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Esbern of Chelsfield was named only in a subsidiary list of Kent sokeholders and was probably dead by 1066.
Distribution map of property and lordships associated with this name in DB
List of property and lordships associated with this name in DB
Holder 1066
Shire
Phil. ref.
Vill
Holder 1066 DB Spelling
Holder 1066
Lord 1066
Tenant-in-Chief 1086
1086
subtenant
Fiscal value
1066
value
1086 value
Holder 1066 ID conf.
Show on map
Essex
47,3
Fordham
Esbernus
Esbern Bigga
-
Hugh de Gournai
Geoffrey Talbot
2.00
7.00
7.00
B
Map
Hampshire
69,6
Preston Candover
Sberne
Esbern Bigga
Eadgyth, queen
Cypping, king's thegn
-
2.25
3.60
2.25
D
Map
Hampshire
69,6
Preston Candover
Sberne
Esbern Bigga
Eadgyth, queen
Cypping, king's thegn
Earnwulf 'of Preston Candover'
0.25
0.40
0.25
D
Map
Kent
D17
Esber
Esbern Bigga
-
-
-
0.00
0.00
0.00
A
Map
Kent
C5
Canterbury
Sbern
Esbern Bigga
-
William, king
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
0.00
0.56
0.56
A
Map
Kent
5,37
Keston
Sberne
Esbern Bigga
Edward, king
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
Gilbert, bishop of Lisieux
1.00
3.00
2.00
A
Map
Kent
5,42
Ditton
Sbern
Esbern Bigga
Edward, king
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
Hamon the sheriff
2.00
8.00
8.00
B
Map
Kent
5,57
Birling
Sbern
Esbern Bigga
Edward, king
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
Ralph de Courbépine
12.00
12.00
12.00
A
Map
Kent
5,86
Thurnham
Sbern
Esbern Bigga
Edward, king
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
Ralph de Courbépine
6.00
10.00
12.00
A
Map
Kent
5,87
Fairbourne
Sbern
Esbern Bigga
Edward, king
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
Ralph de Courbépine
2.00
1.50
1.50
A
Map
Kent
5,168
Pivington
Sbern
Esbern Bigga
Edward, king
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
Ralph de Courbépine
2.00
8.00
6.00
A
Map
Kent
9,16
Postling
Sbern
Esbern Bigga
-
Hugh de Montfort
Roger de Candos
5.00
10.00
14.00
A
Map
Surrey
5,22
Fetcham
Biga
Esbern Bigga
Edward, king
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
Richard fitzGilbert
8.50
3.00
3.00
C
Map
Surrey
18,1
Woking
Esbern Bigga
Edward, king
Roger, earl
-
1.00
1.00
0.75
D
Map
Sussex
11,36
Compton
Sbern
Esbern Bigga
Godwine, earl
Roger, earl
Geoffrey the sheriff
10.00
8.00
8.00
D
Map
Warwickshire
4,2
Atherstone-on-Stour
Sberne
Esbern Bigga
-
Odo, bishop of Bayeux
Corbin
4.00
4.00
4.00
E
Map
Total
58.00
80.06
81.31
Lord 1066
Shire
Phil. ref.
Vill
Lord 1066 DB Spelling
Holder 1066
Lord 1066
Tenant-in-Chief 1086
1086
subtenant
Fiscal value
1066
value
1086 value
Lord 1066 ID conf.
Show on map
Kent
7,6
Garrington
Sbern
Eadric of Elham
Esbern Bigga
Scotland, abbot of St Augustine's Canterbury
Ralph de Saint-Wandrille
1.47
4.00
4.00
A
Map
Total
1.47
4.00
4.00
Bibliography
Esbern 5 is named only in the section of the Kent folios which deal with the king’s laws in Kent, among a list of fifteen lay people who enjoyed sake and soke over their lands in the two western lathes of Sutton and Aylesford (Kent D:25). He appears there as Esbern of Chelfield (Esbern de Cillesfelle), but the only entry for Chelsfield gives its TRE holder as Toki (Tochi tenuit de rege E.) (Kent 5:23). The explanation may be that the list dates from some time earlier than 1066: most of those named were holders of estates in west Kent TRE but Esbern of Chelsfield was not alone in not being so named.
The distinct byname, and his probable death before 1066, make it clear that Esbern of Chelsfield was not identical with Esbern Bigga.
Chelsfield, on the North Downs, was a particularly valuable manor, valued at £16 TRE and £25 in 1086, when its tenant paid even more, £35, though it was assessed at only 2 sulungs.
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