The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Kibblestone granted on 1338 March 2

Comments

The tenurial history of the various Trussell estates, some inherited from the heiress of the Mainwarings, and split between her 3 sons is complex and unclear. The reason for this manor of the various estates being granted a licence is unclear.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1898, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1338-40) p. 22 online copy

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms. Licentia is best translated as 'freedom to' not 'permission'.)

Significant later sources are;

Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 part 2 p. 412 online copy
Dugdale, Wm., 1656, The Antiquities of Warwickshire (Thomas Warren) p. 538 online copy

John Trussell

The Trussell family genealogy is confused and confusing. John appears to be elder son of William Trussell receiver of the king's chamber in 1333–5, and hereditary sheriff of Anglesey who did not die until 1363 (Haines).

Gatehouse can not ascertain if John did royal service nor why he, rather than his father, was granted the licence. If the manor had been granted to John by his father then, perhaps, the licence is about confirmation of that change of holding. However 'In 1342 John Trussell, described as of Acton, and Alice Trussell his wife settled the manor (with Bednall and Brocton) on themselves for life with remainder to William Trussell of Kibblestone in Stone (Pirehill hundred), (fn. 28) but Acton appears to have passed to another William, the son of John Trussell, (fn. 29) who in 1371 settled it on Margaret, daughter of Sir William Trussell of Kibblestone (d. 1363)' (VCH for Acton Parish, Staffs). The lord of the manor was clearly William Trussell.

Biographical source include;

Roy Martin Haines, Sept 2004, ‘Trussell, Sir William (fl. 1307–1346/7)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press) online edn, Jan 2008 online copy (subscription may be needed)
Midgley, L.M. (ed), 1986, VCH Staffordshire Vol. 5 p. 11- online copy

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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