Manor of Knappeles also Roberts

Spellings vary and include Knapele in Blomefield as well as Knappetes in the Indenture included below.

Contents

References to this manor.

Indenture of 1697

An Indenture dated December 21^st 1697 refers back to an earlier indenture of 1681 in which Thomas Amyas and Francis Amyas let this Manor to Edmond Woodhouse. The indenture itself concerns a mortgage between the Woodhouses and Sir Jacob Astley.
In this indenture, the manor is referred to as “Knappetes also Roberts”.

Blomefield writing in 1739

Blomefield refers to “Robert’s alias Knapele’s Manor” and clearly understands it to be very ancient – going back to the time of Richard the First. His history of the manor ends with it being sold in 1618 to Henry Pannet and Calibut Walpole.

Gilman letter of 1796

The second page of a letter written in 1796 by Mr. S. H. L. N. Gilman reads:

Mrs Amyas in her own Right is Lady of “The Manor of Knapeles also Roberte’s” but has no Copyhold Tenants – what Rights she may think herself entitled to for this Manor I cannot at present inform You.

The Manor assets

The following tabulated extract from the lease of 1697 describes the manor as being made up of the following assets; the fact that the common land is described as being to the north would seem to locate the manor in the area of the current Hall Farm.

Description	Location	Acreage
All that Mannor house and Capitall Messuage or Tenement called Knappetes also Roberts and all other the Edifices, Houses, Buildings, Outhouses, Barns, Stables, Yards, Gardens, Lands, Tenements, Meadows, Pastures, Inclosures, Proffitts and Comodityes to and with same Mannor House and Capitall Messuage or Tenement belonging, used or Appertaining.	Situate, lying and being in Deopham in the said County Intire and together betweene – the Lands then late of S^r Phillip Woodhouse Barr^t on the part of the East; – the Common pasture in part; – the Lands and Messuages of the said Francis Amyas called Roberts also Cames in part; – the next writed Inclose and Pightle in part on the part of the West; – abutteth upon the said Common Pasture towards the North; – upon the Kings Highway leading through an Inclose of the said Francis Amyas called the Pye Close towards the South.	40
One Inclose of Arrable Land called the Long Close		7
A Pightle on the South End thereof	-Next the aforesaid Premisses on the part of the East; -the Inclose of the said Francis Amyas called the Croft on the part of the West; -abutting upon a certain place called the Pyehill in part towards the South; -the next writed Premisses towards the North.	2
One Messuage or Tenement then void called Cames [?] late Roberts
Seven Acres of Meadow wither the same be more or less now devided into severall pightles	– Adjoining to the said Messuage or Tenement then void – next the Dovehouse Yard and Barne Yard being parcell of the above mentioned Premisses belonging to the said Mannor house and Capitall Messuage or Tenement on the part of the East; – a certain Meadow called Bonnes in part on the part of the West; – abutteth upon the last writed Inclose in part towards the South; -Common pasture towards the North.	7
Total Acreage		56

The Indenture of 1697

This Indenture Tripartite made the one and Twentieth day of December the Ninth year of the Reigne of our soveraigne Lord William the Third by the Grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith etc. And in the Yeare of Lord God One thousand Six hundred and ninety seven
Betweene
– Edmond Woodhouse off East Lexham in the County of Norffolk Esq^r of the First part;
– Sir Jacob Astley of Melton Constable in the said County of Norfolk Barr^t ; John Woodhouse of Morton in the said County of Norffolk Esq^r brother of the said Edmond Woodhouse and Phillip and John Woodhouse Sonns of the said Edmond Woodhouse of the Second part; And
– Lewis Monoux of Grayes Inne in the County of Midlex Esq^r of the Third part.
Whereas by Indenture bearing date the Seven and Twentieth day of September in the Three and Thirtieth Yeare of the Reigne of his late majesty King Charles the Second And in the Yeare of our Lord God One thousand and Six hundred eighty and One made or mentioned to be made betweene Thomas Amyas of Fouerhoe Carlton in the said County of Norfolk Clerk and Francis Amyas the Younger of Kimberley in the said County gen^t of the One part and the said Edmond Woodhouse of the Other part
They the said Thomas Amyas and Francis Amyas for the Considerations therein mentioned did Demise, Grant and to Farm lett unto the said Edmond Woodhouse, his Administrators and Assignes
All that the Mannor called Knappetes also Roberts with the Rights, Members and Appurtenances to the same belonging
And all that Mannor house and Capitall Messuage or Tenement called Knappetes also Roberts and all other the Edifices, Houses, Buildings, Outhouses, Barns, Stables, Yards, Gardens, Lands, Tenements, Meadows, Pastures, Inclosures, Proffitts and Comodityes to and with same Mannor house and Capitall Messuage or Tenement belonging, used or Appertaining, Situate, lying and being in Deopham in the said County Intire and together betweene the Lands then late of Sir Phillip Woodhouse Barr^t on the part of the East and the Common pasture of Deopham aforesaid in part and the Lands and Messuages of the said Francis Amyas called Roberts also Cames in part and the next writed Inclose and Pightle in part on the part of the west and abutteth upon the said Common Pasture towards the North and upon the Kings Highway leading through an Inclose of the said Francis Amyas called the Pye Close towards the South conteyning together by Estimation Forty Acres wither the same be more or less
And alsoe one Inclose of Arrable Land called the Long Close conteyning by Estimation Seven acres whither the same be more or less with a Pightle on the South End thereof conteyning by Estimation two acres lying and being in Deopham aforesaid next the aforesaid Premisses on the part of the East and the Inclose of the said Francis Amyas called the Croft on the part of the West and abutt[ing] upon a certain place called the Pyehill in part towards the South and the next writed Premisses towards the North
And alsoe one Messuage or Tenement then void called Cames late Roberts and Seven Acres of Meadow wither the same be more or less now devided into severall pightles and next adjoining to the said Messuage or Tenement then void lying and being in Deopham aforesaid next the Dovehouse Yard and Barne Yard being parcell of the above mentioned Premisses belonging to the said Mannor house and Capitall Messuage or Tenement on the part of the East and a certain Meadow called Bonnes in part on the part of the West and abutteth upon the last writed Inclose in part towards the South and the said Common pasture of Deopham aforesaid towards the North
And the Revertion and Revertions, Remainder and Remainders thereof
To have and to hold unto the Said Edmond Woodhouse, his Executors and Assignes from the day of the Date of the said writed Indenture for and during and untill the full end and terme of Five hundred yeares from thence next Ensuing and fully to be Compleat and Ended at and under the yearly Rent of a Pepper Corne and under a provisoe or condition for making void the same respective Mortgage on the said Francis Amyas his Heires, Executors, Administrators and Assignes payment of Four hundred and Eighty pounds of Lawfull money of England to the said Edmond Woodhouse his Executors, Administrators or Assignes in such manner as is therein Expressed and three hundred pounds principall money of the said Summe of Four hundred and Eighty pounds not being paid according to the intent of the said provisoe nor as yett paid the said Mortgage to the said Edmond Woodhouse became absolute in the Law as in and by the said recited Indenture relation being thereunto had more at Large will and may appeare
And whereas Robert Freeman of East Lexham aforesaid yeoman did heretofore in and by One Bond or Writing obligatory bearing date the Nineteenth day of November anno domini One thousand six hundred and sixty became bounden unto the said Edmond Woodhouse in the penall summe of Three hundred & twenty pounds for the securing of one hundred and sixty pounds principall money and Interest for the same
And whereas Alice Catton of Ludham in the County of Norffolk aforesaid widdow and John Catton her Son did heretofore became joyntly and severally bounden unto the said Edmond Woodhouse in and by one Bond or writing obligatory bearing date the Nine & twentieth day of January Anno Domini one thousand six hundred and eighty Five in the penall summe of two hundred pounds for securing one hundred pounds principall money and Interest, Sixty pounds of which said one hundred pounds hath been since paid as appeares by an Indorsement writt upon the back of the same Bond¹;
And the said one hundred and sixty pounds due upon the First recited Obligation and Forty pound upon the last recited Obligation remaine now due unto the said Edmond Woodhouse as by the said severall Bonds will appeare
Now this Indenture Witnesseth that the said Edmond Woodhouse for and in Consideration of the Summe of Five shillings of Lawfull money of England to him in hand paid by the said Sir Jacob Astley, John Woodhouse brother of the said Edmond Woodhouse, Phillip Woodhouse and John Woodhouse Sonns of the said Edmond Woodhouse at and before the Ensealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof He the said Edmond Woodhouse doth hereby acknowledge and for the securing the Summe of Five hundred pounds of Lawfull money of England unto the said S^r Jacob Astley, John Woodhouse brother of the said Edmond Woodhouse, Phillip Woodhouse and John Woodhouse Sonns of the said Edmond Woodhouse their Executors and Administrators according to the true intent and meaning of One Indenture Tripartite bearing date the two and Twentieth day of September last past before the date of these presents made or mentioned to be made betweene
– the said Lewis Monoux of the First part,
– the said Edmond Woodhouse and Phillip Woodhouse of the Second part and
– Lucy, now wife of the said Lewis Monoux, by the name of Lucy Woodhouse, Sole daughter of the said Edmond Woodhouse, of the Third part
purporting a Marriage agreement between the said Lewis Monoux and the said Lucy which said Five hundred pounds is part of the portion of the said Lucy and agreed by the same Tripartite Indenture to be secured hereby upon the severall Trusts therein and hereinafter mentioned and expressed
He the said Edmond Woodhouse hath Granted, Bargained, Sold, Transferred, Assigned and Sett over and by these presents doth Grant, Bargain, Sell, Transfer Assigne and Sett over unto the said Sir Jacob Astley, John Woodhouse brother of the said Edmund Woodhouse, Phillip Woodhouse and John Woodhouse sonnes of the said Edmond Woodhouse their Executors, Administrators and Assigns
All that the Mannor and Mannor house, Capitall Messuage, Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments and all and Singular the premisses and every part and piece thereof with their and every of their rights Members and Appurtentes herein before in the said writed Indenture mentioned and conteyned together with the said writed Indenture
And alsoe the said two severall Obligations or Writings Obligatory herein before mentioned the said severall summes of One hundred and sixty pounds and Forty pounds principall money now due upon the said Bonds;
And all the Estate, right, title, Interest, property, Claime and demand whatsoever either in Law or Equity of him the said Edmond Woodhouse of, in, to or out of the said premisses or any part or parcell thereof
And the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Remainders thereof
To have and to hold the said Mannor, Mansion house, Capitall Messuage, Lands, Tenements and Premises and the said two Obligations or Writings Obligatory and the Summes of Money now due thereupon unto the said Sir Jacob Astley, John Woodhouse brother of the said Edmond Woodhouse, Phillip Woodhouse and John Woodhouse Sones of the said Edmond Woodhouse their Executors, Administrators and Assignes from henceforth upon the Trusts agreements provisoes and powers as are hereinafter mentioned, expressed and declared (that is to say):
Upon Trust that they the said Edmond Woodhouse and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of the Survivor of them shall and may during the life of the said Edmond Woodhouse by the Consent of the said Edmond Woodhouse and Lewis Monoux their Executors and Administrators under their hands and seales in writing call in and take up the said Five hundred pounds soe assigned to them or any part thereof and the same by such life consent to put out againe at Interest in their owne names and shall pay all the Interest thereof due in the Lifetime of the said Edmond Woodhouse his Executors or Administrators
And if at any time after the decease of the said Edmond Woodhouse the said Lucy or any Issue of her Body begotten by the said Lewis Monoux be then living shall then Assigne, Transferr and Sett over all the said Five hundred pounds and all securityes for the same unto the said Lewis Monoux his Executors, Administrators and Assignes to his and their owne use;
And if the said Lewis Monoux shall then happen to be dead unto his Executor or Executors , Administrator or Administrators;
But if it shall happen that the said Lucy should be dead without sum Issue in the Lifetime of the said Edmond Woodhouse then from and Immediately after the decease of the said Lucy soe dying without Issue in the life time of the said Edmond Woodhouse shall then Transferr, Assigne and Sett over all the said Five hundred pounds and all securityes for the same unto the said Edmond Woodhouse, his Executors and Administrators to his and their owne use
And the said Edmond Woodhouse for himselfe, his heires, Executors and Administrators doth Covenant, promise and agree to and with the said Sir Jacob Astley, John Woodhouse, brother of the said Edmond Woodhouse, Phillip Woodhouse and John Woodhouse Sones of the said Edmond Woodhouse, their Executors and Administrators that the said Edmond Woodhouse, Phillip Woodhouse and John Woodhouse Sones of the said Edmond Woodhouse their Executors and Administrators that the said Five hundred pounds shall be well and truly paid unto them, their Executors or Administrators, by the Severall persons from whom the same is now due their Executors, Administrators or Assignes upon the Trusts herein before declared
And that at any time within the space of Ten yeares now next ensuing He the said Edmond Woodhouse his Executors or Administrators shall and will die any further reasonable Act or Acts for the better Conveying, Assigneing, Transferring and setting over of the said Five hundred pounds and the securityes for the same unto the said Sir Jacob Astley, John Woodhouse brother of the said Edmond Woodhouse, Phillip Woodhouse and John Woodhouse Sones of the said Edmond Woodhouse their Executors and Administrators at the request and proper Cost and Charges of the said Lewis Monoux his Executors or Administrators upon the Trust herein before declared soe as the same conteyne noe other or further Covenants than are herein mentioned and Conteyned concerning the same
Provided alwayes and it is agreed by and betweene all the said partyes to these presents that the said Sir Jacob Astley, John Woodhouse brother of the said Edmond Woodhouse, Phillip Woodhouse and John Woodhouse sones of the said Edmond Woodhouse nor any of them nor their nor any of their Executors or Administrators shall be Charged or Chargeable with any more money than is actually received by him or them and not one for the receipts of any money by another but every one only for and with the money received by himselfe only
And that from time to time in the First place they shall deduct out of the Interest of the said hundred pounds all such Cost, Charges and damages as they or any of them shall sustain or be put into in the Execution of the Trust hereby in them reposed.
In witnesse whereof the partyes above named to these present Indentures have sett to their hands and seales the day and yeare First above written.

etc etc

Footnotes

The bond to which this paragraph refers is available in full here. The bond is dated 1684, whereas the indenture refers to 1695. This is likely to be the difference between civil and ecclesiastical years. ↩︎

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Date	Change
24/5/25	Link to Catton agreement
13/11/24	Navigation
8/4/24	Published