1636
Item 19
Certificate of wood sales in the park and chase of Somersham co Huntingdon from 1620 to 1636. The profits arising therefrom in the said 17 years was 1203 l 1s 11d


22 December 1637
Petition of Henry Jermyn the same. Divers new improvements in the soke of Somersham co Huntingdon are leased to the petitioner for three lives at 20 l per annum. Prays a grant of the same in fee-farm in socage, reserving the said 20 l per annum.

23 May 1638
Warrant to the Earl of Holland, the Earl of Dorset and others feoffees in trust for the Queens use by assignment from Sir Johnwalter, Sir James Fullerton and Sir Thomas Trevor of their interest in a remainder of an estate of 99 years in the manors of Somersham, fenton, Bluntisham, Colne, Earith, co Huntingdon, to convey the same to Henry Jermyn (son of Sir Thomas Jermyn vice chamberlain of the household) containing in all 1125 acres reserving a rent of 20 l per annum.

1638-39
2nd February 1638
Petition of Henry Jermyn to the King.
His majesty granted to the petitioner certain improved grounds lately made out of the wastes and commons lying within the soke of Somersham, County Huntingdon, in fee farm under the rent of 20 pounds per annum payable to the crown, which improvements he has sold to purchasers who desire for clearing future questions, the same should be freed from all parks forests and chases though it lies not within any known forest of chase.
Note attached: Attorney General Bankes and Sir Charles Harbord to the King. Upon divers records we find that the Bishop of Ely had a free chase within the soke of Somersham and we conceive that the lands mentioned in the petition do lye within the bounds of the forest of Huntingdon mentioned in those records. But we do not find any dissaforestation of that forest or chase although the said soke and chase came to the crown in the time of the late Queen Elizabeth. The said forest has not been in use for a long time past. 8th March 1638.

31 March 1639
Grant in fee-farm to Sir John Cotton and Richard Holford at the nomination of Henry Jermyn of certain new improved grounds within the soke of Somersham co Huntingdon at the yearly rate of 20 l and a confirmation of the said lands formerly made to Sir Thomas Jermyn for 60 years as also of another lease for the remainder of 99 years of the said lands granted to Sir Peter Osborn and Robert Dixon both which were granted from her Majesty.

22 April 1641
There was besides a long debate in the Queens Council concerning the ascertaining of the copyhold fines in all the manors of her Majesties Jointure at the first proposal whereof you were present……..
I presented them with a bill of fees delivered me by the Clerk of the parliament for passing the Queen’s Jointure in the highest house and Sir Thomas Hatton, for whom I also got an order from them concerning the improvement at Somersham spake in their behalf as he promised me he would
Nathaniel Tomkyns to Sir John Lambe



From State Letters and Papers, Domestic Series