Nottinghamshire history > The Family of Staunton of Staunton, Nottinghamshire (1911)

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IV.

In 1373 Ralph son of Geoffrey de Staunton executed a deed whereby after reciting a grant made by his brother Thomas de Staunton to Agnes Fitz Robert son of Simon Eliot of Staunton the neif (villein) of John son of Simon Eliot of Staunton, he the said Ralph ratified and confirmed the said grant. Moreover he granted Agnes and all her issue and chattels free from him and his heirs for ever so that neither he nor his heirs might thereafter have or claim any servile service of her or her issue.

In 1385 Thomas de Staunton gave to Sir Roger, Vicar of Bennington, John de Oxton and others 20 acres of land, two other parcels of land containing 3 selions and 3 roods respectively, together with the reversion to a messuage, all in the parish of Staunton, to be held in trust for various purposes. One part was to be applied to the service of the Guild of the Blessed St. Mary of Staunton, for the finding and sustaining of a light in the aforesaid Guild for the souls of his brothers and sisters and all benefactors living or dead to the Guild.

This Thomas in his will also left Twenty pounds with which to build an aisle in Staunton Church, but the legacy was diverted by his executors and spent in the repairing of the roof. As Cade quaintly says:—

Therefore Sainct Thomas of Canterbury
Loste some parte of his righte
To remember ye Stauntons deade
And buri'de out of sighte.

Thomas de Staunton, in order to show his humility, was buried in the Churchyard "emonge the simple menne," confident that "God coulde his soule outfinde" wherever he might be interred. His wife's tomb in the Church of Stoke by Newark had the following interesting inscription: "Here lieth Dame Alce Staunton; over this tombe, I pray you as I have loved you entirely to our Lorde God you praie for me: the which died the neenteenth daie of Novemb. in the year of our Lord God 1418. Jesu for thy passion take me to thy mercie; Lady for thy pitie have mercy upon me."

Between the years 1385 and 1557 the Staunton papers do not contain much of general interest, the matters they refer to being chiefly confined to transactions in land in or about their various manors. During this period, however, the family appears to have reached the zenith of its prosperity, and soon after began gradually to decline. There are a few documents, however, which merit a brief mention. One is dated 1408, in which Agnes, Alice, and Isabell, daughters of Ralph de Staunton, and executors of his will, and apparently also that of Constantia his wife (a daughter of Sutton of Averham) granted full administration to John Kyrketon with instructions to pay Lord de Roos 40 shillings and to pay himself the debts owing to him (John Kyrketon) from the deceased and the executors. Another deed is a contract made in 1463 between Thomas Staunton and Hugh Wright of Orston respecting the building of a barn. It was agreed "that the said Hugh should make in Staunton for the said Thomas a Lathe of four Bays and find all manner of stuff thereunto appertaining pursuing after the new Lathe which Nicholas Rodes made in length and breadth and height and workmanship, stuff of Timber and Stone at his own costs, with a pair of Doors to some in with a Wain at the Town side and another pair of doors at the other to go forth with a Wain. The said Thomas to pay the said Hugh for the said Stuff and Workmanship 13 Marks, and the said Hugh to have for his reward half a quarter of wheat and half a quarter of Malt."

Among the papers relating to this period two deserve especial notice. The first is the story of a partly efficacious spell laid upon a sick man by those whom he had defrauded. It is undated, but John Kyrton died in 1443.

"Be it hade in minde yt John Ryall of Stanton stowde in nede of mone com unto John Kyrton for tryste yt hym dwellying in Kylvyngton and layde ye evydens of hys place & hys medow an wede (wood) untyl a certyn day for a ctyn (certain) mony and when ye sayde John Ryall com wt ye mony at ye day of paymente the sayde John Kyrton was betuyx Kylvyngton & Staunton at the buttys (archery butts and now called Butt Close) and he bade John Ryall go to hys place at Kylvyngton & he wylde cum and speke wt hym & so ye seyde John Eyall wente to Kyrton place and bode fixte ther & ye John Kyrton wythe drewe hym and wyld not cum to hys place to the son was sett for to defrawde (defraud) John Ryall of hys evydens and hys lyflode (livelihood) and to gae him breke hys day & so he wylde not raysaylfe (receive) ye payment for he sayde because ye son was sett ye day was gone and ye night was com on and so be ys (this) untrewe meyn he helde ye Evydens & ye place & ye medowe away fro hym xxte yer and ye sayde Kyrton lay in poynt of deth and ye John Eyall hys wyffe com to John Kyrton in hys sekenys and bad hym reymember hym & amende hym yt he had halden away there lyflode and gair lyfing untrewly & he bade they go away for yae schuld have non of hym & ye John Ryall and hys wyffe prayede to Gode yt he schilde nevyr passe foth of ys warlde tyll yt he had made af . . . agayn to them and so thorow ye prayer he myght nott pass at yt tym and then John Dunnytt (Dunnet) of Newarke and Roberte Wykam of Orston yt was hys secutours gave hym granynte it agayn. And so ye sayd ryall payd ye mony & ye delyveryde hym parte of his evydens butt nott all for ye wyffe of ye sayde Kyrton & Herry her son wythdrewe part of yt and yus be thys untrew meyn have you hadden ye medowe away for he nevyr boght it nor had statt (state) givyn yt of. Also men yt bene lv. more yer of age & ner iiij skore sum of ye sam touyn & sum of othyr touyns wyl swer on a bowke yt it has untrewly yus halden away from it sayde John Ryall & hys chyldyr."

The second document is a rent roll of Thomas Staunton, dated January 20th, 1440. Among the features of interest which it contains may be noted the appearance of a Fowler oxgang in Staunton, evidently the bovate granted by William Staunton to William Fowler for the service of hawking; the two bovates held in Alverton by Robert Bridgeford and his wife Margaret for a pound of incense and a pound of cummin yearly, representing the two bovates given to Hugh Travers upon his emancipation in 1190; and the duty of certain tenants to ride with their lord to Scotland, a survival of ancient military service.

RENTAL OF THOMAS STAUNTON, ARMIGER,
MADE 20TH JANUARY, IN THE EIGHTEENTH
YEAR OF HENRY 6TH:—

John Richardson holds the Manor of Staunton, and pays per annum	£4
The same John Richardson holds the Water Mill, and pays per annum	xvs.
The same John Richardson holds a messuage and a bovate and a half of land and a croft, namely, below the Rectory, and pays per annum	vs.
Richard Castell holds a messuage and three bovates and three-quarters of land, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	xiis.
John Ryall, son of William Ryall, holds a messuage and a bovate and a half of land, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	xs.
William Ryall holds a bovate and a half of land, and pays per annum	vis. viiid.
John Turnpeny, senr., holds a messuage and a bovate and a half of land., and pays per annum	xiiiis.
Robert Turnpeny holds a messuage and a bovate and a half of land, and pays per annum	xiiiis.
Thomas Tounend holds a messuage and a bovate and a half of land, and pays per annum	vs.
Thomas Tounend holds three-quarters of a bovate of a half of land, and pays per annum	iiiis.
John Andrewe, junr., holds three-quarters of a bovate of land, and pays per annum	iiis. viiid.
Robert Ryall, senr., holds a bovate of land, and pays per annum	vis. viid.

John Hopkynson holds a messuage and a bovate and a half of land, and pays per annum	viiis.
William Braybroke holds a cottage, and pays per annum	iiiis.
John Hopkynson pays a standing rent of one pound of pepper and one pound of cummin and 4 silver shillings and common suit every three weeks
The same John Hopkynson holds a messuage and two bovates and a half of land, called Lew Place, and pays per annum and common suit every three weeks, and will ride in the Autumn to Scotland whenever the Lord shall ride (there) in propria persona This is a customary service	xiis.
William Frende de Claypole, Master John Vavisor Chaplain, and Elizabeth Thurkyll hold a bovate and a quarter of land, and pay per annum and common suit every three weeks	iiiis. viid.
Robert Ryall holds half a bovate of land at a standing rent, and pays per annum and common suit every three weeks	iiis. iiiid.
The same Robert holds an acre of land at a standing rent, and pays per annum at the Feast of St. Michael	iiiid.
Master John Vavisor, Chaplain, holds a barn called Lanforth Lathe at a fixed rent, and pays per annum	viid.
The same John Vavasour, Chaplain, holds a messuage and a croft, called Emhouse, and two acres of land, at a standing rent, and pays per annum	viiid.
The same John holds a toft with a croft called Schakyn Place, at a standing rent, and pays per annum	iiiid.
The same John holds a messuage with a croft called Lanforth House, at a standing rent, and pays per annum
Roger Sutton holds a messuage, and pays yearly a standing rent at the Feast of St. Michael, and common suit twice a year	½d.
Item a messuage with a croft belonging to the Rector of Staunton at a standing rent, and paying per annum, at the Feast of the Nativity, one pound of wax
Item one bovate of land called Leveday Oxgang	—
Item one bovate of land called Fowler Oxgang	vis.
Item one piece of land next Lanforth Lathe	viid.
William Ryall, of standing rent, pays per annum	iiis. iiiid.
William Elyot, native, holds a messuage and a bovate and three-quarters of land, and pays per annum and common suit every three weeks	xvs.

Henry Elyot, native, holds a cottage, and pays per annum and Boon-days (works on Boondays) and common suit every three weeks	iiiid.
KYLVYNGTON.
Richard Wylughby holds the Manor of Kylvyngton with eleven bovates of land at a standing rent and common suit twice per annum, and homages, reliefs, wardships, and marriages when they may befall, and pays per annum	iiis. iiiid.
Robert Corret holds a bovate of land called Freborwe Oxgang, and pays per annum
The same Robert holds a bovate of land called Scheroffe Oxgang, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	xs.
John Wright .... holds a toft with a croft and an acre and a rood of land, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	iiiid.
Agnes Sutbur holds a messuage and a bovate of land, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	viiis.
Randolph Somer holds a toft with a croft at a standing rent, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	iiiid.
Sum total of Kylvyngton	xxiid.
ALVTON (ALVERTON).
Robert Louet holds a messuage with a croft and a rood of land at a standing rent, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	id.
Will Henreson holds a messuage with a croft at a standing rent, and pays per annum and common service twice a year	_
The same William holds a messuage with a croft at a standing rent, and pays per annum and common service twice a year
The same William holds a piece of land, and pays per annum of standing rent and common suit twice a year	_
The same William holds a messuage with a croft, formerly Agnes Travers', at a standing rent, and pays per annum, at the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and common suit twice a year	iiid.
The same William holds a toft with a croft and quarter of a bovate of land, called Hilyerd, and pays per annum	½d.

The same William holds three bovates and a half of the Demesne (de terris dominicalibus), and pays per annum	xxiiiid.
John Williamson Henreson holds two bovates of the Demesne, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	xid.
Richard Wylughby holds two bovates of land at a standing rent, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	xiiid.
The same Richard holds three and a half bovates of land, and Robert Brygford, and Margaret, his wife, hold two bovates of land at a standing rent, and pay yearly a pound of frankincense and a pound of cummin and common suit twice a year
Agnes, wife of the late Henry Robertson, holds a bovate of land at a standing rent, and pays per annum ... and common suit twice a year	—
John Hopkynson holds a messuage and a bovate of land, formerly William Elston's, at a standing rent, and pays yearly one pair of shoes, at the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, and common suit twice a year
The same John holds a toft with a croft opposite the Cross, at a standing rent, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	id.
Richard Johnson holds an acre of land and more, and pays per annum of standing rent and common suit twice a year
Sum total of Alverton (omitted in Rent Roll)
FLAWBERGH (FLAWBOROUGH).
Robert Ayby, native, holds a messuage and two bovates and a half of laud with Ascheby Place, and pays per annum and common suit every three weeks	xxs.
William Wryghte holds a messuage and a bovate and a half of the Demesne, with two acres of the Demesne, and is in the Lord's hand
William Aschewell holds a messuage and a bovate and five acres of the Demesne, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year, and a goose, at the second court after the Feast of St. Michael, and a shoulder of mutton, at the second court after the Feast of the Passion, and common suit twice a year (sic)	viis.
John Scot holds a messuage with a garden and two bovates of land (in the Lord's hand)

Hewgo Redis holds a messuage with a garden and half a bovate of land, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	iiiis.
The same Hewgo holds a toft with a croft and a bovate of land called Castleyn Oxgang, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	viiis.
Mychell Samson holds a messuage with a toft and croft and two bovates of land, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	xiis.
The same Mychell and Isabella, wife of the late Roger Moren, hold a messuage with a toft and croft and garden, at a standing rent, and pay per annum common suit every three weeks, and he will go for the Lord into Scotland if necessity arise	iis.
Sum total of Flawbergh (omitted in Rent Roll)
DALYNTON.
John Tomlynson and — Kerby hold a messuage with a croft and a toft and a garden and two bovates of land, and pay per annum and common suit twice a year	xiis. viiid.
William Cowper holds a messuage with a garden and a bovate of land, and pays per annum	viiis.
The same William Cowper holds half a bovate of the Demesne, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	iiiis.
William Lynby holds a messuage with a toft and a croft and two bovates of land, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	xviiis.
Henry Kyrton holds a messuage with a toft and a croft and a garden, at a standing rent, and pays per annum and common suit every three weeks	vs.
William Spencar holds a ........ bovate and a half of land, and pays per annum and common service twice a year	xiis.
William Catlyn holds a piece of land at the entrance to his messuage, and pays per annum, at the Feast of St. Michael and common suit twice a year	vid.
John Tomlynson holds a messuage with a toft and a croft and a garden and a bovate and a half of land, and pays per annum and common suit twice a year	xiis.
The same John holds a bovate of the Demesne, and pays per annum	viiis.
The same John holds a messuage with a toft and a croft and a garden, at a standing rent, and pays per annum	xiid.
The same John holds and common suit twice a year	iiiis.

The writing in 17 places has been traced over with ink visibly of a later date, and probably by the same hand which made lengthy notes on the back of the roll regarding the various manors, of which an extract follows:—

"Sum total of the Manor of Staunton with Kilvyngton, Alverton, Flawbergh, and Dalington, with the advowson of the Parish of St. Mary of Staunton, with the Chapelry of St. John's Chapel at Flawbergh and Dalington, and also with the advowson of the Parish Church of St. Mary of Kilvington and Alverton, in the Vale of Belvoir, in the County of Nottingham, with fishing in the waters of the Deven, Wynterbekke, and Smithe, and the patronage of the said Churches always with the Grace of God intervening; with hunting, hawking, fishing, and fowling, with homages, reliefs, wardships, and marriages, &c."

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