Six sulungs at Trottiscliffe with the right to pasture swine in three districts, 788

King Offa of Mercia grants to St Andrew’s and the bishopric of Rochester six sulungs at Trottiscliffe, Kent, with the right to pasture swine in three districts (788).

Campbell, no. 12. The text begins with a purple display initial ‘I’ and is marked by a large, black cross in the left margin.

Transcription

131r (select folio number to open facsimile)

De trottesclyua; + IN nomine dei summi et saluatoris nostri iesu
christi, ipsoque in perpetuo regnante disponenteque

131v

suauiter omnia terrena quoque sceptra et regalia
iura temporaliter distribuerit. Vnde et ego
offa rex merciorum aliquam terram pro remedio
et salute animę meę tradam, id est sex ara-
trorum ubi nominatur trottesclib ad ęcclesiam
beati andreae apostoli et ad episcopium castelli quod
nominatur hrofescester ubi beatus paulinus
pausat, quam etiam episcopalem sedem modo
in presenti rite regit uuaermundus religi-
osus antistes. Hanc itaque supradictam terram
ad hanc condicionem perpetualiter habendam
et possidendam concedo cum omnibus ad eam rite
pertinentibus rebus cum campis siluis pascuis pra-
tis pastinationibus et cum propriis terminis. Huius
autem telluris termini sunt isti, ab oriente et
a meridie boerlingas, ab occidente uurota-
ham, ab aquilone meapaham. Ad hanc quoque
terram pertinent in diuersis locis porcorum pa-
stus id est uuealdbaera ubi dicitur holen-
spic bi suðan ee eppanhrycg non longe ab eo
loco langanhrycg. Quisquis uero contra hanc
donationis cartulam callido malignoque trac-
tatu contraire presumpserit, nouerit >se< quisquis ille
fuerit in discreto dei iudicio sinistrę partis

132r

socium fore et a christi et dei corpore sanguineque se-
gregandum. Manente hac cartula in sua nichi-
lominus firmitate propria manu signaculo cru-
cis christi roborare curaui, et testes religiosos
et consen>tienm agentes adhibui, quorum
nomina cum propriis cruciculis infra adno-
tentur. Actum anno dominicę incarnationis
dcclxxxviii. + Ego offa rex merciorum hanc
suprascriptam donationem meam hoc signum cru-
cis impressi. + Ego ecgfrid rex merciorum
testis consentiens subscripsi. + Ego cyne-
drith regina consensi et subscripsi. + Ego
iaenberhtus gratia dei archiepiscopus signum crucis
christi impressi. + Ego hygeberht archiepiscopus sub-
scripsi. + Ego ceoluulf episcopus subscripsi. + Signum
manus brordani prefecti. + Signum manus berhtuual-
di. + Signum manus eadbaldi. + Signum manus
ceolmundi.

Translation

Concerning Trottiscliffe:

+ In the name of our supreme God and our Savior Jesus Christ, and in his perpetual reign and disposition all earthly scepters and royal temporal rights distributed. Whereupon I, Offa, King of the Mercians, will hand over some land for the relief and salvation of my soul, that is, the six plows where the Trottiscliffe is named, to the church of the blessed Apostle Andrew, and to the bishop of the castle, which is named Rochester, where Blessed Paulinus rests, which also the bishopric seat of the Waermund at present now duly governs a religious bishop. I, therefore, grant this aforesaid land on this condition to be possessed eternally and I grant to possess it, with all due to it properly pertaining to it, with plains, wood pastures, grazing meadows, and with their own boundaries. And the boundaries of this earth are these, on the east and on the south boerlingas, on the west Wrotham, on the north meapaham. They also belong to this land in different places feeding on pigs, that is, Wealdbaera where it is called Holenspic bi suðan ee eppanhrycg not far from that place langanhrycg. Whoever will presume to go against this gift by a clever and malignant design, let him know that whoever he was, shall be a partner in the discrete judgment of God on the left, and must be separated from the body of Christ and the blood of God.

While this document remained in its place, nevertheless, with the firmness of my own hand, I took care to strengthen it with the seal of the cross of Christ, and I summoned religious and consenting witnesses acting on it, whose names with their own crucifixions are recorded below. Act in the year of our Lord's Incarnation 788.

+ I, Offa, King of Mercia, have impressed my gift with this sign of the cross.

+ I, Egfrid king of the Mercians, a consenting witness, signed.

+ I, Queen Cynedrith consented and signed.

I, Jaenbert, by the grace of God archbishop, impressed on the sign of the cross of Christ.

+ I, Archbishop Hygeberht, subscribed.

+ I, Bishop Ceoluulf, subscribed.

+ Signed by the hand of Prefect Brodran.

+ Signed by the hand of Berhtwald.

+ Sign of the hand of Eadbald.

+ Signed by the hand of Ceolmund.

Monumental Inscriptions in the Churchyard at Trottiscliffe

A copy of the Monumental Inscriptions in the Churchyard at Trottiscliffe [Trosley], Kent, made by F.W. Duffield on the 10th & 18th of June, 1920, and revised with minor additions and index in July 2003 by Frank Bamping.

The numbering commences at the S.W. corner of the churchyard and runs round to the West, North, East and South sides of the Church to the S.W. corner again.

1. Sarah wife of John Luxford of Coldrum Lodge, in the parish of Addington, died 11 September 1841 aged 33 years.

2. John Usher of Trosley Court died 22 October 1842 aged 70 years, also Susanna wife of the above died 22 March 1858 aged 75 years leaving 3 sons and 3 daughters. John, William, Thomas, Susanna, Maria and Mary Ann.

3. Thomas son of Ambrose and Maria Gorham of Aylesford died 17 April 1858 aged 8 months.

4. Sarah daughter of Ambrose and Maria Gorham died 3 May 1863 aged 19 years.

5. Ambrose Gorham of Aylesford died 25 February 1874 aged 68 years, also Maria Gorham died 2 April 1901 aged 84 years.

6. Robert son of Robert and Elizabeth Wooding died 3 October 1856 aged 21 years. Elizabeth Burslow died 17 March 1877 aged 49 years.

7. Eliza wife of Robert Wooding died 8 November 1874 aged 77 years. Robert Wooding died 20 November 1880 aged 82 years. Clerk of this parish 45 years.

8. James Wooding died 26 January 1896 aged 22 years.

9. William Silas Tilling died 15 January 1910 aged 85 years.

10. John Miles died 2 July 1871 aged 34 years.

11. James Miles died 24 November 1864 aged 60 years, also his wife Eliza died 30 December 1886 aged 72 years leaving issue 2 sons and 1 daughter, John, Thomas and Eliza.

12. An obelisk within an iron railing with inscriptions to:-
Hannah wife of James Lys Seager of this parish and Milbank died 3 July 1828 aged 39 years. Eliza Russell Seager sister of James Lys Seager died 18 November 1828 aged 41 years. Charles Seager eldest son of James Lys Seager died 26 October 1870 in his 63rd year. James Lys Seager formerly a resident in this parish but late of Westminster and South Lambeth died 22 October 1873 in his 89th year.

13. Sarah Rofe died 2 February 1888 aged 66 years. William Rofe died 2 March 1898 in his 77th year.

14. William Jackson died 11th September 1859 aged 77 years.

15. Stedman Shrubsole of this parish died 31 December 1827 aged 51 years also Sarah Shrubsole wife of the above died 9 March 1850[?] in her 71st year. Left issue 4 sons and 2 daughters, Mary, Susanna, Stedman, John, Thomas and Stephen.

16. George Parrish died 30 June 1897 aged 84 years. Susan Parrish died 18 December 1899 aged 84 years. Joseph Henry their son died 23rd October 1897 aged 40 years.

17. Thomas Henry, youngest son of John Patience Bristow died 27th October 1884 in his 21st year, also Harry Bristow died 30 June 1886 in his 31st year leaving a wife and 4 children - also his youngest child Millie died 5 August [no year] aged 3 months.

18. Anne Pine died 7 November 1895 aged 60. Robert Pine died 2 October 1894 aged 59 years.

19. Inscription illegible.

20. Fanny wife of Pete Darvill of Maidstone daughter of Nicholas and Elina Cogger died 29 December 1838 aged 60 years, also Susanna Cogger late of Shaftesbury Place, Aldersgate Street, London, daughter of the above died 18 May 1839 aged 59 years.

21. Nicholas Cogger of this parish died 19 December 1809 aged 58 (?) years also Eleanor wife of above died 11 November 1824 aged 72 years.

22. Robert Burr of this parish died 18 March 1823 aged 57 years also Mary Ann his wife died 14 May 1824 aged 51 years. Left one son and one daughter, John and Mary. Two sons and two daughters died in infancy.

23. Rebecca wife of Richard Wolfe died 8 August 1821 aged 44 years leaving one son and one daughter William and .......?

24. Richard Hoskins born 27 January 1821 died 3 September 1849 also his relict Betsy born 17 February 1823 died 5 December 1851.

25. Thomas Smith of this parish died 3 January 1806 aged 62 also wife Ann died 1 November 1820 aged 73 years.

26. Inscription almost illegible but there seem to be the names of Nicholas Smith with date 1796 and wife Margaret who died 3 October 178 ?.

27. William Packham died 8 March 1738 aged 46 years. Margaret his wife died 13 April 1747 aged 57 years. Their daughter Mary died 6 September 1751 aged 22 years.

28. Richard Packham of this parish died 11 August 1751 aged 35 years also Elliott son of Richard and Mary Packham died 3 April 1751 aged 11 months.

29. Ann, daughter of William and Elizabeth Packham of this parish who died 26th May 1783 aged 17 months, also Grace their daughter died 2nd December 17956 aged 7 years.

30. A flat stone on a brickwork base with an inscription on the left hand of the South face to James Atwood, gent: and his wife ...... James deceased on ... May in the year of our Lord God 1600. Rest of the inscription is illegible.

31. Inscription illegible but the name "Oakes" seems to be suggested.

32. Thomas Oakes of this parish died 24 September 1768 aged 57 years also his wife Ann died 13 October 1768 aged 53 years. Left issue one son John.

33. John Winchester ....... ostler at the Monch.....(?) ...... Maidstone for 23 years ...... aged 72 .... date obliterated.

34. The inscription is illegible but there seem to be the dates 1766 and 1769.

35. George Ellioat son of Richard and Eleanor Elliot who died ....... June 1719.

36. Inscription illegible.

37. William Elliott died 5 January 1808 aged 61 years also wife Sarah who died 4 December 1812 aged 65 years.

38. Sarah Hoskins died 20 June 1847 aged 52 years, also husband Thomas Hoskins died 10 November 1856 aged 62 years.

39. Ann, wife of Edward Hoskins of this parish died 8 March 1851 aged 61 years also Ann daughter of the above died 17 June 1852 aged 22 years. Edward Hoskins died 23 November 1880 aged 88 years.

40. Richard Hoskins, 36 years clerk of this parish, died 12 July 1835 aged 74 years also wife Elizabeth died 8 July 1854 aged 91 years.

41. Eliza wife of Jeremiah Oliver died 13 January 1903 aged 53 years. Also their son Walter Victor killed in action on the Somme 11 August 1916 aged 22 years and buried in Ecoivres cemetery, France.

42. James Tookey died 13 September 1861 aged 51 years also his wife Susan died 18 August 1869 aged 53 years.

43. James Campbell died 1st March 1875 aged 66 years.

44. John Hodges died 17 February 1788 aged 88 years. He left two sons William and John.

45. Inscription illegible.

46. John Hodges died 18 February 1799 aged 65 years, also Rose Ann his wife who died 4th January 1806 aged 69 years. Ann Phillips their daughter died 2nd May 1808 aged 39 years.

47. Mary Matthews wife of Henry Matthews died 2nd January 1850 aged 37 years.

48. A flat stone on a built up base - Latin inscription on the South face more or less obliterated. Among the few words decipherable is the surname "Godwin" preceded by "Johannes" or "Johannis". On the West face of the base is a coat of arms (lozenge) - two coats impaled - dexter - two bars, over all a bend on which three griffins or talbot's heads erased - sinister - a lion rampant with trefoils (?). The first named seems to be identical with the arms of Robert Godden of Tenterden. (See L.L.D.'s Inscriptions published by the Records Branch of the Kent Archaeological Society.)

49. Elizabeth wife of Edward Wells of this parish died 28 October 1867 aged 38 years, leaving issue one daughter and .... sons, Florinda, Thomas, Harry, Walter and Edward Meale. Also Walter the son of above died 8 March 1868 aged 5 years.

50. Susanna Sharley wife of Thomas Sharley of this parish died 30 July 1740 aged 49 years. At the head is a device of cross bones and arrow.

51. John Marchant son of Thomas Marchant of Rudderfield in Sussex died 12 September 1690 aged 46 years. "Thomas Sparks repeared this". [sic]

52. Sarah wife of John Marden of Trosley Court died 17 July 1827 aged 60 years, also said John Marden died 9 November 1840 aged 75 years. They left issue three sons and three daughters. Also daughter Mary died 10 March 1823 aged 18 years.

53. George Smitherman died 12 April 1895 aged 72 years. Sophia Smitherman died 22 March 1895 70 years "our parents".

IN THE CHURCH
(North wall of the Nave)

54. To the Glory of God and in memory of

     John Parker              William Johnson       William Braunston        Fred Shrubsole      William E. Patterson

     Albert Gilbert            Robert Williams        Alfred G. Smith            Walter V. Oliver      Alfred Roots

     Jospeh Goodayle      Walter J. Johnson      Roland Jail

     all of the Parish who gave their lives for their King and Country in the Great War 1914 - 1918.

55. To the Glory of God and in memory of ROBERT PINE of Trottescliffe Court 20 years churchwarden of this Church born 11 October 1833 died 2 October 1893 (erected by his children)

56. (East wall - below the window) A brass band inscribed "To the memory of our dear parents Edward John Shepherd and Catherine Heyman his wife - 1875."

57. (On the floor of the chancel) A brass to William Crofton and wife. 
"Hic Jacet Will'ms Crofton generes bacallaurs Juris Civilis et legis p'itus ac College de Greysyn qui obiit xviij die Marcii Ao Dni M CCCC lxxx... q'rn a'i'ab's p'piciet des".

58. (On the South wall of the chancel) In this chancel lies interred John Morgan B.D., Rector of Medburn, Commissary of Richmond and Prebendary of S. Davids. He died 20 September 1773 aged 73 years.
Mary Phillips widow of the above John Morgan is likewise interred here, who died 6th November 1774 aged 70 years.
In the same vault lie the remains of Francis Lloyd, M.A., late Rector of this Parish (no date).
He was buried on 2nd October 1778 vide Arch. Cant. Vol.XX p.194.

59. Stained glass window in the South wall of the Nave bears a label with the words;
"Franciscum Henricam Heyman Shepherd. Pueram magnae spei immatura raptum". And below a brass band "To the memory of Charlotte Dalton and her grandson Francis Heyman Shepherd, 1875".

In the Porch are notices of:
60. Benefaction by Rev. Paul Bariston. (He was at one time curate in charge and was instituted vicar of Graine on 26th February 1688/9. His wife, Ann, was buried at Trosley on 20th April 1705 and he on 23rd February 1715/16. His executrix was Mary Goodwin or Godwyn. (vide Arch. Cant. Vol. xx p. 193.)

61.. Restoration of church in October 1824 and gift of pulpit by Dean and Chapter of Westminster and presented by James Seager, Esq. ,  S. Shrubsole, Church Warden,   Mr. Smith, Overseer

Index of Names and Places

Names Index
Atwood 30
Braunston 54
Bristow 17
Burr 22
Burslow 6
Campbell 43
Cogger 20, 21
Crofton 57
Dalton 59
Darvill 20
Elliott 35, 37
Gilbert 54
Godwin 48

Goodayle 54
Gorham 3, 4, 5
Hodges 44, 46
Hoskins 24, 38, 39, 40
Jackson 14
Jail 54
Johnson 14, 54
Lloyd 58
Luxford 1
Marchant 30
Marden 52
Matthews 47
Miles 10, 11
Morgan 58Oakes 31, 32
Oliver 41, 54
Packham 27, 28, 29
Parker 54
Parrish 16
Patterson 54
Phillips 46, 58
Pine 18, 55
Razell 7
Rofe 13
Roots 54
Seager 12
Sharley 50
Shepherd 56, 59Shrubsole 15, 54
Smith 25, 26, 54
Smitherman 53
Tilling 9
Tookey 42
Usher 2
Wells 49
Williams 54
Winchester 33
Wolfe 23
Wooding 6, 7, 8

Places IndexAddington 1
   Coldrum 1
   Coldrum Lodge 1
Aylesford 3, 5
Ecoivres cemetery, France 41
Graine 59
France 41
London 20
   Shaftesbury Place,
      Aldersgate Street, 20
   South Lambeth 12

Maidstone 20, 33
Medburn 58
Millbank 12
Rudderfield 51
Somme 41
Sussex 51
Tenterden 48
Trosley Court 2, 52
Trottescliffe Court 55
Westminster 12General
churchwarden 55
Clerk 7, 40
curate 60
Dean and Chapter of
   Westminster 61
killed in action 41
Monch (Pub?)  33
ostler 33
Overseer 61
pulpit, gift of  61
Rector 58
vicar 60