Research Notes:
Bridges states, [1],
In the reign of Henry II. [b] William son of Robert de Plumpton was certified to hold here [in Plumpton, Northamptonshire] one hide and an half of the fee of Wahul, in which he was succeeded [c] by Robert de Plumpton his brother.
This Robert de Plumpton, with Robert his son, [d] gave considerable portions of land, with a wood called Ocle, to the priory of Canons-Ashby. These benefactions were ratified by Walter de Wahul, the Superior Lord of the fee. [f] In the twenty ninth year of Henry III. Robert de Plumpton held a half a Knight's fee in Plumpton of Saiher de Wahul, who was then in possession of that honor. [g] By Alice his wife this Robert de Plumpton left issue five daughters, Sara the wife of William de St. John, Emma the wife of William Cauz of Duston, Alice who was married to Robert de Brucote, Agnes the wife of Richard de la Hay of Blakesley, and Sibil who was afterwards married to Adam de Bois. In the partition of his estate the Manor of Plumpton descended to William de St. John, who had married Sara his eldest daughter. [h] ... This William de St. John by Sara his wife [k] had issue two sons, John and Robert. John, the eldest, was married to Maud the daughter of Robert Fitz-Nigel, and dying in his father's life time left William de St. John his son and heir, who afterwards succeeded to the inheritance of William his grandfather. [l] William de St. John, on the death of John his son, granted one carucate of land in Plumpton to Maud his relict, to be enjoyed for the term of her life.
[m] In the sixteenth year of Edward I. Sir John de Wahul granted to Laurence le Riche of Brackley the custody of all the lands and tenements belonging to the fee of Wahul, which were held of William the son of John de St. John, together with the marriage of the said William, till he had completed the time of his full age. This William de St. Joh [n] in the thirty first year of Edward I. gave twenty six acres of land lying in Plumpton to the convent of Canons-Ashby.
In the first year of Edward II. died John John de Boltesham seized of certain lands and tenements in Plupton, which he held of William de Stl John by Knight's service. [o] In the ninth year of this reign William de St. John was certified to be Lord of the Nanor: and in the seventeenth year of the same reign [p] he remitted to the priory of Canons-Ashby six messuages and three virgates of land in the Lordship of Ashby, in exchange for ten messuages and seven virgates of land, six acres of meadow, and two acres of pasture in Plumpton, which had been formerly give to the convent by the ancestors of the said William. His succussor was William de St. John his son and heir.
This William [q] by his last will bearing date in the year 1327, bequeathed the sum of x l. for completing the chapel on the sourth side the church of Plumpton, in which his ancestors were buried. he died in the fifth year of Edward III. [r] By an inquisition taken in the twelfth year of the same reign, it was certified that the Manor of Plumpton was held by service of half a Knight's fee, that a third part was then assigned to Isabella his relict who was remairried to Richard de Rothinge citizen of London, and that Gyles his son and heir was a minor eight years of age. In the twentieth year of Edward III [s] Gyles de St John accounted frot the fourth part of a Knight's fee in Plumpton of the fee of Wahul, on collecting the aid for making the King's son a Knight. [t] And in the fifty first year of the same reign he granted an annual rent of x l. issuing from his Lordship of Plumpton to Richard de Preston, citizen of London, and his heirs.
Giles de St. John had two wives, [u] Margery and Maud; his second wife survived him, and upon his deceased [w] had the Lordship of Plupton assigned to her dower. To this Maud de St. John succeeded Margery the wife of William Harwedon, the daugther of Gyles de St. John by his former marriage.
[x] In the fourteenth year of Henry IV. it was found by inquisition that Thomas Dyster died seized of one cottage, two crofts, and an annual rent of xx s. issuing from one messuage and one virgate of land in Plumpton, with the reversion of the said messuage and virgate after the death of Thomas and John Cherie who held the same for their respective lives, and that the residue of the profits from thence arising was received by William Harwedon. A mandate was therupon issued to the Sheriff to enter upon the premises, and to summon the said William to his Majesty's exchequer. [y] But in the sicth year of Henry V. the custody of the said messuage and lands were committed to William Harwedon and Margery his wife, till judgment should be given whether the premises belonged to them, or were the right of the King.
[z] In the seventh year of Henry V. a fine was levied of the Manor of Plumpton by John Faukes and others, who enfeoffed the same to William and Margery Harwedon, and to the survivor of them. [a] In the twentieth year of Henry VI. died Margery the wife of William Harwedon, seized of the Manor and Advowson of the church of Plumpton, with the lands and tenements late in the possession of Thoms Dyster, which she left to William Harwedon her son and successor.
[b] This gentleman married Margaret the daughter of William Vaux, by who he had issue two sons, Richard and Thomas, with one daugher Margery the wife of Henry Skinnerton of Alderton, and on the decease of her husband remarried to William Garnon. [c] He died in the twenty sixth year of Henry Vi. and was suddeeded by Margery his wife, who appears to have held the Manor of Plumpton in dower. Upon the death of this Margaret [d] in the second year of Henry VII, Marger Garnon her daugher was found to be her heir.
By Henry Skinnerton her first husband this Margery had issue Jane and only daughter, the wife of Sir Richard Knightely of Fawesley, who succeeding to the inheritance of her mother and brothers, transferred the Manor of Plumpton into that family.[b] MS. Cott. Vesp. E XXII
[c] Genealog. inter Cart. Val. Knightley, Mil. 1614
[d] Reg. Cart. Priorat. de Esseby, p. 71 & feqq.
[e] Ibid. p. 76.
[f] Nom. Feod. Mil. penes Rem. Reg. Thesaur. Scaccar.
[g] Geneal. ubi supra.
[h] MS. fin. anno 41 Hen. III. e MS. P. Le Neve.
[i] E Cart. Val. Knightley, Mil. p. 37.
[k] Tab. Geneal. inter Cart. Val. Knightley, Mil.
[l] Ibid.
[m] Car. Val. Knightley, Mil.
[n] Esc. anno 31 Edw. I. n. 96.
[o] Nom Villar. &c. MS. penes Com. Cardig.
[p] ESc. anno 17 Edw. II. n. 173. & Pat. anno 18 Edw. II. p. 1. m. 17.
[q] Inter Cart. Val. Knightley, Mil.
[r] Esc. anno 12 Edw. III n. 16.
[s] Comp. Walt. Parles, &c.
[t] Rot. Claus. anno 51 Edw. III. m. 22.
[u] Tabl. Geneal.
[w] Placi. anno 15 Ric. II & Reg. Hen. Beauford, Ep. Linc.
[x] Esc. anno 14 Hen. IV. n. 7. & anno 4 Hen. V. n. 56.
[y] Rot. FIn. anno 6 Hen. V. m. 8. in Turr. Lond.
[z] Rot. Fin. anno Hen. V. MS. Hatton.
[a] Esc. ammp 20 Hen. VI. n. 19.
[b] Tab. Geneal.
[c] Esc. anno 26 Hen. VI. n. 27.
[d] Esc. anno 3 Hen. VII. n. 48.
[1] John Bridges and Peter Whalley, ed., The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, Vol. 1 (Oxford, 1791), 252-253.