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From: (Douglas Richardson)
Subject: A New Bohun Daughter Discovered
Date: 11 Jan 2002 01:34:52 -0800


Dear Newsgroup ~

Searching through obscure medieval lawsuits, I recently encountered an
abstract of a legal case dated 1306 which is recorded in the Year Book
for the Eastern term of 35 Edward I. The abstract reveals that
Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, had a hitherto unknown daughter,
Margery, who is stated to have married to a certain "Robert de W."
The testimony indicates that Earl Humphrey gave property to Margery
his daughter in free marriage and that at some unspecified date the
said Margery and Theobald de Verdun were seised with the said
property. Reference is made to a charter and a deed to the property
in question. It is unclear if the two documents are the same, or if
they are two different conveyances.

The Theobald de Verdun in this case was Theobald de Verdun (born ca.
1248, died 1309) whose wife interestingly was named Margery. Research
indicates that Margery de Verdun held a one quarter interest in the
hundred of Bisley, co. Gloucester. It is not known how Margery de
Verdun possessed her share of Bisley hundred, as she doesn't appear to
have been an heiress. Quite possibly this property represented her
maritagium.

Reading the abstract of the case below, one is tempted to think that
Theobald de Verdun's wife, Margery, is identical with Margery de Bohun
and that Theobald de Verdun was her second husband. Theobald de
Verdun appears to refer to Humphrey de Bohun as "our father," which is
customary terminology in this period when a man is referring to his
wife's father. If so, this would give the descendants of Theobald and
Margery de Verdun some interesting new connections. Further research
needs to be done, though, to prove or disprove this possibility.

Theobald de Verdun mentioned here was a grandson of Rohese de Verdun,
wife of Theobald le Boteler, the subject of many posts in recent time.
For interest sake, the names of the various colonial immigrants who
descend from Theobald and Margery de Verdun are listed below.

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

E-mail:

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Reference: Alfred J. Horwood, ed., Year Books of the Reign of King
Edward the First, Michaelmas Term, Year XXXIII and years XXXIV and
XXXV, published London, 1879, pp. 170-171:

"Theobald de Verdun vouched the Earl of Hereford, and said that one
Humphrey his father gave the tenements to Robert de W. in
frank-marriage with Margery his daughter, and bound himself; and by
this deed. -- King. For fifteen years before this charter was made
Humphrey our father had nothing in the tenements, so that by the gift
which that charter witnesses they never had anything; judgement if by
a charter where the "dedi" is void etc. -- Friskeney. We do not think
to bind you to the warranty by the "dedi," but by the clause of
warranty which is simple; and the deed is admitted, judgement. --
King. I make void the "dedi" on which the warranty depends; for at
the making of this deed Margery was seised and Humphrey had nothing,
so that into the person of Theobald bnothing could pass by that
charter; judgement etc. -- Malore. Is not Theobald tenant, and the
charter containing the warranty in his hands? -- King. The charter
is void; nothing passed by the gift. -- Malore. See if that follows;
therefore take care. -- Friskeney. Since the deed is admitted, and
Theobald and Margery were seised on the day of the making thereof, and
Robert was never seised, and it states a simple warranty etc.
judgement etc."

Note: King, Friskeney and Mallore mentioned above appear to have been
the judges in this case.

- - - - - - - - -
Names of colonial immigrants who descend from Theobald de Verdun (ca.
1248-1309), of Alton, co. Stafford, and his wife, Margery:

l. Robert Abell.

2. William Asfordby.

3. Anne Baynton.

4. William Bladen.

5. George & Nehemiah Blakiston.

6. Thomas Booth.

7. Elizabeth Bosvile.

8. George, Giles & Robert Brent.

9. Stephen Bull.

10. Charles Calvert.

11. Edward Carleton.

12. Kenelm Cheseldine.

13. Grace Chetwode.

14. James Clarke.

15. Mary Clarke.

16. St.Leger Codd.

17. Frances, Jane & Katherine Deighton.

18. Edward Digges.

19. Thomas Dudley.

20. William Farrar.

21. John Fisher.

22. Edward Foliot.

23. Warham Horsmanden.

24. Anne Humphrey.

25. Thomas Ligon.

26. Anne & Katherine Marbury.

27. Anne Mauleverer.

28. John Nelson.

29. Philip & Thomas Nelson.

30. Thomas Owsley.

31. John Oxenbridge.

32.Richard Palgrave.

33. Herbert Pelham.

34. Katherine Saint Leger.

35. Anthony Savage.

36. William Skepper.

37. Diana & Grey Skipwith.

38. Maria Johanna Somerset.

39. John Stockman.

40. John West.

41. Thomas Wingfield.

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