Batholomew de Wateringbury (mid-13th century)

Post date: Jul 17, 2012 4:39:53 PM

A special Eyre (judicial investigation) of Kent and Surrey in 1258/9 received information that Batholomew (sometimes Bartholomew) of Wateringbury had indulged in petty(?) corruption whilst coroner. The coroner was a county elected position (usually two in the county), independent in theory of the sheriff. The coroner was obliged to investigate promptly any unusual deaths without charge.

Paragraph 298 records:

The jurors present that each coroner of this county took rewards for view of the dead, namely Batholomew de Wateringbury and John de Saint Clair who were coroners after the last eyre of the justices [itinerant].

The editor, Andrew Hershey, notes in his introduction that these bribes were usually between a shilling and half a mark, paid either by the tithing or township but on occasion by an individual.

In his book the Lordship of Canterbury by F.R.H. DuBoulay is a list of knight's fees held of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1247 Batholomew of Wateringbury was holding 1 fee in Filston of William of Shofford; he was successfully sued for its service, and in turn successfully sued Haimo of Filston in 1248 for service which included 40 shillings scutage when it shall happen.

Some more detail is given in ‘ Filston in Shoreham’ by N.H. MacMichael in Archaelogia Cantiana Vol 77 (1962) pp 133 -141

In 1248 Batholomew de Oteringebyr demanded of Hamo de Vieleston the customs and services for the free tenement which Hamo held of him in Vielston (Filston hall in Shoreham).[1] Hamo did not acknowledge but granted for himself and his heirs that they would render a sore sparrow-hawk yearly or 2s, and 40s for a scutage of 40s, when it should happen; moreover he gave Hamo 2 marks for arrears. In the previous year there had been a fine by which William de Schofold demanded of Bartholomew de Oteringebyr the customs and services for the free tenement which Bartholomew held of him in Vieleston, namely one knight’s fee, which service Bartholomew did not acknowledge. Bartholomew granted for himself and his heirs that they would do to William and his heirs the service of knight’s fee, and he gave £7 for arrears.

He is also mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1274/75 where it is noted:

Then after the battle of Evesham when Sir Bartholomew of Wateringburywas imprisoned at Dover, Peter de Barkindenn, who was then the lord king’s bailiff, took 18s. from the crop of hay and two oxen price 20s. from the said Bartholomew’s goods.

So it is probable that he was on Simon de Montfort's side rather than the king's during the Baronial civil wars. If he only lost his hay and oxen he was lucky as most had to repurchase their land as a penalty for their involvement.

Two perambulations took place in 1259 and 1279 to establish the boundaries of the Lowy of Tonbridge.[1]The primary purpose of the Lowy was the maintenance and defence of Tonbridge castle. Wateringbury was not part of the Lowy but Lord Bartholomew de Wateringebery was part of the jury chosen for their local knowledge taking part in the 1279 perambulation.

See also mill stones stolen where he is accused of stealing the mill stones at Wateringbury where he jointly owned the mill with the Prior of Leeds and killing the Prior's dog.