William Clopton (bef. 1324 - abt. 1376)

Born before 1324 in Wickhambrook, Suffolk, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Amitia (Grey) Clopton — married about 1340 in Buckenham, Norfolk, England

Died about 1376 after about age 52 in Hawstead, Suffolk, England

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Biography

William Clopton was born in Wickhambrook, Suffolk, England.

Birth

Sir William Clopton^[1] was born about 1324 at Clopton, Wickhambrook^[2].

William was the son of Walter Clopton (d. 1325/6) and his first wife Alice Fitz Hugh.

Purchase of Hawsted Manor

There is a fine levied 33 Edward III (1360) ^[3] that shows that Sir William and Mary (Cockerell - his second wife) brought the Manor and its appurtances from Sir William Middelton and Isabella his wife. Sir William Middelton and his wife continued living there and paying rent. The purchase is described:

The Manor of Hawsted, with its appurtenances, the advowson of the church, one toft, 200 acres of arable land, 8 acres of meadow, 12 of wood, six shillings and eight pence rent and 1/2 pound of pepper with the homages and all the services of William Pembregge and 14 others. The purchase money was 600L.

The purchase names William's second wife Mary and, as this marriage settlement occurred in 1348, the purchase must have occurred some time later.

In 1383 William buys^[3] the Manor of Halsted from Sir William Talmach.

There is a note^[3] (Page 102) that the Manor was to pass down to Thomas Clopton (who is not on the pedigrees) when Sir William and his wife died. However, on Page 104 of the Hawsted volume^[3] is recorded that by the time of the death of Richard II (1399) the Manor passed to his elder brother William Clopton, so presumably Thomas died or was out of favour with his father. Cullem^[3] also records that William Clopton suffered enormous outrages from Philip Fitz-Eustace and others that set off legal issues for many years.

It appears that there was a dispute concerning ownership of Hawsted Manor and a group consisting of Philip Fitz-Eustace, John Heydon, John Clerk, chaplain, Hugh de Baldwyne, Roger Gebon, Thomas his brother, John Laufele, John Smyth of Ashton and John Waryn on the Sunday before Michelmas in 21 Rich. II. ( 1398) with force of arms (including swords, bows and arrows) broke into Hawstead Close and cut down xx (20) oaks, c (100) ashes, xl (40) poplars and carried them off together with other goods and chattels including linen and woolen goods and vessels of silver, brass and copper and other utensils belonging to the house, together with barley, peas, beans and oats to the value of xlv (41) pounds. Litigation followed and Philip Fitz-Eustace was found guitly but long delayed any restitution. In 1178, the Fitz-Eustace clan counter claimed that the documents for the original purchase were forged (Harl. MSS 1178 No 36)^[3].

It was not until 9 Henry IV (1408) that Robert Fitz-Eustace (probably a brother) gave up all claims on Hawsted Mannor and the Manor passed to William Clopton, son of Sir William Clopton.

This somewhat sorry saga, including members on both sides of the family (Edmund had married Blanche Fitz-Eustace) and members of the clergy continued for years. In 1415, William finally gave the property to William Clopton - the son of his cousin Thomas and the matter appears settled!

William Clopton is recorded^[4] as Commissioner for Suffolk in 1359. He purchased^[4]. Newenham Manor in 1360 and seems to have established this manor as his permanent base^[4]. William and his sons Walter and Edmund were enjoined in 1366 not to leave the country on pain of forfeiture of their possessions. The reasons for this are unknown.

Marriage and Issue

Marriage to Ivetta Grey

William married^[5] Ivetta Grey.

Their children were:

William who died^[1] in 1417 and who inherited Hawsted Manor.

Walter 2nd son who married^[1] Elizabeth Peacott and was buried at Long Melford.

John who died^[1] in 1417 but was not named in his father's will in 1376.

Edmund who married^[1] Blanche Fitz Eustace who died 20 May 1406 and was described as the late wife of Edmund Clopton.

Evetta must have died before 1348 when the settlement for the second marriage ocurred.

Marriage to Mary Cockerell

William married^[5] for a second time to Mary Cockerel. Their children of this marriage are probably:

Joan (Clopton) Erpingham who married Sir Thomas Erpingham in 1388. Lady Joan Erpingham is recorded^[3] as living at Hawsted Mannor in 1389 after her marriage in 1388.

Thomas. Thomas is stated as a son of William Clopton but soon dissapears from note.

The settlement for this second marriage was in 1348 so the birth dates for Joan and Thomas should postdate 1348 and predate 1376.

Death

William is recorded^[3] as dieing before 6 R. II (1383). A date for his will is given^[1] as 22 January 1376 and the will was proved 14 January 1377 - so a death in 1376 seems certain.

William wrote in his will that he wanted to be buried at Babwell Priory and there is no reason to believe that this did not occur. Some years later, his daughter Joan is arranging tiles to be sent to the Friars at Babwell Friary. Babwell is a short distance east of Bury St Edmunds.

Chipley Priory

The Clopton Family Association established a monument at the site of the Chipley Priry which is between Pocklingford and Denston close to Wichhambrook - all locations that are significant in Clopton family history.

Clopton Family notes at the ruins of Chipley Priory[6] in Suffolk

Locations in Surrey relevant to Clopton Family.

Research Notes

William is associated with Newenham Manor, Ashdon, Essex^[5]

Hawsted Manor, complete with appurtances etc was sold by John Clopton to (probably) Sir Robert Drury in 1494 (ref Page 113) of the Hawsted Antiquities Volume^[3]. Roger Drury died in 1500^[3].

Sources

The Clopton Cronicles https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~clopton/stcrisp.htm

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} The visitations of Suffolk made by Hervey: Harvey, William, d. 1567; British Museum. MSS (Harleian 1103); Cook, Robert, d. 1593; Raven, J. E. (John Earle); Metcalfe, Walter Charles, The visitations of Suffolk made by Hervey, Clarenceux, 1561, Cooke, Clarenceux, 1577, and Raven, Richmond herald, 1612, with notes and an appendix of additional Suffolk pedigrees
   Exeter Priv. print. for the editor by W. Pollard; 1882; page: 14
   Internet Archive (accessed 19 March 2024)
2. ↑ Suffolk Manorial Families: Frederic Johnson, Suffolk Manorial Families: Being the County Visitations and Other Pedigrees, Edited, with Extensive Additions
   United Kingdom: W. Pollard & Company, 1900
   Google Books (accessed 19 March 2024)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9} The history and antiquities of Hawsted: Cullum, John, Sir, 6th Bart., 1733-1785, The history and antiquities of Hawsted, in the County of Suffolk
   London : Printed by and for J. Nichols; 1784; page: 99
   Internet Archive (accessed 19 March 2024)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Dictionary of National Biography: "Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-22"
   London, England: Oxford University Press; Volume: Vol 04; Page: 578
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1981 #20015476 (accessed 23 March 2024)
   Name: Ivetta Grey; Gender: Female; Spouse: Sir William De Clopton; Child: Walter De Clopton.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} The History of Long Melford: Sir William Parker, The History of Long Melford
   United Kingdom: The Author, 1873, page 55
   Google Books (accessed 19 March 2024)
6. ↑ Chipley Priory:
   Wikipedia site for Chipley Priory - close to Poslingford, Suffolk Wikipedia contributors, "Chipley Priory," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikipedia article (accessed March 28, 2024)