The research conducted by Thoroton was first published in 1677 titled The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire. That pioneering work led his acclaim as Nottinghamshires first historian, recognised in 1897 when followers formed The Thoroton society.
Thoroton's account was fully republished with updates given 1790 by Throsby in three Volumes, now found entirely transcribed by British Library Online. This extract from Vol2 offered well accepted earliest understandings until eventually offering best basis to invite more localised historian interest.
THIS Sutune with Hochenale Houthweit, and Skegeby were Berues of the Sok of Maunsfeild, which was King Edward the Confessours Land, and afterwards King William the Conquerours.
(Regist. de Thurg. p.67) Gerard, son of Walter de Sutton, gave to God and the Church of St. Peter at Thurgarton, two bovats of Land with his mother when she took the habit of Religion, and the Church of the same Town, his brother Robert being converted to religon or dead. Ranulph the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire confirmed it for the soul of his Lord King Henry [2].
(Derb. Fin. in diversis Com. Cap.) Jordan de Snitterton (Darbish) had some yearly Rents by the Assignation of William de Ferrariis, sometime Earl of Darby, whereof there was an arrear which Robert de Marcham, and Sarra his wife, 42 H. 3, by Fine released to Robert, son of Harvey, viz. 40s. and so did Gerard de Sutton, as in right of Alice, sometimes his wife, which Sarrah and Alice were daughters and heirs of the said Jordan.
(Test. de Nev.) Sutton in Ashfield and Hucknall were a whole Villa, and not Gildable, being of the ancient Demesne of the Crown, except the fourth part which Jordan of the same held of the King with the Advowson of the Church.
The Jury in the 16th year of Edward I found that Jordan de Sutton held in Darbishire, something in Snitterton of his own, in Matloc Iboll Peuerwich of the Inheritance of Amicia his wife: in this Sutton he held one mess. and twelve bovats of Land, and two bovats in Hothweit, for which he paid 14s, per annum to the King, and did Homage and Service and Suit to Maunsfeild Court from three weeks to three weeks, and Suit in the Kings Army in Wales for forty days with one man, horse, haubergeon, cap of iron, lance and sword; he held likewise ten acres where the Mill used to be set in Sutton Sthawe; he had 24s. Rent in Sutton on Sore, and Bonington, and 60s. 6d. of the heirs of Sir Hugh de Capella in Kirketon and Screveton, as in those places is said. John his son and heir was then above seventeen years of age.
About (83rd Edward I) John de Sutton died seised of the Mannor, and the third part of Snitterton, leaving John his son and heir sixteen years old and more. John de Sutton, had licence to alienate two parts of the Mannor of Sutton upon Ashefeild to John his son, and Amicia his wife.
(Esc. 6 E. 3, n. 9.) The Jury, 6 E. 3, found it no less if the King granted to John de Sutton of Ashefeld, Clerk, that he might give ten acres and an half of waste in Sutton, held of the King by 5s. 3d. yearly to the Exchequer, to Robert de Henoure of Sutton, and his heirs males; remainder to Alianor, daughter to the said Robert and hers; remainder to Beautrix her sister, and hers; remainder to John, son of John de Sutton, and Avicia his wife, and the heirs males of the body of the said Avicia, for want whereof to revert to the said John de Sutton, and his heirs.
(Esc. 15 E. 2, n. 8.) Thomas de Mareslee purchased one mess. one bovat, and one acre of Land, half an acre of meadow, with the appurtenances in Sutton in Ashfeild of Roger de Somervile, who bought them of John de Sutton. By a Fine, 20 E. 3, (fn. 10) they were settled on Tho. de Merseley, and Agnes his wife, during their lives; and afterwards on John de Montford, and Maud his wife, and their heirs.
(Lib. 2, Seed. fol. 263 - 264.) Roger Greenehaugh, Esquire, of Teversholt died 23 Jan. 5 Eliz. seised of this Mannor; Elizabeth, the wife of Francis Molyneux, and Anne, the wife of Gervase Nevill, Esquire, daughters and co-heirs of Thomas Greenehalgh, Esquire, son and heir of the said Roger, being then his heirs.
There was a Recovery, 14 Eliz. wherein Robert Rockley, Thomas Draxe, and Henry Nevile, Esquire, claimed against Gervase Nevile, Esquire, and Anne his wife, the Mannor of Sutton in Ashfeild, and ten mess. ten cottages, twenty gardens, ten orchards, five hundred acres of Land, two hundred of meadow, four hundred of pasture, twenty of wood, and twenty of furz and heath, with the appurtenances in Sutton, Ashefeild, Claworth, Bekingham, Hothewayt, and Selleston, and likewise the Mannor of Rowthorne in Darbyshire.
And another Recovery, 16 Eliz. wherein Nicholas Hardwick, and Richard Eckingfeild claimed against James Hardwick, Esquire, these Lands in larger particulars, who called to warrant Gervase Nevyle, and Anne his wife. This Mannor remains the Inheritance of the Right Honourable William Earl of Devonshire, who is son of Earl William, son of Earl William, son of Elizabeth Countess of Shrowsbury, sister of James Hardwick, Esq.
In 1612, the owners of Sutton in Ashefeild are set down, William Lord Cavendish, Edward Langford, Thomas Clark, William Lyndley of Skegby, Gent. and Edward Fitz-Randolph, Gent.
(Lib. Forest. de Shirewood.) The Forest Book mentions many Essarts and Inclosures made in Fullwood, an old decayed wood, now only a great common without wood, to belong to Hucknall Howthwayte.
At the Assises at Notts. John, son of Hugh Cole, recovered his seisin of one mess. one carucat of Land, and 20s. Rent in Hothewayts Hokenale, and William, son of John Cole, was amerced.
(Regist. de Thurg.) In the year 1328, the Church of Sutton on Ashefeld yielded twenty marks yearly Rent to the Priory of Thurgarton, and there was then half a carucat, which then also was a mark Rent, and the Tyth of the Watermill was then 5s and John Fraunceyes paid for a tost 2s which made the whole 14l 7s per annum.