Petition to Thomas, Lord Coventry, Keeper of the Great Seal

By Robert Charlton of London esq and Jobe Charlton his son and heir

John Popham of Littlecott co Wilts esq and Mary his wife, daughter and heir of Sebastian Harvy late citizen and alderman of London deceased, were seized 5 years ago in fee of the manor of Whitton and messuages (sometime in occupation of Frauncys Whitton and Richard Stockwall, Francys Wright, William Hinton, Thomas Maylord, Francys Jux the elder, John Spicer, John Conde, Rowland Cupper Collyer, Charles Edwards and Richard Kerrie stone diggers) in Whitton, Nether Whitton, Wotton, Burford, Cayneham; a watermill in Nether Whitton; Pratts Close in Burforde near the dwellinghouse sometime of Francys Withie; the capital messuage called the Bower (sometime in tenure of Edward Fox deceased) in Greete; 4 messuages (in the several tenures of Francys Farmor, Thomas Charry, alias Chirry, Barnabie Bayly, William Powell) in Burford; 44 acres (sometime in tenure of Francys Lane) in Burford; 2 parcels land and pasture and a hoppyarde called Midledale (6a.) (sometime in tenure of John Trevor) in Burford; ½ 1b pepper rent payable yearly by Thomas Cornewaile esq to John Popham; 3 messuages (sometime in tenure of William Hall yeoman, Nicholas Taylor Yeoman, John Moorton blacksmith) in Whitton; a leasowe with a plot of meadow within the same, (now or late in tenure of John Moorton) lying between Salters Hill in Whitton and Nether Rockhill there; 2 messuages called the Nash alias the Ashe in Nash alias the Ashe, in Burford, (now or late in tenure of Richard Starie, Francys Cownley, Thomas Robertt, William Juckes, and George Smith alias Farmer); 2 messuages in Harthall and Nurton alias Overton in Burford (late in tenures of Henry Cooke and William Rowley)

John Popham and Mary his wife and Edward Fox of Stinton alias Stevinton esq were also seized of the manor of Ludford co Herefs with view of frankpledge and liberty of fishing in the River Teame; the capital messuage called St Giles House in Ludford: and the common of Whittcliffe; a leasow near the gate called Ledwich gate and a furlong called Hatters furlonge; and of all lands etc formerly conveyed by William Fox esq Thomas Harris to Sir Sebastian Harvey and Dame Mary his wife

In May in the 11th year of his now Majesty, John Popham and Mary his wife, and in July last with Edward Fox, by conveyances and in consideration of £8200, enfeoffed the petitioners in the properties, free of all incumbrances. They covenanted to levy fines and suffer recoveries.

But it come to the petitioner's notice that divers judgements had been made by John Popham, Mary, Sebastian Harvye, William and Edward Fox both deceased father and grandfather of Edward Fox, or by other persons under Whom they claimed the manors, viz

John Harvey of Wansey co Essex esq, Henry Cuffe of Fifeilde co Wilts gentleman, Jeraell Butcher, Bryan Wilton, Nathaniell Smith, Charles Auden gentlemen, and other persons unknown

The petitioners are informed that John Popham, Mary his wife, Edward Fox, and Sir Sebastian Harvye, William Fox and Edward Fox and others have done several acts by which the lands are subject to divers debts to His Majesty or assigned and turned over to his Majesty's debts, for which the lands are chargeable. They have also granted out sundry rents and made leases for lives and years, mortgages etc. John Popham, Mary his wife, John Harvey, Jeraell Butcher and others detain conveyances and assurances from the petitioners concerning the title. + Sir Edward Littleton, solicitor general to the king, Henry Rolle of the Inner Temple and John Clarke of the Charterhouse claim and have a lease made to them by John Popham, Mary his wife, Anthony Hydden and Nicholas Rowe of Littlecott gentlemen, of the capital messuage of the Courtt of Whitton for 99 years.

Henry Cuffe claims to have a lease made to him and John Cuffe his son under the age of 21 years, named in trust by Henry Cuffe, made by John Popham and Mary his wife, of the Bower for 99 years or life of John Cuffe + (this paragraph scratched out)

John Harvey claims the inheritance of all the manors by virtue of a feoffment in tail or conveyance made by Sir Sebastian Harvey

Sir Edward Littleton, Henry Rolle, John Clarke, John Harvey, Anthony Hidden, Nicholas Rowe, all claim some right or title from before the time of the conveyance to the petitioners, yet they made no move before then tocome forward with their claims.

By means of the encumbrances, the whole estate is purged of its value and the petitioners will lose the purchase money unless relieved in equity.

Docketed (1) description

(2) Whitton, and numbered (170)