Identity of the wife of Sir John Shaa
Rosie Bevan
known to have had a wife called Margaret, as mentioned in his will.
The 1568 Visitations of London show that her arms were 'Ar a fess
engr.between six cinquefoils sa.' and record her father as being 'Flam civis
Londinensis'. According to Papworth's Ordinary p.757 and Burke's Armory
p.527, these arms belong to Ilam of London, revealing that the 'Flam' is
actually a transcription error of Ilam. The only London citizen of that name
recorded in the late1400s, was Thomas Ilam, mercer and Alderman of London,
who appeared in
the Calendar records between 1474 and 1480 when he was elected Sheriff
ofLondon. Stow says that he "newly built the great [water] conduit in
Cheape, of his own charges." He was a contemporary of Edward Shaa, uncle of
Sir John Shaa, who appears in the London calendars at the same time. Thrupp
records that Thomas Ilam was an apprentice of Thomas Boston and was free in
1455. She also records that Sir John Shaa married Margaret Ilam when she was
12 in 1479 [Sylvia Thrupp, 'The Merchant Class of Medieval London'. p.350,
366]
The earliest record of Thomas Ilam in the minutes of the Court of Aldermen
occurs in 1474 when he was involved in the custody of the children of Thomas
Rawson, grocer.
"15 Nov 14 Edw IV [1474] came Richard Rawson, Thomas Ilome, John Fissher,
and John Rawson mercers before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into a
bond in the sum of 700 marks for payment into the Chamber by the said
Richard of a like sum to the use of Thomas, Margaret, "Amea", Ursula, and
John, children of Thomas Rawson, late mercer, when they come of age or
marry." [Calendar of Letter Books-L, p 148]
Thomas Ilam disappears abruptly from the records about 1480 the year he was
elected.
A search of PRO records indicate that Jane was the name of Sir Thomas Ilam's
widow and she afterwards entered into quite an eventful marital career,
obtaining four more husbands. Cokayne's 'Complete Peerage' [CP V : 324]
mentions her in the context of being second wife of Walter Devereux, Lord
Ferrers. He was slain at the battle of Bosworth 22 Aug 1485. She married
secondly [thirdly] Thomas Vaughan who was living 18 Nov 1492. She married
thirdly [fourthly] Sir Edward Blount of Sodington, Worcs. who died s.p. 6
July 1499. She married fourthly [fifthly] before 31 May 1502 Thomas Poyntz.
Both were living 9 Nov 1512. CP is unaware of Jane's first marriage to
Thomas Ilam but the following PRO record makes this apparent.
C 1/64/85
Roger Bourghchier, of London, mercer. v. The mayor and sheriffs of London.:
Action brought by John Warde upon an obligation given to him and Thomas
Ilam, when sheriffs of London, as a guarantee for Robert Andreux,
undersheriff of Middlesex. It is claimed that Andreux duly accounted to
Jane, now lady Ferrers, late the wife of the said Ilam.
Jane appears in other records where her husbands are named. She kept her
title, Lady Ferrers, from her second marriage throughout her life, and in
1499 Sir Edward Blounte referred to her in his will as "Lady Johane Ferres
my Wif".[37 Horne]
C 1/185/21
John Broune v. James Walshe and John Huntley.: Fraud in order to obtain the
sealing of a release relating to a bond made between Sir Thomas Vagham,
knight, and Johanne, wife of Edward Blount, esquire of the King's body,
previously the wife of Sir Walter Devereux, knight, Lord Ferys.
C 1/244/91
Thomas Poyntes, esquire, and Dame Jane, his wife, Lady Ferrers. v. John
Middelmore and Edward Knyght, feoffees to uses.: The manor of Blontishall
and lands in Blontishall, Wyndley, and Hesilwode, late of Edward Blount,
knight, and the said Jane, late his wife.
C 1/219/3
Thomas Poyntz, esquire, and Dame Jane, Lady Ferres, his wife, previously the
wife of Edward Blount, knight. v. John Middelmor and Edward Knyght, feoffees
to uses.: The manor of Blontyshall and land in Blontyshall; and two
messuages and land in Wyndley and Hasilwod.
C 1/244/92
Thomas Poyntz, esquire, and Dame Jane Ferrez, his wife. v. Thomas Fyssher,
of London, mercer.: Action on a recognisance of Sir Edward Blount, deceased,
and execution in lands now of the said Dame Jane.: Worcester.
Bearing in mind that London merchant families did not adhere to traditional
naming patterns as strictly as landowning gentry, onomastic evidence that
Thomas Ilam was Margaret's father might be that Sir John Shaa and Margaret's
youngest son was named Thomas. A close family connection, between Jane and
Margaret is implied when, in 1504, Margaret married Sir John Raynsford.
Thomas Poyntz, husband of Jane, acted as a 'friend' on her behalf in the
marriage settlement between them both.
[Calendar of Close Rolls19 Henry VII 1504].
This is a result of collaborative research between Tony Ingham and myself.
Rosie
ADRIANC...@cs.com
rbe...@paradise.net.nz writes:
Rosie,
> Sir John Shaa, goldsmith, Alderman and Mayor of London, who died in 1502, is
> known to have had a wife called Margaret, as mentioned in his will.
>
> The 1568 Visitations of London show that her arms were 'Ar a fess
> engr.between six cinquefoils sa.' and record her father as being 'Flam
> civis
> Londinensis'. According to Papworth's Ordinary p.757 and Burke's Armory
> p.527, these arms belong to Ilam of London, revealing that the 'Flam' is
> actually a transcription error of Ilam. The only London citizen of that
> name
> recorded in the late1400s, was Thomas Ilam, mercer and Alderman of London,
> who appeared in
> the Calendar records between 1474 and 1480 when he was elected Sheriff
> ofLondon. Stow says that he "newly built the great [water] conduit in
> Cheape, of his own charges." He was a contemporary of Edward Shaa, uncle
> of
> Sir John Shaa, who appears in the London calendars at the same time. Thrupp
> records that Thomas Ilam was an apprentice of Thomas Boston and was free in
> 1455. She also records that Sir John Shaa married Margaret Ilam when she
> was
> 12 in 1479 [Sylvia Thrupp, 'The Merchant Class of Medieval London'. p.350,
> 366]
>
<snip>
Thanks for your message, there is much I must study in it.
From a pedigree at Soc. of Genealogists I had the name as Margaret d of Ham
of Kingston, now it is obvious that Ham should read Ilam.
Thomas Ilam is also mentioned on page 241 in Stow's Survey of London
(Everyman's edition), there is an M.I. in Mercer's chapel (St. Thomas the
Martyr, also called Acon/Acars) where there were many M.I.'s to London
mayors.
I wonder if his name originally comes from the place Ilam, Staffordshire?
regards,
Adrian
Rosie Bevan
Yes, I would imagine that the name Ilam is derived from Ilam in Cheshire.
Interestingly enough, it is not far ( about 23 miles) from Dukinfield,
Staffs where Edward Shaa probably came from. Shaa's parents are said to
buried at Stockport St Mary, the parish church for Dukinfield.
Cheers
Rosie
Rosie Bevan
Dukinfield and Stockport St Mary are in Cheshire. not Staffs.
Both the Shaas and Ilams were probably from Cheshire.
Apologies for error.
Rosie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rosie Bevan" <rbe...@paradise.net.nz>
To: <GEN-MED...@rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: Identity of the wife of Sir John Shaa
> Hi Adrian
>
> Yes, I would imagine that the name Ilam is derived from Ilam in Cheshire.
> Interestingly enough, it is not far ( about 23 miles) from Dukinfield,
> Staffs where Edward Shaa probably came from. Shaa's parents are said to
> buried at Stockport St Mary, the parish church for Dukinfield.
>
> Cheers
>
> Rosie
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <ADRIANC...@cs.com>
> To: <GEN-MED...@rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 11:24 PM
> Subject: Re: Identity of the wife of Sir John Shaa
>
>
Rosie Bevan
progenitors of the Shaas were the Shaghs of Coppenhall, Cheshire. Mention is
made of Adam de Shagh occurring 3 Edw II as bailiff of Middlewich, Agnes,
widow of William de Shagh is mentioned temp Edw III. The direct line ended
with William temp Hen IV, but cadet lines carried on to Randle Schawe who
was exempted from serving on juries 20 Hen VII .
The reason I suggest a connection is the heraldry. The arms of William del
Shagh were. 'Ar, a chevron ermine between 3 lozenges of the second'
The arms of Sir John Shaa of London were 'Ar, a chevron between 3 lozenges
ermines.' [Burke's Armory, p.915]
Rosie
----- Original Message -----
From: <ADRIANC...@cs.com>
To: <GEN-MED...@rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 11:24 PM
Subject: Re: Identity of the wife of Sir John Shaa