Richard (Merton) de Merton (abt. 1311 - 1370)

Born about 1311 in Merton, Devon, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 25 Sep 1370 at about age 59 in England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ron Lamoreaux [send private message]

Biography

He was 'age 30 and more' at his father's death.

In 1336, he was a member of parliament for Devon.

1358 - "Inspeximus and confirmation by Richard de Mertone, knight, of a decayed charter whereby Henry son of Alwold, his ancestor, grants, with the assent of Agnes his daughter and heir, and by the counsel of Robert, bishop of Exeter, to the church of St. Mary Magdalen of Barnestaple, and the monks of Cluni there, in pure alms all his land in Withrigge, Washford, Greneduna, Dertra, Uppecote, Strecchederta, Wodeford, Chatemere, Weie, Batesdone, Beare, Shilve- don, Rouwedon and Strecheston, with woodland (nemore) and the services of all his free tenants, who held both things foreign of him and other, and the liberty which he had in the mill of Withrigge; himself also he offered at the altar and took the monastic habit. Witnesses:—Stephen de Magna Villa, Stephen the Fleming (Flan- drensis) and Erchenbald and Robert his sons, Jordan de Campo Arnulphi, Philip and Heinfred de Carthrai, Hugh de Ralegh, Edward the priest, and Aimer the parmenter (parmentarius) of Grenaduna. Witnesses to confirmation:— Thomas de Mertone, his brother, and others (named). Mertone, Friday before the Annunciation of St. Mary, 32 Edward III."

Death

I.P.M. Richard de Merton. Writ, 6 October, 44 Edward III. Devon. Inq. taken at Toriton, Thursday the eve of All Saints, 44 Edward III. Chepyngtoriton. The castle, in which there is a messuage, with the advowson of the church, held of the king in chief by knight's service. Chepyngtoriton. Two-thirds of five-sixths of the manor and town (extent given, including a fishery in the river Torigh), held of the king in chief by service of 3 knights' fees ; a. fifth part of the same manor and town, held jointly with William Bockbrigge, clerk, and Matthew Stowille, knight, by feoffment of Thomas Cheyne made with the king's licence to them and the heirs of Richard, of the king in chief by service of a fifth part of 3 knights' fees; and 13s. 4d. yearly rent, held of James Daudelegh by service of a twentieth part of a knight's fee, and held by James of the king by knight's service.

He died on Wednesday before Michaelmas, 44 Edward III. [25 September 1370] Eleanor wife of Matthew de Stowille, knight, aged 19 years and more, Joan wife of John Baunfile, aged 16 years and more, and Agnes, who will be 14 years of age on the feast of St. Katharine next, his daughters by Margery formerly his wife, are his next heirs. Maud his wife is with child.

Writ to the escheator to assign to Maud late the wife of the said Richard her dower of the lands of her late husband, after taking her oath not to marry without licence. 10 November, 44 Edward III.

Devon. Assignment of dower made on Saturday after St. Lucy, 44 Edward III. [Calendar of Close Rolls, 1369-1374. p. 342.] Writ of certiorari super vero valore feodorum. 12 November, 44 Edward III. Fragment of inquisition.

Writ of precipimus, 22 April, 45 Edward III. Devon. Inq. taken at Exeter, Tuesday after Trinity, 45 Edward III. Chopyngtoriton. Premises as in the first inquisition above. Date of death and heirs as above. Agnes his daughter by Maud his last wife, aged 1 month and more, is also an heir.

Since his death Thomas Stanes has had possession of two-thirds, and the said Maud of one-third, of the aforesaid two-thirds of five-sixths of the manor and town, together with the issues thereof, by the king's writs directed to the escheator. William Bockbrigge and Matthew Stowille have had possession of the above-mentioned fifth part, together with the issues.

Writ to the escheator to assign to Maud late the wife of the said Richard her dower of the knights' fees and advowsons of her said husband. The assignment is to be made in the presence of the heirs and coparceners of the inheritance, and of Thomas Stanes, to whom the king has committed the custody of certain lands of the inheritance. 3 July, 45 Edward III. [1371]

Devon. Assignment of dower made at Exeter, Tuesday after St. Bartholomew, 45 Edward III. [Calendar of Close Rolls, 1369-1374, p. 339.) (C. Edw. III. File 217. (5.))

Sources

• Celtic Casimir
• Post by Ivor West on soc.genealogy.medieval of 21 Feb 2003
• Phillips, Weber, Kirk and Staggs Families of the Pacific Northwest, by Jim Weber, on Rootsweb.com