Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Northwood, Roger de
NORTHWOOD or NORTHWODE, ROGER de (d. 1285), baron of the exchequer, was son of Stephen de Northwood, who is said to have been the son of one Jordan de Sheppey, and to have acquired a grant of the manor of Northwood Chasteners, Kent, whence the family derived its name (Hasted, ii. 624–6). The account which describes him as son of a crusader called Roger is clearly a fiction based on the brass of a cross-legged knight in Minster Church [see under Northwood, John]. Roger first occurs in 1237 as witness to a deed in the exchequer, where he was no doubt employed (Madox, Hist. Exch. i. 726), and in 1258 was executor for Reginald de Cobham. According to Hasted (Hist. of Kent, iv. 69) he was for a short time warden of the Cinque ports, apparently in 1257. In 1259 he was a justice in Kent (Hasted, ii. 309). He was a baron of the exchequer previously to 20 Nov. 1274, and appears in this capacity in most years till the time of his death. He also appears as acting on various commissions of a judicial nature: thus on 11 Nov. 1280 he was appointed to inquire into the repair of Rochester bridge, on 18 Feb. 1282 he was on a commission of oyer and terminer in Middlesex, on 1 May of this year he was on a commission to inquire as to amercements in Kent, and on other commissions on 20 Aug. 1284 and 20 May 1285 (49th Report of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records, p. 127; Cal. Pat. Rolls Edw. I, 1281–92, pp. 44, 46, 143, 206). In 1277 he was excused from service in Wales as being employed at the exchequer, and on 28 Oct. 1284 is mentioned as witnessing a writ in the exchequer (Annales Monastici, iii. 301). He died on Friday, 9 Nov. 1285 (Cal. Genealogicum, i. 359). He married, before 1248, Bona, daughter of Henry de Waltham; she is sometimes called Bona FitzBernard. His son John [q. v.] is separately noticed.
[Hasted's History of Kent; Madox's Hist. of the Exchequer, i. 726, ii. 20, 62, 112, 320–1; Dugdale's Baronage, ii. 70; Foss's Judges of England, iii. 136–7; Archæologia Cantiana, ii. 9–42; other authorities quoted.]