Earliest Records

Richard of Devizes (fl 1189-1192) appears to pre-date what is considered use of Vize as a surname. It is certainly believed that in this case, it denotes simply that Richard was born in Devizes, hence pre-dtaing the supposed arrival og John de la Vise as noted above. Little is known about Richard’s life and origins as he is known only from his writings, which cover the period from King Richard I “the Lionheart” between 1189 until after his death in 1199. 
The first recorded usage of the surname Vize (Vise, Vyse, Vyze, Vies) dates to the year 1296. The Canterbury Cathedral Dean and Chapter Archives holds quitclaims dated 1296 and 1298[1] that record a John le vyse as a witness to two land leases in Essex. 
From: Laurence de Gardino, son of Laurence le porter' of Prittlewell To: Peter of Southchurch For an annual payment of 18d, payable by Walter barun of Southchurch for a messuage and 1 acre of land in Southchurch. For this Peter has paid 13s 6d. Given at Southchurch [Essex]. Witnesses: 'Dominus' John of Rochford, knight; 'Dominus' Henry Grapinel, knight; 'Dominus' Richard of Barrow ('Barwe') [in Little Wakering?], knight; Henry de Genges; Philip perdriz; John samuel; Philip serle; John Jacob; John le vyse Endorsed with description and 'In Soucherch in 14th cent hands. Quitclaim CCA-DCc-ChAnt/S/42 4 May 1296
From: William de Addentonne of Prittlewell parish; Beatrice, wife of William de Addentonne of Prittlewell parish To: 'Dominus' Peter of Southchurch For an annual payment of 4d, payable by John strangman for 1 acre of land which was of Robert de le Hale in Prittlewell. For this Peter has paid 3s. Given at Southchurch [Essex]. Witnesses: Hugh de Newyle; Philip Serle; John Samwel' senior; John Samwel' junior; Laurence le port'; Bartholomew of Mucking ('mockinge'); Ranulf the cook ('kocus'); John le vyse Endorsed with description in 14th cent hand. Surrender and quitclaim CCA-DCc-ChAnt/S/52 30 May 1298 
From: http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=054-cadchant_7&cid=-1&Gsm=2008-06-18#-1 
The next record is from the early 14th century in London. The murder of John atte Vyse, a London saddler is recorded in the year 1326 (Calendar of Coroners Rolls, City of London 1300-1378). Arising from a quarrel between the Goldsmiths and Saddlers, when John was walking along High Street of Chepe in the evening, three Goldsmiths accosted him. He was struck by the first man with a sword on the left side of the head inflicting a mortal wound, by the second with an axe that almost severed his leg, whilst the third beat him with a staff after he fell to the pavement. He lay in the street until morning when discovered by his friends. He lingered in pain for a further three days before dying. 
On Friday after the Feast of St Martin ao 19 Edward II., information given to Benedict de "Folsham", the Coroner of London, Gilbert de Mordone and John de Cotone, the Sheriffs of the City, that John atte Vyse, "sadeler," lay dead of a death other than his rightful death in the house which he held of Johanna de Wokyndon in Goderomlane in the parish of in the Ward of Farndone Within. On hearing this, they proceeded thither and having summoned good men of that Ward and of the three nearest Wards, viz.: Aldresgate, Bredstrete and Chepe, they diligently enquired how it happened. The jurors--viz.: Luke de Grandon, William de Synyngham, Nicholas de Harwe, Edmund le Keu, Simon atte Crouche, Thomas Poyntel Richard le Brewere, John atte Berne, William de Aldenham, Adam de Canterbury, Geoffrey le Goldbetere and Richard de Oxon' of the Ward of Farndone Within; John Roger, Robert de Lenne "Fuister," Thomas Friday, Roger de Woxebrugge, Richard de Bernham, John atte Pirie and John Pentyn of the Ward of Aldresgate; Alexander de Honilane, William Broun, Walter de Scardeburgh, John de Syllyngham, Richard de Wylghby, and William de Weldone "taillour," of the Ward of Bredstrete; Osbert atte Bouwe, Robert de Skeltone, John de la Sale, Nicholas de Reigate, Adam de Arcubus, "sherman," and John atte Bowe, "sherman" of the Ward of Chepe--say that a certain John de Wynestone, Thomas de Walpol, Martin de Aumbresbury, William de Grenstede, Thomas le Waryner, John le Joignour, William Shonk, Simon Lightfot, Richard de Aumbresbury, James de Shordiche, John Galle and John Baudechon, goldsmith, on Sunday the eve of St. Martin aforesaid, shortly after the hour of curfew, were walking in the High Street of Chepe, lying in wait for men of the mistery of Saddlers in order to beat them, on account of a quarrel that had arisen between men of the mistery of Goldsmiths and that of Saddlers; that meeting the aforesaid John atte Vyse opposite the stone cross in Chepe the said John de Wynestone, Thomas de Walpol and Martin de Aumbresbure assaulted him, the said John de Wynestone striking him with a sword on the left side of the head, inflicting a mortal wound seven inches long and three inches deep, and the said Thomas Walpol striking him with an "ax" and nearly severing his leg, whilst the aforesaid Martin belaboured him with a staff when lying on the pavement. They further say that the aforesaid William de Grenstede, Thomas le Waryner, John le Joignour, William Shonk, Simon Lyghtfot, Richard de Aumbresbury, James de Shordiche, John Galle and John Baudechon aided and abetted the felony; that the said John atte Vyse thus beaten and wounded lay there groaning until carried by his friends to the house aforesaid, where he had his ecclesiastical rights and where he lingered until the following Thursday, when he died about cock-crow of his wounds. Being asked what became of John de Wynestone, Thomas de Walpol, Martin de Aumbresbury and the others, the jurors say that Thomas de Walpol, Martin de Aumbresbury, Richard de Aumbresbury, William de Grenstede and John le Joignour were captured and taken to Newgate; and the said John de Wynestone, William Shonk, Simon Lyghtfot, James de Shordiche, John Galle Thomas le Waryner and John Baudechon fled, but whither the jurors know not, &c. Chattels none. The corpse viewed, &c. Precept to the Sheriffs to attach the said John de Wynestone, William Shonk and their fellows as soon as, &c. 
From: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_80004000=shordiche&sbo=1&gss=angs-c&pcat=34&h=25296&recoff=132%20173%20214&db=epr_London&requr=292064100356&ur=0
The “misteries” of Goldsmiths and Saddlers were simply the Guilds for of these “crafts”[2], which were flourishing in London at this time. 
The next recorded using of the name was Robert atte Vise, who is noted in the Sussex Subsidy Roll of 1327. Robert was a landholder in the Parish of Shoreham, Rape of Bramber in West Sussex. One of 44 men assessed in Shoreham, holdings were valued at a modest 1 shilling, while his richest neighbour was assessed for 19 s 6 d. The value of 1 s was in fact the smallest assessment to be made. He was also a property owner in the Parish of Kingston, also in the Rape of Bramber, where he was assessed for 1 s 2d. Robert does not appear in the 1332 Sussex Subsidy Roll. 
Though there is archaeological evidence of Anglo-saxon settlement in the area, Shoreham (Soreham) was first recorded in the Doomsday Book. Shoreham was a significant port as the River Ardur was navigable for several miles[3]. In 1295 Shoreham was made a Borough. During the time of Robert atte Vise it was probably a trading centre. Kingston by contrast, lies further west along the Sussex coast and is a very small village. 
In 1334 Richard ate Vise was awarded the custody of the park of Lebury during the minority of its heir Edmund de Mortuo Mari (Patent Rolls of Edward III). The location of Clebury is not mentioned.[4] 
John de Vyse was given charge of the sub-deanery of Salisbury in 1347/8 by the Abbot of Middleton and Canon of Exeter (Calendar of Papal Registers Relating to Great Britain and Ireland, Vol 3). John is designated as Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Canon Law, so had probably attended Oxford (founded at the beginning of the 13th century) or Cambridge (founded between 1209 and 1225). At the time he was litigating in the Roman court over the church of Semelagh, for which he agreed to resign his claim in 1348. He was later nominated for a canonry and prebend of Exeter, which was granted on 1349 (Clement VI Petitions to the Pope: 1342-1419). 
2 Non. Jan. Avignon. (f. 115.) 
To the abbot of Middleton, John Thursten, canon of Salisbury, and Henry de Pik, canon of Exeter. Mandate to give to John de Vyse, B.A. and B.C.L. the subdeanery of Salisbury, value 15 marks, void by Robert de Worthe obtaining the church of Bradford, in the diocese of Salisbury, although Randolph de Querendon, who is to be removed, occupies it. The church of Semelegh, about which Vyse is litigating in the Roman court, is to be resigned. 
From: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=96284
Ibid. [f. 117] 
The same. On behalf of John de Vyse, B.A. B.C.L. for a canonry and prebend of Exeter; notwithstanding that provision has been made to him of the subdeanery of Salisbury and of a canonry and prebend of Wilton. Granted. Dated as above. 
From: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=92371
The sub-deanery of Salisbury was one of the divisions of the diocese of Salisbury, which covered Wiltshire, Berkshire and Dorset. The sub-deanery covered the smallest area with the three city parishes of Salisbury, St Thomas, St Edmund and St Martin, and Stratford-sub-Castle. The administrative records of the sub-deanery are held at the Wiltshire and Swindon Archives (A2A). The canonry and prebend of Exeter came under the jurisdiction of the Dean of Exeter. It is not clear how John was able to tend to duties in both Salisbury and Exeter at the same time. The parish of “Semelegh” has not been identified. 
This John is also listed in the Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae. 
In 1354 a Serlo Vyse was claimant to a property in Tregellast, Parish of St Keverne, Cornwall. Serlo later acknowledged that he had gifted both the manor and tenements to Richard de Coryton (Cannon Diggens Archive)[5]. 
So we have five Vizes living around the same time in England – Robert in Sussex, John in Wiltshire (possibly not his area of origin), a second John in London, Serlo in Cornwall and Richard location unknown. Two are men of property, one a clergyman and the fourth a tradesman. We do not however know if they are connected in any way. 
A further record from Inquisitions and Assessments of Feudal Aids mentions a Johannes Vyse of Farringdon. Farringdon is a village in Oxfordshire near the Wiltshire border (Wikipedia: Farringdon). This listing is however recorded under Berkshire, so there is either a second Farringdon or the county boundaries have changed. The date on this piece is unclear but is compiled from a range of sources from the 13th to the 15th century. The “aids” were essentially taxes that kings levied to support their activities such as wars and marriage dowries. This would appear to be from the 14th century but the sources for each entry are not noted to verify this. 
Hundreda de FARYNDONE et SCHREVENHAM. 
Inquisicio capta apud Wantynge die Sabbati ante festum Sancti Johannis Baptiste, coram Thoma Cokerell et sociis suis coUectoribus subsidii feodorum militum in comitatu Berkes. Johannes Gorge, Willelmus Payne, Willelmus Pyle, Johannes Mortone, Bicardus Walker de Faryngdone, Johannes Vyse, Thomas Bathe, Bobertus Colswayn, Johannes Barehede, Petrus Sherman de eadem, Johannes Broune, Bobertus Best de Langcote, dicunt super sacramentum suum, quod:— 
Totum hundredum de Faryngdone abbas de Bello Loco tenet in puram et perpetuam elimosinam de domino rege i. c. preter un. di. £, quod Johannes Taylour jam tenet, quod quondam Thomas Cocke tenuit in Westbroke juxta Faryngdon et preter terciam partem un. f. m. quam Willelmus Walwen tenet in Shyltone, et quam Willelmus pater ejus tenuit de domino rege i. c. 
From: http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/ilharvest/BrittleBooks_Open/Books2008-08/greabr0001inqass/greabr0001inqassv00001/greabr0001inqassv00001_ocr.txt 
Translation: 
An inquisition was taken on Wantynge day in the week before the feast of St John the Baptist, before Thomas Cokerell and his associates collected support of a knight's fee in the County of Berkes. John Gorge, William Payne, William Pyle, John Morton, Richard Walker of Faryngdone, John Vyse, Thomas Bathe, Robert Colswayn, John Barehede, Peter Sherman of the same, John Broun, Robert Best of Langcote, say upon their oath, that 
Put the whole hundred of Faryngdone abbot at war in pure and perpetual alms for the Lord King i. c. except un. di., that John Taylour now holds, and once held of Thomas Cocker tenant in Westbroke Faryngdon except according to the third part of un. f. m. holds in the Shyltone Walwen which William’s father held of the lord king William i. c 
Note: there are some transcription errors in the original manuscript which has been digitized using conversion software, eg use of the symbol £.
There is a story that John de la Vise, a friend of the King of England was given land in Wiltshire in 1227. The area is now known as Devizes. 
Before the reign of King Henry VIII when parish registers commenced, the tracking of people in England was mostly confined to the ruling classes through property records, court records, charters and church business. But for poor John’s unfortunate demise at the hands of The Goldsmith, we would probably have no records of Vize tradesman, and we have none of working class persons. The minor gentry that appear in the records are also mentioned very sporadically, making it difficult to forge any connections. 
In summary we have in the 13th and 14th century: 
John de la Vise Normandy & Wiltshire ﬂ 1227 landholder 
John le vyse Essex? ﬂ 1296-8 witness 
John atte Vise/Vyse London d 1326 saddler 
Robert atte Vize Bramber, Sussex ﬂ 1327 landholder 
John de la Vise Devon ﬂ 1330 landholder 
John de Vyse Salisbury, Wiltshire ﬂ 1340s clergyman 
Serlo Vyse Tregellast, Cornwall ﬂ 1354 landholder 
John Vyse Farringdon, Oxfordshire ﬂ ca 1400 landholder 
John atte Vise was left a bequest in the will of Robert son of John Togose alias de Bradegare in the Canterbury Diocese of Kent in 1409. John was to receive 40 s per year from the rent of the Manor of Swanton plus a gift of 100 s, as well as smaller gifts to his wife and son Thomas. John was one of the executors of the will, and with the two other executors was also to receive the residual of Robert’s goods after the payment of all bequests and debts. Robert was a Canon of Wingham (1370-1409) and founded Bedgar College. 
I leave to Lora Hwit of Thornham 40s. and a new tunic with rabbits fur. I leave to William Herry 40s., Thomas Bonton 40d. To each of the mendicant friars of Canterbury diocese to pray for me 40 l, William Thetcher and his wife 20s. and each of their children 12d., John Monks and his wife 40s. and each of their children 12d. I leave to John atte Vise 40s. to be received each year for his life of the Manor of Swanton which I bought together with the said John, Thomas Jeakyn, Sir John West and others deceased. I leave to the same 100ss and to Thomas and his son and his wife 10s. to pray for me. I ordain executors, Sit Thomas Jeakyn, John atte Vise and Sir Richard Baili to whom I leave the residue of all my goods that they with them they may pay the debts of my College at Bradegar, keeping sufficient to distribute to my relatives or those near to me according to their merits. I leave to John Horner and Custance his wife weekly 8d. for the life of each. I wish that there be distributed to the poor of Holyngborne Howkingge and Bredherst 40s. I leave to the College of Chichester 10 marcs to buy a cope. To the College of Wyngham for a cope 10 marcs. To the Commissary of Canterbury a quarternus remaining like that he has. To our Lord Archbishop a book ‘de Vollym’ compiled by John of Limano. I leave to my vicar of Northgate for oblations unpaid 20s. 
Proved 23 September 1409. He is styled "Magister Robertus Bradegare defunctus". (109b Arundell II). 
From: http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/Wills/Lbth/Bk22/page%20218.htm
Ricardus Vyse was appointed Rector of Bishopstone in 1458 (Rectors of Bishopstone). As the next appointment was in 1486, it can be assumed that this is when Richard died. Bishopstone is a parish a few miles from Salisbury in Wiltshire and the Church of St John the Baptist is still the local church. 
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[1] Canterbury Cathedral Archives DEAN AND CHAPTER ARCHIVE [CCA-DCc-ChAnt/P - CCA-DCc-ChAnt/S
http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=054-cadchant_7&cid=-1&Gsm=2008-06-18#-1
[2] Ref Goldsmiths
[3] Shoreham history 
[4] Patent Rolls of Edward III http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/patentrolls/e3v3/body/Edward3vol3page0055.pdf 
[5] Canon Diggens Archive http://www.st-keverne.com/History/Diggens/d20.html
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