Fenton

FENTON.

Of Oswardbec Soc in Fenton half a carucat was the Kings land and Soc to Maunsfeild. But in Oswardebec Wapentak Roger de Busli had in Fentune three manors, which (fn. 1) before the Conquest Vlfac, Lauric, and Grim had, and paid to the geld (or tax) for one bov. of land, and the third part of a bovat. The land was waste, except one bordar. In the Confessours time the value of this was 5s. There also had Speranoc two bovats and two thirds for the geld. The land one car. Sac and soc without an hall.

This was waste too. There was six acres of pasture wood, and kept the same value it had in the time of the Confessour, viz. 10s. 8d. (fn. 2)

Tally, tesser a hospitalitatis was used by individuals, in ancient times, as ties of friendship and fidelity; they were from a piece of wood which was divided by the parties, each kept one, after swearing by Jupiter to preserve their fidelity.

(fn. 3) There was a fine, 24 H. 3, between Robert de Aldwerk, and Isabell his wife, quer. and Ranulf de Fenton, tenant, of seven bovats of land, and 7s. 1d. rent in Fenton and Sturston, &c. The jury, 23 E. 1, found that Thomas de Normanvile held in Egmanton seven bovats of lands in bondage, (fn. 4) and two tofts of John de Eyvile, then in the custody of Roger de Moubray, by the service of a rose, and that he held likewise the manor of Fenton of several mean lords, and that Edmund his son and heir was then about four years old.

An ancient gentleman called Fenton had his house and lands here, of which name I have seen one pedigree beginning with Sir Richard Fenton lord of this place, and ending with Katherine, wife of Sir Rich. Boyle earl of Corke in Ireland.

Another in the visitation of Norroy 1614.

The greatest part of this hamlet was the inheritance of Sir Francis Thornagh, knight, descended unto him from Francis Thornagh his grandfather, and Sir John Thornagh his father; his house and seat was here, and is now possessed by John Thornagh, esquire, his grandchild, eldest son of his son Francis, who married Elizabeth, one of the daughters and co-heirs of John S. Andrew of Gotham, esquire, by whom he left issue the said John and others: he was a valiant man, and a colonel of horse for the parliament, in whose service he lost his life by a Scotch lance, as it is said, at the battel begun near Preston in Lancashire, between duke Hamilton and that party; his widow was afterwards married to William Skeffington, esquire, and is yet living with him.

[Throsby] Fenton,

A hamlet.