Unpublished IPMs: John Keynes, senior, Devon, 1420

Posted by: mholford 10 years ago

This March 1420 IPM into the Devon lands of John Keynes, senior, has not been calendared.  It has an entry in CIPM xxi, numbered 327, but that consists of just a few disconnected phrases, followed by the statement ‘mostly illegible'.  Both the Chancery and Exchequer copies of the IPM are indeed illegible in parts, but fortunately mostly in different parts, so between them, and with the use of an ultra-violet lamp, it has been possible to work out almost the entire text.

His son and heir, also named John Keynes, died 4 months after him in May 1420.  The son's Devon IPM is also in bad condition and has been calendared with substantial gaps (CIPM xxi.586).  Its full text, similar to the father's Devon IPM but with interesting differences, has also been worked out and will be posted shortly.

 

JOHN KEYNES, SENIOR

327  Writ. 28 Jan. 1420.  [Wymbyssh].
DEVON. Inquisition. Exeter. 5 March 1420. [Foleford].

Jurors:  Richard Holand; John Holand; Nicholas Speccote; Robert Salle; John Spenser; Gilbert Bisshop; William Michell; Henry Merwode; John Mayour; Thomas Brusshford; John Clerk; and William ?Raysshlegh.

He held in his demesne as of fee the manor of Winkleigh and the hundred belonging to it of the heirs of Lord le Despenser by knight service.  There are there ?60s. rents of assize paid at Christmas, Easter, Midsummer and Michaelmas, 23 messuages and 12 cottages, annual value nil, 200 a. arable, annual value ?2 marks, 20 a. meadow, annual value 2 marks, 20 a. pasture and moor, annual value 2 marks, ?a mill, annual value 2 marks, 200 a. mature wood (bosci grossi) worth 2s. 6d.  Annual value of the hundred with its profits 20s., and of the rest of the manor nil.

He held in his demesne as of fee a messuage in Exeter … in socage, annual value 6s. 8d.

He was seised in his demesne as of fee of a messuage and a carucate in ‘Thorry' in the hundred of Hartland[1. Possibly Thornery in Clovelly parish, which is in Hartland hundred.] and by his charter, shown to the jurors, dated 12 March 1397 he granted them, as all his lands and tenements in ‘Thorry' in Hartland, to his son John Keynes, still living, and his then wife Margery, now deceased, and the heirs of their bodies, reversion [sic] to himself and his heirs.  John the son is still seised and John senior died seised of the reversion, held of John Dynham, knight, in free socage for 6d. and 1 lb pepper yearly at Michaelmas, annual value of the reversion nil until it falls in, of all the issues 30s.

He was seised in his demesne as of fee of a carucate, 10 a. meadow and 40 a. pasture in Warrington and by his charter dated 8 July 1418, shown to the jurors, he granted them, by the name of all his lands in Warrington, Ivedon and ‘Wolwey' near Honiton, to John Widecomb and Nicholas Abell, clerk, who afterwards by a fine dated 22 Aug 1418,[2. Both documents are in Devon R.O., ref. Z1/4/1-7 (the catalogue describes the 22 Aug re-grant as two indentures).] shown to the jurors, granted them, by the name of all their lands in Warrington, to John Brewere, clerk, and Robert Veel for the life of John Keynes, senior, remainder [sic] to his son Nicholas Keynes and Maud his wife and the heirs male of their bodies, remainder to the right heirs of John senior.  Brewere and Veel are still seised and John senior died seised in service and not in demesne of the remainder, held of the king as of his manor of Bradninch, parcel of the duchy of Cornwall, annual value of the remainder nil until it falls in, of all the issues 40s.

He and Joan his wife were seised in their demesne as of fee of 2 messuages, 2 carucates, 40 a. meadow, 200 a. pasture, 200 a. moor, and a moiety of 6 a. wood in Black Torrington and Halwill called ‘Whitelylond'[3. Whiteleigh in Black Torrington parish.] and ‘Radefernlond', and by a fine levied between Henry Foleford and his wife Willmine (Willelma) and John Keynes senior and his wife Joan, shown to the jurors, granted them to Henry and Willmine Foleford for 2 years for a rose at Midsummer yearly, remainder [sic] to Nicholas Keynes and William Keynes for the same rent for the life of John Keynes senior, in the fine named John Keynes of Winkleigh, remainder [sic] to Edmund Keynes, son of John Keynes senior, and the heirs male of his body, to hold of John senior and Joan and the right heirs of John senior.  Henry and Willelma were seised for two years, and then Nicholas and William were seised.  Edmund still lives.  Joan died seised, and John Keynes senior died seised of the fee and the reversion, annual value of the reversion nil until it falls in.  Of the tenements comprised in the fine he held, in service and not in demesne, 2 messuages, 1½ carucates, 140 a. pasture, 140 a. moor and the moiety of 6 a. wood in Black Torrington called ‘Whiteleyelond' of Amaury Fitz Waryn, service unknown, annual value 30s, and the residue in Halwill called ‘Radefernlond', of Robert Cary, service unknown, annual value 10s.

The manor of Loxbeare was held of him by John Auenell by knight service, annual value nil except when the tenant dies.  He held it in service of John Cambon senior, service unknown.

He held the following for his life by the law of England of his wife Joan's inheritance by reason of their children:

- The manor of Lashbrook[4. In Bradford parish.] of Hugh Courtenay, earl of Devon, as of his honour of Okehampton (in the king's hand by reason of the death of his father Edward Courtenay, earl of Devon) by knight service.  There are there 100s. rents of assize paid by divers tenants at the same four quarter days, 10 messuages and 10 cottages, annual value nil, 100 a. arable, annual value 20s., 20 a. meadow, annual value 20s., 100 a. pasture and moor, annual value 13s. 4d.  Annual value of the residue of the manor, nil.
- 2 messuages, a carucate and 100 a. pasture in ‘Floyersewestecote'[5. West Flares in Bradford parish.] within the manor of Lashbrook of Hugh, earl of Devon, as of his honour of Okehampton, by knight service, annual values: the messuages nil, 40a. the carucate 16s. 4d., the pasture 5s. 8d., and the residue of the carucate nil.
- A messuage and a ferling in Buckpitt[6. In Black Torrington parish.] and ½ a. arable called ‘Nomanslond', parcel thereof, of Amaury Fitz Waryn, service unknown, annual values: the messuage nil, 30 a. arable of the ferling 6s. 6d., the ½ a. 6d., and the residue of the ferling nil.
- A moiety of a ferling in Coryford[7. A lost place in Coryton parish.] of Richard Foghler, service unknown, annual values: 12 a. arable and 2 a. meadow contained in the moiety of the ferling 6s. 4d., the residue of the moiety nil.
- A messuage and 16 a. arable, 4 a. meadow and 20 a. pasture and moor in Bridgerule of the heir[s] of Thomas Asseton, service unknown, annual value 10s.
- A messuage and 2 ferlings in Smythencote[8. Probably either Smithacott in Merton or Smythacott in Frithelstock or possibly Smithacott in Bridford or Smithincott in Uffculme, all recorded as Smythencote in the medieval period.] of the heir[s] of Ralph Lapflode, service unknown, annual values: the messuage nil, 60 a. arable, meadow, pasture and moor contained in the 2 ferlings 10s., the residue of the ferlings nil.
- The hundred of Black Torrington (of which Joan's ancestors have been seised since time immemorial) of Amaury Fitz Waryn in socage for 13s. 4d. paid on the same four quarter days, annual value 40s.
- A messuage and a carucate in Bridgerule were held of him by Richard Foghler for 4s. paid on the same four quarter days.  He held the rent in service of the heir[s] of Thomas Asseton, service unknown.
- A messuage and a carucate in Northcote[9. In Black Torrington parish, now called Kingslake.] were held of him by John White for 10s. paid on the same four quarter days.  He held the rent in service of Amaury Fitz Waryn, service unknown.
- A messuage in Black Torrington was held of him by William Snowe for 12d. paid on the same four quarter days.  He held the rent in service of Amaury Fitz Waryn, service unknown.
- The manors of Alwington and Portledge and the advowson of Alwington were held of him by the heir of John Denyes of Gidcott[10. In Milton Damerell.] by knight service, annual value nil except on the tenant's death.  He held them in service of John Wybbury as of his manor of Northleigh,[11. In Morwenstow, Cornwall.] service unknown.
- A messuage and 2 ferlings in Coham[12. In Black Torrington parish.] were held of him by John Chobham for 10s. paid on the same four quarter days.  He held them in service of Amaury Fitz Waryn, service unknown.
- A messuage and a ferling in Clawton of Humphrey Courtenay as of his manor of Clawton, service unknown, annual values: the messuage nil, 30 a. arable, meadow, pasture and moor contained in the ferling 10s., the residue of the ferling nil.

[Date of death illegible.]  Heir as in 323.

[Exchequer copy, in margin next to Warrington and Loxbeare:] Nil at the account.

C 138/42/69 mm. 6, 8
E 149/116/3, m. 1