William Rosewell - Landholdings

Landholdings

In 1556 Sir Thomas Smith, of Ankerwicke, in the county of Berkshire, sold the Manor and advowson of Yarlington, Somerset to William Rosewell, of Loxton, and William Rosewell, his son and heir of the Middle Temple, London for £1,000. A lease written in 1562 shows that William Rosewell, Solicitor-General, lived at the Yarlington Manor. The Solicitor-General died before his father who then left it to the third generation, William Rosewell of Forde Abbey. After being in the hands of the Rosewells for 36 years the Manor and advowson of Yarlington was sold to Sir Henry Berkeley, of Bruton in 1592 for £2,400.

A deed of 10 November 1563 shows that William Rosewell together with associates, Humphrey Colles (Coles), Henry Portman, and William Hawley (Halley), Esquires, purchased the Manor and advowson of Thurloxton, Somerset. The Manor was sold before his death in 1566.

At the time of his death the Solicitor-General held 'the manors of Ermington and (Carswell/Kerswell), and of the Hundred of Ermington in Devon; the manors of Southbrent, Stapleton, Limington and Alford, in Somerset; the advowsons of the Churches of Limington and Alford; and 300 messuages, 200 tofts, 6 watermills, 2 windmills, 6 dovecotes, 300 gardens, 3000 acres of land, 1000 acres of meadow, 2000 acres of pasture, 200 acres of wood, 3000 acres of furze and heath, and £20 of rent with the appurtenances in Ermington, Carswell, Southbrent, Stapleton, Limington and Alford.’