30 Oct Lordship Title of Felmersham ID13830
Posted at 10:19h
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By the beginning of the 13th century two tenants are found holding this property of the Meppershalls, namely the Laundres and the Peyncourts. In 1204–5 Gilbert de Meppershall acknowledged the right of Emery de Laundres to 5 hides of land in Felmersham. Stephen de Laundres was holding about 1240, whilst another Emery possessed property in Felmersham in 1278 which included a moiety of a mill and a free fishery from the head of the mill pond of Felmersham to Odell Mill; he also had villeins and cottars under him. He still held in 1284–6 and in 1316. He had a son Robert de Laundres, who quitclaimed land in Felmersham to his father in 1309–10, and who held here by knight service in 1346. Nothing further has been found of this family, who by 1428 had given place to Richard Colfox, whose connexion with Falmersham previous to this date has not been ascertained. As seen below, it is suggested that in the manor found a generation later in the Harveys is to be traced the continued descent of this property. Turning to that moiety owned by the Peyncourts it is found that Richard Peyncourt and 'Egelina' his mother owned 5 hides in Felmersham in 1205, which a generation later had passed to Nicholas Peyncourt. He was still holding in 1278–9, when, as shown above, he shared a mill and free fishery with Emery de Laundres. In 1302–3 Walter Peyncourt had succeeded him, between which date and 1316 an alienation appears to have taken place to Robert Albyn. In 1323–4 Walter de Trikynham quitclaimed land to him in this parish, and in 1346 Robert Albyn is still described as holding here by knight service. As in the other moiety there is no further record of this property until 1428, when it is declared to have passed to Thomas Milton. In 1474 John Harvey died seised of FELMERSHAM MANOR, which may represent either of the two Peyncourt and Laundres moieties, or possibly an amalgamation of both, for, though there is nothing to show how this manor came into his possession, it evidently represents the chief property in the parish. It was at this time held of the king for 6s. 8d. yearly, but on the death of Agnes Paston widow of John Harvey was declared to be held of Sir John St. John as of his manor of Felmersham. Felmersham Manor was retained by the Harveys (see Thurleigh) until 1588, in which year they sold it to William Goddard. He died seised of Felmersham in 1615, having settled it on his wife Joan for her life, with reversion to his son Vincent Goddard. In the same year the latter was declared to have been a lunatic for some time past. Joan Goddard died at this time, and William Goddard, son of Vincent, a minor, held the manor in 1632. At this date he conveyed the manor into the hands of trustees, probably preparatory to an alienation which took place about this time to the family of Leach. John Leach suffered a recovery of the manor in 1671–2. He died in 1687, and the same year his widow Judith, William Leach (probably his son) and May his wife made a settlement of the manor. From them it was purchased in 1717 by Thomas Orlebar, who died in 1721, and whose widow Judith Orlebar lived here till her death in 1766. Felmersham then became the property of her three daughters Diana widow of the Rev. Edward Smith, Judith wife of the Rev. Oliver St. John Cooper, rector of Tilbrook, and Ursula wife of John Marsh. John Marsh and Ursula his wife held their third in 1773. In 1814 John Cooper, representing Judith's portion, combined with Charles Bloodworth to sell his third of the manor to Thomas Payn, who in 1831 conveyed the 'manor of Felmersham' by fine to William Medland. The manor, thus dispersed amongst various owners at the beginning of the 19th century, was subsequently bought up and reunited by Joseph Tucker of Pavenham (q.v.), whose family since 1864 have been principal landowners in this parish, the present representative being Joseph Tucker Burton Alexander.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
No