This page needs to be proofread.

him granted in 1549 to Sir Ralph Sadleyr, Knt. and Laurence Wennyngton, Gent. to be held of his manor of East Greenwich, by fealty only; they gave them to Thomas Cook of Norwich, Gent. and William Nectun of the same, who sold them to Thomas Aldred, of Diss, and others.

  • 1595. Mr. Thomas Fulcher gave 24l. with which the townsmen purchased three roods of copyhold land on the rectory manor, called Bell Acre, in Diss, which they took up this year, and settled the profits to be employed to the relief of the poor of honest conversation in the said town.
  • 1601. Dec. 25, Richard Fisher of Diss, by his will obliged Edward his son to purchase half an acre freehold in Diss, within two years after his decease, and thereupon at his cost and charge to build a house sufficient for the dwelling of two poor people, and afterwards to infeoff the church-wardens and chief inhabitants therein, who shall have power to place what poor people they please in those dwellings. In 1610 he bought a piece of land in Dirt-street, built a house thereon, and made a feoffment according to the will. This house is now [1736] down, and the land is called the Townyard.
  • 1605. John Ketleborough of Florden, in Norfolk, Gent. granted to John Okes of Wymondham, saddler, a pightle of two acres in Roydon, called the Gravel-pits, reserving a free rent of 6d. per annum to his manor of Roydon Hall. This pightle in 1672 was purchased by the town of Diss, and is now [1736] their gravel-pits.
  • 1618. Ralph Chapman of Burston, granted to James Blomefield, senior, Gent. and James his son, and other feoffees, an annuity of 20s. issuing out of his meadow in Burston called Shimpling Close, abutting upon the highway leading from Burston to Shimpling north, and upon the procession-way dividing Burston and Shimpling east, which meadow he purchased of John Shardelowe, Gent. the money to be distributed by the chief part of the feoffees every Christmas-day, for the relief and comfort of sixty of the poorest householders, most comfortless and distressed poor people of Diss, viz. 4d. to each, as of the alms gift and donation of the said Ralph.
  • 1620. Mr. Sherman gave 45l. to purchase a close of William Yewles, called Yewles's pightle, which by measure contains four acres and six perches, two acres of which are free, and pay 4d. per annum; the other two acres are copyhold on the capital manor, and pay 1s. 4d. quitrent. In 1635 James Blomefield, Gent. senior, and James his son, and others, were infeoffed to the following use, that its rent should annually be laid out to pay the common fine or leet fee of Walcote hamlet in Diss.
  • 1636.