Notes
Note for: Anslemn De Gournay, ABT 1225 - 1286 Index
The first authentic account relating to Barrow Gurney appears to be deriv
ed from Domesday, in which it is described as Berve, and included in the p
roperty of the Bishop of Coutances, who held a life interest in numerous o
ther estates in the neighbourhood. " Nigel holds of the Bishop (of Coutanc
es) Berve. Edric held it in the time of King Edward and gelded for 10 hide
s." Upon the death of the Bishop the manor reverted to the Crown and was g
ranted by Rufus to Robert Fitz-Harding, the progenitor of the Lords of Ber
keley. Robert Fitz-Harding died in 1170. He left five sons and two daughte
rs. Robert, the fourth son, was Lord of Beverstone, Kingsweston, English-c
ombe, and Barrow. He married first Hawisia, daughter of Robert de Gourna
y, by whom he had a daughter, Eva. His second wife was Alice, daught
er of Robert de Gaunt, by whom he had a son, who took his mother's na
me of Gaunt. He founded the Hospital of St. Mark's and the Gaunts' Chape
l, now the Lord Mayor's Chapel, Bristol. Upon his death the manor of Barr
ow reverted to his half-sister, Eva, who became a great heiress and marri
ed Thomas de Harp-tree, Lord of Farrington and Harptree. Thomas de Harptr
ee left a son, Robert, who took the name of Gournay. He died in 1269, leav
ing two sons, Anslemn and John. Anslemn married Sibilla, daughter of Hu
gh de Vironne, by whom he had three sons, the latter of whom was the fath
er of Sir Thomas de Gournay, who took part in the murder of Edward I
I. in Berkeley Castle and was beheaded in 1333. Elizabeth de Gournay conve
yed the manor of Barrow Gurney in marriage to Sir John Ap Adam, Lord of Be
verstone....'
http://www.localhistory.co.uk/ambra/txtge/ge0008.htm
Robert, the fourth son of Robert Fitz-Harding, was Lord of Beverstone, Kin
gsweston, English-combe, and Barrow. He married first Hawisia, daught
er of Robert de Gournay, by whom he had a daughter, Eva. His second wife w
as Alice, daughter of Robert de Gaunt, by whom he had a son, who took h
is mother's name of Gaunt.
Upon Gaunt's death the manor of Barrow reverted to his half-sister, Eva, w
ho married Thomas de Harp-tree, Lord of Farrington and Harptree. Thom
as de Harptree left a son, Robert, who took the name of Gournay. He di
ed in 1269, leaving two sons, Anslemn and John. Anslemn married Sibill
a, daughter of Hugh de Vironne, by whom he had three sons, the latter of w
hom was the father of Sir Thomas de Gournay, who had the infamous pa
rt in the murder of Edward II. in Berkeley Castle. Thomas Gournay, was exe
cuted for his part in this act in 1333 and his manors were confiscat
ed by the Crown and annexed to the Duchy of Cornwall Estate.
http://www.richmonte.freewire.co.uk/manor.html
Notes
Note for: William Fitzjohn De Harptree, BEF 1135 - Index
Manors of Farrington and Harptree
Entry in the Domesday Book 1086:
Azelin holds Farrington (Gurney) from the Bishop. Brictmer held it befo
re 1066; it paid tax for 5 hides. Land for 7 ploughs. In Lordship 3 plough
s; 4 slaves; 3 hides, 7 villagers and 7 smallholders with 4 ploughs a
nd 2 hides. Meadow 100 acres. 2 cobs; 7 cattle; 7 piges; 100 sheep. The va
lue was 50s;
The ancient "Manor" was one of those which the Conqueror bestowed upon t
he warlike Bishop of Coutances, Geoffrey de Moubrai, who held a life inter
est in the manor at Ferentone and numerous other estates in the neighbourh
ood. It is recorded that the site was fortified at an early stage after t
he conquest, as the Normans treated the Valley of the Parret as a strateg
ic whole to be defended by a number of castles. The early fortificatio
ns of Richmonte were held by Azelin Gouel de Percheval under Geoffrey de M
oubrai. It is the thought to have passed to his son John after 1120.
Soon after, in 1138, it is recorded that the castle of Richmonte was garri
soned against King Stephen, by one Sir William de Harptree (FitzJohn) a lo
yal supporter of Robert, earl of Gloucester and thus Empress Maud ( Rutt
er 1829) (Robinson 1930). After a siege and attack the castle was tak
en and subsequently held by King Stephen before being retaken by Robe
rt of Gloucester in 1140.
The Crown granted the manor to Robert Fitz-Harding, the progenitor of t
he Lords of Berkeley and Provost of Bristol. Robert Fitz-Harding died in 1
170. He left five sons and two daughters. His grand-daughter became the wi
fe of Thomas de Harptree, son of William de Harptree.
Robert, the fourth son of Robert Fitz-Harding, was Lord of Beverstone, Kin
gsweston, English-combe, and Barrow. He married first Hawisia, daught
er of Robert de Gournay, by whom he had a daughter, Eva. His second wife w
as Alice, daughter of Robert de Gaunt, by whom he had a son, who took h
is mother's name of Gaunt.
Upon Gaunt's death the manor of Barrow reverted to his half-sister, Eva, w
ho married Thomas de Harp-tree, Lord of Farrington and Harptree. Thom
as de Harptree left a son, Robert, who took the name of Gournay. He di
ed in 1269, leaving two sons, Anslemn and John. Anslemn married Sibill
a, daughter of Hugh de Vironne, by whom he had three sons, the latter of w
hom was the father of Sir Thomas de Gournay, who had the infamous pa
rt in the murder of Edward II. in Berkeley Castle. Thomas Gournay, was exe
cuted for his part in this act in 1333 and his manors were confiscat
ed by the Crown and annexed to the Duchy of Cornwall Estate.
Although Thomas de Gournay properties had been confiscated, Edward III sho
wed favour to the family and they were allowed to live in these annaxed Ma
nors. Indeed one of the sons, named Mathew, became a valiant of the Cro
wn and fought in many battles dying at the great age of over 90 in the ye
ar 1405. The licence to crenellate at Harptree was thus granted to o
ne of the sons of Thomas de Gurnay in 1343.
The parish church, contains a fine canopied tomb in the south porch to t
he memory of Sir John Newton, the lord of the manor, who died in 156
8. He was married to Margaret, daughter of Sir Anthony Poyntz, of Iron Act
on.
http://www.richmonte.freewire.co.uk/manor.html
A BRIEF HISTORY OF FARRINGTON GURNEY
By G.H. NICHOLLS (1952)
How did we get our name? It is very probable that this village came into e
xistence long before the great survey or the Domesday Book compiled in 108
6, 20 years after William the Conqueror came over in 1066. In those days a
nd for a very long time it was known as "Ferentone". The latter porti
on of our present name was obtained from the ancient and distinguished fam
ily of "Gournacia" or Gournay, who were its Lords for many generations, so
me of whom in their day played an important part in the stirring even
ts of the times.
The ancient "Manor" was one of those which the Conqueror bestowed upon t
he Bishop of Coutances. It is recorded in Domesday that Azelin holds of t
he Bishop (of Coutances) "Ferentone". Brismar held it in the time of Ki
ng Edward and gelded (or taxed) it for five hides, which were worth abo
ut 50/-d. By 1911 worth about &4 Collinson, an historian, says Azelin w
as the progenitor of the family of Percivale. He died in 1120 leaving seve
ral sons of whom John, the younger son, obtained of his father during h
is lifetime the Manors of Farrington and Harptree for his inheritance a
nd from the latter place adopted the surname de Harptree. John de Harptr
ee left a son William who, upon aid levied for marrying the King's daught
er in the twelfth year of the reign of Henry II, certified that he he
ld 13 Knights' Fees and a half and a fourth, and he gave half a Knight's F
ee to Robert de Ferentone. Another member of the Gournay family was Thom
as Gournay, who lived in the reign of Edward III. He was executed for an a
ct of Treason. The Manors were confiscated by the Crown and were annex
ed to the Duchy of Cornwall Estate. Although these properties were confisc
ated, the King showed favour to the family of Thomas de (;ournay and th
ey were allowed to live in these Manors. One of the sons, named Mathew, be
came a valiant of the Crown and fought in many battles. He died at the gre
at age of 90 in the year 1405.
http://www.battagel.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/john/farringt.htm