Alexander Walden

Ancestors

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Biography

From his History of Parliament biography:^[1]

Walden died on 5 Sept. 1401, leaving a widow, Juliana, who sold some of her dower lands in 1407. His heir was his brother, John, who followed him to the grave in 1402; and John’s sons (confusingly also called Alexander and John) both died young.

The biography lists these details:

• His father was Alexander Walden and he was a nephew of Sir Humphrey Walden (d.1374) of Matching and Rickling.
• He married:

• (1) by 1379, Elizabeth, daught and heir of John Somery of Bygrave, Hertford, by Margery, widow of William Elington;
• (2) Juliana, apparently a kinswoman of Bishop Metford of Salisbury, without issue. (The footnote: "She may have been the Juliana Walden for whom prayers were to be said in Hagbourne church, Berkshire, by request of her kinsman the bp.’s bro. Walter Metford, dean of Wells (d.1421): Reg. Chichele, ii. 251.")

• He was knighted by 1372.

In a legal case the family explained the line of descent.^[2]

11 March 1420, John Barley junior and his wife Katherine, together with Henry Longley and his wife Margaret, sought a messuage with appurtenances in London, parish of St Peter Paul's Wharf in Castle Baynard ward, from bishop John Wakeryng, William Hankeford and William Werkeman. The plaintiffs state that a certain Humphrey de Walden was seised of the aforesaid messuage in his demesne as of fee, and that in his will, enrolled in the Hustings of London on 22 July 1331, he left all his property in London (as all his property in the said parish of St Peter) to his son Humphrey. If the younger HW should die without heirs, then the property should then pass to Adam W., son of the elder HW, then in turn to Alexander Walden, brother of Adam. The elder Humphrey then later died seised of the aforesaid messuage, and the younger Humphery entered into the said property, during the reign of Edward III. This Humphrey then later died without heirs, as did Adam, leaving the right of inheritance to Axexander. He also died, and the property passed to Alexander's son, also Alexander, who was seised of the messuage during the reign of Richard II. The property then passed to John Walden, brother of the younger Alexander, and then to John's son, another Alexander, and then his other son, also John. After his death, the property passed to his sisters, Katherine and Margaret (the plaintiffs).

Research notes

We can reconstruct the ancestry as follows: gen. 1. Humphrey 1 (d. 1331) ->

gen. 2. Humphrey 2 (d. 1374) -> Adam -> Alexander ->

gen. 3. Alexander (d. 1401) -> John (d. 1402) ->

gen. 4. Alexander -> John (d. 1418) -> 2 sisters.

From IPMs:

Writ 17 May 1406. (John Walden)^[3]

John Walden died on 25 April 1402.

He held jointly with Elizabeth his wife, who survives him. Elizabeth has occupied the rest of the manor [Elsenham], the marsh in Fobbing and the manor called Barstable in Laindon.

Alexander his son and next heir was aged 11 years and more on 2 Feb. last.

Writ 18 Feb. 1409. (Alexander Walden, knight)^[4]

Alexander Walden, knight, died on 5 Sept. 1401. [within the term of 7 years from 12 Nov. 1396.]

Alexander son of John Walden his brother was next heir. [And he is a minor.

[John ap Harry has the wardship for Matching]

Elizabeth Walden has held Elsenham since his death as keeper in socage

Writ 26 Nov. 1418. John Walden ^[5]

He died on Wednesday [sic] 13 July last.

Katharine wife of John Barde junior , aged 19 years and Margaret aged 18 years are his sisters and heirs.

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/walden-sir-alexander-1401
2. ↑ Jonathan Mackman and Matthew Stevens, 'CP40/638: Trinity term 1420', in Court of Common Pleas: the National Archives, Cp40 1399-1500 (London, 2010), British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/common-pleas/1399-1500/trinity-term-1420 [accessed 27 August 2016].
3. ↑ J. L. Kirby, 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry IV, Entries 102-151', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 19, Henry IV (London, 1992), pp. 27-50. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol19/pp27-50 [accessed 27 August 2016]. Also https://inquisitionspostmortem.ac.uk/view/inquisition/19-115/
4. ↑ J. L. Kirby, 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry IV, Entries 502-549', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 19, Henry IV (London, 1992), pp. 185-199. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol19/pp185-199 [accessed 27 August 2016]. Also https://inquisitionspostmortem.ac.uk/view/inquisition/19-546/
5. ↑ http://www.inquisitionspostmortem.ac.uk/view/inquisition/21-227/