Gilbert fitz Reinfred
J.C.B.Sharp
to prove. So I am posting what I have found in case it may help
somebody else, but what would help me is if somebody would show
that I am wrong.
The origins of Gilbert, for whom Richard I created the barony of
Kendal, are obscure. It is often said that Gilbert was the eldest
son of Roger fitz Reinfred and that the latter was married twice
(eg VCH Lancashire, i 361). They were certainly father and son but
there appears to be no basis for more than one marriage.
Roger fitz Reinfred served as a royal justice and died in about 1199
leaving heavy debts. By 1211 Reinfred son of Roger was dead and his
widow Aline had married Richard de Clare. Reinfred had no children
and his heir was his brother Ralph. The debts had forced Reinfred to
dispose of much of his property and this led to several disputes when
his widow tried to claim her rights.
The wife of Roger was Alice who survived her husband. Her brother
Ralph Breton had given Ramsden-Bellhouse in Essex with her in
marriage (Curia Regis Rolls, vi 147-8). It seems that she was a
daughter of Lewis Brito of Layer-Breton Essex and his wife Mabel as
they had a son Ralph or Ranulf (Cartularium S. Johnnis Baptiste
Colecestria, 186-189).
Roger owned several other properties that were not acquired by
marriage such as Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire (Book of Fees, 239,
1434), and land held of the Gant fee in Lincolnshire (Curia Regis
Rolls, iv 42-3, vi 19-21). The residual interest in all of these
came to Ralph.
The brothers Reinfred and Ralph are both described as de Bruere
(ibid; Pipe Roll, 4 John 143). Guferius de Bruere is a frequent
witness to the charters of Geoffrey duke of Normandy and count of
Anjou (Regesta Regum Anglo Normannorum, iii). There is no obvious
trace of Reinfred but he might be a younger brother or nephew of
Guferius. No doubt they came from La Bruère-sur-Loir near La
Flèche.
This family is not related to the contemporary justice William
Briwere. The original form of his name was Briguerre.
The conclusion is that Gilbert was the third or younger son of Roger
and Alice.
J.C.B.Sharp
London
jc...@obtfc.win-uk.net