William Hawkins / Hankeford

William was born about 1355 in Wiltshire, England, the son of John Hawkins and Joane.

His wife was Christine, who he married in BEF 1380. The place has not been found. They had no known children.

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

William Hawkins / Hankeford (c1355-1423)	John Hawkins (c1308-c1374)	Andrew Hawkins (c1264-<1321)	William Hawkins, de Northwood, de Hokeswod, de Flegh (c1245-c1327)
		Andrew Hawkins (c1264-<1321)
		Joan de Nash (c1287-?)
		Joan de Nash (c1287-?)
	Joane (c1325-?)

Events

Attributes

Notes

Note 1

!Stylename: Hawkins / Hankeford, Sir William, King's Sergeant & Justice of the King's Bench [~1355- 1423 ]

!Note: The whole story here is Richard and William went to Devon, most likely to take on the inheritance from Richard's mother, and then both had their carriers and were knighted.

!Note: Accompanied his uncle Sir Richard Hawkins to Devonshire and was knighted there later as well on 17 March 1400. Perhaps remember that we found these folks originally by tracing the knighthoods of our Hawkins knights for the Kent visitation.

!Note: Hankeford and Hankessok are likely regional or scribal misreadings of Hawkins, where the "wk" is mistaken for "nk", and the Anglo-Saxon scribes substituted endings to avoid the soft "kis/kins" form. Likely unique to Wiltshire and nearby counties during the 14th–15th centuries.

Several [3] knights of the Hawkins family were recorded as “Hankford” in official titles, particularly in Devon records. This likely stems from a scribal misreading during knighthood documentation, compounded by estate associations. Contemporary family and Kent records retain “Hawkins,” but formal documents [IPMs, court rolls] reflect the Hankford variation due to inherited title usage. They are the same people.

!Note: Devon IPM included below states: “Date of death as in 313. Richard Hankeford is his kinsman and next heir as the son of Richard his son, and kinsman and heir of Christine, his late wife, as son of Richard her son, and is aged 27 years and more.”

This is the entire reason people list William as Richard’s father which is untrue. Christine is named in the IPM as a life-tenant, not as an ancestor. References to Richard II as her heir describe legal succession under a prior settlement, not biological descent. Her age relative to Richard I is therefore irrelevant, and William Hankeford was not Richard II’s father and Christine was not his mother.

!Source: The National Archives https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/1664530a-2b44-4135-a409-365e3b9a3e21

LM - THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS: RECORDS OF THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY OF LOSELEY PARK

LM/SectionG - DEEDS RELATING TO ESTATES OF THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY IN SURREY AND ELSEWHERE

Feoffment 1] William Beaufoy and Agnes his wife 2] William Spenser called Forneux, John Walet senior and William Hauker.

Title: Feoffment 1] William Beaufoy and Agnes his wife 2] William Spenser called Forneux, John Walet senior and >>>William Hauker<<<. Manor of Catteshall and 50s rent in Artington.

!Source: The National Archives https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/7c1fdf10-3bd1-44fd-83b4-2052f0318025

LM - THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS: RECORDS OF THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY OF LOSELEY PARK

LM/SectionG - DEEDS RELATING TO ESTATES OF THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY IN SURREY AND ELSEWHERE

LM/ - G.7.4: POYNINGS FAMILY ESTATES IN DORSET, LONDON AND KENT, [INCLUDING ESTATES OF THE GUILDFORD FAMILY], AND ESTATES IN ODIHAM, HANTS, ACQUIRED BY...

LM/ - G.7.4.4: Manor of Reyham and other estates in Sheppey, Harty and elsewhere in Kent, being estates of the Guildford family

Catalogue description Feoffment 1] Adam de St Jovone, John Bays, clerk, William Caneley and John Frankeleyn 2] Nicholas Herynge and Agnes his wife, John Godwot, Elias Reyguer, John Walet senior and William Haukere. Manor of Reyham in Sheppey, Kent, and all their lands in Middleton Hundred and Isle of Harty, Kent

Title: Feoffment 1] Adam de St Jovone, John Bays, clerk, William Caneley and John Frankeleyn 2] Nicholas Herynge and Agnes his wife, John Godwot, Elias Reyguer, John Walet senior and William Haukere. Manor of Reyham in Sheppey, Kent, and all their lands in Middleton Hundred and Isle of Harty, Kent

Note: This is a direct connection between the Hawkins line and the line of Stephen de Northwood. The manor of Reyham is within the original land granted to Stephen de Northwood in 1256: Isle of Shepeye, and four score and ten acres of marsh with their pertinencies in Upcherche, and of other manors, lands, and tenements in the county of Kent. This confirms the Hawkins branch is receiving a direct share of Northwode lands.

!Source: The National Archives 176 - Surrey History Centre https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/70912798-735d-4524-9e13-89cf1aa3045b

LM - THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS: RECORDS OF THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY OF LOSELEY PARK

LM/SectionG - DEEDS RELATING TO ESTATES OF THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY IN SURREY AND ELSEWHERE

Catalogue description Feoffment 1] William Spenser called Forneux, John Walet senior and William Hauker 2] John Legge, King's serjeant-at-arms, William de Brentyngham and John West. Manor of Catteshall and 50s rent in Artington

Title: Feoffment 1] William Spenser called Forneux, John Walet senior and William Hauker 2] John Legge, King's serjeant-at-arms, William de Brentyngham and John West. Manor of Catteshall and 50s rent in Artington

!Source: The National Archives 176 - Surrey History Centre https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/81bac041-f2d2-43df-9228-19f196b7b762

LM - THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS: RECORDS OF THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY OF LOSELEY PARK

LM/SectionG - DEEDS RELATING TO ESTATES OF THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY IN SURREY AND ELSEWHERE

Catalogue description Royal Inspeximus of pardon, dated 20 Apr 1380, to John Legge, William Brantyngham and John West for acquiring without licence Catteshall manor and 50s annual rent; enrolment of feoffment, dated 10 Jul 1379, of parties and property as in LM/338/3, and of appointment of attorneys; and memorandum that on 25 Nov 1379, Spenser, Walet and Hauker acknowledged their deed in Chancery

Title: Royal Inspeximus of pardon, dated 20 Apr 1380, to John Legge, William Brantyngham and John West for acquiring without licence Catteshall manor and 50s annual rent; enrolment of feoffment, dated 10 Jul 1379, of parties and property as in LM/338/3, and of appointment of attorneys; and memorandum that on 25 Nov 1379, Spenser, Walet and Hauker acknowledged their deed in Chancery

!Source: Wiltshire Social & Institutional Records 1123-1968 https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=WILTS%2FSOCIAL%2F0333700&tab=this

Source Wilts Record Society vol.41. Wiltshire Feet of Fines 1377-1509 by J.L.Kirby

Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9294887

SC - Records of various departments, arranged artificially according to type, and formerly entitled Special Collections

Subseries within SC 8 - PETITIONS TO THE KING; TO THE KING AND COUNCIL; TO THE COUNCIL; TO THE PARLIAMENT; AND THE LIKE.

SC 8/181 - 9001-9050. Individual petitions are described , dated, and are available at item level.

Catalogue description Petitioners: Thomas Cary, son of John Cary, knight. Name[s]: Cary, Thomas ...

Nature of request: Thomas Cary requests an enquiry into his claim to certain property in Over Adber and Hummer, which had been given to his father by Samford, with reversion to himself and the heirs of his father. These lands had been seized into the king's hands following a judgment made against John Cary in the Westminster parliament of February 1388, and granted to Wadham and Hankeford.

Places mentioned: Overatebear [Over Adber], [Somerset]; Homer [Hummer] [Somerset]; Westminster.

People mentioned: John Cary, father of the petitioner; John Samford; John Wadham; William Hankeford [Hankford].

Note: The chancery writ [C 81/557 no. 10412] with which this petition was formerly enclosed [together with the petitions at SC 8/180/8991 and SC 8/187/9348] is dated 21 January 1396. Clearly the petitions were presented at some point prior to that date, although probably after another group of almost identical petitions [SC 8/38/1387-8, C 81/555 no.10282B], themselves associated with another chancery writ dated 19 October 1395 [C 81/555 no.10282A].

For another petition concerning this property, formerly part of another similar series of petitions, see SC 8/38/1862

For another related petition formerly enclosed with that writ see no.10282B of C 81/55

For the chancery writ with which that petition was enclosed see no.10282A of C 81/555

For the chancery writ with which this petition was formerly enclosed see no.10412 of C 81/557

Note: property in Over Adber and Hummer granted to Wadham and Hankeford. Thomas Cary would like it back.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4294494

JUST 1 - Justices in Eyre, of Assize, of Oyer and Terminer, and of the Peace, etc: Rolls and Files

Catalogue description Assize roll of William Hankford and Robert Hill for Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Sussex...

Assize roll of William Hankford and Robert Hill for Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Sussex and Surrey, including essoins and attorneys

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9208440

SC - Records of various departments, arranged artificially according to type, and formerly entitled Special Collections

Subseries within SC 8 - PETITIONS TO THE KING; TO THE KING AND COUNCIL; TO THE COUNCIL; TO THE PARLIAMENT; AND THE LIKE.

SC 8/126 - 6251-6300. Individual petitions are described , dated, and are available at item level.

Catalogue description Petitioners: John Mapilton the younger, clerk. Name[s]: Mapilton, John ...

Nature of request: John Mapilton requests the appointment of justices to examine his case and restore him to property in Shoe Lane in London, from which he has been ousted under a false claim made against Rayner, who formerly held the property. Mapilton details the history of the property, and the actions of debt made against Rayner.

Nature of endorsement: [on face] To the Lords.[on dorse] The Council shall have the authority of Parliament to summon the justices and the parties and to examine the matter contained in the petition and to do what seems best to them in this case.

Places mentioned: London; Shoe Lane, London; Fleet Street, London; Ludgate prison, London; Ebgate, London.

People mentioned: Elys Rayner, citizen of London; Robert Chestreford, citizen and cordwainer of London; John Basset; William Clay; William Pecche; John Whiteby, clerk; John Mapilton the elder, clerk; Robert Faucoun; William Gascoigne, justice; William Thirnyng, justice; William Hankeford [Hankford], justice.

Note: The appearance of Gascoigne and Thirning as the first two of the three justices would seem to date the petition to the reign of Henry IV, when Gascoigne was Chief Justice of King's Bench [Henry V replaced him with Hankeford], and Thirning was Chief Justice of Common Pleas. Thirning died in 1413, soon after Henry V's accession.

https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBOR%2FKNIGHTS%2FREALM%2F015293&tab=this

Biography of Buckland Brewer, Devon; a King's Sergeant 1390; Justice of the Common Pleas 1398; Justice of the King's Bench 1413; <<<<

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C5884526

C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

Catalogue description Agreement between William Hankeford, knight, of the one part, and Margaret, late the...

Description: Agreement between William Hankeford, knight, of the one part, and Margaret, late the wife of Perceval Sandan [Sowdan], knight, and Robert, son and heir of Robert Dyneley, of the other part, to teminate litigation as to the advowson of part of the tithes of Hakeleston. Sir William Hankeford to have the next presentation, and margaret the two following. Wiltshire.

Note: agreement over advowsons or the right to appoint the priest in Hakeleston, Wiltshire. Implies he haad land there.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9553278

C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

Subseries within C 131 - Unexecuted writs; writs detached from their lost returns; writs de liberacione

Catalogue description Debtor: John Denebaud Creditor: William Hankeford Amount: £300 Before whom:...

Note: Inquisition and return: Date to be returned: 6.10.1406 [Damaged] [Duplicate of No. 26]

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9553272

C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

Subseries within C 131 - Unexecuted writs; writs detached from their lost returns; writs de liberacione

Catalogue description Debtor: John Denebaud Creditor: William Hankeforde Amount: £300 Before whom:...

Endorsement: Richard Boyton, Sheriff, replies that the writ was delivered too late to be executed in the time set.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7578061

C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

C 143/438 - Inquisitions taken as a result of applications to the Crown for licences to alienate land. Described at item level.

Catalogue description Humphrey Stafford and William Hankeford, knights, Morgan Gogh, Robert Grey, Edmund...

Humphrey Stafford and William Hankeford, knights, Morgan Gogh, Robert Grey, Edmund Elyot, clerk, William Ekerdon, clerk, Nicholas Yonge, clerk, William Coventre, Peter Blount, Robert Veel, Gilbert Draper of Bridport, and Philip Northey to grant the manor of Bromley Castle [in Stoke Abbas], messuages and land in Kingston Russell, Dorchester, Melcombe Regis, and Shipton, and a burgage in Bridport to the abbot and convent of Abbotsbury, retaining the manor of Hooke and messuages in Bridport and Dorchester. Dorset. 8 Hen IV.

Note: Group giving manor of Bromley Castle to the abbot and convent of Abbotsbury requires Crown permission.

!Source: Wiltshire Social & Institutional Records 1123-1968 https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=WILTS%2FSOCIAL%2F0333818&tab=this

Source Wilts Record Society vol.41. Wiltshire Feet of Fines 1377-1509 by J.L.Kirby

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/7d191f7a-8cd1-4011-bfab-1977784fa0d2

Catalogue description Letters of attorney 1 Wm. Bykebury 2 Wm. Wenthe To deliver seisin in [1's] name to...

To deliver seisin in [1's] name to Wm. Hankeford, Kt, Henry Foleford, Jn. Chuderlegh and Jn. Gambon jun for their lives.

Manors of Whythenow, Harebeare, Stonhouse [Stonehouse in Plymouth] and Crymel [Cremyll in Rame] with the passage of Crymel.

Held by: Kresen Kernow [formerly Cornwall Record Office], not available at The National Archives

Note: William Hankeford here is acting as: a trusted senior feoffee, a legal custodian, part of a local gentry control group.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/6cb4fe09-efbc-49c0-9c31-85a8cea71c65

Catalogue description William Hankeford, knight, Robert son of Robert Hull, Henry Popham and Robert son of...

William Hankeford, knight, Robert son of Robert Hull, Henry Popham and Robert son of John Hull, knight; and Thomas de Berkeley, lord of Berkeley. 15 May 13 Hen. IV

William, Robert, Henry and Robert have granted to Thomas the manor of Wyke [Wilts.], which they had by grant of William Esturmy, knight, to Thomas; for his [life?] [damaged].

Witnesses: Walter Hungerford, William Chayne, knights, William Stourton, Thomas Calston, Walter Beauchamp.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/d9923752-1faf-4893-80c1-c01af9079144

Catalogue description Surrender and counterpart 1. Wm. Hankeford, Kt.; Hen Foleford; Jn. Chudderlegh; Jn....

Manors of Wythynow, Harebeare, Stonhous and Crymel and the passage of Crymel which they formerly had for life by demise of 2. Alternate sealing clause.

Slit for tag and 3 large circ. seals on tags; red wax; devices. Counterpart has armorial seal of 2.

Held by: Kresen Kernow [formerly Cornwall Record Office], not available at The National Archives

Note: William is one of a small group of life tenants surrendering possession back to the grantor.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9335124

SC - Records of various departments, arranged artificially according to type, and formerly entitled Special Collections

Subseries within SC 8 - PETITIONS TO THE KING; TO THE KING AND COUNCIL; TO THE COUNCIL; TO THE PARLIAMENT; AND THE LIKE.

SC 8/232 - 11551-11600. Individual petitions are described , dated, and are available at item level.

Catalogue description Petitioners: Anneys Orum, wife of William Orum. Name[s]: Orum, Anneys ...

Nature of request: Orum requests a remedy be ordained and that she not be ousted from land in Frome which was granted to her for the term of her life, as by many frauds, injuries and oppressions Hungerford and Hankeford have pursued her husband and her livelihood.

Note: The petition is dated to 1416 as other petitions in preceding files from Chancery Files 548 date to this year.

Note: Based on image available at this same link, which was not in very good shape. The surviving membrane elaborates the complaint and confirms that the petitioner’s request was granted to the extent that further disturbance was to be stayed pending examination. No final judgment or finding of fault is recorded. William Hankeford appears in the context of land control and enforcement activity rather than in a judicial capacity.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C5889671

C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

Catalogue description Grant by William Soneman, citizen and tailor of London, to William Hankeford, knight, of...

Grant by William Soneman, citizen and tailor of London, to William Hankeford, knight, of 3½r. 5p. 65¼ft. land, with a ditch on the east side, in the parish of St Andrew the Apostle in Holborne, on the north of the said William Hankeford's garden and the garden of the lord de Fournevaill; rent, 4s. Monday after All Hallows, 4 Henry V.

Note: This grant confirms William Hankeford’s ownership of urban land in Holborn, London, including an established garden holding, indicating a maintained London residence during his later career rather than a solely provincial or judicial presence.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C5888709

C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

Catalogue description Indenture whereby William Hankeford, knight, reciting that William Soneman, citizen and...

Indenture whereby William Hankeford, knight, reciting that William Soneman, citizen and tailor of London, had enfeoffed him of land in the parish of St Andrew's, Holborn, whereon a rent of 4s. is reserved, grants that William may distrain on his manor of Estbury, co. Berks, if the said rent be in arrear. 8 July, 5 Henry V. Memorandum endorsed of enrolment in the King's Bench.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9528954

SC - Records of various departments, arranged artificially according to type, and formerly entitled Special Collections

SC 8/308 - 15351-15400: PETITIONS TO VARIOUS OFFICERS OF STATE. Individual petitions are described , dated, and are available at item level.

Catalogue description Petitioners: William Hankeford [Hankford], knight, chief justice. Name[s]: ...

Nature of request: Hankeford requests remedy because he was granted and paid for the reversion of the manor of Littleham but has not received it. Since St John owed the lady of Sturry a great sum of money for nearly £40 worth of land, on 12 July in the King's 2nd year [1414] at the church of St Andrew Holborn he offered to sell to the petitioner and those named by him the entire reversion of the manor of Littleham, held by Philippa, wife of John Flory for life, worth £20 yearly, for which Hankeford paid St John £200. After St John and Basset granted the same reversion to John and William Andrew and Dankyn who, it was declared to the petitioner's counsel at Plympton, had been instructed to grant the same reversion to Hankeford in fee simple by St John's son Oliver. Hankeford has often asked the feoffees to grant the reversion to him, Fulford, Richard and John Hankford and Daverrew, but they will not do so, claiming that neither St John nor his son ever ordered them to.

Nature of endorsement: On 9 July in the 6th year [1418], the council agreed that a writ be sent to St John to appear, in person or by his proctor, before the council in England on All Souls Day next to answer in this matter.

Places mentioned: Sturry, [Kent]; St Andrew Holborn, [Middlesex]; London; Littleham, Devon; Plympton, [Devon].

People mentioned: John SeyntJohn [St John], knight; lady of Sturry; Philippa [Flory], wife of John Flory; John Flory; Thomas Basset, partner of John St John; John Andrewe [Andrew], servant of John St John; William Andrewe [Andrew], servant of John St John; John Dankyn, clerk, servant of John St John; Oliver [St John], son of John St John; Henry Foleford [Fulford]; Richard Hankeford [Hankford]; John Hankeford [Hankford]; John Daverrew.

Proposed remedy / expectation: The feoffees were supposed to grant the reversion either to William himself or to those he named — namely:

2. Richard Hankeford - Most likely Richard II who just turned 21 days ago, while Richard I is 98 and dies in less than 1 year.

Note: John Hawkins II of Nash likely came to Devon with his brother Sir William. Refered to as Hankeford in documents where he appears with his brother.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4533474

E - Records of the Exchequer, and its related bodies, with those of the Office of First Fruits and Tenths, and the Court of Augmentations

Division within E - Records of the Court of Augmentations and the Augmentation Office

Catalogue description Grantor: William Hankeford, knight, John Stourton, the elder, John Paseware and William...

Grantor: William Hankeford, knight, John Stourton, the elder, John Paseware and William Walkeden.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/b2d26269-5aa0-4c26-815d-3403c16df773

Catalogue description Quitclaim 1 Wm. Hankeford, Kt; Jn. Gambon jun. 2 Wm. de Bykebury, Esq. All manors,...

All manors, knights fees etc. of Stonhouse, Whythenow, Harebeare, passage of Crymel, and lands and app. in Stonhouse, Impecombe, Schynedelhalle, Anderdoune, Trenyneow, Rodford, Enys, Wythenow, Est Harebeare, West Harebeare, Smalecombe, Wolmeshille, which 2 had previously granted to them, together with Henry Foleford and John Chudderlegh then deceased.

!Source: Devon Wills Index, 1163-1999 https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBOR%2FOR%2FDEVWILLS%2F174543&tab=this

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6158654

C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

Catalogue description Hankford, William, kt: Middx, London, Wilts, Som, Oxon, Berks, Staffs, Corn, Devon

Hankford, William, kt: Middx, London, Wilts, Som, Oxon, Berks, Staffs, Corn, Devon

!Source: Devon Wills Index, 1163-1999 https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBOR%2FOR%2FDEVWILLS%2F174544&tab=this

!Source: Maapping the Medieval Countryside. Inquisitions Post Mortem, Properties, Places & People.

Jurors: Richard Mordon ; William Snap ; John Thakworthray ; Richard Cornyssh ; William Smyth ; John Bron ; Walter Smyth ; Peter Ryngwode ; Thomas Hakker ; John Hopkyn ; Philip Coupere ; and William Strecche .

He held no lands or tenements in demesne or in service of the king in chief. He held in his demesne as of fee

4 1/2 a. land in the parish of St Andrew Holborn, of the dean and chapter of St Paul’s cathedral church, London, service unknown, each acre worth 21d. yearly.

He died on 12 December last. Richard Hankeford is his kinsman and next heir as the son of Richard his son, and is aged 27 years and more.

Jurors: Thomas Horn ; John Palmer ; Thomas Benet ; John Appilman ; Nicholas Chancy ; William Bayly ; Robert Crist ; William Moreys ; Richard Stevenys ; John Badley ; John Stevenys ; and Robert Forde . He held no lands or tenements of the king in chief in demesne or in service. He held the following in his demesne as of fee. Haxton, 1/3 of the following – a messuage, 3 cottages, 2 carucates, 6 a. meadow and 200 a. pasture – of Eleanor, Lady de Sancto Amando , service unknown. The 1/3 messuage is worth nothing yearly, 1/3 cottages 3s. yearly, 1/3 carucates 40s. yearly, 1/3 meadow 4s. yearly and 1/3 pasture 20s. yearly.

Netheravon, 7 messuages and 7 virgates, of David Ceryngton , service unknown, the messuages worth nothing yearly, the virgates 70s. yearly.

Jurors: Richard Marchaunt ; Thomas Osseborne ; John Hockombe ; Simon Penvon ; Roger Grey ; John Alryche ; John Mayvyel ; Richard Bagot ; William Derby ; Robert Mason ; Robert Crooke ; and John Baker .

He held no lands or tenements of the king in chief in demesne or in service. He held the manor of East Cranmore in his demesne as of fee jointly enfeoffed with Robert Veel by gift of William Dyber, parson of Kingston Russell church to William, Robert and Humphrey Stafford, knight, William Ekerdon, clerk and William Coventre and their heirs. By their deed dated 13 April 1411, Humphrey, William Ekerdon and William Coventre remised, relaxed and quitclaimed for themselves and their heirs all right and claim that they had in the manor to William Hankeford , Robert Veel and William’s heirs. He died seised in this joint estate with Robert Veel who survives.

The manor of East Cranmore is held of Thomas earl of Warwick , service unknown. In the manor there are the capital messuage, worth nothing yearly; 120 a. arable, worth 30s. yearly; 60 a. meadow, worth 60s. yearly; 80a. wood, its pasture worth 3s. 4d. yearly; 100 a. pasture, worth 8s. 4d. yearly; and 102s. assize rents at Easter, Midsummer, Michaelmas and Christmas, in equal portions.

Jurors: Hugh atte Fery ; John Grymesby ; Richard Borneward ; John Brunne ; William Baker ; John Snell ; Thomas atte Wode ; William Marschall ; William Clerk ; John Burford ; John Repon ; and William Stone .

Richard Gabriell, canon of the cathedral church of St Peter’s, Exeter, John Hals and John Osbarn were formerly seised in their demesne as of fee of a messuage, 4 shops and a garden adjacent to the messuage, in Holborn in the suburbs of London. By their indented charter shown to the jurors, they demised and granted these – described as a recently built messuage, shops and a garden adjacent to the messuage in Holborn in the suburbs of London – to William Hankeford , John Hankeford , William Wonard and John Dabernonn , and William Hankeford ’s male heirs of his body, remainder to the heirs of his body, as is contained more fully in the charter. William Hankeford , John Hankeford , William Wonard and John Dabernoun were seised. By his subsequent deed dated 18 November 1418, William Wonard remised, relaxed and quitclaimed all his right and claim in the above to William Hankeford and his heirs, as is contained more fully in the deed shown to the jurors. John Hankeford died, after whose death William Hankeford continued in his estate jointly with John Dabernonn , who survives, and died seised of this estate. The messuage, shops and garden are held of the king in free burgage as the whole of the city is held, annual value £4.

Jurors: John Wynnesbury ; John More of Penkridge ; John Palmer ; John de Egynton ; John de Betheme ; Thomas Meryman ; William Yons ; Hugh Hawthorne ; John Hawthorne ; William Smyth of Penkridge ; Thomas de Elton ; and Thomas Glover .

By a fine levied at Westminster oct. Trin. 1403 and afterwards oct. Mich. 1403 between William Hankeford, knight , William Cheyne son of William Cheyne of Sussex, Edmund Dauntesey , William Wonard and John Dabernonn , quer. and Walter Dauntesey son of John Dauntesey, knight , deforc., the reversion of

which Amice widow of Robert Bardolf, knight , then held for life of the inheritance of Walter, was granted to remain in full to the quer. Amice died. By another fine levied at Westminster, East. one month 1404 and afterwards oct. Trin. 1404, between William Hankeford, knight , William Cheyne , Edmund Dauntesey , William Wonard and John Dabernonn , quer. and Walter Dauntesey, knight , deforc., Walter surrendered

a Thursday market and an annual fair of five days, the vigil and feast of St Michael and three following days, at the manor of Penkridge

to the quer. and William Hankeford ’s heirs. Afterwards, the king by letters patent pardoned William Hankeford , William Cheyne , Edmund, William Wonard and John Dabernoun for the trespass in acquiring the 1/2 manors from Walter Dauntesey son of John Dauntesey, chevalier , held of the king in chief by knight service, to themselves and William Hankeford ’s heirs. He died seised of this estate in the moieties of the market and fair, jointly with William Cheyne , Edmund, William Wonard and John Dabernonn , who survive.

Jurors: William Kyngesmyll ; Richard Hone ; Roger Merlowe ; John Balewe ; John Hille ; William Kyng ; William Adderbury ; Thomas Smyth of Bucknell ; Walter Hardell ; William Ardell ; Thomas Bocher of Bucknell ; and William Joye .

He held no lands or tenements of the king in chief in demesne or in service. He held 1/2 manor of Bucknell jointly enfeoffed with William Cheyne son of William Cheyne of Sussex, Edmund Daunteseye , William Wonard and John Dabernonn , who survive, by gift of Walter Daunteseye son of John Daunteseye, knight , to them and the heirs of William Hankeford . Similarly, he held the other 1/2 manor, described as 1/2 manor of Bucknell formerly Robert Langford’s, jointly enfeoffed with the same feoffees by gift of Walter Daunteseye described as Walter Daunteseye, knight , to them and the heirs of Walter Hankeford . The moieties of

the manor of Bucknellare held of John Lenneis , service unknown, annual value 10 marks.

Jurors: Thomas Frankleyn ; Robert Beche ; Thomas Borewell ; John Otour ; John Reynacres ; William Hardyng ; Robert Bocher ; John Mortymer, junior ; Richard Skynner ; John Lane ; William Helare ; and John Hopton .

By fine levied at Westminster oct. St John Baptist and afterwards oct. Mich. 1408 [CP 25/1/12/80 no.4], between Thomas Berkeley, Lord de Berkeley, knight , Walter Hungerford, knight , William Hankeford, knight , William Wilcotes , William Stourton , Thomas Calston , William Coventre , William Wonard and John Dabernoun , quer. and Ralph Archer and Elizabeth his wife, deforc., the deforc. remised and quitclaimed the

manor of Eastbury, 7 messuages, 7 tofts, 5 carucates, 90 a. arable, 20 a. meadow, 300 a. pasture, 100 a. wood, 100s. rent and pasture for a cow and 25 sheep, in Eastbury, Bockhampton, Lambourn, Hayward, Leverton and Hadley, and the advowson of the chapel or chantry of St Mary, Lambourn

, to the quer. and the heirs of William Coventre . Ralph and Elizabeth further granted, for themselves and Ralph’s heirs,

the remainder in full of the following holdings from the above tenement, then held of the inheritance of Ralph, to the quer. and William Coventre ’s heirs, holding of the chief lords of these [fees] for services pertaining to that tenement – 3 messuages, a toft, 40 a. arable and pasture for a cow in Eastbury, which John Cooke alias John Colas held for life; a messuage, a toft and 40 a. arable in Eastbury, Hayward and Leverton, which Walter Colas held for life; a toft and 3 a. arable in Eastbury, which John Cokke held for life; and 7 a. arable in Eastbury, which John Frenshe held for life.

Afterwards, the king by letters patent [CPR 1405–8, p.471] pardoned the quer. for their trespass in thus acquiring 6 messuages, a toft, 7 virgates, 53s. 4d. rent in Eastbury and Bockhampton from this tenement, which are held of the king in chief. He further granted by these letters patent and royal licence that any seven or eight of the quer. could release their right in these messuages, toft, land and rent to one or two of the same quer., the one or two persons having these of the king and his heirs by the services thence owed and accustomed. William Coventre , by his deed dated 12 March 1413 and shown to the jurors, remised, released and quitclaimed for himself and his heirs all right and claim in the manor, tenement, rent and pasture and advowson, described as

the manor of Eastbury, and in all messuages, toft, dovecots, lands, tenements, woods, rents, services and reversions in Eastbury, Bockhampton and Lambourn which were John de Estbury senior ’s, and also in the advowson of the chapel or chantry of St Mary, Lambourn

, to William Hankeford , William Stourton , William Wonard , John Dabernoun and the heirs of William Hankeford . Thomas Berkeley , William Wilcotes , William Stourton and Thomas Calston died. William Hankeford died seised of this estate jointly with Walter Hungerford , William Wonard and John Dabernoun who survive.

The 6 messuages, toft, 7 virgates and 53s. 4d. rent in Eastbury and Bockhampton are held of the king in chief by knight service. The messuages and toft are worth nothing yearly, the virgates 28s. yearly, and the rent is from free tenants at Lady Day and Michaelmas in equal portions.

The manor, messuage, 6 tofts, 5 carucates, 90 a. arable, 20 a. meadow, 300 a. pasture, 100 a. wood, pasture for a cow and 25 sheep and 46s. 8d. rent from these tenements, are held of John Wantyng , service unknown. The manor is worth 100s. yearly, the messuage, tofts, carucates, meadow, pasture, wood and pasture, 100s. yearly. The advowson of the chantry is worth nothing yearly.

Jurors: William Greynevyll ; John Butte ; Walter Forde ; John Gogh ; Robert Shorte ; John Mayov ; John Thorndon ; William Estecote ; John Bronyng ; John Brewere ; William Bormesdon ; and Roger Bronyng .

He held the manor of Kelynack in his demesne as of fee of Alexander Champernon , service unknown. In the manor there are 6 a. Cornish arable, worth £6 yearly, and £6 8s. assize rents at Easter, Midsummer, Michaelmas and Christmas, in equal portions.

Jurors: William Graunt ; John Yeo ; Thomas Pillond ; Thomas Perrot ; William Hurtescote ; John Goldsmyth ; Walter Milemede ; Henry Bale ; John Mulys of Barn’ ; Simon Michill ; Richard Gisbourne ; and Richard Bayon .

He held no lands or tenements of the king in chief in demesne or in service. He was seised in his demesne as of fee of the following.

Great Torrington, 3 burgages, worth 6s. yearly, and 1 1/2 a. meadow, worth 3s. yearly, held of Robert Chalons, knight , in free burgage.

Annery , a messuage, worth nothing yearly, a carucate, worth 40s. yearly, 8 a. meadow, worth 8s. yearly, and 10 a. wood, worth 6d. yearly, held of John Gay of Goldworthy , service unknown.

Yarnscombe, the manor, containing 100s. assize rents at Easter, Midsummer, Michaelmas and Christmas, in equal portions, held of the same Robert Chalons , service unknown.

Annery , 2 messuages, worth nothing yearly, and 2 ferlings, worth 12s. yearly, held of William Boteler in free socage.

Whiddon, 40 a. arable, worth 10s. yearly, held of John Cokeworthy , service unknown.

Shestrygge, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, and a carucate, worth 20s. yearly, held of John Cadia , service unknown.

Clifford Barton, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, a carucate, worth 24s. yearly, and 30s. rent, held of Robert Lytelton , service unknown.

Bewsley, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, and a ferling, worth 13s. 4d. yearly, held of John Spenser , service unknown.

Poughill, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, 3 ferlings, worth 12s. yearly, and 8s. rent, held of Robert Ackelane , service unknown.

Braundsworthy, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, and a ferling, worth 10s. yearly, held of William Danyll , service unknown.

Stadson, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, and a ferling, worth 10s. yearly, held of Nicholas Wamford , service unknown.

Hankford and Haytown, 2 messuages, worth nothing yearly, and a carucate and a ferling, worth 30s. yearly, held of William Esturmy, chevalier , service unknown.

Thorne, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, and a ferling, worth 10s. yearly, held of Walter Pollard , service unknown.

Eastacott, Muckworthy, ?Bower and Bibbear, 3 messuages and 2 tofts, together worth nothing yearly, 5 ferlings, worth 53s. 4d. yearly, and 8 a. wood, its pasture worth 4d. yearly, held of the prior of Frithelstock , service unknown.

Newland, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, and 2 ferlings, worth 26s. 8d. yearly, held of John Hankeford , service unknown.

Patchacott, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, and 3 ferlings, worth 30s. yearly, held of William Hydon , service unknown.

Bulkworthy, 8 a. arable called ‘Furslond’, held of the abbot of Torre , by service of 3s. rent yearly.

Rashleigh Barton, 10 marks rent at Michaelmas from 17 messuages, 7 carucates, 40 a. meadow, 60 a. wood and 60 a. gorse and heath.

He held the following in his demesne as of fee jointly enfeoffed with John Dabernonn , who survives, by... of Oliver son of William de Cernyngton to William and John and to Christine late wife of William, Henry Foleford , John Hankeford , all now deceased, their heirs and assigns.

Upcott, Halse and Bideford, 2 messuages, worth nothing yearly, a carucate, worth 26s. 8d. yearly, and 20s. rent from free tenants at the four annual terms as at Yarnscombe above, of William Greynevyll , service unknown.

West Heanton, 3 messuages, worth nothing yearly, and 3 ferlings, worth 20s. yearly, of the abbot of Tavistock , service unknown.

Peters Marland, 2 messuages, worth nothing yearly, and 2 ferlings, worth 20s. yearly, of Nicholas Spectote , service unknown.

He held the following by curtesy of the inheritance of Richard Hankeford , kinsman and heir of Christine his late wife, as son of Richard her son.

?North or South Molton, a toft and 4 ferlings, of Robert Corun , service unknown, annual value 30s.

Virworthy and Lutson, 6 messuages, worth nothing yearly, 9 ferlings, worth 60s. yearly, and 8s. rent at the four principal annual terms in equal portions, of William Palton, chevalier , service unknown.

He held the following jointly enfeoffed with William Clerke , who survives, by gift of Robert Kirkham to them and Richard Hankeford and Henry Foleford , both now deceased, and their heirs.

Ashcombe, the manor, of Edward de la Pomeray , service unknown. In the manor there are the capital messuage, worth nothing yearly; 80 a. arable, worth 45s. yearly; and £6 assize rents at the four principal annual terms in equal portions.

Ringmore, the manor, of William le Goche, a minor in the king’s wardship. In the manor there are the capital messuage, worth nothing yearly; 200 a. arable, worth 100s. yearly; and 58s. assize rents as above in equal portions.

Rixdale, a messuage, worth nothing yearly, and a ferling, worth 13s. 4d. yearly, of the bishop of Exeter , service unknown.

White Cross and Peamore, 30s. rent at Michaelmas from 4 messuages and 4 ferlings.

He held in his demesne as of fee 1/2 knight’s fee in Mullacott of Walter Pollard , annual value when it falls 50s.

Date of death as in 313. Richard Hankeford is his kinsman and next heir as the son of Richard his son, and kinsman and heir of Christine, his late wife, as son of Richard her son, and is aged 27 years and more.

Note: This is the entire reason people list William as Richard’s father which is untrue. Christine is named in the IPM as a life-tenant, not as an ancestor. References to Richard II as her heir describe legal succession under a prior settlement, not biological descent. Her age relative to Richard I is therefore irrelevant, and William Hankeford was not Richard II’s father and Christine was not his mother.

U.S. President [L.B. JOHNSON]'s 18-Great Grandfather. HRH Charles's 18-Great Grandfather. PM Churchill's 17-Great Grandfather. Lady Diana's 17-Great Grandfather. PM Cameron's 18-Great Grandfather. HRH Albert II's 20-Great Grandfather. Philippe of Belgium's 20-Great Grandfather. Poss. `Osawatomie' Brown's 14-Great Grandfather. Poss. Jamie's 19-Great Grandfather.

NOTE: This entry reflects a secondary-source error. The listing of Richard Hankeford as the child of William and Christine arises from a misreading of Inquisitions Post Mortem, where Richard is named as Christine’s “heir” in a legal sense under prior settlement, not as her biological son. Christine was a life-tenant, not an ancestor. There is no evidence that Christine was Richard’s mother, and William Hankeford was not Richard’s father.

Sir William Hankford [c. 1350 – 1423], also written Hankeford, of Annery in Devon, was an English lawyer who acted as Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1413 until 1423.[2]

Born about 1350, he came from a minor gentry family who took their name from their estate of Hankford, near Bulkworthy in the Devon parish of Buckland Brewer. The names of his parents are unknown, and he had a younger brother named John who died before him.[2]

Educated at the Middle Temple and then practising law, from 1388 he was retained as counsel by the Earl of Devon. Appointed a serjeant-at-law in that year, he was raised to king's serjeant in 1389. In addition to pleading in the central courts at London, he acted as a royal judge in many provincial courts around southern England. In 1394 he accompanied King Richard II to Ireland,[2] where he apparently served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland from 1395 to 1396.[3]

In 1398 he was one of the judges asked by Richard II to pronounce on the validity of the opinions given in 1387 by the judges who decided that the actions of the Lords Appellant were unlawful and treasonable. He declared that the responses were sound and loyal and that he would have given the same answers himself.[2][4][5] Shortly after, he was appointed to succeed his friend Sir John Wadham as Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.[2][6]

When King Henry IV replaced Richard II in 1399, he reappointed Hankford to the bench and at his coronation made him a Knight of the Bath.[2][7] In the following years he was active as a judge and royal commissioner, at times also attending Parliament and the Privy Council. On the accession of King Henry V in 1413, he replaced Sir William Gascoigne as Chief Justice of the King's Bench, an appointment that was renewed under King Henry VI in 1422.[2]

He died on 12 December 1423 and was buried in Monkleigh church, which he had largely rebuilt, where his ornate Easter Sepulchre monument survives in the south wall of the Annery Chapel. A legend claims that he had ordered his gamekeeper to shoot intruders on sight and that, wandering in his woods at night, he was shot dead. As the same tale is told of another Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Sir Robert Danby who died 51 years later in 1474, it seems improbable that two heads of the English judiciary should die in the same unusual way in the same century. In his will made two days before his death, in addition to family bequests [including provision for the education of two illegitimate grandsons], he left generous sums to churches, charities, and religious foundations in North Devon. Sir William Cheyne, his successor as Chief Justice, was one of his executors.[2]

By 1380 he had married Christine, who died before him and whose parents are unknown. Their son was:

Richard Hankford [died 1419],[2] twice MP for Devon, who with his wife Thomasine Stapleton was father of:[8] <<<< False - Richard was William’s uncle.

Sir Richard Hankford [died 1431], who became his grandfather's heir in 1423.[2][9] <<<< False - Richard was William’s uncle.

>>>>[BELOW LISTS RICHARD I’s WIFE AS “JANE” WITHOUT CITATION. NO PRIMARY SOURCE FOUND.]

Jane Hankford [died 1448], who married, as his second wife, Sir Robert Cary [died about 1431].[10][11] Having no children from this marriage, in 1433 she then married Sir Theobald Gorges [died 1470] and had three children with him.[12][13]

William Hawkins / Hankeford

Personal and Family Information

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Attributes

Notes

Note 1