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The following page has been produced and provided by David Hunt to whom I am very grateful. The Early Henhams from Saxon to Tudor times Most of the research into the origins of the Henham family is from work published by W L King, over 100 years ago in 18991
The Henham
name is derived from ‘Hean’ meaning
‘High’ and ‘ham’ for ‘settlement
or home.’ They are said to have been of Saxon blood, and seated at Henham in Suffolk,
which is now about 3 miles west of the attractive coastal town of Southwold2.
Henham is spelt in old deeds and charters as Engham, Engeham, Hengham and Edingham.3
It is an uncommon name today, as is evident by the ONS database which shows the following
numbers, for spelling variations of Henham, in England and Wales in 20024. This
includes live births to that date, but does not allow for any deaths from 1998; experience
has shown however, that a more accurate figure is derived by multiplying these numbers by
a factor of 0.93, but as the numbers are so small it is really of little significance in
this case. – Henham
139 (ranking 26873 from the most common [Smith]), Hengham 0, Engham 0, Engeham 60 (45461),
Hennam 6(203157), Edingham 0
At the beginning of the 13th century they held the manor of St Andrew in Hingham, Norfolk, formerly written Hengham and Henham. They remained in possession until about 1303. Following is a photographed copy of the Norfolk Henghams’ pedigree . Click on image to enlarge
After about 1303, this family became scattered throughout East Anglia, London, and possibly Kent, but a Kentish branch was already established in the Romney Marsh area by the time of King John. Henhams in London,
Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex The following are noted as Testators
among the Wills of the Court of Hustings: 1278 -Geoffrey
de Henham (Roll 10,11) Property in Smithfield, parish of St
Edmunds without Newgate, and Colmanchirche. ‘Wife Christina’ ‘Son John’
‘My son Geoffrey’ Isabella my youngest daughter’ Leaves his house in Candlewick Strate to
Matilda his kinswoman, and fifty marks to Julianna de Knapton and Robert his son. Property to be sold- ‘In
ancient days, Norfolk, a Henham knew, Of whom Sir Ralph, to London’s City came, With
some few kin, if Walter Rye says true, The wills were theirs the “Court of Hustings”
claim. His arms and tomb we may in Dugdale see, And
while in Palestine King Edward tarried,
He
held the reigns of England’s Sovereignity’6 ‘…Other essays review the contribution made to legal literature by Ralph de Hengham, the best known royal judge of the reign of Edward I, …’
Still another indication of the growing
influence of the profession is given by the impeachment of all the judges before
Parliament in the year 1289. Some of the judges impeached bore honoured names in the profession. Ralph
de Hengham, Chief Justice of the King’s
Bench, upon trivial charges was fined in a small sum, dismissed from office, and not
reinstated until ten years had passed.’ From the Book of Prisoners at The Tower of
London: - ‘1289 Ralph de Hengham for Corruption, Deprived of Office, fined then
released.’
1302 Dispute between Ralph de Hengham canon of church of St Mary, Warwick, and William de Apperley (dean c1296/7) re advowson of the church of Budbrooke.’ 1309 -Agnes
de Hengham, widow of Robert de Hengham and
previously of Roger de Lauver (Cordwainer) (Roll 40,21) Leaves property in Windagain Lane,
parish of St Sepulchre’s without Newgate, to Walter de Chepstede and Cecilia his
wife, her daughter, with remainder to John de Carlisle, son of said Cecilia 1368 -Edmund de Hengham, clerk (Roll 97, 25) Mentions Robert his brother, also John
de Hardingham jun., his cousin, and Peter de Wareysonn, and makes bequests to All Hallows
de Stanyngchirche. [N.B John de Hardingham in his will, same
Court 1352, mentions Master Edmund de Hengham his nephew; the relationship may be
accounted for by the two families coming from adjoining parishes in Norfolk – see map
above] 1374 -Robert
de Hengham, mercer, and his wife Joan complained of their intrusion concerning a
tenement in this parish. De Hengham complained again in 1387 [From: 'St. Mary le Bow 104/21-2', Historical gazetteer of London
before the Great Fire: Cheapside; parishes of All Hallows Honey Lane, St Martin Pomary, St
Mary le Bow, St Mary Colechurch and St Pancras Soper Lane] Was he Edmund’s brother referred to above? Andrew
de Hengham -24 Edward I (1295) William
de Hengham -25 Edward I (1296) Richard
de Hengham -temp Henry VIII (1509-1547) William de Engham -17
John (1216) –mentions him as Constable of
Framlingham Castle, Suffolk. William
de Hengham -9 Henry III (1224) [Four references] Ralph
de Hengham -temp Edward I (1272-1307) Ralph
de Hengham -8 Edward II (1308) & 10 Edward II (1310) In the Hundred Rolls occur the names:-
Andrew,
Giles, Jordan, Richard, Ralph, Walter, Jeffrey, William and Philip Hengham.
1314 -Simon
de Hengham – held the manor of Robtofts in
Bumstede and Stoke, co. Essex, held of Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford.
[Note: Although Steeple and Hellions
Bumpstead are in north Essex, Stoke-by-Clare and Clare are over the border in Suffolk. For
further reading on the history of the Clare Lordship during this period visit the Clare
Suffolk website7] [The aforesaid John and a Richard Henham
are also mentioned in relation to repairs of Eltham Palace, and appear to have been
contractors, carpenters, and builders.] From London Metropolitan Archives, Bridge
House Estates, Deed Portfolio CLA/007/EM/02 1446 -Grant by Richard Henham -of
Estgrenewiche and Margery his wife, daughter of Thomas Fox. [The date suggests that it is probable he
is either, the same Richard mentioned immediately above or, a close relative.] From: 'Roll A 27: (i) 1383-85, Calendar of the plea and memoranda
rolls of the city of London: volume 3: John Henham, Armourer is mentioned8. 5 Nov. 1384 -John
Raulyn, John Wylde, Richard Kenyngton, Gerard Furbour, John Albon and Nicholas Doby,
armourers, were mainprised by William Thornhull, William Trippelowe, John Shirewode, John
Whyte, John Henham, John Herman, Michael
Dundalk and John Grove, armourers, under penalty of £200, to fulfil the condition set
forth in the bail of Roger Mordon. [Note:
MAINPRISE - Engl. law. The taking a man into friendly custody, who might
otherwise be committed to prison, upon security given for his appearance at a time and
place assigned. Mainprise differs from bail in this, that a man's mainpernors are barely
his sureties, and cannot imprison him themselves to secure his appearance, as his bail
may, who are looked upon as his jailers, to whose custody he is committed9] 1506 -Margaret Henham late the wife of Thomas
Henham. [Will dated 15th
April 1505 and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury by William Green and Robert
Cole] Proposes to journey to Calais, where
should she die, to be buried where her husband now lies buried, but should she die in
England, then to be buried before the alter of St Anne in the Parish Church of Allhalowen, Barkynge, of London. To her husband’s
brother’s wife 40s. Mentions Margaret
Welbeck her daughter, and leaves her jewelry and a ring of gold, etc .Agnes Glover to have
her bedding etc. Executors
– William Green, merchant haberdasher, and Cousin Robert Cole of Coleman Street. Prays Ex’ors to
remember the children of Elizabeth Mynes. 1551 -John Henham, Citizen and Clothworker, of London. [Will proved in the prerogative Court of Canterbury
6th July 1551] Desires to be buried in Bow
Churchyard. Mentions wife Dorothy. Provides for an exhibition at Cambridge University for
eight years. Mentions Brother Richard and Sister Catherine Tarlton of Calais. Leaves
numerous legacies, especially to Clothworkers’ Company. Ten surmons to be preached
the year of his death etc. Cousin Richard Cooth one of the witnesses. [W
L King noted that Lambert Larking, a Secretary to the Kent Archaeological Society told his
mother (King’s) that one of the Henhams had been employed in the household of Henry
VIII. and the name of Tarlton, which was the name of Henry VIII’s jester, may
possibly imply a relationship with that member of the
monarch’s entourage.] Occurrences of (H)en(g)(e)ham are
paraphrased or directly copied from Hasted under the heading of the various parishes
below. The text enclosed in inverted commas is, in the main, as written in Hasted c1790.
It would seem that both Alanus de Engham, of Hengham in Woodchurch Kent, and Sir Andrew de Hengham of Hingham Norfolk were established in their respective Manors around the time of King John (1199-1216). Hasted above, suggests that Odomer, who settled in Stockbury was ‘probably of kindred’ to the Enghams of Woodchurch. However as the initial ‘H’ was in evidence in his name and Stockbury is some distance from the Wealden/ Romney Marsh part of Kent (the home of the Enghams), the view may be taken that he was more likely to have been a descendant of the Norfolk and London branch of the family. It is, nevertheless, reasonable to deduce because of the rarity of the (H)(E)n(g)(e)ham name and the important status and lifestyles of these individuals that they were related, probably from the Henhams who are said to have settled in the Henham area of East Suffolk in Saxon
It is of interest to note from Hasted’s account that the Enghams lived in the above mentioned manors in Woodchurch for over 350 years from the reign of King John (1199-1216) to Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). The Plurenden manor was sold to the Twysden family and then eventually to Children of Tunbridge, both these families later had associations with the Plane and Henham families of East Peckham; one may speculate, again because of the rarity of the Henham and Engham names, that the spelling of a branch of Enghams may have changed through Hennam to Henham in the Great Chart area during the early seventeenth century. It is known from parish records of this period that Henham was originally written as Hennam. Further extracts from Hasted relating to Twysden and Engham in Great Chart follows Great Chart12 ‘Great Chart is a very healthy
situation, lying partly on the lower or southern ridge of hills, usually called the
Quarry-hills, which cross this parish, having the village and church on the summit of
them, and the court-lodge near them. The inhabitants have a tradition here, that Great
Chart was once a more considerable place than present (about 1790), having had a great street of
houses on the east side, in the road which goes up by Singleton to the top of the hill,
where there have been many houses in the memory of man. The ruins of the market-house were
to be seen in the field where the fair is now kept, over against the church, which
probably was but a kind of chapel, when this town was burnt down by the Danes, and then
Ashford began to rise and grow out of the ruins of it.’ ‘The parish does not extend more
than one hundred rods from Godington, before it is joined by that of Ashford. The fair is
held here on April 5th, being a great one for stock, both bullocks and sheep.
It ought not to be forgotten in regard to the healthiness of this place, that the ages of
Captain Nicholas Toke, who died in 1680, aged 93, and of his four predecessors, successive
owners of Godington, made up 430 years; and those of the family of Engham, of Singleton,
in this parish, each the others heir there, made up 329 years.’
Heralds Visitation to Kent 161916
The Henham Coat of Arms is from a
photocopy held by Margaret Lawrence. The inset picture is my interpretation of the
description of the ‘Arms’ recorded by the Heralds in their visitation of 1619. Moses
Engham was a son of Robert and Aveline Engham, he
married Avice Henhurst, daughter of Alleyn Henhurst Ruckinge13 Bardinden
or Barbodindenne was a manor in the parish of Rucking. A John Belknap alienated to Engham
around 1422. It remained in the possession of the family until the reign of Henry VIII
(1509-1547) when it was sold to Sir Matthew Browne of
Beechworth castle. Pin-Pointing the Kentish Ancestors
The pale blue and white pins on this modern day map of SE Kent above, show the geographical positions of the Manors of Singleton (Great Chart), Plerynden (Plurenden –name not shown), Hengham (Woodchurch), Parkers (Warehorne), and Bardinden (Ruckinge) referred to in the text. The maps following show those at Goodnestone and Stockbury. Chronological Summary of the Families in Kent Hengham Stockbury
c1380 to c1450
Woodchurch Hengham c1210
to c1545
Plurenden c1400-1430
to 1558-1603 (Elizabeth I) Great Chart
Singleton
c1440 to c1603-1610 Rucklinge
Bardinden c1425 to
1509-1547 (Henry VIII) Warehorne
Parkers
1509-1547
(Henry VIII) to 1558-1603(Elizabeth I) Goodneston
The Manor
c1510 to c1710 Hasted
in a footnote to his account of the Enghams in Goodnestone states (c 1790):- “There
are several of the descendants of this family now residing in Canterbury in very inferior
occupations.”
1616 –John Hennam of Morston near
Sittingbourne. Administration granted to Joan Thurston alias Hennam, the sister of deceased, 26 June
1616, of the goods of the latter.
1652 –Gregory Henham of Great Chart –
See later history [DBH Note: Gregory Henham
was my 8 times Great Grandfather, his father Grygory Hennam (as written in Parish records)
is the starting generation for the chronological record of my family’s pedigree to
the marriage of Mary Henham with William Hunt in 1768.] King, however also makes the
point that ‘although crests were used much later than coat armour, the Engham crest
was a fire ball held in two lions’ jambs, whereas the Hengham crest was an orb in
splendour among the clouds’-the crest found in the garden of Grove House East
Peckham(see later), a photograph of which is reproduced and used as a decoration on the
coat of arms displayed on the cover page, is part of the
Engham crest, which suggests that the Kentish Henhams are descendants of the
Enghams. It should be noted that coats of arms and family crests are of specific families
and not of a common name of family, so it is reasonable that families of the same
root name but from different geographical areas were granted different coats of armour and
crests during their separate development through the middle ages; the Hengham ‘orb’
may well have derived from the Norfolk/London Henghams (Henhams), whereas the lions’
fireball emanated from the Kentish Enghams (Henhams) I have not been able as yet,
to substantiate King’s hypothesis:-“They
are said to have been of Saxon origin, and seated in pre-Norman times at Henham in Suffolk”
This, however, is very possible, as it would appear that the Norfolk and Kent branches
of the family were in their respective Counties certainly by about the year 1200. If as
the evidence suggests, the families covered in this account are of a common source, then
it would be quite feasible that the original ‘Henhams, were seated at Henham in Saxon
Suffolk before the Norman Conquest.
David Hunt 2005
References 1 Centre for Kentish Studies –Genealogical
Record of the Families of King and Henham 1899 W L King 2 Henham Park Suffolk website 3 Hasted’s Historical and
Topographical survey of Kent Vol vii, p253 also ref 1 4 Taliesin-Arlein ONS Names list www.taliesin-arlein.net/names/ 5 Hingham Norfolk website 6 A Rhyming pedigree of Henham, co Kent,
W L King –privately held by Margaret Lawrence (Photographed copy David Hunt) 7 Clare Suffolk website –www.clare-uk.com/about/short_history/ 8 www.british-history.ac.uk 9 Mainprise –www.lectlaw.com 10 Hasted Vol v, p 578-579 11 ibed
Vol vii, p 233-235 12 ibed Vol vii, p 497-502 13 ibed
Vol viii, p 356 14 ibed
Vol viii, p 371 15 ibed
Vol ix, p 241-243 16 www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/england/kent/visitation/index.html 17 Archaeologia Cantiana Vol 28(1909)
–Pedigree of the of Family de Fynes – W L King
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