BIGOD of Settrington, co. Yorks. [comment]]
Todd A. Farmerie
>
> Also, is there enough evidence to conclude:
>
> that Sir John Bygod of Stocton and Settrington [d. 1305] was the next male heir
> after the death of the Earl and the cleric John, i.e.,
Wouldn't that be this John's son, since he died before the Earl?
taf
Reedpcgen
the Bigod family, Earls of Norfolk. William Wentworth and his cousins descend
from the Bigod family of Settrington--a cadet branch of the Earls of
Norfolk--through Anne Calverley. I myself had posted reference to this some
time ago.
That the Bigods of Settrington, Yorks., and Stocton, co. Norfolk, are a branch
of the ancient Bigod family is not a new idea. A footnote to Sir John Bygod's
1388 will published long ago [Test. Ebor., 1] reads, "The Bigods, of
Settrington, were descended from Ralph Bigod, a younger son of Hugh Bigod, Earl
of Norfolk, which Ralph married Bertha, daughter of Thomas Furnival, Lord of
Hallamshire."
The descent from a certain Sir John Bigod [d. 1305] and his wife Isabella [d.
1311]--upon whom Settrington was settled in 1302 [see Feet of Fines for the
County of York (YAS 127:43 [no. 227])]--down to Anne Calverley is not in
question. The problem lies in the identification of this John’s parents.
Modern researchers [Early Yorkshire Families, etc.] have followed the
conclusions expressed in a detailed article which appeared some years ago in
the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal [Rev. Charles Moor, D.D., F.S.A.,
F.R.Hist.S., "The Bygods, Earls of Norfolk," YAJ 32:172-213]. This article
stated that this John was a younger brother of Roger Bigod, last Earl of
Norfolk of that line, rather than son of Roger’s uncle, Ralph, as others have
claimed.
Though I have not exhausted all records of the period in question, I’ll post
some of what I’ve found so far so that those interested won’t have to wait
until David Faris’s Magna Charta Ancestry book comes out sometime next year.
DESCENT FROM SIR JOHN BIGOD TO ANNE CALVERLEY:
[1] Sir JOHN BIGOD, knight, of Stockton, co. Norfolk (and of Settrington, co.
York, from 1302), died in 1305 [IPM, listing lands at Seething and Stockton,
co. Norfolk, Theberton, co. Suffolk, and Settrington, co. York], leaving a
widow, ISABELLA, and three sons,
(1a) Ralph Bigod, d. 1332 [leaving a son named John], who inherited the lands
in cos. Norfolk, Suffolk and Northampton; the marriage of Ralph son and heir of
John le Bygod of Stocton, a minor in the King’s custody, was granted on 16
July 1305 [CPR 1301-7, 374-5].
(1b) John Bigod, who succeeded to the manor of Settrington, Yorkshire, but
d.s.p. 1333. And
(1c)/[2] ROGER BIGOD, next in this line of descent.
Isabel, Sir John's widow, died in 1311 [IPM], holding part of Settrington in
dower; her heir in that property, according to the terms of the 1302
settlement, was found to be her son John, who was aged 30 and more [b. by
1281].
On 22 Sep. 1332, and on 12 Feb. 1333, John, son of (1a) Ralph Bygot of
Stockton, co. Norfolk, owed 100 pounds on his lands [Bugbrooke] in co.
Northampton to (1b) John Bygot, lord of Settrington, Yorks., his uncle. Though
this younger John [the son of the eldest legitimate brother (1a) Sir Ralph
Bigod (d. 1332)] was still then alive, at (1b) John's death without issue in
1333, his younger brother (1c)/[2] ROGER BIGOD was found his heir [heir to the
lands at Settrington by terms of a 1302 entail]. On 26 Feb. 1334, pardon was
given to Roger Bygot for the acquisition (without license) by John, son of John
Bygot of Stockton from Ralph Bygot son and heir of John Bygot of Stockton, of
lands within the manor of Seteryngton, to hold to John Bygot and his heirs,
remainder to his brother Roger, and for his [Roger’s] entry therein on the
death of the said John son of John [CPR 1330-4, 515 (a bit confused)].
[2] Sir ROGER BIGOD, of Settrington, Yorks., third son of Sir John [d.1305], b.
ca. 1300-3, died in 1362 [IPM]. His heir was his son:
[3] Sir JOHN BIGOD, MP, of Settrington, Yorks., b. ca. 1334, d. 1388. He was
father of a number of children, including a daughter named JOAN BIGOD, and his
heir John Bigod, b. say 1376-7, minor in 1388 and1396, received livery in 1397,
d. ca. 1427 [m. Constance de Mauley and was father of Ralph Bygod (b. ca.
1410), of Settrington].
[4] JOAN BIGOD, daughter of Sir John [d. 1388], married [as his third wife] SIR
WALTER CALVERLEY [b. ca. 1340, d. 1404]. The marriage settlements in 1401
involving her brother John Bigod, lord of Settrington, pinpoint the year of
marriage. She took the vow after her husband's death in 1404 and died in 1420.
She was mother of the son SIR WALTER CALVERLEY, b. ca. 1402, who m. 1415,
ELIZABETH MARKENFIELD, by whom he fathered the daughter in whom we are
interested, ANNE CALVERLEY.
[end of part 1 of 3]
Paul C. Reed, FASG
[copyright, hence to publication in sundry journals without my permission]
Reedpcgen
IDENTITY OF SIR JOHN BIGOD, OF STOCTON, CO. NORFOLK [D. 1405]
Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, surety of the Magna Charta, m. Maud Marshal,
senior coheir of William Marshal, hereditary Marshal of England. They had three
sons:
Roger le Bigod, b. 1212, d. 1270, succeeded as Earl of Norfolk, but died
without issue leaving Sir Roger Bigot, son of the late Sir Hugh, brother of the
late Earl, aged 24/25/26, as his heir [CIPM 1:239-41 (no. 744)].
Hugh le Bigod, an influential man who became Chief Justiciar of England, d.
1266. He m. (2) Joan de Stuteville [d. 1276], widow of Hugh Wake [(d. 1241) by
whom she had an heir, Baldwin Wake].
Sir Ralph Bigod, who had interests in Stockton, co. Norfolk, and Settrington,
co. York.
CP 9:592, note h, states that Roger le Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, wrote the King
[an original letter sewn back on the Close Roll] in 1270 requesting that Roger,
son of his brother Hugh, be his attorney as Marshal. Earl Roger died July 1270,
being succeeded by his nephew Roger, son of the late Earl's brother Hugh Bigod,
by his wife Joan de Stutevlille [daughter and heir of Nicholas de Stuteville
(by his wife Devorguille of Galloway)]. The new Earl's parents, Hugh and Joan,
were married by Michaelmas 1244, and he was born shortly thereafter, as the
IPMs of his uncle Roger stated his age to be 24-26.
On 8 Apr. 1302, Roger le Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, was allowed to alienate the
manor and advowson of Settrington, Yorkshire, to his "KINSMAN" John le Bigod,
his wife Isabel, and their two sons, John and Roger, in tail successively. This
Earl Roger died without issue in 1306. His IPMs state his heir was HIS BROTHER
John, aged 40 and more [born by 1266].
The author of the 1936 article in the YAJ 32:179 states:
"Some have thought that Sir John was not brother but cousin of the last Earl,
viz., son of his uncle Ralph, but although in several deeds he is called his
‘kinsman,’ in the Earl’s Inquisition he is distinctly said to be his
brother. This is contemporary evidence, as is also an entry on a Charter Roll 4
Aug. 1301, where ‘Sir John Bygod, the Earl’s brother,’ and Sir John Bygod
of Sutton, are said to have witnessed a deed of the Earl. Walsingham also
speaks of him as his brother."
The author admits that the inquisition states that the Earl’s heir, his
brother John, was aged 40, but according to the terms of the surrender of the
Earldom made before Roger’s death, the lands fell to the King. "The last
statement was, of course, correct, for Roger had no issue, but as John had been
dead more than twenty months, he could not have been his heir."
The confusion seems to be that though the last Earl Roger le Bigod had a
brother named John, he was not the same man as John Bigod, his kinsman, on whom
the Earl settled the manor and advowson of Settrington. The brother John [a
cleric who apparently died without issue] survived the Earl and was apparently
disinherited by his brother and the King. There are a number of facts about
which the author of the 1936 article was ignorant.
JOHN BYGOD, the Earl’s BROTHER
John Bygod, brother of Roger, Earl of Norfolk, was found to be aged 40 or more
[born ca. 1266] in many of the inquisitions taken after the Earl’s death [d.
1306]. The jury for the lands in Essex determined that "John le Bigod, his
brother, aged 40, is his next heir, but this manor ought to remain to the king
and his heirs by the form of the grant aforesaid" [CIPM 4:291 (no. 434)]. The
juries for Sussex and Suffolk came to the same finding. That for Berkshire
simply stated that the brother John was of full age. All the inquisitions
indicate he was alive. If the Earl’s brother had died more than a year before
leaving several sons, as the YAJ article claims, the many juries who were
required by both law and god to determine the next proper heir would not have
stated that the Earl’s brother was then alive and the next heir; they would
have found the heir to be a nephew, especially if that nephew were a minor
whose lands should fall into the King’s hands [Ralph, son and heir of John le
Bygod of Stocton was a minor in the King’s custody on 16 July 1305 (CPR
1301-7, 374-5), but received livery of his lands 17 Sep. 1306 (CCR)].
"John Bigot, clerk, and [R]oger his brother, earl Marshal, patron of Thetford,"
were ordered to desist from interference in the priory of Thetford, co.
Norfolk, in 1301 [CPapR 1:594]. The Earl died in 1306. On 6 March 1312, order
was given "to the escheator beyond Trent to take into the king’s hand the
lands late of John Bygot, clerk, deceased, tenant by knight service of the heir
of John Wake, tenant in chief of Edward I, a minor in the king’s ward. The
like to the escheator on this side Trent" [CFR 2:127]. The IPM of Joan, late
the wife of John Wake, in reply to a petition by the said Joan for dower in the
manor of Skeldynghopp, co. Lincoln, stated that John Bygot "who holds the manor
answered that the escheator requires a warrant from the exchequer so that he
may allow seisin" [CIPM 4:123-4 (no. 196)]. An educated man.
On 31 May 1312, order was given by the King to stay the inquisition to be made
concerning the land of John le Bygod, clerk, deceased, and not to intermeddle
further with the same lands [CCR Edw. II 1:426]. If the lands had been held by
this John in his own right, and if he had been lawfully seised of them at his
death, this would [according to my understanding] have been an unjust order.
But should the lands be only those to which he might have had some right as
only surviving brother and heir of the late Earl of Norfolk, the King would be
justified in stopping the inquisition as the deceased would have had no rights
in the inheritance or lands by reason of the 1302 settlement.
There was a fine for a John le Bygod, parson of the church of Cotyngham, in
1306, but I don’t know if this is our man or not.
Though chronicles did mention the Earl’s brother John, I am not aware that
any of them stated he married or had issue, or was knighted, or that he was "of
Stocton." The chronicler who goes into most detail, Walter of
Guisborough/Hemingburgh [Camden Soc./Roy. Hist. Soc., 3s, 89:352] relates that
the Earl of Norfolk had borrowed money from his brother John, a wealthy man.
The brother John demanded repayment. The Earl stated that when he died John
would be heir to all he had. John replied, why should that interest him? He
wanted the money. So the Earl repaid him, but disinherited him by granting the
Earldom of Norfolk and all its lands to the King.
If we examine this account, it would seem odd that a man—a knight with three
sons to represent the male line—would be uninterested in the title or
inheritance of the Earldom. A cleric, on the other hand, not having expectancy
of any legitimate issue, might have thought otherwise. Further, though the IPMs
of the Earl state his brother was named John, none of them state that his
brother was a knight, or call him ‘of Stocton.’ Also, the age found of this
brother [40] by several juries does not agree with the age of Sir John Bygod of
Stocton.
The grant of lands to John le Bigod of Stokton dated 10 July 1302 [CChartR
3:25, 34] does not call him brother of the Earl, nor does the final concord.
"Sir John le Bigod" was a witness to several of the Earls charters [CChartR
3:31], but none of them state he was the Earl’s brother. In fact, the ONLY
charter which states that a Sir John Bygod was brother of the Earl is a charter
produced by the monks of St. Mary Tyntern after the Earl's death, one of five
(at least one of which is clearly falsified). It is only in this one specific
charter [CChartR 3:106] that the witnesses include "Sir John Bygod, the
earl’s brother, Sir John le Bygod of Sutton, Sir Nicholas de Kyngeston,
knights," and others, supposedly dated at Modesgat [Wales?] 4 Aug. 1301. Note
that this does not state that the Earl’s brother was "of Stocton."
One might also wonder if the brother should indeed have been styled "Sir," but
only in the honorific sense (not have been listed as a knight), rather being
"dom." as a cleric. In any case, it is ONLY this document that presents any
possible confusion between the two John Bygods. I would assume if the witnesses
to the charter in question were not fictional that the Sir John Bygod of Sutton
[of whom I saw no mention in any other record] was a son or relation of William
Bigod, a son of Hugh, Earl of Norfolk (by his second wife Gundred) [CP 9:586,
note e] and Cart. Antiq. (Pipe Roll Soc., ns 17)]. This William Bigod married
Margery, daughter and heir of Robert de Sutton, of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk
[Norfolk Arch. 30:20].
[end of part 2]
Reedpcgen
RALPH BYGOD, of Stockton, co. Norfolk
In 1275, it was presented that Ralph, son of Earl Hugh Bigod and the Countess
Maud/Matilda, had granted William de Brom [Broome] the amercements of his
homage in the soke of Stockton, co. Norfolk [Rot. Hund. 1:467b]. This shows
that Ralph, son of Earl Hugh, held rights in Stockton. Ralph Bigod, born after
1208, was dead by 1260, when his widow and executrix, Berte de Furnival [sic]
was mentioned. A month from Easter 37 Hen. III, Ralph Bygot was claimant by
fine to a moiety of the manor of Seterington, Hugh Bygot tenant. Ralph was to
hold it for life of Hugh and his heirs. On the death of Ralph it was to revert
to Hugh and his heirs quit of the heirs of Ralph [Feet of Fines…York, YAS
82:91].
Ralf Bygod appeared a number of times in the Curia Regis Rolls [I do not have a
full run of these (missing v. 10-15; anyone want to check them to let us know
if Ralph Bigod is listed in the index?)]; a suit 1242-3 specifically involves
him in land at Seterinton [CurRR 17:142 (no. 715)]. Ralph apparently also had
interests in land at Thorne, co. York, where Maud, Countess of Norfolk and de
Warenne had interests [EYC 8:176-7 (no. 131)].
William Farrer, Honors and Knights’ Fees 2:277, under Bugbrooke, Northants.,
states: "The earl of Derby is said to have given the manor [of Bugbrooke] to
Hugh [de Ferrers] his younger son, who had a grant of free warren here in 1247.
Cecily his daughter and heir married Geoffrey de Beaumont and they held the
manor in 1284 of the earl of Chester's heirs. Cecily died in 1290, but Godfrey
survived until 1293, when it was found that he and his wife had been jointly
enfeoffed…; by collusion they had passed the manor by fine to John Bigod
[Baker, Northants., 1:122ff.; Abbrev. Placit. 247b, 260]…. In 1302 John Bigod
brought a suit against Eleanor late the wife of Robert de Ferrers, John de
Ferrers and Walter de Wilton for this manor [Abbrev. Placit. 247b]. [This John
died in 1305.] Five years later the plea was still in process, John son of the
said John Bigod claiming the manor. John de Ferrers and Hawise his wife in
their reply alleged that John the younger was a bastard; Ralph Bigod [the
younger John’s brother] then came upon the scene and claimed to be John
Bigod’s son and heir, and in Easter term, 1307, recovered the manor [Ibid.
260]. He was lord of Bugbrooke in 1316 [Feudal Aids, 4:21], but some years
later the Ferrers were again in possession." [A side note here; John and Roger
are stated to be Isabella’s sons, but no document states that the eldest son
Ralph was son of Isabella—an interesting inference if the younger John was an
illegitimate son of the elder Sir John by Isabella, who later became his
legitimate wife.]
This same scenario is given in Whalley’s edition of Bridges’ History of
Northamptonshire 1(1791):485, which gives Bertha as being daughter of William
de Ferrers, 4th Earl of Derby [d. 1247] by his wife, Agnes of Chester [m. 1192,
d. 1247]: "By this Lady he had issue, William his successor in the Earldom of
Derby, Hugh his second son, and Berta a daughter, who became wife of …
Bigod." Baker’s History of Northampton 1(1822-30):122-3, also gives the
account (in more detail), giving Bertha as wife of "Ralph Bigot, brother of
Roger 5th Earl of Norfolk" by whom Baker indicates a son, "Sir John Bigod, of
Singes, or Seething, co. Norfolk [listed in the IPM of Sir John of Stocton,
1305] claimant of Bugbrook, 22-32 Edw. I, ob. 33 Edw. I (1304-5)." See also
Rotuli Parliamentorum… 1:129-30. [I have not checked the Year Books of Edward
I or the abstracts of the de Banco Rolls.]
By Sir Thomas Furnival, Bertha was mother of Sir Thomas and Sir Gerard [d.
1261]. NOTE, HOWEVER, that I have not seen documentary evidence that shows that
Bertha, wife of Thomas Furnival or wife of Ralph Bygod was a Ferrer, or
daughter of the Earl of Derby (if Bertha/Berta was indeed daughter of the 4th
Earl of Derby, her paternal grandmother would be daughter of Bertha/Berte of
Hereford).
CP 5:580 [Furnivalle] simply states that Sir Thomas Furnivalle, of Sheffield,
co. York, and Worksop, co. Notts., [father of the first Furnivalle to be
summoned by writ], was son of Sir Thomas Furnivalle "by Berta, his wife." No
parentage for Berta is claimed. Note "h" which refers to this lady reads, "This
Berta was living 10 Feb. 1266/7 (Patent Roll, 51 Hen. III, m. 26). She had m.,
2ndly, Ralph le Bigod, whose widow she was, 28 July 1260 (Fine Roll, 44 Hen.
III, m. 5)." I have no problem with this statement, as Excerpta e Rotulis
Finium 2:333 records that "Berta de Fornivall’ uxor Radulphi le Bygod" was
coexecutor of Ralph’s testament. Mon. Angl. 5:270 reads "Rogerus sive
Radulphus Bigod, secundus filius Hugonis le Bigod com. Norfolke…. Iste
Rogerus sive Radulphus desponsavit Bertam de Fornivale de quo Johannes Bigod,
et …… Isabella soror Johannes, quae primam desponsata fuit Gilberto de
Lacy."
Gerard de Furnivalle, father of the eldest Thomas, was under age 12 Mar.
1200/1, but given livery of his wife’s father’s lands 20 May 1203. His son
and heir Thomas was likely born about that period. He was still alive 13 Apr.
1238. That would help with a rough estimation of the birth year of his wife
Berta.
CP 5:434, note "a" [FitzJohn] reads,
This Isabel, who he [Sir John FitzJohn] m. before 12 Apr. 1234, was widow of
Gilbert de Lacy, of Ewyas Lacy, co. Hereford…. She is said (Chron. of
Tintern—Monasticon, vol. v, p. 270) to have been da[ughter] of Ralph le Bigot
, by Berta de Furnivalle, but this is impossible, for Ralph was born after
1208. The text of the chronicle is defective and does not lend itself to
emendation, but it is not so with the Annals of Ireland (p. 313), and both are
obviously derived from the same source—"Hugo [Bygod Comes Norfolcie]
generavit Radulphum Bigod patrem Johannis Bigod qui fuit filius domine Berte de
Furnyvall’ et Isabelle de Lacy uxoris domini Johannis fitz Geffery." Here the
writer has merely extended wrongly two words in the authority he was copying.
Replacing Isabelle and uxoris by Isabellam and uxorem, a credible version is at
once obtained. In 1265 Idoine de Vespont … was in the custody of this Berta,
by the commitment of John fitz John (Patent Roll, 49 Hen. III, m. 6). Isabel
had, in marriage, Great Connell, co. Kildare (Close Roll, 18 Hen. III, m. 22).
[end quote]
Blomefield’s History of Norfolk 4(1775):258, states that Sir Ralph, a younger
son of Hugh, Earl of Norfolk, was enfeoffed of Stockton "and held it under the
earl; to this Ralph, Walter de Shipmeadow of Suffolk, conveyed by fine, in the
24th of Henry III. his right of fishing in the river Waveny, between the towns
of Stocton and Shipmeadow… he married Berta, daughter of Lord Furnival, and
died without issue, as did Roger, his brother, earl of Norfolk; so that the
inheritance came to Roger Bigot, eldest son of Hugh Bigot, who is said to be
chief justice of England and 2d son of Earl Hugh."
JOHN BYGOD, the Earl’s "KINSMAN"
John le Bigot of Stokton was on the King’s service in Wales on 18 May 1283
[CPR 1281-92, 96]. This and other documents indicate that this John was older
than the Earl’s brother John [b. ca. 1266]. Sir John le Bigod of Stocton was
first among the witnesses to a charter of Roger, Earl of Norfolk, dated 18 Feb.
30 Edw. I [(1303) CPR 1301-7, 126].
The IPM for John le Bigod, alias le Bygod, of Stocton, alias Stoketon, found
that he held his lands of Roger le Bygod, Earl of Norfolk by gift. The jury for
the manor of Setryyngton, Yorks., found that the heir was unknown, "because his
sons and daughters were born in Norfolk" [CIPM 4:216-17 (no. 320)].
Finally, the arms of Roger le Bygod, Earl of Norfolk [d. 1306], are recorded as
Party d’or et de vert ou ung leon rampaunt de gulez [Falkirk]. The arms of
Sir John le Bigod of Stokton, on the other hand, are reported as Or, On a cross
gu. 5 escallops arg. [Charles, St. George]. Those are the same arms born later
by his son Sir Ralph Bygod of Stokton [Parl.]. The arms born by the younge Sir
John Bygod of Settrington were, On a cross 5 escallops [Birch].
THE QUESTION REMAINS as to whether evidence exists to identify Berta as a
daughter of the Earl of Derby. Is anyone aware of an account which states this
in any early record [e.g., Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum]?
DOUG, have you fond a specific document which proves this (beyond the histories
of Northamptonshire)?
[end of part 3 of 3]
Reedpcgen
number of things did not convert in the process of posting through AOL. I hope
all can still follow the gist of what I had intended.
I wondered if others also follow the conclusion that John, the brother of the
last Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk [d. 1306], was the cleric who survived, not
Sir John Bygod of Stocton [d. 1305], to whom the Earl gave Settrington.
Also, is there enough evidence to conclude:
that Sir John Bygod of Stocton and Settrington [d. 1305] was the next male heir
after the death of the Earl and the cleric John, i.e.,
the Earl was son of Hugh, the Justiciar;
Hugh's next youngest brother was Ralph Bygod [d. by 1260] of Stocton, who held
a life interest in part of Settrington;
Ralph left one known son, John Bygod, who succeeded him at Stocton, fought in
the king's service, was knighted, and died in 1305;
?
Paul
Reedpcgen
>> that Sir John Bygod of Stocton and Settrington [d. 1305] was the next male
>heir
>> after the death of the Earl and the cleric John, i.e.,
>
>
>taf
>
Yes, in point of fact. I guess what I meant was that Sir John [d. 1305] would
theoretically be the last Earl's next male heir when he settled Settrington on
him in 1302, given that neither the Earl nor his brother John left legitimate
issue. Sorry about that.
Paul
Reedpcgen
>P.S. The 4 Aug 1301 charter by earl Roger le Bigod at Modesgat
(Gloucestershire) was also printed in "Monasticon Anglicanum", 5:269, with the
first two witnesses being "domino Johanne le Bygod fratre meo, domino Johanne
le Bygod de Stocton", instead of Sutton as given in CChR 3:106.
>
> Ray Phair
>
>Copyright by the author.
Thank you, Ray. I should have checked the charter entry in Mon. Angl.
This would mean that the ONLY document [the abstract of the charter given in
Calendar of Charter Rolls] which seemed to give any credence for the theory
that John Bygod, brother of the Earl of Norfolk was actually John Bygod of
Stockton is ACTUALLY the best evidence against it.
This shows that EVEN IF the Earl had two brothers named John Bygod, one a
knight, the other a cleric,
"domino Johanne le Bygod fratre meo,"
or John the brother, WAS NOT
"domino Johanne le Bygod de Stocton," who here is shown to be the brother's
contemporary.
I checked all the Year Books of Edward II published by the Selden Society, but
found no mention of the case between John Bigod or his son Ralph and the
Ferrers over the manor of Bugbrooke.
The final concord between John Bigod, demandant, and Godfrey de Beaumont and
Cecily, his wife, deforciants, in the king's court at Westminster a fortnight
after St. John the Baptist 6 Edward I is given with some details of the action
between Ralph Bigod, son and heir of John Bigod, and John de Ferrers taken from
Coram Rege Roll no. 188 (Easter 1307), m. 45, published in
Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench under Edward I, v. 3 [Sepden Society
58 (1939)], pp. 165-8 (no. 91).
Further information, taken from Assize Roll no. 1344, m. 7, begun 1 Dec. 1307,
is published in
Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench under Edward I, v. 2 [Selden Society
57 (1938)], cxxxi-cxxxv.
Paul C. Reed, FASG
Ray Phair
Furnival and Ralph Bigod, was a daughter of William de Ferrers, earl
of Derby.
The second record below was taken about 60 years after her last known
occurrence, and appears to refer to the enfeoffment mentioned in the
first record. If so, and assuming the information is reliable, then it
states she was a daughter of an earl of Derby. By using the first record
he can be identified as William de Ferrers II. No charters have been
found, so far, which indicates kinship between the Furnival and Ferrers
families.
A writ was issued 8 May 1254 to William de Wilton, guardian of the lands
of William de Ferrer, late earl of Derby. The inquisition which followed
found "W(illiam) de Ferariis, earl of Derby, father of the last earl",
had enfeoffed Hugh de Ferariis and Thomas de Fornival with land in
Bratenton and Hertenton (Brassington and Hartington, Derbyshire) "who
are now in peaceful seisin" [1].
Thus Hugh and Thomas had been enfeoffed in 1247 or earlier by William de
Ferrers II (d. 22 Sep 1247), earl of Derby, who was the father of the
late earl William III (d. Mar 1254) [2]. Watson noted, without citing a
source, Thomas de Furnival (d.1291), son of Thomas (fl. 1238) and Berta,
held land in Brassington [3].
If an assize printed by Yeatman was correctly dated by him as 36 Henry
III (1251-2), then it was his son, Thomas de Furnival (d.1291), who held
Brassington in 1254. Those charged in the assize with hunting deer in
the royal forest of Peak included William de Ferrers, deceased, earl of
Derby, Thomas de Furnival, deceased, and Ralph Bigod, brother of the
earl of Norfolk [4]. The latter seems likely to have been the Ralph
Bigod (d. by 1260) who married Berta, the subject of this article and
widow of Thomas de Furnival [3].
Hugh de Ferrers (d. 1254-7), a younger son of earl William de Ferrers
II, acquired his interest in Brassington as early as c.1240 according
to Saltman [5].
As earl William II gave half the Brassington and Hartington land to
a younger son, it does not seem implausible that the other half might
have been granted to a daughter and her husband.
The second record is an inquisition taken in 19 Edward II in which the
jury said an ancestor of Thomas de Furnival was given a moiety of the
villate of Brassington in the time of Henry III by the earl of Derby in
free marriage with his daughter [6]. Neither the earl nor his daughter
were named.
[1] "Calendar of Inquisitions miscellaneous", 1:no.204 (1916). This
record had been mentioned by C. Moor (the author of the Bygod
article), Harleian soc. pub. 81:92 (1929).
[2] "Complete Peerage" (CP), 1910-59, 4:194-7.
[3] CP 5:580-2 by G.W. Watson.
[4] J.P. Yeatman, "The feudal history of the county of Derby", 1886-
1910,3:212-5; J.P. Yeatman, Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological
Society (JDAS), 14:160-175 (1892). The assize was taken before
Geoffrey de Langeley who was appointed keeper of all forests in 1250
(CPR 1247-58, p.61). Yeatman thought the assize occurred about the
time (1252) Geoffrey was appointed as a justice for inquisitions
concerning purprestures against the king in Peak forest (ibid.,
p.161). This assize, and possibly records relating to Brassington,
might be mentioned in Lists and Indexes v.14, but it was
unavailable.
[5] "The cartulary of Dale Abbey", ed. A. Saltman, 1967, nos.549 (no
explanation of the dating), 550, 557; W. Farrer, "Honors and
knights' fees", 1923-5, 2:113, 227, 268; C. Kerry, JDAS 16:25-7
(1894).
[6] R. Thoroton, "The antiquities of Nottinghamshire", ed. J. Throsby,
1790-6, repr. 1972, 3:390-1; J. Hunter, "Hallamshire", ed. A. Gatty,
1869, p.500-1. W. Dugdale, "The baronage of England", 1675-6, repr.
1976, 1:726, has transcribed a portion of what seems to be the same
record, but it lacks many of the details - it does not mention the
moiety in Brassington, nor a marriage to a daughter of an earl of
Derby. In Dugdale's version, Thomas held the manor of Brassington;
this was not mentioned in either Thoroton's nor Gatty's versions.
Nevertheless, by 1325 Thomas did hold the manor (CPR 1324-7, p.113).
P.S. The 4 Aug 1301 charter by earl Roger le Bigod at Modesgat
(Gloucestershire) was also printed in "Monasticon Anglicanum", 5:269,
with the first two witnesses being "domino Johanne le Bygod fratre meo,
domino Johanne le Bygod de Stocton", instead of Sutton as given in
CChR 3:106.
Ray Phair
Copyright by the author.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Betty Gorrie
> [Ray Phair wrote]
> (Gloucestershire) was also printed in "Monasticon Anglicanum", 5:269, with the
> first two witnesses being "domino Johanne le Bygod fratre meo, domino Johanne
> le Bygod de Stocton", instead of Sutton as given in CChR 3:106.
> >
> > Ray Phair
> >
> >Copyright by the author.
> This would mean that the ONLY document [the abstract of the charter given in
> Calendar of Charter Rolls] which seemed to give any credence for the theory
> that John Bygod, brother of the Earl of Norfolk was actually John Bygod of
> Stockton is ACTUALLY the best evidence against it.
> This shows that EVEN IF the Earl had two brothers named John Bygod, one a
> knight, the other a cleric,
> "domino Johanne le Bygod de Stocton," who here is shown to be the brother's
> contemporary.
>
> I checked all the Year Books of Edward II published by the Selden Society, but
> found no mention of the case between John Bigod or his son Ralph and the
> Ferrers over the manor of Bugbrooke.
> The final concord between John Bigod, demandant, and Godfrey de Beaumont and
> Cecily, his wife, deforciants, in the king's court at Westminster a fortnight
> after St. John the Baptist 6 Edward I is given with some details of the action
> between Ralph Bigod, son and heir of John Bigod, and John de Ferrers taken from
> Coram Rege Roll no. 188 (Easter 1307), m. 45, published in
> Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench under Edward I, v. 3 [Sepden Society
> 58 (1939)], pp. 165-8 (no. 91).
> Further information, taken from Assize Roll no. 1344, m. 7, begun 1 Dec. 1307,
> is published in
> Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench under Edward I, v. 2 [Selden Society
> 57 (1938)], cxxxi-cxxxv.
> Paul C. Reed, FASG
Betty