Catalogue description WISBECH (CAMBS.)

Wisbech was the family's principal holding in Cambridgeshire. Stephen de Segrave acquired 300 a. of land in the marsh of Wisbech from Thornholm Priory, confirmed by Henry III in 1233, and he was granted more land there by Hugh de Northwold, bishop of Ely 1229-41, and the cathedral priory. [BL Harl. MS 4748, f. 23d., grants by Hugh bishop of Ely and the priory, and a bond of Reginald de Sherwind to Stephen for a rent of £17 13s. 4d.] The rent of £17 13s. 4d. was established before Stephen's death and 2 carucates of land there were held by his widow Ida in dower. [BL Harl. MS 4748, f. 23d..] Geoffrey de Segrave had died without issue by Jan. 1314 when John settled his holding in Wisbech on his son Stephen and his wife Alice (above, BCM/D/5/1/8 [GC 483]), but £17 rent from Wisbech and the messuage in Chatteris were recorded as members of Fenstanton (Hunts.) and held by John at his death in 1325. The Wisbech rent was held for life by Joan la English and the Chatteris rent by John's brother Stephen by Dec. 1343, when the reversion of both was included in the great settlement: above, BCM/D/5/1/15 [GC 3086]. At John's death in 1353 they were combined as a rent of £18 in Wisbech and Chatteris, held in jointure with Margaret. The court rolls of Chatteris from 1412 to 1428 show the rent in the Mowbrays' hands; it may have passed as belonging to Fenstanton.