Fred Pickstone (June 2004)
Early in 1088 William the Conqueror sent teams of commissioners, headed by bishops, to ascertain the taxable value of England, his newly conquered realm. They had to discover how it was peopled, what use was made of the land and what feudal dues the King could extract from knights. Interviewed, under oath, were sheriffs, barons and juries comprising the priest, reeve and six men from each village. The reeve was the agent, manager and representative of the King. As you've probably guessed, their report was collated into what is now known as the Domesday Book. In Yorkshire, where Danish legal and social customs prevailed as a result of Viking settlements, the villages were grouped into Wapentakes, known as hides in other parts of England. The Manor of Husthwaite is not mentioned in the Domesday book but was almost certainly part of Baxby, in the Wapentake of Birdforth. Below are some of the villages listed in "our" Wapentake. *Carletun is listed twice but refers to different places.
Turmozbi = Thormanby
Catune = Catton
Creic = Crayke
*Carletun = Carlton Husthwaite
Baschesbi = Baxby
Hotune = Hutton Sessay
*Carletun = Carlton Miniott
Bracheberc = Breckenbrough
Uluestun = Oulston
Tresc = Thirsk
Begeland = Old Byland
Neuhuse = Newsham
Sezai = Sessay
Sorebi = Sowerby
Horenbodebi = Hornby
Cheniuetune = Knayton
Topecliue = Topcliffe
Cheluintun = South Kilvington
Bergebi = Borrowby
Upsale = Upsall
Rainingeuuat = Rainton
Handulftorp = Thornborough