FitzWilliam - Deincourt redux
The...@aol.com
Dear MichaelAnne, et al.,
The matter of Sir William FitzWilliam (d. aft 4 Mar 1338/9)
and his issue by Isabel Deincourt (or otherwise) has been
discussed in some detail on SGM. In particular, evidence has
been noted which has apparently indicated (or been taken to
have proven) that Sir John FitzWilliam, eldest surviving son
and heir of Sir William, was not the son of Isabel
Deincourt [1].
One particular item is a licence granted at Nottingham, 27
Dec 1324. The text from the Calendar of Patent Rolls (not
previously used in this discussion) is as follows:
' Licence for William son of William to enfeoff Edmund
Deyncourt of the manor of Emeleye, held in chief as of the
manor of Wakefeld and of the manor of Darthington, likewise
held in chief as of the honor of Pontefract, as the king is
informed by inquisition made by Simon de Grymmesby, escheator
in the counties of York, Westmoreland, Northumberland and
Cumberland; and for the said Edmund to regrant the same in
tail to the said William and Isabel his wife, with successive
remainders in tail male to John son of William and Thomas son
of William, brother of the said John; and to the right heirs
of William son of William. By fine of 12 marks. York. ' [2]
The wording, as given above, is the reason for my current
question. Sir Edmund Deincourt (father of Isabel) was to
regrant Emley and Dartington 'in tail to the said William and
Isabel his wife, with successive remainders in tail male...'
The same licence, as taken from the A2A site in the
previous discussion, was given somewhat different wording
which deals with the matter of male issue of Isabel in a more
definitive (and, apparently, incorrect) manner:
' To William Fitzwilliam and Isabel, his wife, to levy a fine
to Edmund Deyncourt.
In the manor of Emeleye, held of the King, as of his manor
of Wakefield; and his manor of Darthington, held of the King
as of his Honour of Pontefract, as the King is informed by
Inquisition made by Simon de Grymmesby, escheator for the
counties of York, Westmoreland, Northumberland and Cumberland.
To be to the use of William and Isabella. On default of a
male heir, then to the use of John Fitzwilliam, and thereafter
to specified uses.
The consideration is to be 12 marks.
At Nottingham, 27 December, 1324. '[3]
The text of the original document (presumably in Latin)
would be the most useful item to have in hand; short of that,
I am interested to know the view of other list members as to
the relative accuracy of the above text versions, as the CPR
version does not appear (in my view) to place Sir John
FitzWilliam outside the issue of Isabel Deincourt.
Cheers,
John *
NOTES
[1] See SGM threads, including <Savile of Thornhill and
Copley: a Plantagenet descent>, SGM, 7 Sept 2004 et seq.
[2] CPR 18 Edw II (1324-1327), mem. 37, p. 80.
[3] A2A, Sheffield Archives: Wentworth Woodhouse Muniments
[WWM/C - WWM/E], WWM/D/26,27.
* John P. Ravilious