Thomas ap Eynon (1333-1376)
Thomas, my fourteen times great-grandfather, was born in 1333.
He married Joan Lanks, daughter of William Lanks (c.1310- ). They had at least one son: John, my thirteen times great-grandfather in 1376.
Thomas probably died in 1376, aged 43.
Joan died in 1422, aged 89.
Thomas ap Eynon, my fourteen times great-grandfather was born in 1333.
He married Alice Joan Lanks (called Joan), daughter of William Lanks (c.1310- ).
In 1375 there were two appointments of a Thomas Beynoun to Commissions to Arrest –
On 15th October he was appointed along with John Joce and Robert Hunteley to arrest, bring to the castle of Breval and deliver by indenture to the constable thereof, for safe keeping, William Smyth who has himself called ‘John Geffray’ and ‘Admiral’, using all diligence and haste in the matter as they love the king and his honour, and under pain of forfeiture of all that they can forfeit.
A similar commission was given to Gilbert Talbot and others to arrest Richard Ferour of Great Dene, Richard atte Mulle of Great Dene, and Nicholas ‘of the Castel’ of Great Dene; a third to John Joce, John ‘the Lord’ of Stanton, John Ketford and others to arrest Richard Shayt of Ruwardyn, John Hycokes of Ruwardyn and Ralph Greyndoure of Ruwardyn, the elder; a fourth in similar terms.
And on 18th October Peter de Veel, Sheriff of Gloucester was appointed along with others to arrest Richard Ferrour of Great Dene, William Smyth, who has himself called ‘Sire John Geffrey’ and ‘Admiral’ Nicholas de Castell, Richard del Milne, Walter Shepard, William Coutays, Richard Shait, who has himself called ‘Sire William Recchemenever’, John Hicokes, Ralph Grayndon, the elder, John Smyth of Little Dene, who has himself called ‘Sire Richard Misavysed’, John Willi and John Hawardyne, bring them to the Tower of London and have them delivered by indenture to the constable thereof for safe keeping in the Tower prison until other order for their delivery.
A similar commission was given to Gilbert Talbot, Peter de Veel, John Joce, John Ketford, John ‘the Lord’ of Stanton, Thomas Beynoun and others to arrest the same persons.
Given the locality of the commissions and the status and identity of the other commissioners, all of whom would have been known to Thomas as lord of the manor, it seems probable that this is Thomas ap Eynon and interesting to note that he is recorded as ‘Thomas Beynoun’.
Thomas and Joan had at least one son – John, my thirteen times great-grandfather, who was born in 1376.
Thomas probably died in the same year, aged 43.
Joan, wife of Thomas and daughter-in-law of Joan de Dene: whereas Joan relict of Ralph ap Eynon, by letters patent, lately granted to Thomas, her son, and Joan, his wife, in survivorship, 10l. yearly of ground rent out of her lands in the lordship of Great Dene and county of Gloucester, with power to distrain for the same if in arrear; the king confirms the grant to the said Joan wife of Thomas, still surviving. For 100s. paid in the hanaper.
See Calendar of Patent Rolls, Cal. Pat. 1374-7, 372: 1376. Oct. 26.
Joan died in 1422, aged 89.
Notes:
The confirmation by Edward III on 26th October 1376 of an earlier grant to Thomas Baynham and his wife Joan records that Johanna [de Dene], relict of Ralph ap Eynon had made that grant ‘to Thomas, her son …’ – evidence that Johanna de Dene was the wife of Ralph ap Eynon and Thomas ap Eynon was their son.
The confirmation by Edward III on 26th October 1376 of the earlier grant to Thomas Baynham and his wife Joan records that Joan de Dene had made that grant ‘to Thomas, her son, and Joan, his wife’ – evidence that Thomas Ap Eynon had married a woman named Joan (thought to have been Joan Lanks, daughter of William Lanks).
The confirmation by Edward III on 26th October 1376 of the earlier grant to Thomas Baynham and his wife Joan by Joan de Dene is made by the king to ‘Joan wife of Thomas, still surviving’, so Thomas must have died before that date.
In the BGAS version of the Visitation pedigree it states that Thomas ap Eynon was ‘dead in 1395’. Elsewhere this has been taken to mean that he died in 1395 but it seems more likely to mean that he was simply no longer alive by then, which explains why in that year the Duke of Gloucester presented during the minority of his son John (Thomas is dead and John is still a minor, so neither of them can exercise the right of advowson). So, when did Thomas die? I would suggest no later than 1376, as the confirmation by the king in that year of the earlier grant by Johanna widow of Ralph ap Eynon to her son Thomas and his wife Joan was to ‘the said Joan wife of Thomas, still surviving’ … so presumably Thomas was already dead?
As for Thomas’ son John, he was a minor in 1395 when he was still the ward of Thomas Woodstock but had attained his majority by 1401 when he himself presented to the church in Mitcheldean. So, John must have been born before 1380; and given that his father had died by 1376, I would suggest that John was born between 1375 and 1377. I have opted for 1376. The birth year of John’s father Thomas is recorded by the pedigree as 1333 (7 Edward III), which makes him an older father, but John’s birth year is additional evidence against there being a second Thomas ap Eynon whose own birth year is recorded as 1360 (34 Edward III) which would have made him a very young father!
Acknowledgements:
- 1376 Confirmation by Edward III of Grant to Thomas Baynham and his wife Joan – National Archives, C 66/—-, m. xx