Beaumonts of Norfolk & Suffolk First Family c.1090-1243

First family – Fulking, Themelthorpe, Kerdiston

Chief lords: Warenne family (lords of Lewes, Castle Acre, Conisborough)

All of the known lands of this family before c.1200 were of the Warenne honour.
All these, I think, were part of what Ralph de Chesney, named from Le Quesnay near Saint-Saens in Seine-Maritime, held from William de Warenne in 1086. 

This is a pointer to identify the family from Beaumont-le-Hareng, 6 kms from Saint-Saens.

Godfrey de Bellomonte c.1090

Gave tithes at Fulking to Lewes and tithes of Kerdiston to Castle Acre. 

Between 1066-1086 an exchange of lands was imposed by King William whereby William de Warenne gave up lands on the east side of the river Adur to William de Braose of Bramber, and received lands in Norfolk in their place. Ralph de Chesney, and Godfrey de Beaumont his undertenant, would appear to have obtained Stinton, Kerdiston etc by this arrangement.

This border, between the "Rapes" of Lewes and Bramber, is now basically the same as the border between West & East Sussex.

Fulking and Atlingworth are near the new border thus created, on the Lewes side, so it seems a reasonable assumption that lands on the Bramber side were given up. Entries in DB, including as to lands of Bosham church, prove that “Ralph” the Warenne tenant at Saddlescombe is Ralph de Chesney, whilst subsequent tenure shows that “Randolf” at Kerdiston and Stinton was the same person.

The Clere (or Clera) family seem to have obtained lands in the Warenne honour, again in both Sussex and Norfolk, by the same or similar circumstances. This family is named from Cleres which is only 14 kms from Beaumont-le-Hareng. An interest at Atlingworth was given by the Clere family to Lewes Priory.

The mesne lordship of Chesney was divided (temp. Henry II) between the families of de Say (Sussex) and Belet (Norfolk). Interests of Beaumont [and Clere] families fell in both parts. In the c13 the Belets died out so it all came back to the Says.

For the next generations no family tree can be constructed:-

William de Bellomonte c.1159-1172

Occurs in Norfolk. Witnesses charters of Rainald de Warenne, countess Isabel, and earl Hamelin de Warenne.

Roger de Beaumont c.1170

Attests charter[s] of earl Hamelin de Warenne. Note his name, frequently found in the family of Clere.

Hugh de Bellomonte c.1180

Attests charter[s] of earl Hamelin de Warenne.

Things become clearer with:-

William de Bello Monte fl.1185-1204

William m1. Joan daughter of Maurice of Barsham, m2. Muriel “de Langetot” (widow of Alan de Dunstanville)

(by 1). William (below)

Notes on William:

- see Pipe Roll 1185- for his marriage to Maurice's daughter (it was said she had been pledged to marry Ranulf of Gedding); I don't think the Pipe Roll supplies her christian name but that is clear from the Castle Acre evidence eg Harl. MS 2110 fol.37 and again fol. 38 (Johanne ux.mee...).

- benefactor of Castle Acre priory (Harl.MS 2110), giving land in Tattersett and “Sengham” near Coxford.

- mentioned likewise in Coxford charters (H.W.Saunders, in Norfolk Archaeology 1910)

- elder brother, probably, of Godfrey the Bigod knight who was founder of the Second Family

- query if had a daughter Muriel junior. Or whether Muriel jr was daughter of Muriel sr's first husband or perhaps Muriel sr had an additional husband [?Wm of Englefield?].

William de Bello Monte fl.1209-1245

William m1. Alice daughter of Fulk d'Oyri (She had m1.John Belet), m2. Lucia [que fuit uxor]

(by 1.) three daughters:-

-Joan m1. Robert de Burgulion, m2. Reyner de Burgh, (?)m3. Robert de Castre

William de Burgelion

- Ela m. Hervey of Stanhoe, by whom, Ela who m. Walter of Calthorpe

-Alice m. Warin son of Hugh, by whom Alice who m. John Picot

Notes on William:

- his wife Alice, widow of John Belet, William's feudal lord at Tattersett / Rudham / Coxford

- an offer was made for her from Thomas de Burgh (Rot. de Obl. & Fin. p.440) but she actually married William

- he still had Sussex interests as attests Lewes charter re Clere / Atlingworth

- was this the man who was constable of Norwich castle in 1216-1217? I will address this separately.

- had various interests shared/disputed with the d'Oyri relatives

- what was still referred to as “the whole fee of Beamund” in the Eynesford Hundred return of 1302 (Feudal Aids 3, 414) was in the hands of the above persons' successors and was at Themelthorpe with a small portion at Kerdiston.

- some of his descendants shared a [half] knights fee in Fulking

- his daughter Alice a benefactor to Coxford

Notes on Sources etc:

I haven't generally quoted all the primary sources for the above, to try to keep things short. A lot of them are quoted in vol. 3 of William Farrer's "Honors & Knights Fees" or in Volume 8 of "Early Yorkshire Charters."

I have however obtained from the BL and studied a microfilm of the Castle Acre Cartulary.

Some Atlingworth documents were printed by Richard Sims in the Arch.Journal vol. 42 (1886), see pp.361-362 and p.373ff.

Always remember that one more piece of evidence can change everything!