Scope and Content
Grant of wardship of Edward Gostwick
Parties:
(i) King Charles I;
(ii) Thomas, earl of Cleveland of Toddington (Beds); Dame Anne Gostwick of Willington, widow; Thomas Bainebridge of Cambridge, DD; George Keinsham of Tempsford; William Ashwell of the parish of St Nicholas Acons, London, merchant; William Farrar of Bedford; Francis Read of Willington
Operative part:
- fine of 400 marks to be paid to the Receiver General of the Court of Wards and Liveries as follows:
• 100m in hand
• £50 on 17 August next
• £50 on 17 February next
• £50 on 17 August 1632
• £50 on 17 February 1632[1633]
- further sum of 500 marks to be paid to the Receiver General of the same Court after the death of Edward Gostwicke, baronet, His Majesty’s ward and son and heir of Sir Edward Gostwicke, knight and baronet, deceased, if he dies without issue during his minority
- (i) grants custody, wardship and marriage of Edward Gostwicke to (ii), and in the event of his death before reaching age 21, wardship of his next heir
- yearly rent of 20 nobles to be paid to (ii) from the manors, lands, messuages etc. in the hands of (i) due to the minority of Edward Gostwicke for the education and exhibition of Edward Gostwicke or his heirs
Covenants:
- (ii) covenant that auditor(s) to be appointed at their cost to verify schedule of manors, messuages, lands etc. inherited by Edward Gostwicke attached
- (ii) to pay three years’ value of any shortfalls
- (ii) will educate Edward Gostwicke or his heirs and defend his inheritance
- court to be informed promptly of any descents of land or vacancies in spiritual patronage
- grant of custody not to be sold
- within two months of this grant by the Court of Wards and Liveries (ii) to prosecute for letters patent and present the letters patent to the auditors general of that Court for enrolment
- (ii) to abide by any future orders of the Court
- every 4 years during his minority (ii) to bring Edward Gostwicke to be viewed by the master and counsel of the Court
- if payment of the agreed fine not made then the grant of wardship to be void
Schedule shows extent and yearly values of manors, messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments held by late Sir Edward Gostwicke (d. 20 September 1630):
- manor or grange of Putnoe
- manors of Willington, Cople, Goldington, and Ravensden
- rectories of Willington and Ravensden; 26 messuages, 10 cottages, 700 acres of land, 60 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 50 acres of wood and 40s rent in Willington, Cople, Ravensden, Renhold, Goldington, Clapham, Thurleigh and Putnoe, of which 4 messuages, one cottage, one toft, 120 acres of land and 12 acres of pasture in Cople are held de quo vel de quibus Jur’ ignor’, and the remainder is held from the King in chief
Values as follows:
- manor or grange of Putnoe with other premises in Putnoe, Clapham and Thurleigh … £26 p.a.
- manor and rectory of Willington with premises in Willington and Renhold … £13 6s 8d p.a.
- manor of Goldington and other premises in Goldington …16s 8d p.a.
- manor and rectory of Ravenden with other premises in Ravensden … 40s p.a.
- manor of Cople and other premises in Cople … £6 10s p.a
- moiety of the barony of Bedford held from the king in chief by knight service … 3s 4d p.a.
- common of pasture of Beeston Leazow in Northill held from the King by knight service … 3s 4d
- total £39, a third part of which amounting to £13 to come to the king during the minority
Recital of transactions of the late Edward Gostwicke making provision for members of his family:
(i) Indenture dated 10 March 1614 [1615] and final concord certain messuages, lands and tenements in Putnoe for 7 years and after to the use of Jane Lady Gostwicke for her lifetime; provides that if she should be evicted from those lands she is to have her dower from other manors and lands of Sir William Gostwicke the ward’s grandfather; after to the use Sir Edward and his heirs
- the same Dame Jane, now the wife of Doctor Lyster is living
(ii) Deed dated 13 May 1616 providing for sisters of late Sir Edward Gostwick. Demises to Sir Thomas Cheeke, Oliver Luke and others parcels of the manor and grange of Putnoe in the tenure of Robert Hatley from the decease of Dame Jane for 120 years. Sir Edward to pay to his sister Mary £600 at her marriage and £30 p.a. until her marriage and to Elizabeth and Jane his other sisters £20 p.a. until they reach the age of 18 and £30 p.a. thereafter until their marriages, and after their marriages £600. Mary is aged 20 and is unmarried. Elizabeth and Jane have each received their money.
(iii) Indenture enrolled in the Chancery dated 20 November 1617 in consideration of £20 providing a jointure for his wife Lady Anne – Manor of Willington, rectory of Willington, advowson and all his lands in Willington placed in trust with Sir Valentine Knightley and others for the life of Lady Anne, with Lady Anne to receive the profits of that land during her widowhood, and after her marriage to pay her a certain yearly rent. Of the residue Dame Jane to receive the profits during her life. After her death the residue to remain to the ward’s father’s and his heirs.
- the Lady Anne is still living
(iv) Deed of 1 September 1628 providing for John and Francis, brothers of the ward’s father. Parcels of lands and tenements in Goldington and Cople to Sir Thomas Cheeke and others for 99 years for a peppercorn rent. John and Francis each to receive £20 p.a. during their minority and once they reach full age during their lifetimes, following which the lease to cease.
- John and Francis are living
(v) Deed of 15 September 1630 demising all the manor of Westoning and lands to Doctor Bainebridge and others for 1000 years paying a peppercorn p.a. in trust to pay the marriage portion of his daughter Mary, £1100 or £4000 [could be xi or xl to his other 4 or 5 daughters, to settle £100 p.a. on his second heir Thomas and also lands amounting to £100 p.a. Also to sell certain parcels to pay debts. If Dame Anne should be delivered of a son the said son to have £50 p.a. and to pay the composition for the body and lands of the ward, and at his full age to have £200 p.a. and a jointure for his wife etc, and if the ward should have a male heir then the same to that son at his full age. The trustees to have £20 each and the Lord of Cleveland £40 to be overseer.