Robert Waterton, Lord of Waterton in the Isle of Axholme

Robert Waterton, likely born circa 1360, was the son of John Waterton of Waterton, Lincolnshire and Joan, daughter of Peter de Mauley, 2nd Baron Mauley.

He made his will on 10 January 1425, and died at Methley on 17 January. He was buried in the Waterton chapel in St Oswald's parish church with this epitaph:

Pray for the soul of Robert Waterton & Cecily his wife, That God will take to his kingdom their poor & endless life.

His arms, displayed on his alabaster effigial monument, were Barry of six, Ermine and Gules, over all three crescents sable.

Robert Waterton married, Cecily, daughter of Sir Robert Fleming of Woodhall, sister of Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln, and aunt of Robert Flemming, Dean of Lincoln (1416–1483), by whom he had a son, Robert Waterton.

1365 - 1424/25 Robert Waterton (Methley branch), Lord of Waterton in the Isle of Axholme, Lincs. and Methley, Yorks. (alive in 1398, died 1424). Supporter of the House of Lancaster.

Robert Waterton ("the Constable"). This Robert Waterton was Esquire of the Body to Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford (Henry IV), with whom he went on Crusade to the Holy Land. He was Constable of the castles of Pontefract (1399-1425), Tickhill & Castle Donnington.

During his tenure as Constable at Pontefract Castle, Richard II was imprisoned, subsequently dying in mysterious circumstances 1400).

He was High Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster, Master of the King's Horse & Armour & Master of the King's Running Hounds. Jailer to James I King of Scots & Scots Nobles & many French Nobles from Agincourt. ob:1424/5 (will dated: 10th Jan 1424/5) bur: Waterton Chapel, Methley. (7)

The Arms of Robert Waterton. Lord of Waterton in the Isle of Axholme, Lincs. and Methley, Yorks.

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This Robert was the eldest son* of John de Waterton of Waterton (b. c1340). There is no evidence that he was ever Steward of the Honour of Pontefract and his lack of knighthood ** (which in those days was not honorific) was down to his ability to avoid such onerous duties and his usefulness to his Sovereign. His wife was Cecily Fleming daughter of Sir Robert Fleming of Woodhall and niece of Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln, who founded Lincoln College, Oxford. (7). See 14th & 15th century descents of Waterton of Waterton & Methley.

The tomb of Robert Waterton & Cecily is in Methley Church. Cecily was the daughter of Sir Robert Fleming of Methley.

The Waterton Chapel in St Helens Church, Sandal Magna, is the foundation of another Sir Robert Waterton, but of the Walton line, not Methley. There are many confusions between the two Waterton Chapels. The one at Methley is a foundation by the will of Robert Waterton of Waterton & Methley and the one at Sandal by Sir Robert Waterton of Walton lob: 1482). (7)

Inset shows the Honour of Pontefract towards the end of the 14th century, i.e. about the time that Richard II met his untimely end.

Walton formed part of the Honour of Pontefract, of which the Saxon thane, Ashenhold was lord. Walton was owned by his son Ailric.

(Wakefield and Sandal were not in the Honour, being part of the Manor of Wakefield).

A thane ranked between a freeman and a hereditary noble, he held land granted by the king for services rendered.

In Shakespeare, Richard II, 2.i.277-88, Robert Waterton was travelling with Henry Bolingbroke, but, in fact, he was actually already in Yorkshire and he was there to greet him on the quay at Ravenspurgh (now engulfed by the North Sea).

King Henry IV - Henry Bolingbroke. Born 1367; Reigned 1399-1413. He was known before his accession as Henry Bolingbroke because he had been born at Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire.

[* not the 3rd son as stated in J.W. Walker ref. 4.

• * He was not "Sir" Robert, i.e. he was not a knight, as stated in ref. 9. In ref. 2 it states: " Sir John Waterton was high sheriff of Lincoln in 1401, and master of the horse to Henry V. at Agincourt. Sir Robert, his brother, whose wife was a lady of the garter, was governor of Pontefract Castle while Richard II was confined there: he had been master of the Horse to Henry IV." However, we know that Robert the governor was plain "Robert" and not a knight. A confusion of Roberts! Cecily was not a Dame of the Garter.(7)]

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References

• Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Vol. 30, page 368 Archive.Org
• https://overtown.org.uk/cw/Charles_Waterton/waterton-methley.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Waterton