Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 26, 1442-48

JOHN TORELL , SON AND HEIR OF THOMAS TORELL

351 Writ de etate probanda .‡ 21 October 1444. [Bate]. By royal grant [CFR 1437–45, p. 260], the lands and tenements from his inheritance are in the custody of Thomas Broun , a clerk of the Common Bench, who is to be warned. [Dorse:] He was warned by Richard Priour and Thomas Bataile but did not come.

ESSEX. Proof of age. Brentwood. 23 October 1444. [Leghes].

The jurors swear that he was born at Heron on 15 October 1423 and is now aged 21 and more. His mother was Katherine, then wife of Thomas Torell , previously the wife of Henry Noon, knight . They know and recall this for the following reasons. John Turnour , aged 60, was a servant of John Tirell – then esquire and later knight – who was Thomas’s uncle, and godfather of John son of Thomas, and with whom Thomas and Katherine were then residing. He was with his master and saw Thomas baptized in the parish church of Heron [sic] and lifted from the font. John Elkyn , aged 50 and more, was in the church at the time of the baptism, and afterwards provided water from a silver basin and ewer (pelvim de lavacro argenteo) for John Tirell , godfather, to wash his hands. Thomas Umfray , aged 60, was farmer of the manor of Chipping Ongar from lady Anne, countess of Stafford . He came to Heron to discuss various matters concerning the manor with the said John Tirell, steward of Anne’s lands in Essex, and found him in the church, lifting the child from the font. John Clement of Willingale Doe (Wylynghale), aged 60, was at the time of the birth the servant and bailiff of Thomas Torell , keeping his manor of Willingale Doe. At his command he carried cloths of linen and silk to Heron to wrap the child when he was taken to the church, and saw him lifted from the font. Thomas Rede , aged 60, heard that lady Katherine had given birth to a son. To comfort her in her convalescence he offered her a gift of 12 partridges at the time of the baptism. He saw the child carried from the church to the house of John Tirell in Heron. John Elyot , aged 63, heard that lady Katherine had recovered from her pregnancy (graviditate partus sui), and to congratulate her brought her 6 pheasants on the day of the baptism. He saw the child carried honourably from the church, wrapped in cloths of linen and silk. Thomas Hulk , aged 66, on the day of the birth brought to lady Katherine 8 capons, congratulating her with other neighbours because of her recovery from the birth. John Wythyr , aged 58, on the day of the birth brought to lady Katherine 4 fat geese, congratulating her with other neighbours because of her recovery from the birth. Stephen Penyfader , aged 64, at the time of the birth was parker of the park of ‘Little’ Downham. Hearing that lady Katherine had recovered from the birth of her son, he offered her a barren (sterilem) doe as a gift. John Hulk , aged 52, brought £10 silver to Heron for John Tirell on the day of the birth, which he lost by accident in a bag. Going back a little, he recovered the money, and coming to the church, he saw John in the baptistery about to receive baptism. William Colyn , aged 60, was in the church at the time of the baptism, and brought water from a spring (de uno fonte) in a small bucket, for the godfathers to wash their hands before leaving the church. Thomas Pole , aged 60, was one (alter) of two men who carried two torches when the child was carried to the church and back again.

C 139/120/51 mm. 1–2