1414/15 March 20-1415/16 March 19 (3 Henry V) Bridges states, "of which Geoffrey de Somerton it [Fawsley Manor] was purchased in the third year of Henry V. by Richard knightley, and Elizabeth his wife, the daughter of Thomas Purefoy, Esq; of Drayton in Leicestershire, and settled upon them and the heirs of the said Richard." [1]
1428 Richard Knightley and his wife Elizabeth sold land in May. [2]
No. 12. On the Morrow of the Ascension. 6 Hen. VI.
Between Hugh Erdeswyk, Armiger, Henry Smyth, Abbot of Roucestre Charles Taillour, Vicar of the church of Uttoxetter, and William Sondebache, complainants, and Richard Knyghtley, and Elizabeth his wife, deforciants of three messuages, 120 acres of land, ten acres of meadow, six acres of wood, and five acres of moor in Ronton, Halghton, and Gnousale.
Richard and Elizabeth remit all right to the complainants and heirs of Charles, for which the complainants gave 100 marks of silver.
1442 Richard Knightley died on December 26. The escheator was ordered to take the fealty of his widow Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Purefoy, the following year on November 16. [3]
Nov. 16. Westminster.
To the escheator in Norhampton. Order to take the fealties of Elizabeth wife of Richard Knyghtley esquire and Robert Catesby, and to give them livery of the manor of Falwesley, and the issues thereof taken; as it is found by inquisition, taken before John la Zouche late escheator, that at his death Richard Knyghtley held that manor jointly with them by gift of Geoffrey de Somerton made with licence of the king to the said Elizabeth, by name of Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Purefay of Leycestershire, the said Robert and Richard and to John Leventhorp esquire, Thomas Purefay, Robert Thriske clerk and John Catesby esquire all now deceased, and to the heirs of the said Richard, and that the same is held in chief by the service of 15l.To the same. Order to take the fealty of the said Elizabeth, and to give her livery of the manor and hundred hereinafter mentioned etc. (as above); as it is found etc. that William Grendoun, John Kydlyngton 'bowyer' and Walter Clendoun were seised of the manor of Upton and hundred of Newbotelgrave, holding the same of the late king in chief, that they gave that manor and hundred to Richard Knyghtley deceased and the said Elizabeth then his wife for their lives, that the said Richard continued his estate therein all his life, and died thereof so seised, that John Baskervyle knight was seised of the manor of Helydoun, and gave it to the said Richard and Elizabeth for their lives, that the said Richard continued his estate therein all his life and died thereof so seised, that he died on Wednesday before St. Thomas the Martyr last, and that the said manor and hundred are held in chief; and the late king on 12 February 7 Henry V and the king on 14 February last pardoned the trespass therein committed.
[1] John Bridges and Peter Whalley, ed., The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, Vol. 1 (Oxford, 1791), 65.
[2] The William Salt Archaeological Society, ed., Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Vol. 11 (London: Harrison and Sons, 1890), 229-230, [GoogleBooks], [GoogleBooks].
[3] A. E. Stamp, ed., Calendar of the Close Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. 4, 1441-1447 (London: HMSO, 1937), 169, [HathiTrust].