Chaworths to Luttrells to Paynels

[Tim Powys-Lybbe]

In CP III, 153 there is Thomas Chaworth, d. 1370-1, who m. Jane dau. of
Geoffrey Luttrell. There is there no hint of where Geoffrey Luttrell
came from.

However I have seen some suggestions that Geoffrey Luttrell might have
been one of the Geoffrey Luttrells in CP VIII, pp. 285-6, possibly the
second who d. 1345.

Does anyone have any views on where the father-in-law of Thos Chaworth
came from?

--
Tim Powys-Lybbe t...@powys.org
For a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org

[Rosie Bevan]

Dear Tim

I'm afraid CP piece on the Chaworths is riddled with errors. The Geoffrey
Luttrell in question was Sir Geoffrey Luttrell of Irnham, Lincs who died on
23 May 1345 (CP VIII p.286/287). He is noted for having commissioned the
Luttrell Psalter, an outstanding and fascinating example of English medieval
art showing domestic scenes, which is now in the British Museum. One of the
most famous images from it shows Sir Geoffrey sitting on his horse, with his
wife Agnes de Sutton and daughter-in-law Constance Scrope with all their
armorials, in attendance. The following site is a school resource but shows
images from the psalter including the one just mentioned.
http://www.redruth.cornwall.sch.uk/departments/History/lutt/The%20Luttrell%20Psalter%201345.html

According to Chaworth pedigrees his daughter Joan was married to Sir Thomas
Chaworth d.1370, but having said that I've not tracked down any contemporary
evidence confirming this. Circumstantial evidence is that when Sir Geoffrey
died in 1345, his son Andrew had not yet produced a son and heir, and he
appointed Thomas de Chaworth (i.e.Thomas de Chaworth the younger, as his
father of the same name was still alive at the time), executor and main
beneficiary of his will with his son, Andrew. Joan is not mentioned in Sir
Geoffrey's will, which rather suggests she had already died. She would
appear to have been living in 1330 when Sir Thomas de Chaworth, snr, settled
the manor of Alfreton on himself with remainder to his son Thomas and wife
Joan and the heirs of their bodies [H. Garratt (ed.), Derbyshire Feet of
Fines 1323-1546. (Derbyshire Record Soc., 1985), no. 725].

As mentioned in CP, Sir Geoffrey's will was covered in Vetusta Monumenta v.
6, pp.5-6 and contains quite a bit of genealogical detail.
"Sir Geoffery made his will at Irnham on the 3rd April 1345, ordering his
body to be buried in the chancel of the church of Irnham, and giving for his
mortuary his best horse with the harness of war, as was befitting. It was
his will, that on the day of his burial, and on the seventh, and thirtieth
day, two hundred pounds should be distributed among the poor ; that on the
day of his burial twenty pounds should be spent on wax to be burnt around
his body, forty shillings to be paid to the clerks saying the Psalter, and
one penny for the offerings of every person celebrating for his soul in the
church of Irnham. And as a provision against the meeting of his friends on
the day of his burial, twenty quarters of wheat were to be allowed for
making bread; and twenty quarters of malt for brewing ale; and twenty pounds
laid out in wines, speices and other things necessary for the kitchen. And
he directed that twenty chaplains should celebrate for his soul for five
years after his decease in the church of Irnham and have five hundred marcs,
that is to say one hundred marcs each year, and that the poor praying for
him on his anniversary should have 20 pounds ; bequeathing to the fabric of
the church of Irnham five marcs, and to the beggars of the parish forty
quarters of wheat; and bestowing many legacies on various other parishes,
and churches, and religious persons therein named.
He gave to his son Sir Andrew twenty marcs of silver, or jewels or plate of
that value; and to the testator's son Robert, Knight Hospitaler of St. John
of Jerusalem, ten marcs, willing that Guy Louterell, the testator's brother,
and Thomas de Chaworth, should minister the same according to his wants. To
the Lady Beatrix Louterell, wife of Sir Andrew his son, 10 marcs. To the
testators daughter, the Lady Isabella, a nun in the house of St. Gilbert de
Sempringham, five marcs; to his brother Guy Louterell, twenty marcs; to his
sisters Margery and Lucy, nuns of the house of St Mary de Hampole, forty
shillings; to the Lady Joan de Sutton, nun of the same house, twenty
shillings; to the testator's sisters Albreda and Elizabeth twenty shillings
apiece; to Joan de Meaux who had formerly been gentlewoman of his Lady,
forty shillings; to Sir Robert de Wilford, his chaplain, twenty shillings;
to William de Foderingeye, his confessor, five marcs for clothing; to Thomas
de Chaworth of Osberton, his esquire, fifty marcs, over and above fifty
marcs due to him on the testator's bond; to Alice Wadnowe, gentlewoman of
his chamber, five maecs; to his nephew John, son of Guy Louterell before
named, five marcs; to Robert, Guy and Thomas, brothers of the said John, and
to Joan and Elizabeth, sisters of the same John, ten marcs a piece; to
William de Chaworth, his chamberlain, forty shillings. And the testator,
after bequeathing various sums of money and cloaks to his household, and
legacies to other person, gave the residue of his personal estate to his
brother Guy Louterell and Thomas de Chaworth, his chief esquire, and
appointed Sir Andrew Louterell, and Thomas de Chaworth, executors and Guy
Louterell, John de Busby, brother William de Foderingey and Hugh Parson of
Rouceby, joint executors, under the advice and assistance of William de
Gaham of Nottingham and Hugh de Martel of Clifton."

I hope this helps answer your query.

Cheers

Rosie