Sir Galfredus de Say held it [the manor of
Bocstede] in 1352, and it continued in his family for thirty years, when
John de Say died seized of this manor in his minority, leaving it to
Elizabeth, his sister and heiress. It continued in the de Say family down to 1397 when
Sir J. de Clynton [who had married
Idonea de Say] held the manor.
William Heron [who had married
Elizabeth de Say] was his successor (1403), but the de Clyntons again held it (1432).
Then it passed to the Lewknors, by whom it was sold in 1523 to the Walleys.
Extract from
Lower's History of SussexMr. Chapman; in an excellent article, “The Parochial History of Hamsey,” “Sussex Arch. Coll.,” vol. xvii., has given a full account of' the successive lords of this place. The De Says, who, soon after the Conquest, built a Castle here upon a little peninsula formed by a sudden winding of the Ouse, but of which very slight traces remain, continued in possession till 1383, when John de Say left a sister and heiress Elizabeth, aged 16. She married first Sir John de Falvesley, who fought the French at the little battle of Rottingdean, and was there taken prisoner. He died without issue in 1392, and was buried at Lewes Priory. His widow re-married Sir William Heron, who also died without issue. Both the husbands of Elizabeth were summoned to Parliament as Barons. The next lord of Hamsey was Sir William de Clynton, son of John de Clynton and Idonea de Say, who was summoned to Parliament as Lord de Clynton and Saye, and died in 1432. His son John, who had a parliamentary summons from 1450 to 1460, was a conspicuous person in his time. He went into the war against France with Richard, Duke of York, and being taken prisoner the large sum of 6,000 marks was demanded for his ransom. Henry VI., in aid of his redemption, granted him a license to employ agents to buy 600 sacks of wool and 600 pieces of woollen cloth. He afterwards revolted against the king, joined the cause of Edward, came back with him to England, landed at Ravenspur, and died bravely fighting for him at the battle of Barnet, in 1471. He was succeeded by John, Lord Clinton and Saye, who, for £200, sold his manor of Hammes et Heynstrete (now a hamlet called Hewin Street) to Sir Henry Willoughby.
