London Dingleys

The Dingley name crops up in London at many times and in many places, and I cannot list them all. Most that I have found do not (yet) fit into any pattern. The following are a few areas that I have a bit more on:

Two John DYNGLEYs are involved with the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell in the 14th century. The elder one also owned property in West Smithfield, appears to have been a prominent merchant and the attorney of the Peruzzi Society, see John DE DYNGLEY, merchant.

John DYNGLEY(s) appears in records for other areas of the country in the 14th century. John DE DYNELEY (-1367) of Downham, Lancs is relatively well delineated - see Downham Dyneleys - but the others are quite patchy although several of them are almost certainly identical. I attempt a consolidation and an analysis of the bits and pieces in John DE DYNGLEY fragments.

Clerkenwell was (and is) where the headquarters of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England were located. In the 14th century, two John DINGLEYs were associated with the Order.

I do not know where they came from, although I suspect that they descended from the Northampton Dingleys, mainly because Dingley in Northampton was associated with the Order. Also, in the 20 odd records that I have found for them, their names are always spelt with a "g", although this can hardly be considered definitive.

In 1328 (1338?) John DE DYNGELEE is listed as a 'tempore fratris' and one 'who desired to participate in the hospitality of the order' receiving 'xxx marks, et robam de secta clericorum'.

By 1336 he is described as the prior's clerk. I would think he had probably made some payment to the Order to receive the following generous hospitality:

16 Dec 1336. Inspeximus and confirmation of
(1) an indenture between Philip DE THAME, prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England, and the brethren of the house and John DE DYNGELEE, the prior's clerk, as follows: - whereas the latter by grants of Thomas LARCHER and Leonard DE TIBERTIS, former priors, has a yearly pension of 100s. for life in and from their house of Clerkenwell by London, and has in the present chapter for 72 marks in hand paid, acquired a further pension of 12½ marks, and whereas he has prayed for a grant of these two pensions by one writing under the common seal; they grant to him for life a rent or pension of 20 marks sterling out of the house of Clerkenwell, and their manors of Gynges Hospitalis and Hanyngfeld, in lieu of the two pensions aforesaid; dated in the chapter at Clerkenwell, Tuesday after the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, 1335.
(2) Grant to him for life of 10 marks of rent out of their manors of Clerkenwell, co. Middlesex, and Sutton atte Hone, co. Kent; dated as above, 15 February 1336.
(3) Confirmation by the said prior and brethren to the said John of a grant to him for life by the aforesaid priors of some chambers with their appurtenances, with free ingress and egress for him and his, wherein he now dwells within the close of the house at Clerkenwell, and food for himself at the brethren's table and for one groom at the table called 'Daynesbord' there, and that as often as he please to take his meals without the hall of Clerkenwell he shall have in place of the said corrody two loaves (panes) of the white bread of the convent, a loaf called 'Carpenterlof', three loaves of black bread, two gallons of the better ale of the convent and a gallon and a half of the second ale, and from every course of the kitchen an entire mess for himself of the service of the brethren, and for his groom a mess of the service of the grooms dining in the house, and a robe befitting his estate of the suit of the clerks of the prior at Christmas, also hay, litter, and a quarter of a bushel of oats daily for a horse;
dated as above, Tuesday before the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, 1336. By fine of 10s. London. [CPR]

Did I read that right? Every time he 'takes his meals without', he gets 6 loaves of bread and 3½ gallons of beer? That sounds like some packed lunch!

Over the next twenty or so years John turns up as a witness in various documents. In 1357, the prior with John DYNGELE and a couple of brothers are the subject of a complaint about their behaviour:

9 May 1357.
Commission of oyer and terminer to William DE SHARESHULL [&others] ... on complaint by Simon WARDE of Buyton that John DE PAVELY, prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England, Richard WRIKELE, John DYNGELE and Robert CHERLETON, his confrères, and others, took him at Merlawe, co. Buckingham, threw him in a stank of water there, and kept in the water as far as to submersion until to escape death he made oath not to sue against the prior or any other of the said trangressors by reason of any trespass done to him, in the king's court or elsewhere, and that afterwards, drawing him out of the stank they assaulted and grievously wounded him and likewise maimed his horse, worth 100s. and cut off its tail and ears, then set him, so wounded, thereon and led him through the market of the town in the sight of all the people assembled there with loud shouting (ingenti clamore).
By pet. of Parl. [CPR]

The hapless Simon WARDE was actually the representative of the bishop of Lincoln, with whom the prior was in dispute:

9 May 1357.
Commission of oyer and terminer ... on complaint by the bishop of Lincoln that John DE PAVELY, prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England, Richard WIRKELE, John DYNGELE and Robert CHERLETON, his confrères, and others at Merlawe, co. Buckingham, assaulted Simon WARDE of Bouyton, his servant and clerk, whom he sent with a citation to cite the prior to appear before the bishop of London, conservator of the privileges of the Hospital, in a cause pending before him between the bishop of Lincoln and the prior and to do other arduous business of the bishop of Lincoln, and stole from him the citation and other letters and instruments of the said bishop, whereby the matters remained undone. By pet. of Parl. [CPR]

Having established his credentials with the prior, John DYNGELE gets appointed, with others, as the prior's attorney:

Note that a second John DYNGELEE appears in the above. Both Johns appear as the prior's attorney in later records in 1364, 1367, 1370, 1372. In the 1367 entry, the second John DYNGLEE is noted as 'not a brother'.

In 1372 and 1374, John DYNGLEY the younger is involved in presenting John WENT to the church at Normanton. John PAVELY, the late prior of the Order of St. John seems to have revoked this, but the king (Edward III) restored the presentation. The archbishop of York seems to have challenged the king's decision, under the authority of the pope, which displeased the king. [CCR]

I am not sure on the correct interpretation of the Normanton presentation. At first I took "John DYNGLEY the younger" to be the younger of the two above DINGLEYs. However, another person named with John DYNGLEY in the Normanton presentation is William FYNCHEDEN. William FYNCHEDEN is named in two other records (1357, 1363) with John DE DYNELAY, participating in Commissions in Yorkshire. John DE DYNELAY looks more likely to have been John DYNELEY of Downham (Lancs) who had lands in Yorkshire and died in 1367 - see Downham Dyneleys. Also it would seem odd that an attorney of the prior would take an action against the prior; and more likely that the local lord of the manor would "present". So maybe "John DYNGLEY the younger" was a son of John DYNELEY? - but this does not feel totally right either since, at this time, I would not expect a DYNELEY to use the DYNGLEY spelling in a Yorks record, although this is not a strong argument.

In 1375 and 1378, only one John DYNGELEE is appointed attorney for John PAVELY's successor. Perhaps the other John DYNGLEY had died? In 1381 John DYNGLEYE was referred to as 'late brother of the Hospital' - this could be either of the two Johns.

In the 14th century, John DE DYNGELE and his son Roger held property in West Smithfield which had been enfeoffed to them by William DE LANGEFORD. The latter was doubtless Sir William DE LANGFORD. It seems pretty certain from the following records that John DE DYNGELE, father of Roger, was the same as one of the above John DE DYNGLEYs of Clerkenwell.

By way of background, when the Order of the Knight's Templar was abolished in 1312 by papal decree, its assets were to be given over to the Order of St. John. Upon the accession of Edward III (1327), the portion of the Templar's land which lay within the City was granted to William DE LANGFORD, the king's clerk. [www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/9424/page12.html]

John DE DYNGELE and William DE LANGFORD had some type of business relationship as they were jointly in financial dealings with the Hospital of St. John.

Shortly afterwards, William DE LANGEFORD enfeoffed John DE DYNGLE and his son Roger in two adjoining properties in St. Sepulchre's 'without the bar of Westsmythefeld' -

6 Oct 1346.
Whereas Edward I by letters patent granted to Roger DE APPELBY a void place in the parish of St. Sepulchre's without the bar of Westsmythefeld, London, ... for him to build on and retain to him and his heirs rendering at the exchequer yearly 12d. by the hands of the sheriff of Middlesex, and the present king by letters patent granted licence for William DE LANGEFORD to enclose and build on a vacant place, adjoining the said place now built on ... and retain the same to him and his heirs by the service of 10d. ...; and whereas John MILES, who acquired in fee from the said Roger with the king's licence the first named place ... enfeoffed the said William of the same messuage and afterwards the latter enfeoffed John DE DYNGLE and Roger, his son, of the same messuage as well as of the place granted by the present king, now in part built on, and the said John and Roger re-granted the same to him for life without the king's licence: he has pardoned the trespasses in this behalf and granted licence for William to retain the same for life with remainder to John and Roger. [CPR]

William DE LANGEFORD must have been getting his affairs in order because he wrote his Will on 11 October and probate was on 11 November. In this Will he leaves "a cross and relics" to John DE DYNGELEE. [Cal.Lon.Wills] In 1347 the king pardons John and Roger for trespassing upon the above property:

24 Nov 1347.
To John DE COGGESHALE, escheator in co. Middlesex. Order to amove the King's hand from a messuage ... and a plot, in part newly built, contiguous to the messuage, ... of John DE DYNGELE in the parish of St. Sepulchre without the bar of Westsmythefeld, London, and not to intermeddle further therewith, restoring the issues thereof to the said John and Roger his son, as the King ordered the escheator to certify him why he had done so because he had found by inquisition of office that William DE LANGEFORD held them in chief at his death after which John entered them without licence, and because William enfeoffed John and Roger with the premises and they granted the said messuage and plot to William to hold for life with reversion to them, without the King's licence, the King pardoned them the said trespass, by a fine which William made with him, and gave them licence of granting the same to William to hold for life by the service of rendering 22d. yearly at the exchequer, with reversion to them. [CCR]

30 years later Roger and his wife Beatrice enfeoffed someone else, probably after his father John had died:

Ten years later, Roger is married to Elizabeth. The plot next to the messuage has been developed into nine shops (or five - check notes).

20 Jan 1386.
Pardon, for a fine of 40s. paid by Roger DYNGELEE, of the trespass of William BEDELL, citizen of London, in acquiring for life from the said Roger and entering on, without licence, a messuage and five shops in the parish of St. Sepulchre without the bar of West Smythfeld, London, held in chief, and grant of the premises to the said William for life; licence for the said Roger to grant the reversion of the premises to Roger FYRON, chaplain, in fee simple, and for the latter after attornment had thereof to grant the reversion to the said Roger DYNGELEE and Elizabeth DYNNESLE (sic), in fee simple; and licence for the said Roger DYNGELEE to enfeoff the said Roger FYRON of nine shops in the said parish and for the feoffee, after seison had thereof, to re-enfeoff the said Roger and Elizabeth of the same. [CPR]

In 1464 a Richard DYNGLEE is recorded as having property in St. John Street without 'Westsmythfeld barres' in the parish of St. Sepulchre, see Surrey Dingleys. However, I doubt that there was any connection with the above John DE DYNGLEY.

5 May 1342.
To John AKEBOURNE, keeper of part of the coket seal in the port of Boston, and to the collectors of customs there. Order to John DE DYNGELE to lode 10 sacks of wool in that port and take them to the staple in Flanders, receiving ½ mark a sack for the ancient custom from him, in accordance with the king's grant to him in recompense for certain horses which he lost in the king's service and for other damages suffered in the same which extend to 20l. and more as the king has learned by trustworthy testimony. [CCR]

He (and Sir William DE LANGEFORD) were also attorneys of the Peruzzi Society of merchants:

30 Jul 1342.
To the sheriff of Northampton. Order to assign to William DE LANGEFORD, knight, John DE DYNGELE and John SKYNNERE, citizen of London, as attorneys of John BAROUNCELL and his fellows, merchants of the society of the Peruzzi, 1,000 marks of the 2,500 marks assigned to them of the fines of that county in full satisfaction of their portion thereof, and to pay the residue of the 2,500 marks to the merchants of the society of the Bardi, notwithstanding any order to the contrary, as in part satisfaction of the debts in which the king was bound to the merchants of the Bardi and Peruzzi, he assigned to them 5,000 marks of the fines adjudged in that county and in co. Norfolk before the justices appointed in those counties to hear and determine the trespasses and excesses committed by the king's ministers and others, to wit 2,500 marks in each county, and Peter BINI, merchant of the society of the Bardi and John BAROUNCELL have appeared in chancery and granted that William, John and John as their attorneys shall receive 1,000 marks of the 2,500 marks and 282l. 13s. 4d of the 2,500 marks in co. Norfolk in full satisfaction of the 5,000 marks assigned to them. The king has ordered the sheriff of Norfolk to pay 282l. 13s. 4d. to the said attorneys in the form aforesaid.
The like to the sheriff of Norfolk, 'mutatis mutandis'. [CCR]

The above sums of money look very large. The Peruzzi and Bardi Societies of Florence were in fact acting as international bankers and had been helping to finance England's war with France. In October 1343 the Peruzzi Society declared itself bankrupt, partly as a result of these large loans.

The following record refers to John DE DYNGELE and his wife Beatrice, widow of Alan GILLE. I cannot relate them to any other Dingley, so far - I suppose the most likely would be the above John DE DYNGELE of Clerkenwell and West Smithfield, but I have no evidence for this connection. I had wondered if they might be John DINGLEY who married Beatrice OGLANDER, but the dates do not fit.

22 Jun 1355.
Commission to Thomas LEGGY, mayor of London, William DE THORPE, Roger DE DEPHAM, Robert DE THORPE and John MOUBRAY, reciting that, whereas by an inquisition lately taken it was found that Alan GILLE was seised in his demesne as of fee on the day of his death of two tenements in the parish of St. Mary atte Hull in the said city, ... and that the said Alan died without heir, petition has been made before the king and council on behalf of John DE DYNGELEYE and Beatrice, his wife, late wife of the said Alan, ... and the same Beatrice after the death of Alan entered into the premises and continued her seisin until she was removed at the suit of Thomas DE PETRESFELD, ... the king will order restitution thereof to be made to the said John and Beatrice; and appointing them to find by inquisition in the city in the presence of the said Thomas, if he will attend, the whole truth of the matter. [CPR]

A further inquisition was held in 1357 at which Thomas DE PETRESFELD had objected that Alan GILLE was a bastard. However, the inquisition found that Alan was not a bastard. [Cal. Let. Book]

Excluding the DYNELEYs of Lancashire and Yorkshire, I have seen evidence for several John DINGLEYs in the period from 1264 to 1378 in the counties of Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Sussex and the diocese of Lincoln, as summarised in the following table:

a.	1264/5	John DE DINGGELEY acting on behalf of Roger DE VERE, prior of the Order of St. John of Jersulam, concerning property in Sussex.	Sussex
b.	1302	John DE DYNGELE attorney for John DE SANCTO CLARO.	CPR
c.	1328-1357	John DINGLEY in the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell.	2. above
d.	1339-40	John DINGLEY and wife Margery in Hokindene, Kent.	Kent
e.	1342	John DINGLEY in Paulynescreye, Kent.	Kent
f.	1342	John DINGLEY merchant in Northampton, Norfolk & Boston, Lincs.	4. above
g.	1346-7	John DINGLEY, clerk, in West Smithfield, London.	3.1 above
h.	1348	John DINGLEY and wife Margaret in diocese of Lincoln.	CPL
i.	1349	John DINGLEY and wife Margery in Kent and Hertfordshire.	Kent
j.	1350	John DINGLEY and wife Margaret in diocese of London.	CPL
k.	1355	John DINGLEY and wife Beatrice, in St Mary atte Hull, London.	5.above
l.	1358	John DINGLEY deceased husband of Beatrice in diocese of Lincoln.	CPL
m.	1361-72	Two John DINGLEYs in the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell.	2. above
n.	1364	John DYNGELEE, messuage in Suthwerk.	CCR
o.	1366	John DYNGELEYE, commission de wallis et fossatis along the shore of the Thames in the marshes of Derteford and Eard, co. Kent.	CPR
p.	1375-8	John DINGLEY in the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell.	2. above

There is evidence that John DINGLEY in c., f. and g. are the same (see earlier sections above) and more of them are likely to be the same, e.g.

It is difficult to say how many of the other John DINGLEYs were the same, although doubtless some are.

The above table includes some entries from the Calendars of Papal Letters. These entries are for some Dingleys who were granted Indults (Indulgences) "to choose confessors, who shall give them, being penitent, plenary remission at the hour of death, with the usual safeguards". (Note that the diocese of Lincoln covered a large area, at that time, from the Thames to the Humber.)

Alan DINGLEY was, according to Edward HASTED (Historian of Kent), the ancestor of a line of DINGLEYs who were goldsmiths and merchants in the London area. I cover these under Descendants of Alan Dingley.

The church of St Helen's Bishopsgate was used by this DINGLEY branch for nearly a century and they had a family vault "in the passage to the Church". [St Helen's PR] Robert DINGLEY (1710-81) owned a home at Little St Helen's Bishopgate. [DNB]

It is possible that Robert DINGLEY (c.1678-1741) came to Bishopsgate as a result of his marriage to Susan ELKIN whose father Henry ELKIN was a goldsmith there.

Robert had acquired a small house in North End in 1727 and a grant of waste in 1738; his Hampstead property was left to his son Charles who significantly extended and developed it.

Family	DINGLEY:	Arms	Hants	IoW	Kent	Lancs	Lincs	London	Surrey	Sussex
Site		Refs	Wilts	Worcs	Yorks