Richard Luther of Stapleford Tawney (Born ~1510)

12^th Great Grandfather – FFFMFFMFFFFFFF¹

Thomas Luther my 11^th great grandfather’s father was Richard Luther.

The visitation of 1634 makes clear that Thomas Luther’s father was Richard Luther alias Hewett of Stapleford Tawney. It also states that Richard had 2 wives and that he had children by each wife. However, it does not give their names².

In addition to my 11^th great grandfather Thomas whose mother was Richard’s 2^nd wife, Richard had 2 other boys, William the son of Richard’s first wife died without any heirs, and John who was also the son of Richard’s second wife. John founded the Luther line that remained in Stapleford Tawney³ and eventually lived at a manor called Suttons.

Richard was nearly always referred to as Richard Luther (or Luter) alias Hewett, and often as Richard Hewett alias Luther (or Luter). For example in a Foot of Fine in 1534⁴ he is referred to as Richard Hewet alias Lewter.

Richard Hewet alias Lewter, William Hewet alias Lewter, Thomas Glascok, clerk, John Glascok and John Pole the younger, pl. John Benton and Agnes his wife, Henry Lake and Alice his wife, John Herde and Ellen his wife, and William Lake and Marion his wife, def. Four parts of l messuage, 12 acres of land, 6 acres of meadow and 6 acres of pasture, divided into six parts, in Bobyngworth. Def. quitclaimed to pl. and the heirs of Richard. Cons. 40 marks.

A Foot (pl Feet) of Fine was the archival copy of the agreement between to parties to in an English lawsuit from around 1195 to 1833 and they are a great source of genealogical information, as it is clear that Richard and William, probably his son, were co-plaintiffs⁵. Often the wife’s name is mentioned in a suit.

In a later agreement, he is is referred to as Richard Luter alias Hewet⁶

Richard Luter alias Hewet, pl. Thomas Josselyn, esquire, and Dorothy his wife, def. 2 messuages, 30 acres of land, 10 acres of meadow, 20 acres of pasture and 6 acres of wood in Lamborne. Def. quitclaimed to pl. and his heirs. Cons. 100 marks

The only primary sources of information to Richard are his will in 1556, where he is referred to as Richard Hewyt alias Luter of Stapleford Tawney, yeoman⁷ and his burial, where he was simply referred to as Richard Lutter.

Richard died in 1558 and was buried at St Mary the Virgin, Stapleford Tawney on 19^th September 1558⁸.

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