Archdeacons: Taunton

Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7, Bath and Wells. Originally published by Institute of Historical Research, London, 2001.

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'Archdeacons: Taunton', in Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7, Bath and Wells, (London, 2001) pp. 35-38. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/fasti-ecclesiae/1066-1300/vol7/pp35-38 [accessed 18 March 2024]

LIST 12 ARCHDEACONS OF TAUNTON ('BEYOND THE PARRETT')

ARCHDEACONRY

Archdcnry. covered western part of dioc. and in 1291 comprised the deaneries of Bridgwater, Dunster, Taunton and Cricket (Taxatio pp. 198-9).

Preb. Milverton annexed to archdcnry. by bp. Jocelin 3 Apr. 1241 (Cal. I 469); papal conf. 5 Feb. 1245 (CPL I 213 = Reg. Innoc. IV no. 996). M. Walter of St Quentin was the first holder of the preb., which was held thereafter by successive archdcns. of Taunton (list 48).

Valuation 1291 £33 6s 8d (Taxatio p. 199b).

ARCHDEACONS

Hugh of Tournai

First occ. as Hugh archdcn. June/July 1141 × c. 1142 (EEA X nos. 20-1) and c. 1143 × 1147 (EEA X no. 10, for which see below, app. 1). Occ. several times. Last occ. c. 1151 × 4 Nov. 1159 (EEA X no. 45), (fn. 1) 1151 × 63 (Cart. Athelney no. 87), (fn. 2) and c. 1155 × 1164 (Two Registers of Beauchamp of Hatch, ed. H. C. Maxwell-Lyte (SRS xxxv, 1920) p. 57). Prob. out of office by 31 Aug. 1166, as does not occ. paying prestations in vacancy (PR 17 Hen. II p. 24). Occ. with territorial title once only, 'de ultra Perret', together with Martin archdcn. of Bath and Eustace archdcn. of Wells (EEA X no. 37, as Hugh of Tournai), together with whom he occ. on other occasions (ibid. nos. 10, 21, 24; Cart. Athelney no. 187). Native of Tournai, where he was commem. 19 March (Vleeschouwers pp. 531-3).

[? M. Richard (fn. 3)

First occ. c. 1174 (EEA X no. 175), [1174] (Stogursey Chs., ed. T. D. Tremlett and N. Blakiston (SRS lxi) no. 51 (14)), and 6 Oct. 1174 × 29 Sept. 1175 (EEA VIII no. 186; cf. ibid. X no. 108, of 23 June 1174 × May 1177). Occ. many times. Last occ. c. 1182 or c. 1185 (Reg. S. Osmundi I 268). Territorial title always 'of Bath'; occ. on four occasions together with Thomas of Earley archdcn. of Wells (Mon. Ang. IV 400 (xi); EEA VIII no. 186, X no. 170; Cal. I 69). Possibly acting for John Cumin, absent archdcn. of Bath (list 10). A more attractive conjecture is that held the archdcnry. beyond the Parrett, which was otherwise vacant. He occ. on six occasions together with Henry Fitz Harding, archdcn. of Exeter (EEA X nos. 149, 175; Cal. I 27, 43, 68, 69), which Dr Ramsey suggests indicates an interest in the southern part of the dioc. (EEA X 219), though Armitage Robinson, while putting Richard among the archdcns. beyond the Parrett, suggested that Henry might have been involved for a time in archidiaconal work in Bath and Wells dioc. (Robinson, SHE pp. 85-7, 90, cf. ibid. pp. 82-3), a view supported by Professor Barlow (EEA XII 307 n. 30). Possibly to be identified with 'Ricardus Bath' who was commem. at Durham (Liber Vitae Dunelmensis, [ed. A. H. Thompson] (Surtees Soc. cxxxvi, 1923) fo. 45; cf. William cantor, list 4).]

[? M. Ralph of Lechlade

Bp.'s clerk and can. (unident. preb., list 67). Not called archdcn. c. 1182 × 18 Nov. 1184 (EEA X no. 151; cf. ibid. no. 113). Occ. as archdcn. in mid-1180s: c. 1184 × 1186 (ibid. nos. 77, 100), 8 Nov. 1186 (ibid. no. 98, perhaps spurious), March 1185 × 29 Sept. 1188 (ibid. no. 101; cf. ibid. nos. 62, 99, 143, 152). Presum. had ceased to act as archdcn., occurring without title before 29 Sept. 1188 (Cal. II 548 (no. 10)) and c. 1188 (EEA X no. 147) and later (unident. preb., list 67). Territorial title always given as Bath, but Taunton possible as five of nine chs. which he witnesses as archdcn. concern churches beyond the Parrett (see Ramsey in EEA X 219-20). Prec. by 8 March 1208 (list 4).] (fn. 4)

M. Robert de Geldford (fn. 5)

Preb. of Salisbury from before 1184 (1 Fasti IV 130-1; and see EEA XVIII p. lxx, XIX 398). Presum. not yet archdcn. when witnessed chs. of bp. Reginald without title: before c. 1184 (ibid. X nos. 73, 169), before 29 Sept. 1188 (ibid. no. 92), c. 1182 × 18 Nov. 1184 (ibid. no. 151), c. 1184 × 29 Sept. 1188 (ibid. no. 132), and March 1185 × 29 Sept. 1188 (ibid. no. 101; cf. ibid. no. 111). (fn. 6) First occ. as archdcn. before M. Alexander became dean in late 1189 (Cal. I 38). (fn. 7) Also occ. several times shortly after M. Alexander became dean and before 27 Nov. 1191 (EEA X nos. 69, 78, 81, 84, 114-116, 131, 137, 145 (as M. Robert de Belleford), 154-6, 158, 161, 178; ibid. XII no. 179; Cal. I 9). Last certain occs. 10 Nov. 1195 (Cart. Buckland no. 150) and Lent 1195 × 12 Sept. 1204 (EEA X no. 208). Often called archdcn. of Bath [dioc.], but occ. with title of 'beyond the Parrett' three times: n.d. (Sarum Chs. p. 59 (no. 70)), Lent 1195 × 12 Sept. 1204 (EEA X no. 208), and n.d. (Stogursey Chs. no. 51 (8)). (fn. 8) Also occ. in connection with a case concerning Nether Stowey (in this archdcnry.) (Cal. I 40).

M. William of Wrotham (fn. 9)

Can., prob. from 1194 (preb. St Decumans, list 51). First occ. as archdcn. of Taunton 12 Sept. 1204 (Rot. Litt. Claus. I 8b). Occ. several times. Royal justice (Foss, Judges II 131-4). Occ. as W. archdcn. of Taunton at el. of bp. Jocelin, early 1206 (below, app. 2 no. 8). Last occ. 25 July 1217 (Rot. Litt. Claus. I 316b). D. before 16 Feb. 1218 (ibid. p. 352b), presum. before 2 Dec. 1217 (below).

Peter [? of Chichester]

Occ. as Peter archdcn. of Taunton twice only: 2 Dec. 1217 (Adam de Domerham I 297) and 28 May 1217 × 27 May 1218 (Cart. Bruton no. 65). Prob. to be identified with Peter, treas. by 2 Oct. 1213, last 16 July 1217 (list 6), and with Peter of Chichester, can. from before Dec. 1209 (unident. preb., list 67), dean by Apr. 1220 (list 3).

M. Hugh de Wilton (fn. 10)

Can. of Exeter by 22 Feb. 1199/1200 (EEA XII no. 213). Can. of Wells by early 1206 (unident. preb., list 67). First occ. as archdcn. of Taunton 18 Aug. 1221 (EEA XIX no. 270). Occ. several times. Last occ. after Jan. 1236 (Cal. I 402) and presum. after Sept. 1236 (ibid. p. 70). Commem. at Exeter 24 Jan. (Exeter Cath. Libr. MS 3625 fo. i). (fn. 11)

M. Walter of St Quentin (fn. 12)

Can. of Wells by 7 Aug. 1239, perhaps earlier (unident. preb., list 67). First occ. as archdcn. of Taunton, receiving annexed preb. Milverton, 3 Apr. 1241 (Cal. I 469; cf. ibid. p. 90). Occ. frequently. Rector of Chedzoy (Som.), occ. 14 June 1263 (Chart. Glastonbury I 26-7). D. as archdcn. 18 Dec. 1263 (Cal. I 34; cf. ibid. p. 11). Chantry at altar of holy Saviour (ibid. pp. 1-2, 400). Presum. related to M. Bonetus de Sancto Quintino (preb. Holcombe, list 42), M. Nicholas de Sancto Quintino (cf. CPL I 212 = Reg. Innoc. IV nos. 922, 923; unident. preb., list 67) and M. Robert of St Quentin (unident. preb., list 67).

An unnamed archdcn. of Taunton, his name blank in MS, occ. 19 June 1282 (Reg. Pecham II 46-7).

M. William Burnel

Can. by 11 Oct. 1284 (preb. Wiveliscombe, list 64). Dean of Wells by 30 Apr. 1293, last occ. as dean 10 Aug. 1295, res. by 13 Feb. 1297 (list 3). Occ. as William Burnel archdcn. of Taunton 28 Sept. 1294 (CPR 1292-1301 p. 94) and also called archdcn. of Taunton after his d. (Reg. Droxford fo. 1v, of 28 June 1316).

M. William de Molendino

Instal. as archdcn. of Taunton and can. by proxy 16 Dec. 1298, and in person 1300 (Cal. 1159). Occ. 6 Nov. 1300, going to Gascony (CPR 1292-1301 p. 542). Had been succeeded by 13 Feb. 1302 (Cal. I 170).

Footnotes

  • 1. For date, see below, list 33 n. 153.
  • 2. A conflated witness-list, from which archdcn. Eustace should prob. be excised.
  • 3. He is to be differentiated from M. Richard de Feny, who occ. as vice-archdcn. of Bath 1154 × 89 (Cart. St. Mark's no. 237 and p. 275) and c. 1186 × 1187 (Cal. I 40); cf. M. Richard de Fenna, who occ. without title 1200 × 1225 (ibid. pp. 43, 74).
  • 4. For Richard, archdcn. of Coutances, erroneously included among archdcns. of Taunton by Robinson, SHE pp. 87-8, see EEA X 217, 219-20.
  • 5. ? Guildford, Surrey.
  • 6. EEA X no. 98, dated 8 Nov. 1186, where he occ. without title, is prob. spurious.
  • 7. Temp. Alexander subdean, lists 3, 7.
  • 8. This ch. is attested by vice-archdcn. Richard of Spaxton; Richard vice-archdcn. occ. 1203 × 5, Select Canterbury Cases pp. 12bis, 13.
  • 9. Presum. Wrotham, Kent; cf. Curia Regis Rolls VI 11, 12 etc. For notes and references on his career, see Select Canterbury Cases p. 11. Maurice de Berkeley occ. acting in the archdcnry. Lent 1195 × 8 Aug. 1205 in EEA X no. 246, prob. on behalf of M. William of Wrotham; he was can. early 1206, unident. preb., list 67.
  • 10. ? Som. or Wilts. (2)
  • 11. M. Hugh de Greneford, prob. can. (unident. preb., list 67), occ. as archdcn. of Taunton 7 Jan. 1234 (Cart. St Mark's no. 25), Oct. 1240 (Curia Regis Rolls XVI no. 2507), Apr. 1241 (ibid. no. 1647), July [1241] (ibid. no. 1829), and c. 1 Aug. [?] (Cart. Buckland no. 104). As his period of office cuts into those of both M. Hugh de Wilton and M. Walter of St Quentin as archdcn., M. Hugh de Greneford must have been vice-archdcn.
  • 12. He was nephew of M. John of St Quentin, dean of St Quentin (Vermandois) and treas. of Salisbury (Cal. I 400), for whom see 1 Fasti IV 22.