William Crowmer

28Whilst the title of this web page is regarding William Crowmer, it’s more about the supporters of Lord Saye and Sele, James Fiennes. The family name Crowmer is sometimes recorded as “Cromer” the Norfolk town the family originated from, but I will always use the extra “w”.

Less is known about William Crowmer than the other main characters, as he often acted through his sub-ordinates, but the Kentish men (including men of Kent) certainly knew him enough for him to be named as one of the “great extortioners” of the county.

Childhood

William was born in 1422 (rough date as researched dates range from 1416 – 1423) as the son of Sir William Crowmer, an Alderman of London. His father, was Lord Mayor of London in 1413 and again in 1423 (his trade was a Draper).

The middle ages was no different from today, where the rich Londoners buy houses away from the city to enjoy the countryside, and William Senior was no different. He bought some land in Tunstall, Kent (near Sittingbourne) and that was where our William was born.

Sibling Rivalry

When his father died, his mother, Margaret Squery, got remarried to Robert Poynings, who had a son from a previous marriage, also by the name of Robert Poynings (1419-1461). This step brother would be a leading figure within the Jack Cade rebellion, but on the opposing side. As a side note, Robert also went on to marry Elizabeth Paston – the same family where the collection of “Paston Letters” came from.

Suffolk Clique

When William’s sister Emmeline (possibly his sister or at least very close relative) married James Fiennes, William was firmly in with the Duke of Suffolk clique. He was further enveloped into the clique when he married James daughter, Elizabeth, from James first marriage.

From this association with Suffolk, Lord Saye and William gained promotion. He became Sheriff of Kent 1444-45 and again in 1449. However, Crowmer is only mentioned in the Commission of Oyer and Terminer as the man ordering the oppressions. The acts themselves were reported as carried out by his subordinates, the main protagonists being Stephen Slegge, William Isle and Robert Est.

Stephen Slegge 50

Whenever James Fiennes or William Crowmer’s name are mentioned in the commission, it is normally associated with Stephen Slegge. Stephen Slegge originates from Wouldham (South of Rochester), in Kent. Slegge was the sheriff of Kent 1448-1449. There seems to be no date for when he was born but he died 1460 and left a will which paid for a tower on the church of Wouldham. I have aged him as 50 but it is only a guess.

William Isle43

William Isle (sometimes written as Isley) was sheriff of Kent in 1446-1447 and lived in Sundridge in Kent. He was a lawyer and MP. He was born around 1407 ish (only one source and that wasn’t backed up with any facts) and died in 1463.  Elizabeth warner, no children. I cannot find a list of his extortions prior to 1450, but he was clearly a man to dislike if you lived in Kent, as he is clearly named on the bill of complaints. 

After 1450, Isle was promoted to several leading jobs and continued his extortions. The Kentish men didn’t forget and when the House of York took over, they harried him, stealing from him and eventually ending his life. A man who used violence, died violently, on December 14 1463, men broke into the vicarage at Farningham, where he was staying, and killed him (and his servant) in brutal fashion and ended with beheading. 14 people were indicted for the killing but only 2 were hanged.

Robert Est48

Robert Est (sometimes written as East) was a lawyer and keeper of Maidstone Gaol (jail). He seems to have been very active and was mentioned 12 times in regards to the indictments after the uprising. He seems to have worked on his own mostly but he was obviously under instruction. The earliest complaint I can find was in 1441 when he violently expelled Thomas Hines from his land in Maidstone, and kept him from it until the complaint in 1451 (result unknown). Robert seemed to favour arresting people and placing them in Maidstone gaol (jail) as leverage, until they paid him what he required. He didn’t always “beat up the little guy”, with Stephen Slegge and 200 others he broke into Lord Abergavenny’s granary and stole its grain, and assaulted the Lords servants.

As for the age of Robert it is a guess.  Robert Est was a co-founder (with Richard Barbour) of the corpus Christi guild in Maidstone and that was formed around 1422 If we say he was aged 20 that makes him about 48 (ish).

Suffolk Clique Nepotism

  • 1436 James Fiennes Sheriff of Kent
  • 1439 James Fiennes Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex
  • 1441 John Warner (William Isle’s father in Law) Sheriff of Kent
  • 1442 James Fiennes MP (or Knight of the Shire) for Kent
  • 1442 William Isle MP for Kent
  • 1444 William Crowmer Sheriff of Kent
  • 1445 James Fiennes MP for Kent
  • 1445 William Crowmer MP for Kent
  • 1446 William Isle Sheriff of Kent
  • 1447 James Fiennes Warden of the cinque ports
  • 1448 Stephen Slegge Sheriff of Kent
  • 1449 William Crowmer MP for Kent
  • 1449 John Warner (William Isle’s father in Law) MP of Kent
  • 1449 William Isle Sheriff of Kent
  • 1449 James Fiennes Lord High Treasurer
  • 1449 Henry Crowmer (second son of William) Sheriff of Kent
  • 1456 Alexander Iden (killer of Jack cade and married William Crowmer’s wife) Sheriff of Kent