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Vicar Choral by 1467 - Master of the Fabric 1488 & Keeper of the Fabric from 1490 until about 1519. Died 1537
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Who was Richard Pomeroy VicarChoral & Keeper of the Fabric at the Cathedral at Wells & his crest is described within the cathedral as unchanged or undifferenced from that of the Baron
In fact his crest is not undifferenced, it is that of Tregony
The arms are described as Or , a lion rampant Gu armed and langued Azure within an engrailed border -
On a gold background, a red Lion rampant with blue tongues & claws,
within a scalloped border
The earliest record of Richard Pomeroy of Wells is as a Vicar Perpetual in 1467 on a Deed Poll.
There is no record in the Cathedral Archives that Richard become a canon, very few vicars choral did."
The Chapter would not have been worried about whether or not he was fully ordained since Keeper of the Fabric did not involve priestly duties ,
it depended entirely on whether or not he could do the job.
2018 I read that during the medieval period the power of the Church was such that Cathedrals would 'press gang or kidnap boys with good voices.
Their families had no say in the matter and sometime the boys were never returned home.
The parentage of Richard Pomeroy of Wells is still uncertain
HOWEVER Datewise AJP thinks...
Richard was born between 1438-40 - 5th & youngest son of Sir Edward Pomeroy & his wife Margaret Beville, baron from 1426 to 1446,
He was the youngest & 5th brother to the heir Edward who died in 1446, shortly before their father Edward ;
the next heir was Henry Baron of Berry Pomeroy ; then 3rd brother John of Tregony & 4th brother Nicholas of Newton Ferrers born around 1420 -died 1479.
ALM thinks Richard was probably born after 1445 & records show Richard died 1537
"vicars choral had to be in minor orders, i.e. deacons when they joined and were expected to go on to take full orders."
Richard would have been ordained in Minor Orders within a few years of becoming a vicar choral.
In theory, men under the age of thirty were not permitted to advance in the priesthood.
The earliest record of Richard Pomeroy of Wells is as a Vicar Perpetual in 1467 on a Deed Poll.
( ref. Charter 675, printed in the Calendar of Manuscripts of the Dean & Chapter of Wells HMC (1914), p, 684-5, )
Charter 675 1467.—Deed poll. Stephen Morpath and John Spekyngton, canons of Wells, William Northam and Thomas Chewe, lately deceased,
and Richard Hochyns and John Combe, vicars of the cathedral church, Salutem in domino sempiternam. Huchyns and Combe, as feoffees of
the lands and tenements, etc., of John Waryn, sometime canon, enfeoff Masters John Rich and John Austell, canons residentiary,
John Manyman, Andrew Grantham, John Toker, John Bawdon, John Aleyn, Richard Pomerey and John Warder, vicars perpetual, their heirs and assigns, in all the lands and tenements of the above John Waryn, in the borough and parish of Wells,
Witnesses: Master William Witham, dean, Masters Walter Osborn and Thomas Mersh, canons, [and others]. Dated, 26 July, 7 Edw. IV.
Vicars Choral are the altos, tenors and basses of the Cathedral Choir and today Vicars Choral are not in holy orders; the word ‘vicar’ coming from ‘vice’ as in deputy . Perpetual means that once licensed, they could not be removed by their nominating patron; and could only be deprived by their diocesan bishop through the ecclesiastical courts.
Richard did take minor orders to become a Keeper of the Fabric & become part of the Cathedral's administrative body. However there is no record in the cathedral archives of him becoming a canon , despite being a very able,if occasionally high handed , administrator. This leads me to conclude that he might not have had a religious vocation he simply made the best of the situation , as did many younger sons consigned to the Church by custom.
the Bishops Cat at Wells
on the gate to the Bishops Palace
This is the Bishops Cat wearing a collar with a golden bishops mitre on it
https://sites.google.com/site/pomeroytwigs2/home
1467 The earliest record thus far of Richard Pomeroy as a Vicar Choral is when he witnessed a deed. He must have been over 21 to do this.
( ref. Charter 675, printed in the Calendar of Manuscripts of the Dean & Chapter of Wells HMC (1914), p, 684-5, )
1477.—Release by Richard Burnell of Wells, to John Combe, John Hille, Thomas Elis, John Baudewyn. John Alwyn, and Richard Pomery, their heirs and assigns, of all his right to a messuage and land, with appurtenances, situate in Wells. Dated, Wells, 2 Nov., 17 Edw. IV. Round seal; I B crowned.
1477.—Grant by Richard Burnell of Wells, to John Combe, John Hille, Thomas Elis, John Baudewyn, John Alwyn and Richard Pomery of Wells, their heirs and assigns, of a messuage in Biestwalles, Wells, and land at La Ashyn Crosse, all of which he and John Pedwell, late deceased, had of the feoffment of Nicholas Matravers, son and heir of Laurence Matravers of Wilton, co. Wilts. Witnesses: Richard Vowell, master of the town of Wells, John Atwater, Walter Baker, [and others]. Dated, Wells, 22 Nov., 17 Edw. IV.
Seal, as no. 701.
1487 To the chantry at the altar of St. Saviour, of the archdeacon of Taunton's collation, by proctor: Pomerey.
To the third chantry at the same altar, worth 30s., of the sub-dean's collation: Divided this year between John Menyman and Pomerey.
Escheator: The vicars nominated Atwell, Pomeray and Bawdewyn; the canons chose Bawdewyn.
1488, Feast of St. Jerome, Sept. 30. Master of the fabric: Pomerey, taking the accustomed oath.
1489, St. Jerome's day, Sept. 30.—Collation to the priories, chantries and offices, similar to those on pp. 106, 112.—fo. 27d.: Pomeray.
KEEPER of the Fabric in 1490
1489.—Grant by Richard Huchons, perpetual vicar, to John Baldewyne, Richard Pomerey, Thomas Seward, and Thomas Farre, perpetual vicars, their heirs and assigns, of all messuages, lands, etc., in Prestelegh in the parish of Dultynge, which the said Richard formerly held jointly with John Morton, Hugh Sugar and John Middilton, clerks, deceased, by grant from Sir John Trigodek, formerly vicar; with power of attorney to John Clavelleshey and Robert Bayly, vicars, to deliver seisin. Witnesses: Richard Vowell, Richard Burnell, John Standerwyk, John Beele, [and others]. Dated, Wells, St. Margaret, Virgin, 4 Hen. VII.
Nominated by the Escheator as a vicar 1487 Richard Pomeray first appears as Master of the Fabric in Sept 1488
2 Masters of the Fabric were elected annually and received a salary of 40 shillings a year (£2) they were usually residentary canons with the appointments recorded in the Chapter Acts books .
1493.—Lease by John Baldewyne, Richard Pomerey, Thomas Sewarde, and Thomas Farre, vicars-choral, to to Thomas Orcharde, clerk, perpetual vicar of Evercryche, for life, of lands in Prestelegh in the parish of Dultyng; the grantee to have shridaciones et decaplationes cum subbosco omnium et singulorum arborum crescencium infra precinctum . . . absque vasto seu destructione inde ut premittitur faciendo; rent, 16s.
Witnesses: John Adam, John Standerwyke, Richard Parker, Thomas Sewarde, and John Orcharde.
Dated, Invention of Holy Cross, 8 Hen. VII. Round seal; an eagle rising reguardant.
( Which translates in part as - having the fruits of the trees and shrubs in precinct ?..shridaciones and decaplationes do not seem to translate .
Translated by google gives - of each one of the trees: things growing on them all: and when the underwood of shridaciones and decaplationes within the precinct. . . , excluding wastes and the destruction of that side, to set down earlier by making Him)
1493.—Copy of the will of Andrew Grauntham, vicar-choral and in priestly orders, of great age; to be buried within the chapel of All Saints, within the inclosure [infra ambitum] of the churchyard commonly called Pardonchyrcheyard; various legacies and anniversary services; to the parish church of Westcammell 40s. et unum missale de le preynte; to Richard Pommery, vicar-choral, 6 silver spoons and 20s., and he sole executor.
Dated, 26 Dec., 1493.
( in London St PaulsCathedral had a Pardon churchyard A medieval churchyard that lay within the precinct of St Paul's and contained a chapel and a cloister painted with the Dance of Death. Possibly Wells did too )
1495.—Grant by John Menyman, canon resident of Wells, and Richard Huchons, vicars-choral, to Master William Bokat, Master John Vowell, and Sir John Stevens, canons resident, John Towker, John Aleyne, and Richard Pomerey, vicars-choral, their heirs and assigns, of 3 tenements near the market-field super cornarium, to the north of the High Cross in Wells, which they, together with Thomas Mershe and John Combe, clerks, now deceased, had of the gift of Master John Gunthorp, dean of Wells. Witnesses: John Rodenay, esq., Richard Vowell, gent., Richard Burnell, John Standerwyke, and Richard Parker. Dated, 1 July, 10 Hen. VII.
Two round seals. (1) A mermaid holding a comb and a mirror, in the field an uncertain motto. [?] IO[HA]NNES. (2) A rose.
1496.
Westminster: Nov. 16. To the escheator in Devon. Order in presence of the next friends of Richard son of Richard Pomerey knight, to assign dower to Elizabeth late wife of Sir Richard, having taken of her an oath etc. close Rolls, Henry VII: 1495-1496 Pages 259-282
1519.—Power of attorney by John Aleyn, Richard Pomerey and John Warder, feoffees of the lands and tenements of John Waryn in Wells, to John Tyler and Nicholas More, to deliver seisin of the same to John Bekham and John Edmund, canons, Hugh Veysie and others. Dated, the Annunciation of the Virgin, 10 Hen. VIII.
1498.—Lease by John Toker and Richard Pomerey, clerks, vicars--choral, and principals the New Close, to Richard Frempton, butcher, and Juliana his wife, and Richard their son, for their lives, of 2 cottages and one shamellum carnificum in the High Street, Wells, in front of the inn called the Crystofer; rent 12s.
Witnesses: William Capron, chaplain, Otho More, John Ustewayte, and others].
Dated, St. Matthew, 14 Hen. VIII. 1505--1509:
( shamellum carnificum - probably means " butcher shambles" The city of York had a row of 25 butchers shops called the Great Flesh Shambles, probably from the Anglo-Saxon Fleshammels ( which when deconstructed becomes Fle -shammel )- a word for the shelves that butchers used to display their meat in a area where animals were slaughtered and sold on Sundays )
Accounts of Richard Pomeroy, Keeper of the Fabric of Wells Cathedral ( here )
1519. John Riche, John Austell, canons, John Manyman, Andrew Grantham, John Toker, and John Bawdon, vicars, deceased, and John Aleyn, Richard Pomerey, and John Warder, vicars, now surviving, Greeting in the lord. Grant by Aleyn, Pomerey,and Warder, feoffees of the lands and tenements of John Waryn,formerly canon of Wells, to Masters John Bekham and John Edmunds, canons resident of Wells, Hugh Veysie, John Janyngs,William Capron, John Orchard, John Godard, Thomas Clerke [?], and John Gye, perpetual vicars, their heirs and assigns, of all the lands and possessions formerly of the said Waryn in Wells.
Witnesses: William Cosyn, dean of Wells, Peter Carsley, Roger Church, canons resident, [and others]. Dated, Ladyday, 10 Hen. VIII. 743. 1519.—
Power of attorney by John Aleyn, Richard Pomerey and John Warder, feoffees of the lands and tenements of John Waryn in Wells, to John Tyler and Nicholas More, to deliver seisin of the same to John Bekham and John Edmund, canons, Hugh Veysie and others.
Dated, the Annunciation of the Virgin, 10 Hen. VIII. 784. 1557.—20 years after his death
Grant by John Smyth and William Needis, late vicars--choral of Wells, to Thomas Fudge, Thomas Moore, George Huchyns, Richard Camell, John Fenne, Walter Nowell, and Walter Humfrayes, perpetual vicars, their heirs and assigns, of all messuages, lands, etc., in Prestleighe in the parish of Dultynge, Somerset, which the said John and William held jointly with Thomas Cleke, John Lyllyhede, John Coole, and Richard Bramston, late perpetual vicars of Wells, of the gift of Richard Pomeroye and Thomas Farre; with power of attorney to Thomas Hooper and Andrew Thorne, perpetual vicars, to deliver seisin.
Dated, 8 May, 1557, ( Queen Mary Tudor)
1557 record, John Smyth and others, “late,” pass lands etc in Prestleigh on to the next group of perpetual vicars
which lands they had as GIFT from Richard Pomeroy and Thomas Farre. Reverence # 716:
Shields in the Cathedral Close:
Bishop Thomas Beckington left much of his estate to the Vicars' Choral, enabling repairs to be carried out. The chimney shafts were renewed.
Each stack incorporates two heraldic shields and the upper sections of the stacks are octagonal.
The shields are those of the Bishop, a beacon above tun, and the arms of his three executors; sugar loaves for Hugh Sugar, three swans for Richard Swan, and the talbot for John Pope.
The fifth shield bears the arms of Pomeroy. 5: v. Or, a lion ramp. gu. armed and langued az. within a bord. eng. sa., These are the undifferenced arms of the head of the family of Pomeroy of Berry Pomeroy in Devonshire.
Vicars Close
Vicars Close which is the deservedly famous, was a planned, purpose built street was erected in mid 14th century by Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, and his successors, for the vicars-choral of Wells Cathedral who were laymen.
It is oldest continually inhabited street in Europe and still houses the organists and the men of the choir, as well as other employees of the Cathedral.
Passing through the gate, one sees the two long ranges of quiet and lovely houses, fronted by their little gardens, with paved roadway between, all in peaceful seclusion.
The tall chimneys rise up through the eaves of the houses; octagonal at the top, they are perforated like a lantern, with two openings on each side. On them are shields bearing the arms of the see, of Bishop Beckington and his executors, Swan, Sugar, and Pope, sugar-loaves and swans abounding in the decoration.
At the farther end of the close is the tiny chapel (finished by Bubwith, and finally consecrated in 1489, after Beckington had added the wooden ceiling and the chamber above), where compline is still said by the theological students.
It is one of the most beautiful things in Wells—a jewel, like so much of its period—and it has been well decorated in scraffitto and colour by Mr Heywood Sumner.
An interesting feature of its exterior is that some of the old Early English carving was worked in with the masonry of the wall, by way of decoration, and very effective it is. A passage at the side leads to the Liberty, where are some of the prebendal houses.
Over the entrance, and leading into the bridge of the Chain Gate, are the hall and its offices, which are approached by a fine staircase. In the hall is a painting of much interest, which represents Bishop Ralph seated on his throne, the vicars 67kneeling before him; the petition which he holds runs—Per vicos positi villae, Pater alme rogamus, Ut simul uniti, te, Dante domos maneamus; and the answer, which has the episcopal seal, is—Vestra petunt merita, Quod sint concessu petita: Ut maneatis ita, Loca fecimus hic stabilita.
On the right are seventeen figures with ruffles, evidently added in Elizabethan times; corresponding inscription has also been added—Quas primus struxit, etc.
There is also a pulpit over the fireplace, which is large, with good mouldings and an inscription, In vestris preci habeatus comedatu do[=m] Ricardu Pomroy quem salvet Ihs. Amen.
On the hearth are a pair of fine fire-dogs.
Just outside the entrance to the vicars' close is a beautiful oriel window, which has been much copied in modern times. It springs from a corbelled head, from which foliate four cinquefoiled panels. The window now has only three square-headed lights, the centre one being large. Under its sills are rich panels, and it is capped by a slight crenelated cornice with a boldly-carved drip, from which springs a conical roof surmounted by a fleur-de-lys.
Some else wrote... Winkles's Architectural and Picturesque Illustrations of the Cathedral ... By Henry Winkles
.
..in the window of this hall is yet remaining the name of Pomroy AND over the mantelpiece of the same room is a carved scroll with the above mentioned Latin inscription...this refers to the vicars dining hall .....which is over a gateway, the gateway that leans into St Andrew Street No.1: formerly a larger property, extending through to St Andrew Street, but now with continuous party wall between twoparts (No.1, St Andrew Street qv). Narrow entrance hall to right, single room left, rear wing and inserted kitchen at ground floor. The front room has, in its rear wall, a deep embrasure and rere arch to the blocked former casement, a deep niche with cinquefoil head to spandrel, and a blocked 4-centred arch to the former doorway, all these with structural stonework exposed. There is a lateral beam with small chamfer. A deep plastered arch gives to the early rear range, and under the staircase is an early plank door to a space with a square stone pier with broad corbelled capital built in to the party division. The straight-flight stair, with winders to the upper landing, has a late C18 chinoiserie balustrade. At first floor the front room has a C17 three-plank door opening from the rear wall to a former stair well, now floored, with an external slit light.
Richard of Wells remains something of a mystery. We not know whose son he was .
He may have been a 5th son of Sir Edward Pomeroy and his wife Margaret Beville. Edward was Baron Pomeroy from1426 until he died in 1446
As a Vicar Choral Richard is first mention circa 1467 and from about 1488 he was Keeper of the Fabric of the Cathrdral holding that post for some 25 years.
His coat of arms is undifferenced from the armorial line meaning he was a son of the baron
although the description of the coat of arms suggests the Tregony branch
Mentions in cathedral Archives as Keeper of the Fabric referred to him in the cathedral accounts as Sir Richard Pomeray ,
1501, July 25.—Sir Richard Pomeray, clerk of the fabric, appeared and confessed that he had done unjustly and evilly in his office in taking down a great bell from the south tower of the cathedral church, and having it newly cast [de novo fundendam], without the authority or leave of the dean and chapter. He was pardoned on paying 5 marks for the raising and hanging the same.
1502 Sir Richard Pomeray, vicar choral, for his good and diligent service, has license not to attend matins in the night time hereafter; he may receive his vicar's cotidians without any diminution.
1511–12, Jan. 26.—Sir Richard Pomerey shall well and sufficiently make the "whyrlgog" opposite the gate of the archdeaconry.
Master of the Fabric from 1488 with a brief gap in 1503 -1504 when Clerk of the Fabric was Orchard-
Addiscote having refused on the ground of infirmity.
Communar: Capron. Pomeray refused for certain good reasons.
He was reinstated as Keeper of the Fabric, from Michaelmas, 1505, to Michaelmas, 1506 and remained in post from then on until 1514
.......a most judicious, or trustworthy, or energetic character, there can be no doubt from a perusal of the Schedule of Collations to the Chantries and Appointments of Capitular officers, finds him for many years consecutively elected Master of the Fabric,
and on one occasion treated with Great leniency, although he had committed so serious an offence as to take down the Great bell in the South Tower and have it recast without the sanction of the Dean and Chapter.
He was last referred to in 1519 & died 1537
AML found this
An account: Headed Novus Clausus Vicariorum Wellen
rendered by Andrew Thorne from Michaelmas anno 27 Henry I to 28. (1537-1538)
et pro Exequiis (for funeral of.) Ricardi Pomray, 5s;
and for the refreshment of the Vicars in the Common Hall 3s 4d.
Also, to the Choristers of the Church for one Antiphon sung on the Feast of the Exaltacion of Holy Cross for the soul of the said Pomray 3s. 4d.
and refreshment to Vicars for same in Hall, 3s.
Richard Pomery of Wells in records at Wells Cathedral from 1477.
1477—Deed poll. Stephen Morpath and John Spekyngton, canons of Wells, William Northam and Thomas Chewe, lately deceased, and Richard Hochyns and John Combe, vicars of the cathedral church, Salutem in domino sempiternam. Huchyns and Combe, as feoffees of the lands and tenements, etc., of John Waryn, sometime canon, enfeoff Masters John Rich and John Austell, canons residentiary, John Manyman, Andrew Grantham, John Toker, John Bawdon, John Aleyn, Richard Pomerey and John Warder, vicars perpetual, their heirs and assigns, in all the lands and tenements of the above John Waryn, in the borough and parish of Wells
Witnesses: Master William Witham, dean, Masters Walter Osborn and Thomas Mersh, canons, [and others]. Dated, 26 July, 7 Edw. IV.
1488: Voted master of the fabric, taking the accustomed oath. Collation: Pomeroy To the third chantry at the altar of St. Mary Magdalene, worth 30s., of the sub-dean's collation: Divided this year between John Menyman and Pomerey.
To the chantry at the altar of St. Saviour, of the archdeacon of Taunton's collation, by proctor: Pomerey.
1489:Called “perpetual vicar.” 1489, St. Jerome's day, Sept. 30.—Collation to the priories, chantries. Same as 1488.
1493: Vicar-Choral: clerk: signs leases of Cathedral land. Received 6 silver spoons and 20s., and sole executor of will of Andrew Grantham, vicar-choral and in priestly orders.
1495: “Richard Pommery, vicar-choral, 6 silver spoons and 20 s. and he sole executor of the will of Andrew Granuntham, vicar-choral and in prestly order.
1498: Richard Pomerey, clerk, vicars-choral and principal of the New Close
1501-2: principal of the New Close of Vicars. Seal I R in monogram.
1505: Richard Pomeroy, Keeper of the Fabric at Wells
1519: Richard Pomeroy and others: Feoffees of the lands and tenements of John Waryn, formerly canon of Wells to new canons resident of Wells.
1519: Richard Pomerey and others: power of attorney of lands and tenements of John Waryn of Wells to deliver seisin of same to John Berkham and others.
1537: et pro Exequiis (for funeral of.) Ricardi Pomray, 5s; and for the refreshment of the Vicars in the Common Hall 3s 4d.
Also, to the Choristers of the Church for one Antiphon sung on the Feast of the Exaltacion of Holy Cross for the soul of the said Pomray 3s. 4d.
1557: Grant by John Smyth and others to Thomas Fudge and others, all messuages, lands etc in Prestleigh in parish of Dultynge, Somerset, which were the gift of Richard Pomeroye and Thomas Farre.
Powley does not mention him at all. Nor does he appear in any of the “Visitations.”
Richard Pomeroy was considerable benefactor to the cathedral at Wells.
There is a little window in Well cathedral in his honour as Keeper of the Fabric for 25 years.-
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