Recent Wiltshire Boohs, Pamphlets, Articles, &c. 519 



sources not easily consumable. The manor was held at the time of 

 Domesday by Godfrey, and in 1242 by Eustace de Wrokeshale. His son, 

 Sir Geoffrey de Wrokeshale, married, first, Juliana, and secondly, Rose, 

 widow of Philip de Erelegh. Sir John, probably his son, married Joan 

 Peverell, was taken prisoner at Boroughbridge, and lost his estates, and 

 the manor was granted to Sir Edmund Gascelyn, of Chippenham, for life. 

 Sir John,however,recovered the manor in 1326. As he died without male 

 heir in 1351 — 2, the manor passed to his nephew, John de Brokenberg, 

 who was succeeded by Edmund and Ralph of the same name. On the 

 death of the latter without male heir in 1390 the manor passed to the 

 descendants of the daughters of John de Wroxhale and Joan Peverell, 

 one of whom, Edith, married Oliver de Servyngton. By the Servyngtons 

 North Wraxhall was sold to Thomas Younge, son of a Bristol merchant, 

 Recorder of Bristol, 1447 and 1453, Justice of Common Pleas and 

 afterwards knighted. His granddaughter, Alice, married William 

 Malet, and carried two-thirds of the North Wraxhall Manor to that 

 family. Thomas Malet, Rector in 1525, built the nucleus of the present 

 Rectory. The Malets sold most of the property in 1614 and 1621. 

 Edmund Forde bought a portion of the manor cir. 1410, his daughter 

 and heiress marrying John Blount, and their daughter, Margaret, 

 married John Husey. In 1532 William Button, of Alton Priors, bought 

 North Wraxhall, Compton Bassett, Compton Comberwell, and other 

 Wilts property from Lord Husey and William, his son. Sir William 

 Button, knight 1605, baronet 1621, bought West Tockenham Court, 

 in Lyneham, added to the Wraxhall property, and died 1654. Sir 

 Robert Button sold Wraxhall 1667, to William Grove, of Broad Chalke, 

 who in 1671 sold it to Robert Raworth, and in 1682 it was bought by 

 James Wallis, of Trowbridge. His son, Ezekiel, married Cecilia Selfe, 

 and from him the property has descended to the present owner, Lord 

 Methuen. 



A note on the history and devolution of the advowson, together with 

 a list of institutions to the Rectory from 1318, with notes on the various 

 Rectors and their families, the latter giving proof of considerable 

 original research, are given. Incidentally, illuminating sketches of the 

 various families mentioned, Servington, Young, Malet, Husey, Button, 

 Blanchard, and Goddard of Poulton, and their connection with 

 Wiltshire, are given. The value of the benefice at different times, the 

 History of the Chantry, with a list of its incumbents from 1319, a list 

 of churchwardens from 1588, lists of inhabitants from various subsidy 

 lists, a chapter on agriculture, with a list of the flora of the parish and 

 a description of the Roman villa and other Roman finds (chiefly taken 

 from the Wilts Arch. Mag.), are given. There is also an account of the 

 career of John Howell, born April 23rd, 1776, who began life as an 

 errand boy at Bath, founded the great linen drapery business of Howell 

 & James, and left various benefactions to his native parish ; also a 

 description of the Churches and Rectory, with notes on the monumental 

 inscriptions ; the four terriers of the Rectory in 1588, 1608, 1704, 1783 ; 

 a deed of conveyance of land at Ford by W illiam Yve to John Goule 

 in 1297 ; the will of John Harte, 1528 ; and a number of other matters. 



