First, RICHARD Boyle Walsingham, born in 1762, who died October 13th, 1788. Second, CHARLOTTE, now BARONESS ROOS, on whom his Majesty confirmed that honour (after having proved her pedigree before a committee of privileges of the house of lords), in 1806. Her Ladyship married August 4th, 1791, Lord Henry Fitzgerald, second brother to the late Duke of Leinster; by whom she has issue, First, Henry-William, born January 12th, 1793; ensign in the first regiment of foot-guards. Second, Arthur-John-Hill, born December 21st, 1793. Fourth, William-Lennox-Lascelles, born September 1st, 1797, died at Malvern, 1810. i Fifth, Edmund-Emilius-Boyle, born May 6th, 1799. Sixth, Charlotte-Georgiana-Elizabeth, born January 13th, 1801. Seventh, Henrietta-Mabel, born October 12th, 1802. Title. Charlotte Fitzgerald de Roos, Baroness de Roos. Creation. Baroness Roos by writ of summons 49 Hen. III. confirmed 1806. Arms. De Roos, gules, three waterbougets, argent, quartering Boyle. But query whether Arthur, or William is deceased? ROBERT DESPENCER was steward to William the Conqueror, and one of his Barons, as is fully manifest from authentic records : also that his posterity were denominated from the said office of Despenser (i. e. steward) is testified by the learned Camden, in his discourse on surnames; a who mentions the Spensers to be descended from the Despensers, the De (when surnames were fully introduced) being omitted for brevity, as by innumerable instances in other families might be proved. The said Robert Despenser had by gift from the Conqueror the following manors, which he held at the time of the general survey; viz. Merston, Leth, Filingeli, and Bertanstone in Warwickshire; Tozintone, Scrivelsbi, Wilgesbi, Endrebi, Pertenai, Butide, Tadewelle, Tulestone, Rocstune, Cuningeśbie, Meringhe, Herdertoy, Stepinge; Langetone, and Holtham, in Lincolnshire; Legre, Torp, Redeclive, Cuningestone, Odestone, Esmoditone, Chibarde, Norton, Wicote, Stantone, Sucowe, Sacrestone, Snarchtone, Flechene, Wistaneston, Tiletone, and Sumerdeberie, in Leicestershire; and Wicvene in Grelestain Hundred, in Gloucestershire. C He was brother to Urso de Abetot, hereditary sheriff of Worcestershire, soon after the conquest; who, in some records, is called Urso de Worcestre, as being constable of the castle of Worcester; and held, at the time of the general survey, twenty lord a Remains, p. 12, and 126. b Doomsday, lib. in iisdem Com. e Regist. Wigorn. Bibl. Cotton. ships, which descended to Walter de Beauchamp (a great Baron) who married & Emeline his only child. The aforesaid Robert Despencer is mentioned among the Bishops and Barons, assembled in council with William the Conqueror, in London, A. D. 1082, in the seventeenth year of his reign; at which time they set their hands and seals to the charter of William de Carilepho, bishop of Durham; which sets forth, that the church of Durham being neglected, and by the barbarity of sacrilegious persons, neither monks nor canons left therein; he does thereupon determine to bring the monks from Weremuth, and Girwe (now Jarrow or Yarrow); also, that the liberties of the church of Durham, with the lands (therein particularly mentioned) should be preserved inviolable for ever; laying this anathema on the violators: that all or any persons, who shall presume to prophane this charter, or change any thing therein, unless for the better, "By the authority of the Prince of the Apostles, I deprive them of the society of the lord, the aforesaid Pope Gregory, and the church; and reserve them, by the judgment of God, to be punished by everlasting fire, with the devil and his angels. Amen." In the next year he was witness to a charter of the King, dated at Westminster, in council, for removing the secular canons out of the same church, and placing monks in their stead; to which act the bishops and barons at that time likewise set their hands and seals. He was afterwards witness to a grant of the same & King, of the whole city of Bath, with the coinage and toll thereto belonging, to John bishop of Bath, and his successors, for the better support of his see. The monks of Worcester have recorded this Robert De spenser for a very powerful man; and that he took the lordship of Elmeleigh from them, which they could never after regain. He was succeeded by WILLIAM le Despenser (or Steward) to King Henry I. pos sessor of the manor of Elington. After him was THURSTAN le Despenser, Steward to the same King; of which Thurstan, Mr. Camden gives an account from d Dugdale's Baronage, vol. i. e Monast. Angl. vol. i. p. 43, b. f Ibid. p 44, a. VOL. VI. Remains, p. 247. 2 K the old historian (Gualterus Mapes de Nugis Curialium), that Thurstan, the King's steward, or Le Despenser (as he was then called) exhibiting to the King a complaint against Adam of Yarmouth, clerk of the signet, for that he refused to sign, without fee, a bill passed for him: that Prince thereupon hearing the difference, reconciled them; making this speech, "officers of the court must gratify and shew a cast of their office, not only to one another, but also to all strangers, whensoever need shall require." This Thurstan had, as I take it from records, four sons; Walter, Lord of Stanley, who was usher of the chamber to King Henry II. and died without issue; Almaric, of whom hereafter; Hugh; and Geffery, who was founder of Marlow Abbey in Buckinghamshire; and in 1173, witnessed the King's confirmation of lands to Bungay Abbey in Suffolk: which Prince, among other grants, ratifies, by Geoffrey le Despenser, the church of Boynton, to Bridlington priory. The said Hugh le Despenser went with Rich. I. to the Holy Land, A D. 1190," and was with him at the siege of Acon; and in 8 Henry III. was constituted sheriff of Shropshire and Staffordshire, and governor of the castles of Shrewsbury and Bruges, now called Bridgnorth. He was also, in the 10th of that reign, P sheriff of Berkshire for one half of that year, and governor of Wallingford castle; having, the year following, a grant from the King, of the manor of Ryhall in Rutlandshire. He was, moreover, appointed governor of Belsover castle in Derbyshire, 17 Henry III. and in 21 Henry III. was sent, with Stephen de Segrave and Henry de Aldithley, to take charge of the castles of Chester and Beeston. ALMARIC, the second son of Thurstan, aforesaid, was sheriff of Rutlandshire anno 34 Henry II. and 1 Richard I. and being Steward to the latter, enjoyed of his gift the manor of King's Stanley in Gloucestershire, which had been his said brother's. In 8 Richard I. he was " acquitted of the third scutage of Normandy; and in the 5th of King John, he had a confirmation in fee of the lordships of Wurdie and Stanley in the vale of Gloucester (being styled in the record, son of Thurstan, brother and heir of Walter, son of Thurstan); which lordship of Wurdie, King Henry II. 1 Monast. vol. i. p. 44, 516. Pat. 8 Hen. III. m 12. m Ibid. vol. ii. p. 163. n Cod. MSS. Ashmol. No 1120, in Musæo Oxon. q Cart. A. 11 Hen. III. m. 3. u Rot. Pip. 8 Ric. I. Salop t Atkins's Glouc. p. 717. x Cart an 5 Joh. No 52. formerly gave toy Walter aforesaid, brother to this Almaric, for his homage and service, paying for the same a pair of gilt spurs, or twelve-pence yearly, into the Exchequer, at the feast of St. Michael the Archangel; and to hold by the service of half a knight's fee. And the year after, he gave a fine of one hundred and twenty marks and one palfry, to be exempted from attending the King in his purposed expedition beyond sea. He took to wife Amabil, daughter to Walter de Chesnei (or Chenei) by whom he had issue three sons ; z Thurstan, his heir; Almaric, who inarried Elizabeth, daughter to Sir Rowland Blewit; and Philip le Despenser, who by his wife, Sibel, daughter and heir of Richard Ewyas, had a son Richard, who took the surname of Ewyas. Almaric had likewise a daughter, married to William Bardolph. The said THURSTAN le Despenser, with his brother Almaric, and other Barons, took up arms against King John; for which the King seized the lands of Almaric, and gave them, in the eighteenth year of his reign, to Osbert Giffard, his own natural son; having the year before committed the custody of Thurstan to Sir Rowland Blewit. This Thurstan, in the 19th, 20th, and 22d of Henry III. was sheriff of Gloucestershire; so likewise for the first quarter of the 23d year; and in the 26th of Henry III, when he was commanded to attend the King with horse and arms at Xancton, to vindicate the injuries he had received from Lewis IX. King of France, who had invaded Poictiers. He died before 1249, for then the wardship of his lands lying in the counties of Wilts, Surrey, Gloucester, Oxon and Worcester, & during the minority of his heir, was committed to Adomare de Lezignian, and the manor of Ewelme in com. Oxon. assigned to Lucia his widow, for her maintenance, till her dowry should be set forth. By the said Lucia, he was father of Sir GEFFREY le Despenser, who departed this life about 1251, leaving two sons; first, Hugh, his heir; and, Second, Geffery le Despenser, Lord of Marchly in Worces y Cart. Antiq. D. D. No 8. 2 Geneal. Nobil. Antiq. per Cook, Clar. MS. Not. B. 15 in Bibl. John Anstis, Ar. Garter. Reg. Armor. |