Ester Benham in Somerset?

[Vance Mead]

I'm trying to identify a place name in Somerset. It's in a Common Pleas record from 1449. I can identify the other places mentioned: Pitney, Aller, Queen Camel and Bridgehampton. This pace is written as Easterbenham.

http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT1/H6/CP40no754/bCP40no754dorses/IMG_1398.htm
1449 Trinity/dorses 1398, second entry:
Soms. John Irlond, junior, versus Thomas Godwyn alias Martyn, of Pytteney Lorey, husbandman; Thomas Mede, of Ester Benham, laborer; William Godwyn alias Martyn, of Pytteney Plukenet, husbandman; Robert Yerde, of Alre, butcher; Robert Broun, of Weston juxta Quene Camell, husbandman; Richard Broun, of Briggehampton, husbandman. Debt.

[..claire..]

Hi

You could look in here. Has lots of different variations of spellings for places within Somerset.

https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028058208#page/n221/mode/1up

[Vance Mead]

Thanks Claire. Couldn't find anything that looked likely.

[Old Bristolian]

Just a long shot, but could it be Hatch Beauchamp? There is a West Hatch and it could be that it was once referred to as "Eastern Beauchamp",

Steve

[Vance Mead]

That's an interesting idea, Steve. I could see how Beauchamp could become Belcham and from there it's a short step to Benham. Thanks.

[Vance Mead]

Steve, following up on your suggestion, another possibility would be Shepton Beauchamp.

[KGarrad]

In Somerset, those towns/villages are pronounced "Beecham".

KG (a Somerset boy!)

[Old Bristolian]

Indeed, which is why I wonder if the 1449 spelling is in fact, "becham" not "benham". Is there any chance of seeing an image of the original?

Steve

[Bookbox]

Indeed, which is why I wonder if the 1449 spelling is in fact, "becham" not "benham". Is there any chance of seeing an image of the original?

Link is in first post. Looks like benham to me. (Line 3 of 2nd complete entry)