C.P. Addition: Basset Family of Weldon: Murder in Whittlewood Forest
Douglas Richardson royalancestry@msn.com
Complete Peerage, 2 (1912): 9-13 (sub Basset) has a good account of the
baronial Basset family of Weldon, Northamptonshire. In an earlier
message (see below), I posted reference to a record which indicates
that Joan, wife of Ralph Basset, 3rd Lord Basset of Weldon, was a
hitherto unknown kinswoman of William le Latimer, Knt., "bailiff in the
fee of the hundred of Corby." [Reference: Donald W. Sutherland, ed.,
Eyre of Northamptonshire, A.D. 1329-1330 (Selden Soc., vols. 97-98)
(1983), 1: 259-261, 423, 450-451; 2: 502-504, 533, 615]. I presume the
William le Latimer, Knt., intended was William le Latimer, 3rd Lord
Latimer, of Corby, co. Northampton.
Complete Peerage indicates that Ralph and Joan Basset's younger son,
Thomas Basset, clerk, in January 1390/1, "brought an action" against
his eldest brother's grandson and heir, Richard Basset, and the said
Richard's mother, Eleanor, wife of John Clisseby, "claiming the manors
of Weldon and Weston." Following Thomas Basset's death sometime before
Michaelmas 1391, his claim was renewed by the his two sisters' sons,
Sir John Aylesbury and John Knyvet. The basis of this lawsuit is not
mentioned by Complete Peerage. But, my notes indicate that Thomas
Basset's Aylesbury and Knyvet nephews claimed the Basset estates on the
basis of an entail made in 1339. I believe the claim was also made
that the Basset family heir, Richard Basset, was illegitimate.
Recently, I encountered a writ dated 1389 addressed to John Buckingham,
Bishop of Lincoln, which indicates that the legal action instigated by
Thomas Basset, clerk, for his "inheritance" actually preceded the
January 1390/1 date:
"365. Breve contra Thomas Basset de Weldon'.
Common Pleas venire faciatis, returnable on the octave of Hilary,
against Thomas son of Ralph Basset of Weldon your clerk, to answer
William la Zouche of Totnes (Totteneis) concerning a plea that he
should be held to an agreement made between them concerning an
enfeoffment made for William of all the lands and tenements with
appurtenances which are of the inheritance of Thomas after the recovery
of those lands and tenements at William's expense, and to be held by
William and his heirs in perpetuity. Note of return of no lay fee by
the sheriff of Northamptonshire on the morrow of Martinmas [12 Nov.].
Teste Robert de Cherlton, 30 Nov. 1389. [Reference: A.K. McHardy, Royal
Writs addressed to John Buckingham, Bishop of Lincoln, 1363-1398
(Lincoln Rec. Soc. 86) (1997): 121].
The above writ basically indicates that William la Zouche sued Thomas
Basset in 1389 to keep an agreement made between them regarding the
recovery of Thomas Basset's inheritance, which was obtained "at
William's expense." While the "lands and tenements" which were Thomas
Basset's "inheritance" are not specified, it seems rather certain that
Thomas Basset had obtained at least some of the estates held by his
paternal ancestors before November 1389. Curiously, Complete Peerage
notes in a footnote, Thomas Basset, clerk, aged 50 and more, was
subsequently acknowledged in March 1391 as the heir of his brother,
Ralph Basset (living 1368), to the apparent exclusion of Ralph's minor
grandson, Richard Basset. Because Complete Peerage does not give the
details, it is unclear for what lands Thomas Basset was deemed to be
the lawful heir.
In spite of the inquisition dated 1391 (or perhaps due to the death of
Thomas Basset, clerk, the same year), the young Basset heir, Richard
Basset, was in time granted livery of his father's lands in 1398. The
whole matter of the Basset inheritance was resolved in a shocking
manner, however, in 1400, when young Richard Basset was murdered on a
highway leading through Whittlewood Forest. Curiously, the murder of
Richard Basset is not mentioned by Complete Peerage. It merely states
he died 9 January 1399/1400 without issue. On his death, the Basset
estates duly fell to his Aylesbury and Knyvet cousins.
For interest's sake, a current list of the numerous 17th Century New
World immigrants descended from Thomas Basset, clerk's two sisters,
Joan (Basset) de Aylesbury and Eleanor (Basset) Knyvet, is given below.
Specific details on individual descents from the two Basset sisters
can be found in my book, Magna Carta Ancestry (2005). Contact me
privately offline for ordering information for the book.
1. William Bladen.
2. Thomas Booth.
3. Elizabeth Bosvile.
4. George, Giles & Robert Brent.
5. Kenelm Cheseldine.
6. Grace Chetwode.
7. William Clopton.
8. Francis Dade.
9. Frances, Jane & Katherine Deighton.
10. Edward Foliot.
11. Muriel Gurdon.
12. Elizabeth & John Harleston.
13. Thomas Ligon.
14. Henry, Jane & Nicholas Lowe.
15. Gabriel, Roger & Sarah Ludlow.
16. Anne & Katherine Marbury.
17. Anne Mauleverer.
18. Philip & Thomas Nelson.
19. Thomas Owsley.
20. John Oxenbridge.
21. Richard Saltonstall.
22. Thomas Savage.
23. Samuel & William Torrey.
24. Amy Willis.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Website: www.royalancestry.net
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COPY OF EARLIER POST
Date: 31 Jan 2002 02:16:08 -0800
Local: Thurs, Jan 31 2002 4:16 am
Subject: Clue to Identity of Joan, wife of Ralph Basset, of Weldon
Dear Newsgroup:
Complete Peerage includes an account of the Basset family of Weldon,
co. Northampton. Ralph Basset, 2nd Lord Basset of Weldon, was born in
1300. He married say 1320 to Joan _____, whose identity is unknown.
She is said by Nichols' Leicestershire, 4:905, to have been the
daughter of .... Sturdon, of Winterbourne, co. Gloucester. I know of
no evidence to support this statement.
Recently, while I was combing through obscure lawsuits of this period,
I came across a suit which identified Ralph Basset's wife Joan as the
"kinswoman" of William le Latimer, Knt., "bailiff in the fee of the
hundred of Corby." [Reference: Donald W. Sutherland, ed., Eyre of
Northamptonshire, A.D. 1329-1330 (Selden Soc., vols. 97-98) (1983), 1:
259-261, 423, 450-451; 2: 502-504, 533, 615].
Presumably William le Latimer, Knt., mentioned here was William le
Latimer, 3rd Lord Latimer, of Corby, co. Northampton. At the present
time, the specific connection between the Latimer family and Joan
Basset is unknown. A list of the colonial immigrants who descend from
the Basset family of Weldon is presented below.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
e-mail: royalances...@msn.com
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topic »
©2005 Google
Zai...@gmail.com
As a followup to my original post regarding the inheritance of Richard
Basset of Weldon and his subsequent murder in 1400, I've located the
abstract of a Basset family document in the helpful online National
Archives catalogue
(http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search.asp). This
document is dated 1390. It concerns charges regarding the alleged
illegitimacy of young Richard Basset, son and heir of Ralph Basset of
Weldon. These charges were overlooked by Complete Peerage's account of
this family.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Website: www.royalancestry.net
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C 270/33/21
Notarial instrument in form of letters patent of the dean of Coventry,
of evidence of witnesses produced by Sir Thomas de Aylesbury, knight,
in case between heirs of Ralph Basset of Weldon and Ralph's pretended
son, Richard: that Richard was son of Tybota Lovkyn and adopted by
Ralph. Date: 1390.
Douglas Richardson royalancestry@msn.com
Complete Peerage, 2 (1912): 12, footnote c (sub Basset) indicates that
various legal proceedings were lodged in the 1390's in an effort to
displace young Richard Basset as the lawful son and heir of Ralph
Basset, of Weldon, who died in 1385. Abstracts of two of these
proceedings have been published in Collections for a History of
Staffordshire, volume 15, a copy of which is presented below.
The first lawsuit was by filed by young Richard Basset's great uncle,
Thomas Basset, clerk, who outright claimed to be the real Basset family
heir. Following Thomas Basset's death, the legal proceedings were
continued by Thomas Basset's sisters' sons, Sir John de Aylesbury and
John Knyvet, who made the same claim to be the lawful heirs of the
Basset family estates.
Complete Peerage correctly states that the plaintiffs claimed in their
pleadings that young Richard Basset's grandparents, Richard Basset and
Joan de la Pole, died "s.p.m." (i.e., without male issue). In stating
this, though, the plaintiffs were implying, without saying so directly,
that young Richard Basset was illegitimate. That proving that Richard
Basset was illegitimate was the plaintiffs' real intent is indicated by
the notarial instrument dated 1390 which I've found elsewhere and
posted here on the newsgroup (see copy of my earlier post further
below). The instrument indicates that witnesses were produced who said
that young Richard Basset was the "son of Tybota Lovkyn" and that he
was "adopted" by his father, Ralph Basset. The plaintiffs further
claimed the Basset estates on the basis of an entail made in 1339.
Both Richard Basset's alleged illegitimacy and the claim on the basis
of the 1339 entail were overlooked by Complete Peerage in its account
of the lawsuits.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Website: www.royalancestry.net
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Item #1:
Extracts from the Plea Rolls.
De Banco. Michaelmas, 14 Richard II [1390].
"Northampton. The transcript of a fined was returned into Court at the
suit of Thomas Basset, clerk, son and heir of Ralph Basset of Weldon,
knight, and which had been levied in 13 Edward III [1339], between
Ralph Basset of Weldon, knight, plaintiff, and Roger Basset, parson of
the church of Arthyngeworth, and Henry, son of Philip Trayly,
deforciants of the manors of Weldon and Weston, near Ashele (with
certain exceptions detailed), and of the advowson of the priory of La
Launde, by which the said manors and advowson were settled on Ralph for
his life, with remainder to Ralph, son of the said Ralph Basset, and
Joan, daughter of Richard de la Pole, citizen of London, and to the
male heirs of the bodies of the said Ralph, son of Ralph and Joan, and
failing such, to the right heirs of the said Ralph Basset; and Thomas
Basset stated that the said Ralph Basset was dead, and Ralph, son of
Ralph and Joan had died, without leaving any male issue, and that one
Richard Basset held two parts of the said manors, and the advowson of
the priory, and one John Clisseby and Alianora his wife held the other
third part of the same manors, against the tenor of the above fine, and
he prayed for a writ against them to show cause, etc., and it was
granted, returnable at the Octaves of St. Hillary. m. 236, dorso."
[Reference: Collections for a History of Staffordshire, 15 (1894): 28].
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Item #2:
Extracts from the Plea Rolls.
De Banco. Easter. 19 Richard II [1396].
"Leyc. Staff. On the petition of John de Aylesbury, knight, and John
Knyvet, the transcript of a fine was returned into Court which had been
levied in 13 Edward III [1339] between Ralph Basset of Weldon, knight,
and Joan his wife, complainants, and Roger Basset parson of the church
of Arthyngworth, and Henry son of Philip Traylly, deforciants of the
manors of Thorp Langeton in co. Leycester and of the manor of Madele
(Madeley Alfac) in co. Stafford - By this fine the above manors were
settled on Ralph and Joan for their lives, with remainder to Ralph, son
of Ralph Basset of Weldon, and Joan daughter of Richard de la Pole,
citizen of London, and their male issue, and failing such, to revert to
the right heirs of Ralph; and the said John de Aylesbury and John
Knyvet stated that Ralph Basset was dead and that Ralph son of Ralph
and Joan his wife had died leaving no male issue, and that they were
the nearest heirs of Ralph Basset of Weldon and that one Richard Basset
had entered the manor of Madele in co. Stafford and held it against the
tenor of the fine - and they prayed he might be summoned to show cause,
etc. and it was granted returnable on the Octaves of Holy Trinity. A
postscript states that afterwards on the Quindene of Easter 21 Richard
II [1398], the plaintiffs prayed for new writs summoning the said
Richard Basset to show cause why the manors of Madeley and Thorpe
Langton should not remain to them according to the tenor of the fine,
and they were granted to them returnable on the following Octaves of
St. Michael. m. 152, dorso." [Reference: Collections for a History of
Staffordshire, 15 (1894): 73].
Tim Powys-Lybbe
> Dear Newsgroup ~
<snip>
> Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
>
> Website: www.royalancestry.net
<big snip>
I was prompted to wonder who "Zai...@gmail.com" was so put it into
Google Groups for a little search. The following five contributions
came up for the last two months:
What's on your needles as of noon today?
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The circular needles have a different feel to them, but I recently got
blisters from doing yard work so I have to put all knitting and
crocheting away for a bit ...
Grim Knitters - Aug 4, 3:27 pm by Zairas - 9 messages - 5 authors
What's on your needles as of noon today?
----------------------------------------
Well, as for me, I believe I have: Three scarves, one knit, two
crochet. Two hats, one knit, one crochet. Socks, crochet. Fingerless
gloves, knit. ...
Grim Knitters - Aug 2, 7:40 pm by Zairas - 9 messages - 5 authors
Knitting Beginnings.
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I take my knitting many places as well. My friends once glared at me
when I pulled it out during the Jazz Festival, but it was only ...
Grim Knitters - Jul 31, 2:12 am by Zairas - 3 messages - 2 authors
Knitting Beginnings.
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Hello, I just joined this group, and since I think t would be a great
way to learn more about everyone, I am taking it upon myself to ask
those who feel like ...
Grim Knitters - Jul 16, 2:22 am by Zairas - 3 messages - 2 authors
CP Addition: Basset Family of Weldon: Murder in Whittlewood ...
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Dear Newsgroup ~ As a followup to my original post regarding the
inheritance of Richard Basset of Weldon and his subsequent murder in
1400, I've located the ...
soc.genealogy.medieval - Aug 26, 8:39 pm by Zai...@gmail.com - 3
messages - 2 authors
I think this requires John Brandon's sleuthing skills to establish the
precise connection between the various personas.
--
Tim Powys-Lybbe t...@powys.org
For a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org
Peter Stewart
artist formerly known as "royalancestry", aka Douglas Richardson.
He requires other people to use only full, legal identifiers in e-mail
addresses, and we all know how deeply sincere and genuine he always is at
practising what he preaches.
As for the interest in knitting and crochet, maybe he is busy fashioning a
space suit for himself, for use when the UFO finally comes for him.
Peter Stewart
"Tim Powys-Lybbe" <t...@powys.org> wrote in message
news:285471a...@south-frm.demon.co.uk...