Oxton, Oston

OXTON.—OSTON.

Elvod paid for his manor in Oston, before the Normans came, to the Dane-tax then in use after the rate of six bovats; The land of it being two car. There afterwards Thomas arch-bishop of York, had one car. in demesne, and one sochm. one vill. one bordar having two car. (fn. 1) Of this land the king had one bovat, [viz. lying to Arnall,] the rest laying in Blidworth. In king Edward the Consessours time this was valued at 40s; when the book of doomsday was made at 20s.

In Ostune of Roger de Buslies see were two manors, which Thurstan and Odincale had before he came; and answered the geld for one car. The land being then accounted two car. and an half. There Roger had two car. five villains, six bordars, having two car. There was one mill. 5s. 4d. In the Confessours time this part was 40s. in the Conquerours increased to 60s.

In this town before the conquest was another manor which Tori had, and was rated for it to the geld at four bov. The land being then found to be for twelve oxen (or twelve bovats.) This afterwards became the fee of Walter de Aincurt, and there was one sochm. on one third part of a bovat of this land, with one bordar, had half a car. and four acres of meadow. This in the time of Edward the Confessour was valued at 16s in the Conquerours at 5s. 4d.

This town was anciently within the forest, (fn. 2) but at the great perambulation in king H. 2 left out: Howbeit the men of the town had common in the forest (except the hays and demesne woods of the king) for all manner of cattel both before and after the deaforesting, (fn. 3) yet upon their claim about 8 E: 3: judgment was respited, because the court considered that the town being put out of the forest, it was discharged from the [Putura] provisions of the forresters, and every other burden of the forest, neither did the kings deer common within the bounds of the said town, nor had the men or tenants of the town any land within the bounds of the forest, to intitle them to challenge any common there: Whereupon the men desired the common to be arrented, and accordingly granted the king 5s. per annum, for licence of commoning at all times within the forest with all manner of cattel as they were wont, and so it was determined.

The archbishops see the two prebendaries of Orton, who divide the tythes here, and in many other places besides, where they have shares, as at Calverton, Blidworth, Woodborough, Crophill, &c. still continue their interest in, and still have as they ever had, the usual priviledges allowed, as in Southwell may be discerned.

(fn. 4) Roger de Buslies was held by Robert de Somerville, of the lord Lovetot of Wirksop. Robert de Sumerville and his son, (who was Robert also) 22 H. 2. (fn. 5) gave account to the sheriff of x marks of the amercements of the forest. There was an agreement between the abbot and covent of Wellebek, and Robert de Sumerville of Orton, and Hugh de Capella, and Walter de Streitley, who had the heirs of the said Robert to their wives, that the abbat and covent should have common in the fields of Triberhagh, and Holebek; and further, for so many cattel as belonged to the fee of Ivershagh, and that the men of Triberhagh and Holebek should likewise have common in the fields of Ivershagh, (an ancient hamlet it seems within the territory of Orton,) and concerning some highways and the like. The witnesses were Robert abbat of Neubal Henry prior of Wirksop, Galfr. Luterell, Robert de Stokes, William de Stokes, Robert Lisieu., William Bassett, Galfr. Columbin, John de Leke, Richard his brother, Henry de Rolleston, Tho. Sampson, Tho. de Wlrington, Hugh de Rodmerthwait, Mr. Robert de Sumervill, Godfrey le Aungevin, Richard his brother, Hugh de Osmundthorp, Galfr. de Sumerville, Thomas de Sumerville, the Wapentach of Thurgerton being then at Iverischagh.

The sheriff had a precept from the king 1 H. 3. (fn. 6) dated 17 March, to give Tho. de Somervill, sesin of the land of Orton, Woodberig, and Wilston, whereof his father Richard died seised, if the said Thomas was right heir of the said Richard.

Robert de Stretlegh, 36 H. 3. (fn. 7) had free-warren granted in his manors of Stret legh, Trowell and Orton. It appears 8 E. 1. (fn. 8) that this Robert son of Walter de Stredley gave to God and the church of Suwell four selions of land, lying to the court of Mr. William de Clifford in Orton.

Hugo de Capella had four daughters and heirs, as in Carcolston is noted; Cecilia wife of Walter de Cuily, Laderina of William Tesserand, Elizabeth, and Amicia who was married to Sewall le Foun, as in Strelley is said, by whom she had a daughter Lucia, the wife of Sampson de Strelley, second son of the late named Robert.

This Sampson by his second wife Philippa had Stephen and John, who died without issue, (fn. 9) and Robert Strelley, whose daughters and heirs were Alice wife of Thomas Basily of Radeclive on Trent, and Cecily of William Eland of Algerthorp, near Baseford; by his first wife the said Lucia he had Richard de Strelley of Woodborough, whose grandchild Elena together with her husband Ivo Ieke, by a fine 5 H 5. (fn. 10) passed the fourth part of the manor of Orton; and two mess. and twelve bovats of land, six acres of meadow, and 2s. 6d. rent in Orton, to William Babington and his heirs.

The principal family of Strelley continued to be lords here, till the division made by the co-heirs of John Strelley, esquire, which is noted in Strelley, when as this manor became Thomas Aiscoughs.

Sir Nicholas Strelley, knight, 33 H. 8. (fn. 11) claimed it against Francis Aiscough, esquire. In another recovery 12 Eliz. (fn. 12) Edmund Assheton esquire, and Henry Townerawe claimed against John Byron, esquire, the manor of Orton called Strelley manor; and thirteen mess. seven cottages, twenty six tofts, one water mill, one dovecote, twenty gardens, four hundred acres of land, &c. in Orton, who called to warrant Anthony Strelley, knight. It is now parcelled; the most considerable share seems to be that, which is now the inheritance of Mr. William Savile, whose ancestor I suppose had it of sir John Byron, in exchange for Lindeby: But before that last recovery I find that Lancelot Rolleston of Hucknall Torkcard for the sum of 73l. 6s. 8d by his deed dated 10 July, 8 Eliz. passed to Thomas Sherbroke, (fn. 13) the moyety of one manor, and of one mess. &c. in Orton; which Agnes, widow of Robert Rolleston of Orton, held for life, and was sometime sir Nicholas Strelleys, and of late parcel of the inheritance of Thomas Rolleston, deceased, father of the said Lancelot, amongst which was a parcel called Culy park. And George Purefrey of Drayton in the county of Leicester, 14 Eliz. (fn. 14) sold to Thomas Sherbrooke, the fourth part of the manor of Cula, &c. in Orton and Calverton.

Hugh son of John de Cuyly of Orton, 6 E. 3. (fn. 15) passed the third part of the manor of Orton to Roger de Cuylly by fine; and by another levyed 15 E. 3. (fn. 16) between William de Cuylly parson of Estweyt complainant, and Roger de Cuylly chr. deforcient, the fourth part of the manor of Orton was settled on the said sir Roger for life, afterwards on Maud, who had been the wife of Hugh de Cuylly for her life, remainder to Roger, son of the said Hugh, and the heirs of his body, for want of which to Thomas son of the said sir Roger de Cuylly for life, remainder to John younger brother of the said Thomas for life, remainder to the right heirs of the said sir Roger. By another fine 50 E. 3: (fn. 17) John Waltiers, and Joane his wife, remi sed and quit-claimed the manor of Orton from the said John and Joane, and the heirs of Joane, to John de Stanhop, and Eliz. his wife, and the heirs of Eliz. This Eliz. was the sister and heir of John, and daughter of Thomas de Culy; (fn. 18) her husband was certainly John the eldest son of Elizabeth, the daughter and heir of Stephen Malonel of Rampton, as in that place will appear, but had not issue. John de Stanhop of Rampton, and Elizabeth his wife, by a fine, 3 R. 2. (fn. 19) passed the manors of Orton and Rampton in this county, three acres of meadow in Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire, the manor of Bresigcotes in Darbyshire, of Radcliff [Cuylly] in Leycestershire, and of Ansly in Warwickshire, to Raph Aderley and his heirs.

William Digbye of Ketelbye in the county of Leicester, 5 E: 6: (fn. 20) for 1761. conveyed to Thomas Sherebroke of Orton, all his mess. lands, tenements, &c. in Orton.

The granges of Yversage, and Lovell, or Loveley, belonging to the monastery of Wellebek, 24 Apr. 34 H. 8: (fn. 21) were granted to sir William Newenham, and Benedict his wife, and their heirs.

William Newenham, gent. dyed 2 July, 3 Eliz. (fn. 22) leaving Isabell and Benedict his sisters and heirs.

(fn. 23) In 4 Eliz. Benedict was seventeen years old, and married to Lancelot Mounteforth; Isabell nineteen, and afterwards married to Edward Samon: Which Edward Samon, or one of his name, about 41 Eliz. flew Thomas Leek, of Leek, esquire; whose reputed son Thomas Leeke, for 8801. sold, and by his deed bearing date 30 July, 9 Jac. (fn. 24) conveyed his moyety of the three granges, farms, mess. &c. viz. Saint Margarets in the Greaves, Orton Grange, alias Eversedge Grange, or Darton Grange, and Lovely Grange, to Rob. Shirbrook, gent. (fn. 25) (son of the before named Thomas, who was son of Robert, second son of Robert Shirebrook of Tibshelf, in Darbishire.)

This Robert Shirbrook of Orton, had to wife Mary, daughter of John Savile of Orton, by whom he had Thomas, his only son and heir, (fn. 26) who together with his said father, 29 July, 12 Car: 1: purchased a farm in Orto., for 1671. of John Cam of Cykering, & Mat. and James his sons. This Thomas Shirbrook married Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas Jopson, of Cudworth in Yorkshire, esquire, by whom he had many children, and died 1653. There are, as I take it, six sons, and six daughters. Robert the present owner, is yet a childless widower, Thomas married Sara, his cousin german, the daughter of Thomas Jopson of Cudworth, Henry, William, Richard, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Margaret, Rebekah, Katherine: They suppose (and I have seen good probable authority for it) (fn. 27) that they are descended from one John Lowes, alias Shirebrooke, who was son of Nicolas de Lowes, and Radegund his wife, daughter of William Musters, and Alice his wife, who was sister of Amicia, wife of Isidor. de Reresby, and second daughter and co-heir of John Deincourt, and Amabilia his wife; after-born daughter and co-heir of Serlo de Plesley, and sister of Sarah wife of sir Robert de Willoughby, mentioned in Felley.

The above named John Savile, had to wife Margaret the daughter of Thomas Tempest, (fn. 28) by whom he had many daughters. William his eldest son by his first wife, the daughter of —Odingsells of Eperston, was father of John, father of the present William and John. Thomas Savile, another son of the first John, married Elizabeth daughter and co-heir of—Samon of Darton Grange, which still remains to their posterity.

Thomas Barret of Thoroton, (whose grandmother was Anne daughter of the said John Savile hath lands in Oxton, descended to his ancestor from—Claxton, who I guess had them by inheritance from—Cade, who (I suppose) might have them by inheritance from John Strelley of Lindeby, (named in that place) who died 2 H: 7: seised of five mess. 200 acres of land, fifty of meadow, 100 of pasture, and 100 of wood in Oxton and of one close essarted in Calverton, &c.

Anne, sister of my grandfather, Robert Thoroton, was married to Thomas Walker, son of Robert Custans, (alias Walker, of this town, who by her had a son called Robert Walker an apothecary in London, who died young, yet encreased his brother Williams patrimony here, and disposed considerable sums of money very charitably amongst his kindred and others; his nephews Thomas, Robert, and William, sons of his brother William, continue owners of the land.

Roger Jackson is also an owner here.

The vicarage of Oxton was 8l. 'tis now 61. value in the kings book, and the preben daries patrons.

[Throsby] Oxton

Lordship, open fields, pretty large, owned chiefly by Mrs. Sherbrooke who lives here. Here are in all about seventy dwellings. You have an apparently unnecessary ride round some enclosures adjoining this village, to which you are directed by a hand post "The Southwell Road." After you have jogged on about half a mile you are mortified at finding yourself not much nearer your journey's end.

The church has a low tower with four bells, a have and side aisies. Here is a curious species of fern which grows from the tower of the church. In the church yard is a remarkable old yew-tree. The church is dirty within; but it bespeaks the loyalty of its inhabitants by retaining in it some streamers used at the king's recovery. In an obscure place stands an old figure against the wall, where it was impossible to make a correct drawing, or see it sufficiently to describe it. It is sketched however plate page 30 fig 9. As it is not noticed by Thoroton, I enquired of the clerk whether any thing was remembered by the oldest inhabitants respecting it. All I could learn was "That it was found under ground in some part of the church, before the time of any man living in that place." As I was obliged to lay almost at length to draw it, and attempt to read the inscription round the edge of the stone, I cannot answer for accuracy. I read the date 1126 The characters which I made out are on the same plate fig. 10. A brass, upon an old stone in the church says Wm Savile, esq was interred in 1681.

Oxton was anciently within the limits of the forest of sherwood; but left out at the great perambulation in the reign of Henry 2 a.

Patron Archbishop of York, Southwell jurisdiction. Rev. Mr. Bingham incumbent. King's book 24l. 10s. 0d. Yearly tenths 2l. 9s. 0d. Val per ann. cum ter gleb. & prat 13s. 4d. dimid. dec. ibid. 5l. 6s. 8d. &c. vic. choral 4l &c.

Oxton Hall.

Is a neat edifice. Robert Sherbrooke who died a childless widower, as mentioned page 46, married Eliz. Thompson of Licolnshire. From him the estate descended to Henry Sherbrooke his nephew, who was Father to Margaret Sherbrooke the present possessor, on whose death it will descend to William Sherbrooke, eldest son of Sarah Sherbrooke, who married William Coape of Farnar in Derbyshire.

Another good but more ancient house belonging to the Sherbrooke family, in this village, was occupied formerly by Sir William Molineux, father to the Gentleman of that name, usher of the black rod.