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Forthræd 11

Name

Summary

Forthræd 11 was a small landowner in north Somerset, with just under 1 hide worth around 10s.

Profile

Hallatrow, just below the northern face of the Mendip Hills in north Somerset, was said in GDB to be held by four thegns. Exon (151a2) adds that they held jointly (pariter) and indicates that the four were ‘a certain woman’ (quaedam femina) with 2 hides, Scirweald with 1½ hides, Alweard with ½ hide, and Forthræd with 3½ virgates. The sense in which they held ‘jointly’ is unclear, and in any case, a second entry in Exon (522b3) says something slightly different, that 3 hides 3½ virgates [an error for 2 hides 3½ virgates] held jointly by three thegns had been added since the Conquest to the unnamed woman’s 2 hides.

The value ascribed here to Forthræd’s share of Hallatrow is based on dividing GDB’s valuation of 60s. (for 1086 and when acquired) proportionately among the four holders according to their hidages; the second Exon entry gives two different and smaller values for 1086 (23s.) and when acquired (34s. 6d.), but it is not clear whether they were for the woman’s share or the three thegns’.