Church Eaton Church.
The Church of Eyton is an ancient foundation which existed in
Saxon times. It was given to the Nuns of Pollesworth, in Warwickshire, towards the close of the eleventh century, or very early in the
twelfth century, by Edelina, the Lady of Eyton, and confirmed, as
I suppose, by her relative and chief lord, Robert de Stafford. (fn. 1)
As the right of Godwin, the Priest of the said Church, was specifically reserved to him, I presume that the Abbess and Convent did
not enter into possession of the fruits of the benefice until after his
decease. From after that time it appears that they received twothirds of the income. The Vicar who served the Church retained
the other third, out of which he had to pay them a further sum
of 3 marks annually for the demesne of the Church. (fn. 2)
It has been stated in speaking of the manor that in 1198 a suit
was commenced in the King's Court at Westminster, between the
Abbess of Pollesworth and Eva de Longford, the granddaughter of
Edelina, concerning the advowson of the Church of Eyton, which
was decided in favour of the Abbess in 1203. I presume, therefore, that the above-mentioned arrangement continued in force till
about the year 1260, when the decision was challenged by Adam
de Brumpton, the grandson of Eva, who claimed against the Abbess
the right to present to the Church, then vacant by the death of
William de Eyton, the late Vicar.
This dispute was determined by Roger Meuland, Bishop of
Coventry and Lichfield, with the consent of his chapter. By his
award, which is dated on 1st April, 1260, it was settled that the
Lord of Eyton and his heirs should nominate a fit Clerk to the
Abbess and her Convent, who should present the same Clerk, and
no other, to the Bishop for admission and institution. The said
Clerk, before his institution, was to swear that he would pay to the
said Abbess and her Convent an annual pension of 20 marks from
the fruits of the benefice in lieu of their claim to two-thirds of the
income. (fn. 2) This arrangement seems to have been accepted and acted
upon for more than two centuries afterwards; but there is no
institution of a Clerk recorded in the Diocesan Register till the
year 1305. The Church, which was situate in the Deanery of
Lapley-cum-Tresel, was valued for Pope Nicholas's Taxation, in
1291, at 30 marks, i.e., £20.
The Valor Ecclesiasticus of 1534–35 gives Thomas Sall, Clerk, as
Parson there.
|
| £ s. d. |
| He has a manse with lands there worth | 3 0 0 |
| and tithes of corn there annually worth | 16 0 0 |
| and in wool and lambs, about (7 marks) | 4 13 4 |
| and in Easter offerings | 2 3 4 |
| and in flax, hemp, geese and pigs, about | 0 15 0 |
| and in tithes of hay, about | 1 0 0 |
| and in herbage, about | 1 6 8 |
| and in fruits, about | 0 1 0 |
| and in oblations, about | 0 10 0 |
| Total | 29 9 4 |
From which are to be deducted the following payments, viz.:—
| For a certain annual pension, payable to Alice Fitzherbert, Abbess of Pollesworth, in the county of Warwick (20 marks) | 13 6 8 |
| and for procurations to the Archdeacon of Stafford, annually | 0 17 0 |
| and to the Bishop of Chester for synodals every third year | 0 6 0 |
| Clear total | 14 19 8 |
Incumbents of Church Eaton.
XIII. kal., April. (i.e., 20th March), 1305, Hugh de Hotoft was
admitted to the Church of Eyton, to which he was presented by
the Abbess and Convent of Pollesworth, on the nomination of Sir
Adam de Brympton, Knight, and promised to pay to the said
ladies a pension of 20 marks, which was due to them by ancient
custom. (fn. 3)
VII. kal., Februarii, 1310 (i.e., 26th January, 1311), Thomas, son
of Sir Adam de Brympton, Knight, Acolyte, was admitted to the
Church of Eyton, void by the resignation of Sir Hugh de Hoctot, to
which he was presented by the Abbess and Convent, and swore to
pay their annual pension of 20 marks. (fn. 4)
VIII. id., Januarii, 1320 (i.e., 6th January, 1321), William de
Ipstones was admitted to the Church of Eyton-juxta-Gnousale, to
which he was presented by the Abbess and her Convent on the
nomination of the heir of Sir Adam Brumpton, reserving to the Nuns
the annual pension which had been secured to them by the ordination of the late Bishop, Roger (Meuland); the said Church being
void by the resignation of Thomas Brumpton, the late Rector, who
had resigned iij. id., Decemb. (11th December), 1319. (fn. 5)
Soon after this a great controversy arose between William de
Ipstones and Thomas de Brumpton concerning the possession of
the Church, in which nearly all the leading families in that part of
the county took part on one side or the other. In 19 Edward II.
(1325–6), a special commission was sent into Staffordshire, "ad
inquirendum de congregationibus illicitis, homicidiis, depredationibus,
combustionibus, &c., in comitatu Stafford;" and among the pleas
heard before the King at Tamworth (fn. 6) in that year, with respect to
felonies committed, the jury of Cuttlestone and Pirehill presented
that in 17 Edward II., about Holy Trinity (1324), a quarrel arose
between Thomas de Brumpton and William de Ipstones respecting
the Church of Church Eyton, to which Thomas had been instituted,
who had held it until William de Ipstones, John his brother, (fn. 7)
Henry de Cresswall, (fn. 8) Philip de Ipstones, (fn. 9) Philip, son of Vivian de
Chetewynd, William de Chetelton, John de Picheford, (fn. 10) and others,
had ejected him by force; and they had besieged the manor of
Mary de Brumpton, (fn. 11) at Eyton, with swords and bows and arrows,
to the great terror of the people, and held the Church until the
Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (24th June, 1324),
when Thomas de Brumpton, John, son of William de Stafford,
junior, (fn. 12) Walter and William, his brothers, Roger, (fn. 13) son of Roger
de Trumwyn, Roger de Chetewynd, John de Bowlewas, Henry de
Sogenhill, and Richard de Aston, near Stone, Robert de Greseleye
and Roger his brother, and John, son of John de Perton, by the
maintenance and advice of Sir William de Stafford, Knight, and
Sir Roger Trumwyne, Knight, came armed with horse and foot and
ejected William de Ipstones by force. And on Thursday before the
Feast of St. Chad, 17 Edward II. (January or March, 1325), after
the return of John de Ipstanes from Gascony, on the day that the
full county was held at Stafford, there came the said Sir John de
Ipstanes, Knight, Sir Thomas Withers, Knight, Sir Nicholas de
Longeford, Knight, Sir Edmund de Appelby, Knight, William de
Chetelton, Henry de Creswall, and Thomas his son, Richard de
Hastang, and Humfrey his brother, Geoffrey Biroun, John, son of
Vivian de Chetewynde, Richard Shirard, and William his son, and
William de Chetelton, of Draycote, armed, to the great terror of
the King's subjects, and against the King's peace.
The jury of Lichfield said that John de Bowlewas and others
unknown had killed John de Couleye, of the retinue of William de
Ipstanes; and John, brother of James de Stafford, and William his
brother, had wounded John de Picheford, who was with William de
Ipstanes, so that he died at Stafford six days afterwards.
The Stafford jury said that William de Ipstanes, Clerk, John de
Ipstanes, Edmund de Appelby, Nicholas de Longeford, Thomas de
Barynton, Thomas Wither, Hugh de Meignil, junior, William de
Chetelton, Henry Creswall, Geoffrey Biroun, Thomas de Grenewey,
Philip, son of Vivian de Chetewynde, Ralph de Stafford, William
de Hastang, Humfrey de Hastang, Philip de Barynton, Knight,
William Shirard and Richard his brother, Philip de Ipstanes,
Theobald de Barynton, Thomas de Creswall, John de Staundon,
Robert de Pipe, of Rydware, Richard Hastang, William le Champion, John, son of Thomas de Stafford, John de Salt, and others,
came into Stafford armed day and night to the terror of the people,
and that Thomas de Pipe and Margaret his wife are of the maintenance of William de Ipstanes. They also said that Thomas de
Brumpton, John de Stafford, Walter and William his brothers,
James Trumwyne and Roger his brother, Roger de Chetewynd,
David de Pyvelesdon, Roger de Greseley, Robert Beaumeis,
Richard de Venables, Richard de Aston, Thomas de Aston, John
de Verdoun, Hugh, son of Hugh de Wasteneys, and Pagan de
Wasteneys, held the Church of Eyton by force, by the maintenance
of Sir William de Stafford, Knight, and Isabel, Lady of Ingestre,
and that Henry de Creswall is a common malefactor, and had
wounded Walter de Pykstok and William de Aston at Stafford in
17 Edward II.
The Sheriff is ordered to arrest Richard, son of Vivian de
Chetwynd, Robert de Greseley, John, son of John de Perton, Roger
Trumwyne, Knight, William de Chetelton, of Draycote, and Philip
his brother, William Wither, William de Lutteley, Ralph de
Stafford and Richard his brother, Edmund de Apelby, Knight,
Adam de Gaweley, Richard de Longeford, Knight, Thomas de
Barynton, Knight, Thomas Wither, Knight, Hugh, son of Hugh de
Meignil, Knight, William de Hastang, Philip de Barynton, Knight,
William Shirard and Richard his brother, Philip de Ipstanes,
Thomas de Creswall, John de Standon, Richard Hastang, William
le Champion, John de Salt, Walter de Stafford and William his
brother, David de Pyvelesdon, Roger de Greseley, Robert de
Beaumeis, Richard de Venables, Richard de Aston, Robert de
Aston, Hugh, son of Hugh de Wasteneys, Pagan de Wasteneys,
and Isabel, Lady of Ingestre. Some of these are bailed, and
some are not to be found. The Sheriff is ordered to distrain
upon the latter.
Isabel, Lady of Ingestre, on being questioned by the Justices,
did not deny that she had maintained an armed body of men in
support of her kinsman Thomas de Brumpton, but not to the terror
of the people, or in contempt of the King.
William de Stafford and James de Stafford surrendered, and
did not deny that they were of the maintenance of Thomas de
Brumpton, their kinsman, but denied that they armed to the terror
of the people or to the King's detriment. Philip, son of Vivian de
Chetewynd, on being questioned by the Judge, did not deny that
he armed on the side of William de Ipstanes, but not to the terror
of the people, &c.
Thomas Wither stated that William de Ipstanes was his kinsman, and after John de Ipstanes, brother of the said William de
Ipstanes, returned into England from Gascony, he armed in concert
with the said John to maintain the part of William.
Hugh, son of Hugh de Meignil, did not deny that after his
return from Gascony he rode armed in company with Thomas
Wyther and others.
Philip de Ipstanes admitted that he armed in support of his
kinsman.
Richard de Venables admitted that he rode armed in support of
Thomas de Brumpton.
Ralph de Lutteley denied that he had armed, but said that he
had assisted John de Ipstanes with his advice.
Roger de Trumwyne, Knight, admitted that he had assisted
Thomas de Brumpton and William de Stafford in the matter of the
Church of Eyton.
Philip de Barynton said that he had not borne arms for six
years past, but he had assisted John (Thos. ?) de Brumpton with
his advice.
John de Verdon denied he had anything to do with the matter,
and was acquitted by the jury. (fn. 14)
I suppose that this notorious breach of the peace had brought
down ecclesiastical censures upon the contending Clerks, for in or
about the year 1328, it is recorded in the Diocesan Register (that
of Bishop Norbury's time) that notice had been sent to the Crown
of the Rector of Eyton's absolution. But who that Rector was I
cannot say, for we are not informed of the issue of the quarrel.
We have seen that Ipstones was duly admitted on the presentation
of the Abbess, at the nomination of the heir of Sir Adam de
Brumpton, after the resignation of him whom I suppose to be the
same Thomas de Brumpton. I suppose this heir of Sir Adam de
Brumpton to have been his son, Sir John de Brumpton, Knight,
who was then of full age. But it is probable that Mary, the widow
of Sir Adam, who held the manor of Eyton for her life, had
claimed the right to nominate, as Lady of Eyton, and forbade the
former Rector, whom I take to have been her own son, to give up
possession until her right had been allowed. I suspect that she
succeeded in establishing her right, and in that case Thomas de
Brumpton, or the Rector whom she nominated, will have died or
resigned before April, 1335; for on 3rd April of that year the
Abbess and Convent of Pollesworth petitioned the Bishop to
admit to the vacant Church Robert Trumwyn, Clerk, whom they
presented for institution, begging him to reserve to them their
annual pension of 20 marks from the profits of the said Church. (fn. 15)
There is no mention in their letter of any nomination having been
made to them by the Brymptons, nor do I know whether the said
Clerk was instituted to the Rectory or not. As the Trumwynes
took part with Mary de Brumpton in what seems to have been a
family quarrel between her and her eldest son, I suspect that she
was still living and nominated her Clerk in 1335. Indeed, we know
that she was living in the previous year, though she must have
then been far advanced in years. She probably died soon after
this, for (her son) John de Brumpton died seised of Eyton in
August, 1336, and in 1338 the next presentation was made by
his widow as Lady of Eyton.
In the meantime William de Ipstones, Clerk, was admitted to
the Church of Longford, in Shropshire, on 5th October, 1332, at the
presentation of Sir John de Brumpton, Knight, and probably died
in 1343, when his successor was presented to the said Church.
Robert de Trumwyne, who was presented to Church Eaton in
1335, was one of the sons of Sir Robert Trumwyne, Knight (brother
of Sir William Trumwyne, Forester of Cannock), by his wife Joan,
the widow of Owen de la Pole, Lord of Powis, with whom
he acquired a considerable property in Shropshire and Staffordshire. (fn. 16)
The next admission to the Church of Eyton recorded in the
Diocesan Registry is that of Master Thomas de Neuport, Priest,
who was admitted and instituted in 1338, on the presentation of
the Abbess and Convent of Pollesworth by the dimission of Dame
Isabella de Brumpton, Lady of Eyton. (fn. 17)
After this I do not find any fresh institution recorded in the
Registers till the year 1432. In the meantime, however, I find
another William de Ipstones described in the will of Sir John de
Ipstones, Knight, in 1394–5, as parson of Eyton. (fn. 18)
Supposing him to have been the Rector, he may perhaps have
succeeded the Master Thomas de Neuport who was instituted in
1338; for the latter (or one of the same name) was Rector in 1390,
as appears by a fine levied at Westminster on 6th October of that
year, between Thomas Newport, Parson of the Church of Eyton,
and Thomas Corbet, Chaplain (Plaintiffs), and Peter de Caverswall
and Mary his wife (Deforciants), of the manor of Ercalwe, whereof
was Plea of Convention. The Deforciants first acknowledge the
Plaintiffs' right. The latter then settle the manor on the Deforciants; to hold for their lives, of the King, by the usual services,
with remainder to Thomas Gech and Isabel his wife, and Thomas
son of Thomas Gech, and his heirs,—to hold of the King, "by
whose precept this fine was levied." (fn. 19)
The next Rector I meet with is Mr. Richard Braunsporth,
whose institution is not recorded.
On 16th April, 1432, Sir Thomas Sawyer, Priest, was admitted
to the Church of Eyton, vacant by the death of Mr. Richard
Braunsporth, on the presentation of the Abbess and Convent of
Pollesworth at the nomination of Dame Isabella Franceys, Lady of
Eyton. (fn. 18)
On 14th May, 1462, Sir William Holden, Priest, was admitted
to the Rectory of Church Eyton, vacant by the death of Sir Thomas
Sawyer, on the presentation of the Abbess and Convent of Pollesworth. (fn. 18)
On 24th July, 1482, Master Thomas Gybons was admitted to
the Church of Eyton, vacant by the death of William Holden, on
the presentation of the Abbess and Convent, according to the
nomination of Henry, Duke of Buckingham. (fn. 18)
Thomas Phillipps was probably the next Rector.
On 31st September, 1509, John de la Corte, M.A., was admitted
to the parish Church of Church Eyton, vacant by the death of
Thomas Phillipps, on the presentation of the Abbess and Convent
of Pollesworth, (fn. 20) to whom he was nominated on 17th September,
1509, by Edward, Duke of Buckingham. (fn. 21)
Parson de la Corte, or Delacourte, died about the year 17
Henry VIII. (1525–6), when a fresh controversy arose between
Henry Lord Stafford, son and heir of the late Duke of Buckingham, and the Abbess, with respect to the right of patronage. Lord
Stafford nominated Mr. John Bulcombe to the Abbess for presentation, who does not appear to have been admitted until some time
afterwards. Perhaps he had refused, at the instigation of his
patron, to make the usual oath to pay the annual pension to Pollesworth Abbey, with respect to which there seems to have been some
relaxation made by the nuns a few years afterwards, as we shall
have occasion to show. In the meantime, Henry Lord Stafford
and John Bulcombe are summoned in Hillary Term, 18 Henry
VIII. (October, 1326), to answer to Alice, Abbess of Pollesworth,
and to show cause why she should not be allowed to present a fit
Parson to the vacant Church, to which Anne (Fitzherbert), the late
Abbess, had presented John Delacourte, who was instituted in the
time of the late King Henry VII., and on whose death the right
to present belonged to the present Abbess. From this she was
unjustly debarred by the said Henry and John, for which she
estimated her damages at £40. The said Henry and John appeared
by their attorney, Thomas Moreton, and denied the force and injury
alleged, and a day was given in the quindene of Easter for the
hearing of the case; at which day the said Henry and John appeared
and denied that the Abbess possessed the right which she claimed.
Judgment was given in favour of the Abbess, who seems to have
presented the said John Bulcombe, who was admitted on 8th
August, 1528. He held the benefice for a few years, and then
resigned it into the Bishop's hands. (fn. 21)
On 13th April, 1532, Master Thomas Saull, B.A., was admitted
to the Church of Church Eaton, vacant by the resignation of Mr.
John Bulcombe, on the presentation of the Abbess and Convent,
to whom he swore to pay the customary pension of 20 marks, (fn. 20) and
at the nomination of Lord Stafford. (fn. 21) He resigned in December,
1536. (fn. 21)
On 2nd March, 1536 (7), Mr. John ap Harry, M.A., was admitted
to the parish Church of Church Eyton, vacant by the resignation
of Mr. Thomas Saull, on the presentation of the Abbess and
Convent, having sworn to pay the annual pension, (fn. 22) and at the
nomination of the Lord Stafford. (fn. 23) In his time a fresh dispute arose
with respect to the customary annual payment, and a new arrangement was made between the contending parties in the time of
Bishop Roland, by which the Abbess, for herself and her successors, agreed to remit to the Parson of Eaton 5 out of the 20
marks he had been accustomed to pay. (fn. 23) Mr. John ap Harry
(or Parry) was admitted to the Rectory of Blymhill in 1544, (fn. 22) was
made Prebendary of Pipe Parva in the Cathedral Church of
Lichfield in 1547, (fn. 24) and died Archdeacon of Northampton in
1549. (fn. 24)
I do not find the name of the next Rector or Rectors.
On 22nd May (1553), King Edward VI., in the seventh year
of his reign, gave the advowson of the Rectory of Church Eaton to
Thomas Lord Darcy, of Chiche, Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's
Household, and a Knight of the Garter, who the next day passed
it to Thomas Underwood, alias Cragge, of Eccleshall, Gentleman,
who on 14th June, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary (1557), conveyed it to
Robert Sutton, of Stafford, Clerk, who on 12th March, 4 Elizabeth
(1562), sold it for £28 to Henry Lord Stafford, who on 16th May,
5 Elizabeth (1563), sold it for £40 to Ralph Blore, Clerk, to whom
Edward Lord Stafford confirmed it three years afterwards, being
brother and heir to Henry Lord Stafford, which Ralph Blore sold
it to John Blore of Hurtwell, who had issue Francis, who had
issue John Blore, of Harlaston, yeoman, who in 15 Car. I.
(1639–40) sold it for £150 to Thomas Chetwynd, Esq., Lord of the
Manor of Church Eyton. (fn. 25) Notwithstanding this grant of the
advowson by King Edward VI., and its confirmation by Edward
Lord Stafford in 1566, the Staffords do not appear to have relinquished their title to it, for in 31 Elizabeth, Edward Lord Stafford
has licence to alienate to his sister Dorothy Stafford, widow, the
advowson of the Church of Church Eaton, together with the manor.
A like licence was afterwards granted to the same Dorothy Stafford
in 36 Elizabeth to alienate it to Richard Drake, Esq., who in 38
Elizabeth renewed a similar licence to transfer it with the manor
to Walter Chetwynd, Esq., and his heirs. (fn. 26) The claim of the Staf
fords, however, does not appear to have held good against the title
of the grantee of the Crown, for on 21st October, 1579, Thomas
(Aw)sten [?], Clerk, was admitted to the Rectory of Church Eaton,
vacant by the death of Thomas Bolt, on the presentation of John
Blore. (fn. 27)
In 1663, William Jennings, of Church Eaton (who I suppose to
have been the then Rector), has a licence or faculty from the
Bishop "ad concionandum." (fn. 27)
On 27th April, 1664, Richard Davies, Clerk, M.A., was admitted,
on the presentation of (Walter) Chetwynd, Esq. (fn. 27)
In April, 1697, Walter Jennings, Clerk, was Rector of Church
Eaton. (fn. 28)
On 12th July, 1757, Richard Fawcett, D.D., was instituted to
the Rectory of Church Eaton, void by the death of Edward Byrd,
on the presentation of John Lord Viscount Chetwynd. (fn. 29)
On 23rd December, 1766, George Taylor, M.A., was instituted
to the said Rectory, void by the cession of Richard Fawcett, on the
presentation of John, Lord Viscount Chetwynd. (fn. 27) He was of
Maridge, in co. Devon, and was also Rector of Alford, co. Cest.,
and for many years Chaplain to King George III. He died
at Church Eaton, 9th November, 1810, in the eightieth year of his
age, and was buried in the Cathedral at Lichfield. (fn. 30)
On 29th December, 1840, George Talbot, Clerk, M.A., was
instituted to the vacancy created by the death of George Taylor,
on the presentation of Charles Chetwynd Talbot Chetwynd, Earl
Talbot. (fn. 27)
On 20th March, 1813, the Hon. and Rev. John Chetwynd
Talbot, Clerk, M.A., was instituted to the Rectory, void by the
death of George Talbot, on the presentation of Charles Chetwynd
Talbot Chetwynd, Earl Talbot. (fn. 27)
On 31st May, 1825, Edward Levett, Clerk, M.A., was instituted
to the Rectory, void by the death of the Hon. and Rev. John
Chetwynd Talbot, on the presentation of Charles Chetwynd Earl
Talbot. (fn. 31) The Rev. Edward Levett resigned on 4th February,
1829. (fn. 31)
On 27th March, 1829, the Hon. and Rev. Arthur Chetwynd
Talbot, B.A. (the present Rector) was instituted to the Rectory of
Church Eaton, void by the resignation of Edward Levett. (fn. 31) He is
also Rector of Ingestre.