William de Gosewyk, Merchant of Berwick

Date: 18 Mar 1353 to 11 Jun 1353
Location: Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England
Surnames/tags: Gostwick, Pre-1500, England mowbray

Gostwick Name Study

William de Gosewyk, possible son of Thomas de Goswyk, traitor to the Crown

born bef 1325, Fenwick, Northumberland, England (see Research Notes)

died aft Jun-1353, possibly in Lincolnshire

Language Spoken: French, Latin?, English?

A very interesting profile.

Synopsis

Gosewyk cargo shipwrecked in Saltfleet, with cargo carried away by evil doers.

Could this trade route be the tie to the Gaskryk families of Lincolnshire we have on our Gostwick tree? Could it indicate a business relationship with supplier in Lincoln, and delivery in Berwick?

Biography

We have only two references for William, over the same issue, and very close together. This makes attribution difficult.

The Goswyk family of Goswick, Fenwick, and Berwick-Upon-Tweed, were all known to be closely involved as Mercers, Burgesses and tax collectors for Wine importation to the area. William's proposed father Thomas was offered a clerk role with the exchequer, indicative of the established trade within the family.

William seems to be living in Berwick at of 1353, around the time that Thomas would have been a wanted man. If William is not the son of Thomas, we will find him likely placed as a 1st cousin to this Berwick branch. ~Chris

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1353, Commission of Oyer & Terminer, Saltfleet, Lincolnshire, England^[1]

Commission of Oyer and Terminer to John de Wilughby, Philip de Nevill, William de Skippewith and Ralph de Haulay, on complaint by William del Bothe of Ancroft, Adam de Cotyngham, Richard de Eboraco, Thomas Coll, John de Graystanes, Alan de Buckeby, Adam de Eboraco, William de Gosewyk, John Soroules, Robert Raa, David de Langeton, William del Bothe of Norham, William Hardeboll, Thomas Spenser, Richard Beverige, Robert del Bothe, Thomas de Beryngton, Adam de Welbourn and Alban de Appelby, merchants of Berwick-on-Tweed, that whereas they chartered a ship called la Marie of Lescluses, whereof William Brounbek was master, with victuals purveyed by them in Flanders for the munition and safe-keeping of their town and the castle thereof, and goods and merchandise as well of avoirdupois as other merchandise, and the ship while on the voyage to their town was driven ashore by a storm at sea at Saltflethaven, in the parts of Lyndeseye, co. Lincoln, and there broken to pieces, and the victuals and goods were washed ashore, while the master and all others of the ship came to land alive, some evildoers carried away the said victuals and merchandise contrary to the peace. By K. k C. And afterwards, on 29 March, William de Skipwyth was removed from the said commission, and William de Notion appointed in his place. And afterwards, on 1 May, John de Molyns, William de Notton, Peter de Bychemound, liichard de Cressevill and John Clay mound were associated with the said John de Wylughby dc. Be it remembered that, on the said 1 May, John de Wylughby, Philip de Nevill, William de Skipwith and Balph de Haulay are appointed as above. By K. & C. Mandate to them, if it be found by the inquisition that any one of the ship came to land alive, and the goods belong to the said merchants and not to any other as wreck, to deliver the same to them. By K. & C. And afterwards, on 6 May, John Mowbray, John de Fothirby, William Haulay and John Canute are associated in the said commission.

Notes:

• Please note the direct tie here to the Mowbray family, also cited as tied to Walter.
• William was not on the shipwreck of La Marie, he was a merchant of Berwick tied to its cargo, seeking damages.

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11-Jun-1353, Westminster, Middlesex, England^[2]

(long list pertaining to above shipwreck) William de Gosewyk {snip} , merchants of Berwick upon Tweed, {snip} all goods and chattels which shall be found by inquisition or otherwise to belong to those merchants, or the value thereof {snip} by their long stay out of town.

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Research Notes

Re: Age

• One does not appear in the Roles as a 'Merchant of Berwick upon Tweed' and not be 'of age (17-21), he might be quite old, say 60. Since it is 1353, he would be born between 1293 and 1336
• A 'William' until now, is unknown within the older age range

I chose to split the difference, born bef 1325

Re: Birth Location

• Based on correct attribution for parentage
• Most Goswyks of Berwick lived at Fenwick Manor, still in possession till after this William's birth (see Walter de Goswyk for Fenwick info)
• Citations reference him of Berwick, making Northumberland, England well supported.

Re: Death

• We place his death the simplest of ways. After his last reference or, AFT Jun-1353.
• Her certainly could have lived much longer. We have no idea where.

Re: Parentage

• Placed here as much to find more logic that refutes the attribution, as logic to support it. We should reconsider matches to his siblings and as a 1st cousin (again)
• William is an acceptable name within this branch's name rules (not a new given name like 'Carlos')

All known Goswyks are sequenced in this tree for this branch

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For reference, this is my proposed route that would have represented the Goswyk wine trade from the 12th-15th century. Rarely would laden ships leave the shoreline to cut across the black sea. It is presented as context, not evidence.

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Goswyk Family Wine Trade Route - already over 100yrs old by 1353

To Do

• Create a Query to consider any possible parentage matches missed, and reduce the possibility of conflation. Post results here