Richard Wase

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Leicester, Leicestershire, England

Richard married Elizabeth Meverall about 1530. Elizabeth (daughter of George Meverall) was born about 1500 in Throwley Hall, Ilam, Staffordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Thomas Wase was born about 1530; died about 1611.
2. Ann Wase was born about 1540 in Rotherby, Leicestershire, England.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Leicester, Leicestershire, England
• Occupation: Merchant of the Staple

Notes:

MERCHANTS of the STAPLE

The trade and industry of north western Europe in the Middle Ages was based on wool. The best wool was produced in the Cistercian abbeys of Yorkshire and in the Cotswolds, in western England. By the 12th century, raw English and Welsh wool was being widely exported, mostly to Flanders. Flanders seems to have been a cloth making area since Roman times. In Bruges (the name means " landing place " ), Ghent, and Leper, the wool was turned into high-quality cloth. It was then resold in the markets of Europe and the Mediterranean. By the I5th century, Bruges was part of the Duchy of Burgundy. Its cloth trade was on the decline.

Once the English kings realised the high value of wool, they decided to make certain towns official centres for the sale of wool and other staple goods, such as hides, lead, and tin. The tax on goods like these became a major source of income. When overseas sales were concentrated in one town, the king could easily organise and collect the tax. In the 14th century, the MERCHANTS OF THE STAPLE " became an official company. Usually, only members of this company could legally sell wool to foreigners. The Staple was variously fixed at several towns: St. Omer, Antwerp, and from 1340 to 1353, Bruges. Political trouble in Flanders, plus the conquest of Calais in 1347, led to the main wool Staple being fixed in CALAIS from 1363 lost Calais in 1558. The Scottish Staple remained in Bruges from1359 to 1498.By taxing wool at its point of export, clamping down on the import of cloth, and taxing its export lightly, the Crown encouraged the growth of the native cloth industry. Rural labour was cheaper and less likely to be organised in guilds, so cloth making moved from the towns into the country areas. Eventually there were at least 14 Staple Towns in England most in East Anglia.

Fine : Oct Trinity Henry VIII 1533

Between John Porte and Elizabeth his wife plaintiffs and John Ware and Alice his wife deforciants of 3 Messuages 3 gardens 70 Acres of land 10 of meadow and 4 of pasture in Rotherby. Grant to Elisabeth for her life and after her death the property will wholly revert to the heirs of the body of Richard the son of John Ware and Alice for ever in default to the said Alice and her rightful heirs. Consideration 80 silver marks.

John married Alice Bailey about 1495. Alice (daughter of John Bailey) was born about 1475 in Rotherby, Leicestershire, England; died after 1533. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Parentage: Dau and Heir to John Bailey of Rotherby
• NB: Wid. of Will'm Hill of Leic' Merchant of Calais

Notes:

Rotherby - LEI ENG
OS Grid Reference: 52?45'N 1?00'W
Name Origin: Old Norse Redebi Hrei?ar's village or homestead.

Domesday Book:
LAND OF EARL HUGH
In GUTHLAXTON Wapentake
Earl Hugh holds Barrow from the King. 15 carucates of land. In lordship he has 4? ploughs; 2 male with 1 female slaves. 40 villagers with 13 smallholders have 11 ploughs. 3 mills at 30s; woodland 1 league long and 4 furlongs wide which pays 5s.
Earl Harold held this manor with the dependencies written below.:-
In Donington 5 carucates of land. Meadow 3 furlongs long and 1 furlong wide.
In Cossington 6 carucates of land.
In Hoton 6 carucates of land.
In Seagrave 2 carucates of land. Meadow, 10 acres.
In Sileby 1 carucate of land.
In Rearsby 2 carucates of land less 1 bovate. Meadow 8 acres.
In Brooksby 2 carucates of land. Meadow 7 acres, A mill 5s.
In Frisby 1? carucates of land. Meadow 4 acres.
In Prestwold 2 carucates of land. Meadow 3 furlongs long and 1 furlong wide; woodland 6 furlongs long and 5 furlongs wide.
In Charley 4 carucates of land. Waste.
In Gaddesby 1 carucate of land. Meadow, 4 actres; a mill, 3 s.
In REDEBI 3 carucates of land less 2 bovates. Meadow, 3 acres.
In Frisby 1? carucates of land. Meadow, 4 acres; a mill, 28d.
4 of the Earl's men-at-arms hold 12 carucates of land from these lands. In these the Earl himself has in lordship 4? ploughs and 30 Freemen, 25 villagers and 13 smallholders who have 15? ploughs with 1 slave.
His men-at-arms have in lordship 3 ploughs and 12 villagers with 1 Freeman and 2 smallholders who have 3 ploughs.
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A Topographical Dictionary of England, Samuel Lewis, 1831:
ROTHERBY, a parish of 900 acres in the eastern division of the hundred of GOSCOTE, county of LEICESTER, 5? miles (W.S.W.) from Melton-Mowbray, containing 143 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Leicester, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the kings's books at ?8. 8. 4., and in the patronage of the Rev. Mr. Browne. The church is dedicated to All Saints. Rotherby Hall is the seat of Samuel Seaman Esquire .
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Alice Bailey was the heir of John Bailey according to the heralds visitation of Leicestershire in 1619. This is undoubtedly how the Wase family came into the Rotherby property.

Lay Subsidy 1 Edward III(1327)
John Le Wardes (? Bailiff) 2d (this could be the original John Bailey)

The property is likely to have been in the hands of the family since at least 1368:-
( Hastings MSS: Sunday before Mark 42 Edward III (23 Apr 1368) John Baylif of Rotherby witness to charter between Robert of Rolleston, parson and John Barowe of Rotherby)

The name Bailey is occupational from the Old French Balif (acc.) Balli (nom),a free man, the appointed representative of an absenttee Lord of the Manor who lived in the manor house and administered the manor on behalf of his Lord. In the 13th century he would have been payed about ?6 per annum as opposed to a ploughman's 8s. [ P.H.Rainey " The Origins of English Surnames]

Lay subsidy rolls :133 - 26 Poll Tax 1377
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John servant of John Baly 4d
Edward servant of John Bayly 4d
John Bayley; fermer 8d

NB fermer or farmer :- Someone who paid the Lord of The Manor a fixed sum of money in return for administering and receiving the rents, dues and profis from a manor.

As the property passed with her widowhood it seems likely that her marriage to William Hill, Merchant of the Calais Staple was without issue. It would be interesting to search for any will of William Hill, such a will if it exists, (unlikely) would fix the date of her marriage.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: London, England
• Occupation: Merchant

John married Unknown UNKNOWN in UNKNOWN. Unknown was born about 1450. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Rotherby, Leicestershire, England