Pre-history
Persons from the 7th Century
Persons from the Middle Ages
Some lesser mortals from the Middle Ages
Prior
Thomas de Melsonby
Local Rhyme
Booklets
Some lesser mortals from the Middle Ages
1. The baron of Quixwood gave land to the hospital for lepers at Old Cambus. The land had previously been owned by a tanner. The tanners had first to extract tannin from the barks of trees, especially alder, a water margin plant. This upland area was wooded and wet.
2. Much of the upper Eye valley was wooded although there were open fields also. The Forester at Houndwood, who looked after the Prior's game, was to go to the Prior's house at Christmas for horsemeat.
3. Edrom had been an outlier of the shire of Berwick, but Edgar gave it to Coldingham, although the earl of Dunbar resisted this. In 1141, the earl of Dunbar siezed the lands and stock. The monks then recovered Edrom, but had to pay 30/- yearly to the crown, and supply army service from all their touns.
4. Land ownership at Swinton was complicated in the 12th century, as it had belonged to Liulf, then given by Edgar to the monks of Durham, and then David gave it to his knight Arnulf. It is clear that the land had been neglected before it was given to the monks as they were required to recultivate it. By the end of the 13th century, survey figures show that the maximum amount of land was arable, surely caused by a population build up over these two centuries.
5. The Prior had a house at Fishwick, with a garden running down to the Tweed where there was a Priory fishery. He also owned a doocot here, where pigeons provided a supply of fresh meat in winter.
6. About 1188 Edward de Old Cambus was found guilty of wrecking, that is attracting passing boats onto the rocks. He was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to exchanging with the Prior, the lands of Old Cambus for those of Lumsden and paying 80 marks of silver.
7. About 1250, Roger of Reston found that he had to fight a duel for some unknown reason. He was able to hire John, a swineherd at Swinewood, as his substitute. John won, and was given land.
8. About the same time , Henry of Prendergeste was badly in need of money, so he sold to the Priory, a serf, Joseph, son of Elwold, and all his issue. This was no better than slavery.
9. Fishwick had much arable land; Paxton had less; so at harvest time men from Paxton went to Fishwick where two men joined each husbandman there for mowing, each group receiving two ploughman's loaves, three salt herring, and a stone of cheese per day.
Other Coldingham records show that the bondman could free himself by buying
land, but still needing his lord's permission to free his son so as to
enter the priesthood, or to marry a daughter off. He still had to pay
his lord a fine if he committed an offence; and on his death his heirs
had to give up the best animal to the lord, in order that his heirs could
inherit. As the terms were fixed, these men considered themselves free,
as they were not subject to the whim of the lord.