Bitterley's Hide

Bitterley's Hide^[1], variously called Bytterlyssyde, etc., was located in the lordship of Pencomb, Hereford.

• Sometime between 1518-1529, William Wykes, son of William Wykes who supposedly had been seised of this land, sued Robert Whitney of Castleton.^[2]

• About 1554, the descendants of Richard Byterley sued Sir Robert Whitney over the land.^[3] They stated that Richard Byterley had been seased of the land, and when he died, it descended to his son Philippe Byterley. When Philippe died, it descended to his daughters Margaret, wife of Wyllim Rede, and Jane Ketteth. Jane had died and her portion descended to her son John Ketteth. They were suing Sir Robert Whitney, stating that various documents concerning the land had come to his hands. Sir Robert Whitney stated that his grandfather James had been seased of the land, and when he died, it had descended to his father, Robert Whitney, esquire, and then to himself.

• In 1566, Nicholas Whitney, son of Robert Whitney of Castleton, sued Sir Robert Whitney.^[4]

References

1. ^  A "hide" originally referred to the land-holding that supported a family in the early medieval period. The term was later used to define areas of land varying from 60 to 120 old acres. List of medieval land terms on Wikipedia.

2. ^  C 1/593/18

3. ^  C 1/1364/29&30

4. ^  "Whitney v. Whitney," 1566, Hereford, C 3/186/32, Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Pleadings, Series II, Elizabeth I to Interregnum, The National Archives, London.