Notes on Medlicott by William Medlicott.
P.3 I have found the first syllable spelt “Mod” consistently into the 17th. Century, with one exception, viz; From the Register of Lewis de Charlton, Bishop of Hereford:- “Ordination to the first tonsure at Chirbury 1366 Nov. 22 (inter alis) John Middlecote.” Only a small portion of a third parish separates the Parishes of Wentnor and Chirbury. At Chirbury there was a priory of Austin Canons.
The name has been occasionally spelt ” Medlycott” in deeds to which my own ancestors were parties, but they themselves have invariably been signed “li”, the only variation besides “e” and “o” being the omission of the final “t”.
P.4. There are – and so far as I know have always been – three houses, namely, the one called The Manor or Hall Farm, another to the north east of it called Upper House, and a third to the South west called the Lower House, with farms to each. That the principal one was the middle one is a point in favour of your theory of the derivation of the name, as the name may have originated from that – the most important house. An old farmer who once lived at the Lower House told me that the old Manor House “was of brick, with stone ornamentation at the corners, and he also thought over the front door.” The latter was perhaps the coat of arms. Another old man – now living – has confirmed that it was of brick and “a very high house”, so that at its elevation it must have been an imposing feature in the landscape – I gather from him that the entrance hall was one of the principal rooms, and that the back premises of the present house are part of the old house, but the new part has been built by the Scott’s. He also told me that he remembered a lady many years ago bringing her son to see the place where his father was born, and that they made a sketch of it.
Query – was she the wife or widow of John Rogers Medlicott ? When a boy I remember being told by another old man that “there was once a park at Medlicott with buck and does” and that “the antlers of the last buck used to be over the Hall door at Medlicott.” I need hardly say that I have found no confirmation of this and possibly the fact that the place was within the boundaries of the Long Forest may have something to do with the origin of the story. If the water colour given to you by Sir Hubert is of the old house I should be very grateful for any description that can be gleaned from it.
I think myself that after the consistency noted, for a correct derivation we must accept the first syllable for that purpose as “Mod:” the one exception is of John Middelcote before referred to probably being due to a Bishop’s scribe, who had no knowledge of the district, and I suggest this one – Mod -an eminence; vide Hartshorn’s “Salopia Antiqua” -ley , a field and cote a dwelling; – Highfield House. In the calendar of inquisitions, etc. I find places called Middelcote in Somerset, Northants and Devon.
P.4. There is in Shrewsbury Reference Library an abstract of the Chartulary of Shrewsbury Abbey and three indexes are given – the first gives “Modlicot 50.91” but on referring I do not find the name – “Eston” however occurs which may mean Aston Rogers the owners of which had a connection with Medlicott as shown by Eyton. The second gives “Modlicote 279” – 279 refers particularly to “Magna Carta Anni Edwardi reg de foresta Salop” and to the exception of the “vil de Modelicote” as stated by Eyton. I find however another paragraph 279 which relates to the original charter by King Stephen to the Abbey but do not see the name of M. It may occur in the original, and I am mentioning this for the reason that if it does it would be an earlier occurrence of the name than we have yet found. The indexes may refer to the original Chartulary which I believe is in the Public Library, Cambridge. (Copies of Deeds of Shrewsbury Abbey are produced in a XVII century volume in Cambridge University Library).
P.5 I know Mrs. Scott who is the daughter-in-law, and has succeeded to the property of the late Mrs. Addyes-Scott and I may sometimes ask her to allow me to see the old deeds she has. Mr. Glenn has died since your visit to Wentnor in 1911, and I notice that his successor has had the tablets arranged around the belfry so that they can be read but it would be more satisfactory if they were fixed to the wall of the church as you have said.
P.8 Some account of the family is given in the transactions of Shropshire Archaeological Society’s Transactions, Second Series Vol. V. under “the Shropshire Lay subsidy Roll 1327 – Purslow Hundred” when Llewellyn de Modlycote of that time was assessed at xij.
In the pedigree in the Harl. MSS. 1241, fo. 117b. (B not 6) I make the name to be Sr. Roger de Meibron. If not this, I wonder if it may be or should be Meirion and has a similar derivation to the name of the county of Merioneth, which is said to have been so called after Meirion, the grandson of Cunedda a British Chieftain – George Morris’s Visitation gives in index:
| Ped. | Arms. | |
| Merion Goch of Llyn, also | – | 4 |
| Bleddyn ap Cynfyn | 379 | 1,126.284 |
| – of Maenyrch | – | 4 |
On looking at the pedigree on p. 379 of Blethyn ap Kynnyn, Prince of Wales, I do not find the name Meirion, but the arms are Arg., a lion ramp. sable, and the similarity is remarkable to those attributed to Modlicott in the above pedigree, viz.: sable, a lion rampant argent. On the first page of Geo. Morris’s Visitation there are 20 coats of arms No. 4 is Bleddyn ap Kynnyn Prince of Powis and is – or, a lion rampant, gules.
J.W. Warter in “An old Shropshire Oak” Vol. 1. p. 265 referring to Wenlock Edge says “called by the old Saxons Wirmild or the Windy Place, but by the old British Llan Meirion” – I give you the above as just possibly having some bearing on Sir Roger’s identity.
“Kynesard” I have copied “Kynnard”
P.9 Your question asking whether any Medlicott lands were recovered by the family is answered on the first page of the enclosed “References.” I do not however trace the names of Red Chawle and Hale Meadow in the Abbey Chartulary. In the deed of 15th. Chas. 9th. April Hale Meadow is described as “bounded by a Mear stone on the north and a Holly Bush on the south” and it is interesting that there is now (in 1916) a large holly at the most southern point of the field. I have made the following notes on names which occur in the Abbey Deeds –
| Gorsthull – | There is a “Gorsty Bank” |
| Litelbechemedewe – | there is a Brook Leasow – would a small field near it be called Little Brook or Beach Meadow of Leasow? |
| Middelruftinge – | three adjoining fields are called the Criftens the middle one is probably the one referred to. |
| Brodeacre – | there is a Broadacre |
| Middelstinge | this may be Middlestocking. There are three fields called the Stockings, – one the Second Stocking, not in Medlicott, about ½ a mile away. |
| The Butts – | The only field of this name in the parish is my property and rather more than half a mile from M. Its situation would, I imagine, have been suitable for the purpose. |
| Tundemedue – | A field near Wentnor occupying a similar position to it that Well Meadow does to Medlicott is called the Town Meadow. Query – Was Well Meadow called Town Meadow? It is immediately in front of the Manor House |
| Howe Meadow – | Is mentioned in the Deed of 11 Edward II and is still so called but is some distance from Medlicott. |
| Busebroc | Busbrook is still the name of the stream, which runs through the lands appertaining to the place. |
The Abbot of Haughmond is said to have conceded a messuage at Medlicott to Richard son of Roger de Stretton towards the end of the 13th century – and Roger son of Roger de Stretton owned land there at the time of the grant from Llewellyn de Medlicott to his son Richard.
P.16. I think there can be no doubt that the Pontesbury, London, Abingdon, Milbourn Port, Rockets Castle and Dunmurry families with your own come of the line whose pedigree is set out in Harl. MSS. 1241, and although I believe I said in a previous communication that I thought there must have been a fairly near relationship at the time of the Visitation between this line and the line of Medlicotts of Medlicott because of local names occurring in marriage alliances, I am of the opinion now that we must accept the documentary evidence we have until it is disproved. Now from the Haughmond Deeds, the index to Eyton, the old Grant (copy enclosed) and the schedule more particularly referred to later, I make out the scraps of pedigree which follow, (see page 33). Eyton however puts the first Llewellyn (c.1195 – 1245) his son Llewellyn (1255 – 1281), a third Llewellyn (tem. Edwd.III) (? was he the brother of Nicholas (1281)) – Miss Anden states that he was, and that he is probably the Llewellyn of the Lay Subsidy Roll of 1327, the first year of Edward III’s reign; but I think he must have been a more remote descendant than a grandson of the 1st Llewellyn as three generations would hardly bridge the time from c.1195 to 1327, and this being so Eyton’s conclusion that the gifts cum corpore were all made by the same Llewellyn may not be correct, and what he takes for repetitions of such grants may not be really so, in which case, and if they were made in prospect of immediate death, we are helped to the following solution:
The Llewelllyn of the original charter – c.1195 – (probably a man not then in early manhood) appears to have made a grant cum corpore between 1200 and 1210 and, it is surmised, died before the latter date, in support of which surmise we find his contemporary “Heynon” (or Eynion) was dead in 1215. Then we are told that another such grant was made after 1211 by a Llewellyn who may be a Llewellyn II; and a third such grant after 1224 by one of the same name, who may be identical with the one who was dead before 1255, and who we will call Llewellyn III. In that year the Abbot of Haughmond was guardian of the last Llewellyn’s heir, also called Llewellyn, and who would be in this way Llewellyn IV. This one we are told had two sons, Nicholas and Llewellyn, and by the 14th. Deed (1317 – 1372) we gather that this last Llewellyn had also a brother Roger. Thus we have five generations of Llewellyns to and including the one on the Lay Subsidy Roll, and on reference to the Harl.MSS. Pedigree we find the coincidence that the 5th. generation in that is represented by one of that name though the intervening names are different. It will also be seen that the 1st Llewellyn in the Pedigree referred to had a brother Kennard, corresponding with Keneward shown below, and the Hughe therein may be identical with Huctred.
With reference to the name Llewellyn appearing for so many generations successively the following from “Records of the family of Urswyk, Urswick or Urwick” seems apropos:- “Such was the attachment in these days to a Christian name, and the desire to retain it in the family, that not infrequently two of its members would be similarly baptised in order to secure the old association of the name and the heritage.”
In the schedule referred to which relates to the Title Deeds of Lower House at Medlicott there are the following:-
“10 – A Latin grant from Richard Wellings of Medlicott 7mo. Edwardi
11 – Another Grant from Llewellyn of Modlicott 11mo. Edwardi
12 – Another Grant from Roger Son of Llewellyn of Medlicott 9mo. Ri’ci 2di a Conquest”
I have only found the second with deeds and of it have made a tracing (not reproduced) which I have re-copied on a tissue and enclose herewith. It is not very distinct but please keep it. I may take a photograph of it and send you later.
The name of Wellings I am inclined to think in this case is a corruption of Llewellyn, which possibly came about by constant use of the “possessive”. The Lower House may have been conferred upon Llewellyn the brother of Nicholas. This being so the family must have really been Medlicott’s and they were apparently still living at Medlicott. in the reign of Elizabeth and continued considerably later when the farm passed to the Bright’s by marriage and finally the widow of the last Bright left it to her son (-Andrews, whose sons or grandsons still own it) by a second husband, so that if my theory as to the name is correct this property has never passed by purchase. Baring Gould says Wellings is a derivative of William, but I don’t think so. That it is derived from the tribe or clan of the Welling is more probable.
Query:- Is the Grantor in the first Grant the Richard son of Llewellyn on the previous page and did he come by his after the way of Welsh names – thus, Richard (ap) (Le) Wellyn?
With the exception of the ordinations of Johannes de Modlicote (was he the son of Roger who attested the Grant of 1318?) as an Acolyte on the 23rd. September 1345, William de Moldecote – or Modelcote – or Modlicote as an Acolite of the Order of St. Augustine 17th. December 1345, as a Friar of the same order (1346) and of John Middlecote before referred to, I have no information as to Medlicott’s of Medlicott till the will of John (1592), that is from 1386.
P.7 The typed pedigree you sent me seems to suggest that John the son of William who married Eliza Prowd is the same as John Medlicott of Medlicott who died 1592, but this seems impossible as the latter had two married daughters at the time of his death (even if Edward his son was not of age) and John son of William seems to have been baptised as near 1592 as 1577. I have said before that I think a common ancestor of the two lines must be looked for at a remote time.
The following are a few notes on families into which Members of the line to which HARL. MSS. Pedigree relates married :-
Dod – The Shrewsbury Guild Merchants rolls give –
31st. Jan. 1385: Johannes Dod. de Pontesbury.
Vernon:- the Inq. p.m. of John Vernon 7 Edwd. IV. includes Brace Meole Manor – Brace Meole is near Whitley. Thomas Modlicote’s connection with Hodnet, one of the principal estates of the Vernons is noted below, and this and the tenure of Whitley indicate intimate relations between the families.
Boycott – The Boycotts were of Boycott in the parish of Pontesbury and the family is still connected with the place; they appear also to have been of Edge (not Eye) in the same Parish. Sylvanus and Francis B. were granted the following arms:- Gu. on a chief arg.3 grenades ppr. “on account of their loyalty and assistance by sundry service to Charles II in his great distress, and by services performed by their father to Charles I. in furnishing him with grenadoes, grape shot and other warlike habilments.” This is rather interesting at this time when the use of hand grenades has so much revived.
The Pedigree gives Richard as having two sons named “Thomas” which is scarcely likely, and Blakeway’s Sheriffs of Shropshire” gives the name of Jane Mytton’s husband as Richard which is probably correct.
Mytton. Her father Sir Adam Mytton was Bailiff no less than seven times between 1523 and 1552, in the last of which years he was a Knight and in the following year, one of the Council of Wales. He was Sheriff of Shropshire in 1554, and represented Shrewsbury in Parliament in 1520 and 1529. His father Thomas Mytton while acting as Sheriff in 1480 “was fortunate enough to capture Stafford Duke of Buckingham”. “In reward for this Richard bestowed on his trusty and well-beloved esquire Thomas Mytton the Duke’s Castle of Cawes” which he had inherited from the Corbets who had formerly been chief lords of Medlicott. The Thynnes who were connected with the Medlicotts afterwards became owners of Caus. The following story of what happened between this same Thomas Mytton and Henry, Earl of Richmond (Hen.VII) when the latter was on his way to fight Richard III, and advancing towards Shrewsbury, summoned the town to surrender, may be known to you.
“The head-bailey, Maister Myttoon, being a stout wyse gentleman, on demand being made of entrance, answered sayinge that he knew no Kynge only Kynge Richard, whose Lyffetenants he and hys fellows were: and before he should entir there, he should go over his belly, meaning thereby, that he should be slayne to the ground, and that he protested vehemently on the othe he had tacken; but on better advice Maister Myttoon lay along the ground, and hys belly upwards, and soe the said erle stepped over hym and saved hys othe.” The earl was first proclaimed King, on his entering Shrewsbury. As to Richard’s son Thomas who married Joane Whittgour he may be identical with Thomas Modlicote who in 32 Henry VIII with Henry Townrowe did homage and fealty for the Manor of Hodnet. This was perhaps as trustees. The following from the minutes of the Shrewsbury Town Council may also refer to the same Thomas;
“A0 4. Car.- Assembl Ald.&c. – Agreed yt Mr Whittakers of Edgtaston shall have power to receive Ridi. Robertes 40£ bequeathd. to ye Almeshouses of St. Maryes & ye Almeshouses of Ye Towne by Medlicott & Thos. Medlicott”.
Whitcombes – The Whitcombes of Berwick (or Berwick Mavison) were a Somersetshire family who came into estate by marriage with the Malveysons whose ancestors are to be found in the Roll of Battle Abbey. Members of the family were bailiffs of Shrewsbury. The Malveysons held land at Minton of the King in Chief (by service of keeping and protecting the neighbouring positions of the Long Forest and they would thus perhaps have some overseership of Medlicott). Minton, and a family of this name were afterwards connected with the Medlicotts. There is an illustration and account of Berwick Mavison in “Castles and Mansions of Shropshire” by Mrs. Stackhouse-Acton.
Prowd. – The Prowd’s were of Shrewsbury and Sutton near there. George Prowd was bailiff in 1569, and others of his family filled the office. The old Post Office Inn, built by him in 1568, is part of the Proud mansion and from it William Medlicott probably married Eliza Prowd. (Picture Post Card Enclosed).
The Onslows of Onslow – Lord Onslow comes of this family. Humphrey Onslow was sheriff in 1565. Richard Onslow was Speaker of the House of Commons in the reign of Elizabeth and another Richard, afterwards Lord Onslow, in that of Anne. “In the list of trained soldiers of Shropshire in 1580, these names occur under Hanwood. John Onslow, armor, a piere of plinths, a byll. Arthur Medlicott his man, Roger Gittens, Thomas Medlicott a bill, a sallet.”
“In a similar list for Church Hanwoode for 1587. John Onslowe, about 1x yeres (of age) in armor a bill and a sword John Haugham his son in law ……. Thos. Medlicott a bill, and Athuras Medlicott his brother Richard Warterr, and Humfrey Onslowe his son-in-law.” Shrops. Arch: Trans. 2nd series Vols. II and III .
Say: The marriage of Elinor M. to Richard Say is confirmed by the visitation pedigree of that family. I have not been able to ascertain the locality to which this particular family belonged, but they were no doubt descended from the Say’s, Lords of Clun, and of Stokesay.
Phipps and Heynes – I have previously said that these families being strong in the Parish of Ch. Stretton, it was an indication of a near relationship of the two Medlicott lines but I find that there are a number owning both names in Pontesbury Parish.
Sherar – The name of the wife of the last named Thomas in the pedigree has been variously transcribed as Seimor, Scrinor and Scriven, and perhaps she owned one of these names, certainly there were Seimors or Seymours at Shrewsbury, and a little later a Scriven played locally a conspicuous part in the Civil War, but it is clear from Visitation Pedigrees of the Shear Family that a Thomas Medlicott married Elizabeth Sherar, her father Thomas Sherar being clerk to the court of the Marclus. He was bailiff of Shrewsbury in 1572, 1577, 1586, and 1590. “This year Master Thomas Sherar being an Alderman of the town of Salop and boarne in the same and of long tyme belonging to the Counsell being one of the chyffist clarks in the same as also keeper and registrar of the boocks there and chief examiner of deep causes was buried the town of Salop the xxviij day of July 1598 and died in Bedwley where he was attendant upon hys office the councell the ‘lyeinge there who was solemely buruid and mooche moane made for and especially of his Kynn and lyse me’ who had been good to the’ and his servants.” (Probably Taylor’s MS.)
The house situate at the bottom of the Wyle lop, half of which is now the Hero of Moultau Inn, and the other half a shop was built by him, and is still known as Sherar’s mansion. From it his daughter Elizabeth was probably married to Thomas Medlicott (picture postcard).
P.11. Henry de Aston was of Aston Piggot in Worthen Parish. Aston is not to be mistaken for Adstone in Wentnor. I should be much obliged if you would give me your authority for the gift of lands to the monks of the church at Nutmore (meaning Wentnor). I believe I have seen it but cannot recall where.
P.14. I am glad of your explanation of “Boveria.” Eyton in the treating of Overs, an adjoining hamlet to Medlicote says ” we may presume that it was annexed to some adjacent manor – perhaps to one of the Abbot of Haughmond’s estates at Stitt, at Linley or at Boveria on the Longmynd.” He evidently did not know it was a general title, but thought it denoted a particular locality. That only one meadow is mentioned in the ministers accounts 1541-2 may be accounted for by the lease and probable ultimate transfer by the Abbots to the Corbets.
P.16. Your account of the family of Medlicott of Warminster is very interesting to me. Have you seen the pedigree in the Lincolnshire Pedigrees “Harleian Publications 51, p. 673? It makes Richard Middlecot the son of William Middlecot of Bishopstrow. The arms are given as – az an eagle displayed ermine on a chief gu.. three scallops or. Richard’s grandson was Sir Thomas Middlecot Knt. of Boston, and being high Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1623 adds another name to that august company.” Further particulars of that family are given in Thompson’s “History and Antiquities of Boston.” Metcalfe’s “Book of Knights,” and Nichel’s “Progresses of James I.” do not give a Sir Thomas Middlecot or Medlicott, but gives as Knighted at Belvoir 7 Aug. 1624 – Sir John Medlicott – is there a mistake in the name – or – who was Sir John?
A Will is indexed under “Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills” Vol.III, 1592, “Medlicott, Midlecott Wm.Gent.Warminster Wilts.” and I have recollection of seeing that an Edmund – I believe -disclaimed arms at a Visitation. I presume the gate pillars would be erected at the same time as the house.
P.18. I quite agree with the first paragraph on this page and it is a coincidence that in some notes I have which were probably made about a century ago there is one as to John my g.g. father’s brother “said to have gone to Wiltshire and to have had no issue” I wonder if the early success of the Medlicott’s and the Thynne’s had tempted him there?
P.18. The founder of the Bishopstrow family would I think be more probably a member of the Medlicott of Medlicott line than that of Hanwood and Pontesbury, the former living nearer to Botfield, and we have certain knowledge of an alliance.
With regards to the arms of the family, the granting of a mural crown has been said to signify some connection with a siege, either in attack or defence, and a reference to the “Peerage” &c. will support this.
I have seen somewhere that “the golden eagle and spread eagle are emblematic of the crusades” – were any of the family – who made many eleemosynary grants – Crusaders? Some of their neighbours were. The Lion has been said to denote royal decent. The lions arg. may have been taken from the lion arg. on the shield shown on the Harl. Pedigree and the similarity between that and the arms of Bleddyn, Prince of Wales, has been noted.
These are some earlier suggestions I have made may be rather far fetched, but may nevertheless be interesting.
The arms of Medlicott of Cottenham are given as “embattled” and not “indented”
P.17. A Christopher Medlicott, son of John was baptised at Pontesbury 22 June 1532.
P.19. The Will of John (2 July, 34 Eliz) who married Eleanor Thynne, describes him as of the Parish of Wentnor and Diocese of Hereford – we can therefore conclude that he did not go to Wilts., though it is pretty certain that some relative (perhaps the husband of Margaret) did.
Some threads in the 16th. Century may be picked up from:- The transcripts of the earlier registers of Wentnor in the hands of the Bishop’s Registrar, Hereford. Lay subsidy Rolls at the Record Office for the years 1523, 1543, 1545, 1549, 1571 and 1592-3 and also at the same place – The Muster Roll for the Hundred of Purslow.
I do not know if the lists of trained soldiers in Shropshire for 1580 and 1587 include Wentnor.