New Hughs

A posting in the GEN-MEDIEVAL-L@rootsweb.com mailing list by Todd A. Farmerie in November 2004 gave extracts from some early Laxfield charters, some of which I hadn't seen before. These appear to refer to a third and possibly fourth generation of Hugh Fiskes in Laxfield, with the first being born about 1240-1270. I have reproduced the original posting here along with an analysis and summary of it kindly provided by Rodney Fiske of Adelaide, South Australia.

Source: GEN-MEDIEVAL-L@rootsweb.com
From: "Todd A. Farmerie" <farmerie@lamar.colostate.edu>
Subject: Fiske of Laxfield

In 1932 and 1933, with a followup in 1938, G.A.Moriarty published in
NEHGR a series of contributions on the Fiske family of Laxfield,
ancestral to several colonial American immigrants. The earliest
generations found were as follows:

Daniel Fisc, fl. 1208
:
:
Hugh Fiske fl. 1340/1, Hugh Fisqs fl. 1345/6
:
:
Simon Fiske, b. ca. 1400 (aged 40 in 1440), Simon Fysk, son of Hugh
Fysk, fl. 1421, etc.

The A2A catalog provides several additional data points, further
references to Laxfield men named Hugh Fisk/Fysk/Fisq, dated 1297, 1339,
1343, 1345, 1347, 1351 (2), 1359 and 1361 (2).

HD 1538/288

LAXFIELD

Reference: HD 1538/288/1-31
Evidences of title

Creation dates: 1297-1416

Scope and Content

Together comprising Phillipps MS No. 35988.

Reference: HD 1538/288/1
Feoffment
Creation dates: 29 Sept 1297
Physical characteristics: Seal and tag missing
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. John Wade of Laxfeld [Laxfield]
2. Roger Benne
For 10s. of silver, (1) to (2), land (½a.) in place called Woditofd,
between land of John the smith and land of Matilda Wroghod, 1 head
abutting S. on land of Abbot of Leystone [Leiston], other head abutting
N. on land of Hugh Fisk; to hold of chief lords of fee, paying
accustomed service of 2d. (½d. at feasts of St Michael, Easter, St
Andrew and St John the Baptist). Warranty clause. Witnesses: John Crisp,
Richard his son, Henry Archir, Stephen Archir, Richard de Holloc,
William Clutiger and others. Given at Laxfeld, feast of St Michael, 25
[Edw.I.].

Reference: HD 1538/288/16
Quitclaim
Creation dates: 30 Oct 1339
Physical characteristics: Seal and tag missing
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. Robert Sacrement of Laxfeld [Laxfield], chaplain
2. Nicholas Le Taliour of the same
(1) quitclaims to (2), all lands and tenements which (1) at any time
purchased from Geoffrey Le Taliour, (2)'s late father, wherever they lie
in Laxfeld. Also (1) remits to (2) all manner of debts for which (2) is
bound to (1), from beginning of the world until present date, and also 4
marks of silver in which (2) was bound to (1) by his bond. Witnesses:
John Cloutyng', Hugh Fisq', Geoffrey Crisp, Nicholas Wade, Gilbert Casi
and others. Given at Laxfeld, Saturday before feast of All Saints, 13
Edw.III.

Reference: HD 1538/288/17
Feoffment
Creation dates: 8 Jun 1343
Physical characteristics: Seal and tag missing
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. Juliana, daughter of John Nicole of Laxfeld [Laxfield]
2. Hugh Fysk' of Laxfeld
John Baniard of the same
(1) to (2), all her lands and tenements within and without said town; to
hold of chief lords of fees for accustomed services. Warranty clause.
Witnesses: John Garneys, John Clouting, Geoffrey Crysp, John le Smyth
and others. Given at Laxfeld, Trinity Sunday, 17 Edw.III.

Reference: HD 1538/288/18
Feoffment
Creation dates: 6 Mar 1345
Physical characteristics: Seal and tag missing
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. Agnes, daughter of late John Nicole of Laxfeld [Laxfield]
2. Robert Le Smeyth and wife Juliana (sister of (1))
(1), in full power of her virginity, to (2), piece of ground of her
messuage (20 ft x 11 ft), with house buildt thereon called Schephus,
lying in N. part of said messuage, with free ingress and regress; to
hold of chief lords of fee for accustomed services. Warranty clause.
Witnesses: John Garnoys, Hugh Fisq', Geoffrey Crisp, John Banyard,
Nicholas Wade and others. Given at Laxfeld, Sunday before feast of St
Gregory, pope, 19 Edw.III.

Reference: HD 1538/288/19
Grant of manumission
Creation dates: 17 Jun 1347
Extent and Form: 1 seal
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. John de Hoo of Laxfeld
2. John de Britmere
(1) frees (2) and all his family, born and to be born, from all servile
conditions. Witnesses: John Garnoys, Roger Garnoys, John Cloutyng',
Geoffrey Crisp, Hugh Fisq' and others. Given at Laxfeld, Sunday before
feast of St John the Baptist, 21 Edw.III.

Reference: HD 1538/288/20
Feoffment
Creation dates: 11 Jan 1351
Physical characteristics: 1 seal, 2nd seal and tag missing
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. Anastasia Hillary daughters and heirs of late John Robyn of Laxfeld
[Laxfield]
2. Nicholas le Taillour of the same and wife Cecily
(1) to (2), land (2½a.) lying in said town, between land of John Robyn
on both sides, 1 head abutting N. on dyke formerly of Nicholas Grym; to
hold of chief lords of fee for accustomed services. Warranty clause.
Witnesses: John Garnoys, John de Hoo, John de Stodhawe, Hugh Fysk',
Edmund Pycot and others. Given at Laxfeld, Tuesday before feast of St
Hillary the virgin [sic], 24 Edw.III. (1351)

Reference: HD 1538/288/21
Feoffment
Creation dates: 8 May 1351
Extent and Form: 2 seals
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. William Gleme and wife Joan of Laxfeld [Laxfield]
2. Robert the smith and wife Juliana
(1) to (2), all lands and tenements which formerly descended to Joan
after death of John Nicole her father, in Laxfeld; to hold of chief
lords of fees for accustomed services. Warranty clause. Witnesses: John
Garneys, John de Hoo, John Cloutyng, Hugh Fysk, Nicholas Taillour and
others. Given at Laxfeld, Sunday after feast of Invention of Holy Cross,
25 Edw.III.

Reference: HD 1538/288/23
Quitclaim
Creation dates: 17 Mar 1359
Physical characteristics: Seal and tag missing
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. Aveline, 1 of heirs of John Nichole of Laxfeld [Laxfield]
2. Robert le Smyt of Laxfeld and wife Juliana
(1) quitclaims to (2), pightle in Laxfeld which John her father formerly
purchased of John de Hoo sen. Warranty clause. Given at Laxfeld, Sunday
after feast of St Gregory, pope, 33 Edw.III. Witnesses: Adam de Ponte,
John de Stodhagh, Hugh Fisk', John Banyard, Nicholas Le Talliour, John
Le Hannuill, Semeine his brother and others.

Reference: HD 1538/288/25
Feoffment
Creation dates: 2 Aug 1361
Physical characteristics: Seal and tag missing
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. Robert Smyt of Laxfeld
2. Nicholas Talyour
William Gleme
John Arger
Roger Garneys
William Crysp
John, son of Catherine Spanyel
(1) to (2), all his lands and tenements in Laxfeld; to hold of chief
lords of fee for accustomed services. Warranty clause. Witnesses: Adam
atte Bregge, John Cloutyng', John de Stodhawe, Hugh Fysk', Geoffrey
Consing' and others. Given at Laxfeld, Sunday the feast of St Peter ad
vincula, 35 Edw.III.

Reference: HD 1538/288/26
Feoffment
Creation dates: 2 Aug 1361
Physical characteristics: Seal and tag missing
Language: Latin

Scope and Content
1. Aveline Nichole of Laxfield [Laxfield]
2. Roger Garneys
John, son of Catherine Spanyel of Laxfield
John son of Robert Smyt' of the same
(1) to (2), all her part of messuage formerly of John Nichole in
Laxfeld; to hold of chief lords of fee for accustomed services. Warranty
clause. Witnesses: Adam atte Bregge, John de Stodhawe, John Clutyng',
Hugh Fysk', Nicholas Talyour and others. Given at Laxfeld, Monday after
feast of St Peter ad vincula, 35 Edw.III.

==================================================

(Assumption): This Hugh Fisk was probably aged between 40 and 60 years in 1297, (as a land-holder), meaning he would have

2. 2nd reference:- 30 October, 1339 - (42 years later) - 'Hugh Fisq' - as a witness to a document regarding purchase of property.

(Assumption): This Hugh Fisq most unlikely to be same person as in 1. Reason? He would have to now be aged 80-100 years!

Therefore he could be the son or grandson of 1, and aged about 40 years, ie., born around 1300 which is about the time Hugh

3. 3rd reference:- 8 June, 1343 - 'Transfer of land from Juliana to Hugh Fysk'. This transaction occurred four years after 2, and no

4. 4th reference:- 6 March, 1345 - Witness to a document transferring land, but not personally involved in the land. This is the same

5. 5th reference:- 17 June, 1347 - similar to 4. Again, just a witness and only two years later. Same Hugh Fysk - now 47-48 years.

8. 8th reference:- 17 March, 1359 - eight years later. Hugh Fysk would now be around 59-60 years old, and this could still be he (00), though equally it could be a 30-years old son, born around 1330 (the 'missing' generation).

9. 9th reference:- 2 August, 1361 - two years later still. Hugh Fysk would now be about 61-62 years old, a good age for those times but still quite possible. Likewise, it could be a son aged about 32 years - see 8, above.

1. There could well be a third Hugh Fisk, born around 1330. He would slot nicely into the gap between Hugh 00, born approx. 1300 and Hugh 0, born approx. 1370. He would then be the Hugh referred to in references 8 and 9, above. Of course, without some form of evidence we will never know for certain, and that still leaves unanswered the question of who is the Daniel referred to by Henry Fiske in FFP as the grandfather of Symond (Simon). Was Henry Fiske wrong in his assertion?`

2. Of equal, if not more importance, is the Hugh Fisk mentioned in reference 1 as a landowner in 1297. We can speculate that he would have been aged between 30 and 60 years at that time, and therefore was most likely to have been born in the period, say, 1240-1270. This places him as probably one generation, and possibly even two, before Hugh 00 (born around 1300). Have we, then, discovered a Hugh 000 or even a Hugh 0000? I don't know - there is just too much guesswork, but it is certainly possible.

Assuming I am correct, we now have three, or even four, successive generations of 'Hugh' Fisks. This would be quite feasible, as in my own ancestral line there are several successive Anthonys, and also Johns.

That is about all I can offer, Hugh. I may be well wide of the mark in my assessments, but it has been an interesting little exercise. Thanks for the opportunity of looking into it.