LITTLE PORINGLAND.
Little Poringland manor belonged also to the Norfolk families,
as a member of their manor of Framlingham, and continues so now;
there is lete, free-warren, and assize of bread and ale, belonging to
it; as did the advowson, till granted off, with divers lands, by the
Bigots: the church was demolished before the year 1540; there are
few ruins of it now to be seen, the highest piece of wall being about
7 feet high only: it was dedicated to St. Michael, whose image stood
in the chancel, in the usual place of the imago principalis, or patron's
image, which was always on the north side of the altar, mostly against
the east wall, or at the very corner. When Norwich Domesday was
taken, the patronage was in seven parts, William le Monney de Gowthorp, Wil. Lerer de Dunstone, Wil. son of Nic. de Dunstone, Edm. de
Carleton, Tho. de Framlingham, and others; the rector had a house
and 4 acres of land; it was valued at 40s. but being not taxed, is not
in the King's Books; it paid 6d. Peter-pence, 3d. carvage, 12 d. synodals, and 7s. 7d. ob. archdeacon's procurations.
Rectors.
In Edw. the First's time Ralf was rector.
1307, Edm. de Carleton settled a fifth part of the advowson on
his son Alexander. In
1312, Peter le Money of Gowthorp. for his turn, gave it to
Will. de Dunston. In 1314, John de Dunston gave his turn to
Oliver de Witton.
1322, Ric. Weston of Norwich was presented by Eustace le
Moyne of Cruchestoke. In 1323, Rob. de Dunston gave it to
Will. de Dunston, subdeacon. In 1332, Will. de Burgo, or
Burgh, chaplain, and John de Burgh and Joan his wife, settled it on
themselves, and the heirs of John, against the heirs of Alice de
Burgh. In
1349, Edm. de Carleton was presented by Sir Peteb Spirhard of
Fakenham, who granted to this rector, and his heirs, a small piece of
land joining to the churchyard, and the fifth part of the advowson
appendant to it; he was succeeded by
John de Kimberlee, who resigned in 1372, and Simon Blickling, citizen of Norwich, gave it to
Ric. Lystere, on whose quitting it the next year, John Left
presented
John Kirkehouse of Shouldham, succeeded in
1388, by John de Brunthorp. In 1395, John de Dunston and
Maud his wife settled a fourth part of the advowson on Sir Edmund
de Thorp, Knt. John Reymes, and others. In
1406, John atte Dam in Oxburgh had it, and the same year, Rog.
Blickling, citizen of Norwich, gave it to
Rob. Leghun, who soon resigned, for the next year
John Witton had it by lapse, who changed for Swerdeston
with Walkeline Percomb, and he in 1412, for Rede, with
Simon Aleyn, who was presented by Sir Thomas Erpingham, Knt. In 1416, Clement Herward, Rog. Blickling's feoffee in
the manor of Gowthorp in Swerdeston (to which this patronage was
said to be appendant) presented
John Rede of Peterburgh, who was buried in the chancel in
1422. I find no presentation at his death, till 1432, when
Will. Wirmod had it by lapse, who changed for Berghapeton, in
1434, with Rog. Philpot, who was presented by Rob. Blickling:
his successour,
Walter Windeshore, resigned in 1463, and
John Winter had it of the gift of John Gosselyn, then
patron; he lived at Little-Poringland, and by his will dated 1505, (fn. 1)
ordered his body to be buried in the "Grave redy made withynne
the chaunsell of Lityl Poryngland, Item, I wyll and bequethe to
the fyndyng of v Lights callid halff quarter Candells to brenne in
the honour of the v Wounds of our Lord God, and the v Joies of
our Lady St. Mary, to brenne upon my Grave every Holyday in
Tyme of Dyvyne Service, coming of the Profights of suche Londes
as hereafter shall appear remayning in my feofees Hands to that
Use and Intent, to be found perpetuall. Item, I wyll and bequethe
that my place in Caster called Hawes, with all the appurtenances,
viz. Lands, Medues, Woods, Rents, and Services thereto belonging,
withyne the Hundred of Hensted; and also all my Lands, Medues,
woods, with appurtenances in the town of Intwood, Swerdeston, et
Carleton, or withynne the Hundred of Humilyerd, shall remayne
and goo to the fynding of a good and honest Secular Prest, that
shall be Parson of the said Church of Lytyl Poryngland, with the
Profights and Revenues that shall come of the said benefice, (fn. 2) shall
be downlieng and uprising ther, to pray for me, and for my Frends,
that I had the good of, withynne the Town of Litil Poringlond: This
to be done and performed by the Advice of my Lord Bishop of
Norwich, Master James Hubberd the King's Attorney, and Master
Dr. Hare, Chauncelor of my said Lord of Norwich, after the Ordur
and Form of Law and good consciens. I wull that the said Messuage, Lands, &c. shall remayne ever in Feofees Hands, of 12 of the
best of the Hundred. The King and chieff Lords of the Fee to be
served of due Right and Custom; the which I wull myn Executors
and myn Feofees namyd shall pay them; that is to say, John Hall
Gentylman, Thomas Sparrowe, Will. Sire, Rob. Hotte, Herry
Baker, John Dussing Junior, John Osberne, John Hare, Tho.
Gooche, Rob. Leman, Rob. Rede and Barth. Meeke; and ever whan
it so happeth, that it shall come to the number of 4 Persons, than
I wull it shall ever be renued and taken a new State thereof ageyn
to that Use and Intent aforenamyd, and fynding of the Lights afore
wretyn, provided the same Land, &c. to remayn in the Hands of
my Executors and Supervisors, (Executors, Tho. Wright, John Halle
Gent. Andrew Sire, and Ric. Matchet; James Hubberd and Dr.
Hare, Supervisors,) during the Nonage of my Sone Leonard's Children, and to him that is eldest alive at 24 Years, the Lands &c. to
remayn in his Hand, to the Use aforesaid; and if any of the Children of my Brother Leonard break any of the abovesaid Points of
my Will, then my Feffes alyve, shall turn him out and take the
said Profitts, and pay the said Prest. Provided that if the King's
Laws will not suffer it, but will annex the Church of Littil Poryngland to any other Church thereby, then the said Messuage and
Lands, &c. to remayn to the next of my blood." (fn. 3) So that upon
the union of the church to Great Portland, the estate went to the
heir at law.
1527, Tho. Tudenham, alias Mileham, a canon of Hempton, had it
by lapse, and in 1529, Martin Gostlyn presented
Tho. Green, who held by a personal union with PorlandMagna. In
1546, Hugh Duddesbury was presented by Hen. Doyly, Esq. in
right of Margaret his wife, (who, I suppose, was a Gostlyn,) and held
it really united to Porland-Magna, and personally united to Howe;
and in 1507, Hen. Doyly presented
John Gascoign, at whose death they were disunited again;
and in 1611, Edm. Doyly, Esq. gave it to
John Bury, who held it united to Stoke-Holy-Cross; he was
succeeded by
Will. Coppin, who died rector of this, and Great Porland, in
1624, and Roger Castell, guardian to Edmund Doyly, Gent. gave
it to
John Nash, A. B. (fn. 4) 1635, Edm. Doyly, Esq. presented
Robert Legge, at whose death, Sir Will. Doyly, Knt. in
1662, gave it
Oliver Harrison, and soon after to
John Goddard; his successour,
John Paris, died rector of this and Great Porland. In
1696, Tho. Hacon was collated by lapse, and held it with Yelverton;
and in 1734, 22 Jul.
The Rev. Mr. Charles Wadesworth had it by lapse; and the
advowson being purchased by him of the Doylies, it was consolidated
upon the statute to the rectory of Howe.