Hi spendlove thanks for the prompt reply and the 2 references.
From what I've found the Needham (Nedham/Nedeham/de Nedham depending on date) family originated from Needham in Derbyshire and had a knack of marrying well and thus acquired land through marriage. As you state, the Needham's originated from Needham ( called High Needham or Needham Grange depending on date). The earliest reference to the Needham's is William de Nedham living in 1102 at Needham who was William de Stanton but married a Nedham and took the Nedham name. The Nedhams continue to live at Needham until Thomas de Nedham b ~ 1308 d after 1339 who had 2 sons Thomas and William. Thomas married Maud Mellor the heiress of Thornsett and William married Alice Cranage the heiress of Cranage in Cheshire. William's descendants became the Earls of Kilmorey owning land at various times in Cheshire, Shropshire, Jamaica and Ireland. Of Thomas's descendants some stayed in Derbyshire and variously owned properties at Thornsett, Cowley, Snitterton and of course Needham. However, some of Thomas's descendants left the county and moved to Leicestershire, Hertfordshire, East Anglia and Lincolnshire. It is these links I'm trying to establish. Eventually Thomas's descendants sold the Derbyshire properties around the beginning of the 17th century
The 2 references you quote, particularly the data in the Lack site, give substantial detail of the Needham family and the properties they owned (summarised above). They are all descendants of William de Nedham of Needham in Derbyshire and bought, were gifted and/or married into property. Perhaps there is a lesson here for us to learn!
If anyone can help establish these links and in particular the link to James in Hertfordshire, I would be extremely grateful
Nigel
