Survey of the Royal Manor of Hitchin, 1676

KINGSLEY (and others) Hitchin, 1676

On Dec 3, 1998, Henry Garratt posted the message "Back St Chapel, Hitchin. KINGSLEY PEARMAN GARRATT" in which he said "My family have connections with Back Street in period 1750 - 1820. So far I have found no records before 1800 ..." By way of an example of the kinds of information in Survey of the Royal Manor of Hitchin, 1676 the following entries record earlier members of the KINGSLEY family living in Hitchin. (There are no references to PEARMAN or GARRATT.)

Customary Tenants living in Bridge Ward

Nicholas HULL holds of the lady of this manor one cottage with appurtenances in Portmill Lane being the house lately of Henry KINGSLEY and now in the occupation of the aforesaid Nicholas and Henry SIBLEY by copy of the court rolls and fealty, suit to the court and he pays 6d p.a.

Customary Tenants living in Bancroft Ward

Joseph ARNOLD holds of the lady of this manor one cottage with appurtenances in Portmill Lane being the house lately of Henry KINGSLEY and now in the occupation of Richard UPTON and John PETERS by copy of the court rolls and fealty, suit to the court and he pays 1s p.a.

Susan TAPENDEN, widow holds of the lady of this manor one messuage with appurtenenances in Bancroft Street for the term of her life with remainder separately to other persons once the house of a certain Joseph KEMPE, gentleman deceased, and now in the occupationof the aforesaid Susan and a certain Henry KINGSLEY and George WILKINSON by copy of the court rolls and fealty, suit to the court and she pays 14s p.a.

Customary Tenants living in Tilehouse Street Ward

Henry KINGSLEY holds of the lady of this manor part of his house in the Market Place in Hitchin in which he lives, lately of Henry KINGSLEY, his father deceased, by copy of the court rolls and fealty, suit to the court and he pays 4d p.a. And also one piece of land built on and enclosed into the house of Henry himself next to the Market Place by copy of the court rolls and fealty, suit to the court and he pays 6d p.a. [Footnote: Maurice Johnson in 1725 extracted from manorial court rolls, which no longer appear to be extant, examples of encroachments granted into the Market Place and streets 1611-1665. There include the surrender in 1633 by Andrew KINGSLEY and the admission of his son Henry to 'a piece of ground then inclosed into his house lately built next the Market Place'. Andrew KINGSLEY had also acquired several stallages in the Market Place.]

Free Tenants living in Tilehouse Street Ward

Henry KINGLSEY holds freely of the lady of this manor one messuage next to the Market Place and two barns, one yard and one stable in Coddpisse Alley, once of Henry KINGSLEY, his father lately deceased, and now in the occupation of the said Henry now holding and a cerain James LAWRENCE by fealty, suit to the court and he pays 2s 2d p.a.