Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward III, File 142

Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 10, Edward III. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1921.

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'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward III, File 142', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 10, Edward III, (London, 1921) pp. 383-386. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol10/pp383-386 [accessed 25 March 2024]

Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward III, File 142

484. BERNARD, SON OF JOHN DE BRUYS, of Conyngton.
Writ to the escheator in co. Huntingdon. Whereas the king lately received the fealty of Hugh de Wesenham, who married Agnes, sister of Bernard son of John de Bruys of Conyngton, tenant in chief, and restored to him the lands late of the said Bernard, on his representation that the said Agnes was sister and heir of the said Bernard and of full age; now Nicholas de Grene says that the aforesaid John at the time of his death had four daughters, Agnes, Joan, Elizabeth and Ellen, then under age, and that Margaret wife of the said John was pregnant of the said Bernard, who was afterwards born and lived less than a year, so that Agnes, Joan, Elizabeth and Ellen remained his heirs, that Elizabeth and Ellen entered religion and he, Nicholas, married Joan; and the said Nicholas and Joan petition the king to take into his hands again and make partition between them and Hugh and Agnes of the lands delivered to Hugh. The king, finding from the inquisitions made after the death of the said John that Agnes, Joan, Elizabeth and Ellen were his daughters and heirs apparent, because Margaret his wife was pregnant, and it is not found that Bernard was heir nor Agnes sole heir of John, and he was deceived in the livery of the lands, orders the escheator to resume the lands &c. and to enquire whether Bernard was heir to John or not; and if so to enquire the circumstances of his birth, his heirs if he is dead, and whether the aforesaid Elizabeth and Ellen have entered religion, and if so where. 24 February, 32 Edward III.
HUNTINGDON. Return. The escheator has taken the said lands into the king’s hand and has found by inquisition taken at Huntingdon on Tuesday after mid-Lent that Bernard, son of John de Bruys, was heir of the said John; he was born in 19 Edward III and died in 20 Edward III; Agnes, Joan, Elizabeth and Ellen were then his heirs; afterwards in the king’s 21st year Elizabeth and Ellen took the habit of religion at Bolington, and were professed in the same year. And because by virtue of the above writ the escheator cannot enquire as to whether Joan is still alive, the jury say that the above-named Agnes is heir of the said Bernard and she is 19 years of age.
Similar writ to the escheator in co. Rutland, 24 February, 32 Edward III.
RUTLAND. Inq. made at Okham, 12 April, 32 Edward III.
Bernard, son of John de Bruys of Conyngton, was son and heir of the said John; he was born about the feast of the Purification, 21 Edward III, and died about the feast of All Saints in the same year; Agnes, wife of Hugh de Wesenham, aged 19 years, and Joan, wife of Nicholas Grene, aged 17 years, his sisters, are his heirs, and Elizabeth and Ellen, their sisters, have entered the priory of Bolynton, co. Lincoln, of the order of St. Gilbert of Cimpryngham, and have taken the habit of religion and have there been professed and cloistered for the last seven years.
Writ to the escheator in Rutland to enquire as to the lands of the said Bernard, his heir and as to who has been in possession since his death. 28 February, 32 Edward III.
Similar writ to the same, adding that the lands &c. are in the king’s hand by the death of John de Bruys and the minority of Bernard his son, who died in the king’s wardship. 19 March, 32 Edward III.
RUTLAND. Inq. made at Okham, 12 April, 32 Edward III.
Exton. The manor was taken into the king’s hand by the death of the said John by reason of the minority of Bernard his son and heir, by reason of the death of Maud, late the wife of Bernard de Bruys, brother of the aforesaid John, who held it for life of the inheritance of the said John and Bernard his son, of the king in chief as of the honour of Huntingdon, by knight’s service. John and Bernard his son died during the lifetime of the said Maud, and she died about Christmas, 24 Edward III, and after her death her right fell to Agnes, Joan, Elizabeth, and Ellen, sisters and heirs of Bernard son of John, because he died under a year old. He died about the feast of All Saints, 21 Edward III. Agnes, wife of Hugh de Wesenham, aged 19 years, and Joan, wife of Nicholas Grene, aged 17 years, are sisters and heirs of Bernard, and their sisters Elizabeth and Ellen are nuns in the priory of Bolynton, co. Lincoln, of the order of St. Gilbert of Cympringham, and are there professed and cloistered (recluse). John de Wesenham was in possession of the manor from the death of the aforesaid Maud by purchase from Master Simon de Yslep, now archbishop of Canterbury, until the delivery of the same by the king to Hugh de Wesenham and Agnes his wife on a writ de etate probata with regard to the said Agnes.
Bill directing the tenor of the record of a suit coram rege between Nicholas Grene and Joan his wife and Robert Baldewyne to be certified into the Chancery under the seal of Wilham de Shareshull, chief justice. 18 May, 32 Edward III. (Endorsed) By the chancellor on the information of W. de Newenh’.
Tenor of the record enrolled in Hilary term, 32 Edward III, ro. 89. Robert Baldewyne attached to answer Nicholas Grene and Joan his wife for trespass at Haldenby, co. Northampton, done on Monday before the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, 31 Edward III, says that at that time the said Joan was a nun at Nunneton: a certificate of the bishop of Coventry and Lichfield shews that she was not then a nun.
(See Calendar of Close Rolls, 1354–1360, p. 669.)
Writ of scire facias to the sheriff of Huntingdon. To the same effect as the writ to the escheator of 24 February, 32 Edward III, and directing him to warn Hugh de Wesenham and Agnes his wife to be present in Chancery on the octave of Trinity to shew cause why the partition should not be made. Westminster, 14 May, 32 Edward III. By the Council.
Endorsed by the sheriff, Nicholas de Styuecle, that he has warned the said Hugh and Agnes by John de Fodryngeye and John Stefenes.
Endorsed also: Thomas de Thelwall, clerk, is admitted guardian of Joan, wife of Nicholas Grene, said to be a minor, to prosecute the business.
Similar writ to the sheriff of Rutland to warn the same to be present on the octave of Hilary next. Westminster, 18 December, 32 Edward III. By the Council.
Endorsed by the sheriff, John de Kyrkeman, that he has warned them by John Davy and John Taillour.
Endorsed also: Thomas de Thelwall is admitted guardian of Joan.
Nicholas appoints the same as his attorney.
On which day Nicholas and Joan appeared before the Council in Chancery by the said Thomas and Hugh and Agnes by John de Shepdham, their attorney, and after full deliberation it was decided that Nicholas and Joan should have the pourparty falling to Joan, and writs are directed to the escheators in Rutland and Huntingdon to make the partitions as appears on the dorse of the Close Roll of the thirty-third year.
(Calendar of Close Rolls, 1354–1360, pp. 667–670.)
Writ to the escheator in co. Huntingdon. The king has assigned, of the lands &c. late of Bernard, son of John de Bruys, to Hugh de Wesenham, knight, whose homage he has received, and Agnes his wife a moiety of the manor of Conyngton and a moiety of the manor of Exton, co. Rutland; and to Nicholas Grene, whose homage he has received, and Joan his wife the other moiety of the said manors; and to Hugh and Agnes the first presentation to the church of Conyngton and to Nicholas and Joan the second presentation and so alternately, Agnes being the elder sister. The escheator is to make partition of the manor of Conyngton and to deliver the pourparties. 21 February, 33 Edward III.
(Calendar of Close Rolls, 1354–1360, p. 549.)
HUNTINGDON. Partition of the manor of Conyngton, Friday before the Annunciation, 33 Edward III.
The partition of the site of the manor house contains references to ‘la mote,’ ‘le draughtbrugge,’ ‘le muchel sklatchaumbre,’ provides for a new doorway to be made in the portion of the house assigned to Agnes, and reserves to Nicholas and Joan and their servants access for divine service to the chapel, which lies in the pourparty of Agnes; the partition of the demesne lands gives the field names, and the partition of the services the names of tenants.
Similar writ to the escheator in Rutland concerning the manor of Exton. 21 February, 33 Edward III. By p.s.
RUTLAND. Partition of the manor of Exton, 12 April, 33 Edward III.
The chapel is in the pourparty of Joan and access is reserved for Hugh and Agnes and their servants; field names and names of tenants are given in great detail.
C. Edw. III. File 142.
E. Inq. P.M. File 14 (17) is a copy of the writ of partition of 21 Feb., 33 Edw. III.
485. JOHN (sic), BISHOP OF CHESTER.
MIDDLESEX. Inq. virtute officii taken at Westminster, 6 December, 32 Edward III. (Cf. Escheators’ Accounts, Exchequer K.R. 5, no. 1.)
The said bishop, who held of the king in chief, held on the day he died a messuage and six shops thereto annexed by the church of St. Mary atte Stronde, let on lease by him for 64s. a year.
He held no other lands &c. in the county.
He died on 16 November last.
E. Inq. P.M. File 14. (9.)
486. WALTER DE HORTON.
Writ missing.
DEVON. Inq. (fn. 1) taken at Exeter, Friday the feast of St. Matthew, viz. 21 September, 32 Edward III.
Chepyng Toriton. A fifth part of the manor held of the king in chief.
La Wode. A carucate of land and 40a. wood held of the king in chief.
He died seised of divers other tenements held of other men.
He was a bastard and the above-mentioned premises ought to revert to the king as an escheat. Immediately after his death one John Chelfham entered the premises, viz. on Thursday before St. Gregory, 22 Edward III, and has held them until now.
E. Inq. P.M. File 14. (14.)

Footnotes

  • 1. This appears to be a copy of inquisition headed Willelmus de Horton in the Calendar printed in 1808, with the reference 35 Edward III, Part I, No. 124, marked in the Calendar ‘deest.’