Devon Beaumonts
- beaumont21
- Dec 11, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: Mar 2
By Gary Beaumont, December 2024
Appendix 2
Devon Beaumonts: Robert de Beaumont, lord over “the peasants” in Ashford, Landcross, Shirwell, Whitestone, Loxhore and Lower Loxhore (Devon). He “paid tax to the tenant-in-chief (Baldwin the Sheriff).” [1] [2] He is often confused with Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester, but they are distinct and unrelated individuals.
Keats-Rohan[3] speculates that Devon Beaumonts originated in Beaumont-Hague, on the Cotentin Pennisula.[4] However, no record connects the Beaumonts with Beaumont-Hague. The mistake may be assuming an origin in the Cotentin rather than Normandy.
In 933, when Rollo’s son and successor, William Longsword, was granted the Avranchin and the Cotentin. But that does not mean he could immediately exercise authority over these areas. “Instead, it is likely that the whole of the territory west of the River Orne was outside the dukes’ control … ” [5] In fact, it was not until 1047 CE when William, Duke of Normandy, won the battle of Val-ès-Dunes that he began to grant “outsiders” property in the north of the Cotentin. This was punishment for a key rebel, Nigel de Cotentin. At the time, William was also strategically reinforcing the key port of Barfleur, [6] which became a port often used by Anglo-Norman kings for their crossings to England. [7]
A key reference that illustrates the transition from Normandy to the Cotentin is the confirmation of gifts to Montebourg Abbey where Richard Redvers gave a number of properties, including a mill and eels in Néhou … cows a Bénouville, which his sister and Richard d’Angerville held … (and) a reaffirmation of “half of a mill at Aldubvill (d’Audouville), which William de Beaumont gave to the abbey. [8] So, three key families held land in Normandy, the Cotentin, and then Devon.
Ansgervilles held land in
Redvers held land in
The Beaumonts held land in
If the Redvers and the Ansgervilles held lands in Normandy and then were granted land in the Cotentin, it follows that the Beaumonts similarly could have held land in Normandy, moving to the Cotentin as the Duke of Normandy gained control over the area.
The following is a speculative family tree for Robert de Beaumont of Devon. It was created by assuming a generation equals 25 years, and dating the generations, backward, from Philip de Bello Monte (b. c. 1200). Philip’s birth year is based on a Devonshire/Oxfordshire suit initiated in 1211 that was set aside because he was underage. The case was settled in 1224, suggesting that he was born circa 1203 because the legal age for a male in the 13th century was 21. Philip de Bellomonte also witnessed a document in 1220, which suggests the birth year of 1199. And he initiated a suit in 1222, which would suggest a birth year of 1201. The table ends with Philip Beaumont of Devon, but the tree continues[17] until the 15th century when the male line goes extinct.
Ansgerville
| Redvers/ Reviers | Beaumonts of Shirwell, Devon | ||||
Richard d’Ansgerville [21]
< m. 2 >m. 1> | ||||||
Unknown Daughter |
<married > | |||||
| ||||||
Juhel/Joel [35] b. c. 1125 | Godfrey b. c. 1126 | |||||
|
| Philip ? [36] b. c. 1147 |
| William [37] b. c. 1150 |
| |
| The generation of WBB b. c. 1170 d. c. 1230 | Richard, brother of Thomas > b. c. 1175 [38] | ||||
|
| Alice m. William Busum | William inherited from Philip |
|
| |
|
| Male line ends 1500s[40] |
| |||
Table 1. Speculative Family Tree [18]
Keats-Rohan suggests that taking service with the King in England was a useful way for families to “settle younger sons.” Land and/or title might not be available to them in France, but enormous wealth and power were to be had in England, if one played by the rules. Even if a lordship was not offered, it was possible for a younger son to become a militis [41] for a prominent lord with the hope of future reward.
Ansgerville/Redvers/Beaumont Connection [42]
The Redvers and Ansgerville families are connected by marriage. Specifically, Richard d’Ansgerville married Adelisa, sister of Richard de Redvers. The Ansgerville and Beaumont families are also connected by marriage. The unknown daughter of Richard Ansgerville married William Beaumont.
In c. 1107 in Winchester, England, there was a confirmation of gifts to Montebourg Abbey that connects all three families. Richard Redvers gave a number of properties, including a mill and eels in Néhou … cows a Bénouville, which his sister and Richard d’Angerville held … a reaffirmation of “half of a mill at Aldubvill, which William de Beaumont [43] gave to the abbey. Witnessed by Henrici, regis (Henry I), Mathildis, regine, Richardi de Redvers and his sons, Baldewini and Willelmi, Roger, fili Ricardi de Angervill, Ricardi de Lestre, and others. [44]
The following records focus on the next generation, and they link William “the monk” with the Beaumonts of Shirwell and the Cotentin, France:
Gift by William "the Monk" of a house in Barfleur, Cotentin, France to the Abbey of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, with consent of Thomas and Philip de Beaumont.[45]
Gift of money from lands in England by William “the Monk” to Montebourg Abbey, Cotentin, France, with consent of Thomas and Philip de Beaumont.[46] [47]
And about 1163, a document for Guillaume le Moine (William the monk) whereby he established a chapel, under the name of Sainte Marie Magdeleine, on his estate in the Parish of Néville … for the salvation of his soul, that of his father and mother, and of his ancestors … with the consent of his nephews Thomas and Philip de Beaumont.[48] [49]
Two records link the Angersvilles with the Beaumonts of Shirwell and the Honour of Halton:
c. 1135 x 1154, Chester: Charter of William, Constable of Chester, for changing the habitation of the canons of Runcorn to Norton, probably during the reign of King Stephen I … William, the son of William, the son of Nigel, do give and grant to the Holy Church of Mary of Norton … three curates in Stannings … the church of Pirinton (Sic) in Oxfordshire … etc. Witnesses: William (the chaplain), Roger de Angerville, Alfred fitz Humphrey, Nigel fitz Angot, Robert fitz Peter. [50]
c. 1163, Halton: William “the Monk” and Thomas de Beaumont, his heir, gave John, Constable of Chester … the whole village of Staining. And we did all this on account of the 15 the silver marks which he gave to us, and on account of the thirty solidi, which we ought to receive annually at the feast of St. John. Witnesses: Reginald, priest at Pryton, and others. [51]
The Staining transaction would have occurred between 1163 and 1189. In 1163, John fitz Richard (c. 1150-1190) became Constable of Chester and Lord of Halton after the death of his father. In 1190, John died overseas during the Third Crusade.
In 1066, Staining[52] was part of Earl Tostig's lordship of Preston. Lancashire was not established as a county in Saxon times, portions belonged to Yorkshire, Cumberland, Northumbrian, and Mercia. In fact, Lancashire was not established until 1182. However, after the Conquest, Staining was in the Honour of Halton and was located two miles west of Blackpool in the Amounderness Hundred, Hardhorn-with-Newton Township, Parish of Bispham.[53]
Staining is also twenty-five miles east of Clitheroe Castle, which was built by Robert de Lacy (1070-1116) and was the caput of the Honour of Clitheroe.[54] In 1194, Roger (c. 1170-1211), Constable of Chester, inherited the Honour of Clitheroe, including Bowland, and Blackburn, along with the Honour of Pontefract. Pontefract Castle was excluded from the inheritance, so Clitheroe became more important.
Some 50 years later, William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (c. 1170-c. 1230) (WBB) witnessed a reaffirmation of this grant. It is possible that the monks of Stanlawe sought William to attest to the charter because it had come from his family, and they wanted to prevent him from reclaiming the property.[55]
Two additional records connect Pyrton, the Constable of Chester, and Devon Beaumonts.
A history of Pyrton says, in 1186, William de Beaumont was a tenant of Albert de Grelle/Grelley at Clare Manor, Pyrton. Albert Grelley, 3rd Baron of Manchester and descendant of the first Albert de Grelley, received Pyrton in marriage to Maud, sister of William fitz William, 2nd Constable of Chester.
Toward the end of the 12th century, Thomas de Beaumont held 9 hides in Goldor and Clare. And Philip de Beaumont, son (heir?) of Thomas, succeeded as mesne lord of the ½ fee c. 1211. He was a minor at the time. In 1211, Philip was called to warrant the estate to Maud and her third husband, William de Sutton, but Philip was still a minor, so the case was not settled until 1224.
Figure 1. This record links William “the monk” with the Beaumonts of Shirwell and Devon. Held by: Archives and Cornish Studies Service, formerly the Cornwall Record Office.[56] and reads:In c. 1163, Devon: William the Monk, with the agreement of Thomas de Helint’s (Thomas de Bellomonte/Beaumont) his nephew, to … the chapel of St Mary Magdalene of Neeluill’ (Néville-sur-mer) the manor of Estintonia (Ilsington, Devon, between Plymouth and Exeter, which was Lestintone in Domesday Book. Later it was in Richard de Redvers’ Honour of Plympton, which was created for him by Henry I.) two and a half ferlings of land held by Herriz son of … and Brictriz. Rent 15 shillings yearly, seven and a half shillings at Michaelmas and 7 and a half shillings at Easter. Witnesses: Thomas de Belin (de Bellomonte/Beaumont) and Philip, his son; Godfrey de Belin (de Bellomonte/Beaumont); William Foliot, Robert villanus; Nicholas Brellesore [?]; Rainald, Robert Iuhel [Juhel]; Baldwin the priest; Roger the clerk.
The significance of this charter is that it places William “the monk” in Devon along with two of the four Beaumont brothers -- Thomas and Godfrey.
At this point, it has been shown that William “the Monk” and Thomas de Beaumont had links to the Constable of Chester, and to four key places: Cotentin, France; Honour of Halton; Pyrton, Oxfordshire; and Devon.
Finally, in 1224CE, Devon -- Between Philip de Bello Monte suing and William de Bello Monte tenant 2 hides of land with appurtenances in Enekedon (Ingsdon in the parish of Ilsington, Devon), whence the same William, who is the tenant, placed himself in the great assise, and he asks whether he himself has greater right to hold that land of the said Philip as from the gift of Thomas, grandfather of the aforesaid Philip, to Joel (Juhel) de Bello Monte, father of the aforesaid William … [57] This William of Devon may be a contemporary of WBB of Yorkshire, but they are different individuals.
The information about the Devon Beaumonts presented here is only a snapshot of a sprawling family. Evidence exists for a branch of the family that remained in the Cotentin, France. And other branches likely held property in Oxfordshire as well as perhaps other English counties. [58]
Numerous attempts were made to find a Y-DNA connection between the Devon and West Yorkshire Beaumonts, but none has been found. The male line of the Devon Beaumonts seems to have gone extinct in the 16th century. Family members were buried at St. Peter’s Church, Shirwell, Devon. And the last of the male line was Hugh Beaumont ( -1507).
THE END
References:
[1] Open Domesday Book. n.d. https://opendomesday.org/name/robert-of-beaumont/. Accessed May 2021.
[2] Devonshire Association. 1912. Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association. Plymouth. Vol. 44, p. 331.
[3] Keats-Rohan, Katherine. 1999. Domesday People: a Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents, 1066–1166. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press. Vol. 2, p. 374
[4] Beaumont-Hague on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/H69YxKvRGQTWNYk67. Accessed May 2022.
[5] Hagger, Mark. 2012. “How the West Was Won: Norman Dukes and the Cotentin, c.987–1087.” Journal of Medieval History. Volume 38, Issue 1, p. 21.
[6] Barfleur on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/BcECpKUa6C3Sw1Zb6. Accessed May 2022.
[7] Le Patourel, John. 1976. Norman Empire. University of Michigan: Clarendon Press. PP. 163-164, 175-176.
[8] Bearman. Charters of the Redver… P. 58.
[9] Bénouville on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/qdEXVS8SWudsb8CVA. Accessed May 2022.
[10] Néville-sur-Mer on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/HdH6UGqMXfQV3uTZ7. Accessed May 2022.
[11] Ilsington on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/yCftCSmR4ZVJNKAW8. Accessed May 2022.
[12] Reviers on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/67af33szSiPMTfa27. Accessed May 2022.
[13] Néhou on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/Cg7SgYKU5M2oKPrg9 . Accessed May 2022.
[14] Wikipedia n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudal_barony_of_Plympton. Accessed May 2022.
[15] Beaumont on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/AaDXGnMoUT6RLknz9. Accessed May 2022.
[16] Shirwell, Devon on Google Maps. n.d. https://maps.app.goo.gl/qWfrZRAiG2Zbrgbr9
[17] Vivian, John Lambrick, ed. The Visitation of the County of Devon. . P. 65. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Visitations_of_the_County_of_Devon/GmqlIibS95IC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Philip+Bello+Monte+William+Bello+Monte&pg=PA65&printsec=frontcover
[18] Abbreviations: b. = born, c. = circa, dau. = daughter, fl. = flourished, m. = married, d.s.p. = died without issue
[19] Keats-Rohan. 2002. Domesday Descendants: a Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents, 1066–1166. Boydell Press. Vol. 1, p. 413.
[20] Open Domesday Book. n.d. https://opendomesday.org/name/rogo-son-of-nigel/. Accessed January 2023.
[21] Keats-Rohan. 2002. Domesday Descendants: a Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents, 1066–1166. Boydell Press. Vol. 2, p. 283.
[22] Keats-Rohan. Domesday People… Vol. 1, p. 360. de Redvers and de Reviers are the same surname.
[23] Wikipedia. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_de_Redvers. Accessed January 2023.
[24] Open Domesday Book. n.d. https://opendomesday.org/name/richard-of-reviers/. Accessed January 2023.
[25] Keats-Rohan. Domesday People… Vol. 2, p. 283.
[26] Open Domesday Book. n.d. https://opendomesday.org/name/robert-of-beaumont/. Accessed January 2023.
[27] Wikipedia. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirwell. Accessed January 2023.
[28] Bearman, Robert. 1994. Charters of the Redvers Family and the Earldom of Devon. Exeter. P. 57-59.
[29] Fowler, Rev. G. 1834. The Visitor’s Guide to Runcorn and Its Vicinity. The British Library. PP. 11-13.
[30] British History Online. n.d. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol7/pp238-239. Accessed May 2022.
[31] Bearman. Charters of the Redver… P. 58.
[32] Hubert Hall, ed. 1896. Red Book of the Exchequer. London. Vol. 1, p. 252.
[33] Amery, J.S, et al. 1901. “Abbey of St. Saviour.” Devon Notes & Queries. G\J.G. Cummin, Exeter. Vol. 1, pp. 87-8.
[34] Wikipedia. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremridge. Accessed January 2023.
[35] Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica. London, 1834. Vol. 1, p.382.
[36] National Archives. N.d. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/4a5deea6-8681-4b2b-860d-93bb5b63e884. Accessed January 2023.
[37] Public Record Office. 1955. Curia Regis Rolls of the Reign of Henry III. London. Vol. 11, pp. 517-518, # 2598.
[38] Maitland, F.W., ed. 1887. Bracton's Note Book. London : C.J. Clay & sons. Vol. 2, pp. 160-1.
[39] Public Record Office. 1932. Curia Regis Rolls of the Reigns of Richard I and John. Vol. 6, p. 139.
[40] Devonshire Association. 1906. Reports and Transactions. Plymouth. Vol. 38, p. 159.
[41] Kempenich, Keith. 2016. The Milites of Oderic Vitalis and the Problem of Knights. Thesis. University of New Hampshire. P. 30.
[42] Bearman. Charters of the Redvers… PP. 57-59.
[43] Saint-Martin-d'Audouville on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/UhRrJrUaUQTMhFrs6. Accessed May 2022. The location of William de Beaumont’s mill.
[44] Bearman. Charters of the Redvers… P. 58.
[45] Bibliotheque Nationale (French/Latin) 17137 fols. 246 r & v, no.356.
[46] van Torhoudt, Eric. 2009. “Enigma of the origins of Montebourg Abbey.” In Pierre Bouet, et al., eds. “De Part et d’Autre de la Normandie Medievale. Cahier des Annales de Normandie. Collectif, Caen. PP. 331-346.
[47] Montebourg Abbey on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/ZKaoU3MWXpEt5YCP9. Accessed May 2022.
[48] Drouet, Louis. 1893. Recherches historiques sur les vingt communes du canton de Saint-Pierre-Église. Cherbourg. P. 407. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Recherches_historiques_sur_les_vingt_com/dxfe5FK5GwgC
[49] Archives de la Manche. https://www.archives-manche.fr/. Accessed May 2022. H-9504 refers to the priory at Néville-sur-mer.
[50] Fowler, Rev. G. 1834. The Visitor’s Guide to Runcorn and Its Vicinity. The British Library. PP. 11-13.
[51] Hulton, W.A. 1846. The Coucher Book, or Cartulary of Whalley Abbey. The Chetham Society. Vol. ii, p. 420.
[52] Staining on Google Maps. n.d. https://goo.gl/maps/foHGBYAHLaXbJTnQ9. Accessed January 2023.
[53] British History Online. n.d. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol7/pp242-246. Accessed May 2022.
[54] Wikipedia. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitheroee_Castle. Accessed January 2021.
[55] Ibid. Hulton. Vol. ii, p. 419.
[56] The National Archives. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/4a5deea6-8681-4b2b-860d-93bb5b63e884. Accessed May 2022.
[57] Curia Regis Rolls of the Reign of Henry III. Public Record Office. 1955. Vol. 11, pp. 517-518, No. 2598.
[58] Jobling, Mark. “In the name of the father: surnames and genetics.” Trends in Genetics. Volume 17, Issue 6, June 2001. PP 353-357.
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