14th Century Sir John de Buslingthorpe c1340-44 Church of St Michael Lincolnshire England

Knight Sir John de Buslingthorpe c1340-44 wearing chain mail, helmet and surcoat with Rowell spurs. His head rests on a cushion supported by angels, and his feet are on a lion. The stone effigy is in good condition, possibly owing to the fact it was inverted and used as a paving stone on the pulpit floor. His face has been destroyed to hide his true negroid facial type, but old brown paint is still on his monument, and the outline of his nose and lips remains to give us an idea of how he would’ve looked when he was alive.

This splendid life-size effigy is of Sir John de Buslingthorpe, who died in c1340. He lies with his pillow supported by two angels and with a lion at his feet.

The reason why the state of the monument is preserved so well excluding the paint, nose and lips. May partly be explained by the fact that it was discovered lying face downwards beneath the pulpit of the mediaeval church during Willson’s restoration.

Sir John de Buslingthorpe was the son of William de Buslingthorpe, either the son or grandson of Bertram, the son of Walter de Buslingthorpe; Walter probably founded Buslingthorpe church.  

Noble families in England always built their church on their land, so their property had to have been destroyed by the Edomites leaving the church. These churches would’ve been decorated in gold and precious stones, but they have long been stolen along with the family’s land.  

Children

1. Richard “the elder” See images

John was possibly an ancestor of Richard de Buslingthorpe at Wellingore.

John seems to have owned land in Wellingore, and there are 2 agreements from 1327 to Robert Askby and Simon Cowheard of Wellingore leasing land. 

1 An agreement where John de Buslingthorpe leases to Robert Askby of Wellingore 1 bovate of land, namely that once held by John Kynet with its appurtenances.

Terms: To be held by Robert and his heirs or assigns for the following ten complete years from Michaelmas 1327, paying annually to John and his heirs 10 silver shillings in equal portions at 4 named annual terms and 1d in a ward at Feast of St. John Baptist and making suit at his [manor] court in Wellingore. Date: Feast of St. Michael Archangel, 1327

2 Agreement whereby Sir John de Buslingthorpe leases to John, son of Simon cowherd of Wellingore and to Isabel, his wife, that toft and all that land with all its easements and appurtenances once held by Alexander le Rous in bondage in Wellingore.

Terms: To be held by John and Isabel for the rest of their lives, paying annually to John and his heirs 15 silver shillings in equal portions at 4 named annual terms and making suit at his [manor] court in Wellingore. Date: Wednesday in Crastino of St. Peter ad Vincula, 14 Edward II

Wellingore paid an assize to the Hospitallers at Temple-Bruern, and it seems that before it passed to the Hospitallers, the Buslingthorpes were (more or less) connected with Temple-Bruem. Sir John may have been a Templar belonging to that Preceptory or otherwise associated with their order. 

Church of St Michael Buslingthorpe Lincolnshire dates from the 13th century, with alterations and additions in the following century.^[3] In 1835 it was restored and, other than the tower was rebuilt in brick by Edward James Willson. The church stands on the site of a deserted mediaeval village.^[4] It was declared redundant in 1984.^[4]

Sources

1. Images: The source is in the image description jmc4, Budby Flickr
2. www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/745205069563526636/
3. Historic England, “Church of St Michael, Buslingthorpe (1359510)”, National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 April 2015
4. Buslingthorpe: Church History, GENUKI, retrieved 7 February 2011
5. Image of Church St Michaels http://lincolnshirecam.blogspot.com