Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 25, 1437-42

JOAN DAUGHTER OF JOHN WYBBURY

298 Writ de etate probanda. ‡ 28 October 1439. [Bate]. Regarding her inheritance as daughter and heir of John Wybbury , who held by knight service of Thomas, son and heir of Hugh Courteney, lately earl of Devon , who held of the king in chief. Thomas was lately a minor in the wardship of the king. The lands and tenements are in the custody of Thomas Bonevile, esquire, by commission of the king [CFR 1422–30, p. 104]. Have him informed of the forthcoming proof of age. [Dorse:] Thomas was informed by John ?Estbury [ms faded and dirty] and William Derby . Date and place given.

DEVON. Proof of age. Exeter.... after 1 November 1439. [Wyse]. [Proof: ms worn, faded, and torn in places.]

John Fursse ; John Combe ; Walter Rede ; John Wyke of Sourton (Sourdon); John Strecche ; John Vysek ; John at Ley ; John Estboughden ; Thomas Clyff ; Robert Kynnysham ; John Payn of Uppecote; and Robert Keynecote .

They were examined and swore that Joan daughter of John Wybbury was 16 years of age on the feast of St Laurence last, and born at Cockington in the parish of Tormoham on the feast of St Laurence 1424. The jurors well recollect her age for the following reasons. John Fursse , 45 and more, knows because he had a son born, and he came to the church of Tormoham when a monk of Torre Abbey was baptising Joan. He saw the monk write Joan’s age in a missal, and asked the abbot of Torre , Joan’s godfather, to stand as godfather to his son. The abbot did so on the same day. John Combe , 50 and more, knows because John Gorgeys , father of Joan mother of Joan daughter and heir of John Wybbury , bought a parcel of meadow and land in Chagford from him, to have to John Gorgeys and his heirs and assigns in fee simple. The charter was sealed in the church of Tormoham in the presence of Robert Cary and others who were trustworthy. He was there when Joan was baptised, and saw a monk write her age in a missal. Walter Rede , 47 and more, was in the church of Tormoham when Joan was baptised. There had been great contention between the abbot of Torre and Walter for a long time previously, and several disputes were pending, but finally, with mediation, the abbot and Walter came to an agreement there and then, provided that each released all present actions. The releases were written by a monk of the abbey on the same day, after Joan’s baptism. John Wyke of Sourton (Sourdon), 44 and more, knows because Isabel, who was wife of John Gorgeys, mother of Joan mother of Joan daughter and heir of John, sent for John Wyke , then servant of Thomas Bonevile, esquire , to speak with him about mediating between Isabel and Thomas in an exchange of certain lands and tenements within the parish. For his faithful work, Isabel gave him 100s. legal money in the church of Tormoham immediately after the baptism of Joan, daughter and heir of John. He saw a monk of the abbey write Joan’s age in a book in the chancel. John Strecche , 46 and more, had a son born and he came to the church of Tormoham when a monk of the abbey was baptising Joan. He saw the monk write Joan’s age in a book in the same church. He asked John, abbot of Torre , godfather of Joan, to stand as godfather to his own son and the abbot afterwards did so on the same day, and gave 20s. to the infant, through the woman carrying him. John Vysek , 48 and more, knows because John Gorgeys, father of Joan mother of Joan daughter and heir of John Wybbury, sent for him on the day of the baptism, and he came to the church of Tormoham. They met in the cemetery and John asked why he had been summoned. John Gorgeys said it was to buy one of John’s horses, of a colour called ‘Greyameler’, to ride on pilgrimage to St Thomas of Canterbury. John sold the horse for 8 marks, paid then and there. He subsequently entered the church, and saw a monk write Joan’s age in a great book. He said that the horse was the best and most sure-footed that he had ever had. John at Ley , 50 and more, knows because, after he heard of the birth of a daughter to Joan, then wife of John Wybbury, he rode with all haste to the manor of Ponrosbordon, where John Gorgeys, father of Joan mother of Joan, daughter, was staying, and told him of the birth of a daughter to John Wybbury, now deceased, and Joan his wife, still living. John Gorgeys gave him 2 gold nobles for the news, the biggest gift that he had ever before had. He then went to the church before the baptism, and stayed there until he saw a monk of the abbey of Torre write Joan’s age in a book there. John Estboughden , 60 and more, knows because Isabel, who was wife of John Gorgeys, esquire, mother of Joan mother of Joan, daughter, sent for him on the day of the baptism. He came with all possible haste, and she immediately said, “I’m told that your wife is the best nurse in these parts, and so I ask that she be with me, at my hospitality, to nurse the daughter of Joan my daughter. I will reward her for her labour and service, so that she is well content.” John replied “Where is Joan’s daughter?”, to which she said that the daughter was being baptised in the parish church of Tormoham and, immediately that John had permission from Isabel, he entered the church to see the daughter. He saw a monk baptising her, naming her for Joan, lately wife of Robert Cary, esquire , and he immediately returned to Isabel, saying that the daughter was exceedingly beautiful, and that he wanted to talk to his wife so that Isabel might be satisfied in her wish as much as possible. Isabel then gave him a gold ecu(scutum auri). Thomas Clyff , 43 and more, was then and previously staying at the hospitality of John Gorgeys, esquire, father of Joan mother of Joan, daughter, and immediately he heard that Joan had given birth to a daughter, he rode with all haste to Dartmouth,... miles distant from Cockington [ms folded and dirty], and there told John Gorgeys of the birth. John gave him a noble of gold. Thomas thus came to the church of Tormoham, lit a torch, and held it while a monk of the abbey was baptising Joan. Robert Kynnysham , 53 and more, knows because, on that day, hearing that John, then abbot of Torre, was coming to the parish church of Tormoham to stand as godfather to Joan, he came to the church because he wished for peace between him and the abbot. There was great contention between them because Robert had broken one of the abbot’s closes, and taken 8 oxen from it. While in the church, he saw a monk of the abbey baptise Joan and, afterwards, on the same day by mediation of Robert Cary, esquire , full agreement was freely made between the abbot and Robert, without any money being requested by the esquire. John Payn of Uppecote, 55 and more, knows because, on that day and before, he occasionally came and went from the guest-house (hospicium) of John Gorgeys , father of Joan, mother of Joan, daughter, and was the first man to tell a monk of Torre Abbey that Joan was born. The monk joyfully said, “Come to the church and give thanks to almighty God!” He asked John to find fire, water, salt, and other necessities for the baptism, and he also asked John not to leave the church until he saw the infant baptised. John thus carried fire, water, and salt to the church, and was present during the whole of the baptism. Robert Keynecote , 58 and more, came to Cockington on that day to receive £10 legal English money from John Hillyng , staying there, for woollen cloths sold long before by Robert to John. Immediately Robert spoke to him about the sum, John said “Go to the church, and wait for me there. You will quickly be content.” Robert went to the church. He was there the whole time that a monk of Torre Abbey baptised Joan, and saw the monk write Joan’s age in a book. When this was done, John Hillyng came to the church and paid £10. It is unclear which feast of St Laurence is indicated. The feast of St Laurence the Martyr fell on 10 August, and that of St Laurence the Archbishop fell on 3 February.

C 139/95/69 mm. 1–2