IX. The Deeds of Women
131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142
Many charters bear witness to the activities of medieval women, who often exercised to the full their admittedly limited legal rights as landholders, tenants, farmers, guardians of their children, and managers of large estates.
131.
c. 1250
Grant of land for a dowry
nr. Truro, Cornwall?
Grant by Raheis de "Campus Ernulfi," with the assent of Oliver her son and heir, to Robert son of Richard of her land in "Dranoch," in free marriage (in libero maritagio) with Joan her daughter, the daughter of Henry de "Campus Ernulfi," with the advowson of the church in Dranoch and the service of certain free men (named) and the service of one knight's fee which William de Campeaus holds of her in Harwood. Witnessed in the last instance by the probable scribe, Eustace the clerk, parson of Stoke. Another example of maritagium (see No. 10), this time with the dowry portion arranged for by the bride's mother, who may be giving her own dowry to make up the marriage-portion of her daughter.
132.
c. 1260
Grant
Pinley, Warwickshire
Grant by Margaret Beleteste, widow of the late John Beleteste of Pynneley, to Richard her son of all her land in the vill of Pynneley or elsewhere, according to the boundary-markers placed there; he paying the rent due and accustomed to the lords of that fee, and to the grantor a rose at midsummer. In this little charter the customary rent of a rose at midsummer, usually stipulated in charters where subinfeudation to a near-relative is involved, has a rather sentimental odor about it.
Seal of the grantor, bearing a cross of palm branches with the legend: S' MA'G'TE.FARHEN
133.
c. 1280
Grant
Rosliston, Derbyshire
This charter of an heir still in his minority reverses the opening formula of No. 130: it is a grant by Richard Deubeney of Rostlauneston, "with the consent, assent, and good will" of Cecily his mother (and probable legal guardian), to Robert del Mareys of five acres of arable lying dispersed in a croft which his father formerly held. Rent: halfpenny. The consent of the grantor's mother was a legal necessity, since if her name was not included she could make trouble in the courts by contesting it, perhaps on the grounds that the lands were part of her dower.
134.
1288/9 February 2
Indenture of lease
Elmstead, Essex
Agreement made between John Hervy of Great Bentley and Pleasance his wife, widow (relicta) of Richard Fraunceys of Elmestede of the one part, and Eleanor Fraunceys of the other part, whereby the said John and Pleasance have let to farm to the same Eleanor all the lands, etcetera, which Pleasance holds as dower for her life in Elmestede, for a term of twelve years from the Purification of Blessed Mary Virgin, 17 Edward [I]. One would assume from the wording of this charter that Eleanor is the rather independently-minded daughter of Pleasance by her first marriage, but the next charter hints at other possible relationships (see No. 135).
Oval seal of Pleasance, bearing a cross of palm branches (compare No. 132) with the legend: +SYGNET [PLE]SAUNCE
135.
1334 September 11
Grant
Elmstead, Essex
This grant by Eleanor, formerly the wife of Robert Fraunceys of Elmestede, indicates that she must have been the daughter-in-law or possibly even younger sister-in-law of Pleasance (see above, No. 134). Here she grants to John de Sutton, lord of Wivenhoe (see Nos. 39 and 117), and to Agatha his wife all her lands and homages in Elmstead, with one reversion: namely, a third part of the said tenement which Pleasance the wife of the late Richard Fraunceys held in dower after the death of Richard. It appears that more than forty years after the lease of Pleasance's dower-lands to Eleanor, the latter is still associated with these lands and must disclaim any title to them.
Seal bearing the device: a dove? with legend [illegible]
136.
1310 May 24
Grant
Gayton le Marsh, Lincolnshire
Grant by Peter son of Richard de Ormesby of South Gayton to Richard of Wyerin (Withern, Lincs.), clerk, of a selion of arable land in a place called "Halks" in the south marsh, bounded by the land which Hugh Wyloc the elder still holds of the lord of Totel and the land which Anya widow of Richard de Ormseby holds as dower (nomine dotis); to hold of the chief lord of the fee "for the customary service owed and by law required." The said Anya appears to be the stepmother of Peter; the charter below (No. 137), probably drawn up by the same scribe, witnesses her grant of part of the land mentioned here.
Remnant of a seal sewn into a linen bag
137.
c. 1310
Grant
Gayton le Marsh, Lincolnshire
Grant by Anya, widow of Richard de Ormesby, to Sara, daughter of Richard the clerk of Wyerin, and her assigns of one piece of pasture lying in the north marsh bounded by the land of Hugh Wylok and that of Alan West, in consideration of a certain sum of money.
Seal of Anya (?) and remnant of a hempen bag or cord
138.
1329/30 March 3
Grant
Wolverston, Warwickshire
Grant by Lucy, daughter and heir of the late Richard Osmond of Wolfricheston, in her widowhood, to Nicholas Tryminel, knight, and Mabel his second wife and to John, son of the same Nicholas and Mabel "the second," of her chief messuage, lands, moors, turbariæ (turf and "rights of digging turf"), heriots, etcetera in the vills of Wolverston and Marston which descended to her after the death of the said Richard her father, to hold to them and to the heirs of the body of John, with successive remainders to Thomas, brother of John, and the heirs of his body, and to the right heirs of Nicholas and Mabel. In all probability Lucy was the mother of Mabel and this grant was therefore intended to benefit her own grandsons. Nicholas, Mabel's husband, must have had children from his first marriage, since Mabel is described as "the second wife" on two occasions, which was Lucy's way of ensuring that her lands would not fall into the hands of anyone who was not her own kin.
Seal bearing the Lamb of God (lamb and Xag) with the legend: +ECCE AGNVS DEI
139.
1332 May 8
Quitclaim
Cornworthy, Devon
Another document from the dossier of the Washfield Saga. A quitclaim by Joan Mareys to Richard son and heir of Alexander de la Worthe of all her lands which she had of the gift and concession of the lady Emma Cirencester in Bere and Whitchurch, he paying to her a life annuity of 10s. at Michaelmas in the priory at West Cornaworth. Joan seems to be planning to enter the convent at Cornworthy, either as a choir nun or as a "paying guest."
Seal bearing the device: a heart
140.
1341 June 29
Quitclaim
Knowlton, Kent
Quitclaim by Denise and Margery, daughters and heirs of John de Penfelde, to William de Langele of all their right in one acre of land which he purchased from their mother Joan (her dower-lands?). William de Langley may have had this document written up in French after Joan's death to ensure that no confusion would arise as to the extent of her daughters; inheritance and his own earlier purchase--even though dower-lands were only a life-estate (and therefore not heritable).
Seal of John de Penfeld(?) bearing a star of David and the legend: S'IOhIS.F.THOME; seal bearing a Lamb and Flag and the legend: *ECCE AGNVS D.
141.
1538 June 6
Quitclaim
BroomWeld, Essex
Quitclaim by Alice Rolf, widow, to Edward Brocker, gentleman, of four crofts of land and pasture with their appurtenances in Bromesfyld in the county of Essex, which were formerly of George Buttelere and afterwards of Margaret Cooper, daughter and heir of the said George, and which Alice purchased of Margaret. Endorsed with a note of enrolment in dors of the Close Roll, 30 Henry VIII.
Seal of Edward Brocker: a castle Xanked by the initials E B
142.
1580 February 6
Jointure
Fincham, Norfolk
Indenture by William Bybon of Fyncham, gentleman, who in consideration of a marriage to be solemnized between himself and Elizabeth Drorye, daughter of Thomas Drorye, yeoman, and in order that she might have a competent jointure for the duration of her natural life, grants to Thomas Drorye and Edward Fyrmage, gentleman, all that his manor of Fariswell in Fyncham with all his messuages there, except the reversion of those held for her life by Lucy Marshall, widow; to hold to the use of the grantor and the said Elizabeth for their lives and the life of the longest liver.
Signatures and seals of "Thomas Druery" and "E Fyrmege."