Events
Date of Birth: about 1310.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Saul (p. 170) states that James could scarcely have been out of his teens in 1331.
Date of Death: 22 August 1349.
Place of Death: unknown.
The date is given in James’s inquisition post mortem (see below).
Relationships
Father: Richard de Etchingham.
This relationship is given by the Sussex VCH (9:212) and by Saul (p. 5), who cites "the lists of essoins in PRO, JUST 1/938/1 m. 55." [Images here and here.] The Buckinghamshire VCH (4:sub Padbury) states that James was the nephew and heir to Richard’s brother, Simon. Simon had been heir to his brother, Robert, who was heir to his brother, William.
Mother: Matilda.
This relationship is given by Saul (p. 2).
Spouse: Joan.
Joan’s name is given in a fine from 1333 (see below). It is also recorded in the Close Rolls from 1391 (CCR Richard II, vol. 4, A.D. 1389-1392.; p. 383) and in the Patent Rolls (CPR Richard II. Vol. 4: p. 210-11, p. 445).
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Sir William de Etchingham (born about 1333 - died 18 January 1388/9) married Elizabeth (Criol?).
John de Etchingham married Alice.
Robert de Etchingham (died after 1403) married Joan, daughter of Hamo at Gate. Robert was sheriff of Sussex and Surrey in 1390 (against his will).
Evidence
from the Feet of Fines:
CP 25/1/286/36/36, number 100 [image, abstract] (1331)
5 Edward III (1333)
1788. John de Ore v. James de Echyngham and Joan his wife (by Ralph le Speek, guardian of Joan); manor of Glettyngham in Sussex, manor of Hempstede and a messuage, 103 acres of land, 38s. 8d. rent and rent of 12 larks and 20 herrings in Lyde, Promhelle, Holewest and Demecherche in Kent; to James and Joan and heirs of their bodies, with contingent remainder to heirs of James, for 100 marks. (D.C.: File 36. No. 100.)
22 Edward III (1349)
2076. John son of (Sir) Thomas Colepeper, Knight, v. Simon de Hechynghamme and Alice his wife; manor of Wyggeselle and 4 messuages, 400 acres of land, 50 acres of meadow, 300 acres of wood, 60s. rent in Salherst, Westefelde, Pesemersshe and Setlescombe; the premises, including homage and services of the Master of the Hospital of St. Bartholomew of la Rye and his successors, James de Echynghamme, Knight, John Cressy, John Alard and Simon Brabon and their heirs, to John for 200 marks. (File 62. No. 30.)
36 Edward III (1363)
2269. William de Echyngham, chivaler, and John de Echyngham, clerk (by William de Holmstede), v. Robert de Ore; manors of Echyngham, Mundefeld, Udymere, Bedynggehamme, Pekeden and Glottyngham and 100 acres of land, 1500 acres of wood, £12 2s. 2½d. rent, and rent of 8 capons and 3 hens in Brightlyngge, Battle (villa de Bello), Mundefeld and Beckele, and advowson of church of same manor of Echyngham; the premises—with homages and services of Alan de Bokeshull, knight, William de Haldene, William de Horne, Reynold de Basyng, William Solys, Alice de Wigesell, John Wayuill, Thomas de Fynhagh, Alan Maynard, Alexander de Horden, Richard Kenne, Walter Russell, Gilbert Russell, Roger Serman, William Bekewell, Lawrence de Clopton, William Martyn, Mabel Kenne, Thomas atte Rede, Joan Wyse, Benet Saghiere, Roger Fitelhurst, John Prynkele, John Northman, Joan Stonhurst, Alice atte Hothe and Robert Arnold—to William and John and heirs male of body of William, contingent remainders to William's brothers John, Robert, Richard, heirs male of their bodies, or right heirs of William. (File 67. No. 39.)
from the inquisition post mortem of John, duke of Britanny and earl of Richmond (CIPM vol. VIII, Edward III, no. 335):
6 September, 16 Edward III.
...Echyngham, Salhurst and Mundefeld. Five knights’ fees held by James de Echyngham...
from the Buckinghamshire VCH (4:sub Padbury):
...Nevertheless, the manor did revert before 1346 to James Etchingham, (fn. 65) nephew and heir of Simon, who was brother and heir of Robert Etchingham. (fn. 66) Possibly the conveyance to Nicholas de la Beche was in the nature of a pledge, since Robert Etchingham, and evidently his brother William also, was indebted to him in considerable sums. (fn. 67) James Etchingham died in 1349, leaving a son and heir William (fn. 68) (afterwards knighted)...
from Feudal Aids (p. 125) A.D. 1346:
Hundredum de Moue
De Johanne filio Johannis de Wolvertone et Jacobo de Echyngham et tenentibus suis pro un. f. m. in Padebury de rege ...xl.s.
from the Close Rolls (CCR vol. 8, p. 85)
1346.
June 27. Porchester.
To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer. Order to cause James de Echyngham, who is about to set out in the king’s service to parts beyond the sea in the company of William de Clynton, earl of Huntingdon, to have respite until his return to England from taking the order of knighthood.
(p. 153)
1346.
September 20. Winchester.
To the sheriff of Sussex. Order to supersede the demand made upon James de Echyngham for forfeited issues until further order, as he has besought the king to cause this to be done, as he took the order of knighthood in the king’s service in the war of France, and he is assessed in divers sums for forfeited issues because of the proclamation of the distraint of knighthood, and by process in the exchequer between the king and James, the sheriff was ordered to distrain certain jurors to be before the barons of the exchequer on the octaves of Michaelmas next to recognise if James on 30 June in the 18th year of the reign held any lands or rents in that county except the manor of Echyngham and a carucate of land, a mill, 10 acres of meadow and 10 marks rent.
from the Patent Rolls (CPR Edward III.Vol. VIII, p. 80 and p. 178):
1348.
April 8. Westminster.
Commission to John de Strode, John de Ore, Robert de Sharneden and Philip en le Wyk reciting that, whereas, after inquisition taken by William Trussel, then escheator south of the Trent, the king by letters patent lately granted licence for Geoffrey Knelle and Isabel Aucher, both now deceased, and others to make a sluice in the river running between a place called Knellesflote,’ on the confines of the counties of Kent and Sussex and the town of Robertsbridge, co. Sussex, and to build a wall to save their lands from inundation, he learns from petition of James de Echyngham, exhibited before him and the council in the Parliament assembled at Westminster on the morrow of Hilary last, that the lands can be saved if the ancient walls along the river be repaired, and that if a wall be built by pretext of the letters patents it will be to the great damage of the king and petitioner, especially as by it the passage of ships and boats with victuals from divers of the manors of the latter in the county to his manor of Echyngham will be hindered, as well as to the destruction of his market town of Salehurst, situated on that water, and of his market there, from which he and his ancestors have been wont to receive toll and other profits, which should pertain to the king when the custody of the lands was in his hands, and that petitioner was never summoned to the inquisition taken by William Trussel, wherefore he prays that the letters patent may be revoked; and appointing them to make inquisition by the oath of men of both counties and in presence of the heirs of the said Geoffrey and Isabel and find the whole truth in regard to all the circumstances referred to.
1348.
Sept. 24. Westminster.
Commission de walliis et fossatis to Henry Husee, ‘chivaler,’ Oto de Grandisono, ‘chivaler,’ Henry de Lockesle, Henry Vynch, Stephen de Forsham and Roger de Godestre under the following circumstances: --On petition before the king and council in the last Parliament at Westminster by James de Echyngham setting forth that whereas it was lately found by inquisition taken by William Trussell, then escheator south of the Trent, that 650 acres of land of Geoffrey de Knelle and Isabel Aucher had been inundated by water from a river running between their lands at Knellesflote, on the confines of the counties of Kent and Sussex, and Robertsbridge, co. Sussex, and that to save the lands there should be a sluice made to carry off the water and a wall built at Knellesflote to shut out the sea, and whereas the king by letters patent granted licence for this to be carried out, a wall has been built pursuant to such letters patent across the river to the prejudice of the king and the great damage and disherison of the petitioner, because the passage of ships and boats which used to pass along the river with victuals and other things from divers of his manors in those counties as far as his manor of Echyngham is now wholly prevented, and also to the destruction of his market town of Salehurst situated on that river, whereby the toll and other profits which he and his ancestors have been been wont to receive, and which the king would have whenever the custody of his lands should come into his hands, are entirely annihilated, and praying that the letters patent be revoked and the wall thrown down, the king appointed John de Strode, John de Ore, Robert de Sharneden, and Philip en le Wyk, to make inquisition hereof in the counties aforesaid in the presence of the parties interested, but he is now given to understand that the wall is a public benefit and that the said James to get it thrown down for his own private advantage, to the damage of the king and the public, sues for an inquisition to be able to attain his ends by suborned jurors. Wherefore the king has appointed them to make inquisition by jurors above suspicion and find whether the wall should be preserved or thrown down.
James’s inquisition post mortem (CIPM vol. IX, Edward III, no. 601):
601. James de Echyngham, knight.
Writ, 28 July, 24 Edward III.
Sussex. Inq. taken at Robertsbridge, 20 September, 25 Edward III.
Echyngham, Glottynggeham, Mondefeld, Okham and Udimere. The manors held of Philippa, queen of England, by service of three knights’ fees as of the barony of Hastynges.
Udimere. Certain tenements held of the abbot of Fécamp as of the manor of Brede by service of 24s. yearly.
He held no other lands &c. in the county.
He died on Saturday before St. Bartholomew, 23 Edward III. William de Echyngham, his son, aged 16 years and more, is his heir.
from the Close Rolls (CCR vol. 9, p. 330)
1352.
Oct. 12. Winchester.
To Thomas de Hoo, escheator in Surrey and Sussex. Order not to intermeddle further with the lands taken into the king’s hand by death of James de Echyngham, restoring the issues thereof, as the king has learned by inquisition taken by the escheator that James at his death held no lands in his demesne as of fee or in service in chief in that bailiwick.
from the Patent Rolls (CPR 28 Edward III.--Part I. p. 23):
1354.
March 23. Westminster.
Commitment to Robert Grote of the keeping of the manor of Melcourt, co. Buckingham, late of James de Echyngham, who held it of the king as of the heir of John de Wolverton, tenant in chief, the king's ward, by knight service, to hold the keeping during the nonage of the heir of the said James, with the issues from the time of the death of the father, without rendering anything for the same.
from the Penhurst manuscripts:
1356, Sept. 11 — Indenture whereby Sir William de Echingham, knight, son and heir of Sir James de Echingham, knight, released the abbey from the obligation to find two chaplains for the chapel in the vill of Robertsbridge : the abbey are to find other chaplains as agreed with William de Echingham his ancestor. (p. 146)
from the Patent Rolls (CPR Rich. II. Vol. IV pp. 210-211):
1389
Dec. 1. Westminster.
The like [commission] to William Rikhill and William Brenchele, on the petition of William son and heir of William Echyngham, knight, alleging that whereas by fine levied in the court of the late king between John de Ore, of the one part, and James de Echyngham, knight, and Joan his wife, of the other part, the said James acknowledged that the manor of Hempstede and one messuage, 108 acres of land, 88s. 8d. of rent and the rent of 12 larks and 20 herrings in Lyde, Promhelle, Holewest and Demecherche, co. Kent, were the right of the said John as by grant of him the said James, for which acknowledgment the said John granted and restored the premised to the said James and Joan in the fee tail, and the latter became seised thereof, and from them the same descended to William Echyngham, knight, as their son and heir, whereupon the said William enfeoffed Robert Bealknap, knight, thereof, and he became seised of the same and continued in possession until convicted of treason in the Parliament of 11 Richard II, when the premises came into the king’s hands.
References
An abstract of Feet of Fines relating to the county of Sussex, from 1 Edward II to 24 Henry VII. Compiled by L.F. Salzmann. (Sussex Record Society, volume 23; London, 1916).
"Abstracts of Feet of Fines", on Chris Philips' site Some Notes on Medieval English Genealogy.
A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 9, the Rape and Honour of Hastings, (Victoria County Histories, 1937).
Anglo-American Legal Tradition. The O'Quinn Law Library of the University of Houston.
Calendar of the Close Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office: Edward III. Volume VII. A.D. 1346-1349. (Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1905).
Calendar of the Close Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office: Richard II. Volume IV. A.D. 1389-1392. (His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1922).
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem and Other Analogous Documents preserved in the Public Record Office: Volume VIII. Edward III. (His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1913).
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem and Other Analogous Documents preserved in the Public Record Office: Volume IX. Edward III. (His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1916).
Calendar of the Patent Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office: Edward III. Volume VIII A.D. 1348-1350 (His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1905).
Calendar of the Patent Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office: Richard II. Volume IV A.D. 1388-1392 (His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1902).
Inquisitions and Assessments relating to Feudal Aids preserved in the Public Record Office A.D. 1284-1431.: Volume 1, (Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1899).
Report on the Manuscripts of Lord de L’Isle & Dudley preserved at Penshurst Place vol. 1 (Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1925).
“Parishes: Padbury” in A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 4, ed. William Page (Victoria County History, 1927).
Saul, Nigel. Scenes from Provincial Life: Knightly Families in Sussex, 1280-1400. (Oxford: Clarendon, 1986).