General Notes

John Moels, 4th Lord (Baron) Moles (dspm 21 Aug 1337), since when by later doctrine the Barony is deemed to have fallen into abeyance between his daughters and their representatives), of North Cadbury, Somerset and East Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.  [Burke's Peerage]

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BARONY OF MOELS (IV)

JOHN (DE MOELS), LORD MOELS, brother and heir. On 18 July 1316 Richard Lovel was granted the wardship of two parts of the lands late of Nicholas, John's brother, until the full age of John. Having proved his age and done homage, he had livery of the lands of Roger de Moels, his brother, 17 September 1325. He was ceremoniously knighted January 1326/7. On 5 May 1328 he had licence to grant to Margaret de Moels (his brother's widow), for life, a moiety of the manor of Diptford and the hundred of Stanborough, Devon, in exchange for a grant of her interest in the manor of Little Berkhampstead. He was a justice of the peace in 1329. On 7 May 1331 the escheator was ordered to take the lands of John de Moels, knight, into the King's hand because he had gone outside the realm without licence, contrary to the proclamation. He was granted the marriage of Elizabeth, late the wife of Edmund de Mortimer, 7 July 1333, but did not marry her. On 21 November 1335 he had protection, being about to go beyond seas. He was never summoned to Parliament. He married Joan, daughter of Richard [LOVEL] 1st Lord Lovel [of Castle Cary] by Muriel, daughter and heir of Sir John de Soules. He died s..p.m., before 21 August 1337. On 1 September 1337 custody of his lands was granted to Thomas de Ferrars and Thcobald de Mounteney. At his death the Barony of Moels is held, according to modern doctrine, to have fallen into abeyance between his two daughters and coheirs, who were both born in Dorset:

(i) Muriel, aged 15 in 1337, who married, without licence, after her father's death and before the inquisition on his lands, Sir Thomas de Courtenay, for which they received pardon 27 August 1337. On 6 October 1337, Thomas de Courtenay having done fealty, he and Muriel received their pourparty of her father's lands, and on 3 March 1337/8 their pourparty of knights' fees. In 1349, on the death of her aunt Margaret, late wife of Nicholas de Moels, Muriel received her share of the dower lands. Muriel and Thomas had one son, Hugh, who died s.p. and two daughters, (a) Muriel, who m. Sir John de Dinham (see DINHAM), and (b) Margaret, who margaret Sir Thomas Peverel, and had two daughters (i) Eleanor, who m. Sir William Talbot and died s.p., and (ii) Catherine, who married Sir Walter Hungerford (see HUNGERFORD).

(ii) Isabel, born at Marnhull, Dorset, 31 May 1376, but said to be aged "13 years and more" in September 1337, and 25 and more in April 1349. Having married, without licence, William de Botreaux, her lands were forfeited 30 August 1337, but they received pardon 6 October 1337. Isabel having proved her age on 18 June 1347, and William's fealty and homage being respited until the King's return to England, they received their pourparty of her father's lands 6 July 1347, and in 1349, on the death of her aunt Margaret, late wife of Nicholas de Moels, Isabel received her share of the dower lands. Isabel and William had a son William, who was summoned to Parliament in 1368 (see BOTREAUX). Isabel's greatgreat-granddaughter, Margaret, Baroness Botreaux, married Robert, Lord Hungerford, great-grandson of Isabel's sister Muriel, and thus united one moiety and half of the other moiety of the Barony of Moels. See HASTINGS and HUNGERFORD.

[Complete Peerage IX:7-8, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]