Holdings
John
Chechester
and Alice, lately his wife, were seised of the manor of Widworthy
and advowson of the church there in demesne as of fee, in right of Alice. Reserving the
advowson, fines, heriots, and sales of wood, they granted the manor by indented charter
dated at Widworthy on 29 October 1425, shown to the jurors, to
Henry
Whytyng
and Margery his wife, Thomas their son, and
Thomas
Whytyng
, all still living,
for the term of the lives of Henry, Margery, Thomas, and Thomas, to hold by rendering
£12 yearly at the four principal terms of the year, equally, to John and Alice, and
their heirs, for the next 18 years and, with that period complete, they were to render
£20 yearly in legal money at the four usual terms of the year, equally, to John and
Alice, and their heirs and assigns. If the rent of £12 should fall into arrears by four
weeks at any of the terms, or the rent of £20 should fall into arrears by 15 days at any
of the terms, then it is lawful for John and Alice, and their heirs and assigns, to re-
enter the manor and to hold it in their former estate, the charter notwithstanding, as
contained in the charter. Alice afterwards died. John survived her, and died seised of
£12 rent, the advowson, and other things reserved to them.
Widworthy, the manor and
advowson of the church there, held of
John, earl of Huntingdon
, as of his manor of
Great
Torrington by
knight service. The advowson, fines, heriots, and sales of wood are worth
nothing yearly.
He held the following by curtesy after the death of Alice his wife.
advowson of 1/2 church there, of no
annual value,
held of
Thomas, earl of Devon
, as of his castle of
Plympton by
knight
service.
Stadbury, 1/2 manor, annual value 100s., held of
John
Fortescu
as of his manor
of
Ermington by
knight service.
He died seised of the following in demesne as of fee.
West Down, a messuage and ferling of land, annual value 11s., and 10s. rent, held of
John
Pyne
,
service unknown.
He held no more or other lands or tenements in demesne or
service of the king or any other.
But, long before his death, by indented charter dated
on 28 March 1437, shown to the jurors, he granted the following, described
as all manors, messuages, lands, tenements, rents, services, and reversions in
Raleigh,
Barnstaple,
Pilton,
Lobb,
Arlington,
Challacombe, and
Ruxford, among other things, to
John
Copleston
,
Nicholas
Radeford
, and
John
Mulys
, and their heirs and assigns, as
contained in the charter. John, Nicholas, and John were thus seised in their demesne as
of fee, and
Ralph
Hylle
and Joan, and
John
Colemore
and Cecily attorned to them.
Raleigh, the manor with its members, annual value 100s., held of the
earl of Huntingdon
as of his castle of
Barnstaple by
knight service.
Arlington, the manor, annual value £7,
held of
James, Lord Audley
,
service unknown.
Barnstaple, 2 messuages, annual value 20s.,
held of the
earl of Huntingdon
in free
socage.
Pilton, a messuage, annual value 5s.,
held of the
prior of Pilton
in free
socage.
Ruxford, a messuage, fulling-mill, and
carucate of land, annual value 46s. 8d., held of the king
as of his manor of
Bradninch,
parcel of the duchy of
Cornwall, by
knight service.
Challacombe, reversion of the manor
currently held by
Ralph
Hylle
and Joan his wife for their lives, by demise of
John
Chechester
. The manor is held of the
earl of Huntingdon
as of his castle of
Barnstaple
by
knight service. The reversion is of no annual value.
Lobb, reversion of a messuage
and 1/2 ferling of land, currently held by
John
Colemore
and Cecily his wife for their
lives, by demise of
John
Chechester. The messuage and 1/2 ferling are held of the older
Seyntaubyn heir (de her’ maioris Seyntaubyn), of full age,
service unknown. The
reversion is of no annual value.
Long before his death, and before the enfeoffment of
John
Copleston
,
Nicholas
Radeford
, and
John
Mulys
, he granted an annual rent of 26s. 8d.
from the messuage, carucate, and fulling-mill in
Ruxford, for life to
Richard
Holand,
esquire
. The grant was made by deed, sealed with his seal and shown to the jurors, in
the following words. ‘
John
Chechester, esquire
, greets all whom the present letters will
reach. Know that I give and grant to
Richard
Holand, esquire
, beloved in Christ, for his
good service, past and future, a certain annual rent of 26s. 8d. sterling, to take
during his life from my manor of
Ruxford at Michaelmas. If the rent should fall into
arrears, in part or in total, by one whole year after this term, then it is lawful for
Richard and his assigns to distrain on the manor and to retain the distress taken until
full satisfaction is made for the rent and arrears. In witness of which thing, I have
affixed my seal to the presents. Dated at
Barnstaple on 16 April 1429.’
By
charter dated at
Barnstaple on 29 September 1423, shown to the jurors, he
granted 40s. rent for life to
William
Bysshup
, son of
Gilbert
Bysshup
, to be taken
yearly at Michaelmas. He should distrain on the manor of
Raleigh, if necessary, as
contained in the charter.
By charter dated on 6 October 1432, shown to the
jurors, he granted 40s. rent for life to
John
Gogh, junior
, to be taken yearly at
Christmas,
Easter,
Midsummer, and Michaelmas, equally. He should distrain on the manor
of
Raleigh, if necessary, as contained in the charter.
By indented charter dated at
Raleigh on 9 August 1437, shown to the jurors, he granted 40s. for life to
John
Cancy
, to be taken yearly in the manor of
Arlington at the four principal terms of
the year equally, as contained in the charter.
By charter dated on 9 October
1430, shown to the jurors, he granted 40s. rent for life to
Juliana
Badham
,
to be taken yearly from the messuage, carucate of land, and fulling-mill in
Ruxford,
described as his manor of
Ruxford, at the four principal terms of the year equally, as
contained in the charter.
By charter dated at
Raleigh on 4 March 1433,
shown to the jurors, he granted 20s. rent for life to
John
Colemore
of
Lobb in the
parish of
Braunton, to be taken yearly in
Raleigh at the four principal terms of the
year equally, as contained in the charter.
