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About Gunnora Bigod

Gunnor was also called Gunnora Bigot.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISH%20NOBILITY%20MEDIEVAL.htm#_...

Two brothers, one sister, parents not known:

1. ROGER Bigod (-1107, bur Thetford[905]). Domesday Book records “Roger Bigod” holding numerous properties in Norfolk and Suffolk[906]. "…Rogerus Bigotus…" subscribed a charter dated Sep 1101 under which Bishop Herbert donated property to Norwich priory[907]. "…Rogeri de Bigot…" subscribed a charter dated 14 Sep 1101 under which Henry I King of England donated property to Bath St Peter[908]. “Rogerus Bygot” founded Thetford Priory, with the advice of “…uxoris meæ Adeliciæ”, by undated charter dated to the reign of King Henry I[909]. The Annals of Bermondsey which record the death in 1107 of “Rogerus Bigod, principalis fundator monasterii Beatæ Mariæ Thetfordiæ”[910].

[m firstly ADELAIS, daughter of ---. The Liber Vitæ of Durham lists (in order) "Rodgerus Bigodus, Atheles uxor eius, Willelmus filius eorum"[911]. “Willielmus Bigot, dapifer regis Anglorum” donated property to Thetford Priory, for the souls of “patris mei Rogerii Bigoti et matris meæ Adelidis” and for the salvation of “fratris mei Hugonis et sororum mearum”, by undated charter dated to the reign of King Henry I[912]. The Complete Peerage[913] states that the wording of this charter shows that Adelais, mother of William, was deceased at the time, and must therefore have been a different person from Adelise de Tosny, Roger Bigod's [second] wife, who was recorded as alive in 1136. However, the question is open to debate as “pro anima” clauses are often difficult to interpret accurately.]

m [secondly] (before [1100]%29 ADELISE de Tosny, daughter of ROBERT de Tosny Lord of Belvoir & his wife Adelais --- (-after 1136[914]). Her parentage is indicated by the 1130 Pipe Roll which records "Adeliz uxor Rogi Big…tra patris sui de Belueder" in Lincolnshire[915], which also indicates that Adelise succeeded her sister Albreda in the Belvoir estates of their father. It is also indicated by the charter dated 23 Apr [1430] under which her descendant “Thomas dominus de Ros, de Hamelake, de Trussebout et de Beavoir” confirmed the possessions of Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire made by "antecessores nostros…Robertum de Toteneio, Willielmum de Toteneyo filium suum, Agnetem de Toteneio filiam dicti Roberti de Toteneyo, Henricum de Rya filium Huberto de Rya, Agnetem de Toteneyo, Willielmum de Albeneio primum, Willielmum de Albeneio secundum, Willielmum de Albeneio tertium, Willielmum de Albeneio quartum, Ywynum de Albeneyo, Heliam de Albeneyo et uxores eorundem, Isabellam filiam domini Willielmi de Albeneio quæ fuit uxor domini de Ros, domini de Beauvoire et de Hamelake"[916], the connection between Robert de Tosny Lord of Belvoir, father of Alice, being established through the marriage of her daughter Cecilia to William de Albini Brito. "Rogerius Bigot…et uxoris mee Adalicie" donated the church of Thetford to Cluny dated [1100][917]. “Rogerus Bygot” founded Thetford Priory, with the advice of “…uxoris meæ Adeliciæ”, by undated charter dated to the reign of King Henry I[918].

Roger & his [first] wife had one child: a) WILLIAM Bigod (-drowned off Barfleur, Normandy 25 Nov 1120). The Liber Vitæ of Durham lists (in order) "Rodgerus Bigodus, Atheles uxor eius, Willelmus filius eorum"[919]. He succeeded his father in 1107 as Lord of Framlingham, Suffolk. “Willielmus Bigot, dapifer regis Anglorum” donated property to Thetford Priory, for the souls of “patris mei Rogerii Bigoti et matris meæ Adelidis” and for the salvation of “fratris mei Hugonis et sororum mearum”, by undated charter dated to the reign of King Henry I[920]. Sheriff of Suffolk 1116. The Continuator of Florence of Worcester names "…Willelmus Bigod…" among those drowned in the sinking of the White Ship[921].

Roger & his [second] wife had five children:

b) HUGH Bigod ([1095]-1177 before 9 Mar). “Willielmus Bigot, dapifer regis Anglorum” donated property to Thetford Priory, for the souls of “patris mei Rogerii Bigoti et matris meæ Adelidis” and for the salvation of “fratris mei Hugonis et sororum mearum”, by undated charter dated to the reign of King Henry I[922]. The Complete Peerage states that he was William’s brother “presumably of the half-blood”, the basis for the statement being explained on the previous page[923]. He succeeded his [half-]brother as Lord of Framlingham. King Stephen created him Earl of Norfolk in [Dec 1140/Jan 1141]. - see below.

c) HUMPHREY Bigod (-after [1112/13]). Royal chaplain of King Henry I and prebendary of Totenhall 1101 to [1112/13][924].

d) GUNNOR Bigod (-before [1137]). A charter of Hugh Bigod for Norwich Priory refers to property given by “his sister Gunnor”[925]. “Robert de Essex and Gunnora his wife, daughter of Roger Bigod” donated Fremingham church to Thetford priory, Norfolk for the souls of their ancestors and of "their son Henry on his birth-day"[926]. It is not clear from this extract whether Gunnor’s father was named in the original document. Her first marriage is indicated by the charter of King Henry II which confirmed donations to Thetford Priory, including the donation by “Gunnoræ matris Henrici de Exessa”[927]. “Rob Waster” donated "duos partes totius decimæ meæ de Wereslai" to St Neot’s, Huntingdonshire, for the soul of “Soeni de Essessa” and for the health of "domini mei Roberti filii prædicti Soeni…Gunnor uxoris suæ…uxoris meæ et Willielmi filii Gerei patris sui", by undated charter[928]. “Hamo de Sancto Claro” donated “ecclesie Sancte Marie Walcre” to Colchester St. John, for the souls of King Henry I, Queen Matilda, “Eudonis dapiferi et...mee et uxoris mee Gunnoris et anime Huberti filii mei”, by undated charter (dated to before 1119), witnessed by “Willelmo de Sancto Claro, Huberto de Sancto Claro...”[929]. Her second husband confirmed grants of her marriage portion in Brome for her soul[930]. m firstly ROBERT FitzSwein Lord of Rayleigh, Essex son of SWEIN FitzRobert & his wife --- (-[1132/40][931]). [932]m secondly as his first wife, HAMON de Saint-Clair, son of --- (-after 1139).

e) MATILDA Bigod (-[1121/33][933]). “Willielmus de Albeneyo, pincerna Henrici regis Anglorum” donated property to Wymondham priory, assisted by “uxoris suæ Matilidis filiæ…Rogeri Bigot” by undated charter, witnessed by “filii…eiusdem Willielmi, Nigellus et Oliverus”[934]. m GUILLAUME d'Aubigny "Pincerna", son of ROGER d'Aubigny & his wife Amice --- (-1139).

f) CECILY Bigod (-after 1136). Her parentage is indicated by the charter dated 23 Apr [1430] under which her descendant “Thomas dominus de Ros, de Hamelake, de Trussebout et de Beavoir” confirmed the possessions of Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire made by "antecessores nostros…Robertum de Toteneio, Willielmum de Toteneyo filium suum, Agnetem de Toteneio filiam dicti Roberti de Toteneyo, Henricum de Rya filium Huberto de Rya, Agnetem de Toteneyo, Willielmum de Albeneio primum, Willielmum de Albeneio secundum, Willielmum de Albeneio tertium, Willielmum de Albeneio quartum, Ywynum de Albeneyo, Heliam de Albeneyo et uxores eorundem, Isabellam filiam domini Willielmi de Albeneio quæ fuit uxor domini de Ros, domini de Beauvoire et de Hamelake"[935], the connection with Robert de Tosny Lord of Belvoir, her maternal grandfather, being established through her marriage. She inherited Belvoir from her mother. "…Willelmu[us] de Albinioc, Cecilia uxor eius, filii eius Willelmus, Rogerius, Matildis filia eius" are listed in the Liber Vitæ of Thorney abbey[936]. "Willielmus de Albeneio Brito…et Ceciliam uxorem meam et Willielmum filium meum" donated land to Thorney monastery, Cambridgeshire by undated charter, witnessed by "Rogero et Roberto filiis meis et Warino Ridel et Olivero et Iwan et Gaufrido nepotibus meis et Roberto Brito…”[937]. "Willielmus de Albenei Brito" donated "terram de Pipewell…de feodo de Bellovidere" to Thorney monastery, Cambridgeshire, with the consent of "Ceciliæ uxoris meæ et Willelmi filii mei", by undated charter, witnessed by "…tres nepotes mei, Oliverus filius Galfridi et Iwanus et Gaufridus de Cabivin…”[938]. "Willielmus de Albineio" donated "ecclesiam de Redmelina" to Belvoir monastery, Lincolnshire, with the consent of "Willielmi filii et hæredis mei et Matildis uxoris meæ et Ceciliæ matris meæ, necnon et Radulphi de Albinei fratris mei", by undated charter[939]. “Willielmus de Albineio” confirmed the possessions of Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire, with the consent of "Willielmi filii et hæredis mei et Matildis uxoris meæ et Ceciliæ matris meæ, necnon de Radulphi de Albineio fratris mei", by undated charter[940]. m WILLIAM de Albini Brito, son of MAIN & his wife Adelisa [de Bohun] (-after 1148). He owned part of the fee of Belvoir before Cecily's mother held it, the Complete Peerage concluding therefore that the marriage may have been arranged to settle rival claims[941].

Siblings of Roger:

2. WILLIAM Bigod (-after [1091]). Domesday Book records that the king gave land in Horsey, Norfolk to “Roger Bigod...when his brother William came from Apulia with Geoffrey Ridel”[942]. “Willelmus Bigut...” witnessed a charter dated to [1091] records the settlement of a challenge by "Ricardi fratris Widonis de Rupe", represented by "miles…nepos Gisleberti de Marlo…Compains", to the donation by "Hugo comes de Domno Martino" of "feodum…Vuidonis de Rupe" to the priory of Saint-Leu d’Esserent[943]. “Willelmi Bigot” donated “medietate terre de Fraituilla” to Saint-Wandrille, with the consent of “Guidone de Roca et filio eius Widone”, by charter dated to [1091/1120], witnessed by “Hugone sororio suo de Hosdenc et Ricardo Oliuier...”[944].

3. MATILDA (-after [1107]). “Willielmus Bigot, dapifer regis Anglorum” confirmed donations to Thetford Priory, including the donations of “terræ in Daneseia, de maritagio prædictæ Matildis” made by “Hugo de Hosdene et uxor eius Matildis”, by undated charter dated to the reign of King Henry I[945]. Her parentage is confirmed by the charter dated to [1091/1120] which records the donation made to Saint-Wandrille by “Willelmi Bigot”, witnessed by “Hugone sororio suo de Hosdenc...”[946]. The Complete Peerage dates this charter to [1107][947]. m HUGUES de Hosdenc, son of --- (-after [1107]).



Keats-Rohan, K.S.B. Domesday Descendants: A Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents 1066-1166, II. Pipe Rolls to Cartae Baronum. The Boydell Press, 2002. p. 174.

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Gunnora Bigod's Timeline

1082
1082
Norfolk, England
1099
1099
Rayleigh, Essex, England
1109
1109
Rayleigh, Essex, England, United Kingdom
1110
1110
England
1118
1118
<Of, Bramber, Sussex, England>
1121
1121
Age 39
Essex, England
????
SUBMITTED
????
SUBMITTED