The earliest of the name, and presumed descendant of the Burgundian Duchets, whom we find in England is Raymond Duket (Duchet), a justicier (or officer of the Curia Regis acting justicially) in 10th of William the Conqueror, according to a deed of confirmation, reciting an Inspexismus of a Concord, acknowledged before him of that date.
The next whose date can be authenticated is Herbert Ducket, recorded in the Gesta Abbatum S. Albani and from an incident therein related of him, is proved to have lived prior to 1119.
To him follow Richard Duchet (s.p.120), Eustace Duchet (p.120) and Ranulph Duchet, who appears in the Great Roll of the Exchequer in the 31st Hen I (AD 1131) referring to the revenue of Hants and again in 1142.
These three names - Richard, Eustace and Ranulph Duchet are connected with the earliest extant memorials of the City of London. The last of these, Ranulph, was the father of :-
Nichole Duket (or Duchet), who, temp. Rich I (1199) was Chamberlain of the City of London, Sheriff of London 1191 and 1196, and appears to have been Bailiff of the city, 9 Rich I (28th Sept 1197). In the "Charter Rolls" of the 7 John (1206), he is styled "filius Ranulfii Duket de Lond." being mentioned in a grant of land [Coram Rege 4 Hen III] by him for the endowment of the priory of Lesnes in Kent, founded in 1178, and confirmed by King John 1206. From the Pipe Rolls, (London & Middx, 4 Ric I) we find, that he and Peter Fitz Nevelon, as Sheriffs of London and Middx., "reddunt compotum"; and from the same Rolls, 9 Rich I, "Nicholas Duket et Robertus Blundus pro eo, reddunt compotum" The following, from the Liberate Rolls, 2 John, affords undoubted evidence of his connection with Lincolnshire; Liberatae 2 John Linc' Gerardus de Kamvill, Vicecomes Linc', Nicholaus Duket (Subvicecomes pro eo). In the "Patent Rolls" of the 8 John (6th May 1207), his name again occurs, as well as in the "Great Rolls of the Exchequer" 1202 (the Roll of the Sheriff's accounts for the 3 John), in connection with the counties of Lincoln and Middx., and mention is again made of him, A.D.1200, in another of the "Liberate Rolls" of the 2 John. Others of the family occur about this time, viz. Laurence and Humphery Duket, both co-executors with the above-named Prior of Lesnes, of Nicholas Duket's will.
Next in point of date was:- Richard Duket (styled also Sir Richard Duket - Dominus Ricardus Duket), who held land at Wellingore, Haydor, Aisby, Fillingham and other parts of Lincolnshire and was justice itinerant in the reign of Hen III. In the early part of King John's reign he had held an office at court, and was the "King's Secretary", his name frequently appearing in this capacity as a counter signature to grants from 5 to 8 John inclusive (1203-1206). In the latter year 1207 retaining the same office and styled Clericus Noster he received an annual pension of 5 marks out of the Abbey of Whitby, then in the King's hands. From this time until 6 & 7 Hen III, the records are silent with regard to him, when he appears to have been Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, counties with which many records associate him. In June (9 Hen III) 1224 Simon de Hule and he were placed at the head of the justices commissioned to the counties of Essex, Hertford, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Bedford (of which according to Dugdale he was Archdeacon), Buckingham, Norfolk, Suffolk, Northampton and Rutland, being granted 20 Marks for his expenses, and after 10 more as appears in the Close Roll of that year. While on this duty, he was summoned to the King on the 20th August of that year, to undertake an embassy to the Court of Rome, whither he proceeded with Philip de Hadham, having a grant of 100 marks for their expenses
. In the following year, being styled Nuncius
Page 12
Regis he received a further grant of 10 marks for his expenses whilst at Rome. In the same year he was a justice itinerant for Lincolnshire, with a grant of 10 marks and subsequent allowance of 10 marks and in the year following for Kent, Essex, Hertford, Suffolk, and Norfolk, in conjunction with Martin de Pateshull and William de Insula. In the latter year he had a grant of 10 marks per annum out of the Exchequer, and it appears from various entries that he was one of the justices itinerant assigned for the northern counties, 11 Hen. III, acting as such in that year, amongst other cases, in a legal contest which took place between R. de Veteripont, Sheriff of Westmoreland, and W. de Lancastre (the third), Baron of Kendal, concerning suit to be made to the County Court by the said William and his tenants.
His continuance in employment seems to have extended from this time to the 26 Hen. III, during the greater part of which, with occasional intermissions, there is record of his judicial career in connection with Ireland, and of his employment there on responsible duties in respect of the Exchequer, as evidenced by entries in the Pipe, Patent, and Close Rolls from the 12th to 24th of that reign.
The first mention we find of him in these rolls, is that he was associated with John Mareschal (Marshall), and Simon de Hale as a justice in eyre in that country, letters of protection (dated March 10th 1227) being granted to them to proceed thither on the King's service just at which time Richard de Burgh, (nephew of Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent), had been appointed Justiciary of Ireland. He seems to have been especially selected to assist in administering the affairs of the Irish Exchequer, as one intimately acquainted with that particular department, and from the various commissions in which he figures during so many years, it is manifest that he was selected for the employment
Page 12* as something more than a justice itinerant. This in fact is shown by his mission to the Court of Rome three years previously, and the numerous grants both in money and lands, which he from time to time received, proves the estimation in which the King held him.
In the summer of the following year (13 Hen. III), he again visited Ireland on the same service, with an allowance of 50 marks for his maintenance. On this occasion one of his principal instructions - " to preserve in conjunction with John, Bishop of Ferns, the rights of the Irish Exchequer,". He would appear to have been thus engaged during the whole of the 14th of Hen III, receiving in April of that year a grant of 40 marks for his maintenance on the King's service in those parts, and in November of the same year he had a further allowance of 40 marks, probably for his onerous duties in that country.
From the spring of the 15 Hen III, until the 30th of January of the 17th of that reign, at which time Maurice Fitz Gerald had become Justiciary of Ireland, his duties appear to have been confined to his own country, for in the intervening year (16 Hen III), there are entries of assize directed to be held before him in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Beds, and Bucks; and in Close Rolls of the year (July 26) he received £10 out of the amercements of the eyre of William de Raleigh and Robert de Lexinton. It is probable that he continued in England from this time until 17 Hen III (1233), for in February of that year he has letters of safe-conduct to proceed again to Ireland, where his presence was required, having an allowance of 3s a-day for his maintenance on the King's service. Richard de Burgh had ceased to be Justiciary there, and had fallen into disgrace during his absence, against whom criminal charges were about to be brought, and in conducting which he would be called upon to take an active part. How
Page 12** long he may have been engaged on his duty does not appear, but in the same year he acted for Cornwall and received from the King a grant of lands at Wellingore in Lincolnshire. No further mention is made of him after this date until 20 Hen III when a Close Roll entry refers to lands leased to him under the Crown in Ireland.
In the 26th Hen III not long before his death, he was appointed a justice of assize for the bishopric of Durham.
From the numerous commissions in which he thus occurs through so many years, and the position which he occupies in them, it is probable that he had been for some time one of the regular justiciars at Westminster.
With respect to his armorial ensigns, we have cited at p. 131 a Jewish document of 3 Edw I which, whilst illustrating the family history in a remarkable manner, affords indubitable evidence of the arms of Duket at this period viz. the quarterly coat here represented.
His death occurred prior to Dec 27th 1245 (30 Hen III) because at that date his son Sir Hugh paid ten shillings for his relief and did homage
Page 13 for his lands in Lincolnshire.
Sir Richard Duket married
Margaret and (according to Dugdale)
Beatrice, by one of whom he had
Hugh, his son and heir aforesaid who married Alice by whom he left no issue. He had further,
Adam, living A.D.1281 (9 Edw I);
Stephen; (in one of the pedigrees appears
Beatrice);
Margaret, married as her first husband to Sir John de Everingham,
Page 14 and secondly to Sir Robert de Venour; and
William, of whom presently.
.
