Wootton

Overlordship

In 1086 the manor of WOOTTON, extended at 10 hides, was held by Albert of Lorraine of the king in chief. This manor continued to be so held, the last mention of the overlordship occurring in 1612.

Lordship account 1

Another third of the manor which in 1295 became the right of Beatrice, the third sister of John de Beauchamp, passed to her daughter and heir Maud Fitz Otho, who married John de Botetourt. This estate, known as the manor of WOOTTON, descended as in the case of Bromham Manor (q.v.) through the families of Latimer and Nevill of Raby; but on the death of Sir John Nevill Lord Latimer in 1577 its history becomes distinct from that of Bromham, as it was inherited by Dorothy his second daughter and co-heir, the wife of Sir Thomas Cecil, afterwards Lord Burghley and Earl of Exeter. By a fine levied in 1605 the reversion of the manor was settled on their daughter Mary wife of Edward Lord Denny of Waltham and Earl of Norwich, and on their only child Honoria and her issue. The latter married James Hay, Viscount Doncaster, Earl of Carlisle, and their son James was lord of the manor in 1638. Between this date and 1666 the manor was acquired by Sir Humphrey Monoux, bart., and descended in that family with the manor of Bosoms. On the death of Sir Philip Monoux in 1809 Wootton became the property of his second daughter and co-heir Mary, whose second husband Joseph Francis Buckworth was lord of the manor in her right in 1836. Mary died in 1850, when Wootton was inherited by Charles, her son by her first husband John, eldest illegitimate son of Sir Gillies Payne, bart. The manor continued in their descendants, and is at present vested in his great-nephew Philip.

Lordship account 2

The connexion of the Trailly family with Wootton dates from 1228, when John de Trailly held a tenement in this parish of the Beauchamps; but the manor was not acquired by them until after the division of the Bedford Barony, and is mentioned for the first time in their possession in 1330. The history of the Trailly family has been given under Yelden (q.v.), the head, but Wootton Hoo was not alienated with Yelden by Reginald Trailly, the last male representative, and passed on his death in 1401 to his cousin and heir Margery wife of Sir William Huggeford and daughter of James Pavenham. From this date until the middle of the 16th century the descent of the manor is similar to that of Pavenhams Manor in Carlton (q.v.), but it was not alienated with the latter and remained in the Lucy family. Sir Thomas Lucy, who sold Pavenhams Manor in 1564, was succeeded by his son Thomas, who died in 1605, and whose son, another Thomas, transferred his right in Wootton Hoo to his younger brother Francis, whose son and heir Richard married Rebecca daughter and heir of Thomas Chapman of Wormley. Richard appears to have conveyed the manor to his father-in-law, who was in possession in 1712, in which year it was purchased by Francis Duncombe. It remained in the latter family and passed to Thomas Duncombe, who had married Elizabeth daughter of William Lowndes, Secretary to the Treasury in 1652, by his third wife Elizabeth Martyn. Thomas Duncombe, whose wife died in 1712, appears to have alienated the manor to her brother, as the latter's grandson William Lowndes was lord of Wootton Hoo in 1781. Richard Lowndes was in possession in 1831, and in 1906 Mr. William Layton Lowndes of Dover was among the landowners in this parish. He was succeeded in that year by his cousin and heir the Rev. William Lowndes of Broughton, Buckinghamshire, who is rector of St. Mary's, Nassau, the Bahamas. Elizabeth Hoobury, the second daughter of Ela, died without issue in 1314, when her property passed to her sisters' descendants, John Picot and John de Patishull, and became absorbed in their estates (q.v.). Joan, the third daughter of Ela, married, first, Michael Picot, and, secondly, Ralph Paynel, and died circa 1318, when John son of Baldwin Picot was her kinsman and heir, and was succeeded on his death in 1337 by his son John. The property, however, had been acquired in 1316 by Adam Picot and Anabella his wife from Thomas Paynel, with the consent of John son of Baldwin Picot, but without royal licence, for which pardon had to be obtained in 1335, the date of Adam Picot's death, when he was succeeded by his son William. In 1346 the heirs of Adam Picot were holding in Wootton, but there is no further trace of this property.

Lordship account 3

Land in this parish was held by the Prior of Harrold, who in 1225 was granted custom and services by Hugh St. Edward, lord of Studleys Manor. In 1392 the priory obtained licence to acquire a toft, 56 acres land, 1 acre of pasture, and 40s. 11d. rent in Wootton from Gerard Braybrook, and in 1535 their estate was assessed at 33s. 7d. After the Dissolution it was sold in 1557, when the yearly rental was £2 7s. 9d., the estate comprising Penneclose and Trawles Close. There is no subsequent mention of their property, which was doubtless acquired in small parcels by many purchasers.