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.
On 27th November 1421 Robert executed an enfeoffment jointly with Alice, wife of the late John Hope, to John Eton of property in Stanton [Staunton]:
“A tenement called Le Oresmyth, which once belonged to William Hope, lying at Heymedue [High Meadow] in the parish of Stanton [Staunton], extending in length from the messuage once of the said William Hope on the one head [hand?] to the land once of John Ketford of Whiteclive [Whitecliff] on the other and lying between the land once of the said William Hope and the road leading from Heymedue [High Meadow] to All Saints Church. Rent; 1d. pa on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. Witnesses: William Ely, John Rogger, John Halle, James More and William Hammond”.
This is the first available deed executed by Robert on which a seal appears; it is such a poor impression that it is not clear whether it shows the Baynham coat of arms.
On 30th November 1423 Robert made a grant, as Lord of Magna Dene, to John De Etone [John Eton]:
“a parcel of land lying in the parish of Newlond [Newland] in Heymedweforet [High Meadow Wood] between the land of the said Robert and land of the said John and land of Thomas More and the way from Heymedwe[High Meadow] to the church of All Saints”.
This is the second available deed on which Robert’s seal appears; again, it is not a good impression, but does appear to show the Baynham coat of arms – a shield charged with a chevron between three bulls’ heads cabossed.
On 26th February 1426, Robert took a 50 year lease from Thomas Karant of “the whole manor of Ruarden [Ruardene] with a mill at Ludbrooke [Lydbrook]”. 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 Beynam of Magna Deane [Mitcheldean].
On 8th February 1427 Robert made another grant of land to John Etone [John Eton] of Nywelonde [Newland]:
“all that parcel of land
in a field called Lytylgrenwey in breadth between the land of William Robard and land of John Rogger, and in length between the land of the said John Etone and the land of the said Wm. Robard. Rent to Walter Mey, 3d. and to the said Robert Beynam, 6d. and heriot or relief when it should happen, with power of distress. Witnesses: John Rogger, John Halle, Walter Bolyniop, James Moore, William Hamond”.
It’s the third available deed on which his seal appears and has a better impression, despite now being broken – it clearly shows the Baynham arms and most of the legend.
A month later, on 9th March 1427, Robert made a gift to John Halle of Newland in the Forest of Dean:
“Messuage called Smythhowse in High Meadow in the parish of Newland and two acres of land there, with one acre of meadow and piece of land called ‘Colhowsefelde’ in the parish of Staunton. Messuage being situated in breadth between lands of Robert Beynam and John Walker and in length from king’s highway leading from Coleford to Newland to highway leading from the other side. Two acres of land lying in breadth between lands of John Roger and Thomas More and in length from garden of John Halle to highway leading to Newland church. Acre of meadow lying between lands of Ricvhard Teylow and John Halle and highway leading to Newland church. Aforesaid piece of land lies in breadth between land formerly belonging to John Borche and highway leading from High Meadow to Newland church, in length from land of John Wyrale to land of Richard Teylow. To hold of chief lords of fees, paying Robert Beynam 5s. silver annually at Michaelmas for all services, and heriot when due. Power of distraint in default of payment. Warranty against all people. Given at Newland. Witnesses: Richard Bolyngeop, John Walker, Richard Teylow, Thomas Halle, Richard Dolle and others”.
The seal is missing from this deed.
In the 1427 grant, Robert is described as “Robert Beynam, esquire, and heir of Johan, daughter of John Ketforde, the mother of the said Robert” and in the 1427 gift as “Robert Beynam, esquire, grandson and heir of John son of John Ketford”.
There appears to be no other mention of Johan (or Johanna or Joanna or Joan) Ketford, but John Ketford appears in numerous deeds of this period, in various roles.
So was Robert’s father John Ap Eignon married to Johanna Ketford as well as Elizabeth of Monmouth? The Ketford connection must be to this Robert Baynham as the only other Robert Baynham of this period (a cousin and contemporary of Thomas Baynham of Clearwell) was the son of William who was this Robert’s brother (they were both sons of John Ap Eignon).
On 14th September 1427 Robert, as lord of Magna Dene, executed an enfeoffment to John Walker of Hyemedowe:
“A messuage with appurtenances situated in Hyemdowestrete [High Meadow Street] in width between the messuage of John of Eton and the tenement of John Halle on the on side and the meadow of John Eton and the tenement of Robert Beynam on the other and extending in length from the said street to the lands of John of Eton and John Halle. Rent: 12s. on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, and a heriot or relief. Witnesses: John of Eton, John halle, Thomas More, Richard Teylowe and Richard Dolle”.
This deed also has Robert’s seal, but it is poorly impressed.
On the same day, Robert also made a grant of land to Richard Teylowe and his son William:
“three parcels of land lying in Newlond [Newland] and Stanton [Staunton] in length and breadth between land and grove of Richard, lord of Stantone [Staunton], land held by James More, land of Richard Bolingeop, land and grive [grove?] of the said Richrd Teylowe and the way leading from Heymedue [High Meadow] towards Stantone [Staunton] and land of William Smyth. To hold of the grantor by service of 5s. 8d., with power of distress. Witnesses: Thomas Balle, William Hamond, James More, John Walker, Thomas More. At Newlonde [Newland]”.
The seal is missing.
On 21st March 1428 Robert made another grant of land, this time to John Strenshale, tayllour [tailor], of Heymedewe [High Meadow] in Newlond [Newland] in the forest of Dene:
“a messuage with garden adjoining
and a parcel of waste land annexed to the mill of Thomas Balle and Alice his wife, all in Heymedewe [High Meadow] in breadth between the messuage of William Huyet and the way towards the said mill and extending in length from land of Richard Teylowe to the highway from Colford [Coleford] to the church of Newlonde [Newland]. Rent to the said Robert 12d. and heriot. Witnesses: Richard Teylowe, Richard Bolyngeope, William Huyot, John Walkere, John Halle”.
The seal on this deed has a good impression of the Baynham arms and a complete imprint of the legend, which is noted by Gloucester Archives as “Legend encircling arms: SIGILLUM RADULPHI DE IPRE (Ralph de Ipre, who bore the same arms as Beynam”.
On 4th June 1428 Robert had further land dealings with Thomas Karant: by quitclaim with warranty he gave Robert all the properties which he previously leased to him, plus the office of bailiff at Ruarden [Ruardene] (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 Baynam 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”.
On 18th February 1434 Robert made yet another grant to John Eton of Newland:
“the reversion of a piece of land, after the decease of Alice sometime wife of John Hope, lying in Newelond [Newland] in the field called Lytilgrenewey between the way from Heyghmedowe [High Meadow] towards Bradehouse pole called the Myndewey and between the land of Richard Bolyniope and land of Richard More and the grenewey Scollus [Scowles]. To hold the said piece of land, after the decease of the said Alice of the chief lords etc. Rent to the grantor, 4d. yearly. Witnesses: John Halle, Thomas More, Richard Dull, John Walkere, Thomas Halle.“
Despite being broken, the seal on this deed has probably the best impression of the Baynham arms.
In the 1434 deeds Robert is described as ” —- de Magna Dene” [late of Great Dene] and “of parochia Anglice Bykenore” [of the parish of English Bicknor].
So where was he living at this time ..?
On 12th September 1435 Robert, as lord of Dene, made a grant of land to John Walker:
“a tenement and a parcel of land, the tenement lying at Heymedue [High Meadow] in the parish of Stanton [Staunton] between the messuage which John Fleury [John Flowry] held and the tenement ….. from Heymedue [High Meadow] towards the church of All Saints of Newland; the land lying in the field called Mochilgrenewey ….. lands of Walter Mey and Walter George on one part and a place called Greneweystowe on the other. Rent to the said Robert 1d. Witnesses: John Etone ….. John Hall, Thomas More”.
The seal on this deed shows another good image of the Baynham seal and the legend is complete, but it doesn’t appear that the seal was impressed by the same tool as the one made in the previous year.
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.
Notes:
Two deeds from 1427 describe Robert as ‘heir of Johan, daughter of John Ketford, the mother of the said Robert’ and ‘grandson and heir of John son of John Ketford’.
There appears to be no other mention of Johan (or Johanna or Joanna or Joan) Ketford, but John Ketford appears in numerous deeds of this period, in various roles.
The Ketford connection must surely be to this Robert Baynham, as the only other Robert Baynham of this period was the cousin of Thomas Baynham of Clearwell (1422-1500); that Robert was the son of William (1402- ) who was this Robert’s brother (they were both sons of John Ap Eignon).
So was Robert’s father John Ap Eignon married to Johanna Ketford around 1400?
If so, where is the evidence for his marriage to Elizabeth of Monmouth?
Two deeds from 1434 describe Robert as ‘late of Great Dene’ and ‘of the parish of English Bicknor’, so this raises the question: where was he living at this time?
Was there a house at Eastbach Court?
Sir Alexander Baynham, Robert’s grandson, owned a house on this site at his death in 1524 but is there any evidence of when was it built ..?
Acknowledgements:
- 1420 Commission by Mainprise of John de Stanley includes surrender by Robert Baynham of letters patent – National Archives, C 66/402, m. 1
- 1420 Petition by Robert Baynham to recover properties – National Archives, C 54/270, m. 18
- 1421 Enfeoffment by Robert Baynham and another of John Eton – Gloucestershire Archives, D2957/285/3
- 1423 Grant by Robert Baynham to John Eton – Gloucestershire Archives, D1677/GG/174
- 1426 Lease to Robert Baynham by Thomas Karant – National Archives, C 54/279, m. 4d
- 1427 Grant by Robert Baynham to John Eton – Gloucestershire Archives, D1677/GG/182
- 1427 Gift by Robert Baynham to John Hall – Gloucestershire Archives, D2244/111
- 1427 Enfeoffment by Robert Baynham of John Walker – Gloucestershire Archives, D2957/214/23
- 1428 Grant by Robert Baynham to Richard & William Teylowe – Gloucestershire Archives, D1677/GG/186
- 1428 Grant by Robert Baynham to John Strenshale – Gloucestershire Archives, D1677/GG/187
- 1428 Quitclaim and Warranty to Robert Baynham by Thomas Karant – National Archives, C 54/279, m. 11d
- 1434 Pardon to Robert Baynham for hustling – National Archives, C 66/435, m. 1
- 1434 Grant by Robert Baynham to John Eton – Gloucestershire Archives, D1677/GG/205
- 1435 Grant by Robert Baynham to John Walker – Gloucestershire Archives, D1677/GG/209
- 1436 Writ & Inquisition Post Mortem of Robert Baynham – National Archives, C 139/79/15