Joan (Radford) Prowse (abt. 1424)

Born about 1424 in Upcott and Poughill, Devon, England

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Sandford, Devon, England

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Biography

Joan Radford was the sister and heir of Nicholas Radford, a prominent lawyer with connections to many families in Devon. She was the daughter of Robert Radford about whom little is known. It should be noted that Pole calls the wife of Roger Prowse and sister of Nicholas Radford Joan in one entry and Thomazine in another.

Following the murder of her brother Nicholas in 1455, John Radford of Oakford was named the executor of his estate. During the proceedings John Radford gave his relationship to Nicholas as:

". . . that John Radford late of London, gent., cosyn to the said Nicholas R., that is to saie, son to John, son to John, son to John, son to William, father to Henry, father to Robert, father to the said Nicholas R. . . . "

This therefore identifies the father of Nicholas and Joan Radford as being a Robert Radford. Sir William Pole writing in 1621 gives two different names for the wife of Roger Prowse who was the sister of Nicholas Radford. Under the Upcott entry, Pole records “a controversy arose betwixt John Radford of Okeford, & Thomazin, sister of the said Nicholas Radford, Roger Prous her husband, & Nicholas Prous their Sonne, of th’on part, & John Radford of th’other part; unto whom the said Thomazin, Roger & Richard (sic) released their right”. Under the Poghill entry he wrote Ničas Radford, of Upcot, w<sup<ch/sup> dying w^thout iffue Jone his fifter maried unto ... Prous, of Prous, it descended unto Guy by the heire generall of Prous".^[1]

Descent of the Radford properties is very confused as many appear to held by John Radford of Oakford, but also later by the Prowse family and then by the Gye family. John Radford died in 1478, and his subsequent IPm actually recites the property held by Nicholas Radford:

Birth

Birth:

Date: ABT 1416

Place: Upcott & Poughill, Devonshire, England

Research Notes

Petition by John Radford as executor of NIcholas Radford seeking justice for his murder.^[2]

IPM of John Radford showing the lands held by Nicholas Radford

RADFORD, John, esq. 18 Edw.IV. [1478]

Chancery Inq. pm. File 67(41) Abstract.

m.1. Writ dated at Westminster 14 Dec. 18 Edw.IV [1478]

2. Devon. Delivered into court 5 May by Martin Ferys.

Inquistion taken at Exeter 21 April 19 Edw. IV [1479], before William Forterscu, eascheator; by the oath of Roberet Pomeray, John Holbeme, Edward Fokeray, esquires, John Aisshe, Edmund Yerde, William Smyth, William Dolbeare, John Raddon, Thomas Bernehous, John Esyngwold, Nicholas Clerke, John Belamy & Hugh Quyk: Who Say that Nicholas Radeford was seised of the manor of Poughill, held of the prior of St Nicholas, Exeter, by 20s rent & fealty; worth by the year, clear 30s:- 36 messuages, 1 mill, 1 dovecot, 27 carucates and 430 acres, and 30s rent in Cadelegh, Uppecote, Stokleghluccomb, Stoklegh Englissh, Wynkelegh Tracy, Westechadeldon & Witherugge; where of Cadelegh & Uppecote are held of William Courtenay, Knt., of his manor of Cadelegh, by knight's service; worth by the year, clear, 13s 4d; Stoklegh Luccomb held of Margaret late wife of William Seynt Jon, by fealty; worth &c 3s 4d; Stoklegh Englissh held of Thomas Dourissh of his manor of Stoklegh Englissh, by fealty & 5s rent; worth &c 5s; Wynkelegh Tracy, by knight's service; worth, &c, 5s; Weste Chadeldon held of William Caileway, by fealty, in free socage; worth &c, 6s 8d; Withrugge held of William Mountagu, in free burgage, by fealty & 1d rent; worth &c, 20d. A fine was levied Hilary 33 Hen VI [1454/5] between William Bonville, Knt, Nicholas Aissheton, James Chudlegh, esq, John Cheyne of Pynne, esq, Robert Wilfforde, esq, John Lyndon, clk, Thomas Dourissh, John Way, John Radforde named in the writ, & John Nitherton, plaintiffs, and the said Nicholas Radeford, deforciant. Nicholas acknowledged the premises to be the right of John Lyndon, as that which plaintiffs have of the gift of Nicholas, & quitclaimed the same to plaintiffs & the heirs of John Lyndon for ever. On 16 March 38 Hen. VI [1459/60] John Lyndon released his part in the same to John Radeforde & his heirs for ever. By deed dated 16 Oct 7 Edw. IV [1467] Thomas Dourissh granted his estate in Stoklegh Englissh to William Stapelhill, who is yet seised thereof. After the deaths of William Bonville, Nicholas Aissheton, James Chuddlegh & John Way, John Radeford remained seised of John Lyndon's part therein in his demesne as of fee & John Cheyny, Robert Wilfford, Thomas Dourissh, John Radeford & John Nitherton were seised of the residue in their demesne as of free tenement. By deed dated 14 Nov 13 Edw. IV [1473] the said John Cheyny, &c, demised to Joan daughter of Gilbert Yerde, esq, all their estate in 4 messuages & 3 carucates, parcel of the manor of Poughill, which Thomas Kympelond, Henry Hill, otherwise Southcomb, Richard Hunt & Robert Grendon severally hold there, for her life; she is yet seised thereof. Robert Wilfford & John Radeford afterwards died, & John Cheyny, Thomas Dourissh & John Nitherton survive & are seised of their estate as of free tenement.

John Radeford died 21 Nov 18 Edw. IV [1478] Humfry, son & heir, aged 5.

Fine showing some of the lands held by Nicholas Radford:

Hilary, 33 Henry VI. No. 270. " 24th January to 13th February, 1454-5.

"Fine between Sir William Bonevile, Knight, Nicholas Ayssheton, James Chudelegh, Esquire, John Cheyne of Pynne, Esquire, Robert Wyllesford, Esquire, John Lyndon, Clerk, Thomas Douryssh, John Waye, John Radeford, and John Nitherton, Plaintiffs, and Nicholas Radeford, De- forciant, concerning the Manors of Calwodelegh, Poughill, and Forde, with the appurt', and 40 messuages, one mill, one dovecote, 30 carucates of land, 40 acres of meadow, 300 acres of pasture, 40 acres of wood, 100 acres of furze and heath, and 30* of rent, with the appurtenances, in Cadelegh, Upcote, Stokleghluccombe " [Cheriton Fitzpaine parish], "Poughull, Calwodelegh, Suttonsachevyle, Forde, Parva-Stoklegh, Langlegh, Stokleghenglyssh, Wynkele- tracy, Westex, Uptonpyne, Westchadildon, Wytherigge, and Chalvele. Deforciant quitclaims the greater part of the premises to Plaintiffs, and to the heirs of John Lyndon, and grants to them the reversion of the remainder, viz., one messuage, two carucates of land, and 22* of rent in the towns of Suttonsachevyle, Forde, and Parva Stoklegh, which Thomas Page, otherwise called Thomas atte Forde, holds for term of his life of Deforciant's inheritance. Plaintiffs gave to Deforciant 400* sterling.**

Sources

1. ↑ Pole. Description of the County of Devon. (1791): page 219.
2. ↑ Discovery: The National Archives. SC 8/138/6864. " Petitioners: John Radford, executor of Nicholas Radford of Devon. Name(s): ..."

• Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries, volume 28. (1961)