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How did the community acquire its lands and
possessions?
(3/7)
The abbey acquired lands and possessions in a
number of ways. The community attracted donations from those who
were impressed by the sanctity of the monks and wished to receive
spiritual benefits, such as masses and prayers, in return for their
gift. It was not uncommon for donors to grant land or rights along
with their corpse for burial: in 1241 Idonea of Vipont, the heiress
of the founder, Richard de Busli, left her body to be buried at
the abbey and bequeathed Sandbeck to the monks; Jeremiah, parson
of Rossington, gave all his meadows in South Wood, Armthorpe, along
with his corpse, to the monks of Roche.
Whilst some acquisitions were given at the donors
initiative, others were actively sought by the community. In 1348
the
monks petitioned parliament that they might receive oak from
the woods of Hatfield every year and that instead of the tithe
of
herbage which they were accustomed to receive from here, they be
allowed sixty large beasts to run in the park or wood during the
year. Some holdings were purchased by the community. For the sum
of £200 the monks acquired from Robert de Ripariis rights
in certain lands and tenements in Slade Hooten, Walkeringham,
Wadworth,
Alverley and Loversall, as well as Roberts wood and a field
in Wadworth, his mills with ponds and watercourses, and all suits
of mills in these villages.
Legal action
In
the late thirteenth century Anabilia, a recluse from Doncaster,
sued
Abbot Stephen (1287-1300)
for withdrawing her weekly corrody of five monastery loaves
and three gallons of monastery ale, which, she claimed,
had
been granted for life by Abbot Walter (1254-68).
[YAS Record Series: Monastic
Notes I, pp. 184-5.]
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The charter reveals that this was in part
a repurchase since the community had on a previous occasion sold Robert
their lands in Wadworth, Alverley and Loversall; the monks now made
Robert swear on the Bible that he would not try to reclaim his lands.(2)
The monks also negotiated sales with fellow religious and in 1319
the Cistercians of Netley, Hampshire,
sold their rights in the manor of Laughton to the monks of Roche for
the considerable sum of 380 marks. This manor consisted of thirteen
bovates of land in Hooten,
two cottages in Thurscroft, five bovates of land in Carr, 14 1/2 bovates
and another bovate in the tenancy of Roger of the Oak, as well as
the rents and services of Richard the Chamberlain, the service and
rent of John Blund, the rent and service of Nicholas the clerk of
Laughton, and the mill of Stone with all its sequels.(3)
The abbey might also acquire holdings by negotiating a corrody,
whereby the donor made a grant of land or other possessions in return
for some kind of stipend, whether food and clothing, or lodgings within
the precinct.
There were problems not simply in acquiring lands
and rights but in retaining them; the monks were sometimes drawn
into legal disputes which could be time-consuming and expensive.
In 1310 the abbots of Roche and Whalley
clashed over tithes from
their possessions in Hillingthorpe, Lancashire. After the case was
referred to the General
Chapter, the abbots of Rievaulx
and Buildwas were appointed
as arbiters and they decided that the abbot of Roche should pay
the abbot of Whalley an annual sum of 40p silver, as well as a pound
of wax and a pound of frankincense for the tithes of all lands cultivated
and pertaining to Hillingthorpe.
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