Identity of Isabella (d. 1364), Mother of Margaret Danyers, Heiress of Clifton

Sir Peter Leycester (1614-1678) in his work Some Antiquities Touching
Cheshire Faithfully Collected out of Authentique Hiftories, Old Deeds, Records, and
Evidences (London, 1672) on pages 230 and 364 of Part IV identifies the
mother of Margaret (Danyers) Radcliffe-Savage-Legh (1348-1428) as Isabella
(Baggiley) Danyers, daughter of William Baggiley and Clemence Chedle. As far as I
know the 1364 IPM of "Isabella quae fuit ux' Thomae Danyers" only identifies
her deceased husband and her daughter "Margar' ux' Johis de Radclif." But in

mvernonconnolly...

OK, I thought I might as well post the section from the Rockcliff
article that fits between the Clemence de Molyneux and Margaret
Radcliffe extracts already quoted. Some slight inconsistencies with
dates become apparent.

[QUOTE] In July, 1348, Thomas Danyers was pardoned for having acquired
from Robert de Colvill, lord of Bitham, the manor of Aikton and some
200 acres at Burgh, held in chief "as it was said" (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 22
Edward III, p.112). John Denton remarks enigmatically (_Accompt_, edit.
Ferguson, p.72) that Isabella Danyers was "heir of Colvill".
An inquisition concerning the land of Thomas Danyers, otherwise
Daniel, made in February, 1349-50, shows that he held the manor of
Rockcliff, including a fishery in the Eden, jointly with Isabella, his
wife, *as of her inheritance* [italicised in the article- MVC]. They
held the premises of Margaret, widow of Ranulf de Dacre and Lady of the
barony of Burgh, by homage and service of 7s. 8 1/2d. yearly for
cornage and suit at her court of Burgh every three weeks. Thomas died
on the feast of St. Bartholomew (August 12th), 1349. Isabella survived
him, but had since died in another county, the jury did not know where.
The heir was their daughter, Margaret, aged 3 years and more (Cal. Inq.
p.m., 24 Edward III, p.175).
In April, 1350, wardship of land late of Thomas Danyers, knight, and
land late of the inheritance of Isabella, his wife, was granted by the
king to Thomas de Lucy; and the marriage of Margaret, the infant heir,
was given to John de Wynwyk, king's clerk (Cal. Fine Rolls, 24 Edward
III, p.234). [END QUOTE]

So, Isabella Danyers, whose IPM is dated 1364, was apparently dead in
1349/50? And Margaret, given as born in 1348, was aged "3 years and
more" in 1349/50, and proved her age in 1362. Just a few more variables
to add to the equation!

"Pedigrees From the Plea Rolls" in The Genealogist, n.s., 12:112 a different
father is given for Margaret. According to Chester Plea Roll, No. 72, 42-43
Edw. III the following pedigree was presented with an addendum from 44 Edw.
III:

1. Roger de Chedle married twice: to Joan and to Matilda. By Joan he was
the father of two daughters and co-heiresses:

1-A. Clemence de Chedle who married first to William de Baggelegh, and then
to John de Molyneux, Kt.

mvernonconnolly...

Dear Todd,
This couple comes into the article on the manor of Rockcliff,
Cumberland, by THB Graham, in Cumberland and Westmorland AAS Trans. NS
XXIV pp57-65. The mesne manor passed in some unknown way from the
family of le Fraunceys/Vernon of Haddon to Thomas and Isabella Danyers.
Here is a relevant part of the article:

[QUOTE]By final concord made in January, 1347-8, between Thomas
Danyers, chivaler, and Isabella, his wife, plaintiffs, and Henry de
Gretenhale, chaplain, deforciant, the plaintiffs acknowledged that they
had given "two parts of two parts" of the manor of Rockcliff to the
deforciant and, in consideration of that acknowledgement, the
deforciant, being present in court, restored the same two parts to the
plaintiffs, to be held by them and the heirs of their bodies of the
chief lords of the fee, by the service pertaining of those two parts.
And the deforciant further granted that the one-third part of the
manor, which Isabella widow of Richard de Vernon, chivaler, held in
dower; and the one-third part of the said two parts, which John de
Molyneux, chivaler, and Clementia, his wife, held in dower, of the
inheritance of the deforciant and his heirs, should remain, after such
respective deaths, to the plaintiffs and the heirs of their bodies, to
be held, together with the two parts which they acquired by the action,
of the chief lords of the fee, by the service pertaining to the said
one-third parts, respectively. And in case it should happen that Thomas
and Isabella should die without heir of their bodies, then, after their
deaths, the manor should remain to John, son of Thomas Danyers, and his
heirs (Feet of Fines, Cumberland, C.P.25, case 35, file 10, No.48).
Isabella, doweress of the entire manor, was the aged widow of
Richard de Vernon the elder. Clementia was probably widow of the
unnamed successor at Rockcliff of Richard de Vernon the younger. The
premises are described as the "inheritance" of the deforciant, because
they had been conveyed to him and his heirs for the purposes of the
fictitious action.[END QUOTE]

This is the only part that includes mention of Sir John and Clemence de
Molyneux; the fact of Clemence being mother of Isabella Danyers
apparently wasn't known to the author. It seems at first glance to
imply that John Molyneux was not Isabella's father, as he and his wife
hold dower in the manor, which has passed to Isabella and her husband;
which I take to mean that Isabella is daughter of Clemence's marriage
with whoever held the manor before. The heir of the younger Richard de
Vernon he alludes to was called William, but he left a widow Joan, so
Clemence could not have been his wife too. The exact descent of the
manor from Vernon to Danyers seems obscure. I will post more of the
article, which refers to the Radcliff marriage, later.

1-B. Agnes de Chedle, wife of Richard de Bulkelegh.

The only heirs of Clemence de Chedle (1-A) were three children by her second
husband John de Molyneux, Kt.: (1-A-1) Robert de Molyneux (d.s.p.), (1-A-2)
Joan de Molyneux (d.s.p.), and (1-A-3) Isabella de Molyneux.

The heir male of Agnes de Chedle (1-B) was William de Bulkylegh (1-B-1), the
plaintiff who was seeking a moiety of the manors of Clyfton and Chedle.

The defendant was John de Radclyfe and his wife Margaret, the heiress of
Isabella de Molyneux (1-A-3). The addendum adds that in 44 Edw. III, John de
Radclyffe was dead and Margaret was re-married to John Savage, Kt.

It would appear that the pedigree as presented by Leycester and Ormerod
needs to be re-addressed, and the identity of John de Molyneux, Kt., fixed. Was
he of the Sefton Molyneuxs? Thank you for any assistance.

Todd Whitesides