Monument in Folkestone Church
Monument in Folkestone Church
The engraving which we have here the gratification of presenting to our readers, is copied from an exquisitely beautiful drawing of an ancient monument in Folkestone Church; by Edward Blore, Esq., the distinguished artist and antiquary, who, with a rare liberality, has taken it from his own unrivalled collection, and most kindly placed it at our disposal to illustrate our present Volume. The monument stands against the north wall of the chancel, and is in a very dilapidated state, without arms or inscription to identify it with any individual or family. We are left therefore entirely to conjecture, who it is to whose memory this sumptuous tomb has been raised.
Mr. Blore unhesitatingly rejects Hasted's supposition, that it is "for one of the Fiennes family, a Constable of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports;" the monument evidently belonging to a period much later than that to which Hasted's conjecture could be applicable; and we agree with Mr. Blore, that the ownership of the monument must rather be sought among the Lords of Folkestone, or of some of its dependent manors.
The first step in our inquiry, then, must be an endeavour to obtain a correct account of the descent of the manor and barony of Folkestone, and an authentic record of its successive lords down to the time when the monument was probably erected; which, in Mr. Blore's opinion, was the latter part of the reign of Edward II., or very early in Edward III.
In the Inquisition, on the death of Hamo de Crevecoeur, taken at Folkestone, on 16th April, 47 Hen. III, A.D. 1263, the Jury return-
That Hamo de Crevecoeur died seized of eight hundred and twenty-five acres in his domain, pertaining to the manor of Folkestone, as of the inheritance of his wife, Matilda de Averenches (who was heir to her brother, William de Averenches, in the barony of Averenches); that her eldest daughter, Agnes, was married to John de Sandwyco; that her second daughter, Isolda, had married Nicholas de Leneham, and, by him, had a son, John, now aged twelve; that her third daughter, Elena (or Elenor), was married to Bertram de Oriol; and that her fourth daughter was married to Henry de Gaunt; that the said three daughters and the said son of Nicholas de Leneham were her next heirs, "et debent tenere totum predictum Manerium de Folkestone, cum pertinentiis suis, de dominq Rege, in capite, per Baroniam."
The next evidence which we shall quote in tracing the descent is a document preserved among the "Inquisitiones post mortem," being an "Extent" or survey of the manor of Folkestone, taken 55 Hen. III., i.e. A.D. 1270-1271 (see Esc. 55 Hen. III., No. 34), eight years later than the Inquisition just cited, to the following effect, viz.-
That on the Monday "post dominicam qua cantatur misas domino" (? Monday after the second Sunday after Easter, i.e. 20th April), 55 Hen. III. (A.D. 1271), on a division of the inheritance of Matilda d'Averenches, the Manor of Folkestone, with its appurtenances and the advowsons of the churches, fell to the purparts of John de Sandwico and Bertram de Oriol, in the name of Agnes and Alianore, the eldest (annatarum) daughters and heirs of the said Matilda d'Averenches in the barony of Folkestone.
Four years later, in the Hundred Rolls, 3 Edw. I.,-
The Jury return that Sir John de Sandwico and Sir Bertram de Oriol hold the barony of Folkestone of the King, in capite, whereof the said Sir John de Sandwico has seven fees, and Sir Bertram de Oriol seven fees, and that they hold in common (communiter) the hundred of Folkestone, by 20s. per annum, to be paid to the King, by the hands of the Sheriff.
Thus far, it seems that the two coheirs, on the partition of the inheritance, took the barony in divided moieties of seven fees each, and the hundred in undivided moieties. In the same way, in a Plea of Liberties, on the Quo Waranto Roll, 7 Edw. I., they claim to hold together the hundred of Folkestone of the King in capite.
Sixteen years later, on the "Originalia" Roll, 19 Edw. I., rot. 6, we have this entry (12th Feb., A.D. 1290-1, i.e. twenty-eight years after the Inquisition on the death of Matilda d'Averenches):
"Rex commisit Ricardo Filiol et Johannis de Mose, custodiam Manerii de Folkestone, cum pertinentiis, quod est in manu Regis, ratione minoris etatis Juliane filie et heredis Johannis de Sandwico defuncti, qui de Rege tenuit in capite, usque legitimam etatem predictae Juliane. Reddendo inde Regi, per annum, ad Scaccarium Regis, quinquaginta libras et unam, videlicet, medietatem ad scaccarium Pasche, et aliam medietatem ad scaccarium Sancti Michaelis. Teste Rege, apud Wanetinge, xij die Februarii.
Here, then, it is clear that, however the lands may have been apportioned among the four coheirs of Matilda d'Averenches, the eldest, Agnes, had taken the "caput manerii," according to the doctrine laid down, p. 31, supra; for her son and successor, John de Sandwico, is here recorded as having died lord of the manor of Folkestone, which, having been held by knight-service in capite, is taken into the King's hands during the minority of his daughter and heir Juliana, and let to two parties at the very high rent of £51 per annum, evidencing thereby its great value and extent.
In the "Inquisitio post mortem" on Bertram de Criol, held at Newington, near Hythe, 29th April, 23 Edw. I., A.D. 1295,-
The Jury return that he held the manor of Terlingham of the inheritance of Eleanore, his wife (who still survives), of the King, in capite, by service of one-sixth of a knight's-fee, and that it is part of the barony of Folkestone; and that he held half the hundred of Folkestone, of the inheritance of the said Eleanor his wife (who still survives), of the King, by fee-farm of 10s. per annum. That he held the manor of Newington, near Hythe, of the same inheritance; and that John, son of the said Bertram, is his next heir, and aged thirty-four years.
In a Plea on the Quo Waranto Rolls, 6 Edw. II. (A.D. 1313), rot. 1-d,-
John de Segrave and Juliana his wife, and Richard de Rokesle and Joan his wife, are summoned to answer by what warrant they claim to have the hundred of Folkstone, "emendas assise panis et cerevisie," etc., "visum franci plegii, sok et toll, infangenthef, furcas," etc. etc. etc., "in omnibus dominicis terris suis de Folkestone, Terlingham," etc. They answer, that this said manor of Folkestone, of which Terlingham is a limb, was once in the seisin of Matilda de Averenches, who died thereof seised; that after her death they descended to Agnes, Alianore, Isolda, and Isabella, as her daughters and heirs; that Isabella was dead without issue, her purpart falling to the other three sisters; that in the division between the coheirs, the said manor with its said limb were assigned to the purparts of the said Agnes and Alianore. From Agnes, the right of her purpart descended to her son John, as son and heir, and from the said John to the claimant Juliana. That from the foresaid Alianore, the right of her purpart descended to the claimant Joan.
14 Edw. II. In the Inquisition on the death of Richard, son of John de Rokeslee, held at Rochester, Saturday after the Feast of St. Dunstan the Archbishop, 14 Edw. II., A.D. 1320,
The Jury return that he died seised of the manor of Terlingham, which he, with Joan his wife, had of Alianore de Criol, to them and to their heirs for ever, by license of King Edward I.; and that it is held of the King in capite, by one-eighth of a knight's-fee, and it is worth £40 per annum; and that Joan, wife of Walter de Pateshull, aged twenty-five, and Agnes, wife of Thomas de Poynings, aged twenty-two, are the next heirs.
16 Edw. II. In the Inquisition on the death of Joan, widow of Richard de Rokesle, held 4th January, 16 Edw. II., 1322-3,-
The Jury return, that she held the manor of Terlingham of the King in capite, by service of one-eighth and one-sixteenth part of a knight's-fee. That in the said manor is a capital messuage, worth 2s. per annum; and 200 acres of arable land, worth £6. 13s. 4d. per annum; and 200 acres of pasture, worth 66s. 8d. per annum; and 60 acres of wood, worth 20s. per annum; and a rent of 42 seams of oats, worth 70s. per annum; and £32. 3s. 5d. rents of assize; 9 hens, worth 13½d. per annum; 305 eggs, worth 12¼d, per annum; a watermill, worth 13s. 4d. per annum; a windmill, worth 20s. per annum; pleas and perquisites of court, worth 10s. per annum. That the said Joan, together with John de Segrave and Juliana his wife, in right of said Juliana, held the hundred of Folkestone of the King, as pertaining to the said manor; and that Joan, the wife of Walter de Pateshull, aged twenty-six, and Agnes, the wife of Thomas de Poynings, aged twenty-three, are her next heirs.
On the Fine Roll, 17 Edw. II., No. 29, there is a partition, under the King's writ, of the inheritance of Richard de Rokeslee and Joan his wife, by agreement of Walter de Pateshull and Joan his wife, the eldest daughter and heir, and Thomas de Poyninges and Agnes his wife, the other and younger daughter and coheir.
After dividing the lands, it is settled that the Ward to Dover Castle, and the Romscot of the church of Folkestone, shall be paid equally in even portions, by the two coheirs; and in the same way, the profits of half the hundred of Folkestone, and wreck of sea, shall be divided evenly between the parties.
Even to this period, then, no actual division had yet been made of the hundred of Folkestone and its franchises; but, as stated above, it seems that the "caput manerii" was in Agnes, the eldest coheir of Matilda de Averenches and her heirs.
Esc. 17 Edw. III., (1st No.) No. 52. Inquisition taken at Pynyndenne, on Monday after the feast of All Saints, 17 Edw. III. (3rd Nov., 1343).
The Jury say, that John de Segrave le Unole held, by the law of England, of the inheritance of Juliana his wife, long since deceased, in the ville of Folkestone, the Manor of Folkestone; whose site within the ditches, with the aisiaments within the same site, is worth 4s. They say also that he held there 300 and a half acres, pertaining to the said manor, which are worth 100s. and 2d., at 4d. per acre. Also he held there 12½ acres of meadow, which are worth 12s. 6d. per annum, at 1s. per acre. He also held there 30 acres of wood, which are worth 12s. 6d. per annum, at 5d. per annum. He also held there of rent of assize per annum, xiiijli-ixs-iijd; and the pleas and perquisites of court there are worth vjs-viijd per annum. They say also that all the foresaid lands and tenements are held of our Lord the King in capite, by service of half a knight's-fee, and the service of vs per annum, for ward to Dover Castle, and one suit to the county of Kent every fourth week. They also say that the said John de Segrave died on Thursday next .... the feast of the translation of King St. Edward in the foresaid year. They say also that John de Segrave, son of the said John de Segrave, is the next heir of the said Juliana, and is twenty-nine years old. They also say that the said John de Segrave le Unole held nothing by the law of England, of the inheritance of the said Juliana, of other lords in the said county.
Esc. 23 Edw. III., pt. 2, (1st No.) No. 44. Inquisition taken at Canterbury, on Saturday after the feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin, 23 Edw. III. (22nd Aug., 1349).
The Jury say, that John de Segrave, of Folkestone, held of our Lord the King in capite, on the day of his death, the Manor of Folkestone, with its pertinencies, by the service of one quarter and a half of a knight's-fee, and it is worth per annum, in all, according to the true value of the same, 100 marks. They also say that the said John, on the foresaid day, held nothing of any others in the said county. They also say that the said John died on Wednesday after the feast of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr, in the foresaid year (i.e. 8th July, 1349), and that Maria, daughter of the said John, is his next heir, and is fifteen days old.
Esc. 23 Edw. III., pt. 2, No. 44. Inquisition held at Lymyng, 16th Sept., 23 Edw. III., 1349, on Maria, daughter and heir of Sir John de Segrave, deceased, who "diem clausit extremum infra retatem."
The Jury say, that Maria, daughter and heir of the Sir John de Segrave, Kt., on the day of her death, held of our Lord the King in capite, the Manor of Folkestone, by service of one-fourth and one-half of a knight's-fee, and it is worth 100 marks per annum; that she died on Tuesday after the feast of St. Bartholomew in the foresaid year.
The rest of this Inquisition is given in full, p. 38. In an Inquisition at Loden, Norfolk, 10th February, 25 Edw. III., A.D. 1350-1, Segrave is described as "Johannes de Segrave, de Folkestone," who held the manor of Loden in Norfolk, etc. etc., and died 23rd Sept., 23 Edw. III.; and that John de Segrave, "dominus de Segrave, consanguineus predicti Johannis, est heres ejus," is his next heir therein, and is thirty years old and more.
The conclusions to be gathered from these different records, seem to be these: That the Barony of Folkestone, with the manor and hundred, fell to the four daughters and coheiresses of Matilda de Averenches, on the death of her husband, Hamo de Crevecoeur (the tenant by courtesy for life), 47 Hen. III., A.D. 1263. That in 55 Hen. III., A.D. 1271, a division of the inheritance was made, by which the Barony of Folkestone, and its manors and appurtenances, were assigned as the purparts of the two eldest daughters, viz. Agnes, wife of John de Sandwico, and Alianore, wife of Bertram de Oriol. In this division, the eldest, Agnes, seems to have taken, as of right, the "caput manerii,"-the manor of Folkestone,-while its limb, Terlingham, was assigned to her sister Alianore. The other demesnes and appurtenances were probably then regularly apportioned between them. The hundred of Folkestone, with its franchises, seems not to have been divided, but to have been held "in common" between the heirs and their respective representatives; and in this state of undivided moieties it evidently remained in 17 Edw. II., at which period an apportionment of Alianore de Criol's half of the inheritance had become necessary by its descent to her grandchildren, the two daughters and coheiresses of Richard de Rokesle.
From the above authentic history of the descent of the manor, and from the fact that these Segraves were actually styled Lords of Folkestone, and that the last of them, if not both, were resident in the palace of the manor very early in Edward III.'s reign; we can hardly doubt that the monument is that of Sir John de Segrave, Lord of Folkestone, the last of that line of Lords of Folkestone, who died 23 Edw. III., and who is most specifically recorded as "of Folkestone."
Since the completion of the above remarks, I have been favoured with the following communication from Mr. Blore, whose authority on such subjects is too great to justify the omission of his letter. He says:-
"I should have no doubt of your being right in assigning the Folkstone effigy to one of the Segraves, as the documents to which you refer locate that family there so distinctly. The only difficulty I have is, the style of the armour, which, as far as my experience goes, belongs to the period of late Edw. II. or very early Edw. III.; I should rather think the former. It has occurred to me, that there is a remarkable resemblance between this effigy and the mutilated one in St. Clement's, Sandwich, and the Laverock in Ash Church-though there is great variety in the detail. There is a de Sandwich one also, in the Hospital at Sandwich, which I have not seen, not knowing of its existence when I was there; this may, possibly, further illustrate the subject. What occurs to me is, that, if the dates of the three first effigies agree, they may assist in identifying each other, provided the date of any one can certainly be ascertained. Besides which, if they can all be embraced in the same article, it will add much to its value, though it will increase your labour, for which, perhaps, you will not thank me. It strikes me, with regard to these effigies, as well as those at Winchelsea, that they all, more or less, belong to official personages, Admirals of the Cinque Ports, Constables of Dover Castle, and such-like; and the evidence in favour of Richard de Rokesle (who died A.D. 1320, 14 Edw. II., see Inquisition, p. 137 supra) being an official character, has induced me very much to select him as the person represented at Folkestone, added to his family connection with the place, and the style of the armour being suitable to the period."
In another communication, Mr. Blore observes:-
"In its perfect state, this must have been a very handsome monument. The mourners on the side of the tomb, though very much defaced, are designed in the varied attitudes and costumes of those on the tombs of Aylmer de Valence, Lady Montacute, and other monuments of the same period. The details of the effigy are nearly obliterated; but, as far as they can be made out, they correspond with numerous examples of the same period."
Unfortunately, our Volume has been already too long delayed to allow of the adoption of this suggestion. We must leave the investigation to a future Volume, and invite the co-operation of our local antiquaries therein.
Pedigree Collected from the Different Records Offered in Pages 133 to 142 Inclusive
Hamo de Crevecoeur = Matilda de Averenches
Sir John de Sandwich = Agnes, eldest dau. and coheir to her mother.
Bertram de Oriol = Eleanor, second dau., and coheir to her mother.
Nicholas de Leneham = Isolda, third dau., and coheir to her mother.
Sir John de Sandwich = Juliana de Sandwich, Lady of the manor of Folkestone, heiress to her father, Inf. mt. 19 Edw. I., 1291.
John de Segrave = John de Segrave, Lord of Folkestone, aged 29, 1343.
Maria de Segrave, sole heir. Died 25th Aug., 23 Edw. III., A.D. 1349, aged 9 weeks.
Nicholas de Sandwich = Heir to Maria de Segrave, 28 Edw. III., 1349.
Richard de Rokesle = Joan de Oriol, heir to her brother.
A son. S.P.
John de Leneham. Aged 12, 1268.
Walter de Pateshull = Joan de Rokesle. Aged 26, 1328, coheir.
Thomas de Poyninges = Agnes de Rokesle. Aged 28, 1328, coheir.
Henry de Gaunt = Isabella, fourth dau., and coheir to her mother.