Robert Etchingham

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Robert’s grandfather James Etchingham was born in about 1310, and his (probable) father Richard was probably born in about 1340. Robert’s daughter Elizabeth was married before 1409. Robert was probably born in approximately the 1370s.

Date of Death: unknown.

Place of Death: unknown.

Robert seems to have been still alive in 1423 (see below).

Relationships

Ancestor, probably Father: Richard Etchingham.

This relationship is given by Salzmann (p. 153): “Hamo’s daughter Joan married Robert Echingham, and after their death, without issue, Dixter passed to the descendants of Robert’s younger brother, Richard; accordingly in 1411 we find a later Robert Echingham possessed of “Dyksterve” and Gatecourt, each valued at 20.li. This Robert’s daughter Elizabeth married Richard Wakehurst…” Given that Richard Etchingham was probably born in about 1340, and that Robert’s daughter Elizabeth was married before October 1409, the chronology suggests that Richard was probably Robert’s father.

Mother: unknown.

Spouse: unknown.

Children:

Elizabeth Etchingham (died 19 July 1464) married Richard Wakehurst before October 1409.

Evidence

from a Subsidy Roll of 1411/12 (SAC 10:145):

Robert Echyngham has manors, lands, &c., worth yearly, &c. …. £40 0 0

viz., manor of Diksterbe, 10l.; and manor of Gatecourt, 20l.

from the Close Rolls (14 Henry IV, p. 431):

1413.

Robert Echyngham one of the executors of Martin Ferers, to Richard Chaumpernoun knight. Release of all personal actions. Dated 12 November 14 Henry IV.

Memorandum of acknowledgement at Echyngham 3 March before John Hals, by virtue of a dedimus potestatem which is on chancery file for this year.

from the Close Rolls (1 Henry VI, pp. 70-71):

1423.

Richard Wakehurst and Richard Aylarde to Margaret Brewys sometime wife of William Burcestre knight and to her assigns for her life, with remainder to John son of the said William Burcestre and to the heirs of his body, remainder to Williama daughter of the said William and to the heirs of her body, remainder to the grantors and their heirs. Charter of demise and feoffment of the manor of Burwasshe and all lands, rents and services of all their tenants free and neif in Burwasshe, Pesmershe, Hethfelde and Westham co. Sussex, which the grantors with Thomas Sakevile knight, Thomas Waller and Henry Boteler had jointly by gift of the said William Burcestre by charter of feoffment indented, dated Burwasshe the eve of the Nativity of the Virgin 1 Henry IV. Witnesses: William Echyngham, Robert Echyngham, John Halle the elder, John Halle the younger, Thomas Oxebrigge. Dated Burwasshe, 14 October 14 Henry IV.

Memorandum of acknowledgement, 1 May this year.

from L.F. Salzmann’s article on the manor of Dixter:

The Manor of Dixter appears for the first time in 1340, when Hamo at Gate was entered as liable to find one man at arms for 40s. of land in Dicksterve. The estate from which he took his name was no doubt the Manor of Gatecourt, which is constantly found associated with Dixter. Hamo’s daughter Joan married Robert Echingham, and after their death, without issue, Dixter passed to the descendants of Robert’s younger brother, Richard; accordingly in 1411 we find a later Robert Echingham possessed of “Dysterve” and Gatecourt, each valued at 20li. This Robert’s daughter Elizabeth married Richard Wakehurst, and their son Richard, dying during his parents’ lifetime, left two daughters as his co-heirs. On the death of the elder Richard in 1454 his granddaughters, Margaret and Elizabeth, were left in the care of his widow, his brother-in-law (John Gaynesford) and other family connexions. By them the girls were entrusted to Agnes, sister of John Gaynesford and wife of Sir John Culpepeper, of Bedgebury, and while in her charge they were abducted and married by Sir John’s two brothers, Richard and Nicholas Culpeper. Their grandmother, who continued to reside in Northiam, presumably at Dixter, refused to give up the muniments relating to a number of manors, including Dixter and Gatecourt.

References

A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 9, ed. L.F. Salzman (Victoria County Histories: London, 1937).

Calendar of the Close Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office: Henry IV, Vol. IV. A.D. 1409-1413. (Kraus Reprint, 1971).

Calendar of the Close Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office: Henry VI, Vol. I. A.D. 1422-1429. (Kraus Reprint, 1971).

“Roll of a Subsidy Levied Thirteenth Henry IV., 1411, 1412, so far as relates to the County of Sussex” transcribed and translated by T Herbert Noyes, in Sussex Archaeological Collections: Volume 10 (1858).

Salzmann, L.F. “Descent of the Manor of Dixter” in Sussex Archaeological Collections: Volume LII (Lewes, 1909).