Manor & Lordship
- Manor / site
- Unknown
- Associated lordship
- Lordship of Fenny Stafford Associated
- Lordship status
- Unknown
The supplied historical narrative expressly refers to the Lordship of Fenny Stafford and records it from 1252; survival or extinction of the distinct title is not established.
Historical names: Fenny Stafford
Location: Buckinghamshire
Places / associated places: Buckinghamshire
About the Manor
(Including the historic right to market)
FENNY STAFFORD is a market town and ancient borough which gained importance due to its position on Watling Street, the Roman Road. It was an important place of call on this road, the main highway from London to the north-west of England. The town attained the rank of borough before 1370 and annual fairs had been granted to the Lord of Fenny Stafford in 1252. The town suffered badly from the civil war (the chapel was destroyed) and the plague of 1665. It never regained its earlier significance.
The first record to the Lordship of Fenny Stafford is in 1252, the time when the annual fair was granted to the Lord of the Manor. At that time the Lord was John Grey, who was Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1238. Upon his death in 1266, he was succeeded by his eldest son Reynold. Reynold was summoned to parliament in 1295 as Lord de Grey. He was appointed Justice of Chester and Keeper of County Chester in 1281 and fought at the battle of Falkirk with Edward I in 1298. The Manor passed to his son, John, upon his death in 1308. John, Lord Grey, was made Justiciar of North Wales and keeper of the King's lands in those parts. From him it passed to his son, Henry, in 1323 and from him to his son, Reynold, fourth Lord Grey, in 1342.
Reynold died in 1370 and his son succeeded him. Henry was summoned to Parliament in 1377 and served until 1394. Upon his death in 1395 the Lordship passed to his son Richard who died in 1442. His widow, Margaret married Thomas Grey, younger brother of Edmund (Grey), Earl of Kent. He was later made Baron of Richenmount Grey and served as Justice of the Peace in Buckinghamshire between 1453 and 1458. In 1448, Margaret renounced her life interest in the Manor to her first husband's son, Reynold Grey. Reynold served in Parliament from 1444 to 1495. He settled the Manor in fee-tail on himself and his wife Tacina in 1454. He died in 1493.
His heir, John, died in 1499. His widow, Elizabeth, married Sir Edward Stanley, later Lord Monteagle, and sued her son Edmund Grey for her dower in the Manor. Edmund settled Fenny Stafford on his wife Florence for life, and after his death in 1511, his fourth son (the elder three dying as minors) succeeded to the title in 1520. William obtained the Manor in 1536 upon the death of Florence. He was one of the 26 peers who signed the letters patent of 16 June 1553 settling the Crown of England on Lady Jane Grey. He was soon pardoned on the accession of Queen Mary and was even supposed to be “master of the queue's hawkes the daye of her coronacion”.
Before he died in 1562 he quitclaimed the Manor for £1,000 to the Marquess of Winchester, to whom the Manor was granted in 1563 by Queen Elizabeth. It was quitclaimed by Arthur, William's son and heir, in 1564, both grant and quitclaim to be void if Arthur paid £3,000. He was regranted the Manor in 1572. Arthur died in 1593 and his son, Thomas 15th Lord Grey, was attainted in 1603. Fenny Stafford became forfeit to the Crown, and was leased to George Fleetwood and others in 1609. In 1616, after the death of Thomas, Lord Grey, the Manor was granted in fee to Sir George Villiers, James I's great favourite. The lease to the Grey family was surrendered to Villiers in 1616, and he was created Duke of Buckingham in 1623.
The Manor was sold by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham in 1674 to Thomas Willis MD who died the following Autumn. His son, also Thomas, died in 1699 and was succeeded by Browne Willis, the famous antiquary. Fenny Stafford was settled on the marriage of his eldest son, Thomas, in 1735. Thomas died in 1756 and his son, Thomas, proved the will of his grandfather, Browne Willis, upon the latest death in 1760. Thomas Willis took the name of Fleming after an inheritance of land from a distant cousin. He died in 1762, the Manor passing to his half brother John.
John obtained an Act of Parliament in 1767 enabling him to take the name Fleming and later sold the manor to the Rev Philip Barton of Great Brickhill. He died in 1786, leaving the Manor in trust for his godson Philip Duncombe Pauncefort on the condition he should take the name Duncombe on inheriting. This he did in 1805. The Manor then descended through his son Philip (created Baronet in 1859), to Philip Henry Pauncefort-Duncombe to the current owner, Sir Everard Philip Digby Pauncefort-Duncombe. The descent of the family is given at the end of this Catalogue.
The Lordship lies in the modern parish of Bletchley.
Rights, customs and incidents
(Including the historic right to market)
The town attained the rank of borough before 1370 and annual fairs had been granted to the Lord of Fenny Stafford in 1252.
The first record to the Lordship of Fenny Stafford is in 1252, the time when the annual fair was granted to the Lord of the Manor.
Associated manorial documents / archive references
- Court Roll 1771 Bucks RO
- Court Book 1776-1832
- Court Rolls c1334-1470 Greater Manchester RO
- Court Rolls (Compti) C14th-15th
- Account Rolls 1371-96 Bucks RO
- Court Rolls 1372-94, 1679
- Court Books 1771, 1776-1832
- Survey 1669
- Quit Rental 1824
Ownership / Holder Account
Historical holder / succession information
- Lord of the Manor [source claim requiring identity review]
1252 · granted_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
Source wording: The first record to the Lordship of Fenny Stafford is in 1252, the time when the annual fair was granted to the Lord of the Manor. - his son, John, upon his death [source claim requiring identity review]
1308 · passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
Source wording: The Manor passed to his son, John, upon his death in 1308. - his son Richard [source claim requiring identity review]
1395|1442 · passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
Source wording: Upon his death in 1395 the Lordship passed to his son Richard who died in 1442.
Manorial Rights & Privileges
Historic manorial rights / privileges (3)
Annual fair
Provisional
An annual fair was granted to the Lord of the Manor in 1252.
Market
Provisional
The record expressly identifies a historic right to market associated with Fenny Stratford.
Borough status
Provisional
The town attained the rank of borough before 1370.
Conveyance & Descent
First holder to present holder: blood proximity & distance travelled
First recorded holder: John Grey
Present holder:
Recorded title journey: 27 holder entries in this manor's saved Conveyance & Descent history.
No recorded holder currently has a usable saved direct-blood or collateral-blood relationship path from which to calculate proximity percentages.
First recorded holder → present holder
A usable saved blood relationship path between the first recorded holder and the present holder has not yet been recorded, so that first-to-present genealogical distance cannot be calculated.
John Grey
Transfer: Recorded as Lord of the Manor when the annual fair was granted.
The first recorded lordship reference is in 1252, when John Grey was Lord of the Manor.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Reynold Grey
Transfer: Succession on his father's death.
Previous holder: John Grey
Reynold Grey succeeded his father John Grey in 1266.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
John Grey
Transfer: Succession from his father.
Previous holder: Reynold Grey
John Grey succeeded Reynold Grey in 1308.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Transfer: Succession from his father.
Previous holder: John Grey
Henry Grey succeeded John Grey in 1323.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Reynold Grey
Transfer: Succession from his father.
Reynold Grey succeeded Henry Grey in 1342.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Transfer: Succession from his father.
Previous holder: Reynold Grey
Henry Grey succeeded his father Reynold in 1370.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Richard Grey
Transfer: Succession from his father.
Richard Grey succeeded Henry Grey in 1395 and died in 1442.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Transfer: Margaret renounced her life interest in favour of Reynold Grey in 1448; the manor was settled in fee-tail on Reynold and his wife Tacina in 1454.
Holding arrangement: Joint — fee-tail settlement
Previous holder: Margaret Grey
Reynold Grey held the manor following the renunciation of Margaret's life interest and the 1454 settlement.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Transfer: Obtained the manor on Florence's death.
Previous holder: Florence Grey
William Grey obtained the manor in 1536 after the death of Florence.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Marquess of Winchester
Transfer: The manor was quitclaimed for £1,000 and granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1563; the transaction was subject to a regrant if Arthur Grey paid £3,000.
Previous holder: William Grey, 13th Baron Grey de Wilton, English nobleman and soldier, 15th Baron Grey de Wilton, English peer
The Marquess of Winchester received the manor by the 1563 grant, subject to the stated regrant arrangement.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Arthur Grey
Transfer: Regranted the manor in 1572 under the arrangement following the 1563 grant and quitclaim.
Previous holder: Marquess of Winchester
Arthur Grey was regranted the manor in 1572.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Transfer: Granted in fee by the Crown in 1616 after forfeiture following Thomas Grey's attainder.
Previous holder: Crown
The manor became forfeit to the Crown and was granted in fee to Sir George Villiers in 1616; he became Duke of Buckingham in 1623.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Thomas Willis
Transfer: Purchased the manor in 1674.
Previous holder: 2nd Duke of Buckingham
The 2nd Duke of Buckingham sold the manor to Thomas Willis, who died the following autumn.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Rev. Philip Barton
Transfer: Purchased the manor after John Fleming obtained an enabling Act and later sold it.
Previous holder: John Fleming
The Rev. Philip Barton of Great Brickhill acquired the manor in the later eighteenth century.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Transfer: Inherited under trust and took the name Duncombe in 1805.
Holding arrangement: Trust
Previous holder: Rev. Philip Barton
The manor was left in trust for Barton's godson, who inherited in 1805 on taking the name Duncombe.
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
Transfer: Held the lordship after the death of her husband Richard Grey, before renouncing her life interest in 1448.
Holding arrangement: Other — Life interest
Previous holder: Richard Grey
Widow of Richard Grey; she later married Thomas Grey and renounced her life interest in favour of Reynold Grey in 1448.
Transfer: Succeeded to the family interest after the death of Reynold Grey; settled the manor on his wife Florence for life.
Previous holder: Reynold Grey
Edmund Grey was the son and heir connected with the succession following Reynold Grey's death and created a life settlement for his wife Florence.
Transfer: Held for life under the settlement made by Edmund Grey; the manor passed to William Grey on her death in 1536.
Previous holder: Edmund Grey
Florence held the manor for life under Edmund Grey's settlement.
Thomas Grey, 15th Baron Grey, 15th Baron Grey de Wilton
Transfer: Succeeded to the manor after Arthur Grey's death; the manor became forfeit to the Crown following his attainder in 1603.
Previous holder: Arthur Grey
Thomas Grey was attainted in 1603, causing forfeiture of the manor to the Crown.
Crown
Transfer: The manor was forfeited to the Crown after Thomas Grey's attainder and was later granted in fee to Sir George Villiers in 1616.
Previous holder: Thomas Grey, 15th Baron Grey, 15th Baron Grey de Wilton
Crown ownership followed the forfeiture arising from Thomas Grey's attainder.
George Fleetwood and others
Transfer: The Crown leased the forfeited manor to George Fleetwood and others in 1609; the lease was surrendered to George Villiers in 1616.
Holding arrangement: Joint
Previous holder: Crown
A Crown lease intervened between forfeiture and the 1616 fee grant to Sir George Villiers.
Transfer: Succeeded his father, Thomas Willis MD, who died in 1675.
Previous holder: Thomas Willis MD
The younger Thomas Willis held the manor until his death in 1699.
Transfer: Succeeded his father in 1699 and held the manor until his death in 1760.
Previous holder: Thomas Willis
Browne Willis was the noted antiquary and owner of Fenny Stafford.
Transfer: The manor was settled on Browne Willis's eldest son Thomas upon his marriage in 1735.
Previous holder: Browne Willis, Antiquary and author
Thomas Willis held under the marriage settlement until his death in 1756.
Transfer: Succeeded his father in 1756 and took the surname Fleming after inheriting land from a distant cousin.
Previous holder: Thomas Willis
He proved Browne Willis's will after Browne's death in 1760 and died in 1762.
Transfer: Inherited the manor from his half brother in 1762 and later obtained an Act of Parliament enabling him to take the name Fleming.
Previous holder: Thomas Willis Fleming
John Fleming sold the manor after obtaining the enabling Act.
Transfer: At his death in 1786, Barton left the manor in trust for his godson Philip Duncombe Pauncefort, subject to a name-taking condition fulfilled in 1805.
Holding arrangement: Trust
Previous holder: Rev. Philip Barton
Barton’s will placed the manor in trust for his godson until the stipulated inheritance condition was met.
Lordship / Title Associations
Associations are recorded by period so changes in estate composition do not imply that every manor remained attached to the same title indefinitely.
Associated · 1252 · Provisional
Source: Offline model knowledge; source verification required
The supplied historical narrative expressly refers to the Lordship of Fenny Stafford and records it from 1252; survival or extinction of the distinct title is not established.
Research Status / Wanted Evidence
Wanted evidence: Source-backed evidence resolving this point
Offline backfill could not securely resolve this without source research.
Wanted evidence: Source-backed evidence resolving this point
Offline backfill could not securely resolve this without source research.
Wanted evidence: Source-backed evidence resolving this point
Offline backfill could not securely resolve this without source research.
Corrections / Challenges
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JSON API
Machine-readable published manor data, including public images, mapped land areas, notes, rights, conveyances, relationships, records, source/document-library entries and public file links.
https://manorialregistry.com/index.php?rest_route=/mhr/v1/manor/fenny-stratfordPublic API access is currently disabled. Authorised API clients must use a private X-MHR-API-Key; currently only administrator keys are enabled.
Private source files, pending edits, moderation/admin information, user API keys and non-public import identifiers are not returned.