On the 24th of January 1423, a jury of 12 men met in Metham Hall. They were there to prove that Thomas Metham had reached the age of 21, and could therefore take control of the Metham family estate. Thomas's father, Alexander, had died in 1416 and since then the income from the estate had gone to John Waterton. John was a member of a family who had strong connections with the Duchy of Lancaster and the wardship of Thomas was a reward for his services. The inheritance was a valuable one, and Thomas would have been keen to take control.
How did the local men know that Thomas was 21? We have their own words...
John Craven , aged 62 years and more, was a servant at Metham manor at the time of Thomas’s birth and saw Thomas carried to church for baptism.
William Darnald , 53 years and more, says that Margaret his daughter was asked at the time of Thomas’s birth to be his wet-nurse.
Gilbert Hert , 60 years and more, says that John Hert his brother, was diligently asked by Gilbert at the time of the birth to name Thomas at the baptismal font.
Richard de Staynton , 50 years and more, says that John Staynton , his father, revealed to him after the birth that Thomas had been born in that vill and was about to be baptised in that church.
Henry Hepon , 58 years and more, says that William Hepon his son was born in the same vill the day that Thomas was born, and was baptised immediately after Thomas’s baptism in the same church.
Adam Talworth , 50 years and more, carried a silver basin with a silver ewer from Metham manor to the church at the time Thomas was baptised.
Robert Botiller , 50 years and more, says that the day Thomas was baptised there was such a strong wind that all the men and women of the vill feared the weaker of their houses would collapse.
John Midelton , 50 years and more, says that Margaret Midelton his mother died the same day that Thomas was baptised.
John Coton , 43 years and more, says that Joan his daughter married Ralph Musgrave the same day that Thomas was baptised.
Robert Westwod , 49 years and more, saw Alice Circase the godmother give Thomas a silver bowl and his nurse 6s. after Thomas was baptised.
John Portyngton , 50 years and more, says that William his son died the same day that Thomas was baptised, after a long illness.
Richard Fairefaxe , 66 years, saw Walter Fairefax his son, then parish clerk of this church, hold the Bible in his hands at the time of Thomas’s baptism
At first glance this seems to open a window into the lives of the villagers of Metham on the 16th of January 1402, the day the Thomas was born. However, as so often in the middle ages, things are not quite what they seem.
Inquests into proof of age were common features in the process of land inheritance. After a landholder died, the king would order an Inquisition Post Mortem to see if any of his estates were held from the crown. These inquests were done on a county-by-county basis, and were the responsibility of an official called the escheator. The inquest recorded details of land held, in what manner (knight service, money rent etc) and who from. The age of the heir was also recorded. If the deceased was found to have held any property from the crown and the heir was under 21, the king could take all the deceased's property and award the income from it to a favoured client until the heir came of age - normally 21.
It was obviously in the interests of the heir and his family to obtain possession of his inheritance as soon as possible. Although we don't have the exact details, it's likely that as soon as the heirs 21st birthday was reached, the escheator was asked to arrange a proof of age inquisition. Since he was responsible for the whole county, the escheator couldn't have known who to ask, so the membership of the jury must have been a local decision.
The actual inquest seem to have been a formality. With twelve hand-picked jurors, who presumably had rehearsed their stories beforehand, the result couldn't be in doubt. The memories followed a pattern that can be found in other proof of age inquests from this part of Yorkshire in the early to mid fifteenth century, so it's clear there was a formula that was followed, with some variations. Most of the proofs of age mention events connected with the birth - someone was told of the birth, a wet nurse was chosen, another baby was baptised, someone carried pots of wine for the baptism. However, the births also seem to have been the occasions for many minor tragedies...
In 1418, John Ardern of Kirk Sandall, 43 years, [recalled that] his son Robert was nearly crushed that day by a cart laden with timber.
in 1420 Thomas Ogilsthorp , 51, had his house at Clifford burnt down.
William Bramwyth , 58 and more, says that his horse threw him to the ground on the day of the baptism and he broke his left shin.
Thomas Gray , 50 and more, knows because the bridge of Malton collapsed.
William Ripplyngham , 60 years and more, says that his bay-coloured horse threw him to the ground so violently that four ribs on his left side were broken.
Richard Clerk , 55 years and more, says his boat loaded with stones sunk in the river Wharfe that day.
A few seem so personal that they may be true...
Isabel Harper was midwife, and she brought a comb for Joan as soon as she saw her born because she had a hairy head.
Roger Blase , 61 years and more, says he had a cow which had two white calves that day, one had black ears and the other red.
The proof of age for Thomas Metham may not be a true picture of the events of that day, but even if the statements were not completely accurate, they must represent the sorts of happenings that were at least believable.
Inquisitions Post Mortem are cited from Mapping the Medieval Countryside [online]. Available at http://www.inquisitionspostmortem.ac.uk