20 THE FAMILY OF GALPIN OF _
attested it in any other capacity than Sheriff. For greater
formality and publicity grants of land were often made in
ancient days in p/em cemitata, i.e., before the County Court in
which the Sheriff presided. This would account for the
presence of Hugh de Leyes, the Chief Forester of the County.
The other witnesses are mostly near neighbours of the Giffards.
William Bogod was the contemporary Lord of Blyrnhill and
was dead A.D. 1209 (see vol. i, p. 292, of Collections). ]ohn, son
of William, the last witness of the deed, was his son and heir.
Galepia is a common name in France at the present day and
is as characteristic of a French origin as Edith the name qf
Galopirfs wife illustrates an English origin. Herkebarowe, in
the modern form of Ackbury, still survives as the name of a
farm adjoining the Hide of Chillington.——Salt Arch. Soc.
(Trans.: Be it known that I, Galopin, and Edith my wife
give and concede and by this our present charter have confirmed
to Hugh the son of Peter Giffard, for his homage and service
and for two marks of silver, one virgate of land in Ackbury
and half a virgate of land in Hyde, which was the marriage
portion of Matilda, the mother of the said Edith.)
The size of a virgate of land varied at different periods and
places, but was generally a quarter of a hyde. A hyde was also
not a fixed amount and varied according to fertility and con-
venience. It is considered to be an amount sufficient for a
family of some importance and has been placed at as much as
480 acres and even more, but it is diflicult to reduce to acres a
measure so variable.
[A.D. 1220-123,0.
Harleian MSS., No. 5816, fol. 38.
Hugh Giffard sells to his brother Peter Giffard, Ackbury
and half a virgate of land in the vill of Hyde, which had been
the marriage portion of Matilda, the mother y' Edith the =wq'e m'
Galepia.]
Sciant etc. quod ego Hugh Giffard concessi et quietam
clamavi de me et heredibus meis in perpetuum, Petro Giffard
fratri meo, et heredibus suis totam terram quae vocatur Herke-
barowe et dimidiam virgatam terrae in villa de Hyde, cum