Click Here for Site Index 

 The Hundred Rolls (1279)

The hundred was the basic unit of local government from Saxon times.  They are thought to be the size of the Anglo-Saxon taxation unit of 100 hides, and usually held meetings away from the main settlements.  Kent also had larger divisions called "lathes" which are referred to here.  Hartley was in the hundred of Axstane - roughly equivalent to the later Dartford Rural District Council, and the lathe of Sutton at Hone.  Click here for a map of Axstane Hundred.

These inquisitions were ordered by Edward I to ask by what authority people claimed to exercise royal franchises.  These included justice (right to have gallows, right to administer the assise of bread and ale) and warren (the right to hunt small game).

The hundred jury said that Hartley and Swanscombe were owned by William de Monte Caniso, and that he claimed the right of free warren in the manor.  There was also the question of the gallows he owned at Swanscombe, but the jury did not know by what authority he claimed it.  They recalled that in 1261/2 he had hanged 3 thieves there, one of whom survived, and that in 1270 the men of Hartley hanged one Adam Taskermale, a thief, on an oak in Swanscombe, because the gallows were decayed.  These incidents were also mentioned by the neighbouring hundred of Toltingtrow (roughly the modern Gravesham), who added that the men of Hartley when they arrived at Swanscombe with the condemned couldn't be bothered to raise up the gallows.  The jury of the hundred of Dartford also added that the fortunate survivor of 1261 was called Simon the son of Hugh.

Hundred of Acstane

The jurors say that the lord King holds the manor of Derteford [Dartford] by escheat.  And he has in his hands the manors of Middeltun and Merdenn.

Likewise they say that the lord King Henry [III], father of the now King [Edward I] held the manors of Elham and now William de Leyburn holds it, but by what authority they don't know.

Likewise they say the lord King held the manor of Ofspring and now the Queen Mother holds it but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise they say that the lord King Richard [I] held the manor of Sutton de la Hone [Sutton at Hone] and now the [Knights] Hospitalers hold it, but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise they say that one King of old held the manor of Kyngesdun [West Kingsdown], and now Ralph Bernard holds it but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise William de Monte Caniso holds the manors of Hertligh [Hartley] and Swanescamp [Swanscombe] from the lord king in chief, and pays £18 annually at Rochester Castle.

Likewise they say that Mabel Tropel holds the manor of Esse [Ash] from the heirs of Roert de Mumbrai, and the heirs hold it from the lord king in chief, but they don't know for what services.

Likewise they say that William de Valongnes holds from the lord king in chief, half of the manor of Mapelescaump [Maplescombe in West Kingsdown] for such service that if the lord king comes to Mapelscaump to hear mass, then the same William shall find 1½d.

Likewise they say that the Bishop of Rochester was accustomed to hold the lord king Henry in chief 7½ knights' fees, and now he holds them from the Archbishop of Canterbury, but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise they say that the hundred of Acstan is in the hands of the lord King and is of the lathe of Sutton and the sheriff of Kent was accustomed at any time to let the farm of the same lathe at £12 and recently for £14, and now Richard de Harifeld holds the same lathe for £16.

Likewise they say that the vills of Hurtligh and Swanescamp, which belong to William de Monte Caniso, were accustomed to make suit twice annually to the lathe of Sutton, and every 3 weeks to the hundred of Acstan, and they have withdrawn suit for 17 years and above, but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise they say that the tenants of the Prioress of Haliwell of the vill of Esse, were accustomed to make suit to the said lathe and hundred in the said manner, and have withdrawn for 6 years, but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise the tenants of the Hospitalers in the same vill were accustomed to make suit there in the abovesaid manner, and have withdrawn for 50 years, and they don't know by whom, nor by what authority.

Likewise the tenants of the lord Bishop of Rochester of Stane [Stone], Suhtflete [Southfleet], Faukenham [Fawkham] and Langefeld [Longfield] were accustomed to make suit there in the same manner, and have withdrawn for 40 years.

Likewise the vills of William de Monte Caniso and Hertligh and Swanescamp were accustomed to render 13 shillings at the sheriff's tourn, and to pay the lord king 8 shillings pa., and they have defaulted on these for 17  years, because they have paid nothing, but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise they say that the Archbishop of Canterbury has gallows, wrecks of the sea and other royal franchises, but they don't know by what authority.

And the bishop of Rochester ..................

Likewise they say the Hospitalers in Sutton have the assise of bread and ale, but they don't know by what authority.  And William de Monte Caniso has gallows and the assise of bread and ale, and has had them for 17 years, but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise they say that William has old gallows in Swanescamp now for 9 years, and that one Adam Taskermale thief when he was judged, the men of Hertligh hanged him on a certain oak in the same vill, because the said gallows were decayed.  Likewise when 3 thieves were hanged on William's gallows at Swanescaump in the 46th year of Henry III, and when they were taken down and a hospitaler clerk took them to Swanescamp Church, one of them was found to be alive and remained in the same vill for half a year and above.

Likewise they say that Master Ralph de Ferningham has free warren in Ferningham [Farningham] by grant of the lord king Henry.......  And Ralph Bernard has similar in Kyngesdun.  And William de Leiburn in Redligh [Ridley].  And William de Faukenham in Faukenham.  And William de Monte Caniso in Hertligh by grant of the said King Henry.  And all the aforesaid have appropriated to themselves free warren both of the lands of their free tenants and of their demesne lands, but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise they say that Henry Malemains and Fulco Poyforer ..............................

Vill of Derteford

The jurors say that the vill of Derteford is in the hands of the lord King by escheat, after the death of Aveline daughter and heir of William de Fortibus, count of Albermarl, who died without heir a year ago, with its members belonging to the same, viz Cobeham, Gransted, Chiselherst and Cume, £67.

Likewise they say that William de Monte Caniso and his tenants in Kent have withdrawn themselves from suit of the lathe and hundred of Akestan, but how long ago or by what authority, they don't know.

Likewise they say that the bishop of Rochester has in part of the vill of Derteford................

Likewise they say that the lord of Dertford and the bishop of Rochester has in the same vill and have been accustomed to have, gallows, assise of bread and ale, but how long ago or by what authority they don't know.

Likewise they say that William de Monte Caniso has gallows at Swaneschamp and has had them for 16 years, on which one Simon, son of Hugh was hanged and was taken down living by one Robert then warrener there.

Likewise they say that William de Munchenesey and the bishop of Rochester have and claim to have of old warren in Stanes and Swanescamp, by the grant of the King, for how long or by what authority they don't know.

Likewise they say that the abbot and convent of Lesnes has one part of a tenement called Orkicholt with the appurtenances, which was accustomed to pertain to the vill of Derteford, by the sale of a certain count of St Paul; however they say the said canons of Lesnes pay to the lord of Derteford 20 shillings p, and is a loss to the lord King, because the said tenement .......................... byut by what authority or for how long they have held it, they don't know.

Likewise they say that Philip of Delham, bailiff of the lathe of Sutton and Godfrey de Ros, servant of the same, took at the last visitation of Master Roger de Seyton, justice in Kent, and after

Hundred of Toltyntrow

The jurors say that the manor of Mepeham [Meopham] once belonged to the lord King etc and now is in the hands of the Prior of Holy Trinity Canterbury, and is worth £30 pa, but by what authority they don't know, nor for how long.  Likewise they say that William de Montecaniso holds the barony of Talebot and Swaneschamp from the lord King in chief, and renders therefor annually at Rochester Castle £18, but they don't know by what authority.  And that Henry de Crammavile holds the manor of Gravesende in chief from the lord king for the service of one knight.  And that Nicholas, son of William Reyner holds the manor of Mistede from Geoffrey de Percy, for the service of ½ fee.  Likewise they say that the lord Archbishop of Canterbury holds the hundred of Toltingtrow and is worth 40 shillings annually, but they don't know by what authority.

Likewise they say the said Archbishop has the return of writs?, wreck of the sea, gallows, assise of bread and beer and pleas...................., they don't know by what authority.  And that the Bishop of Rochester has the return of writs from the archbishop and pays him £8 pa., but they don't know by what authority.  Likewise they say that William de Montcaniso has gallows at Swaneschamp in his barony, and has hanged there 3 thieves and they were taken by the Hospitaler brothers to the monastery, and in the monastery they found one of them to be alive, and he stayed in the church as long as he wished, and afterwards he left voluntarily and still lives.  Likewise they say that 9 years ago that Adam Toxkemale was hanged in the said place on a tree, because he was judged in the court of Hertleye and by the suit of the whole court was led there and they found the gallows fallen down and they didn't want to raise them again, they don't know by what authority.  Likewise they say that Adam Elnod made a bakery? in the vill of Northflet on the highway to the damage of ....... of 6 pence pa.  Likewise they say that Robert Carlebi under-bailiff took 4 shillings from John le Reg' for removing from assise?  And from John le Nyweman 6 pence for the same.  And from William de Hetche, 2 pence for the same and from Joh Atteborstalle 2 pence for the same.

Likewise they say that Fulco Peyforer and Henry Malem, collectors of the 20th tax have taken from the same hundred