Individual Details
John Ferrers
(Ca 1446 - Maybe 7 Oct 1488)
From Visitations Hertfordshire, R. Cooke 1572, Sir R. St. George 1634, p. 141
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From Ancient Tomb with Effigies St Leonard's Church Flamstead by Rev Fowler
St. Albans Architecutral & Acrchealogical Society, 1887. p. 84
http://www.stalbanshistory.org/documents/1887.09a_jl_.pdf
This altar-tomb, the oldest monument in the Church, is of considerable interest. Weever tells us that in his time there were three such tombs — "Here in this Church are three wondrous ancient monuments, whose inscriptions are quite perist, supposed by the inhabitants to be for certain noblemen, lords of this Manor."
...
The monument clearly commemorates a person of importance, and the most important lay personage in Flamstead, next to the lord of the manor, I conceive would be his Seneschal or Steward... The person represented is likely to have been the steward who managed the controversy with Prior John Woderove concerning the manorial rights on Redbourn Heath; the compact of settlement having been made in 1383, as we have heard. With regard to the chantry, we may infer that it was founded some time before 1412...
In the absence of inscription or heraldry it may not be possible to ascertain the name of the person commemorated, but it is worth while to note, as affording a possible clue, the connection of the family of Ferrars (or Ferrers) with Flamstead. Thomas de Beauchamp's Countess was Margaret de Ferrars. The name of her father, William de Ferrars, lord of Groby, was enrolled in the Obituary record of S. Alban's Abbey, at her request in 1382, (Lib. Ben. fol. 132). Some of her kindred were resident in S. Albans about the year 1400, or earlier; for the cognizance of Ferrars, a horse-shoe, is found in a stained glass window in S. Peter's church, the style of the glass being of about that date—the border of horse-shoes there denoting that the donor was a Ferrars, From an entry in the Liber Benefactorum, (fol. 116), we learn that John Ferrers, esquire, of S. Albans, had been Seneschal to Henry de Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, (grandson of Thomas de Beauchamp), who died in 1445.
*This John Ferrers married a daughter of Adrian Brekespere, of Langley, and possessed land in the parish of S. Peter, S. Albans. In 1455 he was appointed by Abbot John Wheathampstead his attorney in a certain law suit. (Regist. I. 207). As Seneschal he doubtless managed the manor of Flamstead for the Duke. We find other members of the family residing in S. Albans or the neighbourhood up to the middle of the sixteenth century.
In 1475, Ralph Ferrers, Doctor of Laws, was appointed Warden of the Hospital of S. Julian, S. Albans—(Regist. II. 120). In 1493, Thomas Ferrers, esquire, was Bailiff of the town of S. Albans: he married a daughter of William Westby, Hundreder of the Liberty, a person of considerable importance. (Lib. Ben. fol. 79). Another John Ferrers, esquire, was Bailiff of the Liberty some time between 1494 and 1505: he was admitted to the Fraternity of the Monastery at the petition of John Benestede, Prior of Tynmouth , brother of his wife Katherine, (fol. 117). In 1549 the manor of Flamstead, (which had come to the crown), was granted by Edward VI. to George Ferrers, of Markyate, son of Thomas Ferrers of S. Albans. He was buried in this church, 11th January, 1578. His son, Julius Ferrers, who succeeded to the manor, was also buried here, (30 Dec. 1596).—[see Cussans, vol. II , Hund. of Hertford, p. 143]. The name of Thomas de Beauchamp's Steward, is not to be found in the S. Alban's documents, but it is by no means improbable that he was a Ferrers, obtaining the appointment through the influence of the Countess of Warwick, (Margaret de Ferrers), his kinswoman. Possibly he may be the person who gave the glass in S. Peter's church.
For the etching of Flamstead church, which illustrates these papers, the Society is indebted to Mrs. H. Hine of S. Albans, who has most liberally presented the plate.
* The brass of a civilian on the floor of the chancel may perhaps commemorate this John Ferrers. The wife has the horned head-dress — date c. 1460.
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Carole Preston, researcher for the British National Trust at Baddesly Clinton, sent a copy of a page of will abstracts that puts John Ferrers' death on 7 Oct 1488. The will mentions his wife Katherine, son Thomas and daughter Alice.
Top of page noted as St Albans Wills" 2AR56r, Ferrers, John gentleman and page 197.
**************
From Ancient Tomb with Effigies St Leonard's Church Flamstead by Rev Fowler
St. Albans Architecutral & Acrchealogical Society, 1887. p. 84
http://www.stalbanshistory.org/documents/1887.09a_jl_.pdf
This altar-tomb, the oldest monument in the Church, is of considerable interest. Weever tells us that in his time there were three such tombs — "Here in this Church are three wondrous ancient monuments, whose inscriptions are quite perist, supposed by the inhabitants to be for certain noblemen, lords of this Manor."
...
The monument clearly commemorates a person of importance, and the most important lay personage in Flamstead, next to the lord of the manor, I conceive would be his Seneschal or Steward... The person represented is likely to have been the steward who managed the controversy with Prior John Woderove concerning the manorial rights on Redbourn Heath; the compact of settlement having been made in 1383, as we have heard. With regard to the chantry, we may infer that it was founded some time before 1412...
In the absence of inscription or heraldry it may not be possible to ascertain the name of the person commemorated, but it is worth while to note, as affording a possible clue, the connection of the family of Ferrars (or Ferrers) with Flamstead. Thomas de Beauchamp's Countess was Margaret de Ferrars. The name of her father, William de Ferrars, lord of Groby, was enrolled in the Obituary record of S. Alban's Abbey, at her request in 1382, (Lib. Ben. fol. 132). Some of her kindred were resident in S. Albans about the year 1400, or earlier; for the cognizance of Ferrars, a horse-shoe, is found in a stained glass window in S. Peter's church, the style of the glass being of about that date—the border of horse-shoes there denoting that the donor was a Ferrars, From an entry in the Liber Benefactorum, (fol. 116), we learn that John Ferrers, esquire, of S. Albans, had been Seneschal to Henry de Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, (grandson of Thomas de Beauchamp), who died in 1445.
*This John Ferrers married a daughter of Adrian Brekespere, of Langley, and possessed land in the parish of S. Peter, S. Albans. In 1455 he was appointed by Abbot John Wheathampstead his attorney in a certain law suit. (Regist. I. 207). As Seneschal he doubtless managed the manor of Flamstead for the Duke. We find other members of the family residing in S. Albans or the neighbourhood up to the middle of the sixteenth century.
In 1475, Ralph Ferrers, Doctor of Laws, was appointed Warden of the Hospital of S. Julian, S. Albans—(Regist. II. 120). In 1493, Thomas Ferrers, esquire, was Bailiff of the town of S. Albans: he married a daughter of William Westby, Hundreder of the Liberty, a person of considerable importance. (Lib. Ben. fol. 79). Another John Ferrers, esquire, was Bailiff of the Liberty some time between 1494 and 1505: he was admitted to the Fraternity of the Monastery at the petition of John Benestede, Prior of Tynmouth , brother of his wife Katherine, (fol. 117). In 1549 the manor of Flamstead, (which had come to the crown), was granted by Edward VI. to George Ferrers, of Markyate, son of Thomas Ferrers of S. Albans. He was buried in this church, 11th January, 1578. His son, Julius Ferrers, who succeeded to the manor, was also buried here, (30 Dec. 1596).—[see Cussans, vol. II , Hund. of Hertford, p. 143]. The name of Thomas de Beauchamp's Steward, is not to be found in the S. Alban's documents, but it is by no means improbable that he was a Ferrers, obtaining the appointment through the influence of the Countess of Warwick, (Margaret de Ferrers), his kinswoman. Possibly he may be the person who gave the glass in S. Peter's church.
For the etching of Flamstead church, which illustrates these papers, the Society is indebted to Mrs. H. Hine of S. Albans, who has most liberally presented the plate.
* The brass of a civilian on the floor of the chancel may perhaps commemorate this John Ferrers. The wife has the horned head-dress — date c. 1460.
*****************
Carole Preston, researcher for the British National Trust at Baddesly Clinton, sent a copy of a page of will abstracts that puts John Ferrers' death on 7 Oct 1488. The will mentions his wife Katherine, son Thomas and daughter Alice.
Top of page noted as St Albans Wills" 2AR56r, Ferrers, John gentleman and page 197.
Events
| Birth | Ca 1446 | ||||
| Death | Maybe 7 Oct 1488 | St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England |  | ||
| Occupation | 1494 - 1505 | Bailiff of the Liberty - Flamstead, Hertfordshire, England |
Families
| Spouse | Catherin Bensted ( - ) |
| Child | Thomas Ferrers (1472 - ) |
| Child | Elizeus Ferrers ( - 1548) |
| Child | Alice Ferrers ( - ) |
| Father | Edmond Ferrers (1422 - ) |