North Erpingham Hundred: Alburgh

ALBURGH.

Roger Bigot, ancestor to the Bigots Earls of Norfolk, held in Aldeburg, one borderer, which Ulstan had in the Confessor's time, also the land of a freeman who held under Ketel in that King's time, 30 acres of land, and half an acre of meadow; and of another freeman's lands, viz. 20 acres and half an acre of meadow, held under Ketel; also the lands of 4 freemen who held under Herold half a carucate of land with 6 borderers, 3 carucates and one acre of meadow, one mill and the moiety of another; valued in King Edward's time at 15s. after at 30s. and had been let at 40s. per ann. but the tenants could not pay it. (fn. 1)

Hugh Bigot Earl of Norfolk was lord in 1140, and Roger Bigot, Earl-Marshal of England, was found in the 3d of Edward I. to have free warren, view of frankpledge, assise of bread and beer, a fair, and took toll, which his uncle, Roger, held on the vigil, the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, and the day after; in the 14th of that King, he recovered damages against Jeffrey de Massingham, &c. for fishing in his ponds.

This lordship was held by the Earls in capite, and under them by the family of De Hereward. Theobald de Hereward, and William his son, of Alburgh, and Robert Hereward, were witnesses to deeds sans date; Robert Hereward was living in 1376. In the 4th of Henry IV. the heirs of Robert Hereward held it of the Lord Mowbray Duke of Norfolk.

Clement Herward, Esq. of Alburgh, by his will, dated November 2, 1426, requires to be buried in St. Mary's church of this town, by Margaret his mother; nominates Cecilia, his wife, John Bacon, and Richard Gegge, Esq. his executors, and appoints them trustees of all his lands in this town, Suffeld, Wykmere, Wolterton, Matlass, Barninghams, &c.; Cecilia, his wife, to have all his goods, and Caleys manor in Suffield, till Robert, his son, came of age, then to him; remainder to Thomas his brother; the manor of Wykmer, to his wife for life; to Margaret, his daughter, 100 marks; and to Margery, his daughter, 40l. Proved January 23, following. (fn. 2)

Robert Herward, Esq. by his will, dated on Saturday next after the decollation of St. John Baptist, in 1481, desires to be buried by his parents in this church; Clement, his son and heir, to have this manor, with those of Suffield and Cromer, after the death of Anne, (fn. 3) his wife; to John, his son, 50l. to Robert, his son, 50l. and 6s. 8d. to the repair of St. Peter's chapel, in this church. Anne, his wife, was also buried in this church; she mentions in her will, dated December 18, 1485, her son, Clement; Margaret, Alice, and Anne, her daughters; the last, then the wife of John Groos, Gent.

Clement Herward, Esq. was buried in the chapel of St. John, of this church, where his great grandfather lieth; appoints Elizabeth, his wife, Robert, his son, and Robert, his brother, executors, and Sir John Heydon, supervisor, (fn. 4) gives to Henry, his son, 40l. to Anne, his daughter, 100 marks, and wills Philip, his son, to be a pryst, and to have 10l. or more if need be, to purchase a license for it, and for pluralities; he died in 1509.

Robert Herward. Esq. was lord in the 33d of Henry VIII. and had a rent of 7s. 3d. payable to this manor, out of lands in Wykmere. In 1553, and in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, Clement Herward possessed it. The arms of this family are,—azure, a fess, gobonee, gules and vert, between three owlets, argent.

After this it was in Thomas Parker, Esq. His son Gilbert articled to convey it with all its profits, rents, &c. and the mansion-house or hall, its barns, stables, lands, orchards, gardens, &c. to John Palgrave, Esq. of Barningham, and Clement Palgrave, Esq. of the Inner Temple, London.

—Thompson was lord, who conveyed it to John Grayle, rector of Blicking, who died in 1732.

On April 17, in the 25 of Elizabeth, William Dyx, Esq. had a grant of the fair of Alburgh; by his last will it came to Thomas Earl of Arundel, and his trustees, who by deed, May 28, in the 5th of King James I. conveyed it to Robert Dyx of Alby.

The temporalities of Norwich priory were 9s.

The tenths, 3l. 1s. Deducted 10s.

William Earl Warren had in this town, at the survey, 60 acres of land, held by 3 villains and 4 bordarers, with one carucate and a half; this part being a beruite to his manor of Gresham, was 8 furlongs long, and 3 broad, and paid 5d. halfpenny gelt. (fn. 5)

See in Gresham manor.

The Church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is a rectory; formerly valued at 16 marks, paid Peter-pence, 5d. ob. The present valor is 8l. and is discharged of first fruits and tenths.

In the 3d of Henry III. a fine was levied between Robert de Basingham, petent, and Roger Bigod Earl of Norfolk, deforcient, of this advowson.

Rectors.

In the 37th of Henry III. William de Ruse, occurs rector. In the reign of Edward I. the Earl of Norfolk was patron; and the rector had a manse with 16 acres of land.

1303, John de Honyng, instituted rector, presented by Roger Bygod Earl of Norfolk.

1320, William Franceys, by Thomas Earl of Norfolk.

1346, John le Wayte, by Sir Edward Montacute.

1371, John Pyper, by William de Ufford Earl of Suffolk.

1396, William Horn, by Margaret Countess of Norfolk.

1418, Nicholas Bovy, by John, Earl-Marshal.

1422, Robert Blakelow, Ditto.

1424, Thomas Wilson. Ditto.

1432, John Atte-Medowe, by John, Duke of Norfolk.

1467, John Wyppe. Ditto.

1504, John Bartilmew, by Elizabeth Dutchess of Norfolk.

1515, Henry Smithson.

1520, John Hewe, by Thomas Earl of Surry.

1551, Brian Smith, by the King.

1580, William Youngs, by the Queen.

1592, John Burgrave. Ditto; he returned 70 communicants in 1603.

1614, Edmund Hamond, by John Griffith, Esq.

1628, Thomas Reve, by Thomas Earl of Arundel; it came into the Howard family again, by a grant of King James I. June 17, a^o. 1, being forfeited on the attainder of the Duke of Norfolk in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

1647, George Fen.

1699, Jos. Ward, by John Harbord, Esq.

1717, Alexander Thompson. Ditto.

1728, Joseph Ward, by Harbord Harbord, Esq.

1730, John Tayleur, by Harbord Harbord, Esq.

1738, Jona. Wrench. Ditto.

1742, William Herring, by William Morden Harbord.

1747, Richard Parkinson, by Sir William Harbord, Bart.