Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 6 Edward I

Banco Roll, Hillary, 6 E. I.

Staff. Matilda the widow of John de Morton sued Robert de Ferars for a third of a messuage and thirty-five acres of land in Charkele (Chartley) as her dower. Robert stated she had no claim to dower in the land because her husband was never seised of it as of fee, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for the Quindene of Easter. m. 8.

Staff. Adam de Brunton appeared against Ivo de Weston and William his brother in a plea of nativity (i.e., of villeinage). The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached for the Octaves of Trinity. m. 17.

Staff. Margaret the daughter of Simon le Sauvage of Tameworth sued William de Hundesacre, Geoffey Coket, Alan son of Alan de Cumbreford, and fourteen others named, for reaping and carrying away her corn in the fields of Coten and Wygeton, by which she had been damaged to the amount of £10. The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached for three weeks from Easter. m. 28.

Staff. Robert Saucheverel sued William de Acovere for half an acre of land in Wycleshull. William did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the land into the King's hands and to summon him for the morrow of the Ascension. m. 35.

Staff. Matilda the widow of Richard son of Ralph of Langedon sued William de Aldithelye for a third of a messuage, a bovate of land, and an acre of meadow and 16d. and a pound of pepper of rent in Langedon as her dower. William stated she could only claim dower in the land at his will, because Richard held as a villanus, and he appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury at a month from Easter. m. 43.

Staff. The Abbot of Deulacresse appeared against Henry Dun and Matilda his wife in a plea that they should adhere to a convention made between them respecting a messuage and a bovate of land in Tettesworth. The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached for the Octaves of St. John the Baptist. m. 48.

Staff. The same Abbot appeared against Henry Dun and Matilda his wife in a plea that they should warrant to him the third part of the manor of Tettesworth which he claimed to hold of them, and for which he held their deed. The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached as before. m. 48.

Staff. Isabella the widow of Robert de Beysin sued Hugh de Beaumes, the custos of the land and heir of Robert de Beysin, for a third of sixty acres of land and 9s. of rent in Esseleye (Ashley) as her dower. Hugh appeared and gave no reason why she should not have dower, and he is therefore in misericordiâ, and Isabella to recover seisin. m. 63, dorso.

Staff. Amice the widow of Henry de Verdun recovers 4s. of rent in Aston versus Geoffrey de Walton through default of the latter. m. 55, dorso.

Warw. Ela the Countess of Warwick appeared against Alienora the widow of John de Werdon (Verdun), William Purfray, and William the Provost of Brandon, in a plea that whereas the said Ela had sent to the Castle of Brandon John the Provost of Claverdon with a letter of quitclaim for 10 marks in which Theobald de Verdon was bound to her for the relief of his manor of Brondon (Brandon), the said William and others together with Alienora the widow of John de Verdun had imprisoned the said John within the Castle of Brandon for one night, and had taken away from him by violence the said letter without having paid a farthing of the said 10 marks. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is to distrain and produce them at the Octaves of Trinity. m. 19, dorso.

Staff. Matilda the widow of William le Paumer sued Robert le Paumer, Henry Arnald, William le Hoie and thirteen others named, for illtreating and imprisoning her for a day and a night at Kingesbromley on the Sunday before Xmas 56 Hen. III.

Robert le Paumer appeared and admitted she had been imprisoned, and stated she and her husband had been accused of stealing two heifers, and they were bound with cords and taken to Bridgenorth, and they were there convicted, and William was hanged and Matilda was released; and it was for that reason only that they had taken her, and they appealed to a jury, and Matilda likewise. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for the Quindene of Trinity. A postscript adds that a jury appeared at Michaelmas, 7 E. I., who stated that the said William le Paumer was accused of the said felonies and was taken and put into prison (in cippo), and because Matilda removed the goods of the said William, Robert and the others acting as the King's bailiffs had taken her and put her in cippo until she brought back the goods; and William was afterwards hanged, and they had made no further trespass against her than the above. The suit is therefore dismissed. m. 13, dorso.

Banco Roll, Hillary Term, 6 E. I.

Staff. Roes the widow of Vivian de Staundon sued John de Cokefeud and Philippa his wife for a third of ( ) bovates of land and a water-mill in Great Rowenhale (Rownall) and Little Rowenhale, and 6s. of rent in Little Rowenhale as her dower. John and Philippa called to warranty Robert de Staundon, who is to be summoned for Easter. m. 23.

Staff. William son of Roger Hillary sued Margaret la Rus, William de Bentley, Richard, Robert, and Thomas his brothers, Hugh de Peneford, and four others named, for coming vi et armis to his house at Chelfeld and taking his goods to the value of 100s., and wounding, beating, and illtreating him, for which he claimed £100 as damage. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce them at Trinity Term. m. 35.

Salop. An assize, etc., if Emma de Brinton the mother of Roger Sprengehose was seised as of fee, etc., of twelve acres of land in Estwall when she died, and which the Prior of Wenlock and others hold. The Prior called to warranty Philip de Stepelton and Burgia his wife, who are to be summoned for Easter. m. 9.

Banco Roll, Easter, 6 E. I.

Staff. William de Stafford was attached to answer the plea of Alice the widow of Hervey de Verney that whereas the King had taken all her lands and goods into his protection, and had enjoined that no one should molest her, the said William had taken goods and chattels belonging to her to the value of 40s. at Strengeshull (Stramshall), and she stated that on a certain day named, 5 E. I., he had taken her corn to the above value. William appeared and denied the trespass, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for Trinity Term. m. 26.

Derby, Staff., Oxon., Berks., Bucks., Norf. Burga the widow of John de Engelfeud, who brought writs of dower against Roger the Bishop of Coventry and Lychefend, William de Englefeud, the Abbot of Reding, and William de Clare the Earl of Gloucester and Hereford, withdrew her pleas. m. 28.

Staff. Agnes the widow of Roger le Aruesmyth sued Robert de Tykenes, Clerk, for a third of an acre in Bettylegh, and William le Hunte for a third of two acres and a rood of land, and seven other tenants in the same vill for a third of their holdings as her dower. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff is ordered to summon them for Trinity Term, and to take the dower claimed into the King's hands. m. 32.

Staff. Agnes the widow of Adam de Alvestones sued Robert de Kynpersle for a third of a messuage and six bovates of land in Dalvestones as her dower; and he did not appear. The Sheriff is ordered to summon him for Trinity Term, and to take the dower claimed into the King's hands. m. 32.

Staff. Richard de Benetleye and Matilda his wife sued Reginald de Norton for a mill and two acres of land in Norton (Norton under Cannock), and four other tenants for land in the same vill. The defendants appeared and prayed a view. Adjourned to Trinity Term. m. 41.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to take with him four lawful and discreet Knights of the county, and to proceed to the King's Hundred of Pyrehill, and in full Hundred Court to record the plea of trespass which was before it without a King's writ which Robert Craddock of Admundeston and Thomas Alyanor and Mabilla his wife had brought against William de Beverle, William de Wytokesther and Juliana his wife, and respecting which they had complained a false judgment had been given against them by the Hundred, and to bring the record into court this term, together with four lawful men of the Hundred who were present at the trial; and the Sheriff now sent the record, but the men of the Hundred who were to accompany it never appeared, viz., Geoffrey de Walton, Alan Bedel, William de Hodenet, and Thomas Bedel. The Sheriff is therefore ordered to distrain them and produce them at the Quindene of St. John the Baptist. m. 42.

Salop. Alienora the widow of Robert le Estrange, William de Barenton and Joan his wife, Robert de Bracy and Matilda his wife, and Beatrice the daughter of William de Blanmister sued William de Alditheley for a messuage and a carucate of land in Loskeford. William appeared and prayed a view. Adjourned to three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 53.

Staff. William de Brugges the Abbot of Bildewas appeared against Bertram de Burgo in a plea that he should carry out the terms of a fine levied between William his predecessor formerly Abbot of Bildewas and the said Bertram respecting the arrears of an annual rent of 12s. proceeding from the tenement which Thomas son of John de Culegh formerly held in Kulegh (Coley). Bertram did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce him at a month from Michaelmas. m. 69, dorso.

Staff. Robert Saucheverell recovers half an acre in Whyteshull against William de Acovere (Okeover) by default of the latter. m. 68, dorso.

Staff. Alice the widow of Robert de Cotes sued Thomas son of Robert de Cotes for a third of a messuage, a garden, two carucates of land, five messuages, two virgates, and three acres of land, and of three cottages in Cotes; and she sued William de Sneldon for a third of 4s. rent, and Thomas son of Richard de Cotes for a third of a messuage and twelve acres and a noke of land, and half an acre, and Mabel de Cotes and William her son for a third of a messuage and a noke of land, and Robert Buchard and four other tenants named, for a third of their respective holdings as her dower; and the defendants never appeared at the last Hillary Term, and the Sheriff had been ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hands. Alice is therefore to recover seisin by their default.

Staff. Henry de Wyvereston gives half a mark for licence of concord with Hugh son of Petronilla de Befcote and Agnes his wife. m. 35, dorso.

Staff. Hamo son of William de Albaldeston (Adbaston) sued Jordan de Pynlesdon for a messuage and thirty acres of land in Albaldeston, and Jordan prayed a view. Adjourned to the Quindene of St. John the Baptist. m. 29, dorso.

Staff. John de Houton and Alienora his wife give half a mark for licence of concord with Robert de Fraunkevyle and Lettice his wife. m. 13, dorso.

Staff. Magister John de Vernay sued William Wyther, William Bagot, Bertram de Burgo, Hugh de Weston, Robert de Staundon, Robert de Knythleye, William de la More, Michael de Morton, and Robert de Chetelton, for £10 owing to him, and which they unjustly detained. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff is ordered to attach them for the Octaves of Trinity. m. 5, dorso.

Coram Rege Roll, Easter, 6 E. I.; apud Wynton.

Staff. William de Parles sued William Martin, Ralph Cokayn, and sixteen others named, for wounding, illtreating, and imprisoning him at Honyworth (Handworth). The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached for Trinity Term. m. 2.

Staff. and Warw. William son of Alan le Provost, William le Mouner (Miller) of Barre of co. Stafford, Richard son of Edric del Hull, Alexander de Gorstes, and six others named, were attached to answer the plea of William de Erdinton that they had illtreated, wounded and imprisoned him at Sutton on the Sunday after the Feast of Peter and Paul, 5 E. I., and had taken from him goods and chattels to the value of £20, etc. The defendants appeared and Alexander stated that he was custos of the Chace of Ela Countess of Warwick at Sutton, and found the said William hunting game there, and he demanded sureties from him as pertained to his office, and William refused to give any, and threatened him with a sword, and if any harm had been done to him, it was done in self defence. The Sheriff is ordered to convene a jury for Trinity Term. m. 6.

Coram Rege Roll.

Pleas at Westminster, Trinity Term, 6 E. I.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to take with him four lawful and discreet Knights of his county, and to proceed to the Court of Philip Marmiun at Wygenton, and in full Court to record the suit which was before the Court by the King's writ of right between Henry son of Nicholas le Chanon and Margaret his sister, plaintiffs, and Nicholas le Chanon tenant, of nineteen acres of land in Wyginton, respecting which the said Nicholas had complained a false judgment had been given in the Court, and to have the record here at this day under his seal and by four lawful men who were present when the record was made; and Henry and Margaret now appeared to hear the record, but the Sheriff had done nothing, but had returned that the writ reached him too late. Another writ is therefore issued in the same terms as the last, and the record is to be delivered in Court at the Quindene of Michaelmas.

Staff. Rosia Doyli sued Alice de Cotes near Swynferton, William Seld her brother, and fourteen others named, for coming to her house at Mes (Millmeese), and carrying away goods and chattels to the value of £10. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and to produce them at a month from Michaelmas. m. 24, dorso.

Banco Roll, Michaelmas, 6—7 E. I.

Staff. Alice the widow of Gervase de Levedale sued Robert de Hastang of Chelbeseye (Chebsey) and Gilbert de Wandingfeld for a third of a messuage and a virgate of land in Schaldeford (Shallowford) as her dower. The defendants pray a view. Adjourned to the morrow of All Souls. m. 28.

Staff. Matilda the widow of William del Mos (sic) sued Richard son of William del Mes for a third of a messuage and two virgates of land in Eddishale as her dower. Richard stated he held as heir of his mother Margaret, and William never held the tenement in fee but only by courtesy of England, and therefore could not endow her with it. A jury to be summoned for Hillary. m. 30.

Staff. Thomas Payne and Alice his wife sued Henry de Wylaston for a third of a messuage and forty acres of land and ten acres of wood in Pendeford as her dower. She also sued Adam de Oldefallynge, Robert Pursel, William Burdun, Henry son of Alured, Walter de Alreleye, William son of Thomas de Alreleye, William son of Elyas of Teteshale (sic) (Tettenhall,) Robert de Levedale, Walter de Alreley, Adam Russel, William de Sempringham Chaplain, and William de Bromhale, for a third of a messuage and forty acres of land respectively (fn. 1). She also sued the Prior of St. Thomas outside Stafford for a third of a messuage and two carucates of land, thirty acres of wood, and thirty acres of meadow in the same vill, and she sued Jeva de Bradeley, Hamon de Pendeford, John at the Hall gate (ad portam aulæ), Henry son of Alured and Robert his brother, Thomas Godwine, and Thomas son of Laurence, for a third of their tenements respectively in the same vill as her dower. None of the defendants appeared ; and the Sheriff is ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hands, and to summon them again for Hillary Term. m. 112.

Warw. Richard de Loges sued Richard de Stretton for a messuage and thirty-seven acres of land and one acre of meadow in Hillemorton of which his ancestress Margaret had been seised as of fee, etc., in the reign of King Richard, and from Margaret the right descended to Margaret her daughter and heir, and from this Margaret to Hugh her son and heir, and from Hugh to another Hugh as son and heir, and from the last Hugh who died without issue to Richard who now sues as his brother and heir. Richard de Stratton appeared and denied the seisin of Margaret, and put himself on a great assize. A day is given to them at the next coming of the Justices. m. 120.

Derb. William de Auditheleye sued Geoffrey de Skeftington for half the manor of Tiscenton (Tissington) in which he had no entry except by a demise made by Henry de Alditheleye his brother, whose heir he is, and who was out of his mind at the time he made it. Geoffrey denied this, and stated Henry was of good mind and memory at the time. As the demise was made in Staffordshire, twelve of that county are to be summoned to try the cause. Afterwards a concord was made by which Geoffrey relinquished his claim for 30 marks. m. 132.

Staff. William son of Robert de Wirleghe sued Richard de Thikbrom for two virgates of land, six acres of meadow, and six of waste in Thikebrom, and Henry de la Pirie for a rood of land in La Pirie. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the land into the King's hands, and to re-summon them again for Trinity Term. m. 184.

Staff. William de Hatton appeared against John de Swynnerton, Roger son of Stephen, Alice de Swynnertone, and three others in a plea that whereas the custody of two messuages and a virgate of land in Hatton belongs to him until the full age of the heir of Stephen de Swynnerton, inasmuch as the said Stephen held the tenement of him by Knight's service, and William was in peaceable seisin of it, John and the others named had violently ejected him; and the defendants did not appear, and are to be attached for Easter Term. m. 187, dorso.

Salop. Isabel de Beysyn sued Hugh de Beumes for the third of a messuage, two mills, an acre of meadow, and seventy-six acres of wood in Worketon and Walkeslawe as her dower, of the gift of Robert de Beysin formerly her husband.

Hugh pleaded that Isabel had been dowered in full from tenements in Silveton and Billingesleye. Isabella stated that the tenements in Silveton and Billingsleye she held in soccage as next heir (fn. 2) to the said Robert, and not in allocation of any part of her dower. A jury to be summoned for Hillary Term. m. 114, dorso.

Staff. Robert son of Richard de Esenyngton sued Ralph de Sempyngham the Dean of the Church of Lychefeud for a rent of 4s. in Wybaldeston (Wobaston), and recovers it by default. m. 58, dorso.