_Derivation of "Wellesley"_ (Vol. viii., p. 173.).--In reply to J. M., I
think the following particulars I may not be uninteresting to him. There
is good reason to believe that the name of Wellesley was derived from an
ancient manor about one mile south of Wells, called Wellesleigh, which
once, belonged to the Bishops of Bath and Wells. It is certain that a
family called "De Wellsleigh" lived, and held considerable lands in this
manor at a very remote period. In 1253, a Philip de Wellsleigh, and in
1349 another of the same name, are recorded as holding part of the manor
of the Bishops of Bath and Wells. These lands, with the serjeanty and
office of bailiff and "cryer of the hundred," passed into the family of
the Hills of Spaxton, A.D. 1435. In 7 Henry VII., John Stourton held half
a knight's fee in this manor: "formerly held by William de Wellsleigh."
I have an original deed in my possession dated 26th Edward I., being a
feoffment or grant of lands in Dinder (an adjoining parish) by William Le
Fleming, "Dn̄s de Dynder," in which "Thomas de Welesleȝe" and "Robert de
Welesleȝe" (so the name is spelt) are, among others, named as witnesses.
This manor was held by the Bishops of Bath and Wells until the time of
Ralph de Salopia (succeeded A.D. 1329, died A.D. 1363), who gave it to
the vicars choral of the cathedral, by who it has been held down to the
last year (1852), when they sold the fee of it to Robert Charles Tudway,
Esq., M.P. for Wells.