Drayton, Sussex and the Lords Badlesmere [was Re: Witnesham, Suffolk..]
The...@aol.com
Dear Chris, Rosie, Douglas, Cris, Shane, Allen, et al.,
With some luck, this chase will involve no wild geese.
In Honors and Knights' Fees vol. III, Farrer wrote the
following (relevant portions only provided) re: Drayton, Sussex:
' In 1242 John L'Estrange, justice of Chester, had the
custody of the lands late of John Fitz-Alan, and possibly
in that capacity was returned in 1242-3 as holding 1 fee
in Drayton of the earl of Arundel. In 1244 the service
of the same John L'Estrange of 1/2 fee in Drayton was
assigned to the pourparty of Roger de Somery and Nicholaa
his wife....
It was found by inquest taken in 1275 that Hamon
L'Estrange had enfeoffed Urian de St. Peter of the
whole manor of Drayton, Suss., and that Urian
afterwards enfeoffed Robert de Staundon of a fourth
part of the manor and Robert was in seisin at Hamon's
death. Afterwards, when Urian recovered the manor
from the king's hands he delivered his own and Robert's
part to Geoffrey de Pichford to farm. In 1282 John
Tregoz acknowledged by fine that the manor of Drayton
was the right of Geoffrey de Picheford and Alice his
wife and their issue. The same year Tregoz gave the
manor of Drayton, par. of Oving, Suss., to queen
Eleanor, who gave it to Geoffrey de Picheford, knight
of her household, and Alice his wife; Sir Roger de
Clifford, the elder , who held it for life, released
his interest to queen Eleanor; for which grant Geoffrey
gave to the queen in exchange certain lands in Ashford
and Sheldon, Derbys. In 1298 Ralph Basset of Sapecote
and Margaret his wife demanded against Geoffrey de
Picheford and Alice his wife a third part of the manor
of Drayton as his wife's dower by the endowment of Urian
de St. Peter, her first husband. The demandants released
their claim for L~10. Geoffrey de Picheford died in or
before 1299 holding the manor of Drayton as described
above (1282). He was for many years prior to his death
constable of Windsor Castle. In 1327 [sic] Bartholomew
de Badelesmere died possessed of the reversion of the
manor of Drayton after the death of John L'Estrange,
held of the heirs of Roger de Someri for 1/2 fee; Giles
his son and heir was aged 16 years. ' [1]
I would suggest, contrary to Farrer's observation, that John
le Strange acquired his rights to Drayton, Sussex in connection
with marriage to Lucy de Tregoz. CP Vol. XII/I (Strange of
Knokyn), p. 351 note (b) provides the following relevant
documentation concerning the marriage of John le Strange and
Lucy Tregoz ("he is said to have m."):
' Dodsworth MS., vol. cxli, p. 128, cited in Shropsh., vol.
x, p. 274. The families of Tregoz and Lestrange were both
associated with Drayton (in Oving), Sussex (Palgrave,
Kalendars and Inventories of the Exchequer, vol. i,
pp. 71-74). '
Beyond this, CP also states that the estates of Ebles le
Strange passed on his death (1335) to his nephew Roger (Vol.
XII/I, p. 341).
The tenure and inheritance of this manor is as tangled as
many we have seen; however, it appears that at the level where
the manor was held of the earl of Arundel and his heirs (Roger
de Somery and later), the tenure passed as below. Names of
those identified as having held Drayton are capitalized; the
conjectural connection is noted by a broken line _ _ _ _ .
JOHN LE STRANGE = Lucy de Tregoz
of Knockin; d. bef I
26 Mar 1269 I
I
_____________________I______________
I I
John le Strange = Joan de HAMON LE STRANGE
d. 1275 I Somery d. 1275
I
__________I _ _ _ _ _ _
I I
John le Strange Joan = Guncelin de
b. ca. 1253; I Badlesmere
d. ca. Aug 1309 I d. 1301
lst Lord Strange I
(Knockin) ___________________I________
I I I
BARTHOLOMEW Maud Joan
DE BADLESMERE = Robert de = John de
ex. 1322 Burghersh Northwode
The above conjectured connection would provide the avenue by
which Drayton, Sussex would have passed to Bartholomew de
Badlesmere; it would also (obviously) find a place for his
mother Joan, long without parentage since the FitzBernard claim
was disproven. It is certainly possible, given de Badlesmere's
accumulation of lands and rights in the royal service (until his
joining the Earl of Lancaster and paying for it with his life)
that this manor was also acquired by the same route.
Should anyone see either relevant documentation, or have a
recommended path for further research, it would as always be
greatly appreciated.
Meanwhile, good luck, and good hunting.
John *
NOTES
[1] Farrer, Honors and Knights' Fees, vol. III pp. 76-77.
* John P. Ravilious
The...@aol.com
ERRATA et CORRIGENDA:
Delete the reference to Ebles le Strange (irrelevant to the specific
discussion)
Cheers,
John