322 



Notes on the History of Gh°eat Somerford. 



Staktley. 



This name is given to an outlying portion of the parish, through 

 which passes the road from Kodbourne to Seagry. The ancient 

 Hundred of Sterkeley comprised Christian Malford and twelve 

 parishes now included in the Hundred of Malmesbury. At various 

 times this name was spelt Sterkel, Sterkele, Stercklei and Steorch- 

 leah — this last meaning " the young beasts' run." This hundred, 

 with two others, was after the dissolution of monasteries merged 

 into the Hundred of Malmesbury. I would suggest that the 

 survival of the name in this parish points to the locality where the 

 court of the hundred was anciently held. The lordship of the 

 hundred was granted by King John to the Abbot of Malmesbury, 

 and in later times passed through various hands until in 1840 it 

 was sold to Joseph Neeld, Esq. 1 According to tradition the court 

 was held at the Startley Ash. This tree, marked in the Award 

 Map, has now disappeared, though the field in which it once stood 

 is remembered as the place of a village gathering, into which the 

 court at last degenerated. Hockday and St. Martin's were the 

 ancient law-days of the hundred. 



An Early Will. 



(P.E.C. 24 Home.) 

 In dei noi Amen the xx th daye of the month of Maye in the yeare of oure 

 Lord god ah cccclxxxxiiij. I Water Kobyns beyng of hoole mynde and good 

 remembrance make my testament and laste will in this forme, furste I geve 

 and bequeth my soule to Almighty god, to his blessed modre and moste holy 

 Virgin Sent Marie and to all the holy company in heaven, and my bodie to 

 be buried in the Churcheyarde of Saynte Petre and Paule of Grete Somerforde, 

 my parishe Church. Item I bequethe and wille that my Executors shall 

 find or do to be founde on sufficient and able preste for to synge and praye 

 for my sowle, the sowles of my Father and moder and for all cristen sowles 

 the space of ij hole yere within the parish Churche of Somerford aforesaid 

 next ensueying after my departyng from this present life — Also I bequethe to 

 the lightes of Saynte Kataryne, Saynte Margaret, and Saynte Nicholas in the 

 saide Churche that is to every of them vjs, Item I bequeath to the sustentacion 

 of torches and of the Lampe in the same Churche ijs, Item I bequethe to the 

 parish Church of Grete Somerforde aforesaide vj platers of pewter, Item to 

 the Church of Segre xxd, Item to the Church of Dauntesey xijd, Item to the 

 Churche of little Somerforde xijd, Item to the Churche of Lee viijd, Item I 

 bequeth unto Sir William Wiseman my goostly fadre iijs. viijd. Item I 



1 Jackson's Aubrey, p. 124. 



