Richard Isham, Gentleman of Clipston
Contents
Isham: Richard Isham, Gentleman of Clipston
Biographical Overview
Based on Genealogical Research from Barron's Northamptonshire Families[1]
Richard Isham, gentleman of Clipston, Northamptonshire, was the son of Robert Isham 1402-1474 and Margarete Allington, and brother to Robert Isham (clerk), William Isham, and John Isham.[1] While details of his early life are sparse, Richard Isham distinguished himself through service to Queen Elizabeth Woodville, the wife of King Edward IV. His potential association with Queen Elizabeth's household suggests a connection to the Yorkist court and further elevated the Isham family's standing within Northamptonshire gentry.[1]
Richard Isham's public career is marked by his appointment on 24 July 1477 as Justice in Eyre for Queen Elizabeth’s forests.[1] This significant role placed him in charge of overseeing royal forest law and administration within the Queen's lands, demonstrating a high level of trust and authority bestowed upon him by the Queen Consort. Further highlighting his service, Richard acted as Queen Elizabeth's attorney in a land surrender on 19 July 1478.[1] These positions indicate Richard's legal acumen and his close ties to the royal household, reflecting the political advantages gained by the Isham family through their Yorkist allegiance, a pattern established by his father, Robert Isham.[1]
Beyond his service to the Queen, Richard Isham also played a role in family affairs. In 1485, he was recorded as one of the feoffees managing Northamptonshire lands belonging to his brother, William Isham.[1] This demonstrates the continued cooperation and shared interests among the Isham brothers in managing their family estates.[1]
Richard Isham died on 9 May 1491.[1] His will, dated 20 April 1491, provides further insight into his life and priorities. In his will, Richard directed the feoffees of his purchased lands in Little Bowden and Clipston, Northamptonshire, and in Laughton, Leicestershire, to allocate the rents from these properties to his wife, Alice, for the duration of her life.[1] This provision ensured his wife's financial security after his death, a common practice among landed gentry.[1]
Richard Isham's will also specified his desire for a lasting memorial. His Latin testament, dated 12 March 1490, instructed his executors to commission a marble gravestone of significant size, six or seven feet in length. The inscription was to read: Hic iacet Ricardu Issham generosus filius Roberti Issham de comitatu Northamton armigeri qui obijt (tali die et anno) Cuius anime propicietur Ibesus Christus, amen. [Here lies Richard Isham, gentleman, son of Robert Isham of the county of Northampton, esquire, who died (on such a day and year). May Jesus Christ have mercy on his soul, amen.] Sir William Byrcheley, a chaplain, proved Richard Isham's will on 16 May 1491,[1] indicating the swift execution of his testamentary wishes after his passing.[1]
Richard Isham's wife, Alice, survived him and was named as one of his executors, highlighting her trusted role in managing his estate.[1] Richard and Alice Isham had issue three children: Richard, Robert, and Dorothy.[1] His eldest son and heir, Richard Isham Jr., inherited property including Child Manor in Clipston but died without issue on 24 November 1492.[1] Richard’s second son, Robert Isham, inherited the reversion of his father’s purchased lands after his mother Alice’s death.[1] His daughter, Dorothy Isham, received a bequest of £40 for her marriage.[1] A fourth son, John Isham of Broughton, is also noted in some genealogies.[1]
Richard Isham’s life, though less extensively documented than his father's public career, reflects the continued prosperity and social standing of the Isham family into the late fifteenth century. His service to Queen Elizabeth Woodville, his landholdings, and his detailed will, all underscore his position as a respected gentleman of Northamptonshire, contributing to the family’s legacy in the region.[1]
Bibliography
- Barron, Oswald. Northamptonshire Families. London: Mitchell and Hughes, 1906. [Microfilm reel]. Columbus Metropolitan Library, Owning Institution; FamilySearch International, Publisher Digital, Accessed 9 February 2025, https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/971287-northamptonshire-families.
- Genealogical information for Richard Isham of Clipston.[1]
