Henry de Verdun (I)

English sheriff during the middle ages

Sir Henry de Verdun (I) was recorded as being a Knight of Staffordshire in 1227[1] and 1228 (with his brother Milo de Verdun),[2] and Sheriff of Staffordshire and Coroner there in 1228, seemingly in succession to Henry de Deneston.[3]

## Early life

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Henry was the son of Bertram de Verdun (III) of Alton Castle, Staffordshire. He married Hawise, daughter of Engenulf de Gresley.[4][5][6] He held the manor of Bucknall from his older brother Nicholas de Verdun of Alton, and gained other manors and lands through his marriage to Hawise, including Darlaston, Biddulph, Swadlincote, Thursfield[7] and Levedale.[8]

## Personal life

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His heir was Henry de Verdun (II), who married Amice, daughter or sister of Sir Roger de Pyvelesdon (died 1272 and commemorated by the Puleston Cross in Newport, Shropshire), father of Jordan de Pyvelesdon, Roger de Pyvelesdon (died 1294), and Alice de Pyvelesdon who married Sir Robert de Harley, Lord of Harley in Shropshire.[9][10][11]

## Footnotes

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1. ^ 'Staffordshire Assize Roll, 12 Henry III, at Stafford, 3rd November 1227' (Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Volume IV 1883, page 47): Ralph de Dulverne, John de Actun, Robert de Knihtele, Henry de Verdun, four knights summoned. Henry's brother Milo de Verdun is also mentioned
2. ^ 'Pleas of the Crown', Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Volume IV 1883, page 73-74: The verdict of twenty-four Knights of the County of Stafford...... Robert de Sogenhull, Hugh Baggod, Milo de Verdun, Robert de Mere, Henry de Verdun .... cont.
3. ^ 'Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 1228', Staffordshire Historical Collections, vol. 4 (1883), p.71: Robert de Bosco, accused of the death of John Buche, before M. de Patushill and his associate Justiciaries last Itinerant, withdrew himself; and Henry de Anestun (de Deneston), then Sheriff and Coroner, was commanded to put him in the exigenda and to outlaw him, because it was testified that he was guilty; and Henry de Verdun, Sheriff and Coroner, states he was not outlawed, but that they took sureties for him. They, i.e., the Sheriffs, are therefore in misericordiâ, and Robert is taken into custody. The sureties of Henry the Sheriff are Geoffrey de Greselega, John fitz Philip, and Milo de Verdun. The sureties of Henry de Verdun are Geoffrey de Greslega, Milo de Verdun, Robert de Mere, and Robert de Acoure.
4. ^ The Gresleys of Drakelow, Falconer Madan MA (1899), Pedigrees, p.224
5. ^ A Survey of Staffordshire, Sampson Erdiswick (1820), pp.29-30
6. ^ Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 15 Edward III', Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Vol. 11, ed. G Wrottesley and F Parker (London, 1890) - De Banco. Easter, 15 E. III., pp.112. Stafford Assize, concerning the manor of Biddulph and the advowson of the church there: Hawyse was married to one Henry de Verdon (and) the said Hawise having first turn as eldest sister in conjunction with Henry de Verdon, her husband
7. ^ The Gresleys of Drakelow, Falconer Madan MA (1899), Manors and Possessions of the Family, p.203: Thursfield (Turvoldesfeld). (Staff.: 32 m. NW. of Drakelowe.) This manor was held of Ricardus Forestarius by 'Nigel,' and perhaps came to Engenulph de Gresley, for Henry iii confirmed it to Henry de Verdun son-in-law of Engenulph
8. ^ The Liber Scaccarii, Staffordshire, or Feodary of A.D. 1166, with notes added, by Colonel the Honourable G. Wrottesley, published in Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Vol. 1 (1880), p.165: LEVEDALE. - The Stone Chartulary shows that Levedale was held by Engenulf de Gresley, and passed by daughters in marriage to Henry de Verdun and other coparceners.
9. ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, 1911, p.421 - charter dated 1252-6: Noverint universi has literas visuri vel audituri quod ego Hawisia filia Henrici de Verdoyn dedi et concessi et quieteclammavi Henrico fratri meo et heredibus suis.... witnessed by: Domino Rogero de Piuelisdon. A note states: Roger de Pulesdon (Pyvelsdon), see above. His sister Amice married Henry de Verdon the younger.
10. ^ Plea Rolls of the Reign of Edward I, Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Part 1., Vol. VI (1885), p.91-92, Assize at Kinver, Staffordshire 1277: Roger de Puvelesdon...Roger being in good seisin of the tenement had given the rent to Henry de Verdun in frank marriage with the said Amice his sister
11. ^ Dugdale's MSS, Vol. XXXIX, folio 80, Charter of 1255: Roger de Pyvelesdon grants rent from lands in Farlow, Shropshire to Robert de Harlegh in Frank marriage with his daughter Alice. Source: Puleston Jones Family History, page 27.