Origins of the Despensers: Aldwyn, brother of William le Despenser
John P. Ravilious
Hello All,
The record of a rather intriguing grant was noted today
which may assist in identifying 'Recuare', the wife of the
earliest Thomas le Despenser.
' A. 6782. Grant by William le Despencer (disspensator)'
brother of Aldwyn de Idulfestre, to Henry Boucquointe,
of a messuage and croft in Idulfestre late his said
brother's, rendering, yearly, to the grantor a pair
of white gloves, and 4d. to the prior and convent of
St. Bartholomew's, London.
Witnesses: - the prior of Benetlee, Adam de Cheneton,
and others (named). Seal, injured. ' [1]
There is only one William le Despenser whom I've
identified to date: a younger son of Thomas le Despenser and
'Recuare', and brother to Sir Hugh le Despenser of
Loughborough, Leics. & c. (d. bef 31 May 1238), Sir Geoffrey
le Despenser of Martley, Rohese (wife of Stephen de Segrave)
and others. While this deed itself is undated, the deed
which immediately follows (A. 6783) can be dated to 1241 or
before, so there is certainly a good possibility that this
is the correct William le Despenser.
'Idulfestre' (also 'Tidulvestre' and 'Idulvestre' in
this period) has been identified as Elstree, Hertfordshire:
unfortunately, I have found no other relevant information
or documentation concerning Elstree, or Aldwyn de
Idulfestre as yet. Among the possibilities that exist
(assuming the identification is correct) is that 'Recuare'
had another husband besides Thomas le Despenser, by whom
she was the mother of Aldwyn.
Should anyone have additional documentation or
suggestions concerning this conjecture, I would be pleased
to hear of it.
Cheers,
John *
NOTES
[1] Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds, IV:81.
* John P. Ravilious
Douglas Richardson
The name le Despenser is common enough in this time period, as is the
given name, William. Unless you have additional evidence to link
William le Despenser, brother of Aldwyn de Ifulfestre, mentioned in
your post, to the William le Despenser, who was a known younger son of
Thomas le Despenser, it seems to me that you are just whistling Dixie.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
P.S. For people outside the United States, if someone is whistling
Dixie, they are talking about things in a more positive way than the
reality. It's a quaint expression.
Robert Spencer
In Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds, IV:81.
William le Despenser is of 'Idulfestre' (also 'Tidulvestre' and 'Idulvestre' in
this period) has been identified as Elstree, Hertfordshire..
While researching the history of St. Bartholmew Church and Priory, and the familes associated with same, I found the Bucointe family named in the ancient grant found by Ravilious.
These Bucointe's seemed only connected to an area named Stanmere / Stanmore, "Elstree", that was owned by a only few families around the same time frame of 1241, and the Priory of St. Bartholmew/. Holding land here were the Bucointe, De Rames and the Salisbury families. No Despenser's seemed to hold land at this early time of circa 1241 if the date provided is correct.
However, I do find the De Rames family granting land to the same Boucquointe family numerous times.
The de Rames family is detailed here:
Roger de Rames (fls. 1086) held property in Little Stanmore He was also called Lord Charlton.
His son William de Rames had two sons Roger II, and Robert, and a dau. Adeliza de Rames. In 1130, the land was divided into Stanmore and Little Stanmore. William de Ramis granted land to the church of Bradfield, with the chapel of Manningtree.
His son, Roger de Rames II, granted land to Adam, son of Ranulf Bucointe, The de Rames continued to own the Northwest corner of the Parish, together with the Northen part of Little Stanmore. he had a son William.
William de Rames II, of Little Stanmore, he had a son William.
William de Rames III,(fls. 1195) d. prior to 1203, married Gilles (who was still living in 1241) they had a son. Upon the death of William, Gilles married 2nd William Hanselin.
In 1195, William " de Sancte Marie Ecclesia " and Hugh Peverel " render account of 12/6 from the farm of Bradefeld of William ... of Essex was ordered to take into the king's hands" the land which was of William de Reymes in Bradfield and Finchingfield with all the chattels found on that land."5 He was succeeded by his son, Sir William de Reymes, who was assessed 10 marks in 1221 for his relief. Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archæology and Natural History, Volume 23.
Sir. William de Rames IV, a minor in 1203, succeeded his father, rebelled against King John - restored in 1217, and granted away his reamining lands in Little Stanmore (Elstree) in 1238, and removed to Essex.
It is this same William de Rames, who I suspect was also styled as (William le Despenser)- deriving from his father being probable "Dispensator" to William, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, his proper title was Earl of Wiltshire, which title was conferred on his father by the Empress Maud around 1143 prior to his death in 1203, to which the de Rames via Adeliza de Rames were related.
William de Reymes V, A425: Grant by Wiliam de Reymes to Sir. Fulk Bassett, provost of Beverly, of land " Bridhehold and Dernulves" in Finchingfield, and pasture for two oxen and two horse, paying a pound of Pepper yearly. For this sir. Fulk has given 28 marks,.and a red palfry worth 4 marcs to Joan, William's wife.
Does anyone else having info on this family of Raymes, Rames, or Reynes being named "le Despenser" please let me know.
Any corrections or additions are welcome.
Regards, Robert