Events
Date of Birth: about 1 November 1315.
Place of Birth: unknown.
The date is given in the inquisition post mortem of James’s grandfather John de Benefeld.
Date of Death: unknown.
Place of Death: unknown.
Relationships
Father: Walter de Benefeld.
This relationship is recorded in the inquisition post mortem of Jame’s grandfather John.
Mother: Emma.
Emma is recorded as Walter’s widow in the Fine Rolls in 1325.
Spouse: unknown.
probable Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
John Benfeld (died about 1398) married Cecily.
Simon Benfeld married Maud. Simon was M.P. for New Shoreham.
Evidence
from the inquisition post mortem of James’s grandfather John:
John de Benefeld.
Writ, 12 March (sic), 18 Edward II
Sussex. Inq. Monday the morrow of St. Matthias (sic), 18 Edward II.
Benetfeld. A capital messuage, 127a. land, 10a. meadow, 20a. pasture, 8a. wood, 3a. moor, 22s. 7d. rent &c. held of the heir of Edmund le Botiller, a minor and in the king’s wardship, as of his manor of Shire by service of a knight’s fee; 20a. land and a windmill, held of the prior of Lewes by service of 10s. yearly at the feast of St. Pancras, on which day he ought to come to Lewes with twelve others on horseback and spend the day at the cost of the prior, who shall give him on leaving a cheese price 15d., which land and mill are not sufficient to pay that rent; and 14a. land held of Thomas de Ponynges, service unknown.
Bedyngg. Two virgates of land, now in the hands of Walter Bulmer who held them of the said John by service of 11s. 3d. yearly, held of Nicholas de Hertrugge by service of 1/20 knight’s fee, suit at his court of Wodemancote, and 2d. for sheriff’s aid yearly.
Henfeld. 16a. land, now in the hands of Robert atte Broke who held them by service of 2s. yearly, held of the same Nicholas by service of 1/40 knight’s fee and 2s. yearly; and 12a. land, now in the hands of the same Robert who held them by service of 3s. yearly, held of John de Wolvelegh by service of 1/160 knight’s fee, and 12d. yearly.
Shorham. 18d. and 1lb. wax, price 6d., rent, held of William de Brewes without any service.
Slaugham. 3s. 2d. yearly rent, service unknown.
James, son of Walter son of the aforesaid John, aged 9 at the feast of All Saints last, is his next heir.
from the Calendar of Fine Rolls:
1325. July 18. The Tower, London.
Grant to Emma late the wife of Walter de Benefeld, for a fine of 10l. whereof she will pay moieties at Michaelmas next and Easter following, of the marriage of James de Benefeld, kinsman and heir of John de Benefeld, tenant by knight service of the heir of Edmund le Botiller, tenant in chief, a minor in the king's ward.
By bill of the treasurer.
Be it remembered that Walter de Sugworth and Robert Gilberd of Ferles, co. Sussex, have mainprised for her touching the payment of the said 10l.
from the Calendar of Close Rolls :
1339.
Nov. 6. Kennington. To William Trussel, escheator this side Trent. Order not to intermeddle further with the lands which belonged to John de Benefeld, who held of the heir of Edmund le Botilier, late a minor in the late king's wardship, byknight's service, and which are held of that heir, if John held no other lands in chief as of the crown, as James, John's kinsman and heir, proved his age before the escheator, and on 2 December in the 19th year of the late king's reign, although James le Botilier, Edmund's son and heir, had not proved his age, the late king took James's homage for all the lands which his father held in chief and ordered that they should be delivered to him.
[National Archives Catalogue WISTON/3047]
Acknowledgement by (a) Richard le Schepperde to (b) James de Benefeld that (a), and his heirs will not pull down, without the consent of (b) and his heirs, a house built on two crofts of land in Twineham 'in the parish of Bolney', which was the subject of a grant from (b) to (a).
3 June 1341
References
Woodger, L.S. and A.P.M. Wright. “Simon Benefeld, of Shoreham, Suss.” in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421 (1993).