Issue Roll Of Thomas De Brantingham Bishop Of Exeter 1370

Step into 14th-Century Devon: The 1370 Issue Roll of Bishop Thomas de Brantingham

Unlock the Names, Places, and Lives of Your Medieval Ancestors in this Rare Primary Source Document.

Imagine the year 1370. The reign of King Edward III is in its twilight years, the Hundred Years' War rages in France, and England is still reshaped by the aftermath of the Black Death. In the heart of the West Country, one of the realm's most powerful men, Thomas de Brantingham, the Bishop of Exeter and former Treasurer of England, meticulously manages his vast diocese.

Now, you can hold a piece of that world in your hands.

We are pleased to offer a complete transcription of the Issue Roll of Thomas de Brantingham for the year 1370. An Issue Roll is the medieval equivalent of a high-level checkbook register, detailing every payment issued from the Bishop's treasury. For the genealogist and local historian, this is not just an accounting document; it is a treasure trove of names, places, and relationships that bring the past to life.

What Genealogical Secrets Will You Discover?

This meticulously transcribed document provides a rare and direct window into the people and operations of the Diocese of Exeter, which then encompassed all of Devon and Cornwall. Within its entries, you may find:

Names of Individuals: Discover the names of officials, servants, workmen, tenants, and merchants who received payments from the Bishop. This is your chance to find a mention of an ancestor's name in a contemporary 14th-century record.

Place Names & Manors: Trace your family's connection to specific manors, villages, parishes, and even individual properties across Devon and Cornwall as they are listed in connection with payments for repairs, rents, or feudal dues.

Occupations & Roles: Gain insight into the daily workings of a medieval diocese. Find out who was the mason repairing Exeter Cathedral walls, the scribe copying a charter, or the courier carrying messages to London.

Economic & Social Context: Understand the value of goods and services. See payments for everything from building materials and food to horses and legal fees, painting a vivid picture of the local economy.

Family Connections: While not a family tree, the roll can provide clues. Seeing the same surname associated with a particular manor over generations can be a vital clue in your research.
Who Was Thomas de Brantingham?

A key figure in the Plantagenet court, Brantingham served as the Lord High Treasurer of England from 1369 to 1371. His Issue Roll is therefore more than a local record; it reflects the financial operations of a national figure, connecting the diocese of Exeter directly to the politics and economics of the kingdom.