HARVEY'S MANOR in Hail Weston was held in the 16th century of Lord Ferrers of Chartley and Robert Bulkeley, the lords of the two parts of Hail Weston manor. In 1521–2, Sir George Harvey, kt., died seised of Harvey's manor and left it by will to Gerard, son of Margaret Smarte. No relationship is stated, but possibly the devisee was an illegitimate son of Harvey, whose heir was his daughter, Elizabeth wife of Edward Wauton. In 1554, Gerard Harvey alias Smarte settled the manor on himself and his wife Anne and their heirs. In 1589 and 1590 a John Harvey conveyed a considerable quantity of land in different lots in Hail Weston to Richard Thodye, Richard Tayleffere, Thomas Dove and William Barcocke. Probably if this ever was a manor it became at this date split up and fell into desuetude. It does not appear to be identical with a manor of Hail Weston, which, with a view of frankpledge was sold in 1638 by Nicholas grandson of Nicholas Luke to John Rawlins and Richard Weaver.
Two other portions of land in Hail Weston appear in Domesday Book. In the time of the Confessor, one and a half hides of land were held with sac and soc by Aelget, first of Earl Tosti and afterwards of Earl Waltheof. In 1086 they had passed to Eustace the Sheriff, but were claimed by Waltheof's widow, Judith. Another half-hide was held by Godwin and also passed to Eustace. The countess does not seem to have succeeded in her claim to Aelget's land and apparently both holdings passed to Eustace's successors the Lovetots. The land seems to have been held as part of their manor of Suthoe Lovetot and not to have formed a separate manor.
The Priories of St. Neots, St. Mary's, Huntingdon, Hinchingbrooke, and Stonely, all obtained grants of land in Hail Weston, and were in possession of tenements there at the time of the Dissolution.
William de St. George granted a windmill to the Priory of St. Neots in the early part of the 13th century. His heirs in 1245 quitclaimed all their right in the windmill to the Priory. In 1324, the windmill was ruinous and of no value, but it was evidently rebuilt or repaired and was in the hands of the priory at its dissolution.
Victoria County History - Huntingdonshire Printed in 1932
