Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Berningham, Richard de
BERNINGHAM, RICHARD de (fl. 1313), was a justice itinerant. There were two families of this name in the reign of Edward II, one in Yorkshire and the other in Norfolk. Both contained a Richard de Berningham, the former a son of John de Berningham, the latter of Walter de Berningham, lord of the manor of Hanteyns Barnham, Norfolk. The Richard de Berningham who was so often in this reign summoned to the council among justices and others probably belonged to the Yorkshire family (Sir F. Palgrave). A parliamentary writ, dated 1 Sept. 1313 (Parl. Writs, ii. p. ii. 534), requires him to lay aside the caption of assize in the northern counties during the meeting of parliament and repair to Westminster. He continued to be summoned in 1314, 1315, 1317, 1318, 1319, 1320, until 1324, and during that time was included in judicial commissions as conservator of the peace, justice of oyer and terminer, and commissioner of array for the county of York, in which county he was knight in 1323. From 1314 to 1315 he was a collector of scutages in Yorkshire, and in 1318 was empowered, as a landholder beyond the Trent, to raise and arm his tenants. The name of Richard de Bernyngham, miles, appears as witness to a charter of Marigg Abbey, Yorkshire, 5 April 1321 (Collect. Topographica, 1843, Marigg Charters, v. 123). He died, holding property at Middleton and Queenrow in Yorkshire, in 1329.
[Foss's Lives of the Judges; Blomefield's Norfolk, i. 636; Cal. Inquis. post mortem, ii. 19; Parly. Writs, ii. div. 8, p. 534.]