20. PAULET-CREDY

 

SIR JOHN PAULET and ELIZABETH CREDY (20)

 

SIR JOHN PAULET was the son of John de Paulet and the heiress Elizabeth de Reigny, both of whom owned a number of estates in Somerset.[1]

His birth date has been estimated as 1345. Three years later, the Black Death struck, and a third of the population died. But John survived.

His parents owned a large number of estates, mostly in Somerset. It is not certain where John grew up, but it may have been at Pawlett, on the Somerset Levels.

His father died in 1356, when John was probably not yet in his teens. He was the third son, and not expected to inherit most of his father’s lands.

Four years later, his oldest brother William died without issue, about 1360, leaving the bulk of their parents’ estates to the second brother, also called William.

 

John’s first wife was the heiress Margaret de Cartuther from Cornwall. Her father may have been Thomas de Cartuther, though the digitised source book is unclear at this point.[2] The family name was originally Heling or Eling, but they adopted the name of their manor of Cartuther.[3]

Cartuther is a Domesday manor a mile from Liskeard, in the parish of Menheniot. It is given in Margaret’s IPM as “Courture”.

Margaret was one of four sisters. Joan married William Malaherbe, Isabel married John Hillygan and Anestasia married Edmund Becket.[4] At their father’s death, in the absence of a brother, the four women each inherited a quarter share of his estates.

John is thought to have married Margaret in the early 1370s, but she died around 1374. She left no child. A possible reason for her early death is that she was pregnant, but that she and her baby died in childbirth.

John held a quarter of the manor of Cartuther by her right, but following his death an inquisition in 1392 decreed that Margaret’s heirs were her three sisters.[5] The manor of Cartuther passed down the Becket line through her sister Anestasia.

His second marriage, to Elizabeth de Credy,  is believed to have taken place around 1375-6.

 

ELIZABETH DE CREDY was the daughter and heir of William de Credy.  She is thought to have been born about 1358.

She grew up at Creedy, now Creedy Barton, 1½ miles east of Crediton in mid-Devon.

She had a sister, but no brother, or none that survived to inherit.

 

The couple had four children: John c.1376, Thomas c. 1377, William c 1379 and Dionysia c. 1381.[6]

 

About 1378, before their family was completed, John’s second brother died. He was now heir to a considerable number of estates: Pawlett, Rode, Melcombe and Sheerston in North Petherton, Gotehurst in Andersfield, and Staulegh in Milverton, all in Somerset, and Legh Poulet in Hockworthy, Devon.

We do not know when Elizabeth’s father died, but, in the absence of a son, his estates were inherited by Elizabeth and her sister.[7]

Over successive generations the Paulet lands were greatly increased by marriages to heiresses.

In 1380-1, in the time of Richard II, John served under the Earl of Buckingham in the Hundred Years War against France.

Arthur Collins writes:[9]

Sir John Paulet was in that expedition under Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester, in aid of the Duke of Brittany against the French, and had the honour of knighthood conferred on him in the camp before St Omer’s.

The arms of the Paulet family are:  Sable, three swords in pile points downward argent, pommels and hilts or.

 Crest: A cubit arm embowed in armour, the hand grasping a sword, proper.

 Supporters: Dexter: a wild man, wreathed round the temples and loins with oak; sinister: a woman with flowing hair, and wreathed round the temples and loins as the dexter.

Like so many men of his generation, John died in the prime of life, on 28 Nov 1391. Whether the cause was illness, accident or warfare we do not know.

IPM of John Paulet and his first wife Margaret

 The Inquisition Post Mortem for John Paulet show him to have held land in eleven counties: Cornwall, Devon, Kent, Norf, Suff, Surrey, Sussex, Wilts, Dorset, Glouc., Berks.. Some of these were brought to the marriage by Margaret, John’s first wife, and passed to her sisters at her death. , because she died childless. Some other estates were granted to John for his lifetime by John de Wyllyngton, but reverted at his death to Wyllyngton’s heir

Inquisitions Post Mortem, Richard II, File 73

	PAULET, John chr,. & Margaret his wife. 15 Ric II [1391/2] Chancery Inq. p. m. Ric II File 73 (54)
m.10.  Cornwall	Inquisition taken at Launceston 4 March 15 Ric II [1391/2] before James Chuddelegh chr escheator by the oath of Roger Moil, William Lonepitte, Philip Penuelugan, John Giffray, Nicholas Trehanek, William Lampen, Walter Brombyet, John Calland, John Wergy, Richard Tallan, Richard Hendre and William Watere, who say that the next heirs of Margaret late wife of John Paulet chr are her sister Joan wife of William Malaherbe, Isabel wife of John Hillygan and Anestas[ia] wife of Edmund Beket.
105	JOHN PAULET, knight
	Writ, 2 December, 15 Richard II
WILTS.	Inq. taken at Aumbresbury, Thursday, 4 January, 15 Richard II.
	He held the under-mentioned messuage etc. for life by grant of John de Welyngton, knight, lately deceased, the reversion after his death belonging to John de Welyngton, son and heir of the aforesaid John de Welyngton, a minor, to wit, 19 years of age and more, and a minor in the king’s wardship. Asserton. A messuage, 200a. land, 8a. meadow and the advowson of a free chapel within the dwelling-house (mansionem) there, held of the earl of Salisbury, services not known. He died on 28 November last. Heir not known.
106
	Writ, 14 February, 15 Richard II
DORSET.	Inq. taken at Dorchestre, 21 February, 15 Richard II.
	He held the under-mentioned messuage etc. for life by grant as above, the reversion after his death belonging to John brother and heir of Ralph son and heir of the said John de Welyngton, a minor in the king’s wardship. Knyghton by Dorchestre. A messuage and a carucate of land, held of Joan late the wife of Guy de Bryene, knight, the younger, as of her manor of Sutton Poyns. He died on 8 December last. The said John brother of Ralph, aged 16 years and more, is his next heir.
107
	Writ, 27 January, 15 Richard II
GLOUCESTER.	Inq. taken at Gloucester, Thursday, 18 April, 15 Richard II.
	He held by the king’s grant the under-mentioned two thirds of a manor, of the inheritance of John de Welyngton, brother and heir of Ralph son and heir of John de Welyngton, knight, deceased, a minor in the king’s wardship. He held the under-mentioned messuage and land called Colverden jointly with Roger Boys, parson of the church of Athryngton, who is still living, by feoffment of the said John de Welyngton, knight, on condition that they should re-enfeof the said John de Welyngton and his heirs. Long before his death the said John de Welyngton, knight, being seised in his demesne as of fee of the under-mentioned manors of Yate and Polton and messuage and land in Weston Brat granted them to John de Gealmyngton, parson of the church of Lyteltoryton, and Roger Boys, parson of the church of Athryngton, for his life and the lives of John de Beamond, knight, Thomas de Welyngton, William Brightle and John Poulet, with remainder to the heirs of the said John de Welyngton. The said grantees afterwards granted their estate in the premises to the said John de Beamond, Thomas, William and John Poulet. Afterwards John de Welyngton, knight, and John de Beamond died, and the said Thomas, William and John Poulet granted their estate in the said manor of Yate to Ralph de Welyngton and Joan his wife and the heirs of the same Ralph. Afterwards the said Thomas and Ralph died; Joan is still living and holds the manor by virtue of the said grant. After the deaths of the said Thomas and Ralph the said William and John Poulet by an indenture between them and Lewis de Clyfford and John Worthe, knights, granted the said manor of Polton and messuage and land in Westonbrut to John de Welyngton, a minor, to hold until his full age, the reversion belonging to the said William and John Poulet. William and John Poulet afterwards died and John de Welyngton is still a minor and holds the premises by the form of the said grant. Frompton Cotell. Two-thirds of the manor, which manor is held of the king by knight’s service. Colverden by Gloucester. A messuage and land so called, held of the king by knight’s service, of King’s Berton by Gloucester. Yate. The manor, held of the bishop of Worcester, by service of 33s. 4d. yearly and by knight’s service. Polton. The manor, held of the heirs of the earl of Warwick by knight’s service. Westonbrut. A messuage and a carucate of land, held of the abbot of Cirencestre by knight’s service. Date of death as above (Dorset inquisition). John brother and heir of Ralph son and heir of John de Welyngton, knight, aged 16 years and more, a minor in the king’s wardship, is next heir of the said John de Welyngton, knight.
108
	Writ, 27 January, 15 Richard II
BERKS.	Inq. taken at Abyndon, 3 April, 15 Richard II.
	John de Welyngton, knight, was formerly seised of the under-mentioned manor in his demesne as of fee, and it passed to John de Welyngton, a minor (as above, manor of Polton, Gloucester inquisition). Stalput. The manor, held of the duke of Lancaster by knight’s service. Date of death as above (Dorset inquisition). John brother and heir of Ralph son and heir of John de Welyngton, knight, a minor aged 16 years and more, is next heir of the said John de Welyngton.
109
	Writ, 2 December, 15 Richard II
DEVON.	Inq. taken at Exeter, Wednesday after St Hilary, 15 Richard II.
	He held the under-mentioned manors of Womberlegh, Beaforde, Ridelcombe, Stokeryvers, Langalegh, Uplomene and Gydesham for life by grant of John de Wyllyngton, knight, the reversion belonging to the latter’s heirs. He held the under-mentioned manors of Chaldecombe and Alleryngton as of the right of Elizabeth his wife, who is still living.John Paulet chr, held the manors of Womblegh worth by the year clear £12; Ridelcombe worth &c, £4.16s; Uplomene, worth &c, £5.1s 3d; and Gydesham worth &c, £12; all held of the heir of Edward le Despencer by knight’s service; The manors, held of the heir of Edward le Despencer by knight’s service. Beaforde, worth &c, £6.3s; Stokeryvers worth &c, £8.9s and Langalegh worth &c, £2.1s 2d. The manors, held of the earl of Devon, as of his castle of Plympton, by knight’s service. John Paulet held in right for Elizabeth his wife, yet living, the manor of Chaldecombe held of the earl of Huntyngdon of Barnstaple Castle, by knight’s service, worth &c, ……, & the manor of Alleryngton held of the heir of James Daudelegh, of Stowaye Castle by knight’s service, worth &c, £13. 6s 8d. all held by the grant of John de Wyllyngton chr, for life of the said John Paulet the reversion belonging to the heir of the said John de Wyllington.John Paulet died on Tuesday before St Nicholas last [5 Dec 1391]. Next heir of John de Wyllyngton is his son John, a minor and the king’s ward.
110
	Writ, 14 February, 15 Richard II
CORNWALL.	Inq. taken at Launceston, 3 January, 15 Richard II.
	He held the under-mentioned two-thirds of the manor of Lanteglos for life by grant of John de Welyngton, knight, the reversion belonging to the latter’s heirs, held of the heir of Edward le Despencer a minor worth by the year clear, £6 13s 4d. Also two parcels of land in Fowye & Trenylias by letters patent of the King during the minority of the heir of John de Welyngton of Launceston Castle by knight’s service, worth &c, £2. 3s 4d.. He held the under-mentioned moiety of the manor of Treverbyn and lands in Tregamour as of the right of Elizabeth his wife, who is still living, Treverbyn held of John Herle,  by knight’s service; worth &c, £5. 10s lands, and Tregamor held of the bishop of Exeter in free socage worth &c, £2. He held the under-mentioned lands etc. in Courture by the courtesy of England after the death of Margaret sometime his wife. Lanteglos. Two-thirds of the manor, held of the heir of Edward le Despencer, a minor. Fowyton and Trevylias. Two parcels of land worth 43s. 4d. yearly, held of the castle of Launceston by knight’s service. Treverbyn. A moiety of the manor, held of John Herle by knight’s service. Tregamour. Lands etc. worth 41s. yearly, held of the bishop of Exeter in free socage. Also by the death of Margaret formerly his wife lands, etc, in Courture worth 6l. yearly, held of John Dynham, knight, by knight’s service. He died on Tuesday before St Nicholas last. Joan wife of William Maleherbe, Isabel wife of John Hilligan, and Anastasia wife of Edmund Beket, all aged 23 years and more, are next heirs of the above-mentioned Margaret.Heirs of said Margaret as above. Age of Anestas[ia] 23.Death of John Paulet as above.
112
	Writ to the escheator, with reference to the last inquisition, to enquire what lands etc. they were that the said John Paulet held in Courture by the courtesy of England after the death of Margaret his wife. 6 April, 15 Richard II.
CORNWALL.	Inq. taken at Leskyrd, Tuesday before Trinity, 15 Richard II.
	John Paulet chr, held ¼ of the manor of Courture in Courture after the death of Margaret his wife.
	C. Ric. II File 73 (1)
	E. Inq. P.M. File 59 (5) (Devon & Cornwall)
	E. Enrolments etc. of Inq. No. 278 (Dorset)
	E. Enrolments etc. of Inq. No. 283 (Berks)
	E. Enrolments etc. of Inq. No. 285 (Gloucester)

 

Two of their sons met a similarly early death.

Their eldest son John married Idonea Kayle of Cudwith, but both died in 1400.

On 22 Nov 1401, the Bishop of Bath and Wells granted :

Licence for Elizabeth Paulet to have masses celebrated by fitting chaplains in her oratories within the diocese, in the presence of herself and … families.[10]

Elizabeth was still alive in 1412, when she held the manor of Rode.

Their son Thomas  married Margaret de Burton of Halberton, Devon. He died before 1410.

Dionysia married John Popham of Huntworth.

The youngest son, William of Melcombe, married Eleanor de la More of Nunney Castle. He outlived his brothers and died on 8 Aug 1435. His great-great-grandson became the first Marquess of Winchester and a later descendant the Duke of Bolton.

 

 

[1] Winn, Colin G., The Pouletts of Hinton St. George (London: Research Publishing, 1976.) Most of the following genealogical information on the Paulets is taken from this.
[2] www.archive.org. Sir John Maclean, Parochial and family history of the parishes of St Mabyn and Michaelstow in the county of Cornwall (1875)
[3] www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
[4] 20. PAULET-CREDY IPMs
[5] IPM
[6] Names: Winn. Dates: Bradley- freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
[7] Risdon, Tristram, The Chorographical Description or Survey of the County of Devon, c. 1632. books.google.co.uk
[8] W.W. Wheatley, www.avpu52.dsl.pipex.com
[9] Arthur Collins, Peerage of England. www.books,google.co.uk.
[10] Publications – Somerset Record Society, www.archive.org

 

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