The following is a chapter of an unpublished manuscript of a History of Aston Clinton, England written by Mr. A. J. Copps.
Mr. Copps was a retired schoolmaster who lived with his wife Margaret at "Little Croft", 29 New Road, Aston Clinton. He was an ardent gardener, and amateur cabinet maker who was greatly interested in the affairs of St. Michael & All Angels Church of Aston Clinton and was its lay reader. A history of the Church written by him has been published by the Church Publishers of Ramsgate.
According to the late Mr. A. Vere Woodman, P.S.A. of Wing, Buckinghamshire, who was a descendant of the Baldwin family and responsible for much research in connection with its history; evidence almost entirely circumstantial, based solely upon the continuous recurrence of the name in the records enabled him to develop a possible table of lineage. The successive generations have been numbered without assuming that they are, in every instance, father and son. It is however certain that they are either direct or collateral ancestors of Richard Baldwin of Dundridge.
A Chesham charter, dating about the middle of the 13th century mentions a John Baldwin as an adjoining landowner.
(Cartulary of Missenden Abbey, Part II, No. 2 93.)
By an agreement made on 29th October 1301 between Matthew, Abbot of Missenden and William, the son of John Baldewyne of Chesham, the Abbot granted to the said William and his heirs, all the lands, etc. to hold by rent of three shillings per annum.
In 1314, William was fined six pence for a trespass in the Lord's corn. (Ibid., No. 305)
In 1330, both were fined one penny each for not being present at the court in their tithing.
In 1335, William, a free tenant, was fined three pence for default of suit of Court, and again in 1337.
In 1341, Thomas was fined three pence for default.
In 1350, John de Longe was essoined by a Richard Baldewyne.
1354 to 1367 he held the office of Parish Constable.
1368 to 1377 he was a tithing man, i.e., a tithe collector.
1379 - Richard Baldewyne was chosen constable instead of John Smyth, which office he held until 1384 at least. (The date makes it unlikely that he is identical with the earlier Richard).
To the Court held 7th October 1409 came John Baldewyne kinsman of Isabel Blakewell, to claim an inheritance. He was probably come of age and his mother had remarried to John Blakewell, but he was heir to the tenancy to which his claim was upheld by law. He had died before Easter 1442, when his heir was fined two pence for default.
He was sworn to the tithing in 1421 at the age of 12, per custom. So it can be assumed that he was born in 1409.
His death must have been about 1483, when a Will (now missing) of a John Baldewyne was proved.
First date of mention - 1482, when he became custodian or guardian of a John Webb aged 15 years.
He appears as a juror in 1485 and 1503.
His death must have occurred before 1524 when his son Robert had leased land at Dundridge.
He was the first Baldwin associated with Dundridge and begins part 2 of this chapter.
Footnotes | |
Baldwin | The name Baldwin appears spelled several different ways in existing old registers. The most common forms were Baldwyne, Baldeweyne and Baldwin. |
Missenden Abbey | Missenden Abbey is located about a mile from Wendover on the London Road.
It has been converted into a dwelling and is now used for Bucks County
Extension Education. English Abbeys were originally constructed to accommodate Monks of one Order or another. Usually they were situated in beauty spots, sylvan in type, with a stream to supply Friday fish. A farmstead was part of the estate for a Monastery was a halt place for Kings and Nobles in moving about the kingdom. The Abbeys not only accommodated the Hierarchy, the poor were also assisted, and travelers considered them as hotels. The difference though between the Lords and Commons was shown chiefly at table, feasting on venison, goose, swan, lark etc. while the lower orders would sit on benches at the long refectory table running the length of the hall and take "potluck". The Abbot kept a "daybook" which recorded the happenings, mostly business of the Abbey. It was called the Cartulary. |
Tithing | When the Anglo-Saxons became Christians, the Lords or Thanes were obliged to provide a church and priest for their demesnes or estates. Then the Lord of the Manor would have to appoint a Rector - some squire or man of education, not necessarily a priest - to manage church affairs. This person, the Rector, might appoint a vicar, who would live in some cell in the church and be available for spiritual instruction and priestly services. The Rector would collect tithes in cash or kind which would represent a tenth of the produce from which he was obliged to make provision for the needs of the church. |
Default | If a freeman neglected the Summons to the Court, he was fined. He may have had any of the reasons given by jurymen of today. |
Essoined | Selected Freemen would be called upon by the Knight of the area to attend the Lord of the Manor's Court to try offenders in his jurisdiction, for it was the law that offenders should be tried by their peers, or equals in society. The Serfs were treated as cattle having no rights and dealt with summarily. |