Family name also spelled GYFFARD.
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In 1328, John Gifford the Younger was named as heir in the Inquisition taken following the death of maternal grandfather Thomas Gardinis, knight, then aged about 27 years. He inherited large estates, namely, the manorial estates at Somerton and Fringsford and the Coggs lands in Oxfordshire, which, with the messuage at Leisdon, co. Kent, came down from the Arsic family, and the manor of Ixning, which came from the De la Haye family.
13 May 1328
Order to the escheator on this side Trent to deliver to John Giffard the younger of Twyford, son of Alexandria daughter of Thomas de Gardinis, and kinsman and heir of the said Thomas, the lands late of the said Thomas, he having done homage. 1
His father died about 1330, and he inherited the Giffard lands. On 22 Jul 1334 he was styled Sir John Giffard, when he witnessed an enrollment grant.
On 26 Mar 1338 he was to array in co. Bucks 10 men at arms, 20 armed men and 40 archers for the French War. He was one of the knights who accompanied Edward III to France and he was in the King's division at the Battle of Crecy, 1346. In 1349, 1351 and 1361 he was commissioner of the peace in co. Bucks.; on 14 Mar 1360 he was one of the commissioners of array in co. Bucks for the French War and in 1368, with Reynold de Grey of Ruthyn, was again a commissioner of array.
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Inquisitions Ad Quod Damnum taken in Chancery in December 34 Edw. III (1360) 2 :
Inquisition taken at Hertaye (?) by Faversham, co. Kent, 29 December 34 Edward III.
The jurors say that it is not to the damage or prejudice of the King or others if the King grants to John Giffard permission to enfeoff Robert, parson of Somerton church, and Richard Mallet, chaplain with 5 marks rent in Leisdon, they to grant the same to Thomas, son of the said John, and Elizabeth de Musenden, and their issue, with remainder in default to the right heirs of John. The said rent is held of the King in chief by knight service, as parcel of the barony of Arsyk. No other lands, etc., remain to the said John in this county.
Inquisition taken at Ixning, co. Suffolk, 20 Dec, 34 Edward III.
It is likewise not to the prejudice, etc., if John Giffard, Chivaler, assign the manor of Ixning to the said feoffees to grant to the said Thomas and Elizabeth and their issue, etc., as above. John has no other lands, etc. in this county.
Inquisition taken at Oxford 23 Dec 34 Edward III.
It is likewise not to the prejudice, etc., if John Giffard assign to the same feoffees his manors of Somerton and Feringford, co. Oxon (Oxford), with 30s. rent in Cogges, co. Oxon, to grant the same manors to the said John and Lucy his wife, for the term of their lives, with remainder to their son Thomas and his issue, and, in default, to the right heirs of John, and the rent to Thomas and Elizabeth de Mussendon and their issue, which otherwise ought to revert to John, eldest son of the said John, by which the King ought to have the relief as it falls due. John has no other lands, etc., in the said county.
Inquisition taken at Dadyngton, co. Oxford, 4 January, 41 Edward III [1367/8]
The jurors say that it is not to the damage or prejudice of the King if he grants to John Gifford permission to enfeoff Thomas Giffard and Margery his wife with 2 carucates of land in Feryngford and the moiety of the manor of Feringford and the advowson of that church held of the king in chief to hold to the said Thomas and Margery and their heirs. The said premises are held of the King in chief by the twelfth part of a knight's fee. The said John, beyond the premises so assigned, holds the moiety of the manor of Somerton and the advowson of that church of the King in chief, and the same are worth 22 marks a year.
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Inquisition Post Mortem 3
Inquisition taken at Banbury [co. Oxon] 11 Mar, 43 Edward III [1368/9].
The jurors say that John Giffard, the day he died, held nothing of the King in chief, but held the manor of Somerton and the advowson of the church of the said manor for the term of his life by feoffment of Robert, parson of Somerton church, and Richard Malet, chaplain, by homage of the King, with remainder to Thomas, son of the said John, and his issue. He also held a certain rent issuing from 5 messuages and 5 virgates of land in the vill of Bekebruk of Roger Cheyne by the service of a twentieth part of a knight's fee, with remainder to Thomas and his issue. He also held 1 messuage, 80 acres of arable land, 4-1/2 acres of meadow, and 30s. annual rent in Newinton Ewelme for life of Sir John de Seyton, Chivaler, in chief by knight service, with remainder to Thomas and his issue.
The said John died on Sunday next after the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (25 Jan), 43 Edward III [1368/9], and Thomas is his son and heir, aged twenty-five years and more.
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