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
Peartree Cottage was rebuilt on the site of an old cottage called Freeloves.
| date | source | owner/buyer | occupier | comment |
| 1610 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | John Carter transferred ownership to Agnes Carter | Messuage. Next To Land Of John Marten On East, Road To The North Henry surrenders to wife and then son Michael | |
| 1628 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Michael Carter transferred ownership to Rose Carter | Messuage. Abutting Upon The Highway Near The House Of Nicholas Sex | |
| 1637 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Thomas Carter transferred ownership to Sarah Carter | Thomas Carter | Messuage. Thomas Carter surrenders to Sarah his wife and Thomas his son. House in own occupation |
| 1642 | Tax to relieve British army in Ireland | Thomas Carter | living in Pirton | |
| 1663 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Thomas Carter | Thomas Carter | new cottager |
| 1663 | Hearth Tax/ National Archives | Thomas Carter | Thomas Carter 1 hearth | |
| 1671 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Alice Cuismar transferred ownership to Hester Groome | Tenement. Abutting Onto Nicholas Sex House& The Highway Leading To Little Green Hester is wife of Robert Groome & daughter of Alice Cuismar | |
| 1685 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Robert Groom transferred ownership to Mary Pakes | Robert Groom | Cottage. surrender to be void if £35 8s is paid for the 2 cottages |
| 1691 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Robert Groom transferred ownership to Mary Pakes | Robert Groom | Cottage. condition is broken |
| 1695 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Mary Pakes transferred ownership to Mary Hamond | John Freelove | Freeloves. Abutting Upon Highway Leading From Little Green Hester is wife of Robert Groome, they have a son Thomas. She is also daughter of Alice Cuismar and Hester is now dead Mary Hamond is daughter of Mary Pakes widow dec and wife of Thomas Hamond |
| 1695 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Mary Hamond transferred ownership to John Rotheram | John Freelove | Freeloves. Abutting Upon Highway Leading From Little Green |
| 1726 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | John Rotheram transferred ownership to John Rotheram | Freeloves. Abutting Upon Highway Leading From Little Green john Rotheram is son &heir of John& Elizabeth Rotheram | |
| 1739 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | John Rotheram transferred ownership to John Turner | Messuage. Near Little Green john turner is brother and heir of Mary Harrold | |
| 1742 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | John Rotheram transferred ownership to Elizabeth Turner | Messuage. Near Little Green Thomas turner also surrendered | |
| 1785 | Delme Radcliffe collection / HALS | Widow Harding | Cottage. | |
| 1811 | Pre enclosure plan/Hofton | Henry Walker | Henry Walker | |
| 1818 | Enclosure award/HALS | Henry Walker | 14 perch | |
| 1818 | Manor of Pirton Rectory Court roll/HALS | Messuage. 14p | ||
| 1861 | Census 1861 | George Throssell | George Throssell – Agricultural labourer age 45 | |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | Sarah Throssell | George Throssell | house and land 1 acre rateable value £6 16s 0d |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | George Throssell | George Throssell – Ag lab (out of employ) age 55 | |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | Joseph Throssel | Joseph Throssel | Cottage with yard. well , drainage-into pond. 7 inmates sharing 2 living rooms, 2 sleeping rooms and Privy |
| 1877 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | William Throssell born 13/12/1873 enrolled 15/1/1877 | |
| 1877 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Annie Throssell born 14/3/1872 enrolled 15/1/1877 | |
| 1878 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Sarah Throssell born 18/1/1875 enrolled 6/5/1878 | |
| 1878 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Shopkeeper. | |
| 1880 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | George Throssell born 31/5/1877 enrolled 1/4/1880 | |
| 1881 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | William Throssell born 13/12/1873 enrolled 1881 Last school – Pirton Infant School, | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | George Throssell | George Throssell – Ag lab annuitant age 65 | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | Joseph Throssell | Joseph Throssell – Grocer & coal dealer age 30 | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | Lydia Throssell | Lydia Throssell – Grocer age 60 | |
| 1882 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Sarah Throssell born 18/1/1875 enrolled 1882 | |
| 1882 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Charlie Throssell born 29/5/1879 enrolled 17/4/1882 | |
| 1884 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Nr Pond Richard Throssell born 20/12/1881 enrolled 29/9/1884 | |
| 1885 | Register of electors/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Cottages. Little Green | |
| 1885 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Nr Pond George Throssell born 31/5/1877 enrolled 1885 | |
| 1886 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Nr Pond Jesse Throssell born 20/4/1883 enrolled 26/4/1886 | |
| 1886 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Lydia Throssell | Grocer. | |
| 1886 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Shopkeeper. | |
| 1889 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Nr Pond Freddy Throssell born 29/10/1886 enrolled 1889/90 | |
| 1890 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Nr Pond Frank Throssell born /4/1887 enrolled 1890/91 | |
| 1890 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Lydia Throssell | Grocer. | |
| 1890 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Shopkeeper. | |
| 1891 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Nr Pond Alice Throssell born /5/1889 enrolled 1891/92 | |
| 1891 | Census 1891 | Joseph Throssell | Nr Little Green Joseph Throssell – Farmer age 43 | |
| 1892 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Nr Pond Richard Throssell born 21/1/1881 enrolled 1892 | |
| 1892 | School admission register/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Nr Pond Jesse Throssell born 20/1/1883 enrolled 1892 | |
| 1894 | School admission register/HALS | James Throssell | Nr Pond May Throssell born 8/5/1891 enrolled 1894/95 | |
| 1895 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Throssell | Shopkeeper. | |
| 1895 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Lydia Throssell | Grocer. | |
| 1896 | School admission register/HALS | James Throssell | Nr Pond Teddy Throssell born 22/7/1888 enrolled 1896 | |
| 1898 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Throssell | shopkeeper | |
| 1898 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Lydia Throssell | Grocer. | |
| 1899 | School admission register/HALS | James Throssell | Nr Pond May Throssell born 28/5/1891 enrolled 1899 | |
| 1902 | School admission register/HALS | James Throssell | Nr Pond Phylip Throssell born 13/11/1898 enrolled 2/4/1902 | |
| 1902 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Throssell | Shopkeeper. | |
| 1902 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Lydia Throssell | Grocer. | |
| 1903 | School admission register/HALS | James Throssell | Nr Pond Hilda Throssell born 2/8/1895 enrolled 1903 Last school – Pirton , | |
| 1907 | School admission register/HALS | James Throssell | Nr Pond Philip Throssell born 13/11/1898 enrolled 1907 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | James Throssell | James Throssell | house and shop Wellhead Near Blacksmith’s Arms occupiers place of abode Hitchin to vote at Hitchin |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Cottages. Wellhead Near Blacksmith’s Arms to vote at Hitchin | |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | Harry Davis | Harry Davis | House. Near The Blacksmith Arms |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | Harry Davis | Harry Davis | shop, premises, land & buildings Near The Blacksmith Arms 21 perch gross value £14 0s rateable value £10 10s |
| 1910 | School admission register/HALS | Henry Davis | Nr Pond Ethel May Davis born 17/10/1898 enrolled 1910 Last school – St Mary’s, Hitchin, | |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | Joseph Throssell | cottages Little Green to vote at Hitchin | |
| 1911 | Register of electors/HALS | Harry Davis | Harry Davis | House. Near The Blacksmith Arms |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Harry Davis | 4 rooms 4 in household Harry Davis Butcher – age 27 | |
| 1911 | Register of electors/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Cottages. Little Green to vote at Hitchin | |
| 1912 | Register of electors/HALS | Harry Davis | Harry Davis | House. Near The Blacksmith Arms |
| 1912 | School admission register/HALS | Harry Davis | Nr Pond Lily Davis born 2/11/1909 enrolled 30/12/1912 | |
| 1912 | Register of electors/HALS | Joseph Throssell | Cottages. Little Green to vote at Hitchin | |
| 1913 | Register of electors/HALS | Harry Davis | Harry Davis | House. Near The Blacksmith Arms place of abode Pirton, Hitchin |
| 1914 | Register of electors/HALS | Harry Davis | Harry Davis | House. Near The Blacksmith Arms place of abode Pirton, Hitchin |
| 1915 | Register of electors/HALS | Harry Davis | Harry Davis | House. Near The Blacksmith Arms place of abode Pirton, Hitchin |
| 1915 | Register of electors/HALS | Harry Davis | House. Near The Blacksmith Arms | |
| 1915 | School admission register/HALS | Harry Davis | Nr Pond Milner Davis born 26/3/1912 enrolled 29/3/1915 | |
| 1916 | School admission register/HALS | Harry Davis | Nr Pond Lily M Davis born 2/11/1909 enrolled 1916 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1920 | School admission register/HALS | Harry Davis | Nr Pond Milner Davis born 26/3/1912 enrolled 1920 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1926 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Harry Davis | pork butcher | |
| 1927 | School admission register/HALS | Harry Davis | Pear Tree Cottage Vera Betty Davis born 29/9/1921 enrolled 1927 Last school – None, | |
| 1929 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Harry Davis | pork butcher | |
| 1935 | Original rates/Hofton | Harry Davis | Harry Davis | house, shop & premises Little Green gross value 23 rateable value 16 |
| 1935 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Harry Davis | pork butcher | |
| 1937 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Harry Davis | pork butcher | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Harry Davis | High St. married DOB 21/9/1883 Grocer & butcher Age 56 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Ellen Davis | Married. DOB 1/9/1882 Unpaid domestic duties Age 57 |
