Reynold Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham of Sterborough

For other simultaneous creations of the title, see Baron Cobham.

Arms of Sir Reynold Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham of Sterborough, KG

Reynold Cobham tomb, Lingfield church

Reynold Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham of Sterborough, KG (c.1295–1361) was a medieval English knight and diplomat.

Life

He was the son of Sir Reynold Cobham by Joan, the daughter and heir of William de Evere. This Reynold was the third son of John de Cobham, by his second wife Joan Neville, he married firstly Maud the daughter of William Fitzbenedict. The family were based at Sterborough Castle, Lingfield, Surrey.

In his early life he was employed on diplomatic missions. By 1334 he was a knight in the household of King Edward III and fought in the Scottish campaign against David de Bruce and then on the continent in the Low Countries and Brittany. In 1342 he was summoned to the House of Lords as Lord Cobham of Sterborough.

In 1346 he was in the force under Edward III that attacked France, fighting at the Battle of Crécy and the protracted but eventually successful Siege of Calais. In 1352 he was invested as a Knight of the Garter and in 1353 appointed Captain of Calais, a position he held until his death. In 1355 he served under the Edward the Black Prince in Aquitaine, taking part in his march to the Loire and his victory at the Battle of Poitiers, where he was credited by the French historian Jean Froissart with the slaying of the French knight Geoffroi de Charny.

He died in 1361, probably of the plague, and was laid to rest in an impressive tomb in Lingfield church.

Marriage and prodigy

Reynold and Joan de Berkley the daughter of Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley had the following issue:

• Reynold de Cobham, the second Lord Sterborough. who was succeeded by his son married (1) Elzabeth de Stafford (2) Eleanor Maltravers (2) - had issue.
  • Reginald Cobham married Eleanore Culpepper
  • Margaret, who married Sir Reginald Curtis, of Westcliffe, and had children
• Joan de Cobham, she married Sir Henry de Grey and had issue:
• John de Cobham

Reynold married Joan Berkeley by whom would be related to the noble families of Sutton, Dudley, Beauchamp, De Despencer and Mortimer. The Cobham family, however, were well connected to the ruling families of England in their own right.

Notes

^[1] Eleanor Maltravers was first married to John FitzAlan, 1st Baron Arundel and had issue.
^[2] Sir Henry de Grey descends from Henry de Grey

References

• Fleming, Peter. "Cobham family". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65269. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Bibliography

• Fleming, Peter. "Cobham family". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65269. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
• Testamenta vetusta: being illustrations from wills, of manners, customs, &c. as well as of the descents and possessions of many distinguished families. From the reign of Henry the Second to the accession of Queen Elizabeth; by Nicolas, Nicholas Harris, Si
• The Cobham Family in the Administration of England, Kent Archaeological Society, 1200-1400

External links

• Inquisition Post Mortem #59
• His tomb and effigy at Lingfield