24. L’ARCEDEKNE

Sampson  Tree

SIR THOMAS L’ARCEDEKNE and ALICE (24)

 

SIR THOMAS L’ARCEDEKNE. Sir William Pole has Thomas L’Arcedekne as the lineal successor of Michael L’Arcdekne, lord of the manor of Shobrooke in Devon, for whom we have evidence in the mid- to late-13^th century.[1]

Thomas was one of two brothers.  His brother Odo may have been the elder, but seems to have died without issue.

 

ALICE.  Several documents name Thomas’s wife as Alice, but we do not know her surname.

 

The couple had three sons, Geoffrey. Odo and John, and a daughter Amitia. Odo was also the name of Thomas’s brother, giving rise to possible confusion over identification.

 

He owned estates in Cornwall. The 1919 Report of the Devonshire Association gives a wealth of information about Thomas and his family:[2] The second paragraph refers to Thomas’s brother Odo, not his son.

Michael (1) had two sons, Odo (2a), and Thomas (2b). In 1277 Orger de Pomerai petitioned against Odo le Archdekene, and against ” Alice who was the wife of Thomas brother of Odo ” (Assize Roll, 6 Edw. I). Cornwall F. of F. No. 98. At Lanslaveton (Launceston) 24 Ap. 1244. Between Reginald le Futur and Dionisia his wife, and Odo le Ercedekne whom John de Tagullou (in Gwennap) and Albreda his wife vouched to warranty, and who warranted to them 2 acres of land in Rendy (in Breage). Reginald and Dionisia granted the said land to Odo and his heirs, etc., rendering therefor yearly one pair of white gloves and Id. at Easter for all service and demand. And Odo gave to Reginald and Dionisia 24s. sterling. Odo probably died without heirs. Sir Thomas Archdeacon (2b) = Alice, is mentioned by Pole as succeeding Sir Michael ; he is also named in Viscount Falmouth’s Deeds, No. 1911 (Maclean). In 1265 he appears as a party to a charter relating to Tregony. In 1274 Margaret, relict of the Earl of Cornwall, petitioned against Thomas le Ercedekne concerning part of the manor of Elerky (De Banco Roll. 3 Edw.) I (see under Odo, 3b). In 1277 he was one of the knights performing military service due from Edmund, Earl of Cornwall. Muster at Worcester (Palgrave I, 198). Thomas and his wife Alice, and his son Odo and his wife Alice are named in 1284 (Assize Roll. 12 Edw. I). It is probable that he died soon after 1277 (Maclean). There are numerous references to Thomas 2b, in Cornwall Feet of Fines :— 20 Jany., 1274, No. 273. Between Thomas le Ercedekne, and Richard Trebigau and Matilda his wife as to 30s. of rent in Landeke. To Thomas and his heirs. For this Thomas gave to Richard 5 marks of silver. 29 Ap., 1274, No. 274. Between Thomas le Ercedekne, and John de Carkel and Joan his wife as to 30s. of rent in Langedeke. To Thomas and his heirs. For this Thomas gave them ” 1 sore sparrow hawk ” (Fr. Sor-falcon). The Imperial Dictionary defines a Sore sparrow hawk ” as of the first year” (see D. and C. N. and Q. 9 1918, p. 119). Other peculiar fines or heriots referred to in this paper are “1 clove gilly-flower”; “1 pair of iron spurs “; “a grey- hound on Easter Day”; “3 roses”; “1 pair of white gloves” (see Blount’s Ancient Tenures). 18 Ap., 1277, No. 275. Very similar to 274 ; between Peter de Ralegh and Thomas le Archidiacone as to 1 messuage and 1 ploughland in Landegwe. Thomas gave Peter 36 marks of silver. 25 Nov., 1277, No. 276. Between Thomas le Ercedekne and John de Bello Prato as to 1 messuage and 1 ploughland in Landege. To Thomas and his heirs. Rendering 1 clove gilly-flower at Easter. Geoffry (3a), eldest son of Thomas (2b), died a minor, j.p. An inquisition referring to him was taken at Tregony, 4 May, 1339, on the petition of Sir John Archdeacon (5b), great-grandson of Thomas (2b), who alleged that Katherine de Monte Acuto, who was at one time Lady of the Manor of Elerky, gave the same to John Gattesden and his heirs, And that John gave the manor to Richard Earl of Cornwall, who gave the same to Thomas Lercedekne, great-grand- father of the petitioner, and the manor descended to Geoffry son of Thomas, who, being under age, William Monketon, Sheriff of Cornwall, took his body and the manor into the King’s hands. The said Geoffry died within age, and his brother Odo (3b), who at the time was with the King in the Welsh wars, afterwards had livery of the said manor (Escheats, No. 62, 13 Edw. III). Amitia (3c) dau. of Thomas is mentioned by Vivian as having m. Sir Michael Petit, K*. This knight “acknowledged homage to Eurinus de la Laund in Trenausmaur. 2 A Edw. I ” 1274 (Vis. Falmouth’s Deeds, No. 1911).

Thomas held part of the manor of Ilerky in Cornwall, and this passed to Alice as her dower. The information is included under the IPM of Edmund Earl of Cornwall, who died in 1300 without issue.

Cornwall.

Extent made at St Austell on Thursday after the Epiphany 32 Edw I [Thursday 9 Jan 1303/4].

Ilerky. Two parts of the manor (extent given) held by Thomas le Ercedekene, a certain part of the manor (extent given) held by Serlo de Lanladron and Amice his wife in dower, but not a ful 1/3 of 1/3 because Alice the mother of Sir Odo le Ercedekene was dowered of part of the manor at said Odo’s death, so that Amice his wife could not have 1/3 of the manor in dower.

Ilerky is a manor in the parish of Veryan. It lies 2 miles SE of Ruan Lanihorne. Ruan Lanihorne castle became the principal residence of the L’Arcedeknes at least as early as 1303. We do not know whether Thomas lived there.

Serlo de Lanladron and his wife Amice were also involved in a lawsuit with the L’Archedeknes over the manor of Shobrooke in Devon, which had been held by Thomas’s father Michael.

 

The Parochial History of Cornwall gives Ruan Lanihorne as the principal residence of the L’Arcedeknes.[3] It is:

situate in the hundred of Powder, and hath upon the north the river Vale (Fal), east Kuby, south Verian, west Egles Ross or Philley. As for the first name, if it be compounded of Ruan-Lawn-y-horne, it signifies the iron oak grove rest, temple, or place of tranquillity and repose, referring to the then natural circumstances of the place, heretofore consisting; of old decayed groves of oaks, whose
withered tops were like home or iron : of which sort of timber Leland in his Itinerary assures us the river Vale was surrounded…

 

Thomas was still alive in 1277, but is thought to have died soon after, leaving his son Odo as his heir.

Alice was still alive in 1303-4. After her son Odo died, in 1290, his widow, Amicia, who remarried, could not take possession of all his lands. Part of the manor of Elerky in Cornwall had been dowered to Alice for her lifetime.

 

[1] Sir William Pole (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description  of the County of Devon,(1791)
[2] Report & Transactions of the Devonshire Association Vol 51 (1919)
[3] Gilbert, Davies, Hals, William, Tonkin, Thomas, Boase, Henry Samuel The Parochial History of Cornwall, Volume III, originally published in 1838 (page 402). www.Archive.org.