William Stuteville

  Information about this person:

• Background Information: From GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives. ¹⁹³
From: "Rosie Bevan" <rbevan@paradise.net.nz>
Subject: Ancestry of Margery de Stuteville, wife of Sir Richard Foliot
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2002 13:44:41 +1200

1. ROBERT I de Stuteville of Etoutteville, Seine-Maritime, arr. Yvetot, cant. Yerville and Cottingham, Yorks. He was amongst those granted the lands forfeited by Hugh fitz Baldric in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire soon after 1087 but lost them owing to his support of Robert Curthose, and was captured at the battle of Tinchebrai in 1106 after which he was condemned to be imprisoned for life. The lands were subsequently granted to Nigel d'Aubigny from whom they descended to Roger de Mowbray, but partially recovered by Robert I's grandson, Robert III de Stuteville. He was a benefactor of Durham and an entry in the Liber Vitae makes mention of himself, his wife Beatrice (whose parentage is unknown) and sons Robert, Gradulf and William. In a claim made by his great grandson William, he was described as Robert Grandboeuf. He was also father of Emma, second wife of Robert fitz Hugh de Grandmesnil whose six children are named in the Durham Liber Vitae. Benefactor of St Mary's abbey, York, Durham priory and the church at Lincoln.
Issue:
-Robert II. See below
-Gradulf
-William
-Emma. Married to Robert Grandmesnil.
[Sources: Keats-Rohan, 'Domesday Descendants'. p.723 ; Clay, 'Early Yorkshire Charters' v.8, p.1-2 ; Sanders, 'English Baronies: a study of their origin and descent 1086-1327', p.37]

2. ROBERT II de Stuteville. Not believed to have held lands in England. A supporter of Robert Curthose with his father, he was captured at St.Pierre-sur-Dive shortly before the battle of Tinchebrai. He was married to Erneburga whose parentage is unknown.
Issue:
-Robert III of Cottingham. See below.
-William
-Roger (sheriff of Northumberland from Easter 1170-Easter 1185, and castellan of Wark on Tweed)
-John of Long Lawford, Warwickshire
-Osmund of Weston Colville and Burton Agnes, Yorks. d. bef 1172. Succeeded by son Roger.
[Sources : Keats-Rohan, 'Domesday Descendants' p.723 ; Clay, 'Early Yorkshire Charters' v.8, p.2-5]

3. ROBERT III de Stuteville of Cottingham, Kettleby Thorpe, Yorks. and Bigby, Lincs. In 1138 he fought at the Battle of the Standard. Instigated claims to recover property confiscated from his grandfather in 1147 and was granted 10 knights' fees by Nigel de Mowbray which included the manor of Kirkby Moorside and land in Warwickshire shortly after 1154. Supervisor of the works of Bamburgh castle in 1166 and sheriff of Yorkshire from Easter 1170 to Michaelmas 1175. Benefactor to the abbeys of St Mary's York, Byland, Rievaulx and Meaux and the priory of Durham. A charter of confirmation to Rievaulx abbey c.1160-1183 for the health of his soul and the souls of Robert de Stuteville his grandfather, Robert his father, Erneburga his mother and Helewise his wife, and with the consent of his son William, presents the Stuteville family over four generations. ["Robertus de Stutevilla.sciatis me dedissee et confirmasse Deo et Ecclesiae S. Mariae Rievallis, pro salute animae meae, et Roberti de Stutevilla, avi mei, et Roberti, patris m mei, et Erneburge, matris meae, et Helewisae uxoris meae, . in perpetuam elemosinam, concessu Willelmi filii mei, et aliorum filiorum meorum, totam terram de Houetona." J.C.Atkinson (ed.), 'Rievaulx Cartulary', p.80]. He married, before 1145, Helewise whose parentage is not known and they founded Keldholm priory, a Benedictine nunnery. As 'domina Helewis uxor Roberti de Stuteuilla' with Osmund 'filius ejus' she witnessed a charter of William de Vescy to the brethren of Farne Island in about 1183. Robert had an interest in Cowesby as shown by a charter of notification dated around 1164-74, by Roger archbishop of York of the settlement of the controversy between Hugh bishop of Durham and Robert de Stuteville relating to the chapel of Cowesby. The dispute continued, however, after his death under the aegis of his son Osmund. Robert died in 1183.
Issue:
-William son and heir d.1203, leaving son and heir Robert IV.
-Nicholas of Liddel, Cumberland. Succeeded his nephew, Robert IV in 1205.
-Osmund of Cowesby, Yorks. and Gressenhall, Norfolk. See below.
-Eustace of Brinklow, Warwickshire
-Robert of Great Ayton and Hemlington, Yorks.
-Burga. Married to William de Vescy and had Langton as her maritagium, living as a widow in 1185.
-Helewise. Married (1) William II de Lancaster, lord of Kendal d.1184 by whom she had Helewise (2) Hugh de Moreville of Burgh, Cumberland d. 1202 by whom she had Ada and Joan (3) William son of Ranulf, lord of Greystoke d.1209 by whom she had Thomas. In 1209 Robert de Vipont owed 500 marks for and 5 palfreys for the custody of the land and heirs of William and the marriage of his widow. Helewise died after 1228.

[Sources: Keats-Rohan, 'Domesday Descendants'. p.724 ; Clay, 'Early Yorkshire Charters' v.8, p.5-15, 90, 95 ; Sanders, 'English Baronies: a study of their origin and descent 1086-1327', p.37]

4. OSMUND de Stuteville of Cowesby, with holdings in Kepwith, East Ness and Newsham, Brantingham, Riplingham, Newbald, Stillingfleet, Yorks. and Gressenhall, Norfolk. Born bef 1145. Holding two thirds of a fee of Robert de Stuteville, in Yorkshire in 1166. As Cowesby was held by Hugh fitz Baldric at Domesday, the estate was very likely part of that recovered by Robert III de Stuteville, father of Osmund. In a list of benefactions to Rievaulx abbey, there is mention of a gift by Osmund, which William de Stuteville his brother confirmed as overlord, of facilities at Cowesby including a road which the monks made in the time of his father. ["Donationem.quas Osmundus de Stutevilla.fecit Deo.de via de Causeby infra villam et extra, quantum territorium ejusdem villae durat, et nominatim de illa via quam ipsi fecerunt in tempore patris ipsius Osmundi, ad orietalem partem ejusdem villae in ascencu montis, utendum libere sibi et fratribus suis et serventibus et carectis et summaries et animalibus et averiis suis, omni tempore, quantum terra de causeby durat, infra villam et extra, tam versus Leche quam ex alia parte ejusdem villae: Concessionem .quas Willelmus de Stutevilla .. Fecit Deo.de via de Kausebi quam frater suus Osmundus dedit illis." J.C.Atkinson (ed.), 'Rievaulx Cartulary', p.290]. Between 1189 and 1192 Osmund quitclaimed his rights in Cowesby chapel after a settlement with Hugh bishop of Durham. He married Isabel, heiress of the family descended from Wimar, tenant of Gressenhall and Elsing, Norfolk. He died on crusade in Joppa in August 1192. Isabel married secondly William de Huntingfield, following which there was a protracted suit over her dower with William de Stuteville, Osmund's elder brother. She died in 1209. Issue:
- John. In 1191 he was on crusade in the company of king Richard, whose god-daughter he married. John was disinherited by Osmund.
- William, who succeeded his father. See below
- Osmund (possibly). Occurs in 1216 with interests in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex

[Sources: Keats-Rohan, 'Domesday Descendants'. p.723 ; Clay, 'Early Yorkshire Charters' v.8 p.34-35, 143]

5. WILLIAM de Stuteville of Cowesby, Yorks. and Gressenhall, Norfolk. As William, son of Osmund de Stuteville he confirmed to Fountains abbey the gift of half a carucate of land in Newsham in the parish of Kirby Wiske. In 1216 he occurs as a knight of the earl of Warenne. On 5 Nov 1219 the king gave to him in marriage Margery (also known as Margaret), daughter and heir of Hugh de Say, and widow of Hugh de Ferrers d.s.p. 1204 and Robert de Mortimer d 1219, obtaining in her right the honour of Richard's Castle, Herefordshire, which he held until his death in 1259. On 8 May 1229 he was granted a yearly fair and a weekly market at his manor at Gressenhall. In 1232 as one of the barons of the Marches, he delivered up Osmund his son as hostage for his fidelity. In Jan 1256-7 he confirmed to Castle Acre priory all the gifts and confirmations of Osmund de Stuteville, his father, and Isabel his mother and of Wimer, Roger his son and all his ancestors. The writs for his inquisitions post mortem are dated 20 May 1259 when Sir Hugh de Mortimer, son of Margery, was found to be heir to property in Shropshire and Worcestershire which William held by courtesy of England. Issue:
-Robert described as Robert de Estoteuill', lord of Cowesby, son of William de Estoteuill' in 1270 released to Fountains abbey his right in land and rent in Newsham. He was possibly married to Joan, da. and heir of William Talbot of Gainesburgh, Lincs. He d.s.p shortly before 20 Aug 1275 when his heir was found to be his nephew Jordan Foliot.
-Osmund. Named as son of William de Stuteville of Richard's Castle, was one of the barons of the March who delivered hostages in June 1233.
-MARGERY. Married Sir Richard Foliot of Norton and Fenwick, Yorks. and Grimston and Wellow, Notts. Their son, Jordan, was found to be heir of Margery's brother Robert de Stuteville. PRO E42/236 Jordan son of Sir Richard Foliot to Sir William his brother: Grant of his land in Tilney and Islington (Ilsington), [in Tilney], late of Robert de Stotevill his uncle: [Norf.] [Before 4 Edw I]

[Sources: Clay, 'Early Yorkshire Charters' v.8 p.35-37, 143 ; Sanders, 'English Baronies: a study of their origin and descent 1086-1327', p.75 ; CIPM v.1 no.439 ; CIPM v.2 no.133 ; CP V :539; Blomefield, County of Norfolk, v.8 p.201-203; v.8 p.512]

William married Margaret de Say, daughter of Hugh de Say and Mabel Marmion. (Margaret de Say was born in Richard's Castle, Ludlow, Herefordshire, England and died Bef Autunm 1242 ¹⁴¹.)