East Flegg Hundred: Stokesby

STOKESBY.

William de Scohies had a grant of this lordship from the Conqueror, and held it at the survey. Edwin, a freeman of Guert held here in King Edward's reign, 3 carucates of land, 15 villains, 6 borderers, and 4 servi, with 2 carucates and a half in demean, but at the survey there were three; there was one carucate of the tenants, and 20 acres of meadow, 2 saltworks, and 2 horses for burden, and 4 cows, &c. 120 sheep, &c. and a church endowed with 24 acres of land, and 3 of meadow, valued at 16d. (fn. 1)

Twenty-one tenants belonged to this manor who had 80 acres of land; the King and the Earl had the soc; in the whole there were 5 caruoates and 4 acres of meadow; and there were 3 freemen whom Harduin added in the time of King William, and they held 100 acres of land; but Scohies' predecessor in King Edward's time, had only the commendation of them. Nine borderers also had 3 carucates and 8 acres of meadow, with a saltwork then valued at 10s. at the survey at 16s.—Before the Conquest it was valued at 100s. but at the survey at 10l. yet for 2 years it paid each year, 15l. and 4s. It was one leuca long and one broad, and the gelt was 2s.

The Giffards Earls of Bucks were lords in the reign of Henry I. from whom it came by marriage to the Earls of Clare and Gloucester, and by Philippa, daughter and heiress of Lionel Duke of Clarence, to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March, who held it in capite.

Part of it was held by the family of De Redham, who held that lordship also of the said honour of Clare.

William, son of Matthew de Redham, conveyed a messuage and lands here to William de Gymingham, by deed, sans date. Witnesses, Robert de Evermuth, Robert de Stokesby, &c.

Sir William de Redham was lord in the 3d Edward I. claimed a lete, and assise; and William de Redham presented to the church of Stokesby in 1303. William de Redham settled on his son William, and Joan his wife, a moiety of this lordship in the 7th of Edward II. and in 1325, and 1337, Sir William de Redham presented.

John son of Gerard de Redham, and Alice his wife, passed by fine to Nicholas, son of Tho. Fastolf, several acres of land, pasture and marsh, here and in Haringby, in the 16th of Edward II.

In the 16th of that King, William de Redham settled on Christian, wife of William de Goseford of Yermouth Magna, lands for life.

By the marriage of Margery, daughter and heir of William de Redham, Esq. it came to Thomas Berney, 2d son of John Berney, Esq. of Wichingham. In 1356, John de Berney presented, and in 1358; and in this family it continued, (as may be seen in Redham) many years.

The family of Cleres had also an interest herein; Robert Clere, Esq. of Stokesbye, second son of William Clere, Knt. and Dionysia his wife inherited it, he married Elizabeth, daughter of John Rede, Esq. and by his testament dated on Wednesday next after the feast of St. Laurence, in the 8th of Henry V. wills to be buried in the church of St. Andrew of Stokesby; appoints Elizabeth his wife, and William Yelverton, executors: it appears that he had three sons; John, William, and Edmund, the two first dying s. p. Edmund his son inherited it, and by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir of Thomas Charles, Esq. had Robert his son, who died before him, but left by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Thomas Brampton, Esq. of Brampton; Edmund his son and heir, to Edmund his grandfather, and was a minor in the 7th of Henry VII. This Edmund married three wives, as in Runham, but leaving no issue male, this lordship came to Charles Clere, Esq. son of Sir Thomas Clere, (brother of Edmund,) by Anne his wife, daughter and heir of Robert Gygges, Esq. of Rollesby, who had livery of it in the 7th of Edward VI. Sir Thomas his father being knighted at Leath in Scotland in 1544.

Charles Clere, Esq. who, in 1552, was lord and patron, and by Mary, daughter of Robert Spring, Esq. of Lanham in Suffolk, was father of Thomas Clere, Esq. lord in 1590, and father of Charles Clere, Esq. who married Elizabeth, daughter of William Drury, Esq. of Bretts-Hall in Tendring in Essex, LL.D. also judge of the prerogative court, &c.

Afterwards it was in the family of Windham; Charles Windham, Esq. of Stokesby was lord and patron in 1667, and was father of Charles.

Clere Windham, Esq. second son of Charles, sold it to George England, merchant, of Yarmouth, about 1710.

The tenths were 5l. 10s.—Deducted 10s.

The Church is dedicated to St. Andrew, and is a rectory, anciently valued at 30 marks, and the priory of Longueville had a portion therein, present, the valor is 13l. 6s. 8d. and pays tenths, &c. Peterpence 2s. In the 84th of Henry III. William de Redham had the advowson.

Rectors.

Thomas de Ormesby occurs rector in the 11th of Edward I,

1303, Steph. de Redham, instituted, presented by William de Redham.

1325, Richard de Phileby, by Sir William de Redham, Knt.

1337, Thomas Buckeskyn. Ditto.

1356, Thomas Atte Lathe, by John de Berney, and Thomas Buxskyn.

1358, Jeff. de Hunden. Ditto.

1391, Matthew Salle, by John Copedike.

1414, Constantine Dalby, by John Berney of Redham, Esq.

Mr. Robert Appulby, rector.

1444, Mr. Thomas Frenge, by John Fastolf, &c.

1455, Mr. Sim. Thornham, LL.D. by the Bishop, a lapse.

James Oldys, rector.

James Gloys, rector, administrator of the goods of James Gloys, late rector of Stokesby, was granted to Margaret Paston of Norwich, gentlewoman, the 5th of February, 1473.

Mr. Thomas Gerard, LL.B. by Richard Southwell, guardian of John, son and heir of John Berney, Esq.

1507, Miles Ragon, by Sir Robert Southwell.

1522, William Palfreyman, by John Berney, Esq.

1532, Mr. Sim. Risby, A.M. by Margaret Berney, widow.

1552, Christopher Brown, by Charles Clere, Esq.

1555, Cuthbert Dawglose. Ditto.

1557, Mr. Peter Wattes. Ditto.

1560, Bernard Sudburn. Ditto.

Matthew Wood; he died rector, and by his will dated and proved 1580, directed to be buried in the chancel here.

John Houlte, or Holte, he occurs rector of Stokesby in 1584.

1616, Thomas Lewgar, by Thomas Clere, Esq. and Charles Clere, Gent.

Mr. Richard Fielding, died rector in October 1652.

John Harte, occurs rector in 1663.

Mr. —Brooks, died rector in December 1666.

Sim. Canham, died rector in November 1669.

John Wace, died rector in 1730.

1730, William Berney, died rector in 1747, and William Herne, succeeded, presented by John Berney, D.D.

1748, Richard Berney.

Edmund Clere, Esq. by his will dated May 24, 1484, requires to be buried in the chancel of this church, proved in 1488, gives to nine churches in Flegg deanery 6s. 8d. each, to the house of St. Anne of Weybrigge 13s. 4d.

Thomas Wyndham, Esq. of Stokesby, is said to be buried here, and Charles Wyndham, his son in 1668; and Charles Wyndham, Esq. his son, in 1685.

In the church were the arms of Clere, impaling Charles, ermin on a chief, gules, lozenges of the first.

On a gravestone

For Sir Thomas Clere, Kt. and Elizabeth his wife.

Clere impaling Gyggs, sable, a fret ermine; a chief chequer, argent, and of the first.

Redeham, gules, a chevron, ingrailed argent, between three reed sheaves, or.—Also Gygges, quartering; in the 2d vairy argent and vert, on two bars, sable, three bezants, Toppes;—in the 3d, or, a chevron between three lions couchant, gules, 4th, as 1st.

The temporalities of the abbot of Holme were 6s. of Weybridge wriory 14s. 4d.

The prioress of Mergate 100s. an annual pension out of the manor; —of the prior of Tunbridge, a pension of 8l. 16s. per ann. 1428, paid by John Berney, out of the manor.