Maurice Denys (Sheriff)

Maurice Denys (c. 1410–1466), Esquire, of Siston, Gloucestershire, was twice Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1460 and 1461. The Denys family were stated by Sir Robert Atkyns, the 18th-century historian of Gloucestershire, to have provided more sheriffs for that county than any other family.

He was the eldest son and heir of Sir Gilbert Denys (d. 1422) of Siston, Glos., by his 2nd wife Margaret Russell (d. 1460), eldest daughter of Sir Maurice Russell of Dyrham, Glos.

Due to Maurice having been in wardship, a full record of his birth and baptism is provided in the record of his proof of age inquisition dated 22 Sept. 1431 at Tetbury, Glos., in the presence of his warder Sir Edward Stradling:

Maurice was aged 10 (or possibly 14) on the death of his father in 1422, and therefore deemed a minor, not having achieved his majority of 21. The Inquisition post mortem of Gilbert Denys, dated at Chipping Sodbury, 25 June 1422, stated "Maurice Denys is his son and next heir, and he is of the age of 14 years and more". As Sir Gilbert Denys was a tenant-in-chief of the king in respect of the manor of Alveston, Glos., Maurice became a ward of the crown. In May 1422 Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester had been appointed keeper of the realm whilst King Henry V was away in France. In August 1422 the dying king appointed Gloucester as regent of England. Gilbert Denys had been in the service of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and had appointed the latter's son Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester as one of the two overseers of his will. It was possibly at the request of Beaufort, influential on the regency council, that the wardship of Maurice was awarded to Sir Edward Stradling of St Donat's Castle, Glamorgan, who was then about to marry Beaufort's illegitimate daughter by Alice FitzAlan. Gilbert Denys had been born in Glamorgan and had known Edward Stradling well, having quitclaimed his interests in land in Glamorgan to Stradling following the extensive redistributions of land consequent on the death of Sir Lawrence Berkerolles of Coity Castle in 1411. The Fine Rolls contain the following entry dated 17 July 1422:

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