Mussegros Castle of France
It is said throughout Europe that one cannot travel 5 miles without seeing the remains of at least one castle. This is more than true of France, where several races fought to secure their hard won heritage and grow into neighbouring lands to preserve their rights for the next generation. Mussegros Castle dates back to the ancient Normans and Vikings who settled the Fleurigny-sur-Andelle area. In modern records we have found traces of the Mussegros Castle showing that the status of the property is now "data unavailable". Notes on the history of Mussegros Castle through the centuries, show the following in the earliest records; Roger de Mussegros(Musgrave), the Lords of Butler. Many families were affiliated with this ancient relic throughout the centuries of illustrious history, whether as lords, guardians, paxmen or servants and here's a sampling of just some of those families; - Musgrave
The Battle of Hastings - 1066 and much more - A very brief Synopsis
Duke William of Normandy left St.Valery in Normandy with about 600 ships and 10 to 12,000 men Sept 27th in 1066.
William and his barons had been recruiting and preparing the invasion of England since early spring of that year. He was a seasoned general and master tactician, using cavalry, archers and infantry and had fought many notable battles. Off Beachy Head, his ship, the Mora, arrived ahead of the fleet.. William waited and ate a hearty breakfast. As his fleet straggled into place behind him they moved eastward to the first sheltered bay to provide protection for his armada. Pevensey and Bulverhythe were the villages on each promontory. Pevensey, to the west, was protected by an old Roman Fort and behind the fort there was much flat acreage to house his large Army. To suggest this landing was not pre-planned, is not in keeping with the preparatory time taken by William, or his track record. There had been much intelligence gathering in the past few months.
The bay, wide enough for maneuverability of this large fleet, was flat shored. William is said to have fallen on the beach, grasped the sand, and declared "This is my country" or words to that effect. Next, the ships were disembarked without resistance. They included 2,500 horses, prefabricated forts, and the materiel and equipment was prepared for any contingency. The ships shuttled in and out of the bay with the precision of a D Day landing. A Fort was built inside Pevensey Roman Fort as an H.Q, while the army camped behind it. William and FitzOsborn scouted the land He was unhappy with the terrain but it had proved to be a satisfactory landing beach. Taking his army around Pevensey Bay he camped 8 miles to the east, north of what is now known as Hastings all of which was most likely pre-planned. He camped to the east outside the friendly territory of the Norman Monks of Fecamp who may have been alerted and were waiting for his probable arrival. William waited. Perhaps he was waiting to know of the outcome of the battle to the north. In those two weeks William could have marched on London and taken it. He was obviously waiting for something?
Harold, far to the north in York at Stamford Bridge, was engaged in a life and death struggle against his brother who had teamed up with the Viking King Hadrada to invade England. Whether this was a planned Norman tactic, part of a pincer movement north and south, is not known, but students of Norman and Viking history might find it very feasible. The timing of each invasion was impeccable, and probably less than coincidental. Harold managed to resist the invasion to the north and killed both commanders. He was advised of the landing to the south by William.
Bringing the remnants of his Army south, Harold camped outside London at Waltham. For two weeks he gathered reinforcements, and exchanged taunts, threats and counterclaims to the Crown of England with William. Finally he moved his army south to a position about six miles north of where William waited.
Perhaps one of the most devastating events preceeding the battle was Harold's sudden awareness that he had been excommunicated by the Pope, and that William was wearing the papal ring. It is most likely this had been arranged by fellow Norman Robert Guiscard who had conquered most of southern Italy and was patron of the Pope who was indebted to him for saving the Vatican. Harold's spirit flagged. William was leading what might perhaps by called the first Crusade. The whole world was against Harold.
William moved up to Harold's position and set up in what was then the conventional European style. Archers, infantry and cavalry in the rear. A set piece, each assigned to their own duties. .
Harold waited. He and his brother Gyrth arranged a mass of men along a high ground ridge 8 deep, 800 yards long . A fixed corridor of tightly wedged humanity. Strategically, given the relative equipment of each side, it was hopeless from the start. To William it was almost a formality. Harold's men were hemmed in by their own elbows. William, with total mobility, held his Breton, Maine and Anjou contingents to the left of the line, the Normans the main thrust, the Flemish and French to his right. The flanking movements paid off. How long the battle took has varying estimates. Some say as little as two hours. Some as long as six hours. The latter seems more reasonable simply because of the numbers involved. .
This battle would later be called Senlac, a river of blood. It demolished most of the remnants of the Saxon fighting men of the Island at very little cost to William.
It is very doubtful if Harold was shot in the eye with an arrow from over the ranks of his front line. He was probably run through by William's lance, accompanied by three others who were in at the kill, and who savaged him brutally.
Thus began a three century Norman occupation of England, Wales and Scotland, and later Ireland. It all started at Pevensey
Companions of Duke William At Hastings
With combination of all the known Battell Abbey Rolls, including Wace, Dukes, Counts, Barons, Lords who attended William At Hastings.
These were the commanders. They were the elite who had provided ships, horses, men and beg for the venture. They were granted the Lordships.
The list does not include the estimated 12,000, Standard bearers, Men At Arms, Yeomen, Freemen and other ranks, although some of these were granted smaller parcels of England, some even have small have 1/8th of has knight' S fee.
A
Bear of Abbetot,
Roger d' Abernon
Ruaud d' Adoube (Musard)
Engenoulf of the Eagle
Richard of the Eagle (of Aquila)
Herbert d' Aigneaux
Guatier of Aincourt
Guillaume Alis
Guillaume d' Alre
Archard d' Ambrieres
Robert d' Amfreville the Lord de Anisy
Guillaume d' Anneville
Guatier of Appeville
Guillaume The Archer
Norman D' Arcy
Arnoul d' Ardre
Nickel silver David
The Lord d' Argouges
Robert d' Armentieres
Guillaume d' Arques
Osbern d' Arques
Bagod of Arras
Roger Arundel
Geoffroi Ascelin
Hugh Asne
Gilbert d' Asnieres
Raoul d' Asnieres
Guillaume d' Aubigny
The Lord d' Aubigny (Roger)
Guillaume d' Audrieu
Gilbert d' Aufay
Fouque Aunou
The Lord d' Auvillers
Richard Viscount of Avranches
F
Alain Fergant, Count de Bratagne
Guillaume de Ferrieres
Mathieu of Ferte Mace
Guatier Fitz Autier ·
Fitz Bertran de Peleit
Adam Fitz Durand
Robert Fitz Erneis
Alain Fitz Flaald
Guillaume Fitz Osberne
Robert Fitz Barb
Robert Fitz Richard
Toustain Fitz Rou
Eudes Fitz Sperwick
Guatier The Fleming
Raoul de Fourneaux
The Lord de Fribois
M
Hugue de Macey
Durand Malet
Gilbert de Malet
Guillaume Malet de Graville
Robert Malet
Raoul de Malherle
Foucher de Maloure
Geoffroi de Mandeville
Guillaume of the Pond
Hugue of the Pond
Geoffroi Martel of Mathan
Auvrai Maubenc
Guillaume Maubenc
Ansold de Maule
Guarin de Maule
Juhel de Mayenne
Adeldolf de Mert
Blackbird
Auvrai de Merleberge
Baudoin de Meules At of Sap
Guillaume de Monceaux
Ansger de Montaigu
Roger de Montbray
Gilbert de Montichet
Hugue of Montfort Connestable
Roger de Montgomerie
Robert Moreton
Roger Moreton
Geoffroi, Lord of Mortagne
Robert Count de Mortain
Hugue de Mortimer
Guillaume de Moulins, Sir de Falaise
Paisnel of the Moutiers-Hubert
Guillaume of Moyon
Robert Murdac
Enisand Musard
De Muscamp
Roger de Mussegros
R
Roger Oars Lord de Rebercil
Guillaume de Reviers
Richard de Reviers
Geoffroi Ridel
Adani de Rie
Hubert de Rie
Hubert de Rie the Young person
Raoul de Rie
Anquetil de Ros
Golsfrid de Ros
Guillaume de Ros
Serlon de Ros
Hugue de Rousel
The count Alain the Russet-red one
Turchil Rous
Guillaume, the Lord de Rupierre
Hawise (Howise) Malet married (1) Hugh de Poyntz, who died in April 1220, and (2) Robert de Musegros, of Berwain and Norton, Knight of King Henry III. He was Keeper of Savernake Forest, May 4, 1252. He held the Manors of Brynham, Cherlton, and Norton. He died January 29, 1253 or 1254 (Ref.: Harleain Society, "Knights of Edward I, p.230). (Note: Mussegros is a canton of Fleurigny-sur-Andelle in the arrondissement of Les Andelys.
The name is presumed to have been derived from Musgrave or Mewsgrave, "the keeper of the king's hawks, or the king's equerry." Roger de Mucelgros, who is said to have been at Senlac, was a tenant-in-chief in Herefordshire in 1086 (Domesday), where he gave his name to Lude-Muchgros. His descendants spread to many parts of England and in the 13th century the family held estates in Somerset, Dorset, Gloucester, and Hereford. Charlton Musgrove in Somerset is named from it, hence the baronets Musgrove. (Ref: Crispin & Macary, "Falaise Rolls").
They had two children as follows:
1. John Musegros. See below.
2. Mabel Musegros, Lady of Finborough.
Fourth Generation
4. John Musegros (Mucegros), Knight of Charlton, Norton, and other estates, was born August 10, 1232, and died May 6, 1275, holding Manors of Northton, Brywham as 1/2 fee, Cherlton 1 fee, and Stavill 1.2 fee, co. Somerset, Berton Regis and lands at Knemerton, Boyton, Lit. Cumpton, Hatherle, and Langeford, co. Gloucester.
The following record is taken from "Knights of Edward I.":
"Protection, going to Ireland, May 10, 1259. Sheriff of Devon, July 9, 1261, Constable of Exeter, July 9, 1261, to July 18, 1263. Holds 1 knight's fee at Botyngton and Kemerton, co. Gloucester, late of Richard, Earl of Gloucester, August 10, 1262. Protection during the Welsh war March 22, 1263. Safe conduct for him and several knights coming to the King with horses, households, and goods, July 7, 1264. Made Constable of Salisbury Castle for him and other knights lately in munition of Bristol Castle to stay in with their households, December 19, 1264, to May 31, 1265. Safe conduct coming to the King, February 14, 1254, but not to come till sent for March 12, 1265. To leave Kenilworth Castle as he values his life, August 26, 1265. Sir John de Mucegros was against the King, and had 40/- rents and advowson at Sotesbrok, co. Berkshire."
He married Cecily Avenal, Lady of Bicknor, Taynton, and Longford, daughter of William Avenal, of Bicknor, and his wife, Aline. Cecily died August 10, 1301. William Avenal was born about November 1202, and died April 21, 1236.
John and Cecily had a son and heir, Robert.
Fifth Generation
5. Robert de Musegros, of Charlton and Norton, born in 1252, was age twenty-three and more in 1275. He died on December 27, 1280. He married Agnes Ferrers, who was living in May 9, 1281.
They had a daughter, Hawise.
Sixth Generation
6. Hawise (Howise) Musegros was born December 21, 1276, and was living as late as June 24, 1340. She married (1) William de Mortimer, (2) John de Ferrers, and (3) John de Bures, who died at Bodington, December 22, 1350. The origin of this family was Bures near Bayeux, who owned an important castle there. Michel de Bures was, according to the Egerton manuscripts in the British Museum, the first of the name who came to England.
He accompanied Duke William to the battle of Senlac, by whom he was given two manors in Somersetshire, one in Hertfordshire, mentioned in the Domesday survey. The two manors in Somersetshire are known as East Bower and West Bower, Bridgewater. Walter, his son, held a small manor near Calne in Wiltshire, to which he gave the name of Bures. Pierre de Bures was Viscount of Dieppe and Arques during the war of 1173-1174. The family prevailed in England, in the counties of Stafford, Somerset, Berks, Gloucester, and others, for several centuries (Ref: Crispin and Macary, pg. 66).
John Bures and Hawise Musegros had a daughter, Catherine.
HISTORY OF ALVESCOT
Alvescot is a small rural village and parish in West Oxfordshire. The land traverses both the clay of the Thames Valley and the lower wolds of the cornbrash. This has made it an ideal place for settlement from an early age. In the south of the parish crop marks in Blagraves field indicate possible Neolithic/Bronze Age farming and many small flint implements have been found in this area. The possibly celtic name of Dunbrook survives here and there seems to be extensive Roman British settlement from Blagraves and Pemscott across to South Side. This includes many field finds of local grey pottery, Samian ware from Gaul, sherds from the Oxford potteries and oyster shells. In 1678 a burial in the Chancel of St Peters Church found several brass Roman coins and a Roman tile was used in some of the earliest stonework in the church's North Transept.
Evidence of Saxon settlement is noticeably weak but some pottery has been found on the edge of the marsh along with a beaver's tooth and saucer brooch. However there are many references in names. It has been suggested that Alvescot (Elfegescote in 1086 Domesday Book) derives from St Alfege on Elphegus, a monk of Glastonbury. Many field names could give a clue Bromscote Beorn moér's cote, Garsons Gaerstun a grass enclosure. Late Saxon infill was found in a ditch in the corner of Gillens.
There seems to have been an expansion of settlement in the late Saxon and early Medieval period. The village of Alvescot, then built along the ridge running east from the Church, was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as being 'held by Saeric from the King and being 2 hides of land worth 50s and supporting 4 smallholders and 2 slaves'. But another settlement in our parish, Alwoldesberie, at this date 'returned 4 hides being worth £4.00 and boasted 5 villagers, 6 smallholders and 2 slaves'. Two other small settlements of Bromscott and Pemscott were '2 hides and 1 virgate'.
Alvescot was at this date under the large parochia of the Minster of Bampton but an agreement between the Bishop of Exeter and Richard de la Mare in 1108 saw the dedication of the Capella de Elfegescote. Some of the stonework in the North Transept of the church dates from this period, but the chapel was only to serve Richard's tenants. However, by the early 1200s the present font was installed and the church had its own rector, although no burials for another 300 years - these were at Bampton.
By the time of the Bampton Hundred Rolls of 1279 the population had grown considerably both in Alvescot and Awaldesbury and the main Landholders were Lord Robert de Mussegros, holding the Manor of Alvescot 'for providing an Usher in the King's household', and Robert de la Mare, holding Awaldesbury from Lord Benedict de Blacham for half a Knight's fee
Vol II File 4: The Paternal Ancestry of Homer Beers James
5. Basset - Malet - Musegros - Bures - Beauchamp - Lygon Line
1. Thomas Basset, a Magna Charta Surety, 1215. He had a daughter, Alice (Mabel).
2. Alice (Mabel) Basset married (1) William Malet, Magna Charta Surety, 1215, descendant of William Malet, Lord Malet, general and companion of William the Conqueror, Baron of Curry, and High Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset. They had five children as follows:
1. Hugh Malet.
2. William Malet.
3. Mabel Malet, married Hugh de Vivonia, Baron of Chewton and steward of Poitou, who held West Kingston in 1214. They had three children: John, who d.s.p.; William de Vivonia, who married Maud Ferrers; and Helewise Vivonia, who married Walter de Wahull.
4. Hawise (Howise) Malet. See below.
5. Bertha Malet.
Alice (Mabel) Basset (Malet) married (2) John Biset.
3. Hawise (Howise) Malet married (1) Hugh de Poyntz, who died in April 1220, and (2) Robert de Musegros, of Berwain and Norton, Knight of King Henry III. He was Keeper of Savernake Forest, May 4, 1252. He held the Manors of Brynham, Cherlton, and Norton. He died January 29, 1253 or 1254 (Ref.: Harleain Society, "Knights of Edward I, p.230). (Note: Mussegros is a canton of Fleurigny-sur-Andelle in the arrondissement of Les Andelys. The name is presumed to have been derived from Musgrave or Mewsgrave, "the keeper of the king's hawks, or the king's equerry." Roger de Mucelgros, who is said to have been at Senlac, was a tenant-in-chief in Herefordshire in 1086 (Domesday), where he gave his name to Lude-Muchgros. His descendants spread to many parts of England and in the 13th century the family held estates in Somerset, Dorset, Gloucester, and Hereford. Charlton Musgrove in Somerset is named from it, hence the baronets Musgrove. (Ref: Crispin & Macary, "Falaise Rolls"). They had two children as follows:
1. John Musegros. See below.
2. Mabel Musegros, Lady of Finborough.
4. John Musegros (Mucegros), Knight of Charlton, Norton, and other estates, was born August 10, 1232, and died May 6, 1275, holding Manors of Northton, Brywham as 1/2 fee, Cherlton 1 fee, and Stavill 1.2 fee, co. Somerset, Berton Regis and lands at Knemerton, Boyton, Lit. Cumpton, Hatherle, and Langeford, co. Gloucester. The following record is taken from "Knights of Edward I.":
"Protection, going to Ireland, May 10, 1259. Sheriff of Devon, July 9, 1261, Constable of Exeter, July 9, 1261, to July 18, 1263. Holds 1 knight's fee at Botyngton and Kemerton, co. Gloucester, late of Richard, Earl of Gloucester, August 10, 1262. Protection during the Welsh war March 22, 1263. Safe conduct for him and several knights coming to the King with horses, households, and goods, July 7, 1264. Made Constable of Salisbury Castle for him and other knights lately in munition of Bristol Castle to stay in with their households, December 19, 1264, to May 31, 1265. Safe conduct coming to the King, February 14, 1254, but not to come till sent for March 12, 1265. To leave Kenilworth Castle as he values his life, August 26, 1265. Sir John de Mucegros was against the King, and had 40/- rents and advowson at Sotesbrok, co. Berkshire."
He married Cecily Avenal, Lady of Bicknor, Taynton, and Longford, daughter of William Avenal, of Bicknor, and his wife, Aline. Cecily died August 10, 1301. William Avenal was born about November 1202, and died April 21, 1236. John and Cecily had a son and heir, Robert.
5. Robert de Musegros, of Charlton and Norton, born in 1252, was age twenty-three and more in 1275. He died on December 27, 1280. He married Agnes Ferrers, who was living in May 9, 1281. They had a daughter, Hawise.
6. Hawise (Howise) Musegros was born December 21, 1276, and was living as late as June 24, 1340. She married (1) William de Mortimer, (2) John de Ferrers, and (3) John de Bures, who died at Bodington, December 22, 1350. The origin of this family was Bures near Bayeux, who owned an important castle there. Michel de Bures was, according to the Egerton manuscripts in the British Museum, the first of the name who came to England. He accompanied Duke William to the battle of Senlac, by whom he was given two manors in Somersetshire, one in Hertfordshire, mentioned in the Domesday survey. The two manors in Somersetshire are known as East Bower and West Bower, Bridgewater. Walter, his son, held a small manor near Calne in Wiltshire, to which he gave the name of Bures. Pierre de Bures was Viscount of Dieppe and Arques during the war of 1173-1174. The family prevailed in England, in the counties of Stafford, Somerset, Berks, Gloucester, and others, for several centuries (Ref: Crispin and Macary, pg. 66). John Bures and Hawise Musegros had a daughter, Catherine.
7. Catherine Bures married May 21, 1329, Giles de Beauchamp, of Beauchamp's Court, in Alcester, co. Warwick, third son of Walter de Beauchamp, who was a younger son of William de Beauchamp, Lord of Elmley. See Burke, pg. 34. He was the steward of the household of King Edward I. He inherited the lordship of Alcester, the manor-house of which, called Beauchamp's Court, he had license to fortify in the 14th year of King Edward III. with a wall of lime and stone, and to embattle it; and he obtained similar permission regarding his house at Fresh-Water, in the Isle of Wight, in the 16th year of the same reign, 1342-43. This Giles was succeeded by his son, John.
8. John de Beauchamp, of whom little is mentioned, was in an expedition against France in the 3rd year of Richard II. He married Elizabeth St. John, thought to be daughter of John St. John. They had two sons as follows:
1. William de Beauchamp, his successor. See below.
2. Walter de Beauchamp, from whom the Beauchamps, Barons of St. Amand, derived.
9. William de Beauchamp, of Powyck and Alcester, was sheriff of the shires of Worcester and Gloucester. He married before March 5, 1414 Catherine Ufflete, daughter and eventual co-heir of Gerard de Ufflete. He died before 1431 and was succeeded by his son, John.
10. John de Beauchamp, Knight, purchased from Thomas de Botreaux the other moiety of the manor of Alcester, which had continued in that family for divers descents. In the 17th year of King Henry VI, on May 2, 1447, he was elevated to the peerage, in consequence of the many good and acceptable services performed by him to that king, and to Henry V., his father, by the title of Lord Beauchamp, Baron of Powycke. He was also constituted Justice of South Wales, with power to exercise that office personally or by deputy; and before long in the 28th year of King Henry VI., was raised to the office of Lord Treasurer of England, and became a Knight of the Garter. He died in 1475. He married Margaret Ferrers. He was succeeded by his only son, Richard, then forty years of age.
11. Richard de Beauchamp, Knight of the Bath, 2nd Baron of Beauchamp and Powyck, was born in 1435. He married Elizabeth Stafford, daughter of Humphrey Stafford, Knight. They had the following daughters:
1. Elizabeth Beauchamp, married Robert Willoughby, Lord Willoughby of Broke, and they had an only son, Edward, who predeceased his father, leaving by his wife, Elizabeth Neville, daughter of Richard Neville, Lord Latimer, three daughters of whom, the eldest, Elizabeth, alone left issue; which Elizabeth married Fulke Greville, 2nd son of Fulke Greville, of Milcote, co. Warwick, and from that union descended the extant Earls of Brooke and Warwick, the Barons Willoughby of Broke, etc.
2. Anne Beauchamp. See below.
3. Margaret Beauchamp, married Richard Rede, Esq., of Co. Gloucester.
Richard de Beauchamp died in 1496, leaving no male heir, thus the Barony of Beauchamp expired, while the estates of the deceased lord devolved upon the above daughters as co-heiresses. Elizabeth, Lady Willoughby of Broke, having the manor of Alcester, and her sisters Powyke and the other lands in co. Worcester.
12. Anne Beauchamp married Richard Lygon, Esq., of Worcestershire and Arle Court, Gloucester, Sheriff of Worchester. From this marriage the present Earl Beauchamp derives. (See Burke's "Peerage and Baronetage.")
