Richard of Lexington

• Preferred Name: Richard of Lexington ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}
  
• Gender: M
  
• Death: Y with note: Source tagged does not state this date of death; date is likely confused with the daeth date of Richard's son, Robert, who died on "the fourth of the Kalends of June" in the year 1250
  
• Birth: 1165 in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, England at LATI: N3.2276 LONG: E0.8981 with note: Removed United Kingdom as it wasn't in existence until the 1800s.
  
• Burial: in Laxton, Nottinghamshire, England with note: The father, mother, and sister of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the north aisle of the church of Laxton
  
• FSID: 94C5-D5F
  
• Notes:

  === Life Sketch ===
  Richard was a royal judge and married Mathilda de Cauz (or Calz), a widow with holdings that included Sherwood Forest.
  
  Richard did NOT marry Matilda/Maud de Cauz:
  
  Richard of Lexinton († after 1229) was an English nobleman.
  
  Richard of Lexinton was a son of Robert of Lexinton. His father may have been an illegitimate son of Robert Caux III († 1167 or 1168), the last male member of the powerful Anglo-Norman noble Caux family, which had its headquarters at Laxton Castle in Nottinghamshire Members of the Caux family had been hereditary forest wardens of the royal forests of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
  
  Richard's father Robert had probably had the favor of Ralph fitz Stephen, husband of Maud de Caux and high-ranking official of Kings Henry II and Richard I. Ralph fitz Stephen administered Laxton as well as the royal forests of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire until his death in 1202. After the death of Ralph fitz Stephen, King John Ohneland handed over the administration of the Laxton estate to Richard, giving him his epithet. In 1207, however, he had to hand the estate back to the king for forest offences and pay a heavy fine of 200 marks. A few years later, however, he had regained the king's favor and probably Laxton as well. At the beginning of the First War of the Barons, he apparently supported the rebels, but after paying a fine of 100 marks in January 1216, he was again on the king's side. He is last mentioned in 1229.
  
  Richard married Matilda (also Maud), whose parentage is unclear. With her he had at least five sons and four daughters, including:
  
  Robert de Lexington (before 1198-1250)
  Stephen deLexington (c. 1198-1258)
  Peter de Lexington
  John de Lexington († 1257)
  Henry de Lexington († 1258)
  Elizabeth de Lexington
  Cecily de Lexington⚭ William de Markham.
  Alice de Lexington
  Alicia de Lexington
  
  Four of his sons went on to remarkable careers. While Robert became a clergyman and high royal magistrate, John rose to the rank of Lord Keeper of the Seal. Stephen and Henry also became clergymen, with Stephen becoming Abbot of Clairvaux and Henry Bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln. Richard's heir became his eldest son Robert.
  
  https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_of_Lexinton
  
  The Baronage of England vol 2 p742 (William Dugdale, 1676)
  Lexinton
  OF this Family, so named from Lexinton, (now called Laxton, near Tuxford, in Com. Nott.) I find no mention till King Iohn's days; but then, viz. in 13 Ioh. that Lordship was in the King's hands, and reputed a Barony, it consisting of Thirteen Knights Fees, and a Fourth part. It seems that Richard de Lexinton, about that time possessor of it, had incurred the King's displeasure (as many others then did, in arming against him, under colour of asserting their antient Rights and Liberties:) but in 17 Ioh. giving an Hundred marks and Two Palfreys, he made his peace,
  
  The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p375 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
  Laxton. Lexington. And Morehouse.
  The Land of Matilda de Calz viz. Lessinton with the Appurtenances, was in the Custody of Richard de Lessinton, who 7 Joh. gave account of 7l. 17s. 6d. of the Rent of Assize of Lessinton, of the term of Saint Michael the year before,and of 43l. 0s. 4d. of the Rent of Assize that year, and of 30l. 18s. 10d. of Corn of that Mannor sold, and of 40s. of Bacuns sold, and of 25. Marks of the Scutage of 12. Fees and an half, and for 8. Oxen bought, 100s. by the Kings writ. Richard de Lessinton, and Robert his son for him, 9 Joh. accounted for 16l. Rent of Assize for half a year of Lessington, the Land of Matilda de Cauz. Richard de Lessington 9 Joh. ought two hundred Marks for having the Kings favour, and seisin of his Lands he was disseised by occasion of the custody of the Kings Forest, 30l. and 15s. being computed to him, which Brian de Infula took of the Chattels the said Richard sold.
  In 13 Joh. this was called the Barony of Lexington, whereof Brian de Infula for the Scutage that year gave account, the other was not yet in being, and Robert, afterwards Lord Lexington, son of Richard before-named, had his name from his Ancestors residence, and holding Lands here of this family of Cauz: but the most of his Land he purchased in other places, as in this Book may easily be noted.
  p378
  Alan, son of William Lancelene of Kirkton, granted and confirmed to Richard, son of Robert de Laxinton, his whole Wood of Kirketon, with the Land in which it stood, reserving [Argenteum] a Silver Penny within the twelve days of Christmas yearly.
  Robert de Laxton for the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard his father, and Matilda his mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford, the gift which the said Richard his father gave to them, viz. one Bovat in Walesby, which William the Clark held, and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon, and twenty Acres of Arable, with Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard de Laxton had of Alan Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco, sometimes wife of John Burdun, and a Toft in Welhagh, which Gumbert held of his father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of the Church at Rufford, Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen, and Sir Henry his brothers were Witnesses, and Mr. William de Marcham.
  
  The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
  In the twelfth century a de Caux made a grant of land to one Richard, of Laxton or Lexington, in return for certain services. This grant was added to by his successors, the de Birkins and de Everinghams, and in 1232 these grants were all set out clearly in a Royal Charter, which confirmed them to Richard de Lexington's son, Robert, and his heirs. This charter is very interesting, as the lands are described in great detail, and some of them can be identified to-day, as their names, such as Eastkirk, Southlound, Crouchwell, &c, still remain.
  Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere. The eldest, Robert de Lexington, was a prebendary of Southwell and a judge under King Henry III. In 1240 he was the Chief Justice Itinerant for the northern division of England. The second brother, John, was a clerk in the Chancery and also a judge. He was Keeper of the Great Seal during vacancies in the Office of Chancellor, and he was sent on several missions abroad by the King: in 1241 to the Emperor Frederick II, and in 1250 to arrange a truce with France. In 1255 he was Chief Justice of the Forests north of the Trent, and tried, at Lincoln, the Jewish murderers of the boy, Hugh of Lincoln. He founded a chantry in the church at Laxton, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr.
  The third brother, Henry, was first Dean and then Bishop of Lincoln, being consecrated in 1253. At that date the diocese of Lincoln extended to the Thames, and he had a dispute with the scholars of Oxford as to his jurisdiction within the University. The Angel Choir in Lincoln Cathedral was built during his episcopacy. He died in 1258.
  There were two other brothers, Stephen, who was Abbot of Clairvaux, and Peter, also a cleric, but they died before the Bishop, and as none of the brothers had any children, their inheritance passed to their nephews, William Sutton and Robert de Markham, the children of their two sisters. The Lexingtons had large estates, and the Laxton portion of them came to Robert de Markham. From William Sutton was descended Robert Sutton, created Baron Lexington of Averham, by Charles I, but this branch of the Lexington family had no connexion with Laxton.
  ... About the year 1250 the earlier chancel and aisles were rebuilt, the occasion being the founding of a chantry to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Sir John de Lexington, who endowed it and vested it in the Prior of Rufford. A chantry was an endowment for the celebration of masses at an altar in a church for the souls of the departed. Usually masses were said by a specially appointed priest who held his chantry as an independent benefice, and his altar, his stipend, and his house, if one were provided, were as fully his freehold as the church and rectory were of the rector. The father, mother, and sister of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the north aisle of the church, and it was here that his altar to the Virgin was set up.

1. Alice de Luxington, b. 1195 in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, England     d. 1240 in South Molton, Devon, England

1. Title: Richard de Lexington, Son of Robert de Lexington, British History Online, Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, England
   Publication: Name: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/thoroton-notts/vol3/pp219-226#fnn9;
   
2. Title: Wikipedia: Richard of Lexinton
   Author: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_of_Lexinton
   Publication: Name: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_of_Lexinton;
   
3. Title: The Baronage of England vol 2 p742-3 (William Dugdale, 1676)
   Publication: Name: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A36794.0001.001/1:6.307?rgn=div2;view=fulltext;
   Note: Lexinton OF this Family, so named from Lexinton, (now called Laxton, near Tuxford, in Com. Nott.) I find no mention till King Iohn's days; but then, viz. in 13 Ioh. that Lordship was in the King's hands, and reputed a Barony, it consisting of Thirteen Knights Fees, and a Fourth part. It seems that Richard de Lexinton, about that time possessor of it, had incurred the King's displeasure (as many others then did, in arming against him, under colour of asserting their antient Rights and Liberties:) but in 17 Ioh. giving an Hundred marks and Two Palfreys, he made his peace, To this Richard succeeded Robert de Lexinton, who in 8 H. 3. was made Governour of the Castles of Pec and Bolesover, in Com. Derb. and in 13 H. 3. of Oxford Castle; being then in such esteem with that King, as that he obtain'd his Letters swasory, to Aliva the Daughter of Alan Fitz-Iordan, to grant her Mannor of Tuxford (which was held in Capite) unto him: intimating, that in case she would so do, he should take it for a favour. Which Letters were so prevalent, that he had his desire; and the next year following, did his Homage for it: but soon after passed it, together with the Mannor of Warsop (near at hand) to Iohn de Lexinton his Brother, with condition, That if the said Iohn did die without issue, that then those Lordships should return to him and his Heirs. This Robert de Lexinton, being a person learned in the Laws, was a Justice Itinerant in 9 H. 3. in the Counties of Northampt. Rutl. Nott. Derb. Linc. Ebor. Northumb. Cumb. and Westmor. In 10 Hen. 3. in the Counties of Nott. Derb. Warw. Leic. Wigorn. and Glouc. Afterwards also in other Counties, until 26 H. 3. being then one of the Justices of the Court of Common-Pleas: and departed this life 4 Cal. Iunii, Anno 1250. (34 H. 3.) leaving Sir Iohn de Lexinton Knight his Brother and Heir. Which Sir Iohn Lexinton, in 3 H. 3. when the Bishop of London declared to the Prelates and Clergy of England, that the Pope required the Third part of all the Livings of the Beneficed Clergy, and the one half of all the Non-residents, was sent by the King to prohibit them from giving obedience to such an intollerable exaction. In 37 H. 3. this Iohn was made Chief Justice of all the Forests North of Trent; as also Governour of Bamburgh Castle in Comitat. Northumb. and of Scardeburgh and Pikering in Com. Ebor. but died in 41 H. 3. without issue. Whereupon Henry de Lexinton, Bishop of Lincoln, his Brother, was found his next Heir: who thereupon doing his Homage, had Livery of all his Lands, lying in the Counties of Nottingham and Derby. Which Henry departed this Life the next ensuing year; leaving Richard de Markham and William de Sutton, his Nephews, and next Heirs; Richard de Markham being at that time fifty years of age, and William de Sutton forty; who thereupon doing their Homage, had Livery of his Lands.
   Page: Information on Richard incurring the king's displeaure
   
4. Title: Richard of Lexington, Husband of Matilda, Book ‘A History of the Markham Family’
   Publication: Name: https://archive.org/details/historyofmarkham00mark/page/n27/mode/2up;
   
5. Title: The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
   Publication: Name: http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/monographs/laxton1935/laxton3.htm;
   Note: In the twelfth century a de Caux made a grant of land to one Richard, of Laxton or Lexington, in return for certain services. This grant was added to by his successors, the de Birkins and de Everinghams, and in 1232 these grants were all set out clearly in a Royal Charter, which confirmed them to Richard de Lexington's son, Robert, and his heirs. This charter is very interesting, as the lands are described in great detail, and some of them can be identified to-day, as their names, such as Eastkirk, Southlound, Crouchwell, &c, still remain. Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere. The eldest, Robert de Lexington, was a prebendary of Southwell and a judge under King Henry III. In 1240 he was the Chief Justice Itinerant for the northern division of England. The second brother, John, was a clerk in the Chancery and also a judge. He was Keeper of the Great Seal during vacancies in the Office of Chancellor, and he was sent on several missions abroad by the King: in 1241 to the Emperor Frederick II, and in 1250 to arrange a truce with France. In 1255 he was Chief Justice of the Forests north of the Trent, and tried, at Lincoln, the Jewish murderers of the boy, Hugh of Lincoln. He founded a chantry in the church at Laxton, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr. The third brother, Henry, was first Dean and then Bishop of Lincoln, being consecrated in 1253. At that date the diocese of Lincoln extended to the Thames, and he had a dispute with the scholars of Oxford as to his jurisdiction within the University. The Angel Choir in Lincoln Cathedral was built during his episcopacy. He died in 1258. There were two other brothers, Stephen, who was Abbot of Clairvaux, and Peter, also a cleric, but they died before the Bishop, and as none of the brothers had any children, their inheritance passed to their nephews, William Sutton and Robert de Markham, the children of their two sisters. The Lexingtons had large estates, and the Laxton portion of them came to Robert de Markham. From William Sutton was descended Robert Sutton, created Baron Lexington of Averham, by Charles I, but this branch of the Lexington family had no connexion with Laxton. ... About the year 1250 the earlier chancel and aisles were rebuilt, the occasion being the founding of a chantry to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Sir John de Lexington, who endowed it and vested it in the Prior of Rufford. A chantry was an endowment for the celebration of masses at an altar in a church for the souls of the departed. Usually masses were said by a specially appointed priest who held his chantry as an independent benefice, and his altar, his stipend, and his house, if one were provided, were as fully his freehold as the church and rectory were of the rector. The father, mother, and sister of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the north aisle of the church, and it was here that his altar to the Virgin was set up.
   Page: Gives burial place of Richard and his wife
   
6. Title: The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
   Author: Google Books
   Publication: Name: https://books.google.com/books?id=vG1mAAAAcAAJ;
   Note: Early compilation of records in Nottinghamshire contains many references to the Stanhope and related families.