The Lexington Family

Alicia (de Lexington) de Sutton

Father: Richard de Lexington

Mother: Matilda (_____) de Lexington

Married: Roland de Sutton

Roland was the son of Hervey de Sutton.

Children: Notes:
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire pp315-6 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
    Southwell. Suell. And Sudwell.
  Another Chantry was Founded at the Altar of St. Peter in the same Church by Richard de Sutton, Canon there, and also of Lincolne, about the year of our Lord 1260, at which time the Vicars of this Church of Southwell, granted to him by their Instrument sealed with their common Seal, together with that of the Chapter, for themselves and their Successours, that so oft as Mass for the dead Brethren and Benefactors of that Church should be there celebrated, there should a special Prayer be said for the said Richard Sutton; and another for the Souls of Robert de Sutton his Father, and Alice his Mother. And that they would find a Wax Light to burn for his Soul at the Mass of our Lady daily there celebrated for ever. ... John, the brother of Richard de Sutton, Canon of Suthwell, was Rector of Lexington, Anno 1259. 
p326
  Sir Robert de Lexington was an Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge, likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne. Cecilia, the sister of Sir Robert de Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard [rather William] de Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert de Marcham. Alice, the other sister of the said Robert de Lexton, was married to Richard (it should be Roland) de Sutton upon Trent, who had two sons both Knights; his eldest was Sir William de Sutton, and the other Sir Robert de Sutton, to whom his said Uncles gave the Mannor of Averham, in old writings called Egrom.  

The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
  Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere.
... as none of the brothers had any children, their inheritance passed to their nephews, William Sutton and Robert de Markham, the children of their two sisters. The Lexingtons had large estates, and the Laxton portion of them came to Robert de Markham. From William Sutton was descended Robert Sutton, created Baron Lexington of Averham, by Charles I, but this branch of the Lexington family had no connexion with Laxton.


Sources:

Cecilia (de Lexington) de Marcham

Father: Richard de Lexington

Mother: Matilda (_____) de Lexington

Married: William de Marcham

Children: Notes:
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
  Sir Robert de Lexington was an Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge, likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne. Cecilia, the sister of Sir Robert de Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard [rather William] de Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert de Marcham. Alice, the other sister of the said Robert de Lexton, was married to Richard (it should be Roland) de Sutton upon Trent 
p384
    West Markham OR Little Marcham.
...  Sir Richard de Marcham, or William, who married Cecilia, the sister of Robert Lord Lexington, as before is in places noted, by whom he had Richard and Robert, but what sons else I have not yet discovered.

The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
  Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere.
... as none of the brothers had any children, their inheritance passed to their nephews, William Sutton and Robert de Markham, the children of their two sisters. The Lexingtons had large estates, and the Laxton portion of them came to Robert de Markham. From William Sutton was descended Robert Sutton, created Baron Lexington of Averham, by Charles I, but this branch of the Lexington family had no connexion with Laxton.


Sources:

Henry de Lexington

Birth: about 1196 or about 1216
In the IPM of his brother, John, dated January 1256(7) (Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1 Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3), Henry is stated in some places to be aged 40 and in others to be aged 60. The earlier date is more likely based on the activities of his brothers - for example, his brother Robert was a clerk in the court of Henry III in 4 Henry 3 (i.e. 1219-20) (The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p388), so it would be unusual that he had a brother born just a couple of years earlier.

Father: Richard de Lexington

Mother: Matilda (_____) de Lexington

Children: Occupation: Clergyman, rising to the rank of bishop of Lincoln.
Previously to 1242 Henry held the prebend of North Muskham at Southwell, and he was treasurer of Salisbury in 1241. Henry became dean of Lincoln in 1245, and was elected bishop of Lincoln on 30 December 1253 being consecrated at Lambeth on 12 May 1254. At that time the diocese of Lincoln extended to the Thames, and he had a dispute with the scholars of Oxford as to his jurisdiction within the University. The Angel Choir in Lincoln Cathedral was built during his episcopacy.

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 4 1247-1258 p366 (1908)
1254 April 1.
Windsor.

  Royal assent to the election and confirmation of Henry de Lexinton, dean of Lincoln, as bishop of that place, with mandate to William de Wylton, guardian of the bishopric, to give him seisin of the bishopric with the castles, lands and tenements belonging to it, together with the crops sown in the lands, saving to the king his outlay in sowing the lands, for the payment of which he is to take security from the bishop.      By the queen.
  Writ de intendendo to the tenants.
Mandate to the guardians of the manors of the bishopric that when the bishop elect passes through the said manors before he have seisin by the above William de Wilton, to whom the king wrote about this, they permit him to enter therein with his household and lodge or stay therein at his pleasure.

Shortly after his election, Henry was excused by the king from the Parliament to be next held, to enable him to focus on his new position.
Close Rolls Henry III 1253-1254 p43
1254. [m. 9 cont.]
  Pro electo Lincolniensi.—Rex, volens electo Lincolniensi propter novitatem creacionis sue parcere laboribus, mandat eidem electo quod ad parleamentum quod erit apud Westmonasterium a die Pasche in quindecim dies non veniat, dum tamen ad idem parleamentum aliquos de suis pro eo mittat, qui cum aliis magnatibus regi respondere possint super auxilio et aliis que rex ab eis requirit, ita quod per absenciam suam negocia regis in dicto parleamento expedienda non retardentur. Testibus ut supra. Per reginam.
which translates very roughly as:
  For the Lincoln-elect.—The king, desirous of sparing the labors of Lincoln-elect for the novelty of his election, charges him the elect, that he should not come to the Parliament which will be at Westminster from Easter in fifteen days, provided, however, that he should send to the same Parliament some of his subjects in his stead, who, together with other magnates, may reply to the king over the aid and others which the king requires from them, so that by his absence the business of the king should not be retarded in expediting the said parliament. Witnesses as above. By the Queen.

Henry was given twenty animals from the forest at Wauberge as a gift from the king for the feast at Henry's consecration, and he was given 60 oaks in Sherwood forest, then controlled by his brother, John.
Close Rolls Henry III 1253-1254 p54
1254. [m. 8 cont.]
  De damis datis.—Mandatum est Ernaldo de Bosco, justiciario foreste, quod in foresta regis de Wauberge cum festinacione habere faciat H. Lincolniensi electo viginti bestias de seisona, videlicet tam brokettos quam damas, de dono regis, ad festum consecracionis sue tenendum. Testibus ut supra apud Westmonasterium vij. die Maii. Per reginam.
which translates very roughly as:
  About the deer given.—It is mandated to Ernest de Bosco, justiciar of the forest, that in the king’s forest of Wauberge he should make H. Lincoln chosen with haste to have twenty beasts of the season, namely, both brokettos and deer, of the king’s gift, to be held at the feast of his consecration. Witnesses, as above at Westminster 8 May By the Queen.
p296
1254. [m. 12d cont.]
  Pro electo Lincolniensi.—Mandatum est Johanni de Lessinton’ quod in forresta regis de Schirwod’ faciat habere Henrico Lincolniensi electo sexaginta quercus ad maeremium ad operaciones Lincolniensis ecclesie, de dono regis. Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
  For the Lincoln-elect.—It is mandated to John de Lessinton was ordered to to have Henry of Lincoln choose sixty oaks in the king’s forest of Sherwood for timber for the operations of Lincoln church, as a gift from the king. Witness as above. 

Close Rolls Henry III 1254-1256 p52
1255. [m. 15 cont.]
  Pro Lincolniensi episcopo.—Quia rex accepit per inquisicionem quam fieri fecit quod xx. acre terre cum pertinenciis in Uppingham, quas Robertus Underwod’, qui pro felonia quam fecit utlagatus est, tenuit, extiterunt in manu regis per unum annum et unum diem, et quod idem Robertus terram illam tenuit de episcopatu Lincolniensi; mandatum est vicecomiti Roteland’ quod Henrico Lincolniensi episcopo de predictis xx. acris terre cum pertinenciis plenam seisinam habere faciat. Teste rege apud Sanctum Albanum x. die Marcii.
which translates very roughly as:
  For the bishop of Lincoln.—Because the king received by the inquest which he made happen, 20 acres of land with appurtenances in Uppingham, which Robert Underwood, who was outlawed for the felony which he committed, stood in the king’s hand for one year and one day, and that the same Robert held that land of the bishopric of Lincoln; it was ordered to the sheriff of Rutland to let Henry, bishop of Lincoln have full seisin of the aforesaid 20 acres of land with appurtenances. Witness the king at St. Alban’s. 10 March.

Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae  vol 3 p428 (John Le Neve, 1854)
    NORTH MUSKHAM.
... HENRY DE LEXINTON, treasurer of Sarum, resigned this prebend in 1242. Afterwards bishop of Lincoln.

Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae  vol 2 pp30-11 (John Le Neve, 1854)
LINCOLN.
DEANS.
HENRY DE LEXINTON, treasurer of Salisbury, succeeded in 1245; and in Dec. 1253 was made bishop of this see.
pp10-11
LINCOLN.
BISHOPS.
1254 38 H. III.
HENRY DE LEXINTON, dean of Lincoln, was elected on the morrow of the Feast of St. Thomas the Martyr (30th Dec.) 1253, and proceeded to the King, who was then in Gascony, to be presented to him. He was confirmed by the archbishop of Canterbury, then abroad with his majesty, 28th March 1254, and obtained the royal assent 1st April. His consecration also took place abroad 17th May. He died 8th Aug. (vi Id. Aug.) 1258 at Netlinton, and was buried in Lincoln cathedral. The license to elect bishop Lexington’s successor is dated 24th Aug. 1258

Notes:
In 1252, Henry was granted free warren (the right to hunt) on his lands, provided the land was not within the king's forest.
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p393 (1903)
1252 June 19.
Sherborne.

 
The like to Henry de Lessinton, dean of Lincoln, his heirs and successors, in all his demesne lands in Scardeclive, Palterton, Ryleg, Langwaht, and Grange.

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p471 (1903)
1257 July 10.
Woodstock.

 
Whereas by a charter, which the king has inspected, he has already granted to John de Lessinton, now deceased, for life, quittance in all his demesnes of suits of counties, hundreds, wapentakes, trithings, aids of sheriffs and bailiffs, and from keeping the king’s works, grant in continuation of the said grant to Henry, bishop of Lincoln, brother of the said John, for life, of the aforesaid quittances in the said demesnes.

The Baronage of England vol 2 p743 (William Dugdale, 1676)
Lexinton
Whereupon Henry de Lexinton, Bishop of Lincoln, his Brother, was found his next Heir: who thereupon doing his Homage, had Livery of all his Lands, lying in the Counties of Nottingham and Derby. Which Henry departed this Life the next ensuing year; leaving Richard de Markham and William de Sutton, his Nephews, and next Heirs; Richard de Markham being at that time fifty years of age, and William de Sutton forty; who thereupon doing their Homage, had Livery of his Lands.

The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
  Sir Robert de Lexington was an Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge, likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne. Cecilia, the sister of Sir Robert de Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard [rather William] de Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert de Marcham. Alice, the other sister of the said Robert de Lexton, was married to Richard (it should be Roland) de Sutton upon Trent
p340
  Silvester de Kirneshale, son of Henry de Laxton, gave to the said Monastery of Ruffold one Acre of Arable Land in Kirneshale, of his Wong which lay on the North part of the way, which leads from Kirneshale, to the wood called Bergelhage; the witnesses were Robert de Laxton, Mr. Peter, and Mr. Stephen his brothers, Raph, son of Henry de Laxton, his own brother William, son of John de Kalnatheton.
p364
  John de Lessington about 41 H. 3. and after him his brother and heir, Henry de Lessington, Bishop of Lincolne, 42 H. 3. died seized of the fourth part of a Knights Fee in Marneham, held of Richard de Weston for a pound of Pepper yearly. Richard de Marcham, and William de Sutton, were found the heirs of the said Bishop.
p378
  Robert de Laxton for the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard his father, and Matilda his mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford, the gift which the said Richard his father gave to them, viz. one Bovat in Walesby, which William the Clark held, and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon, and twenty Acres of Arable, with Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard de Laxton had of Alan Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco, sometimes wife of John Burdun, and a Toft in Welhagh, which Gumbert held of his father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of the Church at Rufford, Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen, and Sir Henry his brothers were Witnesses, and Mr. William de Marcham.
p380
    Tuxford. Tuxfarne.
Robert made a Charter to John de Lexinton his brother of the Mannor of Tuxford, and Hamlet of Warsop, of which 41 H. 3. he died seized, and of the Land in Lexinton held of Adam de Everingham, which descended from their Father Richard, son of Robert de Lexinton, named in Kirketon, which Richard had the Custody or Baylywick of the Barony of Lexinton, which belonged to Matilda de Cauz, and brought up his sons so fortunately, that Robert who was a Clergy-man Canon of Southwell, became a great Judge and Baron, making this place the principal Scat of his Barony, which he left to his said brother John, who was Lord Keeper, and the eldest son, and had to wife Margery Merlay, as in Averham is said, but no issue; for Henry de Lessinton, the youngest brother, aged above sixty years, 41 H. 3. Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne, was heir to his brother the said John Lord Lexington (Peter and Stephen their brothers, both Clergy-men, being I suppose dead before) and the year following, viz. 42 H. 3. Richard de Marcham, and William de Sutton were found the next heirs of the Bishop, who held this Mannor and the rest, the Wong and Wood called Hertelhorne in Knesale, of Edmund Lascy for a Sparrow-Hawk or 2s. yearly, &c.

Dictionary of National Biography vol 33 pp202-3  (Leslie Stephen, 1893)
  LEXINTON or LESSINGTON, JOHN DE (d. 1257), baron, judge
 ...
  His brother HENRY DE LEXINTON (d. 1258), bishop of Lincoln, succeeded to his estates (Calendarium Genealogicum, i. 74, 441). Henry was treasurer of Salisbury in 1241; in 1245 his revenues from the post were seized by Master Martin, the papal nuncio, but Lexinton resigned the treasurership that same year. Previously to 1242 he also held the prebend of North Muskham at Southwell. In 1245 he became dean of Lincoln; when that see fell vacant by the death of Grosseteste, Lexinton and his chapter were involved in a quarrel with Boniface, the archbishop, as to the right to the patronage during a vacancy (MATT. PARIS, vi. 264-6). On 30 Dec. 1253 he was elected bishop of Lincoln, and went to Gascony to obtain the royal assent; the election was confirmed on 28 March 1254 by Boniface, who consecrated Lexinton on 17 May at Lambeth (Ann. Mon. iii. 190), but Matthew Paris says the consecration took place abroad, which caused great offence. The only incident of his episcopate was a dispute with the scholars of Oxford as to his jurisdiction within the university. He died at Nettleton 8 Aug. 1258, and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral.
  [Foss’s Judges, ii. 383; Dugdale’s Baronage, i. 743; Matt. Paris’s Chron Maj. iii. 495, iv. 125, 150, 581, v. 384, 517, 610, vi. 741 (Rolls Ser.); Ann. of Burton ap. Ann. Monast. i. 345, 376 (Rolls Ser.); Royal Letters, Hen. III, ii. 48, 99 (Rolls Ser.); Rymer's Fœdera, i. 244, 324 (Record ed.) Thoresby’s Thoroton’s Notts. iii. 119. For the bishop see Matt. Paris; Annales Monastice; Le Neve’s Fasti Eccl. Angl.]     W. H.

The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
  Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere.
... The third brother, Henry, was first Dean and then Bishop of Lincoln, being consecrated in 1253. At that date the diocese of Lincoln extended to the Thames, and he had a dispute with the scholars of Oxford as to his jurisdiction within the University. The Angel Choir in Lincoln Cathedral was built during his episcopacy. He died in 1258.


Death: 8 August 1258 at Nettleton, Lincolnshire, England

Burial: Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire, England

Probate:
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1 Henry III: 1235-1272 p109 (1904)
402. HENRY DE LESSINTON, sometime bishop of Lincoln.   
Writ to the sheriff of Northampton, 28 Aug. 42 Hen. III. Inq. (undated.)
  Richard de Marcham, aged 50, and William de Sutton, aged 40, are his heirs.
NOTTINGHAM. Tuggesford and Warsop towns, held of the king in chief by service of 1 knight’s fee; Lady Margaret late the wife of Sir J. de Lessinton, holds them in dower.
  Lessinton, ½ knight’s fee held of Sir Adam de Everingham.
  Marnham, ⅙ knight's fee held of Richard de Weston. (See Nos. 378 and 870.)
          C. Hen. III. File 20. (17.).

Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to Nottinghamshire vol 2 p116 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
        Henry de Lessinton, formerly Bishop of Lincoln.*
Inquisition
made by precept of the King as to what land the lord Henry de Lessinton, at one time Bishop of Lincoln, held of the King in chief in the county, by William le Walur, Robert son of Ralph de Hokerton, Hugh Gernun of Carleton, William de Bathel, William son of Odo de Muschamp, William Doyunel of Misterton, Robert Scatheloc of Marcham, Robert Buridon of the same, Richard de Sutton in Wyleby, Henry brother of the chaplain of Marcham, William Cornet of Tuggesford and William de Draiton, who say that
  The lord Henry de Lessinton, Bishop of Lincoln, held of the King in chief Tuggesford and Warsop by the service of a knight’s fee, and it [sic] is worth yearly £69 5s. 4d. And the lady Margery, who was wife of the lord J. de Lessinton, holds the aforesaid vills in dower. And the aforesaid lord Henry held half a knight’s fee in Lessinton of the lord Adam de Everingham and it is worth £16 13s. 11d. And he held a sixth part of a knight’s fee in Marnham of Richard de Weston and it is worth yearly 74s. And Richard de Marcham and William de Sutton are next heirs of the said Bishop. And Richard de Marcham is 50 years and William de Sutton is 40 years of age.
       Inq. p. m., 42 Henry iij., No. 7.
* [Writ witnessed by the King himself at Clive on 28 August, 42 Henry iij [1258].]

Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to Nottinghamshire vol 2 pp43-9 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
        Henry de Lexinton.
    Writ dated at Waverle, 16 Feb., 20 Edw. j [1291-2].
          [Abstract of Writ.]
 The
King to Sir Thomas de Normanvill his escheator beyond Trent greeting. Whereas lately at the suit of John de Bray who [married] Cecilia daughter and one of the heirs of Robert de Markham deceased at one time kinsman and one of the heirs of Henry de Lexinton deceased who held in chief of our father King Henry iij., We command you that you do cause the manor of Tokesford which Margery at one time wife of John de Lexinton, brother of the said Henry de Lexinton, held in dower of the inheritance of the said Henry on the day she died, to be divided into equal portions between the aforesaid John and Cecilia, and William de Sancta Cruce and Agnes his wife, the other daughter and heir of the said Robert de Markham according to a lawful extent before to be made by you and cause them to have full seizin of their parts. Having retained in our hands the portion of the said manor falling to John de Lungevilers kinsman and third heir of the said Robert as in our writ to you directed more fully is contained and Richard de Sutton afterwards coming to our Court asserting himself to be kinsman and one of the heirs of the said Henry de Lexinton demanded from us that his portion of that manor, as well as of the manor of Warsop which the said Margery likewise held in dower of the inheritance aforesaid and which together with the aforesaid manor by occasion of the death of the said Margery we have caused to be taken into our hands, We being willing that justice should be done in the matter as well to the aforesaid Richard as to the aforesaid heirs and parcenaries of the inheritance aforesaid do command you do cause John de Bray and Cecilia, William and Agnes to be before us on Sunday in Mid Lent, which day we have fixed for the said Richard to receive the parts of the manors belonging to him. Meanwhile by the oaths of lawful men you shall cause the manors to be extended as to what they are worth by the year in demesnes, in services, rent, villeinages, and all other issues of the land.
           [Abstract of the Extents.]
Extent of the manors of Toxford and Warsope made before Thomas de Normanvill on Thursday in the Morrow of St. Gregory the Pope, 20 Edw. j [1291-2], by William Deyvill of Egmanton, Richard Marcham, Henry de Sutton en Walesby, William de Perers en Kirketon, Hugh Flamberd of Toxford, Richard Le Warde en Laxton, Robert de Mora, Robert Burdun of Boketon, Thomas Derley of Marcham, Thomas “ad fontem” of the same place, Robert de Derleton and Richard of the same place, jurors, who say that
   The capital messuage of the manor of Toxford with dovecot and fruit garden is worth by the year 20s. There are there in demesne 23 oxgangs and 10 acres of arable land and each oxgang contains 12 acres, each acre worth by the year 7d. Sum £8 6s. 10d. There are there in demesne 47½ acres of meadow, namely: in the south meadow 15 acres, in Littil More 3 acres each worth by the year 2s. Sum 30s. And in the meadow of Eton 18 acres each worth by the year 20d. Sum 30s. In Lullewode 4 acres and in the meadow of Karleton 7½ acres each worth by the year 18d. Sum 11s. 3d. Sum total £4 3s. 3d.
   BONDMEN.—And there are there in bondage 65 oxgangs of arable land of which Nicholas son of William holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Henry son of Hugh holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Henry son of William holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Richard son of Robert holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Robert de Boteby holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Nicholas son of Ally holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Robert son of Magot holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Henry son of John holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. John Hammunde holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Nicholas Odard holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. John son of Nicholas holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Emm’ son of (or daughter of ?) Bate holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Richard Fiyian holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Ivetta wife of Warin holds 1 oxgang of land and renders by the year 8s. Geoffrey son of Ebbe holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Hugh Kinke holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. John son of Emm’ holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Richard Juell (or Ivell) holds 3 oxgangs and renders by the year 24s. Hugh son of Nicholas holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Robert son of Adam holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 85. John son of Nicholas holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 85. Richard son of Gilebert holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Nicholas Madde holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Robert son of Roger holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. William Madde holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. William son of . . . holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Nicholas the clerk holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Albreda holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Roger son of Hugh holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Nicholas son of Mabel holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Robert Resun holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Richard Bonde holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Robert Wrdolf holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. William Reynfray holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Emm’ son of (or daughter of) John holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Henry de Weston holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. William Sele holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Robert Cornet holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Roger Noreman holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Richard son of Ally holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Henry the reeve holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. John son of Mabel holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Robert son of . . . holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Sewal holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Hugh son of Roger holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Robert “ad venellam” holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Robert son of Henry holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Robert Goderi holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Geoffrey Goderi holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s. Richard de Swell holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s. Nicholas God holds 9 acres and renders by the year 6s. William Bonde and Richard son of Lawrence holds 12 acres and renders 9s. The works of each oxgang are worth by the year 12d. Sum of the oxgangs 65 and 9 acres. Sum of the money £30 0s. 9d.
   COTTARS.—Also they say that William Pistor holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year 12d. and does works which are worth by the year 2d. Richard the carter holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year 18d. and does works worth by the year 3d. Stephen son of Robert holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year 18d. and does works worth 3d. Robert Bronce holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Nicholas Warin holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 2d. Geoffrey son of . . . holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d. and does works worth 4d. Richard Fiyian holds 1 toft and renders . . . and does works worth 3d. Emm’ Gele holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Richard son of Walter holds ½ toft and renders by the year 5d. and does works worth 1d. Robert Hardi holds ½ toft and renders by the year and does works worth 2d. Robert Waleran holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. William son of John holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Robert son of Robert holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Robert son of Lawrence holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Nicholas son of Beatrice holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d. and does works worth 1½d. Nicholas Carman holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d. and does works worth . . . Roger son of William holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Richard son of Lawrence holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Roger Wiseman holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d. and does works worth 1½d. Hugh Man holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d. and does works worth 1½d. Robert Ebbe holds 2 tofts and renders by the year . . . and does works worth 6d. Richard Kinke holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. John son of Emm’ holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Richard Harper holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Richard Chaumberlayn holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Alan le Cordelur holds 1 toft and renders by the year 2s. and does works worth 6d. Isabel Warner holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Rug’ Poce holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d. and does works worth 1½d. Geoffrey Dul . . . holds . . . and renders by the year 12d. and does no works. Henry son of Hugh holds 2 tofts and renders by the year 2s. and does works worth 6d. John . . . holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. John son of Joan holds 2 tofts and renders by the year . . . and does works worth 3d. Isabel wife of Peter holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Henry de . . . holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Thomas Bek holds . . . and renders by the year 3s. and does works worth 9d. Nicholas the clerk holds 3 tofts and renders by the year 9s. and does works worth 3d. Robert son of Magot holds . . . toft and renders by the year 3s. and does works worth 1d. William Bonde holds 1 toft and renders by the year 3s. and does works worth 1d. Roger . . . holds 1 toft and renders by the year 3s. and does works worth 1d. Henry Fraunceys holds 1 toft and renders by the year 3s. and does works worth 1d. Nicholas Madde holds 3 tofts and renders by the year 7s. and does works worth 5d. Robert son of Walter holds 1 toft and renders by the year 2s. and does works worth 1d. Hugh son of Roger holds ½ toft and renders by the year . . . and does works worth 1½d. Richard Parker holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d. and does works worth 1½d. John son of William holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year . . . and does works worth 3d. Robert “the shepherd” holds 2 tofts and renders by the year 2s. and does works worth 6d. John Deyvill holds 1 toft and renders 12d. and does works worth 3d. Nicholas son of Henry holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does [works] worth 3d. Roger Wiseman holds 1 toft and renders by the year 6d. Nicholas son of Beatrice holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 3d. Hugh Faber holds 1 toft and renders by the year 6d. and does works worth 3d. Robert son of Bate holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d. and does works worth 1d. Sum £4 11s. 5½d.
   And they say that all the aforesaid as well bondmen as cottars hold 330½ acres of assart land each worth yearly 8d. Sum £13 0s. 4d. [sic]
  FREE TENANTS.—Also they say that John de Riperes holds 6 oxgangs of land in Marcham and Milneton and renders by the year 1d. and 1 pound of cumin and does suit. William de Bevercote holds 2 oxgangs in Bevercote and renders by the year 6s. without suit. William de Sancta Cruce holds j croft in the vill of Toxford and renders by the year 6d. and for his tenement in Marcham in West Marcham 15d., concerning his suit they know not. P . . . de Buxton holds j toft and 4 oxgangs of land and renders by the year 1 pound of pepper, concerning his suit they know not. Hugh Flamberd . . . oxgangs and 6 acres of land and renders by the year 2s. 3d. without suit. Lawrence de Weston for 1 place renders by the year . . . Thomas son of Stephen holds 1 toft and 2 oxgangs of land and renders by the year 6s. and does suit. John de Dodington holds . . . and 2 acres of land and renders by the year 11d. for all service. Christiana daughter of Roger holds 1 oxgang of land and renders by the year 5s. and does suit but does not have . . . Robert Blorg holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 4s. and does suit. Petronel Cornec holds 1 acre of land and renders by the year 6d. Geoffrey de Basingham holds 1 oxgang of land and renders by the year 6d. Nicholas Pistor holds 1 oxgang of land and renders by the year 3s. and does suit. Robert Pagemore holds 1 toft and 1 acre of land and renders by the year 7d. and does suit. Stephen Mercator holds 1 toft and 2 acres of land and renders by the year 20d. and does suit. Henry Fraunceys of West Marcham holds 1 oxgang of land and renders by the year 3s. and does suit. Henry de Estmarly holds 2 oxgangs of land and renders by the year 5s. and does suit. William son of Henry de Walesby does suit of Court. Henry Harding tenant of the Prior of Wirkesop does works which are worth 2d. by the year and suit of mill. William Toke tenant of the same Prior does works which are worth 2d. by the year and suit of mill. John son of Tilla tenant of the same Prior does works which are worth 2d. and suit of mill. Elias Harding tenant of the same Prior does works which are worth 2d. and suit of mill. Sum 41s. 8¼d.
   And they say that there is there a certain small park which is called Ber . . . and it renders by the year 8s. 4d. The sum appears.
  Also they say that there is there a certain water mill worth £10 yearly. And they say that the pleas and perquisites of Court are worth yearly 40s.
         Sum total £75 12s. 7¾d.
Extent of the manor of Warsop. They say that the capital messuage does not suffice for the sustentation of the houses of the manor. There are there in demesne 8 oxgangs of land, each worth 5s. Also 1½ acre of meadow worth yearly 6s. And 1 dovecot worth yearly 3s. And the Prior of St. Oswald renders to the lord of Worsop for 6 oxgangs of land in Solwoholm 26s. 8d. Also the Abbot of Wellebek renders to the said lord for the grange of Gledthorp yearly 5s. Also William Freman renders for half an oxgang and one eighth of an oxgang of land by the year 3s. And Ralph the clerk renders by the year 12d. And there are there in bondage 18 oxgangs of land each worth 5s. yearly. And there are there 28 cottars and they render by the year 60s. And the park of Pleseley and 2 oxgangs of land in Slimbrack which are held of the lord of Pleseley by the service of 1d. yearly. And the park is worth yearly 5s. And the 2 oxgangs of land are worth yearly 8s. Also stallage of the forest is worth yearly 8s. And there is there a certain water mill worth yearly £4. And pleas and perquisites of Court are worth yearly 13s. 4d.
         Sum total £17 9s. 0d.
           Chancery Inq. p. m., 20 Edw. j., No. 35.      

Close Rolls Henry III 1256-1259 p260
1258. [m. 3 cont.]
  Pro executoribus episcopi Lincolniensi.—Mandatum est vicecomiti Essex quod accepta securitate ab executoribus testamenti H. de Lessinton’, quondam episcopi Lincolniensis de debitis regi reddendis, si que regi debebat die quo obiit, eosdem executores, permittat häbere liberam administracionem de omnibus et catallis (sic) que fuerunt ejusdem episcopi in balliva sua ad execucionem testamenti sui inde faciendam, proviso quod vina, si que fuerint in aliquo manerio quod fuit dicti episeopi in balliva sua, ad opus regis per racionabile et justum forum retineantur. Teste rege apud North’ xxv. die Augusti.
  Postea addita fuit ista clausula:—et securitatem quam inde fecerint regi scire faciant.
  Eodem modo mandatum est escaetori in comitatu Not’ et vicecomitibus North’, Glouc’ Oxon’. Teste.
  Eodem modo mandatum est Ade de Aston' et Waltero de Wassingl’, custodibus dicti episcopatus, de omnibus bonis et catallis que fuerunt dicti episcopi tam racione dicti episcopatus quam hereditatis sue etc. Teste ut supra.
  Et mandatum est eisdum custodibus quod de vinis predicti episcopi existentibus apud Spaldewik permittant Ricardum de Hemmington’ habere duo dolia vini secundum quod inter ipsum et executores dicti episcopi convenerit.
which translates very roughly as:
  For the executors of the bishop of Lincoln.—The sheriff of Essex was commanded that, having received security from the executors of the testament of H. de Lessinton, formerly bishop of Lincoln, of paying the debts to the king, if any were owed to the king on the day he died, let the same executors have free administration of all and chattels in his bailiwick for the execution of his testament, provided that the wine, if any, should be in any manor which belonged to the said bishop in his bailiwick, to be maintained at the work of the king through a reasonable and just forum. Witness the king in the North’ 25 August
   Afterwards this clause was added: and let them make the king know the security which they had done thence.
   In the same way the escheator is commanded in the county of Not' and the sheriffs of North Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire. Witness.
  In the same way, Adam de Aston and Walter de Wassingl, the guardians of the said episcopate, were commanded concerning all the goods and chattels which were of the said bishop, both by reason of the said bishopric and of his inheritance etc. Witness as above.
   And it was ordered by the guards to permit Richard of Hemmington to have two barrels of wine, according to the agreement between him and the executors of the said bishop.
p266
1258. [m. 3 cont.]
  Rex cepit homagium Ricardi de Marcham et Willelmi de Sutton’, nepotum et heredum H. de Lessinton’ nuper episcopi Lincolnensis, de omnibus terris et tenementis que idem episcopus tenuit, de rege in capite de hereditate sua, et eis reddidit terras illas et tenementa: et mandatum est vicecomiti Not’ et escaetori ejusdem comitatus quod de omnibus terris et tenementis que fuerunt predicti episcopi de hereditate sua in ballivis suis, de quibus vestitus fuit et seisitus ut de feodo die quo obiit, et que cepit in manum regis occasione mortis ejusdem episcopi, predictis Ricardo et Willelmo plenam seisinam habere faciat. Teste rege apud Not’ vij. die Septembris.
which translates very roughly as:
  The king took homage from Richard de Marcham and William de Sutton, nephews and heirs of H. de Lessinton, late bishop of Lincoln, of all the lands and tenements which the same bishop held of the king oin chief of his inheritance, and restored to them those lands and tenements. and it was commanded to the sheriff and escheator of the same county concerning all lands and tenements which belonged to the aforesaid bishop concerning his inheritance among his balliwick, of which he was dressed and seised as of fee on the day he died; and which he took into the king’s hand on the occasion of the death of the same bishop let him have full seisin for the aforesaid Richard and William. Witness the king at Not’ 7 September.

Sources:

John de Lexington

Father: Richard de Lexington

Mother: Matilda (_____) de Lexington

Married: Margery (d'Umfreville) de Merlay
Margery was the daughter of Richard d'Umfreville, and widow of Roger de Merlay, Baron Morpeth. Roger had been previously married to Ada, with whom he had two sons, Ranulph and Roger. Margery died in January 1291(2).

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p363 (1903)
1251 July 5.
Woodstock.

  Inspeximus and confirmation of a chirograph made between Roger de Merlay and John de Lessinton, whereby the said Roger grants to the said John that, if Margery wife of the said John, late the wife of Roger de Merlay father of the said Roger, shall die during the life of the said John, the said John shall hold for life the manors of Ulcham, Benton, and Killingworth with the advowson of the church of Benton, the knights’ fees and other appurtenances, all which he holds as the dower of the said Margery, saving however to the said Roger and his heirs their custom of hunting in the chaces pertaining to the manor of Ulcham, according to an agreement between the said Roger and the said Margery made during her widowhood; and for this grant the said John has quit-claimed to the said Roger the mill of Ulcham, which he formerly had of the gift of the said Roger, provided that if the said John do not survive the said Margery the said mill shall remain to the said Margery with her dower for life, and upon her death shall return to the said Roger and his heirs; moreover if the said Roger and Margery shall die in the lifetime of Isabel, wife of the said Roger, if dower be due to the said Isabel, she shall have dower of the manors of Ulcham, Benton and Killingworth as of the other lands after the death of the said John, just as she would have had after the death of Margery if this grant had not been made; and on the death of the said John all the said lands shall revert to the said Roger and his heirs. Witnesses, Hugh de Morewic, Roger son of Ralph, Odonel son of Ralph, John de Eslinton, Simon de Horsle, Walter de Bevercot, Robert de Cressewell, John de Plessetis, Henry Gateganc, clerk, Thomas de Oggel, John de Craucestre, John de Neuton, and Walter de Fenton.

A History of Northumberland vol 2 p373 (John Hodgson, 1832)
MARGERY, da. of that Richd. Umfreville, who died in 1227, so that this Margery had lived to a considerable age; for an inquest after her death, taken at Heddon on the Wall, in Feb. 1292, says, that her father gave with her in free marriage to Roger Merlay, the manor of Burrowsford, in this county; but, dying without issue, it descended by formedon to Gilbert de Umfreville, grandson of the same Richard.—(Morp. Misc No. 6.) In the same year, there is also an inquest, showing that she died possessed of the manors of Worsop & Tokisforth, in Notts—(Cal. Inq. p. m. i. 108; Dug. Bar. i. 726.) She gave to the monks of Newminster three fisheries on the Tyne—(Wallis, ii. 305.

The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p380-1 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
John, who was Lord Keeper, and the eldest son, and had to wife Margery Merlay, as in Averham is said, but no issue;
...  Richard de Marcham held of the King in Capite half a Knights Fee which Margaret, sometimes wife of John de Lexinton, at the time of his (the said Richards) death had in Dower
...  Robert de Markham about 17 E. 1. left the Park, Mannor, and Advowson of the Church of Tukesford, which Margery de Merley, widow of John de Lessington had in Dower, &c. to his three daughters and heirs, and their issue


Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to Nottinghamshire vol 2 pp33-6 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
        Robert de Marcham.
    Writ dated at Westminster, 13 March., 17 Edw. j [1288-9].
Inquisition and extent of the lands and tenements which were of Robert de Marcham in the county of Notingham on the day he died, made at Laxton on Wednesday next after the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, 17 Edward j [1289]
...  Robert de Marcham held in Tuckesford a certain park, the profit whereof in underwood, meadow and pasture is worth yearly 10s. Which park he held together with the advowson of the church of Tuckesford and with the manor of Tuckesford, which Margery de Merleye who was the wife of John de Laxton still holds in dower of the King in chief by the service of ½ knight’s fee. Sum 10s.
...  Also the said Robert held in Westmarcham a capital messuage worth yearly with a dovecot 6s. 8d. And there are there 140 acres of arable land in demesne each worth yearly 7d. Sum £4 1s. 8d. Also there are there 20 acres of meadow each worth yearly 18d. Sum 30s. Also a water mill worth yearly 6s. 8d. The Rent of free tenants at the aforesaid 2 terms is yearly 51s. 5d. The Rent of 2 bondmen who hold 1 oxgang and 3 acres of land and render, at the said terms, 6s. 8d. Also the day’s works of the same in harvest time are worth 20d. The Rent of cottars, at the said terms, 21s. 3½d. Their works in harvest time are worth 2s. The said Robert held the said lands and tenements of Margery de Merleye, Lady of Tuckesford, by the service of 16d. yearly. Sum £10 8s. 0d. But therefrom he renders to Margery de Merleye, yearly 16d. as above. And to Robert de Saundeby 2s. To John de Rypers of Ordeshal 2s. Also to the said Margery 6d. To Robert Ploreger of Tuckesford ½d. To the Prior of Munkebretton 8d. To the nuns of Wallendewelles 6d. To Alexander de Drayton 6d. To Henry Le Clerk of Markham ½d. To John Le Meire of Milneton ½d. Sum of rent cancelled 7s. 7½d. And so there remains clear £10 0s. 5d.


Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 3 Edward I: 1291-1300 pp5-6 (1904)
11. MARGERY DE MERLAY, LATE THE WIFE OF JOHN DE LEXINTON.   
  Writ of plenius certiorari to Thomas de Normanvill escheator, on the complaint of Gilbert de Umframvill that whereas Richard de Umframvill, his grandfather, whose heir he is, granted the manor of Barwesford to Roger de Merleye in free marriage with Margery his daughter, to hold to them and the heirs of the body of the same Margery, with reversion to the said Richard or his heirs, now on the death of the said Margery without such heir the escheator has taken the said manor into the king’s hand and keeps it from the same Gilbert, 30 Jan. 20 Edw. I.
NORTHUMBERLAND. Inq. made at Hedon on the Wall on Monday after St. Peter in Cathedra, 20 Edw. I.
  Barouesford. The said Richard granted the manor as abovesaid; the said Margery died without heir of her body; and the manor ought to revert to the said Gilbert as heir of Richard de Wmfrawill.
  Writ of certiorari super causa captionis concerning the lands which Margery de Merlay, lately deceased, held in dower of the inheritance of Richard de Sutton, son and heir of Robert de Sutton, deceased, who held of the king in chief, 4 February, 20 Edw. I.
[NOTTINGHAM] and DERBY. Inq. Thursday before Lent, 20 Edw. I.
  Warsop. The manor (extent given), including stallage of the market and rents of 2 marks from the prior of St. Oswald for 20 bovates of land in Sulcolm’, and 5s. yearly from the abbot of Welbeck for the grange of Gledthorp, held of the king in chief, tenure unspecified.
  Pleseley. The park and 2 bovates of land in Schir[ebrok], held of the lord of Pleseley by service of 1d. yearly.
  Margery de Merlay was dowered of the above named manor together with the manor of Tokesforth for all the lands &c. which were of John de Lexinton her husband, ancestor of Richard de Sutton, of Cecily the wife of John de Bray, Agnes the wife of William de Sayntecroys, and John de Longevilers, a minor and in the king’s wardship, for which cause the escheator took the said manors into the king’s hand. The manors are of the inheritance of the said Richard, Cecily, Agnes and John.
NOTTINGHAM. Inq. Saturday before Lent, 20 Edw. I.
  Tockisforth. The manor (extent given with names of free tenants), is held of the king in chief and is of the inheritance of Richard de Sutton, Cecily the wife of John le Bray, Agnes the wife of William de Seyntecrois, and John de Loungvilers, and Margery de Merlay was dowered thereof &c., as abovesaid.
Writ of scire facias on the petition of Richard de Sutton, who claims as one of the heirs of Henry de Lexinton to have his share in the manors of Tokesford and Warsop, both of which were held in dower by Margery late the wife of John de Lexinton: reciting that on the suit of John de Bray, the manor of Tokesford, which Margery late the wife of John de Lexinton, brother of the said Henry, held in dower of his inheritance on the day of her death, was ordered to be divided equally between the said John de Bray and Cecily his wife daughter and one of the heirs of Robert de Markham, kinsman and one of the heirs of Henry de Lexinton, William de Sancta Cruce and Agnes his wife another daughter and heir of Robert de Markham, and John de Lungevilers, kinsman and third heir of the said Robert, the share of John de Lungevilers being by reason of his nonage, retained in the king’s hand; and commanding the escheator to warn the said parties to be before the king on Sunday in Mid-lent to receive their pourparties &c. and meanwhile to cause the said manors to be extended &c., 16 February, 20 Edw. I.
[NOTTINGHAM.] Extent, Thursday the morrow of St. Gregory the Pope, 20 Edw. I.
  Toxford. The manor (full extent given with names of tenants), including meadows in the south park, Littil more, Eton, Lullewode and Karleton, and a little meadow called Ker, and among the free tenants, 6 bovates of land in Marcham and Milneton held by John de Riperes, 2 bovates of land in Bevercote held by William de Bevercote, and a toft in Toxford and a tenement in Marcham in Westmarcham, held by William de Sancta Cruce.
  Warsop. The manor (extent given), including 26s. 8d. rendered by the prior of St. Oswald for 6 bovates of land in Solweholm, 5s. yearly by the abbot of Wellebek for the grange of Gledthorp, the park of Plessley and 2 bovates of land in Shirebrok which are held of the lord of Pleseley by service of 1d., and stallage of the forest.
[See Calendar of Close Rolls, 1288-1296, p. 223.]
          C. Edw. I. File 61. (11.)

Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to Nottinghamshire vol 2 pp41-3 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
        Margery de Merlay.
    Writ dated at Westminster, 4 Feb., 20 Edw. j [1291-2].
Inquisition made at Warsop before Sir Thomas de Normanvill the King’s Escheator beyond Trent on Thursday next before “carnisprivium,” 20 Edw. j [1291-2], of lands and tenements which were of Margery de Merlay, by the oath of Ralph de Bedeforth, William Freman, Robert Petyt, Robert de Sutt . . ., Roger de Lokinton, Robert de Auld, Hugh de Bowre, Benedict de Kukeney, Thomas “cemetarius” of Sulcolm’, John Freman of the same place, P . . . Bowre in Kokeney, Ralph son of Benedict of Warsop, who say that
  The manor of Warsopp with garden does not suffice for the sustentation of the houses. She had there in demesne 8 oxgangs of land, each worth yearly 5s. Also 1½ acre of meadow each. . . . And 1 dovecot worth yearly 3s. And 1 water mill worth yearly 6 marks. Perquisites of Court there are worth yearly 13s. 4d. Stallage of the market there are worth yearly 8s. The lord Prior of St. Hosewald renders to the lord of Warsopp for 30 oxgangs of land in Sulcolm’ 2 marks. Also the Abbot of Welbeck renders to the said lord for the grange of Gledthorp yearly 5s. Also William Freman for ⅝ of an oxgang of land yearly 3s. Also Ralph the clerk renders yearly 12d. Also there are there in bondage 18 oxgangs of land, each worth yearly 5s. Also 28 cottagers render yearly 60s. Also the park of Pleseley and 2 oxgangs of land in Schir . . . k held of the lord of Pleseley by the service of 1d. yearly, and the park is worth 5s. yearly and the said 2 oxgangs are worth yearly 8s. Also they say that the manor of Warsop is held of the King in chief and Margery de Merlay held in dower the said manor together with the manor of Tokesforth for all the lands and tenements which were of John de Lexinton her husband, ancestor of Richard de Sutton, Cecilia wife of John de Bray, Agnes wife of William de Sayntecroys and John de Longevilers who is a minor and in the King’s wardship. For which cause the Escheator took the manors aforesaid into the King’s hand. They say also that the said manors are the inheritance of the aforesaid Richard, Cecilia, Agnes and John.
Inquisition taken at Tokisforth before Sir Thomas de Normanvill the King’s Escheator beyond Trent on Saturday before “carnisprivium,” 20 Edw. j [1291-2], of lands and tenements which were of Margery de Merlay, by the oath of Walter de Byldewater, Roger son of . . . de Bocketon, William Goding of the same place, Robert Lanceleveyn of Kirketon, Robert le Parker of the same place, John “a le Chance” of Walisby, William son of Henry of the same place, William “a le Freyne” of the same place, Robert Aubeney of the same place, Thomas de Werley in Est Macham, Thomas “ad fontem” of the same place, Ran[ulph] le Parker, who say that
  The manor of Tockisforth is held of the King in chief and is of the inheritance of Richard de Sutton, Cecilia wife of John Le Bray, Agnes wife of William de Seyntecrois and John de Loungvileris who is a minor and in the King’s wardship, and Margery de Merlay held in dower the said manor together with the manor of Warsop for all the lands and tenements which were of John de Lexinton her husband, ancestor of the said Richard, Cecilia, Augnes and John, for which cause the said manors were taken into the King’s hand after the death of the said Margery. The manor with garden is worth yearly 2s. A dovecot is worth yearly 4s. There is there a water mill worth yearly £10. She had there in demesne 12 oxgangs of land, each worth yearly 8s. And 16 acres of meadow each worth yearly 2s. 6d. Herbage there is worth yearly 12s. Perquisites of Court there are worth yearly 20s. Also free tenants; Philip de Broycton renders yearly for 4 oxgangs of land 1 pound of pepper; Hugh Flambard [renders] yearly for 2 oxgangs of land 2s. 2d.; Gefrey de Basigham holds 1 oxgang of land and renders 6d.; John de Dodington for 2 oxgangs of land [renders] 11d.; Robert Ploreger holds 2 oxgangs of land for 4s. yearly; Nicholas Pistor renders for 1 oxgang of land yearly 3s.; Thomas son of Stephen [holds] 2 oxgangs of land and renders 6s. Cristiana daughter of Roger holds 1 oxgang and renders 5s. Also [Margery de Merlay] had there in bondage 64 oxgangs of land, each worth yearly 8s. William de Wodicotes for 6 oxgangs of land renders yearly 6s. Henry ad Kircyate holds 2 oxgangs of land and renders 5s. Sir Robert “the chaplain” renders for a certain toft and 2 acres of land yearly 2s. 6d. Also [Margery] had there of rent of assize for cottages £20 13s. 1½d.
          Chancery Inq. p. m., 20 Edw.j., No. 13. 

Occupation: Clerk in the Chancery and also a judge. He was Keeper of the Great Seal during vacancies in the Office of Chancellor, and he was sent on several missions abroad by the King: in 1241 to the Emperor Frederick II, and in 1250 to arrange a truce with France. In 1255 John was Chief Justice of the Forests north of the Trent and was at Lincoln at the time of the murder of the boy Hugh of Lincoln. John adopted the popular blood libel accusation that Hugh had been ritually murdered by Jews, and obtained a confession, likely under coercion, from a Jew named Copin. King Henry III intervened, had Copin executed and arrested ninety Jews in connection with Hugh's death, 18 of whom were hanged.

John is mentioned a number of times in the Patent Rolls and Close Rolls, due to his position as a judge and as the king's steward. Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247, Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 4 1247-1258, Close Rolls Henry III 1234-1237, Close Rolls Henry III 1237-1242Close Rolls Henry III 1242-1247, Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251, Close Rolls Henry III 1251-1253, Close Rolls Henry III 1253-1254, Close Rolls Henry III 1254-1256, Close Rolls Henry III 1256-1259.
An example commission is:
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 pp139-40 (1906)
1236 March 21.
Dunstable.

  To the mayor and good men of Oxford. The king is sending to them John Gubaud and John de Lexinton to learn the truth touching the burning of the town of Oxford, which was lately set fire to (accensa), and to do other things enjoined them for the preservation of the peace and tranquillity of the town; and he commands them to be counselling and helping unto them herein.
  Mandate to the sheriff of Oxford to assist them in their inquiry together with Bardulf de Cestreton and three other discreet knights of the county.

In 1238 John was sent on an embassy to the king of Scotland.
Close Rolls Henry III 1237-1242 p143
1238
   Rex mittit J. de Lexinton’ ad regem Scottorum significans ei quod licet negotium inter ipsum et sororem regine domini regis non possit optatum effectum consequi, vult tamen quod tanta consideratio uniat et conjungat eos quod in agendis suis ad invicem sint fortiores Rogat etiam eum quod hiis que ei dicet ex parte regis fidem velit adhibere et ea effectum mancipare. Teste rege apud Merewell’, ix. die Augusti.
which translates very roughly as:
  The king sends J. of Lexington to the king of Scots, indicating to him that although the affair between him and the sister of the queen of the lord king cannot achieve the desired effect, he still wishes that such consideration would unite and unite them, that in their actions they may be stronger than one another. to those things which he shall say to him on the part of the king, he wishes to give credit and to enslave them to their effect. Witness the king at Merewell, 9th day of August.

Notes:
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 p119 (1906)
1235 Oct. 10.
Windsor.

  Grant to John de Lexinton, for his homage and service, of 20l. a year at the Exchequer until the king provide him in escheats or wards to that amount.

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p231 (1903)
1237 Sept. 28.
York.

  Inspeximus and confirmation of a charter whereby Robert de Lexinton gave to John de Lexinton his brother, and his heirs, the manor of Tuxeford with the hamlet of Warsop to hold of the king by the service of one knight, provided that if the said John die without an heir of his body, the said lands shall revert to the said John and his heirs. Witnesses, Nigel de Lysures, Master P. de Lexinton, Henry de Lexinton, Richard de Marsham, Robert de Rypariis, John Burdun, Nicholas de Ayvill, Peter de Brunington, and William de Sutthorp.

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 p197 (1906)
1237 Sept. 28.
York.

  Grant to Robert de Lexinton, that in the event of the death of John de Lexinton, his brother, without heirs of his body, the manor of Tuxford, with the hamlet of Warsop and other appurtenances, which hamlet the king by charter confirmed to the same John and his heirs, to hold by the service of a knight’s fee, shall revert to the said Robert or his heirs to hold as above.
p233
1238 Sept. 17.
Coventry.

  Grant to John Burdun, who has to wife the niece of John de Lexinton. . . . By William de Cantilupo.

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p241 (1903)
1239 March 6.
Westminster.

 
Grant to John de Lexinton, and his heirs, of free warren in his demesne lands of Thuxford, Warshop, and Aston; grant to the same and to Matthew, archdeacon of Buckingham, and his successors, tenants of the prebend of Hornle, of free warren in their demesne lands in Homle and Hanunton; grant also to the said John and his heirs of licence to hunt and take the fox, the wolf, the hare and the cat in Nottinghamshire without the king’s demesne warrens.
p242
1239 March 22.
Westminster.

 
Grant to John de Lexinton, for life, that he be not put to serve as justice (in justiciariis), or upon regards, perambulations, assises, recognitions, inquisitions or juries, and that he be quit in his demesnes of suits of counties, hundreds, wapentakes, trithings, of aids of sheriffs and custody of the king’s works.
p247
1239 Oct. 18.
Westminster.

 
Pardon to John de Lessinteyn [margin Lexinton] and his heirs, of the custom, due to the king from the manor of Estun, co. Northampton, of making six perches of enclosure about the king’s park of Northampton; grant also to the same, and his heirs, of a weekly market on Tuesday at his manor of Warsop, co. Nottingham, and of a yearly fair there on the vigil, the feast and the morrow of SS. Peter and Paul.

We see in the Close Rolls a number of gifts to John from King Richard III, commonly of deer or oaks that he is allowed to take from the royal forests. A more unusual gift, in 1240, was of two jars of wine.
Close Rolls Henry III 1237-1242 p173
1240
  De vinis datis.—Mandatum est Johanni de Lexinton’, justiciario Cestrie, quod duo dolia vini que sunt in castro Cestrie capiat ad opus suum, de dono regis. Teste rege ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
  About the wines given.—It was commanded to John de Lexington, justiciar of Chester, that he should take two jars of wine which are in the castle of Chester for his work, as a gift from the king. Witness the king as above.

Matthew Paris (c1200 - 1259), an English monk and noted early historian, was a contemporary acquaintance of John de Lexington, who appears a number of times in Paris's seminal work, Chronica Majora, the original source of some of the anecdotes about John and his brother, Stephen, in Judges of England and the  Dictionary of National Biography. For example, on John rescuing his brother, Stephen, travelling to a council of the Pope, from attack by the Pisan naval forces under King Enzio in 1241:
Chronica Majora vol 4 p125 (Matthew Paris, 1877)
     De captione prælatorum et legatorum
  Dictus igitur Henricus, paternis præceptis obediens, misit obviam eisdem Januensibus legatos et prælatos confidenter ducentibus, viginti galeias novas et solidissimas, manu militari optime communitas, in prima fronte, quibus primicerius præerat Stollius piratarum peritissimus. Factoque congressu navali cruentissimo, Pisani, quibus specialiter præfuit Henricus cum jam dicto Stollio, qui per modum fulgurantis tempestatis irruit ad certamen, victi sunt Januenses, captique prælati cum legatis, et aliqui submersi vel cæsi, scilicet archiepiscopus de Besencia, et multi alii, quos longum est numerare. Ex abbatibus tamen vix Savianensis ope Johannis de Lexintuna, militis strenuissimi et elegantis, fratris sui ac nuntii regis Angliæ, evasit liber et illasus. De hujusmodi autem infortunato casu, per hanc epistolam, cui communis fama perhibet testimonium evidens, certificamur. 
which is crudely translated as:
     The seizure of prelates and officers
  The said Henry, therefore, obeying his father's commands, sent ambassadors and prelates to meet them with confidence, leading them to the Genoese, with twenty new and very solid galleys, a very distinguished military community; After a most bloody naval encounter, the Pisani, to whom Henry had specially presided over with the already mentioned Stollio, who rushed to the contest after the manner of a flashing storm, were defeated, the Genoese, and their prelates with the lieutenants, and some of them sunk or slain; it is too long to count. But scarcely with the help of the Abbots of Savia, did John of Lexington, a most valiant and elegant soldier, of his brother and messenger of the king of England, escape free and unhurt. Of such an unfortunate case, we are assured by this letter, to which the common report gives an evident testimony.

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 p359 (1906)
1243 Jan. 24.
Bordeaux.

  Charter granting to John de Lexinton and his heirs that moiety of the manor of Roderham which Maud late the wife of Geoffrey de Salsemare holds in dower, as the king’s escheat because it is of the lands of the Normans; to hold after the death of the said Maud, with the advowson of a moiety of the church of the said manor, with homages, services of freemen and other appurtenances, until the land of England and the land of Normandy are common, doing the lord of the fee the service due for the same. And if the said lands become common, the king will not disseise him or his heirs thereof before making them a reasonable exchange in escheats or other lands to a like value. Grant also to him and his heirs of 20l. a year at the Exchequer until they have seisin thereof. Witnesses:—William Lungespe, John son of Geoffrey, Ralph son of Nicholas, Hugh de Vivona, John de Grey, Geoffrey le Despenser, John de Plesseto, Robert de Muscegros, Paulinus Peyvre, Nicholas de Bolevill, Walter de Luiton, William de Chaeny, Richard de Clifford and others.
1243 Jan. 25.
Bordeaux.

  And he has letters patent of the said 20l. to be received at the Exchequer.

Close Rolls Henry III 1242-1247 p18
1243.
   De perdonatione pro J. de Lexinton’.—Rex perdonavit Johanni de Lexinton’ x. marcas quas debuit Leoni, Judeo de Eboraco. Et mandatum est justiciariis ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis quod eidem Leoni allocari faciant predictas x. marcas in debito quod regi debit, et ipsum Johannem de predictis x. marcis quietum esse faciant. Teste rege apud Burdegalam, j. die Aprilis.
  Rex perdonavit Johanni de Lexinton’ viginti et quinque libras et unam marcam quas regi debuit pro debitis Johannis filii et heredis Johannis Coleman, qui est in custodia sua, et unde reddere debuit per annum xl. solidos ad Scaccarium, et mandatum est barronibus de Scaccario quod eundem Johannem de Lexinton’ et prefatum Johannem heredem Johannis Coleman de predictis xxv. libris et una marca quietum (sic) esse faciant. Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
  Pardons for J. de Lexinton’.—The king pardoned John of Lexington ten marks which he owed to Leoni, Jew of York. And it was commanded by the justices to the custody of the Jews assigned, that they should make the aforesaid x. marks to be allowed to the same Leoni in the debt which he owes to the king, and cause John himself to be acquitted of the aforesaid x. marks. Witness the king at Bordeaux, 1 April.
  The king pardoned John of Lexington twenty-five pounds and one mark which he owed to the king for the debts of John the son and heir of John Coleman, who is in his ward, and whence he ought to pay xl. shillings a year to the Exchequer, and it was ordered to the barons of the Exchequer to let the same John of Lexington and the aforesaid John heir of John Coleman be acquitted of the aforesaid xxl. pounds and one mark. Witness as above.
p27
1243.
   Pro Johanne de Lexynton’—Rex concessit Johanni de Lexinton’ scutagium de feodis militum que tenet de rege in capite, et similiter concessit ei de dono suo scutagium de feodis militum que tenet de aliis, de quibus scutagium regi debetur, videlicet de scuto xl. solidos pro excercitu, etc. Et mandatum est Eboracensi archiepiscopo, Karleolensi episcopo et Willelmo de Cantilupo quod ex quo certificati fuerint quibus comitibus scribi debeat pro scutagio predicto, et quibus expedit habere litteras regis de quietancia scutagii quod eidem Johanni rex dedit, et de aliis qui de rege tenent, litteras ei fieri faciant quales eidem J. et aliis viderint expedire; et si quid ex eo captum fuerit, id eidem J. reddi faciant. Teste rege apud Burdegalam, vij. die Junii.
which translates very roughly as:
  For John de Lexynton’.—The king granted John of Lexington scutage for the knights’ fees which he holds of the king in chief, and similarly he granted him for his gift scutage for the knights’ fees, which he holds others for which the scutage is due the king, namely, scutage of xl. shillings for the army. And it was ordered by the Archbishop of York, bishop of Carlisle, and William of Cantilupus, that from the time they were assured by whom the earls ought to be written for the aforesaid scutage, and by whom it would be expedient to have the king’s letter concerning the quittance of the scutage which the king gave to that John, and of the other men who hold of the king, letters to him let them do what they see expedient for the same J. and others; and if anything has been taken by him, they may cause it to be returned to the same J. Witness the king at Bordeaux, 7 June.
p114
1243.
  Mandatum est vicecomiti Notingh’ quod habere faciat Johanni de Lexint’ scutagium suum de feodis militum que de rege tenet in capite in balliva sua, scilicet de scuto tres marcas pro excercitu regis contra transfretationem in Wasconiam.
  Mandatum est vicecomiti Linc’ quod habere faciat eidem Johanni de dono regis scutagium feodi unius militis quod regi debebatur, et quod idem Johannes tenet de Willelmo de Vescy in balliva sua, pro eodem exercitu, scilicet de scuto tres marcas.
  Mandatum est vicecomiti Norht’ quod habere faciat eidem Johanni de dono regis scutagium de feodo unius militis quod regi debebatur, et quod idem Johannes tenet de Willelmo de Feidnes in balliva sua, pro eodem excercitu, scilicet de scuto tres marcas.
  Mandatum est vicecomiti Oxonie quod habere faciat eidem Johanni de dono regis scutagium feodi dimidii militis quod regi debebatur, et quod prefatus Johannes tenet de Roesia de Verdun in balliva sua, pro eodem excercitu, scilicet de scuto tres marcas.
  Mandatum est vicecomiti Norhumbrie quod faciat habere eidem Johanni de dono regis scutagium feodi unius militis et dimidii, quod regi debebatur, et que idem Johannes tenet de Rogero de Merlay nomine dotis Margerie uxoris sue, pro eodem excercitu, scilicet etc.
which translates very roughly as:
   The sheriff of Nottinghamshire is mandated to cause John de Lexint’ to have scutage for the knight’s fee which he holds of the king in chief in his bailiwick, namely three marks scutage for the king’s army against the crossing into Gascony.
  The sheriff of Lincoln is mandated to cause the same John to have the gift of the king’s scutage for the knight’s fee owed to the king, and which the same John holds of William de Vescy in his bailiwick, for the same army, namely, three marks scutage.
  The sheriff of Northampton is mandated to cause the same John to have the gift of the king’s scutage for the knight’s fee owed to the king, and which the same John holds of William de Feidnes in his bailiff, for the same army, namely, three marks scutage.
  The sheriff of Oxford is mandated to cause the same John to have the gift of the king’s scutage for half a knight’s fee owed to the king, and what the aforesaid John holds of Rose de Verdun in his bailiwick, for the same army, to wit, three marks scutage.
  The sheriff of Northumberland is mandated  to cause the same John to have the gift of the king’s scutage for the one and a half knight’s fee, owed to the king, and which the same John holds of Roger de Merlay in the name of dowry to Margery his wife, for the same army, etc. 

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 p390 (1906)
1243 Aug. 12.
Bordeaux.

  [In the margin.] Memorandum that on Thursday after St. Laurence John de Lexinton, who had the custody of the king’s seal, was ill.
pp490-1
1246 Jan. 25.
Westminster.

  Appointment of John de Grey, justice of Chester, Richard de Grey, John de Lexinton and Adam de Eston to do justice touching tolls and prises done in the county of Chester by the bailiffs of John Lestrange, when he was justice of Chester, and touching all persons who against the king’s prohibition sold or sent victuals and other necessaries to the king’s enemies in Wales, or consented thereto; also in lieu of the king to view the waste of the king’s woods and houses in that county since it came to the king’s hands; and mandate to them that they meet for this on days and at places appointed; and it is commanded to the justice of Chester and the sheriff of Stafford and Salop to cause to come before them all those who are suspected of the foresaid, who are contained in an inquisition which the king has had made.

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 4 1247-1258 p3 (1908)
1247 Dec. 10.
Marlborough.

  Grant to John de Lexinton, the steward, and his heirs and assigns, of the wardship of the land and heirs of John de Pabbeham, tenant in chief, with all appurtenances and escheats as well of dowers as of wards and other things; with the marriage of the heirs and of Eleanor, late the wife of the said John, who holds of the king in chief of her own inheritance and has done homage to the king for it. Grant to them also, that if Eleanor die during the said wardship, the wardship of her inheritance, which she holds in chief, shall remain to them.
p4
1247 Dec. 20.
Clarendon.

  Pardon to John de Lexinton, the steward, of 25 marks of the fine of 100l. which he made with the king to have the wardship of the land and heirs of John de Pabbeham and the marriage of the heirs.
    By Geoffrey de Lezinan.
1247 Dec. 28.
Clarendon.

  Notification that John de Lexinton, the steward, on Saturday, the feast of the Holy Innocents, by order of the king restored to Geoffrey de Lezinan [rectius John de Lexinton] at Winchester 100 marks of the fine of 100l. which the said steward made with the king to have the wardship of the land and heirs of John de Pabbeham.
p5
1248 Jan. 10.
Westminster.

  Grant to John de Lessinton that he and his heirs and assigns shall hold his whole land in the town of Pek of the king and his heirs by the free service of a pair of gilt spurs or 6d. a year, to be rendered at Easter to the keeper of the castle of the Pek for all service; which land he held before by the serjeanty of making the king’s larder in the castle of the Pek.
p19
1248 June 10.
Winchester.

  Licence for John de Lessinton to take without impediment, view and livery of the king’s foresters and other bailiffs of the forest, reasonable estover in his wood of Thaydon within the forest of Essex.

This entry in the Close Rolls notes that John was the given the wardship of John de Pabenham, during the latter's minority.
Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251 p175
1249.
  Pro Johanne de Lexinton’.—Quia rex evidenter perpendit per inspeccionem rotulorum suorum, quod in concessione quam rex fecit dilecto et fideli suo Johanni de Lexinton’ de custodia terre et heredis Johannis de Pabenham, per finem quem idem Johannes de Lexinton’ fecit cum rege, insimul rex concessit ei custodiam terre quam Alienora, que fuit uxor predicti Johannis, tenuit de rege in capite de hereditate sua propria, si de ipsa Alienora humanitus contingeret; et jam, ut audivit rex, predicta Alienora diem clauserit extremum, mandatum est Henrico de Wengham et coescaetori suo in comitatu Bed’ quod de custodia hereditatis predicte Alienore, quam de rege tenuit in capite, eidem Johanni plenam seisinam habere faciant usque ad legitimam etatem heredis predicte Alienore. Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
  For John of Lexington.—Because the king evidently considers, by an inspection of his rolls, that in the grant which the king made to his beloved and faithful John de Lexington, of the custody of the land and of the heir of John de Pabenham, by the end which the same John of Lexington did with the king, at the same time the king granted him custody of the land which Eleanor, who was the wife of the aforesaid John, held of the king in chief of her own inheritance, if humanity should touch Eleanor herself; and now, as the king has heard, that the aforesaid Eleanor has closed the last day, it was commanded Henry of Wengham and his escheator in the county of Bedford that they should keep the same John in the custody of the aforesaid Eleanor of the estate, which she held of the king in chief, to have full seisin until the legal age of the heir to Eleanor. Witness as above 
pp223-4
1249.
  Rex vicecomiti Bed’, salutem. Precipimus tibi, sicut pluries precepimus, quod non distringas vel distringi permittas Johannem de la Legh’ et Simonem de Pabenham’, custodes terre et heredis Johannis de Pabenham, qui fuit in custodia nostra, et cujus custodiam dimiseramus dilecto et fideli nostro Johanni de Lexinton’, ad faciendum tibi racione custodie predicte sectas ad comitatum et hundredum, visum franci plegii, hidagium, auxilium vicecomitis, vel alias consuetudines et servicia, quamdiu predictus heres infra etatem fuerit et in custodia predicti Johannis de Lexinton’. Teste rege apud Wind’ xxv. die Junii.
which translates very roughly as:
  The king to the sheriff of Bedfordshire, greeting. We order you, as we have several times ordered, that you should not distrain or permit John de la Leigh and Simon de Pabenham, guardians of the land and heir of John de Pabenham, who was in our ward, and whose custody we had released to our beloved and faithful John of Lexington to do to you by reason of the custody of the aforesaid suits at the county and hundred, under the supervision of frank sureties, hidage, sheriff's aid, or other customs and services, so long as the aforesaid heir is under age and in the custody of the aforesaid John of Lexington. Witness the king at Windleshores 25 June.

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p346 (1903)
    [The roll is torn longitiudinally for its whole length.]
1249 Nov. 2.
Canterbury.

 
Inspeximus and confirmation of a charter whereby Robert de Bruys and Beatrice his wife gave to John de Lessinton, for his homage and service, the manor of . . . . . . with all escheats and profits thereto per-taining within the hundred of Angre, to be held by the said John, his heirs and assigns, by the service of two knights; and for this gift the said John has given to the said grantors 1,000 marks to acquit their debts [and those of] . . . . de Evermuth, their ancestors. Witnesses, Robert Passelewe, archdeacon of Lewes, Ralph son of Nicholas, Bertram de Crioyl, . . . . . . . , Peter de Tany, Richard de Tany, Richard son of Aucher, Richard de Witsand. . . . . 

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 4 1247-1258 p60 (1908)
1250 Feb. 18.
Reading.

  Grant to John de Lexinton, in pursuance of a charter exempting him for life from the office of justice, after which, by order of the king, he exercised the same office, that this shall not be to his prejudice; and grant that, if by order of the king, he exercise the same office again, the said charter shall still retain its full force and virtue.
p64
1250 April 24.
Westminster.

  Licence for John de Lessinton to keep closed with a hedge and ditch his close which he made in the wood of his manor of Teyden, which is within the forest of Essex, but so that the deer can have ingress and egress.
  And he has a writ to G. de Langele, justice of the forest..
p110
1251 Sept. 24.
Windsor.

  Commission to W. bishop of Salisbury, J. de Plessetis. earl of Warwick, John de Lessinton, Gilbert de Segrave, Giles de Erdinton and William le Breton, appointing them justices for pleas of the city of London, which ought to come before justices in eyre at the Tower of London, and be heard and determined there. They are to meet at the Tower on the morrow of Michaelmas.
p163
1252 Nov. 7.
Reading.

  Grant to John de Lessinton and his heirs, that during the minority of the heirs of Margery de Ripariis, countess of Devon, he shall continue to receive 10l. a year out of the manor of Harewod late of the said countess, as she granted to him by charter which the king has inspected, no matter to whose hands the lands of the late countess may fall.    By K.
p165
1252 Nov. 23.
Clarendon.

  Appointment, during pleasure, of John de Lessinton to the keeping of the forests beyond Trent, and mandate to all to be intendant to him as chief justice thereof.    By K.
... Nov. 25.
Clarendon.

  Grant to John de Lessinton, justice of the forests beyond Trent, of 100 marks a year by his own hand out of the issues of the said forests to maintain him in the king’s service so long as he is justice.    By K.
p172
1253 Jan. 15.
Windsor.

  The like for John de Lessinton to hunt with his own dogs the hare, fox, cat, badger and squirrel through the forest of Essex, and to dig out, take and carry them away.    By K.
p173
1253 Jan. 17.
Windsor.

  Appointment, during pleasure, of John de Lessinton to the keeping of the castle of Scardeburg and the castle and manor of Pikering with the wapentake and other appurtenances, answering to the king for the issues of the manor and wapentake, with mandate to the knights and others, tenants of the honor of the castles of Schardeburg and Pikering to be intendant to him.    By K.
p193
1253 May 26.
Windsor.

  Commission during pleasure to John de Lessinton of the castle of Baumburc, in like manner as William Heyrun, sometime sheriff of Northumberland, had the keeping thereof.    By K.
p204
1253 June 30.
Southwick.

  Mandate to J. de Lessinton, justice of the forest beyond Trent, in all Southwick. counties beyond Trent through which he passes to plead and determine by inquisition or otherwise pleas of trespasses committed in parks, warrens and stews, as well within the forest as without, and trespasses of the king’s prohibited rivers, so that he answer for the fines and amercements arising therefrom.
p206
1253 July 8.
Southwick.

  Delivery to John de Lessinton of Richard de Newhus, an idiot, with his wife, to keep so long as the said Richard live; and for their sustenance the king has committed to him his land of Neuhus of the inheritance of the idiot, which land by judgment of the court the king has retained in his hands for the security of the heirs; on condition that the said John do not waste, diminish or in any way alienate anything thereof to the loss or disherison of the heirs, but that, after the death of the said Richard, it revert to his heirs free and quit of the said John and his heirs.
    By R. Waler[and].
  Mandate to William Heyrun, sheriff of Northumberland, to deliver him with the said woman and the said land to the said John.
p217
1253 July 27.
Portsmouth.

  Mandate to the queen of England that when William Heyrun has, in the absence of the king from the realm, delivered to her the castle of Bamburg, as the king has ordered him to do, she is to deliver it to John de Lessinton, according to the tenour of the king’s letters patent made to him.    By K.
  Mandate to the said William accordingly.
p234
1253 June 29.
Southwick.

  The king is sending Robert de Cominggham, John de Plessetis, John de Estlinton and Adam Baret to view in what state William Heyrun leaves the castle of Hamburg and John de Lessinton receives it, and to certify the king thereof under their seals.   Et sunt patentes.
p372
1254 Aug. 4.
Westminster.

  Commission to John de Lesstnton, Nicholas de Stutevill and Thomas de Bella Aqua to enquire touching rapines, extortions, trespasses and injuries committed by William de Horsendene, his clerks, bailiffs and ministers, upon many persons of the county of York while he was sheriff of that county, and the sheriff is to have before them all who wish to complain.
p410
1255 May 18.
Marlborough.

  Licence for life for John de Lessynton to hunt the hare, fox, wolf, cat, squirrel and badger through the forests in the counties of Northampton, York and Northumberland, so that he take not the king’s great deer or hunt in warrens.
p413
1255 June 20.
Woodstock.

  Mandate to John de Lessinton to deliver the castle of Pykering with the wapentake and manor, which the king committed to him at will, to the sheriff of York, so that the keeping of the castle remain to the sheriff, and the manor and wapentake to six good men of Pykering to keep during pleasure, in the form in which the king has commanded the sheriff. Also to deliver the castle of Bamburgh with the manor and the justiceship of the forest beyond Trent, which the king committed to him in like manner during pleasure, to William Herun, sheriff of Northumberland, to keep during pleasure, so that he render for the said justiceship 50 marks yearly and in addition that he answer for the issues of the same in the way in which the king has commanded him.
p449
1255 Nov. 16.
Windsor.

  Appointment, during pleasure, of William Heyrun to keep the castle of Scardeburg with all things pertaining to the corpus of the castle, at his own cost.
  Mandate to John de Lexinton to deliver it to him..

The Baronage of England vol 2 p743 (William Dugdale, 1676)
Lexinton
   Which Sir Iohn Lexinton, in 3 H. 3. when the Bishop of London declared to the Prelates and Clergy of England, that the Pope required the Third part of all the Livings of the Beneficed Clergy, and the one half of all the Non-residents, was sent by the King to prohibit them from giving obedience to such an intollerable exaction.
   In 37 H. 3. this Iohn was made Chief Justice of all the Forests North of Trent; as also Governour of Bamburgh Castle in Comitat. Northumb. and of Scardeburgh and Pikering in Com. Ebor. but died in 41 H. 3. without issue.

The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
  Anno 1250. 34 H. 3. the fourth of the Kalends of June died Robert de Lexington the Kings Clark, and special (or spiritual) Counsellour, who continuing long in the Office of a Justice, heaped up to himself ample possessions, and enlarged the Kings Treasures. The same year his eldest brother John de Lexington (who 18 Sept. 31 H. 3. undertook the Custody of the Seal) went from the Court, and the Seal was committed to P. de Rievallis and Mr. W. de Kilkenny, but 37 H. 3. May 15 it was committed to P. Chaceport, and him again. This John de Lessington was Lord Keeper, first, in 22 H. 3. secondly, 26 H. 3. and thirdly, 32 H. 3. &c.
  Sir Robert de Lexington was an Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge, likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne. Cecilia, the sister of Sir Robert de Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard [rather William] de Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert de Marcham. Alice, the other sister of the said Robert de Lexton, was married to Richard (it should be Roland) de Sutton upon Trent
p364
  John de Lessington about 41 H. 3. and after him his brother and heir, Henry de Lessington, Bishop of Lincolne, 42 H. 3. died seized of the fourth part of a Knights Fee in Marneham, held of Richard de Weston for a pound of Pepper yearly. Richard de Marcham, and William de Sutton, were found the heirs of the said Bishop.
p366
  John de Lessington about 41 H. 3. held sixty Acres of Land in Strathaw of Matilda de Lovetor, and sixty in Skeghawe of John de Eyvil. This part descended with Tuxford, as in that place may be seen, through Marcham, Lungevillers, and Mallovell, to Sir Richard Stanhope.
p380
    Tuxford. Tuxfarne.
  Henry de Munedegen, 18 H. 3. next heir Roger de Montebegonis, paid for relief in Lincolneshire, &c. After his death I guess she sold this Mannor, Warsop, &c. to Robert de Lexington, who 20 H. 3. had a confirmation of from the King, and 21 H. 3. the said Robert made a Charter to John de Lexinton his brother of the Mannor of Tuxford, and Hamlet of Warsop, of which 41 H. 3. he died seized, and of the Land in Lexinton held of Adam de Everingham, which descended from their Father Richard, son of Robert de Lexinton, named in Kirketon, which Richard had the Custody or Baylywick of the Barony of Lexinton, which belonged to Matilda de Cauz, and brought up his sons so fortunately, that Robert who was a Clergy-man Canon of Southwell, became a great Judge and Baron, making this place the principal Scat of his Barony, which he left to his said brother John, who was Lord Keeper, and the eldest son, and had to wife Margery Merlay, as in Averham is said, but no issue; for Henry de Lessinton, the youngest brother, aged above sixty years, 41 H. 3. Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne, was heir to his brother the said John Lord Lexington (Peter and Stephen their brothers, both Clergy-men, being I suppose dead before)
p434
  Raph Tilly forfeited the moyety of the Mannor of Roderham to King Henry the third, who granted it to John de Lexington, and he gave it to the Abby of Rufford.

The Judges of England, from the time of the Conquest vol 2 pp383-5  (Edward Foss, 1848)
          LEXINTON, JOHN DE.
          ? KEEPER 1238. JUST. 1248.
RICHARD DE LEXINTON, a baron so called from a manor of that name near Tuxford, in Nottinghamshire (the custody of which was granted to him in 6 John), had several sons, the two eldest of whom were this John, and Robert, who will be next noticed. The other sons were Peter and Henry, both brought up to the church, the latter of whom became bishop of Lincoln.
  John de Lexinton was evidently an officer connected with the court, and probably one of the clerks of the Chancery; the great seal having been several times placed in his hands apparently in that character. On the first occasion, in 22 Henry III., 1238, when the king took it away from Ralph de Neville, it was delivered to him and Brother Geoffrey of the Temple, to be held jointly: but this was probably only a temporary measure, for it soon after was in the custody of Simon the Norman. The next time was in November, 1242, 27 Henry III., when he held it for a short time with William de Burgo, and afterwards in the same year alone. During this period Ralph de Neville continued chancellor, receiving its emoluments till his death, in 1244, although the seal was out of his hands.
  Again, on September 18, 1247, 31 Henry III., John de Lexinton had the seal during the absence of the keeper, John Mansel, on an embassy, which lasted till the 10th of the following August. On John Mansel’s retirement from office, he again took charge of the seal, on October 8, 1249, 33 Henry III., but retired from court in the ensuing year. He, however, appears again in the same character, in conjunction with Peter Chaceporc, from May 15 to June 22, 1253, 37 Henry III., when they resigned the seal into the queen’s hands, on the king’s departure for Gascony. He thus was five several times entrusted with the great seal; but from the nature of the appointments it is evident that he held it for little more than safe custody as an officer of the court.
  Within these years he was performing other duties in connection with the court. In 1241 he had the custody of Griffin, Prince of Wales, in the Tower of London: and in 1247 he is spoken of as the king’s seneschall.
  It is apparent that though he might be occasionally called to take possession of the great seal on a particular emergency, after June, 1248, 32 Henry III., he had then been elevated to the judicial bench; for on that date, and afterwards from October, 1251, 35 Henry III., till December, 1256, 41 Henry III., a few weeks before his death, there are numerous entries of payments made for assizes to be taken before him, precisely in the same manner as before the other judges. In 35 Henry III. also he was one of those appointed to hear the pleas in the city of London: and in 38 Hen. III. he is mentioned as having been sent by the king and council to pronounce a judgment “ad Bancum Domini Regis.” In 37 Henry III. he was made chief justice of the forests north of the Trent, and governor of the castles of Bamburgh, Scarborough, and Pickering.
  He married Margaret Merlay, but left no children. Surviving his brother Robert, who also died without issue, he succeeded to his property, which, together with the family estates, devolved, on his death in February, 1257, 41 Hen III., on his youngest brother Henry, Bishop of Lincoln. That prelate died in the following year, when his nephews, Richard de Marcham and William de Sutton, were admitted to the inheritance as his heirs. 

Lives of Nottinghamshire Worthies pp22-4 (Cornelius Brown, 1882)
  JOHN DE LEXINGTON was a member of an influential family taking their name from the village of Lexington, now called Laxton, where they held property. His father was Richard de Lexington, who, says Thoroton, “brought up his sons so fortunately that Robert, who was a clergyman, canon of Southwell, became a great judge and baron; while John, the eldest brother, was Lord Keeper; and Henry the youngest became Bishop of Lincoln.” One of the earliest notices of John de Lexington is in 1235, when he took an active part in searching out the origin of a remarkable crime. A boy named Hugh had been crucified at Lincoln, and suspicion had fallen upon the Jews. A similar atrocity had taken place years before at Norwich, when the Jews, about Easter time, bought a Christian child and, as the chronicler tells us, “tortured him with all the same torture that our Lord was tortured.” The monks buried the body, and miracles were wrought by it. The story of the Lincoln murder is of a similarly absurd character. The clergy buried the body of the boy Hugh next to the tomb of Bishop Grosseteste, and many astounding stories of miracles which the body performed were narrated to arouse the interest of the curious and excite the wonder of the populace. The affair was brought under the notice of the king, and efforts were made to discover the boy’s murderers. One Jopin, a Jew, upon whom suspicion had fallen, was interrogated by Lexington, and induced, under promise of pardon, to make a full confession. Several Jews were thereupon apprehended; and Jopin, notwithstanding the promise made to him, was put to death. Lexington appears to have been elevated to the judicial bench about 1248, for Foss tells us that “on that date, and afterwards till December 1256, a few weeks before his death there are numerous entries of payments made for assizes to be taken before him, precisely in the same manner as before the other judges.” He had previously held positions of honour and responsibility. In 1241 he was sent as a messenger from the King to the Emperor Frederick, and was with that monarch when an extraordinary event, graphically described by Matthew Paris, took place. Disputes having arisen between the Emperor and the Pope, a large number of prelates, assembled at Genoa, who were proceeding to a council at Rome, refused to travel through the emperor’s territory. They said they could place no reliance on the words of an excommunicated man, and, embarking on board ships manned by Genoese, they started on their eastward voyage, amidst the tumultuous shouts of the sailors and the clang of trumpets. The emperor, much chagrined, ordered the prelates to be captured; and his son Henry, with a powerful fleet, started in pursuit. A desperate fight ensued, in which the Genoese were conquered, and the prelates and legates, amongst whom was a brother of De Lexington, were made prisoners. Most of the unfortunate ecclesiastics were sent to Naples, and endured much suffering on the way thither. They sat “fastened and squeezed together in heaps,” and “with the intolerable heat falling upon them, and flies flitting around them and stinging them like scorpions, they dragged on a long martyrdom.” Of the abbots Matthew Paris adds: “The abbot of Savigny with some difficulty escaped free and uninjured by the assistance of John de Lexington, his brother, a most courageous knight and messenger from the King of England.”
  The same year Lexington accompanied the king on an expedition to Wales. Griffin, the son of Llewellyn, being detained in prison by his brother David, the Bishop of Bangor entreated the King of England to procure his release. Henry raised an army, summoning all who owed him military service to assemble at Gloucester with horses and arms. A council was held at Shrewsbury, and the English forces marched towards Chester. Fearing to hazard a battle, David set his brother at liberty; and Griffin, being handed over to England, was sent under the protection of John de Lexington to the Tower, where other Welsh nobles were detained.
  In 1247 Lexington was king’s seneschal. As one of the clerks in chancery, or as an officer connected with that court, the great seal was placed in his hands on four occasions, viz. in 1238, 1242, 1249, and 1253. He heard pleas in the city of London in 1251, and pronounced a judgment, “ad Bancum Domini regis,” at the special request of the king and council in 1254. About the same time he became chief justice of the forests north of the Trent, and governor of Bamburgh, Scarborough, and Pickering Castles. He died in February 1257, leaving his property to his younger brother Henry, the Bishop of Lincoln.

Dictionary of National Biography vol 33 pp202-3  (Leslie Stephen, 1893)
  LEXINTON or LESSINGTON, JOHN DE (d. 1257), baron, judge, and often described as keeper of the great seal, eldest son of Richard de Lexinton, baron, who took his designation from Lexinton (now Laxton), near Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, was a clerk of the chancery. In 1238, being then a knight, he and Geoffrey, a templar, had the custody of the seal for a short time on the dismissal of Ralph Neville, the chancellor; he again had it, also for a short time, in 1242; and in September 1247 had charge of the seal on the departure from England of John Mansel, the keeper. In 1249 and in 1253 he also had the custody of the seal for short periods. It may well be doubted whether these circumstances should cause him to be called keeper of the great seal. He was rather a temporary guardian of it during vacancies in the office of chancellor (Foss). Having been sent by Henry III as his envoy to attend the council which Gregory IX proposed to hold in 1241, was with the Genoese fleet which conveyed the prelates going to the council when it was defeated by the Pisan and Sicilian ships under the command of King Enzio on 3 May between the islands of Giglio and Monte Cristo [see under LEXINTON, STEPHEN DE]. On his return he joined the king in his expedition against David, son of Llewelyn, and was sent from Chester to conduct Gruffydd ab Llewelyn [q.v.] to London. He was the following year appointed a commissioner to amend infringements of the truce with France (Fœdera, i. 244). In 1246 he was sent by the king to the bishops assembled in St Paul’s to forbid them assenting to a large demand for money which the pope was making upon them. Possibly then, and certainly in 1247, he was the king’s seneschal. From 1248 onwards some notices occur of his work as a judge. When the king was at Nottingham in 1250, John swore on his behalf to the preliminaries of a truce with France, and in that year succeeded to the estates and barony of his brother, Robert de Lexinton [q.v.] In 1253 the king proposed to send him to conduct Henry’s daughter, Margaret, queen of Scotland, to her mother. He was in 1255 chief justice of the forests north of the Trent, and governor of the castles of Bamburgh, Scarborough, and Pickering. In that year, being at Lincoln, the cathedral city of his brother, Bishop Henry de Lexinton [q.v.], when the boy called Hugh of Lincoln [q.v.] was found dead, he at once adopted the popular belief that the Jews had murdered the boy, and promised the Jew Copin safety if he would confess. Having obtained the desired statement, he kept the Jew in fetters until the king arrived, who chided him for promising to save the man’s life. He died in February 1257. Matthew Paris refers to him as his authority for the miracles wrought at the tomb of the archdeacon Thomas of Hertford, and says that he was a man of weight and learning and a brave and accomplished knight. Paris notes that he bore a cross azure on a shield argent. Lexinton married Margaret Morlay, but left no children.
...  [Foss’s Judges, ii. 383; Dugdale’s Baronage, i. 743; Matt. Paris’s Chron Maj. iii. 495, iv. 125, 150, 581, v. 384, 517, 610, vi. 741 (Rolls Ser.); Ann. of Burton ap. Ann. Monast. i. 345, 376 (Rolls Ser.); Royal Letters, Hen. III, ii. 48, 99 (Rolls Ser.); Rymer's Fœdera, i. 244, 324 (Record ed.) Thoresby’s Thoroton’s Notts. iii. 119. For the bishop see Matt. Paris; Annales Monastice; Le Neve’s Fasti Eccl. Angl.]     W. H.  

The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
  Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere. ...  The second brother, John, was a clerk in the Chancery and also a judge. He was Keeper of the Great Seal during vacancies in the Office of Chancellor, and he was sent on several missions abroad by the King: in 1241 to the Emperor Frederick II, and in 1250 to arrange a truce with France. In 1255 he was Chief Justice of the Forests north of the Trent, and tried, at Lincoln, the Jewish murderers of the boy, Hugh of Lincoln. He founded a chantry in the church at Laxton, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr.
...  About the year 1250 the earlier chancel and aisles were rebuilt, the occasion being the founding of a chantry to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Sir John de Lexington, who endowed it and vested it in the Prior of Rufford. A chantry was an endowment for the celebration of masses at an altar in a church for the souls of the departed. Usually masses were said by a specially appointed priest who held his chantry as an independent benefice, and his altar, his stipend, and his house, if one were provided, were as fully his freehold as the church and rectory were of the rector. The father, mother, and sister of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the north aisle of the church, and it was here that his altar to the Virgin was set up. The endowment of the chantry amounted to 5 marks yearly, from rents.
  The family of Lexington founded and endowed another chantry at Laxton, dedicated to St. Edmund, though there is no record of a chapel or altar connected with it. This chantry was a donative, and the two chantry priests shared a house which was still standing near the eastern end of the church in 1635. Lands for their support were set aside in the Laxton fields.
...In 1861 the work of restoration was undertaken by the second Earl Manvers. The Early English tower was taken down, together with the last bay of the nave, and the present tower was erected out of the old materials, at the end of the nave thus shortened. The effect was to destroy the proportions of the church, chancel and nave being now out of balance and the length of the two insufficient to carry the width. An attempt was made to correct this by pulling down the north aisle and the Lexington chapel and the south aisle, replacing them with the present narrower structures. The south porch was taken down and rebuilt at the same time.
...  In the north aisle is a tomb much mutilated, the details of which suggest the latter part of the thirteenth century. The north aisle was the chapel of the Lexingtons, the inferior lords of Laxton, and it is probable that this tomb was built by a member of this family. At some date the tomb has been cut down to form a resting-place for the statues of the second Adam de Everingham (d. 1341) and his two wives.

Death: 1256-7
The first dated reference to John being deceased is the IPM writ (Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1 Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3) dated 16 January 1256(7).

Probate:
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1 Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3 (1904)
378. JOHN DE LESSINTON alias DE LAXINTON, DE LEXINTON.   
Writ to the sheriff of Northampton, 16 Jan. 41 Hen. III.  Inq. (undated.)
  Sir Henry de Lessinton, alias de Laxinton, de Lexenton, bishop of Lincoln, age variously stated as 40 and 60 and more, is his heir.
NORTHAMPTON. Bifeld and Warewrth, 18s. rent held of William Lingespeye rendering 3 barbed arrows yearly; 20s. rent of Ralph Giffard; 2 virgates land of William Constantin by service of 2d.; 1 virgate of the prior of Ware rendering 3s.; ½ virgate of Ralph Giffard, which Ralph had of Elias the clerk of Wardon, to whom the prior of Esseby delivered it for his life.
   Apiltre and Aston, 20l. land held of Thomas . . . . . doing scutage.
Writ to the sheriff of Nottingham and Derby, 16 Jan. 41 Hen. III. Inq. (undated.)
NOTTINGHAM. Tukesford manor with Warsope hamlet, held of the king in chief by service of 1 knight’s fee.
   Lessinton, land held of Sir Adam de Everingham by service of ½ knight’s fee.
   Knesale, a culture with a wood called Herteshorn, held of Sir Edmund de Lascy for one sore sparrowhawk or 2s. yearly.
   Marnham, ¼ knight’s fee held of Richard de Weston for 1lb. pepper yearly.
   Scrathawe, 60a. land held of Lady Maud de Luvetot for homage only.
   Scheghawe, 60a. held of Sir John de Eyville for homage only.
   Egrum manor, held of Sir John de Gatesdene by service of 2 knights’ fees.
   Kelum, 8 bovates held of Peter son of Peter de Kelum by service of ½ knight's fee.
[DERBY.] The Peak (Pecko), land held of the king by service of 1 pair of gilt spurs, or 6d. to the keeper of the Castle of the Peak.
Writ to the sheriff of Oxford, 17 Jan. 41 Hen. III. Inq. (undated.)
OXFORD. Hornle, 10 hides land of the fee of Braundon, held of John de Verddun, service unknown.
Writ to the sheriff of Essex, 17 Jan. 41 Hen. III. Inq. (undated.)
ESSEX. Theyden ad montem manor, held of Sir Robert de Brywes by service of 2 knights’ fees. (See No. 402.)
           C. Hen. III. File 19. (18.)

Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to Nottinghamshire vol 2 p115 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
        John de Lessinton.*
Inquisition by precept of the King as to the land of John de Lessinton in the county, made by Thomas de Muchaump, William son of Hervey of the same, Ralph of the same, William de la Venele of the same, Roger de Keleshold in Kelum, Richard de Weston, Robert de Draiton’ Walter de Pivigl’ in Starthorp, William son of Odo de Muchaump, Peter de Schelford, Robert Burdun in Buketon and William son of Eudo of the same who say that
  John de Lessinton held of the King in chief, the manor of Tukesford with the hamlet of Warsope by the service of 1 knight’s fee. And he held all his land in Lessinton of the lord Adam de Everingham by the service of half a knight’s fee. And he held one arable plot (cultura) with a wood which is called Herteshorn in Knesale of the lord Edmund de Lascy by 1 sore sparrowhawk or 2s. yearly. And he held a fourth part of a knight’s fee in Marnham of Richard de Weston by 1 lb. of pepper yearly. And he held 60 acres of land in Scrathawe of the lady Matilda de Luvetot by homage only. And he held 60 acres of land in Scheghawe of the lord John de Eyvill by homage only. And he held the manor of Egrum of the lord John de Gatesdene by the service of 2 knights’ fees. And he held 8 oxgangs of land in Kelum of Peter son of Peter de Kelum by the service of half a knight’s fee. And he held his land in Pecko of the King by the service of 1 pair of gilt spurs or 6d. to be paid to the keeper of Pecko Castle. And that the lord Henry de Lessinton, Bishop of Lincoln, is his next heir and is aged 60 years and upwards.
          Inq. p. m., 41 Henry iij., No. 12.
*[Writ witnessed by the King himself at Wudestok on 29 September, 41 Henry iij [1257].]
†[Writ witnessed by the King himself at Westminster on 16 January, 41 Henry iij [1256-7].]

(The two footnotes in this entry appear to be mixed up. The * footnote is listed for John de Lessington and the † footnote is listed for the entry of Roger Scissor, but the Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1 Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3 lists the writ for John de Lessinton for Nottinghamshire as 16 January, and the writs to other counties on 16 or 17 January)

Close Rolls Henry III 1256-1259 p26
1256. [m. 11 cont.]
  Pro exequtoribus testamenti Johannis de Lexinton’.—Mandatum est Johanni Waler’, eseaetori regis citra Trentam quod, accepta securitate ab exequtoribus testamenti Johannis de Lexinton’ de debitis regi reddendis, si que regi debebat die quo obiit, eosdem exequtores liberam administracionem habere permittat de omnibus bonis que fuerunt ejusdem Johannis ad exequcionem testamenti sui faciendam. Teste.
  Eodem modo mandatum est vicecomitibus Northumbr’, Nottingham et Derby’. Teste rege apud Westmonasterium xviij. die Januarii. 
which translates very roughly as:
  For the executors of the testament of John de Lexington.—It is the mandate of John Waler, the king’s escheator on this side of Trent, that, having received security from the executors of the testament of John de Lexington, to pay the debts to the king, if anything was owed the king on the day he died, he is to allow the same executors to have free administration of all the goods belonging to the same John to execute the execution of his will. Witness
   In the same way, mandates to the sheriffs of Northumberland, Nottingham and Derby. Witness the king at Westminster 18 January.

Sources:

Matilda (_____) de Lexington

Married: Richard de Lexington

Children: Notes:
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p378 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
  Robert de Laxton for the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard his father, and Matilda his mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford, the gift which the said Richard his father gave to them, viz. one Bovat in Walesby, which William the Clark held, and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon, and twenty Acres of Arable, with Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard de Laxton had of Alan Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco, sometimes wife of John Burdun, and a Toft in Welhagh, which Gumbert held of his father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of the Church at Rufford, Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen, and Sir Henry his brothers were Witnesses, and Mr. William de Marcham.

The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
 
The father, mother, and sister of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the north aisle of the church, and it was here that his altar to the Virgin was set up.

Burial: Laxton church, Nottinghamshire, England, in the north aisle, along with her husband

Sources:

Peter de Lexington

Father: Richard de Lexington

Mother: Matilda (_____) de Lexington

Occupation: Cleric. Peter was parson of Gedlinge, Nottinghamshire.

Notes:
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
  Sir Robert de Lexington was an Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge, likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne. Cecilia, the sister of Sir Robert de Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard [rather William] de Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert de Marcham. Alice, the other sister of the said Robert de Lexton, was married to Richard (it should be Roland) de Sutton upon Trent
p340
  Silvester de Kirneshale, son of Henry de Laxton, gave to the said Monastery of Ruffold one Acre of Arable Land in Kirneshale, of his Wong which lay on the North part of the way, which leads from Kirneshale, to the wood called Bergelhage; the witnesses were Robert de Laxton, Mr. Peter, and Mr. Stephen his brothers, Raph, son of Henry de Laxton, his own brother William, son of John de Kalnatheton.
p347
  The Rectory is appropriated to the Church of Southwell, and makes a Prebend called South Muskam Prebend, which Henry de Sewell, Clark, augmented (in the time of Henry the third) by the donation or gift of three Tofts in the Town of Suell, to Mr. William de Marcham, Canon of that Church, and to his successours Canons of the Prebend of Suth Muschamp, &c. The Witnesses to the Chapters Certificate of his Deed were, Mr. William de Marcham, Sir Robert de Lexington, Richard de Sutton, Canon of Suell, Mr. Peter de Lexington, Sir Henry de More, William the Sacrist, Thomas de Barra, Chaplains, John de Augir, Robert de Barra, John de Suwell, Clark, and others.
p378
  Robert de Laxton for the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard his father, and Matilda his mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford, the gift which the said Richard his father gave to them, viz. one Bovat in Walesby, which William the Clark held, and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon, and twenty Acres of Arable, with Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard de Laxton had of Alan Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco, sometimes wife of John Burdun, and a Toft in Welhagh, which Gumbert held of his father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of the Church at Rufford, Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen, and Sir Henry his brothers were Witnesses, and Mr. William de Marcham.

The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
  Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere.
... There were two other brothers, Stephen, who was Abbot of Clairvaux, and Peter, also a cleric


Sources:

Richard de Lexington

Father: Robert de Lexinton

Married: Matilda

Children: Notes:
The Baronage of England vol 2 p742 (William Dugdale, 1676)
Lexinton
   OF this Family, so named from Lexinton, (now called Laxton, near Tuxford, in Com. Nott.) I find no mention till King Iohn's days; but then, viz. in 13 Ioh. that Lordship was in the King's hands, and reputed a Barony, it consisting of Thirteen Knights Fees, and a Fourth part. It seems that Richard de Lexinton, about that time possessor of it, had incurred the King's displeasure (as many others then did, in arming against him, under colour of asserting their antient Rights and Liberties:) but in 17 Ioh. giving an Hundred marks and Two Palfreys, he made his peace,

The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p375 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
    Laxton. Lexington. And Morehouse.
  The Land of Matilda de Calz viz. Lessinton with the Appurtenances, was in the Custody of Richard de Lessinton, who 7 Joh. gave account of 7l. 17s. 6d. of the Rent of Assize of Lessinton, of the term of Saint Michael the year before,and of 43l. 0s. 4d. of the Rent of Assize that year, and of 30l. 18s. 10d. of Corn of that Mannor sold, and of 40s. of Bacuns sold, and of 25. Marks of the Scutage of 12. Fees and an half, and for 8. Oxen bought, 100s. by the Kings writ. Richard de Lessinton, and Robert his son for him, 9 Joh. accounted for 16l. Rent of Assize for half a year of Lessington, the Land of Matilda de Cauz. Richard de Lessington 9 Joh. ought two hundred Marks for having the Kings favour, and seisin of his Lands he was disseised by occasion of the custody of the Kings Forest, 30l. and 15s. being computed to him, which Brian de Infula took of the Chattels the said Richard sold.
  In 13 Joh. this was called the Barony of Lexington, whereof Brian de Infula for the Scutage that year gave account, the other was not yet in being, and Robert, afterwards Lord Lexington, son of Richard before-named, had his name from his Ancestors residence, and holding Lands here of this family of Cauz: but the most of his Land he purchased in other places, as in this Book may easily be noted.
p378
  Alan, son of William Lancelene of Kirkton, granted and confirmed to Richard, son of Robert de Laxinton, his whole Wood of Kirketon, with the Land in which it stood, reserving [Argenteum] a Silver Penny within the twelve days of Christmas yearly.
  Robert de Laxton for the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard his father, and Matilda his mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford, the gift which the said Richard his father gave to them, viz. one Bovat in Walesby, which William the Clark held, and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon, and twenty Acres of Arable, with Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard de Laxton had of Alan Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco, sometimes wife of John Burdun, and a Toft in Welhagh, which Gumbert held of his father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of the Church at Rufford, Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen, and Sir Henry his brothers were Witnesses, and Mr. William de Marcham.

The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
  
In the twelfth century a de Caux made a grant of land to one Richard, of Laxton or Lexington, in return for certain services. This grant was added to by his successors, the de Birkins and de Everinghams, and in 1232 these grants were all set out clearly in a Royal Charter, which confirmed them to Richard de Lexington's son, Robert, and his heirs. This charter is very interesting, as the lands are described in great detail, and some of them can be identified to-day, as their names, such as Eastkirk, Southlound, Crouchwell, &c, still remain.
  Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere. The eldest, Robert de Lexington, was a prebendary of Southwell and a judge under King Henry III. In 1240 he was the Chief Justice Itinerant for the northern division of England. The second brother, John, was a clerk in the Chancery and also a judge. He was Keeper of the Great Seal during vacancies in the Office of Chancellor, and he was sent on several missions abroad by the King: in 1241 to the Emperor Frederick II, and in 1250 to arrange a truce with France. In 1255 he was Chief Justice of the Forests north of the Trent, and tried, at Lincoln, the Jewish murderers of the boy, Hugh of Lincoln. He founded a chantry in the church at Laxton, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr.
  The third brother, Henry, was first Dean and then Bishop of Lincoln, being consecrated in 1253. At that date the diocese of Lincoln extended to the Thames, and he had a dispute with the scholars of Oxford as to his jurisdiction within the University. The Angel Choir in Lincoln Cathedral was built during his episcopacy. He died in 1258.
  There were two other brothers, Stephen, who was Abbot of Clairvaux, and Peter, also a cleric, but they died before the Bishop, and as none of the brothers had any children, their inheritance passed to their nephews, William Sutton and Robert de Markham, the children of their two sisters. The Lexingtons had large estates, and the Laxton portion of them came to Robert de Markham. From William Sutton was descended Robert Sutton, created Baron Lexington of Averham, by Charles I, but this branch of the Lexington family had no connexion with Laxton.
...  About the year 1250 the earlier chancel and aisles were rebuilt, the occasion being the founding of a chantry to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Sir John de Lexington, who endowed it and vested it in the Prior of Rufford. A chantry was an endowment for the celebration of masses at an altar in a church for the souls of the departed. Usually masses were said by a specially appointed priest who held his chantry as an independent benefice, and his altar, his stipend, and his house, if one were provided, were as fully his freehold as the church and rectory were of the rector. The father, mother, and sister of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the north aisle of the church, and it was here that his altar to the Virgin was set up.


Burial: Laxton church, Nottinghamshire, England, in the north aisle, along with his wife

Sources:

Robert de Lexinton

Children: Notes:
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p378 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
    Kirketon. And Willoughby.
  Alan, son of William Lancelene of Kirkton, granted and confirmed to Richard, son of Robert de Laxinton, his whole Wood of Kirketon, with the Land in which it stood, reserving [Argenteum] a Silver Penny within the twelve days of Christmas yearly.

Sources:

Robert de Lexington

Father: Richard de Lexington

Mother: Matilda (_____) de Lexington

Occupation: Justice in Eyre, and clergyman
Robert was a Prebendary of Southwell and a judge under King Henry III. He was also rector of the church at Lexington, or Laxton, in Nottinghamshire. Robert resigned the prebendary of Wells in 1243.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 p398 (1906)
1243 Oct. 23.
Westminster.

  Grant to Thomas de Stretton, upon the resignation of Robert de Lexinton, of the prebend which the latter had in the church of Wells, in the king’s gift by reason of the voidance of the bishopric of Bath: directed to the dean and chapter of Wells.

In 1240 Robert was the Chief Justice Itinerant for the northern division of England.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326 states that he was "the Kings Clark, and special (or spiritual) Counsellour, who continuing long in the Office of a Justice, heaped up to himself ample possessions, and enlarged the Kings Treasures."
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p388 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
  King Henry the third 4 H. 3. commanded Roland de Sutton, Adam de Muscamp, Henry de Rolleston, William Rufus, and Robert de Lexington, Clark, that they should go together to Kingshagh, and there assign to the men of the Sok of Dunham, their Pasture to the Brook there running, as they ought, and were wont to have, before the Wood of Kingshagh was made a Park, as it was acknowledged at Nott. before H. de Burg, the Kings Justice, and to prohibit the said men on the Kings behalf, that they passed not that Brook towards the Wood by (reason or) occasion of having Pasture, &c.

Robert is mentioned a number of times in the Patent Rolls and Close Rolls, due to his position as a judge. Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 1 1216-1225, Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 2 1225-1232, Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247, Close Rolls Henry III 1227-1231, Close Rolls Henry III 1231-1234, Close Rolls Henry III 1234-1237, Close Rolls Henry III 1237-1242, Close Rolls Henry III 1242-1247, Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251.

These are some examples of commissions made to Robert as a justice in eyre.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 pp76-8 (1906)
1234 Aug. 1.
Westminster.

  Commission to Thomas de Muleton, Robert de Bello Campo, Robert de Lexinton, Oliver de Vallibus, and Adam son of William, as justices in eyre in the county of Norfolk touching all assizes and pleas, as well of the crown as others, which have arisen since the last eyre in that county touching those which were summoned and postponed and not finished before the justices at Westminster, or before the justices last in eyre in that county for all pleas, with assigns of novel disseisin or gaol deliveries. And all such assizes and pleas are to be before them in the same state in which they remained by order of the king, or by the said justices in eyre, or by the justices of the Bench. There are to meet on the morrow of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at Norwich and the sheriff is commanded to cause summonses to be made before them on the said day and place, and the attachments to come before them with the writs of the said assizes and pleas; and the king sends them under his seal the Capitula whereby they should hold the pleas of the crown.
  The same justices are to go on eyre in the county of Suffolk and they have like letters without the days and places on which they should meet being expressed.
... Justices appointed in the following counties:—
... cos. Norfolk and Suffolk
Thomas de Muletun. Oliver de Vallibus. Robert de Bello Campo. Robert de Lexinton. Adam son of William.
... cos. Essex and Hertford.
  Earl Roger le Bigot. Robert de Bello Campo. Adam son of William. Robert de Lexinton. Simon de Furnoll[is].
  Afterwards in place of the earl, O. de Vallibus was appointed.
... cos. Cambridge, Huntingdon and Middlesex.
  R. de Lexinton. Robert de Bello Campo. Adam son of William. Oliver de Vallibus. Simon de Furnell[is]
p128
1235 Sept. 3.
Nottingham.

  Appointment of the abbot of Hyde, Robert de Lexinton, Adam son of William, Robert de Bello Campo, and Jordan Oliverias justices in eyre for all pleas in the counties of Berks and Wilts.
The like of the following in the respective counties:—
  The said justices. Berks and Wilts.
  Dorset and Somerset. To meet at Reading on the octaves of Michaelmas.
  Robert de Curtenay Robert de Lexinton Adam son of William Robert de Bello Campo Jordan Oliveri
  Afterwards the four last named were commanded to admit Henry de Ortyaco in place of Robert de Curtenay.

Notes:
In 1229, Robert was granted the right to cut wood in Sherwood forest to repair houses in Okeston that had burnt, and then later that year given the manor of Woodstock, and received a gift from the king of two deer for Christmas 1230, and three deer the following year.
Close Rolls Henry III 1227-1231 pp168-9
1229 [m. 12]
  De fustis datis.—Mandatum est Thome de Birkin quod per visum constabularii Noting’ faciat habere Roberto de Lexinton’ x fusta in alta foresta de Shireuuod’, ubi competentins et ad minus nocumentum foreste capi possint, ad domos suas de Okeston’, que combuste sunt, reparandas. Scire etiam faciat predicto constabulario quibus die et loco ei occurrere debeat ad hoc, sicut predictum est, exequendum. Teste rege apud Wyndles’, xxij die Aprilis.
which translates very roughly as:
  It was ordered that Thomas de Birkin should, under the supervision of the constable of Nottingham, have Robert de Lexington's rights in the high forest of Shireuuod, where competent and less harmful forests could be seized, to repair their homes of Okeston', which have been burnt. He shall also cause the aforesaid constable to know on what day and place he ought to meet him in order to execute as stated above. Witness the king at Wyndles', 22 April.
p221
1229 [m. 2]
  De manerio et domibus regis de Wudestok’.—Rex commisit Roberto de Lexinton’ manerium et domes regis de Wudestok’ cum pertinentiis, custodienda quamdiu regi placuerit. Et mandatum est G. de Craucumbe quod predictum manerium cum pertinentiis ei liberet, sicut predictum est. Teste ut supra. De stauro et blado etc. ut in rotulo finium.
which translates very roughly as:
  Of the manor and houses of the king of Woodstock.—The king entrusted Robert of Lexington the manor and houses of Woodstock with the appurtenances to the king’s manor and houses, to be kept as long as it pleases the king. And it was commanded G. of Craucombe that he should deliver the aforesaid manor with the appurtenances to him, as stated above. Witness as above.
p460
1230 [m. 20]
  De damis datis.— Mandatum est B. de Insula quod habere faciat Roberto de Lexinton’ duas damas in foresta de Sirewud’ contra instans Natale, de dono regis. Teste rege apud Westmonasterium, xxviij die Novembris.
which translates very roughly as:
  About the deer given.—B. de Insula is ordered to have Robert de Lexington two deer in the forest of Sirewud’ before Christmas, as a gift from the king. Witness the king at Westminster, 28 November.

Close Rolls Henry III 1231-1234 p1
1231 [m. 19]
  De damis datis.— Mandatum est B. de Insula quod habere faciat Roberto de Lexinton’ tres damas in foresta de Shirewod’ de dono regis. Teste rege apud Rading’, xxviij. die Octobris, anno etc. xvj.
which translates very roughly as:
  About the deer given.—B. de Insula is ordered to have Robert de Lexington three deer in the forest of Sherwood’ as a gift from the king. Witness the king at Reading, 28. October, year 16

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p141 (1903)
1231 Oct. 23.
Westminster.

 
Grant to Robert de Lexintun, his heirs and assigns, of the following gifts :—
  of the gift of William Briwer the younger, 10l. yearly receivable from the yearly farm of 20l., which Peter son of Robert de
. . . . . . and his heirs owe to the said William Briwer [for land in] Hwytinton;
  of the gift of Olive daughter of Alan son of Jordan, Stephen son of Hugh with all that goes with him (sequela), and all his lands, which he holds of her within and without the town . . . . whether in essarts or other land, with the mill of Marieton and the suit (secta) of the men of Tuxford and the soke thereof, both of free men and villeins, who owe that suit . . . . multure from her own house of Tuxford;
  of the gift of William son of Richard de Pecco, all his land in the town of Peak with the capital messuage formerly of his father Richard.
pp149-50
1232 Feb. 4.
Westminster.

 
Grant to Robert de Lexintun, his heirs and assigns, of the following gifts gifts, grants and quit-claims:—
  of the gift of Maud de Kauz, eight bovates of land in Newtun with tofts and crofts and the homage and service of Ralph de Cressy and Henry nephew (nepos) of Engeralm the butler from three bovates in Newton, with common of pasture in Scelford, and a bovate in Lexintun with a toft and croft, which Hugh Mansel held, and three acres and a half in the field of Lexintun towards Osantun in the tillage (cultura) called Tunstal:
   of the gift of the same, four bovates of her demesne at Lexintun, each containing ten acres, with a little meadow between the tillage of Cruchewelle and the brook that falls into the fish-pond, six acres of meadow in the meadow of Estkirk on the east side, two bovates which Robert son of Geoffrey the reeve held in Lexintun, a toft which Coleswanus held in Morhuses and all her wood there:
  of the gift of John de Birkin, the hamlet called Moorhuses and the men dwelling there, with all that goes with them (sequela) and their goods; the meadow called Nabheng, which Geoffrey de Lond held; 12d. of service, which Hugh the clerk paid to the said John yearly for four acres, and the four acres; a toft formerly of Ranulf le Franceis; four bovates of land, which Geoffrey son of Roger and William son of Geoffrey held, with the tofts and crofts thereto belonging, and meadows called Fordayles:
  of the quit claim of the said John, remission of two pounds of pepper which the said Robert used to pay to him for his holding in Lexintun and Newtun under the charters of Maud de Kauz:
  of the gift of the said John, ninety acres, by the perch of twenty feet, of his demesne in Lexinton, and all the meadow which he had in demesne in Estkirk, with 6s. 6d., which he used to receive yearly through the said Robert from the land of Alan son of Robert, and the land of the said Alan:
  of the grant and quit claim of the said John, all his right in that part of the wood of Lexintun, which is beyond Ballandebec on the south side; also licence to make exchanges of land with his men in Lexintun, both free and bond:
  of the gift of Thomas de Birkin, all the wood called Knapenshag and all the meadow called Suthlund, and five sellions of demesne in Langhill; the homage and service of Engeram the cook of the holding held from the said Thomas in Lexinton:
  of the gift of Robert de Everingham and Isabel his wife, 100s. of land in Lexintun, that is the land which the said Robert de Lexintun formerly held for the term of twelve years under an agreement, made between him and Thomas de Birkin:
  of the gift of Roger son of Geoffrey de Lexinton, four bovates of land, in Lexinton:
  of the gift of Alard de Lexinton, all his land in Lexinton, that is three bovates and two tofts, which he had of the gift of Maud de Kauz:
  of the gift of John de Lascy, constable of Chester, two parts of the wood, which was in dispute between him and John de Birkin, that is the two parts lying nearer to the brook called Balandebec, and land in the fields of Lexinton, which Ralph son of Stephen held:
  of the gift of John de Ayvill, land in Egmaneton, that is the tillage called Northal, formerly of Godard the knight, which contain ten acres:
  of the gift of Robert de Ayvill, the homage and service of the heirs of Robert son of Walter son of Richer of all his holding in West Marham, and all the wood of the said Robert in Strathagh, which William Basset and Maud de Lovetot quit-claimed to him:
  of the gift of Roger de Westun, all the land which William his grandfather held in Mamham and Weston:
  of the gift of John Joscelin, all his land of Weston and Appeltre, which the said Robert de Lexintun formerly held of him for the term of twenty years:
  of the gift of Hugh Bardulf, all bis land of Hemeley and Hornigton, with the services of the free men and bondmen, which land the said Hugh formerly demised to the said Robert for the term of eight years.
p176
1233 April 23.
Lambeth.

  Grant to Robert de Lexinton, his heirs and assigns, of the gift which Olive daughter of Alan son of Jordan, in her widowhood, made to him of all her meadow of Karleton and Crumbewell and of her manor of Waresop with the advowson of the church there, for which gift the said Robert quit-claimed to her the mill of Milneton and the land of Stephen son of Hugh, which he previously held of the said Olive.

Close Rolls Henry III 1231-1234 p186
1233 [m. 13]
  De quercubus datis.—Mandatum est P. de Rivall’ quod habere faciat Roberto de Lexington’ xv. quercus in foresta de Savernac de dono regis ad se hospitandum apud Sarr’. Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
  About the oaks given.—P. de Rivall was ordered to have Robert of Lexington 15 oaks in the forest of Savernac as a gift from the king for his accommodation at Sarre. Witness as above.
p357
1233 [m. 32]
  De quercubus datis.—Mandatum est P. de Rivall’ quod habere faciat Roberto de Lexington’ xx. quercus in foresta de Graveling’ ad domos sibi apud Sarr’ construendas, de dono regis. Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
  About the oaks given.—P. de Rivall was ordered to have Robert of Lexington 20 oaks in the forest of Graveling to construct houses for himself at Sarre, as a gift from the king. Witness as above.
p477
1234 [m. 15]
 De damis datis:—
...  Pro Roberto de Lexinton’.—Mandatum est eidem Roberto quod faciat habere Roberto de Lexinton’ quinque damos in eadem foresta, de dono regis. Teste ut supra. [Per] episcopum Karleolensem.
which translates very roughly as:
  About the deer given:—
... For Robert de Lexington.—It is commanded to the same Robert to cause Robert of Lexington to have five deer in the same forest, as a gift to the king. Witness as above. [By] the bishop of Carlisle.

Close Rolls Henry III 1234-1237 p93
1235 [m. 11]
  Pro Roberto de Lexinton’,—Mandatum est Roberto de Everingham’ et Henrico de Lamelegh’ quod habere faciant Roberto de Lexint’ quater viginti quercus in bosco regis de Mamefeld’ ad maeremium inde faciendum ad se hospitandum apud Warcshop’ de dono regis, et permittat eundem Robertum de Lexinton’ capere maeremium in bosco suo proprio de Warcshop’, quantum neccesse fuerit et quale ibi poterit inveniri ad se hospitandum ibidem; et inde sine impedimento chiminagii abducere et extrahere. Teste rege apud Westmonasterium, xix. die Maii.
which translates very roughly as:
  For Robert de Lexington.—Robert de Everingham and Henry Lamelegh are commanded to make Robert of Lexington twenty-four oaks in the king's wood at Mamefield, to make timber thence for an accommodation at Warcshop by the gift of the king, and permit that the same Robert of Lexington seize timber in his own wood from Warcshop, so far as it is necessary, and of what quality it will be able to be found there for his accommodation there; and to draw him off from thence without impediment to the building. Witness the king at Westminster, 19 May

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 p115 (1906)
1235 Aug. 17.
Westminster.

  Signification to Olive, daughter of Alan son of Jordan, that as the king holds Robert de Lexinton as beloved and approved, if she will divest herself of the manor of Tukesford, which she holds in chief, and grant it to the said Robert, to hold to him and his heirs by the same service as she held it by, the king is willing that she should do so, and will hold her deed in that behalf as pleasing and accepted.

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p215 (1903)
1236 Jan. 11.
Windsor.

  Inspeximus and confirmation of a charter of Olive daughter of Alan son of Jordan, giving to Robert de Lexintun, and his heirs, all her manor of Tuxford with all its appurtenances within and without the town, to hold of the king, rendering the service due from the said manor; witnesses, R. de Dayvyll, N. de Lysures, H. de Lexintun, J. de Lexintun, R. son of Hervey de Sutton, R. de Mars, W. de Staunton, H. son of Robert de Weston, R. de Marcham, N. de Dayvyll, R. de Rypariis, W. de Sandeby, P. de Brumton, and J. Burdun.
p231
1237 Sept. 28.
York.

  Inspeximus and confirmation of a charter whereby Robert de Lexinton gave to John de Lexinton his brother, and his heirs, the manor of Tuxeford with the hamlet of Warsop to hold of the king by the service of one knight, provided that if the said John die without an heir of his body, the said lands shall revert to the said John and his heirs. Witnesses, Nigel de Lysures, Master P. de Lexinton, Henry de Lexinton, Richard de Marsham, Robert de Rypariis, John Burdun, Nicholas de Ayvill, Peter de Brunington, and William de Sutthorp.

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 p197 (1906)
1237 Sept. 28.
York.

  Grant to Robert de Lexinton, that in the event of the death of John de Lexinton, his brother, without heirs of his body, the manor of Tuxford, with the hamlet of Warsop and other appurtenances, which hamlet the king by charter confirmed to the same John and his heirs, to hold by the service of a knight’s fee, shall revert to the said Robert or his heirs to hold as above.
p398
1243 Oct. 1.
Westminster.

  Charter granting to Robert de Lexinton and his heirs free warren in his demesne lands of Egrum. Witnesses:—W. archbishop of York, R. bishop of Chichester, chancellor, W. bishop of Carlisle, W. de Cantilupo the elder, W. de Eboraco, Philip Basset, Robert de Mucegros, Herbert son of Matthew, Paulinas Peyvre, Nicholas de Bolevill, Walter de Luton, Theobold de Englechevill and others.

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3 1232-1247 p429 (1906)
p429
1244 June 24.
Ely.

  Confirmation of a grant which Alice countess of Eu made to Robert de Lexinton of the custody of the whole land late of William de Chaurces in Maraham, and of the custody of the manor of Kymberwurth, which is of the fee of Tykehull, and which the countess had in her custody by reason of the heirs of John de Voteri Ponte.

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1 1226-1257 p315 (1903)
1247 April 6.
Merton.

  Grant to St. Mary and the prior and canons of Newstead in Shirwude of the site given to them by King Henry II, their founder, and of Papelwik with the church, and the mill which the canons made there, and the meadow of Bescwod along the water; and in Shepewik and Walcrinham 100s. of rent;
  of the gift of Robert de Kauz and John the cook, lands in Nottingham; of the gift of King John, count of Mortain, 7l. and 6d. of land in Walcringeham, Mysterton, Shepeye, and Waltre;
  of the gift of Robert de Lexinton, all the land of Scardeclive, with the capital messuage, the park, mills and the homage and service of William de Grangia from his holding in Cruch, with the towns of Starestorp and Rugherthorn.  

The Baronage of England vol 2 p743 (William Dugdale, 1676)
Lexinton
  To this Richard succeeded Robert de Lexinton, who in 8 H. 3. was made Governour of the Castles of Pec and Bolesover, in Com. Derb. and in 13 H. 3. of Oxford Castle; being then in such esteem with that King, as that he obtain'd his Letters swasory, to Aliva the Daughter of Alan Fitz-Iordan, to grant her Mannor of Tuxford (which was held in Capite) unto him: intimating, that in case she would so do, he should take it for a favour. Which Letters were so prevalent, that he had his desire; and the next year following, did his Homage for it: but soon after passed it, together with the Mannor of Warsop (near at hand) to Iohn de Lexinton his Brother, with condition, That if the said Iohn did die without issue, that then those Lordships should return to him and his Heirs.
   This Robert de Lexinton, being a person learned in the Laws, was a Justice Itinerant in 9 H. 3. in the Counties of Northampt. Rutl. Nott. Derb. Linc. Ebor. Northumb. Cumb. and Westmor. In 10 Hen. 3. in the Counties of Nott. Derb. Warw. Leic. Wigorn. and Glouc. Afterwards also in other Counties, until 26 H. 3. being then one of the Justices of the Court of Common-Pleas: and departed this life 4 Cal. Iunii, Anno 1250. (34 H. 3.) leaving Sir Iohn de Lexinton Knight his Brother and Heir.

The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p145 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
    Newton. Newentone.
  The Chapter of Southwell held eleven Bovats of Land in Newton, of the Fee of Robert de Everingham (to whom some of Alselins Fees descended, as in Laxton may be noted) in pure Alms, and one in Saxendale, all which Robert de Lexington, the great Judge in the former part of the Reign of Henry the third, and sometimes one of the Canons there, bought and gave when he founded his Chantrys. as in Southwell may be seen.
pp260-2
    Papplewick. And Newstede.
  William Peverell gave what he had here to the Monastery of Lenton at the first Foundation.
...  King John, and the following Kings, confirmed and inlarged their Territories and Priviledges; and they had several other good Benefactors, as in diverse places of this County will be noted, amongst whom Robert Lord Lexington was one of most considerable.
...  These Canons at several Altars were to pray for the Souls of King Henry the second, and all the Kings their Founders; of Robert Lexington, who gave the Towns of Routhorn and Scarcliff (in Derbishire) and Starthorp, to supply four Canons; of William Cossall, who gave his Mannor of Cossall and Bullwell Wood, and divers Lands and Tenements in Nott. and Egmanton; of John Longvylers, who gave Tuxford Church
pp315-6
    Southwell. Suell. And Sudwell.
  In this Church were many Chantries Founded, and those Priests had also some Lands in Common, and an House at the North-West side of the Church-yard for their residence, which is now in Lease to Mr. Robert Butler, and his dwelling House.
  Three of these were Founded by Mr. Robert Lexington, Canon of this Church, the two first at the Altar of St. Thomas the Martyr, for the health of his own Soul, and his Ancestors, and for the Souls of King John, of Brian de Insula, of his Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Parents, Friends, Parishioners, all his Benefactors, and for all the faithful departed, and also for all the living for whom he was any way obliged to pray or of whom he had ever received any thing willingly or against their wills, for the performance whereof he gave the Church, and some Lands in Barneburgh near Doncaster, which he had of Henry de Novomercato, and were confirmed to him by Adam de Novomercato, brother of the said Henry, to the Chapter of Southwell for the augmenting the Divine Worship in that Church, and the sustenance of two Priests, two Deacons, and two Sub-deacons, to minister in their Order, and to follow the Quire, as Vicars according to the Order of Walter Grey Arch-bishop of York, dated at Oxton in the twenty sixth year of his Pontificate; and likewise to pay half a Mark yearly towards Lights, Ornaments, and other necessaries for the said Altar; and to find twenty seven pounds of Wax to make one Light for the great Altar, and thirteen pounds to make two for the said Alyar of St. Thomas the Martyr, to burn on the day of his Passion and Translation; the remainder to be for the use of that Altar as occasion should require: which Advowson and Lands were likewise released to the Chapter by Thomas, the son of Sir Thomas de Bella aqua. And the succeeding Rectors of Barneburg did accordingly by the Decree of the aforesaid Arch-bishop pay quarterly to the said Priests forty shillings, to the said Deacons twenty, and to the said Sub-deacons sixteen and eight pence, besides the Wax and half Mark before mentioned. The third Chantry was likewise at the Altar of St. Thomas the Martyr in the new work, for the Soul of the said Robert de Lexington the Founder, and for the Souls of his Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Parents, Ancestors, Successours, Parishioners, Benefactors, and of all the faithful, for which he gave to the Chapter of Southwell sixty and four shillings of yearly Rent issuing out of eleven Oxgangs of Land held of him by several persons in Newton, and one Oxgang in Saxendale, together with Homages, Services, Reliefs, Wards, &c. and sixteen shillings of like Rent in Laxton Morehouse. The Priest who did the Service, and might sometimes Read, sometimes Sing, which stirr’d up most devotion, was to have all the said Rents, and half the Reliefs, and other profits happening out of the aforesaid Tenements and the other half was to be for the Commons of the Canons resident.
... After the death of Sir Henry de Notingham, about 29 H.3. Anno Domini 1245. Robert Lexington founded a Chantry at the Altar of St John the Evangelist, where the bones of the said Sir Henry Nott. do rest, to pray for his Soul. And procured Lands in Helpringham, and other places in Lincolneshire, for the Monastery of Sixill, who were therefore obliged to pay ten Marks yearly, to the Chapter of Southwell, for that purpose; as did also William Rosell, and his heirs, twenty Shillings for a Tenement, which he held of the said Robert Lexington, in Warksop and Raph, the Chaplain, son of Goscelinus de Willoughby, the summ of half a Mark yearly, for one in Carleton.

p325
    Starthorpe.
by the said Hubert Hosee, or his heirs, the whole residue of the Town of Sterthorp in Demesne and Service, came to the possession of the Abbat and Covent of Durford, of whom afterwards the said Robert de Lexington acquired all those things, with the Services of the Freemen and Villains, and thereof enfeoffed the Prior and Covent of Newstede, to whom he also gave Routhorne and Scardcliff, with the Appurtenances in Darbyshire.
p326
    Aram. Averham. Aygrum. Egrom.
  Robert le Sauvage acknowledged that he granted to Robert de Lexington the Mannor of Egrum, which he held for term of life of John de Gatesden, and remised, &c. and for this the said Robert de Lexington acquitted the said Robert le Sauvage of a great summ of money, wherein he was bound to Aaron the Jew of Yorke. The said John de Gatesden acknowledged that he gave to the said Robert de Lexington the said Mannor of Egrum and by his Letters Patents produced before the Justices, commanded the said Robert le Sauvage that he should be intending to the said Robert de Lexington, as he was to himself.
  Robert de Lexington had Free Warren here about 27 H. 3. This Mannor was found in the time of H. 3. and E. 1. to be of the Honour of Moubray.
  Anno 1250. 34 H. 3. the fourth of the Kalends of June died Robert de Lexington the Kings Clark, and special (or spiritual) Counsellour, who continuing long in the Office of a Justice, heaped up to himself ample possessions, and enlarged the Kings Treasures.
... Sir Robert de Lexington was an Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge, likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne. Cecilia, the sister of Sir Robert de Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard [rather William] de Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert de Marcham. Alice, the other sister of the said Robert de Lexton, was married to Richard (it should be Roland) de Sutton upon Trent
p340
  Silvester de Kirneshale, son of Henry de Laxton, gave to the said Monastery of Ruffold one Acre of Arable Land in Kirneshale, of his Wong which lay on the North part of the way, which leads from Kirneshale, to the wood called Bergelhage; the witnesses were Robert de Laxton, Mr. Peter, and Mr. Stephen his brothers, Raph, son of Henry de Laxton, his own brother William, son of John de Kalnatheton.
p347
  The Rectory is appropriated to the Church of Southwell, and makes a Prebend called South Muskam Prebend, which Henry de Sewell, Clark, augmented (in the time of Henry the third) by the donation or gift of three Tofts in the Town of Suell, to Mr. William de Marcham, Canon of that Church, and to his successours Canons of the Prebend of Suth Muschamp, &c. The Witnesses to the Chapters Certificate of his Deed were, Mr. William de Marcham, Sir Robert de Lexington, Richard de Sutton, Canon of Suell, Mr. Peter de Lexington, Sir Henry de More, William the Sacrist, Thomas de Barra, Chaplains, John de Augir, Robert de Barra, John de Suwell, Clark, and others. 
p378
  Robert de Laxton for the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard his father, and Matilda his mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford, the gift which the said Richard his father gave to them, viz. one Bovat in Walesby, which William the Clark held, and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon, and twenty Acres of Arable, with Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard de Laxton had of Alan Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco, sometimes wife of John Burdun, and a Toft in Welhagh, which Gumbert held of his father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of the Church at Rufford, Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen, and Sir Henry his brothers were Witnesses, and Mr. William de Marcham.
p380
    Tuxford. Tuxfarne.
  Henry de Munedegen, 18 H. 3. next heir Roger de Montebegonis, paid for relief in Lincolneshire, &c. After his death I guess she sold this Mannor, Warsop, &c. to Robert de Lexington, who 20 H. 3. had a confirmation of from the King, and 21 H. 3. the said Robert made a Charter to John de Lexinton his brother of the Mannor of Tuxford, and Hamlet of Warsop, of which 41 H. 3. he died seized, and of the Land in Lexinton held of Adam de Everingham, which descended from their Father Richard, son of Robert de Lexinton, named in Kirketon, which Richard had the Custody or Baylywick of the Barony of Lexinton, which belonged to Matilda de Cauz, and brought up his sons so fortunately, that Robert who was a Clergy-man Canon of Southwell, became a great Judge and Baron, making this place the principal Scat of his Barony, which he left to his said brother John, who was Lord Keeper, and the eldest son, and had to wife Margery Merlay, as in Averham is said, but no issue
p396
the said Town of Routhorn was in the possession of one Raph Tilly, and Sibyll his mother, by Eschaet, and they enfeoffed one William, son of Walkelin. And afterwards the said Town came to the possession of one Robert le Savage, who married Hawisia, sister of the said Raph Tilly. Which Robert le Savage afterwards of it enfeoffed one Robert de Lexington, who gave it to the Priory of Newstede in Shirwood.
p446
  A Grant or Donation 17 H. 3. was made to Robert de Lexington of the Parc of Karleton and Crumbwell, and of the Mannor of Warsope, with the Advowson of the Church, and the Mill of Hilueton, which he had of Oliva Fitz-Jordan.

The Judges of England, from the time of the Conquest vol 2 pp385-7  (Edward Foss, 1848)
          LEXINTON, ROBERT DE.
          JUST. 1219.  ? CH. JUST. 1234.
ROBERT DE LEXINTON was a younger brother of the abovementioned John. Brought up as an ecclesiastic, he followed the practice of those times by pursuing also the study of the law; but never appears to have been further advanced in the former profession than to a prebend in the church of Southwell, to which he was presented in 16 John. In the same year he acted as custos of the archbishoprick of York during its vacancy.
  As a lawyer he is first mentioned as taking the acknowledgment of a fine in Michaelmas, 4 Henry III.; from which period, until a short time before his death, there are the following evidences of his having acted as a justicier, both at Westminster and in the provinces.
  In 5 Henry III. he was the last named of seven justices itinerant into nine counties; upon the sheriffs of two of which he had orders for the payment of five marks and ten marks for his expenses. In 8 Henry III. he was the third of four justices itinerant into Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. He must have then made a rapid advance in his position, since in the next year, 1225, he was at the head of six different commissions into as many counties; but in the two following years he was sometimes preceded by his seniors, Stephen de Segrave and Thomas de Muleton. In 11 Henry III. he is mentioned as a justicier “de Banco;” in Michaelmas, 13 Henry III., 1228, his name is at the head of four justiciers before whom a fine was levied at Westminster; and he appears on the lists of justices itinerant in 15, 16, and 18 Henry III. In the latter year, July, 1234, three justiciers appointed “ad Bancum” were ordered to be admitted by Robert de Lexinton and William of York, he being at that time the oldest judge on the bench, and perhaps the chief of the court. When the king, in 1240, 24 Hen. III., sent justices itinerant through all the counties under pretence of redressing grievances, but with the real object of extorting money from the people, Robert de Lexinton was placed at the head of those assigned for the northern counties, William of York holding the same position in the south. The subsequent entries of his acting as a judge do not extend beyond Hilary, 1243, 27 Henry III., in all of which he is placed at the head of his associates. He then probably retired, having been on the bench nearly twenty-four years: but his death did not occur till seven years afterwards.
  He appears to have added military to his judicial duties, and to have received various proofs of the royal confidence and favour. In 8 Henry III. he was constituted custos of the honour of Pec and governor of its castle, and that of Bolsover, in Derbyshire: and there is a letter from him to Hubert de Burgh, detailing the progress of William, Earl of Albemarle, through Nottingham, with his own preparations to oppose him, and stating his intention to proceed himself into Northumberland. He afterwards also had the charge of the castle of Orford. On the death of Philip de Ulecot, 5 Henry III., he was employed to secure his possessions; and by the king’s intercession with Aliva, the daughter of Alan Fitz-Jordan, to whom the manor of Tuxford, in Nottinghamshire, belonged, he obtained a grant of it, which he soon afterwards transferred to his brother John. On his death on the 4th of the Calends of June, 1250, John succeeded as his heir to all his other property. 

Lives of Nottinghamshire Worthies pp24-5 (Cornelius Brown, 1882)
  ROBERT DE LEXINGTON, PRIOR OF LENTON, brother of John de Lexington, was not only a priest and a lawyer, but a soldier also. In the first named capacity he filled no greater office than that of canon; his abilities as a lawyer led to his appointment as a judge; while for his military services he had entrusted to him the charge of several castles. As a soldier, he describes in a letter to Hubert de Burgh the progress of William Earl of Albemarle through Nottingham, and his preparations to oppose him, stating his intention to proceed himself into Northumberland. In 8th Hen. III. he was custos of the honour of the Peak and governor of its castle, and that of Bolsover in Derbyshire, and he subsequently had charge of the castle of Oxford. He officiated as judge from the 4th to the 27th Hen. III., and is mentioned in 1234 as being at that time the oldest judge on the bench. In 1240, when the king sent justices-itinerant through all the counties, ostensibly to redress grievances, but in reality to extort money from the people for the king’s use, Robert de Lexington was at the head of those assigned for the northern counties. In the discharge of his official duties at Lincoln he appears to have incurred the displeasure of the celebrated Bishop Grosseteste, Lexington and his fellow-justices having heard capital causes on a Sunday, the Dean censured them, whereupon the justices summoned the Dean before them and punished him. The matter reached the ears of the Bishop, who addressed a letter of rebuke to Lexington, a copy of which is still preserved amongst his correspondence. Lexington died on May 29, 1250, and his brother John came into possession of his property. Matthew Paris thus records his decease: “On the 29th May in this year died Robert de Lexington, who had long continued in the office of Justiciary, and had acquired a distinguished name and ample possessions. A few years before his death, however, he was struck with palsy, and gave up the aforesaid office; so that, like the apostle St. Matthew, he was summoned from the receipt of custom to a better life, and, employing himself in bountiful almsgiving and devout prayers, he laudably terminated his enfeebled existence.” 

Dictionary of National Biography vol 33 pp203-4  (Leslie Stephen, 1893)
  LEXINTON or LESSINGTON, ROBERT DE (d. 1250), judge, younger and probably second son of Richard de Lexinton, baron [see under LEXINTON JOHN DE] was an ecclesiastic and a prebendary of the collegiate church of Southwell, and succeeded to the barony of his father, who was alive in 1216 (DUGDALE; NICOLAS). In February 1221 he wrote to Hubert de Burgh [q.v.] informing him of the route taken by the rebel Earl of Aumale and of the measures that he had adopted to secure the safety of the border. He was then acting as a justice in seven counties, and was employed in a like capacity in later years, being in 1225 the head of six judicial commissions. He was warden of the honour and castle of Peak and governor of Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, and also had charge of Orford Castle. He is described as a justice ‘de banco’ in 1226, and as one of the chief members of the king’s court, or bench, in 1229, when he sat with other judges at Wesminster to hear the case between the convent and the townsmen of Dunstable. There is reason to suppose that in 1234 he was the senior of the justices of the king’s bench (Foss). In 1239 he is said to have been elected to the see of Lichfield, but the right of election being then in dispute between the canons of Lichfield and the monks of Coventry, to have declined it (Annals of Dunstable, an. 1239; comp. MATT. PARIS, Chron. Maj. iii. 542, where no mention is made of Robert, but only of William of Manchester, who was elected by the canons in opposition to the monks’ choice, Nicolas of Farnham). When in 1240 Henry III sent justices itinerant through the whole kingdom in the hope of raising money by fines and the like, he appointed Robert chief of the justices for the northern division of England. When he and his brother-justices sat at Lincoln they were denounced by the dean of Christianity (or ‘rural dean’) for trying capital cases on Sunday. In return they abused the dean, and caused his goods and the lands of his nieces, his wards, to be seized on behalf of the crown. Bishop Robert Grosseteste [q.v.] wrote him a sharp rebuke for his presumption in dealing thus with a clerk. He again acted as a justice itinerant the following year. After having gained a high reputation and large possessions, he was seized with paralysis, and retired from office a few years before his death, spending the remainder of his life in prayer and almsgiving. He died on 29 May 1250, and was succeeded by his elder brother John. He founded three chantries in the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr in Southwell Minster.
  [Foss’s Judges, ii. 385; Dugdale’s Baronage, i. 742; Matt. Paris’s Chron. Maj. iv. 34, v. 138 (Rolls Ser.); Ann. of Dunstable ap. Ann. Monast. iii. 119, 122, 131, 149 (Rolls Ser.); Royal Letters, Hen. III, i. 171, 510 (Rolls Ser.); Epp. Rob. Grosseteste, pp. 266-8 (Rolls Ser.); Nicolas’s Hist. Peerage, p. 285, ed. Courthope; Visitations of Southwell Minster, pp. 178, 179 (Camd. Soc.)]           W. H.

The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan Orwin, ‎Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
   In the twelfth century a de Caux made a grant of land to one Richard, of Laxton or Lexington, in return for certain services. This grant was added to by his successors, the de Birkins and de Everinghams, and in 1232 these grants were all set out clearly in a Royal Charter, which confirmed them to Richard de Lexington's son, Robert, and his heirs. This charter is very interesting, as the lands are described in great detail, and some of them can be identified to-day, as their names, such as Eastkirk, Southlound, Crouchwell, &c, still remain.
  Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in his own sphere. The eldest, Robert de Lexington, was a prebendary of Southwell and a judge under King Henry III. In 1240 he was the Chief Justice Itinerant for the northern division of England.
... Robert de Lexington is the first recorded Rector of Laxton, the Prior and Convent of Shelford being the patrons, and on 25 January 1240 he appointed Richard de Nottingham to be Vicar. 


Death: 29 May 1250
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326 states that "Anno 1250. 34 H. 3. the fourth of the Kalends of June died Robert de Lexington the Kings Clark". The kalend of June denotes the 1st of June, and by the peculiar methodology of the Roman calendar, the last half a month (after the Ides) is counted as the number of days before the following kalend, and so the fourth of the kalend of June was 29 May.

Lives of Nottinghamshire Worthies pp24-5 (Cornelius Brown, 1882)
Matthew Paris thus records his decease: “On the 29th May in this year died Robert de Lexington, who had long continued in the office of Justiciary, and had acquired a distinguished name and ample possessions. A few years before his death, however, he was struck with palsy, and gave up the aforesaid office; so that, like the apostle St. Matthew, he was summoned from the receipt of custom to a better life, and, employing himself in bountiful almsgiving and devout prayers, he laudably terminated his enfeebled existence.” 

Burial: Southwell minster, Nottinghamshire, England
Robert founded two chantries at the altar of St Thomas the Martyr in the church of Southwell, "for the health of his own soul" and the souls of others, and he was likely buried there.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire pp315-6 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
    Southwell. Suell. And Sudwell.
  In this Church were many Chantries Founded, and those Priests had also some Lands in Common, and an House at the North-West side of the Church-yard for their residence, which is now in Lease to Mr. Robert Butler, and his dwelling House.
  Three of these were Founded by Mr. Robert Lexington, Canon of this Church, the two first at the Altar of St. Thomas the Martyr, for the health of his own Soul, and his Ancestors, and for the Souls of King John, of Brian de Insula, of his Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Parents, Friends, Parishioners, all his Benefactors, and for all the faithful departed, and also for all the living for whom he was any way obliged to pray or of whom he had ever received any thing willingly or against their wills, for the performance whereof he gave the Church, and some Lands in Barneburgh near Doncaster, which he had of Henry de Novomercato, and were confirmed to him by Adam de Novomercato, brother of the said Henry, to the Chapter of Southwell for the augmenting the Divine Worship in that Church, and the sustenance of two Priests, two Deacons, and two Sub-deacons, to minister in their Order, and to follow the Quire, as Vicars according to the Order of Walter Grey Arch-bishop of York, dated at Orton in the twenty sixth year of his Pontificate; and likewise to pay half a Mark yearly towards Lights, Ornaments, and other necessaries for the said Altar; and to find twenty seven pounds of Wax to make one Light for the great Altar, and thirteen pounds to make two for the said Alyar of St. Thomas the Martyr, to burn on the day of his Passion and Translation; the remainder to be for the use of that Altar as occasion should require: which Advowson and Lands were likewise released to the Chapter by Thomas, the son of Sir Thomas de Bella aqua. And the succeeding Rectors of Barneburg did accordingly by the Decree of the aforesaid Arch-bishop pay quarterly to the said Priests forty shillings, to the said Deacons twenty, and to the said Sub-deacons sixteen and eight pence, besides the Wax and half Mark before mentioned. The third Chantry was likewise at the Altar of St. Thomas the Martyr in the new work, for the Soul of the said Robert de Lexington the Founder, and for the Souls of his Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Parents, Ancestors, Successours, Parishioners, Benefactors, and of all the faithful, for which he gave to the Chapter of Southwell sixty and four shillings of yearly Rent issuing out of eleven Oxgangs of Land held of him by several persons in Newton, and one Oxgang in Saxendale, together with Homages, Services, Reliefs, Wards, &c. and sixteen shillings of like Rent in Laxton Morehouse. The Priest who did the Service, and might sometimes Read, sometimes Sing, which stirr’d up most devotion, was to have all the said Rents, and half the Reliefs, and other profits happening out of the aforesaid Tenements and the other half was to be for the Commons of the Canons resident.

Probate:
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1 Henry III: 1235-1272 p44 (1904)
174. ROBERT DE LESSINTON.   
Writ of extent to the sheriff of Dorset, 7 June.  Extent. Wednesday after St. Barnabas, 34 Hen. III.
DORSET. Bere manor (extent given) including the hundred (held of the king to farm).
          C. Hen. III. File 9. (10.)

Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251 p305
1250.
  Pro executoribus Roberti de Lexinton’.—Quia executores testamenti Roberti de Lessinton’ manuceperunt coram rege quod regi satisfacient de precio bladi instantis autumpni quod idem Robertus seminari fecit in manerio de Bere, quod idem Robertus tenuit de rege ad feodi firmam, si bladum illud regi debeat remanere, mandatum est vicecomiti Dorset’ quod, non obstante precepto quod rex nuper ei fecit de blado illo colligendo ad opus regis, permittat Reginaldum, quondam ballivum ejusdem Roberti in manerio predicto, bladum illud colligere, donec discussum fuerit utrum regi an predicto defuncto debeat remanere. Teste rege apud Clarend’ xix. die Julii.
which translates very roughly as:
  For the executors of Robert de Lexington.Because the executors of the will of Robert de Lessinton pledged before the king that they will give satisfaction to the king for the price of corn in the autumn, which the same Robert made to be sown in the manor of Bere, which the same Robert held of the king at a lease fee, if that corn should remain, was ordered to the sheriff of Dorset which, notwithstanding the order which the king lately made him to collect from that corn for the king's work, let Reginald, formerly bailiff of the same Robert, collect that corn in the aforesaid manor, until it has been decided whether it ought to remain to the king or to the aforesaid deceased. Witness the king at Clarendon 19 July.
p524
1251.
  Omnibus etc. H. de Erle, vicecomes Dorsete, salutem. Noveritis me recepisse duodecim libras argenti ad opus domini regis ab executoribus domini Roberti de Lexintona, in quibus idem Robertus regi tenebatur pro terra de Bere, quam habuit ad firmam de eo ad terminum vite sue, ita quod ego et heredes mei acquietabimus ipsum Robertum et heredes et executores suos de predictis xij. libris ad Scaccarium pro ultimo anno quo ipse prefatam terram tenuit ad firmam, et in quo mortuus, scilicet anno regis Henrici filii regis Johannis xxxo iiijto, et ipsos erga dominum regem indempnes conservabimus; quod si non fecerimus, concessi pro me et heredibus meis quod compellamur ad hoc per terras et catalla nostra per districcionem domini regis. In cujus etc. has litteras meas patentes predictis executoribus commisi. Et quia amisi proprium sigillum huic scripto sigillum Galfridi de Laverton’, socii mei, apposui. Datum apud Wintoniam in crastino Natalis Domini, anno regni regis H. filii regis Johannis xxxvto.
which translates very roughly as:
  To all etc. H. de Erle, Viscount Dorset, greeting. Know that I have received twelve pounds of silver for the work of the lord king from the executors of the lord Robert of Lexington, in which the same Robert was held to the king for the land of Bere, which he had the lease of at the end of his life, so that I and my heirs shall acquit Robert himself and his heirs and his executors for the aforesaid 12 pounds to the Exchequer for the last year in which he himself held the aforesaid land at lease, and in which he died, namely, in the thirty-fourth year of king Henry the son of king John, and we will preserve them from punishment toward the lord king; but if we do not do this, I have granted on behalf of me and my heirs that we may be compelled to do so by our lands and chattels at the distraint of the lord king. In whose etc. I have entrusted these my patents to the aforesaid executors. And since I have lost my own seal to this writing, I have applied the seal of Geoffrey de Laverton, my comrade. Given at Winchester on the day after Christmas in the thirty-sixth year of the reign of king H. son of king John.

Sources:

Stephen de Lexington

Father: Richard de Lexington

Mother: Matilda (_____) de Lexington

Occupation: Cistercian monk. Stephen was Abbot of Clairvaux Abbey in the Kingdom of Arles, in present day France.

Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae  vol 3 p447 (John Le Neve, 1854)
    OXTON, OR OXTON AND CROPWELL,
        PRIMA PARS.
... STEPHEN DE LEXINTON, presented by king John 23rd May 1215, (sede vacante,) to the prebend of Scrophull and Oxton, which was MATTHEW BARONS. But quære whether to this or Oxton Secunda Pars.

Notes:
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p340 (Robert Thoroton, 1677)
  Silvester de Kirneshale, son of Henry de Laxton, gave to the said Monastery of Ruffold one Acre of Arable Land in Kirneshale, of his Wong which lay on the North part of the way, which leads from Kirneshale, to the wood called Bergelhage; the witnesses were Robert de Laxton, Mr. Peter, and Mr. Stephen his brothers, Raph, son of Henry de Laxton, his own brother William, son of John de Kalnatheton.
p378
  Robert de Laxton for the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard his father, and Matilda his mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford, the gift which the said Richard his father gave to them, viz. one Bovat in Walesby, which William the Clark held, and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon, and twenty Acres of Arable, with Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard de Laxton had of Alan Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco, sometimes wife of John Burdun, and a Toft in Welhagh, which Gumbert held of his father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of the Church at Rufford, Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen, and Sir Henry his brothers were Witnesses, and Mr. William de Marcham.

Dictionary of National Biography vol 33 p204  (Leslie Stephen, 1893)
  LEXINTON or LESSINGTON, STEPHEN DE (fl. 1250), abbot of Clairvaux, a younger son of Richard de Lexinton [see LEXINTON, JOHN DE], studied both at Paris and Oxford, and was a disciple of Edmund (Rich) [q.v.], afterwards archbishop of Canterbury. In 1214 John granted him a prebend in the church of Southwell (Cal. Letters Patent, 16 John, p. 138). Moved by Edmund’s exhortations he determined to adopt a monastic life, and in 1221, or perhaps a little earlier, left Oxford with seven companions, and became a monk in the Cistercian abbey of Quarr in the Isle of Wight. He was a man of high character, wise, and learned. After a short residence at Quarr he was elected abbot of Stanley, in Wiltshire, where he received his former master, Edmund, and advised him to pay some attention to worldly concerns. Stephen was in 1228 appointed visitor of the Cistercians in Ireland; he deposed several abbots and replaced them by Englishmen, and sent many monks over to Cistercian houses in France. In 1229 he was elected abbot of Savigny, one of the greater abbeys of the order, situated in the south-west corner of Normandy (Manche department). There he quickened the religious life of the place, largely increased the number of monks, adorned the abbey with new buildings, and a great translation of the relics of saints. By the command of Gregory IX, he, in 1238, reformed the monks of Redon, in Brittany (Morbihan department). In company with the abbots of Citeaux and Clairvaux, and many other French prelates, he sailed from Nice to Genoa in 1241, and was thence carried by a Genoese fleet to attend the council which the pope proposed to hold at Rome. The fleet of King Enzio attacked the Genoese ships on 3 May, and Stephen would have fallen into the hands of the enemy had he not been saved by the valour of his brother, John de Lexinton [q.v.] On 6 Dec. 1243 he was elected abbot of Clairvaux. Desiring to remove the reproach which the friars were in the habit of casting on the Cistercians as lacking learning, and no doubt specially moved by the pretensions at that time advanced by the Dominicans in university of Paris, he in 1244 obtained from Innocent IV to found a house Paris for scholars of his order. At first he placed his house close to the buildings of the convent of St. Victor, but to avoid the possibilities of quarrels with that community he moved his foundation to Chardonnet, a site of which the name still survives in the church of St. Nicolas du Chardonnet in the Rue des Bernardins. In 1250 he translated the body of Aletha, mother of St. Bernard, from St Bénigne de Dijon, where she was buried, to Clairvaux. Alexander IV employed him in some secular business of importance in 1255. His house in Paris was then flourishing, and the scholars who resorted to it were more popular than the friars with the prelates and townsmen. Nevertheless Stephen was in this year deposed from his abbotship by a general chapter of the order, on the ground, it is said, that he had, contrary to the statutes, solicited from the pope a privilege that he should never be deposed. Matthew Paris, who was acquainted with Lexinton’s brother John, denies the imputation. The real ground of his deposition was that he had neglected to obtain the sanction of the order for the foundation of his house in Paris. He must have known that an attack on him was impending, and very likely sought to engage the pope on his side; for Alexander IV at once ordered Guy, abbot of Citeaux, to restore him. Guy pretended that he was about to obey, but did nothing. Alexander complained to Louis IX, who took the side of the order. Stephen had enemies who were jealous of the success of his foundation, and were busy at Rome, and in 1256 the matter dropped. This was according to his own wish, for he was afraid that if he persisted in defending himself, the authority of the order might be weakened; he declared that he felt no regret at being relieved from the cares of office. He retired to the monastery of Orcamp, to the south-west of Noyon (Oise department), and there died on 21 March. The year is not known.
  [Gallia Christ. iv. 806, xi. 443, 548; Du Boulay’s [Bulæus] Historia Univ. Paris. iv. 184, 185; Ann. Wav. an. 1229, Ann. Dunst. ann. 1221, 1228 ap. Ann. Monast. ii. 309, iii, 67, 116 (Rolls Ser.); Matt. Paris, Chron. Maj. iv. 125, v. 529, 596, 651, 652 (Rolls Ser.) Chron. Savigniac. et Liber de Miraculis ap. Recueil des Historiens, xxiii. 584, 587; Cal. Litt. Patent. John, p. 138 (Record Publ.); for early notices see also under EDMUND (RICH), archbishop, and Hook’s Archbishops of Canterbury, iii. 145; Kington’s Frederick II. ii. 245.]        W. H.

Life of St. Edmund of Canterbury p95-6  (Wilfrid Wallace, 1893)
  A remarkable instance is furnished by the biographer of the effect which Edmund’s lectures had on his hearers. One day he was giving his accustomed lecture, when the Abbot of Quarr walked into the school and sat down to listen. Now, on the preceding night, Edmund had dreamed that he saw a great conflagration in the midst of his school, from which seven blazing brands were extracted. Whether or not this dream contributed to give unusual power and energy to his discourse, at all events, when the lecture was over, and the abbot arose to depart, seven of Edmund’s pupils followed him, and straightway put on the monastic habit. Edmund, so far from regretting the loss of these promising pupils, rejoiced in their happy vocation. One of these seven (the most famous) was Stephen of Lexington, who afterwards became Abbot of Stanley, and finally rose to the dignity of Abbot of Clairvaux in 1242. He also founded the Bernardine College in Paris in 1246, the first collegiate house in that university. But this did not meet with the approval of the chapter-general, as being contrary to the spirit of the order, and he was deposed in consequence in 1255.
  Stephen de Lexington was one of those who sacrificed their benefices to become monks. For according to Le Neve, Stephen de Lexington was presented to a prebend in the Church of Southwell, 23rd May, 1215. This date is important, as it must have been subsequently to this that he was a pupil in Edmund’s theological school; and so far it confirms our chronology. 

Stephen of Lexington: Letters from Ireland 1228-1229 (Barry O'Dwyer, 1982) is a translated collection of letters written by Stephen when he was in Ireland.

Death: 21 March -the year is not known - at the monastery of Orcamp, to the south-west of Noyon, Picardy, Kingdom of France

Sources:

Return to Chris Gosnell's Home Page

If you have any comments, additions or modifications to the information on this page, please feel free to email me.
Created and maintained by: chris@ocotilloroad.com