William Bardolf (1349 - 1386)

Born 21 Oct 1349 in England

Ancestors

Husband of Agnes (Poynings) Mortimer — married after 10 Feb 1366 in England

Descendants

Died 29 Jan 1386 at age 36 in England

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Biography

Origins and Early Life

Sir William Bardolf, Knt., 4th Lord Bardolf of Wormegay, Norfolk, England, was born on 21 October 1349^[1] to Sir John Bardolf and Elizabeth Damory. His birth place is uncertain. He may have been born at Wormegay, Norfolk, where his father had his main residence, but his father also had extensive lands elsewhere.^[2][3]

William was a minor when his father died in 1363, and his wardship was assigned to Edward III's wife Philippa of Hainault.^[4] On 30 November 1363 she granted the wardship of manors his father had held in Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex to Simon Noreys, clerk, rector of Castor [Caister] in Flegg, Norfolk, and John de Repyngale.^[5]

On 10 February 1366, Sir William's future father-in-law, Sir Michael de Poynings, bought the rights to the wardship of William from the queen, Queen Philippa, for 1,000 marks on a payment plan over a year. This indenture was to be only valid if William and his daughter Agnes were married and survived until it was complete. William was also granted an annual maintenance of 50 marks during the wardship.^[6]

On 30 March 1368, the Sheriff of Nottingham was ordered by the King to hold "four bovates of land and 6 acres of meadow" in Shelford, Nottinghamshire for William, who was still not of age: they had been seized by a John Byk of Shelforde unlawfully after the death of his father.^[7]

Inheritance and Lands

On 15 October 1371, William proved that he was of age to John Rookwood, escheator of Norfolk and Suffolk, and was granted his father's lands in those counties and other counties in England. The inheritance comprised extensive properties in a number of counties.^[8] On 28 January 1372, William again proved his age, to receive the lands in Shelford that he was entitled to from the King.^[9]

On 23 April 1372, Roger de Lascelles, escheator of Yorkshire, was ordered by the King to restore to William his share in the advowson of Eskyrk, which had been held by William's grandfather Sir Roger Damory and had been taken into royal hands by Edward II after a dispute between Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Hugh Despenser the Elder and Hugh Despenser the Younger (the latter being brother-in-law of Roger Damory's wife).^[10]

On 24 June 1373, Geoffrey Foljambe surrendered to William lands at Ambaston, Thurlaston and Okebroke, Derbyshire, with which Geoffrey had been enfeoffed by William's father.^[11]

The same day, William^[12]

• granted William Walcote a life interest in the manor of Doos in Hertfordshire in return for an annual payment of one rose at Midsummer;
• made William Walcote his chief chamberlain for life;
• gave property in Sussex and Norfolk, with associated advowsons, to Simon Norreys, rector of Caister, Norfolk and others.

Other transactions of which there are records include:

• a 1377 grant to Nicholas Havering de Carreu, Robert Bardolf (probably Bardolf-129), Adam Wykemere and Robert, son of William Alisandre, of the manors at Birling, Sussex and Northrongeton [North Runcton], Norfolk for the lifetime of William Bardolf's wife^[13]
• a 1378 grant of the manor of Castre [Caister] in Flegg, Norfolk until his son William had seisin^[14]
• a 1382 grant of the manor of Clopton, "also called Kyngeshalle", Suffolk to John de Cleye, parson of Rewenham [Runham], Norfolk^[15]

On 26 April 1380 William was confirmed in the right to free warren at Fillingham in Lincolnshire, Contel and Caister in Norfolk, and Birling and East Dean in Sussex.^[16]

On 9 May 1383, Sir William paid Richard II 20 marks for permission to enfeoff his son Thomas and Thomas's wife Amice with the manor of Reskington, Lincolnshire and a share in the associated advowson.^[17]

Life and Career

Sir William from 1372 to 1375 presented to the churches of Cantley, Norfolk; Watton-at-Stone, Hertforshire; North Runcton, Norfolk; Gedling, Nottinghamshire; and the chapel of Saint Mary in Watton-at-Stone.^[3]

On 9 May 1372, Sir William, then a Knight, gave William de Sandford the Elder recognisance for 600 marks.^[18]

In 1373-4 William was retained for military service in France.^[19] He took part in fighting in France and Ireland.^[2]

From 28 December 1375 until 3 September 1385, Sir William was summoned to Parliament as "Willelmo Bardolf, lord de Wirmegeye".^[2][3]

In 1375 and 1384 William served on commissions of oyer and terminer, to investigate and adjudicate alleged wrongdoings.^[20][21]

In December 1375 William was a commissioner of the peace for Norfolk, and, with the other commissioners, instructed to inquire into wrongdoings.^[22][23] He served again as a commissioner of the peace for Norfolk in 1377 and 1378.^[24][25]

From April 1377 to 1380 William served a number of times as a commissioner of array for Norfolk, appointed to muster men for military service and for local defence against foreign invasion.^{[26][27][28][29]}

On 24 June 1381, instructions were given to commissioners across England to issue proclamations against the murder by rebels of Simon, Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert de Hales, prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, John de Cavendish, Chief Justice, and others, "forbidding unlawful assemblies, and empowering them to resist and punish the insurgents." Sir William was one of those commissioned for Lincolnshire.^[30]

In December 1381 William was appointed one of the commissioners ordered to suppress lawlessness and unrest in Lincolnshire.^[31] This commission was renewed in March 1382^[32] and December 1382.^[33]

In November 1384 William was appointed a commissioner of the peace for Lincolnshire.^[34]

Marriage and Family

Sir William married after 10 February 1366 Agnes Poynings, daughter of Michael de Poynings, Knt., 1st Lord Poynings and Joan, surname unknown,^[3] who had previously been married to John de Meleyns.^[2] They had children:

• Sir Thomas Bardolf, married Avice Cromwell, daughter of Ralph Cromwell and Maude Bernake.^[2][3]
• Sir William Bardolf, Knt., married Joan, surname unknown, no issue.^[3]
• Elizabeth Bardolf, married (1) Sir Robert Scales, 5th Lord Scales and (2) Sir Henry Percy.^[3]
• Cecily (Cecelia) Bardolf, married Sir Brian Stapleton, Knt.^[3]

Will and Death

William's will was dated 12 September 1385. He died on 29 January 1386, and requested burial at the Friar Carmelites at Lynn, Norfolk.^[2][3] Probably soon after 10 April 1386 (when she had a licence to remarry) his widow married Thomas Mortimer.^[2]

A writ for his Inquisitions Post Mortem was issued on 4 February 1386 and Inquisitions were held soon after. His death date was given as "Monday before the Purification last." He was found to hold lands in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex. His son Thomas, age 17 and more, was found to be his heir.^[35]

Because William's heir was under age, custody of his lands was initially granted on 4 February 1386 to John de Waltham (king's clerk) and Robert Bardolf (knight of the king's chamber, probably Bardolf-129).^[36] This arrangement was varied on 13 May 1386, when two-thirds of William's lands were entrusted to Ralph Cromwell, Thomas himself, and Robert Bardolf during Thomas's minority, in return for an annual payment of 200 marks to the royal exchequer.^[37]

Sources

1. ↑ A. E. Stamp, J. B. W. Chapman, M. C. B. Dawes and D. B. Wardle. 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward III, File 223,', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 13, Edward III (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1954), pp. 104-115. British History Online. [accessed 29 December 2021].
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} G E Cokayne. Complete Peerage, revised edition, Viol. I, St Catherine Press, 1910, p. 419, Internet Archive.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8} Douglas Richardson. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 4 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham, 2nd edition (Salt Lake City: the author, 2011), Vol. I, pp. 103-109.
4. ↑ William Farrer.Honors and Knights' Fees, Vol. III, Manchester University Press/Longmans, Green & Co, 1925, p. 341, viewable on Familysearch.
5. ↑ A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds in the Public records Office, Vol. I, HMSO, 1890, p. 461, entry C.758, Internet Archive.
6. ↑ Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward III, vol. 12. 1364-1368, (London: 1910), pp. 262-263.
7. ↑ Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward III, vol. 12. 1364-1368, p. 419.
8. ↑ Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward III, vol. 13. 1369-1374, p. 253.
9. ↑ Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward III, vol. 13. 1369-1374, (London: 1911), p. 390.
10. ↑ Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward III, vol. 13. 1369-1374, (London: 1911), pp. 377-378..
11. ↑ Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward III, vol. 13. 1369-1374, (London: 1911), pp. 564-565.
12. ↑ Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward III, vol. 13. 1369-1374, (London: 1911), p. 570.
13. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 16: 1374-1377, p. 404.
14. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 1: 1377-1381, (London, 1897), p. 259.
15. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 2: 1381-1385, p. 176.
16. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 1: 1377-1381, (London, 1897), p. 480.
17. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 2: 1381-1385, p. 277.
18. ↑ Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward III, vol. 13. 1369-1374, p. 432.
19. ↑ The National Archives, ref. E 101/68/6/124, Discovery Centre catalogue entry.
20. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 16: 1374-1377. p. 144.
21. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 2: 1381-1385, p. 419
22. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 16: 1374-1377. (London, 1916), p. 138.
23. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 16: 1374-1377. p. 160.
24. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 1: 1377-1381, (London, 1897), p. 44.
25. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 1: 1377-1381, (London, 1897), p. 96.
26. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 16: 1374-1377, pp. 496-497.
27. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 1: 1377-1381, (London, 1897), pp. 359-360.
28. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 1: 1377-1381, pp. 359-360.
29. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 1: 1377-1381, pp. 471-472.
30. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 2: 1381-1385, (London, 1897), pp. 69-70.
31. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 2: 1381-1385, (London, 1897), p. 86
32. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 2: 1381-1385, p. 140.
33. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 2: 1381-1385, p. 245.
34. ↑ Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 2: 1381-1385, pp. 501-502.
35. ↑ A. E. Stamp, J. B. W. Chapman, M. C. B. Dawes and D. B. Wardle. 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward III, File 38,', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 16, Richard II (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1954), pp. 72-87. British History Online. [accessed 30 December 2021].
36. ↑ Calendar of the Fine Rolls, vol. 10, Richard II, A.D. 1383-1391, (London, 1929), pp. 130-131.
37. ↑ Calendar of the Fine Rolls, vol. 10, Richard II, A.D. 1383-1391p. 136.

Acknowledgements

Magna Carta Project

This profile was developed for the Magna Carta Project by Darrell Larocque, finishing in January 2022, and reviewed for the project by Michael Cayley on 15 January 2022.

William Bardolf appears in badged trails from the following Gateway Ancestors:

• Charles Barnes to Magna Carta Surety Barons Gilbert de Clare and Richard de Clare that was badged by the Magna Carta Project in July 2022. This trail can be viewed in the Magna Carta Trails section of the Gateway's profile.
• Elizabeth Haynes to Magna Carta Surety Barons John de Lacy, Gilbert de Clare and Richard de Clare: these trails were badged by the Magna Carta Project in July 2022. See all the Haynes trails in the Magna Carta Trails section of the Gateway's profile.

William also appears in unbadged trails from the Kempe Gateway Ancestors (Richard Kempe, Edward Kemp, Edmund Kempe and Matthew Kempe) to one or more Magna Carta Surety Barons. The trail(s) have not yet been developed on WikiTree and can be viewed HERE.

See Base Camp for more information about identified Magna Carta trails and their status. See the project's glossary for project-specific terms, such as a "badged trail".