Seeking Parents of Digby Bride Who Married Skeffington
Kevan Barton
In msg sent to list last year (ref below), John asks questions about the
Digby family tree. I've another. Does anyone know if "Sir John Digby of
Eye-Kettleby and Catherine Griffin," are the parents of Anna Digby who
married Sir William Skeffington, knt. (d. 1535)? If so, does anyone know
who John Digby's and Catherine Griffin's parents were?
Cheers,
Kevan
From: "John Higgins" (jthi...@surfree.com)
Subject: Sir Simon Digby, son of which Everard?
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Date: 2003-08-05 14:29:34 PST
Douglas Richardson
Yes, Sir John Digby and Katherine Griffin are the parents of Anne
Digby, wife of Sir William Skeffington.
Sir John Digby was the 3rd son of Everard Digby, Esq., of Tilton,
Drystoke, Leicestershire, and Stoke Dry, Rutland, by Jaques (or
Jacquet), daughter of John Ellis (or Elles), Knt., of Derbyshire.
His 1st wife, Katherine Griffin, was the daughter of Nicholas Griffin,
Esq., of Braybrook, Northamptonshire, de jure Lord Latimer, by his
wife, Katherine Curzon.
What is your interest in the Skeffington family? Do these
Skeffingtons have a connection to the Rochford family?
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
E-mail: royala...@msn.com
kevan...@adelphia.net ("Kevan Barton") wrote in message news:<ECELJLLLKGANJMKHGAID...@adelphia.net>...
Frank Young
> In msg sent to list last year (ref below), John asks questions about the
> Digby family tree. I've another. Does anyone know if "Sir John Digby of
> Eye-Kettleby and Catherine Griffin," are the parents of Anna Digby who
> married Sir William Skeffington, knt. (d. 1535)?
Sources generally list "John Digby of Kettleby" as her father.
> If so, does anyone know
> who John Digby's and Catherine Griffin's parents were?
Neither of the two ahnentafeln below have been verified by me, but they
may serve as a convenient starting point for further research. Both are
from the WorldConnect project on RootsWeb, which has others.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 1
_____________________________________________________________________
1. John Digby died ABT 1533. He was the son of 2. Everard Digby and 3.
Jacquette Ellis. He married Catherine Griffin, daughter of Nicholas
Griffin and Katherine Curson. She died BEF 1517. He married Anne
Willoughby 1517. She died BEF 1533.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 2
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Everard Digby died 1508/1509. He was the son of 4. Everard Digby
and 5. Anne Clarke.
3. Jacquette Ellis died 29 JUN 1496. She was the daughter of 6. John
Ellis and 7. Alianor Russell.
Child of Jacquette Ellis and Everard Digby is:
1. i. John Digby died ABT 1533. He married Catherine Griffin,
daughter of Nicholas Griffin and Katherine Curson. She died BEF 1517.
He married Anne Willoughby 1517. She died BEF 1533.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 3
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Everard Digby died 29 MAR 1461. He was the son of 8. Simon Digby
and 9. Joan Beler(Bellairs).
5. Anne Clarke. She was the daughter of 10. Francis Clarke.
Child of Anne Clarke and Everard Digby is:
2. i. Everard Digby died 1508/1509. He married Jacquette Ellis,
daughter of John Ellis and Alianor Russell. She died 29 JUN 1496.
6. John Ellis.
7. Alianor Russell. She was the daughter of 14. William Russell.
Child of Alianor Russell and John Ellis is:
3. i. Jacquette Ellis died 29 JUN 1496. She married Everard Digby,
son of Everard Digby and Anne Clarke. He died 1508/1509.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 4
_____________________________________________________________________
8. Simon Digby. He was the son of 16. Robert Digby and 17. Catherine
Pakeman.
9. Joan Beler(Bellairs). She was the daughter of 18. James
Beler(Bellairs).
Child of Joan Beler(Bellairs) and Simon Digby is:
4. i. Everard Digby died 29 MAR 1461. He married Anne Clarke,
daughter of Francis Clarke.
10. Francis Clarke.
Child of Francis Clarke is:
5. i. Anne Clarke. She married Everard Digby, son of Simon Digby and
Joan Beler(Bellairs). He died 29 MAR 1461.
14. William Russell.
Child of William Russell is:
7. i. Alianor Russell. She married John Ellis.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 5
_____________________________________________________________________
16. Robert Digby died 1412/1413. He was the son of 32. John Digby and
33. Elizabeth Oseville.
17. Catherine Pakeman. She was the daughter of 34. Henry Pakeman.
Child of Catherine Pakeman and Robert Digby is:
8. i. Simon Digby. He married Joan Beler(Bellairs), daughter of
James Beler(Bellairs).
18. James Beler(Bellairs).
Child of James Beler(Bellairs) is:
9. i. Joan Beler(Bellairs). She married Simon Digby, son of Robert
Digby and Catherine Pakeman.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________
32. John Digby. He was the son of 64. John Digby and 65. Wake.
33. Elizabeth Oseville. She was the daughter of 66. William Oseville.
Child of Elizabeth Oseville and John Digby is:
16. i. Robert Digby died 1412/1413. He married Catherine Pakeman,
daughter of Henry Pakeman.
34. Henry Pakeman.
Child of Henry Pakeman is:
17. i. Catherine Pakeman. She married Robert Digby, son of John
Digby and Elizabeth Oseville. He died 1412/1413.
_____________________________________________________________________
*********************************************
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 1
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Catherine GRIFFIN. She was the daughter of 2. Nicholas GRIFFIN II
and 3. Catherine CURZON. She married John DIGBY, son of Everard DIGBY
Esquire and Jacquette ELLIS.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 2
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Nicholas GRIFFIN II. He was the son of 4. Nicholas GRIFFIN and 5.
Margaret PILKINGTON.
3. Catherine CURZON. She was the daughter of 6. Richard CURZON.
Child of Catherine CURZON and Nicholas GRIFFIN II is:
1. i. Catherine GRIFFIN. She married John DIGBY, son of Everard
DIGBY Esquire and Jacquette ELLIS.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 3
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Nicholas GRIFFIN. He was the son of 8. Richard GRIFFIN and 9. Anna
CHAMBERLAIN.
5. Margaret PILKINGTON.
Child of Margaret PILKINGTON and Nicholas GRIFFIN is:
2. i. Nicholas GRIFFIN II. He married Catherine CURZON, daughter of
Richard CURZON.
6. Richard CURZON.
Child of Richard CURZON is:
3. i. Catherine CURZON. She married Nicholas GRIFFIN II, son of
Nicholas GRIFFIN and Margaret PILKINGTON.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 4
_____________________________________________________________________
8. Richard GRIFFIN.
9. Anna CHAMBERLAIN.
Child of Anna CHAMBERLAIN and Richard GRIFFIN is:
4. i. Nicholas GRIFFIN. He married Margaret PILKINGTON.
_____________________________________________________________________
Regards, Frank Young
tip...@wam.umd.edu 703-527-7684
Post Office Box 2793, Kensington, Maryland 20891
"Videmus nunc per speculum in aenigmate... Nunc cognosco ex parte"
Claud...@aol.com
Child of Catherine Pakeman and Robert Digby is:
8. i. Simon Digby. He married Joan Beler(Bellairs), daughter of
James Beler(Bellairs).
18. James Beler(Bellairs).
Child of James Beler(Bellairs) is:
9. i. Joan Beler(Bellairs). She married Simon Digby, son of Robert
Digby and Catherine Pakeman.
Dear Frank, Doug, Kevan, and all:
Can someone please identify the James Beler referenced above? What I have
for Sir James Beler is:
Sir James Bellers served in four parliaments between 1376 and 1383. He
probably lived until 1411. He was married twice (1) Lettice Prest, daughter of
Walter Prest of Melton Mowbray, Leics. who died in 1377 and (2) Margaret Bernake.
He was from the senior branch of the Bellers family settled in Ab Kettleby,
Leicestershire.
Roskell _ The House of Commons_ 1386-1421_ Vol. II A-D, Sutton Publishing,
1992 pages 179-181.
Fine roll Hillary term 1355 names James Bellers and Lettice his wife.
Fine roll Trinity Term 1381 names James Bellers and his wife Margaret.
De Banco Roll 771, Michaelmas, 33 Henry VI [1453], membrane 529.
Leicestershire. John Belers, esquire, was summoned to answer the abbot of Vaudey in a
plea wherefore he took the abbot's cattle and detained them against the gage and
pledge on Friday after Michaelmas, 32 Henry VI [1451], in the town of Burton
St. Lazar, to wit, 8 horses worth £10. John Bellers says that Roger, the late
abbot, held 9 carucates of land in Burton of James Belers, chivaler, as in
right of his abbey, by homage, fealty and 40s. to the king's scuttage when it
happens, and a rent of 6s 8d. yearly. James Bellers and Margaret his wife had
issue John Bellers and died. The services descended to the said John Bellers as
son and heir of James and Margaret, which the said John has issue John, who
now defends, and died. The abbot states the land was held of Hamon Bellers,
ancestor of John Bellers, whose heir John is, from which Hamon the said John
descends, namely, as son of John, son of James, son of Ralph, son of Ralph, son of
Hamon. The said Hamon Bellers by his charter dated May 1, 2 Edward I [1274]
before the passing of the statute de religionis, for the salvation of his soul,
&c. granted and confirmed to the abbot and convent of Vaudey in pure and
perpetual alms the said 9 carucates of land in Burton, etc. John denies that the
charter is the deed of his ancestor Hamon, son of William Bellers. A day is
given at Easter to inquire into the facts.
George F. Farnham, Leicestershire Medieval Village Notes, Vol. III, Edgar
Backus, 1929, Leicester, sub Kirby Bellars, page 121:
Cal. Close rolls 1354-1360, p. 75, 5 October 1354. Enrolment made by John,
son of Walter de Houby, kt. for the souls of Gilbert de Houby, Maud, his wife,
John, son of Gilbert de Houby, kt., Alice, his wife, and John their son, to the
warden and chaplains of the chapel of St. Peter of Kirkeby on Wreke, of all
his right and claim in the manor of Kirkeby, and in all the lands, rents and
services which belonged to Maud, late the wife of Gilbert de Houby, in
Kirkeby,and in the advowson of Kirkeby church, which church the said warden and
chaplains hold to their own uses. Witnesses, John de Folville, Matthew de Folvill,
John de Brabazon, knights, James Beler, Laurence Hauberk, Robert Hauberk, and
Ralph de Freseby.
Ibid, Vol. IV, W. Thornley & Son, 1930, sub Welby, page 272:
Nichols' History, Part II, p.284. Roll of Aids. In 1346, John Segrave, James
Beler and John Zouche, on the aid then granted to the king for knighting
Edward, his eldest son, were assessed at 20s. for half a knight's fee in Oleby and
Sixteneby, of the fee of Huntingdon.
Ibid, Vol. VI, W. Thornley & Son, 1933, Leicester, sub Eye Kettleby, pages
310-311:
Fine. Easter, 12 Edward III, 1338. Between Ralph Beler and Agatha, his wife,
plantiffs, and Roger, parson of the church of Wyfordby, defendant of the manor
of Ketilby on Wreke. Roger granted the manor to Ralph and Agatha for the
terms of their lives, the reversion to James Beler, son of Ralph and Agatha, and
the male issue of James, in default to Ralph, the brother of James, and his
male issue, and in default to the right heirs of Ralph Beler (the father) for
ever.
Fine. Hilary, 29 Edward III, 1355. Between Ralph de Friseby and isabel, his
wife, plantiffs, and James Belers and Lettice, his wife, defendants of a moiety
of the manor of Speneye ( probably in Melton).
Calendar Close Rolls 1364-1368, p. 419. 22 April, 1368. To the sheriff of co.
Leicester. Order to cause James Beler to have seisin of a messuage and 5
acres of land in Sixtenby, held by Ralph, son of Isolda de Sixtenby, hanged for
felony it is said; as the king has learned by inquisition, taken by the sheriff
that the premises have been in his hand a year and a day and are yet in his
hand, that the said Ralph held the same of Ralph Belers, father of the said
James, whose heir he is, and that the said James had the year and a day and the
waste, and ought to answer to the king for the same.
Ibid, 1374-1377, p. 428. 10 July, 1376. Order to the sheriff to cause James
Beler, knight, and William Flaumville, knight, to have £32 of the commons of
the county, being knights of the shire summoned to attend parliament held at
Westminster on Monday after St. George last, viz., 4s. a day for 80 days.
Patent Roll. 1 July, 1377. Commission for array for co. Leicester to James
Beler and others named.
5 April, 1381. Commission for the Peace for co. Leicester -- James Beler.
This was renewed until 28 June, 1390.
Lay Subsidy Roll 133-34. 4 Richard II, 1381. Poll Tax. James Belers,
chivaler, and Margaret his wife, 6s. 8d.
Fine. Morrow of the Ascension, 4 Richard II, 1381. Between James Belers,
chivaler, and Margaret, his wife, plantiffs, and William de Sibthorp, parson of
the church of Houton, defendant of the manor of Sixtenby. The manor is declared
to be the right of William, who granted the manor, 50 messuages, 10 carucates
of land, 16 acres of meadow, 65s. 6d. rent and rents of a pound of pepper, a
pound of cumin, a pepper corn and a rose in Melton, Ketulby on Wrethek, Dalby,
Chacombe, Somerby, Sileby, Quenby, Tirlyngton, Burton St. Lazarus, Little
Dalby, Ansty and Retherby to the said James Belers and Margaret, together with
certain homages and services (specified) which William de Sibthorp formerly held
in said vills, except 2 messuages and 5 virgates of land in Quenby which
Thomas de Assheby of Quenby and Alice, his wife, hold for life, a messuage and 2
virgates which John Belers holds for life in Ketelby, a virgate in Oleby which
Elena de Rempstone holds for life, and which ought to revert, at their
respective deaths, to William, shall remain to James Belers and Margaret and their
joint issue male, in default to Roger Beler of Ketelby and his heirs male, and in
default successively to John, brother of the said Roger, Thomas, brother of
the said John, brother of Roger, the elder, to Ralph, brother of Thomas, to
Nicholas, brother of Ralph, to James, brother of Nicholas, to Thomas, brother of
Nicholas, the younger, in tail male respectively, and in default to the right
heirs of the said James Belers for ever.
N.B.--The original Fine is much mutilated, but there happens to be a copy of
it among the Hastings' MSS.
His daughter Jane [Joan] was the first wife of John de Seyton, esq. of
Martinsthorpe, Rutland. See below:
John Bellers and James Bellers, brother and half-brother respectively, of
Jane Bellers were trustees of the lands of the Seyton family which was centered
at Maidwell, Northamptonshire. This family also owned the land in
Martinsthorp, Rutland which by inheritance passed to Jane Bellers daughter Agnes Seyton
and into the Fielding family.
VCH Rutland Vol. II (1935) 84-85:
According to the Northamptonshire visitation of 1564, the Montforts had
Subinfeudated Martinsthorpe to the Seytons early in the 13th century, and Erasmus
de Seyton, stated to be the father of Sir Roger, the justice in the time of
Henry III, was said to have held it. Richard de Seyton who was lord of
Martinsthorpe in 1316 was probably Richard brother of John de Seyton who was accused by
Ralph de Beaufeu (Bello Fago) of destroying his houses at Seaton in 1295. He
was pardoned for adhering to Thomas, earl of Lancaster in 1318. He or another
of the same name presented to the church from 1305 to 1344, and in 1345 his
wife Alice, widow of William Cagge, was described as of Martinsthorpe. Before
1357, however, the manor reverted to the elder branch of the Seyton family, when
Sir John Seyton presented to the church. From this date the manor descended
with that of Seaton. The Overlordship of the Monforts was recognized as late as
1515 although occasionally it was said to be held of the Earls of Warwick.
Though the pedigree of the Seytons given in the visitation of
Northamptonshire shows that John Seyton had a son Thomas and three grandsons, Martinsthorpe
is said to have passed to William Feilding by his marriage with Agnes, daughter
and heir of John de St. Liz or de Seyton. This John may perhaps have been a
younger brother of Thomas, who had acquired the manor under a settlement. In
any case the manor came into the possession of the Feildings, and William
presented to the church in 1442. Everhard Feilding, son of William, died seised of
the manor in 1515, having settled it on his wife Juliana [Giliane] with
remainder to his son William. William was knighted in 1533.
The manor remained in possession of the Feildings until the 18th century.
The Visitations of Northamptonshire 1564 and 1618-1619 edited by Walter C.
Metcalfe, F.S.A., London: Mitchell and Hughes, 1887, pages 45-46 - Seyton of
Seyton:
John Seyton ,"fracto dorso," of Seyton, Esq. eldest son and heir of Sir John
Seyton, knt. married to his first wife ......, daughter of Sir William Bellers
and had issue, _Thomas, his eldest son; -- after, the said John married to
his second wife, the daughter of ......Digby.
George F. Farnham, Leicestershire Medieval Village Notes, Vol. IV, W.
Thornley & Son, 1930, Leicester, sub Long Whatton, page 294:
British Museum. Add. Charters. No. 21186. Indenture witnessing the delivery
by John de Seyton, esq., and James Bellers, esq. to John Whatton, of a
quitclaim from the said John de Seyton to the said James, of all title to the manor of
Martinsthorp, co. Rutland, and the advowson of the church there. Dated
Thursday, St. Thomas the Apostle, 7 Henry V, 1419.
VCH Buckinghamshire, Vol. II, Edited by William Page, London, 1969, Aylesbury
Hundred, Ellesborough, page 334-335:
The land held under the honour of Wolverton was probably subinfeudated before
1166 and one moiety of it afterwards was known as Seyton's Manor or the Manor
of Grove. William Brito held certain land in Ellesborough shortly after that
date, and may perhaps be identified with William son of Alan who was then one
of the knight's of Hamo son of Meinfelin. William Brito granted land to
Missenden Abbey in the time of Hamo son of Hamo. He seems to have been succeeded by
Alan Brito, possibly his son, who died during the reign of Richard I. A
lawsuit was held as to lands in Ellesborough between his nephew Simon de Maidwell,
apparently his heir, and William de Medmenham, who called to warranty his wife
Matilda, who in turn called to warranty Henry de Pinkeny; the last-named had,
it was alleged, given the land to Matilda's father. The result of the suit is
not given, but Simon de Maidwell was one of the parties to various fines
concerning land in Ellesborough at the time, the last being in 1202. He also
obtained a grant of free warren in his lands there from Henry III. He was succeeded
by Alan de Maidwell, probably his son, who was defendant in a suit as to land
in Ellesborough, and about that time held a quarter of a knight's fee of the
barony of Wolverton. He is mentioned for the last time in 1241. Possibly he
left a son Simon, since in 1261 or 1262 Alice daughter of Simon de Maidwell
recovered various charters of lands in Ellesborough, which had been kept by the
executor of her father's will. She was a minor in the wardship of Richard de
Seyton of Maidwell, Northamptonshire. He married his ward and her land, which she
held as heiress of William Brito, passed to the Seyton family. She died before
1284-6 and was succeeded by her son John de Seyton. He was at that a minor,
and his land was in the wardship of Anthony de Bek. He was holding it himself
in 1302, but had been succeeded before 1312 by Nicholas de Seyton. Nicholas
died in or just before 1316, and his manor passed to his son John de Seyton, who
held it until his death. His son and heir John de Seyton did homage for his
manors to his overlord in 1361-2. John made two grants of the manor of Grove to
feoffees, who were presumably trustees for his lands while he went to the Holy
Land. He died at Jerusalem in 1396 and was succeeded by his son John. The
latter held the manor until his death, which took place about 1436-7. His son
Thomas de Seyton assigned it at that date in dower to his father's widow Joan,
but in 1446 he granted the manor of Grove to John Kempe, Cardinal and Archbishop
of York, John Stopyngton, Thomas Kempe and others. These grantees in 1459
conveyed the manor to Sir Ralph Verney and Robert Whittyngham and others, to the
use of Ralph Verney, his heirs and assigns. The Verneys held the manor for
about a hundred years.
Peter Whalley_History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire (originally by John
Brydges, Oxford, T. Payne, 1791)_ Vol. 2, sub Rothwell Hundred, Maidwell,
page 46:
Everard Seyton was the son of Sir John Seyton by his second wife a daughter
of Digby. He died in 16 Edward IV [1477] leaving two infant daughters Joan and
Anne. Everard Seyton received the estate of Maidwell, Northamptonshire as his
inheritance. He is not mentioned in Vincent's pedigree of the family but his
daughter Joan married Francis Metcalfe and upon her husband's demise conveyed
the manors of Maydewell to John Seyton, esq. Her uncle had received the estate
of Seyton in Rutlandshire upon his father's death in 1396. In 6 Henry VIII
[1515] a fine was levied between Joan Metcalfe, widow, daughter to Everard
Seyton, Esq. and John Seyton, Esq. This John Seyton was the second son of Thomas
Seyton, Esq.; eldest son to John Seyton, Esq. by Jane Bellers his first wife.
Deeds 331
Letters of Attorney, 1386, May 7. 9 Richard II. 1 item : parchment ; 6 x 27.5
cm.
SUMMARY: Letters of attorney of Laurence Dyne of Harluston appointing John
Hedon his attorney to deliver to John de Seyton, knight, and Joan his wife
seisin of the manor of Maydewell, called "Rabas manoir," together with the
reversion of the advowson of the church of St. Peter of the same manor, which he and
the said John Hedon had of the gift of Agnes, late the wife of Robert Rabas of
Maydewell. Given at Maydewell on 7 May, 9 Richard II. With 1 seal (2.3 cm.)of
red wax, pendant on a tongue, bearing arms, with the legend: 'SIGILLV...DYNE'
NAMES: I. Dyne, Laurence. II. Hedon, John. III. De Seyton, John, Sir. IV. De
Seyton, Joan. V. Rabas, Robert. VI. Rabas, Agnes.
SUBJECTS: 1. Deeds--England -- Northamptonshire. 2. Deeds--England --
Maidwell. 3. Northamptonshire (England)-- Charters, grants, privileges. 4. Maidwell
(England)--Charters, grants, privileges. 5. Harlestone (England)
HOLLIS number: -APZ9670
There was another James Beler, son of Sir James Beler by his first wife
Lettice Prest, See below:
James Bellers (d. 1421) of Melton Mowbray and Somerby, Leicestershire was the
son of Sir James Bellers by his first wife Lettice Prest daughter of Walter
Prest of Melton Mowbray. Escheator of Warwickshire and Leicester Dec. 9, 1408
to Nov 7, 1409 and Nov. 3, 1412 to Nov. 10, 1413; Justice of the Peace for
Rutland from Jan 28, 1412 until 1421; Justice of the Peace for Leicestershire Feb.
8, 1412 to Dec. 1414 and Feb. 18, 1415 to June 1418 and July 1420 to 1421;
Sheriff of Rutland Nov. 12, 1414 to Feb. 11, 1416 and Nov. 16, 1420 to 1421;
Commissioner of Inquiry Leicestershire March 1417; Commissioner of Array May
1418; Commissioner to raise royal loans November 1419. James Bellers was
along with Sir Thomas Erpingham,KG, co-patron of the Seyton living at Maidwell
Northamptonshire.
Roskell _ House of Commons 1386-1421_ Vol. II A-D, Sutton Publishing, 1992
pages 179-181.
George F. Farnham, Leicestershire Medieval Village Notes, Vol. IV, W.
Thornley & Son, 1930, Leicester, sub Long Whatton, page 294:
British Museum. Add. Charters. No. 21186. Indenture witnessing the delivery
by John de Seyton, esq., and James Bellers, esq. to John Whatton, of a
quitclaim from the said John de Seyton to the said James, of all title to the manor of
Martinsthorp, co. Rutland, and the advowson of the church there. Dated
Thursday, St. Thomas the Apostle, 7 Henry V, 1419.
Ibid, Vol. VI, W. Thornley & Son, 1933, Leicester, sub Eye Kettleby, pages
312-313:
De Banco Roll 498. Trinity, 8-9 Richard II, 1385, membrane 176d, Leycester.
The suit between James Belers, chivaler, plantiff, and Richard Dyke of
Tyrlyngton, and John Beste of the same, in a plea of trespass, is put in respite to
Michaelmas for default of jurors.
Patent Roll. 23 June, 1392. Commission to James Belers, Richard Assheby, John
Wodeford, Thomas derby and John Purle to enquire who killed Robert Horn at
Melton Moubray.
De Banco Roll 565. Easter, 3 Henry IV, 1402, membrane 378, Leycester. James
Belers, knight, and William, his son, chaplain, v. James Pacey of Holewell, in
a plea of 36 marks.
Ancient Indictments, K.B. 9. 1413. Inquisition taken before William Roos of
Hamelak and William Palmer, by virtue of a commission to them, and to Ralf
Grene and Thomas Mulso, directed, at Melton Mowbray on Thursday, 13 July, 1 Henry
V, 1413. On the oath of John Bynyngton of Asfordby, WilliamBaresby of Thorp,
John Edde of Woodhouse, John Purce of Mountsorrel, Ralph Baily of Friseby, John
Colynson of Mountsorrel, Roger Bygge of Rotheley, John Hore of Twyford,
Thomas Johnson of Twyford, John Sondes of Tilton, William Smale of Tilton, and
Roger Belgrave of Queniburgh, who say that William Perwyche, John Perwyche, Thomas
Outeby, William Seymour, the elder, William seymour, the younger, Roger
Greneham, Ralph Newton, the younger, Warin Walgrave, John Puttok, Gilbert
Chestershire, the servant of John Perwyche, William Manning, William Holme, the parson
of the church of Marston Trussell, Thomas Gardiner of Cuntadthorp, Henry
Duchemen, servant of William Perwyche, and Richard Barre, also his servant,
Laurence Lyly of Northampton, William Moys of the same, John Grene, taillour, of
Merston, and William Wright of Keton, on Friday next after the feast of St.
Barnabas, 1 Henry V [1413], in the fields of Thorp Langton, co. Leicester assaulted,
wounded and left for dead James Bellers, justice of the peace of the lord the
king in the said county and one of the knights of parliament of the king held
at Westminster, 1 Henry V [1413], as he was coming home from the said
parliament, with a multitude of unknown persons armed for war, against the Crown of
the king with felonious insurrection, and that Robert Cheseldon and John Spicer
of Harborough were aiding and abetting them in perpetrating the felony
aforesaid. In witness whereof the jurors have affixed their seals.
De Banco Roll 628. Hilary, 5 Henry V, 1418, membrane 281, Leycester.
Bartholomew Brokesby, esq. and James Belers, esq. v. Robert Parcall of Gaddesby,
husbandman, in a plea of £13.
De Banco Roll 643. Michaelmas, 9 Henry V, 1421, membrane 96, Leycester.
Thomas Seagrave and Elisabeth, his wife, v. William Hardy, vicar of the church of
Stapulford, executor of the will of James Belers, in a plea of 40s.
De Banco Roll 679. Michaelmas, 9 Henry VI, 1430, membrane 224d., Leycester.
William Statherne, vicar of the church of Stapulford, executor of the will of
James Belers, and John Dansey and Margery, his wife, co-executrix of the same
will, v. John Draper of Howes, gent., in a plea of 20 marks.
The second James Beler married Margaret Ward of Harpole, Northamptonshire,
daughter of Theobald Ward and Amy de Burgh, daughter of Sir William de Burgh,
Justice of Common Pleas of Braunston, co. Rutland.
Was the Joane [Joan] Beler who married Simon de Digby the daughter of the
second James Beler?
Thanks!
MichaelAnne
John Higgins
I agree with with your specification of the parents of Anne Digby who m. Sir
William Skeffington, and I also agree that the most likely parentage for her
father Sir John is Everard Digby and Jacqueta Ellis. But at least one
source (admittedly a visitation pedigree) says that John was a brother, not
son, of this Everard.
What are your sources for Sir John's parentage? Do they resolve the
confusion in various pedigrees among the numerous Everard Digbys which I
mentioned in my message last year (appended, at length, at the end of this
note)? It's possible that confusion over the Everards could have led to the
mis-assignment of John's parents in one or more pedigrees.
John Higgins
"Who begot whom is a most amusing kind of hunting" - Horace Walpole
Sir Simon Digby of Coleshill (d. 1519), ancestor of the present Barons Digby
(and of Pamela Digby Harriman), is always reported in pedigreees as a son of
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton. But WHICH Sir Everard was his father, and who
was his mother?
As the pedigrees below show, there appear to be two candidates: the Everard
who d. at the battle of Towton in 1461, or his son Everard who d. 1509. It
seem clear that Simon was one of 7 brothers, all of whom reportedly fought
at Bosworth, but there are varying identifications of which Everard was his
father and which was his brother.
Can anyone shed any light on this confusing situation? (apologies for the
length of this)
1. From Paget's Ancestry of Prince Charles:
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1461), m. Anne Clarke
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1509), m. Jacqueta Ellis
Libaeus Digby of Coates
Simon Digby of Coleshill (d. 1519), m. Alice Walleys
2. From the 1619 Visitation of Leicestershire (HSP 2:40-1):
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton, m. Agnes [not Anne] Clarke
Simon Digby of Coleshill, m. Alice Walleys
Sir Libbes [Libaeus?] Digby, m. NN Hunt
Sir John Digby [of Eye Kettleby], m. Katherine Griffin
Everard Digby of Kettleby, m. Jacqueta Ellis
Sir Everard Digby [of Drystoke], m. Margaret Heyton [Hayden?]
Rowland Digby, m. Agnes Shilton [Sheldon?]
[and several other children]
3. From the 1619 Visitation of Rutland (HSP 3:17,20):
Simon or Everard Digby, m. Agnes Clarke (dau. of John)
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton, m. Jacqueta Ellis
Sir Everard Digby, m. Margaret Heydon
Sir John Digby of Eye-Kettleby, m. Catherine Griffin
4. From Collins' Peerage (Brydges edition, 5:348ff):
Simon or Everard Digby, m. Agnes Clarke (dau. of John)
Everard Digby (not Sir), d. at Towton, m. Jaqueta Lewis
7 sons and 1 daughter including:
Sir Everard Digby (d. 1509), m. ??
Sir Everard Digby (d. 1540), m. Mary Heydon
1 other son and 4 daughters
Simon Digby of Coleshill
Sir John Digby of Eye-Kettleby
Libbaeus Digby, m. NN Hunt
Rowland Digby of Welby, m. Anne Sheldon
5. From Burke's Peerage, 1999 ed., Digby article:
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1460 [sic], battle of Towton), m. Jacqueta
Lewis
Sir Everard Digby [no dates or spouse given], ancestor of (among others)
Sir Everard Digby [of the Gunpowder Plot]
Sir Simon Digby of Coleshill (d. 1519), m. Alice Walleys
[ancestor of the Barons Digby]
Sir John Digby of Eye Kettleby
[other issue, unspecified]
6. From "My Ancestors", a 1928 publication by Lettice Digby, 2nd cousin of
the 11th Baron Digby:
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1461, battle of Towton), m. Jacqueta Lewis
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1509), m.
Sir Everard Digby of Drystoke (d. 1540), m.
Simon Digby of Coleshill (d. 1519), m. Alice Walleys
[5 other brothers, all fought at Bosworth]
7. From Watney's ancestry of the Wallop family:
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1461, battle of Towton), m. Anne Clarke
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1509), m. Jacqueta Ellis
Sir Everard Digby of Drystoke (d. 1540), m. Margaret Hayden
Simon Digby of Coleshill (d. 1519), m. Alice Walleys
8. From Hutchins' History of Dorset (4:472-3):
Sir Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1461, battle of Towton), m. Anne Clarke
Everard Digby of Tilton (d. 1509), m. Jacqueta Ellis
Sir Everard Digby of Drystoke (d. 1540), m. Margaret Hayden
Simon Digby of Coleshill (d. 1519), m. Alice Walleys
Sir John Digby [of Eye Kettleby] (d. 25 Henry VIII), m. Katherine Griffin
Libaeus Digby of Luffenham
Rowland Digby of Welby, m. Anne Sheldon
[and several other cildren]
John Digby of Preston, m. NN Lee
>
Jeffery A. Duvall
of Eye Kettleby (d. 1533), but seem to have come to a different conclusion.
According to Eric Acheson's *A Gentry Community: Leicestershire in the
Fifteenth Century, c. 1422-c. 1485* (1992), Everard Digby I (d. 1461) of
Tilton and his wife Agnes Clarke had six sons and at least one daughter.
Their son Sir Everard Digby II (d. 1509) of Tilton, Stoke Dry, etc., and his
wife Jacquette Ellis had two sons and four daughters. In his will (which is
available through the PRO's Documents-Online, as is Sir John's will), Sir
Everard Digby II mentions both a son Everard and a brother John, but so far
I've not been able to determine the name of his second son -- although it
may indeed be John (I'm just have some problems with the hand-writing). At
the same time, E.E. Salisbury's *Family Histories and Geneaologies* (1892),
vol. 1, part II, p. 436-437, mistakenly assigns seven sons and four
daughters to Sir Everard Digby II and specifically identifies Sir John of
Eye Kettleby as the "third son." Salisbury's source appears to have been
"Nichols's 'Leicestershire'" which, in turn, referred to Sir John as the
"third brother." Likewise, the VCH Rutland (p. 171, but I'm not sure if
it's vol. 1 or 2) places Sir John Digby as the son of Everard Digby (d.
1461) and brother to Sir Eveard Digby II and Sir Simon Digby. If Acheson is
correct in assigning 6 sons to Everard I and only 2 to Everard II (and the
will seems to bear that out) and Salisbury and his source, and the VCH, are
all correct in placing Sir John Digby of Eye Kettleby as a "third
son/brother" then his father must have been Everard I rather than Everard
II. Or so it seems to me.
It might also be worth noting that VCH Rutland, vol. 2 (pp. 5 and 222-223),
identifies Agnes Clarke as the daughter of Francis Clarke (d. ca. 1435) and
his wife Agnes Flore of Stoke Dry. Francis is placed as the son of John
Clarke of Whissendine while Anges is identified as the daughter of Roger
Flore (d. 1428) of Stoke Dry, several times Speaker of the House of Commons,
and his wife Katherine Dalby.
Also, Katherine Pakeman, wife of Robert Digby, M.P., and mother of Simon
Digby of Tilton (father of Everard I) was the daughter of Simon Pakeman III,
M.P. (d. 1376) and his wife Agnes. See G.G. Astill's "Social Advancement
through Seignorial Service? The Case of Simon Pakeman," *Transactions of the
Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society,* vol. 54 (1978), pp.
14-25.
Jeff Duvall
Kevan Barton
Thanks for the information. Certainly a twist in the family lines. I find,
however, that no one is really mentioning John Digby's second wife,
Anne/Anne of Willoughby. I am intrigued that John's daughter Anne carries
the name of the second wife and not that of Catherine Griffin. Are people
certain that Catherine Griffin is indeed the mother of Anne by John Digby?
In answer to Douglas' question about my interest: I come to the Digby family
through 1. Griffith/Skeffington, 2. Skeffington/Hasilrigg, and then 3,
Skeffington/Digby marriages. I've no knowledge of the Rochford family.
Chronologically, is this earlier, or later than the Digby/Skeffington match?
Cheers,
Kevan
Douglas Richardson
Sir John Digby's second wife was Sanche Willoughby, widow of John
Strelley, Esquire. John Digby and Sanche Willoughby were married by
settlement dated 24 Oct. 1517. Sanche was the daughter of Robert
Willougby, of Wollaton, Nottinghamshire.
The following two records regarding Sanche (Willoughby) (Strelley)
Digby are taken from the helpful online PROCAT Catalogue
(http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/).
C 146/3436:
Demise by Sanche, late the wife of John Strelley, esquire, to Simon
Digby, esquire, of the manor of Trowell and all lands therein during
the nonage of John Strelley, son and heir to her siad husband, 'the
remainder thereof after the full age of the said John the son to the
same John Strelley the son for term of forty years; which manor was
assigned to her as parcel of her dower by Sir Henry Willughby, Sir
Gervas Clyfton, knights, and other co-feoffees of her husband
according to the award of Sir Thomas Lovell: [Notts.
Date: 4 May, 18 Henry VII [1503].
C 1/859/6-8:
John Markham, knight, and Anne, his wife, daughter of John Strelley,
esquire, deceased, and of Sanche, his wife and executrix. v. Simon and
Roland, sons and executors of John Digby, knight, second husband of
the said Sanche.: Legacy of the said John Strelley, who died possessed
of the manors of Strelley, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Chilwell, Wheatley,
Oxton, Shipley, and North and South Leverton.
Date: 1538-1544
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
E-mail: royala...@msn.com
kevan...@adelphia.net ("Kevan Barton") wrote in message news:<ECELJLLLKGANJMKHGAID...@adelphia.net>...
Douglas Richardson
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
E-mail: royala...@msn.com
kevan...@adelphia.net ("Kevan Barton") wrote in message news:<ECELJLLLKGANJMKHGAID...@adelphia.net>...
Kevan Barton
Thank you for that valuable information in establishing the John
Digby/Sanche Strelley marriage. Do you, by chance, have any like sources
that establishes the maternity for Anne Digby?
Cheers,
Kevan
AGeorgeSand
are a LOT of sources... however, to my knowledge, the link you mention is
not one that's much contested...
I have the Kenelm Digby pedigree from 1665, the Great Minterne Pedigree by a
later descendant, as quoted in Hutchinson, Burkes, exerpts from Nichols, and
a series of Pedigrees by the Irish Genealogical Society, but to tell the
truth, my own links to Digby occur earlier on so I haven't really examined
these portions of the line closely, nor do I take position on which versions
of what, might prevail.
I will however quote to you from the Greater Minterne and Hutchinson, whom
the Dorset Record Office seems to prefer:
Sir Everard Digby esq of Tilton, died 1509, buried at Tilton, married
JAcquetta, daughter of Sir John Ellis, county Devon, who died in 1486. they
had among others, Sir John of Eye Kettleby, co Leicester, who died 25 Henry
VIII. He married 1st to Catharine, dua of Sir Nicolas Griffin, of Braybrook
co, Northampton; he married 2nd to Anna, dau of ?? of Willoughby co,
Northampton
Now, this is where it may have gotten confusing: Everard (m Jacquetta) had a
brother John and a sister Devorguila, and another sister, Margaret, who
married Sir William Skeffington, knt, lord Deputy of Ireland - and this Wm
Skeffington was so fond of Digbys, that when she died, he married her niece
Anna, the daughter of Everard's son John Digby of Kettleby.
Hope that helps
StephenButt
family website at http://www.woodforde.co.uk.
The Woodford(e)s and the Belers intermarried. I am descended from Alice
Prest the daughter of Walter Prest (mentioned at the top of this page).
I would be very grateful to receive any further information anyone may
have regarding the Woodford side of this descent.
Best wishes,
Stephen Butt.