The Early History of the Lordship of Lucies:

In the 13th century the family of Lucy held the Manor of Gaddesen — or Lucies — in Little Gaddesen, near Berkhamstead in Hertfordshire. This family obtained a large portion of their property on the marriage, in the early part of that century, of Geoffrey de Lucy with Juliana, daughter and co-heir of Ralph de Broc, who lived during the latter part of the 12th century.

Eva de Broc (possibly the same as Edelina), sister of Juliana, party to a fine in 1203-04 dealing with the manor of Little Gaddesen. It is possible that this part of Ralph's possessions was assigned to her, and that when she died unmarried in 1221 it passes to Juliana as her sister and heir.

In the disturbances in the Kingdom during John's reign, Geoffrey de Lucy seems to have forfeited some of his lands in Gaddesen. Geoffrey de Lucy, possibly the grandson of this Geoffrey, died in 1284 seized of the manor of Little Gaddesen, which he held of the Earl of Cornwall — except a wood called Heldewood, which he held of William de Castabrauf.

His son Geoffrey died in 1305, when he held this manor of the rector of Ashridge, who held it by the assignment of the earl of Cornwall. Geoffrey de Lucy, his son, obtained a grant of free warren over this manor in 1332 and died in 1346 seised of the manor, leaving a son and heir Geoffrey, who likewise died seised of a messuage and 102 acres of land in Little Gaddesen in 1400.

He left a son Reginald, age 40, but this property passed to Sir Walter Lucy, who died in 1444 leaving a son Sir William. In 1453 William settled the manor upon himself and Margaret (his wife) and heirs. Sir Wiliam died in 1466 seised of the manor, leaving as his heirs Elizabeth, wife of Roger Corbet, afterwards the wife of John, early of Worcester, daughter and heir of Eleanor, one of his sisters, and William Vaux, son of Maud, his other sister.

William Vaux was attained for high treason by Act of Parliament in 1461. Roger Corbet and Elizabeth had license in 1466 to enter upon a moiety of the possessions of William Lucy in right of Elizabeth. Afterwards Elizabeth married Sir William Stanley and died in 1498 seised of this manor, leaving her grandson, Robert Corbet, son of her son Richard Corbet, her heir.

After the reversal of the attainder of William Vaux in favour of his son Sir Nicholas in the time of Henry VII, he seems to have obtained a restortion of this manor, and died seised of it in 1523, leaving Thomas as his son and heir.                                                                             >>> more >>>