Wyboston

Lordship account 1

In 1086 Eudo Dapifer held WYBOSTON MANOR, assessed at 6 hides 3 virgates. It had been held during the Confessor's reign by four of his thegns, at liberty to sell to whom they wished. Like the remainder of Eudo's property, it became attached to the barony of Eaton (q.v.), though in the 15th and 16th centuries it is described as held of the Crown in chief. The earliest tenants found of this manor are the Fitz Williams, later barons of Greystock. In 1221 John Fitz William paid £10 into the Exchequer for relief of his lands in Eaton Socon and Sundon. Ralph Fitz William his descendant, 'baron of Greystock,' who was summoned to Parliament in 1295 as 'Ralph Fitz William,' held by knight service in 1302 and in 1316. An inquisition was held on his lands in the following year; he then held Wyboston Manor, worth £10 1s. 7¼d. His son Robert, who was thirty-six years of age and more, survived his father two years, when one-third of the manor passed to his widow Elizabeth in dower, the remainder going to his son and heir Ralph. He, who assumed the name of 'de Greystock,' and is so named in his writ of summons in 1321, died in 1323, leaving as heir his infant son William. William de Greystock made a settlement of the manor on trustees in 1343–4, and died seised in 1358, when Wyboston was worth £18, being succeeded by his son and heir Ralph, aged six. One-third was at this time held by William's mother Alice (Audley), who retained it till 1374–5. Wyboston passed from Ralph Lord Greystock to his son John in 1417. John died in 1436, and Ralph his son succeeded him. Ralph, last Lord Greystock of this house, died in 1487, when, his son Sir Robert Greystock having predeceased him, Elizabeth daughter of Robert became his heir. Elizabeth, suo jure Baroness Greystock, who died in 1516, married Thomas Lord Dacre of Gillesland, and her son William Lord Dacre and Greystock died seised of Wyboston in 1563. His son Thomas Lord Dacre and Greystock made a settlement of the manor on Lady Mounteagle in 1566, and died the same year. George, his son, was then five years old; he died three years later, when his sisters Anne, Mary and Elizabeth, all minors, became his co-heirs. Mary Dacre died in 1578, whilst still a minor and a ward of the queen. Wyboston passed to Anne, who married Philip Howard Duke of Norfolk, and her grandson William Howard Viscount Stafford made a settlement of the property in 1641. A further settlement of Wyboston took place in 1656, and was possibly preparatory to an alienation which appears to have taken place about this time. Early in the next century it passed to the family of Whetham, of whom Thomas Whetham owned Wyboston Manor in 1748. One of the same name was a landowner in Eaton Socon at the time of the inclosure of 1795, and the following year Arthur Whetham was lord of Wyboston Manor.

Lordship account 2

Part of Nigel Albini's land in Wyboston, held at Domesday by Pirot, passed later to the Braybrookes, and appears to have been attached to their adjacent manor of Colmworth (q.v.). Joan de Braybrooke and John de Longueville held half a fee here in 1302, and Gerard de Braybrooke claimed view of frankpledge in 1330. The last mention is found of the Braybrookes' interest in 1428.

Lordship account 3

Azelina, the wife of Ralph Tallebosc, held 5½ virgates in Wyboston in 1086, and Hugh de Beauchamp held half a virgate. These lands became attached to the barony of Bedford, and were held in the 13th and 14th centuries by a family called Stagsden.

Lordship account 4

Ramsey Abbey held 1½ virgates in Wyboston in 1086, having as tenant Eudo Dapifer. No mention has been found of the abbey in connexion with this parish.

Lordship account 5

There are traces of another WYBOSTON MANOR, which appears to have originated in part of the 9 hides and 1 virgate held by Pirot at Domesday. It was held by the Karun family, of whom Walter conveyed half a virgate in Eaton to Robert Cokrel in 1236. In 1262 Roger le Sok acknowledged the right of Walter Karun to part of half a knight's fee in Wyboston. Another Walter Karun held one fee with Godfrey le Sok of Ralph Pirot in 1302–3. Between 1316 and 1330 Walter Karun enfeoffed Roger de Beauchamp of this property. From him it passed to John de Beauchamp, who appears to have represented a younger branch of the family, and who at this date claimed view of frankpledge here, as having been held from time immemorial by the ancestors of Walter Karun. The name of 'John de Beauchamp of Wyboldeston' occurs in a charge of riot in 1338, and in 1384–5 John de Beauchamp, his descendant, alienated lands in Wyboston, Chalston and Eaton to Richard Belgrave and Margaret his wife, but no further trace of this manor has been found.