Vol II File 9: The Paternal Ancestry of Homer Beers James

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Vol II File 9: The Paternal Ancestry of Homer Beers James

12. Braci (Bracy) Line

The Lygon family in England traces its history from the Manor of Madresfield in Worcestershire. This manor has been in continuous possession of the descendants of its first owners, the de Bracys, from near Domesday (1086) down to the present time. The manor has passed from father to daughter twice in that time, once in 1420 when Joan, only child of William de Bracy, married Thomas Lygon, who took up his residence there. The other time was in 1713 when Reginald Pyndar married Margaret Lygon, whose eldest son became heir to the manor assumed the surname of Lygon. It still remains in the possession of the Lygons and was the seat of Sir William Lygon, 8th Earl Beauchamp of Powyck. (Ref: "The Lygon Family and Connections" (1947)). This record of the de Bracys and Lygons goes back to the time of the Norman Conquest, and when Warndon and Madresfield were possessed by the early de Bracy ancestors. Robert de Bracy was a favorite name in the de Bracy family and one "Robert" held the manor of Warndon in Worcester at Domesday. This was before the time surnames came into general use in England. (Ref: Nash II, p.452). A Richard de Bracy of Worcestershire occurs in 1168, and a William de Braci in 1176-77.

13. Braose Line

Ref: Burke, pg. 72-73.

Ref: Crispin and Macary

The baronial family of Braose came from originally from Briouze, near Argentan, Normandy. William de Briouse was one of the most powerful barons in William the Conqueror's army. He received large possessions, chiefly in Sussex, including the whole Rape of Bramber, where he built Bramber Castle, which was his seat. In 1075 he executed the foundation charter of the Sele Abbey, Sussex, founded the Abbey of Braiose in the time of William I. and made grants to St. Florent Saumer. Gunnora, his mother, in 1082 held lands from Hugh Pincera and Roger de Cuilli. The date of his death is unknown, but he was succeeded by his son, Philip de Briouse, during the reign of William Rufus; he increased the vast estates of his father by marriage with Beta, sister and co-heir of William, Earl of Gloucester. He is mentioned by Oderic Vital in 1096 as supporting William Rufus against his brother Henry, who held the strong castle of Domfront in Normandy, from which he carried on his operations. Philip was the ancestor of the house of Braose, barons of Bramber, Brecknock, Gower, and Totness, and of William de Braose, who obtained from King Henry II. a grant of the "whole kingdom of Limerick" in Ireland for the service of sixty knight's fees. Numerous branches existed also in Sussex, Bedford, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Wales, and from him descended also the Wingfields, Viscounts Powerscourt. The family must not be confused with that of Brius, Bris, or Brix, of which Robert de Brix was the representative at Hastings. (Reference: Crispin and Macary).

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