Thomas Metham IV

Thomas Metham IV (1402-1472)

aged 15 when his father died, so under age.

- Ward of Sir John Waterton, later married his daughter Mundane (Mundana).

THOMAS DE METHAM SON AND HEIR OF ALEXANDER DE METHAM, CHEVALIER

225 Writ de etate probanda. ‡ 17 January 1423. [Wymbyssh]

Executors of John Waterton, esquire , who had custody by letters patent of ‪Henry V‬, to be warned to be present [CPR 1416–22, pp.39–40]. [Dorse:] Executors informed of date and place.

YORKSHIRE. Proof of age. Metham. 24 January 1423. [Wentworth]

The jurors say that Thomas was born at Metham and baptised at St John’s church, Howden, and was 21 years and more on 16 January last. They know for the following reasons.

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 [ms worn].

Sherrif of Yorkshire 1443 and 1460, served on many drainage commissions.

His son John may have been a poet, the author of Amoryus and Cleopes, an early version of the Pyramus and Thisbe tale that Shakespeare used in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

John's patron was Sir Miles Stapleton, from another branch of the family that the Methams had married into about 100 years earlier.

Thomas served in France in 1430, in the company of James Butler,`The White Earl` (1393 - 1452) earl of Ormond.

We can be certain therefore that he was part of the army that accompanied Henry VI (then aged 8) to be crowned King of France.

Considering he lived during the Wars of the Roses, this Thomas Metham managed to live a quiet life, and in fact the next few generations generally avoided being caught up in the conflict between Lancaster and York