Name Andrew Stratford | ||
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Andrew Stratford (died 30 November 1378), also known as Andrew de Stratford and Andrew de Strelford, was a medieval English church clerk, verderer and landowner.
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Personal life and family
Andrew was born into the landed Stratford Family of Stratford-on-Avon around the beginning of the fourteenth century, a relation of Archbishop of Canterbury John de Stratford and his brother Robert Stratford (Bishop of Chichester). He was an associate of William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England. He married a women called Christine, and they had a son (Robert) and through him at least two grandchildren (John and Joan). When Robert died prematurely, around 1399, Joan became a nun at Romsey Abbey, and his Grandson John became a ward of the king, later inheriting his grandfather's lands. His descendants continued into the modern day, and can still be found in parts of Hampshire.
Church Clerk
Prior to 1362 he was rector of the church of Gosberton, Lincolnshire, but exchanged it with Phillip de weston for the prebendary of Langtoft, which he held from 1362-1363. Throughout his life he held numerous church offices (at lay clerk level), including Canon of York, though he never progressed to the clergy; it is likely Stratford's comfortable career as a clerk in the church was aided by his influential ecclesiastical relatives (John, Robert and Ralph), and his friendship with the powerful William of Wykeham.
Verderer and landowner
In later life he became a significant landowner in Hampshire and Wiltshire, as well as an active member of the communities, often loaning money to local businessmen and legally witnessing matters relating to land and property. He held (with his wife) a meadow called ‘Haresmede’ in North Baddesley in the New Forest as a knight's fee from Richard II, and acted as Verderer in the forest of "Claryndon" in Wiltshire until his death. He also held land in Vernhams Dean in the county of Hampshire, alongside land in Chute, Whelpley, Cowesfield, Alderstone and Winterbourne, in the county of Wiltshire. These passed on to his son Robert and, when he came of age, to his grandson John.
Death
Stratford died on 30 November 1378, his widow Christine dying 1392. Their son Robert died around the late 1380s, at which time his grandson John became ward of the king, and his granddaughter Joan a nun at Romsey Abbey.