A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 



been a lunatic since 1 5 34.**- In 1607 Sir George 

 Philpott, let., made a settlement of the manor." He 

 died in \6zz and was succeeded by his son Sir John 

 Philpott." 



The Philpotts had remained adherents of the old re- 

 ligion, and in consequence of heavy fines for recusancy 

 found themselves involved in money difficulties.' 15 In 

 l6z; Sir John Philpott, in order to pay the legacies 

 left in his father's will and also his own deb:s, demised 

 the manor of Woodhall with various other estates for 

 the term of sixteen years to three of his creditors, 

 John Lord St. John, Sir Thomas Stukely and Sir 

 Richard Tichborne. 4S John Lord St. John released 

 all his estate in these manors to hi; co-feo.Tees, and in 

 1627 the king confirmed the grant to Sir Thomas 

 Stukely and Sir Richard Tichborne for the term of 

 sixteen years." The feoffees appear to have conveyed 

 their right in Woodhall to James Wiltymot, who held 

 a court there in 163 J. 48 Henry Philpott was holding 

 in I&50, 19 but apparently he also released his right to 

 the Willymots, and the manor was given by James 

 Willymot to his younger son Thomas." He married 

 Rachel the daughter of Dr. Pindar, and the manor 

 was settled on her. sl Afterwards it was bought 

 from the Willymot family by Hale Wortham, who 

 died in 1778 and was succeeded by his son Hale 

 Wortham. 52 He died without any direct heir and 

 the manor passed to his brother James. 53 From him 

 it descended to his eldest son ISiscoe Hill Wortham, 

 who sold it to John Phillips of Royston. M John 

 Phillips died in 1871 65 and was succeeded by his son 

 Mr. John Phillips, the present lord. 5 " 



The manor of HORii'ELLBURV (Ordwelle, 

 xi cent. ; Orewell, xii cent. ; Horewell, xiii cent.) 

 was held before the Conquest by three men of 

 Archbishop Stigand. 57 In 1086 half a hide was 

 held of the Bishop of Bayeux by Osbem, ES while a 

 larger holding of nearly one and a half hides had 

 been acquired by Hardwin de Scales, under whom a 

 certain Wisgar held. se No further record exists of 

 the holding of the Bishop of Bayeux, but the lands 

 of Hardwin de Scales were divided between his two 

 sons Richard and Hugh and were held by their 

 descendants until the beginning of the 13 th century. 60 

 In 1195-6 William, grandson of Richard, claimed 

 {inter alia) three knights' fees in Horwcllbury and 

 other places against Hugh grandson of Hugh. 

 Judgement was given for Hugh. 61 The Scales do 

 not ap.ear again in Horwcllbury, but possibly before 

 this date they had subinfeudatcd it to the Fitz 



Ralphs, who were holding of them elsewhere, for in 

 1303 Horwellbury was said to be held of William 

 Fitz Ralph."* In the 1 6th century, when the 

 overlordships given in inquisitions are unreliable, 

 Horwellbury was said to be held of the king » 

 except a smalt portion called Kymberleyn's, which 

 was held of the queen as of her manor of Popshall. 6 * 



In 1229 John de Bassingburn, who was holding 

 half a knight's fee in Kelshall of the Bishop of 

 Ely,' is claimed customs and services there from a 

 certain Ra'ph Marshal. 66 In iz8z a grant of the 

 manor in subinfeudation was made by William le 

 Moine of Raveley to another Ralph Marshal, clerk, 

 and Nichola his wife." On Ralph's death it passed 

 to his brother Robert. 66 An attempt was made in 

 1291 by a certain John Deynill to gain possession of 

 the manor. He disseised Robert and affirmed that 

 Ralph Marshal had been his villein. 6 " But Robert 

 successfully maintained that Ralph had been a free 

 man and held the manor of William le Moine, and 

 he recovered seisin of the manor. 70 



In 1303 Hugh Barry was holding the manor 

 of William Fitz Ralph. 71 Soon after this the manor 

 passed to Edmund Barry, who granted it to John 

 Barry, probably his son, and Elizabeth his wife. 

 From them it descended to their son Edmund 

 Barry. 73 He had two daughters, Agnes and Alice, 73 

 and on the marriage of the 

 elder of these, Agnes, with 

 William Paston in 1420 the 



of Hoi 



settled 



and their 



ckkfindtnud oi 



her husband Thomas Bardoll 7b 

 renounced all right to the 

 manor in 1436. 70 



William Paston in 1444 

 left the manor by will to his 

 wife Agnes with remainder to 

 their heirs. 77 At the same 

 time he directed that all lands 

 not mentioned in his will 



(except Swevnthorpe) should go to his two younger 

 sons William and Clement. 78 John Paston, how- 

 ever, his eldest son and heir, did not carry out 

 these directions, but took possession of all the lands. 79 

 Agnes Paston held Horwcllbury during her life, 80 

 but on her death ihe left it by will dated 14.66 to 

 her two younger sons in recompense for the lands 

 their brother had withheld from them. 81 Her son 



