Tallow
in the Justice Rolls, 1295-1303
Niall
C.E.J. O’Brien
Seven hundred years ago
the medieval town of Tallow, in modern-day County Waterford and the surrounding
countryside featured in the justice rolls of the English government in Ireland.
Some of this material was covered in an earlier article, see = http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2017/01/the-justiciar-court-at-tallow-in-1295.html
This present article
covers items raised in the justice rolls in the years between 1295 and 1303. The
geographical location of Tallow made it an ideal market town. Traffic from the
north could pass through a gap in the Dromfinnen hills and cross the River
Bride near the present stone bridge. Traffic from the south would pass down the
Glenaboy River valley much like the Midleton road of today. The River Bride was
navigable to Tallow Bridge opening the region to imports of French wine and
exports of grain. The fine tillage field around Tallow today are but the
successors to a long tradition of grain production in the area and the
Anglo-Normans loved tillage production. Their measurement of land was by the
carucate, otherwise called the ploughland, which was an area that a plough team
could plough in the year. The carucate is usually said to be about 120 statue
acres but as soils varied one plough team to plough twice that amount in a year
which a team working in poor stony soil would plough far less.
Yet the efficient
running of a market could be disrupted by false money and incorrect weights and
measures both of which were big issues facing Tallow and other market towns
around 1300.
False
money in Tallow
On 21st June
1299 the king sent a letter to the justiciar of Ireland to remove bad money,
variously called pollarz and crokarz as found in the market towns of
Ireland. the sheriff of Cork sent a copy of this letter to all the market towns
within his jurisdiction. This included the market town of Tallow as the town
and all the land to south of the River Bride and west of the River Blackwater,
the area known as Ofhearghusa, was then part of the medieval County of Cork and
remained so until the mid-sixteenth century. Two residents of the town, Roger
Omolton and Thomas Crispyn of Tolaghrath (Tallow) were directed to watch out
for this bad money and to remove from circulation.[1]
Yet removing money from
circulation, even if it was false money, could disrupt trade. The merchants of
Bristol particularly objected to the June letter. Therefore on 18th
August 1299 the king issued a new letter to the justiciar saying that it was
the king’s intention all along to allow the pollarz
and crokarz coins to remain in
circulation until new coins could be minted and that the merchants of Bristol
in particular could use the false money in Ireland – seems government U-turns
are nothing new.[2]
After changing
government policy people were allowed to exchange two pence worth of pollarz and crokarz for one penny sterling. For a time this seemed to control
the situation but instead it only encourage people to mint more false money and
exchange it for good money. Therefore in March 1300 the government changed
policy again and totally banned pollarz
and crokarz from circulation from the
9th April 1300. But this second U-turn only activated another
powerful pressure group to change government policy again. The merchant bank of
Friscobaldi of Florence objected and
on 12th April 1300 the Friscobaldi
was allowed to exchange and purchase pollarz
and crokarz. The Friscobaldi had loaned King Edward and the English government large
sums of money to conduct war in Scotland and money just to run the country. On
14th April 1300 the Friscobaldi
were given custody of the Dublin exchange.[3]
The wide triangle area of the medieval market place at Tallow
Complaints
of false weights and measure by the townsfolk of Tallow
Just as false money is
a problem for the efficient running of a market town so also is the issue of
false weights. In 1244 King Henry III directed that all measures used in
Ireland should be one and the same and based upon the measures used in Dublin.[4] But
by 1294 there was still great variety in the weights and measures used across
the country. In October 1294 Alexander of London was sent over to make uniform
all the weights used to measure bread, wine, and beer and that all weights like
bushels, gallons and ells should be the same.[5]
At first sight this
problem would seem to be one where merchants would use variable weights, or
even false weights, to have one over their customers but it seems government
officials were not beyond such practice. In April 1300 the Communities of the
towns of the Youghal, Fethard, Tylaghrath (Tallow), Clonmele, Waterford,
Cairyk, Athmethan, Typerary, Casshele, Limerick, the Naas, and many other towns
appeared by their attorneys against Edmund Biroun, late keeper of Measures and
Weights of the King in Ireland.
It seems that when
Edmund Biroun went to their towns to do his office, and the townsfolk gave him
many gifts not to charge them unjustly; yet Edmund falsely changed or
diminished the legal measures. Thus after changing the legal measure many
merchants were prosecuted for using ‘false’ measures with many convictions. It
was even reported that many merchants were put to death in the previous three to
four years for using these so-called ‘false’ measures.[6]
Few records exist about
the life of Edmund Biroun (also spelt Bryon). In 1290 Edmund Biroun was owed 18
marks 6s 8d by Thomas Squire of London and in 1294 he was owed £26 by Thomas
Squire of London. Also in 1294 Edmund Biroun, along with his wife Margery, was
owed 20 marks by John de Hammes of Surrey.[7] These
were substantial debts where a manual labourer may earn just £2 4s per year.[8] No
other records seem to have survived and none of the usual Irish government
records of King Edward 1 make any mention of when Edmund Biroun was working in
Ireland or of the 1300 complaint by the various markets towns.
All that we do known is
that when the time for the court case came Edmund Biroun didn’t turn up to
defend his position, and instead he fled country. Biroun got as far as Wales
before he was arrested. At the same time the Justiciar (John Wogan – possibly
one of the best medieval administrators in Ireland) was returning from the King,
and brought Edmund Biroun back to Ireland.
Edmund Biroun was delivered
to the constable and the janitor of the castle of Dublin (Henry le Waleys and
Thomas Big), to keep in prison. Henry de Waleys was constable of Dublin castle
up until 19th February 1299 when there is a gap in the records until
31st August 1301 when Simon de Ludgate was constable.[9]
But the master of false
weights and measures was too much for the Dublin officials and Edmund Biroun
escaped from the prison at Dublin castle. An order went out to all the county
Sheriffs to demand that Edmund Biroun should appear in their county courts
until he be outlawed or captured.[10]
What became of Edmund Biroun after his second escape is unknown.
For more on weights and
measures in medieval Ireland see http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2014/05/irish-parliament-of-1269.html
Tallow
man makes a pledge for debt payments
In June 1300, at the
Cork assize court, John son of Thomas, son of Philip, gave 2 marks for a
licence to agree with Johanna daughter of Gilbert. By this licence John
acknowledged that he owed her for the debt of his father, Thomas, of 15 marks
3d by pledge of Robert le Lung of Tylaghrath (Tallow), Philip, son of Gilbert
of Olethan (Kinnatalloon), and Thomas son of Gilbert of the Newton (Ballynoe).[11]
We don’t learn anything further to this debt by as the three people who pledged
to support the repayment of the debt all came within a few miles of each other
if it presumed that all the parties to the court case were local people
Dene
property in County Waterford and at Tallow
In June 1302 the king
directed a writ to John Wogan, justiciar of Ireland, to inquire if the lands of
Reginald de Dene, deceased, were in the king’s hand. John Wogan found that Reginald
held a fourth part of the town of Stradbally of the King in capite, without rent and service, but doing suit at the County
Court of Waterford. The property was worth 108 shillings per year and was now
in the King's hand.
Elsewhere in County
Waterford, Reginald de Dene held 2½ carucates of land and pasture at Dronthan
from Hamo Vasconis at a yearly rent of 5 marks. This property was worth 31s besides
the rent.[12]
Reginald de Dene also held one carucate and 80 acres of land at Ardsillauth in County
Waterford, from Maurice Russell. For this land Reginald paid Maurice Russell
40s per year for the life of said Maurice. The property was worth 26s 8d beyond
the rent payment.
In 1302 Reginald de Dene
held half the town of Tylauchrath (Tallow), Co. Cork along with five towns (villata) of land at Balygomiill. This
property was held from the heir of Thomas de Clare, by the service of 20s and
was worth £24 10s Id.[13]
Reginald de Dene held
other property in the liberties of Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow and the total
value of which was £137 6s 11d. Of this amount £30 2s 1d was held as dower land
by Reginald’s grandmother, Roesia de Longespee, widow of William de Dene. Out
of the property worth £107 4s 10d Isabella, widow of Reginald, was to received
her dower lands (usually one third of her husband’s property) while the
remainder was kept in the king’s hand due to the heir of Reginald, his son
Thomas de Dene, being only ten years old at the time.[14]
Reginald de Dene was a
descendent of Thomas Fitz Anthony in the female line. In 1215 Thomas Fitz
Anthony was granted custody of the Counties of Waterford and Cork. For more on
Thomas Fitz Anthony see = http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2013/09/thomas-fitz-anthony-thirteenth-century.html
While in his
possession, Thomas Fitz Anthony granted land in both counties to his five
daughters. One of these daughters was Helen, wife of Gerald de Rupe (Roche) and
Helen’s daughter Emma, married William de Dene before 1261. William de Dene
subsequently married Roesia de Longespee who was alive in 1302. William de Dene
was succeeded in quick time by his three sons, William, Walter and Thomas. Thomas
de Dene had succeeded by 1273 but was dead by 1275 and was succeeded by his
three year old son, Reginald de Dene. Custody of the young heir was given to
Stephen de Fulborne, the powerful Bishop of Waterford and Reginald married the
Bishop’s niece, Isabella. Reginald de Dene died in 1302 leaving heirs who
concentrated their activities in County Wexford and around Thomastown in Co.
Kilkenny.[15]
For more on the
children of Tomas Fitz Anthony see = http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2015/05/the-children-of-thomas-fitz-anthony.html
De
Exeter property at Tallow
The Exeter property in
Tallow, mentioned in the 1302 Justice Rolls, was originally held by John
Devereux from the Fitzgeralds of Kildare (later Earls of Kildare) and later from
Thomas de Clare. Gerald Fitz Maurice, 1st Baron Offaly and son of
the Norman invader Maurice Fitz Gerald, obtained the land of Ofhearghusa which
includes the area of the four medieval parishes of Tallow, Kilwatermoy,
Kilcockan and Templemichael (also called Rincrew). Gerald was succeeded by his
son, Maurice (2nd Baron) who left three sons, Gerald (father and
grandfather of the 3rd and 4th Barons), Thomas (father of
the 5th Baron who in 1316 was made 1st Earl of Kildare)
and Maurice, landlord of Ofhearghusa.
Maurice Fitz Maurice
married firstly to Matilda, widow of Maurice de Rochford and daughter of Gerald
de Prendergast. Their daughter, Amabil died without issue and gave her Connacht
lands to John Fitz Thomas, 1st Earl of Kildare. Maurice Fitz Maurice
married secondly to Emeline de Longespee, daughter of Stephen de Longespee and
heiress to her grandfather, Walter de Ridelisford. This second marriage also
produced a daughter, Juliana, who married Thomas de Clare, landlord of
Ofhearghusa.[16]
It would appear that
John Devereux married a sister and co-heir of Emma (granddaughter of Thomas
Fitz Anthony), wife of William de Dene. it is possible that Thomas Fitz Anthony
granted the land around Tallow to John Devereux when Thomas Fitz Anthony had
the custody of County Cork.
Sometime before 1288
his granddaughter, Ismania (daughter of Stephen Devereux), married Jordan de
Exeter from Mayo, and brought the Tallow property to her new husband.[17] That
property included land in Ofhearghusa and at Affane, near Cappoquin. For
information about Affane and the Devereux/de Exeter connections see http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2016/11/affane-athmethan-civil-parish-in.html
In 1288 Jordan de
Exeter held half the fee of Ofhearghusa by a half knight’s fee and paying 20s
to Thomas de Clare (Reginald de Dene held the other half) while doing suit at
the manor court of Inchiquin.[18] Sometime
before 1302 Jordan de Exeter and Ismania his wife had granted to their son
Jordan de Exeter the manor of Kilcockan, Tallow and Rincrew. It seems that
Jordan de Exeter junior was of age by 1293 when he and his father paid a fine
in Connacht for having the peace.[19]
In May 1302 at the
justiciar’s court at Dublin, a day was given to Jordan de Exeter and Ismania
his wife whom Jordan de Exeter the younger called to warranty of tenements in
their manor of Insula (Island), Tilaragli (Tallow), and Reyncro (Rincrew), at
the suit of the King, of a plea Quo warranto, in the octave of St. John Baptist
(24th June).[20]
On 1st July
1302, at the justiciar’s court in Dublin, before Maurice de Rupeforti, another
day was given to Jordan de Exeter the younger in the case of the manor of
Island (Kilcockan), Tylasjhrath (Tallow), and Reyncro (Rincrew), sometime
within three weeks from the feast of St. Michael (29th September). These court cases possibly reflect opposition to a son possessing an estate while his father was alive or a challenge to the de Exeter family by other descendants of Thomas Fitz Anthony as they did in 1262.[21]
By 1305 Ismania de
Exeter was dead and Jordan de Exeter held Tallow by the law of England of the
inheritance of his son, Jordan de Exeter. In 1310 they were both summoned to
Parliament. Jordan de Exeter junior fought in the Scottish wars and was dead by
1317 leaving no children. Tallow was inherited by his cousin, Meiler de Exeter
and continued in the de Exeter family until at least 1400 by which time the
family name had become Dexcestre.[22]
Conclusion
The Justice Rolls of
1295 to 1303 not only recounts the law cases of the rich and famous but also
gives mention to the ordinary people many of whom would never be known without this
valuable medieval document. In the Justice Roll we met the two landlords of
Tallow but also a number of local people like Roger Omolton and Thomas Crispyn
of Tallow looking for false money and Robert le Lung of Tallow acting as
guarantor for an unpaid debt. The three surnames, if repeated across the
population, would give two Anglo-Norman families for one Gaelic family. The modern
street pattern of Tallow also reflects that Anglo-Norman heritage with the four
approached roads possessing a narrow point before widening out into the central
triangle where the market was held. The history of Tallow falls silent after
1303 until the fifteenth century and so the Justice Rolls gives us a glimpse
into that medieval town that we would not otherwise have.
Bibliography
Brooks, E. St. John, Knight’s fees in Counties Wexford, Carlow
and Kilkenny, 13th-15th Century (Dublin, 1950)
Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward 1, 1288-1296
Connolly, P. (ed.), Irish Exchequer Payments, 1270-1446
(Dublin, 1998)
Erskine, A.M. (ed.), The accounts of the fabric of Exeter
Cathedral, 1279-1353, Part 1: 1279-1326 (Devon & Cornwall Record
Society, vol. 24, 1981)
Mills, J. (ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls of Ireland,
Edward 1, 1295-1303 (Stationery Office, Dublin, 1905)
Orpen, G.H., Ireland under the Normans, 1169-1333 (Dublin, 2005)
Sweetman, H.S. (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland
(Liechtenstein, 1974), vol. 1 (1171-1251)
Sweetman, H.S. (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland
(Liechtenstein, 1974), vol. III (1285-1292)
Sweetman, H.S. (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland
(Liechtenstein, 1974), vol. IV (1293-1301)
==============
End of post
==============
[1] Mills,
J. (ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary
Rolls of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303 (Stationery Office, Dublin, 1905), p.
265
[2]
Sweetman, H.S. (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland (Liechtenstein, 1974), vol. IV (1293-1301),
no. 648
[3]
Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents
relating to Ireland, vol. IV (1293-1301), nos. 731, 741
[4]
Sweetman, H.S. (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland (Liechtenstein, 1974), vol. 1 (1171-1251), p.
2713
[5]
Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents
relating to Ireland, vol. IV (1293-1301), no. 174
[6] Mills
(ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls
of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303, p. 316
[7] Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward 1, 1288-1296,
p. 383
[8]
Erskine, A.M. (ed.), The accounts of the
fabric of Exeter Cathedral, 1279-1353, Part 1: 1279-1326 (Devon &
Cornwall Record Society, vol. 24, 1981), p. 104
[9]
Connolly, P. (ed.), Irish Exchequer
Payments, 1270-1446 (Dublin, 1998), pp. 149, 163
[10] Mills
(ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls
of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303, p. 316
[11] Mills
(ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls
of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303, p. 334
[12] Mills
(ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls
of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303, p. 402
[13] Mills
(ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls
of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303, p. 403
[14] Mills
(ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls
of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303, p. 403
[15]
Brooks, E. St. John, Knight’s fees in
Counties Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny, 13th-15th Century
(Dublin, 1950), pp. 48, 49, 50, 51
[16] Orpen,
G.H., Ireland under the Normans,
1169-1333 (Dublin, 2005), pp. 498, 499
[17]
Brooks, Knight’s fees in Counties
Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny, 13th-15th Century, pp.
220, 223
[18]
Sweetman, H.S. (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland (Liechtenstein, 1974), vol. III (1285-1292),
no. 459
[19]
Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents
relating to Ireland, vol. IV (1293-1301), p. 11
[20] Mills
(ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls
of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303, p. 378
[21]Mills
(ed.), Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls
of Ireland, Edward 1, 1295-1303, p. 409;
[22]
Brooks, Knight’s fees in Counties
Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny, 13th-15th Century, pp.
223, 226
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