Erleigh Family English Lands – Somerset County

A large royal estate at North Petherton was held by the King at the time of the survey of 1084 (later called the Domesday Book).

At that time, North Petherton hundred was assessed at 38 hides, 3 virgates, and ½ ferling in the survey. Sometime in the reign of Henry I (1100-1135), the Crown granted the Manor and Hundred of North Petherton away at “fee farm” to John of Erleigh (d. c. 1162). A Fee Farm Grant is the transfer of property by deed of conveyance, a fixed yearly amount of rent, or other payment.

38 places (hides) were named in the Domesday Book for North Petherton hundred.

In the reign of Henry II, William de Erleigh (John’s son) certified to the King that, by virtue of his tenure of North Petherton, he had a right to be the King’s Chamberlain.” Collinson, Vol. iii., pp. 54, 72. This means that William owned North Petherton in “service” for acting as a Chamberlain to the King.

  • [North] Petherton
  • [West] Monkton
  • [North and West] Newton
  • Creech [St Michael]
  • Bridgwater
  • Bawdrip
  • [East and West] Bower
  • Adsborough
  • Horsey
  • Woolmersdon
  • Durston
  • Perry
  • Lyng
  • Hadworthy
  • Hamp
  • Wembdon
  • Melcombe
  • Clayhill
  • Huntworth
  • Sandford
  • Stretcholt
  • Bradney
  • Shearston
  • Huntstile
  • Pawlett
  • Pignes
  • Waldron
  • Crandon
  • Crook
  • Walpole
  • Chilton [Trinity]
  • Rime
  • Athelney
  • Dunwear
  • Shovel
  • St Michael Church
  • Sydenham