Hi All:
The following information may be of some assistance to others. This is
from an article "THE MATERNITY of JOHN and BEATRIX de BREWES"
by P.W. Mackenzie posted on the de braose website by Doug Thompson.
"Again in the same year 1349, we have a Commission [59] of oyer and
terminer touching a complaint by Peter de Brewese alleging that, whereas
he, in his manor of Skeyton, co. Norfolk, which by writing of Edward de
Garrenne, late lord of that manor, is bound to him in a rent of 10 marks
for which he can distrain when in arrear, had taken certain cattle of
Cecily late the wife of the said Edward by John Bryd and Richard
Chinham, his servants, for 5 marks of the rent in arrear, and the same
John and Richard would have impounded these, some evildoers rescued them
and assaulted John and Richard and other of his men and servants,
whereby he lost their service for a great time. At first sight this
reference appears to have no relevance to the present
subject. However, the surname de Garrenne is a common variant of the
surname Warrenne. It is also well known [60] that John de Warenne, 8th
Earl of Surrey had a mistress, Maud de Nerford, by whom he had several
illegitimate children. In his will [61] dated 24 June 1447 and proved 26
July 1347, the earl specifically names a son, Edward. According to
Omerod [62] this Edward is the illegitimate son of John, the 8th
Earl and Maud de Nerford, and held the manors of Skeyton and Booton.
Omerod further states that this Edward was the ancestor of the Warren
family of Poynton. Blomefield [63] reports that in 1323 Oliver de Redham
and Ralf, Rector of Skeyton, acting as Trustees, settled a moiety of the
manor of Booton, together with the manor of Skeyton, on Sir Ralf de
Skeyton for life, and then on Maud de Nerford and her two
sons, Ralf and Edward, who took the name of Warren. Watson64 refers it
seems to this same settlement, but states one Rither vicar of Aylesham,
had released his right, as a trustee in the said manors to said Maud and
heirs of her body. Blomefield [65] also reports that subsequent to the
settlement, Alice, sister and heiress of Sir Ralf, then widow of Hauteyn
her second husband, released all her moiety of said manors to
Maud de Nerford. Watson66 dates this release as 1326, and states Alice
settled this moiety on Maud de Nerford, and heirs of her body, with
remainder to Ralph son of said Maud and heirs of his body, remainder to
his brother Edward and his heirs of his body, remainder to Alice and her
heirs. Watson67 also refers to an indenture dated 1326, concerning the
manors of Skeyton, Booton, and lands and rent in Booton,Skeyton,
Canston, Bradiston, Tybenham, and Briston to be settled as above.
Maud died sometime prior to 22nd November 134568. At this point, the
manor of Skeyton, Norfolk fell to her son, Edward de Warenne, for we
have Feudal Aids [69] stating that Edward de Warrenne knight, in 1346,
held lands in Skegton in the hundred of South Erpyngham, Norfolk
together with lands in Crostweyt, Berton and Tybenham outside of said
hundred, which was formerly held by John de Skegton. In the same year,
Edward Warrene was mesne lord of lands in Rougham, Fransham in the
hundred of Laundich, Norfolk. Also, in the same year, Edward Warrene and
William Whitewell were joint mesne lords of certain lands and tenements
in Crostweyt in the hundred of Tunstede, Norfolk, which mesne lordship
was formerly held by the heirs of John de Skegton. From this we can
conclude that his brother Ralph Warrenne was dead by 1346."
and
"The only remaining viable solution to this apparent contradiction is
that Joan Foliot had only one daughter named Joan. Specifically, Joan
Foliot had by Nicholas Percy a daughter named Joan who married Ralph
Warrene around 1338 who latter died sometime prior to 1342, whence she
married Peter de Brewes who divorced her sometime between 27th January
1352 and 24th October 1352, after which she had married Alan Cheney.
This is supported by the fact that Peter de Brewes in 1349 temporarily
held the manor of Skeyton of Norfolk, presumably on behalf of his wife
Joan as her dower from her first husband Ralph Warrene. As mentioned
earlier the aforementioned references indicate that Ralph Warrene was
the illegitimate son of John Warrene, Earl of Surrey, and his mistress
Maud Nerford. Whilst we do not have any specific evidence as to the date
of death of this Ralph, he appears to have died sometime before 1346 for
at this time his brother Edward was in sole possession of
Skeyton. Furthermore, he is not mentioned in his father’s will of 1347
whereas his brother Edward is mentioned. In further support, there is
evidence of disputes between Alan Cheney and Peter de Brewes around the
period 1352. In one dispute, Peter de Brewese complained that Alan
Cheney and others broke into his houses at Chesham Boys, co, Buckingham
and carried away his goods. It may be speculated that the goods in
question were those of Joan, the former wife of Peter and now the
wife of Alan Cheney. Another dispute resulted in Peter de Brewes losing
the properties in Cheshire to Alan Cheney and Joan his wife. Peter de
Brewes did retain Whiteford, but he did so through a series of complex
transactions with the king. Peter de Brewes was finally holding
Whiteford on his own with a trustee sometime prior to July 1355, after
which he divested himself of it in 1356. Thus from this date Peter de
Brewes and his subsequent heirs held no interest in the properties of
his former wife Joan Percy."
Paul.