John Giffard 1st Baron Giffard of Brimsfield ^{1 4 5}

  General Notes:

JOHN Giffard ([1231/32]-Boyton, Wiltshire 29 May 1299, bur Malmesbury Abbey). An undated writ, endorsed "32 Hen III", after the death of "Elias Giffard" names "--- his son aged 16 is his heir". An undated writ, regarding the proof of age of "John son of Elias Giffard", states that "he was 4 years old when he was contracted with Aubrey de Caumvill of Arewe, who was about 4 or 5 years old" but "declaiming against the marriage", that a witness states that he was "26 years old" and another that he was "28 and entering his 29th year…29 on the day of St Walstan". The Testa de Nevill lists fees in Gloucester, dated 1247, which include "Johannes filius Elie Gifford debet esse in donacione domini regis et fuit maritatus ante quam ---...". "Johannes Giffard dominus de Brimesfeild" donated property to Gloucester College, Oxford, for the soul of "Matildæ Longespee, quondam consortis meæ", by undated charter, witnessed by "domino Johanne Giffard consanguineo meo". He was summoned to Parliament in 1295 whereby he is held to have become Lord Giffard.

m firstly (1247) ---. An undated writ, regarding the proof of age of "John son of Elias Giffard", states that "he was 4 years old when he was contracted with Aubrey de Caumvill of Arewe, who was about 4 or 5 years old" but "declaiming against the marriage", that a witness states that he was "26 years old" and another that he was "28 and entering his 29th year…29 on the day of St Walstan". The Testa de Nevill lists fees in Gloucester, dated 1247, which include "Johannes filius Elie Gifford debet esse in donacione domini regis et fuit maritatus ante quam ---...". The latter source suggests that the marriage did take place.

m secondly ([1271]) as her second husband, MATILDA de Clifford, widow of WILLIAM Longespee, daughter and heiress of WALTER de Clifford of Clifford Castle, Herefordshire & his wife Margaret of Wales (-[Dec 1282/9 May 1285]). The Book of Lacock names "Matildam filiam d´ni Walteri de Clifford" as wife of "Guill. Lungespee tertius, filius Guill. Lungespee secundi". "Walterus de Clifford filius Walteri de Clifford et Agnetis de Cundy" donated land in Cofham to Acornbury priory, Herefordshire, also donated by "Katherinæ filiæ Walteri de Lacy", for the souls of "Margaretæ uxoris meæ et dominæ Mathildis filiæ meæ" by undated charter. "Matildis de Lungespe, filia et hæres domini Walteri de Clifford" confirmed donations of property to Shrewsbury abbey, by "patris mei…Walterus de Clifford filius Walteri de Clifford, et Agnetis de Cundy" witnessed by "Egidio de Clifford fratre meo", by undated charter. "Johannes Giffard dominus de Brimesfeild" donated property to Gloucester College, Oxford, for the soul of "Matildæ Longespee, quondam consortis meæ", by undated charter, witnessed by "domino Johanne Giffard consanguineo meo".

m thirdly (1286) as her second husband, MARGARET, widow of Sir JOHN Neville of Hallingbury, Wethersfield and Langham, Essex, daughter of --- (-before 13 Dec 1338).

[FMG/Medieval Lands]

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SIR JOHN GIFFARD, of Brimpsfield, Badgeworth, Stonehouse, Stoke Gifford, and Rockhampton, co. Gloucester, Elston, Orcheston St. George, Sherrington, Ashton, and Broughton Gifford, Wilts, son and heir of Sir Elis GIFFARD, of Brimpsfield, &c. (who died shortly before 2 May 1248) (c1), by his 2nd wife, Alice, sister of Sir John MAUTRAVERS, of Lytchet Matravers, Dorset (a). He was aged 16, or 16 and more, at his father's death (b1). With several other barons, he seized the Bishop of Hereford, 11 June 1263, and took him to Eardisley Castle. On 18 August following, he was among those who made a treaty with Edward, the King's son. He had just been appointed, 7 August, by the advice of the Magnates of the Council, Keeper of the castle of St. Briavel and the forest of Dean, during pleasure, and he was pardoned, 18 September following, for all trespasses committed by reason of non-observance of the Provisions of Oxford. He was appointed joint Keeper of the counties of Gloucester, Worcester, and Hereford, 24 December 1263. In 1264 he belonged to the baronial party, and in April, being in command at Kenilworth, he surprised and destroyed Warwick Castle, taking the Earl and Countess prisoners. On 14 May following he was at the battle of Lewes, where he was taken prisoner early in the day, but he had already captured William la Zuche. He was one of those prohibited, 16 February 1264/5, from taking part in the tournament at Dunstaple, and ordered to attend a Council on the morrow of Ash Wednesday [19 February] following. He changed sides together with the Earl of Gloucester and others, and was in the King's army at the battle of Evesham, 4 August 1265. In consideration of his services at this battle, he was pardoned, 9 Oct. 1265, for having adhered to Simon de Montfort at the battle of Lewes, and for all other trespasses committed up to the said 9 October. He was one of the commissioners empowered, 24 April 1274, to make a truce at the ford of Montgomery, in a month from Easter [29 April], between Llewelyn ab Gruffyd, Prince of Wales, and Humphrey de Bohun of Brecknock. On 6 November 1281 he had licence to hunt wolves, with his own hounds, throughout all the King's forests in England. He was appointed Keeper of the castle of Llandovery, co. Carmarthen, 9 April 1282, and of that of Builth, co. Brecknock, 14 October following, both during pleasure. On 18 November 1283 the King granted him, in fee, the commote of Is-cennen, co. Carmarthen, to hold by the service of a knight's fee: and, on 8 February 1289/90, the castle of Dynevor in that county, for life, as a refuge for himself and his men: he was ordered to deliver this castle to Walter de Pederton, 29 July 1297. He was present at the assemblies held at Berwick in October and November 1297, to discuss the various claims to the Crown of Scotland. He was Captain of Podensac in Gascony, which town he surrendered to the French, in 1294/5. He was summoned for Military Service from 18 July 1257 to 7 May 1299, to attend the King at Shrewsbury, 28 June 1283, to attend the King at Salisbury, 26 January 1296/7, to a Military Council, 20 August 1297, and to Parliament from 24 June 1295. to 10 April 1299, by writs directed Johanni Giffard, or Gyffard, occasionally with the addition de Brimmesfeld', whereby he is held to have become LORD GIFFARD.

He was affianced, at the age of 4 years, to Aubrey DE CAUMVILLE (who was about the same age), but he did not marry her (b2). He married, 1stly, Maud [c2], widow of Sir William LUNGESPEE, of Amesbury, Aldbourne, and Trowbridge, Wilts, Canford, Dorset, Bicester, Oxon; Brattleby, co., Lincoln, &c. (who died between 23 December 1256 and 3 January 1256/7], and daughter and heir of Sir Walter DE CLIFFORD, of Clifford co. Hereford, Cortham, Salop, &c., by Margaret, daughter of Llewelyn ab IORWERTH, PRINCE OF NORTH WALES. She, who was living 1 December 1281, died s.p.m., not long afterwards. He married, 2ndly, in 1286, Margaret, widow of Sir John DE NEVILLE, of Hallingbury, Wethersfield, Great Totham, Great Wakering and Langharn, Essex, Alphington, Devon, &c. who died shortly before 20 May 1282. He died at Boyton, Wilts, 29 May, and was buried 11 June 1299 in Malmesbury Abbey. His widow's dower was ordered to be assigned, 1 August 1299, and on 5 August she was assigned the manors of Stonehouse, Stoke Gifford, Elston, and Broughton Gifford. She died shortly before 13 December 1338.

(c1) In 1221 this Elis stated that "Osbertus Giffard, antecessor suus qui venit ad conquestum Angl' tenuit manerium de Bimesfeld' . . . et post eum Elias flius suus . . . et post eum Elias filius illius Elie et pater suus." At least one generation is here omitted. The Elis living in 1221 was son and heir of Elis III, by Maud, daughter of Morice fitz Robert fitz Hardinge, of Berkeley: which Elis III owed 100 marks 'pro fine terre sue' in 1166 and died before Michaelmas 1190, when William le Mareschal owed 140 marks for the custody of the lands of Elis Giffard. Elis III was son and heir of Elis II (who became a monk in Gloucester Abbey), by Berta (living 1167), sister of Walter de Clifford, of Clifford and Glasbury, and daughter of Richard fitz Ponce. In 1130 Elis II rendered account of 100 marks of silver for the relief of his father's lands, being son and heir of Elis I, by Ala, his wife. Before 1096 Elis I had succeeded his father Osbern Giffard, the Domesday tenant of Brimpsfield, Stoke, Rockhampton, Elston, Orcheston, etc.

(a) John Mautravers gave the manor of Ashton and the advowson of the church of St. Peter at Codford, Wilts, to Elis Giffard in free marriage with Alice his sister, to hold to them and their heirs of their bodies, by the service of a knight's fee.

(b1) "Elias Giffard". He held the manor of Winterburne (now Elston), of the King in chief, as the head of his barony; the manor of Sherrington pertaining to that barony; and that of Ashton, held of John Mautravers in free marriage. Heir [name cut away] his son aged 16 [rest cut away]. The proof of age of this heir, John Giffard, is undated and defective, but it states that he was born on the day of St. Wulstan (19 Jan).

(b2) So the proof of age mentioned above. She was probably the Aubrey de Canville, a nun of Polesworth, who was elected Abbess in Dec 1276 or in the following month. The marriage was contracted at Arrow, co. Warwick, and she must have been a daughter of Thomas de Camville, of Arrow, and a descendant of Aubrey Marmion, Lady of Arrow, wife of William de Caumville.

[c2] Maud Lungespee notified the King that John Giffard had abducted her from her manor of Canford, Dorset, and taken her against her will to his castle of Brimpsfield, and there detained her. John appeared before the King, and professed himself ready to prove that he did not abduct her against her will, and offered a fine of 300 marks for the marriage already contracted, as it was said, between them, provided she made no further complaint against him. On 10 March 1270/1 the King ordained that if she were not content, the said fine should be void, and John should stand his trial at a month from Easter. And as she was too unwell to appear before the King, commissioners were sent to inquire into the truth of the matter, and to certify the King thereof. John and Maud, and her Ist husband, William Lungespee, were all descended from Richard fitz Ponce. Why John Giffard should have referred to himself as being of the race of Le Lungespee as in the proof of age mentioned above he is said to have done-is not explicable; unless, indeed, the sobriquet was derived from the family of Clifford.

[Complete Peerage V:639-44, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)] ³

  Events

• Inquisition, Bef 20 Oct 1248. ⁸ 124. Elias Giffard.

Writ (missing).

Inq. (undated but endorsed '32 H. 3') (defective.)

... his son, aged 16, is his heir.

Wilts.

Winterburne manor (extent given) held of the king in chief as the head of his barony.

Sernton manor (extent given), held of the king as pertaining to the said barony.

Ayston manor (extent given) held of John Mautravers in free marriage. (See No. 875.)

C. Hen. III. File 7. (1.)

• Inquisition, 5 Jun 1299. ⁹ 544. JOHN GYFFARD of Brymmesfeld alias Brumesfeld, Brymmesfel, Bremesfeld.

Writ, 5 June, 27 Edw. I.

SALOP. Inq. made at Corfham on Sunday after SS. Peter and Paul, 27 Edw. I. Petone. Two messuages with 2 tofts, 5a. pasture, and 4a. arable, held of his own acquisition of the lord of Corfham by service of a chaplet of roses to be paid at the castle of Corfham on the day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. John his son, aged 12, is his next heir.

GLOUCESTER. Inq. made at Gloucester 12 July, 27 Edw. I (defaced).

Brymmesfeld. The manor (full extent given with names of tenants), including meadows in Wethemede, Longefelde and Weverdesmede, pastures at Haselhonger and Wertwolde, Longefeld and Meseford, and a park, held of the king in chief, service unknown.

Baggeworthy. The manor (full extent given with names of tenants), including rents called 'drinkingpeni' and 'drinkingferthing,' and a vineyard, held of the earl of Gloucester in chief by service of 2 knights' fees.

Stonhouse. The manor (extent given with names of tenants) held of the Marshalcy in chief by service of a knight's fee.

Stoke Giffard. The manor (extent given with names of tenants), including meadow at Wowehome, Brademede, Rudyngg and Scortemede, lands at Brodemedesende, Brokkemede and Subdene-grove, and pasture at Hethe, held of the bishop of Worcester by service of a knight's fee.

Rochamton. The manor (extent given with names of tenants) held of the king in chief, service unknown.

Heir as above, aged 13.

OXFORD. Inq. Friday after the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr, 27 Edw. I (defective). Bureford. The township with a hamlet called Seynat by Bureford (extents given) held of Gilbert de Clare, sometime earl of Gloucester and Hertford, by homage and service of a knight's fee, doing scutage when it shall happen; for the said earl gave all that he had there to the said John by charter to hold of him in this form, that if the said John should have lawful heirs of his body, he and they should have 20l. yearly rent there by the said service for ever, but if he should die without such heirs, the said rent with the whole residue should revert to the said earl and his heirs; whereby the said John held the said 20l. rent in his demesne as of fee, and the whole residue for his life only. Heir ………

HEREFORD AND WALES. Inq. made at Webbeleye, 13 July, 27 Edw. I. (Unspecified.) A messuage, 6a. meadow, assised rents of the fee of Gamages (extent given with names of tenants), and pleas and perquisites of court, held of the heirs of Clifford by fealty. Heir as above, aged 12 on the feast of St. Michael next.

WALES. Inq. made at Thlanadevery, 12 July, 27 Edw. I. Iskenneny alias Yskennyn. The commote (full extent given with names of tenants) held of the king in chief by homage and fealty. Heir as last above.

WILTS. Inq. made at Wilton, 14 July, 27 Edw. I.

Scharenton. The manor (extent given with names of tenants), and the donation of the church.

Wynterborne Elistone. The manor (extent given with names of tenants).

Orchestone St. George. A capital messuage and a carucate of land (extent given with names of tenants, two of whom do suit for the lord at the hundreds of Heghdresbury and Doleffeld respectively), and the donation of the church.

All held of the king in chief by barony, doing for the same, together with other manors in other counties, the services of 3 knights' fees in the king's army.

Broghtone (Bro The manor (extent given with names of tenants) held of the heirs of Walter de Dunstervile by service of rendering six barbed arrows yearly.

Aystone alias Aysstone. The manor (extent given with names of tenants), including 2 virgates of land held by Godfrey Giffard, now bishop of Worcester, by service of 6s. rent yearly and suit at the court of Scherenton, held of John Mautravers by service of 1/2 knight's fee.

Estone. The manor (extent given with names of tenants), with the donation of a chapel, held as the wardship of Joan daughter of Peter de Estone, father of the aforesaid Peter (sic), of the heir of Maud de Lungespey, and not of the king in chief, service unspecified.

Heir as above, aged 12 at the feast of St. John the Baptist last.

Writ concerning the lands &c. which the said John held by the courtesy of England of the inheritance of Maud Lungespeye, sometime his wife, 27 June, 27 Edw. I.

SALOP. Inq. made at Corfham on Sunday after the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr, 27 Edw. I.

Corfham. The castle, lands and rents &c. (extent given with names of tenants), including a wood called Ernestre, a pasture called Heymedewe, and lands &c. at Smeton.

Colminton alias Colmyton. 240a. arable, 10a. meadow, and pleas &c. of court.

All held by the courtesy of England of the inheritance abovesaid, of the king in chief by service of a knight's fee.

Margaret countess of Lincoln aged 30, Katherine the wife of Nicholas de Auditheley aged 27, Eleanor Giffard aged 24, and Maud Giffard aged 22, daughters of the aforesaid Maud Lungespeye, are her next heirs.

HEREFORD. Inq. made at Webbeleye, 5 (?) July, 27 Edw. I. Clifford. The castle, lands, rents &c. (full extent given with names of free foreign tenants), including a ferry, [the hamlets of Middelwode and] Brodemedewe, and the borough of Clifford (extents given with names of tenants and burgesses), held of the king in chief, of the inheritance abovesaid, by knight's service. Heirs as above, Margaret de Lacy, Katherine de Audeleye, and Eleanor and Maud Giffard.

WALES. Inq. made at Brenthles, 15 (?) July, 27 Edw. I. (defaced). Brenthles. The castle, lands &c. (full extent given with names of tenants), including the following tenants holding by knight's service:'97 Henry de Solaers, 1/4 knight's fee; Richard le Bret, so much; Meurice de Dynnor, a messuage and a third part of 1/2 fee (by doing suit at the court of?) Brenthles every three weeks, wardship and marriage, and doing guard for the lord at the castle of Brekennouhg for fifteen days with a barded horse when there shall be war between the king and the prince of Wales; John de Traneleye (?), 1 fee doing similar guard for forty days, and owing suit &c. as above; Richard ap Howel, 1/3 fee by the like service; John Br…., 1/3 fee by the like service, and a messuage and 60a. land owing 12s. 2d. yearly; William Bras (?), 1/3 fee by the like service, and he owes 5s. yearly; Howel ap Rees, 1/4 fee, doing guard for the lord at the castle of Brekennouhg as above for ten days, suit &c.; Madoc ap Griffith, 1/4 fee by the like service; Richard ap Griffith, a messuage and 30a. land, owing suit, and 1lb. pepper yearly; John son of Walter, 1/3 fee owing suit &c.; Meredyth ap Rees, 1/3 fee owing guard as abovesaid for fifteen days, wardship and marriage; …… Seys (?), 1/3 fee by the like service; Edmund de Pedewardyn, 1/3 fee, owing suit, wardship and marriage and doing ….; ……. David de Borughull and Roger de Borughull, 1/2 fee, owing similar service; all held by the courtesy of England of the inheritance aforesaid of Humphrey de Boun, earl of Hereford and Essex, lord of Brekennouh, for 5 1/2 knights' fees, finding in time of common war in Wales for the guard (custodiam) of the castle of Brekennouhg five and a half barded horses for forty days at his own charges; and he held by homage and fealty, and if he shall go beyond the guard (wardum) of Brecon, with his lord in time of war, he ought to go at the lord's charges. Heirs as last above.

WALES. Inq. made at Brenthles, 14 July, 27 Edw. I. Glasbury. The manor (full extent given with names of tenants), including a ferry, held of the inheritance abovesaid; it is not held of anyone, but such part of the manor as is on one side of the Wye (Waye) is within the precinct of the land of Breconok, and what is on the other side of the Wye is within the precinct of the land of Elvel, and no service is due therefrom. Heirs as last above.

WALES. Inq. made at Brenthles, 12 July, 27 Edw. I. The Commotes of Perveeth [alias Pervitz] and Irefryn [alias Irfryn], with the castle of Thlanadevery (full extent given with names of tenants), held, of the inheritance abovesaid, of the king in chief by homage and fealty. Heirs as last above.

Extent or summary of the above castles, lands &c. held of the inheritance of Maud de Lungespe, with the variations there given within square brackets.

Writ to the escheator on the complaint of Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford and Essex, that whereas he ought to have primer seisin of the manor of Brenteles and of the lands of Crantesseby which John Gyffard deceased held of him within his liberty of Breken', as his ancestors have always been accustomed, so that the king's escheators or other ministers have never been accustomed to enter that manor or the said lands after the death of any tenants, although they held elsewhere of the king in chief, the escheator nevertheless entered the same and ejected the earl's ministers, 21 June, 27 Edw. I.

WALES. Inq. 1 Sept. 27 Edw. I. Brenteles. The said earl ought to have primer seisin of the manor, and of the said lands &c. of Cantressely (sic), as his ancestors have always been accustomed, and the king's ministers have not been accustomed to enter upon the same after the death of any of the tenants.

Writ of plenius certiorari on the complaint of Ralph de Monte Hermeri, earl of Gloucester and Hertford, and Joan his wife, that whereas Gilbert de Clare sometime earl of the [counties] aforesaid, long before his death granted to John Giffard of Brymmesfeld the manors of Buleford, co. Oxford, and Bageworth, co. Gloucester, for his life with reversion to the said Gilbert and his heirs, and afterwards the said Gilbert having surrendered all his lands, reversions &c. to the king, the king thereof enfeoffed the said Gilbert and Joan, to hold to them and the heirs of their bodies, as the said Gilbert held them before the said surrender, by form whereof the said manors by the death of the said John ought to revert to the said Joan for life, yet the escheator has taken the same into the king's hand as if the said John died seised thereof in his demesne as of fee, 23 June, 27 Edw. I.

OXFORD. Inq. made at Bureford on Wednesday before St. James the Apostle, 27 Edw. I. The said Gilbert de Clare gave to John Gyffard the manors of Bureford, co. Oxford, and Baggeworth, co. Gloucester, excepting the lands &c. which Geoffrey de Phanacurt held of him in Bureford, to have from the said town of Bureford, and a hamlet by the same called Saynet, 20l. yearly rent to him and the heirs of his body for ever, and the whole of the residue of the said town and hamlet he gave to the same John for life only, doing to the said Gilbert and his heirs for the said manor of Baggeworth and town of Bureford the service of 2 knights' fees, viz.'97scutage when it runs, for all service. Nevertheless so that if the said John should have such heir the said 20l. rent should remain to them for ever, and the residue of the said town and hamlet after his death, should revert to the said Gilbert and his heirs; and if the said John should decease without such heir, then the said town and hamlet together with the said 20l. rent should wholly revert and remain to the said Gilbert and his heirs; which town and hamlet are held of the king in chief by service of a knight's fee. The said Gilbert did not surrender the said tenements to the king with his other lands &c. but they were in his seisin without any change until the day of his death; and neither the aforesaid John, Joan, nor Ralph did homage or fealty to the king for the same. …… [Inq.] …… (fragment undated).

Writ of plenius certiorari on the complaint of Margaret, late the wife of the said John, that the escheator had taken into the king's hand certain lands &c. in Orcheston St. George whereof she was enfeoffed jointly with her said husband, 21 July, 27 Edw. I.

WILTS. Inq. made at Scherentone, 5 Aug. 27 Edw. I. The said Margaret, three years before the death of the said John, was enfeoffed jointly with him of a messuage and a carucate of land in Orchestone St. George by John le Bret to them and their heirs for ever, and she peacefully continued her seisin until the said John Giffard's death. Those tenements are held of the king in chief by barony, doing to the king for the manor, with other manors in other counties, the service of 3 knights' fees in his army.

C. Edw. I. File 91. (2.)

John married Matilda de Clifford, daughter of Walter [III] de Clifford and Margaret verch Llewelyn, between 1257 and 1271.^{1 2 3} (Matilda de Clifford died between Dec 1282 and 9 May 1285 ^{1 6}.)

John next married Margaret in 1286.^{3 4} (Margaret was born about 1253 and died before 13 Dec 1338 ⁴.)

John next married.