Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society Volume 5 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 Excerpt: ...SUCCESSORS, THE BARONS MONTFICHET. By Miss Fky. Among the greater of the Essex Barons in the time of our Anglo-Norman kings, were the Montfichets; the chief seat of whose baron)' was at Stanstead, on the western borders of the county, which from them took its distinctive appellation of Stanstead-Montfichet. In this barony the Montfichets were preceded by Robert Gernon, to whom it was allotted in the general distribution of land that took place after the Norman Conquest. In "Domesday Book " Robert; Gernon is recorded to have held in Essex forty-four matiors, twelve of these he held in demesne, that is, in his own hands. They comprised fifty-three hides of land, and eighty-one acres, of which, in Edward the Confessor's time, the total yearly value amounted to 50; but at the date of the Survey had increased to 78, 'deducting the moiety of the Manor of West Ham that he shared with Ralph Peverel. Of these twelve lordships, four were very considerable, namely, Oakley, which contained 10 hides, Ham (West), 8 hides, Ham (East), 7 hides, and Stanstead, 6 hides. It is worthy of remark, that whilst the Manor of Oakley, or Acle, in the north-eastern corner of the county, had only increased 5 in yearly value, from 11 to 16, that of East Ham, with the moiety of West Ham, on the south-east border, nearest to London, had risen in yearly value from 13 to 30, upon an extent of eleven hides. "Domesday," Vol. II., pago 63. Tol. v., PaRT III. X The possessions of Robert Gernon, as recorded in ' Domesday," were as follow: --91 One point of peculiarity in the account of Robert Gernon's lands in Essex, is the number of manors held by him in exchange. In the first instance in which this occurs, we are informedf that R...