Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 17 Edward I

Coram Rege Roll, Easter, 17 E. I.

Staff. Henry de Bukyngham appeared against John son of Robert de Somerford, William son of John de Semplingham, William son of Agatha de Somerford, Peter son of Adam de Hengleton (Engleton), and ten others named, for wounding and illtreating him at Somerford on the Sunday after the Feast of St. John the Baptist, 16 E. I., and taking his goods, viz., 40s. in money, some gold rings, and other goods to the value of 50s., and for which he claimed £10 for damages. The defendants appeared and denied the trespass and robbery, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is commanded to summon a jury for the Quindene of Michaelmas, nisi Justiciarii prius, etc. m. 18.

Staff. Philip de Montgomery, Seneschall of the King's Forest of Canoc, appeared against Adam Balle, Chaplain, William Balle, Chaplain, William de Draycote, Chaplain, John de Wyrleye, Henry de Laungedon (Longdon), William Grym, Richard de Colton, Hugh de Barre, and one hundred and eighty-two others named, for coming vi et armis to Lichefeld on Wednesday the Feast of St. Bodulph 16 E. I., and beating and illtreating and imprisoning the officers of the Forest, viz., Madoc le Waleys and Alan le Forester, and for insulting him at Alrewas where he was holding Forest Pleas, and taking by force from the custody of Alexander his clerk at Lichefeld the record of the Pleas, and for which he claimed £20 for damages. Adam and the other defendants appeared by attorney and appealed to a jury, and Philip likewise.

The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for a month from Michaelmas, nisi Justiciarü prius, etc., at which day Philip appeared and obtained permission to withdraw his plea, because the trespass was in contempt of the King, and he was told to prosecute by another writ for the contempt. m. 21 dorso.

Banco Roll, Easter, 17 E. I.

Staff. William de Cavereswelle gives 40s. for license of concord with Robert son of William de Cavereswelle. m. 11.

Staff. John the Abbot of Salop sued Bertram son of Bertram de Burgo for a messuage and half a virgate of land in Wylbrithon as the right of his Church of St. Peter of Salop. Bertram did not appear, and had previously made default, and the tenement had been taken into the King's hands, and had been adjudged to the Abbot by the default of Bertram, but the execution of the writ had been respited under the provisions of the Statute of Mortmain; and the Sheriff had been ordered to summon a jury to make recognition, etc. A jury came on the Octaves of St. John the Baptist, 17 E. I., and stated that the tenement in question was the right of the Abbot, and that Thomas his predecessor had been in seisin of it, and after his death Henry his successor had alienated it without the assent of the Convent, and they say that there was no collusion between the said Abbot and Bertram. The Abbot is therefore to have seisin. m. 26.

Staff. Peter de Arderne sued Roger the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfeld for forty acres of meadow in Elford, and he sued eight of the Canons of the Church of St. Cedde of Lichfield each for two and a half acres of meadow, and four other tenants for an acre each of pasture in the same vill, of which Roger his ancestor had been seised, etc., in the time of King Richard, and from Roger the right descended to Leuca his daughter and heir, and from Leuca to Agnes her daughter and heir, and from Agnes to Peter the plaintiff, as her son and heir. Two of the Canons (one of them the Dean John de Derby) are dismissed from the suit, owing to an informality in the description of them in the writ, and the other Canons pleaded they could not answer without their Dean and Chapter. A day is given to them to produce the Chapter at three weeks from Michaelmas. The Bishop and the rest of the tenants defended their right and put themselves on a Great Assize, and the Bishop gave half a mark for a mention of the date pleaded by Peter. And William de Stafford, Simon de Jarcumvile, William Bagod, and John de Herunvile, four Knights, came and elected the following Knights (to form a jury), viz., William Wyther, William de Mere, Philip de Draycote, John fitz Philip of Bolynton (sic), Ralph de Moungoye, Roger de Marchinton, Hugh de Weston, Adam de Brunton, Richard de Draycote, Thomas de Fereres, Henry de Crassewelle, Ralph Basset of Sapecote, William de Stafford, Simon de Jarcumvile, William Bagod, and John de Herunvile. Adjourned to the morrow of St. Martin. m. 73, dorso.

Staff. Alice the widow of John Gerbode was summoned by William Gerbode in a plea that she should give up to him a deed which she unjustly detained; and he stated John her husband had bought a messuage in Stafford from one John Rose to hold to himself and heirs, and had obtained his deed for it, and he (William) is brother and heir of John Gerbode, and that the deed belonged to him. Alice stated that her husband had left the messuage to her by will to hold for her life, and to revert after her death to Ralph his brother, and that such was the custom in the town of Stafford. William denied that such a custom existed, and appealed to a jury. A jury is to be summoned for three weeks from Michaelmas, nisi Justiciarii prius, etc. m. 54, dorso.

Staff. Henry de Verdun appeared against Felicia the widow of Thomas de Overbedolf (Biddulph) in a plea that she should give up to him the custody of the land and heir of Thomas, inasmuch as Thomas had held his land of him by Knight's service. Felicia did not appear, and is to be attached for the Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 41, dorso.

Staff. John de Cave gave half a mark for license of concord with Richard de Benteleye and Matilda his wife. (fn. 1) m. 34, dorso.

Staff. The great assize between Thomas de Waterfal and Margaret his wife, Alianora, Hawise, sisters of Margaret, Simon de Clifton and Elena his wife, and Simon Basset, plaintiffs, and Geoffrey son of Geoffrey Griffyn, called to warranty by the Prior of Trentham, and who warranted to him land in Over Elkesdon, remanet sine die because Elena one of the coparceners had died. m. 25, dorso.

Assize Roll Of Divers Counties, 17 E. I. Extracts

Assizes taken at Wolfernehampton on the day of St. Margaret the Virgin, 17 E. I., before Thomas de Sodington and his companions, assigned, etc., 20th July, 1289.

Staff. An assize, etc., if William Trumwyne, William his son, Henry de Horselegh, and Alan de la Sale had unjustly disseised Adam del Molyn of Great Standon (Sandon) of three acres of moor. William appeared and answered as tenant, and stated he holds in common (in comuni) with William de Stafford, Nicholas le Botyler, and Thomas de Seggleton and Joan his wife, and took exception to the writ. The suit is dismissed. m. 3.

Staff. An assize, etc., if William de la Chirchehusse had unjustly disseised Peter son of Peter de Walweley of two acres of land in Chylynton. Robert (sic) appeared and stated he entered by Peter father of the said Peter, and appealed to a jury. And Peter admitted the tenement had belonged to his father Peter, and stated his father had enfeoffed him of it and put him into seisin of it, and a fine was afterwards levied, 1 E. I., in Banco, by the terms of which he was in good seisin until Robert had disseised him, and he produced the fine. (fn. 2)

Robert stated that Peter the father had enfeoffed him of the land long before the fine was levied, but the jury find in favour of Peter. m. 3.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Henry Oweyn of Huttokeshater, Robert de Kyngeston, Chaplain, Thomas Oweyn, and twenty-two others named, had unjustly disseised Thomas de Ferars of Lockesleye of one hundred acres of wood in Lockesleye. The defendants took exception to the writ because the wood was not in Lockesleye but in Huttokeshater (Uttoxeter). Thomas afterwards withdrew his writ. m. 3, dorso.

Salop. An assize, etc., if Theobald de Verdun, Magister Richard de Pilesdon and Agnes his wife, and Richard son of Richard had unjustly disseised Henry de Savynton of common of pasture in twenty acres of wood in Morton-Say.

The jury stated that the manor of Morton-Say to which the wood in dispute was appurtenant formerly belonged to one Elias de Say, who had two sons, viz., Hugh the eldest, and Walter the youngest, and Elias had died in Ireland seised of the manor, and Walter after the death of his father entered into the manor as the nearest heir, and held it for more than forty years, during all which time Hugh remained in Ireland and made no claim to it; and Walter after he had held the manor for about twelve years had executed the deed by which Henry had held the common of pasture for thirty years, and after the death of Hugh de Say, who died in Ireland, Hugh his son and heir had come into these parts and claimed seisin of the manor from his uncle Walter, and Walter refused to give it up to him until he had brought a writ against him in the King's Courts, after which Walter had remitted all his claim to it; after which release the said Hugh had entered into the capital messuage of the manor, and had stayed there with his friends for three days in order to affirm his seisin of it, Walter living during the same time in the small house within the precincts of the manor; and after the three days had expired Hugh had at the instance of friends granted the manor to his uncle Walter for his life, and a part of it, and the small house to Alice the wife of Walter to be held by her after the death of Walter. And they say that Walter had entered as heir to his father, and had held the manor for more than forty years, during which time he had executed the deed in favour of Henry, and Henry had been in possession under the deed for more than thirty years during the lifetime of Walter, and for two years after the death of Walter, and also after the manor had come to John de Verdun by exchange, and until the manor two years ago had been demised by Theobald de Verdun to Magister Richard, upon which the said Magister Richard had disseised him of the common of pasture in question; and as the said Richard could not be in a better position than the person by whose demise he had obtained the manor, it is considered that Henry should recover seisin, and Theobald and the others are in misericordiâ. m. 3, dorso.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Warine son of William of Nether Penne had unjustly disseised Matilda formerly wife of Robert de Haggele of two acres in Netherpenne. Warine stated she had never been in seisin of the land, and Matilda stated that William son of William Waryn had enfeoffed her in it, and had put her into full seisin of it, and she had held it until disseised by Waryne, and she appealed to a jury; and William son of Elias of Tettenhale, Hervey de Hampton (Wolverhampton), Richard Gerveys of the same, John in la Lone of the same, and nine others named, are in misericordiâ for contempt. m. 9.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Robert le Champyun of Sardon, William Baroun of Shareshulf (Shareshill), and two others named, had unjustly disseised Robert de Esnyngton of four acres of wood in Esnyngton (Essington). Robert answered for all as tenant of the wood, and stated that Robert the father of Robert de Esnyngton had sold half of it to William his father, and as regards the other half, it had belonged to one Robert de Whyston, who had enfeoffed the said William his brother of it (fn. 3) (fratrum suum), and William had died seised of it in demesne as of fee; and after his death he had succeeded to it as son and heir of William, and not by any disseisin, and he appealed to a jury.

Robert de Essington denied his father had ever sold half the wood, and stated he had died seised of it, and as regards the other half, that Robert de Whyston after the death of Robert de Whyston (fn. 4) his father had taken the other half into his custody owing to his minority, and had afterwards demised the custody of it to William the father of Robert le Champyun; and Robert after the death of his father had taken possession and would not permit him (Robert de Essington) to perform any work within the wood (in predicto bosco manuoperari), so that he had been disseised of it, and he appealed to a jury. The assize was adjourned to Tamworth, owing to defect of a jury, to the Tuesday after Michaelmas, on which day a jury stated that as regards the first two acres, Robert de Erlynton (sic) the father of Robert had enfeoffed William the father of Robert Campion, and that Robert Campion had entered as heir of his father. And as regards the other half, that William Barun, Nicholas le Colyer, and Adam le Bonde, the defendants named, had disseised Robert de Essyngton of one acre out of the two, but he had not been disseised of the other acre by anybody. Robert de Essyngton is therefore in misericordiâ for a false claim against Robert Campyun, but his fine is remitted because he is under age. m. 9.

Assizes taken before Thomas de Sodington, Walter de Hoptone, and Hugh de Cave, Justices, assigned, etc., at Tamworth, on the Tuesday after the Feast of St. Michael, 17 E. I. m. 46.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Roger de Somery, Walter de Ilmundon, John Harald of Sutton, Ralph le Provost of Roule, and four others named, had unjustly disseised Edith de Tockenhale of a messuage, six acres of land, two acres of meadow, and an acre of pasture in Roule (Rowley Regis). Roger and the other defendants appeared by Walter the Bailiff of Roger, who took exception to the writ, because Roule was of the ancient demesne of the King, where no writ would run except the small writ of right. Edith acknowledged that Roule was formerly of ancient demesne, but stated that the manor had afterwards come into the hands of one William de Eclingh, and whilst he was lord of it he had enfeoffed her of the tenements in question, to hold in fee and inheritance for 16d. annually; and at that time Mabel de Tockehale held a third of the tenements in dower, and Mabel had attorned herself to her (Edith) for her dower in consequence of the said feoffment, and after the death of Mabel she had entered into the third part, and was in seisin of it until ejected by William de Echlinge, and she had arraigned an assize of novel disseisin against him in consequence before Ralph de Hengham and his associates at Stafford in 55 H. III., on which occasion William had taken exception to the writ because Roule was of the ancient demesne of the King; and afterwards before the same Ralph and his associates a verdict had been given against the said William and the said tenements fell to her by right of the feoffment and charter of William, which she had produced in Court, and which had been enrolled, and she appealed to the records of the Court. A day was given to the parties at Wolverhampton on the Wednesday after the Epiphany, and a mandate was sent to Ralph and his associates to make scrutiny of his roll, and to send the record under his seal to the Justices. m. 46.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Roger the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and Richard son of Walter of Brewode had unjustly disseised Robert de Somerford of half an acre of meadow and a piece of land containing five perches in Somerford and Brewode. The Bishop appeared by the said Richard his Bailiff, who stated that Robert was in seisin of the meadow both now and at the time the writ was sued out, and as regards the small piece of land there had been formerly a dispute between the Bishop's predecessors and the said Robert concerning it, and his predecessors had granted the meadow to him in exchange for it. Robert stated that the Bishop dug up and carried away earth from his meadow, so that he was disseised of it. The Bishop's bailiff replied that the meadow adjoined the Bishop's mill-pool, and Robert had conceded for himself and his heirs that the Bishop and his successors might take earth from it for its repair. A day is given to the parties at Wolfrenhampton on the Wednesday after the Epiphany. m. 46, dorso.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Richard de Hulton the father of Robert son of Richard de Hulton was seised as of fee, etc., of a messuage, a toft, and eight acres of land in Lychefeld, which Robert de Freford and Isolda his wife hold. Robert and Isolda took exception to the writ because the eight acres were in Morwhall and not in Lichfield; and if it should be decided otherwise, they stated the tenements formerly belonged to one Henry Kyng, who gave them to the said Richard and to Isolda formerly his wife, to be held by them and by their issue; and as Richard had died during the lifetime of Isolda leaving no issue, the tenements remained to the said Isolda according to the deed of feoffment.

The jury stated that the tenements are in Lychefeld, and formerly belonged to Robert the grandfather of Richard le Hulton, who gave them to Richard his son; and the said Richard wishing to marry Isolda, spoke to the relations (parentibus) and friends of the said Isolda, who refused their consent unless he enfeoffed the said Isolda of the tenements; and Richard then enfeoffed one Reginald le Chapelyn of them, who was in seisin of them by this feoffment for a quarter of a year, and had taken the fealty of the tenants and the profits, and afterwards had enfeoffed one Henry le Kyng, who was in good seisin of them for six weeks, and had taken the fealty of the tenants and the profits, and Henry had afterwards enfeoffed the said Richard and Isolda to hold to them and their issue; and Richard had died without issue, and he only held a fee tail in the said tenements. Verdict for Robert and Isolda. m. 46, dorso.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Osbert son of Ralph de Norton and William his son had unjustly disseised Richard de Norton (fn. 5) and Matilda his wife of an acre of pasture in Norton-super-le-Canok. William appeared and answered as tenant, and stated that the plaintiffs had remitted all claim to the tenement by a deed which he produced. Richard and Matilda acknowledged the deed, but stated it did not apply to the land in question; and the jury find in their favour. They are therefore to recover seisin. Damages 3s. m. 47.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Roger Illary father of William son of Roger Illary was seised as of fee, etc., of a mill, five acres of land, and two of meadow in Wodnesburi, which Thomas son of Roger Illary holds. Thomas stated that Roger did not die seised as of fee of the tenements, because he had enfeoffed him of them before he died, and he appealed to a jury. The jury stated that Roger died seised of the tenements, and that William is his nearest heir. He is therefore to recover seisin. m. 47.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Hugh de Neuton the father of Alice daughter of Hugh de Neuton was seised as of fee, etc., of a messuage and a bovate of land and an acre and an half of land in Newton when he died, and of which Hugh de Weston and Hugh le Messer (the reaper) hold the messuage and bovate of land, and Adam de Lutteleye the acre and a half. The defendants appeared, and Adam took exception to the writ so far as regarded his tenure, because he held it in villenage of Hugh de Weston; and as Alice could not deny this, she withdrew her claim against him; and Hugh le Messer as regarded the other tenement claimed against him and Hugh de Weston in common, stated he only held at the will of Hugh de Weston; and as Hugh admitted this, the claim against him was also dismissed; and Hugh de Weston pleaded that Hugh de Neuton did not die seised of the tenement as of fee and in demesne, because he held it in villenage of Hugh de Weston his father, and he appealed to a jury, which found in his favour. And Richard de Blitefeld, Henry de Colton, John de Styvinton, Richard le Parker of Chertele, John Gryffyn of Colton, John son of Geoffrey de Aston, Adam Jambre of Ambryton (Amerton), Nicholas son of Stephen de Bromleye, and Ralph de Hampton, recognitors, never appeared, and are in misericordiâ.

Staff. An assize, etc., if William Dymmoce the father of Cecilia Dymmoce of Alveton was seised as of fee, etc., of a toft and two acres of land in Alveton when he died, etc., and of which Robert son of Nicholas Gaunsel and John de Stone hold the toft, and Richard de Kyngeston and Agnes his wife one acre, and Geoffrey son of Geoffrey le Chapman another acre. The jury say that as regards the acre held by Richard and Agnes, that William the father of Cecilia died seised of it, but had a son named Geoffrey, brother to Cecilia and nearer heir, who had entered into the tenement as heir of his father, and had afterwards given it away to maintain a lamp at the Church of Alveton. Cecilia afterwards withdrew her writ. m. 47.

Assizes taken at Boswurth on the Octaces of Michaelmas.

Leyc. An assize, etc., if William de Wasteneys the father of John de Wasteneys was seised as of fee, etc., of seven virgates of land in Burton sur le Wauz when he died, etc., and which Ralph de Turvill holds. Ralph appeared and called to warranty Hugh le Despencer, who is to be summoned to be at Leycester on the Thursday after Hillary. m. 51.

Coram Rege Roll, Michaelmas, 17 E. I.

Warw. The Sheriff was ordered to return whether Henry de St. Maur had been outlawed for the death of Brother John de Stanlegh, of which he had been indicted before J. de Vaux and his fellow Justices Itinerant in Warwickshire; and he returned that on referring to the Exigent Rolls of those Justices he found that Henry de St. Maur senior had not been outlawed, because at the fourth County Court before the promulgation of outlawry, a King's writ of supersedeas, dated 16th August, 17 E. I., had arrived, stating that the said Henry had died beyond seas. And the Sheriff further stated that according to the King's commands he had summoned the capital lords under whom the said Henry had held his lands to be in Court, together with Henry son of Henry de St. Maur, to hear the ordinance of the King's council upon the matter. And it was afterwards testified by Edmund the King's brother, and by others worthy of credit, and by the letters of the official of the Court of Paris, and of the official of St. Denis in France, that the said Henry de St. Maur died at St. Denis in the Maison Dieu (apud Sanctum Dionisium in Domo Dei) about the Feast of Holy Trinity, A.D. 1287. The Sheriff is therefore commanded to supersede the outlawry altogether, and to take no further steps in the matter. m. 14, dorso.

Staff. and Salop. Walter de Hopton was sued by the King's attorney for causing waste and destruction in the houses and lands which he holds for his life of the inheritance of Gaweyn, brother and heir of John le Botiler of Wemme, deceased, who holds of the King in capite, and is under age and in ward to the King. Walter did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to attach him for the Octaves of St. Martin. m. 1, dorso.

Banco Roll, Michaelmas, 17–18 E. I.

Staff. Matilda the widow of Robert Folejambe sued the Prior of Tuttebyri for a third of four messuages and six bovates of land and 14s. of rent in Over Matherfeud (Mayfield) as her dower. The Prior called to warranty Nicholas son of Robert, who is to be summoned in co. Derby to be in Court on the morrow of the Purification. m. 184, dorso.

Staff., Norht. On the Sunday next after the Feast of St. Martin, 17 E. I., it was agreed between Ermegerda the widow of Sir Henry de St. Maur, Knight, on the one side, and Henry son of the said Henry on the other, that whereas the said Ermegerda had sued Henry for her reasonable dower in Herdewyk in co. Northampton, and in Felda near Grotewych (Field in Leigh) in co. Stafford, the said Henry conceded that Ermegerda should receive annually for her life 7 marks from the said tenements in Felde, and for this concession she should remit all her claim to dower in Herdewyk and Felde. m. 135, dorso.

Staff. Roger de Aston appeared against Geoffrey de Greselegh in a plea that he should warrant to him sixteen acres of land and two acres of meadow in Huyhtesdon (Hixon) which he claimed to hold of him, and for which he had his deed. Geoffrey did not appear, and is to be attached for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 107, dorso.

Staff. Amice the widow of Robert son of Hugh de Colton sued William son of Adam de Chetewynde for a third of a messuage in Colton as her dower. William appeared and prayed a view. Adjourned to Hillary Term.

The same Amice sued Richard Bagot and Christiana his wife for a third of an acre of land, and Roger son of William atten Ashe for a third of half an acre in the same vill as her dower. They did not appear, and the dower claimed is to be taken into the King's hands, and they are to be summoned for Hillary Term.

The same Amice sued Roger son of William atten Ashe for four acres of land in Colton, and Richard le Cok for a messuage in the same vill as her right. They did not appear, and they are to be summoned for Hillary Term, and the tenements to be taken into the King's hands. m. 62, dorso.

Staff. The suit of Geoffrey de Caunvill versus Richard de Vernun for land in Clifton Caunvill, is adjourned to Hillary Term (nisi Justiciarii prius, etc). m. 53, dorso.

Staff. Sibilla the widow of William de Routhesleye sued Roger de Routhesleye for a third of four messuages, a curtilage, fifteen acres of land, two shops, two tofts, and three acres of meadow in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke; and she sued Thomas le Forester for a third of three acres in Newcastle-under-Lyme as her dower. Thomas called Roger to warranty for his tenement, and Roger warranted it to him, and pleaded that William the husband of Sibilla had never been in seisin of the tenements in question, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for Hillary Term (nisi Justiciarii prius, etc.). m. 39, dorso.

Staff. John de Wenlok and Alice his wife sued Thomas de Pykestoke for a third of a messuage in Bilinton, and they sued John de Pykestok for a third of two messuages, and four acres of land, and two acres of meadow in Hopton, and for a third of a messuage and twenty acres of land in Coten near Stafford, and for a third of twenty-three acres of land in Whethales, and for a third of a messuage and forty-four acres of land and two acres of meadow in Burgh; and they sued William son of William de Pykestok for a third of a messuage and half a carucate of land and four acres in Stafford and Dunston as the dower of Alice, of which she had been endowed by William de Pykestok her first husband. The suit against Thomas is adjourned to the morrow of All Souls, and the said John and William for the dower claimed against them called to warranty John son of William de Pykestok, who is under age and in ward to John de Wenlok and Alice his wife, together with a part of the land, and the other portion of the land is in the custody of Nicholas son of William Randolf of Newport by deeds which they produced. John and Alice are to produce the heir at the same date. m. 3, dorso.

N.B.—The suit comes on again at the date named, when the defendants not appearing, the Sheriff is ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hands, and to summon them again for the Octaves of Hillary. m. 155, dorso.