We have often referred in this journal to the work of Harry Stanford Smith, the Brighton estate agent who researched his Linfield origins during the 1950’s. He left us with some fascinating pieces of information, but since he failed to include records of his sources, we cannot readily see what is fact and what is merely conjecture in his extensive findings. Even if all the names and dates which he quoted were in fact correct, the relationships between individuals are unlikely to be confirmed by documentary evidence and some conjecture is therefore inevitable.
Stanford Smith believed that all of his branch descended from one Aelnoth Linfield who was a Burgess of London and a judge at around the period of the Norman Conquest. How he arrived at this conclusion we are unsure, since no evidence has yet emerged to confirm the names or dates in question. However, we are slowly acquiring documentary evidence, much of it from the Public Records Office through the FONS service referred to elsewhere in this issue. In time, we obviously hope to be able to confirm more of the supposed origins of the family, current details of which are given below. Where the source is shown as hss or is not shown at all, the information is taken from the Stanford Smith research.
1. Aelnoth LINFIELD #1272 born bef 1066, married —– —– #1273, born bef 1066. Burgess of London and a judge, according to H Stanford Smith. Shown with Linfield surname though surnames are not generally given English spelling at this time.
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Aelwin LINFIELD #454 born bef 1066.
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Aelnoth LINFIELD #456 born aft 1066.
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3. Aelnoth LINFIELD #1276 born aft 1066, Tollington, Surrey?, married —– —– #1277, born aft 1066. Aelnoth died aft 1086.
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Aelric LINFIELD #458 born abt 1090.
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4. Aelric LINFIELD #1278 born abt 1090, ref: hss 1953, married —– —– #1279, born abt 1090. Aelric died aft 1131, living: 1167, Surrey.
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Aelred de LINKFIELD #1280 born bef 1140.
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5. Aelred de LINKFIELD #1280 born bef 1140, Merstham, Surrey?, married —– —— #1281, born bef 1140. Aelred died aft 1165, Merstham?. Name given as de Linkfield or de Lingfield, lord of Linkfield, Merstham, Surrey in 1165 [hss]. Stanford Smith also shows him as taxed in 1160, quoting Pipe Rolls, Henry II, Surrey. (Poss that date should read 1166 – see below.) Prob d 1166 as his son has holdings in 1167 [hss] Prob. born abt 1100 [hss]. Assumed to be the Ailred de Lingef’ mentioned in an account dated Michaelmas 1166 (Ref. 1):
Surrey: The same sheriff renders account of the chattels of fugitives and of those who have perished in the judgement of water, the names of whom are hereunder written. In the treasury in 11 tallies. …….. From Ailred de Lingef’ 10s ……..
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Aelric de LINGFIELD #1282 born bef 1167.
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6. Aelric de LINGFIELD #1282 born bef 1167, Lingfield?, married —– —– #1283, born abt 1165. Aelric died aft 1167. Referred to in 1168 Pipe Roll; (Ref. 2) Surrey; Michaelmas 1168, From the pleas of the archdeacon of Poitou and Guy the deacon and Reginald de War(en). The same sheriff renders account for 18s from the chattels of Ailric de Lingefeld, de- footed. He has delivered into the treasury. And he is quit.
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Walter de LINKFIELD #1284 born bef 1170.
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7. Walter de LINKFIELD #1284 born bef 1170, Linkfield (Redhill)?, married —– —– #1285, born abt 1199. Walter died abt 1200, living: 1199. In a letter to his cousin Katie in 1953, Stanford Smith gives the surname as de Lynggefelde or Evingfelde, and shows him as living in 1199. He shows two children, Wm and Isobel, cf. tree which only shows male line. In a letter of August 28, 1953 to A G Linfield, he states that Walter was an old man in 1199. Shown as plaintiff in 1198; surname given as de LINGEFELD.
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William de LINKFIELD #1286 born bef 1214.
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Isabel de LINKFIELD #3037.
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8. William de LINKFIELD #1286 born bef 1214, Linkfield?, married —– —– #1287, born abt 1214. William died aft 1214, living: 1214. Alive in 1214 according to HSS and possibly the Linfield crusader.
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John de LINKFIELD #1288 born bef 1220.
iiRobert de LINKFIELD #3040 born bef 1242.
9. Isabel de LINKFIELD #3037 married Odmar —– #3038, born abt 1200. Spelling Isabel de Lynggefelde in records.
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John ——- #3039.
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10. John de LINKFIELD #1288 born bef 1220, married Agnes ——- #1289, born bef 1220, living: 1239, Lingfield?. John living: 1242, Surrey. Poss. the John mentioned in court case 1242, accused with others of killing a number of cattle etc belonging to Godfrey le Waleys of Glinde (Ref. 3). Agnes: Poss. the Agnes mentioned in claim of 1239 in respect of land in Lingfield, Crowhurst and Warlingham (Ref. 4).
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Agnes de LINKFIELD #3041 born abt 1220, living: 1239, Lingfield?.Poss the Agnes ment. in claim of 1239 in respect of lands at Warlingham etc (Ref. 5)11.
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John de LINKFIELD #1290 born bef 1267.
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11. John de LINKFIELD #1290 born before 1267, married Isabel —– #1291, born about 1267. John died after 1282. Stanford Smith shows him as alive in 1267 and 1282 and in a letter to his cousin Katie in 1953 he shows a William Lallynggefolde as the only son of this marriage.
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John de LINKFIELD #1292 born abt 1286.
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iiWilliam de LALLYNGGEFOLDE #3042 born bef 1296.
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12. John de LINKFIELD #1292 born abt 1286, married —– —– #1293, born abt 1312. John died aft 1331, living: 1312. Poss the John de Lyndefelde who was a fellow of Clare College, Oxford in 1331 (Ref. 6). Possibly the …..de Lynkefeld mentioned in Proof of Age of one John de Cobeham 26 June 1346, Nutfeld, county Surrey (Ref. 7). This gives age as poss 60 in 1346. Held Lingfield Manor in 1312 [Stanford Smith]
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Nicholas de LINGFIELD #1294 born bef 1315.
13. William de LALLYNGGEFOLDE #3042 born bef 1296, West Chiltington??. HSS has a reference to a tax roll of 1296 which shows him living at West Chiltington.
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Edward LALLYNGGEFOLDE #3043 born bef 1332, West Chiltington?, died aft 1332.HSS has reference to him in a tax roll of 1332, as of West Chiltington He also shows him as father of Thomas the MP #718 and of John a judge in 1402.
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14. Nicholas de LINGFIELD #1294 born bef 1315, died aft 1332, living: 1315. Lord of Lindfield 1315/1332 [hss]. Mentioned in charter of 1315 of John de Warenna (Warren), Earl of Surrey, “dated at the castle of Reygate 24 April 8 Edward II being a release to them of his right in rents due from them for divers tenements in Reygate….” (Ref. 8). Held Manor of Lingfield in 1334 [hss]
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Thomas LINDFIELD #718 born abt 1330.
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John LINGFIELD #1298 born c14.
17.iiiWilliam de LINGFIELD #1299 born c14.
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15. Thomas LINDFIELD #718 born abt 1330, occupation MP, married —– —– #719. Was Member for Lewes in 1361 (Ref. 9). One of members for Lewes Borough in the parliaments summoned for 15 May 1360 and 24 Jan 1360/1 (Ref. 10).
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John LINDFIELD #1296 born abt 1360.
16. John LINGFIELD #1298 born c14, Rusper?, married —– —– #1300, born abt 1342. John living: 1342, Rusper.
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John LINFIELD #1301 born c14.
17. William de LINGFIELD #1299 born c14, living: 1351. Lord of Sheffield Manor, Lingfield, Surrey [hss]
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Adam de LINGFIELD #1596 born abt 1370?.
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18. John LINDFIELD #1296 born abt 1360, occupation Judge/attorney, died bef 14 Jun 1444, living: 1425. Poss the barrister/judge mentioned in Patent Rolls 1424-26. Shown as Doctor of Law Feb 1425, Bachelor in laws 1425 etc. Referred to as Master John Lynfeld (Ref. 11). Register of Bishop Robert Gilbert of London 14 June 1444 refers to institution of William Byconyll, Ll.D., to the deanery of the Arches, vacant by the death of John Lyndefeld (Ref. 12).
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19. John LINFIELD #1301 born c14, Ashington?, living: 1371. Of Ashington [hss]
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Thomas LINFIELD #1302 born bef 1369.
20. Adam de LINGFIELD #1596 born abt 1370?.
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James de LINGFIELD #1598 born 1384?.
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21. Thomas LINFIELD #1302 born bef 1369, West Grinstead?, married —– —– #1303, born abt 1370. Thomas died aft 1380. Of West Grinstead. Over 12 years old in 1381 [hss] Shown in HSS letter of 24 May 1953 as the son of Thomas the MP #718 and as brother of John, a judge in 1402. A Thomas de Lyndefeld is mentioned in Patent Roll 1345 as one of a number of men accused of abducting Joan “late the wife of Henry Garnet chivaler” and taking her on the water of the Thames at Woolwich and carrying away her goods (Ref. 15).
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Richard LINFIELD #1304 born abt 1420.
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William de LINGFIELD #1600 born 1436?.
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23. Richard LINFIELD #1304 born abt 1420, married —– —– #1305, born abt 1420.
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Richard LINFIELD #1306 born abt 1450.
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William de LINGFIELD #1602 born bef 1483.
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25. Richard LINFIELD #1306 born abt 1450, married —– —– #1307, born abt 1450.
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William LINFIELD #1310 born abt 1520.
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Henry LINFIELD #1309 born 1529?.
29.iiiRichard LINFIELD #1308 born 1524.
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Richard LINGFIELD #1604 born abt 1505.
Perhaps, one day, we will be in a position to publish a more confident account of these early generations; in the meantime, we will continue to collect material, and from time to time, publish articles like this one to show the extent to which Stanford Smith’s findings have been substantiated.
References
1. PRO: Pipe Roll 12 Henry II r.8 m.1d Michaelmas 1166
2. PRO; Pipe Roll, 14 Henry II r.14 m.1d.
3. PRO: Curia Regis Roll 26-27 Henry III no 96
4. PRO: Curia Regis Roll Trinity 23 Henry III no 1028
5. PRO: Curia Regis Roll Trinity 23 Henry III no 1028
6. Alumni Oxoniensis 1751-1886 Vol 3, edited by Foster & Parker 1891.
7. PRO: C.Edw III file 82(4)
8. PRO: Patent Roll 10 Edward II m12
9. Notes by Borrer to Marchant diary
10. Information from House of Commons Library
11. PRO: Patent Rolls 2 Henry VI mm17-21,16 July 1424; 3 Hy 6 i m.4, 28 Feb 1425; 3 Hy 6 ii m18, 15 May 1425 and 4 Hy 6 ii m12.
12. London Diocesan Archives
13. Notes to Marchant diary
14. Lambeth Arch. Reg. Chichele. Fo.240.
15. PRO: Patent Roll 19 Edward III ii m 17d. 28 Aug 1345