History | Sir William De Mere
Murder at Norton Green Old Hall
The murder of Sir William de Meres son, Norton Green Village, has over the years become a source for much story telling and after hearing about this henious crime that happened many centuries ago, prompted further research which you can read more of below.
Revealed are vital facts, that not only give us a name for Sir Williams son but also names the ‘felons’ who are recorded as actually committing the crime. What has also come to light are the reasons why Norton le Moors manor became divided in ownership between the Barons of Stafford and the Lord of Audley … read more
Sir William de Meres son named!
After extensive research we now have a name for Sir William de Mere's son murdered at Norton Green Old Hall Farm ... he is named as John de Mere.
The name being very common of the time and many who had brothers would be called by the same name i.e John followed by 'the younger' or the 'elder' e.g John the Elder or John the Younger etc.
This had been a mystery for many years until now where ancient records have uncovered and helped to determine the actual facts relating to that fateful night.
Who Murdered John de Mere?
Adding to the mystery is - who actually carried out this murderous act?
The records below are the Staffordshire Plea Rolls and a Deposition put together by the 14 Elders of Norton, these help shed some light on events.
We know from reading about Sir Williams lineage that Sir Robert de Dutton from Cheshire married Sir Williams daughter Agnes de Mere, and he was invovled in some way, but how? Through this marriage Robert was determined to gather strength to his already increased wealth and lands given to him by his mother Philippa, hatched a henious plan to dispose of the male line of the de Meres in any way he could, Sir William de Mere and his son Agnes's brother John de Mere.
An interesting link to the Dutton family of Cheshire can be found here (external website) … Read more
Staffordshire Plea Rolls
This record names the actual ‘felons’ ...
1. Entry in the Staffordshire Plea Rolls Of Felonies presented Coram Rege in co.Stafford.
Extracts/Staff. "The jury of the Hundred of Pireshull presented, that John de Grete about the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, 10 E. II., feloniously killed John de Mere at Norton-under-Kevermund (Norton le Moors), and that Richard the Parker of Chebeseye, had aided and abetted him."
Deposition of the 14 elders of Norton
2. Deposition on record respecting the ancient ownership of the Manor of Norton, which is the actual account/text involving the 14 elders of Norton who recorded the events of that fateful night.
The following account is given in its original text;
“To all cristth pupls to whom this p’sent writying shall come to, Wee - Hugh Forde, Thomas Roule, Thomas Sherord, John Truuefold, Rob’to Grene, Stevyn Cartelage, John Ball, John Mere the yalder, Henri Baddeley, Hugh Sheroda, tenants and inhabitantis in the Lordship of Norton upon the More in the Counte of Staff wode ffsenden greytying formasmoche as it is meritori and medefull to testifye and bere wittenes in the mat of tronthe to them be doutefull, wee the sied Hugh, Thomas, Thomas, John, Rob’to, Steevyn, John, John, Thomas, William, John, Henre, and Hugh testife and wittenes by this our writynge that we have herd seyd and tode ofte and mony tyme spoken by our fuders & elders byfore us that on S’ William Meere Knyyht was sole sesied of the Lordship and man of Norton aforesaid, which man was on entire man as by wryght of henheritance, whech S’ William Meere hadde childer on son and a doughter and the doughter was married to a man dwelling in Chest.shyre and her husband entendying to henherite the said landes after the disces of the said S’ William as by reson of his wyff came with force and company of pepull by nighte to the house of the sied S ‘William at Norton aforesaid entendyng to murder the seid son of the seid S’ William for the entent aforesaid ant there murdered and kylled the seid said son of the seid S’ William and at that tyme the seid S’ William fledde for feere if his lyf and afterwards for as moche as the son of the seid S’ William was so murdered for the entent afore rehersied the seid S’ William entendyng to disheret the husband of his doughter for the mischeves deds by hym so doon gave certain p’cells of the landis in the seid manerr belonging to the Baron of Stafford that tyme beying and of the reiduee of maner and land is enfeoffed the lord of audley that tyme beying.
All wheche deposissions to be truleo in man’ is above written wee will be truly at any tyme yf wen thereto required to testifye; and for the prove of this oure dede wee have set to our seal is the fyfte day of maye the xiij - there of kynge Henri the vij –th … ”
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