‹ E-CIPM 26-400: JOAN, WHO WAS THE WIFE OF JOHN HOTOFT ESQUIRE ›

Holdings

She held no lands or tenements in demesne as of fee or in service of the king in chief or of any other. A fine [CP 25/1/292/67/149] was raised in the king’s court, on the morrow of the Ascension, 1434, between John Wilberfosse, clerk, querent , and Richard Fox, esquire , now deceased, deforciant, concerning the following. Richard acknowledged the third part of the manors, and the advowson, to be the right of John, as that which John had of the grant of Richard; for which John granted the same to Richard for the term of his life, without impeachment of waste, with remainder to Joan, named in the writ – described as Joan, wife of Richard Fox – for the term of her life; and with successive remainders to the heirs of the body of Walter Bigod , and to the right heirs of Richard Fox . The fine was shown to the jurors. Richard was seised in demesne as of free tenement, and the tenants of the third part attorned themselves to him. Immediately after Richard’s death, Joan entered the third part and advowson, by virtue of the fine, without obtaining royal licence. Afterwards on 5 May 1435 the king, by letters patent, shown to the jurors, of his special grace and for 40s. paid in the hanaper, pardoned her trespass [CPR 1429–36, p. 456]. The next heirs of the body of Walter Bigod are [1.] Katherine, wife of Robert Hunt, esquire , the daughter of Walter, aged 50 and more; and [2.] Isabel, wife of Thomas Darell, esquire , the daughter of Margaret, another daughter of Walter, aged 30 and more. Immediately after Joan’s death, they entered the premises and hold them by virtue of the fine.

Long before her death, Henry Langeley , George Langham , Robert Hunt , John Basset , esquires, and Ralph Grey , were seised of the following in demesne as of fee. The manors and tenement also extend elsewhere in the county. They granted the same to Joan, for the term of her life, with reversion to themselves and their heirs. In one charter Wood Hall and ‘Arnoldes’ were granted; in the other, Ashdon; both charters were shown to the jurors. Joan was seised in demesne as of free tenement, and died seised of such estate.

Holdings

She held no lands or tenements in demesne as of fee of the king or of any other. Long before her death, John Lounde, clerk , and John Edom were seised of the following in demesne as of fee. By charter shown to the jurors, they granted the same to John Hotoft, esquire , deceased, and Joan his wife – named in the writ – for the term of their lives, without impeachment of waste; with remainder to John Barre, knight , and Idony then his wife, now deceased, and the heirs of their bodies. John Hotoft and Joan were seised in demesne as of free tenement and Joan died seised of such estate. After the deaths of John and Joan, John Barre entered the premises by virtue of the remainder. Thus seised, by charter shown to the jurors, he granted them to Philip Boteler and Leonard Stapulton , esquires, Walter Heven , Hugh Shellewik , John Tournour , John Brune , and Thomas Hoddesdon , and the heirs and assigns of Hugh and Walter, so that Philip, Leonard, Walter, Hugh, John, John, and Thomas were seised in demesne as of fee [sic].