288 Notes on the History of Great Somerford. 



children of his youngest daughter, who had married ThomasHoward, 

 Duke of Norfolk. In 1537 Henry Arundel, Lord Maltravers, pre- 

 sented to the Rectory of Great Somerford, and in 1573 the manor 

 was in the hands of John Yeowe (or Ewe) . Thus between these 

 two dates the connection of the Maltravers with this parish ceased. 



The Yewes. 



The name of this family is variously spelt — Yewe, Yeow, and 

 Ewe. In the Court Roll of 5 Henry VIII., given below, John 

 Ewe is mentioned as a tenant, and ten years later William Ewe 

 among those paying a subsidy. In several deeds early in the 

 reign of Elizabeth the name of John Ewe "clothier of Broad 

 Somerford" occurs. Mr. Scrope states that John Yeowe was lord 

 of the manor in 1573, and died in 1588, also that in 1610 the 

 heirs of John Yewe were defaulters. It would seem, then, as if the 

 manor was purchased by one of the tenants, who had amassed 

 money as a clothier. John Yeowe left at least two sons, J ohn and 

 William. The former became lord of the manor. In 1605 he 

 presents to the living as John Newe (i.e., Yewe) of Bradford, gent, 

 and Court Rolls 1 for 1607 contain his name as lord. His "sole 

 daughter and heir," Anne, was married to Gyfford Longe, gent. 

 She died in 1601 leaving two daughters, Anne and Catherine, as is 

 recorded on a brass to her memory, still to be seen on the floor of the 

 chancel in Bradford-on-Avon Church. John Yewe, clothier, of 

 Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts, died in 1622, and in his will mentions his 

 manor of Somerford, and " the purchase of the inheritance of my 

 manor of Somerford." The provisions of the will are not very clear, 

 although most of the property is left to his granddaughter, Ann Long, 

 and in particular one half-year's rent of the manor, worth £65. Her 

 father, Gifford Longe, of Rood Ashton, Sheriff of Wilts in 1624, 

 was apparently to succeed to the manor on payment of certain sums 

 to his daughter, but almost at once, in 1623, the Longs sold this 

 property to the Jasons. Various families of the Yewes continued 

 to reside in the parish. Richard Yewe's name occurs in the list of 

 freeholders as an owner of property in 1637. As late as 1673 



1 Admitting as tenants Gyffard and Richard, sons of his brother William. 



