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DESPENCER, LE DESPENCER

TANCRED, Fief, d. After 912 in Tancarville, Normandy. Issue:

RABEL I of Tancerville Castle, Normandy had issue:

GERARD d. ca 1000 at Tancerville Castle, Normandy. Issue:

RABEL II of Tancarsville Castle, Normandy,had two sons: Americ d'Abbetot, and

RAOUL DE ABBETOT d. After 1066 at Tancarville Castle, Normandy. He had sons, Urse d'Abbetot, Sheriff of Worcestershire, England, a Domesday tenant-in-chief, the first record of him in England was in the year 1067.

ROBERT LE DESPENCER of Normandy d. After 1066 at Tancarville Castle, Normandy. He died on the way to the Holy Land. Issue:

WILLIAM LE DESPENCER b. 1027 at Tancerville Castle, Normandy, d. After 1100 at the Manor Ellington in Normandy. William was known in his lifetime as "'William the Bastard", for his father was known as "Robert the Devil". Soon after William was born, Robert decided to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Before he left, it was necessary to decide the succession to his Dukedom. He called a meeting in Normandy and preseented William as his heir. Robert died on the way to the Holy Land. Thus, William became Duke of Normandy, his guardian being Raoul d'Abbetot of Tancarville. William had issue:

ROBERT LE DESPENCER of Worcester, England, who had, by gift of William the Conqueror, many manors which were listed in the Domesday Book of 1066. Issue:

WILLIAM LE DESPENCER, stewart to King Henry I. He possessed the Manor,Elington. Issue:

THURSTAN LE DESPENCER who died after 1135 at Tancerville Castle, Normandy. He was a Steward to King Henry I. Issue:

• Walter le Despencer, lord Stanley, died without issue.
• Hugh le Despencer went on a crusade to the Holy Land in 1190.
• Geoffrey le Despencer.
• Almeric le Despencer b. ca 1180 at Rutland, England, d. After 1205 Rutland, m. Anabil de Chesnoi, the dau of Walter de Chenoi. Issue of Almeric le Despencer:

Almeric le Despencer m. Elizabeth Blewit.
1. Philip le Despencer.
2. Thurstan Le Despencer, Sheriff, d. before 1249 at Gloucestershire, England m. Lucia. In 1249 the wardship of the lands in the counties of Wilts, Surrey, GLoucester and Worcester, during the minority of his heir (Geoffrey) was committed to Adonare de Lizignian, and the manor of Erveles was assigned to Lucia, his widow, for her maintenance till her dowry should be determined. Issue:

1. Sir Geoffrey Despencer b. ca 1220 at Marchly, Worcestershire, England, d. 1242 m.Emma. When Geoffrey d. in 1242, his widow, Emma, was made guardian of their son, John, who 1ater became Sir John Despencer. Issue:
   
   1. Geoffrey le Despencer d. 1242 Buckingham, England m. Joan de Leu. he m. (2) Anne.
   
   
2. Hugh Le Despencer b. ca 1240 Buckingham, England m. 1260 at Buckingham Aline Basset. Baron Hugh le Despencer was Justiciary of England, Eversham. One account says that he m. Lady Aliva Basset, widow of Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk. Issue:

1. Lady Alianore le Despencer b. at Rutland, England m. Hugh de Courtenay, Baron of Oakhampton.
2. Lady Joan le Despencer b. Rutland, England m. William de Ferrers, Lord of Croby.
   
   
3. Hugh le Despencer, Earl of Winchester, chr. 3/1/1260 Ryhall, Rutland, England, d. 1326 when he was hanged at Neath Abbey, Hereford, England, m. (2) Alianore de Clare on 5/1/1306 at Winchomb, Gloucestershire, England, the daughterof Gitbert de Clare, Earl, and Princess Joan "of Acre" Plantagenet. Issue by first wife (unknown):

1. Hugh le Despencer chr. 1287 Barton St. Mary, Cloucester, England, d. 1349 during the black death at Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire, bur. in the Despencer Tomb at Tewkesbury Abbey. Hugh was hero of Somme. After his death, his spouse m. Sir Guy de Brian.
2. Isabel le Despencer d. 12/4/1334 Pembroke, Wales m. John de Hastings, Lord Abergavenny. lier other marriages were to: 2/9/1320/1321 Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, and Richard Mounthermer.
   
   Issue by second wife, Princess Joan:
   
   
3. Edward le Despencer d. 1342 at Gloucester, England.
4. Elizabeth le Despencer d. 1368 at Gloucester, England m. Maurice de Berkeley.

Tewkesbury Abbey

Sources: Descendants of the Magna Charta Barons by Charles H. Browning; The Age Of Chivalry by Sir Arthur Bryant; Ewen of East Anglia and the Fenland; The Huntingdon Peerage by Henry Nugent Bell (1820); The Origins of Some Anglo-Norman Families by Lewis C. Louyd; Through Normandy by Katherine D. Macquaid; List of Names Compiled by Leopald Leslisle, French Antiquarian Authority; Kings and Queens of England by Antonia Fraser; Kings and gueens by Antonia Fraser; The Spencers or Bedfordshire, England by Herbert R. Spencer; Rattle Abbey Roll by Duchess of Cleveland; 1044, the Year of the Conquest by David Howarth (1377).