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Surnames: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No Surnames: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Ref: Wurts, pp. 95-97.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Robert.
According to Crispin and Macary, "William
(Guillaume) Malet de Graville stands out as one of the most imposing
figures at the Conquest. There can be no doubt about his presence
there, which is subscribed to be William of Poitiers, Guy of Amiens,
Orderic Vital, and all the historians of this epoch. So much
has been placed on record concerning him that just a few facts
of his life will be recited here. He was probably descended from
Gerard, a Scandinavian prince and companion of Duke Rollo, which
gave the name of the fief of Gerardville or Graville, near Havre.
Robert, the eldest son, occurs in a document of about 990 in
Normandy. On his mother's side William Malet was of Anglo-Saxon
origin, for she was probably the daughter of Leofric, Earl of
Mercia, and Godwa or Godgifu, the supposed sister of Thorold the
Sheriff in the time of Edward the Confessor, and therefore the
aunt of Edwin and Morcar, Earls of Northumberland. He was nearly
killed in the battle of Hastings but was rescued by the sire de
Montfort and William of Vieuxpont, and was appointed by William
the Conqueror to take charge of the body of Harold, a statement
that has been disputed. The consensus of opinion favors it, and
it is most logical if William Malet's mother was as stated the
sister of Algar II., 7th Earl of Mercia, who was the father
of Alditha, wife of Harold. He accompanied King William at the
reduction of Nottingham and York in 1068, for which he was rewarded
with the shreivalty of land in that county. Gilbert de Gand and
Robert Fitz Richard were also commanders in this expedition.
The following year he was besieged in the castle of York by Edgar,
the Saxon prince, and was only saved from surrender by the timely
arrival of the Conqueror. In the same year he was attacked by
the Danes, who captured the city of York with great slaughter
and took William Malet, his wife and children, prisoners, but
their lives were spared, as was that of Gilbert de Gand, for the
sake of their ransoms. There is evidence that he was slain in
this year, but it is uncertain and the date of his death is unknown.
An entry in Domesday that "William Malet was seized of this
place (Cidestan, Co. Suffolk), where he proceeded on the King's
service where he died," would indicate that his death occurred
during the compilation of that book. He was witness to a charter
of King William to the church of St. Martin-le-Grand, in London,
and is there styled "princeps," which title, however,
was honorary and not hereditary, having ceased with his death."
(Ref: L. J. Sanders, "English Baronies - A Study of Their Origin and Descent 1086-1327" (1960), and Wurts, "Magna Charta, Vol 1," pp. 95-97).
"Keeper of Savernake Forest May 4,
1252. His Inq. January 29, 1254. He held Manors of Brynham,
Cherlton, and Norton, Somersetshire, as 1 Knight's fee, Finebergh,
Suffolk, 1 fee, moiety of Kenemerton 1 fee, and Botinton one-quarter
fee, with lands at Hetherle, Norteclive, and Killicot, Gloucester
one-half fee, and left his son and heir, John, 21."
They had a daughter and a son as follows:
"Protection, going to Ireland, May
10 1259. Sheriff of Devon July 9, and Constable of Exeter, July
9, 1261, to July 18, 1263. Holds 1 Knight's Fee at Botyngdon
and Kemerton, Gloucestershire, late of Richard., Earl of Gloucester,
August 10, 1262. Protection during the Welsh war March 22,
1263. Safe conduct for him and other 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, but not to come till sent for March 12, 1265. To leave Kenilworth
Castle as he values his life August 26, 1265. He was against
the king, and had 40/- rents and advowson at Stotesbrok, Berkshire.
He was at Kenilworth with Simon de Montfort, Jr. Peter Pycout
seized his lands at Gaham, Nottinghamshire, value 100/-, and John,
Earl Warenne, his lands at Flessinges, Sussex. Made a Captain
and Keeper of Peace in Somerset, Dorset, and Wilts to repress
the king's enemies, May 4, 1266, with Prince Edward and five others
he mainperns King September 2, 1267. The Prior of Puy Dudon leases
Norton Manor, Somersetshire, to him for 4 years, November 1267.
Lately Constable of Marlbergh Castle November 20, 1267. Archibald,
Count of Perigord, and wife Agnes had granted to him Winclesmere
Manor and Norton Hundred, Somersetshire, for 800 m. and his service,
April 1269. Pardon of his and his f. debts to King October 23,
1270. Protection, going to Ireland for Prince Edward, May 15,
1271, and writ of Aid, going there to preserve peace, July 1,
1272. Construction of Bristol Castle February 27. Payne de Cadurcis
will pay to him 200 m. for his term in King's Somborne Manor,
Hantshire, March 29, 1274. Dead May 6 1275, holding Manors of
Northon, Brywham as one-half fee, Cherleton 1 fee, and Stavill
one-half fee, Somerset, Berton Regis and lands at Kenemerton,
Boyton, Little Cumpton, Hatherle, and Langeford, co. Gloucester,
and leaving son and heir, Robert, 23. His widow, Cecily has livery
of her own lands, viz., Manors of Bykenore, Teynton, Langford,
Cumpton, and Britfarton, Worcester, and Gloucester, May 23, 1275.
She was dead August 11, 1301, leaving granddaughter as heiress,
Hawise, 25, daughter of her son, Robert and widow of John de Ferrariis."
He married Cecily Avenal., Lady of Bicknor, Taynton and Longford, died August 11, 1301, daughter of William Avenal of Bicknor, born about November 1202, died April 21, 1236, and his wife Aline, living at the time of her husband's death. They were parents of Robert.
"Son and heir of the last. Livery
of his father's lands June 5, 1275. Cedes Bristol Castle, town,
and barton July 12, 1275, and has ceded Bonred Castle, the Cantred
of Tradery, and theod of Ocormok in Ireland to the King, who will
enfeoff Thomas de Clare thereof, March 2, 1276. Grant to him
Hamsted, Aldeworth, Cumpton, and Alverscote Manors, May 13, 1276.
Summoned to serve against the Welsh, he acknowledges 1 Knight's
fee at Hamstred, and will serve in person, July 1, 1277. Dead
January 18, 1281, holding lands at Cottesmore, Rut., Manors of
Stawelle, Morton, and Cherlton Mucegros, Somersetshire, Kynmerton
as 1 fee, and Botinton, Gloucester, Hamstede, and lands at West
Cumpton, Berkshire, and leaving daughter and heiress, Hawise,
He married Agnes Ferrers, living May 9, 1281. They had a daughter Hawise.
See the continuation of this lineage in the Beauchamp Line.