Brasses of Roger and Mary (Nansiglos) Gifford, Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England, Church of All Saints
The brasses date from the 16th Century and were originally in the floor of the chancel. They are now on the wall of the chancel.The alabaster tomb in front is of the wife of son, George.
Inscription over Chancel Door of All Saints ChurchThe chancel of All Saints Church, on the property of the Claydon House, was rebuilt by Roger and Mary Gifford. The inscription was in Latin and is dated 1519.
Claydon House-Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England This histoic manor house is on the same property as the church where the Gifford brasses are. The Giffords leased this monor and rebuilt the chancel of the church. (see additional photos)
Detail from the brass of Sir Roger Gifford. The brass is wonderfully well preserved, with fine detail of Sir Roger's costume and his features. 
Roger Giffard brass, All Saints Church, Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, UK Huge brass - 1542 Roger and Mary Gyfford (nee Nansegles) who built the chancel in 1519 shown with their 20 children. Tjeor grand-daughter Lettice has a monument here with her husband Urian Verney. The Gifford arms - 3 lions t, impaling a cheveron between 3 lapwings with 3 stars on the cheveron has survived top left.
Information and will Roger Gifford, Esquire
Testator of 1538 INEHGR, vol. 74, page 269)
The Visitation of Northamptonshire states that Roger Gifford of Middle Claydon was son of Thomas Gifford of Twyford, county Bucks, the testator of 1511; but the Harleian pedigree in the printed Visitation of Oxfordshire and also the pedigree of the Giffords of Middle Claydon i the Heralds' College make him the son of John and Agnes Gifford and therefore the brother of Thomas. The latter statement is clearly the correct one. Thomas Gifford, in his will, dated 10 October 1511 mentions only one son, Thomas, and his inquisition post mortem, of 10 November 1511, shows that this Thomas, the heir, was then aged thirty years and more, and therefore was born about 1481. The inquisition post mortem of Roger Gifford of Middle Claydon, of 22 November 1543, shows Thomas Gifford, son of Thomas, in his will, dated 2 November 1550, calls Roger's sons, George, William, Ralph, and John, his cousins; and in August 1538, in a complaint of injuries done to him by Roger Gifford and his sons, John, George, Ralph, William, and Nicholas, he calls them his kinsmen (Letters Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, vol. 12, part 2, p. 96, 97).
On 24 February 1524 (1523/24?) Roger Gifford was commissioner of the peace in co. Bucks, and on 1 April 1524 he was a collector of the subsidy for the French War (Letters Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII). In 1495 he leased the manor of Middle Claydon of the Verney family for ninety-nine years. In his will, dated 24 September 1538, he mentions his wife Mary, his sons John (eldest son), George (second son), Rauffe (third son), William (fourth son), and Nycholas (youngest son), and provides for the occupation of the manor of Middle Claydon by his sons.
The Will of Roger Gyfforde of Mydle Cleydon in the County of Bucks, Esquire, 24 September 1538. To be buried in the parish of All Saints in Mydle Cleydon. To the parson of said church, for tithes omitted and forgotten, 6s. 8d. To the mother church of St. Paul in London 3s. 4d. Whereas I hold the manor of Mydle Cleydon, with appurtenances, in the County of Bucks, of Raufe Verney of Penley in the County of Hertford, Esquire, by his deed dated 14 November, 27 Henry VIII [1535], for the term of ninety-five years yet to come, which lease I purchased for the living of Mary, my wife, if she overlive me, and for my own natural sons, I will and bequeath said lease to George Gyfforde, my second son, to John Gyfforde, my eldest son, to Rauffe Gyfforde, my third son, to William Gyfforde, my fourth son, and to Nycholas Gyfforde, my youngest son, provided that the manner and form of occupation of said manor shall be observerd as herein expressed: my son George solely to have the occupation of said farm and every commodity thereof for the term of forty-one years; but if said George die during the forty-one years, said grant is then to cease. Said George is to pay all rents and charges due by virtue of said lease, during his occupation thereof, and is also to pay my said son John Gyfforde during his occupation of said lease, at the two usual terms of the year, 20 pounds yearly, and if said John die, said George shall pay 20 pounds yearly, equally, divided among his brethren. After the decease of said George said John Gyfforde shall have the occupation of said farm of Cleydon during the term of forty-one years; or if said George's term of forty-one years expires, said John shall hold the lease for forty-one years; and for lack of him the next brother in age, and so the remainder to follow to my other sons until the last of my said sons; and when my last son surviving shall die, then any years remaining shall be granted by him to the heir male of my eldest son John, to have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns, the residue of years yet to come. All my other leases I will to my son George Gyfforde, to be ordered in like manner and form as the lease of the aforesaid manor of Cleydon. If I have not, at the time of my decease, paid the 100 pounds I promised my son Nycholas Gyforde, then my executors shall pay said Nycholas 100 pounds within one year of my decease. My said son George shall give to my said wife Mary the annuity of 100 markes [?] and meat and drink for her and her maid. To my son John Gyfford 100 pounds. I forgive my son George his debt of 220 pounds, he paying within thirteen months after my death to my son William Gyfforde 40 pounds and to my son Nycholas 40 pounds. I freely forgive my son Rauffe Gyfforde the 35 pounds he oweth me. Residuary legatee: my wife Mary. Executors: my wife Mary and my sons John Gyfforde, George, Rauffe, William, and Nycholas. I set my seal to this my last will and testament this 28 April, 34 Henry VIII [1542].
I give further to my son John Gifforde my three gilt goblets with the covers; to my son George my best down bed and my best counterpoint; to every other of my sons one of my best feather beds and beds of down, to be delivered to them after the death of my wife Mary Gifforde; to my godson Roger, my son John Gifforde's son, 3 pounds, 6s. 8d.; to my godson Roger, my son Rauffe Gifforde's son, 3 pounds, 6s. 8d.; to my godson Thomas, my son George's son, a cup of the value of 3 pounds, 6s. 8d., with this scripture on it: "My godfather and graunde father Roger gave me Thomas this cupp"; to my daughter Dawnsty a gilte spoon; to my sister Fongan a gilt spoon; to my brother Robert Gyfforde, 40s.
[Signed] 2 December, 34 Henry VIII [1542], my mother Mary Gyfforde, William Smythe, John Mason, and Elyn Gyfforde being then present, on the Saturday in the morning, per me, George Gyfford, as commanded by my father, the said Roger, on the day and year last stated. Proved 8 February 1543/4 by Robert Alen, notary public, proctor for the relict, John Gyfford, George Gyfford, Rafe Gyfford, William Gyfford, and Nicholas Gyfford, the executors named, etc. (P.C.C., Pynnyng, 2).
found on ancestry.com
Roger Gifford/Giffard
Information on this family is from:New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. LXXV and Vol. 74, pg. 279
English Origins of New England Families, pg. 464-465
Memoirs of the Verney Family - F. Verney, 1970, Vol I, pg. 22 etc.
Great Britain-Royal Commission On The Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of England-An Inventory of Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire (DA 670 B9 G7, Vol 2-U.C. Irvine, California Library, 3rd Floor-1989) (Information on Gifford Brasses)
The Parish Church of All Saints-Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England. (Brasses of Roger and Mary Gifford/Giffard are located here.)
The surname Gifford is also written Giffard.
Roger Gifford, Esq., was of Middle Claydon, county Buckinghamshire, England.
Roger and Mary Gifford's brasses are in the Middle Claydon Church Of All Saints near the manor house (Claydon House).
Information from the Memoirs of the Verney Family, pg. 22 : "Close to the Chancel step lies a large brass of a knight in armour, ROGER GIFFARD, the builder of the chancel and first holder of the lease of Claydon, with MARY his wife in coif and wimple by his side. Thirteen little sons in gowns kneeling at his feet, seven little daughters in coifs at hers, small as befitted their inferior status to their parents (dignity was denoted by size, as in the reliefs on an Egyptian tomb),
`ON WHOSE SOWLLS JH'U HAVE M'CY, 1543,' says the inscription." Actually the inscription is longer than the above excerpt and is completely in Latin.
The brasses of Roger and Mary Gifford in the Middle Claydon Church show that they had 13 sons and 7 daughters. I have information on only some of these.
We, (Herbert (Jerry) and Annette Carroll), made rubbings of these memorial brasses in the summer of 1988 and have them stored in our home. We also have photographs of this taken on our trip to England. (See Scrapbook for this ancestor.)
It is interesting to note, according to church information, that these brasses were evidently done before the deaths of Roger and Mary Gifford/Giffard. The death dates were never put in. Evidently the children did not feel it was necessary to do so. Roger Gifford's death date has been shown in some sources as between 2 December 1542 and 8 February 1544 and others as 1542-1543.
Even though the brasses used to be located "close to the Chancel step" as written in the Verney book, they are now relocated on the Chancel wall and are life size.
Over the Chancel door to the church an inscription concerning the rebuilding of the Chancel in 1519, by Roger and Mary Gifford is written in Latin: ROGERUS GYFFORD ET MARIA UXOR EIUS HANC CANCELLAM FIERI FECERUNT. ANNO DNI 1519
In the book, "Memoirs of the Verney Family" it is noted that MARY, the wife of ROGER GIFFORD was a Verney. She may have come from the Verney line, but her surname was NANSIGLOS and her father was William Nansiglos.
Roger Gifford was the first holder of the 99 year lease of the house and lands at Middle Claydon, Bucks., England. He also rebuilt the chancel of the church in which the brasses of he and his wife Mary are located.
Many other memorials to the Gifford/Giffard family are in this small church.
I have photos taken on the inside and outside of this church as well as of the manor house taken in the summer of 1988 (see the scrapbook in this Fam. Tree Maker family history). I also have a videotape of my husband and I doing the brass rubbings of Roger and Mary Gifford, done by our good friends, Ted and Barbara Smythe who traveled with us in England at that time.
Roger Gifford of Middle Claydon, county Bucks, Esq., the testator of 1538 (N.E. Hist. and Gen. Register, Vol. 74, pg. 269) born about 1463**, died 23 January 1542/1543 (ib. Vol. 74, pg. 235). He married, about 1490, Mary Nansiglos who was living 8 February 1543/1544, daughter of William (see notes below on William Nansiglos). On 24 February 1524 (? 1523/1524) he was commissioner of the peace in county Bucks, and on 1 April 1524 he was a collector of the subsidy for the French War (Letters Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII).
In 1495 he leased the manor of Middle Claydon of the Verney family for ninety-nine years. In his will dated 24 September 1538, he mentions his wife Mary, his sons, John (eldest son), George (second son), Rauffe (third son), William (fourth son), and Nycholas (youngest son), and provides for the occupation of the manor of Middle Claydon by his sons.
**The Visitation of Northamptonshire states that Roger Gifford of Middle Claydon was son of Thomas Gifford of Twyford, county Bucks, the testator of 1511. But the Harlcian Pedigree in the printed Visitation of Oxfordshire and also the Pedigree of the Giffords of Middle Claydon in the Heralds' College, make him the son of John and Agnes Gifford and therefore a brother of Thomas. The latter statement is clearly the correct one because of information in wills etc. (New England Historical and Genealogical Register).
THE WILL OF ROGER GYFFORDE of Mydle Cleydon, county Bucks, Esq., dated 24 September 1538. To be buried in the parish church of All Saints in Mydle Cleydon, with appurtenances, in the county of Bucks, of Raufe Verney of Penley in the county of Hertford, Esq., by his deed dated 14 November, 27 Henry VIII (1535), for the term of ninety-five years yet to come, which lease I purchased for the living of Mary, my wife, if she overlive me, and for my own natural sons, I will and bequeath said lease to George Gyfforde, my second son, to John Gyfforde, my eldest son, to Rauffe Gyfforde, my third son, to William Gyfforde, my fourth son, and to NYCHOLAS GYFFORDE, my youngest son, provided that the manner of occupation of said manor shall be observed as herein expressed: my son George solely to have the occupation of said farm for the term of forty-one years; but if said George die during the forty-one years, said grant is then to cease.
Said George is to pay all rents and charges due by virtue of said lease, during his occupation thereof, and is also to pay my said son John Gyfforde during his occupation of said lease, at the two usual terms of the year, L20 yearly, and if said John die, said George shall pay L20 yearly, equally divided among his brethren. After the decease of said George, said John Gyfforde shall have the occupation of said farm of Cleydon during the term of forty-one years; or if said George's term of forty-one years expires, said John shall hold the lease for forty-one years; and for lack of him the next brother in age, and so the remainder to follow to my other sons until the last of my said sons; and whenmy last son surviving shall die, then any years remaining shall be granted by him to the heir male of my eldest son John, to have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns, the residue of years yet to come. All other leases I will to my son George Gyfforde, to be ordered in like manner as the lease of the aforesaid manor of Cleydon. If I have not, at the time of my decease, paid the L100 I promised my son NYCLOLAS GYFFORDE, the my executors shall pay said Nycholas L100 within one year of my decease. My said son George shall give to my said wife MARY the annuity of 100 marks (?) and meat and drink for her and her maid. To my son John Gyfforde L100. I forgive my son George his debt of L220, he paying within thirteen months after my death to my son William Gyfforde L40 and to my son NYCHOLAS L40. I freely forgive my son Rauffe Gyfforde the L35 he oweth me. Residuary legatee: my wife, MARY.
Executors:
My wife MARY and my sons John Gyfforde, George, Rauffe, William and NYCHOLAS.I set my seal to this my last will and testament this 28 April, 34 Henry VIII(1542).
Bequests of household goods or money to my son John Gyfforde, my son George, every other of my sons, my godson Roger (my son John Gifforde's son), my godson Roger (my son Rauffe Gifforde's son), my godson Thomas (my son George's son) my daughter Dawnsty, my sister Fongan and my brother Robert Gyfforde, and mention of my wife MARY GIFFORDE.
(Signed) 2 December, 24 Henry VIII (1542), my mother Mary Gyfforde, William Smythe, John Mason, and Elyn Gyfforde being then present on the Saturday in the morning per me, George Gyfford as commanded by my father, the said Roger, on the day and year last stated. Proved 8 February 1543/4 by Robert Alen, notary public, proctor for the relict, John Gyfford, George Gyfford, Rafe Gyfford,William Gyfford and NICHOLAS GYFFORD, the executors named, etc. (P.C.C. Pynnyng, 2.) (For longer abstract of this will se N.E. His. and Gen. Register, Vol. 71, pgs. 170-171).
According to: Wills Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (England), 1383-1558 (A-J). (Old spelling used.)1543 Gifford, Gyfforde, Roger, esquier, mydle Cleydon, Bucks, 2 Pynnyng.
found on ancestry.com 
Thank you for information on my Gifford line. I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteNaoma R.
Thank you for information on my Gifford line. I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteNaoma R.