Matilda de Swynnerton

     Matilda de was born circa 1371 in Swynnerton, Staffordshire, England. She was the daughter of Sir Robert de Swynnerton & Elizabeth, daughter of Robert de Beck. Matilda de married Humphrey de Peshall, son of Sir Richard de Peshale and Joan de Chetwynd, circa 1386 in England. She and Humphrey were blessed with 1 child. Matilda brought the manors of Hopton & Teyne to their marriage. They resided at the Manor of Hopton. Matilda's husband, Humphrey, died circa 1388 in the Manor of Hopton, Shropshire, England, leaving her a widow. Matilda, being still a minor, was left in his father's custody; in or before 1388. Matilda was forcibly abducted from Chetwynd in 1388, shortly after the death of her husband, and when she was yet a minor, by Sir John de Ipstones and held prisoner until she signed away her rights to Hopton. Then Sir John had her married off to his fourteen year old son, William, and then settled Hopton Manor on William. Sir John's success in this debacile is confirmed, as at his death in 1394, Sir John was siezed of both Hopton and Teyne. He was able to achieve all of this because of the anarchy that prevailed in this time period, especially in this region of Staffordshire and Shropshire.