Probably Thomas Fayreye.
Reference LL1/52(Luton Archives)
Title Demise: John son of William Bunbury of Estoun, Reginald son of Richard Welyco of Flitton, Edmund son of John Welyams of Soulbury, to John Fayreye of Denehyll.(at least 46 now)
Date 1479
Scope and Content A tenement formerly of John Hermere at Denehyll between John Cook & John Grene, reaching from the highway to the Common Field. Further, of 21 acres one and a half rood of land & meadow; whereof 1 acre lies in East Field towards a croft late of Henry Stepingle & land of Nicholas Olney; half acre in Flete Furlong, next the Prior of Dunstable; 1 acre towards Cranewellus Crofte, next Henry Coton; 2 acres together on Blakelond, next William Page; 1 rood on Brook Furlong next the lord; 1 rood under Pesecroft; 1 acre at Fletefurlong next John Rawlynsone; 1 and a half rood together in Nethur Henxhyll under Ryehegge; 1 rood in the same next the Prior of Dunstable; 1 rood being the headland (forera) of Blakelond; half acre being the headland of Myddelfurlong & of Cranewellecrof Furlong; half acre under Cranewellecrof next Nicholas Olney; 1 acre on Ouere Smaluan next William Sheperde, abutting South on Whytebrede; 5 roods together on Henxhull called the Flete Furlong, next the Prior; 1 acre on Myddellfurlong in Henxhull, next the Prior; 1 acre in West Field next the lord, at the end of Sere Pers Croft; half acre in Newedyche Furlong, next the Prior; half acre at Rugewey next John Lucas; half acre on Thorn Furlong, next late Richard Boynoun; 1 rood in the same next Henry Stepyngle; half acre on Myddel Furlong next William Gulle; 3 roods together at the Shepcote next William Bunbury; half acre at Akeryerde Furlong, next the Piror; half acre at Spanhale next the lord; half acre under Flytwode next the Prior; half acre at Brodelayes next late William Fayreye; half acre in the same next Walter Man; half acre on Henxhull in Myddel Furlong next William Fayreye; half acre in Holewey Furlong, next John Tayllour, abutting on a headland of the Prior; half acre in Hodych next the Prior; 3 rood together in Spanhale next the lord's wood; half acre next Flitwick Wood, next Richard Boynoun, abutting on Spanhale. Also half acre of meadow in Smalvanmede next the Prior; 1 rood on Nethersmalvan next the Prior; 1 rood in the same next John Cranewell. All of which the fathers of the grantors, now deceased, held jointly with John Wheler now deceased, by the feoffment of Thomas Fayreye also deceased (Possible father or brother of William). Witnesses: John Cotun, John Grene, John Cranewell, Thomas Fyndell, William Grene.
Keywords FLITWICK; fields, Flitwick; East End, Flitwick; field names
The following are the earliest records I can find in Bedfordshire with our spellings:
I find a Robert Fayryeye and a Ralph le Fayre in The taxation of 1297 : a translation of the local rolls of assessment for Barford, Biggleswads and Flitt hundreds, and for Bedford, Dunstable, leighton Buzzard and Luton FHL BRITISH Book 942.565 B4b v. 39, pgs. 37, 48. Both are in Biggleswade Hundred. Ralph le Fayre is listed as a 'villien'.
Persons in the village having the lowest status. The status of a villager was decided by two things: the amount of land they tended, and if they were free or non-free (villiens). The more prosperous villagers (with 15-30 acres of land), could still be villiens and owe hard labor to the Lord, usually two or three days a week. Villiens also were not allowed to leave the land or sell livestock without the Lord's permission. Villiens also were under the Manorial law of the Lord, and not under Royal law.
