Eva de Bohun

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: unknown.

Place of Death: unknown.

Relationships

Father: Sir John de Bohun of Midhurst.

This relationship is recorded in the Close Rolls (see below). Some pedigrees give John Lisle of Gatcombe, but this is not supported by primary evidence.

Mother: Isabel.

See the Commentary section below.

Spouse: Sir John de Bereford (Barforth) (3 May 1337 - 5 October 1356 in Gascony). They left no children.

John was illegitimate. He had previously been married to Eleanor, an illegitimate daughter of Richard, earl of Arundell. See the Evidence section below.

Spouse: John Roucle. Married by 1362.

See the Commentary and Evidence sections below.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)

Thomas Roucle (born about 1365) probably married Joan Glamorgan.

Joan Roucle married John Cooke.

Commentary

Eva’s relationships

Visitation pedigrees show a lot of variation:

In the Cooke-Covert pedigree in the Sussex visitation, there are two Evas:

(1) Eva de Lisle

Father: Sr John Lisley knight

Mother: Elizabeth d. & heir of John de Bohun

Sister: Elizabeth, …married Sr John Branshott

Husband: Sr John Burford knight

(2) (1’s niece) Eva Branshott

Father: Sr John Burford

Mother: Elizabeth Lisley

Husband: Sr Thomas Rokesley knight

Daughter: Elianor married Thomas Cooke of Wickham

Grandson: Richard Cooke of Rustington

In the Bramshott pedigree in the Sussex visitation:

Eva

Father: John de Bohun

Mother: not given

Sister: Elizabeth married John de Insula. Their daughter Elizabeth married John Bramshott.

Husband 1: Thomas Rokesley

Husband 2: John Burforth

Daughter (by 2) and heir: unnamed, married Tho. Cooke of Roskington in Sussex

Grandson: Richard Cooke

The Sholmsted pedigree of the 1563 Yorkshire visitation is probably based on material from the 1460s or earlier.

Eva

Father: Sir John Lesle

Mother: Elsabeth Bosyne

Sister: Elizabeth married John Bramshot.

Husband: Thomas Rikle

Daughter: unnamed, married (1) …Cooke of de Rustington; married (2) John Burforth.

Grandson: Richard Cooke

Cooper (p. 21), based on manuscripts from the College of Arms, Vincent 121 folio 231, and some other souces, has two Evas:

(1) Eva de Bohun

Father: John de Bohun

Mother: Isabella

Husband: Thomas Rokesley

Sister: Johanna married John de L’Isle, of Gatcumbe.

(2) (Johanna’s daughter) Eva de Lisle

Father: John de L’Isle of Gatecumbe

Mother: Johanna de Bohun

Sister: Elizabeth married John Bramshot.

Some (relative) commalities.

Cooper doesn’t mention Eva’s children. The other three pedigrees agree that Eva was the mother in law of a Cooke of Rustington/Wickham, and grandmother of a Richard Cooke.

The pedigrees agree that John de Bohun was either Eva’s father or grandfather.

Here is another example of the traditional thinking on this family (Elwes pp. 184-5):

[Rustington] was thus included in the grant made in 1102 to Savaric Fitz Cana, and was held by the Bohuns until the reign of Edward III., when, it appears, on the death of John de Bohun (41 Edw. III.) to have descended to his dau. Johanna, by his last wife, Isabella. She married John de L’Isle de Gatecumbe, and on the death of their son, John de L’Isle, s.p., in 1369, the manor devolved to his sisters, Elizabeth, wife of John Bramshot, and Eva, wife of Sir John Burford. A partition ensued, and the two members of the manor became known as East-court and West-court. In the Subsidy Roll, levied 13 Hen. IV. [1412], Thomas Haket had half the manor of Russyton, being portion of two-thirds of lands lately Walter Haket’s, worth (exclusive of an annuity of £6 13s. 4d. payable to one John Cooke), £13 6s. 8d.; at same time William Bramshot had half the manor of Rusyton, worth £20. From this entry, supported by other evidence, we gather that Sir John and Eva Burford had two daughters; one married to Walter Haket, and the other, Ellinor, married to Thomas Cooke, of Wickham. John Cooke, of Rustington, son of the latter, served as Sheriff of Sussex twice, in 1493-4 and 1498. He left an only daughter and heir, Elizabeth, who brought this manor, i.e. West court, in dowry to her husband, John Covert, of Sullington.

The partition of the manor plays a key role, I think, in the construction of the pedigree, although Elwes makes a number of errors of fact.

This entry from the Calendar of the Close Rolls provides a couple of anchors in reality:

1368 May 12. Westminster.

To John de Tye escheator in Sussex. Order not to meddle further with the manor of Rustyngton taken into the king’s hand by the death of John Bohun of Midhurst knight, delivering up any issues thereof taken; as the king has learned by inquisition, taken by the escheator, that the said John de Bohun at his death held no lands in that county in chief in his demesne as of fee nor in service, but by fine levied in the king’s court held in fee tail the said manor, which is not held of the king, of the gift of Ralph de Langele chaplain to the said John and Isabel his wife (likewise deceased) and to the heirs of their bodies, and that Joan de Lysle and Eva her sister, daughters of the said John and Isabel, are their next heirs and of full age.

From this we learn that the Joan de Bohun who married John de Lisle had a sister named Eva and that the manor of Rustington was divided between the two sisters, as heirs of John and his first wife Isabel. (John de Bohun’s son and heir, John, was a child of his second wife, Cecily Filliol.)

The inquisition post mortem of Joan’s son John de Lisle, taken 25 September 1369 gives more information. After a number of manors which were he inherited from the Lisles, we get:

Rustynton. A moiety of the manor (extent given). The whole manor is held of Richard earl of Aroundell by knight’s service, of his castle of Aroundell.

Date of death as above. Elizabeth de Lisle, his sister, of full age, is his heir.

Joan’s son holds only a moeity of the manor, and only one sister, Elizabeth, is mentioned as heir. Eva is not mentioned (although neither is John’s brother Lawrence.)

Using these anchors in reality, we can begin to sort out the visitation pedigrees:

Reality (I think):

Eva de Bohun

Father: John de Bohun

Mother: Isabel, (John’s first wife).

Sister: Joan married John de Lisle. Their daughter Elizabeth married John Bramshot.

Husband: ?

Daughter: married a Cooke of Rustington/Wickham.

Grandson: Richard Cooke

In fact, using some more anchors we can go further.

The Berkshire VCH (4:sub Long Wittenham) tells us: "In 1362 John Mautravers and Alice, Gilbert de Elsfield son of Joan, and William de Audley son of Margaret called Baldwin de Barforth to warrant to them lands here which Eva widow of John de Barforth, then wife of John Roklee, claimed as dower." [The evidence from the Close Rolls and Plea Rolls on which this is based is given below in the Evidence section.]

Here is some evidence connected to the Rustington/Wickham Cookes:

Going backwards in time:

In a 1455 case concerning property in Rookley, the Isle of Wight, which had once been Geoffrey Roucle’s, it is noted that Joan Coke the mother of Richard died seized of it.

In 1452, according to his widow in a petition, John Roucle (probably the grandson or great-grandson of Geoffrey Roucle) left his property to his widow for life, then to his daughters, then to his daughter heirs, then to his cousin Richard Cook and his heirs. [National Archives no. AC95/32.75]

In 1428 and 1431, Richard Cook, gentleman of Sussex, holds ¼ fee in Rookley which had once belonged to Adam Roucle (Geoffrey Roucle’s elder brother. Geoffrey held it after Adam.) [Feudal Aids]

In 1412, from Elwes above, we know that William Bramshot (the descendant of the Joan de Bohun who married John de Lisle) held half the manor of Rustington, Sussex. From part of the other half, Thomas Haket was paying an annuity to John Cooke. Thomas’s land was lately Walter Haket’s.

In 1400, in a fine regarding property in Farham and Hambledon (near Wickham), the property goes to Walter Haket and his wife for life, then to Henry Emmery for life, then to John Cooke of Wickham for life, then to Thomas Haket and his heirs.

In 1393, John Rocle held a moiety of the manor of Rustiton (ipm, see below). His son and heir was Thomas Rokle, aged 28.

In 1389/90, John Roucley, son and heir of the dying Geoffrey Roucle, gets power of attorney to give seisin of 2 parts of the manor of Brook to John Cook of Wickham and Joan his wife. (This is a different John Roucle from the one in 1452– probably his father, grandfather, or uncle.)

In 1362, from the plea rolls (See below) we know that Eva was married to John Roklee.

In 1350, Joan de Bohun’s husband John de Lisle had died and her son John was underage. Wardship of the Lisle manors was committed to Joan, her father John de Bohun, and Geoffrey Roucle.

I think the real pedigree is now clear:

Eva de Bohun

Father: John de Bohun.

Mother: Isabel, (John’s first wife).

Sister: Joan married John de Lisle. Their daughter Elizabeth married John Bramshot.

Husband: Sir John de Bereford.

Husband: John Roucle.

Daughter: Joan Roucle married John Cooke of Rustington/Wickham.

Grandson: Richard Cooke of Rookley/Rustington.

There are still some uncertainties and loose threads (How does Walter Haket fit in? Why was Geoffrey Roucle already placed in a position of trust with respect to Eva’s sister Joan in 1350?)

Eva may have been somewhat older than her second husband (Her mother was dead by 1342, and John’s age is given as 40 and upwards in his father Geoffrey’s 1390 inquisition post mortem.) Eva’s first husband died in 1356, but they left no children. Eva may have still been very young.

Evidence

For the 1350 case from the Fine Rolls, see Geoffrey Roucle’s page.

The inquisition post mortem of Eva’s first husband, Sir John de Bereford:

John, son of Edmund de Bereford or de Berford, knight.

Writ, 10 December, 30 Edward III.

Warwick

Inq. taken at Southam, 16 January, 30 Edward III.

Shoteswelle, Stonythorp, Langeleye and Wysshawe. The manors held to him and the heirs of his body by fine levied in the king’s court, with remainder to Baldwin his brother, who survives. The said John died without heir of his body. The aforesaid manor of Shoteswell is held of Robert Fitz Gy by knight’s service; the manor of Stonythorp of the heir of John de Oddyngseles, a minor in the king’s wardship, by knight’s service; the manors of Langel’ and Wysshawe of the earl of Warwick by knight’s service.

He died in the parts of Gascony, date not known. Heir not given.

Derby

Inq. taken at Meysham.

Meysham. The manor held of Isabella, queen of England, by service of half a knight’s fee.

Sutton. The manor held of Henry, duke of Lancaster, by service of half a knight’s fee and suit of the court of Tuttebir’ every three weeks.

He had no other lands &c. within the bailiwick.

Date and place of death not known, because he died out of the kingdom of England. Baldwin de Berford his brother, aged 24 years and more, is his heir.

Writ, 10 December, 30 Edward III.

Northampton.

Inq. taken at Stene, Thursday after the Purification, 31 Edward III.

Stene. The manor (extent given), including three carucates of land, each of 80a., and a mill called ‘Clakke,’ and the advowson of the church, held of the manor of Wedon Pynkenye, which lady Isabel, the king’s daughter, holds by knight’s service.

Farnyngho. A messuage and six virgates of land, each of 144a., held in chief of Robert del Isle by service of a third part of a knight’s fee.

The deceased gave all the aforesaid premises to Sir Robert de …., who by fine levied in the king’s court granted them to the deceased for life, with remainder to John his son and the heirs of his body.

He died on Wednesday after the feast of St. Michael, 30 Edward III. Heir, Baldwin de Bereford, knight, as above.

Writ, 10 December, 30 Edward III.

Oxford

Inq. taken at Brightwell, 14 February, 31 Edward III.

Chalgrave. The manor (extent given), including a water-mill with ‘heytes,’ held of Sir Edward, prince of Wales and duke of Cornwall, as of his honour of Walyngford, by service of a knight’s fee.

Nywenham. The manor (extent given), including two carucates of land in demesne containing 260a. arable, similarly held by service of a knight’s fee.

Brightwell. The manor (extent given), viz. a chief messuage and a carucate of land, held of the heirs of Richard Park of Brightwell by service of a moiety of a knight’s fee; also another messuage and a virgate of land held of the heirs of Richard Park by service of 5s. yearly; also a third capital messuage and two virgates of land held of the prioress of Lutlemor by service of 14s. 4d. yearly; also a fourth messuage with a dovecot and a virgate of land held of the abbot of Missynden by service of 7s. yearly; also 6a. land held of Richard Salvayn by service of 2s. yearly, and 6a. wood and 10l. rent of free tenants.

All held of the gift of Philip de Engelfeld, knight, and Robert de Brightwell, clerk, who enfeoffed thereof Edmund de Bereford and John his son and the heirs of the body of the said John, with remainders successively to Baldwin, brother of the said John, and the heirs of his body and the right heirs of the said Edmund de Bereford by a fine levied in the king’s court.

He held no lands &c. of the king in chief in the county.

Date of death as above. He has no heir, because he was a bastard and died without heir of his body lawfully begotten.

Berkshire

Inq. taken at La Russhe, 15 February, 31 Edward III.

La Russhe. The manor (extent given) held by gift of Philip de Engelfeld, knight, and Robert de Brightwell, clerk, who enfeoffed thereof the said Edmund and John his son, as in the last inquisition. The said manor is held of Sir Edward, prince of Wales and duke of Cornwall, as of his honour of Walyngford, by service of a quarter of a knight’s fee. There are of the same manor at West Wyttenham 10a. arable held of John Louches of Gersyndon by service of 10d. yearly.

He held no lands &c. of the king in chief in the county.

Date of death and heir as above.

from the Calendar of Close Rolls:

1357. March 9. Westminster.

To John de Wyndesore, escheator in the county of Warwick. Order to deliver to Eva late the wife of John son of Ed[mund] de Bereford, the manors of Shotteswell and Stanythorp, as Baldwin son of Edmund de Bereford —--to whom the lands which belonged to the said John, his brother, and have been taken into the king’s hand by John’s death by writs of diem clausit extremum, are to remain because John died without an heir of his body, to hold to him and the heirs of his body, by a fine levied in the king’s court, which lands are not held of the king, as is found by inquisitions taken thereup—-- came into chancery and craved that the king’s hand might be amoved from those lands, and acknowledged and granted that Eva should have the said manors of Shotteswell and Stanythorp, the manor of Sutton, co. Derby, the manor of Ruyssh and a third part of the lands in Westwittenham, co. Berks, a third part of the manor of Chalgrave and its members, co. Oxford, and a third part of the lands in Berewyk, in the same county, for her dower of the said lands.

The like to John Laundels, escheator in the counties of Oxford and Berks, to deliver to Eva the manor of Ruyssh, the third part of the lands in Westwittenham, the third part of the manor of Chalgrave and its members, and the third part of the lands in Berewyk.

The like to Richard de Grey of Landeford, escheator in the county of Derby, to deliver to Eva the said manor of Sutton.

Memorandum that Baldwin’s acknowledgement and grant of that dower are enrolled on the dorse of this roll.

from the plea rolls, 1362 (Wrottesley, p. 85):

De Banco. Mich. 36. E.3. m.268

Berks.-- John Mautravers, Chivaler, and Agnes, his wife, Gilbert de Ellesfeld, Chivaler, and William de Audele, sued John Roklee and Eva, his wife, for land in West Wytenham which Hugh de Plessy gave to Margaret, his daughter, temp. E.1.

The inquisition post mortem of Eva’s son John.

John Rocle

Writ, 25 November, 17 Richard II [1393)

Sussex.

Inq. taken at Cicestre, Thursday before St Thomas the Apostle, 17 Richard II.He held the under-mentioned moiety on the day of his death.

Rustiton. A moiety of the manor, held of Richard earl of Arundel, as of the honor of Arundel, by fealty and suit to the court of the said honor every three weeks.

He died on 15 November last. Thomas Rokle, aged 28 years, is his son and heir.

References

Calendar[s] of Inquisitions Post Mortem. [Public Record Office. Digital versions available at British History Online.]

'Chalgrove', in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 18, ed. Simon Townley (Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2016), pp. 122-157.

'Compton', in A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 4, the Rape of Chichester, ed. L F Salzman (London, 1953), pp. 91-94.

Cooper, William Durrant. “Midhurst: Its Lords and Its Inhabitants” in Sussex Archaeological Collections v. 20 (1868).

"Parishes: Long Wittenham," in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4, ed. William Page and P H Ditchfield (London: Victoria County History, 1924), 384-390.

'Parishes: Gatcombe', in A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 5, ed. William Page (London, 1912), pp. 246-249.

'Racton', in A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 4, the Rape of Chichester, ed. L F Salzman (London, 1953), pp. 113-118.

The Visitation of Yorkshire in the Years 1563 and 1564 (London, 1881).

The Visitations of the County of Sussex Made and Taken in the Years 1530 and 1633-4 (W. Bruce Bannerman ed.) (Harleian Society v. 53, 1905).

Whitehead, John L. “Genealogical and Other Notes relating to the De Estur Family of the Isle of Wight” in Hampshire Studies v.6 pt. 1.

Whitehead, James Livesay. The Undercliff of the Isle of Wight, Past and Present. (1911).

Will of Thomas Rokesley alias Abell of Badchild, Kent. Proved 1447 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

Wrottesley, George. Pedigrees from the Plea Rolls: collected from the pleadings in the various courts of law, A.D. 1200 to 1500, from the original rolls in the Public Record Office. (1905).