Feudal barony of Berry Pomeroy

Pomeroy

The descent of the barony in the de la Pomeroy family is as follows:

Ralph de la Pomeroy (d.pre-1100)

Ralph de la Pomeroy (d. pre-1100), (alias Pomeraie, Pomerei, etc.), 1st feudal baron of Berry , one of the 52 Devon Domesday Book tenants-in-chief of King William the Conqueror and a major landholder listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. He participated in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, for which services he was rewarded by King William the Conqueror with the grant of 58 manors or other holdings in Devon and 2 manors in Somerset. He was lord of the manor of La Pommeraye, Calvados in Normandy. His brother was William Cheever (floruit 1086), another Devon Domesday Book tenant-in-chief, whose 46 Domesday Book holdings later formed the feudal barony of Bradninch, Devon. Many of the holdings of the two brothers had been split from single manors into two parts, one for each brother. His sister was Beatrix, who held from her other brother William Cheever the manor of Southleigh. Ralph is said by Vivian (1895) to have been a benefactor to the Hospital of St John the Baptist at Falaise in Normandy, which was not however founded until 1127, therefore after his supposed date of death of 1100. He was one of the two commissioners appointed to carry to the royal treasury at Winchester the tax collected in Devon resulting from the assessment made based upon the Domesday Book survey.

William de la Pomeroy (d.pre-1114)

William de la Pomeroy (d. pre-1114), eldest son and heir, who in 1102 donated the manor of Berry (Pomeroy) to Gloucester Abbey, which during the abbacy of Serlo (d.1104) was redeemed by his brother Joscelin in exchange for Seldene (alias "Seldenam", in Devon). He donated 1/4 of a knight's fee in St Omer in Normandy to the "Abbey of Val in St Omer". He died without progeny at some time before 1114.

Joscelin de la Pomeroy (d.post-1123)

Joscelin (alias Gozeline) de la Pomeroy (d. post-1123) (younger brother and heir). He refounded the "Abbey of Val in St Omer" in the diocese of Bayeux, Normandy, to which in 1125 he gave the churches of Berry (Pomeroy), "Braordin" and "Clisson" in Devon with others elsewhere, and also a small estate and tithe of a mill in La Pommeraye. He married a certain Emma, who consented to her husband's grants of 1125.

Henry I de la Pomeroy (fl.1156, died pre-1165)

Henry I de la Pomeroy (fl.1156, died pre-1165) (son), Constable of Normandy, a household knight of King Henry I (1100-1135) and named as one of the king's household constables in the Constitutio Domus Regis. He was a leader of the king's household troops on several occasions, notably in 1124 at the Battle of Bourgtheroulde, about ten miles southwest of Rouen. He married Rohesia de Dunstanville, sister of Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of Cornwall (c. 1110 – 1 July 1175), both illegitimate progeny of King Henry I (1100-1135) by his mistress Sybilla Corbet, a daughter and co-heiress of Sir Robert Corbet lord of the manor of Alcester in Warwickshire, who was at some time the wife of "Herbert the King's Chamberlain". Rohesia received a grant from her brother the Earl of Cornwall addressed in Latin to Rohes de Pomereia sorori mea ("Rohesia de Pomeroy my sister"), of the manor of "Ridwari" in Cornwall.

Henry II de la Pomeroy (d.1201/7)

Henry II de la Pomeroy (d.1201/7), eldest son and heir. He married Rohesia (alias Rose) Bardolf, sister of Doun Bardolf (1177–1205), lord of a moiety of the feudal barony of Shelford, Nottinghamshire, inherited from his mother Rose de Hanselin, who had married Thomas Bardolf (died between 1188 and 1194).

Widow's remarriage

Rohesia survived her husband and remarried to Sir John Russell (died c. 1224) of Kingston Russell in Dorset, a household knight of King John (1199–1216) and of his son the young King Henry III (1216–1272), to whom he also acted as steward. Russell served in this capacity as custodian of the royal castles of Corfe (1221 and 1224) and Sherborne (1224) in Dorset and of the castles of Peveril and Bolsover in Derbyshire. Russell served as Sheriff of Somerset in 1223-1224 and was granted the royal manor of Kingston Russell in Dorset under a feudal land tenure of grand serjeanty. Between 1212 and about 1215 Russell acquired a moiety of the feudal barony of Newmarch, (shared with John de Bottrel/Bottreaux) the caput of which was at North Cadbury, Somerset, in respect of which he received a summons for the military service of one knight in 1218.

As the widow of a tenant-in-chief, Rohesia's second marriage became the property of the crown to dispose of, and in 1201/2 John Russell agreed to pay 50 marks to the royal treasury for the hand of his bride. He paid the sum over a period of time, having made a payment on account of 8 ½ marks in 1207/8, which still left a balance of 5 marks due. Rohesia brought to Russell as well as her person a life interest in her dower lands, which would have comprised by custom 1/3rd of the lands of her former husband. The division of the latter's lands gave rise to a dispute with Rohesia's son Henry III de la Pomeroy (d.1222) and the matter came before the royal court in 1200, a year before the formal obtaining of the marriage licence, when Russell and Rohesia, already termed his wife, sued Henry III de la Pomeroy regarding certain lands in Devon and Cornwall. The resulting agreement was that Russell and Rose should retain Ayscombe and Stockleigh Pomeroy whilst Henry III de la Pomeroy should have Upottery In 1213 there arose a dispute between Russell and the Abbot of St Mary du Val in Bayeux, which latter claimed that the advowson of Stockleigh had been given to his abbey amongst the gifts by charter of Josceline (Goslin) de Pomeroy (died post 1123) and Henry I (died 1165) his son, Constable of Normandy which gifts had been confirmed by a charter of Bartholomew, Bishop of Exeter (1161–1184) and later by Henry III (died 1222), Rose's son. Russell claimed in his defence that his wife had confirmed her own title to the advowson because she herself had exercised her right of presenting a new priest, which appointment had been accepted. The outcome of the dispute is not recorded.

The following two charters of the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary du Val, Bayeux, were published in 1899 by J. Horace Round in his Calendar of Documents Preserved in France: 918-1206

(No.1455) Charter of Goslin de Pomeria, giving, with consent of Emma his wife, and Henry, Roger, Philip, Goslin, and Ralph his sons, by the hand of Richard (1107–1133) Bishop of Bayeux, to the church of St. Mary du Val (que dicitur “Valle”) to the canons there serving God, according to the rule of St. Augustine, in cloistered community, with all that follows: 60 acres in the parish of St. Omer, etc. … and half his swine and those of his heirs, when killed (occisionem porcorum) in Normandy, and the tithe of his mares in Normandy and England and 40 shillings sterling (de Esterlins) from the rents (gablo) of Berry-Pomeroy (Bercium) every year on August 1, and the church and tithe of Berry, etc. and in England (sic) the tithe of his swine and of his mills of Berry etc. … and in England a manor called (Canon) Teign (Tigneam), and his chaplainry in England, namely, the tithe of wool, and cheese, and porkers, and lambs at Ottery (Otrevum), and all belonging to his chaplainry (capellarie ) in England etc. … (Other gifts in Normandy by William son of Payn and Richard his son, a canon of the abbey, by Roger Capra, with consent of his wife Petronilla and son William, etc.) Testibus istis: ("with these witnesses:") Goslino de Pomeria cum filiis suis, Henrico, Rogerio, Philippo, Goslino; et Willelmo filio Pagani, cum filiis suis; et Hugone de Rosello, et Christino de Olleyo; Willelmo filio Ricardi; Waltero de Petra ficta; Willelmo de Rosello; Willelmo de Braio; Goslino de Braio; Roberto Buzone; Roberto de Curcell(is).

Gift by Goslin de Pomeria to St. Mary of the fee of Robert son of Maheld of Tot [14 acres of land]. Gift of William, son of Payn, by consent of his son Richard and permission of his wife, etc. … Anno Dominice incarnationis MoCoXXVo … confirmata est hec carta a Goslino de Pomeria, Emmaque uxore sua etc. … annuente Ricardo de Tornebuto in cujus feodo ecclesia fundata est. (1167)

(No.1456): Charter of Henry (1163–1205) Bishop of Bayeux, notifying that Henry de Pomeria the younger has confirmed in his presence all the gifts of Goslin de Pomeria and Henry his son to St. Mary du Val, in advowsons and other possessions both in Normandy and England. And moreover, so far as lies in his power, he has granted, before him, to St. Mary du Val and the canons there all his right of advowson and presentation, both in Normandy and England, which grant the bishop confirms so far as he is concerned. His testibus: magistro Ranville (sic) cancellario; domino Nicholao priore de Plessecio; Henrico de Somagvillo (sic); Hugone de Herouvilla; Willelmo Bubarel, et pluribus aliis. Hec autem donatio facta est anno ab incarnatione Domini MoCoLXVIIo, sicut charta eis testatur.

After Russell's death in 1224 his widow Rohesia obtained royal licence of the king, at the suit of Ralph de Blundeville, Earl of Chester and Lincoln (1172–1232), to marry whomsoever she pleased, so long as he should be a faithful subject of the crown. This was perhaps merely a formality to give her freedom from “troublesome solicitations of the king's courtiers” and no records survive of any subsequent marriage having occurred.

Death

Following the death Henry II de la Pomeroy (d.1201/7) his estates were assigned by King John (1199-1216) to the custody of William Brewer until 1210 when his heir raised 600 marks for his feudal relief.

Henry III de la Pomeroy (d.1222)

Henry III de la Pomeroy (d.1222) (son), married Joan de Vautort (alias Valletort), a daughter and in her issue co-heir of Roger II de Vautort (d.1207), feudal baron of Totnes from 1206.

Henry IV de la Pomeroy (1211-1237)

Henry IV de la Pomeroy (1211-1237).

Henry V de la Pomeroy (d.1281)

Henry V de la Pomeroy (born post 1216; d.1281), who was a minor under the age of 21 at his father's death in 1237. He confirmed his ancestor's grants to Ford Abbey. In 1259 he was ordered by royal summons to be at Salop with horse and arms against Llewellyn ap Griffith. He married a certain Isolda, a widow, who survived him and in 1293 is recorded as holding as her dower one third (a widow's usual entitlement) of her late husband's manors of Berry and Stockleigh Pomeroy

Henry VI de la Pomeroy (1266-1305)

Sir Henry VI de la Pomeroy (1266-1305), (son). He was born at Tregony, in Cornwall. He obtained a quarter of the feudal barony of Totnes in 1305 when the inheritance of his cousin Roger III de Vautort (1275-1305) escheated to the crown. In 1281 he married Amicia de Camville, daughter of Sir Geoffrey de Camville (d.1308) the second husband of Maud de Tracy (d.pre-1279), grand-daughter and sole heiress of Henry de Tracy (d.1274), feudal baron of Barnstaple in Devon. Amicia survived her husband and in 1325 held the manor of Stockleigh Pomeroy in dower.

Henry VII de la Pomeroy (1291-1327)

Sir Henry VII de la Pomeroy (1291-1327) (son), married Johanna de Moels, a daughter of John de Moels, 4th Baron Moels (d.1337), feudal baron of North Cadbury in Somerset, apparently by his wife Joan Lovel, daughter of Richard Lovel of Castle Cary, Somerset. John de Moels died without male progeny when a moiety of his feudal barony and estates devolved to his two daughters and co-heiresses (Johanna de Moels is not mentioned in several sources), namely Muriel de Moels (d.pre 1362), wife of Thomas Courtenay (d.1356/1362), 5th son of Hugh Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (1275–1340) and Isabel de Moels, wife of William de Botreaux (d.1349), of Boscastle, Cornwall, Sheriff of Cornwall, whose son was William de Botreaux, 1st Baron Botreaux (1337–1391).

Henry VIII de la Pomeroy (d.1373)

Sir Henry VIII de la Pomeroy (d.1373), (son), married Elizabeth, widow of Oliver Carminow of Cornwall.

John de la Pomeroy (1347-1416)

Sir John de la Pomeroy (1347-1416), married Johanna de Merton, daughter and co-heir of Richard de Merton and widow successively of Sir James Chudleigh (whose 1st wife had been his sister Johanna de Pomeroy) and John Bampfield of Poltimore, The marriage was without progeny. His heir was his nephew John Cole, son of his sister Margaret, and his niece Johanna Chudleigh (1376-1423), daughter of his sister Johanna.

Edward I de Pomeroy (d.1446)

Edward I de Pomeroy (d.1446). Grandson of Thomas the 5th son of Sir Henry by Joan Moels, Thomas's son William died and his gtandson Edward inherited the barony after the death of Sir Thomas Pomeroy, son of Robert of Upottery & Bockerell, in 1426. Thomas Pomeroy Esq married Joanna Chudleigh, the twice widowed sister and heir of Sir John who had died in 1416 without living issue. Thomas persuaded the king to set aside Sir John's declared heir, Edward,in his favour. Thomas was a Kings knight and made the unlicensed marriage to Joanna in 1388. He was a son Robert Pomeroy of the cadet line at Smallridge & Bockerell in east Devon descending from Geoffrey the 2nd son of 3rd Henry Pomeroy by his wife Alice de Vere. Thomas and Johanna had one daughter Isabella who died after her mother in 1423 and before her father in 1426. After Joanna's death Thomas married Johanna Ralegh widow of Whalesborough. After his death the barony of Berry Pomeroy reverted to its proper line and Edward de Pomeroy (d.1446).He had in about 1404 had married Margaret Beville (d.1461), daughter of John Beville of Woolston in Poundstock, Cornw. Edward died in 1446 Margaret in 1461.

Henry IX de Pomeroy (1416-1481)

Henry IX de Pomeroy (1416-1481) (son), married Alice Raleigh, daughter of John Raleigh of Fardell, Devon. His eldest son Sir Seintclere de Pomeroy (d.1471) predeceased his father without issue.

Richard de Pomeroy (1442-1496)

Sir Richard de Pomeroy (1442-1496), Sheriff of Devon in 1473, a Knight of the Bath, knighted by King Henry VII. He married Elizabeth Densell (d.1508), daughter and co-heiress of Richard Densell of Weare Giffard and Filleigh in Devon, and widow of Martin Fortescue (d.1472), of Wimpstone in the parish of Modbury in Devon, whose family inherited both those manors. The Palladian mansion Castle Hill, Filleigh was long the seat of the Earls Fortescue and is still owned by descendants of that family. The monument to himself and his wife survives in Berry Pomeroy Church, but is missing all its original monumental brasses, robbed before 1701, as described by the biographer Rev. John Prince (1643–1723), for many years vicar of Berry Pomeroy:

As for any monuments raised over the graves or sepulchres of the dead relating to this family there is only one remaining, now robbed of its former splendour. It is an altar-tomb under an arch in the north wall of the chancel raised near breast-high covered with a fair table of green marble which was sometime inlay'd with a coat of arms and a motto under of gilded brass or copper. On a rough marble stone about six foot long and three deep fastened in the wall over the tomb and under the canopy were inlaid in like manner the effigies of four several persons in large proportion with labels proceeding out of their mouths. Also four smaller figures between as many escotcheons, (sic) all of gilded brass or copper. Which are long since become the prey of some greedy or childish hand. At the east end of this monument is Pomerai impailed with Denzil, at the west end single, which shew it was raised to the memory of Sir Richard Pomeroy and his lady, who was the daughter and heir of Denzil. The arch is finely fretted and flowered.

The church was rebuilt during Sir Richard's tenure.

Edward II de Pomeroy (1478-1538)

Sir Edward II de Pomeroy (1478-1538), married Johanna Sapcot, daughter of Sir John Sapcote.

Thomas Pomeroy (1503-1566)

Sir Thomas Pomeroy (1503-1566), (son), married Jone Edgcumbe, daughter of Sir Piers Edgcumbe of Mount Edgcumbe. On 1 December 1547 he sold the castle, park and manor of Berry Pomeroy to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who gave it to his eldest son from his first marriage, Lord Edward Seymour (1529–1593). Sir Piers Edgcumbe was the feudal baron of nearby Totnes, which barony he sold to Lord Edward Seymour, which enabled him to consolidate the two adjacent estates. Sir Thomas Pomeroy's son Thomas Pomeroy (1543-1615) lived at "Bingley", probably the modern Beenleigh, Harbertonford, in the parish of Harberton, Devon. The Devon historian Hoskins describes Beenleigh as situated beside the Harbourne River, "substantially a 15th. century mansion with a hall and primitive gatehouse". His son Valentine Pomeroy lived at Sandridge in the parish of Stoke Gabriel, which two seats appear to have been the family's residences until at least the early 18th century. An apparent member of this family was Arthur Pomeroy (1723-1798), who married an Irish wife and was created Viscount Harberton in 1791. Sandridge passed by inheritance to the Gilbert family of Compton Castle and was sold by them to John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton (1731–1783), whose widow in 1805 rebuilt a villa rustica country house on the site.

Seymour

The descent of Berry Pomeroy in the Seymour family is as follows:

In 1829 Edward St Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset (1775-1855) purchased Stover House, Teigngrace, Devon, possibly as a base from which to administer his continuing Berry Pomeroy and Totnes estates.