Thomas of Moulton
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas de Multon (died 1240), Lord of Multon, in Lincolnshire, was a British landowner and judge. He fought as a knight in Normandy
in 1202-3, in Wales
in 1211 and in Poitou
in 1214. He was an unlucky speculator under King John
, owing over £800 when the Exchequer reopened after the end of the First Barons' War
. In 1205 he purchased the office of High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
, which he held until 1208. Unable to pay his debts, he was imprisoned in Rochester Castle
until he had discharged them. He regained royal favour, and in 1213 was appointed to investigate extortions by the High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire
and Yorkshire
. As a northern lord and debtor Multon sided with the Barons during the civil war, and was one of the rebels who mustered at Stamford
in 1215. As a consequence he was excommunicated in 1216, having previously been captured by the King in 1215. He was entrusted to Peter de Mauley and his lands were confiscated, being restored in 1217.
He first married Sara of Fleet before 1200. In 1214 he gave a 1,000 marks to the crown for the wardship of the daughters of Richard de Luci
and married these ladies to his sons Lambert and Alan. After Luci's death in 1218 he married his widow, receiving the title of Forester of Cumberland. For marrying a widow without the kings licence, he had his lands seized and had to pay a fine of £100 to the king, and 1 palfry for the office of forester of Cumberland. Under Henry III
Multon became an important royal agent in the north; between 1217 and 1218 he was an itinerant justice for Cumberland
, Westmorland
, Lancashire
, Yorkshire
, and Northumberland
. In 1224 he sat as a justice at Westminster
, a position he held until 1236. In 1229 he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
, a position he held until 1233 and again between 1234 and 1236. Between 1233 and 1236 he was High Sheriff of Cumberland
and constable of Carlisle Castle
. His last activity was in 1238, when he worked as a surveyor of the royal demesne
in Cumberland, dying in 1240.
Issue (Children)
----
He married:
1. Sara de Fleet with whom they had:
a. Lambert de Multon, who married Annabel de Lucy.
b. Alan de Multon, who married Alice de Lucy.
2. Ada de Moreville with whom they had:
a. Julian de Multon, who married Robert de Vavasour.
b. Thomas de Multon (d.1270), who married Maud de Vaux.
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in 1202-3, in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1211 and in Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
in 1214. He was an unlucky speculator under King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
, owing over £800 when the Exchequer reopened after the end of the First Barons' War
First Barons' War
The First Barons' War was a civil war in the Kingdom of England, between a group of rebellious barons—led by Robert Fitzwalter and supported by a French army under the future Louis VIII of France—and King John of England...
. In 1205 he purchased the office of High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
, which he held until 1208. Unable to pay his debts, he was imprisoned in Rochester Castle
Rochester Castle
Rochester Castle stands on the east bank of the River Medway in Rochester, Kent, England. The 12th-century keep or stone tower, which is the castle's most prominent feature, is one of the best preserved in England or France. Located along the River Medway and Watling Street, Rochester was a...
until he had discharged them. He regained royal favour, and in 1213 was appointed to investigate extortions by the High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. As a northern lord and debtor Multon sided with the Barons during the civil war, and was one of the rebels who mustered at Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
in 1215. As a consequence he was excommunicated in 1216, having previously been captured by the King in 1215. He was entrusted to Peter de Mauley and his lands were confiscated, being restored in 1217.
He first married Sara of Fleet before 1200. In 1214 he gave a 1,000 marks to the crown for the wardship of the daughters of Richard de Luci
Richard de Luci
Richard de Luci was first noted as Sheriff of the County of Essex, then he was made Chief Justiciar of England.- Biography :His wife Rohese, who is named in several documents, was a sister of Faramus of Boulogne...
and married these ladies to his sons Lambert and Alan. After Luci's death in 1218 he married his widow, receiving the title of Forester of Cumberland. For marrying a widow without the kings licence, he had his lands seized and had to pay a fine of £100 to the king, and 1 palfry for the office of forester of Cumberland. Under Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
Multon became an important royal agent in the north; between 1217 and 1218 he was an itinerant justice for Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. In 1224 he sat as a justice at Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, a position he held until 1236. In 1229 he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas, also known as the Common Bench or Common Place, was the second highest common law court in the English legal system until 1880, when it was dissolved. As such, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was one of the highest judicial officials in England, behind only the Lord...
, a position he held until 1233 and again between 1234 and 1236. Between 1233 and 1236 he was High Sheriff of Cumberland
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
and constable of Carlisle Castle
Carlisle Castle
Carlisle Castle is situated in Carlisle, in the English county of Cumbria, near the ruins of Hadrian's Wall. The castle is over 900 years old and has been the scene of many historical episodes in British history. Given the proximity of Carlisle to the border between England and Scotland, it...
. His last activity was in 1238, when he worked as a surveyor of the royal demesne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
in Cumberland, dying in 1240.
Issue (Children)
----
He married:
1. Sara de Fleet with whom they had:
a. Lambert de Multon, who married Annabel de Lucy.
b. Alan de Multon, who married Alice de Lucy.
2. Ada de Moreville with whom they had:
a. Julian de Multon, who married Robert de Vavasour.
b. Thomas de Multon (d.1270), who married Maud de Vaux.