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FAMILY OF PERCY
The two daughters of the 12th Earl of Athol, orphaned at such an early age, married brothers, sons of the Earl of Northumberland. Sir Ralph Percy, who married Philippa de Strabolgi, was taken prisoner, with his eldest brother, by the renowned Hotspur, at the battle of Otterburn or Chevy Chase, and died without issue.
Sir Thomas Percy, the husband of Elizabeth, became in her right lord of the Manors of Gainsborough and Dunham, and left a son Henry.
"1388, May 21. Westminster. Licence for £20 which Elizabeth, late the wife of Thomas de Percy, knight, the younger, and John de Halsham and Philippa his wife have paid to the King for them to enfeoff John de Lincoln, clerk, and Master Topcliffe of the castle and Manor of Mitford, etc., and soke of Dunham to re-enfeoff the said Elizabeth of the premises first named above as far as the Manor of Dunham, co Notts, inclusive, to hold to the heirs of her body with the remainder to heirs in general and similarly to re-enfeoff the said John de Halsham and Philippa his wife of the residue of the premises, to hold to them and the heirs of the body of Philippa with the remainder of her heirs in general." (Patent Roll).
In each case the wife survived and married again. Elizabeth to Sir John Scrope, and Philippa to Sir John Haslam.
Sir Henry Percy de Athol fought at Agincourt (1415), and died in 1432.
"Henricus Percy d'Athell, Miles, et Elizabeth uxor ejus Cratfelde Manor, Iselham Manor, Dunham Manor et soca cum Passag' ultra aquam de Trente cum piscar' extent' ampl'. Notts." (Cal Inq post mortem.)
He, Sir Henry, in his turn left two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, aged 20 and 17, respectively, at his death.
Elizabeth Percy became the wife of Sir Thomas Burgh, and Margaret became the wife of Lord Grey de Codnor. In the division of property that ensued Gainsborough fell to Sir Thomas Burgh, in whose family it remained for 150 years. Dunham and its soke fell to Margaret.
"Amplae libert' confirmae Henrico Gray de Codnor et Margaretae uxori quis Williamus Lucy Militi et Elizabethae uxori consanguinis et Haeridibus Philippae nuper uxoris Radi de Percy in villes suis de Gainsburgh in com' Lincoln' ac de Dunham ac soca sua ibm in com' Nottingham."
''Confirmation of full liberty to Henry Grey de Codnor and Margaret his wife, the blood relations and heirs of Philippa, late wife of Ralph Percy of their estates of Gainsborough in co Lincoln, and of Dunham and its soke in co Nottingham." (Calendar Rotulorum Patentium, 12 Henry VI., 1444.)
Lord Grey de Codnor and his wife Margaret had a son Henry who succeeded to the Manor. He died in 1508 leaving no issue, so the Manor became the property of his cousin, Sir Edward Burgh, grandson of Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Percy de Athol, who for her first husband married Sir Thomas Burgh.
FAMILY OF BURGH
In 1510 it was found that Sir Edward Burgh's "distracted memory" incapacitated him not only from his duties in the House of Lords, but even from the care of his property. An inquisition was held, which reported that "he was unable to take care of his manors, tenements, or of his goods and chatties." So the King took charge of his property, restoring it five years later upon the coming of age of his son. He died in 1526, and was buried in the choir of Gainsborough Parish Church. His wife Ann, daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Cobham, brought him great property in Surrey, and before his unfortunate loss of memory he made a good appearance at court, and distinguished himself at a tournament at Westminster in 1494.
He was succeeded by his son Thomas, who was one of the knights attending upon Henry VIII., at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. In May 1533 he took a prominent part in the coronation of Anne Boleyn, supporting her train, and some months later was present at the baptism of Princess Elizabeth. On August 12th, 1541, Henry VIII. and his fifth wife paid a four days' visit to Lord Burgh at Gainsborough. Sir Thomas married Agnes, daughter of Sir Will Tyrwhitt of Kettleby, by whom he had a large family, he died in 1550. We read of him paying to the Bishop of Lincoln six pence in view of Frankpledge on October 12th, 1535. William, his eldest son, succeeded him, who was knighted at Westminster on the day of Queen Mary's coronation. He married Catherine, daughter of Edward Clinton, Earl of Lincoln; she was celebrated as a court beauty. He died in 1584, and was buried in Surrey.
He was succeeded by his son Thomas, who was employed much in the public service by Queen Elizabeth, being Governor of Brill in the Netherlands, Ambassador to Scotland, and Lord Deputy of Ireland. Unfortunately his patriotic services involved him in pecuniary difficulties, and he was obliged to sell Doddington in 1586 of which he was lord of the Manor, and Gainsborough in 1597, in which year he died at Newry. Dunham was also sold by him, but at what date and to whom is not known.
It is not likely that the lords of the Manor had any residence in Dunham, having a fine mansion in Gainsborough, now known as the Old Hall.
Shortly after the death of Sir Thomas Burgh the Manor was claimed by Sir John Mounson as heir.
| Suit in Chancery in reign of Elizabeth:— | ||
| Plain tiff Sir John Mounson, Bart | Defendt John Roper Elizabeth Roper his wife Henry Jenkinson & others. | Object of suit. Claim as heir and to recover deeds. |
Premises:—The Rectory and Parsonage of Ingleholme, and lands in co Lincoln ( late estate of Robert Mouson to whom plaintiff's heir, and the Manor of Dunham in the co Notts, plaintiff's inheritance.
In the State papers it is stated that on "May 20th, 1647, Manor and Soke of Dunham, Notts, bought by Capt. William Daniel.'' But from another entry in the same it would seem that in 1650 the Duke of Newcastle was lord of the Manor:—
"Let the expenses of £20 for regaining and repairing a boat sunk at Dunham Ferry, being part of the Duke of Newcastle's estate, by Cavaliers which will be advantage of £20 a year, be speedily considered."
In the British Museum there is a charter (Additional Char 53392) entitled "Survey of the Manor and soke of Dunham late parcel of the possession, or belonging to William (Cavendish), Earl of Newcastle, made in January 1651 after the Act for the sale of forfeited estates. Endorsed for Robert Mellish." The document states that the total amount c all rents was £163.9/6, and that there is issuing out of the Manor payable to Lord Willoughby of Perham for a landing-place from the ferry per ann 20/—.
It was at this time, probably, that the Manorial rights were granted to Robert Millish (see history of Ragnall), and since then have gone to the owners of Ragnall estate. Privileges granted to the Manor of Dunham by Royal Charter
The men of Dunham at an early date held certain privileges which could only have been granted by a royal charter. For instance, it is stated by Thoroton that "The men of Dunham soke and manor, tenants of ancient demesne, ought to be quit of murder, pontage, and all other fines with the commonalty of the county.'' Thoroton does not give the date when this privilege was granted, probably he is referring to an order in the Close Rolls, dated 1273. The Sheriff at that time had evidently forgotten or overlooked the charter that granted the men of Dunham these privileges, and so William de Valence, Lord of the Manor, makes complaint to the King, who issues the following order:—
"1273. To the Sheriff of Norfolk, etc. Order to desist from exacting certain sums for pontage and fines from the men of the Manor and soke of Dunham who hold ancient demesne, and to permit them to be quit of murder fine, pontage and fines, as they were wont to be in times past, as it has been shown to the King by William de Valentia, his uncle, that the said men who hold ancient demesne, ought to be quit of giving murder money fine, pontage, and all other fines with the community of co Notts, and have hitherto been wont to be quit, but the Sheriff exacts certain sums for such pontage fines for them to the damage of the said William and his men." These privileges were restored to William de Valence and his men.
In the jointures made to the Queen of England, 1 Edward III., it is stated "That the Manor of Dunham with its appurtenances was the ancient demesne of the Lord King in the time of Henry the Elder. But King John gave it to the Count Boulogne etc." There is, however, no apparent reason for the special mention of King Henry I. in these jointures unless it was he who granted the aforesaid privileges to the Men of Dunham Soke and Manor.
Thoroton also incidentally mentions that there is a "Gild-house" in Dunham (circa 1216). He says:—"Ralph Plucket gave to the monks of Rufford, for the souls of his father and mother, and brother and ancestors, one toft in Dunham, on the south part of the town, contiguous to the Gyldhouse, 4 perches long, and as many broad, and the said monks were not to receive any more land in that town, but by the favour and good will of himself and his heirs; the witnesses were Gilbert de Archis, Swain de Hoiland, Robert de Draiton, William de Draiton, Richard de Laxon, Thomas clerk of Hedon."
The Gildhouse would be that of the "Merchant Gild," which was established in many towns and villages during the 12th and 13th centuries, and the charter which granted the aforesaid privileges would also grant permission to the men of Dunham to establish the "Merchant Gild."
We know that Thurston, Archbishop of York (1119-1135), to whom Henry I. gave the vicarage of Dunham to form a Prebend of Southwell, obtained from the King a charter to establish a Merchant Gild at Beverley, of which place he (Thurston) was Lord of the Manor. It is not, therefore, unlikely that he also obtained from the King a similar charter for Dunham.
The class of gild which claims our attention is characteristic of the 12th and 13th centuries to a degree which no other gild can lay claim. Dr. Gross in his book, "The Gild Merchant," gives a list of 162 towns in England, Wales and Ireland, in which its existence is proved. Nottingham is the only town mentioned in this county, but no doubt there were gilds in other places, and certainly there was one in Dunham. He says, "The early years of oppression which succeeded the conquest had no sooner passed away than, with closed intercourse with the continent and a stronger government, trade revived, and free town life of England began anew. The gild was the form which this influence naturally took."
"Pre-eminently among the privileges granted to a gild is the grant of a free borough, a term difficult to define. . . . A community might lack some of the privileges possessed by more powerful towns, and yet be called a free borough; while on the other hand a simple village might enjoy certain of these liberties without being able to arrogate to itself the title, independence, and dignity of a borough. Chief among the privileges of a free borough. . . . were an independent judiciary, the burgesses being free from suits in county and hundred courts outside the town. . . . the fee-farm rent or commutation of tolls, court perquisites, and other town dues belonging to the king or mesne lord, for a fixed sum of money, exemption of toll throughout the realm; the right to hold markets and fairs; the election of town officers by the burgesses; the gild merchant; the return of all writs, and ultimately the complete exclusion of the sheriffs and other royal bailiffs from all interference of the affairs of the borough."
In writs issued by John (1217) the men of Dunham, and also of Darlton, are addressed as "free tenants" (Close Rolls). These privileges are referred to in a mandate, dated 1320:—"Mandate until further order directed to the Sheriff, Nottingham, as tenants of the Manor which are of the ancient demesne of the crown ought not to be put on assizes, juries, or recognitions for the land and tenements which they hold of such demesne, that the men and tenants of the King's Manor of Derelton and Ragenhill which is of the said demesne and whom he does not wish to be unduly harassed, shall not be placed on assizes, juries, or recognitions without the court of the said manor for lands and tenements which they hold."
The privileges of complete exclusion of the sheriffs and other royal bailiffs from the interference in the affairs of the borough was granted on March 23, 1314:—
''Grant to Aymer de Valentia, earl of Pembroke, the King's cousin, that he and his heirs shall have in the towns of Gainsborough, co Lincs, and Dunham, co Notts, and its soke, return of all the King's writs touching the said town and soke, whether of summons to the exchequer or of other matters, so that no sheriff, bailiff or other minister shall enter the said town and soke to do ought therein save by the default of this Aymer and his bailiff." (Charter Rolls).
To become a gildsman it was necessary to pay certain initiation fees. He took an oath of fealty to the fraternity, swearing to observe its laws, to uphold its privileges, not to divulge its counsels, to obey its officers, and not aid any non-gildsman under cover of the newly acquired freedom. "In the Gildhall met regularly all the principal burgers. . . . There they drew closer the bonds which held them together as townsmen by great tankards of wine and ale, by the exercise of their discipline, and the collection of their tribute to the king. There the court of the Gild sat monthly or quarterly, received reports from its officials, admitted new members, fined unlicensed traders, and dealt with the emergencies of the time. There stood the great chest with its three locks, under which were kept the precious charter of their liberties, the common hoard, and the possessions of the Gild. At the head sat the Aldermen supported by the council of twelve, and the younger brothers of the Gild. There they cherished the warmth of local patriotism, and trained men in fellow feeling and the discipline of free discussion and concerted action." (Dr. Gross).
Good works and devotional exercises, though not wholly neglected, constitute a less prominent element in the Gild Merchant than in most other gilds. In some towns the fraternity bore the name of some patron saint. Chaplains and priests of the gild are often mentioned. Assistance was given to brethren in sickness and poverty, and quarrels were settled without litigation by the gild officers. "When a Gild brother died the great lights burned around the bier, the pall of gold covered him, and the prayers of the survivors followed him in their faith to the dark region whither he had gone to the company of the departed." (Dr. Gross).