According to the witnesses in this case, Katherine Williamson married two men in quick succession in 1482 and early 1483. This case is likely a suit to annul the second marriage rather than to enforce it: the headings indicate that Thomas Walker was the plaintiff, but the first three witnesses, apparently called on his behalf,Continue reading “Thomas Walker c. Katherine Williamson alias Walker“
Category Archives: Marriage
William Newport c. Isabel Newport
According to the testimony in this case, Isabel Newport was about as bad a wife as it was possible to be in late fifteenth-century London: she was violent, disobedient, sexually promiscuous, and dishonest. The legal basis for the lawsuit, apparently a petition for a judicial separation brought by William Newport against Isabel Newton, is somewhatContinue reading “William Newport c. Isabel Newport“
Robert Walsh and Mark Patenson c. Margaret Flemmyng
Margaret Flemmyng was evidently something of a marital catch, with youth, a substantial marriage portion, and probably also personal charm. Her parents evidently had one idea for her marriage – Robert Walsh, whom they encouraged in his attentions to their daughter – and she another. Margaret Flemmyng herself had initially been inclined towards Walsh (asContinue reading “Robert Walsh and Mark Patenson c. Margaret Flemmyng”
Francis [Unknown] c. Elizabeth Clerk
This is a fragment: someone named Francis evidently sued Elizabeth Clerk, alleging that she had made a contract of marriage with him, and (as below) on examination, she denied his allegations, most of which were implied rather than explicit in her answers, unfortunately. We get a few interesting things, such as that Clerk admitted receivingContinue reading “Francis [Unknown] c. Elizabeth Clerk“
Elizabeth Brown and Marion Lauson c. Laurence Gilis
This is one of the more complicated and interesting cases at the late fifteenth-century London consistory court. The basic case is straightforward: two women, Elizabeth Brown and Marion Lauson, each claim that they contracted marriage with Laurence Gilis. In the end, Gilis and Lauson circumvented the lengthy court procedures and went ahead and married; thoughContinue reading “Elizabeth Brown and Marion Lauson c. Laurence Gilis “
Robert Warde c. Joan Qualley or Whalley
Within about five or six weeks of her husband William’s death in September 1491, London widow Joan Qualley or Whalley was receiving offers for her hand. She evidently considered Robert Warde, an ostler working for a local brewer, John Knap (likely the trade her late husband had also followed), but instead chose William Dichand. WhenContinue reading “Robert Warde c. Joan Qualley or Whalley“
Laurence Wyberd and John Austen c. Maude Gyll
In late 1491, two men – Laurence Wyberd of Essex and John Austen of Shoreditch or London – each claimed that they had made a contract of marriage with Maude Gyll of London. Wyberd’s witnesses (who included his father and brother) gave detailed testimony not only about a contract of marriage just after Christmas 1490 butContinue reading “Laurence Wyberd and John Austen c. Maude Gyll”
John Kendall c. Isabel or Elizabeth Wylly
An apprentice goldsmith named John Kendall sued Isabel (sometimes called Elizabeth[1]) Willy to enforce a contract of marriage he claimed that he had made with her. Kendall’s witnesses presented only circumstantial evidence – that Willy had acknowledged multiple times that she had previously made a contract of marriage with Kendall and that she had receivedContinue reading “John Kendall c. Isabel or Elizabeth Wylly”
John Jarard c. Joan Nele alias Fysshe
In 1492, John Jarard sued Joan Nele, claiming her as his wife; Nele herself admitted that three years before he had given her two gifts, but denied that she received them “for the sake of a marriage” (again, that argument about the meaning of a gift). The only part of this case that survives isContinue reading “John Jarard c. Joan Nele alias Fysshe”
Thomas Philpott c. Margaret Frowyke
Another case of a man doggedly pursuing a woman, hoping to persuade her to marry him. The responses of Margaret Frowyke give us more details than other similar examinations: the man suing her was named as Thomas Philpott, and the two likely lived in Barnet, Essex. Frowyke, like others, accepted gifts from him and inContinue reading “Thomas Philpott c. Margaret Frowyke“
Consistory 