Article
The De Theydon Family, by The Rev. A.L. Browne, M.A.
Source: Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society. New Series, Volume 21 (1933), pp. 84–89.
In a paper on the early history of the manor of Theydon Mount, contributed by the late Dr. J. H. Round to the Transactions of this Society,150 an account is given of the family which derived its name from the manor of Theydon. Recent research into the history of Little Rissington, otherwise Rissington Basset, co. Gloucester, another of the manors held by that family, has brought to light further details which form, I think, an interesting supplement to Dr. Round's paper.
As happened in the rise to prominence of more than one old family, the fortunes of the de Theydons were built upon the misfortunes of others. In 1163 Henry of Essex, constable of England, having failed to clear himself of a charge of cowardice exhibited while on military service against the Welsh, was deprived of all his lands.151 Three knight's fees in the honour of Rayleigh, co. Essex,152 which he thus forfeited, must have been granted by Henry I, together with three others in the escheated honour of Wallingford,153 to a certain William who was to be known from that time as William de Theydon. It is, perhaps, curious that William and his relatives took their name from Theydon, for they held manors and lands in other counties quite as extensive as, if not more extensive than, their three knight's fees in Essex, and they settled in Gloucestershire where they became benefactors of religious houses in the neighbouring counties of Oxford and Warwick.154
From an entry on the Pipe Roll of 27 Henry II,155 Dr. Round concludes that William de Taidene was holding Theydon Mount in 1181, and there is evidence that he was still alive in 1194. In that year William de Taidenne sued Cecilia late the wife of Ralph Wiggein in a plea concerning the apportionment of dower in the county of Oxford.156 That this William held land which afterwards came into the possession of Henry de Theydon and his son Paulinus, of whom I shall speak shortly, there can be no doubt. Besides the evidence given by Dr. Round, the suit just mentioned against Cecilia Wiggein is undeniable proof, when taken in connection with a return157 made in 1250 by Robert de Passelaw and other commissioners, which states that the prioress of Pinley holds one virgate in Shrewley of the gift of Robert de Thaydena, and the aforesaid Robert was enfeoffed by a certain Ralph Wygeyn.
But in what relationship William stood to Robert de Theydon, the father of Henry, is not clear.
On the Pipe Roll of 9 Henry II158 occurs an entry, the first of a long series, to the following effect. The sheriff of Essex and Hertford is charged with a sum called the Corpus of the counties. He pays a certain amount into the treasury and claims allowance for sums paid by the King's commands, for the value of lands given away by the King and the like. Among such claims for allowance are found these words:
“And to Robert de Taiden 10s. by tale in Havering for the exchange of his wood of Taiden for half a year. And hereafter he shall have 20s. in the year.”
It is evident from this that as early as 1163 Robert de Theydon had some interest in the wood of Theydon, for which, when taken in exchange by the King, he received compensation to the value of 20s. yearly. This compensation can be traced through the Pipe Rolls till after the death of Robert. It is possible that Robert was a son of William and received an assignment of portion of his father's property at an early age, or even that he was a co-grantee with his father. He might also have been a brother or nephew of William. In this case it is necessary to assume that William died without heir of his body. Whatever may have been the exact relationship, upon William's death his lands descended to Robert and through him to his son Henry. The exact date of Robert's death may be inferred from the fact that in the account of the second scutage of King John, under the honour of Wallingford,159 Henry de Taiden accounts for three knight's fees, although in that year and in the next year160 the compensation for the wood of Taiden is still alleged to be paid to Robert. In the following year, however, Henry's name is substituted.161
Information regarding Robert and his immediate relatives is given in a deed to be found in the Godstow cartulary,162 by which Robert granted land in Rissington to the abbess and convent of Godstow. His wife's name was Agatha and they had two sons, Henry and Warin, and a daughter (not named) who was married to Robert de Dodewell. Another deed in the same volume,163 by which Henry made a further grant to the same monastic house of land in Rissington and confirmed his father's grant, gives the name of Henry's wife as Beatrice and is concerned with the taking of the veil by Agatha their daughter.
Dr. Round, in referring to the distance between the Gloucester shire and Essex holdings of the family, says “It is remarkable how far apart the holdings of comparatively small landowners lay.” Further investigation enlarges our knowledge and substantiates that comment. A fine of 1197 to which Nigel Angeuin and Robert de Taidene and Henry his son were parties, concerned nine virgates Hodenelle.164 This fine has been assigned to the county of Warwick, but there is some doubt as to the identification of Hodenelle.165 There is, however, certain evidence that Henry de Theydon had property in Warwickshire. In a suit in Michaelmas term 1199, between Osbert Norrensis and an abbot concerning relief for land in that county,166 the parties left the court without a day because the abbot is to cause the plaintiff to have the relief, if Henry de Taidenn, the chief lord, will grant licence. Again, in Easter term 1198 a day was given to Thomas de Erlee and Henry de Taidenn and Robert de Turvill in a plea of land in Wiltshire and they had licence to agree.167 In 10-11 John a fine was levied by Robert de Mayner against Henry de Tayden concerning lands in Thorney, co. Suffolk.168
In 1203 Henry de Taiden granted to Hugh de Polsted lands pertaining to the marsh of Derflet, co. Essex, which he had previously held of the said Hugh.169 In Michaelmas term 1204, together with the same Hugh de Polsted, Henry was summoned on a jury of Essex knights to try a suit between John de Langed and Robert de Sutton concerning the advowson of Laindon; the case was adjourned to the following Easter term and further delayed by the failure of Hugh and Henry to appear.170 In 1201 and 1207 Henry was similarly engaged on great assizes concerning lands in co. Gloucester,171 and again in the latter year (Michaelmas term, 9 John) on another Essex case to decide between the rival claims of Maud daughter of Benedicta and the abbot of Maldon to 40 acres of land in Perendon.172 Finally in 1210 Henry de Taiden is found to hold one-third of a knight's fee in Bedfordshire.173
Henry de Theiden had a son Paulinus who was taken prisoner in the King's service in Poitou, and in order to ransom him, Henry borrowed 18l. from the Jews. This debt, which was due to the King, was pardoned by King John on 8 Nov., 1213,174 and in the following year Henry was excused the payment of scutage on six knight's fees for the use of his son in Poitou.175 The story of Henry's fall into disfavour, having been told by Dr. Round, need not be repeated. Presumably he escaped with nothing worse than forfeiture of his estates. Possibly the good service of his son counted in the scale. Within a few years Paulinus had recovered the family estates in Gloucestershire to maintain himself in the King's service.176 Further grants were made to him of 10l. of land in 1224,177 of a market and fair at Theydon in 1225,178 and of deer for the park at Theydon in 1227179; and before his death he held the three knight's fees in the honour of Rayleigh. That Henry de Theydon lived some years after his disgrace seems likely from the fact that he occurs as a witness to a charter in the Winchcombe Abbey Register.180 He was probably married twice. We saw above in the gift to Godstow that he then had a wife Beatrice, and a charter of Paulinus speaks of Juliana late wife of Henry de Teiden, my father.181 The wording suggests that Paulinus was the son of the first wife, as were also the two other children Henry and Agatha.
The wardship of the lands and heir of Paulinus were granted to Waiter de Evermue in 1230182, but Paulinus did not die till shortly before 29 Jan., 1233.183 The following pedigree is based partly on the present paper and partly on Dr. Round's account of Theydon Mount.
151 Eyton, Itinerary of King Henry II, pp. 61 and 62.
152 Booh of Fees, p. 1463, from the Red Book of the Exchequer, fol. 135, schedule, quoted by Dr. Round from the printed Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 739.
153 Rotuli de Finibus, p. I66, where an entry shows that in 1201-2 Henry de Taiden was holding three knight's fees in this honour.
154 Scil. Godstow and Pinley, for which see below.
155 Pipe Roll, 27 Henry II, p. 108
156 Rotuli Curia Regis, vol. i, p, 122.
157 Book of Fees, p. 1279.
158 Pipe Roll, 9 Henry II, p.22.
159 Chancellor's Roll (Rec. Com.) 3 John, p.44
160 Pipe Roll, 4 John
161 Ibid, 5 John.
162 English Register of Godstow Nunnery ( E.E.T.S.), p.153
163 Ibid, p154
164 Pedes Finium, 9 Richard I (Pipe Roll Society), no. 63
165 In Close Rolls, 1227-1231, p. 406, Hodenhull is said to be in co. Gloucester.
166 Rotuli Curie Regis, vol. ii, p. 59
167 Curia Regis Rolls, vol. i, pp. 43 and 65
168 Walter Rye, Suffolk Fines, p. 15.
169 Essex Piues, vol. i, p. 32.
170 Curia Regis Rolls. vol. iii. pp. 194 and 318.
171 ibid.. vol. ii, p. 59 and vol. v. p. 14.
172 ibid., vol. v, p.99. There are further cases of service by juries by Henry de Theydon on pages 205 and 216 of the last mentioned volume. and in a Sussex case in Rotuli Curie Regis, vol. v, p. 314.
173 Red Book, vol ii, p.539
174 Rotuli de oblatis et finibus, p. 52
175 Rot. Litt. Clause., vol. i. p . 201
176 Ibid, p.320.
177 ibid., pp. 624bh. 625b. 650 and 651
178 Rot. Lift. Clause, vol. ii. p. 62h.
179 Ibid, p.180
180 Landboc sive Registrum Monnsterii de Winchcomba, ed. Rev. David Royce, vol. ii, p. 216
181 Cal. Charter Rolls, vol. iii. p, 325.
182 Cat, Pat. Rolls. 1225-1232 p.334
183 Close Rolls, 1231-34, p. 185
184 Calendar of Close Rolls, 1272-79 p.577-578
