As with the previous century, there is so much documentation regarding transfer of parcels of land, that unless of particular interest I shall not itemise the various transfers, but merely list here the names of those people known to have been associated with the various farm holdings. In this way I hope that anyone trying to trace their family history may be directed to the relevant documents if they have a name as a starting point. It should, however, be remembered that spelling was not standardised until the nineteenth century, and family names were often spelt in a variety of ways.
Associated with Breakspears in the early part of the century ( possibly even in the previous century, though specific dates are not given,) were William Giles, John Whites, William Okeleis, and Thomas Okeleis. [HALS XI2, memo re landes of Edmond Carpenter.] Edmond Carpenter and his wife took over the copyhold in 1533, and it remained in the Carpenter family until the middle of the following century. [HALS XI2; GORHAM]
Associated with Megdells in the 16th century were the Hawgood family [HALS 1G1 &1G2]. In addition the Byrchmore family were associated with 33 acres of land later associated with Megdells.[1G3]
Associated with the land of Hillend Farm and Stonehall were: the Marston ( or Merston) family1 Associated with the area of land known as Eaversdens (Eversdens, or Evesdons or Everesdonlond), situated between Westwick Row and Westwick Hall and later part of Westwick Hall Farm, were: Richard Doll, William and John Bigge ( or Byg), Thomas Sybley, John Burdeny, Henry Towne, Thomas Crewe, Richard Smythe (or Smyth or Smithe), Edward Sellwyn and Sir Nicholas Bacon. [HALS 1L12 - 1L20]
Associated with Westwick Row Farm were: George Aldene, John Ayleward, John Lasebye (spelt in various ways), his wife Agnes, their son John and grandson Richard, and Thomas Fynch (or Finch).[HALS 1M1- 1M14a]
Associated with land and tenements in and around Westwick Row, but not necessarily the principle farm buildings were: Richard Bune, Henry Gape, Richard & Johanna Lazebye, Richard Mylwards and his wife Margaret, Edward Carpenter, Henry Dolling, William White & his brother George, John Haywards (or Heywards), Henry Robertes (or Roberts), William Dell, Walter Lasebye, Henry Knight, Thomas Knight and his wife Elena, Thomas Dell, William Longe, and Robert Longe. The aforementioned being principally concerned with land connected to what is now known as Westwick Row Farm and land between Westwick Row and the Hemel Hempstead Road. [HALS 1M1-1M14a]
Settlement in Westwick Row can be easily traced from the mid-sixteenth century to the present day, and Jonathan Hunn has done this in his report. [S167 p.190-191] However, although Dr. Hunn's work is detailed I feel it does not show the complete picture, as he has based his findings on documents concerned with the Gorhambury estate, omitting other documentation. For example, Dr. Hunn's maps do not appear to include the dwelling we now call Westwick Cottage, and yet the Listed Building Schedule dates it to the 14th century. [S189] I have been in correspondence with Dr. Hunn over this matter, and he agrees he need to investigate further. However, Dr. Hunn's general conclusions concerning the overall pattern of settlement in Westwick Row are still valid. He concludes that taken in isolation, the number of actual habitations (though not the number of people who live/lived in them), has remained fairly stable over four centuries. In the sixteenth century Dr. Hunn puts the number of dwellings at 13, though I think there were at least 14 plus the large Tithe barn. (See entry for 1569 for more detailed information.) [S167, p.191; S188; S189]
Associated with Chambersbury during the 16th century were the various incumbents of the parish of Abbots Langley until the dissolution, and William Ibgrave and his family who bought the property after the dissolution.
Northend Cottage, Bedmond Road was built sometime this century. It is now a listed building. [S34]
The schedule for Leverstock Green Farmhouse shows that it may have been built as early as the 16th century. It too is now a listed building. [S34 ]
At some time this century one end of Westwick Row Farm was rebuilt. [S31 p.183] [S32 ]
N.B. Omission from the above list of properties does not necessarily imply that a particular property either did not exist or was undocumented, merely that at the moment I have not obtained any further information. From the sixteenth century onwards increasingly detailed and surviving documentation has meant that many of the old field names relating to the area can be traced. In fact there is so much documented evidence regarding field names that it can get rather confusing, and in any case is not necessarily strictly relevant to the general reader, though of importance when trying to establish whether or not a document is relevant to the history of Leverstock Green. Dr. Jonathan Hunn in his report BAR 236, has given a very lengthy and detailed appendix of many of the known field names in the six parishes he studied. Should the reader be interested in tracing certain fields by their names, I would recommend that as a useful starting point. [S167, p. 267-317]
