Person:Henry De Strode (2)

Henry de Strode was born about 1275 in the same Dorset area which had been home to his forebears for generations. He apparently lived in Hewstock, the village where his father spent much of his life. Sketchy information indicates that he may have been a knight like several of his predecessors but, for reasons that cannot be ascertained, lost the knighthood.

The era in which he lived saw the Christians finally driven from the Holy Land during the last Crusade and Marco Polo make his historic journey to China. Inventions included spectacles, the sawmill, the mechanical clock and lace was first made in France and Flanders.

He married Maud Matilda de Beaupre about 1305 at Middleway Manor in Inglestreet, Dorsetshire. They were the parents of four children, three boys and a girl, born between 1310 and 1317.

Their future appeared promising as changes in economic and social conditions begun in the 1200's continued. By the early 1300's, Dorsetshire was producing much wheat and wool and had a prosperous clothing business built upon the earlier invention of the spinning wheel. The feudal system, which was based on manorialism, or fiefs, began to break down, allowing for more individual enterprise. Slaves had virtually disappeared. With the return of trade, the ruling lords could pay for military and other services with money instead of fiefs. Great cathedrals were built, including the one at Salisbury, not far from where the Strodes lived. The imposing 404 foot spire of Salisbury Cathedral remains today the highest in England.

But the emergence of a new, more prosperous society was to be short-lived. In 1337, the Hundred Years War between England and France began. It would not end until 1453. Trade was interrupted and the economies of both nations were exhausted. Severe droughts and then floods also brought famine and an outbreak of plague descended upon the country.

Henry de Strode died sometime around 1349 in Chalmington, Dorsetshire. Matilda apparently died shortly thereafter. Since the date of their deaths coincide with the time of the plague, both may have been its victims.

From A Family History by Don Faust, 1997.

Taken from Strode Family by Vic Ledger:

"In the seventeenth year of the reign of Edward II (1307-1327), he granted Henry Strode (O), his son, the said yearly rent for nine years of ten shillings, and after nine years, sixty shillings rent on the land he demised in Bowdon in the Ford and Knighton, County Wilts.

"This Hugh de Strode (N), is not styled at Chalmington in the old deeds referred to in the above notes, which are dated at Hewstock. Hewstock at the time was probably his residence. The ancient places of residence of the Strode family were at Strode Manor and Hewstock, until Richard Strode (S) during the time of Henry VI (1422-1461), moved to Parnham. Occasionally the families resided at Chalmington; and also at Chantmarle, after Sir John Strode, who had purchased Chantmarle and rebuilt the house, had succeeded to the family mansion at Parnham. "Henry de Strode, esquire (O), son of Hugh de Strode, knight (N), and Beatrix Fitchet Strode, married Maud (or Matilda), daughter and heir of de Bauprea (Beaupres). By the marriage of Henry with Matilda de Bauprea, the manor of Middleway and Inclestreet came into this family. Henry demised a tenement at Stapleford for life at eight shillings rent.

"In 1361, during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377), John, bishop of ... Badensis, by indenture under his seal, gives forty days pardon to all who would pray for the souls of Henry, his wife Maud (Matilda), John his son, and Joan his daughter, who had given goods for the advancement of a chapel in Chalmington in Catstock. In 1366 and 1370, Robert, Bishop of Sarum, by indenture, under the seal of Edward III, granted forty days pardon to those who should pray for the souls of said Henry, Matilda, wife of Henry, and Beatrice, mother of Henry, who had liberally given their goods to said chapel.

"Hugh de Strode, esquire (P), son and heir of Henry de Strode and Matilda, married Beatrix (Beatrice) de Button and had issue: Henry, son and heir; Edmund; and daughter, Jane. In the 24th year of the reign of Edward III, Maud (Matilda), wife of Henry de Strode (O) and mother of Hugh de Strode (P), granted to him and Beatrix his wife, her lands, etc. in Hewstock, Nether Wansley, Chalmington and Lidlinch for her life at ten shillings rent and necessary diet, lodging and apparel. Also in this list she included diet for her son Edmund.

"In the forty-fourth year of the reign of Edward III, Hugh de Strode was granted the land of Strode in Lidlinch for life at the rent of four marks.

"Edmund de Strode (Q) was the second son of Henry and Matilda. His brother Hugh (P) confirmed to him for life the grant of Maud, his mother, of lands in Nether Wansley and Broadwindsor.

"Edmund (Q) gave the manor of Hemsworth to the abbey of Milton during the tenth year of the reign of Richard II. In this grant Edmund made to the abbey and convent of Milton, he said that he had by deed in the second year of the reign of Richard II, also granted all his land in Clifton and in Brod Sidling to the abbot with warranty. "Henry de Strode, esquire (R), son and heir of Hugh de Strode, knight (P), and Matilda de Bauprea Strode, married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of John and Joan Brent. Their son and heir was Richard de Strode, esquire, of Parnham, and was the great-great-grandson of Hugh and Beatrice Fitchett. He and his descendants bore Arms (Gules, a wyvern argent).

"By deed during the reign of Richard II (1377-1399), Hugh de Strode (P), then of Hewstock, granted to Henry (R), his son and heir, his lands, etc. ... in Hewstock, Dibberworth, Causey, Hurst at le Dorn in Broadwindsor, Lidlinch, Stapleford, and Le Crenelle, County Dorset, with their rents, services, wards and marriages, reserving two chambers with the cellars under them, and with half the loft of the pigeon house there, and all his lands in County Wilts, with rents, etc. ... paying twenty marks per annum.

"Richard de Strode, esquire (S), was the fifteenth in descent from his ancestor, William de la Strode, son of Warinus. This Richard Strode, esq. was the son and heir of Hugh de Strode (P) and Elizabeth Brent Strode, and was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter and heir of John Jerard (Gerard). His second wife was Margaret, relict of Walter Chantmarle. Margaret died without having issue by Richard. Richard and Elizabeth had sons: Edmund, son and heir, and William de Strode, esquire.

"Richard de Strode (S) and Elizabeth moved to Parnham during the reign of King Richard II (1377-1399). They had lived at West Hewstock in Berminster. Hutchins reported that Elizabeth inherited Parnham from her parents, John Jerard and Elizabeth Chaldecot (Chickly). Vestiges of Parnham remain and still show where it is reported to have stood. It was still in the family in the mid 1900's.

"William de Strode, esquire (T), first son and heir of Richard de Strode, esquire of Parnham and Elizabeth Jerard Strode married Alys (Alice), daughter and heir of Roger Ledred (de Leddred), esquire.

"In the 36th year of Henry VI's (1422-1462) reign, by fine granted to John Nelway Etc. ... land in West Haygrove, Trent, Horsington, Higham, Netherham, Stowel, South Cadbury, Bobcary, Somerston, Ilchester, Langport, Estover, and Weston, County Somerset; the manor of North Week, land in Axminster, Okeber, Trill and Chilton, County Devon; and they rendered to William (T) and Alys and the heirs of Alys the said manors and lands; remainder to the right heirs of Robert Ledred. By this marriage of William de Strode (T) with Alys Ledred the lands mentioned came into the Strode family.

"The said William de Strode (T) by a letter of attorney in the 14th year of Edward IV's reign authorizes a person to deliver to William (U) his son, lands in the manors of Chalmington, Debberworth, Buckham, Bell and Blackdown, County of Dorset; and Boyden, County of Wilts. Records show a deed of feoffment made by William (T) to William (U), the son.

"William de Strode (U) of Chalmington married Alianor, daughter of John Cheney (Cheyen) of Pinho, County Devon. The issues of William (U) and Alianor Strode were: Richard, heir; William, and John. Richard, first born, died without a male issue, so William the second son became heir.

"The third son, John (V) married Joan Okele (Okle), daughter of John Okele and became the progenitor to the line of Shepton Mallet Strodes.

"In John Collinson's History of West Cranmore, he states that the name of Strode in Shepton-Mallet has for at least four hundred years been a well known one. And he also says that the Strodes were persons of good social position and wealth, and that some of them, during the most eventful times, and under the most difficult and trying circumstances, strongly stood their ground and resolutely resisted their oppressor, even at the risk of their own lives and loss of personal wealth. This is an understatement as will be shown in the following ....

"John de Strode (V), the third son of William and Alianor de Strode, was progenitor of the Shepton-Mallet Strodes in County Somerset. He married Joan Okele by whom he had son and heir, Walter Strode (W), who succeeded him to the Shepton-Mallet estate. Walter's son and heir was Thomas Strode. Note that the prefix 'de' has been dropped from the Strode name."

1. ↑ A. Donovan Faust (Foust). A Family History: The Ancestors of Thomas Wilson Faust. (1997).