Robert Baynham (1400-1436)
Born: 1400 at Mitcheldean
Parents: John ap Eynon and Elizabeth
Married: c.1420 to Margaret Abrahall
Died: 1436 at Mitcheldean
Robert was my twelve times great-grandfather; he was born at Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire around 1400.
He married Margaret Abrahall in Eaton Tregoz, Foy, Herefordshire around 1420, when he was 20. They had six children: my eleven times great-grandfather Thomas (who later became Thomas Baynham of Clearwell) in 1422; [ Eynon in 1422; ] Robert in 1424; Margaret in 1424; John in 1425; William (who later became William Baynham of Callis) in 1426.
Robert died on 12th September 1436, aged 36.
Margaret his wife survived him and died in 1455.
Robert was born around 1400 at Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire; he was the eldest son and heir of John Ap Eynon and his wife Elizabeth.
He appears to have been the earliest of my ancestors to use the ‘Baynham’ surname in place of ‘Ap Eynon’ or ‘Ap Einon’
His first appearance in written records (as ‘Robto Beynam’) is in a commission by mainprise of John de Stanley of the county of Lancaster ‘chivaler’ and others, dated 14th February 1420; it records that Robert has surrendered letters patent received on 16th July of the previous year which had committed him to the (safe) keeping of the estate of Gilbert, Lord Talbot.
On 8th May 1420 he brought a successful petition to recover properties:
“To the guardians of the peace in Gloucestershire. Order, upon the petition of Robert Beynham, to put him again in possession of four messuages, 100 acres of land and 40 acres of meadow in Newent and the issues thereof taken; as his petition shews that at the time of the king’s last voyage to Normandy and after he was thereof peaceably seised, until on Tuesday after the Purification last Nicholas Walwayn and William Wynter of Oxenhale with great numbr of men unknown did by force of arms thrust him out contrary to the peace; and for that the said Nicholas appeared in chancery by virue of a writ to him addressed, and in despite of the court and contempt of the king did withdraw without licence of the king, by advice of the justices, sergeants at law and others of the council learned in the law it was determined that the petitioner be put again in possession”.
Also in 1420, he married Margaret Abrahall [ link to her pedigree ] in Eaton Tregoz, Foy, Herefordshire. They had five children: my eleven times great-grandfather Thomas, in 1422; [ Eynon in 1422; ] Robert in 1424; Margaret in 1424; John in 1425; William in 1426.
In 1426, Robert took a 50 year lease from Thomas Karant of “the whole manor of Ruarden with a mill at Ludbrooke”. The rent was “one red rose at Midsummer”; he also had to render “to the chief lords the services due and accustomed”. Thomas was allowed to repossess on payment of 80 marks.
One of the witnesses was Thomas More, a local clerk. Robert is shown as Robert Baynham of Magna Deane [Mitcheldean].
In 1428 by quitclaim with warranty the same Thomas Karant gave Robert all the properties which he previously leased to him, plus the office of bailiff at Ruarden (written as Ricarden in the deed).
One of the witnesses was Henry Dene, the …………. of Johanna de Dene, wife of Ralph ap Eynon. Robert was again shown as Robert Baynham of Magna Deane [Mitcheldean].
On 23rd January 1434 he is referred to as “Robtus Beynham late of Great Dene, co. Gloucester, ‘gentilman'”, when he receives a pardon of his “outlawry in the husting of London for not appearing before the justices of the Bench to satisfy Benedict, bishop of St. Davids, of a judgement debt of 20l. and 5 marks damages, he having surrendered to the Flete prison and judgement having been given in the same court that he be acquitted of the said debt and damages by virtue of a release made him by William Nicoll, esquire, one of the executors of the same bishop, after the deathof the bishop and after the recovery of the debt and damages aforesaid, as well by default of the said William Nicoll as of John Burdet, clerk, and John Suthwell, his co-executors; as appears by certificate of William Babyngton, the chief justice of the said Bench”.
Robert died on 12th September 1436, aged 36. He was buried in the church of St. Michael and All Angels in Mitcheldean.
An Inquisition Post Mortem was taken after his death. In the Writ dated 18th September he is recorded by the Chancery clerk, [Nicholas] Wymbyssh as “Robert Baynam”.
The Inquisition, for Gloucestershire and the adjacent March of Wales was taken at Newent on 22nd October 1436, by Escheator William Brounyng (presumably the same man who, two years later, was appointed to have the marriage of Robert’s son and heir Thomas who was by then still only 16).
The jurors were John de Aune, Thomas Hoke, Henry Castell, John Wynter, John Boure, Richard Brugge, Richard Colwall, Thomas Aillewey, Thomas Colwall, John Flewelyne, Richard Flewelyne and John Mile.
It found that Robert Baynam “held the following in demesne as of fee: Micheldean, 2/3 manor, held, with the rent in Little Dean [below], of the king in chief of his castle of St Briavels as 1/4 knight’s fee, and by service of paying 11s. at the said castle at Michaelmas only. There are 40 acres arable, each acre worth 4d. yearly; 12 acres meadow, each acre worth 2s. yearly; 16 acres pasture, each acre worth 12d. yearly; 100 acres fallow land, each acre worth 1d. yearly; 200 acres waste land, worth nothing yearly; £6 5s. 9d. rent, payable at Christmas and Midsummer equally; and pleas and perquisites of court, worth 2s. yearly beyond the steward’s fee and expenses. Little Dean, 26s. 8d. annual rent from free tenants, payable as above, held as above”.
It also found that Robert died “on 12 September last”.
It also found that “Thomas Baynam, his son and next heir, is aged 14 years 5 months and 3 days”.
This was the first IPM taken for anyone in the Ap Einon-Baynham line; previous generations had all held the avowdson of the Church of Dene Magna and presented to it, so this was sufficient evidence of them holding the manor.