Early Essex Clergy, by P.H. Reaney, Litt.D., Ph.D., F.R.Hist.S.

Extracts from ‘The Essex Review’, Vol. 50 (1941) p.239; Vol. 52 (1943) p.43; Vol. 53 (1944) p.97-98, 99; Vol. 54 (1945) p.35-36,123; Vol. 55 (1946) p.96.

Items marked + are not recorded in Newcourt’s Repetorium.

GREENSTEAD (ONGAR)

RALPH DALE was presented in 1367 (Reg. Sudbury 255; Newcourt gives the surname as Vale v. also Quendon).

212 Bax, Clifford. ‘Highways and Byways in Essex’ (Macmillan & Co., London, 1939) p.315

150

STANFORD RIVERS

+ JOHN DE CADAMO was parson in 1285. He had been collated by John de Ripariis (Assize Roll 244, m. 3d). On 21 May 1303, the Archbishop of Canterbury was ordered to desist from molesting and disquieting Master John de Cadamo, parson of Staneford in the diocese of London, and to revoke any process he may have made against him because he had not been ordained priest within a year of obtaining that church. He was employed as a King s clerk by special order when he was presented by the King (Cal. Close), v. also Little Laver.

PETER DE TILLOU or TILAY, was parson in 1320, when he was granted three years protection (Cal. Pat.). He died in 1326 and was succeeded by Tonker (Newcourt). On 18 August 1324, the Sheriff of Essex was ordered not to arrest or molest him in any way. He was a member of the Queen's household and was to be exempt from the order to arrest men of the dominion and power of the King of France. Anything taken from him was to be restored (Cal. Close).

NICHOLAS LE TONKER. He was instituted in 1326, according to Newcourt, who calls him Touch. The name also occurs as de Tonker and la Tonk. He was one of the clerks of Queen Isabella who, in 1343, petitioned the Pope for a canonry and prebend of Southwell for him. This was. granted, and in October 1344, at the Queen’s request, a mandate was issued to the Bishop of Norwich to carry out the papal provisions without examining Nicholas. In 1343 his rectory was worth 40 marks, double the estimated value in 1254 (Cal. Papal Letters ; Trans. E.A.S., xviii., 18). He was a foreigner, a fact that may account for the difficulties in spelling his name. On 3 April 1346, at the request of Queen Isabella, he was - granted permission freely to receive and dispose of all the fruits and profits of his church and, provided that he paid tenths to the King with the rest of the clergy, he was not to be compelled to make any contribution with the other aliens (Cal. Pat.).

EVERARD HUOPROST. On 24 November 1362, the Chancellor and Masters of Oxford University petitioned the Pope for a canonry and prebend of Chichester for Ebrard Huoprost of the diocese of Freising [Freisingen, Bavaria]. He was an M.A. [non-regent Master], a scholar of theology, and rector of Stanford Ryvers, value 40 marks. He was granted a benefice in the gift of the Bishop of Freising (Cal. Papal Letters). He retained this rectory, for on 12 July 1371, an order was issued for the protection of Everard, rector of Stanford Rivers. Thomas, the chaplain, had been out lawed and on the day of his outlawry, Everard had goods and chattels of his to the value of 20s. (Reg. Sudbury, p. 81). According to Newcourt, who knew only his Christian name, he was dead by 9 October 1371, when William de Wymondham was instituted.

STAPLEFORD TAWNEY

+ RICHARD DE GEDDING. Parson in 1288. On 24 September, as he was going to Paris to study, he appointed Robert de Gedding his attorney for two years (Cal. Pat.).

JOHN DE HESELARTON. Parson in 1316. On 7 May, John de Estheselarton, parson of Stapelford Tany, who was going to the court of Rome, was granted protection for one year (Cal. Pat.). In 1318 Peter de Voedale owed him 53s. 4d. (Cal. Close). Resigned in 1321 (Newcourt). v. Little Laver.

JOHN HOWSE. Instituted in 1401 (Newcourt). In 1403 and 1404 he was granted land in Stapleford Tawney (B.M., Add. Ch., 28804, 28807).

THEYDON MOUNT

+ ROBERT. Parson in 1236 when he was concerned in a dispute relating to land in Theydon (Cal. Close) and in 1238 when he held land in Theydon of Robert de Brywes (Essex Fines, i., 119).

151

+ HENRY DE LEXINTON. Parson on 10 June 1267, when he was granted a year’s protection (Cal. Pat.). He is, perhaps, the Henry who was parson of Tayden in 1262 (Assize Roll 236B, m. 2d). In 1254 the patron of Theydon de Monte was Sir William de Sutton, heir of John de Lexeton, who bought the right of patronage with the manor (Trans. E.A.S., xviii., 18). In 1282 we have a reference to ‘the wood of Theyden Lessington late of Robert de Sutton the younger’ (Cal. Pat.).

+ WILLIAM DE GRAFTON. Presented on 20 May, 1273, by the King by reason of his custody of the lands and heir of Robert de Sutton (Cal. Pat.).

+ WILLIAM DE HERLAWE had a similar presentation on 12 July, 1275 (Cal. Pat.). He was still parson in 1285 (Assize Roll 242, mm, 12, 46 ; 243, m. 27).

+ ROGER DE HECHYNDENE. Parson of Theydon atte Monte in 1343 (Essex Fines, iii., 67).

+ WALTER WELLS. 1647-1660 (E.R., xxxii., 36).

CHIPPING ONGAR

+ RALPH DE DALE from Greenstead. Instituted on 10 February, 1369 (Reg. Sudbury 265).

TOLLESBURY

+ THOMAS DE BREDESTRETE. Rector from at least 1288 to 1294. On 8 November 1288, he was deputed to receive the twentieth for two years from the province of Canterbury. In 1291 he had land in Stapleford Tawney, Navestock, and Stanford Rivers (Cal. Pat., Essex Fines, ii., 70).

WIMBISH

+ JOHN DE HESELARTON. Parson in 1323 when, on 26 August, he was granted a year’s protection as he was going to Gascony on the King’s service in the company of Ralph Basset of Drayton, seneschal of the duchy of Aquitaine, to stay there (Cal. Pat.). On 29 March 1324, he was still parson when he was owed 8 marks by Thomas Tanay of Stortford of London, butcher (Cal. Close), v. also Stapleford Tawney.