Dear Newsgroup ~
This current thread is basically a continuation in a long series of posts made over many years by numerous newsgroup members concerning the Champernoun family of Modbury, Devon, chief among them Ronny Bodine and taf.
Buried behind the Champernoun family has been an alleged descent from Richard, Earl of Cornwall, King of the Romans, who died in 1272. This connection is based on a statement by the venerable Devonshire antiquarian, William Pole, who indicated that he saw a grant dated 1280-1 in which Edmund of Almain, Earl of Cornwall, died 1300, legitimate son of Earl/King Richard, referred to Joan, wife of Richard de Champernoun, as his "sister." Pole's comments are as follows:
pages 309-310: “Modbiry was thancient land of the Valletorts, Barons of Hurberton. Roger de Valletort conveyed it, amongst other lands, unto Sr Alexander Okeston, wch had married Jone, the widow of Raph de Valletort, wch woman (as it is probable) was the concubine of Richard Erle of Cornwall, & Kinge of Almayne, or of ye Romans; they had issue Sr James de Okeston, wch died wthout issue; wthth commandement of Kinge Edw. 2, [hee] conveyed Modbiry, & all other lands, formerly granted unto his father by Roger de Valletort unto Sr Richard Chambernon, wch was sonne of Richard Chambernon, & Jone, daughter of Jone before mentioned, whom Edmund Erle of Cornwall, calleth by the name of his sister, in a grant made by hym unto the said Richard and Jone, of thassise of breade & ale, dated anno 12 Edward I. The said Richard the father was younger sonne of Sr Henry Chambernon, of Clist Chambernon. Sr Richard Chambernon, called alsoe de Campo Ernulphi, had issue Sr Richard, of Modbiry, wch by Elisabeth, da. & on [of] the heires of Hugh de Valletort, of Tawton, had issue Thomas, wch by Elinor, daughter of Sr Roger Rohant, & his heire, had issue Sr Richard ...” [Reference: Pole, Colls. towards a Desc. of Devon (1791): 309].
The original comments of Pole may be viewed at the following weblink:
https://books.google.com/books?id=WF4OAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA309
We see above that Vivian proposed that Joan, wife of Richard de Champernoun, was the illegitimate daughter of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, King of the Romans [died 1272], by his mistress, Joan, widow of Ralph de Valletort [he died 1256], and subsequently wife of Sir Alexander de Okeston [Oxton].
As far as I know, I don't think anyone has seriously questioned Pole's account of this family. Certainly his arrangement displayed an excellent working knowledge of the people of this time period. All the people he mentions in his account certainly lived in the time period in question and the chronology behind his statements appears to be sound. Vivian was a sober historian and, if he says he saw a grant by Earl Edmund in which Joan de Champernoun was called his sister, I'm sure he was telling the truth.
Even so, until now there has been no independant confirmation of the grant of Earl Edmund to his sister, Joan, wife of Richard de Champernoun. Nor, to my knowledge, has there been any record located which links Joan, wife of Richard de Champernoun, to her reputed mother, Joan, widow of Ralph de Valletort.
Recently I recently found a reference to an Exchequer of Pleas action which involves Joan, widow of Ralph de Valletort, the reputed mistress of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, King of the Romans. I decided to search for the record and this past week I was able to find it on the Anglo-American Legal Tradition (AALT) website.
Below is a brief abstract of the record. The information in brackets has been added by me for clarity:
In 1278 Andrew de Treslok and Joan de Valletort his wife, tenants of part of the lands of Ralph de Valletort [died 1256] and Reynold de Valletourt [died 1270], sued Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, Richard de Chambernon, and the Bishop of Exeter, tenants of the other part of the said lands in Exchequer of Pleas.
Reference: Exchequer of Pleas, E13no6, image 14, Date: 1278 (available at
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT4/E1/E13no6/IMG_0014.htm).
Elsewhere I found another legal action involving these same parties:
In 1280–1 Andrew Trellok and Joan his wife arraigned an assize of novel disseisin against Richard de Campo Arnulfi [Champernoun] and Joan his wife regarding a tenement in Meyswerk, Cornwall. Reference: Annual Rpt. of the Deputy Keeper 50 (1889): 155, which may be viewed at the following weblink:
https://books.google.com/books?id=rv4UAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA155
We see two records above involving Joan de Valletort, the reputed mistress of Richard, King of the Romans, and her third husband, Andrew de Trelosk, a royal justice. In the first record, the defendants include Edmund, Earl of Cornwall [son of King Richard], and Richard de Champernoun. In the second record, the defendants are Richard de Champernoun and Joan his wife.
Both of these two records associated Joan de Valletort with her reputed son-in-law, Richard de Champernoun. While it doesn't conclusively prove the connections between these people, it certainly offers excellent evidence that these people were closely associated with one another. The eventual passage of Joan de Valletort's lands in Cornwall and Devon to the Champernoun family adds additional support that she was indeed the mother of Joan, wife of Richard de Champernoun.
For interest's sake, I've copied below my current file account of Joan de Valletort, the reputed mistress of Richard, King of the Romans, Earl of Cornwall.
Comments are invited. When replying, please cite your sources and provide weblinks if you have them.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
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JOAN _____ married (1st) RALPH DE VALLETORT (or VAUTORT), Knt., of Trematon, Cornwall, Harberton, Devon, etc. They had one son, Reynold (died without issue in 1270). SIR RALPH DE VALLETORT died in 1256. In 1257 Lady Joan, widow of Sir Ralph de Valletort, reached agreement with W., Abbot of Buckfast, regarding the land which Joan held in her dower in the manor of Holne, Devon; this agreement was witnessed by “Alexander de Hokkeston” (later her husband). During her 1st widowhood, Joan is alleged to have been the mistress of Richard, King of the Romans, Earl of Cornwall [died 1272], by which liaison she had one daughter, Joan (wife of Richard de Champernoun and Sir Peter de Fishacre). Joan married (2nd) before 16 Jan. 1270 (date of inquisition post mortem) ALEXANDER DE OXTON (or OKESTON), Knt., of Bridford and Modbury, Devon. They had one son, James, Knt. He witnessed a charter of Richard, Prior of Bodmin in 1269. In 1269 and 1270, at the request of Roger de Valletort, Richard, King of Romans granted Alexander the manor of Insworke (in Millbrook) and 200 acres of wood in the manor of Calstock, Cornwall, which property was formerly held by Joan, wife of Alexander, in dower by the gift of her 1st husband, Ralph de Valletort. In 1270 Roger granted the same property by fine to Alexander and Joan his wife and their heirs. In 1270 Roger de Valletort granted Alexander and Joan his wife the manor of Modbury and one-half knight’s fee in Sheepham (in Modbury) and West, Devon, together with the advowson of Modbury Priory. In 1274 he had the assize of bread and ale in Modbury, Devon. In 1274–5 he had a commission of goal delivery. SIR ALEXANDER DE OXTON died before 1275–6 (date of lawsuit). In 1275–6 Margery de Sackville ("Sicca Villa") arraigned an assize of novel disseisin against Joan de Valletort and others touching a tenement in Tamerton, Devon. His widow, Joan, married (2nd) before 1278 (date of lawsuit) ANDREW DE TRESLOK (or Trelosk, Trellosk, Trellok, Trellek, Trelluk, Trilosk, Trolosk), Knt., of Dunterton, Devon, Knight of the Shire for Devon, 1290, 1302, Justice of Oyer and Terminer for Devon, 1300. He witnessed a charter of Richard, Prior of Bodmin, in 1269. In 1278 Andrew de Treslok and Joan de Valletort his wife, tenants of part of the lands of Ralph de Valletort [died 1256] and Reynold de Valletourt [died 1246], sued Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, Richard de Chambernon, and the Bishop of Exeter, tenants of the other part of the said lands in Exchequer of Pleas. In 1280–1 Andrew Trellok and Joan his wife arraigned an assize of novel disseisin against Richard de Campo Arnulfi [Champernoun] and Joan his wife regarding a tenement in Meyswerk, Cornwall. In 1283 he was appointed an assessor and collector for Cornwall. In 1292 Roger de Nonaunt, Knt., of Devon, owed him a debt of 100s., because of a loan. In 1293 Roger de Lincoln and Robert de Malston, of Devon, owed him a debt of £20, on account of a loan. The same year John de Boyville, of Devon, owed him a debt of £8 3s. 2d., because of a loan. In 1294 he was appointed an assessor and collector for Devon. In 1295 Stephen de Beaupré, Knt., of Cornwall, owed him a debt of 16 marks, for one horse bought from him. In 1297 Luke _____ owed him a debt of £16. In 1297 John de Beaumond [Beaumont], of Devon, owed him a debt of 50s., on account of a loan. The same year Thomas de Shillingford and Walter Taundefer, of Devon, owed him a debt of 200 marks. In 1300 Geoffrey de la Pomeray, of Devon, owed him a debt of 2 marks. In 1302 he and Sir Peter de Fishacre were among the witnesses to a quiclaim by Robert de Stokheye to John de Benstede regarding the hundred of Ermington, Devon. He married (2nd) ISABEL _____. SIR ANDREW DE TRESLOK died in or before 1305, in which year William Boyville, of Devon, owed his widow, Isabel, a debt of £10, on account of a loan.
References:
Willis, Notitia Parliamentaria (1715): 249. Pole, Colls. towards a Desc. of Devon (1791): 51, 309–310 (“Modbiry was thancient land of the Valletorts, Barons of Hurberton. Roger de Valletort conveyed it, amongst other lands, unto Sr Alexander Okeston, wch had married Jone, the widow of Raph de Valletort, wch woman (as it is probable) was the concubine of Richard Erle of Cornwall, & Kinge of Almayne, or of ye Romans; they had issue Sr James de Okeston, wch died wthout issue; wthth commandement of Kinge Edw. 2, [hee] conveyed Modbiry, & all other lands, formerly granted unto his father by Roger de Valletort unto Sr Richard Chambernon, wch was sonne of Richard Chambernon, & Jone, daughter of Jone before mentioned, whom Edmund Erle of Cornwall, calleth by the name of his sister, in a grant made by hym unto the said Richard and Jone, of thassise of breade & ale, dated anno 12 Edward I. The said Richard the father was younger sonne of Sr Henry Chambernon, of Clist Chambernon. Sr Richard Chambernon, called alsoe de Campo Ernulphi, had issue Sr Richard, of Modbiry, wch by Elisabeth, da. & on [of] the heires of Hugh de Valletort, of Tawton, had issue Thomas, wch by Elinor, daughter of Sr Roger Rohant, & his heire, had issue Sr Richard ...”). Rotuli Hundredorum 1 (Record Commission) (1812): 56 (sub Hundred of East Wivelshire: “It dnt qd Rogs de Valle Torta dedit com’ Ric’o castrū de Trematon cum s’vic & feod ... It dcs Rog’s dedit dco com’ Ric’o man’iū de Calistec scilt x libr’ annui redd un’ com’ Ric’s dedit illud man’iu Alex’o de Oxton & Johe ux’ sue ad t’minū vita amoz eozdē ... It Alex’ de Oxton habet man’iū de Mobirs [Modbury] de dono Rog’i de Valle Torta & est in Devon sz nesciut quid valet & fuit de baronia de Trematon.”), 96 (sub Modbury: “Jur’ illius dnt q’d Rog’s de Valle Torta dedit castellū de Tremeton Ric’o com’ Cornub’ & burgū de Modbye Alex’o de Okeston qui nūc tenet de p’dco com’ in sogagiū & habet assis’ pan’ & c’visie in eadē set nefciut quo war’.").. Palgrave, Parliamentary Writs & Writs of Military Summons 1 (1827): 870. Concanen, Rpt. of the Trial at Bar, Rowe v. Brenton (1830): Appendix, 11–12. Oliver, Monasticon Diocesis Exonienses (1846): 18, 297n, 327. Annual Rpt. of the Deputy Keeper 44 (1883): 99; 45 (1885): 327; 50 (1889): 155. Hingeston-Randolph, Regs. of Walter Bronescombe & Peter Quivil (1889): 212. C.P.R. 1301–1307 (1898): 126, 151, 233. Hingeston-Randolph, Reg. of John de Grandisson Bishop of Exeter 3 (1899): 1574, 1579–1580, 1580–1581 (charter of Ralph de Valletort), 1586–1590 (charters of Ralph de Valletort), 1591–1592, 1601–1603 (undated charters of Ralph de Valletort), 1627. Cal. IPM 1 (1904): 231–232. C.Ch.R. 3 (1908): 36. Reade, House of Cornewall (1908): 31 (“By Beatrix de Fauquemont [Richard] the Earl-King had no issue, but by Joan, daughter of Sir Reginald de Valletort, he had an illegitimate family, consisting of at least two sons, Richard and Sir Walter, with apparently Sir Lawrence, and as is affirmed two daughters, Isabella and Joan. The date of this prolonged liaison cannot be determined ... It seems, for example, uncertain as to whether Joan de Valletort was widow of Sir Alexander, or Sir Andrew, Okeston when she is said to have been mistress of Earl Richard, or whether after the Earl tired of her, she married Sir Alexander, to whom she bore a son and successor.”). Reichel, Devon Feet of Fines 1 (1912): 352, 372–373. Rowe, Cornwall Feet of Fines 1 (Devon & Cornwall Rec. Soc.) (1914): 116–117, 121–122. Exchequer of Pleas, E13no6, image 14, Date: 1278 (available at
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT4/E1/E13no6/IMG_0014.htm). National Archives, C 241/24/2; C 241/25/210; C 241/27/115; C 241/31/44; C 241/35/227; C 241/36/115; C 241/42/43; C 241/45/116 (available at
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk).