Sir Richard Abberbury was from a poor branch of a rich family then his cousin died at the siege of Calias,after Battle of Crecy and left Richards father all his money he died not long after and Richard got the lot.He lived at Donnington near Newbury and built Donnington Castle.
"Sir Richard was a follower of Edward, the Black Prince. His service with the prince at Nájera and in the principality of Aquitaine, where he acted as seneschal of the Limousin, was rewarded with the grant of a retaining fee of £40 p.a. and appointment as ‘first master’ to the prince's son and heir, Richard of Bordeaux. When the young Richard became prince of Wales in 1376, Sir Richard acted as his chief steward of lands and, following the prince's accession to the throne, Abberbury was immediately appointed a knight of the new king's chamber. Apart from a brief spell of disfavour in 1387–8, when he was removed from the royal household by the lords appellant, Sir Richard remained active at court throughout Richard II's reign: a chamber knight until 1387, he also acted as chamberlain to Anne of Bohemia, the king's first wife, and as chief of her council until her death. Such service brought him a substantial income in grants and annuities—amounting to over £200 p.a., to add to the yield of his own estates, which was perhaps £150 p.a.—and allowed Sir Richard to acquire several new manors in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, with the result that by the 1390s the Abberburys were among the largest landowners in an area notably lacking in resident magnates. Nowhere was this new prominence more forcibly stated than at Donnington itself, where Sir Richard built a comfortable but still defensible castle, established and endowed a dependent priory of the Crutched Friars, and founded an almshouse for thirteen of his indigent tenants."[1]
Family and Education
b.c.1331,1 prob. s. of Thomas Adderbury of Donnington and Steeple Aston. m. perhaps c.1353, Agnes, 3rd da. of Sir William Shareshull, c.j.KB (d.1370), of Barton, Oxon. by his 1st w. Denise, da. of Otwell Purcell, 2s. inc. Sir Richard II*, 2da. Kntd. by Feb. 1356.[2]
"From his marriage to Agnes, a younger daughter of Sir William Shareshull, Sir Richard had four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom made solid matches among the local gentry. His sons, Sir Richard [iii] Abberbury (d. 1416) and Thomas [ii] Abberbury (d. 1416), followed their father into royal and princely service. Sir Richard the younger began his career in the service of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and rose to be chamberlain of the Lancastrian household during the duke's Castilian expedition. During the 1390s he gravitated towards the royal court, however, and was several times employed on diplomatic missions by Richard II, besides serving as knight of the shire for Berkshire in January 1394 and 1397. Thomas took longer to establish himself, but after a spell as an esquire of the royal household his future seemed secured by his appointment as master of the horse to Richard II's second wife, Isabella, in 1397. By the time of their father's death, early in 1399, a courtier dynasty seemed in prospect."
Property
Souldern Manor
"Thomas de Lewknor was dead by 1305, (fn. 79) and by 1307 his widow Lucy had apparently conveyed the manor to Master Thomas de Abberbury, who died in possession in that year. (fn. 80) The Abberbury family took its name from Adderbury, but was subsequently most closely connected with Donnington (Berks.), another of Thomas's acquisitions. Thomas was succeeded in turn by his brother Walter and by his nephew Richard. (fn. 81) John de Lewknor, possibly a son of Lucy and Thomas, and a certain William de Tingewike entered the manor by force. Later William obtained a formal grant of it from John and died in possession in 1316. (fn. 82) Richard de Abberbury had regained Souldern by 1323, (fn. 83) and held it at his death in 1333, when it passed to his son John. (fn. 84) John died without issue in 1346, and Souldern passed to his uncle Thomas, (fn. 85) perhaps the Thomas de Abberbury who held lands in Wootton in 1316. (fn. 86) Thomas was succeeded by his son Richard, the most distinguished member of the family, by 1362. (fn. 87) Richard was a knight of the shire for Oxfordshire in 1373 and 1387, and a royal servant. He is best known for his rebuilding of Donnington castle and his endowment of Donnington Hospital. (fn. 88) Both the hospital and the Crutched Friars of Donnington received grants of lands and rents in Souldern from Sir Richard. (fn. 89) The latter was dead by 1401 (fn. 90) and was probably succeeded first by his brother Thomas, who had lands in Souldern in 1399, (fn. 91) and then by Thomas's son Richard*. (fn. 92)"[3]
This account confuses Richard II with Richard I, and his nephew Richard in that sentence.
Donnington Tything
"DONNINGTON, a tything, in the parish of Shaw, union of Newbury, hundred of Faircross, county of Berks, 1 mile (N.) from Newbury. Donnington Castle, built by Sir Richard de Abberbury, who was guardian to Richard II. in his minority, stood upon a declivity, at the foot of which runs the river Kennet. It was garrisoned for Charles I., and withstood two sieges during the civil war, in the first of which three of its towers were demolished, and in 1644 it was almost battered down by Colonel Dalbier, from whom a field in the vicinity, in which he planted his cannon, is still named. The only remains of this once impregnable fortress consist of a gateway flanked by two towers, a great portion of the ruins having been removed for the erection of a house near the site. A friary of the order of the Holy Trinity was also founded by Sir Richard de Abberbury, the revenue of which, at the Dissolution, was valued at £20. 16. 6. per annum. An hospital, called God's House, is supposed to have been founded, in 1392, by the same individual, who endowed it with lands for a minister and certain poor persons: upon the petition of the Earl of Nottingham it was rebuilt, in 1570, and restored under the title of Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, for a minister and twelve poor brethren."[4]
"On the forfeiture of her possessions in 1377 it would appear that Palingswick was granted to Sir Richard de Abberbury, for in 2 Ric. II. (1378–9) an order was directed to him to make agreement with the treasurer concerning the manor of "Palyngwyke" and pieces of land of "Northbroke" and "Gornyngesbury," on pain of having the property taken again into the King's hand. (fn. 27)
Sir Richard de Abberbury (or Adderbury) was born about 1330. (fn. 28) In 1377 he was one of four knights sent to London to convey to the citizens the official news of King Edward's death, (fn. 29) and a few months later was, with certain others, commissioned (fn. 30) to view and make an inventory of the late King's jewels and goods. In 1378–9 he was appointed, (fn. 31) jointly with Sir John Golofre, warden of Brest Castle. He is referred to (fn. 32) as the first master of the young King, and in 1385 received a grant (fn. 33) of the reversion of the manors of Yiftele and Carrswell (held by him for life by grant of Anne, Richard's first queen) to compensate him for loss sustained by selling his manors of Shorham and Tadham to support the King's estate in his youth. He died some time between 1397 and 1399. (fn. 34)"
Manor of Shaw
"In 1229 a suit was brought against Philip de Sanderville by Richard de Coupeland and Joan his wife, (fn. 98) who received a grant of land here, probably the manor, from Philip in 1231–2. (fn. 99) A little later Richard was holding the manor, (fn. 100) and in 1287–8 Alan de Coupeland, who seems to have been his son, (fn. 101) sold it to Thomas de Eadburbury. (fn. 102) He may, perhaps, be identified with the Thomas de Abberbury who received a charter of free warren here in 1292. (fn. 103) Thomas died in 1307 seised of the manor, which passed to his brother Walter, then aged thirty. (fn. 104) Walter was living and in possession of the manor in 1308–9, (fn. 105) but by 1315–16 he was dead, and the manor had passed to Richard de Abberbury, who was probably his son. (fn. 106) Richard died in March 1333 seised of this manor, when his heir was his son John, then aged sixteen. (fn. 107) John seems to have died without issue before 1353, when Richard de Abberbury, probably his cousin, (fn. 108) was holding the manor. (fn. 109) In 1387 Richard received a grant of this manor, or some further rights here, (fn. 110) and in 1388 or 1390 he was expelled from the court by the discontented nobles on account of his loyalty. (fn. 111) In 1415 he* sold the manor to Thomas Chaucer, (fn. 112) who is thought to have been the son of Geoffrey Chaucer the poet."[6]
His son, Richard who "in a much more drastic move he sold outright to Thomas Chaucer the castle and manor of Donnington and five other manors". [7]
Todham Manor
"The Sauvage family were considerable landowners in Bramber Rape, and it is therefore probable that this estate is the messuage and lands in Todham held, with the manor of Old Shoreham, by Richard de Abberbury in 1333, when it was held of William de St. George as 1/6 fee by rent of 26s. 8d. and suit to William's court of La Potte (in Westhampnett). (fn. 58) Richard had presumably acquired this before 1327, when he was the largest contributor to the subsidy in Easebourne. (fn. 59) His son Sir John brought an action early in 1346 against Joan widow of William de Chamberlayn of Heyshott, William de St. George, and others, for breaking into his close and buildings at Todham and seizing his goods. (fn. 60) In September of that year Sir John died, seised of tenements in Todham which were said to be held of Richard, Earl of Arundel, by 26s. 8d. rent and suit at the court of William de St. George at Todham; which tenements Joan Chamberlayn held at farm by the demise of the said William. (fn. 61) His heir was his uncle Thomas de Abberbury, but by 1376 Sir Richard Abberbury held the manors of Todham and Old Shoreham, which he then sold for 200 marks to Sir John de Arundel. (fn. 62)"[8]
Manor of Carswell
"From Edward III Carswell passed to Richard II, and was in 1382 granted for life to Queen Anne. (fn. 71) In 1383 the queen granted it for life to her chamberlain, Sir Richard de Abberbury, (fn. 72) and in 1385 the king granted him the reversion in fee of this and another manor 'in compensation for the loss he had sustained by selling his manors of Shoreham and Tadham to support the King's estate in his youth.' (fn. 73) In 1393 it was sold by Sir Richand de Abberbury to Katherine Bessels and her son Sir Peter, (fn. 74) who were already in possession of West Hall in this parish."[9]
Sources
↑ Simon Walker, ‘Abberbury family (per. c.1270–c.1475)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [1]
↑ The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., 1993, ADDERBURY (ABBERBURY), Sir Richard I (c.1331-1399) [2]
↑ "Parishes: Souldern," in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 6, ed. Mary D Lobel (London: Victoria County History, 1959), 301-312. British History Online, accessed March 18, 2016, [3]
↑ "Donnington - Dorsetshire," in A Topographical Dictionary of England, ed. Samuel Lewis (London: S Lewis, 1848), 69-78. British History Online, accessed March 18, 2016, [4]
↑ "Hospitals: Donnington," in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 2, ed. P H Ditchfield and William Page (London: Victoria County History, 1907), 93-94. British History Online, accessed March 19, 2016, [5]
↑ "Parishes: Shaw-cum-Donnington," in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4, ed. William Page and P H Ditchfield (London: Victoria County History, 1924), 87-97. British History Online, accessed March 18, 2016, [6]
↑ The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., 1993, ADDERBURY, Sir Richard II (d.1416) [7]
↑ "Easebourne," in A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 4, the Rape of Chichester, ed. L F Salzman (London: Victoria County History, 1953), 47-53. British History Online, accessed March 19, 2016, [8]
↑ "Parishes: Buckland," in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4, ed. William Page and P H Ditchfield (London: Victoria County History, 1924), 453-460. British History Online, accessed March 18, 2016, [9]
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ABBERBURY RICHARD II Son and heir of Thomas Abberbury, nephew of Richard I Abberbury
[CCR EIII] 10 December 1373 Westminster. To the sheriff of Oxfordshire. Order to cause ----- and Richard de Adderbury, knights of the shire at the parliament summoned at Westminster on the morrow of St. Edmund the King last to have of the commons of the county, except cities and boroughs from which citizens and burgesses came to the said parliament, 9/ 4s for their expenses in coming thither, there abiding, and thence returning to their own again, namely 4s. a day each for 23 days.
[CPR EIII] 1 July 1375 Westminster. Association of Richard de Adderbury in the commission of the peace and of oyer and terminer in the county of Oxford to Roger de Cotesford and his fellows, in the room of Giles de Ardern, whom the king has thought fit to discharge from that office. [CPR EIII] 25 September 1375 Westminster. Appointed as one of the commissioners of peace for the county of Oxford.
[CCR EIII] 12 November 1375 Westminster. Charter of Richard de Abberbury knight, giving with warranty to John de Arundel, knight, son of Richard late earl of Arundel and Surrey, his heirs and assigns, the manors of Shorham and Tadeham co. Sussex and all lands which the grantor had in those towns. Memorandum of acknowledgment, 14 November. Refer to PR entry of December 1285.
[CPR EIII] 13 October 1376. Was in attendance when dower was assigned to Joan of Kent, following the death of her second husband, Edward Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, earl of Chester and Duke of Aquitaine.
[CPR RII] 15 November 1382 Westminster. Acquittance of Richard Abberbury, knight of the chamber, of all moneys, gold, gold and silver plate, jewels, or aught else received by him heretofore belonging to the eking or to the queen consort.
[CCR RII] 1384. William de Sharshille to Sir Richard Abberbury knight the elder, his heirs and assigns. Quitclaim with warranty of the manor of Barton Cede co. Oxford, in possession of Sir Richard, and of all lands by him held in the parish of Barton and Stepulaston. Witnesses: ---------. Dated Barton co. Oxford, 13 June 7 Richard II. Memorrandum of acknowledgment in chancery at Westminster, 15 June.
[CPR RII] 10 September 1385 Westminster. Grant to Richard Abberbury, knight, in compensation for the loss he sustained by selling his manors of Shorham and Tadham to support the king's estate in his youth, of the reversion in fee of the manors of Yiftele, county Oxford and Carssewell, Berkshire, which he holds for life only by grant of queen Anne confirmed by the king.
[CPR RII] 6 February 1386 Windsor. Described as the Queen's chamberlain in an order issued on this date.
[CPR RII] 11 June 1386 Henley Manor. Licence for Richard Abberbury the elder to build a castle in his own soil at Donyngton, Berkshire, and crenellate the same.
[CCR RII] 28 November 1386 Westminster. To the sheriff of Oxfordshire. Writ de expenses for 24/ 4s in favour of Richard Abberbury and Gilbert Wace knights of the shire at the parliament summoned at Westminster on 1 October last, namely 4s a day each for 61 days.
[CCR RII] 4 March 1390 Westminster. To the chief butler for the time being, or his representative in the port of Bristol. Order of the king's right prise of wine in that port to deliver of his gift to Richard Abberbury knight for life one tun of wine a year, which by letters patent of 3 March last the king granted him for good service.
[CPR RII] 28 May 1390 Westminster. Exemption for life, of Richard Abberbury, 'le pier', knight, for being put onto any commission or appointed as any minister of the king, against his will.
[CPR RII] 26 April 1393 Westminster. Licence for Richard Abberbury, knight, to found a hospital of poor persons at his manor of Donyngton, held in chief as of the honour of Walyngford, one at their head to be called God's minister to the poor house of Donyngton, and to alienate in mortmain to them two acres of the said manor and the manor of Yifteley, for their maintenance in serving God and praying daily for the good estate of the king and the said Richard, for their souls after death, the souls of the king's progenitors and heirs, and the said Richard's ancestors and heirs, as he shall order.
[CCR EIII] 10 December 1373 Westminster. To the sheriff of Oxfordshire. Order to cause ----- and Richard de Adderbury, knights of the shire at the parliament summoned at Westminster on the morrow of St. Edmund the King last to have of the commons of the county, except cities and boroughs from which citizens and burgesses came to the said parliament, 9/ 4s for their expenses in coming thither, there abiding, and thence returning to their own again, namely 4s. a day each for 23 days.
[CPR EIII] 1 July 1375 Westminster. Association of Richard de Adderbury in the commission of the peace and of oyer and terminer in the county of Oxford to Roger de Cotesford and his fellows, in the room of Giles de Ardern, whom the king has thought fit to discharge from that office. [CPR EIII] 25 September 1375 Westminster. Appointed as one of the commissioners of peace for the county of Oxford.
[CCR EIII] 12 November 1375 Westminster. Charter of Richard de Abberbury knight, giving with warranty to John de Arundel, knight, son of Richard late earl of Arundel and Surrey, his heirs and assigns, the manors of Shorham and Tadeham co. Sussex and all lands which the grantor had in those towns. Memorandum of acknowledgment, 14 November. Refer to PR entry of December 1285.
[CPR EIII] 13 October 1376. Was in attendance when dower was assigned to Joan of Kent, following the death of her second husband, Edward Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, earl of Chester and Duke of Aquitaine.
[CPR RII] 15 November 1382 Westminster. Acquittance of Richard Abberbury, knight of the chamber, of all moneys, gold, gold and silver plate, jewels, or aught else received by him heretofore belonging to the eking or to the queen consort.
[CCR RII] 1384. William de Sharshille to Sir Richard Abberbury knight the elder, his heirs and assigns. Quitclaim with warranty of the manor of Barton Cede co. Oxford, in possession of Sir Richard, and of all lands by him held in the parish of Barton and Stepulaston. Witnesses: ---------. Dated Barton co. Oxford, 13 June 7 Richard II. Memorrandum of acknowledgment in chancery at Westminster, 15 June.
[CPR RII] 10 September 1385 Westminster. Grant to Richard Abberbury, knight, in compensation for the loss he sustained by selling his manors of Shorham and Tadham to support the king's estate in his youth, of the reversion in fee of the manors of Yiftele, county Oxford and Carssewell, Berkshire, which he holds for life only by grant of queen Anne confirmed by the king.
[CPR RII] 6 February 1386 Windsor. Described as the Queen's chamberlain in an order issued on this date.
[CPR RII] 11 June 1386 Henley Manor. Licence for Richard Abberbury the elder to build a castle in his own soil at Donyngton, Berkshire, and crenellate the same.
[CCR RII] 28 November 1386 Westminster. To the sheriff of Oxfordshire. Writ de expenses for 24/ 4s in favour of Richard Abberbury and Gilbert Wace knights of the shire at the parliament summoned at Westminster on 1 October last, namely 4s a day each for 61 days.
[CCR RII] 4 March 1390 Westminster. To the chief butler for the time being, or his representative in the port of Bristol. Order of the king's right prise of wine in that port to deliver of his gift to Richard Abberbury knight for life one tun of wine a year, which by letters patent of 3 March last the king granted him for good service.
[CPR RII] 28 May 1390 Westminster. Exemption for life, of Richard Abberbury, 'le pier', knight, for being put onto any commission or appointed as any minister of the king, against his will.
[CPR RII] 26 April 1393 Westminster. Licence for Richard Abberbury, knight, to found a hospital of poor persons at his manor of Donyngton, held in chief as of the honour of Walyngford, one at their head to be called God's minister to the poor house of Donyngton, and to alienate in mortmain to them two acres of the said manor and the manor of Yifteley, for their maintenance in serving God and praying daily for the good estate of the king and the said Richard, for their souls after death, the souls of the king's progenitors and heirs, and the said Richard's ancestors and heirs, as he shall order.
1331-1399[2]
13311399 [3]
"Before the death of his father in 1399" [4]
He's supposed to be the son of a Thomas, too. Not a Richard.
source: A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies .. By John Burke, John Bernard Burke (sir.)
http://bit.ly/16htaAN