John St Leger (died 1441)

Rubbing of monumental brass of John St Leger (d.1441), All Saints Church, Ulcombe

Arms of St Leger: Azure fretty argent, a chief or ^[1]

John St Leger (died 1441) of Ulcombe, Kent, was Sheriff of Kent in 1430.^[2] He was an early member of the prominent St Leger family.

Family

He was a son of Arnold St Leger, of Ulcombe, MP for Kent.^[3]

Arms of Donet: Argent, three pairs of barnacles gules tied sable. As seen on the Garter stall plate of his great-grandson Sir Anthony St Leger (d.1559), KG

He married Margery Donet, daughter and heiress of James Donet (d.1409) of Silham in the parish of Rainham, Kent, by whom he had progeny including:

Children

• Ralph I St Leger (died 1470) (alias Randolf, etc.), eldest son and heir, of Ulcombe, Sheriff of Kent in 1467/8^[4] and Constable of Leeds Castle^[5] in Kent, grandfather of Sir Anthony St Leger (d.1559), KG, Lord Deputy of Ireland and ancestor of the St Ledger Viscounts Doneraile.^[6]
• Sir Thomas St Leger (c.1440-1483) second husband of Anne of York (1439-1476), daughter of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York (by his wife Cecily Neville) and thus an elder sister of Kings Edward IV (1461-1483) and Richard III (1483-1485). He was grandfather to Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland.

Monumental brass of Sir James St Leger (c.1441-post 1509), of Annery, in the Annery Chapel of Monkleigh Church

• Sir James St Leger (c.1441-1509), of Annery in Devon, who married Anne Butler, a daughter of Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond, great-aunt of Queen Anne Boleyn and heiress of Annery. His small inscribed monumental brass survives in the Annery Chapel of Monkleigh Church, inscribed as follows: Orate pro a(n)i(m)a Jacobie Seyntleg(er)b Armig(eri) qui obiit viii⁰ die me(n)sis Februarii Anno D(o)m(ino) MCCCCC⁰ IX⁰ cui(us) a(n)i(mae) p(rop)iciet(ur) De(us) Amen ("Pray ye for the soul of James St Ledger, Esquire, who died on the 8th day of the month of February in the year of Our Lord 1500th and 9th of whose soul may God look upon with favour Amen"). Below is a very worn brass of an escutcheon showing the arms of St Ledger. His grandson was Sir John St Leger (died 1596) of Annery, Sheriff of Devon in 1560, Member of Parliament.^[7]
• Bartholomew St. Leger, mentioned in his father's will,^[8] "I will they enfeoff Bartholomew my son when 21 or at marriage of and in the manors of Eylnothynighton and Eylnothyng-tonesdowne with appurtenances and in one tenement called Pendecourte with appurtenances in Holingborne and in all other lands and tenements in Holyngbourne to him and his heirs males". He was one of the leading rebels included in Lord Scrope's indictment at Great Torrington, November 1483,^[9] Scrope having been given a commission by King Richard III to hold a sessions in Devon to examine the loyalty of the gentlemen of Devon to the crown, as opposed to his rival the Earl of Richmond, the future King Henry VII. At this court many of the gentry of Devon were indicted of high treason, many fled to Brittany to join the Earl, but two were captured and beheaded in Exeter, namely Thomas St Leger and Sir John Kame.^[10] He married (secondly?) Blanche Bourchier (d.1483),^[11] of whom a stone effigy exists in Shirwell Church, Devon, widow of Philip Beaumont (1432-1473) of Shirwell in North Devon and of Gittisham in East Devon, a Member of Parliament for a constituency in Devon and Sheriff of Devon in 1469,^[12] and a daughter of William Bourchier, 9th Baron FitzWarin (1407-1470) of Tawstock, feudal baron of Bampton and heir to a moiety of the feudal barony of Barnstaple, both in Devon.^[13] One of the daughters and co-heiresses of Bartholomew St Leger was Margaret St Leger, 1st wife of John III Copleston (1475-1550), "The Great Copleston",^[14] of Copleston, Devon.
• Margaret St Leger, wife of John de Clinton, 5th Baron Clinton of Maxstoke.

Death & burial

He died in 1441 and was buried in the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr in the parish church of Ulcumbe, as he requested in his will. A fragment of his monumental brass survives in Ulcomb Church, now displayed as a mural in the north aisle. The inscription is lost, but is said to have been: Here lyeth John Seintleger Esquyer, and Margerie his wyfe, sole daughter and heir of James Donnett ... 1442.^[15] A rubbing showing the date 1442 survives in the collection of the Society of Antiquaries.^[16]

Will

His Latin will dated 12 December 1441 survives in the records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, translated into English as follows:^[17] JOHN SEYNTLEGER, Esquire. 12 December 1441. To be buried in the church of Vlcumbe (Ulcombe) in the chapel of St. Thomas the martyr. To the high altar 20s. To the fabric (fabrice) of the church of Vlcumbe in places needing it 66s. 8d. I leave for 1000 masses to be celebrated within a month after my death for each mass 4d. I leave for six poor men of my tenants each week from the day of my death to the end of seven years, each week 4d. I leave to Philip Aiolmer 40s. and two cows, to Margery wife of John Boycote 40s. and one cow. To William of the kitchen 13s. 4d. I leave for two cows to sustain the lights of St. Christofer in the church of Holyngbourne 20s. I leave to Margery my wife all the contents (apparatum) of my Great Chambers at Vlcumbe with three of the best pair of sheets one ‘bed schete’ and four ‘pylewes’, my best covered bowl (crater) of silver, 12 silver spoons, and one silver salt covered, a plain silver bowl with cover. To Ralph my son all the contents of my chamber called ‘Stanechambr’ with two pairs of sheets, one ‘hedschete’ and two ‘pylewes’, a silver gilt bowl with cover, a silver salt covered, a silver pot, 12 silver spoons, and a ‘pouderbox’ silver and gilt, after the death of Margery my wife. To Thomas my son a white bed one linen cloth with one white ‘quilte’, a feather bed, a pair of ‘Blanketts’, with two pairs of sheets, a ‘hedschete’ and two ‘pilwes’, and a silver bowl plain with cover. I leave the residue of the utensils in my house amongst my sons. To Thomas Cook 20s, William Caleys 13s. 4d., John Chiwolle 20s, William Potynden 20s and a cow, John William 20s, Henry Coll 13s. 4d, and William Gryseley 6s. 8d. per an. for his life. To Richard my son two silver basins with two silver ewers. I will that the three hundred marcs assigned to Florence, Margaret and Alice my daughters in my will if they die before marriage shall be given: to the church of Holyngborne (Hollingbourne) 10 marcs, the church of Vlcombe 10 marcs, the church of Plukle 66s. 8d, to a priest to celebrate in the church of Vlcombe in the chapel of St. Thomas for 4 years, 40 marcs. To the muddy way between Kyngesnothis wode and the manor house of Vlcombe in places most needing it 10 marcs. To the fabric of the church of Lenham 40s. To the muddy way between Lenhamesforstall and the town of Lenham 40s. To the Prioress and Canonesses of Chepeye 10 marcs. To the Minister and Brethren of the Holy Trinity of Modynden 10 mrcs, and what remains of the 300 marcs between my sons. Residue to Margery my wife. Executors: John Horne, esquire and Lawrence Meller. I leave to Ralph my son when 21 six silver bowls with one cover "de six mensibus annod" (?). Last will of all my lands and tenements 12 December 20 Henry VI. I will that my feoffees enfeoff Ralph my son when he comes to the full age of 21 or is married in the manor of Vlcombe with the advowson of the church of the same manor and all lands and tenements in Vlcombe with nine acres of meadow in Hedecrone and all the tenement with appurts: called Mapilherste in the parish of Frythyngden or Stapylherst and a tenement called Storeye in the parish of Lenham and Bocton Malherbe to him and his heirs males. And for default to James my son and for default to Bartholomew my son and for default to remain to Margery my wife for her life and after her death to my right heirs. I will they also enfoeff Ralph my son when 21 of and in a tenement called Ridden in the parishes of Lenham and Bocton Malherbe. I will they enfeoff Thomas my son when 21 or is married in the reversion of all lands and tenements called Rotynge in the parish of Plukle after the death of Margery my wife and in a tenement called Parys in the parish of Litle Charte. If he die without heirs males to remain to [in order] Ralph, then Hames, then Bartholomew and in default to my right heirs. Also I will they enfeoff the said Thomas when 21 in all my lands and tenements in the City of London. I will my feoffees enfeoff James my son when 21 or at marriage of and in the reversion of the Manor of Silham with appurts. in Regnham, after the death of Margery my wife. If he die without heirs males then [in order] to Ralph, Thomas, Bartholomew and for default to remain to Florence, Margaret and Alice my daughters and their heirs, and for default to remain to John Horne esquire his heirs and assigns. I will they enfeoff Bartholomew my son when 21 or at marriage of and in the manors of Eylnothy Nighton and Eylnothyng Tonesdowne with appurts. and in one tenement called Pendecourte with appurto: in Holingborne and in all other lands and tenements in Holyngbourne to him and his heirs males. And for default [in order] to Ralph, Thomas, and James, and in default to my right heirs. I will that my feoffes dower the said Margery my wife of and in all lands of which she according to the Law of England is dowered, and that the said feoffees take all the profits in to their hands until a sum of 300 marcs is received for Florence, Margaret and Alice my daughters to receive when 16 years of age for their marriages: of the lands re. in Frytynden and Staphyherst 10 marcs, of the manor of Silhame 66s 8d, of lands etc. in the City of London 10 mrcs, until the said 300 mrcs is fully levied and the residue of outgoings for the sustentation and governance of my sons and daughters in an honest manner until they are married. If they all die before they come to full age then I wish the lands re. in London the tenement called Rydden in the parish of Lenham and Bocton Malherbe and certain lands etc. by me the said John Seyntleger purchased, to be sold and the money distributed for my soul, Thomas Seyntleger my uncle, my parents, friends and all faithful departed".

Sources

• Hasted, Edward, History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 5, 1798, pp.385-396, Manor of Ulcombe
• Catherine Stanhope (Duchess of Cleveland),The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages, 3 vols., London, 1889, "Sent Legere"
• St. LEGER (Sir)3 www.tudorplace.com, pedigree of St Leger family
• Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G., ed. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. III (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. pp. 216–17, 481. ISBN 144996639X. 
• Robertson, Herbert (1893–95). Stemmata Robertson et Durdin. London: Mitchell and Hughes. pp. 70–1. ISBN 978 1 84383 614 8. Retrieved 29 July 2013. 

References