Some Bolles References Not Explained by the Bolles of Swineshead Family Tree

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The long accepted Bolles of Swineshead Family Tree is largely based on the Bolles of Haugh Family Tree as recorded by the Heralds Office during their visitations of Lincolnshire in 1563-64, 1592 and 1634.  Those findings were first published in 1881 ref.

The Herald's tree only documented the line of descent of the senior line of the Bolles of Swineshead.  As the earliest reference for a Bolle in this area goes back to 1202 there should have been several Bolle cousins and second cousins around Swineshead parish by the 1300's that are yet undocumented.  In fact there are many references for Bolles in this same area who are not in this main line.  Unfortunately I haven't found enough detail to fit them in yet but here they are:

Roger Bolle and John Bolle attended the Assize Court held in Lincoln in 1202 with John's sons Thomas, Robert and John Jr. (referred to as John the Carpenter or John Carpenter in the Roll), who were stated to be residents of the Kirton Wapentake (which included Swineshead, Bicker, Wigtoft, Surfleet, Algarkirk, Donington, Fosdyke, Quadring & Gosberton)  ref. 

 

Godfrey Bolle of Swineshead b. ca. 1260 (served on juries in the Lincolnshire Assizes from 1288 to 1316; sometime between 1272 and 1307 he held land at Hoffleet near a Robert Bolle and Robert's sister Lucy Bolle; in 1316 he held land in Wigtoft parish (Bolle Hall was at Hoffleet just north of Wigtoft))

 

Godfrey’s  regular presence on these juries plus his landholding in the same area as the future site of Bolle Hall would indicate he was at a higher level of the Bolle family structure if not the head of the family.  See The Roots of the Bolles of Swineshead

 

 

Godfrey Bolle of Swineshead is in jury lists for the Lincolnshire Assizes from 1288 to 1316; the 1316 list states he held a tenement at Wigtoft ref.

 

Robert Bolle (on land adjacent to Godfrey Bolle in ref 6; won a suit against Robert de Pollercroft in 1279 which resulted in Pollercroft’s land at Algarkirke being seized by the king ref 7)

 

 

 

In 1314 John Bolle and William Bolle, both of Swineshead, were witnesses on a land grant ref.

 

Around 1320 John the carpenter, son of Thomas Bolle of Algakirke, granted some land to the St Marys Swineshead church  ref.  At about that same time a John Bolle, possibly the same person, held a sea-marsh near Foscedyke (Fosdike). ref.

 

From 1324 to 1326 William Bolle of Swineshead was one of four men appointed to a measurement standards commission which was responsible for checking the measures used by the wine, ale and corn merchants throughout Lincolnshire. ref.  The appointment of commissioners for each county was an important initiative by the King, at Parliament's request, to bring more law and order to the country.  While the appointment came from the King, the people appointed were probably recommended to him by each county's nobility.  In this case, William was probably recommended by a local nobleman whom he held land from, John de Holland.

 

 

 

 

The Hundred Roll of 1274 refers to a John Bolle in a position of some authority (he had ordered the hanging of two thieves) in Kirton wapentake which area included the site of Bolle Hall.   It also refers to a Thomas Bolle and an Alan Bolle in an inquisition held in Elloe Wapentake, just south of Kirton wapentake, which involved land near Wigtoft just southeast of Bolle Hall.  Alan Bolle was accused of abuse of his office as a royal sub-bailiff.  Possibly he was a sub-bailiff to John Bolle as the bailiff.  ref.

 

John son of Thomas Bolle and others were charged before the assizes with illegally disseizing Robert FitzLambert (Robert son of Lambert) of his property at Algarkirke in 1280. Ref. 18

Robert de Pollercroft and Robert FitzLambert could be the same person: Robert of Pollercroft son of Lambert; this could be the Pulverton/Pulvertoft family of Algerkirke which Randolph married into later.  Even if that's not the case Robert, Godfrey and John son of Thomas Bolle were neighbouring landholders in Algarkirke.

 

In 1310 an investigation was ordered into a complaint that an Alexander Bole, amongst a list of many others, broke the gates and walls of Adam son of John de Repinghale’s Manor at Repinghale, co. Lincoln (Rippingale is in south Kesteven just west of Gosberton, Pinchbeck and Spalding)) Ref. 19

 

In 1316 an investigation was ordered into a complaint that a Richard Bole and others at Gretford, co. Lincoln took away Richard de Ayremynne’s (the King’s clerk and parson of Gretford) horses, hay and other goods and assaulted his men and servants (Greatford, Lincolnshire south of Spalding, near Market Deeping) Ref. 20

 

 According to the Lay Subsidy of Lincolnshire by 1332 an Adam Bole/Bule held land at South Rauceby and Carlton Scroop, an Alan Bolle held land at Moulton, an Alice Bole held land at Heckington, an Isabel Bolle held land at Algarkirk, a Richard Bole held land at Longtoft, one or more Robert Bole/Bolle held land at Moulton, Ewerby, Ewerby Thorpe and Carlton Scroop, a Simon Bolle held land at Stamford, a Thomas Bole/Bolle held land at Swineshead, Ewerby, Ewerby Thorpe and at Howell, a William Bole/Bolle held land at Spalding, Greatford and at South Rauceby while a John Bolle held land at Swineshead, Moulton, Whaplode and Hough on the Hill.