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 |
| 1706 | Recital of ownership/HALS | Stephen constable transferred ownership to John Groom | 10 poles of land to Ann Groom widow and John Groom labourer | |
| 1710 | Recital of ownership/HALS | John Groom transferred ownership to William Cherry | ||
| 1727 | Poll Books/HALS | William Cherry | William Cherry Of Pirton Herts | |
| 1734 | Poll Books/HALS | William Chirry | William Chirry Of Pirton Herts | |
| 1753 | Land tax/HALS | William Cherry | ||
| 1753 | Land tax/HALS | Francis Arnold | ||
| 1754 | Poll Books/HALS | William Cherry | William Cherry Of Pirton Herts | |
| 1757 | Recital of ownership/HALS | William cherry transferred ownership to Edward Cherry | ||
| 1764 | Recital of ownership/HALS | Edward cherry transferred ownership to Francis Arnold | ||
| 1768 | Recital of ownership/HALS | Francis Arnold transferred ownership to William Mann | ||
| 1780 | Land tax/HALS | William Man | William Man | |
| 1781 | William Mann transferred ownership to William Lucas | |||
| 1781 | Land tax/HALS | William Man | John Hypgrave | Joint proprietors man & lucas this record needs checking |
| 1818 | Enclosure award/HALS | Mary Hailey transferred ownership to William Lucas | house, farm, yard and garden 29 perch | |
| 1832 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davis | house and land Hill Farm Hill Farm | |
| 1833 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm rent of more than £50 a year | |
| 1834 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm rent of more than £50 a year | |
| 1835 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1835 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1836 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1836 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1837 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1837 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1838 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1838 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1839 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1839 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1840 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1840 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1841 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1841 | Census 1841 | James Davies | Hill Farm James Davies – Farmer age 50 | |
| 1841 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1842 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1842 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1844 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1844 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1845 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1845 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1846 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1846 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1847 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1847 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1849 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1849 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1850 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1850 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Davis | farmer | |
| 1850 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1851 | Register of electors/HALS | James Davies | Hill Farm | |
| 1851 | Census 1851 | James Davies | James Davies – Farmer 60 a 3 labs age 62 | |
| 1851 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1852 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1853 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1854 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1855 | Register of electors/HALS | Jeffrey Lucas | James Davies | land |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | William Davies | William Davies – Farmer age 57 | |
| 1863 | Deeds/HALS | Acres | Hill Farm. purchase of Hill farm and 24ac 2r 3p at Pirton, part copyhold of manors of Pirton, Pirton Doddingsells, Pirton Rectory and Ramerick | |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | Jeffery (Dec) Lucas | William Davies | Farm. 23 acre rateable value £33 12s 9d |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | John Cook | John Cook – Horse dealer & farmer age 54 | |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | Mr Acres | William Bradshaw | Farmhouse with Farmyard Garden. Well, drainage-None. 6 inmates sharing Privy |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | William Bradshaw | William Bradshaw – Farmer age 40 | |
| 1885 | Register of electors/HALS | William Dennis Parrit Bradshaw | farm occupier | |
| 1886 | School admission register/HALS | William Bradshaw | Hill Farm Eva Bradshaw born 1882 enrolled 1886/87 | |
| 1886 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | William Bradshaw | Farmer. | |
| 1888 | School admission register/HALS | William Bradshaw | Hill Farm John Bradshaw born 1886 enrolled 1888/89 | |
| 1890 | School admission register/HALS | William Bradshaw | Pirton. Eva Bradshaw born 24/8/1881 enrolled 1890 | |
| 1890 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | William Bradshaw | Farmer. | |
| 1890 | Land sale/HALS | The Hill Farm An enclosed farmyard A brick, timber slated wheat-barn, with oak threshing floor; a brick, timber and tiled stable, and Chaff-house; a brick, timber and tiled cow-house and granary. A range of brick, timber, and slated buildings, used as barley barn. Open cattle shed and piggeries, a brick, timber and slated 3 bayed open cart-shed; a brick, timber and tiled blacksmith’s shop, and hen-house; a timber and thatched implement shed; a timber and tiled tool-house, and shed adjoining. Entrance passage with brick porch, 3 bedrooms, front sitting room, back sitting room,kitchen,pantry,cellar, and wood and coal-house. Court yard with pump of water. Freehold dwelling house together with an enclosed farm yard. | ||
| 1891 | Census 1891 | William Bradshaw | Hill Farm. William D P Bradshaw – Farmer & manager age 49 | |
| 1893 | School admission register/HALS | William Throssell | Annie Throssell born 16/10/1883 enrolled 1893 | |
| 1893 | School admission register/HALS | William Throssell | Charles Throssell born 8/4/1885 enrolled 1893 | |
| 1893 | School admission register/HALS | William Throssell | Hill Farm. Charles Throssell born /4/1886 enrolled 1893/94 | |
| 1901 | Census 1901 | George Trussell | Hill Farm George Trussell – Labourer on farm age 68 | |
| 1902 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | George Trussell | Hill Farm Hill Farm farmer | |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | Dwelling house Hill Farm | ||
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | William Throssell | Arthur Trussell | house & homestead Hill Farm 28 perch gross value £17 0s rateable value £11 0s |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | William Throssell | Arthur Trussell | land Hill Farm 11 acre 1 rood 29 perch gross value £16 0s rateable value £15 10s |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | Dwelling house Hill Farm | ||
| 1911 | Register of electors/HALS | Dwelling house Hill Farm | ||
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Arthur Trussell | Hill Farm Arthur Trussell – Dealer Pig age 27 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Ida Trussell | Hill Farm Ida Trussell – age 25 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Nancy Trussell | Hill Farm Nancy Eva Trussell – age 2 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Elizabeth Trussell | Hill Farm Elizabeth Trussell – age 69 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Arthur Trussell | Hill Farm 6 rooms 4 in household Arthur Trussell Dealer Pig – age 27 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Ida Trussell | Hill Farm 6 rooms 4 in household Ida Trussell – age 25 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Nancy Trussell | Hill Farm 6 rooms 4 in household Nancy Eva Trussell – age 2 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Elizabeth Trussell | Hill Farm 6 rooms 4 in household Elizabeth Trussell – age 69 | |
| 1912 | Register of electors/HALS | dwelling house Pirton Hill Farm | ||
| 1912 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Arthur Trussell | Hill Farm farmer | |
| 1913 | Register of electors/HALS | Dwelling house Pirton Hill Farm | ||
| 1913 | Court book/HALS | William Throssell transferred ownership to Tabitha Donson | Charles Thrussell | Hill Farm 11ac 3roods cost £650 |
| 1914 | Register of electors/HALS | Dwelling house Pirton Hill Farm | ||
| 1915 | Register of electors/HALS | Dwelling house Pirton Hill Farm | ||
| 1915 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Trussell | Pirton. Nancy E Trussell born 22/12/1908 enrolled 1915 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1916 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Trussell | Barbara Trussell born 19/4/1912 enrolled 24/1/1916 | |
| 1920 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Trussell | Pirton. Barbara Trussell born 19/4/1912 enrolled 1920 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1923 | School admission register/HALS | William Groves | Hill Farm, Pirton Hubert George Groves born 20/7/1910 enrolled 1923 Last school – Hitchin British, | |
| 1923 | School admission register/HALS | William Groves | Hill Farm, Pirton Cecil William Groves born 27/11/1913 enrolled 1923 Last school – Hitchin British, | |
| 1926 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Arthur Walker | Hill Farm farmer & assistant overseer | |
| 1929 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Arthur Walker | Hill Farm farmer & rate collector | |
| 1935 | Original rates/Hofton | Arthur Walker | Arthur Walker | Agricultural dwelling house gross value 12 rateable value 7 |
| 1935 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Arthur Walker | Hill Farm farmer & rate collector | |
| 1937 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Arthur Walker | Hill Farm farmer & rate collector | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Arthur Walker | Hill Farm. married DOB 10/7/1892 Farming Age 47 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Elsie Walker | Married. DOB 24/2/1898 Unpaid domestic duties Age 41 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Margaret Elizabeth Giles | at school | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Winifred Giles | at school | |
| 1941 | Farm Survey/National Archives | Arthur Walker | Arthur Walker | Hill Farm 0wned by Arthur Walker of Hill Farm Arthur Walker, Part time farmer also rating officer under Hitchin RDC with 12ac |
