Isham of PytchleyA documentary genealogy

Generation VIII

Sir Thomas Isham of Pytchley

1456–1512

Life

Thomas Isham of Pytchley, esquire, son and heir of William Isham and Elizabeth, was born about 1456, being returned by the inquest of 1480 as aged twenty-two years and more after his mother's death, the inquest after his father's death in 1510 returning him as then aged fifty years and more.1 In the plea rolls of the Court of Common Pleas he is regularly styled Thomas Isham of Pytchley (Pyghtesley), Northamptonshire, gentleman.2,3,4 He was a witness on 2 January 1492/3 to the will of his wife's brother, Henry Vere of Addington, esquire, sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1485.?

His wife was Ellen Vere, daughter of Richard Vere of Addington and Thrapston, Northamptonshire (who died in 1480), by Isabel, daughter of John Green of Drayton.5 She was probably married in 1485, for by a deed of 11 May 1485 the feoffees of William Isham's Northamptonshire lands gave them to his son Thomas Isham and Ellen his wife and the heirs of their bodies.? In the Latin plea rolls she appears as Elena.6 They had issue two sons: Euseby Isham of Ringstead and Pytchley, and John Isham, living in 1558 when his nephew Gregory gave him a legacy of five pounds.5 Ellen survived her husband and was still living in 1564, when the will of her nephew Robert Isham, the parson of Pytchley, gave her a legacy of 3s. 4d.?

From 1501 onwards Thomas appears often as a defendant in the Common Pleas.7,8 In Trinity and Michaelmas terms 1501 Edmund Hasylwode sued him for ten pounds, and Richard Chysseldon of Kettering for forty shillings;9,10 the Haselwode suit continued into Hilary 1502.11,12 In 1503–04 further process named him of Pytchley, gentleman, including a claim by Robert Mathewe of Bradden for sixty shillings.13,3 The pressure increased in 1512–14. In Michaelmas term 1512 Edward Saunders sued him for five hundred pounds,14 and another entry demanded ten pounds of him together with Joan Mathewe, widow, of Riseley, Bedfordshire.15 In 1513–14 Edward Waundere likewise claimed five hundred pounds,16,17 while Edmund Haselwode of Northampton sued Thomas, Thomas Hanche of Pytchley and John Massy of Knuston for ten pounds apiece.18,19 These large debt suits show a gentleman of substance under persistent process, not a chapman of the same parish who appears in a few contemporary entries and is not securely identified with him.?

Thomas held the manor of Knuston in the parish of Irchester, with lands also in Broughton, Barton Seagrave and Thorpe Malsor.6 In Easter term 1514 Humphrey Coningsby, one of the King's justices, John Mordaunt, esquire, Humphrey Broun, Thomas Lovet, Thomas Palmer, William Kymysman, John Wattys, Martin Pulton, Thomas Bodenall and Roger Thustard recovered that manor and those lands against Thomas Isham and Elena his wife by common recovery.6 Thomas and Elena appeared by Thomas Waldram their attorney and vouched Thomas Fyssh, who defaulted so that the demandants took seisin.6,20 The same attorney and vouchee, and kin of Martin Pulton, appear again in the recoveries of their son Euseby and Anne.? An Exchequer memoranda roll of 1521–22, in the depopulation case later pursued against Euseby, recites that Thomas had been seised of a messuage and forty acres of arable at Knuston, worth forty shillings a year and held of the King, and that on 6 July 1506 he had caused the house of husbandry there to be wasted; Euseby then held it.21

Thomas was still living when the heavy debt suits of 1512 were filed,14 and he and Ellen were still dealing with the Knuston estate in Easter 1514.6,20 Process in his name continues into the 1520s, including a suit by Edward Montagu of Hemington in 152022 and further Haselwode entries in 1524 that again couple Pytchley with a Knuston co-defendant;19,23 those later enrolments may be continued or posthumous process and do not by themselves prove that he lived into the mid-1520s.? He should not be confused with Thomas Isham, clerk, of Grantham or Allington in Lincolnshire, nor with Thomas Isham of Cranford, Northamptonshire, gentleman, who appears in the same decades.?

  1. A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 4 (Pytchley)
  2. Suit against Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, Common Pleas CP 40/966 (1503)
  3. Suit against Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, with Thomas Hauche of Pytchley, Common Pleas CP 40/966 (1503)
  4. CP 40/957: Edmund Haselwode v. Thomas Isham late of Pytchley / of Northampton, gentleman, for £10
  5. Visit. Northants. (Metcalfe) pp.181–2: Isham of Pitchley / Braunston / Lamport
  6. Humphrey Coningsby, John Mordaunt and others recover the manor of Knuston against Thomas Isham and Elena his wife, Common Pleas CP 40/1006 (1514)
  7. Edmund Haselwode v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt of £10 continued, Common Pleas CP 40/958 (1501)
  8. CP 40/966: Haselwode v. Thomas Isham still in process
  9. Edmund Hasylwode v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt of £10, Common Pleas CP 40/957 (1501), image 0504
  10. Richard Chysseldon v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt of 40s, Common Pleas CP 40/958 (1501)
  11. Edmund Haselwode v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt process continued, Common Pleas CP 40/959 (1502)
  12. CP 40/959 dorse: Edmund Haselwode v. Thomas Isham late of Pytchley, gentleman, for £10
  13. Robert Mathewe of Bradden v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt of 60s, Common Pleas CP 40/967 (1504)
  14. Edward Saunders v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt of £500, Common Pleas CP 40/1001 (1512)
  15. Executors sue Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, for £10, Common Pleas CP 40/1001 (1512), image 0188
  16. Edward Waundere v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt of £500, Common Pleas CP 40/1005A (1513)
  17. Edward Waundere v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt of £500 continued, Common Pleas CP 40/1005B (1514)
  18. Edmund Haselwode v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, and others of Knuston, debt of £10 each, Common Pleas CP 40/1005B (1514)
  19. Edmund Haselwode v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, Common Pleas CP 40/1045 (1524)
  20. Thomas Isham and Elena his wife enter attorneys in the Knuston land plea, Common Pleas CP 40/1006 (1514)
  21. Exchequer recites that Thomas Isham let the house at Knuston decay before Euseby held it, E 368/295 (1521-22)
  22. Edward Montagu v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, debt of 53s 4d, Common Pleas CP 40/1029 (1520)
  23. Edmund Haselwode v. Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, Common Pleas CP 40/1044 (1524), image 0495

? marks 7 statements for which no attached source was found.

Life sketch as written on the FamilySearch Family Tree. Footnotes link each statement to the attached source that supports it; they were matched by machine against the source summaries and should be read as a guide, not a verification.

Records

  1. 1325
    Secondary

    The descent of the Ishams of Pytchley has alreadybeen dealt with in the genealogical volume for Northamptonshire. (fn. 67) Henry de Isham of Northampton, towhom a debt of £200 was owing in 1325, (fn. 68) may havebeen identical with the Henry de Isham who in 1309 (fn. 69) was bailiff of Richard son of Roger son of Hen…

  2. 1495
    Index

    Pg 123 of 703 describes a John Isham, son of Thomas Isham. There is a John Isham 5 generations later who is a son of Gregory. It seems that the latter one is the one that ended up in Barnstable, not one that was born in 1495 to Thomas.

  3. 1497
    RecordCP 40/953

    Edmund Hasylwode by attorney offered himself against Thomas Isham late of Pytchley in Northamptonshire, gentleman, for 10 marks. Capias; not found; exigent ordered. (Repeated on the next image.)

  4. 1498
    RecordCP 40/957

    Edmund Haselwode sued Thomas Isham, late of Pytchley, gentleman, alias of Northampton, gentleman, for £10 — process enrolment in the long Haselwode suit.

  5. 1499
    RecordCP 40/958

    Continuation of Edmund Haselwode's £10 suit against Thomas Isham of Pytchley/Northampton, gentleman.

  6. 1501
    RecordCP 40/966

    Further process in Haselwode v. Thomas Isham, gentleman, 1501.

  7. 1501
    RecordCP 40/958

    Edmund Haselwode against Thomas Isham late of Pyghtesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, for £10, and John Jackson of Northampton, corser, for 40s. Thomas is distrained by goods worth 40d and mainprised; further process to Hilary. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  8. 1501
    RecordCP 40/957

    Edmund Hasylwode, by attorney, against Thomas Isham late of Pyghtesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Isham late of Pyghtesley, gentleman, for £10, and against John Jabson of Northampton, corser, for 40s. Thomas is attached by pledges and distrained to appear at Michaelmas. The overlapping photograph is ima…

  9. 1501
    RecordCP 40/957

    Overlapping photograph of the same entry as image 0504: Edmund Hasylwode against Thomas Isham late of Pyghtesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, for £10. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  10. 1501
    RecordCP 40/958

    Richard Chysseldon, by attorney, against Robert Palle of Kettering, dyer, for 53s 4d, and against Thomas I[sham] late of Pecheley (Pytchley), Northamptonshire, gentleman, for 40s. Thomas is summoned and ordered to be attached for the octave of Hilary. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  11. 1502
    RecordCP 40/959

    Edmund Haselwode by attorney against Thomas Isham late of Pytchley, gentleman, otherwise Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, for £10, and against John Jakeson late of Northampton, corser, for 40s. Distress then capias against Thomas.

  12. 1502
    RecordCP 40/959

    Process against Thomas Isham late of Pytchley, gentleman, for £10 and John Dakson of Northampton, horser, for 40s; distress against Thomas then capias.

  13. 1502
    RecordCP 40/959

    Edmund Haselwode against Thomas Isham late of Pyghtesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Isham of Pyghtesley, gentleman. Further distress ordered. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  14. 1503
    RecordCP 40/966

    Process against Thomas Isham late of Pyttesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Isham of Pyntysley (Pytchley), Northamptonshire, gentleman, in a plea of debt (amount not fully legible in the machine transcription). Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  15. 1503
    RecordCP 40/966

    Process against Thomas Isham of Pyghtesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Isham of Northampton, gentleman, and against Thomas Hauche of Pyghtesley, husbandman. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  16. 1504
    RecordCP 40/967

    Robert Mathewe of Bradden, Northamptonshire, gentleman, against John Chaundeler of Worcester, fuller, for £14 13s 4d, and against Thomas Isham late of Pyttesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Isham of Pyttysley, for 60s. Capias renewed to the Purification. Machine transcription; readings should be checked a…

  17. 1510
    RecordCP 40/993

    Robert Ase and Christine his wife, executrix of John Eyer, by attorney against Thomas Isham late of Pytchley, gentleman, for £6 13s. 4d. Summons; attachment ordered.

  18. 1510
    RecordCP 40/996

    Thomas Montague and Edward Montague sue Thomas Isham of Pytchley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, for £30.

  19. 1511
    RecordCP 40/997

    Edward Saunders, gentleman, by attorney offered himself against Henry William of Pytchley, husbandman, in a plea that he together with Thomas Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, render £12. Capias; exigent ordered.

  20. 1512
    RecordCP 40/1001

    Edward Saunders, by attorney, against Thomas Isham of Pyghtesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, for £500. Thomas does not come; he is distrained by goods worth 10s and mainprised by John Den and Richard Feni; further distress to Hilary and then the morrow of the Ascension. Machine transcription; readings should be check…

  21. 1512
    RecordCP 40/1001

    Overlapping photograph of the same entry as image 0188: against Thomas Isham late of Putesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Isham of Pyttesley, for £10. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  22. 1512
    RecordCP 40/1001

    Process against Joan Mathewe late of Riseley, Bedfordshire, widow, for £10 13s 4d, and against Thomas Isham late of Pettesley (Pytchley), Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Askham of Pyttefley, for £10, and Thomas Bryte, husbandman, for 5 marks. Exigent ordered so that they be outlawed if they do not appear. The…

  23. 1513
    RecordCP 40/1005A

    Edward Waundere, by attorney, against Thomas Isham late of Pyghtessey (Pytchley), Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Ashaam of Pytesleo, gentleman, for £500. Distress continued. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  24. 1514
    RecordCP 40/1005B

    Edmund Haselwode of Northampton, gentleman, against Thomas Isham late of Pyghtesley, gentleman, Thomas Hanche of Pyghtesley, husbandman, and John Massy late of Knuston, husbandman: each to render £10. Capias ordered. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  25. 1514
    RecordCP 40/1005B

    Edward Waundere against Thomas Isham late of Probtessey (Pytchley), Northamptonshire, gentleman, alias Thomas Ashiam of Pytestey, gentleman, for £500. Distained by goods worth 10s; further distress to Easter in three weeks. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  26. 1514
    RecordCP 40/1006

    Common recovery: Humphrey Coningsby, one of the King's justices, John Mordaunt, esquire, Humphrey Broun, Thomas Lovet, Thomas Palmer, William Kymysman, John Wattys, Martin Pulton, Thomas Bodenall and Roger Thustard, by John Champneys, demand against Thomas Isham and Elena his wife the manor of Knuston with five messuag…

  27. 1514
    RecordCP 40/1006

    Warrants of attorney: Thomas Isham and Elena his wife appoint Thomas Waldram against Humphrey [Coningsby], John Mordaunt, Humphrey Broun, Thomas Lovet, Thomas Palmer and others in a plea of land; and the demandants appoint John Champneys against Thomas and Elena. Machine transcription; readings should be checked agains…

  28. 1520
    RecordCP 40/1029

    Edward Mountagu of Hemington, Northamptonshire, gentleman, against Thomas Asham late of Pyghtesley, gentleman, alias Thomas Isham of Pightesley, gentleman, Henry Hull of Pightesley, husbandman, and William Barton of Pightesley, husbandman: each to render 53s 4d. Thomas is summoned and attached; process continued to Mic…

  29. 1521
    RecordE 368/295

    In the depopulation account for a messuage and 40 acres of arable at Knuston (worth 40s a year, held of the King), the entry recites that Thomas I[sham] (reading uncertain) was seised in fee and on 6 July 21 Henry VII caused the messuage to be wasted contrary to the statute, and that Euseby Isham now holds it. A day is…

  30. 1524
    RecordCP 40/1044

    Edmund Haselwode against Thomas Asshamne of Pyghtesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, and others. Continued on image 0496. This is late process against the same style of defendant; Thomas was dead by this date or the suit was long continued. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  31. 1524
    RecordCP 40/1045

    Edmund Heselwode, armiger, alias Edmund Haseldcowd of Northampton, gentleman, by John Thornton, against Thomas Ashame of Pyghtesly, gentleman, Thomas Hunche of Pyghtesley, husbandman, and John Masse of Knuston, husbandman. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  32. 1524
    RecordCP 40/1044

    Overlapping photograph: Edmund Haselwode against Thomas Asshame of Pyghtesley, gentleman, Thomas Hauche of Pyghtesley, husbandman, and John Masse late of Knuston, husbandman, each for a debt (amount as in the related entries). Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.

  33. 1555
    Secondary

    VCH Pytchley narrates: Gregory purchased Engaynes (fine of 1555 with Giles); Giles held a brief manor called Ishams of Robert Isham clerk as of Staffords; Staffords then to Gregory's son Euseby of Braunston; fines/recoveries 1580 (⅓ Geynes & Ishams), 1587 (Pytchley & Bassets), 1606 (Pytchley & Braunston) as Sir Euseby …

  34. 1624
    Secondary

    Metcalfe prints Augustus Vincent's 1624 genealogy: Thomas Isham of Pitchley, Esq., married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Vere of Addington; their son Eusebius Isham of Pitchley, Esq., married Anne, daughter of Giles Poulton of Desborough; issue include Giles (son and heir), Robert 'a Clarke', Gregory of Braunston (m. …