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William Bolle, Escheator of Lincolnshire

Back to The Bolles of Lincolnshire or The Bolles of Swineshead Parish

The Bolle of Haugh pedigree has Randulf Bolle as having been an Escheator of Lincolnshire but I can’t find any reference for Randulf in that position.  It was a William Bolle of Wellingore in parts of Kesteven who was appointed on Feb. 4, 1388 and served in that position intermittently until 1404.  Wellingore is far from the rest of the Bolle families in the Swineshead area and he seems to have had very little contact with them even in his capacity as the county escheator.  However, there are no references for a prominent Bolle family prior to William in parts of Kesteven that you would expect to find for someone in such a senior position.  There were Bolles in this area but not on the scale of an Escheator, a very powerful figure who represented the king directly on all land issues for an entire county.

 

There are also a couple of orders to a John Bolle, escheator, in that same period but there are no orders for his appointment so he was possibly a sub-escheator of William’s in ‘parts of Holand’ (the region which included Swineshead, Wigtoft etc.)

 

 

References for John Bolle, escheator

 

Close Rolls of Richard II, Vol. 3, 1385-1389, p. 397

1388

The following reference is the only one that I could find that connects William Bolle with John Bolle and with two men, John Pulvertoft of Algarkirke and William Bonde of Gosberkirke, who were very well known to the Bolles of Swineshead.

 

Close Rolls of Richard II, Vol. 6, 1396--1399, p. 420

 

References for William Bolle, escheator of Lincolnshire

 

Commissioner of the Peace and Justice of the Assize

 

Ever since Richard I, knights and other powerful leaders had been given commissions to keep and administer the peace in their home districts.

 

One of the major local issues in the fenlands was the control of water levels in the areas where swampy land had been diked off and drained to produce very valuable meadow lands.  Even the king’s wife and mother held meadow lands which had been damaged by other parties attempts to control the water levels on neighbouring lands.  In November 1382 the king commissioned an investigation into a water mill which had raised the water running to a mill of Queen Anne’s at Burgh (Peterborough) causing it to flood her meadows. 

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. II p. 201)

 

And the next day he appointed a commission of the peace to several men including John la Warre of Swineshead to cause the dykes in parts of Holand and Kesteven to be repaired following a complaint by the king’s mother Joan, princess of Wales that lands, meadows, pastures and marshes in her manors of Deeping and Brunne had been flooded for want of draining by certain townships in the parts of Kesteven.

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. II p. 201)

In December 1382 the king issued commissions right across England to look into and enforce justice on such complaints.  His commissioners in Lincolnshire were:

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. II p. 254)

In February 1384 William was added to the Commissioners of the Peace and Justices of the Assize (commission of oyer and terminer) for parts of Kesteven.

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. II p. 350)

 

The commissions in December 1382 were probably for a two year term as the commissioners in the parts of Kesteven, co. Lincoln including William were re-appointed in November 1384. This was apparently for an indefinite term as no further commissions were issued until July 1389.  (Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume II, p. 502)

 

 

In July 1389 about half of the above commissioners received a new commission but William was not re-appointed until he was added again in November (Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. IV, p. 139)

 

The terms seem to have been irregular as the commission was reappointed in June 1390, October 1393 and July 1397 with William included each time:

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. IV, p. 343)

 

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. V, p. 440)

 

 

In July 1397 his appointment was for parts of Kesteven and for parts of Holand

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. VI, p. 234)

 

In December of that year he was one of the officials in Lincolnshire who were commissioned to enquire into the assembly of armed bands in the county who were in a warlike array and had assaulted the Bishop of Lincoln’s men.  These armed bands were probably supporters of the ‘Lords Appellant’ who had attempted to dethrone Richard II since 1387, the main three leaders of which (the Duke of Gloucester, the Earl of Arundel and the Earl of Warwick) Richard had just struck back at in 1397.

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. VI, p. 310)

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. VI, p. 239)

An order in February 1398 just changes two appointments in parts of Holand, James Roos was replaced by John Rocheford and John Meres was replaced by John de la Launde but William remained for another one year term.

 

 

On May 4, 1404 William was referred to as a justice in parts of Kesteven:

(Fine Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. XII)

To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Writ of supersedeas omnino in respect of any process against the executors of John Bozoun knight, appointed with William Thirnynge, Robert Waterton, William Bolle and John Repynghale a justice to make inquisition in the parts of Kesteven co. Lincoln by whose default the walls, dikes, gutters, sewers, bridges, causeways, and weirs were burst and broken etc., or against his heirs or the tenants of his lands, but order to proceed against others who did meddle therein; as John Bozoun, son and heir of the said John, has made oath in chancery that that commission was not delivered to his father in his life time.

 

The Patent Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. III (p. 493) lists William Bolle as Commissioner of the Peace for Kesteven from March 1406 to February 1407 when he was replaced by John Reppynghale.     

  

Commissioner of Walls, Dikes etc.

 

In 1383, a William Bolle was appointed a Commissioner of Walls and Dikes etc. along the River Trent between Gainsborough and Doneheved, Nottinghamshire (possibly present day Dunham-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire about 10 miles along the Trent from Gainsborough) (Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume II, p. 201)

This stretch of river is in parts of Lindsey, quite far from Swineshead in parts of Holand and Wellingore in parts of Kesteven.  In 1372 there was a William Bole and wife Emma living at Gainsborough so this reference may be for an entirely different William Bolle.  It is possible that William Bolle of Swineshead (b. ca. 1330)

 

In 1397 a William Bolle was appointed to be always a commissioner of Walls, dikes etc. for parts of Kesteven. (Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume VI, p. 307)

 

And a month later a William Bolle was appointed to the same for parts of Holand. (Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume VI, p. 309)

 

It seems unlikely that two different William Bolles would be appointed to two different parts of Linconshire within one month or that three different William Bolles would be appointed to all three of the parts of Lincolnshire within a span of 14 years.

 

I believe they were all the same William Bolle but there is no absolute proof. 

 

As a further note, in June 1398 William Bolle was appointed to enforce certain statutes passed by Parliament which were within the responsibility of the commissioners for Walls, Dikes etc. but this time with 8 others with a shared responsibility for all of Lincolnshire. (Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume VI, p. 370)

 

 

In 1402 William was given another commission for Walls, dikes etc. for parts of Kesteven (Patent Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. I, p. 198)

 

 

In 1404 he received a commission for Walls, dikes etc. on the river Wythom between the towns of Claypole, Nottingham and Bracebrigg in parts of Kesteven. (Patent Rolls of Henry IV, Vol.II, p. 283)

 

As Escheator of Lincolnshire

 

In February 1388 William was appointed the Escheator of County Lincoln.  In that role he was the king’s direct representative on all matters involving landholdings for the entire county.

 

Appointment of William Bolle as Escheator of county Lincoln Feb. 4, 1388 (Fine Rolls of Richard II, Vol. X, 1383-1391, p. 210)

 

 

And orders started to come to him soon after (Close Rolls of Richard II, Vol. 3, p. 368)

 

There are another 30 or so orders to William Bolle, escheator in the Close Rolls of Richard II and more in the Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II between 1388 and 1391.  One of William’s inquisitions which involved land in the ‘suburb of Lincoln’ and in nearby North Carleton in 1390 refers to a Thomas Bowell of Lincoln.

 

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume IV)

 

 

In February 1391 John Bozoun was appointed in William’s place:

 

William appears in the Fine Rolls as escheator of Lincolnshire again from January 1392 until February 1395.

 

There is also a memorandum in the Lincoln Cathedral’s register in 1394 mentioning him:

 

Publications of The Lincoln Record Society, Vol. 28 The Registrum Antiquissium of the Cathedral Church of Lincoln, Vol. 2; 1933; p. 207-8

 

In February 1395 John Meres was appointed Escheator of Lincolnshire but William was appointed again from July 1396 until November 1399 when he appears as ‘late (i.e. former) escheator of Lincolnshire’ having apparently lost the appointment with the change in monarchy.  In November 1398 he also appears as ‘William Bolle and his fellows, guardians of the peace in the parts of Kesteven’. (Fine Rolls of Richard II)

 

King Richard II had died in September 1399 and the Patent Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. 1, p. 152 dated November 1399 refers to ‘William Bolle late escheator in the county of Lincoln’.

 

The close rolls of Henry IV, Vol. 1 (Oct. 24, 1400) refer to ‘William Bolle the late king's escheator’ with John Meres having the position again. 

 

 

But William was appointed escheator again in November 1402 (Fine Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. XII, p. 185)

On Oct. 21, 1403 William appears as escheator in an order concerning some property once held by Philip de Kyme (William’s grandson William would marry an Anne Kyme around 1410 but I don’t know their connection):

 

To William Bolle escheator in Lincolnshire. Like order concerning the manor of 'Longbenyngton' with the members and appurtenances, two knights' fees in Bracebrigge and Skeldynghope sometime held by Hugh Wake, one knight's fee in Little Kyme sometime held by Philip de Kyme, one knight's fee and a half in Tathewelle held by William Tathewelle, the fourth part of one knight's fee there formerly held by Geoffrey de Appulby, the fourth part of one knight's fee in Thurleby held by William Wasteneys, the moiety of one knight's fee in Bassyngburgh held by the said William, one knight's fee in Carleby held by the said William, the third part of one knight's fee in Basyngthorp formerly held by Robert Bassetwyn, the third part of one knight's fee in Denton formerly held by William son of Alan, the third part of one knight's fee in the hundred of Brun formerly held by William Wasteneys, the fifth part of one knight's fee in Hacomby formerly held by Robert Bagot, the moiety of one knight's fee in North Rouceby held by the prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England, two knights' fees and a half in the manor of Holbeches in Hollande sometime held by William son of Hugh Dakre knight (militis), which manor was sometime of Thomas de Multon, two knights' fees and a half in Little Paunton, Great Paunton and Garmthorp in Kesteven formerly held by John de Haryngton knight and sometime of Philip de Paunton, and one knight's fee and a half in Thoresby by Hellowe in Lyndesey held by Thomas Chaworth knight and sometime of John de Caltoft knight, the said manor etc. being held of the honour of Richemonde.

 

In 1419 an order from Henry IV referred to him again as having been King Richard II’s escheator: (Close Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. II, Book 2, p. 1)

Other Commissions

 

In 1386 he was given a commission to ensure that armourers or vendors of arms, armour or horses in the parts of Kesteven sell their products at a reasonable value as the dealers were seen to be raising their prices due to the threat of a French invasion.  (Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume III, p. 261)

In 1390 a William Bolle was appointed for 1 year (with 5 others) to undertake the necessary repairs to the royal castle at Somerton and at nearby Carleton Manor.  As Somerton Castle was near Wellingore I believe this would be the same William Bolle who was escheator of Lincoln.  The earliest record that I can find that actually places William at Wellingore though was in 1393 but he may have moved there from Gainsborough at any time since 1383.

 

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume IV)

One year later the commission was extended for another two years.

 

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume V)

 

In July 1398 he was one of four commissioned to investigate and punish offenders who illegally caught fish in the River Trent contrary to royal statutes.

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Volume VI, p. 370)

 

In December 1401 William Bolle and a John Slory were appointed to collect a levy on landholders in parts of Kesteven to pay for the King’s daughter’s marriage. (Fine rolls of Henry IV, Vol. XII, 1399-1405, p. 147, 148)

 

In July and September 1403 William received a commission of array to assemble Kesteven’s defenses against the king’s enemies who have lately invaded the realm

 

(Patent Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. II, p. 293)

 

(Patent Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. II, p. 289)

 

In March 1404 William was one of many people appointed to collect a levy on landholders throughout England to fund the current war with Scotland. (Fine Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. XII, p. 256)

 

References to William being ‘of Wellingore’

 

William Bolle, the Escheator is only on record as being of Wellingore from 1393.   Ref.

CP 25/1/144/149, number 7.

County:     Lincolnshire.

Place:        Westminster.

Date: The day after St Martin, 17 Richard [II] [12 November 1393].

Parties:      Gerard de Sothill', esquire, William Bolle of Welyngou[er]e, Robert de Kele of Lincoln', William de Peke of Lincoln', Henry de Refham, clerk, and William Mannyng', clerk, querents, and Henry de Dale of Wotton' of the county of Bedford, son of Nicholas de Dale of Refham, and Maud, his wife, deforciants.

Property:   2 messuages and 3 acres of land in Lincoln' and the suburbs of the same city.

Action:       Plea of covenant.

Agreement:        Henry de Dale and Maud have acknowledged the tenements to be the right of Robert, as those which Robert, Gerard, William, William, Henry de Refham and William have of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed them from themselves and the heirs of Henry to Gerard, William, Robert, William, Henry de Refham and William and the heirs of Robert forever.

Warranty:  Warranty by Henry de Dale and his heirs.

For this:     Gerard, William, Robert, William, Henry de Refham and William have given them 20 pounds sterling.

Standardized forms of names. (These are tentative suggestions, intended only as a finding aid.)

Persons:    Gerard de Soothill, William Boll, Robert de Keel, William de Peake, Henry de Reepham, William Manning, Henry de Dale, Nicholas de Dale, Maud de Dale

Places:      Wellingore, Lincoln, Wootton (in Bedfordshire), Reepham

 

And again in 1395

 

(Calendar of Patent Rolls of Richard II, Vol. V, p. 676)

 

In December 1399 he was given a commission of array

(Patent Rolls of Henry IV, Vol. 1, p. 210)

 

In March 9, 1407 he was referred to only as William Bolle of Wellingore:

(Fine rolls of Henry IV, Vol. ?)

And again:

 

 

None of his earlier references indicate where he lived but all of his appointments from 1384 on were either for the entire county or for parts of Kesteven so he was most likely of Wellingore at least from 1384.

Known Commissions Held by William Bolle of Wellingore

(assuming these all refer to the same William Bolle; the records for this period are too incomplete to consider this a complete list)

 

1383         Commissioner of Walls and Dikes along the River Trent south from Gainsorough (parts of Lindsey)

1384-97     Commissioner of the Peace and Justice of the Assize for Kesteven

1388-

1397-99     Commissioner of the Peace and Justice of the Assize for Kesteven and Holand

1397-98     to always be Commissioner of Walls and Dikes for Kesteven and for Holand

1401         Commissioner of the Peace and Justice of the Assize for Kesteven

1402

1404         Justice of the Assize for Kesteven

1406-07     Commissioner of the Peace and Justice of the Assize for Kesteven

 

A William Bolle of Wellingore near Kesteven in 1393, 1395 and 1402

William Bolle, a commissioner of walls and dikes in 1397, again in 1402, for the river Wythom between Claypole and Bracebrigg in county of Nottingham and in the parts of Kesteven in 1403; commissioned to enforce prices on armor in parts of Kesteven 1386; commissioned for Gaol Delivery to Lincoln Castle in 1397, 1399; a commissioner of mills, weirs, stanks, stakes and kiddles in Lincolnshire in 1398; escheator of Lincolnshire ca. 1388-1398, referred to as late escheator in 1399; commissioner of array in the parts of Kesteven in 1399, for Lincoln in 1403 (for assembling knights, esquires and yeomen to go against the Earl of Northumberland and divers other rebels);

(this might be two William Bolles, one in Gainsborough and one in Wellingore but every reference just says simply William Bolle, if there were two of the same name receiving commissions during the same period they would probably say which one they meant)

 

A William Bolle made commissioner of walls and dikes in the parts of Holand in 1397 (Possibly the Swineshead line)

 

Indications of a Connection to the Swineshead Bolle Line

 

Early Lincoln Wills 1280-1547, Alfred Gibbons, Lincoln, 1888

Bishop Buckingham’s Register

Miscellaneous References

 

Final Concords of the County of Lancaster, Part III 1377-1509, edited by William Farrer, The Record Society, 1905

 


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