Wynebald de Ballon
Encyclopedia
Wynebald de Ballon(c.1058-c.1126), was an early Norman
magnate. He was a son of Drogo (or Dru) de Ballon and appeared in England accompanied by his brothers, Hamelin de Ballon, later created 1st Baron of Abergavenny, and Wynoc de Ballon, about whom little is recorded. Whether any of the family fought at Hastings
is unknown, but the two well-known brothers certainly assisted in the process of subjugating the English and Welsh which followed the Norman Invasion, as their many grants of land, given in gratitude for their services, attest.
, 12 miles north of Le Mans
, capital of the ancient province of Maine. From its strength the castle was known as "The Gateway to Maine". Ballon is today a French commune, in the department of Sarthe
(72), in the modern region of Pays-de-la-Loire. Maine was invaded and conquered by William Duke of Normandy
in the early 1060s, just prior to his invasion of England.
, in the southern Welsh marches, from King William II
(1087–1100). Davies, R.R., in "The Age of Conquest: Wales 1063-1415", states that the two brothers Hamelin and Wynebald were put in charge respectively of securing Abergavenny and Caerleon.
was founded in 1082 by a wealthy citizen of the City of London
, Alwin Child. It was of the Cluniac order, held in much affection by the first Norman kings, as witnessed by William II (1087–1100) having donated his royal manor of Bermondsey, Surrey as its site. It was directly across the River Thames from the Tower of London
, recently built by William I (1066–1087) as his principal seat.
In 1092 Wynebald de Ballon, no doubt to please William II, made several donations of land to Bermondsey Abbey. These were:
in Somerset was, like Bermondsey, a Cluniac house. An earlier donation of Wynebald's to this house, 11 miles SW of North Cadbury, was confirmed in an undated charter of King Henry I(1100–1135) (Charter no. 11 in the Montacute Cartulary):
This donation appears to have been Wilford Mill, within North Cadbury
manor.
, capital of Maine. The properties given by Wynebald were the churches of Tortworth
and Aust
with the tithes of Gotherington
, Bishops Cleeve, all in Gloucestershire, together with the tithes of Pidecombe, Somerset. The charters relating to these donations are given below:
. This appears to have been of his lordship of Rodeford, his mill at Fromelade and half a hide at Ameneye (probably Ampney Crucis
, Glos.)
King Henry I
confirmed the gift of the advowson
of the rectory of Inglishcombe in Somerset by Hawise de Gurnay, Wynebald's daughter-in-law, the wife of his son Roger de Ballon.
in Gloucester, and Ansger Brito gave the manor of
Preston
, near Yeovil
in Somerset.
. Turstin had been standard bearer to William the Conqueror at Hastings, according to Orderic Vitalis
(b.1075) in his Ecclesiastical History, written between 1123 and 1141. William had asked successively 2 great nobles to fill the post of standard bearer for him, but both had declined, stating they had contingents of their own retainers to command; effectively they felt their valour would be better displayed taking an active part in the battle. William was therefore grateful for the acceptance of the humbler Turstin, who proved to be very courageous in his duty, and remained at all times by William's side. It was no doubt due to Turstin's loyal service that he was awarded by the Conqueror the several English manors which amonted to a significant fiefdom. It is not certain how or why the transfer of virtually Turstin's entire fiefdom in several English counties came to Wynebald. These lands included not only those Turstin had held in capite from the King, but also his mesne holdings where he held from a non-royal overlord. For some unstated reason commentators seem to rule out a marriage between Wynebald and a daughter of Turstin's as the causal agent behind the transfers.
, North Cadbury
manor in Somerset was held by Turstin fitzRolf. It passed before 1092 to Wynebald, who was recorded as holding it in that year. This appears to have been his principal manor. It passed via his daughter Mabilia to her husband Henry de Newmarch.
, Glos. passed to the Newmarch family from Wynebald de Ballon
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
magnate. He was a son of Drogo (or Dru) de Ballon and appeared in England accompanied by his brothers, Hamelin de Ballon, later created 1st Baron of Abergavenny, and Wynoc de Ballon, about whom little is recorded. Whether any of the family fought at Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
is unknown, but the two well-known brothers certainly assisted in the process of subjugating the English and Welsh which followed the Norman Invasion, as their many grants of land, given in gratitude for their services, attest.
Origin
Wynebald was born in France, probably as his brother Hamelin was known to have been, in the ancient castle of BallonBallon, Sarthe
Ballon is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France....
, 12 miles north of Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
, capital of the ancient province of Maine. From its strength the castle was known as "The Gateway to Maine". Ballon is today a French commune, in the department of Sarthe
Sarthe
Sarthe is a French department, named after the Sarthe River.- History :The department was created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790, pursuant to the law of December 22, 1789, starting from a part of the province of Maine which was divided into two departments, Sarthe to the east and...
(72), in the modern region of Pays-de-la-Loire. Maine was invaded and conquered by William Duke of Normandy
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
in the early 1060s, just prior to his invasion of England.
Career
In about 1088 he received a lordship at CaerleonCaerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
, in the southern Welsh marches, from King William II
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
(1087–1100). Davies, R.R., in "The Age of Conquest: Wales 1063-1415", states that the two brothers Hamelin and Wynebald were put in charge respectively of securing Abergavenny and Caerleon.
Donations to Bermondsey Abbey
Bermondsey AbbeyBermondsey Abbey
Bermondsey Abbey was an English Benedictine monastery. Most widely known as an 11th-century foundation, it had a precursor mentioned in the early 8th century, and was centred on what is now Bermondsey Square, the site of Bermondsey Market, Bermondsey in the London Borough of Southwark, southeast...
was founded in 1082 by a wealthy citizen of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, Alwin Child. It was of the Cluniac order, held in much affection by the first Norman kings, as witnessed by William II (1087–1100) having donated his royal manor of Bermondsey, Surrey as its site. It was directly across the River Thames from the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, recently built by William I (1066–1087) as his principal seat.
In 1092 Wynebald de Ballon, no doubt to please William II, made several donations of land to Bermondsey Abbey. These were:
- Upton. Shortly after 1086 he acquired the manor of Upton, then in Berkshire, today in Oxfordshire, and in 1092 donated a moiety of it to Bermondsey. It was thereafter known as Prior's Barne, and was held by Bermondsey Priory until DissolutionDissolution of the MonasteriesThe Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. - Hardwick, BuckinghamshireHardwick, BuckinghamshireHardwick is both a village and a civil parish within the Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the Aylesbury Vale, about four miles north of Aylesbury....
. With his son Roger, he alienated part of Hardwick to Bermondsey. This donation included a church with its tithes and six yardlands. The Priory sold the church in the 13th or 14th century. - WeedonWeedon, BuckinghamshireWeedon is a village and civil parish north of Aylesbury and south of Hardwick in the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire, England.The toponym is derived from the Old English for "hill with a heathen temple". In records dated 1066 the village was recorded as Weodune.Weedon has a Methodist...
, next to Hardwick. - Bridesthorne, Buckinghamshire. In 1092 he donated Bridesthorne Manor to Bermondsey Abbey.
- Eastington, Gloucestershire. He donated the tithes to Bermondsey
Donation to Montacute Priory
Montacute PrioryMontacute Priory
Montacute Priory was a Cluniac priory of the Benedictine order in Montacute, Somerset, England, founded between 1078 and 1102 by William, Count of Mortain, in face of a threat that if he did not do so, the King would take the land from him. It was the only Somerset dependency of Cluny Abbey until...
in Somerset was, like Bermondsey, a Cluniac house. An earlier donation of Wynebald's to this house, 11 miles SW of North Cadbury, was confirmed in an undated charter of King Henry I(1100–1135) (Charter no. 11 in the Montacute Cartulary):
Charter of the said King Henry concerning the grant
of the gifts, which his barons and men have previously made,
here expressly named:
Henry, King of England, etc., grants and confirms to his
church and monks of Montacute all the gifts which his barons
and men of England and Normandy have reasonably made to
them. Namely : — of the gift of William, count of Mortain,
the market of Montacute and its tolls ; of the gift of Avenantus,
two dwelling-houses in Meleborn ; of the gift of Robert de Pirou,
the land of Cantoc ; of the gift of Winebaldus de Baalone, the mill of Cadebiri with the man and the land belonging thereto, and the church of Karion ; of the gift of Edward the stabler
("Stabularius") the land of Cochra ; of the gift of Nicholas
Arbalista, twenty shillings of land and his own land of Brugi ;
of the gift of William son of Rogo, one virgate of land at
Colum ; of the gift of Robert son of Martin, the land of
Thihentone. The aforesaid church and monks of Montacute to
hold all the aforesaid with all the liberties and free customs
appertaining to the same lands and tenements.
Witnesses : — Philip, bishop of Bayeux ; Ro[trodus], bishop of
Evreux : Arn[ulf], bishop of Lisieux ; Richard de Luci ;
War[in] son of Ger[old], chamberlain ; Manasser Biset,
steward ; Robert de Dunest[anville] and Richard de Campvilla.
At Baugi.
This donation appears to have been Wilford Mill, within North Cadbury
manor.
Donations to St Vincent's Abbey, Le Mans
St Vincent's Abbey (:fr:Abbaye Royale Saint-Vincent du Mans), like Bermondsey and Montacute, was Benedictine, but not of the Cluniac variety. It was situated near the walls of Le MansLe Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
, capital of Maine. The properties given by Wynebald were the churches of Tortworth
Tortworth
Tortworth is a hamlet, and civil parish, near Thornbury in South Gloucestershire, England. It has a population of 150, and is noted for a huge and ancient chestnut tree, believed to be over 1000 years old. The tree, in St...
and Aust
Aust
Aust is a small village in South Gloucestershire, England, the historical site of the eastern terminal of the Aust Ferry crossing route over the River Severn between England and Wales, believed to have been used in Roman times as a continuation of Icknield Street which led from Eastern England...
with the tithes of Gotherington
Gotherington
Gotherington is a village north of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England. It is surrounded on the north by the villages of Woolstone and Oxenton, and to the south by Woodmancote and Bishop's Cleeve. It has a population of around 1,200.-History:...
, Bishops Cleeve, all in Gloucestershire, together with the tithes of Pidecombe, Somerset. The charters relating to these donations are given below:
[1100–1106.](Cartulary,A. pp. 334–5.)
1046. Charter of Hamelin de Baladone, giving to the abbey of St. Vincent and St. Lawrence near the walls of Le Mans, from the subsistence with which he has been endowed by his lords William and Henry kings of the English, in England and Wales, all the tithes of all Wennescoit, both of his own [demesne] and of all the lands which he has given or may give [in fee]. He also gives his castle (fn. 32) called Abergavenny (Berguevenis). He gives the church and chapel of the castle and land for making a bourg, with all dues, except the toll on market-day; land also for one plough.… and between.… (fn. 33) water for a fishery.… the church of St. Helen and part of the wood. He also gives the tithe of all his honey and the tithe of skins from his hunting, and the tithe of the pannage of swine. In England (Anglica terra) he gives the church of Caprcolum with the priest's land and all tithes belonging to the church, and the tithe of cheeses and of all firstfruits (primitiarum). He also gives the church of Luton after the death of the priest, with the priest's land and all tithes and firstfruits belonging to the church.
[? 1100–1106.](Cartulary,A. p. 335.)
1047. Charter of Winebaud, brother of the aforesaid Hamelin, giving the said abbey the churches of Torteoda and Augusta with all tithes, and the tithes of Godriton and Pedicovia and all his tithes in Wales (de Gualensi patria), for the souls of his father and mother etc..…
[1103–1106.](Cartulary,A. p. 335.)
1048. Charter of Henry I. confirming the above gifts for the souls of his father king William and his mother queen Matildis and his brother king William and all his predecessors.[Signa] Hainrici regis; Mathildis regine; Gaudrici cancellarii; Rogerii episcopi; Willelmi Piperelli; Robert Peccati; Herluini abbatis Glastingeberii; Unfredi Aureis Testiculis; Gaudrici filii Rogerii de Curcella; Winebaudi; Elisabeth uxoris Winebaudi; Hamelini de Baladone; Agnetis uxoris ejus; Willelmi filii Hamelini; Mathei filii ejusdem Hamelini.
Donation to Gloucester Abbey
In 1126 he made a gift to St Peter's Abbey, GloucesterGloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
. This appears to have been of his lordship of Rodeford, his mill at Fromelade and half a hide at Ameneye (probably Ampney Crucis
Ampney Crucis
Ampney Crucis is a village and civil parish in the Cotswolds, part of the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. The parish has a population of 609. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it was held by Turstin FitzRolf....
, Glos.)
King Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
confirmed the gift of the advowson
Advowson
Advowson is the right in English law of a patron to present or appoint a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a process known as presentation. In effect this means the right to nominate a person to hold a church office in a parish...
of the rectory of Inglishcombe in Somerset by Hawise de Gurnay, Wynebald's daughter-in-law, the wife of his son Roger de Ballon.
Knights
The names of two of Wynebald's knights are recorded in connection with their own donations to Bermondsey in 1092: Odo de Tirone gave the advowson of the church and tithes of Ampney CrucisAmpney Crucis
Ampney Crucis is a village and civil parish in the Cotswolds, part of the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. The parish has a population of 609. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it was held by Turstin FitzRolf....
in Gloucester, and Ansger Brito gave the manor of
Preston
Preston Plucknett
Preston Plucknett is a suburb of Yeovil in Somerset, England. It was once a small village, and a separate civil parish until 1930, when it was absorbed into the neighbouring parishes of Yeovil, Brympton and West Coker...
, near Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
in Somerset.
Manors Held
Most of Wynebald's landholdings consisted in the former fief of Turstin FitzRolfTurstin FitzRolf
Turstin FitzRolf was a Norman magnate, one of the few "Proven Companions of William the Conqueror" who fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. As his name indicates, he was the son of a certain Rolf, synonymous with Rou and Rollo . His first name appears as Tosteins, Thurstan and other variants...
. Turstin had been standard bearer to William the Conqueror at Hastings, according to Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis was an English chronicler of Norman ancestry who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th and 12th century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. The modern biographer of Henry I of England, C...
(b.1075) in his Ecclesiastical History, written between 1123 and 1141. William had asked successively 2 great nobles to fill the post of standard bearer for him, but both had declined, stating they had contingents of their own retainers to command; effectively they felt their valour would be better displayed taking an active part in the battle. William was therefore grateful for the acceptance of the humbler Turstin, who proved to be very courageous in his duty, and remained at all times by William's side. It was no doubt due to Turstin's loyal service that he was awarded by the Conqueror the several English manors which amonted to a significant fiefdom. It is not certain how or why the transfer of virtually Turstin's entire fiefdom in several English counties came to Wynebald. These lands included not only those Turstin had held in capite from the King, but also his mesne holdings where he held from a non-royal overlord. For some unstated reason commentators seem to rule out a marriage between Wynebald and a daughter of Turstin's as the causal agent behind the transfers.
North Cadbury, Som.
In 1086, as shown in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, North Cadbury
North Cadbury
North Cadbury is a village west of Wincanton in the River Cam in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It shares its parish with nearby Yarlington and includes the village of Galhampton, which got its name from the settlement of the rent-paying peasants, and the hamlet of...
manor in Somerset was held by Turstin fitzRolf. It passed before 1092 to Wynebald, who was recorded as holding it in that year. This appears to have been his principal manor. It passed via his daughter Mabilia to her husband Henry de Newmarch.
Dyrham, Glos.
The manor of DyrhamDyrham
Dyrham is a village and parish in South Gloucestershire, England.-Location and communications:Dyrham is at lat. 51° 29' north, long. 2° 22' west . It lies at an altitude of 100 metres above sea level. It is near the A46 trunk road, about north of Bath and a little south of the M4 motorway...
, Glos. passed to the Newmarch family from Wynebald de Ballon
Marriage and issue
By his wife Elizabeth he had two sons, Roger and Milo, and one daughter, Mabilia. Roger, the elder son, died in about 1126 having confirmed in the same year his father's grant to Gloucester Abbey. He had married Hawise de Gournay, by whom he had three sons, Roger, Hamelin and Arnold, all of whom died without issue before 1166. His daughter Mabilia, the wife of Henry Newmarch, therefore became his sole heiress. She confirmed her father's grant to Bermondsey.Sources
- Sanders, I. J. English Baronies: A Study of their Origin and Descent, 1086–1327, 1960.
- rootsweb.ancestry.com
- Cokayne, G.E. Complete Peerage