The Wool Merchants of Deddington. 1
John Billing of Middleton Malsor and Aylesbury.
' It is not known if John Billing became a wool merchant. In 1470, following the death in 1469 of John's eldest brother Thomas, [their father] Sir Thomas Billing was sueing for the dower of Margery Fitz Ellis. If he was successful, and this is unknown, he may then have paid the necessary tax to Edward IV for his younger son, John, to hold a licence as a wool merchant. This is pure speculation yet it does approximately tally with the first known reference to John which is in 1472 when he was aged about 40.'
' The connection with Middleton Malsor is at the same time both puzzling and yet illuminating: the first reference of 1472 is found in a Close Roll, that is a restricted document — one not for general viewing:
6 Jul 12 Edward IV (1472).
Thomas Wake esquire, to Thomas Billynge chief justice of the king's Bench, Thomas Urswyke knight, chief baron of the exchequer, John Nedeham knight, justice of the king's Bench, Humphrey Sterky, Recorder of the city of London, and John Billynge, their heirs and assigns. Gift by charter with warranty of the manors of Midelton and Colentre co. Northampton, Wadebarrow and Commerton, co. Worcester, Wykewane co. Gloucester, and Tedcote, Larkebere and Pyke manors, co. Devon, to be held by the above Thomas Billynge etc. in capital demesne as of fee etc. Witnesses: Thomas Fullford knight, John Catesby serjeant at law, John Hacche, John Dyve, Thomas Throckmerton, Thomas Lygon, John Fortescu....
Here is a fine array of top brass: Sir Thomas Billing, his opposite numbers from the other courts at Westminster, and other notable lawyers. That much is clear: what it was, and why it was so secret, is less clear. Before we attempt to find an explanation, another closed (sealed) document of a much later date, 1504, should be described. In this, John Billing, who by now scarcely needs proof of his connection with Sir Thomas Billing, is described as "John Billing of Middleton (Malsor)."
2 May 19 Henry VII (1504)
John Billyng of Middleton beside Colyntre co. Northampton, "hosbandman," to Sir Richard Emson knight, his heirs and assigns. Indenture witnessing sale for £7 (of which he acknowledges receipt of 40s.) of a "mese" (messuage) and 30 acres land and meadow in Wotton (Wooton) and all his other lands in Wotton and Quynton co. Northampton; estate to be made evidences delivered by Michaelmas next. Sealed [on the above date]
These private instructions of the king by letters close in 1472, and the imposing ranks of top lawyers to carry out his orders, clearly herald something significant. For many years this was not clearly understood. Apparently Thomas Wake, lord of the manors in Blisworth and Middleton Malsor, sheriff of Northamptonshire and gentleman of the privy chamber, was in grave trouble, having the freehold of his manors taken away and apportioned to the justices....
.... But what does this have to do with John Billing, son of the judge? We cannot give an exact answer but the removal of Thomas Wake's seisin led to John Billing becoming established at Middleton Malsor in 1472....
By 1504 John Billing is recorded as "of Middleton by Collingtree"....
Still it is not yet apparent whether John Billing became a wool merchant. The next extract at least establishes him in the right county — Oxfordshire. Again in 1504:
10 Feb 19 Henry VII (1503/4):
William Aston of Somerton, esquire, to William Fermour of Witney, gentleman, his heirs and assigns. Indenture witnessing sale for £286 13s. 4d. (of which he acknowledges receipt of £200) of his manor of Somerton called "Giffordes maner" with the advowson of Somerton church, "a mease with iiij yerd lond therto perteyning called Somertons" and another with ½ yard-land called "Astons Place" in Somerton, with all the lands etc. whereof he or Isabel his wife is seised in Somerton, Dunstewe, Frittewell, Fewcote and Tusmer co. Oxford or elsewhere; estate to be made before the Ascension to Richard and William Eryngton, John Billyng, Edmund Hobell, Richard Fermoure, William Bulcombe and Edward Cope gentlemen, and Richard Wenman, to the use of William and Isabel Aston or the longer liver for life and thereafter of William Fermor, his heirs and assigns.
We have not arrived at Deddington yet but the villages named above are located all around that town. The manor in Somerton called "Giffordes" was, in 1429, held by Thomas Giffard, brother-in-law of Sir Thomas Billing, but sometime before 1437 William Aston, another brother-in-law of Katherine and Thomas Giffard..., acquired Twyford and both the Arsic moieties in Somerton. William Aston, whose family had held property in Somerton since at least 1327, conveyed Twyford back to Thomas Giffard, and Somerton to a group of feoffees which included Richard Fermour. Richard Fermour, son of Thomas Richards alias Fermour of Witney, a wealthy merchant of Welsh descent..., had married the widow of Henry Wenman, another wool merchant....
We know nothing of John Billing before 1472, nor between 1472 and 1489. But in that year it is found that John Bustard and John Billing purchased Blount's Manor, an estate in Deddington incorporating a tenement called Tankerville's, a clue to the original grand of ½ hide by Lucy de Chesney to Gillian de Tankerville..... It comprised of 5 messuages, 300 acres of arable, 16 acres of meadow, 50 acres of pasture and 2 acres of wood in Deddington, Clifton and Hempton.
We now have clear proof of John Billing's Deddington association and connections with other wool merchants but we have yet to find any indication that he, too, was involved in the wool trade. Nor is there any direct clue to be found in his will of 23 Aug 1510... the earliest-known will to survive in this particular Billing family [see below].
John Billing may never have been a wool merchant but a rich husbandman and tavern keeper. Agnes Billing's shop in Aylesbury was probably a retail outlet under the auspices of the Guild. John may have had no first-hand experience in the wool trade but his son, William, mentioned in his will, most certainly did.... However the 15th-century saw a start of a decline in the wool trade and this plummetted in the 16th-century in direct proportion to the rise in manufacture of woollen cloth....
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Abstract of the Will of John Billyng of the Parish of Aylesbury in the County of Northampton, written on the Eve of St. Bartholomew the Apostle [23 Aug] 1510, proved 22 Oct 1510. 2
(Names of family members are underlined.)
Wills that his body be buried in the parish church of Aylesbury.
Bequeaths to the mother church of Lincoln 12 pence.
Bequeaths to the high altar of the church of Aylesbury 6 shillings 8 pence.
Bequeaths to the Fraternity of our Lady of St. Mary the Virgin 40 shillings.
Bequeaths to the brotherhood of the Trinity of Deddington 20 shillings.
Gives to his wife Agnes all the stuff and wares in her shop and all the household stuff in the house in Aylesbury except half the plate which he gives to his son William.
Bequeaths £100 to his wife Agnes and wills that she shall have the house he dwells in except the tavern and the housing associated with it.
Bequeaths 10 marks to his servant Edyn Bassett, 40 shillings to his servant Margery Chalsons, 40 shillings to William Phelippes, 5 marks to Piers Buket, and 20 shillings to Richard Upston.
Bequeaths £20 toward the mending of the highway between Aylesbury church and the . . . . . . . toward Wendon.
Bequeaths 5 marks to the church of Deddington as well as 5 marks to the poor people there.
Bequeaths 5 marks to the church of Aylesbury as well as 5 marks to the poor people there.
Bequeaths £100 to be distributed in alms and deeds.
Bequeaths £10 each to Jane and Mary, the daughters of his son William.
Bequeaths 5 marks to Thomas Westhall, one of his executors, for his time in executing his will.
All the rest he gives and bequeaths to his son William.
Makes Thomas Westhall and William Billyng co-executors of his last will and testament.
Research Notes: