P. 25 - The De Brethenhams:
"At the time of writing (1970) the first discovered de Brethenham
to enter the light of recorded history is a Norman named Osbert
de Bretehem who, in the year 1166, a hundred years after the
Conquest, is recorded as holding half a knight's fee of the Honor
of Clare. Just before this time, Gilbert de Clare, earl of
Hertford, (1138-1146) held a private Castle at Clare in Suffolk.
Three years after Osbert, Turoldus de Breteham is on record in
the Pipe Roll as having half a knight's fee with an annual income
of three shillings and four pence held of the Honor of Eye in
Suffolk. This place being situated 14 miles south-east from
Brettenham and appears to have been in the hands of Prince John
but was taken into King Richard's lands after his brother's
conspiracy against him in 1195. In 1172 Turoldus still held the
manor but at a penny per annum less."
Manor lordships in medieval Brettenham - based on Blomefield's
"Norfolk" were Rothyng, Carleton, Burnevelle's, Brethenham's, and
Bishop of Ely's.
Brethenhams:
Eudo the steward
1198 - Richard de Brethenham
Alexander de Brethenham
1218 - Richard de Brethenham (of honor of Clare)
1297 - William de Brethenham
1299 - William de Brethenham
Held by Brethenhams until 1477 when it was 600 acres
& sold to Sir Robert WYNGEFIELD, who bought all the
de Brethenham lands in Brettenham (P. 37). Then it
became part of Rushford College and Thetford Priory.
P. 28:
"The Nomina Villarum named Alexander de Rothyng, William de
Brethenham, and the priors of Thetford and Rushford as the lords
of the manors in Brettenham. In the same year (1299), a William,
son of Walter de Brethenham was again in litigation versus Rod,
son of Roger Gildensleve of West Harling Thorpe, over property in
Rushworth (Rushford)."
"The Patent Roll of Sept. 10, 1327 records that the Bishop of Ely
was complaining of and causing to be set up an inquiry into the
activities of several inhabitants of Brettenham amongst them
Thomas and Walter, sons of William de Brethenham, who had, he
maintained - with others: - "entered his free warren at Brigham
county Norfolk hunted and took rabbits with dogs, nets and other
engines and carried them away."
"19 years after his misdeed, Walter the young poacher had come to
a state of dignity for in a document concerned with land in
nearby Lopham, he was styled as Lord Walter of Brethenham,
knight."
P. 37:
"In 1747, Francis Whistler, a Norwich artist, compiled a book of arms
of
Norfolk and he gives Brettingham as "Ermine, a pile azure." . . . In
the
church of East Harling, Norfolk, a neighbour of Brettenham, where
parcels of land had been held by the de Brethenhams at various times,
there are some examples of medieval stained glass, albeit much defaced
and broken. One is of Sir Robert Wyngefield, knight, who bought all
the
de Brethenham lands in Brettenham and others are of the known arms of
many local families. However one marked unknown is given as "Or a Pile
Azure, with an un-identified animal head on the Pile. It is not at all
improbable that this dubiously coloured blazon has some connection with
the Brettingham shield for variants of the main design were used by
branches of the main stem of families."
P. 40:
"Because of the undoubtedly humble station in which the family found
itself during those centuries [16th & 17th], it either did not know its
gentle origins, or was not socially significant enough to warrant the
herald's attention. The only reference to Brettinghams so far to
come to light is concerned with the Pope family of Kent and
Devon. . ."
Map of the BRETTENHAM AREA of NORFOLK (Walter Brettingham's book):
Shows Brettenham Heath, Brettenham Manor & Church to
the east of THETFORD, and north of Rushford. They are
west of Bridcham, East Harling, & West Harling Thorpe.
* * *
According to Rand McNally's "Road Atlas of Britain," Hempstead
(childhood home of William, the American progenitor) is only 37
miles northeast of Thetford! JDB
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Copyright © 1996 Most recent revision Sunday, May 26, 1996 9:17:35 PM