General Notes

William de Leyburn, Lord Leyburn, by Juliane, daughter & heir of Sir Henry de Sandwich.  [Magna Charta Sureties]

Constable of Pevensey Castle.

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BARONY OF LEYBURN (I)

WILLIAM DE LEYBURN, son and heir, by 1st wife, was plaintiff in a suit in 1263. In 1265 he had a grant, for his good services, of lands forfeited by the Montfort rebels. He did homage 7 November 1271. His father's bailiwick of Inglewood forest was confirmed to him 18 May 1272. In that year Alexander III complained to Queen Eleanor of William de Leyburn's violation of forest rights granted to his father for their men in Cumberland. In 1273 he had protection on going over seas. His father had obtained a charter from Henry III altering the tenure of some of his manors in Kent from gavelkind to knight's service, and the change was confirmed in 1275. In this year and again in 1279 and 1293 he was called on to defend his liberties in Preston and other manors. He was summoned for military service in Wales in 1277. His father had been much in debt to the Jews, but in one case William asserted that the bond produced was a forgery. In 1278 he granted to the King and Queen Ledes (Leeds) Castle, Kent, which his father had acquired. In the following year he received pardon for all debts due by him or his father. In 1279 he further surrendered to the King the forest of Inglewood. Early next year he had a safe conduct on going through Gascony on a pilgrimage to Santiago. In May 1282 he was again summoned for military service in Wales. In December 1284 the custody of Crukyth Castle (Criccieth) was committed to him, and in June 1285 he was rewarded for his services in the Welsh expedition by a grant of the custody of Kirkburn, Yorks, during minority. For the next nine years his name occurs rarely in records, though he attested charters at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1291; he was probably employed in Gascony. In April 1294 he was going beyond seas with the King's daughter, Eleanor, Countess of Bar. In June the custody of Pevensey Castle was given to him, and on 7 June he was made "captain of the King's sailors and mariners of the Cinque Ports, Yarmouth, Bayonne, Ireland, Wales and all ports and harbours, and also of the soldiers sailing with him"; and a week later was summoned for service in Gascony, to sail in September. In December 1295 the fleet sent to Guienne was under William de Leyburne and John de Boteetourt, as admirals. He was again in Gascony in the King's service in 1296 and in Aug. 1297. In 1298 and later he was summoned for military service in Scotland. He was summoned to Parliament from 6 February 1298/9 to 12 December 1309, and again, long after his death, 16 June 1311, by writs directed Willelmo de Leyburn, wherebv he is held to have become LORD LEYBURN. He was at the Siege of Carlaverock in July 1300, and was in Scotland again in 1303 and 1304. He was one of the Barons who in 1301 subscribed the Letter to the Pope, styling himself Willelmus dominus de Leyburn. In 1304 he was again crossing the seas in the company of Prince Edward. In consideration of his services in Scotland and elsewhere he received in 1306 pardon for all debts to the Crown. In April 1306 he was summoned to a Counil, and on 11 February 1306/7 he obtained a charter for a market and fair at his manor of Preston by Wingham. In February 1307/8 he was ordered to attend, with his wife, at the Coronation (25 February) of Edward II. At about the same time he had licence to settle his manors on himself, his wife and his heirs. He was a benefactor of Leybourne Church and of Leeds Priory, Kent. At his death he was custodian of the castle and honour of Montgomery.

He married, before 16 October 1265, Juliane, daughter and heir of Sir Henry DE SANDWICH, and heir also of her grandfather, Simon, and of her uncle, Ralph de Sandwich. With her he had the hundred and manor of Preston in Kent and other manors. He died before 12 March 1309/10. His widow received her lands on 29 May 1310. In 1318 she granted Elham and other manors to John de Hastinges for life. In the same year she, Geoffrey de Say and others were in prison in Canterbury for receiving an outlaw, but were discharged. She petitioned for a change in the tenure of lands purchased by her, from gavelkind to knight's service. She died about the end of 1327.  [Complete Peerage VII:637, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]