M.P. for Staffordshire in 1341.
Events
Date of Birth: about 1300.
Place of Birth: unknown.
The date is given by Wedgwood.
Date of Death: 1346.
Place of Death: Caynton, Shropshire.
Adam was killed while resisting arrest for various homicides and other felonies.
Relationships
Father: uncertain.
Mother: uncertain.
The Bridgemans in the pedigree given connect Adam with dotted lines to Adam de Peshale and Anne, widow of Adam de Whethales (died 1315). See the Commentary section below. Wedgwood gives Adam de Peshale and Anne.
Spouse: uncertain.
The 1614 Visitation of Staffordshire gives “Agnes, filia et haeres Jo. Caverswall”. The Bridgemans leave her nameless in the pedigree given. Perhaps the “Alice Lady of Knightley” that Adam abducted in 1334 (see below) became his wife. (The 1614 Visitation makes an Alice Knightley the second wife of Adam’s grandson Sir Thomas Peshale.)
Spouse: Joan Eyton.
This relationship is given by Woodger in his article on Adam’s son Adam. The Bridgemans (pp. 97-98) give reasons why Adam’s wife couldn’t have been Elizabeth Weston, as given in several sources. The 1614 “Visitation of St George” given in Parshall gives “filia et haeres John Weston, D’us de Weston-Super-Lizard”. The marriage to Joan Eyton is confirmed by the entry from the Calendar of Patent Rolls given below.
Children (probably by his first wife):
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Sir Richard de Peshale (died about 1387) married Joan Chetwynd.
John de Peshale
Sir Hamo (or Haminet) de Peshale married (1) Alice de Harley about 1375; married (2) Thomasine (Wastneys) before 1387.
Children (by his second wife):
Sir Adam de Peshale (died 28 October 1419) of Weston-under-Lizard. Married (1) Elizabeth Weston in about 1362; married (2) Elizabeth ferch Sir Philip ap Rees in 1369; married (3) Joyce de Botetourt by May 1389.
Isabel de Peshale married Thomas Gech of Newport.
Evidence
from the National Archives Catalogue:
E 210/11242
25 January 1336 - 24 January 1337
Osbarn de Hynkel' and others to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond to pay13 marks 6s 8d sterling for half the tithe of sheaves accruing to the church of Sandon; (Staffordshire) 10 Edw III
E 210/11240
25 January 1337 - 24 January 1338
Adam de Morton and John de Wotton to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond to pay 9 silver marks for 10 sheaves of Sandon (Sondon) bought from him; (Staffordshire) 11 Edw III
E 210/11243
25 January 1337 - 24 January 1338
Edmund de Loe and others to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond to pay 100 shillings sterling for tithes of sheaves of Lapley; (Staffordshire) 11 Edw III
E 210/11241
25 January 1338 - 24 January 1339
Stephen Bichewater of Salt, and others to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond to pay 7 marks of silver for corn bought at Sandon; (Staffordshire) 12 Edw III
E 210/11239
25 January 1339 - 24 January 1340
Thomas Newel of Newbold, and others to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond for the repayment of a loan of £10; (Staffordshire) 13 Edw III
E 210/11247
1340
Hulton Abbey (Robert, abbot) to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond to pay £7 sterling for corn bought from him; (Staffordshire) 1340
E 210/11238
25 January 1341 - 24 January 1342
James de Stafford, knight, and others to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond for the payment of money. Dated at Stafford; Staffordshire 15 Edw III
E 210/11244
25 January 1344-24 January 1345
John de Cheseworthyn and others to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Acknowledgment of the receipt of 12 marks of silver to trade with on his account; (Staffordshire) 18 Edw III
E 210/11246
25 January 1344-24 January 1345
Stone Priory (John de Stalynton, prior) to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond for the repayment of £200 sterling; (Staffordshire) 18 Edw III
E 156/28/128
8 March 1346
Letters patent committing to John de Okore custody of the lands of Adam de Peshale, in King's hands by reason of his father's forfeiture, he is to answer in the Chamber for the issues. By writ of Privy Seal. Dated at Westminster.
E 210/11245
25 January 1345 - 24 January 1346
William de Douweles to Adam de Peshale or Pessal: Bond for the repayment of 40s. of silver; (Staffordshire) 19 Edw III
SC 8/239/11903
1347
Petitioners: Joan de Peshale, widow of Adam de Peshale, and John de Peshale, son of Adam de Peshale.
Addressees: King and council
Nature of request: Joan, widow of Adam de Peshale, asks that, as her husband was never forfeited in such a way that his heir should be disinherited or that she should be deprived of her dower, she might be given her dower from the lands that were Adam's and were seized into the King's hand, and that his heir might have his inheritance.John de Peshale asks that he might have the term of the church of Sandon, of which church he was seised for two years before his father's death.
Nature of endorsement: attorneys for the Joan, Richard and John mentioned here: John de Knyghtle and Thomas de Offeleye alternatively, to prosecute the business mentioned here.
Places mentioned: Sandon, [Staffordshire]
People mentioned: Adam de Peshale; Richard [de Peshale], heir of Adam de Peshale; John de Knyghtle; Thomas de Offeleye
SC 8/239/11903
1348
Petition to King and council
Petitioners: Joan de Peshale, widow of Adam de Peshale, and Richard de Peshale, son and heir of Adam de Peshale.
Nature of request: The Peshales request that justice be done to them and that she is able to have her dower, and he is able to have his inheritance as her husband forfeited without being attainted of any manner of felony and the lands are now in the king's hand.
Nature of endorsement: Let the petition be sent into Chancery, and let the chancellor call the steward of the Chamber or his lieutenant, and the sergeants of the king and certain justices, and let the record and process concerning the judgment and the inquisition be viewed, and they should hear the reasons for the king and the party, and let justice be done.
E 199/41/22
c. 1345-1349
Staffordshire: Indenture concerning goods and chattels of Adam de Peshale at Offley Horseley and Cresswell: John de Okeovere, King's Commissioner, John de Swinnerton, parson of Muckleston, William de Trosthorpe, Reeve of Cresswell
from “Extracts from the Plea Rolls”
[1334]
(p. 6):
Gaol Delivery made at Stafford before William de Shareshulle and John de Peyto. 8 E. III. No. 127.
Staff. Adam de Peshale, who had been indicted before Richard de Peshale, sheriff of co. Stafford, for feloniously killing Peter de Furco, the proctor of the dean of Lichfield at Stafford, and for feloniously abducting Alice, the Lady of Knyghteley with goods and chattels to the value of 20 marks from Knightley, was brought before the Justices and pleaded not guilty, and put himself on the country. A jury acquitted him of both charges. m. 2.
[1338]
(p. 7):
Gaol Delivery made at Stafford before Roger Hillary and John de Peyto, Justices, etc., on the Thursday after the Feast of the Annunciation. 12 E. III. No. 131.
Staff. Adam de Peshale, Roger Marion, and William son of Philip le Barker of Eccleshale indicted before John Gentille, the Steward of the Bishop’s Liberty of the manor of Eccleshale, for feloniously killing John de Uselwalle at Eccleshale on the Saturday before the feast of St. Michael 11 E III, were acquitted. m. 2, dorso.
Staff. Adam de Peshale indicted before John Gentille, the Bishop’s Steward, for aiding and abetting Roger Marion and William, son of Phillip, who had feloniously killed John de Uselwalle at Eccleshale was acquitted. m.2. dorso.
from the Calendar of the Fine Rolls (Vol. 5)
1345. November 20. Rockingham.
Order to the sheriff of Stafford to cause proclamation that none give aid or counsel to Adam de Peshale...whom the king ordered to be arrested for divers misdeeds, contempts and disobediences … having broken arrest…
1346. February 16. Westminster.
Order to the sheriff of Stafford to cause to be sold the goods and chattels late of Adam de Peshale, a felon, within his bailiwick, taken by the sheriff into the king’s hand by reason of Adam’s forfeiture…
1346. March 8. Westminster.
Commitment during pleasure to John de Okore of the keeping of the lands late of Adam de Peshale, in the king’s hand by his forfeiture and reserved to the chamber, so that he answer in the chamber for the issues thereof….
from the Calendar of Patent Rolls (Edward III v. 7):
1345. November 15. Westminster.
Appointment of Robert de Ferariis and Simon de Ruggeleye to attach the body of Adam de Peshale, for certain causes shewn before the king and council, and commit him to Stafford gaol in the custody of the sheriff.
By K. & C.
1345. November 20. Rockingham.
Commission to Richard, earl of Arundel, justice of North Wales, on pain of forfeiture of all that he can forfeit, to arrest Adam de Peshale, a common malefactor, lately attached by the king’s command, who has broken such attachment and arrest and escaped, wherever found in the king’s lordship, whether in England or in Wales, dead or alive, ….
[The like to a large number of others.]
1345. December 26. Woodstock.
Commission to Robert de Ferrariis to arrest Adam de Peshale, lately attached by command of the king for homicides and divers other felonies, who has broken that attachment and escaped; and to depute in his place such person or persons as he shall think fit for this to execute the premises. By K. on the information of W. de Shareshull.
1346. April 12. Tower of London.
Grant to John de Tamworth, king’s clerk, of the free chapel of Creswall, co. Stafford, in the king’s gift by reason of the lands late of Adam de Peshale, deceased, being in his hands for certain causes….
1346. May 27. Porchester.
...beheaded the said Adam at Kaynton, co. Salop, because he resisted attachment, fleeing and refusing to obey the law, as lawful was for them to do...
1346. June 6.
...the farm of the church of Sondon, which Adam de Peshale, beheaded for felony, held for a term not yet expired of the grant of the abbot and convent of Combremere, ...
1346. July 20. Windsor.
Commission to Henry de Greystock and John de Okovere to make inquisition in the counties of Stafford and Salop touching divers sums of money and goods late of Adam de Peshale, which should pertain to the king as forfeit on account of the rebellion of the said Adam but are said to have been carried away by men of those counties, and debts due to the same Adam which are concealed. By p.s.
1346. July 20. Windsor.
Commission to Thomas de Halghton, Henry de Greystock and John de Okore to make inquisition in the county of Stafford, in the presence of the keeper of the manor of Cressewell, if he will attend, touching a petition by John de Eyton of Wyldemor praying that, whereas after the death of Henry de Cressewell, ‘chivaler,’ he took into his hands the said manor which the latter held of him by knight service, to hold during the nonage of the daughters and heirs of the same Henry and demised the same to Joan late the wife of the said Henry, at this will, and the king has caused it to be seized into this hands among the lands of Adam de Pehsale, late husband of the said Joan, and reserved to his chamber, restiution may be made to him of the manor; and certify the king whether John ever released or made estate of the manor to the same Adam and the whole truth as to all other circumstances of the case.
By letter under the seal called ‘le griffoun.’
from the Calendar of Patent Rolls (Edward III v. 8):
1348. July 6 Westminster.
Commission to Roger Hillary, Simon de Ruggleye, sheriff of Stafford, and John de Okore to make inquisition in that county touching a petition of John de Horslee setting forth that Adam de Peshale in his lifetime held 40 acres of land in Horslee of the inheritance of the said John, for the life of his father, Robert de Horslee, whose heir he is, and that these have been taken into the king’s hands with the other lands of the same Adam on acount of his forfeiture and are now reserved to the chamber, and praying for restitution thereof.
By letter of the ‘griffoun’ seal.
1348. July 6. Windsor.
Commission to Roger Hillary, Simon de Ruggeleye, sheriff of Stafford, and John de Okore to make inquisition in that county touching a petition of John son of Adam de Peshale setting forth that, whereas the abbot and convent of Cumbermere lately sold to the same Adam and John the fruits and profits of their appropriated church of Sondon, tithes of sheaves and hay pertaining to the vicarage of that church only excepted, to hold to them and their assigns for thirty years from 1342, as in letters patent of the abbot and convent is more fully contained, such fruit and profits have been taken into the king’s hands along with the other lands of the same Adam and are reserved to his chamber, and praying that he may have restitution of the same.
By letter of the ‘griffoun’ seal.
Commentary
The Bridgemans on the parentage of Adam (pp 103-4):
The parentage of Adam de Peshale, Sheriff in 1341, is not clear, but the probability is that he is the same person as the Adam son of Adam de Peshale, who was charged together with Geoffrey, formerly Beadle of Eccleshall, for an act of violence in the house of Thomas le Walkere of Offeye in 1323: and it is by no means unlikely that this Adam de Peshale (the father) was identical with Adam de Whethales, to whom William de Pesall and Dorea his wife gave by deed with date [qu. circ. 1285] totam terram et pratum in villa de Pesale, which he had held of Lucy, who had been the wife of Thomas de Pesale, for the term of her life, except nine acres of land which the said Adam released to the said William and Dorea, to hold to him and his heirs and assigns for ever, with all the liberties and easements belonging to the said lands and fields, at a rent of one penny payable at Christmas for all suit and service. We find that Adam de Whethales left a widow Anne, living in 1315, and sons named Richard, John and Adam living in 1319.
Wedgwood’s account:
Adam de Peshale of Horsley, M.P. Staffs, 1341.
Born c. 1300; son of Adam de P. {alias de Whethales or de Swynnerton) of Peshale and Eccleshall, by Anne. He married Jane, daughter and heiress of John de Eyton of the Wildmoors. He is mentioned in 1333 as bailiff of the bishop's liberty of Eccleshal; from January to November 1341 he was sheriff of Staffordshire and Salop, returning himself to this Parliament. In 1339 and again in 1343 he was collector of the Priory of Ware. But on 28 October 1345 Robert de Ferrers and Simon de Rugeley, the Sheriff, were ordered to arrest him and bring him before the King and Council. They put him in Stafford Gaol; he escaped, and on 20 November 1345 the Justices of Wales, Salop and Staffordshire are, on pain of forfeiture, to arrest Adam de P., a common malefactor, lately attached by the King’ s command, who has broken arrest and escaped, wherever found, dead or alive, so as to have his body before the King. He was slain, resisting arrest on Caynton Heath, Salop, by John de Ipstones and William Trumewyne early in 1346. Who knows what he had done? His descendants all throve exceedingly in spite of the unfortunate accident on Caynton Heath; and his three sons all sat in Parliament. His lands were restored to his son and heir, Richard, in 1352.
References
Bridgeman, George T.O., Bridgeman, Ernest R.O., and Charles G. O. Bridgeman. “History of the Manor and Parish of Weston-under-Lizard, in the County of Stafford” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire (William Salt Archaeological Society, Volume XX [Volume II, New Series], 1899)
Calendar of the Fine Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office (London, H.M.S.O.)
Calendar of the Patent Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office (London: H.M.S.O., 1891 - )
“Extracts from the Plea Rolls” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire (William Salt Archaeological Society,Volume XII, (1891).
Parker, Rev. F. “Chetwynd’s History of Pirehill Hundred, with Notes” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire (William Salt Archaeological Society, Series 3, 1914).
Parshall, Horace Field. The Parshall Family, A.D. 870-1913: a collection of historical records and notes to accompany the Parshall pedigree. (London, 1915).
Wedgwood, Josiah C. “Staffordshire Parliamentary History” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire (1917).
Woodger, L.S. “Peshale, Sir Adam (d. 1419), of Peshale and Shifnal, Salop, and Weston-under-Lizard, Staffs.” in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421 (1993).
Woodger, L.S. “Peshale, Hamon (d.c. 1398), of Salop.” in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421 (1993).