10 Jul Lordship Title of Holcot or Hulcott ID1136
Posted at 20:01h
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Previous Lords:
Ralph Passelewe (Passaquam) held the manor of Holcot at the time of the Domesday Survey, and in the 13th century Gilbert Passelewe, his descendant, held by knight's service here. The early history of the lords of this manor follows the same descent as that of Biddenham (q.v.), passing from the Passelewes to the Fermbauds. In 1330 Nicholas Fermbaud claimed free warren in his demesne lands of Holcot. His death took place shortly after, for in 1332 his widow Amabilia and his two sons Thomas and John were concerned in an action for trespass. Katherine daughter of John Fermbaud and her husband John Woodville acquired rights of free warren in 1366. Thomas Fermbaud or Woodville held in Holcot in 1428. His successor, Richard Woodville, who was made a Knight of the Garter in 1449, was the ancestor of Margaret Helwell, who married Thomas Sherard and had two sons Richard and George. In 1541 George Sherard alienated Holcot Manor to his brother Richard, who in the same year sold it to Robert Charnok or Chernock. He died in possession of the manor in 1549 and was succeeded by his son Richard, whose son John Chernock and his wife Elizabeth held it in 1617. His son Sir Robert Chernock, kt., held it in 1627 until about 1648, when his son Sir St. John, created a baronet in 1661, was owner. Sir St. John's son Villiers succeeded to the baronetcy in 1680–1 and died in 1694, leaving as heir his second son Pynsent, who died in 1734, at which date his son Sir Boteler succeeded. On his death unmarried the baronetcy passed to his brother Villiers, who died without heirs in 1779, when the title became extinct. Sir Boteler's estates in Bedfordshire went to his nephew Edward Hervey, son of his sister Helen. Edward left no male heirs, so a portion of his estates passed to Mrs. Elizabeth Chauncey, only surviving daughter of Sir Pynsent Chernock, father of Sir Boteler, who divided it amongst her great-nieces Barbara cousin of Edward Hervey and his four daughters. Barbara, who died in 1813, left her share to William Montague, to whom she was betrothed, and his heirs. He was probably a kinsman of George Henry Montague, who held a moiety of the manor of Holcot in 1826 and whose heir, Mr. Bennett of Oxford, still holds this share at the present day. The rest of the estate is divided amongst the descendants of Edward Hervey's daughter Charlotte Orlebar Smith, the widow of her great-grandson LieutenantColonel Charles Villiers Downes owning some part of it, and Mrs. Boteler Chernock Smith, present lady of the manor, widow of Charlotte's grandson Boteler, owning the rest. Holcot, like Biddenham (q.v.), was attached to the honour of Gloucester, whose paramountcy is found continuously mentioned down to the 15th century; the last reference to it is in 1459–61.
Other Information:
Listed in the Domesday Book:
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