IDA (GREY?) wife of JOHN COKAYNE
Chris Phillips
wife of John Cokayne, Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the early 15th
century? She is described in heraldic pedigrees as a sister (and/or
daughter) of Reginald, Lord Grey of Ruthin.
John Cokayne was a younger son of John Cokayne, esq, of Ashbourne, co
Derby. He was of Bearwardcote, co Derby, in 1397 [1], and later of Bury
Hatley (now Cockayne Hatley), co Bedford. He died, and was buried there, in
1429 [2].
Some pedigrees appear to suggest that he married Ida in 1405, but in fact
they were already married by 1397 [1], and their married daughter is
mentioned in 1398 [3]. Ida died in 1426 (or 1430?), five sons and five
daughters being shown on the couple's monument, formerly at Cockayne Hatley
[2].
If the Heralds' identification is correct, she would presumably be the
daughter of Reginald, Lord Grey of Ruthin who died in 1388, and sister of
his son Reginald, who was aged 26 when he succeeded his father, and died in
1440. Some circumstantial evidence to support this comes from the facts
that John and Ida's eldest son was named Reginald, and that John Cokayne
and the younger Reginald, Lord Grey, were associated several times in
Bedfordshire county business and other transactions.
However, some doubt is cast by the heraldry recorded on John and Ida's
monument [2], which showed the arms of Cokayne impaling 'a bend raguly'.
The same arms appeared in the church windows, as 'Azure, a bend raguly
Gules' [2], and are also recorded elsewhere as arms quartered by Cokayne
[4]. These arms do not seem to appear otherwise in the standard books of
reference, but they are not those of Grey of Ruthin (although they are
somewhat similar to the arms of Grey of Rotherfield, co Oxford).
I should be very grateful if anyone can provide any firm evidence about
Ida's identity.
Chris Phillips
Sources:
[1] Close Roll, 20 R II Pt II, m.13d.
[2] Church notes by Francis Thynne, dated 27 July 1583, in British Library
MS Cotton Cleopatra CIII, fo 107b.
[3] Victoria County History (Herts) iii 26, citing Feet of Fines Herts 21 R
II, no 185.
[4] Medieval Ordinary, vol.1 (ed.Woodcock), citing MSS in the College of
Arms: Colour on Colour Roll, c 1450; College of Arms MS Vincent 164; Letter
E Roll, c 1510.