Greetings,
I’m working my way through a plethora of material related to Goismer’s descendants. As I said, I’m trying to confirm the blood relationships, if any, among Goismer’s family and the Clare and Bec families. My initial observations are as follows (I have references for everything immediately below but have not included them currently so that it is easier to follow – I can provide on request of course):
[1] Goismer (b c 1050-1060) had at least six sons and possible a 7th:
(* = speculative)
• Humphrey
• Herluin - sons – Gilbert (predeceased his father) and Geoffrey*
• Guncelin – sons – Conan*
• Alger – sons – Richard and Geoffrey*
• Walter –
• William –
• Ralph*
The identity of the sons’ wives remains unknown.
[2] Humphrey (b c 1080-1090) had at least 4 sons and possibly as many as 9:
• Robert (constable under earls Gilbert and Roger de Clare)
• Walter – son Humphrey fitz Walter (b c 1155) and grandson Walter fitz Humphrey (b c 1180)
• Roger
• Gilbert
• William*
• Geoffrey*
• Reginald*
• Ralph* - wife is Liece and daughter Mabel married Roger Walensis
• Richard*
[3] Robert (b c 1120) is purported to have married an heir of Mabel de Bec who was, in turn, purported to be married to Stephen I de Camoys. Robert had the following sons:
• Stephen II de Camoys
• Walter de Camoys
• Humphrey fitz Robert* - wife is Petronilla
• Adam fitz Robert*
[4] Stephen II de Camoys (b c 1150) is purported to have married Maud, daughter of Gilbert de la Leigh and have had the following children:
• Margery – husband is John de Briwere – son Robert
• Ralph I (heir) – son Ralph II
• Henry
• Walter
• Amabel – husband is Miles de Somery
I found the following item in ‘Rotuli de Dominabus’, which is translated in ‘Women's Lives in Medieval Europe’, that states the following regarding Robert fitz Humphrey:
“Cecily of Bowthorpe is in the gift of the Lord King; she has had two husbands, Hugh de Scotcia and Eustace of Leyham. By Hugh she had three sons, and by Eustace two sons and two daughters. Reginald, her firstborn son and heir, is 24 years old; his father Eustace was of the family of the count of Meulan and a kinsman of Robert fitzHumphrey. The aforesaid Cecily is of the family of the Earl of Redvers, and she is 50 years old. Her land in Bowthorpe is worth £8. The aforesaid Reginald her son has a wife, the niece of the sheriff Wimer, whom, according to Wimer, he received from the King.”
('Rotuli de Dominabus et Pueris et Peullis de XII Comitatibus 1185', (1913), by John Horace Round, 'Norfolk - Taverham Hundred', p. 48 - https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/337371-rotuli-de-dominabus-et-pueris-et-puellis-de-xii-comitatibus-1185-printed-from-the-original-in-the-custody-of-the-right-hon-the-master-of-the-rolls-under-the-direction-of-the-council-of-the-pipe-roll-society?viewer=1&offset=0#page=94&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=; 'Women's Lives in Medieval Europe', (1993), edited by Emile Amt, p. 157 - https://books.google.ca/books?id=tq90_vdI0LYC&pg=PA157&lpg=PA157&dq=%22eustace+of+leyham%22&source=bl&ots=1kaoxof6om&sig=ACfU3U3janfVS5BG9qSIzlKXmoqP479KRQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiH35vQyvXvAhXEZc0KHV59BhMQ6AEwAHoECAIQAw#v=onepage&q=%22eustace%20of%20leyham%22&f=false)
I have reviewed all the charters that I have currently identified that are witnessed by Humphrey (#2 above). They include the following. I intend to tackle the charters of Humphrey’s son Robert (#3 above) next:
[A] Gilbert fitz Richard de Clare and his wife (c 1105-17) – grant to monks of Lewes 20s from toll of Tonbridge, Kent. Witnesses are: “Waltero fratre eiusdem Gilberti, et Girardo capellano, et Guncellino Gosmari filio, Humfrido fratre eius, Picoto et Willelmo fratre eius, Engelranno de Abernun, Willelmo de Watevill, aliisque quampluribus; et decetero sunt testes, Giraldus capellanus, Willelmo de Corton, Gilebertus frater eius, Eudo dapifer, Rodbertus pincerna.”
(Website – University of Toronto Libraries, DEEDS (Documents of Early England Data Set), Charter Number: 05520010 - https://deeds.library.utoronto.ca/charters/05520010/gosm%2A)
[B] It appears that sometime after c 1110 a “Humphrey”, alongside Walter de Bec (near Llanfihangel) and Richard de la Mare, established a castle in Wales in Cletwr, Ceredigion. This castle was destroyed in c 1136 and rebuilt later in 1151 by Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd becoming known as Castell Hywel.
(‘A History of Wales’, Vol. II, (1912), by John Edward Lloyd, p. 427 and notes 86-87 - https://electricscotland.com/history/historyofwales02.pdf; Website - 'Castlefacts' - Castell Hywel, Llandysul - http://castlefacts.info/castledetails/castledetails3?uin=20139)
[C] The grant by Richard fitz Gilbert (c 1111-12) that I referenced in an earlier post regarding Humphrey’s knife. The only witness identified is Robertus capellanus.
('Cardigan Priory in the Olden Days', (1904), by Emily M. Pritchard, Appendix, p. 163, no. DXLVIII - https://archive.org/details/cardiganprioryin00prituoft/page/160/mode/2up)
[D] The foundation charter of St. Neot’s Priory (c 1113) by Rose wife of Richard fitz Gilbert with the consent of Gilbert her son and his brothers. Witnesses are: “William Giffard (Gyffart), Bp. Of Winchester; (Gilbert’s) brothers, Roger, Walter, and Robert; Eudo Dapifer and Rose his wife; Odo de Dammartin (Domino Martino); William de Watevile; Ingram de Abernon; Walter de Bec; William de Corton; Guncelin (Gonzelino) son of Goismer and Humphrey his brother; Robert Pecche; Arnold (Ernaldo) de Nazandas; Oilard de Balloil; Maurice de Cassel. Confirmed by Henry I with his own hand. Signa; The King; William his son; the Queen; Ralph Bp. of Rochester; Earl David; Manasser Count of Guines (Wisnes); Gilbert son of Richard; Walter son of Richard; Ranulf the chancellor; Robert the King’s son; William de Aubigny (Albineo), butler; Nigel de Aubigny; William de Tancarville (Tancartvilla); Hamo of Canterbury, dapifer, William Peverel of Dover; Geoffrey fitz Payn; Geoffrey Ridel; Baldwin de Bollers; Grimbald the leech (medici); Richard Earl of Chester.”
('Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum 1066-1154', Volume II, Regesta Henrici Primi 1100-1135, (1956), edited by Charles Johnson and H. A. Cronne, nos. 1015a, 1874 - https://ia802606.us.archive.org/9/items/regestaregumangl02grea/regestaregumangl02grea.pdf; ‘The History and Antiquities of Eynesbury and St. Noet’s, in Huntingdonshire’, Volume I, (1824), by George Cornelius Gorham, Supplemental Account, Foundation Charter of St. Noet’s Priory, pp. civ-cvi - https://books.google.ca/books?redir_esc=y&id=lRUHAAAAQAAJ&q=Filius+goismerii#v=snippet&q=Filius%20goismerii&f=false)
[E] Grant and confirmation by Robert, son of Martin, to the monks of Tiron and the monastery of St Mary at St Dogmael’s of the church of St Dogmaels (September 10, 1121). In the presence of “Bishop Bernard, William abbot of Tiron, Richard son of Gilbert, Humphrey son of Gosmer, Stephen, the kings Dapifer, Alured of Bennervill, attested the charter. Witnesses; king Henry, queen Matilda, Robert Bernard, Matilda, Richard son of Gilbert, Stephen, Alured, Humphrey.”
(Website - 'Jottings and Historical Records with Index on the History of South Pembrokeshire', Vol. 1, 1083-1389, (1993), compiled by B. H. J. Hughes, pp. 5-6 - https://ia800502.us.archive.org/0/items/JottingsAndHistoricalRecordsWithIndexOnTheHistoryOfSouth/Book-386Vol1.pdf; 'Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum 1066-1154', Volume II, Regesta Henrici Primi 1100-1135, (1956), edited by Charles Johnson and H. A. Cronne, nos. 1015a, 1874 - https://ia802606.us.archive.org/9/items/regestaregumangl02grea/regestaregumangl02grea.pdf)
[F] Confirmation by Richard fitz Gilbert to the monks of Stoke by Clare in free alms of various churches held of his predecessors – Crimplesham, Cavenham, Gazeley, Hundon, Clare, Great Bardfield, Ashen and Bures. At the petition of his barons, knights and free men he confirmed all tithes and alms they gave, etc. (1124-36). Witnesses are: “Adam dapifero et Hunfrido filio Goismeri et aliis.”
('Stoke by Clare Cartulary', (1982), ed. by Christopher Harper-Bill & Richard Mortimer, Vol. 1, p. 30, no. 39)
[G] Confirmation by Gilbert lord of Clare of various grants including by Goismer of 2/3 of his tithes at Chipley and many others. (c 1136-41 but possibly shortly before 1117). Witnesses are: “Humfridus fillius Goismeri, Adam Filius Warini, Albricus de Capeles et alii.”
('Stoke by Clare Cartulary', (1982), ed. by Christopher Harper-Bill & Richard Mortimer, Vol. 1, p. 16, no. 22)
[H] Confirmation charter of Theobald archbishop of Canterbury, reciting the charters of the founder and his successors and of other donors. These include: (1) No. v – Gilbert fitz Richard also gave the right to fish one day a year in his fishpond at Cavenham. (1090-1117) Witnesses are: “Hunfridus filius Goismeri, Adam filius Warini, Galfridus filius Hamonis, Radulfus de la Cressunere, Albricus de Capell’, Gilbertus filius Rainaldi”; (2) No. viii - that Solomon should hold of the monks all the land granted to him by Gilbert as freely and as honourably as he had held it of his father. (1114-36) Witnesses are: “Waltero et Roberto filiis Ricardi, Alberico de Ver, Hunfrido filio Goismeri, Alveredo de Bennewilla, Adam filius Uuarini, Alberico de Capell”; (3) No. xxi - Herluin son of Goismer gave a rent of ten shillings from Wlric Smucle at Fenstead, for the soul of his son Gilbert and with the consent of the lord Gilbert and Richard his son. Witnesses are: Ricardus filius Hermeri, Radulfus de la Cresunere, Willelmus de Watevilla, Gunzel’ filius Goismeri, Hunfridus frater eius, Radulfus filius Hurandi, Ricardus filius Algeri, Elinaudus vicecomes, Robertus de Sethune, Robertus filius Hugonis”; (4) No. xxxii - Godfrey son of Elinald, on his deathbed, gave a rent of twelve pence from a serf called Uthred at Stoke. (Early twelfth century). Witnesses are: “Hunfridus filius Goismeri, Albericus de Capell’”; and (5) No. xliii - William Pecche gave all his land in Gestingthorp. (Early twelfth century). Witnesses are: “Hunfredus filius Goismeri, Robertus de Uuanceio et alii multi.”
('Stoke by Clare Cartulary', (1982), ed. by Christopher Harper-Bill & Richard Mortimer, Vol. 1, no. 137, pp. 117-20)
[I] Confirmation by Geoffrey son of Geoffrey of the grant to the priory by his father for Adam his brother, of all their tithes in Finchingfield and the mill of Waldingfield, etc. (mid-twelfth century). Witnesses are: “Adam filius Warini, Hunfridus filius Goismeri, Hamo Pecc(atu)m et alii.”
('Stoke by Clare Cartulary', (1982), ed. by Christopher Harper-Bill & Richard Mortimer, Vol. 2, no. 637, pp. 409-10)
Cheers,
Pete