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Seaford, a cinque-port, borough, and parish (formerly a market town), locally in the hundred of Flexborough, rape of Pevensey, county of Sussex, adjacent to the parish of East Blatchington, 1.38 miles southeast of Bishopstone, 2.63 miles southeast of Denton, 8 miles southeast of Lewes, 14 miles southwest of Hooe, 15 miles southeast of Hangleton, and about 19 miles southeast of Old Shoreham,
Coombes and Lancing. Lewis' 1840 Topographical Dictionary adds that Seaford was "... formerly a considerable town, and had four churches and chapels, until burnt by the enemy; but it has greatly declined, being only resorted to for sea-bathing: it is defended by a small fort... The river Ouse, the estuary of which formerly constituted its harbour, now empties itself into the sea at Newhaven, about three miles westward... Seaford was originally a member of the port of Hastings, but was made a port of itself by charter of Henry VIII [1509-1547], who incorporated the inhabitants, under the style of "the bailiffs, jurats, and commonalty of the town, parish, and borough of Seaford..."the right of election was formerly exercised by the freemen only, in number about five; but, by a decision of the House of Commons in 1792, it is vested in the inhabitant housekeepers paying scot and lot: the bailiff is the returning officer. The living is a discharged vicarage, with that of Sutton annexed, in the archdeaconry of Lewes, and diocese of Chichester... and in the alternate patronage of the Prebendaries of Seaford and Sutton in the Cathedral Church of Chichester... Seaford gives title of baron to the family of ELLIS, conferred on the present lord by patent, dated July 15th, 1826."
10 EDWARD II. [ca 1317] Chancery: Inquisitions Ad Quod Damnum, Henry III to Richard III [28 Oct 1216 - 22 Aug 1485]. C 143/123/14. "Nigel de COUMBES to settle a messuage in Sutton by
Seaford [Sussex] on himself for life, with remainder to John de COUMBES and the heirs of his body, similar remainders to
Joan and Alice de COUMBES, remainder to the heirs of the grantor, who retains the manor of A... [incomplete entry]
Nigel de COUMBES or de COMBES was deceased by Aug-Sep 1336 when a Sussex post-mortem inquisition was held in which it was determined that Nigel held three tracts, two of them in or near Seaford (Sutton and Excete) and the third, Applesham, in the parish of Coumbes (Coombes).
Extracted and transcribed by Combs Researchers Denise Mortorff and Joe Kendalll from "Great Britain. CALENDAR OF INQUISITIONS POST MORTEM," 1906 by His Majesties Stationery Office, London." Dates are estimates by Joe and provided in brackets [ ] after the King's name:
7 August 9 Edward III - 15 September, 9 Edward III. [1336] Sussex Inq. Writ. Nigel de COUMBES or DE COMBES. (C. Edw. III. File 43. (9.) (V.7, p.463. No. 680)
Sutton by Seford. A messuage and half a carucate of land
(extent given), held for life of the king in chief, by service
of finding two parts of a light horseman (hobelarii) in the king's
war in Wales, for forty days at his own charges.
Excete by Seford. 9a. pasture, held for life of John de
SEINTCLER, by service of a rose yearly. The reversion of the aforesaid
lands and tenements after the death of the said Nigel,
pertains to Joan the wife of William BONET, aged 26 years and
more, by the grant of William JOLIF.
Appelsham in Coumbes. The manor (extent given) held, to
him and the heirs of his body, of John de MOUBRAY, by service
of two knights' fees; the reversion whereof belongs to Richard
de COUMBES, aged 40 years and more [before 1296], by a fine
levied in the king's court, because the said Nigel died
without heir of his body; and 15a. arable and 11a. marsh, held
for life of John de MOUBRAY, as parcel of the said manor; the
reversion whereof belongs to Joan, daughter of John atte CHAUMBRE,
aged 11 years and more, by a fine levied in the king's court.
