Events
Date of Birth: about 1375.
Place of Birth: unknown.
The inquisition post mortem of Sir Lawrence’s father states that Sir Lawrence was 22 in 1397 (Earwaker 2:551).
Date of Death: 14 February 1456/7.
Place of Death: unknown.
The date is given by Richards (p. 41) and by Earwaker (2:551).
Relationships
Father: Thomas Fitton.
This relationship is given by Richards (p 40) and by Ormerod (3:552). It is recorded in the inquisition post mortem of Thomas (Deputy Keeper of Records, p. 61).
Mother: Margaret Legh.
This relationship is given by Richards (p 40) and by Ormerod (3:552). It is recorded in the inquisition post mortem of Thomas (Deputy Keeper of Records, p. 61).
Spouse: Agnes, daughter of [...] Hesketh of Rufford, Lancashire.
This relationship is given by Richards (p 41) and by Ormerod (3:552).
Spouse: Clemence.
This relationship is given by Richards (p 41).
Children (by Agnes):
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Most information below comes from Richards.)
Thomas Fitton (died 16 July 1449) married Ellen Mainwaring.
Hugh Fitton.
John Fitton.
Randle Fitton.
Richard Fitton (slain 1459 at Blore Heath).
Edward Fitton (slain 1459 at Blore Heath).
Lawrence Fitton (died 29 March 1434), bailiff of Sonning, Berkshire.
William Fitton (slain 1459 at Blore Heath).
Ellen Fitton married John Fitton of Pownall.
Elizabeth Fitton married William Mere of Mere, Cheshire.
Joan Fitton married Robert Grosvenor of Hulme.
Alice Fitton married Robert de Davenport.
Evidence
From the Twenty-Ninth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (Welsh Records: Deeds, Inquisitions, etc.):
Deeds dated 22 Richard 2 (1868, p. 61);
Protection on going to Ireland on the King's service 22 Richard 2 (p. 62);
A pardon for all offences committed whilst in rebellion with Henry Percy the son 5 Henry 4(p. 63);
Deeds dated 12 Hen. 6 (p. 81).
From the Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (Recognizance Records of Chester):
(pp. 182-183):
Fitton-Fyton
1398, Sept. 2. Lawrence, of Gowseworth, and Matthew del Mere, to William de Sydynton, recognizance for 40 marks. [21 & 21 Ric. 2. m. 8 d. (11).]
1398-9. Lawrence, commission to raise archers for the King’s service. [21 & 21 Ric. 2. m. 8 d. (11).]
1399, May 17. Lawrence, of Gawsworth, protection to, on his departure for Ireland on the King’s service. [22 & 23 Ric. 2. m. 2 d. (11).]
1399, June 5. Lawrence, of Gawsworth, license to William Prydyn, parson of Gowsworth, Robert de Touneley, John Tryket, and Matthew del Mere, to act as the attornies of the said Lawrence, who was about to depart for Ireland on the King’s service. [22 & 23 Ric. 2. m. 4 d. (7).]
1402. Lawrence, Kt., appointment of, as one of the justices for the three hundreds of the eyre at Macclesfield.
1403. Lawrence, Kt., commission of, as one of the justices for the three hundreds of the eyre at Macclesfield.
1403-4, Jan. 11, Lawrence, Kt., write of Henry Prince of Wales to the said Robert to hasten to his possessions on the Marches of Wales, there to make defence against the coming of Owen Glendower, according to an order in council enacting that, on the occasion of war being moved against the King, all those holding possessions on the marches should reside on the same for the defence of the realm. [4 & 5 Hen. 4. m. 4 (5).]
1404. Lawrence, Kt., commission of, as one of the justices for the three hundreds of the eyre at Macclesfield.
1409, Aug. 15. Lawrence, and Robert de Legh, injunction for their good behaviour towards each other. [9 & 10 Hen. 4. m. 6. d. (4).]
1409, Sept. 13. Lawrence, Kt., John and Randal Mainwaring, Richard de Mascy, of Podynton, Roger de Mulynton, William del Meoles, Thomas de Waley, John le Warde, of Capesthorn, and Thomas de Snelleston of Snelleston, to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance for 1,000 marks, that the said Lawrence keep the peace towards Robert son of Robert de Legh, Kt. [9 & 10 Hen. 4. m. 7 (9).]
From the Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (Recognizance Records of Chester):
(pp. 275-279):
Fitton-Fyton
1415. Laurence, recognizance touching the marriage of Joan daughter of, with Robert son and heir of Thomas le Grosvenor.
1428, April 16, April 20. Laurence, Kt., lease to, of the the lands of William son of Richard del Mere, an idiot. [6 & 7 Hen. 6. m. 4 (3); m. 4 d. (3).]
1428, Dec. 26. Laurence, Kt., John de Stanley, Kt, Peter de Dutton, Kt, John Savage, Kt., and Thomas de Stanley, armiger, to the King, recognizance in 1,000l. as sureties for the said Laurence. [7 & 8 Hen. 6. m. 2 (1).]
1429, April 25, May 26. Laurence, Kt., John Savage, Kt., and John Savage, junior, to the King, recognizances in 100l. as surety for the said Laurence. [7 & 8 Hen. 6. m. 1 (9); 8 & 9 Hen. 6 m. 2 (2).]
1430, Dec. 4. Laurence, Kt., Peter de Dutton, Kt., John Savage, Kt., Geoffrey de Werburton, Kt., and Hugh de Dutton, armiger, to the King, recognizance for 100l. as surety for the said Laurence. [9 & 10 Hen. 6. m. 1 (4).]
1430, Dec. 21. Laurence, Kt., Geoffrey de Werburton, Kt., John de Caryngton, Kt., John de Honford, Kt., Hugh de Venables, of Kynderton, and Randal de Brereton, commission of, to arrest William Venables, of Rydley, charged with having threatened John de Hawardyn and others. [9 & 10 Hen. 6. m. 1 d.(6).]
1431, Dec. 18. Laurence, Kt., John Savage, Kt., Peter de Dutton, Kt., Edward de Wevere, Kt., and Hugh de Dutton, to the King, recognizance for 100l. that the said Laurence keep the peace.. [10 & 11 Hen. 6. m. 6 (1).]
1440, Sept. 14. Laurence, chivaler, Robert de Legh, of Adlyngton, and John de Davenport, commission of, to arrest Peter de Ardern.[18 & 19 Hen. 6. m. 6 (7).]
1441-2. Laurence, Kt., and Thomas Wevir, appointment of, as a justice for the eyre at Macclesfield.
1442, May 12. Laurence, Kt., grant to, of the custody of William del Mere, an idiot. [20 & 21 Hen. 6. m. 7 (8).]
1442. Laurence, Kt., collector of a subsidy.
1442, Nov. 18. Laurence, Kt., and Thomas Wevir, armiger, grant to, of the custody of the lands and tenements which William Mere had after the death of Ellen Mere, in the county of Chester, in the King’s hands, by reason of the fatuity of the said William, the said Laurence and Thomas to support the said William and his wife. [21 & 22 Hen. 6. m. 3 (1).]
1444, Dec. 15. Laurence, Kt., grant to, of the custody of William del Mere, an idiot. [20 & 21 Hen. 6. m. 7 (8).]
1444. Laurence, Kt., commission of , as a justice.
1444-5, Feb. 23. Laurence, Kt., John Rooper, Richard de Bunbury, John Pygot, and Ralph de Kerdyef, to the King, recognizance for 100l. as surety for the said Laurence. [23 & 24 Hen. 6. m. 2 d. (7).]
1447, Aug. 20. Laurence, Kt., Henry Faukener, John Pilkyngton, John Erdeley, and Roger Falybrome, to the King, recognizance for 100 marks that the said Laurence keep the peace towards Robert Pygot and Blanche his wife. [25 & 26 Hen. 6. m. 2 d. (5).]
1452 ?. Laurence, Kt., commission of , as a justice.
1456-7, March 5. Clemence, who was the wife of Laurence, Kt., to Thomas Fytton, of Gawesworth, bond for 500 marks. [34 & 35 Hen. 6. m. 8 d. (4).]
1456-7, March 23. Laurence, Kt., writ “diem clausit extremum” on death of. -Deed of, quit claiming in favour of the said Thomas Fytton all claim to dower. [ibid. (5).]
1459, April 12. Laurence, Kt., writ to the escheator of Chester to seize the lands, &c. late of, on the finding of an inquisition taken before John Earl of Shrewsbury, justice of Chester, John Nedeham, Thomas Duncalf, and Richard Carlele, on Tuesday next after the Feast of the close of Easter, finding that Laurence Fyton, Kt., died seized in his desmesne, as of fee, of one messuage, forty acres of land, two acres of meadow, and one acre of wood, in Sutton, near Macclesfield, and of one bailiwick of the forest of Macclesfield, held of the Earl of Chester, by knight’s service, and of the yearly value of 33s. 4d.; and also of the manor of Gauseworth and fifteen messuages two hundred acres of land, forty acres of meadow, and 40 acres wood in Becheton, yearly value 80l., and held of Thomas Stanley of Elford, in socage, as of his manor of Aldeford; that Thomas Fyton “late” of Gauseworth, armiger, entered upon the same estate without livery or licence, and that the said Laurence died on the Feast of St. Valentine the Martyr, 35 Hen. 6. [35 Hen. 6. m. 1 d. (6).]
(pp. 484):
1437, Aug. 6, Oct. 14. Commission of John de Stanley, Kt., Laurence Fyton, Kt., John del Legh del Rygge, Richard Pygot, and Roger de Legh, as justices for the three hundreds of the eyre to be held at [Macclesfield] [15 & 16 Hen. 6. m. 7 d (1); 16 & 17 Hen. 6. m. 3 d. (8).]
References
Earwaker, J. P. (John Parsons). East Cheshire, past and present, or, A history of the hundred of Macclesfield in the county Palatine of Chester - from original records. (London: Printed for the Author, 1878-1880).
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).
Richards, Raymond. The Manor of Gawsworth (Manchester: E.J.Morten, 1974; first published 1957).
The Twenty-Ninth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. (London: 1868).
The Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. (London: 1875).
The Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. (London: 1876).