1146-1304 Gap in TIREL/TYRELLs of Essex (Pt 1 of 2)
DadG...@aol.com
being too long. Part 2 will follow immediately:
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My thanks to list members who have privately assisted me in my inquiries on
the English branch of the TYRELL (variously spelled TIREL, TERRELL) family,
one of the most famous (or infamous) members of which was one WALTER TIREL
(ca 1060 - 1130), allegedly the assassin of King William Rufus.
I am particulary indebted to Benjamin Hertzel, who cleared up a decades-long
search for a mysterious book authored by one Joseph Henry Tyrrell that a
now-deceased relative had cited for much of the information included in a
family history. Benjamin graciously provided me with an extensive extract of
a book ponderously entitled "A Genealogical History of the Tyrrells, Sometime
of the French Vexin, Poix in Picardy, Guernanville in Normandy, Laingaham in
Essex, Kingsworthy and Avon Tyrrell in Hampshire; Castleknock in Co. Dublin,
Fertullagh in Co. Westmeath; and now of Grange Castle, Co, Kildare; Clonard,
Co. Meath; and elsewhere." (Whew!)
Close examination of this book (which I will refer to as "JHT") confirmed
that it was clearly the source used by my relative and revealed the reason
for its elusiveness. It was originally privately published in only 100
copies -- probably in 1904, based on a reference in "The Tyrells of England"
by Dr. O. F. Brown (which I will refer to as "OFB"). The back inside dust
cover of OFB suggests that JHT may have been reprinted by Phillimore & Co.
Ltd, Shopwyke Hall, Chichester, Sussex sometime shortly before 1982.
The next source that bears on this post is OFB itself, which was published by
that same Phillimore & Co. in 1982. OFB was called to my attention by both
private communications and public references from members of this list as
being the most carefully researched book published on the English branches of
this family. Although presently out of print, I was able to obtain a copy of
OFB through a used book store which specializes in genealogical publications.
Upon receipt and review of OFB, I certainly concur with its characterization
as a scholarly and well-researched work.
I am submitting this post in hopes that some list members may have been
involved in, or be aware of, research relative to this family subsequent to
the 1982 publication of OFB. Specifically, I am seeking information on a
what is referred to in OFB (pp. 11-18) as "The Missing Period" in the
history of the Tyrell family leading to the establishment of its "main
historical line" with a family seat at Heron Hall in East Horndon, Essex.
The Missing Period extends over the approximate 150 years from when one HUGH
TIREL sold the manor in Langham (situated in Northeast Essex adjacent to
Suffolk), between 1146 and 1148 according to Hatton's Book of Seals, until
1304-5 when records show the presence in Essex County of a JAMES TYRELL. As
OFB puts it (on page 11):
"The subsequent three or four generations are none too clear, but there is
evidence of continuing connection from then onwards. For the moment,
however, we are concerned with the years in between, when there are no
references to Tyrells in Essex, and there is no clear indication of the
origins of James and the subsequent family of Heron. This is not to say that
there were no Tyrells in England during the period; sparse documentation of
the 12th and 13th centuries produces many names scattered throughout at least
a dozen shires, but the name James does not appear at any time or place.
Thus, with no tradition of this name in any branch, nor a James conveniently
available elsewhere at the end of the 13th century, there is a complete
absence of any candidate for the founding of the Essex connection."
JHT shows two possible (and contradictory) descents from WALTER, the
purported Regicide, to the subsequent TYRELLs of Heron, Essex. According to
OFB, these two descents either match or contain elements of the three
"traditional" descents for this family, all of which are flawed or
unsupported to some significant degree.
The first descent shown by JHT is the one derived from the Visitations, which
JHT includes as a point of reference in his Chart XIII, pages 115, but
characterizes as ". . . merely a list of names more or less conjectural."
OFB shares JHT's opinion of this descent and also dismisses further
consideration of this hypothetical succession of 'knights in every
generation.'
JHT goes on to relate the pedigree shown below as his suggested descent from
WALTER, the Regicide, to the TYRELLs of Heron (on Chart ID, pp 81-2, Chart
IF, pp 83-4, and Chart XIV, p 116). JHT does cite primary sources related to
a few, but not most generations of this descent. OFB does credit JHT as
giving early recognition to some documentation related to Irish members of
the family. However, OFB examines the available Irish material and concludes
that it is unlikely that there is any connection between this branch and the
later Essex branch of the family. In his review of the "traditional"
descents that most closely match JHT's overall interpretation, OFB cites much
more extensive primary source material and does not reach the same
conclusions as JHT. A "power search" of the archives of this and related
lists through Dejanews reveals a limited history of discussion of this
family, but the specific language in some of that discussion sounds like it
might have been based on sources which were derived from JHT. Accordingly, I
have posted the JHT descent along with interleaved comments derived from
OFB's analysis to establish a recognizable frame of reference for any
responses to this post:
Generation 1 [the supposed Regicide] as extracted from JHT
"Sir Walter III Tirel
Third Lord of Poix, second Lord of Laingaham, Kingsworthy and Avon, A Baron
of France, and England, Castellan of Pontoise 1091. At Seige of Jerusalem,
1096. Reputed to have slain William Rufus 1100. Founded Priory of St.
Denis, 1116, and Monastery of Selincourt, 1131. Made a pilgrimage to Holy
Land in 1136, and there died.
Married Adelaide, daughter of Richard Giffard, son of Walter, 1st Earl of
Buckingham. Living in 1136. Died in Nunnery of Conflans 1138."
[OFB points out that Pipe Roll, 31 Hen. 1, 1130 shows Walter's wife, Adelice,
answering for Langham in 1130, presumably as Walter's widow. OFB therefore
surmises that Walter III was dead by 1130 and that a Walter IV, probable
grandson of Walter III and Adelice, was Lord of Poix in 1131. OFB also
points out that both J. H. Round and Michael Maclagan concluded that Walter
III's spouse, Adelice, was a daughter of Richard de Clare (1024-1090) by his
wife Rohese Giffard, daughter of Walter Giffard, the elder, standard bearer
of Duke William at the Battle of Hastings. This alliance by marriage with
the powerful Clare family likely contributed to Walter III having a position
at King William's court, eventually leading to his participation in that
fateful hunt in the New Forest during which King William Rufus was killed --
by accident or otherwise. However, both OFB and JHT note that the evidence
is far from conclusive that Walter III launched the fatal arrow.]
Generation 2
"Sir Hugh Tirel of Avon Tyrell, son of Walter III and Adelaide
Fourth Prince of Poix, A Baron of France and England, with the Crusade of
1146. Held lands in the New Forest. Sold Laingaham to Walter de Cornhill,
prior to joining the Crusade. Died 1159.
Married Ada d'Aumale, daughter of Etienne de Champagne, Compte d'Aumale"
[OFB suggests that a probable corollary of the same Pipe Roll citation noted
above regarding Adelice answering for Langham is that the Hugh who was son of
Walter III and Adelice was also dead in 1131. Based on this and the
chronology of other documents, OFB concludes that the Hugh Tirel who sold
Langham and died on the Crusade was probably a Hugh II, son of Hugh I and
brother of Walter IV.]
Generation 3
"Sir Hugh II Tirel of Avon Tyrell and Castlenock, second surviving son of
Hugh I and Ada d'Aumale
Sixth Lord of Poix, First Baron of Castlenock in 1173. With Strongbow in
Ireland 1169. Governor of Trim 1183. At Siege of Acre 1191. Named the
'Grecian Knight'. One of DeLacy's Barons. Buried at Selincourt 1199.
Married 1st Isabel de Vignacourt in 1161.
Married 2nd Marie de Senarpont in 1173."
[JHT also refers to his Hugh II of Avon Tyrell and Castlenock (?-1199) as
holding property in Hampshire and being father of a Roger who probably
inherited this Hampshire property. OFB notes that the Pipe Rolls confirm a
Hugh Tyrell holding land in Kingsworthy, Hampshire from 1158 to 1166.
However, that Hugh of Kingsworthy was succeeded by a son, Geoffrey, not a son
Roger as shown by JHT. Also, OFB appears to believe that JHT's assumption
that the Hugh holding land in Hampshire is the same as the Hugh of Castlenock
is not supported by any direct evidence. As to secondary evidence, OFB does
point out that one of two conflicting references in O'Harts "Irish Pedigrees"
states that Hugh of Castlenock received Castlenock from his 'instrinsic
friend' Richard "Strongbow" de Clare (1125-1176), which could imply a family
relationship between the two. This line of reasoning could support the
hypothesis that the Hugh of Castlenock was a direct descendant of Walter III
and Adelice de Clare, since Adelice's brother Gilbert was grandfather of
Richard "Strongbow." Unfortunately, OFB points out that in another reference
in O'Harts "Irish Pedigrees", the suggestion is made that Hugh of Castlenock
may have received Castlenock from Hugh de Lacy.]
Generation 4
"Sir Roger of Avon Tyrell, son of Hugh II and Marie de Senarpont
probably inherited Hugh's Hampshire property"
[Citing F. F. Hants. 1 John No. 10, OFB notes only one reference in the
period to a Roger Tyrell, who is recorded in 1199 granting a toft in
Catherington, Hampshire. There is a subsequent Thomas Tyrell, who died in
1240 holding land in Sussex and Catherington, whom OFB believes to be the
heir and likely son of the Roger of the 1199 grant.]
Generation 5
"Sir Edward, son of Roger of Avon Tyrell"
[OFB located contemporary or near-contemporary documentation on about 120
Tyrells in England with 38 different given names in the period 1150 to 1450.
However, with respect to the name Edward during the 1148-1305 "Missing
Period", OFB states ". . . I have been unable to trace anyone of this name
throughout the whole period under review." The first documentation of an
Edward he could locate occurred in 1426. Also, as noted above, the probable
heir of the only identifiable Roger is Thomas, not Edward.]
Generation 6
"Sir Galfird, son of Edward"
[As stated above, OFB notes that there is a Geoffrey (Galfird) who succeeded
Hugh of Kingsworthy, Hampshire. However, this succession occurred sometime
around 1170, making that Geoffrey chronologically out of place to fall in
JHT's Generation 6.]
Generation 7
"Sir Edmond or Edward, son of Galfrid
Married Jane, daughter and heiress of Sir William Borgate"
[JHT's placement of an Edward at this generation also suffers from OFB's
inability to find any primary source material which mentions an Edward
anytime during the period. However, OFB notes that examination of the costs
of arms of several families with whom the early Terrells intermarried
indicates the probability of a marriage between one of the ancestors of the
Essex branch of the Terrells and a Borgate.]
Generation 8
"Sir Hugh, son of Edmond and Jane
Governor of Carisbrooke. 1377.
Married Jane, daughter of Sir James Flambert"
[OFB notes that . . . "The name Hugh occurs frequently enough to be fitted
into any generation." However, he also states the ". . . records of Sir Hugh
(of Carisbrooke) and his family completely disqualify the suggestion. . ."
that this Hugh could have been the father of the James Tyrell who was the
ancestor of the Tyrells of Heron. There is, however, a Hugh Tyrell of
Mannington in Norfolk, first documented in 1287 who died in 1313, and who
probably had some family connection with a Walter Tyrell whose family owned
land in Haningfield in Essex. Later reference to Tyrell holdings in South
and West Haningfield give rise to a strong presumption that the early James
of Essex may have been descended from this branch of the family, possibly
being a son of either Hugh Tyrell of Mannington or Walter Tyrell of
Haningfield. This would be an important presumption to confirm by
documentation since OFB identifies an ancestry of this branch of the family
that is traceable back to a Warin Tirell of Itringham, Norfolk and his spouse
Mabel early in the 13th Century. If a connection could be made between this
Warin Tirell and the late 12th Century Tirels of Hampshire or possibly the
Welsh border counties, "The Missing Period" could be filled in.]
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Part 2 follows and picks up at Generation 9, the James Tyrell who is
mentioned in 1305 in records cited by OFB.
John Stuart
DadG...@aol.com