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Anne PAUNCEFOOTE
1486 - 1534 (47 years)
Has 16 ancestors and 10 descendants in this family tree.
Set As Default Person 
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Name Anne PAUNCEFOOTE Relationship 
with Teresa Ann GOATHAM Born 4 Jul 1486 Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset, England 
- Age from 'proof of age' when Anne claimed back the Compton Pauncefoot inheritance from the Crown. Also, age given as 9 in her brother's IPM in 1495.
Baptised Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset, England Gender Female Inheritance Coheiress - When Anne's father died she had a brother, Peter, living and so he inherited her father's estate. Peter was an infant at the time and so property passed into the king's hands until the heir reached their majority. Peter did not reach this, he died aged about 5 in 1492. His heirs were then his sisters, Maud and Ann. Since they were minors the property remained in the king's hands, and the king became their guardian.
On reaching their majority, 16 for a girl, they were able to claim it. Maud does not seem to have done this, but Ann did, with the enquiry to provide proof of her age taking place just 5 days after her sixteenth birthday.
That she was already married is not surprising. The king routinely made money from selling the guardianship of heirs, along with the right to choose their spouse. Most likely John Whityng's father had bought this, so as to ensure a lucrative marriage for his son.
Proof of age 9 Jul 1502 - The proof of age can be found at TNA, ref. C 142/15/160.
"Anne wife of John Whytyng, esquire, sister and one of the heirs of
Peter Paunsefote, son of Walter Paunsefote, esquire.
Writ wanting ; proof of age Saturday after the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr, 17 Henry VII.
Somerset. He [sic] was born at Compton Paunscefote on the feast of the Translation of St. Martin, 1 Henry VII, viz. 4 July, and baptized in the baptistery of the parish church of Compton aforesaid, as deposed to by :-
Robert Gilbert, esquire, fell from his horse at Compton Paunscefote,
at the time of her birth, and broke his right arm.
John [Li]te was asked by her father to be godfather, being at Compton
Paunscefote at the time of her birth, but could not stay.
Tristram Storke was at Shaftesbury on that day with Walter
Paunscefote, her father, and on returning one of Walter's servants met
them with the news, and he rode with Walter to Compton Paunscefote.
John Mychell was holding the court at Compton Paunscefote that
day.
John Tracy says that her father gave him on that day one John
Croppe, a bondman belonging to the manor of Compton Paunscefote,
who ran from him on that day.
Giles Came was in the house of one Peter Baunfeld, of Shaftesbury,
on that day, and Peter's wife was then requested by the servant of the
father of the said Anne to be godfather.
John Dirdo say that one Walter Robyns on that day sang his first
mass in the church of Compton Paunscefote, and he saw the letters of
orders of the said Walter, dated A.D. 1486.
Edward Tryckehellok first came to service with the said Walter
Paunscefote on that day and took 1d. in arles.
Thomas Middelton sold a fardel of 'canvas' for 46s. 8d., paid in 'crusadoys' with which money and other he bought a house in Yevyll [Yeovil].
Lionel Haryson rang the bell, which broke.
Roger Martyn's sister Alice was wet-nurse, &c."
From transcription of abstract in "Calendar of Inquisitions Post Morgem and other Analogous Documents ... Henry VII, vol. II", HMSO, 1915 (on the internet archive); also available from BHO website)
Whilst this creates a lovely image of life in Compton Pauncefoot anyone who is awake will smell a rat. Compton Pauncefoot is a tiny parish; what is the chance that so many occasional events should happen the very day that Anne was born? Moreover, would they really remember the date of such events? I have broken my collar bone; I have attended first masses; I have been present when there have been incidents with bells - one particularly memorable breaking of a rope, yet I can't remeber the year let alone the month or date of any.
Mr. Maskelyne, who prepared the text, comments "Cf. No. 539 for identical findings." Actually, it is no. 540 that has many of the same findings. No. 540 is for a proof of age that same year for one John Huntley, of Bleadon, some 34 miles from Compton Pauncefoot, though also in Somerset. Apparently on that day in Bleadon:
- a man fell from his horse in the parish and broke his right arm;
- a bondman, new to his master that day, also ran away that day;
- a member of the manor used 46s. 8d. obtained from selling a fardel of canvas, for which he was paid in 'crusadoys' to buy a house in 'Yevell';
- a bell being rung broke;
- someone entered the service of John's father that very day and received 1d in arles.
The names given for those involved in the events was different, but apparently another priest also called Walter Robyns sang his first mass in Bleadon on the day of the birth.
Clearly most of the events claimed to have happened can be regarded as fictitious. Probably the witnesses were paid to make these claims. Those regarding family members / godparents may be true.
Will 13 Mar 1533/34 Written Died 20 Mar 1533/34 - Must have died between writing her will and it being proved, actual date from gravestone, except that year there seems to be a couple of year out (Anne died in 1533/4 - would expect the stone to show 1533 not 4, but actually it shows 1535).
Probate 16 May 1534 Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Lambeth, Surrey, England Buried Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset, England - A stone in the south aisle of Compton Pauncefoot Church commermorates Anne
"... body of Anne
Whityng One of the Daughters
and heier of Water Paunssefote
Esquyer that Depated the XX
Day of March the Yere of oure
Lord god MCCCCCXXXV"
(n.b. the probate statement with her will shows she must have died in 1534, not 1535)
Siblings1 brother and 1 sister Half-siblings4 half brothers and 1 half sister (family of Richard WILLOUGHBY and Isabel BIDICKE) Patriarch & Matriarch 
Richard PAUNCEFOOTE, b. Est 1330, d. Abt 1369 (Age ~ 39 years) (3 x Great Grandfather)
Isabel BIDICKE, b. Est 1458, d. Between 25 Nov 1524 and 15 Dec 1524 (Age ~ 66 years) (Mother)Person ID I25219 All Last Modified 30 Apr 2020
Father Walter PAUNCEFOOTE, Esq., b. Abt 1455, d. 22 Aug 1486 (Age ~ 31 years) Mother Isabel BIDICKE, b. Est 1458, d. Between 25 Nov 1524 and 15 Dec 1524 (Age ~ 66 years)
Other Partners: Richard WILLOUGHBY m. Between 1486 and 1495Family ID F9827 Family Group Page | Family Chart
Family John WHITYNG, b. Abt 1473, d. 1529 (Age ~ 56 years) Children6 children Last Modified 10 Nov 2017 Family ID F9844 Family Group Page | Family Chart
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Event Map Click to hide 
Born - 4 Jul 1486 - Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset, England 
Baptised - - Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset, England Buried - - Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset, England = Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install) Pin Legend 
