John le Poher, of Wickenford

A manor at WICHENFORD held by the Poer family of the bishop's manor of Wick Episcopi (fn. 29) seems to have originated in a virgate of land there given by Samson, Bishop of Worcester (1096–1112), to Illi de Turre. (fn. 30) This land probably passed with Norton in Bredon to Hamo de Turre, and towards the end of the 12th century was like Norton in the possession of William Poer. (fn. 31) Richard Poer, who may perhaps be identified with the Richard who was holding half a knight's fee of the bishop in 1196–7, (fn. 32) was holding 4 hides at Wichenford, Norton and Hill in Fladbury early in the 13th century. (fn. 33) The date of Richard's death is not known, but he was still alive in 1220, (fn. 34) and a Richard Poer was holding land at Lemington, co. Gloucester, in 1241. (fn. 35) Richard was succeeded, according to the pedigree of the family given in the visitation of 1569, by his son John, (fn. 36) who in 1244 agreed with the Bishop of Worcester as to an exchange of land at Fladbury and Wichenford. (fn. 37) James Poer was in possession of the manor in 1299. (fn. 38) Roger son of John Poer (fn. 39) died about 1342, leaving John his son and heir a minor. (fn. 40) Maud wife of Roger held the manor until her death in 1362, (fn. 41) when livery was made to her son John. (fn. 42) John Poer of Wichenford is mentioned in 1404–5, (fn. 43) but the exact date of his death is not known. (fn. 44) He left two daughters Margaret and Agnes his co-heirs. (fn. 45) Wichenford evidently fell to the share of the former, who became the second wife of John Washbourne, for in 1428 her son Norman Washbourne held the manor. (fn. 46) He died before 1480, (fn. 47) and his son and successor John (fn. 48) died in 1517, leaving as his heir his grandson John son of Robert Washbourne. (fn. 49) John died in 1532, (fn. 50) leaving this manor to his widow Margaret, who afterwards married John Kettleby of Cotheridge. Anthony son and heir of John Washbourne and Margaret died at Wichenford in 1570 in the lifetime of his mother. (fn. 51) The exact date of Margaret's death is not known, but before 1598–9 the manor had passed to John eldest son of Anthony. (fn. 52) He died in 1633–4, leaving as his heir his great-grandson John, (fn. 53) who married Elizabeth Childe in 1639, while still a minor. (fn. 54) He was an ardent Royalist, and compounded for his estates in 1649–50. (fn. 55) He probably took part in the battle of Worcester in September 1650, as he was among those present before the battle at the review at Pitchcroft. He disappeared from that time, and his fate is not known, but he was dead before 1653. (fn. 56) His son William succeeded to the manor and died in 1702. (fn. 57)

Sources

1. 'Parishes: Wichenford', A History of the County of Worcester: volume 3 (1913), pp. 561-566. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43174 Date accessed: 23 May 2013.
2. Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists who Came to America Before 1700: The Lineage of Alfred the Great, Charlemagne, Malcolm of Scotland, Robert the Strong, and Some of Their Descendants (Google eBook) - Frederick Lewis Weis, Walter Lee Sheppard, David Faris.  Genealogical Publishing Com, Nov 1, 1992.  Page 89.  

Links

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