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The name of the parishsuggests an early dependence on sheep farming, (fn. 92)although there were only 64 sheep on the demesnein 1086. In that year the manor gelded for 6 hidesand there was land for 4 ploughs. The lord held4 hides less ½ virgate in demesne with 1½ ploughworked by 3 serfs, and the remaining 2 hides and½ virgate were occupied by 9 vil...

Court rolls and bookshave been traced for the main manor for the years1559–61, 1637, and 1681–1721, with a series ofpresentments for 1773–88. (fn. 162) The lord was holdingtwo lawdays in 1340, and two lawdays with halmote at Michaelmas and Hockday and two othercourts in 1481–2. (fn. 163) Between 1559 and 1561 thecourts, held twice or three times ea...

The church was first mentioned in1243 and the benefice was a rectory by 1254. (fn. 178) Theadvowson was probably held with the manor by 1304and the patronage was so linked in 1325. (fn. 179) In1348–9 the Crown presented five times during theminority of the lord, again in 1355, and, on thedeath of John de Beauchamp (III) in 1361, seizedthe advowson ...

Henry Pope, a Quaker ofthe parish, was imprisoned in 1661 for refusingthe oath of allegiance. (fn. 242) Private houses were licensedfor dissenting worship in 1691, 1695, 1703, and1789, and there were two or three Presbyterianfamilies in the parish c. 1776. (fn. 243) In 1776 ThomasCoke, curate of South Petherton and an avowedMethodist, was refused t...

Thomas Stuckey was licensed toteach grammar in the parish in 1586. (fn. 250) In 1723 Thomas Rich left 6 a. of land in Merriott,5s. of the income for cakes for twelve poor boys onSt. Thomas's day and the residue for teaching thesame children reading and the catechism. Two of thetwelve were to be taught to write and cast accounts,and any surplus was ...

In 1481–2 thereeve of the manor bought bread for 'the charityof St. Nicholas' with rent of a piece of land. (fn. 271)Noother reference to the charity has been noted. William Owsley, rector of Shepton (d. 1630),left £45 to buy ½ a. and build a hospital at Sheptonfor four poor men. (fn. 272)The charity is not mentionedthereafter but the bequest may h...