John le Norreys
John was seized of the reputed manor of Ockholt, Bray, Berkshire, in 1361.
Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: unknown.
Place of Death: unknown.
Relationships
Father: uncertain.
Ockholt was granted in 1268 to Richard le Norreys, the Queen’s Cook. In 1320, it was held by another Richard le Norreys, perhaps the son of the first. The second Richard died in 1337. One of his executors was John le Norreys (I am not sure whether he is identical with the John of this page.) In 1338 William son of Richard le Norreys held Ockholt, but he was dead by 1361 when the John of this page held it. It seems likely that the John le Norreys of this page was either the son of William, or his brother. The Norris pedigree in the notes to the Berkshire Visitations volume (pp. 184-5), citing MS. Ashmole 852, pp. 130-131 alleges that John’s father was Sir Henry Norris of Speake, which seems unlikely.
Mother: unknown.
(supposed) Spouse: Millicent Ravenscroft.
This is given in the Norris pedigree in the notes to the Berkshire Visitations volume (pp. 184-5), citing MS. Ashmole 852, pp. 130-131. She is said to have been of Cotton End, near Northampton. It seems to be supported by the arms put into stained glass in Ockholt by John Norreys in the mid-1400s. (Green, p. 331 fn).
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Thomas le Norreys (died about 1406).
Roger le Norreys (died 1422).
Evidence
from the Calendar of the Patent Rolls:
1268.
Feb. 8. Westminster.
Because it appears by inquisition made by Ebulo de Montibus, constable of the castle of Windesore, that the king can give to whom he will a purpresture within the forest of Windesore, called Ocholt, extended at 40s. a year, which Godfrey de Lifton, sometime keeper of the king’s manors of Cokham and Braye, brought into cultivation : the king grants the same to Richard le Noreys, the queen’s cook, and his heirs, so that they render 40s. a year to the keepers of the said manors for all service and custom.
1270.
April 17.
Westminster.
Grant for life, for long service, to Master Richard le Norreys, Queen Eleanor’s cook, of 4 3/4d. a day which William Portejoie, deceased, used to receive of the king’s appointed alms, to wit, 2d. by the hands of the bailiffs of London, 1d. of the bailiff of Haveryng, and three halfpence and a farthing at the Exchequer.
1272.
July 30.
Westminster.
Exemption for life of Patrick de Ulvesby from being put on assizes etc. and from being made etc.
The like of Master Richard le Norreys, the queen’s cook.
References
'Bray with the borough of Maidenhead: Introduction, borough and manors', in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 3, ed. P H Ditchfield and William Page (London, 1923).
Calendar of the patent rolls, preserved in the Public (Henry III. A.D. 1266-1272. (London, 1913)
Clark, Linda. “John Norris (d. 1466)” in The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1422-1461 (Linda Clark ed.) (University of Cambridge Press, 2020).
The Four Visitations of Berkshire 1532, 1566, 1623, 1665-6; Vol. II Additional Pedigrees and Notes. (W. Harry Rylands, ed.) (Harleian Society vol. LVII; London, 1908).
Green, Everard. “The Identification of the Eighteen Worthies commemorated in the Heraldic Glass in the Hall Windows of Ockwells Manor House, in the Parish of Bray, in Berkshire” in Archaeologia vol. 56, issue 2. (1899).