The Clopton Chronicles
A Project of the Clopton Family Genealogical Society
Of Norman Blood
Regarding
The First Clopton
By
Suellen Clopton Blanton,[1]
[email protected]
A Modest Place In
History
Into
the record went the number of slaves and freemen,
livestock,
meadows and mills. All were
counted and valued;
nothing
was to be overlooked. It would
become known
as
the Domesday Book. And this is
where the Cloptons
made
their modest entry into history.
Genealogy
is not an exact science.
Those who study every branch, twig and leaf of
the Clopton family tree, will, with little encouragement - or none at all, come
to think about it - lapse into endless debates regarding specific facts
relating to the early descendants of our patriarch, Guillaume Peche.[2] Let us not fling ourselves into the
fray right now of who begot whom and when and where; instead, let us content
ourselves with discovering what we do know about our earliest Clopton
ancestors. There is no record of
their hopes and dreams, their fears and wishes. Only the niggardly scraps of information contained in a few
tattered and shattered legal documents remain to mark their lives.
For
all practical purposes in ancient times, the king or queen owned
everything. The ruling monarch
owned the land and everything that was built, grew, ran or walked upon its
surface. The king could take a
cow, a castle or a life with equal ease.
It was good to be king. And
if the monarch died without an heir or had failed to designate one, there were
plenty of applicants for the job.
Such was the case when Edward “the Confessor” died in 1066.[3] His brother-in-law, Harold,[4]
was quickly designated his successor, but the crown was to rest uneasily and
shortly upon his head.
Of
the five other contenders,[5]
none was more disappointed nor as determined to gain the title than one
William, Duke of Normandy,[6]
second cousin of the late king.
William gathered together seven or eight thousand family, friends,
neighbors, and a large contingent of mercenaries, including approximately 3,000
horsemen, 1,000 archers, and the rest infantry. For good measure he brilliantly garnered the support of the
Pope, who declared the little adventure a Holy War. Thus he was able to assure those who died in battle,
absolution for their sins. And to
those who survived, he promised land.
So the merry band crossed the channel and whipped the stuffing out of
poor Harold’s forces. They raped,
pillaged and generally made life miserable for the otherwise peaceful English
citizens.[7] For all its cruelty, the Conquest
united England to western Europe and opened the floodgates of European culture
and institutions, theology, philosophy, and science.
England
was the spoils, and William, now king and dubbed “the Conqueror,” wasted no
time dividing up the land and granting titles hither and yon. And, naturally, he levied taxes on one
and all. The ancient system of
taxation he inherited depended more or less on an honor system which worked
fairly well when the population was small and everyone who was anybody knew
everyone who was worth knowing.
But in the next 20 years the Dukes got Duchesses, the Counts got
Countesses, the Barons got Baronesses, the Knights got Ladies, and there was
something of a population explosion.
Between blessed events and immigrations, approximately 20,000 Normans
and Frenchmen settled in England by 1085.
William,
suspecting he might not be getting his fair share of taxes, ordered a survey to
be made in 1086. It was not a
census, because it did not list the names of everyone, just the heads of
households of the important landowners of the time. It contained detailed statements of the value of every plot
of land and every manor house.
Into the record went the number of slaves and freemen, livestock,
meadows and mills. All were
counted and valued; nothing was to be overlooked. It would become known as the Domesday Book. And this is where the Cloptons made
their modest entry into history.
Guillaume
Peche[8]
was an undertenant, that is, he held the hamlet of Cloptunna[9]
and Dalham[10] for Richard
FitzGilbert, ‘nee de Bienfaite.
FitzGilbert was one of about 190 direct tenants of the king. And it was in this capacity of undertenant
that we find reference to our Guillaume in the Domesday Book. In beautifully written, clear Latin
script, we find his name: William Peccatum.[11]
When
Guillaume came to England is unknown.
There is no record that he was a companion of William in his
conquest. It is not clear if our
patriarch ever adopted the English name, William, or if, in fact, he saw the
need to assume the surname, De Cloptunne.
The French brought the concept of last names with them, but it would be
years before the custom caught on with most folk. The wealthy often assumed the names of their place of
residence, the French “de” meaning “of.”[12] Hence, William of Clopton. The spelling of our last name changed
through the generations as can be seen on surviving documents.
An
ancient Clopton seal, now located at the British Museum. This photograph first appeared in Erwin,
Lucy Lane Erwin’s 1939, The Ancestry of William Clopton of York County,
Virginia
Our
family settled first at Cloptunna, which was at that time within the town of
Wickhambrook. By 1135 they were
well on their way to fortune, if not fame. A surviving deed, preserved in the British Museum,[13]
was written by Walter DeCloptunne, of Clopton Hall, the grandson of Guillaume
Peche and Alfwen. He gives some
land in the village of Stanfield,[14]
about three miles east of Wickhambrook, to Laurence de Danardeston[15]
to hold, “to him and his heirs forever.”
According
to the first Clopton genealogist, Sir Simonds D’Ewes,[16]
William De Cloptone, who died in 1294, had “so large an estate in the town of
Wickhambrook in the 43 Henry III, as it was called Feodum Wilhelmi de
Cloptone.”[17] His son Clement owned land in
Cowlinge, about 3 miles west of Wickhambrook, and sold a bit of it in 1323.[18] Documents have not survived to tell us
how long Clement and his brothers, Adam, William, Hugo, and Robert continued to
reside in the vicinity of Wickhambrook.
But documents[19]
place their eldest brother, Walter, the son and heir, about three miles south
of Clopton Hall, and refer to him as Lord of Chiperley Manor. Walter and his wife, Alice FitzHugh,
were buried in the Church of the Blessed Mary, near Chipley Priory.[20]
In
the early 1100’s, there was a great push by the Catholic Church to establish
places of worship in England. The
great Norman lords of England demonstrated their piety and devotion by erecting
cathedrals, monasteries and priories.
The very earliest surviving documented building connected to the ancient
Cloptons is found at the ruins of Chipley Priory,[21] located on land granted to the Cloptons.[22] The exact date of the foundation of
this priory is not known, however, the earliest records pertaining to it are of
the year 1235. It seems very likely
the priory was built much earlier than this as the stones may have come from
Caen, Normandy. Only a few
beautifully carved stones remain from the original building. Gene Carlton Clopton’s A Brief History of Chipley Priory[23]
states: “The style of the moulding
is typical of the beautiful work done by the East Anglian school of Anglo-Saxon
masons. Their work was strongly
influenced by ideas imported from Norman architectural developments in France
to which they added their own flair for creativity to ease the stern and
austere effects common in much of Norman design.”
The priory was annexed to
the College of Stoke-by-Clare in 1468.
A large part of the original structure, and probably the adjoining
church, seems to have been incorporated into the farmhouse, which now occupies
the site of the priory. The owners
of the house, which is known as Clopton Hall,[24]
once discovered numerous human bones when digging a new garden beside their
farmhouse. They re-interred the
bones in the garden. They also
discovered a chapel bell and stone sarcophagus, which have been placed at
Poslingford Church.[25] A lead coffin known to have once been
on the site and used as a watering trough for many years has been lost. No remains of Chiperley Manor has been
found.
St. Mary, Poslingford, is
located about one mile north, as the crow flies from the site of The Church of
the Blessed Mary and Chipley Priory.
A bell, stone sarcophagus (a coffin), and an old chest found at the site
are now at Poslingford. The
Cloptons owned extensive property around Poslingford, and it is possible at
least some of the family worshipped at St. Mary. Although the building has seen much restoration, it retains
its Norman doors and a small window in the nave from that period. The porch, seen here, is early 16th
century. It is a lovely, well
maintained building featuring a 14th century piscine, the basin for
washing the Communion or Mass vessels, and a sedilia, a seat for the priests,
also from that century. Thirteenth
century scrolls are featured in a chancel window.
The
eighth generation of Cloptons would mark the transition from the
Wickhambrook-Poslingford area to Long Melford and Hadleigh and begin an era of
great wealth which would last 200 years.
1. Guillaume1 Peche, Lord Of
Cloptunna and Dalham1 was born in Normandy, possibly, and
died Aft. 1088 in Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles southwest of
Bury St. Edmunds, or at Dalham, about 4 miles north of Wickhambrook2. He married Alfwen3. She died Abt. 1088.
Child of Guillaume Peche and
Alfwen is:
+ 2 i. William2 Clopton,
Gent., of Clopton Hall, Suffolk, born in Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook, County
Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles southwest of Bury St. Edmunds; died in Clopton
Hall, Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly. All Saints Church at Wickhambrook dates from about 1240, too
late to be the burial place for William and Anne, although there was probably
an earlier church. A small Saxon
figure is on the south wall.
Clopton
Hall, Wickhambrook, is located on land owned by the earliest Cloptons. There is nothing left of the original
manor except the remains of an ancient moat. Clopton Hall is about three miles north of the site of
Chiperley Manor, Chipley Priory, and the Church of the Blessed Mary. To add to the confusion, there is also
a house called Clopton Hall near the site of Chiperley Priory and Chiperley
Manor. Cloptons did not live at
this Clopton Hall, either.
Generation
No. 2
2. William2 Clopton, Gent.,
of Clopton Hall, Suffolk (Guillaume1 Peche, Lord Of Cloptunna
and Dalham)4 was born in Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook, County
Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles southwest of Bury St. Edmunds, and died in Clopton
Hall, Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly. All Saints Church at Wickhambrook dates from about 1240, too
late to be the burial place for William and Anne, although there was probably
an earlier church. A small Saxon
figure is on the south wall. He
married Anne Grey, of Buckingham Castle, County Norfolk5,
daughter of John Grey, of Buckingham Castle, County Norfolk. She died in Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook,
County Suffolk, possibly.
Child of William Clopton and
Anne Grey is:
+ 3 i. Walter3 Clopton, Knt.,
of Clopton Hall, born in Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly,
10 miles southwest of Bury St. Edmunds; died Aft. 1154 in Clopton Hall,
Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly.
Generation
No. 3
3. Walter3 Clopton, Knt., of
Clopton Hall (William2, Guillaume1 Peche, Lord Of
Cloptunna and Dalham)6 was born in Clopton Hall,
Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles southwest of Bury St. Edmunds,
and died Aft. 1154 in Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly7. He married Chewyt8.
Child of Walter Clopton and
Chewyt is:
+ 4 i. William4 Clopton,
Sir William of Clopton Hall, born in Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook, County
Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles southwest of Bury St. Edmunds; died Aft. 1216 in
Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly.
Generation
No. 4
4. William4 Clopton, Sir
William of Clopton Hall (Walter3, William2, Guillaume1
Peche, Lord Of Cloptunna and Dalham)9 was born in Clopton Hall,
Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles southwest of Bury St. Edmunds,
and died Aft. 1216 in Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly10. He married Cockerell11,
daughter of William Cockerell, Sir William.
Children of William Clopton
and Cockerell are:
+ 5 i. Walter5 Clopton,
of Wickhambrook, born in Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles
southwest of Bury St. Edmunds; died in Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly.
6 ii. Richard Clopton, of
Wickhambrook.
Generation
No. 5
5. Walter5 Clopton, of
Wickhambrook (William4, Walter3, William2,
Guillaume1 Peche, Lord Of Cloptunna and Dalham)12
was born in Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles southwest of Bury
St. Edmunds, and died in Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly. He married Frances Trussell13,
daughter of William Trussell, Sir William.
Child of Walter Clopton and
Frances Trussell is:
+ 7 i. William6 Clopton,
Lord of Chiperley Manor, born Aft. 1216 in Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly,
10 miles southwest of Bury St. Edmunds; died 1294 in Poslingford, County
Suffolk, possibly, and believed to be buried at the Church of the Blessed Mary,
near Chipley Priory about 3 miles northeast of Clare, County, Suffolk.
Generation
No. 6
7. William6 Clopton, Lord of
Chiperley Manor (Walter5, William4, Walter3,
William2, Guillaume1 Peche, Lord Of Cloptunna and Dalham)14
was born Aft. 1216 in Wickhambrook, County Suffolk, possibly, 10 miles
southwest of Bury St. Edmunds15, and died 1294 in Poslingford,
County Suffolk, possibly, and believed to be buried at the Church of the
Blessed Mary, near Chipley Priory about 3 miles northeast of Clare, County,
Suffolk16.
Children of William Clopton,
Lord of Chiperley Manor are:
+ 8 i. Walter7 Clopton, Lord
of Chiperley Manor, died 1327 in Poslingford, County Suffolk, possibly, and
believed to be buried at The Church of the Blessed Mary, near Chipley Priory.
9 ii. Adam Clopton, of Chiperley
Manor.
10 iii. Clement Clopton, of Chiperley
Manor17, died Aft. 132318.
In
1323, Clement sold some land in the village of Cowlinge, about 3 miles west of
Wickhambrook, to John de Shardelowe.
"Let all men know that I, Clement son of William Cloptone have
given &c., to John de Shardelowe one rood of land in the town of Coulynge
&c. Given at Coulynge on the Sunday after Trinity in the 16th. Year of King
Edward, son of King Edward."
The
church at Cowlinge, St. Margaret, dates from the 12th century, as evidenced by
incorporated fragments in the walls, but the main church is early 14th century.
11 iv. William Clopton, of Chiperley
Manor.
12 v. Hugo Clopton, of Chiperley
Manor.
13 vi. Robert Clopton, of Chiperley
Manor.
Generation
No. 7
8. Walter7 Clopton, Lord of
Chiperley Manor (William6, Walter5, William4,
Walter3, William2, Guillaume1 Peche, Lord Of
Cloptunna and Dalham)19 died 1327 in Poslingford, County
Suffolk, possibly, and believed to be buried at The Church of the Blessed Mary,
near Chipley Priory20.
He married (1) Alice FitzHugh21, daughter of
Warin FitzHugh. She died Aft. 1289
in Poslingford, County Suffolk, possibly, and believed to be buried at The
Church of the Blessed Mary, near Chipley Priory22. He married (2) Anwett or Ivetta
Weyland23.
She died Aft. 1338 in Poslingford, County Suffolk, possibly, and
believed to be buried at Chipley Priory, Clare24.
Children of Walter Clopton
and Alice FitzHugh are:
14 i. William8 Clopton,
Knt., Lord of Toppesfield Manor25, died Bet. January 22, 1375/76
and January 14, 1376/77 in England and buried in Babwell Friary26. He married (1) Amitia or Ivetta Grey,
of Buckenham Castle27.
He married (2) Mary Cockerell, of Toppesfield Manor, Hadleigh28.
15 ii. Thomas Clopton, Knt, of
Kentwell Estate, Suffolk29, died Bet. March 8, 1381/82 and
October 12, 1383 in Long Melford, County Suffolk, and buried at the Church of
the Blessed Mary, near Chipley Priory30. He married Katherine Mylde, of Clare,
Suffolk3132; died Bet. February 24, 1402/03 and June 18, 1403
in Tendring Hall, Stokes-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, about 6 miles southwest of
Hadleigh, and buried The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, before the altar in the
South Chapel33.
After
Sir Thomas' death, Dame Katherine took as her second husband Sir William de
Tendring of Stoke-by-Nayland.
Through this marriage she became the distant grandmother of three queens
of England: two of the unfortunate wives of Henry the VIII, Ann Boleyn and
Catherine Howard, and Queen Elizabeth I. Dame Katherine, who died in 1403, is
buried at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Stoke-by-Nyland, Suffolk. Their
memorial brasses are among the finest in England. The Clopton Arms:
ermine spot on the bend in base may be seen on the mantle of the
depiction of Dame Katherine. The
descendants of William Clopton and his wife, Ann Booth, are direct descendants
of Guillaume Peche and Alfwen, his wife, by both the Clopton-Mylde marriage and
the Mylde deTendring marriage.
See "Place of
Lutons."
Child of Walter Clopton and
Anwett Weyland is:
16 i. John8 Clopton, of
Chiperley Manor, died Aft. 1338 in Poslingford, County Suffolk, possibly, and
believed to be buried at Chipley Priory, Clare.
Endnotes
1. Domesday, Volume II, Sutfuctit, p. 25.
2. He is listed in the survey ordered by King William, I, taken
in 1086-1087.
3. Unfortunately her name is often given as Alice.
4. Visitation of 1561, Harleian Manuscript 1103, Reads .
. . Clopton of . . . in the county of Suffolk. Harleian Manuscript 1560,
identifies him as William CloptonSee also D'Ewes, Harleian 639.
5. Harleian Manuscript 1103, States she is the ". .
. dau. of . . . Grey of Buckingham Castle in the county of Norfolk Harleian
Manuscript 1560, further identifies her as Anne, dau. of John GreySee also
"The Cloptons of Suffolk," p. 104.
6. Harleian Manuscript 1103, Identifies him as ". .
. Clopton, his son heir. Harleian Manuscript 1560, further identifies him as
Sir Walter Clopton.
7. Sir Simonds D'Ewes Collection, Harleian Manuscript No. 380,
British Museum, He lived in the time of the reigns of King Stephen (1135-1154)
and King Henry, II (1154-1189). A
deed from this collection written in Latin, is freely translated: "Know all present and to come that
I Walter, son of William de Cloptunne grant, &c., to Master Laurence de Danardeston
for his service and for two marks and one-half &c., certain property in the
village of Stanesfeld with its appurtenances containing in itself one acre,
one-half roods, whether it holds more or less, lying at Hupsted and called le
Howereho, and lying next to property which is Robert the Coachman's, to hold,
to him and his heirs forever. In
witness whereof: Radulph de
Lakesewe, Robert Darnel, Wm. de Lakesewe, William Bigod and many others. Tempo Stephen or Henry II.The deed is
appended with a round seal with the device of a fleur-de-lis and the legend
"Sigillvm Walteri de Cloptun."
8. Clopton Pedigrees, as Recorded in the Original Visitation
of Suffolk, 1561, (Courtesy of
Suellen (Clopton) DeLoach Blanton), " ---- Clopton of -----, in the
countye of Suff.; maryed ye daughter of --- Grey, of Buckingham Castle, in the
Countye of Norff., and had issue ---- Clopton, his sonne and heire, wch maryed
wth daughter of ----- Chewyt, and had yssue....."
9. Harleian Manuscript 1103, States ". . . Clopton,
his son and heirHarleian Manuscript 1560, further identified him as Sir William
Clopton.
10. He lived in the time of the reigns of
King Richard, I, (1189-1199), King John (1199-1216), and King Henry, III
(1216-1272).
11. Harleian Manuscript 1103,
CAUTION: Identifies her as ".
. . dau. of . . . Cockerell Harleian Manuscript 1560, identifies her father as
Sir William CockerellA Maria (or Mary) Cockerell, of Toppesfield Manor, the
daughter of William Cockerell, married William Clopton (died about 1376).
12. Harleian Manuscript 1103.
13. Harleian Manuscript 1560,
Describes her as Fances, daughter of Sir William Trussel Harleian Manuscript
1103 states he "married . . . Trussell."
14. Harleian Manuscripts 1103 and 1560,
Also described in various deeds, Harleian Manuscript 380, dated 22 E. 1, as
father of Walter Clopton.
15. Sir Simonds D'Ewes Collection, Harleian
Manuscript No. 380, British Museum, States that in the 43rd year (1259) of the
reign of King Henry, III (1216-1172) he had "so large an estate in the
town of Wickhambrook. . . as it was called Feodum Wilhelmi de Cloptone, in
Wickhambrook, in the Communia Rolls of the Exchequerer, in the custody of the
Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer."
16. Sir Simonds D'Ewes Collection, Harleian
Manuscript No. 380, British Museum, He died in the 22nd year of the reign of
King Edward, I (1272-1307).
17. Harleian Charter, 48, C. 49,
Clement, son of William Clopton, sold lands in Cowlinge to John Shardelow in
1323.
18. Harleian Charter 48 C. 49, British
Museum, Clement sold lands to John de Shardelowe: Let all men know that I, Clement son of William Cloptone
have given &c., to John de Shardelowe one rood of land in the town of
Coulyngn &c. Given at Couynge on the Sunday after Trinity in the 16th year
of King Edward, son of King Edward.
Edward II reigned from 1307 until 1327.
19. Walter Clopton of Wickhambrook, 22 E.
1, when he bought lands in Chipley, &c. See deeds, Harleian Manuscript 380.
20. Hervy, The Visitation of Suffolk
1561, (Courtesy of Suellen (Clopton)
DeLoach Blanton), p. 23, Their son, Sir Thomas Clopton, stated in his will that
he wished to be buried between his mother's and wife's [first wife, possibly)
grave in the Church of the Blessed Mary of Chipley Priory.
21. D'Ewes Collections, Harleian
Manuscripts No. 380, "Walter de Clopton soone and heire of William de
Clopton of Wikhambroke, married to his first wife Alice, the daughter and
coheire of William, commonly sirnamed Fitzhugh, sonne of Hugh de Warrenna. Hee died temp. E. II."Arms: -- Clopton, impaling on a cross five
escallops.
22. Harleian Manuscript No. 380, British
Museum, A deed of partition of lands dated Wednesday after the Feast of the
Apostle James, the 17th Edward I (1289) between "the same FitzHugh between
Robert de Sevlisho and Mabel his wife of the one part, and the said Walter de
Cloptone and Alice his wife, sister of the said Mabel, of the other part."
23. D'Ewes. Harleian M.S. 10, See
also Harleian Charter, 51 A. 48; and D'Ewes, Harleian Manuscript 639.
24. Harleian Charters 51 A. 48, British
Museum, Bearing the date 11th Edward III (1338) a deed refers to Anwett,
"once the wife of Walter Cloptone and her son John."
25. Hervy, The Visitation of Suffolk
1561, (Courtesy of Suellen
(Clopton) DeLoach Blanton), p. 22, 23, States he was called Sir William
Clopton. "Breviary of
Suffolk," as does the Visitation 1561, associates Cockrell with
Cloptons. Cockrell - Ermyn on a fesse
azure 3 lions rampant or.
26. Hervy, The Visitation of Suffolk
1561, (Courtesy of Suellen
(Clopton) DeLoach Blanton), p. 22, His will was dated January 22, 1376, proved
in Norwich January 14, 1377.
Stated he was "William de Clopton, son of Walter de Clopton of
Wykhambrok, cormorans in Wykhambroke, miles." see Cur. Ep. Norw. 1376.
27. Hervy, The Visitation of Suffolk
1561, (Courtesy of Suellen
(Clopton) DeLoach Blanton), p. 22, She was the daughter and co-heir of Sir
William Cockerell, of Toppesfield Manor in Hadleigh.
28. Hervy, The Visitation of Suffolk
1561, (Courtesy of Suellen
(Clopton) DeLoach Blanton), p. 22, States she was the daughter and co-heir of
Sir William Cockerell, of Toppesfield Manor in Hadleigh. Cites Copinger, "Manors, III. p.
164; "Proc.S.I.A.," XI. p 212-3.
29. D'Ewes Collections, Harleian
Manuscripts No. 380, "Sr. Thomas Clopton, Knight, 2d sonne of Walter
de Clopton & Alicia his wife, married Katherine the sole daughter and heire
of William Milde, esquire, who as is conceaved brought vnto this Familie the
Mannor Kentwell and other lands in Melford. This Sr Thomas died a^ 6 R. II, having lived temp. E. II and
E. III."Arms: - Quarterly, 1 and 4, Sable, a bend Ermine, between two
cotises dancette Or; 2 and 3, on a cross four escallops, Weyland, impaling
Argent, a lion rampant Sable, over all a fess coutner compony Or and Azure,
Mylde.He is mentioned in Lady Katherine's codicil, dated February 24, 1403, as
Thomas Clopton, "my late husband." Harleian Manuscript 10 fo. 158 Brit. Mus.
30. Hervy, The Visitation of Suffolk
1561, (Courtesy of Suellen
(Clopton) DeLoach Blanton), p. 23, His will was dated March 8, 1382, proved in
Ipswich October 12, 1383, as 'Thomas de Clopton, Melford, miles' States he is "To be buried
in St. Mary's Chippeleye in choir between my mother's and wife's graves;
residue of goods and chattels to wife Katherine for her and her children, and I
make her executrix.' It is
assumed he refers to the grave of a first wife, although her name is not
known. Will located British
Museum, Harleian Charter, 58. H. 22.
31. Hervy, The Visitation of Suffolk
1561, (Courtesy of Suellen
(Clopton) DeLoach Blanton), p. 23, Refers to their portraits in Long Melford
Church. He wears a tabard of
Clopton with an ermine spot on the bend, she wears a kirtle of Mylde and mantle
of Clopton with the ermine spot.Also, "The Cloptons of Suffolk,"
quotes: "Katherin, d. of
Mylde, brought wth her the mannor of Kentwell, in the countie of Suff., to Sr
Thomas Clopton, Knight, being her husband."
32. Knott, Holy Trinity Church Guide to
the Stained Glass, (A
photograph of this window is located Clopton Family Archives, courtesy of
William Purcell Clopton).
33. Engleheart, The Church of St. Mary
the Virgin, (Courtesy of
Suellen (Clopton) DeLoach Blanton), p. 8-9, The monumental brasses of both Sir
William de Tendering and Katherine
Mylde are found in the south chapel of the church. They are considered among the finest in England. Sir, Williams brass, in full armour,
resting his head on his helm, bears a crest of feathers. Citing Weaver's "Funeral
Monuments" Written in 1631, the brass is described: "Upon the Pavement before the high
Aultar lyeth an auncient Gravestone, having thereon the figure of a Knight in
compleat Armour, resting his Head upon his Gauntlet, with this circumscription: 'Hic iacent Tumulati, Dominus Willelmus
Tendering, miles, et Katherine
Clopton uxor eiusdem:
obierunt anno Domini 1408."
Engleheart notes the incorrect death date of 1408. Possibly Weaver misread the date and
assumed they both died in that year.
Unfortunately, many publications have used this date of 1408 which is
incorrect on both accounts.Also, in her will dated February 24, 1403, proved
June 18, 1403, she states she wishes "to be buried in the Chapel of the
Church of Stoke Neyland on the south side of the church before the altar of
said chapel."
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