St John's Church, Stratford, E15
St John's Church, Stratford, London E15
A Brief History Of The Parish
Little Domesday


St John's Parish was originally part of the ancient Parish of West Ham, which was, at the time of The Domesday Survey (external link), a part of Ham, in the Hundred of Becontree, in the County of Essex. Below are the entries from "Little Domesday" for Ham and at the bottom of the page a few definitions to aid your reading of it. The small f numbers are references to the folio number of the original Domesday Book (external link).

Essex

[f14]

VI. Land of St Peter, Westminster.

[f14v]

HUNDRED OF BECONTREE

St Peter held Ham TRE as a manor and 2 hides. Then as now 1 plough. Then 3 bordars, now 5. Woodland for 8 pigs. It was then worth 20s, now 60.

[f63v]

XXXII. Lands of Robert Gernon.

[f64]

HUNDRED OF BECONTREE.

Robert holds Ham in demesne, which Æthelstan, a free man, held TRE as a manor and as 8 hides and 30 acres. And King William this manor to Ranulf Peverel and Robert Gernon. Then 5 ploughs in demense, now 4. The men then 8 ploughs, now 12. Then 32 villans, now 48. Then 16 bordars, now 80 less 1. Then as now 3 slaves. Woodland for 100 pigs. 60 acres of meadow. 9 mills then, now 8. It was then worth £16, and when received £12. Now it is worth £24. And of this manor R Peverel has a moiety. And in the demense of Robert, R received 1 horse and it is similarly now there. Then 1 cow, now 9 head of cattle. Then 6 sheep, now 12. Then 5 pigs, now 11. Of this manor, Osbern holds 30 acres of Robert and half a plough and it is worth 10s in the above valuation.

Robert holds Ham in demesne, which Leofræd, a free man, held TRE as a manor and as 7 hides. Then as now 3 ploughs in demense. The men then 7 ploughs, now 13. Then 34 villans, now 38. Then 3 bordars, now 26. Then 19 slaves,

[f64v]

now 3. Woodland for 700 pigs. 50 acres of meadow. Then 8 head of cattle, now 15. Then 20 pigs, now 34. Now 200 sheep less 20. Now 4 horses and 3 hives of bees. And to this land were added 3 virgates TRW, which Edwin, a free priest, held TRE. Then 1 plough, now half a plough. Now 2 bordars. Woodland for 20 pigs. 9 acres of meadow, and this manor was worth TRE £10, and when received £7, now £18. And to this manor belong 30 acres, which 1 sokeman holds. Of this manor, Ilger holds 40 acres and 2 bordars and 1 plough and it is worth 15s in the above valuation.

[f71v]

XXXIIII. Lands of Ranulf Peverel.

[f72v]

HUNDRED OF BECONTREE.

R holds Ham in demesne, which Æthelstan, a free man, held TRE as a manor and as 8 hides and 30 acres. And King William gave this manor to R Peverel and Robert Gernon. Then 5 ploughs in demense, now 4. The men then 8 ploughs, now 12. Then 32 villans, now 48. Then 16 bordars, now 80 less 1. Then as now 3 slaves. Woodland for 100 pigs. 60 acres of meadow. Then 9 mills, now 8. Then 1 horse, 1 cow, 3 pigs, now 2 horses, 2 colts, 2 cows with calves, 20 pigs, 60 sheep. It was then worth £16, and when they received £12. Now it is worth £23. And R Gernon has a moiety of this manor.



Definitions:

Acre: As a square measure, 4 x 40 perches. As a linear measure, 66ft.
Bordar: A cottager, a peasant of lower economic status than a villan.
Demesne: (1) Land held in the lords personal possession, as opposed to those granted to his men.
(2) That part of an estate exploited for the lords 'home-farm'.
Free Man: A non-noble landholder.
Hide: The standard unit of assessment to tax, especially geld. Notionally the amount of land that would support a household. Divided into four virgates.
Moiety: A half.
Perch: A linear measure, varying from between 14ft and 18ft and between 25ft and 28ft.
Plough: Area of land workable by one eight-ox plough-team in one day.
Sokeman: Usually a free man owing service to the lord.
TRE: Tempore Regis Edwardi, in the time of King Edward, before the conquest.
TRW: Tempore Regis Willelmi, in the time of King William, since the conquest.
Villan: A villager.
Virgate: One quarter of a hide.

1 acre = 4840 sq. yd.
1 chain = 22 yd (66ft)
4 perch = 1 chain
160 sq. perch = 1 acre

 
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