C.P. Correction/Additiion: Sir Humphrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell, and his wife, Joan Stanhope

[Douglas Richardson]

Dear Newsgroup ~

Complete Peerage 3 (1913): 554 (sub Cromwell) has a good account of Sir Humphrey Bourchier (died 1471), Lord Cromwell, which individual was a first cousin to King Edward IV of England. Regarding Sir Humphrey's marriage, the following information is given by Complete Peerage:

"He married, before 14 Feb. 1455/6, Joan, 2nd and youngest daughter of Sir Richard Stanhope, of Rampton, by his 2nd wife, Maud, sister of [whose issue was co-heir to] Ralph (Cromwell), Lord Cromwell, abovenamed. He [Humphrey] died s.p., 14 April 1471, being slain fighting for King Edward at Barnet field, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Will proved 18 June 1471. As he never had issue by his wife, he was not tenant by the courtesy, and probably this Barony should be regarded as a new creation, in which case it became extinct at his death; if, however, it be considered as a Barony of 1375, it fell into abeyance between his widow and her sister. His widow [Joan] married Sir Robert Radcliffe, of Hunstanton, Norfolk, whose will dated 24 Nov. 1496, was proved 19 May 1498. She died s.p., 10 March 1490, and was buried at Tatershall afsd. M.I." END OF QUOTE.

Complete Peerage give no documentation whatsoever for the marriage date of Sir Humphrey Bourchier and Joan Stanhope, which the marriage is stated to have been childless. No evidence or date is cited for Joan's second marriage to Sir Robert Radcliffe. As for Joan Stanhope's death date, Complete Peerage seems to be replying on her monumental inscription at Tatershall, Lincolnshire, as no other record is discussed.

Insofar as the marriage date of Sir Humphrey and his wife, Joan, cited by Complete Peerage is concerned, the source for this date is Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1452-1461 (1910): 275, which record reads in part:

"1456. Feb. 14. License for Thomas Nevyll, knight, and Maud, lady of Willughby, his wife, one of the kinswomen and heirs of Ralph, late lord Cromwell, deceased, and for Humphrey Burghchier, esquire, and Joan his wife, sister of Maud and the other of the kinswomen and heirs of Ralph, to wit, daughters of Maud, sister of Ralph, tenant in chief on the day of his death, ..." END OF QUOTE.

So far, so good.

As to the claim that Sir Humphrey Bourchier and his wife, Joan Stanhope, had no children, that statement is patently false. Thompson, History and Antiquities of Boston (1856): 749 includes a list of the members of the Corpus Christi Guild in Boston, Lincolnshire and the dates of their respective admissions. The following two entries pertain to Sir Humphrey Bourchier and his wife, Joan Stanhope, and their son, Ralph Bourchier.

1466 Humphrey Bourchier, Lord de Cromwell.
1470. Joan, Lady Cromwell; Ralph Bourchier, her son.

The above may be viewed at the following weblink:

https://books.google.com/books?id=Ofs9AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA749

It is not known exactly when young Ralph Bourchier died, but presumably it was at the same time as his father in 1471, or shortly before, as Sir Humphrey Bourchier appears to have had no living children at the time of his death.

Insofar as the second marriage of Joan Stanhope to Sir Robert Radcliffe is concerned, evidence for this marriage is provided by several sources, among them two visitation records:

1. Harvey et al., Vis. of the North 3 (Surtees Soc. 144) (1930): 152-156 (Daubeny ped.: "Iohanna [Stanhope] filia et coh. primo nupta Humfrido Bourghchier (militi) postea Roberto Radcleff").

2. Mundy et al., Vis. of Nottingham 1569 & 1614 (H.S.P. 4) (1871): 5-8 (Stanhope ped.: "Joanna Stanhop d'na Cromwell et Tateshal1 [1] = Humfrid' Bourchier d'ns d'ni Cromwell et Tatshall, [2] = Robertus Radcliff miles s.p.").

My research indicates that Joan, wife of Robert Radcliffe, was specifically styled "the other of the kinswomen and heirs of the said Ralph Cromwell" in a fine dated 9 Feb. 1477, as shown below. Thus we see that Joan Stanhope married (2nd) Robert Radcliffe sometime before 9 February 1477.

Source: http://medievalgenealogy.org.uk/fines/abstracts/CP_25_1_145_162.shtml#42
National Archives, CP 25/1/145/162, number 42.
County: Lincolnshire.
Date: One week from the Purification of the Blessed Mary, 16 Edward IV [9 February 1477].
Parties: Guy Fairfax, serjeant-at-law, Richard Pygot, serjeant-at-law, John Gygor, clerk, Thomas Fitz William the younger, esquire, William Huse, Reynold Gayton' and Richard Spert, querents, and Maud, who was the wife of Robert Wylughby, knight, one of the kinswomen and heirs of Ralph Cromwell', knight, late lord Cromwell', Robert Radclyff', esquire, and Joan, his wife, the other of the kinswomen and heirs of the said Ralph Cromwell', William, bishop of Winchester, Thomas Byllyng', knight, John Fortescu, knight, John Say, knight, Thomas Tyrell', knight, Walter Moille, knight, and Thomas Yonge, deforciants.
Property: The manor of Boston' and 10 messuages, 500 acres of land, 200 acres of meadow, 300 acres of pasture and 16 pounds of rent in Boston', Skyrbek' and Lakke.

In a subsequent fine dated 1480, Joan, wife of Robert Radcliffe, is again styled "one of the kinswomen and heirs of Ralph Cromwell', late knight." [Reference: National Archives, CP 25/1/294/77, number 129].

Complete Peerage states that Joan Stanhope's second husband, Sir Robert Radcliffe, was "of Hunstanton, Norfolk." This was only true, however, at the time of Sir Robert's death, as he held Hunstanston, Norfolk in right of his second wife's dower, not during his marriage to Joan Stanhope. As for evidence of where Sir Robert Radcliffe resided during his marriage to Joan Stanhope, one must turn to the records of the Common Pleas which reveals the following two lawsuits:

1. In Hilary term [23 Jan.-12 Feb.] 1477 Robert Radclyff, Esq., of Tateshall Castle, Lincolnshire and Robert Palmer, of East Dereham, Norfolk, sued Robert Salus alias Crofte, of Hingham, Norfolk, yeoman in the Court of Common Pleas regarding a debt of four marks. Reference: Court of Common Pleas, CP 40/861, image 523d (available at http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT3/E4/CP40no861/bCP40no861dorses/IMG_0523.htm).

2. In Hilary term 1486, as "Robert Radclyff, Knt., of Tatershall, Lincolnshire, esquire of the body for King Edward IV," he sued Robert Palmer, Gent., of East Dereham, Norfolk in the Court of Common Pleas regarding a debt of £24. Reference: Court of Common Pleas, CP40/895, image 118f (available at http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT3/H7/CP40no895/aCP40no895fronts/IMG_0118.htm).

We see from the above that Sir Robert Radcliffe resided at Tatershall, Lincolnshire, which property was part of his wife's Cromwell inheritance, in 1477 and 1486.

Complete Peerage states without qualification that Joan Stanhope, wife of Sir Humphrey Bourchier and Sir Robert Radcliffe, died without issue 10 March 1490, and was buried at Tatershall, Lincolnshire.

Yet Lincolnshire Notes & Queries 6 (1901): 36 states that Joan Stanhope died in
1472, as per the following weblink:

https://books.google.com/books?id=vR9AAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36

And Payling, Political Soc. in Lancastrian England (1991): 10 states Joan Stanhope, wife of Sir Robert Radcliffe, died in 1481, as per the following weblink:

https://books.google.com/books?id=VlBnAAAAMAAJ&dq=Payling%2C+Political+Society+in+Lancastrian+England&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=1481

Another full discussion of Joan Stanhope's brass at Tattershall, Lincolnshire is available online. Quoting the brass itself, that author states that Joan died 10 March 1479. See the following weblink:

http://www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/page95.html

Incredibly, we have four sources with four different dates for Joan Stanhope's death! The four death dates are: 1472, 1479, 1481, 1490.

Another online discussion of Joan Stanhope's brass at Tattershall, Lincolnshire by Jules and Jenny adds the following information:

"The date of death [on Joan's brass] has often mistakenly been read as 1479, but close examination shows it to be 1490." See the following weblink for this information:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jpguffogg/12247949843

In sharp contrast, an article entitled "Patterns of Patronage: Brasses to the Cromwell-Bourchier Kinship Group" by Sally Badham takes a different position:

Badham states "There has been a degree of confusion over the date of death on this brass; however, she died in 1479, not 1490, as proved by documentary evidence which records that she was dead by September 1481."

Ms. Badham provides the citation for her statement that Joan Stanhope was dead by September 1481: Magdalen College, Oxford, Archives, 127/44, which reference she says was supplied to her by the historian, Simon Payling.

The full Badham article may be viewed at the following weblink:

http://www.academia.edu/10204978/Patterns_of_Patronage_Brasses_to_the_Cromwell-Bourchier_Kinship_Group

Since none of the above cited authorites can agree, what do other records say about Joan Stanhope's death date?

My own research indicates that in 1484 Sir Robert Radcliff presented to the rectory of the consolidated medieties of Hethersett, and church of Cantelose, Norfolk, "in right of Joan his wife," as per the following record:

"[Year] 1484, Rob. Smetherst, on Dyconson's resignation [presented by] Rob. Ratclyff, Esq. late of Tateshale in Lincoln diocese, in right of Joan his wife, one of the coheirs of Ralf Lord Cromwell." Reference: Blomefield Essay towards a Topog. History of Norfolk 5 (1806): 23-33].

The above record would suggest that Joan Stanhope was living in 1484.

We've already seen evidence from the Common Pleas records that Joan's husband, Sir Robert Radcliffe, was seated at Tattershall, Lincolnshire, which was part of Joan's inheritance, in or about Hilary term 1477 and Hilary term 1486.

Yet another lawsuit dated Hilary term 1490 indicates that Robert Radtclyffe, Knt., of Hunstanton, Norfolk, and Robert Parker, bailiff of Tateshall, sued Thomas Alybone, of Fulbeck, Lincolnshire, yeoman, and another in the Court of Common Pleas regarding a debt of £10.

Since Sir Robert Radcliffe's residence at Hunstanton, Norfolk only came about through his marriage to his 2nd wife, Katherine Drury, we can assume that he had married Katherine Drury sometime before Hilary term 1490.

Taken together, it appears that Joan (Stanhope) (Bourchier) Radcliffe died sometime between Hilary term 1486 (when her husband Sir Robert was still in residence at Tattershall, Lincolnshire) and Hilary term 1490 (when her husband was in residence at Hunstanton, Norfolk). This date range obviously disagrees with Ms. Badham's statement that Joan Stanhope was dead before September 1481.

Finally, I might note that Complete Peerage makes no attempt to identify the parentage of Joan Stanhope's husband, Sir Robert Radcliffe. Sir Robert is sometimes identified in print as a younger son of Sir John Radcliffe, of Attleborough, Norfolk.

However, Horrox, Richard III: A Study in Service (1989): 84, footnote 210 identifies Sir Robert Radcliff, husband of Joan Stanhope, as the son of a certain Sir Thomas Radcliffe. Here are her exact comments:

"This was the Robert Ratcliffe, son of Sir Thomas, who married Joan Stanhope, lady Cromwell (hence the Tattershall connection) and then after 1485, Katherine Drury, the widow of Henry le Strange of Hunstanton: PRO, Prob 11/11 fo. 184v. Most pedigrees confuse him with his namesake, the son of Sir John [Ratcliffe] of Attleborough, who married Margaret, widow of lord Dymmoke." END OF QUOTE.

Horrox carefully distinguishes between two contemporary Robert Radcliffes, one who married Joan Stanhope and Katherine Drury, and the other who married Margaret Welles, widow of Sir Thomas Dymoke. Horrox is correct in stating that the Robert Radcliffe who married Margaret Welles was the son of Sir John Radcliffe, of Attleborough, Norfolk.

Inasmuch as Horrox has provided us no evidence, however, to support her statement regarding Sir Robert Radcliff'e parentage, I'm uncertain as to where she obtained this information. Presuming that Horrox is correct, Sir Robert Radcliffe's father is quite possibly the Sir Thomas Radcliffe, Knt. (born c.1391, died 1440), of Astley and Winmarleigh, Lancashire, whose biography by Roskell is found at the following weblink:

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/radcliffe-sir-thomas-1391-1440

In summary, the source for the marriage date of Sir Humphrey Bourchier and Joan Stanhope cited by Complete Peerage has been located. It has been determined that Sir Humphrey and Joan had at least one son, Ralph, who was living in 1470. Joan Stanhope's second marriage to Sir Robert Radcliff has been dated to sometime before before 9 Feb. 1477. The evidence suggests that Joan Stanhope was living as late as Hilary term 1486. She was presumably deceased before Hilary term 1490, when Sir Robert Radcliffe evidently married his 2nd wife, Katherine Drury, widow of Henry le Strange, of Hunstanton, Norfolk. Lastly, Sir Robert Radcliffe is claimed by the historian, Horrox, to be the son of a Sir Thomas Radcliffe. While possible, this statement has not been verified. Horrox has, however, correctly indicated that Sir Robert Radcliffe (husband of Joan Stanhope) was a separate and distinct person from Robert Radcliffe, Esq. (died 1495), of Methley, Yorkshire, who married Margaret Welles, widow of Thomas Dymoke, Knt., of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire.

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

[Douglas Richardson]

Dear Newsgroup ~

Since my post earlier today, I've learned that Sir Robert Radcliffe (husband of Joan Stanhope and Katherine Drury) presented to the church of Congham, Norfolk in 1487. Reference: Blomefield, Essay towards a Topog. History of Norfolk, 8 (1808): 386, which may be viewed at the following weblink:

https://books.google.com/books?id=LAYVAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA386

Inasmuch as the manor of Congham, Norfolk was held by Henry Strange, Esq., the 1st husband of Katherine Drury, at his death in 1485, it seems likely that Sir Robert Radcliffe presented to the church of Congham, Norfolk in 1487 in right of his 2nd wife's dower.

If so, then the date of Sir Robert Radcliffe's marriage to Katherine Drury can be narrowed to the period, 1486-1487.

That in turn narrows the possible death date of Sir Robert Radcliffe's first wife, Joan Stanhope, to the same period, 1486-1487.

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

P.S. Although other records I've cited seem to show otherwise, the historian, Sally Badham, might still be correct that Joan (Stanhope) (Bourchier) Radcliffe died before September 1481. Whatever the case, Badham is certainly incorrect in stating that Joan Stanhope died in 1479.