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Before 1066
Aelfric, Burgred’s man, held this land. He could sell to whom he would.
1086
Alfwold held half a hide from the Bishop of Coutances. There was land for six oxen, half plough there. The value was 5 shillings, but before 1066 it was 10 shillings.
William Peverel held six hides of land in Rushden. There was land for 12 ploughs. There were 19 Freemen. There was a mill at 10 shillings and a meadow of 30 acres. Malet held 1 virgate of land from William Peverel. There was land for 2 oxen. The value was 16d, before 1066 it was 2 shillings.
1285
Before the King’s Justices, John the Chaplain Warden of the Hospital of St.James without Higham (on the Rushden side of the boundary with Higham) accused William Bunch, the former Warden, of dishonesty. Bunch was said to have transferred to a relative some of the endowments of the house.
1328
John de Kynarde‑Seye, Michael de Melden and Elias Stapleton, executors of the will of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, complained to the court that certain evil‑doers took away 40 horses, 20 cows, 2,000 sheep and 100 swine and other goods under their custody at Higham, Raundes, Ryssheden, Uadenho and Bukkely.
1329
Adam and Agatha Smith wounded William Albren in his own house in Rushden so badly that on the second day he died. Adam was captured immediately afterwards by the tithingmen of Rushden but he escaped from their custody and fled. He was outlawed and his goods, worth 3s.2d, were seized. Agatha immediately after the crime fled to the Church of Our Lady at Rushden and there confessed that she had committed a felony and abjured the realm.
1379
The tenants of Rushden presented a petition to the council of the Duchy of Lancaster. “Certain casual fines imposed by the court leet for non‑attendance, and necessarily varying from leet to leet, have been assessed on the manor by the officers of the Duchy as a certainty or fixed charge payable at every court.” The council remitted the mattes alleged by the tenants, viz 40 shillings a year.
1409
William Huddlestone was before the court at Rushden on the charge: “That on Monday after the Feast of Annunciation he had forcibly and against the King’s peace entered the King’s demane and fished in the common stream called the King’s Water and taken fish to the value of 40 shillings.” The case was too important to be heard by the local court, but was reserved for the consideration of the King’s officers.
1411
The common oven, which the Lord was bound to maintain, was reported to be in a bad state. An order was made by the court to the Lord’s bailiff to see that repairs were carried out.
1438
The oven was again in bad repair and the Lord of the Manor was ordered to see to it.
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1440
It was reported to the Duchy court that the pound, also the responsibility of the Lord of the Manor, was dilapidated.
The oven had still not been repaired and this time the tenants petitioned the King. The King replied promptly and ordered that the repairs should be carried out “on receipt of this order”.
1453
William Salt stabbed Robert Mead with a dagger worth 6d. He was fined 4d.
1466
Nicholas Hulle was fined 4d for putting a beast’s entrails and hides in the common brook to the detriment of his neighbours.
1467
William Proppe was before the court charged with making a garden on the common. He was ordered to demolish it at once.
1485
Robert Pemberton, usher of the King’s (Richard III) chamber, was deprived of all his offices by an Act of Parliament which annulled all grants made by Edward IV, Edward V or Richard III. He also lost his annuity of £20 charged upon the revenue of the Duchy Manor of Rushden.
1520
Robert Drew and others were before the court for “maintaining, harbouring and keeping” their neighbour’s servants in their respective homes for the playing of unlawful dice games. They were fined 4 shillings each.
1538
Renold Woodcroft set up a horse still in his house and was betrayed by his neighbours. The case against him was that he had ground the malt of John Pole and others against ancient custom and use and to the impoverishment of the King’s mill at Ditchford. He was fined 3s.4d for each offence.
1547
John Cely was given the free Chapel of St.James at Higham Ferrers because Gabriel Throckmorton, the last incumbent, had married.
1553
Edward Twyuyho, on behalf of the King, appeared in court against Thomas Baron and Henry Mayetts in a dispute about land title. A close of land called Longcroft, also a piece of land with willows growing on it, were claimed as the right of the King. The land had been bequeathed in the will of John Baron for the funding of the lights of the church.
1573
William Margetts and Christopher Gobys quarrelled over the closing up of passages between Closes at the south end of Rushden. The court ordered Margetts to make and maintain “two convenient styles” so that the tenants of Rushden might continue to have their passage through the Close into and from the fields. Likewise, Gobys was ordered to make and maintain two styles, so “all contensions betwixt the said parties for that cause to cease”.
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