Geoffrey de Mandeville, Baron of Marshwood

Biography

Geoffrey de Mandeville (died c.1119)[1] was the Sheriff of Devon, England between 1100-1116 and also baron of Marshwood in Dorset.[2] Marshwood is near the border of Devon and Dorset, 5.5 miles north east of Lyme Regis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_de_Mandeville,_Baron_of_Mars...

Geoffrey came from Magneville in the Cotentin peninsula of Normandy.[3][4]He had a brother called Roger de Mandeville.[3]

Geoffrey's feudal lord in the Cotentin was Richard de Redvers (or Reviers). Richard's manor was at Néhou, which is three miles south of Magneville.[3] Richard de Redvers was a staunch supporter of the future Henry I of England and helped him with others to regain the Cotentin area of Normandy.Geoffrey and Roger were both confederates of Richard. Roger de Mandeville was noted as early as 1091, assisting the young prince Henry in the recovery of the Cotentin. For their support before 1100, Geoffrey and Roger were rewarded by Henry. Roger was made lord of Erlestoke in Wiltshire. Geoffrey was made Sheriff of Devon, and baron of Marshwood. He was also given the manor of Wonford, and made warden of Exeter Castle.[9] This castle was the base of operations for the sheriff of Devon, and during that time was called Rougemont Castle.

Family

Geoffrey's oldest son was called Robert. The name of Robert's mother was unknown. After the death of his first wife, by Geoffrey's second wife he had a son named Ralph. The name of Ralph's mother is also unknown. Robert and Ralph, sons of Geoffrey confirmed a charter of their father after the death of Richard de Redvers.[1] When Geoffrey died, the title of the barony of Marshwood was given by Henry I to this second son Ralph, because he was a better Knight than his older half-brother Robert.[10] The barony of Marshwood passed from Ralph, the younger brother of Robert and younger son of Geoffrey, to Ralph's daughter Dyonisia. Dyonisia married William Fitzjohn, who was the Seneschal of Normandy.

Geoffrey was an Uncle of Stephen de Mandeville, who held a considerable fief in Manche.[12]He was the son of Geoffrey's brother Roger.

Notes

http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.com/2018/01/origin-and-e...

In about 1100 another de Mandeville family came to England in the form of two brothers; Geoffrey and Roger. They travelled in the company of their feudal lord, Richard de Redvers as followers of Prince Henry, youngest son of William the Conquer, when Henry seized the throne of England to become Henry I. Geoffrey got land in Dorset and on the Isle of Wight from the Redvers family and died c.1119. He had two sons; Ralph and Robert. The latter’s great great-grandson; Geoffrey de Mandeville, held land in Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset at his death in 1269. His great-grandson, Robert de Mandeville was outlawed in 1307 and lost most of his estates.[14]

References

• Held the honour and barony of Marshwood. Source J.H. Round, Geoffrey de Mandeville pp 37-38
• https://coker.one-name.net/getperson.php?personID=I4515&tree=Coker1
• ”Marshwood Manor” from History of Dorset.PDF
• HOLLISTER, C. (1973). THE MISFORTUNES OF THE MANDEVILLES. History, 58(192), 18-28. Retrieved October 16, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24408230