North Erpingham Hundred: North Repps and South Repps

NORTH REPPS, AND SOUTH REPPS.

The principal lordships of these towns were granted at the conquest to William Earl Warren. In North Repps a freeman of Ketell was deprived of 30 acres of land, held by 2 villains, and 5 borderers, and a carucate and 2 acres of meadow, 2 mills; to this there belonged a church with 18 acres of land, always valued at 10s. per ann. In South Repps and in North Repps, 8 freemen, 2 of them belonging to Alwold the abbot, 5 to Rachon de Gimingham, and one to Osbert, were deprived of two carucates, and 16 acres, valued at 40s. with a church, (viz. of South Repps) and 12 acres; the whole was half a leuca long, and 2 perches, and 4 furlongs and 4 feet broad, paid 6d. ob. and half a farthing gelt; and all this land William Earl Warren had livery of for one manor, consisting of 5 carucates of land. The said Earl had also a grant of 39 acres of land, with 2 villains, and 2 carucates with 4 borderers, which 2 freemen of Edric held in the reign of King Edward, valued at 6s. (fn. 1)

These lordships in North and South Repps, were held of the Earl Warren, by the ancient family of De Repps, in soccage, and were part of the Earl's great lordship of Gimmingham.

In the 34th of Henry III. Sir Thomas de Repps, Knt. was living; and in the 40th of that King, Sir Richard de Plaiz granted to his mother, Alice, then widow of Hugh de Plaiz, certain services with the homage of Sir Thomas de Repps; and in the following year, Sir Robert, son of Warin de Suth Repps, disseized Richer, son of John de Thorp, of right of common in South Repps, for a tenement in Thorp Market.

Edmund de Repps was living in the 52d of Henry III. Ralph de Reppes was bailiff of the manor of Gimmingham, in the 3d of Edward I. In the 14th of that King, Edmund of North-Reppes conveyed by fine, to Reginald, son of John de North Reppes several messuages, and parcels of land, with a mill in these towns, &c.

Laurence de Reppes was querent, and John, son of Edmund de Repps, impedient of a messuage, 50 acres of land, 5 of meadow, 15 of marsh, 50 of heath, and 40s. rent in North and South Repps, &c. settled on Laurence in the 30th of Edward I. Besides these, I find Nicholas Repps to have lands in right of Avelyne his wife, daughter of Mr. Henry de Hemesby of Ingworth in Norfolk, given to her by Peter, son and heir of Peter de Haubois, in Calthorp, which he lost by the judgment of the court of North Erpingham Hundred, about the 30th of Henry III. and Roger de Reppes was witness to a deed of Thomas Bigot's confirmation of lands to the priory of St. Cross of Bungey, sans date. Roger de Reppes, Bartholomew de Runhal, &c. gave in 1198, the rectory of Runhale in Norfolk, to the priory of Westacre, on condition of being partakers of the prayers of that priory, with Mabel, wife of Roger. Of most of these, the pedigree of the family that I have seen, makes no mention, but is as here follows.

(1) John, son of Sir Robert de Repps, granted to Beatrice, his daughter, in marriage to Nicholas, son of John Attelound, lands in South Repps, sans date.

(2) Laurence de Repps died seized of North Repps, Deepham, and Edythorp, in 16th of Edward II. and held this lordship in soccage, of the Earl Warren, valued at 5l. per ann. and the service of 6s. 8d.

(3) John de Warren Earl of Surry granted to Robert de Repps, his valet, a parcel of waste ground in this manor of South Repps, near the messuage of Robert, to enlarge it, in the 22d of Edward II.— Laurence de Repps, in the 6th of Edward III. passed by fine, to Robert and Sibill his wife, (daughter of Laurence,) and Laurence their son, the manor of Helington, in Norfolk. This Sir Robert was living in the 12th of Edward III.

(4) Nicholas Repps was living at South Repps in 1357.

(5) Sir John Repps was living in 1373.

(6) Sir Henry Repps married a Fastolf, who bore quarterly, or and azure, on a bend, gules, three cross crosslets, or.

(7) Henry Repps married a Holditch, who bore azure, on a chevron or, three pies, proper.

(8) Robert Repps and Margaret, sold in 1419, to John Stratton of London, mercer, a manor and lands in Weston by Norwich.

(9) Henry Repps called junior, in 1514.

(10) John Repps, Esq. lived at West Walton, and was buried there. See in West Walton.

(11) John Repps, Esq. had Mateshale estate, by his wife. This John had 8 sons who all died s. p. but Francis, his 5th son. Of these, &c. see in Matsale.

Having thus given an account of the eldest branch of the family, I shall here add that of the youngest, which descended from John, 2d son of Sir Robert, and brother of Sir Bartholomew de Repps.

Sir John de Repps made his will in the 47th year of King Edward III. at Norwich, wherein he gives to the Lady Alice, his daughter, the 3d part of his manor of Thorp-Market; and to John de Plumsted, his grandson, his tenements in Shipden and Cromer, with the mill, villains, &c. on condition that he made no claim to any other of his possessions; and to the daughter of John de Plumstede, 40s. to the nunnery of Brusyerd one of his cups; and to John Launey a cup called Blakebolle, with a silver cover, that 4l. be laid out to pray for his soul; to Beatrix, his sister, 10 marks; to Cecilia de Hedyrset 20s. that on his burial there be — 5 tapers, and 6 torches of wax, each of the weight of 5 pound, and that 40s. in bread be distributed to the poor of Norwich, and more if necessary; that every brother of the convent of Gray Friars have 12d. the nunnery of Crabhouse half a mark; the nuns at Thetford 20s. and those of Redelingfeld two marks.

By this it appears, that this Sir John died without issue male; Alice, his daughter, is said to have married Sir John de Redysham, and also Clement de Plumstede, John de Plomstede being called his nepos or grandson; and by Redesham she had a daughter and heir, Elizabeth, married to Sir John Heveningham, as appears from their pedigree. Sir John was buried in the priory of Gray-Friars, of Norwich, in 1373; he also gave 5 marks for an annual, for the soul of Florence de Plumsted, probably his wife; 20s. to South Repps altar; 26s. 8d. to that of St. Olaves. Alice, his daughter, relict then of Sir Edmund de Redesham, was one of his executors. So that this Sir John de Repps seems to be the eldest son of Sir Robert de Repps, by Sybill his wife, and dying without issue male, the inheritance came to Laurence his brother. There was also a Sir John de Repps who died, as by the escheat rolls, in the time of Edward I. and John de Repps, junior, his son, had an interest then in the manor of TownBerningham, in right of — his wife, deceased, who was widow of Curson, lord of that manor in Edward the Third's reign.

(12) Thomas de Repps was one of the commissioners of sewers for the banks, &c. between Wigenhale, Terington, Lenne, and to levy money for their repair in the 2d of Edward III.

In the 7th of Richard II. John Marshall, and Catherine his wife, and John Bures, and Alice his wife, the daughters and coheirs of Sir Richard Repps, had each a moiety of North Repps manor. Joan, the wife of Sir John Herling, having her thirds herein. This Joan was probably the relict of Sir Richard Repps, and was then held of the dutchy of Lancaster, into which it came on the death of John Earl Warren, in the reign of Edward III. and in the 4th of Henry IV. John de Bures, (son and heir of John de Bures, and Alice his wife,) released all his right of his moiety to his feoffees.

John Reppys of Heryngflete orders his body by will, dated September 23, 1473, and proved in December following, to be buried in the chancel of Heryngflete St. Margaret: gives 2 acres of land to that church; to John his son, 20 marks; and 20 to his sons Nicholas, William, and Thomas; Alice his wife, to have her 3d part of the manors of Thorp-Market and South Repps, for life; remainder to Henry his son in tail. (fn. 2)

The manor of North Repps came, in the reign of Henry VI. to the Heydons of Baconsthorp; and John Heydon died possessed of it as a member of the manor of Gimmingham, in the 20th of Edward IV. and Christopher Heydon, Esq. conveyed this lordship, with that of Metton, 10 messuages, 200 acres of land, &c. and 10l. per ann. rent, in the 35th of Henry VIII. to Robert Rugg, Esq. alderman of Norwich. This Robert was son of William Rugg, Gent. of North Repps, who by Agnes his wife, had Nicholas, Roger, this Robert, William Rugge, alias Repps, (who was abbot of St. Bennet's of Holme, and Bishop of Norwich,) and John his sons, as appears from his will dated June 6, in 1511, and proved June 7, 1512. (fn. 3) Robert Rugg his son, was also alderman of Norwich, who purchased this lordship, had also lands and tenements in North and South Repps, Gimmingham, &c. by his will, dated December 24, 1558, and proved June 26, 1559, he names his 2 eldest sons, William and Francis, his executors, and George Themilthorp, Gent. supervisor, the husband (as I take it) of his daughter; (fn. 4) also Robert his son, archdeacon of Suffolk, and Alice his wife. Robert Rugg, alderman of Norwich, and lord here, married, as I take it, Alice, daughter of — Wayte, relict of William Hare, Esq. of Beeston.

William Rugge, Esq. was lord in 1572, and married Thomasine, daughter of Sir Robert Townsend of Guiest, &c. relict of William Curson of Beckhall and Bilingford.

Thomas Rugge, Gent. in or about 1660, mortgaged it, with the manor of Hardingham, &c. to Robert Clayton, Esq. afterwards a knight, and lord mayor of London.

The arms of persons above-mentioned. Repps, who bore ermine, three chevronels, sable; crest on a ducal coronet, between two wings, a plume of feathers. Levyshawe, five fusils in fess, between three escallops, Fastolf, quarterly, or and azure, on a bend, gules, three cross crosslets of the first. Grimston, argent, on a fess, sable, three estoils, or. Wotton, gules, a chevron between two crosses, formy in chief, and an annulet in base, argent. Woodhouse, quarterly, in 1st and 4, ermine, in 2d and 3d, azure, a leopard's face, or. Sydner, a fess, nebuly between three crescents, each charged with a lis, Holland, per pale, indented, or and gules; in the church of Mendham, in Suffolk, Repps impaling Holland thus, was to be seen there. Smith, or, a bend, azure, between three trefoils, vert. Everard, gules, a fess, nebuly, between three estoils, or. Balden, p. fess, gules and vert, three swans, proper. Lambert, argent on a bend ingrailed, sable, between two lions rampant, gules, three annulets, or. Weston, ermine, on a chief, azure, five bezants. Rugg, gules, a chevron ingrailed between three mullets, pierced, argent. Crest, a plume of ostrich's feathers.

The nunnery of Brusyerd in Suffolk had also a lordship in South Repps, which on its dissolution was granted to Nicholas Hare, Esq. on March 9, in the 30th of Henry VIII. and in the 33d of that King he had license to alien it to Sir John Gresham, with messuages, &c. in North and South Repps, Cromer, &c.—Sir Richard Gresham conveyed it September 7, in the 12th of King James I. to Robert Blofield. Robert Blofield, and Elizabeth his wife, sold it in the next year to Ralph Hartstong, Gent. Sir Standish Harstonge, Bart. of Ireland, and chief baron of the Exchequer in King Charles the Second's reign, possessed it, who by a daughter of Francis Jenney of Gunton, had Francis, his eldest son.

Ralph Hartstong died April 17, 1634, and left by Thomasine his wife, Francis, who married Elizabeth, daughter of — Standish, father of Sir Standish, and John, a bishop in Ireland.

I find the rent of assise of this lordship to have been 17s. 11d. ob.

The tenths were 7l. 4s. 2d. Deducted 1l. 4s. 2d. The temporalities of Bromholm priory 14s. 11d. ob. of the sacrist of St. Edmund of Bury, 6s. 10d. ob. q.

The jury in the 15th of Edward I. present that King Richard I. used to receive a mark yearly out of certain tenements in North Repps, Plumsted, Matelaske, and Antingham, and the said King gave the rent to the abbey of Bury, to find one wax candle burning before the shine of St. Edmund, and the jury testify that a wax candle was at that time there burning.

William de Scohies had at the survey a freeman of Earl Guert, whom Arduin held when Earl Ralph forfeited, and Quintinus held this of William, and calls on Robert Blund, who gave him livery; to him belonged 30 acres of land, one villain, one borderer, one acre and a carucate of meadow valued formerly at 11s. at the survey at 10s. This was after in the Earl Warren. (fn. 5)

North Repps Church is a rectory dedicated to St. Mary, and was always in the patronage of the Earls Warren and Surry. In the reign of Edward I. the rector is said to have edifices and 4 acres of land. The valor was 30 marks. Peter-pence 13d. ob. The present valor is 18l. and pays first fruits, &c. In the fourth year of Edward II. John de Warren Earl of Surry granted a messuage, with 4 acres and an half of land, to the rector and his successours.

Rectors.

William de Rollesby occurs rector in the 22d of Edward III.

1315, William de Cusancia instituted, presented by the Earl Warren and Surry: of the great preferment spiritual and temporal that this William held, see Newcourt's Repertor. Vol. I. p. 220.

Peter de Cusancia. Ditto.

1378, Gregory de Stanford, by John Duke of Lancaster. On the death of John, last Earl Warren, &c. this lordship, &c. came by his settlement to the Lancaster family, and so to the Crown, being part of the dutchy of Lancaster at this day.

1385, Mr. William de Ashford. Ditto.

1390, Henry Spicer. Ditto.

1390, John Longeville, by John King of Castile, &c. (fn. 6)

1395, Mr. Thomas Bryghtwell, S. T. P. ditto; he was prebend of Holborn, in the church of St. Paul's, London, in 1386.

1476, Robert Aspatre, by the Queen.

1484, Hugh Lovered, by the King.

1493, Peter Greves (ditto,) prebend of Offley in the church of Litchfield.

1519, Mr. Thomas Gresham, by the King, chancellor of Litchfield, 1535.

1559, Jeffrey Turner, by the Queen.

1578, Richard Blake. Ditto.

1583, William Bennet. Ditto.

1583, Libertus Alman.

In 1603, Andrew Carr was rector, and returned 160 communicants.

Edward Corbet, rector, compounded for his first fruits May 11, 1636; the patronage is in the chancellor of the dutchy of Lancaster.

Richard Heyrick, son of Sir William Heyrick, died rector, and in 1667, warden of Manchester college.

Benjamin Beck, A. M. rector, and prebend of Norwich, 1708.

1729, Charles Stokes, by the King.

1736, Thomas Wilson. Ditto.

On a grave stone in the church,

Orate p. a'i'ab; Robt. Ward et Marthe, uxor. 1463.

Orate p. &c. Robt. Sley, 1482.

On the screen,

Orate p. &c. Johs. Playford, et Kather. uxor. et p. omnib; benefactorib; suis.

The town takes its name from a brook that runs here; thus Repham in Norfolk; Repton, and Repington in Derbyshire, &c.

The Church of South Repps is dedicated to St. James, and is a rectory, and had the same patrons as North Repps. John Earl Warren was lord in the reign of Edward I. the rector had then a manse with 12 acres of land; it was valued at 24 marks, paid Peter-pence, 3d. The present valor is 16l. and pays first fruits, &c.

Rectors.

In 22d of Edward I. William de Rollesby occurs rector.

1317, John de Wyset was instituted, presented by John Earl Warren, &c.

1323, John de Cusancia, by the King.

1324, William de Cusantia, by John Earl Warren.

Oliver de Wyset, in 1327, occurs rector.

1328, John de Langeburgh, by John Earl Warren.

1339, John de Helpeston. Ditto.

1377, Adam Pope, by John King of Castile.

1390, William Frere. Ditto.

1421, John Holbrook, by the King; he was master of St. Peter's college in Cambridge.

1437, Robert Cherbury, by Henry Archbishop of Canterbury, feoffee of King Henry V. deceased.

1454, Richard Bower, by the King.

1471, Mr. John Talwyn, by the Queen.

1488, William Hales, by Margaret Countess of Richmond.

Richard Goodman, rector.

1515, Thomas Gresham, by the King.

1558, John Wilson, by the King and Queen.

1588, Samuel Otes: he was chaplain to the Lord Chief Justice Hobert, and presented by the Queen.

Edmund Pendleton, rector in 1620.

John Dawson in 1635.

George Downham in 1638.

Ed. Broome, 1647.

Wormley Martin, junior, in 1716, on the deprivation of W. Martin, senior.

1756, John Ellis, by the King, as chancellor of the dutchy of Loncaster.

The temporalities of Castleacre priory were 15s. The tenths, 6l. 13s. 4d. Deducted 1l. 0s. od.

John Herward of this town, Gent. buried here in 1524.