1406/07 Based on a statement in the IPM of William Rothewell, John Stoughton was born by March 11, 1406/07, and his father was Thomas Stoughton who was the son of Maud, sister of William Oudeby. The IPM, taken on March 11, 1436/37, names John Stoughton as the next heir of Ralph Oudeby and states John Stoughton's age as thirty years and more. John Stoughton's relationship to Ralph Oudeby is stated in the published abstract of the IPM as "son of Thomas son of Maud, sister of William, father of Ralph." [1] [2] The statement in the original IPM is [3]
Item dicunt quod dictus Radulphus Oudeby obijt in festo Epiphanie domini ultimo preterito et est eius heres propinquor Johannes Stoughton videlicet filius Thome filij Matild' sororis Willelmi patris predictis Radulphi Oudeby et est etatis triginta annorum et amplius.
1436 On November 5, at Westminster, John Stoughton was appointed yeoman of the catery in the household of Henry VI, until 30 April next. [4]
1437 "Jun. 16. Westminster. Licence for 5 marks paid in the hanaper, for Thomas Repynghale of Repynghale, William Saxy, citizen and fishmonger of London, Robert Robynson, clerk, John Florthes, clerk, and Roger Bay, to grant the manor of Hacunby, co. Lincoln, held to the king in chief, to John Stoughton and his heirs." [5] This action was preceded by transactions involving the same property:
1436 May 16. Whereas Ralph Oudeby and Elizabeth his wife, by virtue of letters patent of the king in that behalf, by deed, granted to William Rothewell and Elizabeth his wife and the heirs of their bodies the manor of Hacunby, held in chief, at the yearly rent of 101. payable for the lives of the said William and Elizabeth Rothewell, and the longer liver of them, subject to right of re-entry in case of non-payment of the rent, with reversion to the grantors and the heirs of the grantor Ralph; and whereas the said Elizabeth Rothewoll has died without heir of her body by the said William begotten, so that he now holds for life with reversion as aforesaid; the king, for 5 marks paid in the hanaper, has granted licence for the said Ralph and Elizabeth Oudeby to grant that the manor, except one acre of land therein, shall remain after the death of the said William to Thomas Repynghale of Repyngbale, William Saxy, citizen and fishmonger of London, Robert Robynson, clerk, John Florthes, clerk, and Roger Bay to hold to them and their heirs, at the rent of 10l a year to be paid to the said Ralph and Elizabeth Oudeby in survivorship.[6]
1437 May 1. Westminster. To the escheator in Lincolnshire. Order to take the fealties of Thomas Repynghale of Repynghale, William Saxy citizen and fishmonger of London, Robert Robynson, John Florthes clerks, and Roger Bay, and to give them livery of the manor of Hacunby, one acre of land excepted, and the issues thereof taken; as the king has learned by inquisition, taken by the escheator, that William Rothewelle at his death held no lands of the king or of any other in his demesne as of fee nor in service, but that Ralph Oudeby and Elizabeth his wife were seised of the said manor, he in his demesne as of fee and she as of freehold, holding the same in chief by knight service, and with licence of the king gave that manor to the said William Rothewelle and Elizabeth his wife and to the heirs of their bodies, with reversion to the grantors and the heirs of the said Ralph, that Elizabeth wife of William died without issue by him, and after her death he held the said manor for life with reversion as aforesaid, and that with licence of the king the said Ralph and Elizabeth after granted the reversion thereof, one acre excepted, to Thomas Repynghale and the others and to their heirs, and William Rothewelle attorned tenant to them; and for 6s. 8d. paid in the hanaper the king has respited their homages until Michaelmas day next.[7]
1437 "Dec. 13. Hanworth Manor. Grant for life to John Stoughton, clerk of the great catery, of the office of customer and collector of the 8d. due to the king on the weight of each sack of wool or wool-fells passing out of Cales, to hold himself or by deputy, with the accustomed wages, fees and profits: in lieu of a grant of the same during pleasure, surrendered. By p.s." [8]
1439 "Oct. 26. Windsor Castle. Grant, for life, to John Stoughton, of the office of feodary of the honour of Richemond in the counties of Lincoln and Nottingham, to hold himself or by deputy, with the accustomed wages, fees and profits. Grant to him also of all the king's sheriffs' tourns and view of frankpledge, within the king's honour, lordship and fee of Richemond in the same counties, with waifs, strays, assize of bread and ale and other appurtenant profits and the liberties of infangthef and outfangthef, the chattels of felons, fugitives and outlaws as fully as John, the late duke of Bedford, or Ralph, the earl of Westmorland, or anyone else formerly had the same, rendering to the king therefor the true yearly value as found by account to be audited yearly at Boston or elsewhere in the said counties. Grant to him also that, as bailiff of the said honour, he shall, by his deputy, have the return and execution of all writs of assize within the said honour and fee, rendering nothing therefor and receiving on his account such fees and wages as previous bailiffs have had from the said duke, notwithstanding that the same John Stoughton has the office of customer and collector of the 8d. due to the king on the weight of each sack of wool and woolfells exported from Calais; in lieu of a grant thereof, for life to John Breknock, surrendered." [9]
1441/42 Isabel Horton entrusted her goods to John Stoughton and others on February 6. [10]
Isabel Horton widow to Otewell Worsley, John Hanham esquires, Walter Moyle, John Tyngelden, William Bedston, John Stoughton, John Fenwyke, William Moyle and William Pykworth, their executors and assigns. Gift of all her moveable goods and chattels quick and dead within the realm, and all debts to her due. Dated London, 6 February 20 Henry VI.
Memorandum of acknowledgment, 8 February.
1442 John Bole entrusted his goods to John Stoughton on November 21. [11]
John Bole citizen of London to Thomas Scargoill and John Stoughton, their executors and assigns. Gift of all his goods, debts and chattels moveable and immovable, quick and dead. Dated 20 November 21 Henry VI.
Memorandum of acknowledgment in chancery at Westminster, 16 December.
1442 "Nov. 26. Westminster. Appointment, during pleasure, of John Beaufitz as controller of the great and petty custom, the subsidy on wools, hides and wool-fells and the subsidy of tonnage and poundage in the ports of Exeter and Dertmouth, taking therein the fees and wages accustomed; so that he exercise the office in person and that one part of the 'Coket' seal remain in his keeping. By bill of the treasurer. The like to the following: ... 1443 July 15. Westminster. John Stoughton in the port of Boston, as above. By like bill etc. [12]
1443 May 6. Westminster. Licence, for 40s. paid in the hanaper, for John Stoughton to enfeoff John Faukes, John Louthe, Clerk, William Baynham and Philip Boste of the manor of Hacunby, co. Lincoln, held in chief, and for them to grant the same to the said John Stoughton and Alice his wife and the heirs of John. [13]
1445 John Stoughton transfered his land to feoffees. [14]
John Stoughton to John Faukes, John Louthe clerks, Philip Beste and William Baynham, their heirs and assigns. Charter, made with licence of the king, of the manor of Hacunby co. Lincoln, and all his lands etc. in Boston, and in Leycester, Oudeby, Sterton and Stoughton co. Leycestre. Dated Stoughton, 1 July 23 Henry VI. Witnesses: John Broune, Thomas Lewyn, Robert Bayle, John Swan, John Bate, all of Stoughton.
Memorandum of acknowledgment, 1 February this year. [1451/52]
1451 John Stoughton entrusted his goods to his brother William on June 2. [15]
John Stoughton esquire to John Faux clerk, John Fenwyk 'gentilman' and William Stoughton of the king's household, their heirs, executors and assigns. Gift of all his goods and chattels in Lincolnshire and elsewhere within the realm and over sea, and all debts to him due. Dated 2 June 29 Henry VI.
Memorandum of acknowledgment, 5 June.
1452 "July 15 Grant to the king's serjeant, William Stoughton, yeoman of the catery, of all the goods late of John his brother, on his petition showing that John granted the same to him and others by a writing enrolled in Chancery and afterwards went to Calais and continued there and still continues in the king's service, at which time divers persons prosecuted John and outlawed him, so that John Denton, escheator in Lincolnshire, seised into the king's hands all goods late of John in the said county. [16]
[1] Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. 24, 11-15 Henry VI, 1432-1437 (London: HMSO, 2010), 476, the published abstract does not state John's age.
[2] Mapping the Medieval Countryside (Digital edition of the medieval English inquisitions post mortem (IPMs) from c. 1236 to 1509), [Link].
[3] Personal Communication, transcription by Matthew Thomkins, email communication 12 November 2015.
[4] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 3, 1436-1441 (London: HMSO, 1907), 24, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[5] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 3, 1436-1441 (London: HMSO, 1907), 63, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[6] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 2, 1429-1436 (London: HMSO, 1907), 594, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[7] A. E. Stamp, ed., Calendar of the Close Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 3, 1435-1441 (London: HMSO, 1937), 88, [HathiTrust].
[8] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 3, 1436-1441 (London: HMSO, 1907), 123, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[9] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 3, 1436-1441 (London: HMSO, 1907), 345, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[10] A. E. Stamp, ed., Calendar of the Close Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 4, 1441-1447 (London: HMSO, 1937), 48, [HathiTrust].
[11] A. E. Stamp, ed., Calendar of the Close Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 4, 1441-1447 (London: HMSO, 1937), 118, [HathiTrust].
[12] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 4, 1441-1446 (London: HMSO, 1908), 149, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[13] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 4, 1441-1446 (London: HMSO, 1908), 196, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[14] C.T. Flower, ed., Calendar of the Close Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 5, 1447-1454 (London: HMSO, 1941, reprinted 1971), 363, [FHLBook].
[15] C.T. Flower, ed., Calendar of the Close Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 5, 1447-1454 (London: HMSO, 1941, reprinted 1971), 268, [FHLBook].
[16] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 5, 1446-1452 (London: HMSO), 572, [HathiTrust].