Manors

The Lordships and Manors of Sir John Clay

John Clay bought his first manor, named Darcies in 1441, over the years his property portfolio would grow, to include Manors in Essex and after the attainder of Thomas Ormond, manors in Cambridgeshire. But it also included inns and premises in Northall, Middlesex. Here we try and break down the individual manors.

The Lordship and Manor of Darcies

The manor of DARCIES or CRESSBROKE  apparently gained its first name from John first Lord Darcy of Knaith, co. Lincoln, who in 1347 owned two messuages called Cressbroke and Tunsted,  which descended to his son John Lord Darcy. On the death of the latter in March 1355–6 his heir, John Darcy, was a minor, consequently the manor, which was held of the earldom of Richmond in socage, was taken into the king's hands. John Darcy the younger died in 1362, apparently being still a minor, and his brother and heir, Sir Philip Darcy, did not come of age until 1373.  He was succeeded by his son John in 1398, and the latter in 1411 by his son Philip, who died without male issue in 1418. In 1434 John Darcy, brother and heir male of Philip, released to Sir John Stiward, Alice his wife and their heirs all right in the manor of Cressbroke. In the following year Sir John Stiward and Alice granted the manor to John Stopynden, clerk, and Thomas Weston, citizen and fishmonger of London,  who were probably acting as trustees for a settlement. In 1441 the two daughters of Philip Lord Darcy,  Elizabeth wife of James Strangeways and Margery wife of John Conyers, conveyed the manor to Richard Appleby, clerk, Henry Holden and Robert Founteyns, evidently the trustees of John Clay, for by a settlement made in 1446 the manor passed from these to other trustees, who, acting in compliance with the will of John Clay, confirmed the manor to his widow Joan and his son John. In 1480 Cecily daughter of John Clay, wife of Sir Robert Green and formerly wife of John Acton, died seised of the manor of Cressbroke. Her son and heir Edward Green was a minor at the time of her death, and the manor with a messuage called Clays Place was taken into the king's hands. Edward Green died in January 1491–2, and was succeeded by his sister Cecily, the wife of William Burbage. Cecily Burbage seems to have married again twice, as in 1498 William Craythorne and Cecily his wife were holding the manor, and in 1521 Cecily Bedell died seised of the manor of Cressbroke, leaving a son and heir Thomas Burbage.  From this time the manor appears to have been held with Theobalds.

Information from British History online, Victoria County history of Hertfordshire.

The Lordship and Manor of Cheshunt

After 1441 John Clay was known as John Clay of Cheshunt but it would appear that John Clay was not the Lord of the manor of Cheshunt, possibly he was taking the name as the Manor of Darcies was in the parish of Cheshunt. However the manor of Cheshunt was granted to Elizabeth Say after John Clays attainder. 

In 1461 the manor was granted for life once again to Elizabeth by Edward IV.

The manor was supposed to revert to John Clay, Joan his wife and John his son, however the manor was actually passed to the King's brother, the Duke of Clarence.

The Lordship and Manor of Theobaulds

The manor of Theobaulds was also known as the manor of Tongs, in The Environs of London, Daniel Lysons  writes that Sir John Clay was siesed of the manors of Theobaulds or Tongs and Crosbrooke. 

The manors were in turn owned by Cecily Clay (Greene) and her daughter also Cecily.

The Lordship and Manor of Swavesey

The manor of Swavesey was part of the lands granted to Sir John Clay in 1461 as part of the attainder of Thomas Ormond. Swavesey is mentioned in the will of Sir John and his wife Joan.