger the said land either held or retained, for homage and services; to have and to hold to him and his heirs or a.s.signs, from him (the grantor) or his heirs, freely quietly and entirely, with all liberties and eas.e.m.e.nts, so much land in the town of Mertone, with the appurtenances; paying thenceforth annually himself or his heirs or a.s.signs to him (the grantor) and his heirs, one pound of c.u.mmin at the feast of saint Michael the archangel, for all services exactions and demands; and he William and his heirs, the said land, with the appurtenances, to the said Henry and his heirs or a.s.signs, against all men and women, did warrant for ever. =Witnesses=: Richard de Thorintone, Adam de Pultone, James de Poltone (_sic_), Henry de Karletone, Roger son of John de (?)aynol, Emery (_Aumaricus_) de Lekamtone and others. =Vellum=: one skin 6 3, portion of a green seal, obscure. =Notes=: the form of the deed necessitates a date prior to 18 Edw I; and it is only by the names of the persons mentioned in the charter that the approximate date can be fixed. Mertone is an early form of Marton or Markeaton, two miles north-west of Derby, Richard le Palmer was a witness to a lease of a house in Markton (Markeaton) temp Edw I, see Jeayes "Derbyshire Charters", number 1651, page 205. The words "about 1275" are written on the back of the charter, in a hand of later date.

=Genealogy deduced.=

ROGER PALMER = ......

HENRY both living shortly before 1290

III

=1310= Monday next before the feast of All Saints (1st November).

=Charter= (Lat), dated at Kenworthe?, confirming a grant from William Nolbildon (?) and Margery his wife to William de Baggyleigh and his heirs, of one messuage and five acres of land, with the appurtenances, in Norworthen and Kenworthe?, without any reservation; to have and to hold to him and his heirs, of the chief lord of the fee, by services thenceforth owing and accustomed; freely quietly well and in peace, with all liberties and eas.e.m.e.nts to the said land, in the town of Norworthen and Kenworthe? howsoever described; they, the said William and Margery and their heirs, all the lands aforesaid with the messuage aforesaid and with all their appurtenances, situated as before written, to the said William (Baggyleigh) and his heirs and a.s.signs, against all men did warrant and defend. =Witnesses=: Robert de Masey of Sale, Robert de Tatton, Richard de Kogworth, Richard de Brounehul, Roger de Kenworthe?, Robert del Cley (?) clerk. =Vellum=: one skin 8 2, two seals missing. =Notes=: this is a grant of land in Northenden in the hundred of Macclesfield, Cheshire. It is on the south bank of the river Mersey, seven miles south of Manchester. Withenshaw Hall is the ancient family seat of the Tattons, who were lords of the manor. See Ormrod's "History of Cheshire" volume iii, pages 604 to 611.

=Genealogy deduced.=

WILLIAM NOLBILDON = MARGERY both living 1 Nov 1310

IV

=1332= Tuesday in the feast of the translation of saint Dunstan (7th September). =Quitclaim= (Lat), dated at Kenworthe?, from Emma daughter of Richard de Macworth to Sir William de Baggelegh knight and his heirs, of all her right and claim in all lands or tenements, with their appurtenances, which she had of the gift and testament (?) of Roger del Tatton (?) in Kenworthe? in the town of Nortworhthe? (_sic_) with the annual rent for the said lands. =Witnesses=: Roger le Masey of Sale, John de Carmarthon, William de Tatton, Thomas del Brome, Adam Lobias.

=Vellum=: one skin 8 3, seal missing. =Notes=: the writing is much faded in places.

=Genealogy deduced.=

RICHARD DE MACWORTH = ......

EMMA living 7 Sep 1332

V

=1353= Sunday next after the feast of saint Adelmus the confessor (25th May). =Agreement= (Lat), dated at Northworth?n between William de Tatton of the one part and Robert his son of the other part: to wit, that the said William as witness (_superstes_) gave and granted for all his life to the said Robert his heirs and a.s.signs, all his messuages lands and tenements, rents and services, which he had etc in the town of Northworth?n Kenworthe? and Wythynschagh, with all their appurtenances, except so much of those lands and tenements which Thomas Medock the miller (?) held from the said William for a term of years, in the town of Northworth?n, with the appurtenances; to have and to hold to the said Robert his heirs and a.s.signs freely quietly etc, for all the life of the said William; of the chief lord of that fee, for services thenceforth due and of right accustomed; provided that the said Robert should maintain and order for the said William, during the life of himself William, suitable and sufficient sustenance; and if it happen that the said Robert, during the life of the said William his father, should die, the said William agreed (?) that all the said lands and tenements rents and services, with the appurtenances, for the time of the life of him, to him should return revert and remain, except those lands and tenements in Wythyns.h.a.gh, with the appurtenances; to wit, those tenements which the said William first held, which lands and tenements with the appurtenances, the said William granted and gave, which during the life of himself William would remain in the possession of Sybil wife of the said Robert and her relations, for their maintenance. =Witnesses=: William de Hynckley parson of the church of Northworth?n, Richard de Baggelegh, Richard de Brom, William son of Richard de Tatton, John son of Roger (?) de Kenworthe?. =Vellum=: one skin 9 3, seal missing.