WILLIAM PERKINS

(1380-1451) - Madresfield, Worcestershire, England; Ufton Court, Berkshire, England

(Fourth Generation - Perkins Family)

FATHER
MOTHER
JOHN PERKINS
NOT KNOWN



BIRTH William was born in 1380 in Madresfield, Worcestershire, England[1]
DEATH He died in Ufton Court, Berkshire, England in 1451; he was 71[1].
LEGAL MENTION & ESTATE Various records show that he was flourishing in 1420 & 1427. The 1424 records show a family rift, with a fine imposed between John Collee & Elizabeth (his wife?) and William Perkins and his wife, Margaret. It is not sure whether the John Collee referred to is Margaret's father or a brother by the same name. William's identity is proven by the notation that he was "son of John the Seneschal". Whatever the cause of the legal spat, William & Margaret and their heirs were awarded the manor & advowson of Ufton Robert, near Reading, England; and a moiety of land in Buscot amongst Ufton & other places. This estate remained in the Perkins family for centuries. A wonderful history of the manor & surrounding village can be found at David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History website (http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/ufton_nervet.html).

A "moiety", from the Latin "medietas", is one half of a tract of land. An "advowson" was the right to nominate someone to officiate a vacant church. It was a common appendant to a manor, granting the lord of the manor the right to choose the clergy of the local church.

As with most manors, Ufton officially "belonged" to King Richard II (r. 1377-1399), with William agreeing his fealty and support in return for the lands, buildings & vassals. This, of course, meant that William needed to raise men & money for any military action called by his King. In addition, William had to protect his lands & vassals from any dangers & attacks. It wasn't all sitting on the veranda, sipping mead.

William continues to show up in records of the time. He witnessed "...a deed or grant from Henry VI to provost and college of Eton, of lands in New and Old Windsor and Clewer..."[4] In 1447, he appears in the Court Roll of the Manor of Bray as the "Baillous" to the Duke of Gloucester. This Duke was brother to King Henry V (r. 1413-1422) and, as his uncle, one of the guardians of Henry VI (r. 1422-1461, 1470-1471) until he came of age[4].

MARRIAGE Sometime before 1410 when William was 30, he married Margaret COLLEE[1], daughter of John COLLEE. Margaret was born circa 1380.

CHILDREN 5. i. Thomas PERKINS, Esq. Please see his own page.
6. ii. Humphrey PERKINS Humphrey was born in 1420[1].
7. iii. John PERKINS John born in 1441[1].
8. iv. William PERKINS We know nothing more of William, save that he was perhaps born in 1430.





GENERATION Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great (G17) Grandfather
FAMILY NUMBER 1,043,712
SOURCES 1. Placeholder, This Is, A Title Of No Consequence Because It Does Not Exist., (NeverNeverLand: Spoof Publications), [PlaceHold], III:1432.




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