The People of Adwick
We have already discussed the possibility of Adwick’s first settlers at Adwick in the Neolithic age onwards, but what about the individuals throughout Adwick’s history.?
There are documents from the twelfth century that deal with the land deeds, these are good primary source material that can give information about the parish’s inhabitants. There is also a comprehensive list of all the Rectors, priests vicars and chaplains that were incumbent to Adwick. Most of these have left written documentation indicating who was who, who owned what and who did what?.
The earliest records found are vague but tell us some important information from that time.
The following is an extract from a grant given to William de Langthwaite from William de Hangthwaite, granting a through road via Hagthwaite to Bentley, so they can go to the wapentake(court)
Grant; William de Hachneweit to William de langetweit, a way through the middle of the grantor’s land of Hacheweit between Langetweit and Tilts and a bridge over the river which flows from Awic to benetles, to the use of him and his men going on foot and on horse and pulling wagons. For the service of attending the Wapentake for the grantor’s pleas.
Witnesses: Rener Flandrensi, Thomas de Lang, Hugh Gernu, Robert son of Gerbod, William Insula, Ralph de Awic, Hugh, the kings servant(minister Regis), Gervase de Barnebi, Richard and William de Suis and Hugh de Scaebi.
(13th C)
From the next short extract we have some indication to other inhabitants of Adwick. This extract is a deed to a gift given to Hugh de Lisons by William de Lisons:
Deed of gift: William de Lisons to Hugh de Lisons; Witnesses William de Awic, Michael de Awic, Ralph de Awic, William de Tumbleholme, Henry de Scanceby, Alan de Awic and Otto de Awic.
Given at Lincoln 8 April 1260
Society then was very much a feudal society. This meant that, in medieval England, England was divided up into feudal estates. These divisions were based on land holding and the obligation to fight for your lord. They were essentially man-made divisions for both King and Nobles had the power to promote someone of low estate to a higher position. Each estate had its part to play in the life of the nation. The nobility were ordained to defend all, the clergy to pray for all and the commons to provide food for all. In Kurt Mayer’s book Class and Classless society. 1955. Mayer writes “ at the top stands the Royal family and a land owning /holding, hereditary military aristocracy closely followed by an allied priesthood, ranking on a par with the secular mobility, below them are merchants and craftsmen, while free peasants and unfree serfs form the broad bottom strata.
Estates divided up the power in society and restricted each individual to change his status, because position , power and status were given at birth , we would say they were ascribed. Very few people were able to improve themselves by their own efforts. Only the most exceptional achieved the distinction of ennoblement by the King. People had to be satisfied with their position in society. This is also the reason why only the land owners and clergy are mentioned in these early documents and the peasants and merchants are not.
Except for those extracts there is not much data of the inhabitants of Adwick at that time. The first proper data starts in 1547, this is when Adwick first started the Parish Register . To list all the details would be incredibly boring so here are a few firsts. The first recorded wedding was in 1548, in 1557 there were 47 recorded deaths and in 1601 pounds shillings and pence comes to Adwick. The first name that comes to mind when Hampole or Adwick is mentioned is that of Richard Rolle the Hermit of Hampole.
