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 |
| 1587
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Richard Frauncis transferred ownership to John Pearles
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John Bradewell
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10/2/1587 quit claim. £7. – richard frauncis of ticknall, derby, armiger to john pearles of hitchin, yeoman. 2 cottages & 9a. of pasture & meadow, sold by william frauncis, father of richard frauncis.
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| 1587
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John Pearles to John Chapman | John Bradewell
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1/8/1587 bargain & sale. £44. – 1. john pearles of hitchin, butcher. 2. john chapman, snr., of hitchin, yeoman & john chapman, jns., son & heir of john chapman, snr. 2 cottages (in occupation of john bradwell), 9a. ofmeadow & pasture in pirton & holwell, beds. (mortgage noted & assigned, £20 to be paid by purchasers to geo.horsey, esq., in colman street, london.
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| 1587
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John Pearles to John Chapman | J0hn Bradewell
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3/8/1587 feoffment. – john pearles of hitchin, butcher, to john chapman of hitchin, snr., yeoman, & john chapman, jnr., son & heir of john chapman, snr. 2 cottages & 9a. of meadow & pasture in pirton & holwell, bed, ie. 2a. in alton bottom, 2.5a. lately enclosed adjoining, 3a. in whitfield, 1a. next greneloe hill. abuttals given.
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| 1587
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John Pearles to John Chapman | John Bradewell
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1/8/1587 bond in £80. – john pearles of hitchin, butcher, to john chapman, snr. of hitchin,yeoman for performance of covenants in indenture of same date.
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| 1587
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John Pearles to Thomas Docwra | John Bradwell
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12/5/1587 counterpart mortgage by demise for 40 years. £20. – 1. john pearles of hitchin, butcher. 2. thomas docwra of digswell, esq. 2 cottages (in occupation of john bradwell) 9a. of meadow & pasture. abuttals given. field names.
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| 1601 | Rental/ HALS
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John Bradewell
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house he lives in called col
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| 1612 | John Bradewell
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John dies and his daughter is the wife of William Pryor | ||
| 1639 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | William Pryor transferred ownership to Mary Pryor | Messuage. 1 ac of close adjoining Mary Pryor is William Pryors wife. The house is left split between Mary, the wife and Thomas the son for 1 half and William the other half. After his wife’s death their 2 sons William and Thomas have half of the land and house each have half of the property each. | |
| 1639 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | Thomas Pryor transferred ownership to William Pryor | Messuage. 1 acre of close adjoining Thomas immediately surrenders to William on condition that William pays Rhoda his mother £3 a year | |
| 1639 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | William Pryor transferred ownership to William Pryor | Messuage. | |
| 1642 | Tax to relieve British army in Ireland | Widow Prior | living in Pirton | |
| 1653 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | John Brocket transferred ownership to William Pryor | Land By The House And Ground Of Widow Pryor, Wm Pryor Her Son On The West Side, The Land Of John Brockett On The East Abutting Upon Town Lane On South. 1ac | |
| 1653 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | Widow Pryor | House. Near House Of John Brocket And On Town Lane | |
| 1663 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | Mary Prior | ||
| 1663 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | William Prior | ||
| 1670 | Rental/ HALS | William Pryor | ||
| 1670 | Rental/ HALS | William Pryor | ||
| 1687 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | William Pryor transferred ownership to Jane Greene | William Pryor | Messuage. with a 1 acre pightle adjoining William Pryor surrendered house to Jane Shenley his intended wife but he died. The house is left to William Pyror the son and Jane who has now married Alexander Greene |
| 1694 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | Jane Greene transferred ownership to John Pryor | Joan Woodell | Colemans. with a 1 acre pightle adjoining jane green widow of Wm Pryor & Alexander Greene is dead & house passes to son of Wm Pryor |
| 1697 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | John Pryor transferred ownership to Joan Woodell | Colemans. with a 1 acre pightle adjoining and barn 0 | |
| 1706 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | Widow Woodall transferred ownership to Sarah Campkin | 1706 – 1721 Woodall | |
| 1713 | Deeds/HALS | John Hammond transferred ownership to Peter Goldsmith | Messuage. 1 half ac close adjoining pightle of Tom Ansell on south close of widow Kitchener on North goldsmith carpenter | |
| 1722 | Poll Books/HALS | Peter Goldsmith | Peter Goldsmith Of Pirton Herts | |
| 1727 | Poll Books/HALS | Peter Goldsmith | Peter Goldsmith Of Pirton Herts | |
| 1733 | Rental/ HALS | Peter Goldsmith | ||
| 1733 | Rental/ HALS | Peter Goldsmith | ||
| 1734 | Poll Books/HALS | Peter Goldsmith | Peter Goldsmith Of Pirton Herts | |
| 1753 | Land tax/HALS | Peter Goldsmith | ||
| 1754 | Poll Books/HALS | Peter Goldsmith | Peter Goldsmith Of Pirton Herts | |
| 1780 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1781 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1782 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1784 | Poll Books/HALS | Francis Burgess | Francis Burgess Of Pirton Herts | |
| 1784 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1785 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1786 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1787 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1788 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1789 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1790 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1791 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1792 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1793 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1794 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1795 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1796 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1797 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burgess | Francis Burges | |
| 1798 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1799 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1800 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1801 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1802 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1803 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burges | Francis Burges | |
| 1804 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burgess | Francis Burgess | |
| 1805 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Burgess | Francis Burgess | |
| 1809 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | Francis Burgess | Alice Stausley | Church End Cottage in Pirton, occ Alice Stausley. 1a adj called Colemans, 3r, on west of same, 2 half acre in Hambridge field in Clay Mill Way, 4 pieces arable in Windmill field. Also 1a. pasture called Hatch furlong close, ½a arable in Hambridge field in Peason Hill. |
| 1809 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | Francis Burgess transferred ownership to John Mott | Alice Stausley | Cottage. 1 acre adjoining called Colemans 0 |
| 1811 | pre enclosure plan/Hofton | John Kingsley | John Hipgrave | Fox pub |
| 1818 | Enclosure award/HALS | John Kingsley | House and garden 2 rood 3 perch William Prior 1644 | |
| 1823 | Delme Radcliffe collection / HALS | John Kingsley | Cottage Adjoining Estate Of John And Elizabeth Conquest And John Collyson John and Mary Kingsley nee Furrian cottage, and a close of pasture [rent 2s6d] also 3ac.3roods in common fields. | |
| 1832 | pigot – trade directory/HALS | James Davies | Fox Ph retailers of beer | |
| 1839 | Manor of Pirton Doddingselles Court book/HALS | John Kingsley transferred ownership to Charles Kingsley | Cottage. father to son Charles who auctions property | |
| 1839 | Land sale/HALS | Charles Kingsley transferred ownership to William Lucas | John Kingsley | A Respectable and Convenient Dwelling House Situate On The Right Of The Road Leading Through Pirton To The Rectory Farm bought for £420 . A pleasant Garden in front enclosed with pallisade fence. A large Garden at the back, well planted with fruit trees and an excellent Orchard well planted. A Well with good water, also a Close of excellent Pasture adjoining. Farm Yard containing a 3 – bayed Barn, small Barn adjoining, and a good Cart Hovel. Good stable for 4 horses, Wood Barn and Hen-house. Sitting room, Parlour, Kitchen, Washhouse and Bake-house with an oven capable of baking six bushels. 3 Chambers and a Granary over the wash-house. Bricked and tiled 2acre 2rood 35peck |
| 1841 | Census 1841 | John Davies | Near Little Green. John Davies – The Fox age 50 | |
| 1851 | Census 1851 | James Furr | James Furr – Carrier & Licenced victualer age 27 | |
| 1855 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Furr | Fox Ph retailers of beer | |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | James Furr | James Furr – Carrier & poulterer age 38 | |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | Mary Ann Kingsley | James Furr | Land. 2 acre 2 rood 21 perch rateable value £5 0s 0d |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | Lucas | James Furr | Public house. 2 acre 2 rood 22 perch rateable value £16 0s 0d |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | Lucas | James Furr | Land. 5 acre rateable value £8 6s 3d |
| 1864 | Cassey – trade directory/HALS | John Parkins | Fox Ph. beer retailer | |
| 1869 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1871 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | William Males | William Males – Carpenter & publican age 31 | |
| 1872 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1873 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1874 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1874 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 27 Aug 1872 – 25 Aug 1874 | |
| 1875 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1876 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1877 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1877 | School admission register/HALS | William Males | Laura Males born 29/6/1869 enrolled 1877 | |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | Messrs Lucas | William Males | Fox with yard & garden. Well, drainage-into road drain. 4 inmates sharing 3 living rooms, 3 sleeping rooms and Privy |
| 1878 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1878 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | William Males | beer retailer & carpenter | |
| 1878 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | William MaleS | Fox Ph. Males jun beer retailer & carpenter | |
| 1879 | Register of electors/HALS | George Males | Land. occupier Near Little Green | |
| 1879 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1879 | School admission register/HALS | William Males | Katie Males born 22/8/1875 enrolled 7/7/1879 | |
| 1880 | Register of electors/HALS | George Males | Land. occupier Near Little Green | |
| 1880 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1880 | School admission register/HALS | Rachel Males | Emma Males born 7/3/1873 enrolled 1880 Last school – Infant Department, | |
| 1880 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 24 Aug 1880 | |
| 1881 | Register of electors/HALS | George Males | land occupier. Near Little Green | |
| 1881 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | William Males | William Males – Carpenter & publican age 40 | |
| 1882 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1883 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land. occupier Near Church | |
| 1883 | School admission register/HALS | William Males | Kate Males enrolled 1883 | |
| 1884 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | house and. land occupier Near Church | |
| 1884 | School admission register/HALS | William Males | James Males born 8/11/1882 enrolled 12/5/1884 | |
| 1885 | Register of electors/HALS | William Males | House and land.occupier Near Church | |
| 1885 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 25 Aug 1885 | |
| 1886 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | William Males | The Fox Little Green beer retailer & carpenter | |
| 1887 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Gardiner | Fox Katie Gardiner born 4/7/1882 enrolled 1887/88 | |
| 1887 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 23 Aug 1887 | |
| 1888 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 21 Aug 1888 | |
| 1889 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 20 Aug 1889 | |
| 1890 | School admission register/HALS | William Males | James Males born 8/11/1882 enrolled 1890 | |
| 1890 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | William Males | The Fox Little Green carpenter | |
| 1890 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 26 Aug 1890 | |
| 1891 | Census 1891 | William Males | The Fox. William Males – Carpenter & Publican age 49 | |
| 1891 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 25 Aug 1891 | |
| 1893 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 29 Aug 1893 | |
| 1893 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 23 Aug 1893 | |
| 1894 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 28 Aug 1894 | |
| 1895 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Thomas | The Fox Little Green beer retailer | |
| 1895 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | William Males | Carpenter. | |
| 1895 | Licensees/HALS | William Males | The Fox Pirton 27 Aug 1895 | |
| 1898 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Thomas | The Fox Little Green beer retailer | |
| 1898 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | William Males | Carpenter. | |
| 1901 | Census 1901 | James Thomas | The Fox Inn James Thomas – Carpenter & joiner age 60 | |
| 1901 | Census 1901 | William Males | Burge End Nr William Males – Carpenter & joiner age 58 | |
| 1902 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Thomas | The Fox beer retailer | |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | James Thomas | The Fox | |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | James Thomas | The Fox | |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | William Lucas | James Thomas | Public house, the fox inn The Fox Inn 2 rood 18 perch gross value £22 0s rateable value £17 10s |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | William Lucas | James Thomas | land The Fox Inn 2 acre rood 22 perch gross value £4 15s rateable value £4 10s |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Hubert Walker | Little Green. 5 rooms 4 in household Hubert John Walker Egg Dealer – age 45 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Rosetta Walker | Little Green. 5 rooms 4 in household Rosetta Walker – age 34 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Rita Walker | Little Green. 5 rooms 4 in household Rita Rose Walker – age 7 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Dorothy Walker | Little Green. 5 rooms 4 in household Dorothy May Walker – age 5 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Hubert Southall | Fox Inn. 8 rooms 2 in household Hubert Charles Southall Publican – age 40 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Margaret Southall | Fox Inn. 8 rooms 2 in household Margaret Southall Assisting in the business – age 29 | |
| 1912 | Register of electors/HALS | Charles Herbert Southall | dwelling house The Fox Inn | |
| 1912 | School admission register/HALS | Hubert J Walker | May Walker born 9/2/1906 enrolled 1912 Last school – Infants School, | |
| 1912 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Hubert John Walker | Fox Ph beer retailer | |
| 1913 | Register of electors/HALS | Hubert John Walker | Dwelling house. The Fox Inn | |
| 1914 | Register of electors/HALS | Hubert John Walker | Dwelling house The Fox Inn | |
| 1915 | Register of electors/HALS | Hubert John Walker | The Fox | |
| 1922 | School admission register/HALS | Hubert Walker | Pirton Alfred James Walker born 15/3/1913 enrolled 1922 Last school – Pirton Junior, | |
| 1926 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Hubert John Walker | The Fox Little Green beer retailer | |
| 1927 | School admission register/HALS | Hubert Walker | The Fox Inn Ronald Jack Walker born 15/9/1922 enrolled 1927 Last school – None, | |
| 1929 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Hubert John Walker | Fox Ph beer dealer | |
| 1933 | School admission register/HALS | Harry Cook | The Fox Inn. Derek Edmund Cook enrolled 1933 | |
| 1935 | Original rates/Hofton | J W Ltd. Green | Harry Cook | Public hse & premises gross value 24 rateable value 17 |
| 1935 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Harry Cook | The Fox Little Green beer retailer | |
| 1937 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Harry Cook | The Fox Little Green beer retailer | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Harry Cook | The Fox Inn. married DOB 8/9/1901 Licencee & general farm hand Age 38 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Dorothy Cook | Married. DOB 9/2/1906 Unpaid domestic duties Age 33 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Donald Walker | Single. DOB 15/9/1922 apprentice carpenter Age 17 |
