Hawise Widow of Henry de Longchamp of Wilton
John Watson
I am wondering if anyone can help me figure out who this lady was.
Henry de Longchamp of Wilton, Herefordshire died before 31 July 1237,
when the bishop of Worcester was granted the custody of his lands and
heir during the minority of the heir [1]. Henry's heir was his
daughter Maud, who subsequently married Sir Reynold de Grey, ancestor
of the family of Grey of Wilton [2]. In December 1230, Henry de
Longchamp had given 50 marks to having to wife Joan, who was the wife
of Thomas of Birkin [3]. Whether Joan actually married him is not
clear, although most pedigrees of the Longchamp family make Joan the
mother of Maud de Longchamp. However, when Henry de Longchamp died, he
left a widow named Hawise, who may have been the mother of Maud.
On 23 March 1238, Hawise late the wife of Henry de Longo Campo had
licence to marry Morgan de Karlyon [4]. Morgan de Caerleon (Morgan ap
Hywel) died, apparently childless, before 15 March 1248 [5].
Hawise, who continued to use the name of Longchamp, next appears in
records in the ecclesiastical court of Canterbury in 1254, apparently
trying to obtain a divorce from Henry de Sudbury? [Subbor'/ Subbur']
[6]. She was unsuccessful in obtaining a divorce, but did not accept
the court's decision and was subsequently excommunicated. The sentence
of excommunication was later suspended on 6 December 1254 when she
appealed against the verdict [7]. How this case turned out is not
stated.
Whether she was divorced, or whether Henry died, I don't know, but
Hawise later turns up again in 1269 as the widow of Robert de Gurney
[Gurnay / Gournay] of Beverstone, Gloucestershire. On 26 May 1269
William Ernaldi was granted the marriage of Hawise de Longo Campo,
late the wife of Robert Curtenay [Gurnay], tenant in chief, or of any
fine she may make with the king for the marriage or the forfeiture due
if she marry without the licence of him or the said William [8]. On 15
June 1269 the king granted her reasonable dower from Robert's lands
[9]. Hawise is given as the mother of Robert's heir Anselm in all
pedigrees of the Gurney family, but this is not possible. Anselm was
of full age in 1269, when the king granted him the lands of Robert his
father [10], so was born before 1249. As can be seen above, Hawise was
married to Morgan ap Hywel at this time.
So, does any one have any idea who this much married lady might be?
Regards,
John
References.
1. Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry 3, Vol. 3, p. 190
2. Complete Peerage, Vol. 6, p. 173
3. Calendar of Fine Rolls, 15 Henry III, No. 58
4. Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry 3, Vol. 3, p. 214
5. David Crouch, ‘Iorwerth ab Owain (d. 1175x84)’, Oxford Dictionary
of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
6. Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III: volume 8: 1253-1254 (1929), pp.
101, 309
7. Special Collections: Ancient Petitions, SC 8/195/9735
8. Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry 3, Vol. 6, p. 346
9. Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III: volume 14: 1268-1272 (1938),
pp. 55-61
10. Calendar of Fine Rolls, 53 Henry III, No. 394