Sir Geoffrey le Despenser of Elington

Son of Anschetil de Berges and Rohese, wife of Anschetil de Berges

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tabXNZ-AHAw/SJsbkv0Y-3I/AAAAAAAAANg/xkfcE... - A family tree of de Spencer's

Origins of the Despenser: Geoffrey, father of Thomas

Post on the soc.genealogy.medieval forum by John P. Ravilious on 1/13/06 https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/soc.genealogy.m...

Thursday, 12 January, 2006 Hello All,

Following on Clive West's kind contribution of last week, I was able to review a copy of Nichol's History of Leicester. In particular, I was interested to see what was stated there, given Clive's notation of several charters of Thomas le Despenser, including one which stated (in translation), "I Thomas Dispensator, son of Geoffrey (Galfridus) Dispensator, have given and confirmed ten bovates in land at Burton with the consent of Asketill de Berges, my lord of the same land."

I am very pleased to confirm Clive's statements en toto. There are several charters dealing with the same 10 bovates in Burton, including one in particular, titled " Thomas Dispensator. (14.b.) " by Nichols, which states in part,

" ... Thomas Dispensator, filius Gaufridi Dispensatoris,

     salutem........  x bovatas terre, cum omnibus pertinentiis

     suis, in campo de Burtona, concessu Asketilli de Berges

     domini mei de eadem terra,... " [1]

The full text of one of the charters of Thomas, involving the confirmation of another gift of his father Geoffrey, is given below [2], which likewise makes it quite clear that Thomas' father was Geoffrey le Despenser, and not his brother Hugh as most recently conjectured. Based upon prior research (most of which has been posted to prior SGM threads), this is Geoffrey le Despenser, brother of Ivo de Alspath (sometime constable of Coventry castle for Earl Ranulf of Chester) [3].

Perhaps not as important as proving this relationship, the existence of these charters is most interesting: it is amazing to Clive and myself (and likely others) that these details had not been more widely published. The edition of the Calendar of the Charter Rolls provided an abstract of Garendon charters in 1912, including one for the grant by Thomas le Despenser of the same 10 bovates in Burton, taken from the same source as that used by Nichols (BL Lansdowne MS 415), but no notice of parentage was made [4]. More recently, Geoffrey Barraclough and David Postles have used the same source used by Nichols in the Garendon appendix to his work [5]. The edition of Monasticon Anglicanum now available online gives perhaps a sense of how this came about:

' As Mr. Nichols has been equally copious in his abstract

      and analysis of this Register also, no further account

      of it will be needed here. " [6]

In addition to the matter of Thomas le Despenser's paternity, one of the charters cited also involves Thomas' wife, and a son Geoffrey. As Clive had advised, this charter renders her name as 'Recuare', and evidences that Thomas had a son Geoffrey who predeceased him - evidently a younger son later being named Geoffrey in his stead:

Tomas Dispensator. (4.b.)

Sciatis me dedisse, concessione & bona voluntate uxoris mee Recuare & heredum meorum & hac carta mea confirmasse, Deo et ecclesie Sanct Marie de Gerondonia, et monachis....etc etc.. x bovatas terra cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in campo de Burton concesssu Asketilli de Berges domini mei de eadem terra, liberas et quitas ab omni terreno servicio et consuetudine mihi & heredibus meis pertinente, salvo forensi servicio; & excepto quod annuatim dabunt mihi & heredibus meis 2 solidus ad festum Sancte Crucis post Pascham. Preterea dedi eisdem monachis ....etc.....pro salute anime mee & patris & matris mee, & precipue pro anima filii mei Gaufridi 1111 solidos quos pro predicta terra ......etc.... Ut inde habeat annuatim conventus pitanciam in die anniversario eiusdem fillii mei, hoc est crastino Nativitatis Sanct Marie. ........etc etc......

Hiis testibus; Roberto comite Legrecestrie, Petronilla comitissa. ' [7]

I will post a corrected pedigree (with documentation) of the Despenser descent to the list in short order. The descent from NN (possibly William) de Queniborough now appears to be as follows:

[The following is from a compilation of John Ravilious' tree/chart here and one from 31 Dec 2003 posted on https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/soc.genealogy.m... as well as one posted on 16 Jan 2006 at https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!searchin/soc.genealog...]

1. NN de Queniborough, of Queniborough and Burton on the Wolds, co. Leics. [possibly 'Willelmus' who held lands in Stache and Queniborough, Leics. of Geoffrey de la Guerche at Domesday Book, in 1086]

• 'Willelmus' held lands in Stache and Queniborough, Leics. of Geoffrey de la Guerche at Domesday Book, in 1086 [DD 652][1],[2]
• 'He also held 5 carucates of land in Burton on the Wolds. This may have been the land of Durand Malet who held 5 carucates of land in Burton on the Wolds in chief from the king. To this land coincidentally belonged one and a half carucates of land in Prestwold.'[3]

Father of (1.1) NN, a daughter = Hugh de Berges: possibly originally came from Berges, Sussex; he may have been the son (or other successor) of Hugh, who held 2 carucates of land less 1 bovate in Bortone [Burton on the Wolds] of earl Hugh at Domesday Book, 1086. His wife:sister of Thurstan de Queniborough and his brother Radulf; her father may have been the William de Queniborough who held lands of Geoffrey de la Guerche at Domesday Book, 1086. Evidently had lands in Burton on the Wolds and Prestwold, co. Leics. as her maritagium.

• ' Hugo de Berges', made a gift of 3 carucates to Garendon abbey in Burton on the Wolds, later confirmed by son Ansketil together with his (Ansketil's) uncles Thurstan de Queniborough and Radulf[2]. This gift occurred in 1133 (year of the foundation of Garendon) or later.

(1.1.1) Ansketil de Berges of Burton on the Wolds, co. Leics. married Rohese. Gift by 'Hugo de Berges et Asketillus filius eius' of 3 carucates in Burton to Garendon abbey, confirmed by his uncles Thurstan and Radulf de Queniborough 'cum predicto nepote nostro Asketillo' [5]. Of Burton on the Wolds, co. Leics. [also Nichols, Hist. Leicestershire vol. III, courtesy Clive West[8. Spouse: Rohese. Children:

• Hugh de Berges (als Hugh de Prestwold)
• Geoffrey le Despenser
• Ivo de Alspath, constable of Coventry (->1178)

(1.1.1.1) Hugh de Berges (de Prestwold) of Burton on the Wolds, Co. Leics. CCR records ' the grant

of Asketill son of Hugh de Prestwold of the gift of Hugh his father, de Prestwold, of twenty acres of land

in Prestwald .....;  the gift of the said Asketill of eight acres of  land in the said town' - CCR IV:475[8]

(1.1.1.1.1) Ansketil de Prestwold ('de Berges') of Burton and Prestwold =Dionisia. 'Asketill son of Hugh de Prestwold', he made further grants, confirming gifts of land in Prestwold, co. Leics. to Garendon abbey by his father [cf. CCR][8] the grant of the same Asketil of the gift of Thomas Dispensator of ten bovates of land in his fee, in the same town' of Burton on the Wolds, co. Leics. to Garendon abbey [CCR IV:475[8

(1.1.1.1.1.1) Thomas, heir, dvp [7]
(1.1.1.1.1.2) Elias de Prestwold [7]. Ellis son of Anketil (of Prestwold) gave land in Cotes to Stephen de

Segrave ' [before 1242, de Segrave having d. in 1241]. [6]

(1.1.1.2) Geoffrey le Despenser 'dispensator'. "Gaufrido dispensatore et Ivone fratre suo" witnesses to charter #82 of the Earl of Chester, ca. 1135-1153. [13]. Dispensator [ 'dispensarius'] to the Earl of Chester.
? Gaufrido dispensatore..?, witness to charters of the Earls of Chester, together with others [once with his brother Ivo de Alspath: ? Gaufrido dispensatore et Ivone fratre suo...? , charter #82 ] ca. 1135-1153. Barraclough, The Charters of the Anglo-Norman Earls of Chester, charters #25, 35-37, 50, 55-59, 64, 73, 85, 99[4] [also, ? Gaufrido dispensario...? and ? Galfrido dispensatore..? ]
'Gaufrido dispensatore', witness together with brother Ivo de Alspath of recognition of Eustace fitz John as constable of Chester, ca. 1144-45 [Barraclough, charter #73, cites B. L. Cott. Charter xvi, 36; collated,

where mutilated, with Bodleian Library, Dugdale MS. 17, p. 82 and  P.R.O., D.L. 42/1[4

"Geoffrey 'dispensario' ",witness to a charter ca. 1155-67 with his brother Ivo de Alspath ("Ivo de Hallespad' ") - A2A, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Records Office: Gregory of Stivichall [DR10/1 - DR10/467] , DEEDS AND PAPERS: Warwickshire: Combe alias Smite, [ DR10/192 ][5]

proof of his identity as father of Thomas le Despenser provided by charters in the Garendon chartulary, printed in Nichol's History of Leicester. Charters are recorded for gifts to Garendon by " Thomas Dispensator, filius Gaufridi Dispensatoris " [Nichols III/2:817, 14.b., and Nichols III/2:815, 12.a. (name given as 'Tomas Dispensator, filius Gaufridi Dispensatoris') [3. This evidence as to his parentage was only recently noted by Clive West in Nichols' Hist. of Leicestershire, Vol. III [8].
Children:

• Thomas (-ca1207)
• Elias le Despenser

(1.1.1.1.2) Thomas 'Dispensator' of Burton on the Wolds, d 1207 = "Recuare". Gave ten bovates in Burton to Garendon Abbey [8]. of Burton on the Wolds, co. Leics. 'Dispensator' of the Earl of Chester (possibly in succession to his father Geoffrey). Proof of his parentage provided by charters in the Garendon

chartulary, printed in Nichol's History of Leicester:

"Thomas Dispensator. (14.b.) ... Thomas Dispensator, filius Gaufridi Dispensatoris, salutem........ x bovatas terre, cum omnibus pertinentiis suis, in campo de Burtona, concessu Asketilli de Berges domini mei de eadem terra,... "[Nichols III/2:817[3

"Tomas Dispensator. (12.a.). Omnibus filius sancte matris ecclesiae Tomas Dispensator, filius Gaufridi Dispensatoris, salutem. Sciatis me concessise & confirmasse donationem patris mei, quam fecit monachis de Geraldonia[m], videlicet, de tota[m] terra[m] quam reclamavit in Stantona[m]. Et sicut ille prefatam donationem eoram monachis & multis aliis festibus super altare posuit, sic & ego manu mea[m] eandem donationem super altare Dei obtuli & concessi, ut monachi eam teneant libere & quiete a me, & a cunctis heredibus meis, in perpetuam elemosinam. Semitam quoque in campo eorum, per quam ego & homines mei incedere solebamus, que erat ad gravamen eorum, & ad detrimentum segetum, quietam omnino concessi.
fuerunt testes; Willielmus abbas Legrecestrie, Hugo Barre, Willielmus Burdet, Willielmus de Widevill, Gaufridus filius Algot, Willielmus de Rudevill, Gillebertus filius Picot, Gillebertus de Segrave, Radulphus Fridei, Ricardus filius Nicholai, Gaufridus Ostianus, Gilbertus Forestarius, Asketillus de Torp, Johannes Constantin, Gaufridus de Curci, Ranulphus Leblud. " [Nichols III/2:815[3
'Thoma dispensatore', witness together with Elias, 'his brother' of the gift of Ivo de Alspath, 'ca. 1160', of a virgate of land to Monks Kirby (A2A, Meriden (Alspath) [ DR10/524 ][5],[4],[7]. See text from PRO, below.
amerced 40s. in 1176 for forest trespass in Leicestershire, as noted by Farrer [9]. The record in the Pipe Roll of 22 Hen II identifies both Thomas le Despenser and his cousin, Hugh de Berges:
"De misericordia Regis pro foresta sua. In Legercestrescr'. Tomas dispensator redd. comp. de .xl. s. de misericordia pro foresta. In thesauro .xx. s. Et debet .xx. s. .... Hugo de Berc [Berch in C.R.] debet dimidiam marcam pro eodem. Sed requirendus est in Rotel'. " [19]
' Thoma dispensatore ', witness to grant by H(ugh), Earl of Chester (d. 1181) to Bertram, his chamberlain, of Mabel, daughter of William Flamenc, and her inheritance of Meles, ca. 1162-1181 :

"Testibus Bertramo de Verd', Johanne, constabulario Cestr', Radulpho Dapifero de Monte Alto, Roolant de Verd', Thoma dispensatore, Giliberto filio pibot, Willelmo Barb'ap'l et multis aliis apud Cestr'." - A2A, Manchester University, John Rylands Library: Rylands Charters [RYCH/1 - RYCH/1942], RYCH/1274[5]

?Thoma dispensator? or ?dispensarius? [also ?Toma?], witness to numerous charters of the Earls of Chester, ca. 1178-1207 (charters #192, 194, 203, 261-2, 265, 272, 288-9, 302-3, 313, 316, 321, 334, 341, in G. Barraclough)'[4]
charter confirming grant of 10 bovates in Burton to Garendon abbey, dated 1177x1190:
? Tomas Dispensator. (4.b.) Sciatis me dedisse, concessione & bona voluntate uxoris mee Recuare & heredum meorum & hac carta mea confirmasse, Deo et ecclesie Sanct Marie de Gerondonia, et monachis....etc etc.. x bovatas terra cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in campo de Burton concesssu Asketilli de Berges domini mei de eadem terra, liberas et quitas ab omni terreno servicio et consuetudine mihi &

heredibus meis pertinente, salvo forensi servicio; & excepto quod annuatim dabunt mihi & heredibus meis 2 solidus ad festum Sancte Crucis post Pascham. Preterea dedi eisdem monachis ....etc.....pro salute anime mee & patris & matris mee, & precipue pro anima filii mei Gaufridi 1111 solidos quos pro predicta terra ......etc.... Ut inde habeat annuatim conventus pitanciam in die anniversario eiusdem fillii mei, hoc est

crastino Nativitatis Sanct Marie. ........etc etc...... Hiis testibus; Roberto comite Legrecestrie, Petronilla

comitissa. ? [Nichols, ibid., Vol. III, Part 2, pp. 810-811[3], courtesy Clive West[8

acquired Arnesby and Loughborough, co. Leics. on the death of his brother Elias: ' The successor of Ellis was Thomas Despenser, who was amerced 1 mark in 1166 for a default in Leicestershire. This Thomas was amerced 40s. in 1176 for forest trespass in Leicestershire.... he was presumably the donor to [Garendon] abbey of 10 bovates in Burton on the Wolds, Leics., of the fee of Asketil de Berges,...' [ Farrer, HKF II:58, citing Pipe Roll 12 Hen II, p. 70; 22 Hen II, p. 185; and Cal. Chart. Rolls iv. 475[9

~ the grant of land in Burton on the Wolds, co. Leics. to Garendon abbey reads: 'the grant of the same Asketil of the gift of Thomas Dispensator of ten bovates of land in his fee, in the same town' - CCR IV:475[10]
Thomas obviously held his lands (or at least these 10 bovates) in Burton of Ansketil de Berges (elsewhere Ansketil de Prestwold), evidently his first cousin.
' Honors and Knights' Fees ii:58 et seq. gives Ellis Despenser enfeoffed of Loughbourough by Hugh de Beauchamp after 1158. Ellis succeeded by Thomas, living 1166. This Thomas donated 10 bovates in Burton on the Wolds, Leics. of the fee of ASKETIL de Berges.' (the cite by Farrer references CCR IV:475)[11]
'Thomas Dispensator gave to Stephen de Segrave with Roese his daughter in free marriage a rent of 2s in Burton', to them and the heirs of their bodies' (CP IV: 259n)[6]
'Thomas Despenser', witness to charter of Ranulf, Earl of Chester to the burgesses of Coventry, ca. 1199-1204[12](this is included in Barraclough, Charters[4])
'Thomas Dispensarius, quartam partem. ' [held 1/4 of a knight's fee of the Honour of Peverell, A.D. 1201-12 - Red Book of the Exchequer I:180[13
grant to church of St. Nicholas, ca. 1160. Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Records Office: Gregory of Stivichall [DR10/468 - DR10/970], Warwickshire -Meriden (Alspath)
date: c. 1160. ?Gift from Ivo de Aellespat to the monks of St. Nicholas of Kirkebi [Monks Kirby] of a virgate of land in Aellespet which belonged to Godwin and his heirs, to hold in free alms for the soul of the said Ivo, his ancestors and successors, and for the deeds committed by the said Ivo on the lands of St. Nicholas during the civil war.
Witnesses: Thomas steward (dispensatore), Elias, his brother, Richard cornmonger (frumentino), Robert, his son, Gilbert, son of Pichot, Roger, his son, Nigel de Amundavilla, Thomas de Bikenhulla, William Brittone, Roger reeve (preposito), William reeve (preposito), Adam, son of Godwin.? cf. CP IV:259
parentage [now discounted as unlikely] previously theorized for Thomas le Despenser indicated in Eynsham cartulary (reference from Monasticon Anglicanum, provided by Douglas Richardson):

'Vol. 3, pg. 25 Charter for Thomas filius Hugonis Dispensatoris. No date. Mentions land which his father ("pater") formerly held of Waukelin Harang his uncle ("avunculo"). '[14]

This evidently is another family, based in Oxfordshire. The charter of Thomas 'filius Hugonis' of a virgate of land to Eynsham abbey is dated [1213-28] by Salter (49:149)[15]
Spouse: 'Recuara' [unusual name or error in transcription]
Children:

• Geoffrey (dvp -<1191)
• Thomas le Despenser, of Loughborough(-<1218)
• Sir Hugh (-<1238)
• Rohese, m. Gilbert de Segrave
• Henry (->1213)
• Robert (->1215)
• Geoffrey le Despenser, of Martley (-1251)

(1.1.1.1.2.1) Thomas, dsp 1218
(1.1.1.1.2.2) Hugh le Despenser of Burton etc. Co. Leics.
(1.1.1.1.2.3) Rohese married Stephen de Segrave
(1.1.1.1.2.4) Henry
(1.1.1.1.2.5) Robert
(1.1.1.1.2.6) Geoffrey

(1.1.1.1.3) Elias of Arnesby and Loughborough, Co. Leics

(1.1.1.3) Ivo de Alspath, constable of Coventry

(1.2) Thurstan de Queniborough (1.3) Radulf de Queniborough (1.4) Herbert de Queniborough

===================================================================================

Ancestors & Descendants

Not sure if this is correct or not but found - I have linked some of the profiles on GENI as food for thought and to show where some of the information has been gleaned form or copied from

1 Amaury Raoul d'Arbetot born about 1056 Lincolnshire, England died after 1096

• father: unknown
• mother: unknown
• spouse: unknown

children:

• Robert d'Arbetot (Abbetot) Despencer born about 1070? Lincolnshire, England http://www.mathematical.com/arbetotamaury1056.html

2 Robert d'Arbetot (Abbetot) Despencer born about 1070? Lincolnshire, England

• father: Amaury Raoul d'Arbetot born about 1056 Lincolnshire, England died after 1096
• mother: unknown
• spouse: wife of Robert d'Arbetot (Abbetot) Despencer

children:

• Robert le Despencer born Lincolnshire, England
• Urse or Urso d'Arbitot born 1090 married Adeline wife of Urso d'Arbitot born about 1090? Derbyshire, England born about 1070? Lincolnshire, England
• William Talvas Montgomery Despencer born 1100 Elington, Lincolnshire, England

http://www.mathematical.com/despencerrobert1094.html

3 William Talvas Montgomery Despencer born 1100 Elington, Lincolnshire, England

• Father: Robert d'Arbetot (Abbetot) Despencerborn 1070? Lincolnshire, England
• mother: unknown
• spouse: Alix Ala de Burgundy born about 1102/03 died before 1150

children:

• Richard le Despencer born 1120 Elington, Lincolnshire, England
• Thurston le Despencer born about 1122 London, Middlesex, England

http://www.mathematical.com/despencerwilliam1100.html

4 Thurston le Despencer born about 1122 London, Middlesex, England

• father: William Talvas Montgomery Despencer born 1100 Elington, Lincolnshire, England
• mother: Alix Ala de Bourgogne born about 1103 died before 1150
• spouse: unknown

children:

• Galfridus (Geoffrey) le Despencer born about 1155 Defford, Worcestershire, England died 1251
• Hugh Despencer born about 1152 Ryhale, Rutland, England died 1199
• Walter Despencer born about 1148 Stanley, Lincolnshire, England
• Almaric Despencer born about 1150 Ryhale, Rutlandshire or Stanley, Gloucestershire, England died after 1189

http://www.mathematical.com/despencerthurston1122.html

5 Hugh Despencer born about 1152 Ryhale, Rutland, England died 1199

• father: Thurston le Despencer born about 1122 London, Middlesex, England
• mother: unknown
• spouse: unknown

children:

• Thomas Despencer born about 1169 Elington, Lincolnshire, England

http://www.mathematical.com/despencerhugh1152.html

6 Thomas Despencer born about 1169 Elington, Lincolnshire, England

• father: Hugh Despencer born about 1152 Ryhale, Rutland, England died 1199
• mother: unknown
• spouse: *Rohese wife of Thomas Despencer

children:

• Hugh le Despencer born about 1197 Ryhall, Rutlandshire, England died 23 February 1238 *Thomas le Despencer born about 1195 Leicestershire, England died 1218
• Muriel le Despencer born about 1181 Cheshire, England
• Galfridus (Geoffrey) le Despencer born about 1185 Defford, Worcestershire, England
• christened Martley, Worcestershire, England died 1242
• Rohesia le Despencer born about 1180 Ryhale, Rutlandshire died Seagrave, Leicestershire, England

http://www.mathematical.com/despencerthomas1169.html