Embedded Files
Sir Thomas Pomeroy
Knights frequently held lands separated by considerable distances . These properties were held from the king for a Knights Service, the annual requirement of military service .This was called a fee came in the form of military service which provided the monarch with an army when he went to War.
The knight obviously could not live in all his properties so they had sub tenants, some times relatives , sons of younger son. usuall on a three lives lease or 99 years lease, which provided the knight with his life style.
A knights fee was sufficient land to support one knight and his family for one year in the performance of his feudal duties. A man at arms was a soldier holding his land, generally 60-120 acres, specifically in exchange for military service. Sometimes called a Yeoman.
However a knight's-fee was not a standard number of acres, it depended on location, the richness of soil and local climate & the productivity of the land.
A knights fee had to be sufficient that knight could derive not only sustenance for himself and his esquires,
but also furnish his entourage with horses and armour to fight for his overlord.
The lessee paid an annual rent and the property were treated by the leasee as if it was their own to work improve and to hand on to their children, thereby keeping the money coming into the knightly coffers
The discovery of a single record in 2017 showed Sir Thomas Pomeroy, the youngest of 5 sons of the 8th Henry Pomeroy & his wife Johanna Moels, in 1372 giving 'power of attorney' to others including the Vicar of Berry Pomeroy.
1365 Thomas de la Pomerai, received lands in Welcombe (in Cheriton Fitzpaine), Lake (Stocklegh manor) and Hyrwardisheghes (in Cheriton Fitzpaine) of John Wadham and others
1366, a lease of the manor of Carswylle Abbas (Abbots Kerswell) from the abbot of Schyrborne (Sherborne);
1371, Thomas did homage to the bishop of Exeter, for a knight's fee, at Peyntone (Paignton);
1372 By then Sir Thomas , a knight of the shire, (Later called Members of Parliament) had a wife, Johane, & a son, William and in the 1372 record Thomas Pomeroy was going on a Journey into Wales for the king. Ceating a Letter of Attorney he made provision for his wife Johane & his son William should he not return, leaving his wife & son entrusted to his brothers
These were warrior knights going off to fight in the kings wars and arranging power of attorney so that decisions could be made to protect and provide for their families
in their absence
Devon Record Office 3799M-0/ET/7/4b 1372 held at Devon Record Office
Contents: Declaration of the uses of a conveyance
1. Thomas la Pomeray
2. William Cary, Renauld Hors[ ], Piers Silverloc and John of Baucomb
Premises: all Thomas's lands and tenements, rents and services in Welcomb, Lake, Herwardesheghes, East Wode, Walles, Stockleigh Pomeroy, Cheriton Fitzpayne, Dynnescomb, Teyng Hervy and Sandrugg
Thomas Pomerai is going to a journey for the king. If he returns from the journey he is to hold the premises as before. If he dies on the journey before he can re-enter the premises, then Cary, Hors, Silverloc & Beaucome, are to hold them for Johane his wife, William his son, and the heirs of the body of William.
For default of such issue, the premises are to remain to the heirs of the body of 1., and for default, to Nicholas, his brother and the heirs of his body. succession his older brothers
Date: Wednesday next before the feast of St Laurence, 46 Edward III 1373.
Distrain - to seize the property of (someone) in order to obtain payment of money owed.
A long series of records begin in 1377
05/11/1377 When Thomas de la Pomeroy was asked to show by what right and title he entered into the lord's fee at La Wille.
Thomas responded 06/18/1377 that he had entered in a fee of the lord xxx, Roger atte POLE for which xxx he paid by homage and fealty to the lord. He argued that he had discharged his debt and owed nothing.
But the order to distrain continued for 300 years.
02/11/1378: Order to distrain Johane Pomeray to do fealty for lands and tenements in Wille Yeallbxxx.(Yalburton about a mile from Wille or Welle in Stoke Gabriel)
The above repeated in 19/06/1378.
24 May 1380: John Rend 2d Reginald Poyer 2d in mercy for trespass and breaking and taking away the hedge of John de la Pomeraye.
Going through the 60 odd pages of records collected in 2011 from TNA- HERE
Devon Record Office 3799M-0/ET/2/20 1387 Contents: Manor and whole estate. Letter of attorney
1. William of Horbury, parson of the church of Ipplepen, Richard Holrigge, vicar of the church of Brixham, John Papilwyk, parson of the church of Loxhore, Reginald, vicar of the church of Berry POMEROY, John Hill, John Wadham, Thomas of la POMEROY, and Richard Ayssh
2. William Grilleston, William of Bredon and Robert of Hempston to give seisin to: 3. John POMEROY, son and heir of Henry POMEROY, and his wife Johanne (Moels).
Premises: the manor of Berry POMEROY Date: Sunday after the feast of St Bartholomew the apostle, 11 Richard II Seals: eight seals, including that of Thomas of la POMEROY
8th Baron Henry died Oct 1367. & 9th Henry in 1373 & John died in 1416 so this must refer to John son of 9th Henry with wife Emmot the oldest of the 5 brothers and heir.
William son of Thomas & Johane, married & had a son circa 1388 Edward ,who in 1403 married Margaret Beville was the declared & rightful heir of Baron Sir John Pomeroy . William must have died before his father Thomas because there is no mention of him. Just his son Edward .
1374 Thomas de la Pomerai and his wife received a licence to hear mass in the chapel of their manor of Sandridge in the parish of Stoke Gabriel;
1377 Thomas, with another, received Michaelmas reparation of £25. 12s. for 64 days service as knight of the shire of Devonshire at Westminster,
Until 1378 Thomas He held a life interest in Stoke Bassett (North Stoke, Oxfordshire) He appears to have died at this time
Thomas's grandson was Edward born about 1388 , married Margaret Beville when she was probably still a child in 1403 and they had their first child when she was 15 or 16 in about 1414. Edward was the declared & rightful heir of Baron Sir John Pomeroy .son of the 8th Henry Pomeroy.
December 1392 Sir Thomas was dead (New Year was in March)
01/10/1392: The lands and tenements which Thomas de la Pomeray lately held at le Wylle remain in the lord’s hands by reason of the minority of Edward, his grandson & heir of Thomas de la Pomeray.
1392 & Edward, his grandson the new heir, son of William son of Sir Thomas , was underage .
Exter Merchant Alexander Merle wasted no time in marrying Johane the widow, just as he had 25 years before when in 1367 he married the Baron Henry's Pomeroys widow Elizabeth who died in 1382.
26 April 1392: The homage presents that Alexander Merle and Johanna his wife held certain lands and tenements Atte Wille for the life. After Johanna’s death the reversion is to the heirs of Thomas de la Pomeray to be held by Knight Services. (
18/10/1392: Order to distrain Edward Pomeroy to do homage and fealty to the lord for the lands and tenements at la Wille.
The above repeated 31/05/1393 and 28/10/1393 and 21/10/1395.
18/10/1392: Order to distrain Edward Pomeroy to do homage and fealty to the lord for the lands and tenements at la Wille.
Distrain to do homage to the lord. Distrain to seize the property in order to obtain payment of money owed.
08/05/1397: Order to distrain Edward Pomeroy son and heir of William Pomeroy to do homage and fealty to the lord for the lands and tenements at Wille.
The above repeated regularly from 30/09/1395 to 21/09/1402.
*****
04/05/1568: Thomas Pomeray knight who held the manor of Sandridge, Wille and Egleford by knights service had died.
14/04/1569 to 1622: regular entries referring to the heir of Thomas Pomeroy knight 3d free tenant owes suite and has defaulted, therefore in mercy.
Filling in the gaps in the pedigree of this family is important.
It is probable that William, son of Thomas Pomeroy had other children besides Edward who married Margaret Beville.
Proof that Edward was son the Thomas's son William
his indebtedness
08/05/1397: Order to distrain Edward Pomeroy son and heir of William Pomeroy to do homage and fealty to the lord for the lands and tenements at Wille.
The above repeated regularly from 30/09/1395 to 21/09/1402.
Filling in the gaps in the pedigree of this family is interesting. William, son of Thomas Pomeroy, probably had other children besides Edward who married Margaret Beville.
1404 Edward de la Pomerai, was given Tregony, with his wife Margaret, in July 1404, received back from Robert Saundre, vicar of Stoke Gabriel, and Thomas Cornwale, chaplain, all lands in Sandridge, Wylle (Lower Well Farm in Stoke Gabriel), Teyngherny (Teignharvey in Stokeinteignhead), Wellecombe (v. supra), Wallys (Walle v. supra) and Lake (v. supra) which Saundre and Cornwale had of Edward's and Margaret's gift, was NOT a son of the 5th son Thomas but his grandson, son of William the only issue of Thomas & his wife Johane found in records circa 1372 and that grandson Edward eventually became lord of Beri .
Edward de la Pomerai, given Tregony around the time of his marriage to Margaret,Beville in July 1404
DRO 3799M-0/ET/21/1 1379
Contents:Tiverton. Grant for life
1. Thomas Pomerey and his wife Johane (5th son of Sir Henry & his 1st wife Johan Moels)
2. Johane Bolham
Premises: that tenement with the land adjoining which John Bolham once held at will in the manor of Lomeneclavile, together with the fulling mill in the same manor
Term: life of Johane of la Pomerey
Witnesses: John Gobbe, Robert Storigg, Thomas Hunt
Date: Lomeneclavile, Friday before the feast of St Luke the evangelist,
2 Richard II 1377 - 1399 Seal: small, oval, ?lion
Bolham is a parish near Tiverton - with a mill still existing – Lomeneclavile not found - there is a river Lomen that joins the river Exe at Tiverton- with villages Crazelomen & Uplomen…Uploman parish includes Chieflowman, Coombe, Kidwell, Murley, and Whitnage all Domesday estates.
( Lomeneclaville may be Caverleigh- not proven )
all of which is NO help at all ....
I wonder why he made this arrangement - a mill was profitable and he was obviously ensuring his wife was cared for because he was going off to do military service for the king as was his obligation It was a time of great upheaval & unrest following the decimation wrought by the Black Death in the 1346 &1353. The Peasants Revolt occurred in 1381 after the introduction s Poll Tax to pay for the latest war - The 100 Years war was still ongoing- & knights, and their retinues of men & horses were going off the war again in 1379 -
The Hundred Years' War - 1337–1453 a series of conflicts between the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Franc
Cheriton Fitzpaine Above
AML found confirmation that Baron Edward Pomeroy was grandson of Thomas. and that Sir Thomas's widow, Johane, married again . Her 2nd husband in 1392 was Alexander Merle.
AJP uncovered the fact that Merle's 1st wife was the widowed Lady Elizabeth 2nd wife of Baron Sir Henry Pomeroy who died in 1347.
Elizabeth died in1382
SEARCHING THE RECORDS FOR OWNERSHIP OF WYLL, in Stoke Gabriel which had been purchased by Sir Thomas Pomeroy from Roger atte Pole, 1377; The dispute over the ownership of Wyll lasted over 200 years,
however the records from nearby Waddeton records reveal several significant things.
The confirmation that Baron Edward Pomeroy was grandson of Thomas the 5th son of Sir Henry by son William, not his son
approximate dates
Sir Thomas (5th son) born about 1328 dead by 1392 ;
son William born by 1372 dead by 1397 & Edward son of William born before 1392 but died before the baron . His son Edward took the Barony with his wife Margaret Beville in 1426 & died in 1446
Sir Thomas died his widow Johane/Joanna married Alexander Merle - see the foot of main page here
Thomas de la Pomeray, (esquire) Man-at-arms) 1369. Also "on journey for the King..1372- (Salisbury was Ambassador to the Pope) .
Thomas Pomeray Esquire a soldier/ man at arms under Captain Guy, Lord Bryan in an army led by King Edward III 1372 campaign Naval Expedition He died in 1392
BUT Vivian has Edward as son Sir Thomas of Upottery, so we might consider that the misconception existed early on - at the College of Arms .
Records show that someone made a mistake in Westminster.
Hardly surprising really given they were both MPs & Both knights & both had a wife Johan /Johanna
One honourable knight & Knight of the Shire with a wife Johane & a son William b 1372 and grandson Edward
&
the Less than honourable Thomas Esq who hustled the co-heir of the barony, Johanna Chudleigh St Aubyn, de Bryan , into marriage in 1388 and bullied the widow of the Baron into giving up her rights after his wife's brother, Sir John Pomeroy, died childless in 1416 .
result
1/10/1392: The lands and tenements which Thomas de la Pomeray lately held at le Wylle remain in the lord’s hands by reason of the minority of Edward, (grandson)son and heir of Thomas de la Pomeray. Distrain to do homage to the lord.
Thomas's grandson was Edward born about 1388 ,
( when Thomas Pomeroy Esq made his illegal marriage to Johanna Chudleigh) Edward married Margaret Beville when she was probably still a child in 1403 and their 1st child was born when she was about 16 years old
Records
18/05/1378 Order to distrain Thomas de la Pomeroy to do fealty for lands and tenements in Yealborn.- Yalberton here
Sir Thomas was dead before 1392 & there is an order to distrain his widow Johanne de la Pomeray to do fealty for lands and tenements in Wille Yalbourne /Yalburton
26 April 1392: The homage presents that Alexander Merle and Johanna his wife held certain lands and tenements Atte Wille for the life. After Johanna’s death the reversion is to the heirs of Thomas de la Pomeray to be held by Knight Services
01/Oct 1392: The lands and tenements which Thomas de la Pomeray lately held at le Wylle remain in the lord’s hands by reason of the minority of Edward.
By 1397 William the heir was dead and there was an order to distrain Edward Pomeroy son and heir of William Pomeroy to do homage and fealty to the lord for the lands and tenements at Wylle. 8/05/1397:
Today there is Middle and Lowell Well farms in Stoke Gabriel
The manor of Raphel or Raffell, see page in the parish of Lansallos between Polperro & Fowey , Trenant (in Duloe?), Leskyr~t (Liskeard), Manely (Manely Coleshill in St Veep), and St Clere (St Cleer), with lands and tenements in Treworra (Trevorick in St Issey), Canlisee (Canalidgey in St Issey) and advowsons of Lansalewes
In the 18th C when Charles Pomeroy was at Talland , the manor of Raffell was purchased by Zephaniah Job, the very famous smuggler privateer turned wealthy banker of Polerro, who changed the life of the village and became the greatest single benefactor in Polperro's long history
Property considerations occupied much of John de la Pomerai's attention.
On 4 March 1377 Sir John received acknowledgement by Richard, Prince of Wales, of the homage due to him-as duke of Cornwall.
In 1377 All lands that had been of Edmund de Horton were were transferred to John Blake - Bishop's Nymeton (Bishop's Nympton), Moland Botriaux and Chaunpeaux (Molland), Molton (N. or S.?), Rogge- combe (Ruckham in Cruwys Morchard), Yeddebury (Yedbury-Cruwys Morchard) and Pacchescote (in Beaworthy) and elsewhere in Devonshire, .
By that time de la Pomerai had acquired from William Hywysch the Cornish estates of Tremetherit (Tremadart in Duloe?), Rathewelle
Sir John de la Pomerai , wife Joanna Merton widow of Barnfeld
England had no standing army - knights service required all landholders to provide men and service for the king. The barons were literally men of action & to keep their lands they did knights service which took them away from home
John was no different
He was away for most of 1370-1374 on campaign with King Edward III on active service in the naval defence of Devonshire against a landing from France in 1375;
(Noted as a Man At Arms onboard a ship. Not a "mariner." ) A Man at arms owned land and did service for Edward III was aboard one of the naval ships in 1372. Commissions of Array :1377.
Sir John Knight man at arms 1370 campaign Keeping of the Sea In 1371 & 1372 1374 a naval each Expedition for 2 years
John Pomeroy was the only son of the 9th successive Henry de la Pomerai by his wife Emmot & after his father death in Dec 1373 & by the end of February 1374. had done homage for his lands in Devonshire and Cornwall
His two sister , or their children who were also heirs to the barony . Joanna who married James Chudleigh and her daughter Johanna Chudleigh who married 1st Sir John St Aubyn and 2nd Sir Phillip de Bryan; her sister Margaret had been married to Adam Cole and they had a son John Cole,
During his tenure as Baron Pomeroy , as 'chivaler’, Sir John was entrusted with tasks of local government. With others he was instructed to defend Devonshire against a landing from France were & in 1375 and one of eight with on similar commission & named, with five others, to deal with matters of novel disseisin in Devonshire and Cornwall
in 1378, John was one of sixteen J.P.s justices of the peace for Cornwall with minor tasks such as the arrest a monk of Eston (Easton, Wiltshire), abroad, in secular habit fell to him. John of Gaunt ,Duke of Lancaster, (3rd son of Edward III ) went to France at the head of a large army to try to take Brittany. The mission was a failure because Gaunt was unable to feed such a large force due to the French occupation of the countryside.
1379 John Pomeroy figured among eleven Devonshire commissioners of array ;
1380 he was among the ten in that year's emergency which ordered that all fit persons between 16 and 60 be equipped ( for war) and the reluctant would be imprisoned .
1381 The Peasants' Revolt against 1 shilling per person Poll Tax, a horrible unfair tax because the same amount was payable by rich and poor alike. With wages fixed by the Statute of Labourers the peasants were made even poorer. A revolt began encouraged by travelling priest, John Ball. The result was bloody. A strong mandate came from the crown ( Richard II ) to the towns and counties for prevention, rebellious assemblies ; John de la Pomerai was associated with four others and a sheriff .
The incidental task of vindicating the King's rights in the presentation to the living of Ipplepen was shared by de la Pomerai with the sheriff, the mayor of Exeter and others.
1385, with a foreign invasion feared, John de la Pomerai was joined with thirteen others, to form a Devonshire commission of array.
1392 He was included in the eleven commissioners of array, county Devonshire instructed to act in case of war .
1399 The shrievalty of Devonshire was placed on him which he held that until 3 November, when John Keynes succeeded him.
1412 with five others, John Pomeroy was part of a commission of oyer and terminer to investigate, a case of breaking close, houses, etc., at Herford (Harford).12
John de la Pomerai, in 1398 , may perhaps have regretted standing as one of four mainpemors (£200) for John Dynham;
In 1401 Dynham received pardon & had released his mainpemors from their obligation but in 1407 they were regarded as responsible for two later offences.
AJP NOTE
Alexander Merle
After 1367 , he married Elizabeth 2nd wife & widow of the 8th Baron Henry Pomeroy & daughter of John of Powderham .
Alexander Merle is described as an Exeter city merchant & possibly a Scottish freebooter
1377 King Edward III, granted Alexander Merle of Scotland ,esquire, an annuity of 12 pence or one shilling a day for his services in wars - making about £20 a year.
1378 Oct. 1- October 9:—mention of Alexander Merle, an esquire of Scotland,
1387 Members of Parliament - Bonville with Alexander Merle in October- His Parlimentary bio is not yet available
1384 Member of Parliament Amongst the 44 esquires listed next were Hugh Courtenay (the earl’s brother), Martin Ferrers†, Robert Chalons and Alexander Merle with at least four men, who sat in Parliament for local boroughs
After Elizabeth died in 1382 Alexander Merle married his step dughter in Law. Johane Pomeroy widow of Sir Thomas 5th son the grandparents of Edward Pomeroy who became Baron in 1426.
CP 25/1/44/62, number 23. 6 October 1380 - 28 April 1381
Link: Image of document at AALT
County: Devon. Place: Westminster.Date: One week from St Michael, 4 Richard II And afterwards two weeks from Easter in the same year
Parties: querents, Thomas de Staynthrop', clerk, Thomas de Barton', clerk, Alexander Merle and Robert de Brantyngham,
deforciants.William Croyser, knight, and Elizabeth, his wife,
Property: The manor of Teyngton' Dru and the advowson of the church of Teyngton' Dru .( Drewsteignton at the head of the Teign valley)
Action: Plea of covenant.
Agreement: William and Elizabeth have acknowledged the manor and advowson to be the right of Robert, of which Robert, Thomas, Thomas and Alexander have the advowson of their gift, to hold to Thomas, Thomas, Alexander and Robert and the heirs of Robert, of the chief lords for ever. And besides William and Elizabeth granted for themselves and the heirs of Elizabeth that the manor - which John de Ralegh', knight, and Gwenllian (Wentelina), his wife, held in dower of Gwenllian of the inheritance of Elizabeth on the day the agreement was made, and which after the decease of Gwenllian ought to revert to William and Elizabeth and the heirs of Elizabeth - after the decease of Gwenllian shall remain to Thomas, Thomas, Alexander and Robert and the heirs of Robert, to hold together with the advowson of the chief lords for ever.
Warranty: Warranty.
For this: Thomas, Thomas, Alexander and Robert have given them £200 sterling.
Note: This agreement was made in the presence of John and Gwenllian, and they did fealty to Thomas, Thomas, Alexander and Robert in the court.
CP 25/1/44/63, number 38. date 18 November 1381
Link: Image of document at AALT
County: Devon. Place: Westminster. Date: One week from St Martin, 5 Richard II
Parties: querentsThomas de Stayndrop', clerk, Thomas de Barton', clerk, Alexander (Merle) & Robert de Brantyngham,,
deforciants. John de Ralegh', knight, and Gwenllian (Wenthilina), his wife,
Property: The manor of Teyngton' Dreu. (Drewsteignton at the head of the river Teign)
Action: Plea of covenant.
Agreement: John and Gwenllian have granted to Thomas, Thomas, Alexander and Robert the manor and have remised and quitclaimed whatsoever they had in it for the life of Gwenllian to Thomas, Thomas, Alexander and Robert and the heirs of Robert for ever.
For this: Thomas, Thomas, Alexander and Robert have given them 100 marks of silver
Was Alexander Merle also Alexander Marley ?
Thomas Brantingham served as Lord Treasurer to Edward III and on two occasions to Richard II, & was made bishop of Exeter from 1370 until his death 1394
On 18 November 1381, in a case tried at Westminster, de Brantingham stood alongside Alexander Merle and two clerks, Thomas de Staindrop and Thomas de Barton, as plaintiff against Sir John and Gwenllian de Raleigh.
The action was a plea of covenant concerning Drewsteignton, Devon, for which de Brantingham and his fellow plaintiffs paid 100 marks, and in return were granted the manor of Drewsteignton.
Sir William de Brantingham, a knight, was found to have used "chicaneries" to reassign property on the death of his ward; and Simon de Brantingham was dismissed as steward of the Hospital of St John the Baptist in Dorchester, Dorset, for having sold off the hospital's land and carried away linens and bedding from the hospital...
Drewsteignton
Wikipedia
The manor of Taintone "a settlement beside the Teign") is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the 107th of the 176 Devon landholdings of Baldwin the Sheriff, otherwise known as Baldwin FitzGilbert and Baldwin de Meulles. (Moels) held it in demesne. & as Sheriff of Devon held lands granted to him personally by William I, comprised of the feudal barony of Okehampton, including Taintone.
...the village was relatively prosperous. It was important as a wool producing area, and there were also limestone quarries and a small tin mine.....
FARMS IN DREWSTEIGNTON - include Narracott ; WALLON & Coombe Manor Farm which Heritage gateway tells us is .......a late C15-early C16th Farmhouse. with major later C16 and C17 improvements, renovated circa 1970.
Main block is plastered granite stone rubble with some massive boulder footings at the upper end and some cob on the wall tops. The rear block is plastered cob on stone rubble footings; stone rubble stacks topped with C20 brick, the hall has its original granite ashlar chimney shaft extended in brick; thatch roof......
The C19th Coombe Manor is of no interest here. nor is the nearby Victorian Castle Drogo which was the last castle built in England
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