Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 3 Edward III

De Banco. Easter, 3 E. III.

Staff. Richard, son of Robert de Camera of Great Madeleye, and Margaret his wife, sued Richard le Serjaunt of Bagenold for a messuage and thirty acres of land, and three acres of meadow in Bagenald. The defendant did not appear, and the Sheriff returned the writ reached him too late. He was therefore ordered to summon him for the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 54, dorso.

Staff. Roger de Cavereswall of Levedale, sued Margaret, formerly wife of Henry de Cavereswell of Levedale for causing waste and destruction in the houses and gardens which she held as dower of his inheritance in Levedale. Margaret did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to summon her for the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 99.

Salop. Katrine, formerly wife of Robert le Beysyn, recovers dower in a messuage and two virgates of land, &c., in Huggele, in a suit against Gilbert de Laci, Gilbert making default. m. 109, dorso.

Staff. William de Stafford Chevaler sued Ralph de Stafford Chyvaler for a debt of 300 marks. Ralph did not appear and the Sheriff returned 1s. 8d. as proceeds of a distress, he was therefore ordered to distrain again, and produce him at the Quindene of St. Michael, and because it was testified that the Sheriff should answer for £20 for issues from the lands and chattels of the said Ralph, a mandate was sent to the justices assigned to take assizes in the said county to make diligent enquiry into the matter and to send a return to the court at the same term. m. 139.

Staff. The same William sued James, son of William de Stafford for £40, and he did not appear, and the Sheriff returned 20d. as proceeds of a distress, he was therefore ordered to distrain as before, and produce the said James at the Quindene of Michaelmas, and as it was testified that the Sheriff should answer for £20, as issues, &c. (as before). m. 139.

Derb. Richard, son of Richard Folejambe and Elizabeth his wife sued John le Porter of Caldelowe and Joan his wife for a messuage and three bovates of land in Caldelowe which Hugh de Acoure had given to William de la Launde and Lucy his wife and heirs of the body of the said William and Lucy, and which, after the death of the said William and Lucy, and of William son and heir of the said William and Lucy, and of John brother and heir of the said William, son of William, should descend to the said Elizabeth as daughter and heir of the said John brother of William, and he stated that the said William and Lucy were seised as of fee of the said tenements, temp. Ed. I, and from the said William the right descended, &c. (as above). The, defendants pleaded they did not hold the whole of the tenements in question, and a jury was ordered to be summoned at Michaelmas term to decide this issue. m. 192, dorso.

Staff. Adam Gilbert of Codeshale, the executor of the will of William de Codeshale sued Walter de Perton, the Prebendary of the Prebend of Tetenhale in the Church of St. Michael of Tetenhale for a debt of 9 marks, and the Bishop had been ordered to produce the said Walter at this date, and had done nothing. Another mandate was therefore sent to the Bishop to produce the said Walter at the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 216.

Staff. Ada Giffard of Chylyngton, sued Walter atte Sech, for forcibly breaking into her house at Chylyngton and carrying away her goods to the value of £10. Walter did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the Quindene of Michaelmas. m. 231, dorso.

De Banco. Trinity, 3 E. III.

Staff. Roger, son of Peter Corbessone sued John Gyffard of Chylyngton Chyvaler and Alditha, formerly wife of John Gyffard of Chylyngton for the Manor of Chylyngton. John and Alditha appeared by attorney and as before, prayed a view, and the Sheriff returned that he had given the precept to Simon de Congreve the Bailiff of the liberty of the Bishop of Chester who had done nothing in the matter. The Sheriff was therefore commanded by writ of "non omittas" to make the view and to return the writ on the morrow of All Souls. m. 3.

Derb. Isabella, formerly wife of Richard le Vernoun Chyvaler, sued William le Vernoun for a third of two parts of two messuages and of a moiety of the Manor of Netherhaddon in Netherhaddon and Bangnell excepting 15 messuages and 15 bovates of land in Netherhaddon, and she sued William le Leche, senior, for a third of a messuage in Basselowe, and other tenants in Basselowe for a third of their tenancies which she claimed as dower. None of the defendants appeared, and had made default at Easter, and the Sheriff had been ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon them for this term, and the Sheriff now returned the writ reached him too late and he was ordered to summon them for a month from Easter. A postscript further adjourns the suit to the Octaves of Hillary. m. 103.

Staff. Richard de Leghes, Chaplain, sued Robert de Caumpedene, Vicar of the Church of Delverne for forcibly taking two oxen worth 40s. from Delverne (Dilhorn) 28s. in money and other goods and chattels belonging to him to the value of 20 marks. Robert did not appear, and the Sheriff had been ordered to arrest and produce him at this term, and he returned that he could not be found. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to put him into the exigend, and if he did not appear to outlaw him, and if he appeared to produce him on the morrow of the Purification. m. 167.

Letters of protection for Nicholas de la Beche about to set out abroad in the retinue of Roger de Swynnerton, dated from Eltham, 14th May, 3 E. III.

Staff. A fine had been levied in 7 E. I, between Simon, son of Thomas de Melewych and Alice, daughter of William Gilbert complainants, and Thomas de Melewych, deforciant of a messuage, 4 carucates of land, half a mill, and 6s. of rent in Melewych (Millwich), by which Thomas acknowledged the tenements to be the right of Simon to be held by Simon and Alice and their issue for the life of Thomas, rendering to him 12 marks annually, and after the death of the said Thomas, to hold them of the heirs of Thomas free from the said rent, rendering 100s. annually, and this fine and concord was made saving the tenure of William de Pixstoke and his heirs, who held the tenements from the 8th April, 7 E. I for a term of 27 years. And Alice now appeared and stated that the said Simon was dead, and that she had never obtained seisin of the said tenements after the fine had been levied, and that the term for which William de Pixstoke held them, had elapsed, and that of the said tenements Thomas de Pixstoke held a messuage and a carucate of land, Richard de la Hay, a messuage and a virgate of land, Robert de Geryngeshale a messuage and the fourth of a virgate of land, William le Taillour the fourth of a virgate of land, Hugh le Chapman the fourth of a virgate of land, and John de Shorthull 3s. of rent, and she prayed a writ of præmunire against the said Thomas and the other tenants. She is therefore to have the writ returnable at the Octaves of St. Michael. m. 183, dorso.

Staff. Joan, formerly wife of Walter de Monte Gomery sued Edward de Monte Gomery for a third of six bovates of land, 18 acres of meadow, 30s. 6d. of rent in Morton, near Marchinton, as dower. Edward stated that she had no claim, because her husband had never been seised of the tenements after she had married him, and appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for the Octaves of St. Michael. m. 181, dorso.

Buks. A precept had been sent to the Sheriff that whereas Matilda, formerly wife of Richard de Vernoun, junior, had recovered seisin in the Court of the King's father, against Richard de Vernoun, senior, now dead, of the third part of the manor of Pychecote as her dower, and the execution of the judgment had remained over in consequence of the King's father having divested himself of the Royal rule, "eo quod pater Regis nunc de regimine regni sui se demisit," he was to make known to the tenants of the said manor, that they were to appear in Court to show cause why the said Matilda should not have seisin of the third part of the said manor. And the Sheriff now returned that he had handed the precept to the Bailiff of the Honor of Walyngford, who had done nothing in the matter. The Sheriff was therefore ordered by writ of "non omittas," to summon the said tenants for the Octaves of St. Michael, and to produce the Bailiff at the same time. m. 153, dorso.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to distrain the following tenants in Eduynghale to acknowledge their tenancies in the said vill, which Richard de Twyford had conceded by a fine levied at York, to Isabella, formerly wife of Thomas de Rydeware, viz.:—

John de Tamworth, two messuages and a virgate and a half of land.

William de Mousele, a messuage and a virgate and a half of land.

Henry Sele and Richard Sele, a messuage and half a virgate of land.

Simon Christian of Bromley and John, his son, a messuage and half a virgate of land.

Robert atte Mere, of Linlington, Chaplain, a messuage and half a virgate of land.

Hugh Halpeny and Sarra his wife, a messuage and half a virgate of land.

John Godrich and Elena his wife, half a virgate of land.

And likewise to distrain John de Freford and Robert de Greseley, to appear and acknowledge by what services they held their tenancies of the said Richard de Twyford in the same vill, which the said Richard had conceded to Isabella, as above. None of the tenants appeared and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain again and produce them on the Octaves of St. Michael. m. 122, dorso.

Salop. Roger de la Mare and Agnes his wife had sued Robert de Stepelton at Michaelmas, 2 E. III., for one third of the manor of Stepelton as dower of Agnes, and the process being continued at Easter term, Robert had made default and the Sheriff had been ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand and to summon the parties for this term, and the parties now appeared and Roger and Agnes claimed the dower by the default of Robert, and Robert pleaded that his default should not be to his prejudice because the said Roger and Agnes, after the default had been committed had remitted and quit-claimed to him all their claim for dower in the manor of Stepelton, and he produced their deed to that effect.

And Roger and Agnes pleaded that the said Robert could not purge his default by the deed in question, because it was not their act or deed, and they appealed to a jury and to the witnesses of the deed. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to summon a jury and the witnesses of the deed, for the Quindene of St. Michael, and the deed is to remain in the custody of Peter de Ludyngton, the King's Clerk. m. 110, dorso.

De Banco. Mich., 3 E. III.

Staff. Robert le Mareschal, William de Trumwyne, Adam de la Penne, and John Purcel, Chaplain, executors of the will of Roger le Mareschal, lately Canon of the Cathedral Church of Lychefeld, sued Ralph de Grendon Chivaler, for a debt of 100s., and the Prior of Tuttebury for a debt of £4 8s., and Robert de Toke Chivaler, for a debt of 40s. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 15.

Staff. Ralph, son of Edmund de Stafford, not appearing to prosecute his suit against Richard, son of Robert de Onyleye for the manor of Chaveldon, the plea was dismissed. m. 60.

Staff. Richard, Abbot of Crokesdene, sued Henry de Erdyngton of Wolvernehampton, Chaplain, for 15 acres of heath in Oken, which he claimed as the right of his Church of St. Mary of Crokesdene. Henry did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the heath into the King's hand and to summon him for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 60, dorso.

Line. Warw. Staff. Henry Hillary and Joan his wife appeared by attorney against Joan, formerly wife of Alexander de Fryvill, Ralph le Botiller, and Henry, son of William Hillary and Joan his wife (fn. 1), in a plea that they should warrant to them the Manor of Thornton near Horncastre in co. Lincoln, which John, son of John Marmyun claimed against them. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriffs were ordered to take land belonging to the said Joan de Fryvill, in co. Warwick, and land belonging to the said Ralph, in co. Stafford, and land belonging to the said Henry son of William, and Joan, in co. Lincoln to the value of the tenements claimed into the King's hand, and to summon them for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 88.

Staff. Richard, son of Richard, son of Roger de Brunton not appearing to prosecute his suit against Richard the Broun of Mershton, for a loft and 15 acres of meadow, etc., in Brunton (Brinton), the plea was dismissed. m. 88, dorso.

Staff. Agnes, formerly wife of Thomas Wyther, sued Adam de Nerewedale and Sarra his wife, for the third of a tenth part of the manor of Alstonesfeld, and she sued Adam de Werslowe and Margaret his wife for a third of six acres in Swynscogh, and she sued Andrew de Bemhurst, Chaplain, for a third of 30 acres of meadow in Leghe, which she claimed as dower. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon them for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 138, dorso.

Staff. Isabella, formerly wife of Philip de Chetewynde, sued John, son of John de Bromshulf for the third of 30 acres of land in Gretewych (Gratwich), which she claimed as dower. John called to warranty Philip, son of Philip de Chetewynde, who now appeared by attorney (sic left unfinished). m. 178, dorso.

Staff. John, son of Philip de Auste, sued William de Freford for 30 acres of land, and 20 acres of pasture in Swynefen, and he sued Thomas Basset of Pakynton, and Alice his wife for 8 acres of pasture in the same vill, as his right and inheritance by a writ of formedon "de formâ donationis." The defendants prayed a view, and the suit was adjourned to the Quindene of Hillary. m. 189.

Staff. Warw. Hereford. Edmund de Bereford appeared by attorney against William de Frome, custos of the body of John, son and heir of Henry de Egebaston, and Elena formerly wife of Thomas de Hynkele, and William de Clodeshale, custodes of the lands of the said heir, in a plea that they should produce the heir, to warrant to him the third part of six messuages, three mills, three and a half virgates of land, three acres of meadow, three acres of wood, three acres of heath, three acres of waste, and 12s. of rent in Humeleye (Himley), Seggeleye, Duddele, and Swyneford, in co. Stafford, which Richard de Thorp near Langeton, and Margaret his wife, claimed as the dower of the said Margaret. None of the custodes appeared, and the Sheriffs were ordered to take into the King's hand, land of the said heir to the value of the the dower claimed, and to send an extent of the said claim into Court at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 191.

Staff. Nicholas le Mareschal and Margaret his wife sued Adam de Ruggelegh and Agnes his wife, in a plea that they should carry out a covenant made between them respecting a messuage, 20 acres of land, 10s. of rent, and half an acre of meadow in Morghhale and Longedon. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach them for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 193, dorso.

Staff. Isabella, formerly wife of Henry de Wynleye sued William Pery, Chaplain, for a third of 20 acres of land in Uttokeshathere as her dower, and William had called to warranty Henry, son of Henry de Wynleye, who now came and admitted her claim. William is therefore to hold his land in peace, and Isabella to be compensated from the land of Henry. m. 208, dorso.

Staff. Isabella, formerly wife of Philip de Chetewynde, sued Hugh de Roucestre (whom John, son of John de Bromshulf had called to warranty) for the third of 30 acres of land in Gretewych (Gratwich) as her dower, and Hugh had called to warranty Philip, son of Philip de Chetewynde, who now appeared and admitted the claim of Isabella. Hugh is therefore to hold his land in peace, and Isabella is to be compensated from the land of Philip. m. 267.

Staff. John de Hynkele the Sheriff, is in misericordiâ because he had not answered for the issues of distraints on thirteen jurymen named in a certain panel returned into Court on the morrow of St. Martin, in a plea of land, between Richard, son of Adam de Whethales, plaintiff, and Humphrey Hastang, tenant, as he was commanded, and he was fined 40s. m. 275, dorso.

Staff. John de Hynkele Chivaler sued William de Bromle and John de Stevynton for a debt of £40. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach them for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 291, dorso.

Staff. Richard Folejaumbe and Anne his wife appeared by attorney against Robert Mauveysyn Chyvaler in a plea that he should acquit them of the service which John de Warre claimed from them for a free tenement, which they held of the said Robert in Hoynton, and of which the said Robert, who is mesne tenant between them, ought to acquit them. The Sheriff had done nothing and made no return. He was therefore ordered to distrain the said Robert and produce him at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 293.

Staff. Richard le Parker, of Charteleye and Milicent his wife, sued Elias, son of Robert de la Lowe, of Fulford, for forcibly entering their house at Fulford, and insulting, beating, and wounding the said Milicent. Elias did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 327.

Staff. Richard de Newcastle-under-Lyme sued Edith de Elmyngton for a messuage and 60 acres of land in Tene, and Edith had called to warranty John, son of Adam de Dadelande, who now appeared and warranted the tenements to her, and Richard stated that Thomas de Elmyngton had given the tenements to William of Newcastle, and Elena his wife, and heirs of their bodies, and that they should descend to him as their son and heir. John denied that the said Thomas had given the tenements as stated, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for a month from Easter. m. 333, dorso.

Staff. Richard, son of Robert de Onileye, sued Petronilla Corbet for causing waste and destruction in houses and gardens of his inheritance in Chaldon, which he had demised to her for her life. Petronilla did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to attach her for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 353.

Staff. The same Richard sued William, son of Hugh de Chaldon, senior (senioris) for causing waste and destruction in the lands, houses, etc., in Chaldon, which Robert Corbet, the grandfather of Richard, whose heir he is, had demised to him for his life. William did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach him for the same date. m. 353.

Staff. A precept had been sent to the Sheriff that whereas a certain fine had been levied in the Court of the King's grandfather, viz., in 7 E. I., between Simon, son of Thomas de Melewych and Alice the daughter of William Gilbert, complainants, and Thomas de Melewych deforciant, of a messuage, four carucates of land, half a mill, and 6s. of rent in Melewych, by which the said Thomas acknowledged the said tenements to be the right of Simon, to be held by Simon and Alice and the heirs of their bodies, and to be held of the said Thomas for the life of Thomas, and rendering to him annually 12 marks, and after the death of Thomas to be held by the said Simon and Alice and their issue, free of the payment of 12 marks annually and to be held of the heirs of Thomas for an annual rent of 100s. And this concord was made, saving to William de Pykestoke and his heirs, the term which they held in the said tenements for 27 years from the 8th April, 7 E. I. And, whereas, the said Simon was dead, and the said term of 27 years had elapsed, and the said Alice had not obtained seisin of the said tenements; he was therefore ordered to summon John de Okovere, the tenant of a messuage and two carucates of land, 3s. of rent, and half a mill; Thomas de Pycstoke, the tenant of a carucate of land; Richard de la Hay and Millicent his wife, tenants of a virgate of land; Robert de Geryngeshale, tenant of the fourth of a virgate of land; Milisent, formerly wife of Richard de Geryngeshale, tenant of an acre of land; John de Shorthulle, tenant of 3s. rent; Hugh le Chapman, tenant of a fourth of a virgate of land; and William le Taillour, tenant of a fourth of a virgate of land in the said vill, to be in Court on this day, to show cause why the said Alice should not have seisin of the said tenements according to the form of the fine. And the said Alice now appeared, and the said John de Okovere and the others appeared by attorney and pleaded severally that Alice could not claim execution against them, and the said John de Okovere stated that a fine was levied at York in 19 E. I., between Hugh, son of William de Okovere, the father of the said John, and whose heir he is, and Simon, son of Thomas de Melewych and the said Alice then his wife, respecting a moiety of the manor of Melewych, and of which moiety the tenements now in question were a parcel, and by which fine the said Simon and Alice acknowledged the said moiety to be the right of Hugh and his heirs for ever; and he produced the fine. And the said Richard and Milisent stated they held their tenements by the gift and feoffment of the said Thomas; and Robert stated he held his tenement for a term of years by the demise of the said Thomas; and Hugh stated he held his tenement for term of his life by the demise of the said Thomas; and William stated he held his tenement for the term of the life of Elena his daughter, by the demise of the said Thomas. And they further stated, that a certain Simon de Pikestoke, the grandfather of the said Thomas, whose heir he is, and the father of the said William de Pikestoke, whom Alice by her fine supposed to have a term of 27 years in the tenements, was seised of them in his demesne as of fee at the date of the fine; and the said John de Thornhull stated he did not hold the rent in question, nor held it at the date of the writ.

Alice stated that the tenements in question, now held by John de Okovere, were not contained in the fine which he produced, and she denied that William de Pikestoke held in fee at the date of the fine, and she appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned at five weeks from Easter. A postscript states that the suit was continued till Easter, 7 E. III., when many of the defendants made default, and Thomas de Pykestok appeared and stated that the said Hugh and the other defaulters held their tenements for the term of their lives by the demise of the said Thomas, and that the reversion belonged to him, and he prayed that he might not be injured by their default and that he might be admitted to defend his right; and he was admitted, and the Sheriff was ordered to summon a jury for the Quindene of Trinity, on which day Alice appeared, and it was testified that the said Thomas was dead, and one Thomas, his son and heir, prayed he might be admitted to defend his right, and he was admitted; and he pleaded that the William de Pykestoke named in the fine held the tenements in question in fee and not for a term, and he appealed to a jury. The process was continued till Easter term, 11 E. III., when it was adjourned to be heard at Lichefeld before Roger Hillary; on which day Alice made default and the suit was dismissed. m. 388.

Staff. Matilda, formerly wife of William de Lodelawe, sued Ralph le Botiller for forcibly abducting John, son and heir of Robert de Wynkeshull, from Coton-upon-Terne, whose marriage belonged to her. Ralph did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at five weeks from Easter, and to produce the heir at the same date. m. 401, dorso.