Volume IX Expanded Endnotes
Image
The Holsteins above are feeding in the former meadows of the 17th century Laundry farm.
Introduction
The expanded endnotes are published for the benefit of the readers of Wolfhall Manor. Please note that this volume contains a glossary which explains the abbreviated references to publications. No glossary is published on this website.
Preface
There are no endnotes for this section. However, a few notes are posted here. Recommended reading for Wolfhall Manor:
1. VCH Great Bedwyn.
2. Wolfhall and Tottenham: The Homes of the Seymour and the Bruce by AW Adams. 1893.
3. Reverend JE Jackson. Household accounts of Sir Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp, Earl of Hertford, Duke of Somerset.
4. Earl of Cardigan.
The Wolfhall estate probably changed little during the mediaeval period. In the Tudor period, the introduction of deer parks, and the enclosure of fields brought the first fundamental changes to the area. In the late 18th century, the nature of the landscape was dramatically altered by the Kennet & Avon canal which cut the estate in half. By the end of the Victorian period, two railway companies built and operated lines across the estates. There was no railway station at Wolfhall, but a short walk led to East Grafton station, or to two stations at Burbage. The Savernake Forest Hotel formerly served the Savernake railway stations. Savernake Low Level station closed in 1966, and Savernake High Level station closed in 1961. The hotel has now closed its doors, and has been converted into flats.
Chapter 1: A Divided Estate
1. VCH Great Bedwyn; The minority of Henry III by David Carpenter. University of California Press, 1990. The accuracy of the stories of these two mistresses is suspect and should be treated with caution. The ladies have been associated with men, other than the tenants of Wolfhall.
2. VCH East Garston, Maidencourt, Berks. Alice may have married William de Coleville after the death of John le Marshal.
VCH Garsington, Oxon: Alice de Coleville was the daughter of Adam le Rich. She held a hidal estate in Garsington, which her husband granted to St.John's hospital, Oxford in 1224
3. VCH Great Bedwyn.
Somerset Record Society. Two Registers formerly belonging to the family of Beauchamp of Hatch, edited by Sir H. C. Maxwell-Lyte. Volume XXXV. 1920
4. Sybil de Coleville married William de Birmingham. There is no record of an association with the Wolfhall estate and the estate may have been sold.
5. SWRO 9/6/45 29 September 1249; 9/6/31 Mid 13th century; 9/6/69 Latter half of 13th century; 1300/5 1312.
6. SWRO 1300/11 late 13th cent [1276-1277]; 1300/145;
IPM 12 Edward I, No, 93. 549;
IPM Edward I, File 42, Matilda Husee; Sir Philip Basset [ 1185 – 1271 ] married Ela Longespée [ 1220 -1297 ], a grand-daughter of William Longespée [ 1176 – 1226 ], Earl of Salisbury, and illegitimate son of King Henry II. Ela Longespée also held the third part of Marten manor
7. Aliva Bassett subsequently married Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk [ 1245 - 1302 ]. Her mother held the Wolfhall estate until she sold it to Adam de Stock in 1294;
A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 3 1900. P85-96. edited by HC Maxwell-Lyte; quitclaim of Hugh le Despenser [ 1262 -1326 ] [ the elder ] concerning Wolfhall, Fasterne, Friday after St. Edmund the archbishop, 22 Edward I.
8. Marlborough and the Upper Kennet Country by AR Stedman. 1960: King Edward I visited Wolfhall in December 1302.
9. CPR February 3 1313 Edward II: “on complaint by Robert de Brimesdon of Hungerford and Richard de Stokes, chaplain, that Henry Sturmy, John de Forstebury, . . , together with others, forcibly broke their close and their houses at Wolfhale”.
CCR December 5 1314. Edward II: “Order to deliver to Matilda, . . a moiety of a fee in Wolfhale, in the county of Wilts, which Robert de Hungerford and Geva his wife hold, of the yearly value of 10l”.
10. Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester [ 1291 - 1314 ] was the last family member to be feudal lord of Wolfhall. Hugh de Audley, Earl of Gloucester [ 1289 – 1347 ], the husband of his sister, Margaret, was the feudal lord of Wolfhall in 1333.
11. IPM. 18 April 1333, 7 Edward III: Roger de Stoke, Wiltshire. “Wolfhale. The manor held of Hugh Daudelegh . .”.
SWRO 1300/26 1335. Robert and Geva grant Wolfhall manor to Roger de Stock;
CPR November 8 1352 26 Edward III at Windsor: “Grant, for 100s, which Edward de Stokke will pay to the king, to the same Edward of the keeping of the manors of Rusteshale and Wolfhale, which Robert de Hungerford, deceased, held of the inheritance of the said Edward, the king's ward, to hold during his nonage, with the issues from the time of the death of the said Robert”.
Chapter 2: Sir William Esturmy
1. Earl of Cardigan. P85; SWRO 1300/27 1356: Agreement between Edward de Stocke and Henry Esturmy.
2. SWRO 1300/36 1381-1383, Account of funeral expenses for Henry Esturmy; 1300/18 1381; 1300/32 1382.
3. CFR. April 29 1429. Henry VI at Westminster: “and that the said Joan on the day of her death held the manor of Tydecombehuse and 20 acres and 2 virgates of land in Tydecombe Huse, called ' Olyvereslonde,' for term of her life, . .”.
Olyvereslonde was once part of the estate of Oliver le Moyne, who granted Ford Mill to the Prebend of Bedwyn at Salisbury cathedral between 1230 and 1240.
4. The date of the wedding [ 1405 ] follows the alleged birth date of their son [ 1395 ] by 10 years. If their son John was born in 1406, he would have been of age when he inherited the Savernake estates and office of warden from his Esturmy grandfather.
Magna Carta ancestry: a study in colonial and medieval families by Douglas Richardson, Kimball G. Everingham. Sir Roger de Seymour [ died 1365 ], of Penhow in Monmouthshire, married the heiress Cicely de Beauchamp [ died 1394 ]. The Beauchamp estates passed to their son, William Seymour [ 1350 - 1391 ]. He was the father of the Roger Seymour who married Matilda Esturmy. In 1400, Roger Seymour inherited the remaining Beauchamp estates from his cousin, Elizabeth Meriet.
The importance of the Beauchamp estates to the Seymour family is indicated by the title Viscount Beauchamp, which Sir Edward Seymour [ warden 1536 - 1547 ] received after his sister Jane gave birth to the future King Edward VI.
5. Hatch Beauchamp Church by Christopher Cookson. 1972. The Hatch Beauchamp estate was held by the Seymour family for several generations. Following the marriage of Lady Elizabeth Seymour to Thomas Lord Bruce, [ later Earl of Ailesbury ] in 1676, the estate passed to the Bruce family;
Sir Edward Seymour [ Duke of Somerset 1547 - 1552 ] allegedly lived at Hatch court, when he was sheriff of Somerset. The mansion fared no better than Wolfhall under his care.
6. The English Parliament in the Middle Ages by HG Richardson and GO Sayles 1981. Much of the diplomatic and political biography of Sir William Esturmy is provided in this excellent book.
CFR. Sir William Esturmy added to his considerable wealth through mainprise, i.e. by holding a number of estates, and their revenues, during the minority of their heirs. In 1420, King Henry V granted ‘Ludgarsale’ castle by mainprise to William Esturmy, 'chivaler' and Peter Thorp.
7. Select cases before the King's Council, 1243-1482 Volume 35 of Publications of the Selden Society Authors Great Britain. Privy Council, edited by Isaac Saunders Leadam, Selden Society. Harvard University Press, 1918.
Considerable information concerning the trial of the Earl of Devon is published on the website of Sheila Yeo: http://www.yeosociety.com/introduction/Introduction.htm .
CCR October 10, 1390 Richard II: “Memorandum of a mainprise under a pain of 40l made in chancery 17 January this year by John Burneby of London, serjeant at arms, John Tregos of Cornwall, and John Elmede and William Smyth of Devon for Robert Yeo, and an undertaking by him under a pain of 100 marks, that he shall do or procure no hurt or harm to William Wyke”;
CPR January 10 1392 Richard II: “Appointment of William Sturmy and James Chudleigh, John Grenville, sheriff of Devon, and Thomas Credy, the king's serjeant-at-arms, to arrest and bring before the king and council in Chancery Robert Yeo and John Langford”.
The writs were disregarded: “one of the said writs was taken by force from the hands of the said William Wyke by the said Robert Yeo and John Langford his servant and thrown into a well”.
8. CPR February 15 1392. Richard II at Westminster: “Pardon to Edward de Courtenay,Earl of Devon,of all trespasses, negligences, ignorances, harbourings of felons, maintenances”;
CPR February 28 1392. 10 Richard II at Westminster: “Pardon to William Esturmy, knight,for all trespasses, negligences, ignorances, harbourings of felons,maintenances, rebellions, extortions and other misprisions, whereof he is indicted, and of any consequent outlawries”;
CPR June 1397 15 Richard II: “Pardon, at the supplication of the duke of Brittany, to John Langford, servant of Robert Yeo of Heaunton Sachevyle, for the murder of William Wyke”.
Robert's grandson William married John Grenville's niece around 1450. Sir John Grenville was sheriff of Devon in 1391; Sir James Chuddelegh, 1395; William Beaumont 1399.
9. SWRO 1300/42 1397. Papal Bull, Boniface IX to Sir William Esturmy;
CPR February 3 1313 Edward II at Westminster: “on complaint by Robert de Brimesdon of Hungerford and Richard de Stokes, chaplain, that . . . forcibly broke their close and their houses at Wolfhall”; If Richard de Stokkes was the first recorded chaplain of Wolfhall, the chapel cannot have been founded by Sir William Esturmy
10. Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Collected by Richard Hakluyt; edited by Edmund Goldsmid;
The Hanseatic League and the Teutonic Order in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. by Jennifer Franson September 2000;
Rerum Britannicarum Medii Aevi Scriptores: Or Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain. Volume III 1857 edited by JB Sheppard;
Canterbury Cathedral Archives Instructions. Charters related to their missions: CCA-DCC-ChAnt/M/281, 299-305, 308, 387, 399, and 461-464; CCA-DCc-ChAnt/M/299 13 May 1405; CCA-DCC-ChAnt/M/299
11. During political unrest in 1386 and in 1390, King Richard II commanded Sir William Esturmy to inspect Marlborough castle, and make an inventory of its armour and equipment. In 1295, the feudal obligations of Henry Esturmy [ warden 1254 - 1295 ] were described thus: “Henry held of the King in chief the manor of Borbach, with the members of Durleygh and Couelesfeld, by the serjeanty of finding in the army of the King in Wales one esquire armed, and keeping the bailiwick of the King's forest of Savenak”;
There is no reason to believe that Sir William Esturmy was not obliged to fulfil the same responsibility
12. CPR March 13 1403 Henry IV. Licence for William Esturmy, ‘chivaler,’ to enclose and impark 300 acres … in Elvetham
13. The English Parliament in the Middle Ages by Henry Gerald Richardson and George Osbourne Sayles 1981.
SWRO 1300/40 1402. Safe-conduct issued by Burgesses, Echevins and Consuls of Dordrecht, in response to request of Albert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Hannonia, Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friesland. Sir William Esturmy and John Kington, clerk to give safe passage to Blanche daughter of Henry IV travelling to her husband Prince Louis, Duke of Bavaria.
Princess Blanche [ 1392 - 1409 ] is buried at St. Mary's Church, Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Another member of the princess Blanche household was John Chandler, Dean of Salisbury cathedral chapter, who conducted visitations to Bedwyn and Burbage between 1405 and 1412.
14. The Pays de Caux lies in north east Normandy, and includes the former port of Honfleur which was besieged by King Henry V at the beginning of the Agincourt campaign in 1415.
15. SWRO 1300/37 1417; 1300/38 1420; 1300/39 1420.
16. Sir William Esturmy was Member of Parliament in Devon (1391, 1404 [ Unlearned Parliament ]), Hampshire (1384, 1390, ) and Wiltshire (1390, 1393, 1399, 1401, 1413, 1414, 1417, 1422).
The lives of the speakers of the House of Commons, from the time of King Edward III to Queen Victoria by James Manning 1851. P53. The "lawless" parliament was held in the Great Hall of the Benedictine monastery.
17. SWRO 1300/43 1427; 1300/44 1427; 9/11/2 21 January 1427; 9/11/3 23 June 1444; 9/11/4 7 November 1454; 9/11/5 Michaelmas Term 1446; 9/11/6 21 January 1447;National Archives. E326/8244 Records of the Court of Augmentations. 5 Hen. VI [1427]
18. A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 1 1890, P244-252. B. 394; B1778; B1780;
WRO Feet of Fines Henry VII. P169 745. John Esturmy and his wife Isabel sold the Knowle estate to Thomas Croke for 200 marks in 1498; Earl of Cardigan P91 - 94. John Esturmy's grandson Henry kept the Esturmy name alive as late as 1490.
19. VCH Great Bedwyn. Crofton Braboeuf manor was acquired by Easton priory in 1265. In 1390, Sir William Esturmy obtained the estate in an exchange;
SWRO 1300/9 1407 “Grant Thomas Berle to Sir William Esturmy, and Robert Erle, of lands and tenements in Berle by Crofton. Witnesses John Fode, William Pershuyt, Richard Pershuyt, Thomas atte Ferme, John Bryd.Seal”.
20. SWRO 1300/34/A 1404; 1300/33 1404;
VCH Sonning Richard Earley died in possession of Maiden Earley manor in 1502. His heir was his sister Margaret, wife of Thomas Chafyn. Their son William Chafyn, inherited the manor; Burbage Savage manor reverted to Sir John Seymour [ warden 1491 - 1536 ] in 1502. An unsuccessful legal challenge to the title of the estate was made by Richard Erlegh's nephew William Chafin in 1535.
21. CPR. January 26 1453 31 Henry VI at Westminster: “John Spencer, vicar of the church of Colyngbourne Abbat, deposed that . . and Robert and John called his servants into the chamber and told them of his death and prayed them to keep it privy till Sunday following for certain causes which they declared not”;
Sir William Esturmy made a number of generous grants to Easton priory during his lifetime, Inquisitions Ad Quod Damnum C143/408 [ Froxfield ], C143/409 [ Tidcombe ] 13 Richard II;
Parliamentary History online Volumes: 1386-1421 by J.S.R. C.K: Sir William Esturmy made his last will on 19 March 1427 at his inn in the London parish of St. Bridget: “To his servants, the pages of his chamber and his head gardener went various gifts of clothing, tapestry, pieces of plate and sums of money amounting to nearly £50; Earl of Cardigan. P104. Sir William Esturmy left his tapestries with his green bed to John Seymour, and to William Ryngebourne, a bed, a black furred coat, and a silver cup
22. SWRO 1300/41 1476. Inquisition post mortem Sir William Sturmy; CFR. July 18. 1427 Henry VI at Westminster: “Order to the escheator in the counties of Southampton and Wilts to take the fealty of John Seymour, the son of Maud one of the daughters of William Sturmy chivaler and the kinsman and one of the heirs of the said William, . . ; provided always that each of the heirs and parceners have a share of the lands which are held of the king in chief, and so be the king's tenant”.
CFR. April 29 1429 Henry VI at Westminster: “Joan late the wife of William Sturmy, chivaler; July 10. Order to the escheator in the counties of Southampton and Wilts; pursuant to divers inquisitions taken before him showing that Joan late the wife of William Esturmy, knight, on the day of her death held in dower of the endowment of the said William, sometime her Husband”.
VCH Huish A dispute over the possession of Huish manor arose after the death of Sir William Esturmy. He had purchased the estate in 1413. All of the manor finally passed to Sir Edward Seymour [ warden 1536 - 1547] in 1536. In 1692, Sarah, Duchess of Somerset granted the estate in her will to the trustees of the Froxfield Hospital. The hospital held the manor until 1921.
CPR. November 1 1427 Henry VI at Westminster: “It was found by inquisition taken before Robert Assheley, late escheator in the county of Wiltshire, that William Sturmy, knight, by the name of William Esturmy, knight, granted the manor of Huwysh, held in chief to Sir John Stafford, bishop of Bath, Thomas Polton, bishop of Worcester, Hugh Lutrell, knight, Richard Sotewell and Robert Torvey in, fee simple, without licence, hereby they were seised. By reason of this trespass the manor was taken into the king's hands, but now, for 100s. paid in the hanaper, he pardons the trespass, and licences the above-named grantees to have again and to hold the Manor”.
23. CPR. January 26 1453 31 Henry VI at Westminster. Petition: “whereas William Esturmy, knight, was seised of the manors of Wolfhale, Stotyscomb, Staunden, Stapulford, Burbache and of lands in Pikydwode and Crofton, co. Wilts, in his demesne as of fee and died seised, whereafter the petitioner entered into the manor of Wolfhale as kinsman and heir of William to wit son of Maud, daughter of William, divers persons noise a deed of feoffment made by William to John Benger and others of the premises and seisin thereof delivered to John Benger by William Tourney of Stanys”.
24. National Archives C1/19/112 Chancery pleadings addressed to John [Kempe] Cardinal Archbishop of York as Lord Chancellor. Sir John Seymour, grandson of Sir William Esturmy, v. John Benger: Manors of Wolf Hall, Stitchcombe (Stotyscumbe) Standen, Stapleford and Burbage (Burbache), and lands in Pickedwood (Pykydwod) and Crofton;
National Archives C1/18/45 1452-54. Sir John Seymour, grandson of Sir William Esturmy deceased, v. William Tourney, of Staines (Stanys): Manors of Wolf Hall, Stitchcombe (Stotyscumbe) Standen, Stapleford and Burbage (Burbache), and lands, in Pickedwood (Pykydwod) and Crofton;
National Archives C 1/19/360. John, son of Robert Erlegh v Robert Edyngdon, clerk: Deed of enfeoffment, by Sir William Esturmy of the manors of Wolf Hall and Crofton Braybeof;
SWRO 1300/145 [mid 13th cent.-1428] “grant from Robert Erleghe to Dame Joan Esturmy, of life annuity of £9: 6s: 8d out of manors of Wolfhall and Stotescombe”.
25. SWRO 1300/141 1447; 1300/115 1452; 9/6/44 21 December 1446; 9/6/26 23 August 1464.
26. SWRO 1300/116 1464; 1300/117-124 1464-1482; 1300/143 1475; 1300/144/A + B 1475; 1300/158 1525.
Chapter 3: Sir John Seymour
1. Magna Carta ancestry: a study in colonial and medieval families by D Richardson, KG Everingham. 2006;
The marriage of Sir John Seymour [ warden 1427 - 1464 ] and Isabel William produced two sons.
A Bristol Ancestor of the Dukes of Somerset by John AC Vincent, Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, 1886;
A Popular History of Bristol by George Pryce 1861;
Arms and Pedigree of Semour of Payson, Illinois. 1906. “Isabel Seymour died 14 April 1485, seized of divers messuages, cottages, and gardens in the town and suburbs of Bristol”;
History of Monmouthshire by Sir Joseph Bradney volume 4 Part 2 P192.
2. SWRO 1300/53 1427 Writ, Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester, lord of Marlborough and of forest of Savernake, to John Seymour, steward in forest.
3. SWRO 1300/152/A 1464; 1300/152/B early 18th translation of 152A;
4. A reference to “Sir John” in the lease suggests that the document was a copy of an earlier document agreed between the tenant and Sir John Seymour. In 1476, the warden John Seymour was the grandson of Sir John Seymour; Wolfhall provided an income of £16, from which the widowed Isabel was given 80 shillings a year as part of her dower.
5 . WANHM Volume XXXIX 1915 Huish and the Doynels;
Antiquary's Books: The Royal Forests of England by Charles Cox. 1905. The quoted instances, chiefly against the Wroughton and Darrell families, are two of twenty-nine presentments of venison trespasses before the forest justices; The land of Cobham Frith, Holt Lease, and Little Frith lay without the forest. Not all of this land may have belonged to the warden. Cobham Frith was part of Chisbury manor, which was still held by descendants of the Cobham family; John Seymour attempted to claim the bounds of the forest as those defined prior to disafforestation. His motives have never been fully explored.
John Seymour died in 1491 without a knighthood. Although the Earl of Cardigan believed otherwise, his wife Elizabeth Darrell survived him, and held dower estates as late as 1499. Their son, recorded as 18 years and more in 1491, was in his nonage, and it was only in 1499, that some estates were released to him.
6. Margery Wentworth was raised in Yorkshire, at Sheriff Hutton Castle, in the household of her aunt, Elizabeth, countess of Surrey. She died in October 1550; The Ladies in Skelton's 'Garland of Laurel' by MJ Tucker Renaissance Quarterly, Volume 22, No. 4 Winter, 1969. P333-345, University of Chicago Press.
7 . Wiltshire Notes and Queries, An illustrated Quarterly Antiquarian; Genealogical Magazine Volume V. 1905 -1907.
8. Arms and pedigree of Semour of Payson, Illinois. 1906. Sir John Seymour [ warden 1491 - 1536 ] served as sheriff of Wiltshire on three occasions [ 23 Henry VII; 10 Henry VIII; 16 Henry VIII ]. He attended King Henry VIII at Boulogne in 1532 as Groom of the Chamber at a second meeting with King Francis;
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 1: 1509-1514. November 2 1514 at Remmesbury: Letter of Edmund Audley, Bishop of Salisbury to Cardinal Wolsey concerning Sir John Seymour;
CPR February 20 17 Henry VIII at Westminster. Sir John Seymer. To be forester of Groveley, Wilts; CPR 10 February 1
9. Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset (c.1500–1552) by Barrett L. Beer, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.
10. The Horton Woodlands estate consisted of two hamlets served by one parish, and they lay between Wimbourne and Bournemouth;
Sir Thomas Trenchard [ 1479 - 1550 ] was a nephew. He served as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1509 and in 1523. His main claim to fame was as the host of the shipwrecked Archduke Philip of Austria and his wife in 1506
11. University of Nottingham Mi 6/174/54 8 May 1527. The final version of Sir William Filoll's will was signed and witnessed on 14 May 1527. He died in the summer of 1527, and was buried at St. Wulfhilda's church, Horton Woodlands;
The Seymour Family: History and Romance by AA Locke 1911. The transcription of the will is provided from this book;
The House of Commons: 1509 - 1558 by ST Bindoff [ and others ]. Boydell & Brewer, 1982. William Honeychurch MP.
12. The manuscripts of Lord Middleton preserved at Wollaton Hall Nottinghamshire 1891. 1525-6, 1526-7. Court Rolls of the manors of Langton Walysshe, Bloxworth, Winterborne Kingston, Mapelerton, Winterborne Selston, Wambroke, Langton Herynge [all co. Dorset], Thomas Trenchard and other feoffees for the use of William Fillol, 17, 18 Henry VIII. 166 (217) 1526-7. Manorial account for Willoughby-on-the- Wolds [co. Notts], 18 Henry VIII. 169b 1527-8 to 1530-1. Court Rolls of the manors of Wambroke [co. Dorset], Thomas Trencharde, Thomas de la Lynde, John Cayleway, knights, Henry Trencharde, esquire, and William Honychurche, gentleman, feoffees for the completion of the will of William Fyllol, knight, 19 to 22 Henry VIII. 166(218);
National Archives: C 1/673/26: “Edward Seymer, knight, and Dame Katherine, his wife, daughter of Dorothy, wife of John Rogers, knight, and late the wife of Sir William Fyloll. v. [ The said Sir John Rogers, and Thomas Scherlye and John Rowdon. ]: Petition for the examination of these aged witnesses to deeds relating to the manors of Harrynge and Sellinge by Monks Horton, to land there and in Lympne, Estrynghanger [Ostenhanger in Stanford], Horton, Burmarsh, West Hythe, Dymchurch and Aldington, and to the manor of Steeple, late of the said Dorothy”.
13 Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, preserved at Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire by WH Stevenson 1911: "Sir Edward Willoughby is mentioned with Seymour in the private act in 22 Henry VIII, c. 19 (Statutes of the Realm, iii., p. 349) that was necessitated to legalise the irregularities of the settlements resulting from these marriages with the daughters of a man of unsound mind";
Abstracts of Somersetshire Wills by Frederick Arthur Crisp, Volume 2. 1888. P94. Sir William Filoll last will also requested:
"I will that, in the best wise that may be, that the wall above the high awter wyndowe be made playne, in Horton Church, with playster of parys, yf yt made be reasonable had, that playne; surely made, that Jesus be paynted therevppon, sitting upon a Rainbow, in as large stature as the rome will give, underneath hym ymages arysing in significance of the Dome to come".
14. Edward Seymour, (1506-1552) by Albert Frederick Pollard. Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 51;
Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset (c.1500–1552) by Barrett L. Beer. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press 2004;
Anne Seymour, duchess of Somerset (c.1510–1587) by Retha M. Warnicke Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press 2004;
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 8: January-July 1535 (1885), P161-187 edited by James Gairdner. In March 1435, Sir Edward Seymour and his second wife, Anne Stanhope were granted former monastic land at Berkesden in Hertfordshire: See also National Archives E 328/204 3 March 1535;
House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 08 May 1604, Journal of the House of Commons: volume 1: 1547-1629 published 1802 P149. 18 May 1604.
Wives and Daughters: The Women of Sixteenth Century England, by Kathy Lynn Emerson, publ. 1984 (Whitston Pub. Co.). This book revised and updated online by the author.
15. Jane Seymour served both Queen Catherine and Queen Anne. Her court position makes it extremely unlikely that King Henry VIII first met his third wife at Wolfhall;
VCH Elvetham, A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4 1911 P74-76. edited by William Page. Sir John Seymour entertained King Henry VIII in October 1535, and August 1536;
Jane Seymour (1508/9–1537) by Barrett L. Beer, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004. The siblings Edward, Thomas, and Elizabeth benefitted considerably from the marriage of their sister: Edward was created Viscount Beauchamp in June 1536. He was appointed a privy councillor on 22 May 1537, and created Earl of Hertford in October 1537; Thomas was made a gentleman of privy chamber and knighted in 1537; The marriage of Jane's sister, Elizabeth Seymour, was arranged with Gregory Cromwell, son and heir of Thomas Cromwell.
Earl of Cardigan. The tradition that the royal wedding, or wedding feast, took place at Wolf Hall is a myth. In May 1536, King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour at York Place [ Whitehall Palace ] in London.
16. Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, preserved at Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire by WH Stevenson 1911. Sir Edward Willoughby married the eldest daughter of Sir William Fillol: "This connection was probably the reason why Queen Jane Seymour, Sir Edward Seymour's sister, wrote to Sir Edward Willoughby announcing the birth of Edward the Sixth";
Longleat SE/VOL. XVI 1537-1538; SE/VOL. XV 1537 Folio f.84; f.86. News of the birth of the future King Edward VI were bought to Sir Edward Seymour by messenger: "Rewardes, 20 shillings to Robert of Mulsey for bringinge my lorde worde of the birthe of prince Edwarde, his nephew, [12] Oct.1537".
17. WANHM Canon Jackson. P163.
18. Easton Royal - A Short History by Sir Henry H Bashford: "The somewhat bleak interior was enlightened, however, in 1951 by a very beautiful tablet, given by the Earl of Cardigan and designed and carved by Mr. Esmond Burton, in memory of all the Esturmys and Seymours who had once been patrons of the old Priory";
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 12 Part 2: June-December 1537. 10 October 1537 29 Henry VIII at Westminster;
VCH House of Trinitarians: Priory or hospital of Easton, A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 3 1956 P324-327. edited by RB Pugh.
Chapter 4: An Estate Surveyed
1. The translation of the Domesday entry for Wolfhall is quoted from the Phillimore series 1985 edited by Caroline and Frank Thorn;
The Domesday Geography of South-East England edited by H. C. Darby, Eila M. J. Campbell 2008. P221; The Domesday Geography of South-West England edited by H. C. Darby, R. Welldon Finn 1967.
2. The Computus Rolls of the English Lands of the Abbey of Bec 1272-1289 edited by Marjorie Chibnal. Camden Fourth Series, Volume 34, P1-196; Bledlow, Land Tenures and the Three Field System by Allison Young.
3. IPM 1333 Roger de Stock; SWRO 1300/138 1476. Agreement between John Seymour and Richard Baylly of Wolfhall.
4. SWRO 1654; Ordnance Survey Map 6” mile, editions 1880 1920; Postcards. Image 1875.
5. VCH Great Bedwyn; The Gentleman's magazine, by John Nichols. Volume 90 Publisher E. Cave, 1801 P637. Narrates the story of the hooks on which the tapestries had hung to celebrate the wedding of Jane Seymour. The barn survived into the 20th century and reputedly, when it burned down in the 1920s, it still had the hooks;
A comparison of the 20th century photograph with the print of 1875 (Jackson) indicates that over two thirds of the barn may already have been demolished prior to its final destruction;
Marlborough and the Upper Kennet Country by AR Stedman. Marlborough 1960: King Edward I visited the estate in December 1302;
WANHM Field Day May 19 1877.
6. WANHM Canon Jackson; The text refers to the reign of King Edward VI, although the actual survey may have been completed at an earlier date.
7. IPM Marlborough, 27th September 1626, 2 Charles I, Edward Earl of Hertford. “The manor of Wolfall, the park called Sudden Park otherwise Wolfall Park, the tenements called Westcourts Bowdon Fitzwarrens, Rudgelands, Ladyewell, Heele, Longmeade, Frithhaies and Earles Heath, are worth per annum, clear, 16s, but by what services they are held the jurors know not”;
WANHM Canon Jackson. In 1640, Wulfhall Demaines were let by William, Marquis of Hertford, leased Suddene to Edward Savage for £161 13s. He also leased Wolfahll to John Bransdon for £204 16s. 0d., and finally the Hop Garden, for £3 0d. to an unnamed tenant.
8. Earl of Cardigan Wolfhall Fish ponds.
9. VCH Little Bedwyn. There was a tower at Chisbury which contained a chapel and a chamber. At Stanton Harcourt manor [ Oxfordshire ], a mid-15th century stone tower [ Pope's Tower ] was built to house a chapel and priest's lodging. The function of Chisbury and Wolfhall towers may have been similar; The layout of Wofhall may have been similar to the admittedly grander courtyard Place farm, near Tisbury.
10. VCH Great Bedwyn. P8-49; Earl of Cardigan. P136; WANHM Canon Jackson: Appendix II. Staff at Wolfhall may have included an additional 7 unnamed female servants.
11. WANHM Canon Jackson: “In August, 1654, William, Marquis of Hertford, leased, for seven years, to Edward Savage, Sudden Park, in Great Bedwyn, by estimation, 240 acres, with the House called the Lodge. Also a Barn at Ulphal, called the Oat Barn, and another called the Old Barn, the house called the Wool (or Well ? ) House, and the toft called Gate House Toft, all belonging to the site of the Manor House of Wulfhall”; WANHM Volume XLII 1923. P352. The archway of the Gate house was visited by W Heward Bell and 69 memebers in 3 char-a-bancs and 18 private cars during the 70th general meeting of the society.
12. WANHM Canon Jackson; VCH Easton Royal; Earl of Cardigan; Easton Royal, A Short History by Sir Henry Howarth Bashford (1880 - 1961).
13. WANHM Canon Jackson; In 1573, Edward Seymour wrote to Sir John Thynne concerning his gardens: “I now stand in need of your help, in your absence, of your man's, Lewes, about my middle garden house which whether be best to be in square, round, or cant order, I am doubtful, therefore do reserve to your judgement, by letter and by him”. It is possible however that he was referring to Tottenham Lodge;
Colehouse orchard was 12 lug;
SWRO 9/22/165 19 March 1755: “William Pinckney of Woolphall in Great Bedwyn. Woolfhall Farm, in Great and Little Bedwyn and Burbage and the following lands: the Sheepsleight, Upper and Lower Paddsdown, Limekiln Field, Fitzwarren and Court Field, Arbor Field, Durley Field, Earles Heath, Cole Park Field, Old Woolfhall, Longmead, Ladymead, Horse Park Mead or Home Mead, Fitzwarren and Crowchmead, Upper Horse Park, the Mile Pasture, Ladywell Pasture, the Laundry Meads. Rent: £410”;
In 2010, the modern Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map still records a Ladywell copse. The survey recorded this copse as a pasture, the 2 acre Ladelwell-pound close with a small copse. In the Inquisition Post Mortem of Edward Seymour [ Earl of Hertford 1559 -1621 ], known as Rudgelands Lady well otherwise Ladellwell.;
Some 189 acres of Wolfhall's pasture land was already enclosed. This land included Pound close [ 3 acres ]; Brome close and Ridgelands [ 60 acres ]; close [ 3 acres ]; Wulf halls close [ 30 acres ]; Horse Sends [ 60 acres ]; Little Sonds [ 30 acres ]; Sheryng Close [ 3 acre ].
The Holsteins above are feeding in the former meadows of the 17th century Laundry farm.
Introduction
The expanded endnotes are published for the benefit of the readers of Wolfhall Manor. Please note that this volume contains a glossary which explains the abbreviated references to publications. No glossary is published on this website.
Preface
There are no endnotes for this section. However, a few notes are posted here. Recommended reading for Wolfhall Manor:
1. VCH Great Bedwyn.
2. Wolfhall and Tottenham: The Homes of the Seymour and the Bruce by AW Adams. 1893.
3. Reverend JE Jackson. Household accounts of Sir Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp, Earl of Hertford, Duke of Somerset.
4. Earl of Cardigan.
The Wolfhall estate probably changed little during the mediaeval period. In the Tudor period, the introduction of deer parks, and the enclosure of fields brought the first fundamental changes to the area. In the late 18th century, the nature of the landscape was dramatically altered by the Kennet & Avon canal which cut the estate in half. By the end of the Victorian period, two railway companies built and operated lines across the estates. There was no railway station at Wolfhall, but a short walk led to East Grafton station, or to two stations at Burbage. The Savernake Forest Hotel formerly served the Savernake railway stations. Savernake Low Level station closed in 1966, and Savernake High Level station closed in 1961. The hotel has now closed its doors, and has been converted into flats.
Chapter 1: A Divided Estate
1. VCH Great Bedwyn; The minority of Henry III by David Carpenter. University of California Press, 1990. The accuracy of the stories of these two mistresses is suspect and should be treated with caution. The ladies have been associated with men, other than the tenants of Wolfhall.
2. VCH East Garston, Maidencourt, Berks. Alice may have married William de Coleville after the death of John le Marshal.
VCH Garsington, Oxon: Alice de Coleville was the daughter of Adam le Rich. She held a hidal estate in Garsington, which her husband granted to St.John's hospital, Oxford in 1224
3. VCH Great Bedwyn.
Somerset Record Society. Two Registers formerly belonging to the family of Beauchamp of Hatch, edited by Sir H. C. Maxwell-Lyte. Volume XXXV. 1920
4. Sybil de Coleville married William de Birmingham. There is no record of an association with the Wolfhall estate and the estate may have been sold.
5. SWRO 9/6/45 29 September 1249; 9/6/31 Mid 13th century; 9/6/69 Latter half of 13th century; 1300/5 1312.
6. SWRO 1300/11 late 13th cent [1276-1277]; 1300/145;
IPM 12 Edward I, No, 93. 549;
IPM Edward I, File 42, Matilda Husee; Sir Philip Basset [ 1185 – 1271 ] married Ela Longespée [ 1220 -1297 ], a grand-daughter of William Longespée [ 1176 – 1226 ], Earl of Salisbury, and illegitimate son of King Henry II. Ela Longespée also held the third part of Marten manor
7. Aliva Bassett subsequently married Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk [ 1245 - 1302 ]. Her mother held the Wolfhall estate until she sold it to Adam de Stock in 1294;
A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 3 1900. P85-96. edited by HC Maxwell-Lyte; quitclaim of Hugh le Despenser [ 1262 -1326 ] [ the elder ] concerning Wolfhall, Fasterne, Friday after St. Edmund the archbishop, 22 Edward I.
8. Marlborough and the Upper Kennet Country by AR Stedman. 1960: King Edward I visited Wolfhall in December 1302.
9. CPR February 3 1313 Edward II: “on complaint by Robert de Brimesdon of Hungerford and Richard de Stokes, chaplain, that Henry Sturmy, John de Forstebury, . . , together with others, forcibly broke their close and their houses at Wolfhale”.
CCR December 5 1314. Edward II: “Order to deliver to Matilda, . . a moiety of a fee in Wolfhale, in the county of Wilts, which Robert de Hungerford and Geva his wife hold, of the yearly value of 10l”.
10. Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester [ 1291 - 1314 ] was the last family member to be feudal lord of Wolfhall. Hugh de Audley, Earl of Gloucester [ 1289 – 1347 ], the husband of his sister, Margaret, was the feudal lord of Wolfhall in 1333.
11. IPM. 18 April 1333, 7 Edward III: Roger de Stoke, Wiltshire. “Wolfhale. The manor held of Hugh Daudelegh . .”.
SWRO 1300/26 1335. Robert and Geva grant Wolfhall manor to Roger de Stock;
CPR November 8 1352 26 Edward III at Windsor: “Grant, for 100s, which Edward de Stokke will pay to the king, to the same Edward of the keeping of the manors of Rusteshale and Wolfhale, which Robert de Hungerford, deceased, held of the inheritance of the said Edward, the king's ward, to hold during his nonage, with the issues from the time of the death of the said Robert”.
Chapter 2: Sir William Esturmy
1. Earl of Cardigan. P85; SWRO 1300/27 1356: Agreement between Edward de Stocke and Henry Esturmy.
2. SWRO 1300/36 1381-1383, Account of funeral expenses for Henry Esturmy; 1300/18 1381; 1300/32 1382.
3. CFR. April 29 1429. Henry VI at Westminster: “and that the said Joan on the day of her death held the manor of Tydecombehuse and 20 acres and 2 virgates of land in Tydecombe Huse, called ' Olyvereslonde,' for term of her life, . .”.
Olyvereslonde was once part of the estate of Oliver le Moyne, who granted Ford Mill to the Prebend of Bedwyn at Salisbury cathedral between 1230 and 1240.
4. The date of the wedding [ 1405 ] follows the alleged birth date of their son [ 1395 ] by 10 years. If their son John was born in 1406, he would have been of age when he inherited the Savernake estates and office of warden from his Esturmy grandfather.
Magna Carta ancestry: a study in colonial and medieval families by Douglas Richardson, Kimball G. Everingham. Sir Roger de Seymour [ died 1365 ], of Penhow in Monmouthshire, married the heiress Cicely de Beauchamp [ died 1394 ]. The Beauchamp estates passed to their son, William Seymour [ 1350 - 1391 ]. He was the father of the Roger Seymour who married Matilda Esturmy. In 1400, Roger Seymour inherited the remaining Beauchamp estates from his cousin, Elizabeth Meriet.
The importance of the Beauchamp estates to the Seymour family is indicated by the title Viscount Beauchamp, which Sir Edward Seymour [ warden 1536 - 1547 ] received after his sister Jane gave birth to the future King Edward VI.
5. Hatch Beauchamp Church by Christopher Cookson. 1972. The Hatch Beauchamp estate was held by the Seymour family for several generations. Following the marriage of Lady Elizabeth Seymour to Thomas Lord Bruce, [ later Earl of Ailesbury ] in 1676, the estate passed to the Bruce family;
Sir Edward Seymour [ Duke of Somerset 1547 - 1552 ] allegedly lived at Hatch court, when he was sheriff of Somerset. The mansion fared no better than Wolfhall under his care.
6. The English Parliament in the Middle Ages by HG Richardson and GO Sayles 1981. Much of the diplomatic and political biography of Sir William Esturmy is provided in this excellent book.
CFR. Sir William Esturmy added to his considerable wealth through mainprise, i.e. by holding a number of estates, and their revenues, during the minority of their heirs. In 1420, King Henry V granted ‘Ludgarsale’ castle by mainprise to William Esturmy, 'chivaler' and Peter Thorp.
7. Select cases before the King's Council, 1243-1482 Volume 35 of Publications of the Selden Society Authors Great Britain. Privy Council, edited by Isaac Saunders Leadam, Selden Society. Harvard University Press, 1918.
Considerable information concerning the trial of the Earl of Devon is published on the website of Sheila Yeo: http://www.yeosociety.com/introduction/Introduction.htm .
CCR October 10, 1390 Richard II: “Memorandum of a mainprise under a pain of 40l made in chancery 17 January this year by John Burneby of London, serjeant at arms, John Tregos of Cornwall, and John Elmede and William Smyth of Devon for Robert Yeo, and an undertaking by him under a pain of 100 marks, that he shall do or procure no hurt or harm to William Wyke”;
CPR January 10 1392 Richard II: “Appointment of William Sturmy and James Chudleigh, John Grenville, sheriff of Devon, and Thomas Credy, the king's serjeant-at-arms, to arrest and bring before the king and council in Chancery Robert Yeo and John Langford”.
The writs were disregarded: “one of the said writs was taken by force from the hands of the said William Wyke by the said Robert Yeo and John Langford his servant and thrown into a well”.
8. CPR February 15 1392. Richard II at Westminster: “Pardon to Edward de Courtenay,Earl of Devon,of all trespasses, negligences, ignorances, harbourings of felons, maintenances”;
CPR February 28 1392. 10 Richard II at Westminster: “Pardon to William Esturmy, knight,for all trespasses, negligences, ignorances, harbourings of felons,maintenances, rebellions, extortions and other misprisions, whereof he is indicted, and of any consequent outlawries”;
CPR June 1397 15 Richard II: “Pardon, at the supplication of the duke of Brittany, to John Langford, servant of Robert Yeo of Heaunton Sachevyle, for the murder of William Wyke”.
Robert's grandson William married John Grenville's niece around 1450. Sir John Grenville was sheriff of Devon in 1391; Sir James Chuddelegh, 1395; William Beaumont 1399.
9. SWRO 1300/42 1397. Papal Bull, Boniface IX to Sir William Esturmy;
CPR February 3 1313 Edward II at Westminster: “on complaint by Robert de Brimesdon of Hungerford and Richard de Stokes, chaplain, that . . . forcibly broke their close and their houses at Wolfhall”; If Richard de Stokkes was the first recorded chaplain of Wolfhall, the chapel cannot have been founded by Sir William Esturmy
10. Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Collected by Richard Hakluyt; edited by Edmund Goldsmid;
The Hanseatic League and the Teutonic Order in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. by Jennifer Franson September 2000;
Rerum Britannicarum Medii Aevi Scriptores: Or Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain. Volume III 1857 edited by JB Sheppard;
Canterbury Cathedral Archives Instructions. Charters related to their missions: CCA-DCC-ChAnt/M/281, 299-305, 308, 387, 399, and 461-464; CCA-DCc-ChAnt/M/299 13 May 1405; CCA-DCC-ChAnt/M/299
11. During political unrest in 1386 and in 1390, King Richard II commanded Sir William Esturmy to inspect Marlborough castle, and make an inventory of its armour and equipment. In 1295, the feudal obligations of Henry Esturmy [ warden 1254 - 1295 ] were described thus: “Henry held of the King in chief the manor of Borbach, with the members of Durleygh and Couelesfeld, by the serjeanty of finding in the army of the King in Wales one esquire armed, and keeping the bailiwick of the King's forest of Savenak”;
There is no reason to believe that Sir William Esturmy was not obliged to fulfil the same responsibility
12. CPR March 13 1403 Henry IV. Licence for William Esturmy, ‘chivaler,’ to enclose and impark 300 acres … in Elvetham
13. The English Parliament in the Middle Ages by Henry Gerald Richardson and George Osbourne Sayles 1981.
SWRO 1300/40 1402. Safe-conduct issued by Burgesses, Echevins and Consuls of Dordrecht, in response to request of Albert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Hannonia, Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friesland. Sir William Esturmy and John Kington, clerk to give safe passage to Blanche daughter of Henry IV travelling to her husband Prince Louis, Duke of Bavaria.
Princess Blanche [ 1392 - 1409 ] is buried at St. Mary's Church, Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Another member of the princess Blanche household was John Chandler, Dean of Salisbury cathedral chapter, who conducted visitations to Bedwyn and Burbage between 1405 and 1412.
14. The Pays de Caux lies in north east Normandy, and includes the former port of Honfleur which was besieged by King Henry V at the beginning of the Agincourt campaign in 1415.
15. SWRO 1300/37 1417; 1300/38 1420; 1300/39 1420.
16. Sir William Esturmy was Member of Parliament in Devon (1391, 1404 [ Unlearned Parliament ]), Hampshire (1384, 1390, ) and Wiltshire (1390, 1393, 1399, 1401, 1413, 1414, 1417, 1422).
The lives of the speakers of the House of Commons, from the time of King Edward III to Queen Victoria by James Manning 1851. P53. The "lawless" parliament was held in the Great Hall of the Benedictine monastery.
17. SWRO 1300/43 1427; 1300/44 1427; 9/11/2 21 January 1427; 9/11/3 23 June 1444; 9/11/4 7 November 1454; 9/11/5 Michaelmas Term 1446; 9/11/6 21 January 1447;National Archives. E326/8244 Records of the Court of Augmentations. 5 Hen. VI [1427]
18. A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 1 1890, P244-252. B. 394; B1778; B1780;
WRO Feet of Fines Henry VII. P169 745. John Esturmy and his wife Isabel sold the Knowle estate to Thomas Croke for 200 marks in 1498; Earl of Cardigan P91 - 94. John Esturmy's grandson Henry kept the Esturmy name alive as late as 1490.
19. VCH Great Bedwyn. Crofton Braboeuf manor was acquired by Easton priory in 1265. In 1390, Sir William Esturmy obtained the estate in an exchange;
SWRO 1300/9 1407 “Grant Thomas Berle to Sir William Esturmy, and Robert Erle, of lands and tenements in Berle by Crofton. Witnesses John Fode, William Pershuyt, Richard Pershuyt, Thomas atte Ferme, John Bryd.Seal”.
20. SWRO 1300/34/A 1404; 1300/33 1404;
VCH Sonning Richard Earley died in possession of Maiden Earley manor in 1502. His heir was his sister Margaret, wife of Thomas Chafyn. Their son William Chafyn, inherited the manor; Burbage Savage manor reverted to Sir John Seymour [ warden 1491 - 1536 ] in 1502. An unsuccessful legal challenge to the title of the estate was made by Richard Erlegh's nephew William Chafin in 1535.
21. CPR. January 26 1453 31 Henry VI at Westminster: “John Spencer, vicar of the church of Colyngbourne Abbat, deposed that . . and Robert and John called his servants into the chamber and told them of his death and prayed them to keep it privy till Sunday following for certain causes which they declared not”;
Sir William Esturmy made a number of generous grants to Easton priory during his lifetime, Inquisitions Ad Quod Damnum C143/408 [ Froxfield ], C143/409 [ Tidcombe ] 13 Richard II;
Parliamentary History online Volumes: 1386-1421 by J.S.R. C.K: Sir William Esturmy made his last will on 19 March 1427 at his inn in the London parish of St. Bridget: “To his servants, the pages of his chamber and his head gardener went various gifts of clothing, tapestry, pieces of plate and sums of money amounting to nearly £50; Earl of Cardigan. P104. Sir William Esturmy left his tapestries with his green bed to John Seymour, and to William Ryngebourne, a bed, a black furred coat, and a silver cup
22. SWRO 1300/41 1476. Inquisition post mortem Sir William Sturmy; CFR. July 18. 1427 Henry VI at Westminster: “Order to the escheator in the counties of Southampton and Wilts to take the fealty of John Seymour, the son of Maud one of the daughters of William Sturmy chivaler and the kinsman and one of the heirs of the said William, . . ; provided always that each of the heirs and parceners have a share of the lands which are held of the king in chief, and so be the king's tenant”.
CFR. April 29 1429 Henry VI at Westminster: “Joan late the wife of William Sturmy, chivaler; July 10. Order to the escheator in the counties of Southampton and Wilts; pursuant to divers inquisitions taken before him showing that Joan late the wife of William Esturmy, knight, on the day of her death held in dower of the endowment of the said William, sometime her Husband”.
VCH Huish A dispute over the possession of Huish manor arose after the death of Sir William Esturmy. He had purchased the estate in 1413. All of the manor finally passed to Sir Edward Seymour [ warden 1536 - 1547] in 1536. In 1692, Sarah, Duchess of Somerset granted the estate in her will to the trustees of the Froxfield Hospital. The hospital held the manor until 1921.
CPR. November 1 1427 Henry VI at Westminster: “It was found by inquisition taken before Robert Assheley, late escheator in the county of Wiltshire, that William Sturmy, knight, by the name of William Esturmy, knight, granted the manor of Huwysh, held in chief to Sir John Stafford, bishop of Bath, Thomas Polton, bishop of Worcester, Hugh Lutrell, knight, Richard Sotewell and Robert Torvey in, fee simple, without licence, hereby they were seised. By reason of this trespass the manor was taken into the king's hands, but now, for 100s. paid in the hanaper, he pardons the trespass, and licences the above-named grantees to have again and to hold the Manor”.
23. CPR. January 26 1453 31 Henry VI at Westminster. Petition: “whereas William Esturmy, knight, was seised of the manors of Wolfhale, Stotyscomb, Staunden, Stapulford, Burbache and of lands in Pikydwode and Crofton, co. Wilts, in his demesne as of fee and died seised, whereafter the petitioner entered into the manor of Wolfhale as kinsman and heir of William to wit son of Maud, daughter of William, divers persons noise a deed of feoffment made by William to John Benger and others of the premises and seisin thereof delivered to John Benger by William Tourney of Stanys”.
24. National Archives C1/19/112 Chancery pleadings addressed to John [Kempe] Cardinal Archbishop of York as Lord Chancellor. Sir John Seymour, grandson of Sir William Esturmy, v. John Benger: Manors of Wolf Hall, Stitchcombe (Stotyscumbe) Standen, Stapleford and Burbage (Burbache), and lands in Pickedwood (Pykydwod) and Crofton;
National Archives C1/18/45 1452-54. Sir John Seymour, grandson of Sir William Esturmy deceased, v. William Tourney, of Staines (Stanys): Manors of Wolf Hall, Stitchcombe (Stotyscumbe) Standen, Stapleford and Burbage (Burbache), and lands, in Pickedwood (Pykydwod) and Crofton;
National Archives C 1/19/360. John, son of Robert Erlegh v Robert Edyngdon, clerk: Deed of enfeoffment, by Sir William Esturmy of the manors of Wolf Hall and Crofton Braybeof;
SWRO 1300/145 [mid 13th cent.-1428] “grant from Robert Erleghe to Dame Joan Esturmy, of life annuity of £9: 6s: 8d out of manors of Wolfhall and Stotescombe”.
25. SWRO 1300/141 1447; 1300/115 1452; 9/6/44 21 December 1446; 9/6/26 23 August 1464.
26. SWRO 1300/116 1464; 1300/117-124 1464-1482; 1300/143 1475; 1300/144/A + B 1475; 1300/158 1525.
Chapter 3: Sir John Seymour
1. Magna Carta ancestry: a study in colonial and medieval families by D Richardson, KG Everingham. 2006;
The marriage of Sir John Seymour [ warden 1427 - 1464 ] and Isabel William produced two sons.
A Bristol Ancestor of the Dukes of Somerset by John AC Vincent, Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, 1886;
A Popular History of Bristol by George Pryce 1861;
Arms and Pedigree of Semour of Payson, Illinois. 1906. “Isabel Seymour died 14 April 1485, seized of divers messuages, cottages, and gardens in the town and suburbs of Bristol”;
History of Monmouthshire by Sir Joseph Bradney volume 4 Part 2 P192.
2. SWRO 1300/53 1427 Writ, Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester, lord of Marlborough and of forest of Savernake, to John Seymour, steward in forest.
3. SWRO 1300/152/A 1464; 1300/152/B early 18th translation of 152A;
4. A reference to “Sir John” in the lease suggests that the document was a copy of an earlier document agreed between the tenant and Sir John Seymour. In 1476, the warden John Seymour was the grandson of Sir John Seymour; Wolfhall provided an income of £16, from which the widowed Isabel was given 80 shillings a year as part of her dower.
5 . WANHM Volume XXXIX 1915 Huish and the Doynels;
Antiquary's Books: The Royal Forests of England by Charles Cox. 1905. The quoted instances, chiefly against the Wroughton and Darrell families, are two of twenty-nine presentments of venison trespasses before the forest justices; The land of Cobham Frith, Holt Lease, and Little Frith lay without the forest. Not all of this land may have belonged to the warden. Cobham Frith was part of Chisbury manor, which was still held by descendants of the Cobham family; John Seymour attempted to claim the bounds of the forest as those defined prior to disafforestation. His motives have never been fully explored.
John Seymour died in 1491 without a knighthood. Although the Earl of Cardigan believed otherwise, his wife Elizabeth Darrell survived him, and held dower estates as late as 1499. Their son, recorded as 18 years and more in 1491, was in his nonage, and it was only in 1499, that some estates were released to him.
6. Margery Wentworth was raised in Yorkshire, at Sheriff Hutton Castle, in the household of her aunt, Elizabeth, countess of Surrey. She died in October 1550; The Ladies in Skelton's 'Garland of Laurel' by MJ Tucker Renaissance Quarterly, Volume 22, No. 4 Winter, 1969. P333-345, University of Chicago Press.
7 . Wiltshire Notes and Queries, An illustrated Quarterly Antiquarian; Genealogical Magazine Volume V. 1905 -1907.
8. Arms and pedigree of Semour of Payson, Illinois. 1906. Sir John Seymour [ warden 1491 - 1536 ] served as sheriff of Wiltshire on three occasions [ 23 Henry VII; 10 Henry VIII; 16 Henry VIII ]. He attended King Henry VIII at Boulogne in 1532 as Groom of the Chamber at a second meeting with King Francis;
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 1: 1509-1514. November 2 1514 at Remmesbury: Letter of Edmund Audley, Bishop of Salisbury to Cardinal Wolsey concerning Sir John Seymour;
CPR February 20 17 Henry VIII at Westminster. Sir John Seymer. To be forester of Groveley, Wilts; CPR 10 February 1
9. Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset (c.1500–1552) by Barrett L. Beer, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.
10. The Horton Woodlands estate consisted of two hamlets served by one parish, and they lay between Wimbourne and Bournemouth;
Sir Thomas Trenchard [ 1479 - 1550 ] was a nephew. He served as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1509 and in 1523. His main claim to fame was as the host of the shipwrecked Archduke Philip of Austria and his wife in 1506
11. University of Nottingham Mi 6/174/54 8 May 1527. The final version of Sir William Filoll's will was signed and witnessed on 14 May 1527. He died in the summer of 1527, and was buried at St. Wulfhilda's church, Horton Woodlands;
The Seymour Family: History and Romance by AA Locke 1911. The transcription of the will is provided from this book;
The House of Commons: 1509 - 1558 by ST Bindoff [ and others ]. Boydell & Brewer, 1982. William Honeychurch MP.
12. The manuscripts of Lord Middleton preserved at Wollaton Hall Nottinghamshire 1891. 1525-6, 1526-7. Court Rolls of the manors of Langton Walysshe, Bloxworth, Winterborne Kingston, Mapelerton, Winterborne Selston, Wambroke, Langton Herynge [all co. Dorset], Thomas Trenchard and other feoffees for the use of William Fillol, 17, 18 Henry VIII. 166 (217) 1526-7. Manorial account for Willoughby-on-the- Wolds [co. Notts], 18 Henry VIII. 169b 1527-8 to 1530-1. Court Rolls of the manors of Wambroke [co. Dorset], Thomas Trencharde, Thomas de la Lynde, John Cayleway, knights, Henry Trencharde, esquire, and William Honychurche, gentleman, feoffees for the completion of the will of William Fyllol, knight, 19 to 22 Henry VIII. 166(218);
National Archives: C 1/673/26: “Edward Seymer, knight, and Dame Katherine, his wife, daughter of Dorothy, wife of John Rogers, knight, and late the wife of Sir William Fyloll. v. [ The said Sir John Rogers, and Thomas Scherlye and John Rowdon. ]: Petition for the examination of these aged witnesses to deeds relating to the manors of Harrynge and Sellinge by Monks Horton, to land there and in Lympne, Estrynghanger [Ostenhanger in Stanford], Horton, Burmarsh, West Hythe, Dymchurch and Aldington, and to the manor of Steeple, late of the said Dorothy”.
13 Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, preserved at Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire by WH Stevenson 1911: "Sir Edward Willoughby is mentioned with Seymour in the private act in 22 Henry VIII, c. 19 (Statutes of the Realm, iii., p. 349) that was necessitated to legalise the irregularities of the settlements resulting from these marriages with the daughters of a man of unsound mind";
Abstracts of Somersetshire Wills by Frederick Arthur Crisp, Volume 2. 1888. P94. Sir William Filoll last will also requested:
"I will that, in the best wise that may be, that the wall above the high awter wyndowe be made playne, in Horton Church, with playster of parys, yf yt made be reasonable had, that playne; surely made, that Jesus be paynted therevppon, sitting upon a Rainbow, in as large stature as the rome will give, underneath hym ymages arysing in significance of the Dome to come".
14. Edward Seymour, (1506-1552) by Albert Frederick Pollard. Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 51;
Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset (c.1500–1552) by Barrett L. Beer. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press 2004;
Anne Seymour, duchess of Somerset (c.1510–1587) by Retha M. Warnicke Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press 2004;
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 8: January-July 1535 (1885), P161-187 edited by James Gairdner. In March 1435, Sir Edward Seymour and his second wife, Anne Stanhope were granted former monastic land at Berkesden in Hertfordshire: See also National Archives E 328/204 3 March 1535;
House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 08 May 1604, Journal of the House of Commons: volume 1: 1547-1629 published 1802 P149. 18 May 1604.
Wives and Daughters: The Women of Sixteenth Century England, by Kathy Lynn Emerson, publ. 1984 (Whitston Pub. Co.). This book revised and updated online by the author.
15. Jane Seymour served both Queen Catherine and Queen Anne. Her court position makes it extremely unlikely that King Henry VIII first met his third wife at Wolfhall;
VCH Elvetham, A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4 1911 P74-76. edited by William Page. Sir John Seymour entertained King Henry VIII in October 1535, and August 1536;
Jane Seymour (1508/9–1537) by Barrett L. Beer, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004. The siblings Edward, Thomas, and Elizabeth benefitted considerably from the marriage of their sister: Edward was created Viscount Beauchamp in June 1536. He was appointed a privy councillor on 22 May 1537, and created Earl of Hertford in October 1537; Thomas was made a gentleman of privy chamber and knighted in 1537; The marriage of Jane's sister, Elizabeth Seymour, was arranged with Gregory Cromwell, son and heir of Thomas Cromwell.
Earl of Cardigan. The tradition that the royal wedding, or wedding feast, took place at Wolf Hall is a myth. In May 1536, King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour at York Place [ Whitehall Palace ] in London.
16. Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, preserved at Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire by WH Stevenson 1911. Sir Edward Willoughby married the eldest daughter of Sir William Fillol: "This connection was probably the reason why Queen Jane Seymour, Sir Edward Seymour's sister, wrote to Sir Edward Willoughby announcing the birth of Edward the Sixth";
Longleat SE/VOL. XVI 1537-1538; SE/VOL. XV 1537 Folio f.84; f.86. News of the birth of the future King Edward VI were bought to Sir Edward Seymour by messenger: "Rewardes, 20 shillings to Robert of Mulsey for bringinge my lorde worde of the birthe of prince Edwarde, his nephew, [12] Oct.1537".
17. WANHM Canon Jackson. P163.
18. Easton Royal - A Short History by Sir Henry H Bashford: "The somewhat bleak interior was enlightened, however, in 1951 by a very beautiful tablet, given by the Earl of Cardigan and designed and carved by Mr. Esmond Burton, in memory of all the Esturmys and Seymours who had once been patrons of the old Priory";
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 12 Part 2: June-December 1537. 10 October 1537 29 Henry VIII at Westminster;
VCH House of Trinitarians: Priory or hospital of Easton, A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 3 1956 P324-327. edited by RB Pugh.
Chapter 4: An Estate Surveyed
1. The translation of the Domesday entry for Wolfhall is quoted from the Phillimore series 1985 edited by Caroline and Frank Thorn;
The Domesday Geography of South-East England edited by H. C. Darby, Eila M. J. Campbell 2008. P221; The Domesday Geography of South-West England edited by H. C. Darby, R. Welldon Finn 1967.
2. The Computus Rolls of the English Lands of the Abbey of Bec 1272-1289 edited by Marjorie Chibnal. Camden Fourth Series, Volume 34, P1-196; Bledlow, Land Tenures and the Three Field System by Allison Young.
3. IPM 1333 Roger de Stock; SWRO 1300/138 1476. Agreement between John Seymour and Richard Baylly of Wolfhall.
4. SWRO 1654; Ordnance Survey Map 6” mile, editions 1880 1920; Postcards. Image 1875.
5. VCH Great Bedwyn; The Gentleman's magazine, by John Nichols. Volume 90 Publisher E. Cave, 1801 P637. Narrates the story of the hooks on which the tapestries had hung to celebrate the wedding of Jane Seymour. The barn survived into the 20th century and reputedly, when it burned down in the 1920s, it still had the hooks;
A comparison of the 20th century photograph with the print of 1875 (Jackson) indicates that over two thirds of the barn may already have been demolished prior to its final destruction;
Marlborough and the Upper Kennet Country by AR Stedman. Marlborough 1960: King Edward I visited the estate in December 1302;
WANHM Field Day May 19 1877.
6. WANHM Canon Jackson; The text refers to the reign of King Edward VI, although the actual survey may have been completed at an earlier date.
7. IPM Marlborough, 27th September 1626, 2 Charles I, Edward Earl of Hertford. “The manor of Wolfall, the park called Sudden Park otherwise Wolfall Park, the tenements called Westcourts Bowdon Fitzwarrens, Rudgelands, Ladyewell, Heele, Longmeade, Frithhaies and Earles Heath, are worth per annum, clear, 16s, but by what services they are held the jurors know not”;
WANHM Canon Jackson. In 1640, Wulfhall Demaines were let by William, Marquis of Hertford, leased Suddene to Edward Savage for £161 13s. He also leased Wolfahll to John Bransdon for £204 16s. 0d., and finally the Hop Garden, for £3 0d. to an unnamed tenant.
8. Earl of Cardigan Wolfhall Fish ponds.
9. VCH Little Bedwyn. There was a tower at Chisbury which contained a chapel and a chamber. At Stanton Harcourt manor [ Oxfordshire ], a mid-15th century stone tower [ Pope's Tower ] was built to house a chapel and priest's lodging. The function of Chisbury and Wolfhall towers may have been similar; The layout of Wofhall may have been similar to the admittedly grander courtyard Place farm, near Tisbury.
10. VCH Great Bedwyn. P8-49; Earl of Cardigan. P136; WANHM Canon Jackson: Appendix II. Staff at Wolfhall may have included an additional 7 unnamed female servants.
11. WANHM Canon Jackson: “In August, 1654, William, Marquis of Hertford, leased, for seven years, to Edward Savage, Sudden Park, in Great Bedwyn, by estimation, 240 acres, with the House called the Lodge. Also a Barn at Ulphal, called the Oat Barn, and another called the Old Barn, the house called the Wool (or Well ? ) House, and the toft called Gate House Toft, all belonging to the site of the Manor House of Wulfhall”; WANHM Volume XLII 1923. P352. The archway of the Gate house was visited by W Heward Bell and 69 memebers in 3 char-a-bancs and 18 private cars during the 70th general meeting of the society.
12. WANHM Canon Jackson; VCH Easton Royal; Earl of Cardigan; Easton Royal, A Short History by Sir Henry Howarth Bashford (1880 - 1961).
13. WANHM Canon Jackson; In 1573, Edward Seymour wrote to Sir John Thynne concerning his gardens: “I now stand in need of your help, in your absence, of your man's, Lewes, about my middle garden house which whether be best to be in square, round, or cant order, I am doubtful, therefore do reserve to your judgement, by letter and by him”. It is possible however that he was referring to Tottenham Lodge;
Colehouse orchard was 12 lug;
SWRO 9/22/165 19 March 1755: “William Pinckney of Woolphall in Great Bedwyn. Woolfhall Farm, in Great and Little Bedwyn and Burbage and the following lands: the Sheepsleight, Upper and Lower Paddsdown, Limekiln Field, Fitzwarren and Court Field, Arbor Field, Durley Field, Earles Heath, Cole Park Field, Old Woolfhall, Longmead, Ladymead, Horse Park Mead or Home Mead, Fitzwarren and Crowchmead, Upper Horse Park, the Mile Pasture, Ladywell Pasture, the Laundry Meads. Rent: £410”;
In 2010, the modern Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map still records a Ladywell copse. The survey recorded this copse as a pasture, the 2 acre Ladelwell-pound close with a small copse. In the Inquisition Post Mortem of Edward Seymour [ Earl of Hertford 1559 -1621 ], known as Rudgelands Lady well otherwise Ladellwell.;
Some 189 acres of Wolfhall's pasture land was already enclosed. This land included Pound close [ 3 acres ]; Brome close and Ridgelands [ 60 acres ]; close [ 3 acres ]; Wulf halls close [ 30 acres ]; Horse Sends [ 60 acres ]; Little Sonds [ 30 acres ]; Sheryng Close [ 3 acre ].