The family trees of the Ardens.
In 1261-2 in exchange for some Warwickshire lands and rents, Thomas de Arderne of Rotley gave his cousin Sir Thomas de Arderne of Hanwell the half share of Spratton held by his mother Eustachia. By 1870, Thomas of Hanwell held part of Holdenby as well. When he died in 1297, the lands (which included half of Spratton and part of Holdenby) passed to the eldest son, Thomas II, and thence to Thomas III. The latter was a 'bad lot', accused as one of seven knights of leading an extended criminal rampage through the midlands with a band of sixty armed persons, who indulged freely in rape, murder and 'other felonies and excesses'. Amazingly no arrests were made and no land forfeitures resulted, so the lands passed down to Thomas IV. He had no sons and his daughter Joan married
the knight, Sir John Swinford (about 1350). In 1361, exactly 100 years after the family acquired the lands there, it appears that Thomas IV moved out of the manor in favour of his daughter and son-in-law. They has a daughter, Elizabeth, who inherited the Spratton moiety when her father died in December 1371. She was married to William Adderbury by 1374-5, when they levied a fine in 'Ardern's manor' in Spratton, and part of Holdenby. There was a daughter, Alice, of the marriage, but William died young and Elizabeth remarried Roger Chaumbre, later knighted, and three times sheriff of his county. The lands passed on through the Chambers lines as shown in the 'tree'.
There is a recorded story that John Chambers (who left money to build the chantry chapel) was furious with the vicar Thomas Purnell and in 1498 accused him of stealing 12 hares, 480 rabbits, 6 pheasants, 100 tench, 300 roach and 100 bream from his land. The vicar denied the charge saying that he had only taken two tench and six roach and in any case John Chambers had given him permission to fish in his pond.
Image Reference: 1380
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