BARON FAMILY Research Notes - Annex A

Listing of Entries in the Municipal Records of Dorchester of entries for the BARON [alias BARNES] Family:

Link Back To an Account of the :- BARNES FAMILY of Fordington (1500 1660)

Jump to SUMMARY © Compiled by Michael Russell FIPD Dec 2024

King Henry V (1386-1422)
King Henry V - National Portrait Gallery
King Henry V - Reign (1413-1422)
© National Portrait Gallery, London under Creative Commons Licence

We are at a time during the the Anglo French conflict generally known as the 100 year war
'1419' is significance as in January of that year Rouen had surrendered after a long siege to Henry V
and this brought Normandy under the control of England

MRD Page DATE [In date Order] CHARTER
Number		 NAME KEY TEXT EXTRACTED : Only entries in MRD relevant to BARON Family COMMENTS
203 & 204 18 Jan 1414 251 John Blount Previous owner of croft at 318 WILL OF JOHN BLOUNT
At the Court, Dorchester, Monday next before the Annunciation B.M.V., 2 Henry V. [1414], was exhibited the will of John Blount, of Dorchester, dated i8th January, 1414, containing, inter alia, " I bequeath to Clara,* my wife, my croft in Dorchester, which I lately acquired of John Jurdan, lying on the west side of the lane which leads towards Durnegate, between the crofts of Richard Durant on the south, and the said John Jurdan on the north, to hold for her life of the King in capite, to remain to Richard Bartlet, clerk, and Thomas Pynet, clerk, my executors, to sell it, and distribute the proceeds for my soul." Livery of seisin.

Richard Bartlet Clerk and Thomas Pynet Clerk appointed executors - croft bequeathed to Clara* [Claricia] his widow - *See Charter 333 page 233

John BLOUNT was Bailiff 1391; 1395; 1396; 1401and 1413

228 & 229 1419 318 William BARON & Joan his wife Croft on the west side of the lane which leads towards Durngate [Church Lane on 1771 Map 'O'] CHARTER OF WILLIAM BARON AND ALICE? (*sic) HIS WIFE : Richard Bartlot, clerk, and Thomas Pynet, clerk, grant to William Baron and JOAN, his wife, and their heirs, their croft on the west side of the lane which leads towards Durne gate, Dorchester, between the crofts of Richard Durant on the south and of John Jurdan on the north, which croft they had by bequest of John Blount, to hold of the King in capite. [Note:- (*) Original error in heading - should refer to JOAN not ALICE as in text and also Charter 454 below

John Jurdan was Bailiff of Dorchester in 1406 and 1408]

Church Lane see comments Charter 448
  31 Aug 1422       King Henry V died 31 Aug 1422 in France, succeeded by his 8 month old son King Henry VI :Regency under his uncles Humphrey Duke of Gloucester and John Duke of Bedford. Crowned Westminster Abbey 1429; ruled in his own roght from age 16 from 1437 HenryVI (1421-1471) Crowned King of France at Notre Dame Paris 16th Dec 1431 still a minor
269 16 Nov 1428 434 William BARON Tenement in Durnelane [1771 Map 'E'] on west side of the street CHARTER OF ROBERT MOSE AND OTHERS:-  John Govytz and Robert Veel, executors of the will of John Syward, sen., grant to Robert Mose, Robert Bertram, Richard Webbe, Thomas Budde, Robert Ayssh, John Goldsmyth, Peter Skytmere, of Dorchester, and John Russell, and their heirs, a burgage which, with Robert Belle, clerk, deceased, they lately had by bequest of John Syward in Melcombe Regis, which burgage was formerly Laurence Jenyn's. Also two burgages in Dorchester, similarly bequeathed by John Syward, in Durnelane, one of which lies in the east part of the street, between tenements of the Prior of St. John and of the Fraternity of B.V.M., and the other on the west of the street, between tenement of William Baron on the south, and that of the said Prior on the north, to hold of the chief lords of the fees. [Note:- The property is in Durnelane and the property to the north of Wm Baron was occupied in 1419 by John Blount ex John Jurdan.

Confirms Wm Barons tenement at 318 still in place in 1428]
266 26 Dec 1428 425 Walter BARON Tenement on west side of the lane which leads to East Street towards Durngate CHARTER of  RICHARD VICARY, and AUICE [Alice] his wife:  Richard Calabre alias Richard Durant of Dorchester grants to Richard Vicary of Dorchester and Auice his wife and their heirs a tenement on the west side of the lane which leads from East Street towards la Durnegate, Dorchester, between tenements of Walter BARON on the south and William Merchaunt on the north  The croft in Charter 318 held by Richard Durant and south of the croft of William Baron is sold to Richard Vicary
268 20 Apr 1429 431 William BARON One of 12 [capital burgesses] granted a tenement in North St.
[Church Street on 1771 Map 'O'] 		CHARTER OF THE FRATURNITY B.M.V. John Jacob, clerk, son and heir of Reginald Jacob, deceased, and Joan, late wife of said Reginald, grant to Thomas Wareyn, clerk, Thomas Pynet, clerk, Robert Mose, Thomas Budde, Robert Bertram, Richard Webbe, John Pury, sen., Robert Ayssh, Robert Chyldecombe, William Baron, Robert Powke, and John Belhous, and their heirs, their tenement in North Street which leads towards the Friars Minors opposite the Cross on the north, between the tenement of the Fraternity of Blessed Mary in St. Peter's Church, Dorchester, on the east and the pinfold of the community {ponfaldum communitatis) " in vico boriali qui ducit versus fr aires minor es ex ofposito cruet ex parte boriali," on the west, to hold of the King in capite. [Note:- This property in North Street seems to have been granted to a number of trustees (also called wardens), one of which was William Baron. As such he would be a capital burgess of Dorchester - They often held property which was sold or rented out on behalf of the Corporation. or used as trustees for charities etc. ]
273 20 Apr 1431 448 Walter BARON and Margaret his wife Burgage in East Street in a certain lane called Durnelane CHARTER OF WALTER BARON AND MARGARET HIS WIFE: Robert Stoury grants to Walter Baron and Margaret, his wife, and the heirs of Walter, his burgage with curtilage in East Street, Dorchester, in a certain lane which leads towards Fordyngton, called Durnelane, on the west of the said lane, between burgages of Richard Vicary on the north and of Walter Sergent on the south,

This charter referred to on page xli of Mayo's Intro to Corp. Dev. of Dorchester see "The lane which leads towards Fordyngton" which he identifies as "Church Lane"

Walter BARON has purchased the tenement on the other side of Richard Vicary & Wm may have sold his property
275 & 276 04 Jun 1432 454 William BARON and Joan his wife Burgage on east side of South St CHARTER OF WILLIAM BARON AND JOAN HIS WIFE:
John Frampton, of Dorchester, grants to William Baron and Joan, his wife, and their heirs, a burgage with curtilage in Dorchester, late Matilda Westpray's, on the east side of South Street, between burgages of Edith Bomell on the north and of the said John on the south, to hold of the King in capite. 		William BARON moved to South Street Dorchester Previous owner Matilda Westprays John Frampton was bailiff of Dorchester in 1424; 1426; 1428; 1439
276 14 Jun 1432 455 William BARON to John BARON Burgage on east side of South St LETTER OF ATTORNEY OF THE ABOVESAID WILLIAM
John Frampton, of Dorchester, constitutes Robert Mose his attorney to deliver seisin in the premises (No. 454) to John BARON and Joan, his wife 		Probably indicates that Wm Baron bought the property for his son's occupation who is also married to a Joan?.
277 14 Jun 1432 458 William BARON and Joan his wife Burgage in South Street RELEASE MADE TO WILLIAM BARON
William Dounton, clerk, cousin and heir of Joan, late wife of John Frampton, of Dorchester, releases to William Baron, of Dorchester, and Joan, his wife, and the heirs of William Baron, all right in the burgage, etc., in South Street named in (No. 454).		  
276 05 Jul 1432 456 William BARON East St in lane called Durnlane? CHARTER OF WILLIAM BARON AND JOAN HIS WIFE
John Pyry, sen., grants to William Baron and Joan, his wife, and their heirs, his tenement on the south side of the lane which leads from High South Street towards le Durnegate, Dorchester, between the tenement of John Russell on the east and that late of Nicholas Webbe on the west, to hold of the King in capite. Warranty. Witnesses, John Martyn and Robert Chyldecombe, Bailiffs, John Frampton, Robert Bertram, Robert Mose, and many others. Dorchester, 5th July, 10 Henry VI. [1432].		 William Baron buys a third property. High South Street became called Cornhill and I think this is describing where East Street starts from where High South St changes to South street and East Street became Durne Lane leading to Durngate and Fordington,
280 01 Apr 1434 468 William BARON Witness only Charter of John A Brygge and Emma his wife  
282 13 Aug 1434 472 William BARON Witness only Charter of William Boneyyle of Fordington  
282 17 Aug 1435 473 William BARON Witness as Bailiff Will of Thomas BUDDE HT Robert Mose and William BARON Bailiffs Wm Baron bailiff another indicator likely to be a Capital Burgess
282 & 283 02 Apr 1436 474 William BARON Witness as Bailiff Charter of Thomas Wareyn Clerk and Robert Mose Ditto Robert Mose was bailiff in 1428 and 1435
283 04 Apr 1436 475 William BARON Witness as Bailiff Release of Thomas Wareyn and Others Wm Baron bailiff
285 10 Apr 1439 480 William BARON Witness only Charter of Ralph Bedford  
287 18 Mar 1440 486 Walter BARON and Margaret his wife and John BARON his elder son

Will

Tenement in East Street Dorchester

 WILL OF WALTER BARON
" In the Name, etc., 18th March, 1440, I, Walter Baron, of Fordyngton, bequeath . . . my body to be buried in the cemetery of the church of St. George of Fordyngton. To the fabric of the church of Blessed Mary, Sarum, 6d. To Sir Henry Bryt, 6d. To Matilda, wife of John Souter, j coopertorium, j brass pot, j dish, j towel {linthiamen) , and ij silver spoons. To John, my elder son, and his heirs, my tenement with curtilage in East Street, Dorchester, between tenements of John Sergent on the south and Richard Vicary on the north, to hold of the King in capite. Residue to Margaret, my wife, and John, my son, whom I constitute my executors."		 Death Walter BARON soon after Mar 1440 as no further ref to him
287 abt June* 1441 485 William BARON Witness only Charter of John A Brygge and Margery his wife *Monday bef pentacost which is 49 days after Easter (Apr/May) which is a different day each year
288 Oct (*) 1441 488 William BARON Witness only Charter of John Hoggys and Williama his wife (*) The feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist is held on 18th Oct
305 10 July 1446 534 John BARON and Alianor his wife Burgage south side of Pease Lane Dorchester CHARTER OF NICHOLAS FORSTER, MADE TO JOHN BARON AND ALIANOR HIS WIFE
Nicholas Forster grants to John Baron and Alianor, his wife, and their heirs, his burgage on the south side of Pyselane, Dorchester, between the tenement of the Wardens of the church of Holy Trinity, on the west and that of Matilda Fouler on the east, to hold of the King in capite.		 John BARON purchases tenement Peaselane
305 11 July 1446 535 John BARON and Alianor his wife Burgage south side of Pease Lane Dorchester RELEASE OF NICHOLAS FORSTER TO JOHN BARON AND ALIANOR HIS WIFE
Nicholas Forster, of Dorchester, releases to John Baron and Alianor, his wife, and their heirs, all right in the aforesaid tenement. Witnesses, as in preceding charter [534]		  
300 20 Feb 1450 519 William BARON Witness as Bailiff Charter of Robert Webbe made to John Drynkwater & Joan his wife William BARON Bailiff 2nd time
Apr 1450 Normandy lost Battle of Formigny
  1461       King Edward VI (1421-1471) Reign 1st (1422-1461) & 2nd (1470-1471)  
314 28 Mar 1463 560 John BARON Witness only Charter of Robert Moreye - tenement east side South st etc etc  
305 2 Apr 1485 536 John BARON and Alianor his wife Burgage south side of Pease Lane Dorchester CHARTER OF JOHN BARON made to Robert Scotte and Joan his wife
John Baron grants to Robert Scotte and Joan, his wife, and their heirs, the aforesaid burgage which he and Alianor, his wife, now deceased, had by grant of Nicholas Fowler* (*side line entry called Nicholas Forster),[534] to hold of the King in capite. 		His wife Alianor has died probably reason for selling the house
305 30 Apr 1485 537 John BARON Burgage south side of Pease Lane Dorchester Letter of Attorney of JOHN BARON, made to Robert Scotte and Joan his wife
John Baron constitutes William Bone and Robert Poleyn his attorneys, to deliver seisin in the aforesaid burgage to Robert Scotte and Joan, his wife. ' Dorchester		  
306 10 May 1485 538 John BARON Burgage south side of Pease Lane Dorchester Release of JOHN BARON, made to Robert Scotte and Joan his wife
John Baron releases to Robert Scotte and Joan, his wife, and their heirs, all right in the aforesaid burgage.		 House sold
There are no more entries for the Surname 'BARON' and only the following for BARNES
363 10 Aug 1574 675 Robert BARNES and his wife Agnes Burgage north side of Durnelane CHARTER OF GEORGE ROBINSON
Robert Barnes, of Fordington, husbondman, and Agnes, his wife, sell to George Robynson, of Dorchester, gentleman, and his heirs, their burgage and garden on the north side of Durnelane, Dorchester, between the burgage of John Hennyng on the east and the lane called the Northe lane (venellam vocatam the Northe lane) on the west, to hold of the chief lords of the fee. Warranty. William Heme and John Pillerd to deliver seisin 		Robert Barnes sells his house in Dorchester having moved to Fordington
371 & 372 24 Oct 1648 691 Walter BARNES Witness only Lease to Richard BURY Farm Lets £1,100  
419 28 Sep 1711   William BARNES   Enrolment of Apprentices : 28 Sep 1711 William BARNES Apprentice fathers name [Blank] Masters name James Keate Trade barber not paid enrollment fee so no term of years entered Apprentice


SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE:

1419: William BARON and his wife Joan were the first known members of the family to settle in Dorchester in 1419 [Charter 318] when they purchased from the executors of the estate of John BLOUNT of Dorchester a croft lying in the centre of Dorchester just behind All Saints church. John BLOUNT had been a man of some influence in Dorchester having been Bailiff of the town 4 times between 1391 and when he died soon after making his will in Jan 1414.

    Background - Dwellings: The above charters all refer to a croft, a burgage or tenement. In Dorchester a croft was nearly always a small area of enclosed land adjoined to a dwelling excluding any open fields. A tenement was a general reference to any holding of land and buildings, a burgage was a smallholding in a town rented by a free burgess who was a person holding some of the privileges conferred by a municipal corporation. The burgesses were the backbone of the Corporation with 12 Capital burgesses and the Mayor who ran the town with legal rights devolved from the King. Lesser officials of the Corporation such as bailiffs, sergeants at mace etc would be drawn from burgesses of the town. It was customary therefore for burgesses to be primary witnesses to wills and charters as this added authenticity to proceedings and acceptance of the transfer of land etc by the Corporation.

    Background - BARON Surname: Please bear in mind that all these records are the result of transcriptions by Canon Mayo in 1908 of original Charters written in Latin. They are the only source we have for Dorchester or Fordington for the 15th Century. From 1500 all but one example referred to below record the BARNES surname.

1428: we learn that the croft owned by Richard DURANT, next to that purchased by William BARON, is sold to Richard VICARY - and already on the other side lives Walter BARON, presumably a close relative to William.

1429: In [Charter 431] a tenement in North Street is transferred to 12 named individuals one of which is William BARON. I think these may well be the twelve Capital Burgesses of Dorchester who together with the Mayor would be holding properties on behalf of the Corporation which would then be rented out to individuals to raise income on behalf of the town. I cannot be sure because the Charters issued prior to that by Edward VI have not survived.

1431: Walter BARON and his wife Margaret purchase a burgage with curtilage in East Street* Dorchester [Charter 448] described as being in a certain lane which leads to Fordington called Durnelane on the west side of the lane between the burgesses of Richard VICARY and on the north and Walter SERJEANT on the south. This lane was identified by Mayo as being 'Church Lane'.

1432: William BARON purchases two of his properties, one a burgage on the east side of South Street from John FRAMPTON who was bailiff of Dorchester in 1424; 1426; 1428 and 1439 which he transfers to John BARON [Charter 454-458] . The other property in East Lane* [Charter456] he moves into, the tenement being on the south side of the lane which leads from High South Street towards le Durnegate,

    Location of tenements: Although the 1771 Map shows the town some 340 years after these charters were written it is still the best one we have to understand them. William BARONS original croft in charter 318 is described as being "on the west side of the lane which leads towards Durne gate" and the burgage of Walter BARON in charter 448 is described as being "in East Street, Dorchester, in a certain lane which leads towards Fordyngton, called Durnelane". From Charter 425 we know that both share a common neighbour in Richard Vicary (who bought his tenement from Richard Durant). Walter's burgage has also been identified by Canon Mayo (page xli MRD) as being in the lane known by 1771 as 'Church Lane' [See Map Index 'O']. I agree with Canon Mayo that this must be Church Lane not least because of the north, south, orientation of neighbours.

    In Charter 456 (1432) William buys another of his houses described as a "tenement on the south side of the lane which leads from High South Street towards le Durnegate, Dorchester, between the tenement of John Russell on the east and that late of Nicholas Webbe on the west". This tenement has an east west orientation so the tenement is on the south side of what was then East lane (also East Street). The 'High South Street" referred to later became Cornhill - See ('C') on the 1771 map.

    If we now look at John Speeds Map of 1611 we are still 180 years after when William BARON bought his tenement in East Lane but it is still evident that there are open fields behind the houses. As it is referred to as a tenement rather than a burgage there is a distinct possibility that in 1432 it also had arable land attached to it, so he may well have become a farmer.

    For clarification 'High East St' has always been the main road continuing from High West Street straight on out of town which is where the 'The East Gate' was situated (charter 207). Canon Mayo states at the end of his notes on Durnegate "By the minute made on 7th Oct 1642, it appears the the Town possessed 3 main gates East, West, and South, and six back gates viz., two South Gates, one East Gate and one West Gate , the Gallows Hill Gate and the Gate at Glippath". The East Back Gate was therefore Durnegate and led into Fordington.

1434: William BARON is a witness on two Charters, one in Fordington, and goes on witnessing other Charters in 1439 and 1441.

1435/36: William BARON is appointed Bailiff of Dorchester for the first time

1440: Walter BARON writes his Will on 18th March 1440 [486] and it is immediately clear that he has moved his family to live permanently in Fordington. He dies soon afterwards leaving Margaret and his eldest son John his executors. He specifically leaves "To John, my elder son, and his heirs, my tenement with curtilage in East Street, Dorchester, between tenements of John Sergent on the south and Richard Vicary on the north". John Sergent is presumably the heir of Walter Sergent.

1446: John BARON and his wife Alianor purchase a burgage in Peaselane from Nicholas Forster [Charters 534 and 535] It looks as if both William and Walter BARON both have a son named John BARON. William buys a house on South street [Charters 454,455 and 458] which he grants to John BARON and Joan his wife in 1432. Walter BARON leaves his tenement in East St to his eldest son John BARON in 1440 but we do not know his wife's name.

1450: William BARON is elected Bailiff for the second time

1485: John BARON sells his burgage in Peaselane [Charters 536, 537 and 538] after his wife Alianor has died.

In addition to the records for the "BARON's family" listed above I searched the Municipal records for the surname "BARNES" but only located. many years later, the 3 entries listed. Nevertheless the entry in Charter 675 dated in 1574 has great significance for Robert BARNES is also selling his burgage in Durnelane in Dorchester to move permanently to live in Fordington. From the Barnes Family history we know Robert was the youngest brother of John BARNES (1512-1567) the Patriarch of the BARNES family in Fordington. Also John's son William BARNES Senior/Elder inherits the family plot of 56 acres which in the 1607 Survey of Fordington Manor states was situated in East Street, and his name in the 1615 survey for the same plot of 56 acres is recorded as William BARON's.
Conclusion:
The BARON Family of Dorchester are the
Progenitors of the BARNES Family of Fordington
    These records in my view describe a single closely related family who have sufficient wealth to buy and sell property from the outset. They are respected and accepted into the ruling community at Dorchester, for a time playing an important role within the Corporation in administering the town. There is clear evidence of Walter BARON's ownership of a burgage in 'East Street', Dorchester, in a certain lane which leads towards Fordyngton, called Durnelane, which sits immediately above the East Field in Fordington Fields [1844 Map]. We also have Walter BARON's Will from which we know by 1440 that he and his family are already living in Fordington and he actually asks to be buried at St Georges Church. As such they must be the progenitors of the BARNES Family in Fordington. I hope that further records will gradually enable us to fill in some of the blanks

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