Thomas Cooke of Heene, Sussex

[Jay Cee]

He is called "Thomas of Heene in West Tarring".

COULD HE BE A SON OF JOHN OF THE FELDE (d1521)?
In his will he mentioned Son Thomas, grandson John (son of Thomas), COUSIN William, son Richard, dau Joane Wulff, and BROTHER Henry.
He also mentioned Lands in Heene. In 1521:
• William (cousin) was NOT 21
• John (grandson) was NOT 21

Could Thomas of Heene (d1573) be a son, and John (d ca1570) be a grandson? It is possible.
Thomas COULD have been born ca1500, and if John was born ca 1520, then Thomas would have been ~21 years old = POSSIBLE
If John was 1 when grandpa died (born 1520), John would have been 41 in 1561 when he married Margaret Stapleton = POSSIBLE

SO, while it's POSSIBLE that Thomas (ca1500-1573) & John (ca1520-ca1570) were a son & grandson, it is still a stretch.

What about the Quitclaim of HEENE MANOR to the "heirs of John Cooke, 1557"?
John Cooke of Broadwater died in 1557. Did he hold Heene Manor?
The "heirs", and plaintiffs, listed in the Quitclaim from Thomas Palmer (a 2x gr-grandson of John Cooke of Wykham) were "Thomas & John Cooke".
"Thomas" & "John", sons of John of Broadwater (d1557), supposedly died "s.p.", without male heirs (acc to Pedigrees).
Thomas of Heene (d1573) had a son, so not "s.p."

HOW THEN, DID THOMAS COOKE OF HEENE ACQUIRE HEENE MANOR??

A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 1, Bramber Rape (Southern Part). Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1980.
FINDON PARK descended with the manor until 1581, when it was sold to Sir Thomas Shirley of Wiston. (fn. 151) Thereafter it descended with Wiston manor.
The reputed manor of SHEEPCOMBE (fn. 152) belonged to William de Braose by 1073, (fn. 153) and appears to be the same as the 5 hides which one William held of Findon manor in 1086. (fn. 154)
In later centuries it was held directly of Bramber honor. (fn. 155)
In 1268 Godfrey Falconer of Michelgrove held it as part of 1¼ fee, (fn. 156) and it presumably descended in his family, since Henry Falconer held it in 1361. (fn. 157)
In 1399 5 yardlands at Sheepcombe were held of Bramber honor as ¼ fee by a member of the Joop family, presumably Maud, who at about the same date held of Heene manor 4 yardlands called Sheepcombe Heene. (fn. 158)

Later Sheepcombe passed to the vicars choral of Chichester.
The earliest date at which they are recorded as having it is 1631, (fn. 159) but they presumably acquired it before the Reformation. (fn. 160)
Thomas Cooke of Heene (d. 1573), who had some interest at Sheepcombe, (fn. 161) may be a descendant of the Henry Cooke of Findon who was leasing Chichester chapter lands in Goring in 1533, (fn. 162) and who was perhaps tenant of Sheepcombe too.


A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 1, Bramber Rape (Southern Part): HEENE MANOR
Robert Falconer was dealing with HEENE FALCONER in the 1190S, (fn. 76) and it descended thereafter until the early 14th century with Michelgrove in Clapham. (fn. 77)
In 1248 Godfrey Falconer granted it to his father Robert's widow Sabina and her husband Robert de Beaumes as her dower. (fn. 78)
In 1303 John Falconer sold it to William de la Felde. (fn. 79)
In 1329 or 1330 it was settled for life on William's daughter Rose with remainder to Henry Romyn, (fn. 80) who died in 1349 seised of lands in Heene held as ¾ fee. (fn. 81)
In 1360 Henry son of Henry de la Felde quitclaimed the manor to William of Singleton and his wife Elizabeth. (fn. 82)
After c. 1380 the manor was part of the FitzAlan estate in Sussex, having been acquired presumably by Richard FitzAlan, earl of Arundel (d. 1376), or possibly by his son Richard.
On the latter's execution in 1397, (fn. 83) it was resumed by the Crown, and granted to John Holand, duke of Exeter, (fn. 84) who was beheaded in 1400, when Richard FitzAlan's son Thomas, earl of Arundel (d. 1415) was restored to his father's titles and estates. (fn. 85)
He granted the manor to Holy Trinity hospital, Arundel, (fn. 86) which held it until the Dissolution. (fn. 87)
In 1546 it was granted by the Crown to Sir Richard Lee, who in the same year was licensed to alienate it to Sir Thomas Palmer. (fn. 88)
Sir Thomas quitclaimed the manor in 1557 to Thomas and John Cooke, (fn. 89) members of whose family had been tenants of the hospital. (fn. 90)
Thomas died in 1573, leaving as his heir his infant grandson William Cooke. (fn. 91)
[NOTE: What about John mrd Margaret Stapleton? He "dyed in the lifetime of his father" acc to Vis of Sussex HARL 1562 for 198, 198(2), & 199].
William died in 1598, his infant son of the same forename (fn. 92) becoming a ward of the Crown. In 1618 or 1619 he took possession, (fn. 93) and in 1643 apparently still held the manor. (fn. 94) It later passed successively to his son Edward, (fn. 95) and Edward's son Edward (d. 1672). The younger Edward's widow Elizabeth, who had married Richard Creswell, and his surviving sister Anne, who had married John Arnold, (fn. 96) in 1676 mortgaged, and in 1683 sold, the estate to James Butler. (fn. 97)


From SUSSEX POSTMORTEM INQUISITIONS, 1485-1649:

#271 Thomas Cooke “OF HEENE”(died 20 Feb 15 Eliz (1573)
Taken 12 Jan 1574 at Tarring
• William Cooke (aged 8 yrs 2 mo), grandson (heir), son of Jno Cooke, dec’d, heir of said Thos Cooke
• Son John decd who married Margaret[STAPLETON?!], now w/o of Thomas WESTON [see Will of John Cooke of Felde, 1521, for another mention of "Westons"]
• Son Thomas (mentioned in will)
• Son John’s children (ditto)
• William Cooke, heir (ditto)
• “my daughters” (ditto)
LANDS, ETC
• Manor of “Heene”
• Tenements in Heene, Tarring, Goring & Petworth
Interest in Schepcome
• Part settled 3 Jul 3rd Eliz (1561) with son John and his wife Margaret

From Sussex Manors, Advowsons, Etc, Recorded in the Feet of Fines, Henry VIII to William IV, p209:
"Thomas Cooke and John Cooke, Plaintiffs, and Thomas Palmer, Kt and Katherine, his wife, Deforcients"
By this Fine “Manor of Heen and tenements in Hene and Tarryng quitclaimed to plaintiffs and heirs of John Cooke”.
(East., 3 & 4 Ph. & Mary [1557]"
John Cooke of Brodewater died 1557.