Staining, Kneesall, and Pyrton: can the dots be joined up?

Dots on the map. Three places where, in the twelfth century

A. the Constables of Chester had lands or influence, and

B. people called Beaumont appear.

1. Brief Genealogy of the Constables of Chester

William (his father supposedly called Nigel) died by the early 1130s and was followed by his son William, who died in the late 1140s, leaving no legitimate son. He had two sisters. The elder, Agnes, had married Eustace fitz John and the younger, Matilda, had married Albert de Grelley.

Consequently there was some kind of division of the lands. A charter of Ranulf earl of Chester (Madox Baronia Anglica (1741) pp.133-134) appears to confirm everything to Eustace but is, I suspect, not the whole story.

Eustace fitz John died in 1157 leaving his son by Agnes - Richard. Agnes remarried and lived some more years as did her second husband. Richard fitzEustace may well never have been "Constable of Chester" as such, as what evidence I can see makes me think that he died before his father and certainly before his mother's second husband.  Richard's son John is described as Constable of Chester from the mid 1160s. John lived till 1190. His brother was a senior member of the order of Hospitallers. Thereafter came John's son Roger until 1211 (called de Lacy from 1194) and then Roger's son John de Lacy, who was made Earl of Lincoln in 1232 and died in 1240.

Albert Grelley died in 1162 or 1163 after which Geoffrey de Valognes was involved in wardship of his lands because Albert and Matilda's son Albert jr was a minor. Albert may have come of age about 1170 but he died in the early 1180s leaving a son Robert who must have been born about 1174. Thus until 1195 there was another minority when the Grelley lands were at least part of that time in the hands of a certain Nigel son of Alexander and/or Robert de Burun. Robert Grelley died in 1230 succeeded by his son Thomas.

2. Staining (near Blackpool, Lancashire)

Staining belonged before 1066 to Tostig Godwinson as part of his lordship of Preston (Victoria County History Lancaster vol. 1 p.288). Tostig died at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.

An interest at Staining came to the early Constables of Chester. William "fitz Nigel" gave an interest there to Runcorn priory in about 1115 (Chetham Society, vol. 100, last section, pp.19-21) along with the churches mentioned below. The information in Victoria County History Lancaster vol. 7 pp.238-9 seems incomplete.

When in the 1130s William's son moved Runcorn priory to Norton he took an interest at Staining back and gave something else in exchange (Monasticon Anglicanum 6 p.1657). That charter had one Roger de Ansgervilla as one of its witnesses.

Staining or some interest there came to William "the Monk," who was a son of Richard de Ansgervilla (Keats-Rohan, Domesday Descendants, p. 283) and thus perhaps brother of the witness, Roger.

William "the Monk" sold or transferred Staining to John Constable of Chester. The charter speaks of the entirety ("totam villam" - thus at least, the whole of what William "the Monk" held). The then priest of Pyrton was a witness to that charter, and also people called Croxton and Burdon. William the Monk did this with the consent of his nephew Thomas de Bellomonte (Whalley Coucher Book vol. 2 p.420).

After this, it would seem that Staining belonged to John Constable of Chester and his successors until his grandson John de Lacy gave it to Stanlow abbey, that charter being witnessed by William de Beaumont (Whalley 2 pp. 419-20). Later still, the possessions of Stanlow abbey were transferred to Whalley.

The Valognes family (Geoffrey, his brother Philip and others), had interests at Staining. Geoffrey and Philip de Valognes seem to have been first cousins of the above- and below- mentioned Richard son of Eustace. This enquiry will continue.

 3. Kneesall (north Nottinghamshire)

Gilbert de Gant had land in Maplebeck, which included Kneesall and Kersall. It was held by the Burdons. (Thoroton, as below). Lordship evidently passed from the Gants to William "fitz Nigel" constable of Chester who gave the church there to Runcorn in about 1115, one Richard of Kneesall being a witness (Chetham Soc, as above). Kneesall church was transferred 20-odd years later to Norton priory (MA 6 1657).

Kneesall descended via Eustace fitz John (d.1157), through his son Richard, grandson John, and great-grandson Roger (Thoroton, 3, 129-131, 132-136).

"Richard son of Eustace son of John" gave a charter to Hugh and Richard of Croxton which also mentioned Richard of "Am" [Ompton, perhaps] and the men of "Neuhaga." A Philip de Beaumont witnessed this charter (Rufford Charters (Ed. Holdsworth) Vol 2 428 (page 234)). This will be about the mid 1150s. Richard's mother Agnes gave land at Ompton to Rufford abbey (Rufford Charters no 421). Ompton is next to Kneesall. 

Kersall was a "member" of Kneesal, and at times people called Croxton, and people called Walensis, had interests there (Thoroton, 3, 136-138). The Hospitallers had an interest at Kneesall before the Third Crusade. Ompton or "Almeton" (var. sp.) was associated with or part of Kneesall and was part of the dower of the wife of John Constable of Chester, i.e. Roger's mother (Thoroton, 3, 132-6). 

References to Thoroton are to the c.1796 edition available on "British History online."

4.  Pyrton (in the Chilterns, between Oxford and High Wycombe)

Domesday Book shows a large estate at Pyrton (sometimes Pirton) held by "William" from Hugh Earl of Chester.  William "fitzNigel" gave the church at Pyrton to Runcorn priory in about 1115, one witness being Edmund priest of Pyrton (Chetham Society, as above). Pyrton church was transferred 20-odd years later to Norton priory (MA 6 1657).

When the estates were divided, Pyrton was placed into the Grelley half, which was the junior share and thus was a kind of sub-tenancy (see Farrer, Honors and Knights Fees, ii, 250ff). [Amended 12 Nov. 2021: I now believe that Pyrton was not allocated to the Grelleys until the 1160s, perhaps in a deal involving Geoffrey de Valognes. John Constable of Chester needed money as he had made a large fine with the king for his mother's lands. John's estates, his area of interest, were all nowhere near Pyrton].

Agnes ([elder] sister of William Constable of Chester (and now widow of Eustace fitzJohn) is mentioned above as having given land at Ompton to Rufford Abbey. She also gave property at Pyrton, including a hide at a place there called Clare [Claiora] to Hurley Priory in the Thames valley in about 1158 (Madox, Formulare Anglicanum (1702), no. 415 (CCCCXV) p.237). The witnesses to the two charters have some names in common.

In the early 1160s the Grelley interest in Pyrton seems to have been controlled, during the minority of Albert Grelley jr, by Geoffrey de Valognes, who was also "farmer" of the honor of Lancaster (HKF ii 251).

A William de Bellomonte succeded to land held from the Grelleys in 1185 or 1186 during the minority of Robert Grelley (Pipe Roll 32 Henry 2 (1185/6), p.81). This will be Pyrton - unless the Grelleys had two lots of tenants called Beaumont.

Later litigation shows that a Thomas de Beaumont gave land in Pyrton at Clare and also a place called Goldor to Hugh Druval in marriage with a kinswoman called Mabel (Curia Regis Rolls Vol. 6 (1210-12), p.139).

The Beaumont successor at Pyrton was called Philip [12 Nov.2021: this is revised. Philip at Pyrton was the successor of Thomas but only one source says his father was Thomas. I think Philip was son of a Richard, but the successor of his childless uncle, Thomas] Philip came of age in the early 1220s and seems to have been embroiled in litigation about what Thomas did. In the early stages a claim was brought by one Robert de Chaucombe. The defendants then were William de Sutton and his wife Mabel, and Philip was "called to warrant" (i.e. to guarantee Mabel's right). That case was adjourned because Philip was under age. When he came of age the case came back, and Philip "warranted" to the Suttons. Robert de Chaucombe withdrew his claim, but only on being paid 30 marks (Berkeley Castle Muniments BCM/D/6/5/1). Later still, in 1231 after Mabel had died, the case came to court again, brought by William de Sutton as widower, against a young man called Hugh Druval. It transpired that Mabel had been married three times. The court was told that a certain Thomas de Beaumont had given her in marriage to her first husband Hugh Druval and that they had had issue Hugh, the father of the Hugh Druval the 1231 defendant. I don't think Philip de Beaumont was actually a party to the case in 1231 (Bracton's Note Bk., n. 566, in vol. 2 pp.438-439). (CRR Vol. 14 (1230-32) para.1473), but I think he was living in 1236 (Close Rolls, 1234-37, p.358).

Since Hugh (grandson) must have been of age in 1231, he was born by about 1210. If his father was (say) 25 in 1210 then the marriage of Hugh (grandfather) to Mabel dates back to the 1180s.

There has been a muddle about Philip de Beaumont of Pyrton having other interests, in Devon. 

[Amended 12 November 2021:- I used to believe he was related to a Devon Philip but that they were not the same individual. Now I believe they are one and the same.] [Note made 13 November 2023:- Surely in fact Philip (Pyrton) and Philip (Devon) must in fact be different people. One thing which I feel just about proves that is that the name of Beaumont did not continue at Pyrton after that Philip, whereas it did continue in Devon for over two hundred years.]

5. The Cotentin connection?

I suggest at least the possibility that the Thomas Beaumont (of the Staining charter) and the Philip (of the Rufford charter) are the two who witnessed the charter of Oliver de Tracy to Saint Sauveur abbey (see my piece of Jan. 30, 2021). Thomas and Philip consented to gifts by William "the Monk" to both Saint Sauveur (a gift of a house in Barfleur and money from unspecified lands in England) (BNFr Lat.17137 fols. 246r&v, no.356) and Montebourg Abbeys (BNFr Lat. 10087 no.422 in particular).

And William the Monk is seen as a senior witness, next after William the Constable of Chester, to a charter of Ranulf earl of Chester concerning land in the Wirral (Manchester Univ., Rylands Collection ref. RYCH/1807; Barraclough, Cheshire Charters, no.35). (There was at least one other contemporary William "the monk," and they are apt to be mixed up one with another, but this one was mainly a personage of the Cotentin, who had some connexion with Chester and Lancashire as we have seen).

A later piece will I hope look in more detail at the Cotentin aspect of this, considering some aspects of the life of Tostig Godwinson, and then the Ansgervilles, William the Monk, and the Beaumonts. It will be clear that the area of interest is the NE part of the Cotentin, broadly between Barfleur and Cherbourg. 

The dots are not joined up - but the above hints that people called Beaumont "went back a long way" with the Constables of Chester before our first Yorkshire Beaumont entered the service of Roger the Constable, Roger de Lacy, in the 1190s.

EMB 27 February 2021 / 12 November 2021 / 13 November 2023

Memorial in Gittisham Church - "born of what honourable race...."

How things change.

The text reads:-

OBIJT APRILIS PRIMO 1591

Enterred here w[ith]in this tombe doth Henry Beaumont rest

A man of iust and vpright life with many graces blest

Who learnd to knowe God's Holy Will all wicked waies defyed

And as he learnd so did he lyve and as he lyved he dyed

What good he might he gladly did and never harmed any

Courteous he was in all his life and frindly unto many

But most of all his liberall giftes, abounded to the poore

A worthy practize of that worde that he had learned before.

Borne of what honorable race is nedeles for this verse

Since French and Englishe chronicles so oft his name reherse

Which ancient bloude wt in himself by want of issue spent

The sinkinge line thereof he corckt by one of that descent

He lived thrise tenn yeres and nine with his most Godly wife

Who yelded him his honor due voyde of unkindly strife

And for true witness of her love which never was defaced

As dutie last this monument she caused here be placed.

…………..

Box 14-099 - Note of Memorial for Henry Beaumont, Gittisham, near Honiton, Devon

Caroline, Edward, Richard, and Sam called at Gittisham in May 1991 and noted down the inscription (E&OE!!). Also in the church was a board about the charitable fund founded by the same Henry Beaumont and / or by his widow. 

Will of Elizabeth Beamont, widow, Gittisham 1614 (PCC Wills). The text on the Monument does not say whether she was buried there too. Her side of the Monument appears to show an infant child.

Henry seems to be the last, or one of the last, of the old line of Beaumonts of Devon.  His is said to have left his estates to a member of the namesake family in Leicestershire. 

My own forebear Rev Thomas Beaumont of East Bridgford, in his fantastically inaccurate genealogical notebook (Box 1-232 in this Archive), written before 1820 I think, wrote of this in terms of it offering substantive proof not only that the Devon and Leicestershire Beaumonts were related to one another, but the Yorkshire ones as well. Mmmmmm.

EMB 20 February 2021

Roger Constable of Chester in 1191 and the castles of Nottingham and Tickhill

I touched on this story in June 2020 in my piece about the red herring of Roger constable of Chester and the crusade.

I am not able to say who wrote the text below, only that I have it from the work known as Gesta Henrici Secundi and that it is an old text with a complicated history. I do not know exactly when it was written, or whether the writer was drawing on first-hand knowledge.

The story has been referred to in various published works in various abridged forms. I have decided to put it here in the longest version that I have found, in latin.

I found it easy to get the gist of it, but very hard to translate word for word, so what follows - the English version - is just the gist!

...............

Eodem anno Rogerus constabularius Cestriae, filius Johannis, cui Willelmus Eliensis episcopus, dum esset totius Angliae justitiarius, tradiderat castellum de Notingeham et castellum de Tikehil, in fidelitate regis custodienda, ........

The same year [clearly meaning 1191] Roger constable of Chester, son of John, to whom William bishop of Ely, when he was Justiciar of all England, entrusted the castles of Nottingham and Tickhill to hold faithfully for the king, ......

At least one published translation of this states that the castles were entrusted to Roger, and whether this is right depends on how you read the first sentence. I have left it ambiguous also in English. But I think it means the castles were entrusted to John Constable of Chester, otherwise there would be no point in mentioning him. William Longchamp became Chancellor and bishop of Ely in September 1189, shortly after Richard I came to the throne. The castles must have been placed in John's hands very early on because he, if the accounts are correct, proceeded to the Middle East where he died, apparently in October 1190. Some old editors called him "de Lacy," which is incorrect, and may be a reflection of some other muddle. Richard I left England in mid December 1189 and did not return till 1194. 

...... doluit vehementer quod servientes sui quibus ille praenominata castella tradiderat in custodia, scilicet Robertus de Crocstune, quem ipse fecerat constabularium de Notingeham, et Eudo de Daiville, quem fecerat constabularium. de Tikehil,  ........

...... was greatly pained that his officers to whom he ["ille" - presumably meaning John] had committed custody of the said castles, namely Robert of Croxton, who he had made constable of Nottingham, and Eudes de Daiville, who he had made constable of Tickhill, .....

See previous note. I think that Roger was upset because these men would have given undertakings to his father, and I think that such an undertaking given to a person known to be about to depart on the Crusade was particularly strong.

...... ita inconsulte et sine insulto tradidissent praenominata castella Johanni comiti Meretonii. 

 .......without consulting him and without being attacked had delivered the said castles to John count of Mortain.

Et apposuit ut comprehenderet illos, sed illi inde praemuniti custodiebant se, male sibi conscii, et de venia desperantes juri stare noluerunt. 

And he tried to arrest them but they were forewarned...... got away ..... they refused to stand trial.

Et ideo nomen proditoris in aeternum non deficiet illis. 

And so the traitors got away from him for ever.

Nottingham castle as it might have been

Et praedictus Rogerus constabularius Cestriae apprehendit Alanum de Lec, quem associaverat Robertus de Crokestona in custodia castelli de Notingham. 

And the said Roger constable of Chester arrested Alan of Leake, with whom Robert of Croxton was associated in the custody of Nottingham castle.

and as it is

 

I suspect Alan is named from Leake (East or West), south of Nottingham, rather than Leek (Staffordshire).

Apprehendit et Petrum de Bouencurt, Normannigenam [sic], quem ipse associaverat Eudoni de Daivilla in custodia castelli de Tikehil;

And he arrested Peter de Bovencurt, a Norman (?), with whom Eudes de Daiville was associated in the custody of Tickhill castle.

et utrumque illorum suspendit in patibulo, 

and hung them both on the gibbet,

licet praedictus Petrus de Bouencurt, statim post traditionem castelli de Tikehil, venisset Lundonias, in conspectu Johannis comitis Meretonii, ......

However the said Peter de Bovencurt, immediately after the handover of Tickhill castle, had gone to London, to see John count of Mortain, .......

There is a shorter and in some respects different translation of this story in John T. Appleby's "England without Richard," (1965) at page 69.

et in curia regis, coram cancellario, voluisset innocentiam suam purgare: constanter affirmans quod castellum de Tikeliil traditum fuit comiti Johanni contra voluntatem et prohibitionem suam; 

and in the king's court, before the chancellor, had said he wanted to prove his innocence; steadfastly declaring that Tickhill castle was handed over to count John against his wish and against his order[s];

et quod si ipse habuisset socios qui essent unanimes ad defendendum illud contra comitem Meretonii, sicut ipse voluit, non esset traditum in manu illius. 

and that if he had had associates who were agreed about defending [it] against the count of Mortain, as he had wanted, it would not have been delivered it into his hands.

Cancellarius vero noluit purgationem inde ab eo recipere; sed remisit eum ad curiam constabularii Cestriae, dicens illi, 

But indeed the Chancellor refused to purge [clear, acquit] him but sent him to the court of the constable of Chester, saying to him

" Vade ad dominum tuum constabularium, et in curia ejus purga innocentiam tuam a crimine quod ipse tibi imponit.” 

"Go to your lord the constable, and in his court prove your innocence of the crime that he charges you with / places on you."

Qui cum illuc venisset cum litteris comitis Meretonii supplicantibus, obtulit se modis omnibus purgare innocentiam suam a crimine quod dominus suus ei imponebat; scilicet quod nec praecepit nec voluit nec in aliquo consensit quod castellum de Tikeliil traderetur comiti Johanni ; immo in quantum potuit prohibuit ne traderutur illi. 

[And he] thereupon came with letters from the count of Mortain, and offered by all means to clear himself as innocent of the crime his lord laid on him; namely that he did not order or wish or in any way or consent that Tickhill castle be handed over to count John; indeed that to the extent of his power, he forbad it.

At praedictus constabularius Cestriae noluit inde recipere purgationem ab illo, sed sine judicio ilium suspendit in patibulo cum catena ferrea. 

And the said constable of Chester would not accept this as proof of his innocence, but without trial, hung him on a gibbet with iron chains.

In Appleby's translation both Alan and Peter are hung on the iron chains, and the birds feast on both corpses. But the whole of this second part of the story seems to me to relate to Peter.

Deinde post triduum suspendit quendam armigerum suum, pro eo quod ipse abigebat aves a corpore illius pendentis in patibulo, quae carnes ejus unguibus et rostris dilacerabant. 

And thereupon after three days he hung a certain squire of his,  as he was driving birds away from his body hanging on the gibbet, which were picking at his flesh with their claws and beaks.

Johannes autem comes Moretonii, in vindictam praedictorum suspensorum dissaisiavit praedictum constabularium Cestriae de omni tenemento quod de illo tenuit, et terras suas devastavit.

John count of Mortain, in retribution for the said hanging, disseised the said constable of Chester of all property that he held of him, and laid waste to his lands.

• Note. In this text the verb "trado" is used several times. It can mean hand over, deliver, entrust, consign, surrender treacherously, and so on. So the gist seems to me that the castles were entrusted to John constable of Chester to hold for the King. The logic of this was clear enough - Nottingham itself was a royal castle, but the constable of Chester had claims on Tickhill, and their own castle nearby at Donington. He had numerous estates within close reach of Nottingham and Tickhill from which he could draw men and supplies. Shortly after taking on this charge however John appears to have departed to the Middle East, where he died, possibly in late 1190. News of this would have come back to England as count John's mainly north of England rebellion was gathering momentum. I have taken "doluit vehementer" to mean that Roger was strongly affected - by the breach of promises to his father.  A few years later, of course,  and Roger was reconciled with and working for the former Count John, who became king in 1199.

Please refer to the Preface by Bishop Stubbs to the (1867) two volume Rolls Series edition of the Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi, and to later opinions. The text itself has been taken from Vol. 2 of that edition, pages 232-234. The incident in question is chronologically one of the last (latest) stories to be recounted. See page xxviii of the Preface in Vol. 1. 

Despite its title the edition of course includes many pages of events in the reign of Richard I including much information about the Third Crusade. Quite suddenly on page 207 of Vol. 2 in the printed edition, it "flips" to events in England in 1191, specifically at Lincoln, Tickhill, and Nottingham. I have seen nothing suggesting that there was any fighting or resistance at either Nottingham or Tickhill. The implication is that the chancellor was focussed on Lincoln at the time. These events were early in the year, as a treaty reached at Winchester in ??March 1191 mentions Nottingham and Tickhill as already being in count John's hands, and they were to be handed over to new castellans on behalf of the king. I suspect that that "hand back" never happened - Nottingham for example was in the hands of rebels until 1194 when King Richard returned.

EMB 17 February 2021

Another early Yorkshire Beaumont (but in the Warenne honour)

We have talked about the First Yorkshire Beaumont and this person was his close contemporary so he will come up sooner or later - I may as well say something about him!

His name was Godfrey, and his is found in context of Crigglestone and Sandal, not far from Wakefield, and in the lands of the Warenne family. Contextually this is entirely different from the Pontefract honor. It is quite likely that this person was a member of the Beaumont family which had been tenants of the Warennes mainly in Sussex and Norfolk since the late eleventh century.

In 2015 I put up a pieces[s] on the Beaumonts of Norfolk and Suffolk. I would think this Godfrey is one of the "first" family I mentioned there, or an early member of the "second."

I made the notes out of "Early Yorkshire Charters," volume 8, many years ago. I can't find the full text of the volume online, so haven't been able to check the references.

Constable of Sandal castle, between c.1206-1218

Godfrey de Bellomonte " was constable of Sandal in the early c.13 (EYC, 8, pp. 251-2, part of the note on officers and stewards of the Warennes. We do not know how long Godfrey had this role.  

Confirmation by Roger son of Jordan de Stanley to Fountains dated 1206-1218. Wtss: John de Plaiz then seneschal of the lord earl Warenne, Godefrido de Bello Monte constable of Sandal, Thomas de Horbury, John de Heaton, Henry of Digton, Hugh of Rastric (EYC, 8, no.161, p.223).

Next an attestation to a deed which (rather confusingly) ended up in the Whitley Archive:

Witnesses a charter re Crigglestone

WBD/X/90 is the feoffment of one acre in Crigglestone by John, son of Hugh, cemetery keeper, to Geoffrey, son of Gregory of Crigglestone and his heirs. Property: one acre in the fields of Crigglestone. Witnesses: Godfrey of Bello monte; William, chaplain; Adam of Crigglestone; Robert of Whitley; Adam of Woodhouse; Hugh of Bretton; William, son of Robert of Crigglestone; Henry Forist; Henry of Sandal magna

Witnesses charter of the earl Warenne

A quit-claim by William earl Warenne re land at Wakefield dated to 1210 x 1225. The witness list:- Roger de Mortemer, Eustace de Es, the Hersin brothers Malveisin and Baldwin, Heliga de Mareville, William de St Martin, Hugh de Budell', Matthew de Shepley tunc seneschallo, Godefrido de Bello monte, Adam de St.Laurent, Reginald Coc, Hugh de Acra, John de Stanford clerico, Richard de Wakering clerico, Master Philip who wrote this charter (EYC, 8, no.92, p.132).

Also called "de Attell"

It seems plausible to suggest, and I believe Clay thought so, that the name "de Attel" which appears to attach to Godfrey, has to do with Atlingworth in Sussex, a place in the Downs close to Fulking, where an earlier Godfrey de Beaumont was a Warenne tenant soon after the time of Domesday Book,

For Fulking see VCH Sussex vol. 7 pp.202-3. For Atlingworth see also VCH Sussex vol. 7, p.258, but this confuses two places. The place we are concerned with is the site of former Atlingworth Barn in Portslade parish, which is "not to be confused with the Manor of Atlingworth in Brighton" (Letter, E. Holden to T. Beaumont, 20 April 1988). See http://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/browse/id/5328722fb47fc40c360007a5

Gift and quit-claim by William son of Adam of Ossett to Ralph son of Thomas de Horbury of 5 bovates in Ossett which Ralph had held of him. Date:- 1206 x 1218. Witnesses: John de Plaiz at that time seneschal of the lord earl Warenne, lord constable Godefrido de Attell [domino constabulario Godefrido de Attell], lord Maluaisin de Hersin, Thomas son of William de Horbury, Robert de Barkeston, Adam son of Alan de Crigleston (EYC, 8, no.164, pp.228-9).

Then a time gap and a "fine" recording a land transaction

19 Henry III (?1 December 1234) - fine between Godfrey de Bellomonte and Robert de Rockley and Margery his wife, for one carucate of land in Crigleston [Crigglestone]. This means that Godfrey was transferee. Robert and Margery transferred the land to him. Philip de Wudehall was present and quit-claimed (released) his right to the land (YAS RS vol. 67, Yorks Fines 1232-46 p.22; EYC 8 p.191; YAJ 6 p.445, having been noted by Dodsworth "out of ye court Rolles belonging to Francis Burdet of Birthwayt 30 Dec. 1629").

Not the earliest!

Where this is printed in the YAJ vol. 6 p.445 a footnote -

1. states this to be earliest occurrence of the name Beaumont in Yorkshire (absolutely incorrect), 

2. suggests that Godfrey may be the ancestor of the Beaumonts of Whitley (absolutely not),

3. notes that Godfrey was tenant at Criglestone of the earl Warenne, and wonders if he was therefore a descendant of Godfrey who held Fulking (plausible, and as suggested above),

4. notes that Geoffrey (sic) was the name of the third son of vicomte Ralph in the eleventh century (not in the least relevant);

5. notes that William de Bellomonte held the eighth part of a knights fee from the Earl of Lincoln in 1245 (but that is the Pontefract honor, i.e. the Huddersfield family, there is no reason to suppose any connection with this Godfrey, who is clearly a Warenne man).

A Family Tree of 1791 which remained in Wakefield

A note in my father's hand states that Godfrey was mentioned in papers belonging to Stephen Gerald Beaumont, and in a pedigree written out by R.H.Beaumont in 1791 for George Beaumont of Leeds. I remember S. G. Beaumont, a distinguished former Royal Air Force officer,  and Wakefield solicitor. He visited my father on at least one occasion, about the time that he retired from practice in Wakefield and went to live at Devizes.

One last (wrong?) reference

Another note from my father. Godfrey de Bellomonte "was upheld in his claim to 10 oxgangs or 1 carucate and 2 oxgangs at Crigleton nr Wakefield as a tenant of the Lord of Sandal, William de Warenne." The source given was "WBD X I at Huddersfield, Dodsworth, YAJ, Whitaker, etc". In the WYAS catalogue today WBD/X/1 is something entirely different. I think it must all simply be an error but I leave it here in case the source materialises!

EMB 3 February 2021

Early Photographs of George and Emma Beaumont

In my parents' house near Chichester was a corner cupboard inside which amongst other things were two coloured Victorian images, a gentleman and lady, set in identical display mounts marked "photographic miniatures by Mr Sutton 204 Regent St." 

After the house was cleared prior to sale in 2012, the mounts were discarded as in poor condition. 

Also in the cupboard, loose, was a note in my mother's hand identifying Emma. It appears that my father thought these to be pictures of his grandparents George and Emma (both died before he was born). 

I found a website saying that Edwin Sutton was a photographer at 204 Regent Street (London) from 1856-1873. I am inclined to think that these images do indeed show George and Emma, not long after they had married, which was at Pytchley, Northamptonshire, on 17 July 1861. 

Emma Beaumont (nee Heycock) 1839-1907

George Beaumont 1825-1899 of East Bridgford

Whether the images (now Box 1-189 in this archive) were taken by some photographic process is not really clear, but I think so. However these are larger than normal cartes de visite. The glass and mounts measure 5.5 ins by 6.5 ins and the image inside (the openings in the mount, to the top of the curve at the top) are 4 ins by 5.25 ins.

I thought these images may well be, like one we have of George's mother, some form of ambrotype, or  “collodion positive” which has been painted. They would then be of a type of photographic image that was going out early in the 1860s as the new and more affordable carte de visite format came in.

However, on another examination it seemed to me that the images are actually on (quite thick) paper, behind the glass. The glass is detaching itself from the paper over time, and there are signs of various patching-up jobs, the edges of one of them being stuck with perforated-edge paper that looks to me to have come from a sheet of postage stamps.

One theory is that the images were hand-coloured by Emma herself.

Box 1/022 in this Archive is a receipt issued, presumably to George Beaumont, dated 3 April 1869, at 2 Royal Exchange Buildings [London]. But I expect he went to London quite often.

There are several later photos of Emma and George including these taken some years later at studios in Nottingham.

I would much appreciate any comments both as to the images themselves and also as to whether others agree the identifications, based on the later photos.

EMB 2 February 2021

The South Tawton red herring

In the 1120s Henry I married off one of his numerous illegitimate daughters to a lord on or just outside the southern borders of Normandy. This may be seen as part of a strategy aimed at promoting loyalty through kinship ties in future generations. 

That lord was Roscelin, the "vicomte" of Maine, who had castles at Sainte-Suzanne and Beaumont-sur-Sarthe. Sainte-Suzanne perhaps in particular is well worth a visit.

King Henry gave South Tawton in Devon as Constance's dowry. 

The 1129/1130 Pipe Roll thus shows Rotscelino de Belmonte excused two silver marks in Devonshire (Pipe Roll p. 155).

Constance and her husband had a son Vicomte Richard, who named one of his daughters Constance, and she in due course married a baron called Roger de Tosny. South Tawton was given again as her dowry or marriage portion.

Here is a note of the charter in which king John in 1199 confirms -

to Constance de Toeni daughter of Richard vic de Bellomonte our kinsman, her land of Aelrichescote which is in Devon in the parish of Sustanton namely the land which king Henry the first, the grandfather of king Henry our father gave, with the said vill of Suthauton, to Constance his daughter and grandmother of the said Constance, in free marriage, etc etc., given at Le Mans 22 Sept. [1199] (Rotuli Chartarum, ed. T.D. Hardy (1837), pp.20-21).

Added this 10 May 2021. Book of Fees p.98 also shows the history of South Tawton to 1212. Given by Henry I to Roscelin de Bello Monte in marriage with Constance his [the king's] daughter, and given by Roscelin's son Richard de Bello Monte to Roger de Tony in marriage with his daughter Constance "who now holds this land."

Amended this 13 May 2021. Keats-Rohan, Domesday Descendants, page 741, states that Roger de Tosny's Constance was Roscelin's daughter.  I think grand-daughter is more likely.

Amended this 10 May 2021. There seems to be no clear evidence as to the date Roger de Tosny married his Constance. As his widow she was living as late as 1210-12 (Book of Fees p.98) (Red Book p.484).

The Tosny family continued to hold South Tawton and it is mentioned in the Inq. Post Mortem of Roger de Tony who died in 48 Henry III, about 1264 (Cal. IPM 1 no.588).

See:- Ethel Lega-Weekes, Neighbours of North Wyke, Transactions of the Devonshire Association vol. 33 (1901).  This is well-written and thorough. 

But:-

Contemporary with Vicomte Richard (father or perhaps brother (deleted 10/5/21) of the younger Constance) was Thomas de Bellomonte, a significant land-holder in Devon, holding four knights fees of the honor of Okehampton.

Sir William Pole, in Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon (various editions I think, including one of 1791 long after his death), considered that this Thomas was descended from Roscelin and Constance. But given that there was Robert de Bellomonte in Devon in 1086, a tenant of the same honor and (I think) occupying some of the same lands as Thomas, and given that Roscelin's predecessors of the 1086 generation were Hubert, and his son Ralph, and that the name Thomas is not found in the Vicomtes' family, that is clearly not a credible theory.

The fact that the mother of the first Constance was ?fictitiously? supposed to be a lady of the same family as Robert Earl of Leicester and Waleran Count of Meulan (i.e., a woman called Beaumont) has probably worsened the old muddle.

Information available today (eg online) which connects "the Beaumonts" with South Tawton seems to derive from E.T. Beaumont's unreliable book "The Beaumonts in History," about which I posted an article on this blog in May 2017. That book contains a fantastically wrong section about the Devonshire Beaumonts at pages 57-60, chunks of which seem to have been pasted into various websites.

It is confused and confusing to say that South Tawton was anciently a possession of the Beaumont family. There was at least one Beaumont family in Devon but those "Beaumonts" who were connected with South Tawton for a couple of generations were the "vicomtes" of Maine, who had little or no other dealings or lands in England.

EMB 1 February 2021 / 10 May 2021

PS The Vicomtes de Maine were lords of Sainte-Suzanne and other castles, and patrons of an abbey at Etival-en-Charnie. Their male line continued until the mid c13 when there was an heiress Agnes who married Louis de Brienne, sometimes called Louis of Acre. Their younger son Henry, who must have been born in the 1270s or early 1280s, used the name Beaumont, and as a fairly young man moved to England and made his career working for Edward II.

Henry did very well for himself indeed, in terms of wealth and honours, and died in March 1339/40. His descendants were a new "dynasty" of Beaumonts in England, apparently for practical purposes unrelated to the several Beaumont families who were in England long before. 

The first Yorkshire Beaumont - some references c.1194-1225

Thanks to Gary Beaumont for the idea of presenting a list of the appearances of the first Yorkshire William de Beaumont. Many of these, but not all, are attestations of charters of Roger Constable of Chester and his son John de Lacy. 

This individual is referenced 1192William in my main notes. What follows has been taken from there and in each case I will include a note of the source.

The names of the other people involved, where known, will be included. This is very useful, especially in understanding eg Roger's "circle" - the men who worked for and went about with him and who were involved in working for the lords. Spellings are of course very variable.

Most of the items cannot be dated within very close limits. 

Roger Constable of Chester (a) was his father's heir perhaps in early 1191 when news of the death of John Constable of Chester in the Holy Land reached England, (b) did not go on the Third Crusade in the early 1190s, (c) obtained the Pontefract honour in 1194 after which he is sometimes given the name Lacy, (d) did serve in Normandy between 1201 and 1204, (e) was thereafter made sheriff of Yorkshire, and (f) died in late 1211 or early 1212.

I don't doubt that I have made many mistakes and I will appreciate being told of them. My sources are not always cited to the full academic standard but thanks to Google, readers will be able to find most of them, and a surprising number of the full texts in question are now available online. Sources must please not be cited from here.

I intend to add to this as and when information comes to light or time permits.

EMB 2 February 2021 and 7 and 11 & 13 February 2021 and 10 May 2021

.............................

1170?

William must almost certainly have been born by 1170 or 1175 and was I think about the same age as Roger Constable of Chester. His parentage is not at present known. But his possible family background is  suggested in other pieces I have written / hope to write.

1192-3

Since Roger Constable of Chester did not go on the Crusade, the idea that William de Beaumont went with him, on which so much printing ink has been used, has fallen to the ground. Please see my pieces written in June 2020 on that for my reasoning.

1194?

William de Bellomonte was a witness when Roger Constable of Chester granted to William son of Fulk (described as his marshall) all the land of his demesne between Bradestrete (Roman road between Ribchester and Yorkshire) & Munkegate, and as Standen Water (Pendleton Brook) divides.  The witnesses cited are the earl of Chester, Robert son of Roger, Robert Walense, Ada' de Dutton, Hugo de Dutton, Thomas Despenser, Galfrido de Cestria, Willo' de Bellomonte, Hugone de Mitton, G. dean of Whalley, Henry de Blakeburne, Gefra Butell, Willo' de Baville, "& others" ( T.D.Whitaker's History of Whalley, Fourth Edition, vol.ii, p.100 cites Add. MSS 10374 f.155b (copy said to be in Harl.2074 p.354)) … The first two witnesses being barons of national importance, this might perhaps be dated to April 1194 at Winchester (see my notes on Roger and on the movements of King Richard and those barons at that period).... This charter seems not to be in the printed Whalley Chartulary.

1190 x 1211

Grant by Roger de Lascy, constable of Chester, to Hugh Tirrel. n.d. "Hiis testibus: Eustacio fratre domini, Ade de Dittone, Roberto Walesi, Hugone de Dittona, Willelmo de Bello Monte, G. de Dittona, Ricardo filio Roberti, Ricardo de Molinels, Ricardo filio Henrici, Hugone de Hedeste, Hugone Norais, Ricardo filio Ricardi, Alano Clerico et multis aliis." (Manchester Univ. Tatton of Wythenshawe Muniments Appleton TW/123)…. 

Revised 13 Feb. 2021. The catalogue refers to Appleton, i.e. Appleton, Cheshire, about seven miles from Halton Castle. “Ditton” must be Dutton (nearby). Two of the witnesses (Richard de Molinels / Molyneus and Hugh Norais / Noreis) seem to be Lancashire men, presumably tenants of the Halton "barony."

1195?

"Willelmo Bello" was the junior witness to a charter of Nicholas son of Jordan of Shippen (Pontefract Chartulary, no.97 pp.143-144 (YAS Record Series Vol.XXV)). The editor Richard Holmes considered this to be William Beaumont, and dated this charter circa 1190. The charter relates to property in Pontefract. It is followed by a charter of the same grantor ascribed to c.1230 and then by a related one dated to c.1225. I think the dating of these charters might be reconsidered. The witnesses to this charter no. 97 were William “le Gramaire,” Richard de Luterington [Lotherton?], Alan sheriff [vice comite] of Kippax, Alan de Baiuse, Robert the chaplain, Paulinus the chaplain, Hugh of Bateley, Gregory the clerk, Henry Kaskine, Robert the chamberlain (camberlano), John son of Lang [perhaps “Langevinus”], Simon pincerna [butler?], and William “Bello.” I am inclined to say that if this is William Beaumont the charter should be re-dated to 1194 or later, simply on the basis that I know of no other mentions of him in the Pontefract honour before the arrival of Roger constable of Chester. This however is an interesting document as William makes two other appearances in the same context, both datable more like 1225 or 1226 (see below, nos 99 and 100 in the same volume).

1196?

William de Bellomonte attests a charter of Roger Constable of Chester – Witnesses:- Eustace of Chester, Geoffrey his brother, Robert Wallensi, William de Lungvillers, William de Stapleton, William de Bellomonte, Adam de Dutton, Richard the clerk, Robert Noel, Henry Wallensi, Roger de Samlesbury,  Richard and Alan his brothers, and Alex de Derewent…. (Whalley Coucher Book, vol.1 Chetham Society vol. 10, pp.286-287, no. LVI)….. this is a confirmation by Roger of property at Whalley given to Uctred the clerk, son of Gospatrik of Samlesbury, by Geoffrey dean of Whalley [to hold from the church], the witnesses to which included some of the above and some other local clergy….I am inclined to date this c.1196 or not much later.

1196

Will. de Bellomonte is a member of Roger Constable of Chester's court at Clitheroe in 1196 ....  (Early Yorkshire Charters, vol.3, no.1524, pp. 211-2 cites Kirkstall Chartul. f.55d)… Persons present being Roberto filio Ricardi avunculo domini R. de Laci et Eustachio fratre suo  et Willilmo de Vesci  et Roberto Walensi tunc temporis dapifero et Willelmo de Lungvillers et Alano de Lungvilliers  et Willelmo de Bellomonte et Reinero de Stivetuna et Henrico de Blakeburna et Helia de Billingduna et Hugone de Mittuna et Henrico de Plesigtuna et Hugone de Heland (Elland). The source for this is also given as Duchy of Lancaster Class XI no.7, Coucher of Kirkstall f.55b in an edition by Farrer of Final Concords, Lancashire, in which the summary does not give the names of the panel…….

1196?

In the notes to the previous item (EYC 3 p.212) and elsewhere can be found mention of another, perhaps related, deed, the witnesses' names as follows:- Roger de Montbegon, Adam de Dutton then seneschal, Eudo de Lungvillers, William de Lungvillers, William de Stapelton, Thomas [despenser], William de Bellomonte, William de Notton, Ralph de Monteficheti, Geoffrey de Dutton, Geoffrey decano, Peter capellano, William de Bavill, Stephen de Hamerton….

1200? [or earlier]

A "little charter" of Roger Constable of Chester for land on the moors:- Richard Holmes, (ed), Pontefract Chartulary YAS Rec. Ser., XXV, Introduction p.xl….. the full list of witnesses being Eustace the lord's brother, Robert Walens, William de Lungvillers, Jordan Foliot, Gilbert de Lacy, William de bello monte, Richard de Stapleton, Master Reimund, Richard the clerk, William son of Gerondi…. 

1200? or earlier?? 1194 x 1211

A charter of Walter Prior of Pontefract dated to the time of Roger Constable of Chester; this being a release of 60s per annum which the previous lords had granted:- Holmes, (ed), Pontefract Chartulary, YAS Rec.Ser., XXV, Introduction p.xxvi …. Here the full witness list is William son of William, Robert Walens, John de Birkin, Jordan de St Maria, Adam de Reinevilla, William de Stapleton, William de Bellemonte, Colin de Emnevilla (Quatmars), William Grammatico, and Master Adam de Kellingtona. Added 11 February 2021:-  What is surely the same charter, from the Duchy of Lancaster Charters, is summarised in the Report of the Deputy Keeper for Public Records (1874), with a slightly different witness list but including William, here as "Bellomonte." I think the "primary" reference for this item in the Duchy of Lancaster records is DL 25/45. The witness-list is not given in the online catalogue.

c.1194 x 1215

A charter of Roger Peitevin c.1190-1215 (EYC, 3, no.1573 p.248 and also at YAJ, vii, p.4; noted by Roger Dodsworth from Mallet of Normanton's papers). It concerns Roger's brother Hugh's departure for Jerusalem; the full list of witnesses is Jordan de St.Maria, John de Birkin, William Grammatico, William Beaumont [Bellomun[te]], Adam de Wanervill, Robert Walensi, Yvo de Lungvilers, William de Lungvilers and Thomas de Raynvill……. I find it interesting here that Beaumont's name is placed more senior than Robert Walensi, this is unusual.

1201 -1204

During this period Roger Constable of Chester is known to have been serving the king in a senior military role in Normandy. He had to surrender Chateau-Gaillard in March 1204..... and may well have been taken prisoner until such time as a ransom was paid. It is known that he was back in England by the end of 1204. The next item dated May 1205 seems to be some evidence that William de Beaumont had been serving abroad, in which case it may seem reasonable to guess that he may have been with Roger.

May 23, 1205

King John orders the Sheriff of York "to respite William de Bellomonte from the payment of 10 marks (£6. 13s 4d) [two thirds of £10] which he owed to the Jews in that city, and to free him from the interest of the debt as long as he was beyond the sea with horses and arms in the king's service. As witness me myself at Northampton 23 May 1205.By the Constable of Chester" (Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum i 33b)..... I translate q'mdiu fuit ultra mare as so long as he was overseas in the king's service.....Thus he is now back in England. The order in question seems to have been done at the request of Roger Constable of Chester himself, as the Sheriff of York, who had been travelling with the King throughout the preceding few weeks, and to whom 100 silver marks (as perquisites) were granted the same day (same page and reference).

1194 x 1211

A charter of Roger Constable of Chester about Bradley; no date is given. EYC, 3, p.388 (no.1763, footnote). Source is given there as Fountains Chartulary Tib.C.xii f.245). By the charter Roger confirms the gifts to Fountains of Ralph son of Nicholas [and] Adam de Cridling his son, and gives the rest of Bradley saving the service of Jordan de Rie [Ryther]; witnesses William 'fitzWilliam', Adam de Neufmarché & Henry his brother, Robert Waleys & Henry his son, William de Lungvilers, William de Stapelton, William Beaumont, Thomas Despenser and Colin de Quatremarcs.

Between 1194 and c.1206 - perhaps 1205

Revised this most recently 30 Sept 2021. Date has to be between 1194 (Roger's inheritance of Pontefract honour) x c.1206 (death of his brother Geoffrey). I think, rather late in that date-range. 1205 quite likely.

William de Bellomonte had 12 oxgangs [or bovates] of land in Huddersfield with a moiety of the meadow of the demesne and a moiety of the wood and four marcs rent in the mill of the said town by the grant of Roger de Laci Constable of Chester for the service of 1/8 of a knight's fee. Witnesses Geoffrey de Chester, Robert Walensi, John de Birkin, Jordan de Sancta Maria, Jordan ffoliot, Adam de Dutton, William de Stapleton, Hugh Despenser, Henry de Longocampo, Baldwin de ffossa, Colin de Damelevill “and others.” Witness-list and note from Dodsworth MS 133 fo.114 (another copy at Dodsworth MS 155 fo.151).

The original charter might be the one now in West Yorkshire Archives as DD/RA/F/19/26, described in the catalogue as "The Original Document of Grant by Roger de Lacy, Constable of Chester, to William Beaumont of land in Huddersfield."

Details or notes of this charter (with fewer witness names) also in the RHB 1796 pedigree in this Archive, and in YAJ Vol.viii p.502; said there to be from an “elaborate MS account” written by R.H.Beaumont) (?Also said to be printed by T D Whitaker, Loidis et Elmete, p.347; if so, no doubt from same source).

Andrew Connell in his 2018 Thesis at p.168, cites M.L. Faull and S.A. Morehouse, West Yorkshire: An Archaeological Survey to A.D. 1500 (West Yorkshire Metropolitan Council, 1981), ii, p. 409. I have not seen this, and of course, it isn't a "primary" source. Incidentally Andrew Connell believed the old red herring about William going on the Crusade.

Added 2 Feb. 2021 & revised 30 Sep.2021. The tenure being subject to duties "in connection with the escort or conveyance of the Lord's despatches" to Halton - something which has been said in various secondary works - is mentioned in the YAJ vol. 2 (c.1873) page 15 as part of an article "Almondbury in Feudal Times," by J.K.Walker. This refers not to a grant by Roger Constable of Chester, but (pp.11-16, ibid) to a Survey of the year 13 Edward III (about 1340), the particular reference being in context of an Agnes Beamounte, who was holding one messuage and one bovate, in Huddersfield but pertaining to Almondbury. I would like to see if there are any other or earlier mentions of such a condition being attached to a holding, whatever the name of the holder[s] and whether in Huddersfield or anywhere else. In Dodsworth's copies nothing is said about the despatches to Halton.

About December 1205

A charter by which Robert Bussel released the barony of Penwortham to Roger constable of Chester (Farrer, Lancs. Pipe Rolls and Early Charters p.381).....(Hulton, Penwortham Priory Documents  Introduction pp.xxi-xxii).......the full list of witnesses is:- earl Ranulf, Eustace de Vescy, Peter de Brus, Gilbert son of Reinfred, Robert Walensi, Henry de Redeman, William son of Swain, William de “Winequike,” Turstan Banastre, Adam Banastre, Jordan de Sancta Maria, Thomas Despenser, Adam of Dutton, Geoffrey of Dutton, William Beaumont, Baldwin de ffossa, and Laurence of Wilton (a clerk).

About December 1205

Dec.1205. Farrer (1902) Lancashire Pipe Rolls and Early Lancashire Charters, pp. 379-382. Autumn 1205. Release by Hugh Bussel to Roger de Lacy Constable of Chester of the barony of Penwortham, Roger paying 310 marks which Hugh owed for the balance of a fine due to the king. Witnesses:- Simon de Pateshul, Gilbert son of Reinfrid then sheriff of Lancaster, Roger de Montbegon, William butilario [Butler, Boteler], Henry de Redeman, Hugh Despenser, Thomas his brother, Colin de QuatreMares, Adam Dutton, Geoffrey Dutton, William de Bello Monte, William de Lungvilers, Girard de Cleiton [Gerold de Clayton, seneschal of Penwortham], Richard Phitun [Fitton], Thurstan Banastre, Adam de Hocton [Houghton [the last three being tenants of the barony] “et multis aliis.”

c.1195 x 1205

Added this on 10 May 2021. PRO Lists & Indexes Supplementary Series No.V Vol. 3 Duchy of Lancaster Cartae Miscellaneae (1964), No.271 page 35. Decision of W[illiam Punchardun]. Abbot of Rievaulx, [and other judges] on the dispute between R[oger] de Lasci, knight, and the canons of Nostell, on the election of a prior….[does not say what the decision was]... Witnesses:- S[imon] dean of York, R[obert] abbot of St Mary's, York, R[oald] prior of Guisborough, H Treasurer of York, A Archdeacon of York, W[illiam] archdeacon of Nottingham, Master Gregory and W de Kana canons of York, Richard de Malebisse and Hugh his brother, John de Birkin and Roger his brother, Robert Walensis, Hugh Dispensator and Thomas his brother, William de Bello monte, Richard Punchardun, Henry de Longo campo, Philip de Fachamp, Robert Vavasor and Mauger his brother, Robert de Lelaim, Raymond the clark of Pontefract, Richard the clerk of Methley, and Walter his brother. Dated c.1195-1205 in this catalogue……  the name Punchardun appears in Devon in context of the Beaumonts in that county but I think that must be coincidence.

c. 1205 x 1211

Clitheroe: Carta Rogeri de Lascy de Meles [Meols]. Grant to the Cistercian Abbey of St. Mary of Salley or Sallay. Witnesses: G. decano de Wallia, Hugone de Duttona fratre ejus, Hugone Dispensatore, W. de Beamunt, Colino de Quartermares. “The Chartulary of the Cistercian Abbey of St. Mary of Sallay in Craven.” Record Series (Yorkshire Archaeological Society). Joseph McNulty, ed. 1933. Vol. 87. p. 157. With thanks to Gary Beaumont for this reference. As the editorial footnote states, Hugh of Dutton was not the brother of Geoffrey dean of Whalley; so it is likely the name of Hugh's brother eg Geoffrey of Dutton has been omitted in the copying! The name on modern maps is Sawley and the site of the abbey is on the bank of the Ribble not far from Clitheroe.

1206?

When Alan (son of Roland) of Galloway released to Roger Constable of Chester and his heirs the advowson of the church of Kipeis (Kippax), the witnesses, in order, were Eustace de Vescy (d.1216), Robert Walensi, William de BelloMonte, Hugh Dispenser (qv), Thomas his brother (qv), Gilbert son of Cospatric, Ralf de Campania and Richard Clerk of Creveqor, the writer (Calendar of Documents, Scotland, 1108-1272, No. 553). Source cited is Duchy of Lancaster, Cartae Miscell., Vol. I, p. 4; I think this means DL36 in the Public Record Office....The book dates this 1210 x 1212. It can't be later than 1211. Alan of Galloway's first wife was a close relative, perhaps a daughter, of Roger. See K J Stringer, A new wife for A of G, Dumfries & Galloway Nat. Hist & Antiq. Soc. Trans, 3rd. ser., xlix (1972), pp.49-55. Amended this note 24 Sep. 2021.

1206?

William de Bellomonte received a grant from Peter de Arches of 1 bovate in Shadwell to hold for 1lb of cumin or 2d. per annum and by doing forinsec service of 1 bov. where 11 carucates made a knights fee (the bovate is described "scilicet illam que fuit Roberti filii Gode in extremo, et capitale mesuagium meum, et tres acras terre que extendunt super predictum mesuagium et [blank] viam versus west (sic)". Witnesses: John Birkin, William Grammaticus, Richard de Lutrington, Alan de Smethetona [=Smeaton], Simon his brother, Roberto, Buscard, Waltero fratribus, Wm. de Siclinghale, Simon the clerk et multiis aliis. Dated 1190 X 1220 at EYC 3 no.1587 p. 258 cit. Dodsworth MS.liii,f.70 (Badsworth charters, but not in Dodsworth's own handwriting).

1207?

A charter of Roger Constable of Chester to Stanlaw re Marland in Rochdale (c.1207-11) (Harl. Chart. 52H43a printed at Hatton, Book of Seals no.71)….. attestations noted out of the Whalley Coucher Book ii 591-2 (Chetham Society xi):- Hugh and Geoffrey of Dutton, William de Lungvillers, William de Beaumont[sic], Thomas Dispenser, Baldwin de ffossa, Colin de Quatremares, Thomas de Reynevill, Master Roger the lord's clerk, William de Ravil, Michael de Rach [sic], “and many others.”

1208?

A confirmation of Roger Constable of Chester which Farrer dated 1208 x 1211 at EYC, 3, no.1802 p. 418 cit. Kirkstead Cartulary Cott.MS., Vesp.E xviii f.135. It is a confirmation of Peter son of Adam de Birkethwaite's gift at Penistone, Langsett, Swinden, & Penisale. The witnesses were Robert Walensi, Eustace de Chester, the brothers Eudo & William Lungvilers, William Beaumont ("de Bello Monte"), Colin 'de quatuor Marsiis', Galfrido pincerna, Richard Noel, Master Raimund, and Radulf coco.... EYC sets out four charters of Peter son of Adam de Birkethwaite to Kirkstead, and William Beaumont did not witness any of those; he only witnessed Roger's confirmation. This may support a view that William's place was with Roger, rather than amongst the local minor gentry of the area.

1210?

28 September 2021. Reference moved to c.1220

Between c.1205 and c.1230 (date guessed)

Added 2 Feb. 2021. Agreement between William Beaumont [Beumond] on the one part and the prior and convent [of Nostell] on the other regarding their joint ownership of woods of Huddersfield and the felling and selling of the wood, whereby the prior and convent grant to William the right to fell and sell trees from that part of the woods called Le Holleclowe [described] and the prior and canons are to receive the money which pertain to woods felled and sold on 5 bovates of land (Cotton MSS Vespasian E XIX fol 183/183r - printed as no.1320 at page 994 in Vol. 2 of Judith Anne Frost's edition of Nostell Cartulary (2005) in her University of York Thesis). [It appears that there is little dating evidence for this so I think it may only be an assumption that this first William Beaumont is the one in question]

1211 or 1212?

Charter of Colin de Damnevill [Quatmars] to Stanlaw giving his part of the mill of Hodrefeld [Huddersfield] on the “Caune” [Colne] for the soul of his lord Roger de Lascy constable of Chester….. witnesses include Willmo de Beaumont (Whalley Coucher Book vol. 3 Chetham Society Vol 16 pp.935-936)..Witnesses noted from there:- Earl Ranulph of Chester, Philip de Orreby the justiciar of Chester, William de Quatuormaris, Hugh Thomas [?and] Robert the dispensers, Baldwin de ffossa, William de Beaumont [sic, Beaumont], Hugh de Dutton, Geoffrey de Dutton, lords Humphrey and Peter, chaplains, Master Roger the doctor (medico), William de Danylle, Henry Tyas.... A gift for the soul of a person is impliedly (to me) made after that person's death, but whilst he is still well-remembered.

1212

Roger Constable of Chester having died was succeeded by his son John de Lacy who, as a young man, had a difficult relationship with king John as one of the Northern barons and as a young man. In 1218-19 for about 18 months he was out of the country, on Crusade. He is known to have issued charters from Damietta near the mouth of the Nile, and there is no suggestion that William Beaumont accompanied him there.

1212 x c.1219 [this entry 7-11 Feb. 2021]

Grant by 1. William de Nevill son of Walter de Nevil to 2. Knights brothers of the Temple of Solomon. Gift in free alms of one bovate of land in Lepton, formerly held by Hugh del Estages; one large assart formerly held by Richard del Estages; an assart with buildings on it formerly held by Hugh del Estages; an assart called le Holdehirst; a meadow formerly held by Swanus de Lepton, with common of pasture Warranty clause: against all men. Witnesses: Gillebert de Notton steward; John de Lasci, constable of Chester; John de Birkinge; Mathew de Shepeley steward of the count of Warran'; Colin de Quatremarreo; William de Bellemonte, Henry de Schelflay, Richard de Lasceles; Mathew de Turstonland; Robert de Birton; John son of Jordan de Heton; Alan de Witeley; Adam de Langeley; Robert de Werotley; Adam de Farnley (Yorks Arch Soc Bradfer-Lawrence collection MD335/7/28 [there dated just 13th century]),

This must be 1211 x c.1227. I don't think the name of Gilbert of Notton would have been placed ahead of his boss, the chief lord, so I suggest we should read "Gilbert of Notton steward of John de Lacy constable of Chester." John of Birkin died about 1227. There were two Matthews de Shepley covering a wide date range but the senior one was Warenne steward about 1219. No certainty about timing of death of Colin de Quatremares, but he seems to be still living around 1225 or so.  Henry de Shelley continues till after 1230. Richard de Lasceles seems to have lived the whole date range. Matthew de Thurstanland no good info. Jordan de Heton is found c.1206 x 1211 so John his son might be the future “Sir John” of the mid c.13. Alan  of Whitley looks like a person of c.1210….. 

See Notes by E.W.Crossley on the Preceptory of Newland at YAS Record Series vol.  61... for its land at Lepton, eg p.42 and p.72... More generally at p.2 as to whether Templars or Hospitallers. Newland is on the right (east) bank of the Calder about 15 miles from Lepton but only 6 from Pontefract. EYC vol. 3 contains details of several, slightly earlier, gifts by Pontefract honour people to the Temple "of Salomon," perhaps most referring to Temple Newsam near Leeds, rather than Newland.

Who was the grantor? I do not think it is the William de Neville who had married one of the daughters of Adam fitzSwain many years before. Alexander de Neville of the next generation was son of a Walter, and I found a reference that one of a collection of charters offered for sale by Bonhams in 2006 and again by Bloomsbury Auctions in 2014 was a confirmation by Alexander de Nevile, of all land which his brother gave the Templars (of Temple Newsam), namely a bovate in Lepton and referring to other gifts the same as those in the above charter. Therefore although I had no other notes of Alexander having a brother, I now think that must be so. Alexander de Neville (who died in about 1219) witnessed another charter of William son of Walter de Neville in the same series (MD335/15/1/25) also relating to Lepton.

1214? [added this 10 July 2021]

Release for twenty marks, from John de Lascy, constable of Chester, (footnote identifying him incorrectly with his grandfather) to Hugh de………,   Thomas de Horbyry, Roger de Thorenton, Henry de Tankerlayh, Robert de Deneby, Robert de Flaynesburg, John de Thorenhill, Henry de Dicton, John de Midope, John de Bur…….., Juliana, daughter of Robert de Clayton, Diana, daughter of Thomas de Skelmeretorp, and Agnes de……..,  And all their tenants, for making hedges and deer hays (sepium et stabiliorum) in his forest of Marcheste..,,,blank..Twetstanesten (footnote says places not identified but probably in the West Riding) unless they should wish to do a favour (nisi aliquant graciam velint impendere). Witnesses, Roger de Monte Bigonis (sic) [read Montbegon], John de Birkin, William Gramayre, William Beaumont (de Bello monte), Gilbert de Notton, Geoffrey de Dutton, Henry Newmarch (de Novo foro), Baldewin Teutonicus (From Yorkshire Deeds vol. 1 (YAS RS vol. 39 p.190 no. 511 - from Col.Gascoigne) … The date here must be between 1211 (death of Roger Constable of Chester) and c.1226 (death of Roger de Montbegon). I am inclined to suggest c.1211-1215 since from about that year Gilbert of Notton is often described as seneschal. In 1218 John de Lacy went to Egypt as part of the Crusade, Baldwin Teutonicus went with him.

1215?

Charter of Edith, lady of Barton, with assent of her husband Gilbert de Notton, and for health of her son John de Barton and her daughter the wife of William de Notton, giving to Stanlaw the land of Cadewallisset [Cadishead in Barton] that Alexander formerly held. Witnesses John de Birkin, Jordan de St. Maria, Ivo de Longvillers, William de Bello monte, Henry de Longchamp, Master Roger the Rector of St. Nicholas Hospital Pontefract, Walter de Castello, Walter de deacon, Ralph of Mirfield, William de Daneport (Whalley Coucher Book (Chetham Society Vol. XI) vol. 2 pp.521-522); provisionally suggest c.1200-1215.

1217?

Will'o de Bello Monte witnessed a grant by John de Lascy to Philip de Orreby and his heirs of "unu. batellum in aquade Merse ad piscandum cum una sagena p. totu inf'a divisas de Hathelton". [one boat in the waters of Mersey to fish with one seine net through all the lower reaches of (?Halton)].  I have dated it 1213 X 1218.  Witnesses, in order: Lord H abbot of Chester, Hugh Despenser, Thomas Despenser, William de Bello Monte, Peter [the clerk of] the lord earl of Chester, Hugh of Dutton, Geoffrey his brother, Thomas de ?????? and Richard Phiton [Fitton], Robert de Stapleton, clerk  (George Ormerod, History of Cheshire (1819), Vol I, page 513n). 

1217

The William de Beaumont who appears in context of Norwich castle in about 1216 was someone else entirely. The context is entirely different. See the piece I put on this blog about that man on 24 June 2015.

In the time-frame covered by these notes (say 1194-1225) I have other references to Beaumonts, including some called William, which I have not included because I do not think it is the same person / family as the first William Beaumont of Yorkshire.

1218 the litigation about Quarmby

When correctly translated, this shows that the W.B. to whom Roger de Lacy / Constable of Chester had granted the land at Huddersfield was still living in 1218. Printed [with correct translation by Lady Stenton] in 1937 in the Selden Society's Rolls of the Yorkshire Eyre (RJEY) 1218-19, no. 282). (this refers to Selden Society volume 56, for 1937). I do not have a note of the exact translation in Lady Stenton’s words but the key section would be:- And William came and called John constable of Chester to warrant a charter of his [John’s] father, which he [William] produced and which showed that he [John’s father] had given 12 bovates of land at H. to the said William.... The gist of the case was that William argued the land was in Huddersfield. The jurors decided that the land was in Quarmby, so it could not belong to William, since the grant to him was of land in Huddersfield.……Translation also at YAS Record Series vol. 61 page 176 ….  There is an [older] mis-translation of this in the YAJ, viii, 519 to the effect that William appealed to John "his guarantor, by reason of a charter given to his father, which he produced...." Timing of this seems to have to fit round John de Lacy's absence from England, or perhaps John was not actually personally called.

1220?? (not possible to date closely)

A charter of Ralph abbot (1202-27) of  Kirkstall to Henry de Berlei re "Wodehus" (Wothersome in Bardsey), where the full witness list was John de Birkin, Gilbert de Notton, William Gramaticus, William de Bello monte, Adam de Bella Aqua, Herbert de Arches, Hugh de Wieton, Nigel de Horsford (YAS Record Series, vol. 63, Yorkshire Deeds, iii, no. 426 p.147). 

circa 1220 (moved and added/amended on 28 Sept. 2021)

Feoffment by Matilda, daughter of Quenilda of Gipton, to William de Bellomonte and his heirs, of one bovate of land in Gipton, to be held of donor’s heirs .... donor to make up if there is not enough land at Litelcroft.... witnesses:- Gilbert of Notton, then seneschal; John of Birkin;  William Grammaticus; William of Notton; Hugh of Towlston; Robert of Stapleton; John of Heck; John of Gipton; Richard of Gipton; and others [query if named] (Whitley Deeds West Yorkshire Archives DD/WBD/X/54) [dated 12th century in the archive catalogue but early 13th century possibly c.1220] (Noted at Dodsworth MS 133 fo.124v, but with third witness as Richard G).

and apparently on the same occasion, as identical witnesses:- Thomas son of Emma de Gipton grants to William de Bellomonte and his heirs a toft in Gipton….. refers to Salswelle .. refers to William de Gipton .....a penny at Christmas. Witnesses:- Gilbert de Notton then seneschal of Pontefract, John de Birkin, William Gramatico, William de Notton, Hugh de Touleston, Robert de Stapleton, John de Hecke, John de Gipton, Richard de Gipton “and others.” (Dodsworth MS 133 fo.126). This is not in the WYAS catalogue.

Unless / until further work can be done on these and various other Gipton documents, many questions will remain unanswered.

1223 or 1224

William de Bellomonte's name occurs in connexion with a matter between Peter de Mauley and Isabella his wife, and Thomas de Ardern, re Bramham:- Curia Regis Rolls, 11, 265 & 2681. In no. 265 William's name is two behind that of Roger of Birkin........ William de BelloMonte came to a case on 12 November 1224 at Westminster but the matter was adjourned because not enough people came.  The case was between Peter de Mauley and his wife Isabel (Fossard heiress), and Thomas Arderne, who was called to warrant by Nostell Priory, and was about land in Bramham:- YAS Rec.Ser. LXII Yorks. Fines 1218-1231, p.67n. I think this Bramham is the one south of Wetherby.

1225?

Pontefract chartulary document no. 99 dated c.1225 (YAS Record Series, vol.25, no.99, pp. 145-146).… it is a charter of Eudo the chaplain of Pontefract, the witnesses being Gilbert de Notton then seneschal, John de Birkin, William Gramatico, William de Beymund [sic Beymund], Adam of Kellington, Roger of Ledisham, William the chaplain, William of Campsall [Camishallo], Nicholas of Shippen, Richard de Stagno…… Charter no.100 immediately following is a confirmation charter of John de Lacy constable of Chester with several of the same witnesses, including William (here, “de Bello Monte”) but with also a witness just called “Colino” who, as the footnote observes, must surely be Colin de Quatremares, or de Ameville (or Damville etc). No 100 is placed at c.1226...... Editor Richard Holmes' footnote at page 146 notes the spelling "Beymund" as "somewhat as still pronounced" and compares it to the more formal "Bello Monte" in the charter of the lord.

c.1225

In regard to Staining near Blackpool (Steyninges), William de Beumont attested the charter of John de Lacy, behind Gilbert de Notton, to Stanlaw; this charter was, it seems either a gift or a confirmation of John’s grandfather’s gift, of what John senior (i.e. John Constable of Chester who died in 1190) had had from T[homas] de Bellomonte and his uncle, William Monachus, some 50 or more years earlier (Whalley Coucher Book vol. 2 pp. 419-420 nos. I-IV). The fact that they bothered to get a person named Beaumont to attest this is, I think, some evidence that they all knew that the property had come from this Beaumont’s family; this attestation was no doubt inserted or arranged by the monks, and had the effect of assuring to them that Beaumont could not put in a claim or say that he did not know about this. This must date c.1212 x 1232 and the full witness list is Gilbert de Notton then seneschal, William de Beumont, Ivone Harwecurt, Henry de Longocampo, master Roger “medico,” Robert de Stapelton “camerario,” Walter Moton, Alan de Meles, “and many others.”

1225?

A charter of Adam the chaplain, son of Richard son of Lesing of Ledstone (Pontefract Cartulary, ed. Holmes (YAS RS vol.25) no. 190, p.245). Witnesses:-  Gilbert de Notton then seneschal of John de Lacy, John of Birkin, Hugh de Toulistona, William de Bellomonte, John de Hech, Richard de Fareburne, Adam son of Thomas de Reineville, Roger of Ledsham then dean of Pontefract, Henry of Swillington then dean of “Eynsti,” Alan son of Rannulf, Simon his brother, Simon de Rupe.

1225?

A charter of John de Lacy, Constable of Chester confirming a gift by Geoffrey dean of Whalley to Eli son of Thomas possibly of land at Snelleshou (Whalley Coucher Book vol. 1, Chetham Society Vol. 10, pp.277-278 no.XLVII)….. I don’t think Gilbert de Notton was seneschal much after 1225…..  The full list of witnesses:- G de Notton then seneschal, William de Bello monte, Eudo de Lungevillers, Henry de Novo Mercato [ie the name sometime rendered as Neufmarche, New Market], Hugh de Dutton, Gilbert son of G de Notton the seneschal, Henry Wallensis, Master Roger medicus, Master Walter de Castellis, Robert de Stapleton the clerk, John the chaplain ….. actually this reads to me that John is confirming to Elie son of Thomas the land that Geoffrey the Dean granted to him in the previous charter, and it is only the editorial headnote of that previous charter which identifies it as Snelleshou.

1227

It is not known when William de Bellomonte died, but I believe the seniority of his ranking in the witness-lists of John de Lacy’s charters cited here indicates an elderly person, and it certainly seems that this pattern of attestations stops at around 1227. 

 It is possible that the William Beaumont involved in the arrangements about Whitley (datable 1232 x 1240) is the same man. Or it may be his son or other successor.

............

Some of the above references are noticed in the 2018 Thesis by Andrew David Connell:- The de Lacy Constables of Chester and Earls of Lincoln, The Transformation of an Honour (1190-1311). 

I'd like to record my thanks to Southampton University for letting me use the Hartley Library there all those years ago, when I lived not far from there, as that was where I got most of the references from - from the hard copy books, many of which are now readily available online. 

EMB 31 Jan. 2021. 

Added to:- 2 and 7 February 2021