Stansted and Harwellbury

  • Medieval Family Life
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Title
Stansted and Harwellbury
Reference
Add. 27446, f. 59
Date
?1484
Library / Archive
  • The British Library
Transcript location(s) in printed volume(s)
Gairdner, Vol VI, item 1000
Transcript from James Gairdner, 'The Paston Letters, A.D., 1422-1509, New Complete Library Edition, Volume VI'

1000

 

ABSTRACT4

 

STANSTED AND HARWELLBURY

 

     The manor of Stansted is in the county of Suffolk. The estate of this
manor passed not by the deed that the estate was taken by at Huntingfeld, in
Norf.,1 but I claim this manor by my mother’s gift. ‘This manor is but a
mile from Clopton’s and not far from Smalbrigge, where your Grace is now.’
John Barell is farmer of this manor, who, when I came to your Grace just
after my mother’s death, confessed before your servants, Piers Rumbold and
William Smyth, that he was privy of mine estate in my mother’s days, and took
the farm of me at that time. ‘Madam, this is the man ye sent your servant
W. Smyth to, for to keep the possession there; and after he had tarried there
awhile he took a promise of the farmer that he should pay no money to nobody
without commandment from your Grace; contrary to which promise, by the
favour of some folks that your Grace can deem, he hath paid my nephew a £10
or £20.’ I think, Madam, you need send no man to keep possession there;
but your Grace might send a servant thither to show the tenants your dis-
pleasure, inasmuch as he hath broken his promise with your Grace, and threaten
to distrain.

     The manor of Harwellbury is in Hertfordshire, four miles from your manor
of Weston Baldok2 and two from Roiston. This manor also passed not by the
estate taken in Norfolk, not being in the same shire. Of this manor ‘he’3
received no money, for the farmers are true and fear not his threats. The
manor is worth £8.

————————————

 

     4 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a paper of notes relating to the manors of
Stansted in Suffolk and Harwellbury in Herts, addressed to a lady who is styled
’Madam’ and ‘your Grace,’ and who, though not named, was undoubtedly the
Duchess of Norfolk. Compare No. 962. The writer is perhaps John Paston of
Gelston; in which case the date must be after 1484, as he speaks of his mother as
being dead. More probably it was his uncle William, and John Paston is the nephew
referred to in the paper itself. But even in that case the document cannot be five
years earlier, as Agnes Paston died in 1479.

 

     1 Should be Suffolk.

     2 The Dukes of Norfolk of the family of Mowbray owned this manor.

     3 The writer’s nephew?

 

 

 

 

 

 

1484(?)

1484(?)