Robert Baynard (abt. 1265)

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Biography

Sir Robert, was son and heir of Sir Fulk, and was lord of Merton, Hudeston etc in Norfolk in 1315. Robert's son and heir was also named Fulk.

He was aged 40 or more at his father's post mortem inquisition in 1305. Merton and Hudeston were worth 8 and a half knight's fees, and...

Both held of Sir Robert son of Walter by service of 8 1/2 knights’ fees, and 28s. at the end of every 24 weeks for the guard of Baynard’s Castle (Castri Baniardi).^[1]

There was at least one other Baynard family of similar or higher rank to this one in Norfolk and East Anglia, who also used the name Robert, in particular the one in Hautbois and Wheatacre, however Banks at least connected the following records to the one of Merton and Hudeston (while registering some uncertainty):^[2]

Robert Baynard, a person of great note in the time of Edward II., in whose reign, (if he be the same Robert,) he had committed to his charge [Origin. 5 & 6 Ed. II (1311-13) Rot. 9 & 4] the custody of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, as also the castle of Norwich. And furthermore, in 6 & 7 Edw. II. [1312-14], had summons to parliament [Dugdale, Lists Sum.] among the barons of the realm, and therein was denominated a baron. Moreover, he was likely the same Robert, who, being one [Chronica Juridicalia] of the justices of the King's Bench, in that capacity had summons [Dugd. Lists Sum.] to parliament, 2 & 3 Edw. III. [1328-30], among the judges, and the rest of the king's counsel.

Complete Peerage on the other hand associated all or most of these records with the family of Hautbois.^[3]

Landon wrote (p.217):^[4]

During the time that this Robert Bainard of Merton was in possession of his estates his cousin of the same name held the Manors of Chedgrave, Wheatacre, and Hautboys. There are numerous references to the name in the records of the this period, but all seem to relate to the latter, who certainly was Sheriff of Norfolk, Knight of the Shire, and for one occasion a baron of Parliament.

Landon adds more details (p.218):

It may have been Robert of Merton who was summoned to do military service in 1314.

In the returns for the aid levied in 1316 he occurs as holding Merton and Kerdiston, and with other tenants, Bunwell, Carlton, and Hadeston. [Feudal Aids, Norfolk, pp. 458, 476.] The name of his first wife, the mother of his heir, is unknown; between 1309 and 1313 he married Maud, the widow of Philip de Colevill, with whom he obtained the Manors of Hyston and Tadlow in Cambs, both held by Philip de Colevill in 1285 and 1303, and the former by Maud, their widow, in 1346. [Feudal Aids, Cambs, p. 167]

Sources

1. ↑ J E E S Sharp and A E Stamp, 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward I, File 118', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 4, Edward I (London, 1913), pp. 200-211. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol4/pp200-211 [accessed 7 November 2018].
2. ↑ Thomas Christopher Banks, The Dormant and Extinct Baronage of England, Volume 4 p.146
3. ↑ Cocakyne, Gibbs, et al, Complete Peerage, 2nd ed. Vol.2 p.35
4. ↑ L. Landon (1929), "The Bainard family of Norfolk", Norfolk Archaeology, vol.22, pp.209-20.

• Francis Blomefield, 'Hundred of Wayland: Merton', in An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 2 (London, 1805), pp. 298-312. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol2/pp298-312 [accessed 7 November 2018].