Oddingeseles lands in
Nottingham, Oxford, Somerset,
Staffordshire, Suffolk and Warwickshire
Niall C.E.J. O’Brien
In a previous article http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2018/01/pirton-manor-in-hertford-andireland.html the property of the Oddingeseles family at
Pirton in Hertfordshire was examined and how in the fourteenth century it
passed to the Anglo-Irish family of Caunton in County Cork in Ireland. This
article highlights other Oddingeseles lands in England. The information on each
property is not the whole story of each property and additional information from
other sources can add new light to each story.
Nottingham
Eperiston = In 1314-5 Payn de Tibtoft held the manor of Eperiston
with the advowson jointly with his wife, Agnes by the enfeoffment of William
Saunsun which was further held of Sir John de Oddingeseles by the service of
half a knight’s fee. In
November 1328 Agnes, wife of the late Payn de Tibtoft, held Eperiton for life
by the service of a quarter of a knight’s fee from Sir John de Oddingeseles. In
1367 Sir John Tibetot held Eperiston manor with the advowson of the church and
a deerpark, for life, by gift of William Deyncourt, ex lord of Graneby, and
Thomas de Hameldene, parson of Potterhayn church, from John de Oddingeseles as
of his barony of Long Ichyngton (Longichynton)
by knight’s service. John Tibetot was married to Margaret, daughter of
Bartholomew de Badlesmere and Robert Tibetot, his son, was heir along with the
heirs of Margaret who predeceased her husband.
Oxfordshire
Roland de Oddingeseles died in 1315-6 having held land in Oxfordshire. These
lands were Kelmescote, Fylkyngehe and Halewell (Broadwell parish). Here
there was no land in demesne but 100 acres and some rents which were formerly
held from the abbot of Cirencester by the service of a pair of gloves per year.
Yet long before Roland died the lands were alienated to Walter Spryngaud,
Roland son of Roland and others. In
1354-5, William de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon, held the services of these
three hamlets (Filking, Halewell and Kelmescote) with the services of Bradewell town jointly with his
wife, Juliana, of the king in chief. These were grouped as part of Guting manor
in Gloucestershire.
Bradewell (Broadwell) = in 1336-7 Sir John de
Oddingeseles held half the manor of Bradewell jointly with his wife Emma who
survived him (she subsequently married Sir William Corbet). They had it by a
fine at the king’s court to hold it in chief by service of a fifth part of a
knight’s fee and to the heirs of the said Sir John. De Oddingeseles left as
heir his son John aged 24 years old. In
July 1347 Emma de Oddingeseles held Bradewell manor for life by the inheritance
of her late husband, John de Oddingeseles, by the gift of Ralph Bygot. John de
Oddingeseles (ages 36), was the son and heir of John and Emma. At the same time
Emma de Oddingeseles held half of Pirton manor in Hertfordshire. In
1352 John de Oddingeseles held Bradewell manor which included 200 acres of
arable land (120 planted and 80 fallow) and 20 acres of thick wood.
In 1354, William de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon, and Juliana his wife
held the services of Bradewell town as part of the holdings of Guting manor in
Gloucestershire along with other former Oddingeseles property in Oxfordshire as
noted above. In 1361
Amicia, the widow of John de Oddingeseles, held Broadwell manor for life as
part of her dower property and was succeeded by her son, John de Oddingeseles
(then aged 26 years).
In 1369 Agnes de Mauduyt, widow of John de Mauduyt, held a messuage and one
carucate at Netherfilkyng as of Bradewell manor (property of John de
Oddingeseles) by the service of one penny per year.
Stanlake = in 1352 John de Oddingeseles held a fourth
part of the manor of Stanlake jointly with his wife, Amice, by the gift of her
father, Roger Corbet, in the honor of Aumale by the service of quarter of a
knight’s fee. In 1361
Amicia de Oddingeseles held a fourth part of Stanlake for life by demise of Sir
Robert Corbet with reversion after the death of Amicia to Edmund Giffard and
Margaret, his wife, and Edmund, their son. Stanlake was held of the king in
chief as part of the fees of the earldom of Aumale which fees were previously granted
by King Edward to his daughter Isabel.
In 1369 Agnes, wife of the late Sir John Mauduyt, held the manor of Stanlake
and every fourth presentation to the local church. The manor was held in chief
of the king by a quarter knight’s fee within the honor of Aumale. William de
Molyns (25 years), son of John de Molyns and Gille (Egidia), his wife (both
deceased) was the heir of Agnes de Mauduyt.
In 1375 John de Grey of Rotherfield held a fourth part of Stanlake manor
jointly with his wife Maud at the time of his death. Many years previously John
de Grey gifted the fourth part for life to Edmund Giffard of Stanlake and Alice
his wife. The property was held of Lord de Courcy in right of his wife Isabel
by service unknown. In
1429 William Molyns held a quarter of Stanlake manor (worth £9 5s) of the king
in chief by the honor of Albermarle. He was succeeded by his three year old
daughter, Eleanor. In
the reign of Henry V Lewis Grevyll and Richard Mikelton, clerk, granted the
manor of Stanlake (worth £4 and held of the duchy of Lancaster) to John Grevyll
of Gloucestershire and Sibyl and their heirs with reminder to Guy Corbet of
Suffolk. John Grevyll held Stanlake fter Sibyl’s death until his own death in September
1444. John Grevyll had a son, John Grevyll, by his second wife Joyce and Guy
Corbet died in the lifetime of John Grevyll leaving his son, Robert Corbet, as
heir.
Standlake (photographer unknown)
Somerset
Alre = In 1312-3 John de Acton held half the manor
of Alre, Somersetshire from John de Oddingeseles by the service of 1 knight’s
fee. In
1086 (Domesday Survey) Ralph de Limeseo (Limesy), an ancestor of John de
Oddingeseles, held Alra manor. By
a further inquisition we find the manor of Bradewell, Devon held by Ralph Pyn
from John de Acton for a knight’s fee pertaining to the manor of Alre which is
said to be held from Hugh de Oddingeseles. Hugh
de Oddingeseles was the father of John de Oddingeseles and died about 1304-5.
In 1325-6 Sir John de Clyvedone and John de Acton agreed on certain clauses
touching Alre manor in Somerset and by such transactions John de Clyvedone
could confirm the age of Edmund, son and heir of William de Cheyne.
Staffordshire
Berlaston = in 1352 John de Oddingeseles held the hamlet
of Berlaston jointly with his wife, Amice, as a gift from her father, Roger
Corbet, by the service of 10s yearly to Ralph, Earl of Stafford. John de
Oddingeseles junior was his son and heir and was then ages sixteen years. The
same John de Oddingeseles senior held half of Pirton manor in Hertfordshire.
In 1372 held Ralph, Earl of Stafford, Berlaston (Barleston) manor with the
hamlets of Hertwell and Titnesovere of the king in chief.
In 1423 Hugh Stafford held Berlaston manor from Stone priory with its 14 messuages
(worth nothing), 480 acres of land (3d per acre), 30 acres of meadow (6d per
acre), 80 acres of pasture (1d per acre) and 44s of assize rent. Hugh Stafford
also held the manors of Hertwell and Tittensor from Stone priory.
Suffolk
Kavendych = in 1352 John de Oddingeseles of Pirton
(Hertfordshire) held the manor of Kavendych from the king by the service of an
eight part of a knight’s fee. John de Oddingeseles, junior, was his son and
heir. In
1436 Richard Wegge held half the manor of Cavendish, otherwise called
Netherhall (worth 20s) in chief to the king by the service of one twentieth of
a knight’s fee. Isabel his wife held it for a time after her husband died until
her death on 6h June 1436. The next heir was John Claveryng, son of Richard
Claveryng and Margaret, daughter of Richard Wegge.
Warwickshire
Arley = in 1294-5 William de Oddingeseles held the
advowson of Sir Hugh de Oddingeseles. In
1311-2 John de Grey of Rotherfield held the advowson of Arley church by the
inheritance of Margaret, his wife, from Sir John de Odingeseles John de Grey
also held Solihull by the
same terms. In
1325-6 Peter de Lymesy held the manor of Arley from John de Oddingeseles by the
service of half a knight’s fee and John de Lymesy was his son and heir. Peter
de Lymesy acquired Arley from his father Richard de Lymesy who got it from his
brother Sir Ralph de Lymesy by a grant for life. Richard de Lymesy gave Ralph
de Lymesy £200 and promised to pay Ralph de Lymesy ten marks per year for the
life of Ralph in return for Arley.
In 1423, Elizabeth, widow of John de Clinton, held the advowson of Arley church
in dower by endowment of Robert de Grey of Rotherfield, her former husband. The
advowson was worth 10 marks and the daughters of Joan, daughter and heir of
Robert de Grey, were the heirs.
Buddebroke = in 1294-5 William de Oddingeseles held a
knight’s fee at this place from Sir Hugh de Oddingeseles. In turn the same
knight’s fee was held from William by Theobald de Nevyle and John Hastang.
In 1337 Thomas de Hastang held half a knight’s fee at Buddebroke and the other
half was held by Theobald de Verdun. Another inquisition held about the same
time said that half the knight’s fee at Buddebroke was held by the heir of
Philip de Gaiton while the other half was held by the heir of Robert de
Hastang. This implies that Theobald de Verdun was overlord of the full fee but
a third inquisition into the estates of Theobald said he only had a half fee at
Buddebroke. In 1369
Thomas de Bello Campo, Earl of Warwick, held Buddebroke manor and La Grave by
the gift of Sir John de Hastang who held the property from John de Clinton of Maxstoke by service unknown. In
1371 Sir William de Ferrers of Groby held half of a knight’s fee at Buddebroke
with the heirs of Robert de Hastang holding the other half.
In 1425 Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, held Budebroke manor which he
quitclaimed, with other property to John Thomas, clerk, and the four bishops of
Worcester, Durham, Winchester and Bath and Wells. In
1445 the heirs of Philip Gauton held half of the knight’s fee (worth 50s) at
Buddebroke while the heirs of Robert de Hastang (namely Humphrey Stafford of
Grafton) held the other half (also worth 50s).
Coleshill = in 1373 John de Peyto held some property at
Coleshill from Beatrice, daughter and heir of John de Sheldon. In
1423 Elizabeth, widow of John de Clinton, held a messuage, land, tenements, a
meadow and a wood at Coleshill (13s 4d). In
1431 held at his death by Sir William de Clinton from John, Bishop of Bath and
Wells, Richard, Earl of Warwick, Edmund Lord Ferrers, John Weston, William
Wynard and William Repyngdon who held there a quarter carucate of land from
Edward Oddingeseles by unknown service.
Longichynton (Long Itchington) = in 1238-1239 Gerard de
Oddingeseles did homage for Longichynton which was held by his father, Hugh de
Oddingeseles, from the king in chief and other lands inherited from Gerard’s
mother, Basilia in Warwickshire for which he paid a fine of £50. In
1336-7 Sir John de Oddingeseles held the manor of Longichynton jointly with his
wife Emma by the king’s charter and by a fine at the king’s court. It was held
by the service of a third part of a knight’s fee. Sir John left as heir his son
called John who was aged 24 years old. An
inquisition in July 1347 found that Emma de Oddingeseles held Longichynton
manor for life by the gift of Ralph Bygot who had years previously enfeoffed
John and Emma de Oddingeseles of the manor by the service of a third of a knight’s
fee.
In November 1352 John de Oddingeseles held Longichynton in chief to the crown
by the service of one knight’s fee. The manor included 28 acres of a deerpark.
John de Oddingeseles, junior, his son and heir, was born at Ichynton and was
baptised in the local church.
In
1355 it was noted that the pleas and perquisites of Stockton manor were held in the view of Longichynton manor.
In 1428 Mary, widow of Sir John Dodyngselles, held Longichynton manor of the
king in chief and was succeeded by her son, Edward Dodyngselles. The manor site
was worth nothing but there was 100 acres of arable land (60s), 20 acres meadow
(60s), 80 acres pasture (40s), one windmill (40s), a wood that was worth
nothing along with 20 messuages and 20 virgates (20 marks) with 21 marks of
assize rent while the courts baron and leet were worth nothing beyond the
seneschal’s fee. In 1447
Edward Dodyngseles (or as anciently spelt - Oddingeseles) held Longichynton and
where he received a pair of gilt spurs at Easter for the manor of Olton from
Elizabeth, Lady Deincourt, and wife of Sir Thomas Neville.
Maxstoke = in about 1324-5 John de Cerne held some
property at Upmelcombe in Dorset from the son and heir of Sir John de Clinton
of Maxstoke by the service of a quarter knight’s fee and 100s per year. In
1349 John de Clinton of Maxstoke rented Northlydyerd in Wiltshire to Roger
Normaund by a knight’s fee. In
1354 William de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon, held Maxstoke manor from John de
Oddingeseles junior of Longichynton, then a minor in the king’s ward. In
1423 Elizabeth, widow of John de Clinton, held Maxstoke castle (occupied by
Edward Dodyngford) with four carucates (26s 8d), a pasture (6s 8d) the assize
rent (102s 4d) and the assize rent of Marston
and Coton. In
1431 Maxstoke was held at his death by Sir William de Clinton from John, Bishop
of Bath and Wells, Richard, Earl of Warwick, Edmund Lord Ferrers, John Weston,
William Wynard and William Repyngdon who held the castle and lordship with the
hamlets of Coton and Lea Marston from Edward
Oddingeseles by knight’s service.
Maxstoke castle (photographer unknow)
Merston & Cotes = in 1294-5 William de Oddingeseles had
fourteen free tenants at these places rendering 36s 8d per year and this
property was held of the Earl of Oxford by one twelfth part of a knight’s fee. In
1373 John de Peyto held some property at Coleshill from Beatrice, daughter and
heir of John de Sheldon.
In 1423 Elizabeth, widow of John de Clinton, held the assize rent of Marston
and Coton (worth 22s 3d).
Solihull = in 1294-5 William de Oddingeseles had the
manors of Solihull and Maxstoke. At that time half of both manors were held of
Sir Hugh de Oddingeseles with the advowsons by a half knight’s fee while the
other half was held of Sir Robert de Pynkeny by socage and rendering a pair of
gilt spurs for Solihull and a half knight’s fee for Mxstoke. In
1311-2 John de Grey of Rotherfield held Solihull by the inheritance of Margaret
his wife from Sir John de Oddingeseles for a fourth part of a pair of gilt
spurs. The property generated 22 marks in yearly rent. John de Grey also held
the advowson of Arley church
by the same inheritance from the same Sir John.
In 1321-2 Alice de Caunton held a fourth part of a messuage and a half
carucate of land at Solihull from John de Oddingeseles by fealty only. She also
held half of Pirton manor in Hertfordshire. In
1359 John de Grey of Rotherfield held £16 11s of yearly rent at Solihull from
John de Oddingeseles of Longichynton.
Stockton = in 1355 Philip de Somerville held Stockton
manor by gift of John Prynce, chaplain, and John de Warr to Philip and his
deceased wife, Margaret, with reminder to Rees ap Griffith and Joan his wife
for her life. Stockton manor was held of John de Oddingeseles junior of Pirton,
then a minor, with the pleas and perquisites due to Longichynton manor. An
inquisition in 1356 found Rees ap Griffith held Stockton jointly with his wife,
Joan (who survived him) from John de Oddingeseles junior, then a minor. Rees ap
Griffith left a son and heir, also called Rees ap Griffith.
Conclusion
The chief properties of the Oddingeseles family were at Pirton in
Hertfordshire and Longichynton in Warwickshire but the family also held various
properties across middle England from whole manors to a messuage and a few
acres or just a knight’s fee. Each property held by the family has its own
history, the bare outline of which is given above. Each property also had
different layers of ownership often involving the families of Corbet, de Grey
of Rotherfield, and Clinton of Maxstoke. Reconstructing a medieval estate
encounters all these layers of history and also has to deal with gaps in the
records that leave decades of history in the dark but that is the fun of
medieval history research – you never quite know what you will find.
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