Throckmorton entries in the Red Book of Worcester (early 1100s-1299)

[Jan]

In a 1927 article about the medieval Throckmorton family, G. Andrews Moriarty presented a Throckmorton pedigree based on his analysis of a large number of abstracts and transcriptions of contemporary documents found in various Throckmorton muniments as well as in historical records. Transcriptions or abstracts of all of the documents consulted are included in the article. {G. Andrews Moriarty, “The Early Throckmortons,” Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, Fifth Series, 6 (1927), 225–53.}

Among the sources Moriarty used was Habington's Survey of Worcestershire which includes Habington's notes from the Red Book of Worcester. The Red Book was compiled at the end of the 13th century and was transcribed by William Thomas (1670-1738). The original, presumably available to Thomas Habington (1560–1647), has since been lost. Moriarty apparently did not use William Thomas' transcription.

For his notes from Habington, Moriarty used John Amphlett, ed., A Survey of Worcestershire by Thomas Habington, vol. 1, part 2 (Oxford: James Parker and Co., 1894), which may be read online at http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101072873597;num=141;seq=7. See p. 226–28 for Hablington's notes from the Red Book.

Marjory Hollings, ed., The Red Book of Worcester, 4 parts (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950), includes information that was not included or clearly described in Habington's Survey. This set of books was published after Moriarty’s article but during his lifetime. In the 1927 article, there is an error in the printed pedigree (Osmund and Gervase reversed in the first two generations of the pedigree). The Red Book entries provide information about two earlier Throckmorton generations, Joscelin who lived c1114-1123 and Relland/Reoland/Raulyn and his wife, who lived in the mid 1100s. Moriarty’s sources include Pipe Roll entries for John and Gervase in 1175–1176 but omit a similar Pipe Roll entry for Adam dated 1174 –1175. He also misdates a source for Reoland as pertaining to Domesday rather than the mid 1100s.

Here is a transcription of the Red Book entries related to the Throckmorton family along with some notes about the dates of people mentioned in the entries. I have supplied the date or date range preceding each entry based on the people mentioned in the entry and the information presented by William Thomas, the transcriber, and by Marjory Hollings, the editor. I would welcome both translations and interpretations of the entries.

1114–1123 “Isti feffati sunt a tempore Teulphi Episcopi. … Cherleton dimidiam militem, Joscelinus de Throkmertone v virgati, Bradelegh i hida, Adam i virgata, faciunt militem.” {Marjory Hollings, ed., The Red Book of Worcester, 4 parts (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950), 4:413–415.} Bishop Theulf was nominated 28 December 1113 and consecrated 27 June 1115. He died 20 October 1123. {Diana E. Greenway, Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: volume 2: Monastic cathedrals (1971), 99, http://british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=123.}

1114–1150 “A plea of land in Throckmorton (? temp. Hen. I). Hec est loquela de dimidia hida terre de Throkemerton quam Aluredus de Wythindone clamat. Dompnus Episcopus Sampson dedit hanc predictam terram Radulfo de Cubleya et postea cepit eam de predicto Radulfo, et dedi ei dimidiam hidam apud Withyndone de terra Rusticorum in excambio. Et postea vero Theoldus Episcopus dedit hanc predictam dimidiam hidam terre et aliam dimidiam hidam apud Fladburie Gilberto dispensario suo. Gervasius vero Archidiaconus emit predictam hidam terre de Throkemerton de predicto Gilberto et dedit eam Rellando de Throkemerton cum filia sua dimidia hida de Fladebury. [This is the plea about the half hide of Throckmorton land claimed by Alfred Withington. The lord bishop Sampson gave this land aforesaid to Ralf of Cubberley, and afterwards he took it from the said Ralf and gave him half a hide of the villeins’ land in exchange. And afterwards bishop Theolf gave this half hide of land aforesaid and another half hide at Fladbury to Gilbert his dispenser. But Gervase the Archdeacon bought the said hide of Throckmorton land from the said Gilbert and gave it to Relland of Throckmorton with his daughter (and) the half hide of Fladbury.]” {Marjory Hollings, ed., The Red Book of Worcester, 4 parts (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950), 4:429.} Bishop of Worcester Sampson was consecrated 8 June 1096. He died 5 May 1112. Bishop Theulf was nominated 28 December 1113 and consecrated 27 June 1115. He died 20 October 1123. Gervase was archdeacon of Gloucester in the 1140s. {Diana E. Greenway, Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: volume 2: Monastic cathedrals (1971), 99, 105, 107, http://british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=123.}

1125–1150 “Twelfth Century: a Survey of Flatbury. Terre Geldabiles. … In Throkemerton Raulyn de villenagio ii hidas et dimidian geldant pro i virgata et de toto reddit scutagium. Et Norman dimidiam hidam virgatam et de villenagio i virgatum et dimidiam per Simonem Episcopum, et geldat de toto pro i virgata. Et Osmund Camerarius dimidiam hidam, et de Willelmo i virgatem et geldat pro i virgata de toto. Et Adam i virgatam et geldat pro i virgata. Walter de Turre ii hidas et i virgatam, et geldat pro i virgata. Et Freri de Bissopeston ii hidas, geldant pro virgata, et in scutagio pro ii hidas. Et Randulphus Dispensator de villenagio dimidiam hidam, geldat pro virgata per Symonem Episcopum. … [Terre de Villenagio] In Throkemerton de Willelmo Adelard i virgatam pro vi s. et Walter Hayward i virgatam pro v s.” {Marjory Hollings, ed., The Red Book of Worcester, 4 parts (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950), 4:418–19.} Bishop Simon was consecrated 24 May 1125 died [20 March?] 1150. {Diana E. Greenway, Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: volume 2: Monastic cathedrals (1971), 99, http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33881.}

William Thomas (1670-1738), whose transcription of the original Red Book of Worcester is the source for the modern publication, wrote about the survey in the Red Book called “Domesday” that it was “the first in order of time … and was made, in imitation of the Domesday Book in the Exchequer, about the time of Bishop Baldwin.” {Marjory Hollings, ed., The Red Book of Worcester, 4 parts (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950), 1:iii–iv.} Bishop Baldwin was consecrated 10 August 1180. He became the Archbishop of Canterbury in May 1185. {Diana E. Greenway, Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: volume 2: Monastic cathedrals (1971), 100, http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33881.}

The survey of Flatbury in the so-called “Domesday” section of the Red Book is very similar to the “twelfth century survey” of Flatbury transcribed from the miscellaneous section, thus it seems more likely that at least this portion of the so-called “Domesday” section was written before the tenure of Baldwin or, at least, reports information from earlier in the century. “In Throkemertone Raulyn de villenagio ii hidas et dimidiam geldant pro una virgata et de toto reddit scutagium. Et Norman dimidiam hidam, et de villenagio i virgatem et dimidiam per Simonem Episcopum et geldat de toto pro i virgata. Et Osmundus Camerarius dimidiam hidam, et de Willelmo i virgatam et geldat pro virgata de toto. Et Adam i virgatam et geldat pro virgata. Walterus de Turre ii hidas et i virgatam, et gelant pro i virgata. Et Freri de Bissopestone ii hidas geldant pro virgata, et in scutagio pro ii hidis. Et Randolphus Dispensator de villenagio dimidiam hidam, geldat pro virgata per Simonem Episcopum. … In Throkermertone de Will’o Adelard i virgatam pro vi s. Et Walterus Hayward i virgatam pro v s.” {Marjory Hollings, ed., The Red Book of Worcester, 4 parts (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950), 1:145. The editor comments that Dr. Thomas noted that “Will’o” should here be extended “Willenagio” and follows his expanded transcription, but she notes that “it seems possible that those lands were held under William de Beauchamp who held land of the bishop in several parts of the township.”}

1207 “Knight fees held of the bishop in 1207. Fladbury. Episcopus tenet manerium de Fladebury in dominico in Comitatu Wygornia. … tenet de eodem manerio … Henricus filius Johannis in Throckmertone i virgatam. Adam filius Roberti in Throkemertone i virgatam. Willelmus filius Gotelini in Throkemertone i virgatam. Osmundus filius Gervasii in Throkemertone i virgatam.” {Marjory Hollings, ed., The Red Book of Worcester, 4 parts (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950), 4:446.}

1299 “Fladbury with Throckmorton and Bradley in 1299. Milites. … Robertus filius Simonis de Throkemerton tenet iii virgatas terre in Throkemerton que fuerunt Willelmi de Wasthull per servitium militare de i virgata faciendum. Et debet hidagium pro i virgata terre, et sectam curie de Fladbure et similiter ad Wygorniam. Idem Robertus tenet ibidem duas hidas terre et dimidiam per servitium militare, et facit inde hidagium quasi pro ii virgatis terre cum venerit, et debet sectam curie de Fladbure et Wygornie et defendere manerium de Fladbure de secta Comitatus.” {Marjory Hollings, ed., The Red Book of Worcester, 4 parts (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950), 2:126–7.}