_Thomas Kingeston, Knt., called also Lord Thomas Kingeston._--Can any of
your correspondents give any clue or information touching this Lord
Kingeston? He lived in the early part of the reign of Edward III.
In the extracts from Aske's Collections relating to the descendants of
M. Furneaux, published in the first volume of _Coll. Top. and Gen._, at
p. 248., it is stated:
"Mathew of Bitton was married unto Constantyne Kingston, daughter
to the Lord Thomas of Kingston; and of the said Mathew and
Constantyne came John of Bitton, which died in Portingale."
In a pedigree (_Harl. MSS._ 1982. p. 102.) which shows the descendants
of Furneaux, the match between "Sir Math. Bitton" and C. Kingston is
laid down, and her arms are marked sab. a lion ramp. or.
With regard to Mathew de Bitton, he was son and heir of John de Bitton
and Havisia Furneaux. The residence of the family was at Hanham, in the
parish of Bitton, Gloucestershire, at a place afterwards called "Barre's
Court," from Sir John Barre, who married Joan, the great-granddaughter
of the said Mathew. The house abutted on the Chace of Kingswood.
In the 48th of Edward III. a writ was issued, to inquire who were the
destroyers of the deer and game in his Majesty's Chace, when it was
found that Mathew de Bitton was "Communis malefactor de venasione Dom.
Regis in Chacia predicta." It was proved that he had killed thirty-seven
deer! After much difficulty, he was brought before the justiciaries,
when he acknowledged all his transgressions, and placed himself at the
mercy of the king. He was committed "prisonæ Dom. Regis, quousque
Justiciarii habeant locutionem cum consilio Dom. Regis."
Any further information respecting him also would be very acceptable. A
very detailed account of the inquiry is at the Chapter House, among the
Forest Proceedings.