Burningham (Froyle, Co. Hants) gules a millrind bendways argent between two martlets in pale Or.

Bernard Burningham was granted the Manor of Neatham Co. Hants in 1614. He obtained mortgages from relations of standing. Bernard held the manor only for a very short time, dying in 1620.

He was succeeded by his son Peter born in Ireland in 1580 and brought to England by his parents and brought up at Malms Farm in Binsted. A valuable feature of this farm is that it contained quarries of Malm stone which had valuable qualities such as building stone and for high quality brick-making, both valuable assets. In 1604 Peter married Elizabeth May, a prudent marriage as she was a niece of Sir Humphrey who had purchased Brocas or Brockhurst Farm (Alias “Brocketts” ) from Sir John Jephson, Lord of the Manor of Froyle and Husseys. The extent of Brocketts is not known but only a relatively small area of land was in Froyle, the bulk being in the adjoining parish of Bentley. Sir Humphrey, a distinguished man, was Master of the Rolls and made Brocas a country seat.

In 1608, on the death of his grandfather, Peter moved into Cattleys Farm and lived there until 1612, moving later into Malms Farm which adjoined his father’s land at Stream Farm also in Binsted parish. On his father’s death in 1620 Peter took over the running of both farms as a business venture until his sudden death in 1623 as a result of a fall from his horse. He died a wealthy man. Cattleys Farm was purchased by the family and became a key factor in their estate being in Upper Froyle and opposite Froyle Place. It was on this site in 1820 that Thomas Burningham, Esquire, built Froyle House in a vain attempt to rival the Miller family.

But reverting to Bernard Burningham (1612-1682), he married on 2nd June 1637 at St. Maurice’s, Winchester Ann Wheeler, eldest daughter of Henry Wheeler the owner of the Fulling Mill at Millcourt on the River Wey in Binsted Parish, purchased by him in 1624. Bernard and Ann Burningham had children, the eldest, Henry, being named after his maternal grandfather, was born at Binsted c. 1638. The first recorded baptismal entry is Thomas born in 1656, a date which coincides with the purchase of Hussey’s Manor or farm by his father from Col. Fiennes. Bernard’s twins were born, the surviving twin later marrying Andrew Baldwin, and lastly Bernard who married Susan Draper, a daughter of Gauden Draper (1665-1710), Lord of the Manor of Froyle.

Brocas Farm or Brocketts lands.

The Jephersons acquired the Manor of Froyle at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and also later acquired the Manor of Hussies and Brocas Farm. Court Rolls exist for Froyle and Hussies but Courts were not held for Brocas. Most of the Brocas lands extended into Bentley Parish.

Just as Farnham became a famous Market Town so Brocas, certainly from the 13th century, became noted for its breed of horses specially suited for times of war. Shipped overseas for the French Wars and later available to Cromwell in the Civil War, Jephsons, Fiennes, Herriards and local gentry such as Geales and Burningham all supported the roundheads with fanatical zeal and, during the Commonwealth, benefited accordingly. But horses that brought such profits to Horse-traders in war time are less profitable in peace time and the astute landowners discovered that the soil in parts of Froyle and Hussies was ideal for the growing of that highly profitable but speculative crop, the Hop.

Henry Burningham Senior was brought up at Millcourt, Binsted, his mother’s old home. Born c. 1638, he had been named Henry after his maternal grandfather. It should be noted that the Parish Registers for both Froyle and Binsted do not begin before the 1650s.

When Henry was approaching twenty his father acquired Husseys and this provided tangible evidence of family prestige in the neighbourhood and the background of wealth of Millcourt rubbed off on the Burninghams as gentry bearing a coat of arms. Two of the most important families in Froyle were now the Burninghams and the Newmans. The fact that both families had to pay suite at the Manor Court of Froyle to Samuel Gauden Esq., Lord of the Manor of Froyle was a sore point and came to a head in a law suit brought by Samuel Gauden to preserve his rights and is of sufficient interest to be reported fully in its own right.

In 1659, Bernard Burningham had sold Brocas Farm to William Newman for £710, no doubt to help him finance Hussey’s, and these two families became more closely linked by Henry’s marriage to Ann Newman, for the Newmans were also an able and ambitious family, each adding to their lands until the break up of their estates in Froyle, Mrs.Burningham selling her lands in 1915 and the Newmans in the early 19th century.

Sir John Jephson, Knight deceased, late of Froyle, had in an Agreement dated 2nd April in the l0th year of Charles I (1634) Assigned unto Joan Newman of Froyle, widow, Brocas Farm on a 99 year lease at a rent of £10-5-0 per annum. Later in an Agreement dated 20th February 1640 Sir John agrees to lease “Brocas Farm to her second son Thomas Newman, Yeoman, for 50 years at a rent of £30-0-0 per annum.

There was in the parish another “reputed manor” of Froyle, held of the chief manor. This property belonged in 1363 to Sir John Brocas, see “The Family of Brocas of Beaurepaire and Roche Court” by Montague Burrows, Capt. R.N., M.A., F.S.A., sometime Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford, published in 1886. In 1378 this property was settled in trust by Sir John’s son Sir Bernard Brocas.

In 1415 the property is described as six virgates of Land in the tenure of William Brocas. In 1507 William Brocas died seized of this “manor” of Froyle, described as held of the Abbess of St. Mary’s of Winchester, leaving two daughters as his co-heirs, Anne aged eleven and Edith aged nine. In 1583 a fraction of this manor belonged to Margery widow of Francis Cotton. She was a daughter and co-heir of Sir Richard Pexall, and had married as her first husband Oliver Becket. By him she left a son and heir John under ten years of age at the time of her death.
Considerable litigation followed as to the possession of this fraction and the other property of Sir Richard Pexall, and Sir John Jephson, Lord of the chief manor of Froyle, is mentioned in the proceedings as having purchased a fraction of the sub *#manor”.  This is probably correct in some degree as in 1634 Sir John Jephson, Lord of the chief manor, assigned Brocas Farm and Brocas lands belonging thereto to Joan Newman, widow, for 99 years q.v.What is puzzling is that Sir Humphrey May died seized of the entire sub “manor”, of whom held “the jurors did not know”. He left a son and heir James, aged 16 (Inq.  P.M. ser. 2 Chan.  Vol.A57, No.107).

H.R.O.

…………… all that messuage and farm house commonly called or known by the name of Brocas Farm house or by what name soever the same be called or known and all barns stables outhouses edifices buildings backsides orchards gardens gates courts ways easements profits commodities advantages and emoluments whatsoever to the same Messuage or Farm house and premises belonging and appertaining situate standing lying and being within the Parish of Froyle in the said county of South’ton And all those parcels of arable land Meadow and Pasture hereafter particularly mentioned parcel of the said Farm called Brocas Farm That is to say All those three closes or purrocks near adjoining to the said Messuage and Farm house containing together by estimation ten acres be they more or less upon parts of one of which said purrocks there is a hop garden And other close piece and parcel of land commonly called or known by the name of Gravel Dell containing by estimation nine acres be it more or less being parcel of the said Farm and one other close piece and parcel of land commonly called and known by the name of Land Mead containing by estimation two acres be it more or less belonging to the said Farm And two other closes pieces and parcels of land belonging to the said Farm commonly called and known by the name of Southfield Containing together by estimation seventeen acres be they more or less And one other piece and parcel of Meadow ground belonging to the said Farm lying and being in the Common Meadow called Southmead containing by estimation one acre be it more or less And one piece and parcel of Meadow ground more in the said Common Mead belonging to the said Farm Containing by estimation one rood of Meadow be it more or less And fourteen pieces and parcels of land lying in several places in a Common Field called Wickfield belonging to the said Farm Containing in the whole by estimation four and Twenty acres be they more or less and six pieces and parcels of land lying in several closes in a Common Field called Cullum Field belonging to the said Farm Containing in the whole by estimation six acres be they more or less And Seventeen pieces and parcels of land lying in several places in a Common Field called Butter Field belonging to the said Farm Containing in the whole by estimation one and twenty acres be they more or less And all those Closes pieces and parcels of Meadowand Pasture ground Commonly called or known by the name of Godsons Forge belonging to the said Farm Containing in the whole by estimation ten acres be they more or less And two other pieces and parcels of Meadow ground lying in a Common Mead called or known by the name of Issington Moor in Parish of Binsted belonging to the said Farm Containing by estimation two acres be they more or less and one other piece and parcel of
Meadow ground belonging to the said Farm lying in a Common Meadow called Broadmead in the said Parish of Binsted near unto a Bridge called Anserbridge and one other piece and parcel of land belonging to the said Farm commonly called or known by the name of Steeres Croft containing by estimation two acres be it more or less lying in the Parish of Binsted aforesaid And one other piece or parcel of land belonging to the said Farm commonly called or known by the name of Galy acre Containing in the whole by estimation sixteen acres be it more or less lying and being in the Parish of Bentley aforesaid All which said bargained and hereby meant mentioned and intended to be bargained premises are situate lying and being in the Parishes of Froyle Binsted and Bentley in the County of South’ton above mentioned and now are or late were in the Several Tenure or occupations of Thomas Eggar and the above named Thomas Newman their respective Assign or Assigns Undertenant or undertenants And all ways easements commons rights of Common and Commons in Binsted and Bentley aforesaid heretofore enjoyed in right of any part of the said lands and premises by any Tenant owner or occupier thereof or any part or parcel thereof And also all and all manner of Tythes of Corn grain and hay and all other tythes and Compositions for Tythes whatsoever arising growing renewing or increasing or which shall at any time hereafter arise grow renew or increase in upon out of or from any of the said Lands or premises hereby granted or mentioned to be granted lying and being within the said Parish of Froyle other than the Tythes of right belonging to the Vicar of Froyle aforesaid for the time being And the Revertion and Revertions Remainder and Remainders of all and singular the hereby bargained premises and every part and parcel thereof And all the Estate right Tythe interest claim and demand whatsoever of him the said John Fiennes of and with the said bargained and hereby meant mentioned and intended to be bargained premises or any part or parcel thereof And all writings evidence escripts and minutes touching or concerning the said premises only or only any part or parcel thereof together with the true copy or all such other writings escripts and documents as concern the said Premises or any part or parcel thereof together with other lands to be copied out at the cost and change of the said Thomas Newman his heirs and assigns One close bounding upon Wilbraham (? Milberry Ham)
belonging to the said Farm called Brocas Farm Containing Six acres be it more or less And another close wherein standeth a Barn called Barn Close belonging also to the said Farm Containing nine acres be it more or less Two closes next to the said Barn Close on the east side and adjoining upon Certain Closes called Yarnham and Little Copped land also belonging to the said Farm containing thirtyone acres be it more or less A close adjoining upon Borroughfield called Goatlick belonging also to the Said Farm Containing fifteen acres be it more or less One Close called Corn Reed also belonging to the Said Farm containing twelve acres be it more or less One Close called Fern Reed wherein standeth a Sheephouse also belonging to the ,said Farm Containing ten acres be it more or less One close adjoining or near to Burrowfield and Hamwood called Ham close also belonging to the Said Farm Containing four acres be it more or less One piece or parcel of Meadow in a Common Mead in Froyle aforesaid called Broadmead Containing two acres be it more or less And all those parcells of land belonging to said Farm in the Common Fields called Burroughfield Coxfield and Comb field or any of them belonging to the Said Farm .Containing about eleven acres be they more or less One Coppice or wood called Great Hamwood containing twenty and seven acres be it more or less Two lesser Coppices adjoining to the Said Great Hamwood and to the Said Close called Corn Reed and Fern Reed containing about nine acres be it more or less One other Coppice called Frethwood Coppice adjoining Robert Baldwins land east and south Containing about three acres be it more or less And one other coppice called Brocas Stowell containing about eight acres be it more or less together with all the Rowes and Hedgerows in the said closes and the ground and soil of the said coppices And all other the lands parcels of the Said Farm called Brocas Farm not hereinbefore particularly mentioned to be bargained and Sold unto the said Thomas Newman And all Common and right of Common in and upon the Waste and commonable places called Hynham Spolicomb Lidden Common Brockall and the lands and other wastes and waste places belonging unto the Said Manor of Froyle out of this present grant bargain and sale
always excepted and foreprised

To Have And To Hold

Total Acreage 277
Froyle                          Binsted                        Bentley
247                              14                                16

1662
18M67/63                                   8 April 14th year reign of Charles Second

Jerome Christmas of Binstead yeoman
John Fiennes Esq. Lord of the Manor of Froyle and Husseys

All that part or parcel of land lately enclosed out of a certain Common in Froyle called Brockall 42 acres now newly enclosed between a coppice called Sheephouse coppice on the North, a parcel of land called Hinham on the West, a parcel of land called Marhills on the East, and a field called Barrlands Field on the South East ……… appendant to my messuage or tenement and one yard land and half yard lands thereto belonging ………..

A copyhold held of the said Manor of Froyle by copy of Courtroll by one Walter Dearing and to my messuage ……….. yards lands thereto belonging heretofore held by copy of Courtroll of the said Manor of Froyle by one John Godson, and to my common of pasture ………… belonging to half a yard lands sold by Sir John Jephson unto Sir Humphrey Maye, ….. to me the said Jerome Christmas thereunto especially moving Have granted ….. quit claimed unto the said John Fiennes his heirs ….. for ever All the right title interest ….

that is to say in the Common called the Great Common, the common called Spollicombe, the common called Brockall, the common called Highwood and Highwood Coppice, the common called Isinghurst and Isinghurst Heath, the common called Littenfield, and not elsewhere

HRO 49M68/149

Charles the Second by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland, defender of the Faith etc. To all to whom these present letters shall come Greeting Whereas by a certain Inquisition taken by our command at ALTON in our county of Southampton the fourteenth day of October in the fifteenth year of our Reign it is found that it will not be to our loss or prejudice or that of any of our subjects if we should grant to JOHN FIENNES of Froyle in the said county esquire WILLIAM NEWMAN of the same gentleman and JEREMY CHRISTMAS of the same yeoman that the same John William and Jeremy may enclose the king’s public highway in the parish of FROYLE aforesaid which leads from the town of Farnham in our county of Surrey to Andover in the said county of Southampton and hold that enclosure to the same John William and Jeremy and to their heirs for the better accommodation of the aforesaid John William and Jeremy and for the enlargement of their farm for ever Provided that the same John William and Jeremy shall make there in place of that highway a certain other highway on the lands of the same John William and Jeremy as adequate and sufficient for those passing by the same. And that the said highway so to be held enclosed contains in length 579½ perches of land and in width throughout all that highway 33 feet of land as by the aforesaid Inquisition remaining of record in our court of Chancery more fully is evident and appears  Be it known that we of our especial grace and certain knowledge and mere motion have granted and given licence and by these presents do grant and give licence for us our heirs and successors to the aforesaid JOHN FIENNES WILLIAM NEWMAN and JEREMY CHRISTMAS that they may obstruct and enclose the aforesaid highway and hold it so obstructed and enclosed to them their heirs and assigns for the better accommodation of their farm aforesaid without let or impediment of our heirs or successors or of any of our justices escheators sheriffs or
other bailiffs or ministers whatsoever Provided that the same John William and Jeremy cause to be made there in place of that highwaya certain other highway on their own lands as adequate and sufficient for those passing by the same as is aforesaid. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent Witness ourself at Westminster the twenty second day of December in the fifteenth year of our Reign.

By writ of Privy Seal   Howard.
26 July 1725

HRO
18M 67/110

Between          Sarah Duchess Dowager of Marlborough
John Duke of Montague
Scroop Duke of Bridgewater
Francis Earl Godolphin
William Clayton of City of Westminster Esq.
William Guidott of Lincolns Inn Esq.
John Hanbury of Pontepool Esq.
Executors of John late Duke of Marlborough of first part
and
William Draper Esq. only son then of Gauden Draper esq. dec.
of second part
and
Sir William Juxon of Little Compton Glos.
Francis Loggin of Grays Inn Gentleman
of third part
Whereas   by Indenture 29 June 1658 between John Lord and Richard Fiennes Esq. younger son of Rt.Hon.William Fiennes Lord Viscount Say and Seale of the one part and Rt.Hon.Nathaniel Fiennes of the other part £2500 paid to John Fiennes by Nat.Fiennes John and Richard Fiennes sold all those ~anors or farms or reputed manors or farms of Husseys and Issinghurst i.e. all that parcel of land called Issinghurst -as it was divided into several closes -Chesehill Holden Nutcroft the gaudens Watergate Longcroft Wood Fill Gen Free Close the Two Fenleys by Issinghurst heath the further Fenley by Statland divided by a Row Frengf(?)Furlong and the two closes called Soofields the two parcels of pasture called the Groves in one of which stand Issinghurst Barns all together 192 acres 32 perches then or then late in the tenure or occupation of William Earle or his assigns And all those woods or coppice grounds with the appurts belonging to and being parcel of the said Manors or reputed Manors of Husseys or Issinghurst -Great Fenleys Little Fenleys Fenley grove Elm Coppice Great Hill and Highwood -all together 92 acres 2 roods 4 perches
and also one Sheep Walk commonly called Ishurst Heath ….. and also all that Water Mill ….. and one Messuage and half yard lands of arable meadow and pasture ….. 20 acres then or late in the tenure or occupation of James Cooper or his assigns and all those four parcels of meadow ground lying and being in a Common Mead called Southmead 4 ½ acres one half acre whereof was then in the tenure or occupation of one Darby Warner and then or late in the tenure of occupation of John Fiennes ….. and …… commonly called Ware Acre the two acre pieces and the Little acre then or late in the tenure or occupation of William Earl and are parcel of the Manors of Husseys. And also all that ….. commonly called or known by the name of the Gaston Meadow 14 acres in parish of Binstead then or late in tenure or occupation William Earle And all and every lc the lands tenements etc of said Manors or farms ….. not formerly conveyed by John Lord Fiennes and Richard Fiennes to Bernard Burningham by Indenture 10 May 1656 ….. And also all those several rents and services whatsoever reserved due and payable out of and for all those messuages and lands then or then late in the several tenures of William Towers the Elder Darby Warner widow Poet widow Eams John Deering and Edward Earle

     1000 years.