Medlands discussion of Ralph II, wife, and children:
RALPH [II] de Somery (-[Jan/Jul] 1210). “Hawys Paganella” confirmed donations to Tykford Priory by "Johannes de Sumeri vir meus" by undated charter, witnessed by “Radulfo de Sumeri filio meo”[1314]. The Red Book of the Exchequer, listing scutage payments in [1194/95], records "Radulfus de Sumery" paying "iv l vi s viii d, iv milites et tertiam" in Worcestershire and "vii.l. xiii.s. de Radulfo de Sumeri" among "de hiis qui non habent capitales honores in hoc comitatu" in Berkshire[1315]. The Red Book of the Exchequer, listing scutage payments in [1196/97], records "Radulfus de Sumeri" paying "xx s in Chiselhamtone, i militem" in Oxfordshire, "Radulfus de Somery" among "isti sunt quieti per breve" in Berkshire, and “Radulfo de Sumery 1.l de feodo Gervasii Paganelli” in Staffordshire[1316]. A later note added to Military fee certifications in the Red Book of the Exchequer, in 1166, records that King John granted "maneria de Mere Suneforde et Clentes" to "Radulfus de Sumery" in Staffordshire[1317]. The Pipe Roll [1207/08] records “Radulphus de Sumeri r.c. de x.li. de Cremento de Swineford et Clent et Mera”[1318]. The Red Book of the Exchequer records "Radulfus de Sumeri" holding 14 knights’ fees "de honore de Neu[port]" in Buckinghamshire, and three knights’ fees and parts "in Framkelega, Wormelega, Belewe, Pesemore, Swinforde, Hagele et Credelega" in Worcestershire, in [1210/12][1319]. The Testa de Nevill lists knights who held land in Northamptonshire, dated to [1208/09]: "Radulfus de Somery" held land "unde caput est in Warr"[1320]. The Testa de Nevill records in 1212 that "Rogerus de Sumervill" held "manerium de Alrewas" in Staffordshire and that the manor was then “in custodia magistri Radulfi de Stok cum filio ipsius Rogeri” and also that “comes de Salesbir” held “maneria de Swinford et de Clent et de Mere cum filio et herede Radulfi de Sumeri in custodia”[1321]. m (before 1194) as her first husband, MARGARET Crassus, daughter of WILLIAM [III] Crassus & his wife [--- Marshal] (-after 14 Jun 1247). Her parentage and first marriage are confirmed by a charter [dated to before 1194] under which “William le Gros” gave land at Little Dalby to “Ralph Somery” as part of the marriage contract for his daughter Margaret[1322]. [The Complete Peerage names “Margaret m 1stly Ralph de Somerey, 2ndly Maurice de Gaunt” as the first daughter of John FitzGilbert “the Marshal” and his second wife[1323]. If right, this would mean that she was Margaret Marshal, daughter of John Marshal & his second wife Sibyl of Salisbury. From a chronological point of view, it cannot be correct. The births of the children of John FitzGilbert and his second wife can be dated to [1145/55]. Concerning Margaret’s first marriage, the chronology suggests that the children of Ralph de Somery and his wife were born in the late 1190s or the early years of the 13th century. Concerning the second marriage, Maurice de Gant’s wife is recorded as living in 1247. As can be seen, none of these dates is compatible with Margaret having been the daughter of John FitzGilbert.] The Pipe Roll 1210 records that "Margareta que fuit uxor Radulfi de Sumeri" arranged to pay an instalment of her fine for the assignment of her dower in Berkshire in midsummer[1324]. Margaret married secondly ([1220/21]) as his second wife, Maurice de Gant. This second marriage is indicated by two sources relating to Staffordshire, where Ralph [II] de Somery had been granted land by King John (see above). Firstly, King Henry III ordered the sheriff of Staffordshire to permit “Maurice de Gant” to collect scutage from knights’ fees he holds in his bailiwick of the land “he holds in dower of Margaret his wife”, dated [Sep] 1224[1325]. Secondly, the Assize Rolls for 1228 record that eight persons were summoned to show cause why they intruded into “a carucate of land which Alan de Englefeld held, the custody of whose lands after his death belonged to Maurice de Gant and Margaret his wife...the land formed part of the dower of Margaret”[1326]. Alan de Englefield was Margaret’s son-in-law (see below). Several other sources have been identified which name Margaret, none of which makes the connection between Ralph de Somery and Maurice de Gant. Three of these sources clearly refer to the widow of Ralph de Somery: (1) “Roger de Sumeri” confirmed an agreement between “Margaret his mother” and “William de Englefeld” [his nephew, son of his sister Isabel] concerning a grant and exchange of lands “at Bradfield”, Berkshire[1327], undated, but presumably dateable to after Roger’succession to the family estates following the death of his nephew Nicholas (before 4 Jul 1229); (2) and (3) two sets of entries in the Testa de Nevill, Berkshire fees in [1235/36] which include " i.m de i. feodo in Englefeud de feodo de Sumeri et...quarta parte unius feodi Nicholai le Butiler de eodem honore [=honore de Walingeford?] et i.m de i. feodo Margerie de Sumery in Cumton Beucamp de eodem honore et i.m. de i. feodo eiusdem Margerie in Idesleg...et...in Adecote...Watindeden...Stanford...Yngelpenne de eodem honore"[1328], and Berkshire fees in [1242/43] which name "Rogerus de Sumery in Bradefeld i. feodum...Margareta de Sumeri in Bradefeld unum feodum predicti Rogeri...Willelmus de Englefeld in Englefeld unum feodum de eodem feodo"[1329]. Two further sources clearly refer to the wife of Maurice de Gant: firstly, Henry III King of England ordered the sheriff of Somerset, notwithstanding the order of seisin in favour of "Walter de Everm", to give seisin of "maneriis de Cantokesheved et de Hivis [Quantockshead and Huish]...que fuerunt Mauricii de Gant quondam viri sui" to "Margarete de Sumery" as dower, by order dated 1231[1330], and secondly “Margaret de Somery” reached agreement with “Henry de Gaunt rector of the almonry of St Mark’s Hospital, Billeswick” on the tithes of the mill of East Quantoxhead, Somerset and other matters by charter dated 14 Jun 1247[1331]. Two more sources are inconclusive: the Plea Rolls for 1233 include a claim in Oxfordshire by “John de Beauchamp” against “Margery de Sumery, in a plea of land and wardship”[1332], and an undated order, in 1237, records “Assizes taken...in...Worcestershire” from “Margaret de Somery”[1333]. Thomas Stapleton made a detailed study of the life of Maurice de Gant in the mid-19th century but all the sources to which he refers are inconclusive regarding the parentage of Maurice de Gant’s second wife[1334]. It is somewhat surprising that Maurice would have married the widow of Ralph [II] de Somery who, although she had proven her child-bearing capacity, must have been nearly 40 years old by [1220]. Stapleton dates the Margaret de Somery/Maurice de Gant marriage to “prior to the fifth year of Henry III [Nov 1220/Nov 1221] when Maurice de Gaunt paid scutage of Byham for the manor of Bradfield in Berkshire to Percival de Sumery”[1335]. Ralph [II] & his wife had [five] children:
i) RALPH [III] de Somery (-[Feb] 1220). His parentage is confirmed by a plea in Staffordshire dated 1240, P. R. O. Assise Roll 1174, which records that certain land was inherited from "Gervasio Paenel cuidam Hawisie sorori et heredi", from her by "Radulpho…filio et heredi, et de Radulpho cuidam alii Radulpho filii et heredi, et de iste Radulpho cuidam Willelmi et fratri et heredi, et de Willelmo cuidam Nicholao…filii et heredi, et de Nicholao isti Rogero ut avunculo quia non habuit heredem de corpore sua", although the list appears to insert an extra "Ralph" in the generational list[1336]. The Testa de Nevill records in 1212 that “comes de Salesbir” held “maneria de Swinford et de Clent et de Mere cum filio et herede Radulfi de Sumeri in custodia”[1337]. The Pipe Roll [1214/15] records “heres Radulphi de Sumeri. l.s. de cremento de Swinford et de Clent et de Mere”[1338]. “Ralph [de] Somery and Alice his wife” made a fine to sue “Ralph Mangefer” concerning “a message...in Cliffe”, Sussex, order dated 11 Feb 1220[1339]. m IDA de Longespee, daughter of WILLIAM Longespee Earl of Salisbury & his wife Ela Ctss of Salisbury (after 1206-after 1260). William Earl of Salisbury granted the manor of Belcham to "William de Beauchamp…with Ida his daughter, who was the wife of Ralph de Sumeri" dated 1220[1340]. It is likely that Ida was still a child at the time of her first marriage. Ida’s mother’s birth can be dated with reasonable accuracy to [1191/92], as Gilbert Crispin who was the second husband of Ida’s maternal grandmother died in 1190. If that is correct, it is unlikely that Ida was born before 1206, assuming that she was the oldest child of her parents (of which there is no proof). “Ralph [de] Somery and Alice his wife” made a fine to sue “Ralph Mangefer” concerning “a message...in Cliffe”, Sussex, order dated 11 Feb 1220[1341]. The difference of name Alice/Ida has not been explained. She married secondly ([1220]) William de Beauchamp.
ii) WILLIAM Perceval de Somery (-before 20 Jun 1222). His parentage is confirmed by a plea in Staffordshire dated 1240, P. R. O. Assise Roll 1174, which records that certain land was inherited from "Gervasio Paenel cuidam Hawisie sorori et heredi", from her by "…de iste Radulpho cuidam Willelmi et fratri et heredi, et de Willelmo cuidam Nicholao…filii et heredi, et de Nicholao isti Rogero ut avunculo quia non habuit heredem de corpore sua"[1342]. m ---. The name of William’s wife is not known. William & his wife had one child:
(a) NICHOLAS de Somery (-before 4 Jul 1229). The Testa de Nevill records in Staffordshire that “Nicholaus de Sumery est in custodia comitis Cestrie...” in [1226/28][1343]. "Rogeri de Sumery fratris Willelmi Percevall de Sumery" swore homage to the king for "terra quam predictus Willelmus Perceval de rege tenuit", adding that he was heir to “Nicholaus filius ipsius Willelmi”, dated 10 Jul 1229[1344]. His parentage is confirmed by a plea in Staffordshire dated 1240, P. R. O. Assise Roll 1174, which records that certain land was inherited from "Gervasio Paenel cuidam Hawisie sorori et heredi", from her by "…de iste Radulpho cuidam Willelmi et fratri et heredi, et de Willelmo cuidam Nicholao…filii et heredi, et de Nicholao isti Rogero ut avunculo quia non habuit heredem de corpore sua"[1345].
iii) ROGER [IV] de Somery (-before 26 Aug 1273). His parentage is confirmed by a plea in Staffordshire dated 1240, P. R. O. Assise Roll 1174, which records that certain land was inherited from "Gervasio Paenel cuidam Hawisie sorori et heredi", from her by "…de iste Radulpho cuidam Willelmi et fratri et heredi, et de Willelmo cuidam Nicholao…filii et heredi, et de Nicholao isti Rogero ut avunculo quia non habuit heredem de corpore sua"[1346].
- see below.
iv) [JOAN (-after 1273). Smyth records that Thomas married "Jone daughter of Sr Raph de Somery lord of Campden in Gloucestershire necce to Willm Marshall Earle of Pembrooke", and that she died during the reign of King Edward I, but the precise primary sources on which he bases his statements are not obvious from his citations[1347]. "Joan de Berkele…and…Maurice de Berkele her son" were granted rights in "their manors of Wutton and Kamme, co Gloucester" dated 2 Aug 1252[1348]. m THOMAS de Berkeley, son of MAURICE de Berkeley & his wife Alice de Berkeley ([1170]-29 Nov 1243, bur Bristol St Augustine).]
v) ISABEL de Somery . Her parentage and marriage are confirmed by the undated charter under which “Roger de Sumery” quitclaimed “William de Englefield” for service of one knight’s fee “in Humeleye and...in Englefield which Isabella the grantor’s sister held in dower”, in accordance with a charter which “Ralph de Sumery the grantor’s father made to Alan de Englefeld, father of the grantee”[1349]. The Testa de Nevill lists fees in Berkshire, dated [1235/36], which include "i.m de i. feodo in Englefeud de feodo de Sumeri et...quarta parte unius feodi Nicholai le Butiler de eodem honore et...de feodo Margerie de Sumery...de eodem honore"[1350]. The Testa de Nevill lists fees in Berkshire, dated [1242/43], which include "Rogerus de Sumery in Bradefeld i. feodum...Margareta de Sumeri in Bradefeld unum feodum predicti Rogeri...Willelmus de Englefeld in Englefeld unum feodum de eodem feodo"[1351]. m ALAN de Englefield, son of --- (-before 1228).
b) [AGNES de Somery . Pope Lucius III confirmed the possessions of Dudley priory, including the donation of “villam de Chyrchille” by "Agnetis de Somery" and donations by “Gervasii Paganelli”, by bull dated 16 Jun 1190[1352]. The parentage of Agnes is unknown. However, the linking of her name with Gervase Paynell in this charter suggests a family relationship, as Gervase was the brother of her supposed mother.]
http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3P-S.htm#Rog...
