FIENNES, James (exec.1450), of Hever and Knole, Kent.

Family and Education

yr. s. of Sir William Fiennes (1357-1402) of Herstmonceux, Suss. by Elizabeth, da. and coh. of William Battisford of Wartling and Margery, da. and h. of Simon Peplesham of Pebsham; yr. bro. of Sir Roger*. m. Emmeline (d. 5 Jan. 1452), 2s. ?5da. (2 d.v.p.). Lambeth Pal. Lib., Reg. Stafford, f. 191. The ped. in Archaeologia Cantiana, xxviii. 24 gives his w. Emmeline’s surname as Walsingham, so it might be supposed that she was a da. of Thomas Walsingham† (d.1457) of London and Scadbury in Chislehurst, Kent. However, in the testamentary arrangements which the vintner Walsingham made in 1448, 1451 and 1457, he referred only to one da. (Philippa, wife of Thomas Ballard esq.), and made no mention of any Fiennes grandchildren: PCC 8 Stokton (PROB11/4, f. 61); The Commons 1386-1421, iv. 758-60. There seems to be no independent evidence that Fiennes married a daughter of ‘Cromer of Willingham, Suff.’: CP, xi. 481. Dist. Oxon. 1439. He was exonerated from the fine on 13 Oct. 1439, together with three other esquires for the King’s body: E159/216, brevia Mich. rot. 26. Kntd. bef. 27 Sept. 1444; CPR, 1441-6, p. 296. cr. Lord Saye and Sele on or bef. 24 Feb. 1447; CPR, 1446-52, p. 87. summ . 3 Mar. 1447, CCR, 1441-7, p. 466. 1449 (Feb.), 1449 (Nov.).

Offices Held

Attestor parlty. election, Kent 1435.

Capt. of Arques and bailli of Caux, Normandy 1418; A.E. Curry, ‘Military Organization in Lancastrian Normandy’ (Council for National Academic Awards Ph.D. thesis, 1985), p. xlvi. lt. of Caudebec 20 Feb.-18 Aug. 1421; DKR, xlviii. 406, 433; Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, fr. 25766/798. capt. of Torcy 1 Oct. 1422–3, Bibliothèque Nationale, fr. 25767/11, 38; nouv. acq. fr. 1482/16. St. Valery by Apr. 1423-June 1424, Ibid. fr. 25767/19, 32; 25771/811; pièces originales 1123 de Fenis 3; 3050 Wideville 11. Evreux, 29 Sept. 1430-May 1431; Ibid. fr. 25769/567; nouv. acq. fr. 3654/304; Evreux, Archives Départementales, Evreux 11F4069. capt. of Carentan by Mar. 1445–16 Aug. 1449; V. Hunger, Quelques Actes Normands, i. 92; Letters and Pprs. Illust. Wars of English ed. Stevenson, ii (2), 625–6. It was surrendered by his lieutenants. Neufchâtel-en-Bray 17 Aug. 1446-aft. Jan. 1447. Curry, p. cvi.

Commr. of array, Normandy May, Oct. 1421, Mar. 1422, DKR, xlviii. 427, 433, 438. Kent Dec. 1436, Mar. 1443; arrest, Kent, Suss. July 1435; to take musters, Kent July 1436; distribute tax allowance Mar. 1440, Mar. 1442, June 1445, July 1446; keep the temporalities of the priory of Holy Trinity, London June 1445; administer the goods of Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, Mar. 1447; of oyer and terminer, Kent June 1447; KB9/255/2/6. to treat for loans Sept. 1449.

Groom of the Chamber by Feb. 1430–1438; esquire for the King’s body by 24 May 1438-c. Sept. 1444; E403/693, m. 16; 695, m. 4; E159/214, brevia Easter rot. 20d. knight for the King’s body c. Sept. 1444 – Feb. 1447.

J.p. Kent 24 Nov. 1433 – d.

Sheriff, Kent 8 Nov. 1436 – 7 Nov. 1437, Surr. and Suss. 3 Nov. 1438 – 5 Nov. 1439.

Jt. constable of duchy of Lancaster castle of Hertford 8 Apr. 1438 – d.; steward of the duchy honour of the Eagle and lordship of Pevensey, Suss. 29 Sept. 1440 – 8 May 1444; chief steward of the duchy in Suss. 8 May 1444 – d.; constable of the duchy castle of Pevensey and master forester of Ashdown forest, Suss. 26 June 1446–d. R. Somerville, Duchy i. 604, 615–16.

Constable of Rochester castle, Kent 27 Mar. 1442–9 Feb. 1443, CPR, 1441–6, pp. 83, 169. Dover castle 24 Feb. 1447–d., CPR, 1446–52, p. 87. Tower of London during the minority of Henry Holand, duke of Exeter, 7 Aug. 1447–?d. CPR, 1446–52, p. 84.

Bailiff of Otford, Kent, and Uckfield, Suss., during the vacancy of the see of Canterbury 24 Apr.-c. June 1443; Abp. Stafford’s bailiff of the same Sept. 1443–d. CPR, 1441–6, p. 160; Literae Cantuarienses ed. Sheppard, iii. 182.

Alnager, Northants. and Rutland 9 Oct. 1444–d. CFR, xvii. 306–7.

Steward of the estates of Henry, duke of Warwick, in Kent and Suss. 1445 – 11 June 1446; same during the minority of Anne, countess of Warwick, 11 June 1446–3 Jan. 1449; CPR, 1441–6, p. 445. holder of their hereditary shrievalty of Worcs. 12 June 1446–5 June 1449. E159/223, brevia Mich. rot. 18d.

Chamberlain of Queen Margaret’s household bef. Mich. 1446–3 Mar. 1447, E101/409/14. of the King’s household bef. 9 Mar. 1447–d. CCR, 1447–54, p. 223; C53/189, no. 136.

Warden of the Cinque Ports 24 Feb. 1447 – d.

Member of Hen. VI’s council Mar. 1447–d. R. Virgoe, E. Anglian Soc. ed. Barron, Rawcliffe and Rosenthal, 277–8.

Treasurer of England 16 Sept. 1449 – 22 June 1450.

Parlimentarian

FIENNES, James (exec.1450), of Hever and Knole, Kent.

Main residences: Hever; Knole, Kent.

Author

D.I.G.

Volume

Commons 1422-1461

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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