John Savage of Clifton

Events 

Date of Birth: about 1331.

Place of Birth: unknown.

John was said to be aged 38 and more in his mother’s inquisition post mortem taken 2 February 1369/70.

Date of Death: 1386.

Place of Death: unknown.

The date is given by Leycester (Ormerod/Helsby vol. i, p. 712).

Relationships

Father: Roger le Savage.

Mother: Isabel.

Leycester notes that the Savage family in Clifton in 1669 still possessed a 1310 deed naming John Savage “de Sarcliffe”, who was the father of Roger le Savage, leading him to assume he was ancestor to the Clifton Savages. Thornton states that the Clifton Savages came originally from Derbyshire. Evidence given below shows that a John Savage the elder, married to Margaret, held Stainsby in the 1380s. John is named as son and heir to Roger and Isabel in Isabel’s inquisition post mortem and in the Fine Rolls (see below). The 1431 entry in Feudal Aids clearly shows that the Stainsby and Clifton Savages are identical.

Spouse: Margaret Danyers. Married about 1375.

This relationship is given by Thornton, and by Leycester, citing a deed. Margaret names her former husband in a grant of arms to her son, John Savage. The relationship is recorded in a number of other documents (see the Evidence section on Margaret’s page).

Children: 

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

John Savage (died 1 August 1450) married (1) Maud Swynnerton about 1400; married (2) Elena, widow of James de Haryngton by 1428.

Elizabeth Savage

Blanche Savage married William Stanley in about 1403.

Lucy Savage

Evidence

Leycester’s account (p. 230):

[“Liber C” and “Liber D” are notebooks of copies of deeds Leycester made from originals.]

John Savage of Clifton, in Right of Margaret his Wife, Daughter and Heir of Sir Thomas Daniers of Bradley in Appleton, commonly called Daniel. Her Mothers Name was Isabel, Daughter and Heir of William Baggiley by Clemence his Wife, Daughter and Co-heir of Sir Roger de Chedill, Lord of Chedill and Clifton. Lib. C. fol. 150, l.

This Margaret Daniell, as I have told you before, had all her Mothers Lands; but her Fathers Lands were setled on the Heirs Males of the Daniels. She had three Husbands: The first was John Ratcliffe, 42 Edw. 3. who died without Issue by her not long after. Lib. C. fol. 229, v.

The second husband of Margaret Daniel was this John Savage, descended of the Savages of Steinsbie in Darbyshire; whom he married about 49 Edw. III. and had issue by her John Savage son and heir, Elizabeth and Blanch, all living 4 Hen. IV. Lib. C. fol. 290, d.

This Margaret Daniell, as I have told you before, had all her Mothers Lands; but her Fathers Lands were setled on the Heirs Males of the Daniels. She had three Husbands: The first was John Ratcliffe, 42 Edw. 3. who died without Issue by her not long after. Lib. C. fol. 290, d, e, et 234, n.

But Margaret survived all her Husbands, and in her Widowhood she gave the moiety of Gropenhall to her Son Piers Legh, 4 Hen. 4. Lib. C. fol. 290. d. 

And to John Savage her Son, and to his Heirs, she gave Liberty of Bearing her Coat of Arms, which descended to her after the death of her Father, as I have seen the Copy of the Deed in French, dated 3 Hen. 5. the Original whereof is now among the Evidences of Thomas Earl Rivers, at Rock-Savage, 1669. Vide Lib. D. pag. 175, q. … 

This Margaret Daniel died 6 Hen. VI. 1427.

Leycester’s note: See Lib D. pag. 176. T. Omnibus—Johannes le Savage de Sarcliffe, Salutem. Noveritis me dedisse Stephano le Eyr de Cesterfeld totum jus meum in Tenemento in Halywel gate. Datum apud Cester∣field, die Mercurii, in Festo Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptistae, 3 Edw. 2. 1310. Lib. D. pag. 180. n The Original among the Evidences at Rock-Savage, Anno Domini 1669.

So that this John Savage who writ himself of Sarcliffe in Darbyshire, I conceive was Ancestor to the first John Savage of Clifton.

from Yeatman (vol. 2, section 3, p. 34), estreats of grants:

44 Ed. III. [1370]

Homage of John son and heir of Roger Savage and Isabella his wife for the Manor of Steynesby.

from the Calendar of Inquisitions ad Quod Damnum:

8 Richard II. [1384]  Derby.

John Savage the elder to settle his manor of Stainsby [in Ault Hucknall] on himself, Margaret his wife, and the heirs of his body by her, with remainder to the heirs of his body, remainder to Robert Savage and the heirs of his body, remainder to the right heirs of the grantor.

from the Calendar of Patent Rolls:

1386. February 7. Windsor Castle.

Licence, for 100s. paid to the king by John Savage the elder, for him to enfeoff John Morsell, chaplain, of the manor of Staynesby, co. Derby, held in chief, and for the feoffee, after seisin had, to grant the same to the said John Savage and Margaret his wife, in fee tail, with successive remainders, in fee tail, to the said John Savage and Robert Savage the younger and ultimate remainder to the right heirs of the said John.

1388. February 26. Westminster.

Appointment of Robert de Ferrers of Charteleye, Richard Venables, Westminster. Robert Standisshe, John de Assheton, John de Stanley, John Ipstones, Walter Blount, Thomas Beeik, John Basset, William Chetewyn, Robert de Lye, Ralph Yemoim, Nicholas Mountgomery, Thomas de Wenneslce and William Dethek, knights, and John Savage, John Grendon, Robert de Stavele and John Aldelem to arrest and bring before the king and coimcil John Cokayn, knight, John Cressevyll, Nicholas Spenser of Asshebum, Edmund Herthill, Heniy Shirard, Adatn Lynge, Robert Loksmyth of Asshebum, WiIliam Hanookkisson of Fennybenteley, William Broun and Hemy Chaloner of Asshebum, the younger, charged with having perpetrated divers enormous offences in the counity of Derby, against the ministers, officers and servants of the king's uncle John, duke of Lancaster, by lying in wait to kill them and other the king's lieges, so that they may be made to find security to do no damage to any of the persons aforesaid.

from Feudal Aids: 

1431.

Derby.

Johannas Savage de Clyfton in comitatu Cestrie, miles, habuit die Veneris proximo ante festum Sancti Hilarii proxime preteritum in dominico liberum tenementum in Staynesby in comitatu Derby, quod tenetur in socagio, et valet per annum ultra reprisas — xl. s. 

References

Calendar of Patent Rolls Richard II. A.D. 1385-1289. (Her Majesty’s Stationery Office) (1900).

Inquisitions and Assessments relating to Feudal Aids with other analogous documents preserved in the Public Record Office v. 1 (1899). 

Leycester, Peter, Sir. Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record. (1673) 

List of Inquisitions ad Quod Damnum preserved in the Public Record Office, Part II (1963).

Ormerod, George; Peter Leycester; William Smith; William Webb; and Thomas Helsby. The history of the county palatine and city of Chester: compiled from original evidences in public offices, the Harleian and Cottonian mss., parochial registers, private muniments, unpublished ms. collections of successive Cheshire antiquaries, and a personal survey of every township in the county, incorporated with a republication of King's Vale royal and Leycester's Cheshire antiquities. (London: G. Routledge, 1882).

Thornton, Tim. “Savage Family (per c. 1369-1528)” in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004).

Yeatman, John Pym. The Feudal History of the County of Derby. vols 1-5 (1876-1886).