House ownership - Hill Farm Priors Hill

The table below gives details about who owned and occupied the house. The sources for information vary; the records pre 1800 are mainly manor court rolls. Every time a property changed hands, even between family members, the transaction had to be recorded at the manorial court. The names of those who surrendered and those who were admitted and the entry fines they paid were written in the rolls of parchment by the clerk. An entry fine was paid to the lord of the manor and the new owner was given a written copy of the transaction, hence the term copyhold.

All records were in abbreviated medieval latin until 1752 except for a short period during the commonwealth between 1650 and 1660.Freehold property is rarely mentioned but can sometimes be found in the manor rentals. It is difficult to trace the history of a house as addresses are never given ad therefore the only way is to use the owners name or very occasionally the name of the house.

Post 1800 there are many more sources of information although actual addresses are not used until mid 20th century. One method of identifying a house in the records is by the description of the land that went with it or the annual rent paid to the lord of the manor which often didn’t change over a hundred years.

The table is arranged over five columns. The first gives the year of the record and the second is the source document sometimes with a reference number. The next two columns record the transfer of ownership and the occupier of the property. Click on the names to link to the people database. Sometimes there is no link to the database so go to the people page on the top navigation bar and simply type in the name you are searching for. The search function returns all documents where the name searched for appears in that document. Click on a name match to view the document in which that name appears. When viewing a record that contains other names, it is possible to perform a new search on that name by clicking on the name link.

The last column shows information about the property and any comments

date source owner/buyer occupier comment
1706 Recital of ownership/HALS Stephen constable transferred ownership to John Groom   10 poles of land to Ann Groom widow and John Groom labourer
1710 Recital of ownership/HALS John Groom transferred ownership to William Cherry
1727 Poll Books/HALS William Cherry    William Cherry Of Pirton Herts
1734 Poll Books/HALS William Chirry    William Chirry Of Pirton Herts
1753 Land tax/HALS William Cherry
1753 Land tax/HALS Francis Arnold
1754 Poll Books/HALS William Cherry    William Cherry Of Pirton Herts
1757 Recital of ownership/HALS William cherry transferred ownership to Edward Cherry
1764 Recital of ownership/HALS Edward cherry transferred ownership to Francis Arnold
1768 Recital of ownership/HALS Francis Arnold transferred ownership to William Mann
1780 Land tax/HALS William Man William Man
1781 William Mann transferred ownership to William Lucas
1781 Land tax/HALS William Man John Hypgrave    Joint proprietors man & lucas this record needs checking
1818 Enclosure award/HALS Mary Hailey transferred ownership to William Lucas house, farm, yard and garden  29 perch
1832 Register of electors/HALS James Davis house and land Hill Farm Hill Farm
1833 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm  rent of more than £50 a year
1834 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm   rent of more than £50 a year
1835 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1835 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1836 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1836 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1837 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1837 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1838 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1838 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1839 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1839 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1840 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1840 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1841 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1841 Census 1841 James Davies  Hill Farm  James  Davies – Farmer age 50
1841 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1842 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1842 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1844 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1844 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1845 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1845 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1846 Register of electors/HALS James Davies    Hill Farm
1846 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1847 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1847 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1849 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1849 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1850 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1850 Kelly – trade directory/HALS James Davis    farmer
1850 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1851 Register of electors/HALS James Davies Hill Farm
1851 Census 1851 James Davies    James  Davies – Farmer 60 a 3 labs age 62
1851 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1852 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1853 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1854 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1855 Register of electors/HALS Jeffrey Lucas James Davies land
1861 Census 1861 William Davies    William  Davies – Farmer age 57
1863 Deeds/HALS  Acres Hill Farm.   purchase of Hill farm and 24ac 2r 3p at Pirton, part copyhold of manors of Pirton, Pirton Doddingsells, Pirton Rectory and Ramerick
1863 Rates/HALS Jeffery (Dec) Lucas William Davies Farm.  23 acre  rateable value £33 12s 9d
1871 Census 1871 John Cook    John  Cook – Horse dealer & farmer age 54
1877 Sanitation report/HALS Mr Acres William Bradshaw    Farmhouse with Farmyard Garden. Well, drainage-None. 6 inmates sharing Privy
1881 Census 1881 William Bradshaw    William  Bradshaw – Farmer age 40
1885 Register of electors/HALS William Dennis Parrit Bradshaw farm occupier
1886 School admission register/HALS William Bradshaw  Hill Farm  Eva Bradshaw born  1882 enrolled  1886/87
1886 Kelly – trade directory/HALS William Bradshaw    Farmer.
1888 School admission register/HALS William Bradshaw  Hill Farm  John Bradshaw born  1886 enrolled  1888/89
1890 School admission register/HALS William Bradshaw  Pirton.  Eva  Bradshaw born 24/8/1881 enrolled 1890
1890 Kelly – trade directory/HALS William Bradshaw    Farmer.
1890  Land sale/HALS The Hill Farm An enclosed farmyard A brick, timber slated wheat-barn, with oak threshing floor; a brick, timber and tiled stable, and Chaff-house; a brick, timber and tiled cow-house and granary.  A range of brick, timber, and slated buildings, used as barley barn.  Open cattle shed and piggeries, a brick, timber and slated 3 bayed open cart-shed; a brick, timber and tiled blacksmith’s shop, and hen-house; a timber and thatched implement shed; a timber and tiled tool-house, and shed adjoining. Entrance passage with brick porch, 3 bedrooms, front sitting room, back sitting room,kitchen,pantry,cellar, and wood and coal-house.  Court yard with pump of water. Freehold dwelling house together with an enclosed farm yard.
1891 Census 1891 William Bradshaw  Hill Farm.  William D P Bradshaw – Farmer & manager age 49
1893 School admission register/HALS William Throssell    Annie Throssell born 16/10/1883 enrolled 1893
1893 School admission register/HALS William Throssell    Charles Throssell born 8/4/1885 enrolled 1893
1893 School admission register/HALS William Throssell  Hill Farm.  Charles Throssell born /4/1886 enrolled  1893/94
1901 Census 1901 George Trussell  Hill Farm  George  Trussell – Labourer on farm age 68
1902 Kelly – trade directory/HALS George Trussell Hill Farm Hill Farm  farmer
1909 Register of electors/HALS  Dwelling house Hill Farm
1910 Rates/HALS William Throssell Arthur Trussell house & homestead Hill Farm 28 perch gross value £17 0s rateable value £11 0s
1910 Rates/HALS William Throssell Arthur Trussell land Hill Farm 11 acre 1 rood 29 perch gross value £16 0s rateable value £15 10s
1910 Register of electors/HALS  Dwelling house Hill Farm
1911 Register of electors/HALS  Dwelling house Hill Farm
1911 Census 1911 Arthur Trussell  Hill Farm  Arthur  Trussell – Dealer Pig age 27
1911 Census 1911 Ida Trussell  Hill Farm  Ida  Trussell –  age 25
1911 Census 1911 Nancy Trussell  Hill Farm  Nancy Eva Trussell –  age 2
1911 Census 1911 Elizabeth Trussell  Hill Farm  Elizabeth  Trussell –  age 69
1911 Census 1911 Arthur Trussell Hill Farm 6 rooms 4 in household Arthur  Trussell Dealer Pig – age 27
1911 Census 1911 Ida Trussell  Hill Farm 6 rooms 4 in household Ida  Trussell  – age 25
1911 Census 1911 Nancy Trussell  Hill Farm 6 rooms 4 in household Nancy Eva Trussell  – age 2
1911 Census 1911 Elizabeth Trussell  Hill Farm 6 rooms 4 in household Elizabeth  Trussell  – age 69
1912 Register of electors/HALS  dwelling house Pirton Hill Farm
1912 Kelly – trade directory/HALS Arthur Trussell  Hill Farm  farmer
1913 Register of electors/HALS  Dwelling house Pirton Hill Farm
1913 Court book/HALS William Throssell transferred ownership to Tabitha Donson Charles Thrussell Hill Farm 11ac 3roods cost £650
1914 Register of electors/HALS  Dwelling house Pirton Hill Farm
1915 Register of electors/HALS  Dwelling house Pirton Hill Farm
1915 School admission register/HALS Arthur Trussell  Pirton.  Nancy  E Trussell born 22/12/1908 enrolled 1915 Last school – Pirton Infants,
1916 School admission register/HALS Arthur Trussell    Barbara Trussell born 19/4/1912 enrolled 24/1/1916
1920 School admission register/HALS Arthur Trussell  Pirton.  Barbara  Trussell born 19/4/1912 enrolled 1920 Last school – Pirton Infants,
1923 School admission register/HALS William Groves  Hill Farm, Pirton  Hubert  George Groves born 20/7/1910 enrolled 1923 Last school – Hitchin British,
1923 School admission register/HALS William Groves  Hill Farm, Pirton  Cecil  William Groves born 27/11/1913 enrolled 1923 Last school – Hitchin British,
1926 Kelly – trade directory/HALS Arthur Walker  Hill Farm  farmer & assistant overseer
1929 Kelly – trade directory/HALS Arthur Walker Hill Farm   farmer & rate collector
1935 Original rates/Hofton Arthur Walker Arthur Walker Agricultural dwelling house   gross value 12 rateable value 7
1935 Kelly – trade directory/HALS Arthur Walker  Hill Farm  farmer & rate collector
1937 Kelly – trade directory/HALS Arthur Walker  Hill Farm  farmer & rate collector
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Arthur Walker  Hill Farm. married   DOB 10/7/1892 Farming Age 47
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Elsie Walker   Married.   DOB 24/2/1898 Unpaid domestic duties Age 41
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Margaret Elizabeth Giles    at school
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Winifred Giles    at school
1941 Farm Survey/National Archives Arthur Walker Arthur Walker  Hill Farm 0wned by Arthur Walker of Hill Farm Arthur Walker, Part time farmer also rating officer under Hitchin RDC with 12ac

 

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