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Descendants of Thomas atte Mede


Generation No. 3


      3. Sir Thomas3 Mede (Thomas2, Thomas atte1) was born Abt. 1410, and died Abt. 1475 in St.Mary Redcliffe, Bristol.

Notes for Sir Thomas Mede:
Thomas Mede, of St. Mary Redcliffe, was the sheriff of Bristol in 1446.

Brass rubbing in Ashmolean Museum, Oxford:
Parish: St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
Inscription: Thomas Mede, thrice mayor (1475)
Coat of Arms: Gules a chevron ermine between three trefoils slipped argent

Sir Thomas Mede is probably the father of "Thomas Mede of Somerset" who went to Clavering, Essex in about 1470 and died there in 1504. The connection between Sir Thomas Mede of Wraxall, Somerset, and Thomas Mede in Clavering, Essex, is based on three pieces of circumstantial evidence.

First, the names. There were three generations of Thomas Medes in Somerset and five or six generations of Thomas Medes or Meades in Essex.

Second, the coat of arms. Several Meades in Essex used the same coat of arms: a chevron ermine bewteen three trefoils slipped argent.

Third, Clavering. The niece of Thomas Mede of Wraxall, Isabel Mede, married Maurice de Bekeley. Maurice was related to Elizabeth de Berkeley (his father's first cousin), who owned the manor of Clavering, Essex. The manor passed from her to her husband, Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and from him to his son-in-law, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. Thomas Mede of Clavering moved to Clavering, Essex, in about 1470, dying there in 1504. Possibly he was rewarded with land for supporting the Berkeley family at the Battle of Nibley Green, or for supporting the Earl of Warwick in 1470, or simply to help out a cousin.



      Children of Sir Thomas Mede are:
+ 5 i.   Thomas4 Mede, born Abt. 1450 in Somerset; died 1504 in Clavering, Essex.
+ 6 ii.   William Mede, born Abt. 1450 in Somerset.


      4. Philip3 Mede (Thomas2, Thomas atte1) was born Abt. 1415, and died 1475 in St.Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. He married Isabel ?.

Notes for Philip Mede:
Philip Mede was the mayor of Bristol three times and once the MP for Bristol. He is said to have been descended from the Mede family of Wraxall, Somerset. Master John Mede, Rector of Wraxall, Somerset, witnessed Philip's will.

In 1457 Philip Mede bought a messuage,10 acres land, 70 acres pasture, 10 acres meadow at Rolveston near Banwell, Somerset.

Brass Rubbing in Ashmolean Museum, Oxford:
Parish: St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
Inscription: Philip Mede Esq. and 2 wives (1475)
Coat of Arms: Gules a chevron ermine between three trefoils slipped argent

From the verger of St. Mary Redcliffe:
"The tomb of the Mede family is approx. 10 ft high by 18 ft by 3 ft. It contains in one compartment the effigies of Thomas and his wife and in the other a brass of Philip and his two wives. This rectangluar brass shows Philip kneeling with his wife. Philip's helmet is seen in front of him leaving his head uncovered and showing his long hair.
Philip Mede's daughter married Maurice the younger brother of William 12th Lord Berkeley. He was disinherited for marrying her but later became the 13th Lord Berkeley. Philip also supported with his men the Berkeley family at the last private battle fought on English soil at Nibley Green in 1470.
Philip Mede was Mayor of Bristol in 1459, 1462 and 1469. Thomas was also Mayor but is dressed in merchant clothing and as he had the tomb built with its fine carving I suppose he managed to gain the family wealth."



      Children of Philip Mede and Isabel ? are:
+ 7 i.   Isabel4 Mede, born 1447; died 1517.
  8 ii.   Richard Mede, born Abt. 1450; died 1491 in St.Mary Redcliff, Bristol. He married (1) Elizabeth Arthur Abt. 1475. He married (2) Anne Pauncefoote Abt. 1480.


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