John Heron, of Chipchase

Chipchase, being the strongest castle in the valley of the North Tyne, normally held a garrison of fifty horsemen in times of war with Scotland, and the Herons became almost hereditary Keepers of Tyndale.

From http://www.chipchasecastle.com/history.htm

The Keepers of Tyndale and the bailiffs of the adjoining valley of Redesdale were two of the officers of the Warden of Middle Marches. The English border against Scotland was normally divided into three commands: the East Marches based on Berwick, the Middle Marches based on Harbottle, and the West Marches based on Carlisle. North Tyndale, Redesdale and Upper Coquetdale were all in the Middle Marches.

When in 1490 John Heron was appointed Bailiff of Rededale he bound himself before the king in Chancery under a penalty of £500 to execute the duties of his office, to capture felons and evil-doers and bring them to justice. Lastly, he was to allow no conventicles or privy meetings between English and Scots on the Marches or elsewhere in the liberty.

In a survey of the state of the Borders made in 1522 the commissioners reported that Chipchase was “the most convenyent house for the said Keeper of Tynedale…the which house of Chypchase ys in measurable good state”. The Herons were a hot-tempered race and were regularly in trouble with the authorities.

Sources

1. The visitation of Yorkshire in the years 1563 and 1564 made by William Flower ; edited by Charles Best Norcliffe. Published 1881 by Mitchell and Hughes in London .Publications of the Harleian Society -- v.16.  Page 218 "Musgrave ll"
2. The history and antiquities of Leath Ward: in the county of Cumberland: with biographical notices and memoirs (Google eBook) Samuel Jefferson. S. Jefferson, 1840 - Leath Ward (England) - 515 pages.  "Parish of Edenhall.". Page 415. 
3. Hodgson, J.C. (1897). "Hexamshire: Part II." A History of Northumberland, IV, pp. 340. Northumberland County History Committee. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne: Andrew Reid & Co., LTD. <GoogleBooks>

Links

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