Generation VI
Robert Isham
1402–1475
Life
Robert Isham of Pytchley, Northamptonshire, was a prominent fifteenth-century magistrate, royal administrator, and county esquire whose public career spanned more than five decades through the reigns of Henry VI and Edward IV.? Born on 2 March 1402 at Pytchley, he was the son and primary heir of Robert Isham and his wife.? Following his father's death on 31 March 1424, an official inquisition post mortem formally determined that Robert was twenty-two years of age and his father's next heir.1 Immediately upon succeeding to the family patrimony in late 1424 and early 1427, Robert entered the Court of Common Pleas to enroll deeds quitclaiming any inherited residual rights in numerous manors and lands across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Warwickshire that had belonged to the late William, Lord la Zouche, releasing them to family trustees including Thomas Woodville, Roger Flore, and William Glen.2,3
Robert attained substantial prominence within county governance, serving in judicial, administrative, and fiscal capacities.? In 1443 and 1444, he served the Crown as royal Escheator for Northamptonshire, returning inquisitions into Chancery and the Exchequer.4 He was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Northamptonshire continuously from 1439 into the 1470s, actively sitting on the bench to maintain public order during a tumultuous period in English history.5 Eyre and King's Bench indictment files document him presiding over crown sessions at Northampton in 1454 and 1456 alongside leading regional figures, including Sir William Lucy, Sir William Catesby, Thomas Tresham, and Robert Tanfeld, to hear indictments for felony and trespass.6,7 In 1464, during the reign of Edward IV, he and Reginald Silesbury held sessions of the peace at Rothwell to investigate local violence.8 His county duties further included commissions to deliver the gaol at Northampton Castle, arrays to draft hundreds of archers, and inquiries into insurrections.? Under Edward IV, Robert expanded his administrative influence to the capital, serving from 1466 to 1470 as the King's controller of the great custom and the subsidy on wools, hides, and woolfells in the port of London.9,10 In 1458, King Henry VI granted him a general royal pardon under the style of Robert Isham of Pytchley, esquire, otherwise called gentleman, protecting him from outstanding accounts and Crown liabilities.?
Robert's domestic life encompassed two marriages that augmented the family's property and established its subsequent descent.? He married first an earlier wife whose identity remains unresolved in contemporary judicial records, though later family trees and traditions assign her the name Elizabeth, widow of Aston of Knuston, or Elizabeth Margaret Knutson.? By this first marriage, he had his eldest son and heir, William Isham, born in 1427.? By 1439 or 1440, Robert married secondly Margaret, the widow of Thomas Allington.11 Through this union, Robert acquired lifehold and reversionary estates in Little Bowden, which he defended in both Common Pleas and Chancery.11 In 1445, Robert and Margaret appeared jointly in Common Pleas defending property in Southwark.12 On 5 February 1451, Robert entered into an elaborate enrolled recognizance of 500 marks with Thomas Palmer and Thomas Langton to establish the family inheritance: William was guaranteed succession to the principal estates in London and Northamptonshire after the deaths of Robert and Margaret, while any future feoffments granted to Robert's three younger sons by Margaret—Richard, Robert (later a clerk and bachelor in decrees), and John—were mandated to be in tail male with ultimate reversion to the right heirs of William.13
Throughout his adult life, Robert was an energetic litigant, feoffee, and estate manager.? Between 1441 and 1445, he successfully defended himself in a protracted qui tam suit brought by William Calcroft, who accused him under the statute of 1 Henry V of forging deeds to land in Higham Ferrers.14,15,16 In 1445, Robert enrolled a grant acquiring extensive lands in Scaldwell, and in 1455 he acted as a querent in the purchase of the manors of Newbottle and Brington in Northamptonshire and Woodham Ferrers in Essex.17,18 Between 1453 and 1456, he and fellow Pytchley freeholders prosecuted a group of local husbandmen for breaking their close and buildings at Walgrave.19,20 He frequently appeared in the Exchequer pipe rolls as a surety and manucaptor for royal custodies of Benefield lawn and the parks of Brigstock and Cliff.21,22,23 In his later years, Robert became embroiled in litigation with Richard Langton, a London draper, suing him in 1471 in King's Bench and Common Pleas for the detention of a bag of charters and deeds concerning Robert's London messuage, litigation that Robert and his wife Margaret were still pursuing in 1472.24,25,26
Robert Isham died around 1474 or 1475 at Pytchley.? By Hilary term 1474, his widow Margaret and his four sons—William, Robert the clerk, Richard, and John—were actively appearing in the Court of Common Pleas as the executors of his testament, prosecuting actions for debts owed to the estate.27 Dame Margaret survived her husband until August 1477, making a will that directed her burial in the Chapel of St. Anne in Pytchley church and confirming their three sons as her executors.? In subsequent litigation running into the reign of Henry VII, Robert's sons repeatedly recited their formal lineage across four generations as the sons of Robert, son of Robert, son of Robert, son of Henry Isham, securing his reputation as the central architect of the Pytchley family's landed wealth and gentry standing during the fifteenth century.?
- E-CIPM 22-379: ROBERT ISHAM
- Robert Isham, son and heir of Robert Isham, esquire, enrolls a quitclaim of lands in Rothwell and Northampton, Common Pleas CP 40/655 (1424)
- Robert Isham, son and heir of Robert Isham of Pytchley, esquire, deceased, quitclaims former Zouche manors, Common Pleas CP 40/664 (1427)
- Exchequer writ recites an inquisition before Robert Isham, late escheator of Northamptonshire, E 159/220 (1443-44)
- Commissions of the Peace for Northamptonshire in the Reign of Henry VI
- Robert Isham sits as justice of the peace for Northamptonshire at a crown session, KB 9/273 (1454), image 0091
- Robert Isham sits as justice of the peace for Northamptonshire with Lucy, Catesby, Tresham and others, KB 9/280 (1456)
- KB 9/347: session before Robert Isham and Reginald Silesbury, justices of the peace for Northamptonshire, at Rothwell
- Robert Isham as controller of the customs in the port of London on a collectors' account, E 368/242 (1469-70)
- Exchequer process against the London customs collectors and Robert Isham their controller, E 159/246 (1469-70)
- Feet of Fines CP 25/1/179/94, number 97
- William Kirketon demands a messuage in Southwark against Arthur Ormesby, Thomas Crofton, and Robert Isham and Margaret his wife, Common Pleas CP 40/738 (1445)
- CP 40/776: Robert Isham of Pytchley, esquire, recognizance conditioned on William his son and heir, Margaret his wife, and younger sons Richard, Robert and John
- William Calcroft, for the King and himself, sues Robert Isham of Pytchley for forging deeds of Higham Ferrers land, Common Pleas CP 40/732 (1444)
- CP 40/732: related Caltroft v. Isham process
- Jury between William Calcroft and Robert Isham of Pytchley further respited, Common Pleas CP 40/736 (1445)
- Enrollment of a grant and quitclaim to Robert Isham of lands in Scaldwell, Northamptonshire, Common Pleas CP 40/736 (1445), image 1013
- CP 25/1/293/72, number 398.
- CP 40/782 dorses: further Walgrave process
- Robert Isham and co-owners of Pytchley renew Walgrave trespass process, Common Pleas CP 40/782 (1456)
- Robert Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, manucaptor for the custody of Benefield lawn and Brigstock and Cliff parks, E 159/240 (c.1462)
- Pipe roll: Robert Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, as manucaptor in Northamptonshire accounts, E 372/313 (1467-68)
- Pipe roll: Robert Isham of Pytchley, gentleman, manucaptor with Thomas Rabyngton, E 372/314 (1468-69)
- Richard Langton v. Robert Isham of Pytchley, esquire, for detention of a bag of deeds, Common Pleas CP 40/839 (1471)
- Robert Isham sues for forging false deeds of his London messuage, King's Bench KB 27/841 (1471)
- Robert Isham, and Robert and Margaret his wife, have juries respited against Eudo Laweney of London, King's Bench KB 27/842 (1472)
- CP 40/857: Margaret widow of Robert Isham and sons Robert clerk, William, Richard and John, executors — pedigree 'filii Roberti filii Roberti filii Henrici Isham'
? marks 12 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
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1325
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…
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1424
Inquisition post mortem for Robert Isham. Says: "He died on 31 March 1424. Robert Isham is his son and next heir, aged 22 years and more the day of his father’s death."
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1424
On Monday after Martinmas, Robert Isham, son and heir of Robert Isham, esquire, comes into court and acknowledges a deed dated 24 October 3 Henry VI: he remises and quitclaims to William Tresham, William Vaus, John Brockeley, Thomas Sale, William Rothewell and John Faules all his right in lands, tenements, rents, rever…
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1427
Robert Isham, son and heir of Robert Isham of Pytchley, esquire, deceased, came into court on the Thursday after the octave of the Purification and acknowledged a deed quitclaiming to Thomas Wodewyll and Roger Flore, esquires, and William Glon, clerk, all his right in manors and lands in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire,…
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1427
Common Pleas enrolment reciting a grant to Robert Isham concerning Wallington and Baldock, Hertfordshire, 1427.
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1427
Richard Isham of Pytchley stands pledge in King's Bench process, 1427 (same year as Gen. V commissions).
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1427
Robert Isham named on a Northamptonshire commission alongside Catesby, Tresham, Mauntell and Tanfeld, 1427.
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1427
Further 1427 commission enrolment naming Robert Isham of Pytchley.
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1427
On Thursday after the octave of the Purification, Robert Isham, son and heir of Robert Isham of Pyghtesle, esquire, deceased, enrolls a deed remising and quitclaiming to Thomas Wodewyll and Roger Flore, esquires, and William Glen, clerk, all his right in manors, lands, tenements, rents, reversions and services in North…
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1439
County: Northamptonshire.
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1439
Shows Robert Isham participating in two meetings of the Northamptonshire Commission of Peace: November 28, 1439 and January 26, 1441
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1439
CP 25/1/179/94, number 97.
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1440
Covenant with Margaret, formerly wife of Thomas Alyngton
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1441
Related process in Caltroft's qui tam suit against Robert Isham.
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1442
Further enrolment in the Caltroft qui tam litigation against Robert Isham, 1442.
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1443
A royal writ to the treasurer and barons of the Exchequer recites an inquisition taken before Robert Isham (Iseham), late the King's escheator in the county of Northampton, and returned into Chancery, finding that Joan late the wife of Thomas Brounflete, knight the younger, held no lands in fee on the day she died. Mac…
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1443
Robert Isham of Pyitefley (Pytchley), Northamptonshire, gentleman, and William Armeston appear as sureties in process before the Bench; a deed remains in the custody of Robert Darcy, clerk of the Bench. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1444
The jury between William Calcroft, esquire, who sues for the King and himself, and Robert Isham of Pyghtesley, gentleman, in the plea of trespass and contempt against forgers of false deeds, is put in respite to the octave of Hilary for want of jurors. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image…
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1444
Robert Isham of Pyghtesley, Northamptonshire, gentleman, is attached to answer the King and William Calcroft, esquire, under the statute of 1 Henry V against forgers of false deeds. Calcroft complains that on 20 September 21 Henry VI Robert of his own head forged false deeds of Calcroft's messuage, two tofts and 75 acr…
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1445
A deed of 4 January 23 Henry VI is enrolled: the grantor had by charter of 6 April 20 Henry VI granted Robert Isham all his lands, tenements, rents and services in Scaldwell, Northamptonshire, to Robert and his heirs, rendering after six years five marks a year; he now quitclaims all right to Robert. Witnesses include …
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1445
Overlapping photograph of the same Scaldwell grant and quitclaim to Robert Isham enrolled on image 1013. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1445
The jury between William Caltroft, esquire, and Robert Isham of Pyghtesley, gentleman, on the forged-deeds plea is again put in respite for want of jurors. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1445
Warrant of attorney: Arthur Ormesby, esquire, Thomas Crofton, and Robert Isham and Margaret his wife appoint Walter Parys against William Kirketon in a plea of land. Continued on images 1109 and 2798. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1445
Overlapping photograph: Arthur Ormesby, Thomas Crofton, and Robert Isham and Margaret his wife by Walter Parys against William Kirketon in a plea of land. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1445
William Kirketon, by John Wilkokkes, demands against Arthur Ormesby, esquire, Thomas Crofton, and Robert Isham and Margaret his wife a messuage and garden in the parish of St George in Southwark which Thomas Michell, late citizen and cutler of London, gave to William Kirketon son of Matilda late wife of John de Kirketo…
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1448
Court of Common Pleas, CP 40/750, rot. 555
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1448
Robert Isham, esquire, alias Robert Isham, in his own person, against William Ardern of Sprotton, yeoman, and Roger Lenton of Titchmarsh, gentleman, each for 4 marks, and against William Squybbe late of Barton Seagrave, chaplain, and Roger Buryman of West Cornworthy, husbandman, each for 40s. Machine transcription; rea…
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1451
On 5 February this term Robert Isham of Pytchley in Northamptonshire, esquire, acknowledged himself bound to Thomas Palmer and Thomas Langeton, esquires, in 333 pounds 6s. 8d. Condition: if William Isham, son and heir of the said Robert, have and peaceably possess after the death of Robert and Margaret wife of the same…
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1451
Per V.C.H. Northamptonshire iv, Pytchley (fn. 72): Robert (great-grandson of Henry de Isham) settled lands in Pytchley on his son William Isham; the cited record is Exchequer Inq. p.m. file 676, no. 6.
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1453
Continuation of the Walgrave housebreaking suit involving Robert Isham of Pytchley.
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1454
Further process in the Walgrave housebreaking matter, 1454.
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1454
Further enrolment of the Walgrave suit involving Robert Isham.
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1454
Heading of a crown (indictment) session at Northampton before William Lucy, knight, Thomas Wake, Robert Tanfeld, Robert Isham and Richard Willoughby, justices of the King assigned to keep the peace in Northamptonshire and to hear and determine felonies and trespasses. The overlapping photograph is image 0092. Machine t…
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1454
Session at Northampton on Tuesday after Epiphany 32 Henry VI before William Lucy, knight, Thomas Wake, Robert Tanfeld, Robert Isham and Richard Willoughby, JPs. Indictments follow for felonies in the county. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1455
County: Northamptonshire. Essex.
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1456
Robert Isham, John Knight, William Broughton and John Smyth of Pyghtesley against John Smyth of Walgrave, John Magns of Holcot and John Clerk of Walgrave for breaking their close and houses at Walgrave and taking goods worth £10. Capias renewed. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1456
Robert Isham, John Knight, William Broughton and John Smyth of Pyghtesley against John Smyth of Walgrave, John Magns of Holcot and John Clerk of Walgrave for breaking their close at Walgrave and taking goods worth £10. Exigent ordered. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1456
Robert Isham, John Knight, William Broughton and John Smyth of Pyghtesley, by attorney, against John Smyth late of Walgrave, chapman, John Magns of Holcot by Walgrave, husbandman, and John Clerk of Walgrave, husbandman, for breaking their close and houses at Walgrave and taking goods worth £10. Machine transcription; r…
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1456
Crown pleas at Northampton before William Lucy, knight, William Catesby, knight, Thomas Tresham, Walter Mauntel, Robert Isham and Richard Willoughby, justices assigned to keep the peace, on Tuesday after the feast of St Peter ad Vincula 32 Henry VI (session material filed in this indictment file). Jurors include men of…
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1457
John Leyceter of Northampton, mercer, was summoned to answer Robert Isham for a writing obligatory. Robert in person says that on Wednesday after Easter 34 Henry VI at Duston he delivered to Leyceter a bond in which Robert Isham, esquire, was bound to John Creton, gentleman, in 100s, to be safely kept and redelivered; …
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1461
Robert Isham sued Richard Forde and Nicholas Bocher of Orlingbury, 1461.
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1461
Exchequer account enrolment naming Robert Isham as of Pytchley, 1461.
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1462
By mainprise of Thomas Rabyngton of Nottingham, gentleman, and Robert Isham of Pychle, Northamptonshire, gentleman, the King commits to Ralph Hastings, esquire, Thomas Palmer, gentleman, and William Palmer the custody of the herbage and pannage within the lawn of Benefield and of the parks of Brigstock and Cliff for tw…
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1464
Crown pleas held at Rothwell in Northamptonshire before Robert Isham and Reginald Silesbury, the king's justices assigned to keep the peace in the county, on the Tuesday next after the feast of the Holy Trinity 12 Edward IV; inquisition into an assault at Little Billing.
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1467
Robert Isham named with Thomas Colte and others in Exchequer memoranda, 1467.
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1467
In the Northamptonshire pipe accounts, farms and custodies are charged with mainprise including Robert Isham of Pychle in the county of Northampton, gentleman (readings repeated in related pipe entries). Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1468
Northamptonshire pipe entries again name Robert Isham of Pychle, gentleman, among the sureties (with Thomas Rabyngton of Nottingham and others) for royal custodies including Benefield lawn and related parks. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1469
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1469
The sheriffs are ordered to distrain the collectors of the customs and subsidies of wool, hides and woolfells in the port of London and Robert Asham/Isham, controller of the same, by their lands, so that the collectors account for the customs from 31 May 8 Edward IV onward and the controller do what belongs to his offi…
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1469
On the account of William Elsattok and Thomas Salle, late collectors of the customs and subsidies of wool, hides and woolfells in the port of the city of London, from Michaelmas in the sixth year of Edward IV to the last day of March following, by the view and testimony of Robert Iseham, the King's controller there for…
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1471
Richard Langton, by attorney, against Robert Isham of Sytesley (Pytchley), Northamptonshire, esquire, for detention of a bag with charters, writings and other muniments. Capias ordered. This is the same Langton family later sued by Robert's executors (William, Richard, John and Robert the clerk) for debt in 1486-87. Ma…
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1471
Robert Isham complains under the statute against forgers that the defendant forged a false deed of Robert's messuage in London and caused it to be published to destroy his title, to Robert's damage of 100 marks. The defendant appears and defends. Machine transcription; readings should be checked against the image.
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1472
A jury between Robert Isham, who sues for the King and himself, and Eudo Laweney late of London, broker, on a plea of contempt and trespass against forgers of false deeds, is put in respite for want of jurors. A second jury between Robert Isham and Margaret his wife and Eudo Laweney for detention of an indented charter…
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1474
Margaret who was the wife of Robert Isham, and Robert [Isham] clerk, William Isham, Richard Isham and John Isham, son of the said Robert Isham son of Robert son of Robert son of Henry Isham, executors of the testament of Robert Isham son of Robert Isham son of Robert son of Henry Isham, by attorney offered themselves a…
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1480
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1486
On the membrane naming Robert Isham clerk, William, Richard and John Isham as executors of Robert Isham (son of Robert son of Robert son of Henry) against Richard Langton, citizen and draper of London, the entry also reads toward 'Henricum Isham' in the same Langton process. Taken with the dossier as evidence of a poss…
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1555
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 …
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1741