Robert (Legh) de Legh (bef. 1361 - 1408)

Born before 2 Mar 1361 in Borterley Hey, Cheshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Isabel (Belgrave) Legh — married 1385 in Prestbury, Cheshire, England

Descendants

Died 10 Aug 1408 after age 47 in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England

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Biography

Sir Robert Legh, the third of Adlington^[1]

Robert Legh was born at Borterley Hey and baptized in Audley church on the feast of St Chad the bishop, 2 March, 35 Edward III, 1361.^[1] Audley is in Staffordshire.

Robert was the son of Robert Legh of Adlington son of Robert Legh of Adlington.^[1] His mother was Maud, the daughter of Sir John de Arderne of Alford, knight.^[1]

Robert had siblings:

1. a sister;^[1]
2. a sister;^[1]

Robert's father died in 6 Richard II, 1382, at which time Robert was more than twenty years of age and succeeded to the Adlington estates holding Adlington manor in chief by knight's service.^[1]

Robert Legh married Isabel, daughter and heir of Thomas Belgrave of Pulford,^[2] in 1385 in Adlington, Prestbury, Cheshire, England. Or Isabel's name may have been Anabella de Belgrave of Eccleston, near Chester.^[1]

Robert had four sons:

1. Robert, born 1410, married Maud or Matilda Belgrave, when a widow married William Honford, died 1478;^[3]
2. William;^[3]
3. Reginald;^[3] and
4. Piers;^[3]

Robert was knighted prior to 1386, because on 24 February, 9 Richard II [1386], the appointment of Thomas de Arderne, kt, Robert de Legh, kt, Thomas de Davenport of Becheton, Peter de Legh, John Pygot, and Adam de Kyngelegh as Justices Itinerant for the three hundreds of Macclesfield was recorded on the Chester Recognizance Rolls.^[4]

On 12 August, 10 Richard II [1386], Robert Legh, Thomas Fyton, Thomas Davenport, Peter Legh and John Pygot were appointed Justices Itinerant for the three hundreds of the Eyre of Macclesfield.^[5]

In 1386, Sir Robert de Legh, seneschall of Macclesfield and the forest, was in dispute with his uncles, Piers de Legh of Lyme and John of Ridge, general attorneys of Lady Mohun.^[6] Read the Indenture between Sir Robert and his uncles, Piers and John.

In 1386, Robert de Legh was engaged against the threatening French invasion.^[6]

In 16 Richard II, 1392, Sir Robert and his uncle, Peter Legh of Lyme, had a commission to arrest malefactors and disturbers of the peace in Macclesfield Hundred.^[6]

The Chester Recognizance Rolls record Robert de Legh, kt, was appointed sheriff of the county of Chester on 14 October, 17 Richard II [1393], and John de Mascy of Tatton, kt, was his vice sheriff.^[5]

The Chester Recognizance Rolls record Robert le Grosvenor was appointed sheriff of the county of Chester for a second term on 31 October, 18 Richard II [1395], with Robert de Legh, kt, as vice sheriff.^[7]

On 23 September, 20 Richard II [1396], Robert de Legh, kt, Peter de Legh, John Pygot, John son of Robert Legh and Adam de Kyngeslegh were appointed Justices for the three hundreds of the Eyre of Macclesfield.^[5]

Robert Legh was appointed sheriff of the county of Chester on 12 February, 20 Richard II [1397], with Henry Ravenscrotf as vice sheriff.^[5]

On 4 October, 21 Richard II [1397], Robert de Legh was appointed constable of the castle of Oswaldestre.^[5]

On 9 October, 22 Richard II [1398], Robert de Legh, kt, Robert Stanelegh, John Pygot and Peter de Legh were appointed Justices in Eyre for Macclesfield.^[5]

In 23 Richard II [22 June 1399-29 September 1399], the Chester Ministers' Accounts record John de Mascy was the sheriff of the county of Chester and his vice sheriff was Robert de Legh.^[8]

Robert was Sheriff of Chester in 22 Richard II, 1398-99.^[9]

Robert joined in the fight against king Richard II, with Sir James Booth and others from Cheshire on the side of Henry Duke of Lancaster, the future Henry IV, meeting him at Shrewbury and accompanying him to Chester and Flint.^[6] His uncle, Piers de Legh was a faithful adherent of his king, Richard II, and became a martyr for the cause of the House of York as he was beheaded for his loyalty and gratitude to Richard, on 1 August 1399 at Chester, by the command of Henry Duke of Lancaster, known as Bolingbroke, the day after Bolingbroke entered Chester.^[10]

On 9 October, 3 Henry IV [1401], Robert de Legh was appointed deputy steward of Macclesfield, by letters of Hugh le Despenser, steward.^[5]

On 16 October, 4 Henry IV [1402], Robert Legh, Lawrence Fyton, John Pygot, Robert del Dounes and John Legh were appointed Justices in Eyre for the three hundreds of the Eyre of Macclesfield.^[5]

On 22 September, 5 Henry IV [1403], Robert Legh, kt, Lawrence Fyton, kt, John Pygot, Robert del Dounes and Reginald del Dounes were appointed Justices for the three hundreds of the Eyre of Macclesfield.^[5]

On 30 September, 5 Henry IV [1403], Robert Legh, kt, Lawrence Fyton, kt, John Pygot, Henry Birtheles, John Legh and Robert Dounes were appointed Justices for the three hundreds of the Eyre of Macclesfield.^[5]

In 6 Henry IV, 1404, when the earl of Northumberland and Archbishop of York rebelled, Sir Robert Legh was summoned by Henry, Prince of Wales as earl of Chester, to join him at Warrington then travel with him to meet the king at Promfret, with one hundred defensible and honest bowmen in good array for war.^[6]

Sir Robert Legh of Adlington died in 9 Henry IV, 1408, and an Inquisition post mortem taken that year found he held a number of manors in Cheshire, in chief by military service, and others elsewhere were held of Lord Strange and Hugh Venables, and his son Robert de Legh succeeded him to Adlington.^[6]

Inquisition of John de Ardene, Kt, died 1408

An Inquisition regarding John de Ardene, Kt, was taken on Thursday next before the feast of St Margaret the Virgin, 9 Henry IV [19 July,1408], at Chester, found that Robert de Hampton, parson of the church of Alderlegh and John, son of Roger de Motlowe, were seised, in their demesne as of fee, of the manors of Aldeford, Alderdelegh, and Echeles, and of the advowsons of the churches of Aldeford and Alderdelegh, together with an annual rent of ten marks issuing out of the manor of Upton in Wyrehale, and gave the same for life to John de Ardene and Ellen his wife, with successive remainders in fee-tail male to Thomas and Wacelin, sons of the said Ellen, and, failing them, to the heirs male of John de Ardene and Ellen, and them, failing, to the right heirs of the said John and Ellen; that the said John and Ellen had issue two daughters, Matilda and Isabel; that Wacelin died without heirs male; that the said Thomas had issue John de Ardene, Kt., who entered upon the said estate and died without issue male; that Robert son of Robert de Legh, married the said Matilda, and had issue Robert de Legh, Kt, then living; that the said Matilda died; that Hugh de Wrottesly, Kt, married the said Isabel and had issue one John, who had issue Hugh, then living; that the said Hugh and Isabel died; that the said John their son died; that after the decease of the said John son of Thomas, the estate remained to the said Robert de Legh, Kt, as son and heir of the said Matilda daughter, and one of the heirs of the said John and Ellen, and to Hugh son and heir of the said John son of Hugh and heir of the said Isabel, other daughter and heir of the said John and Ellen; that the manor of Echeles was held of Lord Lestraunge as of his manor of Dunham Mascy, by knight's service, and was of the yearly value of 50l; that the manor of Aldeford was held of the Earl of Chester in capite by knight's service and was of the yearly value of 40l; that the manor of Alderdelegh was held of the said Earl in capite by knight's service, and was of the yearly value of 10l; that the manor of Upton was held of the said Earl in capite by knight's service; that the said John died on Monday next before the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul "last" past [25 June, 1408]; and that the said Robert de Legh was of the age of 40, and the said Hugh of the age of 8 years.^[11]

The Prince of Wales Vs Margaret, Widow of John son of Thomas de Ardene

In 10 Henry IV [30 September, 1408-29 September, 1409] at Chester, the prince of Wales, as earl of Chester, versus Margaret formerly wife of John, son of Thomas de Ardene, in a suit for the right to the manors of Aldford, Alderdelegh and Echeles, the advowsons of the churches of Aldford and Alderdelegh, and a rent of ten marks from the manor of Upton in Wyrehale. The pleadings show the following descent:^[12]

John de Ardene, seised of the manors, advowsons and rent, in the reign of Edward III [1327-1377], married Elena, and had two sons and two daughters:

1. Thomas, who had:
   1. John de Ardene, living 8 Henry IV [30 September, 1406-29 September, 1407], but dead by 10 Henry IV, married Margaret, the plaintiff;
2. Walkeline, who died with no surviving children;
3. Matilda, who was married to Robert, son of Robert de Legh, and had:
   1. Robert de Legh, Kt, living 10 Henry IV;
4. Isabella, who was married to Hugh de Wrotteslegh, and they had:
   1. John de Wrotteslegh, who had:
      1. Hugh de Wrotteslegh, living in 10 Henry IV.

The pleadings also state that Thomas and Walkeline were illegitimate, being styled sons of Elena only— and that John de Ardene, the husband of Elena, had left no male heir of his body. Margaret claimed under a settlement made by her husband in 8 Henry IV [30 September 1406-29 September 1407], a licence of alienation having been obtained from the prince of Wales, as earl of Chester, and a verdict was given in her favour. Under a previous settlement of 21 Edward III [25 January, 1347-24 January, 1348], also made with the licence of the prince of Wales, as earl of Chester, the same properties had been settled on John de Ardene and Elena, his wife, for their lives, with remainder to Thomas, son of Elena, and their heirs male of his body, with remainder to Walcheline, brother of Thomas, and the heirs male of his body, and failing such, to the heirs of the bodies of John and Elena. Under the first settlement, the Arderne estates would have been divided between Robert de Legh and Hugh de Wrottesley.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Frank Renaud, MD, "Contributions Towards a History of the Ancient Parish of Prestbury, in Cheshire", Remains Historical & Literary connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester, Vol XCVII, (Manchester: The Chetham Society, 1876), accessed 31 August 2014, https://archive.org/stream/contributionsto00renagoog#page/n125/mode/2up pp.85.
2. ↑ Ormerod, George. The history of the county palatine and city of Chester. Volume 3. London: Printed for Lackington, Hughes. Harding, Mavor, and Jones, 1819. [1] Page 332
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Frank Renaud, MD, "Contributions Towards a History of the Ancient Parish of Prestbury, in Cheshire", Remains Historical & Literary connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester, Vol XCVII, (Manchester: The Chetham Society, 1876), accessed 31 August 2014, https://archive.org/stream/contributionsto00renagoog#page/n129/mode/2up pp.88.
4. ↑ Peter Turner, comp, "Appendix 3—Welsh Records. List of Officers of the Palatinate of Chester, in the Counties of Chester and Flint, and North Wales, from the Earliest Period to the Extinction of the Welsh Judicature", The Thirty-First Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records [26 February 1870], (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1870), 170, e-Book HathiTrust (https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015039450526?urlappend=%3Bseq=198%3Bownerid=34524647-197 : accessed 8 July, 2022).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9} Peter Turner, comp, "Appendix 3—Welsh Records. List of Officers of the Palatinate of Chester, in the Counties of Chester and Flint, and North Wales, from the Earliest Period to the Extinction of the Welsh Judicature", The Thirty-First Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records [26 February 1870], (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1870), 218, e-Book HathiTrust (https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015039450526?urlappend=%3Bseq=246%3Bownerid=34524647-245 : accessed 8 July, 2022).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Frank Renaud, MD, "Contributions Towards a History of the Ancient Parish of Prestbury, in Cheshire", Remains Historical & Literary connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester, Vol XCVII, (Manchester: The Chetham Society, 1876), accessed 31 August 2014, https://archive.org/stream/contributionsto00renagoog#page/n127/mode/2up pp.86-7.
7. ↑ Peter Turner, comp, "Appendix 3—Welsh Records. List of Officers of the Palatinate of Chester, in the Counties of Chester and Flint, and North Wales, from the Earliest Period to the Extinction of the Welsh Judicature", The Thirty-First Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records [26 February 1870], (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1870), 203, e-Book HathiTrust (https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015039450526?urlappend=%3Bseq=199%3Bownerid=34524647-198 : accessed 8 July, 2022).
8. ↑ Peter Turner, comp, "Appendix 3—Welsh Records. List of Officers of the Palatinate of Chester, in the Counties of Chester and Flint, and North Wales, from the Earliest Period to the Extinction of the Welsh Judicature", The Thirty-First Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records [26 February 1870], (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1870), 222, e-Book HathiTrust (https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015039450526?urlappend=%3Bseq=250%3Bownerid=34524647-249 : accessed 8 July, 2022).
9. ↑ Ormerod, George. The history of the county palatine and city of Chester. Volume 3. London: Printed for Lackington, Hughes. Harding, Mavor, and Jones, 1819. [2] Page 332
10. ↑ Beamont, Esq, William, eds. "Warrington in M.CCCC.LXV. as Described in a Contemporary Rent Roll of the Legh Family, in the Possession of Thomas Legh, Esquire, of Lyme Park". Remains Historical & Literary connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester. Vol XVII. Manchester: The Chetham Society, 1849. pp.ix-xix. Accessed: 21 August 2014. https://archive.org/stream/warringtoninmcc01beamgoog#page/n18/mode/2up.
11. ↑ Peter Turner, comp, "Appendix 6. Welsh Records. Calendar of Deeds, Inquisitions, and Writs of Dower, Enrolled on the Plea Rolls of the County of Chester.—Ric. 2 to Hen. 7.", The Twenty-Ninth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records [25 February 1868], (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1868), 66, e-Book HathiTrust (https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015039450518?urlappend=%3Bseq=264%3Bownerid=34524648-263 : accessed 6 July, 2022). [10 Hen. 4. m. 9.]
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Public Record Office, Pedigrees from the Plea Rolls Collected from the Pleadings in the Various Courts of Law AD 1200 to 1500 from the Original Rolls, ed. Major-General The Hon G Wrottesley, (1905), 256, e-book Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/pedigreesfromple00wrotrich/page/256/mode/1up : accessed 11 June, 2022. [Chester Pleas: 10. Hen. 4. m. 9].