THE HUNDRED OF MILTON, ALIAS MIDDLETON.
THE hundred of Milton, as it is usually called,
but more properly Middleton, lies the next hundred
northward from that of Eyhorne last described.
It is an appendage to the manor of Milton, and
was formerly stiled the court of antient demesne, held
for the hundred of Milton; the jurisdiction of which
includes the several parishes of the Isle of Shepey
within its bounds, excepting Harty, which is in Faversham hundred.
It has the manor and hundred of Marden annexed
as an appendage to it, which has been so from time
immemorial.
In the pleas of the crown, taken before the justices
itinerant, anno 21 Edward I. it is noted, that the
hundred of Middleton was the king's hundred, with
that of Marden; and further, that John de Shorne
and Daniel de Burgham, whilst bailiffs of Middleton,
held pleas weekly for five days, wherever they thought
fit throughout that hundred; in which roll, mention
is likewise made of one Lucas de Gare, Camerarius de
Middleton.
In the 25th year of the above reign this hundred
had a distinct coroner of its own, and was then farmed
of the king by John de Northwood, and anno 7 Edward III. when queen Philippa had a grant of it, the
return of writs was granted to her within it.
In the tower records, among the clause-rolls of the
1st year of Richard II. No. 33, the men of this hundred were exempted from all watch and ward on the
sea-coasts, excepting in the island of Shepey.
Though the manor and hundred of Milton was
granted, for lives and for terms of years, at different
times, a more ample account of which, and of its several privileges, will be given in the description of the
manor itself hereafter, yet the fee of it remained uninterrupted in the crown till king Charles I. in his 10th
year granted it in fee to Sir Edward Browne and Christopher Favell, since which it has passed in like manner as the manor of Milton, of which a more ample
account will be given hereafter, to the present owners
of it, the right hon. Sophia, countess dowager Wenman, and her sister Mrs. Anne Herbert, who are now
jointly possessed of this hundred and manor, with that
of Marden appendant to it.
THIS HUNDRED CONTAINS WITHIN ITS BOUNDS THE PARISHES AND CHURCHES OF
1. RAINHAM.
2. HARTLIP.
3. UPCHURCH.
4. HALSTOW THE LOWER.
5. NEWINGTON.
6. BORDEN.
7. TUNSTALL.
8. BREDGAR.
9. MIDSTED.
10. KINGSDOWNE near Sittingborne.
11. RODMERSHAM.
12. BAPCHILD.
13. TONG.
14. MURSTON.
15. SITTINGBORNE.
16. MILTON, alias MIDDLETON.
17. BOBBING, and
18. IWADE.
And in the Island of Shepay, which is usually stiled Shepey
Liberty, the parishes and churches of
1. MINSTER.
2. QUEENBOROUGH.
3. EASTCHURCH.
4. WARDEN.
5. LAYSDOWN, and
6. ELMLEY.
And likewise part of the parishes of BICKNOR and STOCKBURY, the churches of which are in another hundred.
This hundred is under the jurisdiction of three
constables, one of which is appointed for the liberty
of the Island of Shepey.