Sir William Fossard Knight

  General Notes:

~Baronia Anglica Concentrata, Vol. I, p. 311, given as the father of Joane, and father-in-law of Robert de Turnham. ⁸¹⁴

~Yorkshire: Historical and Topographical Introduction to a Knowledge of the Ancient State of the Wapentake of Strafford and Tickhill; With Ample Account of Doncaster and Conisbrough. pp. 6-7, According to Banks and Dugdale, there was only one William Fossard, but according to Dodsworth , there were two of this name immediately succeeding Robert, one of whom was living in the later part of the reign of Henry I. Also in the Select Civil Pleas, the record of the suit between Robert de Turnham and the Abbot of Yorkshire, Robert Turnham's wife is refered to as the the great granddaughter of Robert de Turnham, which would agree with Dodworth. Also, according to Dodsworth, William was married to a woman named Beatrix, and had two siblings, Nigel, and Johanne who married Robert de Barkthrope. ^867,869

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁸⁶⁷
William Fossard was among the northern barons who opposed the Empress Maud. At the battle of Northallerton, he is said to have shown deeds of valor. He paid £8 toward the sum demanded the ransom demanded from the release of Richard I who was taken captive on the return home from one of his expeditions to the Holy Land. He also paid £32 rather than obey a summons that required every Baron to go to Ireland.

In the period of William Fosse's minority, the King appointed William le Grosse, Earl of Albemarle, as his guardian. William Fosse seduced his guardian's sister, which enraged William le Grosse. Fosse left the country and laid ruins to le Grosse's ancestral residence, Montferrent. This further enraged le Grosse, which meant that William Fosse was not able to return to England until the death of his guardian. Fosse did the necessary homage to the King and paid a fine on his return. He died sometime in the later part of the reign of Richard I. His only child and heir was a daughter who married Robert de Turnham.

~Yorkshire: Historical and Topographical Introduction to a Knowledge of the Ancient State of the Wapentake of Strafford and Tickhill; With Ample Account of Doncaster and Conisbrough. pp. 7-9