Thomas de Chaddesworth

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Thomas de Chaddesworth, de Chedworth or de Chadsworth

cleric who spent some fifty years in Ireland
, and died there at a great age.

He was

Vicar-General to the Archbishop.[6]

Life

Church of Saint Andrew, Chedworth, Gloucestershire; Thomas was a native of Chedworth

He was a native of Chedworth in Gloucestershire. The various spellings of his name are versions of Chedworth, although in his early years in Ireland, he was usually called Thomas de Theddesden.[6] In a deed of 1284 he refers to his parents and his brother Nicholas, to whom he was evidently close.[3]

He is first heard of in Ireland in 1262, as a clerk to

Edward I, and was suitably rewarded: he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland in 1270, (he was apparently the first holder of that office), and was a member of the Privy Council of Ireland.[6] He became a prebendary in the Diocese of Kildare in 1276.[7]

In 1284, shortly after he became Dean of St Patrick's, he claimed that he had been put to great expense and exposed to personal danger when travelling to London at the request of the late Archbishop, John de Derlington, (apparently, this was the first stage of an aborted mission to Rome) and in consequence, he brought a lawsuit against William de Meones, the Archbishop's executor (later Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer), claiming sixty pounds in compensation. [3]

Judge

He was a High Court

itinerant justice.[6] He visited England from time to time to report on Irish affairs, and during the Conquest of Wales
he was in personal attendance on the King for much of the years 1282–4.

In 1291 he was appointed one of the collectors in Ireland of the

crusade (the "crusading tenth")[8] and which had been agreed on as long ago as 1274.[9]

He presided as

canon of Christ Church Cathedral, in 1310.[1] It is questionable how active a role he played at the trial since he was in failing mental and physical health in his last years (after fifty years in the Crown's service he was clearly a very old man), and much of his work was deputised to his successor as Dean, William de Rodyard, and to Alexander de Bicknor, the future Archbishop. This course had the full approval of Archbishop de Ferings, who had himself suggested to Chaddesworth that he might wish to appoint a deputy.[3] An order survives from 1302-3 to pay his 20 marks as payment of his half-years salary as a judge.[10]

Failure to become Archbishop of Dublin

On two occasions, in 1295 and 1299, he was elected

consecrated as Archbishop.[7]

His failure on the first occasion was due to his non-appearance in

licence for their election, which was bound to offend so formidable a ruler as Edward, even though Thomas has been a valued servant to both Edward and his father, King Henry III of England. Edward accordingly did not actively support Thomas' candidature, and he made no objection to de Ferings' election. Both Thomas and Adam, lacking powerful supporters, and after being threatened with proceedings for contempt of court, withdrew their candidatures.[3]

Vicar-General

On his return to Dublin, he was compensated with the additional office of Vicar-General to the Archbishop, despite concerns about his age and failing health.[6] He regularly deputised for the Archbishop during the latter's absences abroad. The stern visitation he carried out at Christ Church Cathedral, involving the expulsion of his former rival Prior Adam, suggests that he was still smarting from his humiliation at failing to become Archbishop. On the whole, however, he made a sincere effort to heal the bitter and longstanding breach between the two chapters,[1] with the full support of Archbishop Ferings, a mild and conciliatory man. In a crucial concession, the Christ Church chapter was given the final say in the choice of Archbishop, and this became a permanent arrangement.[6] Thomas retired from the Bench in 1303, presumably on grounds of age.[7]

Death

He died late in 1311, after years of failing health.

Knight Templars, but died before the trial was underway.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c jstor
  2. ISBN 9780754665700
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "The History and Antiquities of the Collegiate and Cathedral Church of St. Patrick Near Dublin, from its Foundation in 1190, to the Year 1819: Comprising a Topographical Account of the Lands and Parishes Appropriated to the Community of the Cathedral, and to Its Members, and Biographical Memoirs of Its Deans" Mason, W.M. p113:Dublin, W.Folds, 1820
  4. ISBN 052156350X
    , 9780521563505
  5. ^ "Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the prelates Volume 2" Cotton, H. p114 Dublin, Hodges & Smith, 1848-1878 de Chaddesworth
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Mackay, Ronan "Chedworth (Chaddesworth), Thomas de" Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography
  7. ^ a b c d e Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926 p.53
  8. ^ The Dublin Review 1847
  9. ^ Prestwich, Michael Edward I University of California Press 1988 p.402
  10. ^ Close Roll 30 Edward I
Church of Ireland titles
Preceded by
Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

1284–1311 		Succeeded by
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