Domesday

St John's Parish was originally part of the ancient Parish of West Ham, which was, at the time of The Domesday Survey, 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.

 

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